Shirley was a trailblazer for Cammi Granato, Jessica Berman, Kathryn Tappen, Shannon Hogan, Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Theresa Feaster, Alexandra Mandrycky, Meghan Chayka & all aspiring young women
The late Jack Lautier who passed away from cancer about 15 years ago was a great hockey writer who covered the Whalers and when Simon became ill with his heart issue, I got Stan's phone number from Jack and called Stan offering my prayers and wishes. My late cousin had worked for the Rangers in the 1960's and 1970's.
Stan was so nice and pleasant and I didn't want to make a pest of myself but just to offer my prayers and best for Simon.
Happy 90th birthday to Stan and many more and Simon looks so healthy and wonderful. I think he was around 15 when he became ill if I remember and thank god for modern medicine.
Emile Francis just passed away and to be honest was not a fan of Shirley and was old school. Shirley was the Jackie Robinson of female hockey writers.
Stan, I certainly remember Shirley and her superb work on the hockey beat for so many campaigns. I could never forget Shirley, any more than I could ever forget you. You and Shirley were, and shall remain for all time, the National Hockey League's first couple of journalistic excellence; a partnership of excellence that overflowed with passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and insight for the sport you loved, and its participants that captured your imagination. God bless you and the tremendously missed Shirley.
A peek into the Macmillan Hockey Encyclopedia reveals a two-page description on one of hockey’s most historic dates—March 23, 1952– the night Bill Mosienko scored three goals in 21 seconds. The non-bylined author called it a “meaningless game, last of the year for both clubs.” Now Stan Fischler has gone on record many times to say “there are no meaningless games in the NHL.” So whom did Shirley recruit to write this description? Clue-the author called Hy Buller’s injury a “cracked” ankle—not a broken one or any other descriptor. There are other Fischlerisms sprinkled in the article and the author was obviously at the MSG game based on the account. Can we surmise that our own Stan Fischler wrote this and called an NHL game “meaningless” when the encyclopedia was published in 1974?
What a great story and unknown by way too many people. While I have had the fortunate chance to meet Stan several times by happenstance (subways, walking on the street), I never met Shirley. Can only imagine that if she was half as nice as he is, she was far more amazing than even this story shows.
The late Jack Lautier who passed away from cancer about 15 years ago was a great hockey writer who covered the Whalers and when Simon became ill with his heart issue, I got Stan's phone number from Jack and called Stan offering my prayers and wishes. My late cousin had worked for the Rangers in the 1960's and 1970's.
Stan was so nice and pleasant and I didn't want to make a pest of myself but just to offer my prayers and best for Simon.
Happy 90th birthday to Stan and many more and Simon looks so healthy and wonderful. I think he was around 15 when he became ill if I remember and thank god for modern medicine.
Emile Francis just passed away and to be honest was not a fan of Shirley and was old school. Shirley was the Jackie Robinson of female hockey writers.
RIP Shirley and again Happy Birthday Stan.
Jack Smith
Stan, I certainly remember Shirley and her superb work on the hockey beat for so many campaigns. I could never forget Shirley, any more than I could ever forget you. You and Shirley were, and shall remain for all time, the National Hockey League's first couple of journalistic excellence; a partnership of excellence that overflowed with passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and insight for the sport you loved, and its participants that captured your imagination. God bless you and the tremendously missed Shirley.
A peek into the Macmillan Hockey Encyclopedia reveals a two-page description on one of hockey’s most historic dates—March 23, 1952– the night Bill Mosienko scored three goals in 21 seconds. The non-bylined author called it a “meaningless game, last of the year for both clubs.” Now Stan Fischler has gone on record many times to say “there are no meaningless games in the NHL.” So whom did Shirley recruit to write this description? Clue-the author called Hy Buller’s injury a “cracked” ankle—not a broken one or any other descriptor. There are other Fischlerisms sprinkled in the article and the author was obviously at the MSG game based on the account. Can we surmise that our own Stan Fischler wrote this and called an NHL game “meaningless” when the encyclopedia was published in 1974?
What a great story and unknown by way too many people. While I have had the fortunate chance to meet Stan several times by happenstance (subways, walking on the street), I never met Shirley. Can only imagine that if she was half as nice as he is, she was far more amazing than even this story shows.
Thank you for this. I've always loved the work you do and that you and Shirley did together.
Loved this. Great stuff, Stan. Shirley was great!