Hockey historian gifts old films to former NHL players, their families

Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler writes a weekly scrapbook for NHL.com. Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers each Wednesday.
This week Fischler features a story about a rare hockey archivist/philanthropist. For more than two decades Len Gould has collected NHL films and video dating back to the 1920s. But the unique aspect of his hobby has been gifting former NHL players and their families with the valuable memorabilia.

Imagine a hockey historian giving away thousands of dollars worth of rare hockey film and video to retired NHL players and their families. At no cost at all. Not even postage.
Is that possible?
Yes, it's really happening.
Len Gould, the patron saint of old hockey footage, can be found living down among the sheltering palms of Boca Raton, Florida, of all unlikely places.
For the past 25 years, Gould, 54, has been collecting and archiving extraordinary hockey film and video. He then finds the hockey family linked to specific video and sends the valuable historic material to the former NHL players or their offspring -- for free.
"I have never asked for a penny from anyone," said the Society for International Hockey Research historian and longtime Hockey Hall of Fame independent appraiser. "I do this all for free. Over the years the total families I've helped numbers over 100."
The recipients include Jerry Rollins, the son of Hart, Vezina and Stanley Cup-winning goalie Al Rollins, and AlexShibicky, Jr., the son of 1940 New York Rangers Cup-winner Alex Shibicky, Sr.
"I gave the younger Shibicky a live film of his father scoring a 1939 overtime goal at old Madison Square Garden," Gould recalled. "When he saw it, there were tears of joy."
The grandsons of Detroit Red Wings three-time Cup-winner Syd Howe never knew that there was film of their Hall of Fame grandpa scoring goals. Not only did Gould find that footage but he also unearthed a rare 1960's "Hockey Night In Canada" interview with Howe.
"People get very emotional when they receive this historic material," Gould explained. "For the families of the guys from the 1950's and earlier, there could be three or four generations who never saw them play."
Invariably the delighted recipients ask Gould, "How much?" For one and all the reply has been the same for two decades of gift-giving.
"For me," chuckled Gould, "it's easy. It's enough of a reward to give this gift to the players and create a lasting legacy for their families. These folks are so appreciative that it warms my heart."
Ex-NHL ironman Johnny Wilson's daughter, Tracy Wilson, was flabbergasted when Gould unearthed archival footage of her dad being interviewed between periods of a game in November 1962.
"This had incredible meaning in the timing of that interview," Tracy Wilson explained. "My father had recently retired so he and my mom could adopt me. Hearing him talk is priceless as I not only got to hear my dad's voice again but also get to hear him speak about something incredibly poignant given the circumstances of his retirement."
Gould's collection includes hard-to-find pre-1940 films including the New York Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates footage from the late 1920's, not to mention older non-NHL material dating back to the turn of the 1900's.
"The footage doesn't lie," Gould said. "It tells the truth in all of its brutal honesty. While angles can sometimes be tricky, footage is more accurate than memory or the written word. Good, bad or ugly, it is what it is."

By the way, this labor of love is just that. Len's real job is president and chief executive officer of QEP Co., a publicly traded company that manufactures and sells flooring tools and adhesives.
When I asked Gould to name the favorite item in his vast collection, he balked and explained, "It's always the next one to be found. There's always more out there."
He sent Hall of Famer Frank Manhovlich film of his first hat trick as a rookie at Maple Leaf Gardens against goalie Jacques Plante. Famed broadcaster Tim Ryan was overwhelmed when he received a video of himself as a member of the Oakland Seals organization. Ryan was being interviewed on "Hockey Night In Canada."
Ryan wrote back to Gould: "It's fun to show these to my wife and kids what I used to look like!"
Ex-NHL forward Murray Costello was an octogenarian at the time Gould delivered film to him.
"None of Murray's children or grandchildren had ever seen him play," Gould said. "And here was a 1954 game when he scored a goal for the Boston Bruins."
Noelle Martin, daughter of former NHL forward Pit Martin, received an unearthed film transfer of a young Pit being interviewed on "Hockey Night In Canada" along with teammate and Hall of Famer Alex Delvecchio.
"Seeing these clips and hearing his voice again is so great," Noelle wrote back to Gould. "Your spending the time and effort in finding these for people like me is so appreciated."
Gould appreciates the support his wife, Lauraleigh, has provided along with noted Toronto-based historian and archivist Paul Patskou.
"Nobody does anything alone," Gould asserted. "I got started on this venture about 20 years ago when I met Paul. He became my mentor and had more footage than just about anyone.
"He provided footage for families of former players and I thought it was such a great idea that I started doing it as well. What I learned is that it's the more obscure players who are the ones most happy to see themselves on footage."
One of them was goalie Lindsay Middlebrook, who only played 37 NHL games and had no video to show for it. Now he has a complete game, thanks to Gould.
"It makes me so happy to do this," Gould explained. "I've spent more time and money than I'd ever admit to chasing footage. Right now I'm not aware of anyone with more footage of pre-1982 hockey than myself."
What's more, he has no intentions of giving up his saintly hockey pursuits. In fact he encourages former players/families to contact him at [email protected] to see what might be found for them.
Former Rangers defenseman Ted Irvine and his wife, Bonnie, summed up their feelings -- and those of other former players -- about Gould's work after they received his footage:
"God Bless You!"