Remember Me?

by Brad Lee on Nov 19, 2008 1:58 PM CST

Do all defensemen who wear No. 4 make big mistakes?

By Brad Lee and Chris Gift

St. Louis Blues fans have a bond with some players that is difficult to break.

Brendan Shanahan has been gone for more than a decade his jersey is still a common sight at games. Listening to some fans talk about Craig Conroy, you would think he's a perennial All Star. The number of retired players who live in St. Louis is surprising since a majority of them are from Canada.

During some of these breaks in the schedule this season, I thought it would be interesting to check up on a few former players. And we're not talking about stars here, but guys fans knew and appreciated but never really became household names. It's a regular feature we run in the paper edition of Game Time. Here are a few of those in one place, just waiting for your memories and comments.

Sergio Momesso

Sergio, the Italian Canadian. Now 43, Sergio Momesso played left wing for the Blues from 1988-91 and then again in the 1996-97 season. A Montreal native with an Italian background, big Sergio was a popular guy when he was roving the left wing opposite some guy named Brett Hull. He has an accent thicker than Mississippi River mud, and that was part of his charm. He won a Cup with the Canadiens before coming to St. Louis where he played a total of 222 regular season games and scored 44 goals and 70 assists. He was more of a hitter and protector for Hull. He'll also be remembered for being included in the six-player deal that was blamed for ruining the chemistry of the 1990-91 season. The trade sent Momesso, Cliff Ronning, Robert Dirk and Geoff Courtnall for Garth Butcher and Dan Quinn.

Momesso's second stint with the Blues was just 31 games. He only scored one goal and three assists, ending his NHL career. He played professionally in Germany for four years before retiring altogether in 2001. Momesso owns a popular Italian restaurant in Montreal called Momesso's Caffe'.

Momesso was in the news in January when his home outside Montreal was broken into and his 1986 Stanley Cup ring was stolen along with some of his game-worn jerseys from Montreal, Vancouver and one from St. Louis that was signed by Hull. Police said nothing else was taken. If you return the items now, no hard feelings.

Philippe Bozon

Bonjour! Another left wing for St. Louis, Philippe Bozon is a legend in his home country of France. He played in 144 games for the Blues 1991-1995 and turns 42 at the end of this month. He'll gladly accept snails for the occasion.

Bozon was signed as a free agent during the early 90's, when the NHL took on an extremely European feel to it. Bozon was the first Frenchman to play in the league. Montreal's Cristobal Huet is the only other French-bred (not French bread) person to play in the NHL. He was assigned to the checking line when he arrived. French people generally speaking aren't very good at being physical, so needless to say Bozon's four seasons here left a little bit to be desired.

Every once in a while, Bozon would be put on Brett Hull's line and he didn't exactly set the world on fire while there. His numbers with the Blues in those 144 games were 16 goals, and 25 assists with 101 penalty minutes. He managed two goals in playoff games with 31 penalty minutes.

The 1993-1994 season was Bozon's best, with nine goals and 16 assists. Those 25 points tied him for sixth best on the team with Vitali Prokhorov- talk about a name from the past. St. Louis was Bozon's only stop in the NHL. He played the rest of his career in Europe, playing in both Germany and Sweden. He also played in the Olympics for France four times, scoring a hat trick in 1998 in the 11th-place game against Italy.

He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame in 2008 based on his international play and his trailblazing for the French in the NHL. His induction class included Igor Larionov and some guy named Mario Lemieux. One of these things is not like the other.

Marc Bergevin

It's good to be friends with the coach.

Marc Bergevin, a retired defenseman, was named an assistant coach for the Blackhawks early this season when Joel Quenneville was tabbed for the head coaching job in Chicago. Bergevin, 43, had been Coach Q's boss as director of pro scouting for the Hawks.

Bergevin was one of those Blues players to have two stints with the team. He broke into the league in 1984-85 at age 19 in Chicago. The defenseman was never blessed with good puck skills. He only topped 20 points in a season once in his career. But was it a long career. The guy probably ended up just keeping a moving truck parked in the driveway. He changed teams 11 times before he retired after 2003-04. He not only played twice for the Blues, but he pulled the same feat with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh - a team he played for three different times with stops elsewhere in the league. He scored 181 points in 1,191 career games.

Other than being Mario Lemieux's personal caddy and being known as a locker room crack up at every stop in his career, Bergevin is probably best known (at least in St. Louis) for throwing a puck in his own net during the 2000 playoffs for the Blues. I guess there are worst things to be remembered for, like being a serial killer.

