The origin of "B.B. 16" is a little foggy, but it first became known to me last week when I saw Leafs forward Darcy Tucker giving an interview with an embroidered "B.B. Project 16" cap.
So far as I can determine, "B.B." stands for Bill Barilko, a Leafs defenceman who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1951 for Toronto. He died in a plane crash that summer -- the Leafs didn't hoist the cup again until his body was discovered in 1962. The event is referenced in The Tragically Hip's Fifty Mission Cap:
Bill Barilko disappeared that summer
he was on a fishing trip
The last goal he ever scored
won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another until 1962
the year he was discovered
I stole this from a hockey card
I keeped tucked up under
my fifty mission cap, I worked it in
to look like that
16, of course, represents the four wins needed to pass through each of four playoff rounds required to win the Stanley Cup.
4 comments for this entry ↓
1 Leaf in Florida // Apr 21, 2004 at 10:17 am
GO LEAFS!!
(good text-ing with you last night, D!)
2 Ashe // Apr 21, 2004 at 11:28 am
Congratulations guys... (Leafs that is.. and loyal fans) It's a sad day for Sens fans like me, but I gotta hand it to you. Leafs still own the Sens.
Just a note. I'm pretty sure it was 1967 the last time the Leafs won the cup. ... and just for the record: I wouldn't hate to see them go all the way this year. Let this in no way be misconstrued as an act of treason however.
3 Lynn // Apr 21, 2004 at 1:48 pm
You're right on the year, Jer. As a (newly) loyal Leafs fan, I watched enough of this series to have that date pounded into my head forever. And I believe it was 1927 when the Sens last felt the love...
4 Jun (a random visitor) // Apr 23, 2004 at 2:42 am
uh oh..seems like i randomly wandered into enemy territory.
Good luck to your Leafies though ;p
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