Dear Valued Subscriber:

For starters, many,  many THANKS for your support; without which we could not have succeeded in our hockey writing endeavor.

Your backing helped make our Substack version of The Fischler Report a rousing success. 

Now we are ready for a significant step up and forward. 

Beginning today, I will become a regular contributor to The Hockey News. (Bear in mind that my hockey-writing career began with The Hockey News in September 1955, then covering the Rangers.)

Throughout my journalistic career, one of my themes has been "On The Contrary," or, to put it another way, to write as independently as possible. 

(It must have worked at least a little bit because I'm still around; and so is the Bible of our Sport, The Hockey News, 75 years young.)

Here's a quick review of what I'll be up to at THN:

1. A Monday "Fischler Report," similar to the current columns.

2. On Wednesday, a "Fischler From The Archives," otherwise known as a "Historic Gem" as only I can write them.

3. On Friday, a "Bluelines" column or pot-pourri of current hockey items. 

A few years ago, I bonded with THN publisher Graeme Roustan. I sense we were on the same page, both editorially and spiritually. I felt energized to write for this dynamic journalistic figure and now that dream is being realized. 

Starting today, you'll see what I mean, firsthand, with a "Looking Backward" piece about Me and The Hockey News.

POSTSCRIPT: 

You may wonder with consummate validity why I'm immersing myself with this challenge when I could be doing a Louis Armstrong version of "Ole Rockin' Chair's Got Me."

The answer is simple: To me, rest is rust. I'd rather write about hockey because it stimulates me and still inspires me to find new ways of writing about our favorite sports.

And that, dear friends, is the gist and jest of it!

THE FUTURE:

Check out my first Hockey News column, which discusses my ties to the publication, dating back to 1947.

My next column, also appearing today, will be the first of my new weekly Wednesday feature, “Fischler From the Archives,” revisiting newspaper clippings from yesteryear. My first is a look-back at the biggest trade that went down in my lifetime!

I hope you enjoy both pieces!

P.S. All current Substack subscriptions will be refunded on a pro-rated basis over the next few days.