Herb Raglan

Herb The Butcher Raglan Herb Raglan was a right winger for the Blues from 1985-1991. In the days of Bob Probert, "Rags" was a highly touted "next Bob Probert." He was drafted in the second round (37 overall). While never materializing into Probert, on or off the ice, Rags did have a few productive- relatively speaking- seasons for the Blues.

During the famous 1990-1991 season, Raglan was shipped to Quebec along with Tony Twist and somebody named Andy Rymsha for another tough guy, and future River Otter, Darin Kimble. Raglan also suited up with Tampa Bay and Ottawa before calling it a career. He finished his time in St. Louis with 235 games played, 26 goals, 39 assists, 65 points and 571 penalty minutes. He saw action in 32 playoff games with three goals, six assists and fifty penalty minutes.

Raglan, 41, has retired to Peterborough, Ontario. He and his wife, Tammy, recently opened the King Street Market, at the corner of King and Park Streets in Peterborough. The market features homemade sausage, meats and fish, with almost all of it made on site. He was somewhat of a butcher with the puck, so it's only fitting he's a butcher of meat now.

Tweet Comment 36 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I have been to Phillippe Bozon’s hometown of Grenoble. I told everyone in my group, “Did you know that Grenoble is the hometown of former St. Louis Blues winger Phillippe Bozon?”

No one cared.

by LeNoceur on Nov 19, 2008 2:29 PM CST reply actions

LeNoc, long time no snark.

Dude, the Bozon is a HOFer. What a shame. Next time, take people to Raglan’s butcher shop.

by Brad Lee on Nov 19, 2008 2:31 PM CST reply actions

I’ll never forget that game where Bergevin tossed that biacuit into his own basket. It was a Saturday game vs. the Wings right? Fuck Detroit.

by Guinea Pig on Nov 19, 2008 2:36 PM CST reply actions

If memory serves correctly, Guinea, I think it was a Saturday afternoon. I remember saying something along the lines of “how can they cut off beer sales at 4:00, especially after Bergevin just did that?”

I also remember my buddy saying “He thinks he’s Ray Lankford.” Lankford managed to throw a ball from leftfield into the seats on the third base line that previous baseball season, in an attempt to get a runner at home.

by Gift on Nov 19, 2008 2:42 PM CST reply actions

True story . . .

In my Spring 2002 semester of college, I lived in an on-campus apartment with (get your bar joke pencils ready) a Chinese dude and a French dude (I’m an American Mick – thus an awesome bar joke).

The French roommate was watching the French national hockey team play some country I can’t recall at the moment . . . when Bozon started a shift and skated down ice with the puck.

My reaction? “You mean Phillipe Bozon is still playing hockey?! That’s awesome!”

My roommate’s reaction? “You mean you know who Phillipe Bozon is?! He’s like, a legend back home!”

So I had to explain to him that he was a role player for the Blues and all that. I probably broke his heart with that news. He told me about how awesome he was back home. Which in turn broke my heart to know how his NHL career went (brief, and not too shiny).

So yes, I can confirm that Phillipe Bozon is, in fact, a French hockey legend. Sure didn’t look like it when he was here (or it did, depending on your view).

by Donut King on Nov 19, 2008 4:15 PM CST reply actions

Probably should’ve noted that the hockey was being played at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Y’know. Minor details.

by Donut King on Nov 19, 2008 5:32 PM CST reply actions

They make fish and meat ON SITE? Does Rags impregnate the trout himself? I’d make the trip to Peterborough to see that.

by Pagan on Nov 19, 2008 6:46 PM CST reply actions

The one thing I remember about Phillipe Bozon is being at a game against the Rangers back in 92-93 in which Brian Leetch tried to plant one of his old school lead with the ass hip checks on Phillipe as he skated into the Ranger zone. Leetch missed by a country mile and went crashing into the boards and his season was over.

by bzgea2 on Nov 19, 2008 7:54 PM CST reply actions

The thing I remember most about Bozon was that any time he’d get near Belfour that headcase would freak out and the Blues would often score on him. I don’t know if he was telling Belfour he fucked his sister in French or what, but he sure could piss ole Eddie off.

by Pagan on Nov 19, 2008 7:57 PM CST reply actions

LOL. That was an awesome walk down memory lane. I remember them all. It was different game then.

