Bill Barilko is hoisted after scoring the goal in 1951 that gave the Leafs the cup. Photo courtesy Hockey Hall of Fame. _______________________________________________________ Bill Barilko disappeared that summer.
Bill Barilko is hoisted after scoring the goal in 1951 that gave the Leafs the cup. Photo courtesy Hockey Hall of Fame. _______________________________________________________
Bill Barilko disappeared that summer. The Tragically Hip
Kevin Shea didn’t have to look too far to find a subject for his next book.
Shea, director of special projects at the Hockey Hall of Fame, chose Bill Barilko after finding out a certain picture of the legendary Leaf defenseman scoring a goal is the hall’s most-requested photo.
That photo, of course, shows Barilko airborne as he scores in overtime against Montreal Canadiens goalie Gerry McNeil, giving the Toronto Maple Leafs the 1951 Stanley Cup.
Barilko disappeared several months later in a plane crash north of Cochrane, Ontario, and the Leafs didn’t win another cup until 1962, the year his body was discovered.
That’s what Barilko—Without a Trace is all about.
Shea interviewed over 40 people for the book including teammates, friends and, probably the most important, according to the author, Barilko’s sister Anne Klisaniche.
“His sister cannot believe that after 53 years people are still talking about her brother,” Shea said.
“She is very very proud of her brother and misses him terribly.”
Barilko, who was born in Timmins—the city has declared tomorrow Bill Barilko Day—was a fan-favourite despite only scoring 26 goals in his entire NHL career, Shea said.
“Barilko was a colorful player, hard hitting and ready to drop his gloves at a moment’s notice.”
When Barilko disappeared his fans were shocked, Shea said.
People came up with different theories as to what had happened. Some thought he had gone to Russia to train hockey players, others thought he was smuggling gold into the U.S. The authorities launched a massive search effort to find Barilko’s lost plane, Shea said.
“It was the largest aerial search in Canadian military history to this day”.
Fifty-three years have passed since Barilko’s death.
The memories of his short career live on in pictures, books, and song. The Tragically Hip paid tribute to Barilko in the song 50-Mission Cap.
The rights to Shea’s book were purchased by a film and TV producer. The screenplay is being written and might become a play or TV movie sometime in the future.
“This is the most satisfying professional thing I have ever done,” Shea said.
“It will be hard to find another storey that’s even close to the compelling nature of Barilko’s.”
