Sixty-nine years ago today, the plane carrying Timmins dentist Henry Hudson and Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Bill Barilko crashed in the bush north of Cochrane.
Today is Dr. Henry Hudson and Bill Barilko Day in Timmins. And tonight at six at Bannerman Park in Porcupine, a billboard honouring them will be unveiled.
The plane vanished four months after Bashin’ Bill scored the Stanley Cup winning goal against Montreal. They didn’t win the Cup again until 1962, the year the wreckage was finally found.
One application has been made to have Barilko inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
But his nephew, Barry Klisanich, acknowledges that he didn’t have the stats or longevity to fit today’s criteria.
“It would be a great, fantastic honour if somebody wanted to do it,” he says. “But at this time, we’re not pursuing it, to get him inducted.”
Klisanich adds that the family is satisfied with the display that is in the Hall.
“The publicity that’s come with Uncle Bill’s legend is tremendous and the song Fifty Mission Cap just resonates today to not just a nationwide audience, a North American audience.”
The Tragically Hip’s 1993 song relates how Barilko disappeared, not to be discovered until 1962, the next year the Leafs won the Cup.
The puck that Barilko scored the famous goal with, and his number 5 sweater, are on display this afternoon at the Timmins Museum.