I still can’t believe we traded all of that to Vancouver for those turds. Butcher was was solid but as we well know there was another talent in that trade that we gave up. A certain defenseman that played on the team USA olympics that brought forth Bozon. Another former Blue who went on to win a Cup with Rod. Brain fart I can’t remember the speedy defenseman’s name. I thought we also got one other Vancouver player in that deal. Possibly my memeory has garbled it up. I still don’t know how you could include Courtnal and Ronning. Those two were loads of fun to watch. Ah them were the days when a certain player would do anything to get the team a win including running into a LA netminder and sparking one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

by Chris D. on Nov 19, 2008 8:00 PM CST reply actions

I wish I’d been into hockey back then so I had a clue as to what the fuck Chris D. was talking about. Stupid non-cable-tv-having parental units.

by Dan on Nov 19, 2008 9:00 PM CST reply actions

It was Bret Hedican.

by bzgea2 on Nov 19, 2008 10:28 PM CST reply actions

Actually now that I think about it we traded Hedican and Brown to Vancouver and got Craig Janney back. Wow, can you imagine trading a D man with a big shot and a fast, young defensive prospect for one diminutive center in today’s nhl?

by bzgea2 on Nov 19, 2008 10:31 PM CST reply actions

Bahh, that wasnt a trade, that was what we gave up for signig RFA Petr Nedved. Vancouver wanted Janney but we gave them a forward (no idea who), Hedican and Jeff Brown instead to keep Janney. Janney came from Boston for Oates nearly straight up. Wow, the blues orginization more or less gave up Adam Oates, Bret Hedican, and Jeff Brown for Craig Janney, that seemed like a good idea somehow.

by bzgea2 on Nov 19, 2008 10:39 PM CST reply actions

remember all that shit we gave up just for Gretzky?
Craig Johnson, Roman Vopat, Patrice Tardif, and a first round pick that ended up being Matt Zultek (who to this day had never played an NHL game)
we sure lucked out there though, because all those guys never amounted to anything big

by Dooks on Nov 19, 2008 11:19 PM CST reply actions

I seem to remember Philippe getting cut on the face by a skate and looking like Heath Ledger’s Joker for the rest of the season. Can anybody corroborate?

by JGB on Nov 19, 2008 11:28 PM CST reply actions

BERGEVIN!

I had almost forgotten about his puck-throwing antics. Now I can’t stop thinking about the link between poor defensive plays and defensemen wearing #4.

by Adam on Nov 20, 2008 8:40 AM CST reply actions

…. that Bergevin own-goal… fuck

by pdub on Nov 20, 2008 9:50 AM CST reply actions

bzgea2 wrote:

——————————

1. Janney was 6-01, 200 pounds. If that’s your idea of “diminutive,” you’re either Gulliver living in Lilliput, or you’re Hank Pym…

2. I never tire of hearing misinformed folks talk about how much Craig Janney suppoosedly “sucked.”

The guy was just shy of a point-per-game player throughout his NHL career (188-563-751 in 760 reguar-season games, 24-86-110 in 120 playoff games), and was one of the premier playmaking centers of the lkate 80’[s and early 90’s.

Jesus, he had seven points in eight games before the idiot Keenan traded him.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2505

The only complaint one could make about Craig Janney was that he wasn’t physical at all, and in light of the playmaking prowess he displayed over a decade-long career in this NHL, that’s a pretty weak-ass complaint to make.

I’d take Janney in his prime over any center the Blues have in the organization right now, except maybe Berglund and Oshie.

Janney in his prime over Andy McDonald easily, without a second’s hesitation… and I like Andy McDonald a great deal.

by Game Time Prospect Department on Nov 20, 2008 10:00 AM CST reply actions

“…late 80’s and early 90’s.”

Is there any way we can get an “edit” feature for the comments? I hate not being able to correct typos…

by Game Time Prospect Department on Nov 20, 2008 10:05 AM CST reply actions

GTPD hits it right on the head. Janney was a very productive player and played some of his best hockey as a Blue. His only misfortune was that he didn’t hit it off with Mike Kennan.

(…and that whole episode about his now-ex-wife hitting if off with Shannahan probably didn’t help things either…not to beat a dead horse…)

by JGB on Nov 20, 2008 10:19 AM CST reply actions

I think one of the complaints on Craig Janney is the fact that he was not Adam Oates. Then again, really . . . who is? The Hull & Oates season was something magical.

Janney was a VERY solid performer for the Blues – and I’m speaking very mildly here.

Whenever they rolled out a line of Janney with Shanahan and Hull . . . I knew things were good. No wonder Buzzsaw Keenan didn’t like him.

by Donut King on Nov 20, 2008 10:19 AM CST reply actions

Here’s a video of the Bergevin incident, Turns out it was against the Sharks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3J8ZFKwE5c

I have to say, coming here and reading all the back and forth really takes the edge off my work day, not to mention my overall productivity. Who knew last place could be so much fun? Thanks, guys!

by Guinea Pig on Nov 20, 2008 10:22 AM CST reply actions

I think it was that Janney was brought in because management was tired of having to resign Oates every season though he was already under contract and Janney was suppose to take his place with Hull and they had almost no chemistry what so ever. But, if you pu Janney on a line with Shanny and Emerson all hell broke lose.

Janney was damn good and fun to watch. I’d still give the edge to McDonald. I don’t know how much you watched him when he played on the Ducks, especially in those Stanley Cup finals. That man has a TON of heart and bravery to go with his skill set. To be honest he seemed like he was ABOUT to start clicking here for the first time.

So Gretzky…he played which position…?…..And that one guy Pierre…what’s his nuts…oh yeah Turgeon. That dude was awesome for the Blues. Let’s recall it was different from the Janney days by then. Half the time it looked like some kind of weird tractor pull competition after you beat the defensemen he’d be ice sking by holding onto the back of your jersey. But Coah ‘the Retarded one’ Q in his infinite I’m going to challenge him to get him to play better wisdom kept taking one more step too far. In the end ol’ Pierre reunited with Coach Q out in Colorado.

I’ve seen some shit in my day most people tend to forget. I saw Brett Hull when he learned how to body check. He wanted so badly to win a Cup and do it here to prove the critics wrong he started checking and backchecking and I think he cut down on the cigarettes and booze the night before games unless there were two in a row. I often saw some of the most puzzling trades in the history of sports or players being chased because of their sexual deviancies—anybody remember somebody having a babysitter they got a little too close with? Ah just think, Gilmour made the Leafs after the trade and then when Mats Sudin came into the leauge…shit.

by Chris D. on Nov 20, 2008 11:12 AM CST reply actions

As far as some of those trades and signings I think you might want to revisit them.

Just because you find it on the internet doesn’t make it true.

by Chris D. on Nov 20, 2008 11:13 AM CST reply actions

All righty we do need an edit button. I’ve straightened it all out for myself conerning the player movements slash signing of restricted players and how St. Louis got fucked for it. And the whole Scott Stevens debacle part duex.

It looks like one of the picks the Blues would have had Hannu Toivonen was taken. Talk about irony.

by Chris D. on Nov 20, 2008 11:39 AM CST reply actions

Blues were first overall in the league when we made the trade to Vancouver. And we all know what happened afterward. That was ridiculous. I think that’s when everyone knew ol’ Ron Caron was losing touch with reality.

by Chris D. on Nov 20, 2008 11:40 AM CST reply actions

I actually saw someone in a Lubus Bartecko jersey at the game the other night.

by Stlchapman on Nov 20, 2008 1:35 PM CST reply actions

Read the JR’s Morning Skate…

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/morning-skate/uncategorized/2008/11/st-louis-blues-rule-out-paul-kariya-friday-saturday/

!#$%#$TGERWGTT&Y$WYT#QTG#Q$YHU*YT#!$QTG#QYTG$@ UY@$Y$WW$!!

That is all.

by HuntsvilleBlues on Nov 20, 2008 1:43 PM CST reply actions

good to know that Koci was put on waivers and picked up already, by his last team no less

by Dooks on Nov 20, 2008 3:15 PM CST reply actions

Dancin’ Steve on LW?

Any better than Walker on LW?

by Poor College Student on Nov 20, 2008 4:01 PM CST reply actions

hunstville:

WTFFFFFFF fuck fuck fuck fuck maybe I can play on the Blues soon LOL this is fucking ridiculous. Broken wrists, ankles, sprains, grions how in the fuck does this happen in one year. We are plagued.

So Friday it’s really the Peoria Rivermen and a few Blues versus the Anaheim Ducks. The same on Saturday. Holy shit!!!!!!!!! Should they even play Perron???

How has Brewer escaped all of this? If only……

by Chris D. on Nov 20, 2008 4:32 PM CST reply actions

LeNoceur Says: November 19th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I have been to Phillippe Bozon’s hometown of Grenoble. I told everyone in my group, "Did you know that Grenoble is the hometown of former St. Louis Blues winger Phillippe Bozon?"
No one cared.

I’m sure they would have been extremely impressed had you known and informed them that Grenoble was the hometown of Andre the Giant.

GT Prospect Department Says: November 20th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Is there any way we can get an "edit" feature for the comments? I hate not being able to correct typos…

Or, in my case, blatantly wild inaccuracies …

by Milo on Nov 20, 2008 5:10 PM CST reply actions