When the teenaged Simmonds eventually hit the scouts’ radar, things happened fast. There is no doubt the 28-year-old right wing deserves the all-star honour, but considering where he was a decade ago, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Simmonds faced long odds to one day become one of the game's top players. I’m not the type of guy who’s going to say, ‘This happened, that happened.’ I’m not 10 years old anymore where it gets under my skin to that point. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Simmonds concedes it’s time to move on from his regular No. Maple Leafs sign TJ Brodie for 4 years to fill long-time hole on defence. Simmonds went to the locker room with a notable limp and he did not return to the bench when the trainer came back a few minutes later. Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute (Birchmount Park CI, BPCI, or Birchmount Park) is a high school located in Scarborough, a part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.It operates under the Scarborough Board of Education with the latter board merged into the present Toronto District School Board.The school sits atop the Scarborough Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario and Birchmount Park itself. There was no support. Simmonds, 32, scored twice in the game but took a clearing attempt off his left arm in the third period. “We attacked the net. Nobody’s on your side.”, Well, not exactly nobody. “The great Wendel Clark has got that one retired up in the rafters,” he laughed. I’m playing a sport I love. The rivalry between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers intensified Monday in a pre-season tilt that supposedly included a homophobic slur from Wayne Simmonds to Sean Avery. That’s where it ends. “I don’t think it’s hard to believe. But that didn’t stop a handful of racist Rangers fans from chiming in with the usual fare. “Honest to God, 13 to 14 guys already messaged me, from Marner to Andersen, Hyman, Spezza, Muzzin, Tavares, Nylander. He was sitting on the bench when he took a high stick to the mouth from Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm. The team announced Monday that the bruising winger is set to miss six weeks after suffering a broken wrist in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. In a pre-season game in London, Ont., a 26-year-old man threw a banana on the ice when Simmonds took his turn in a shootout. All The family, Wanda has said, lived “paycheque to paycheque.”, “My parents always taught me I had to work twice as hard as the next person — it’s just something I’ve always lived by,” Wayne Simmonds said. Simmonds is coming off a season he started with the Devils on a one-year, $5-million (U.S.) deal before he was traded to the Sabres. Total cheap shot by Wayne Simmonds on Ryan McDonagh last night. Marie. Any thoughts Simmonds had, he saved for a … — AP Photo/Jae C. Hong. Not everything was perfect in the Maple Leafs 5-1 win over the Canucks on Saturday. He played most of his minor hockey at the AA level with the Toronto Aces, was repeatedly cut from elite AAA squads who weren’t impressed with his gangly and late-blooming skill set. “There’s still some things that I think people don’t realize that happen. Subban and Wayne Simmonds help spread their message with Black History Night. Hockey is all I’ve ever wanted to do. To order Simmonds had no idea what to expect with Philadelphia. When Wayne Simmonds was growing up poor and black and hopeful in Scarborough, he was surrounded by signs he could never make it. He'll make $5 million in 2019-20, but the contract is for only one season. Simmonds is a defenceman for the Arcturus Realty Stars, an NHL millionaire firing one-timers among the contractors and financial planners and masons. He played a year of Junior A with the Brockville Braves, latched on with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack and, a year later, was a second-round pick of the L.A. Kings. Once, during a minor-hockey tournament an opponent told Simmonds to “stick to basketball.” Simmonds recalled that then-teammate Chris Stewart, another black NHLer who now plays for the St. Louis Blues, chased down the offender and “beat the living daylights out of him.”, Heron told of attending a Flyers-Leafs game at the Air Canada Centre earlier this season. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Prohibitively priced skates, escalating registration fees, car rides all over the GTA — hockey’s expenses can weigh heavy. Simmonds said he was aware of the story, but hardly surprised. The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought in Ontario native Wayne Simmonds on a one-year deal, reports TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. He and his teammates with the Philadelphia Flyers are currently engaged in a much-watched playoff series against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. 17. I don’t think we did too much extra. Said Sinclair: “As kids we were always fearless. “He was so good at pushing away that negativity, not listening to people, and just doing what he felt was right. Though Simmonds held fast to his belief that he’d one day land in the world’s best league, there was so shortage of doubters telling him otherwise. Republication or distribution of this content is Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You’re still in double-A. He had also racked up a team-high 22 penalty minutes. When Simmonds participated in a shootout, he heard a fan a few rows away holler, “Where’s the banana?”, “I’m sure if we weren’t in the arena, something (physical) would have been done. Wayne Gretzky attended elementary school in Brantford, Ontario and took high school courses in Sault Ste. He loves the sport so much he spends part of his summer playing with old friends in Toronto’s York Central Ball Hockey League. He is returning the generosity with an on-ice grittiness that is, for his supporters, fun to root for. […] Simmonds was on his way to his best season since scoring 24 goals in 2017-18 with the Flyers. Wayne Simmonds was traded to the Flyers in June 2011. If the right fit is a … Wayne Simmonds pushed his total over the 20-goal mark for the fourth consecutive season and fifth time in his career. Riding our bikes down hills with no helmets. We’re like family. His pals suggest he may have acquired his goalmouth ruthlessness during youthful adventures in the ravines that flank the Rouge River. Feisty Rangers winger Sean Avery confirmed that Flyers' Wayne Simmonds called him a homophobic slur during the first period of the bitter preseason contest. He is a player with something to prove after he did not have such a great 2018-19 season himself. “We were just rough guys. If you don’t think I should be playing the sport, I’d prefer you keep it to yourself.”. Wayne Simmonds is already a force around town without playing on shift as a Leaf. After a few summers busy getting married, becoming a father and tending to injuries, Simmonds vowed to increase his social and charitable efforts, which is fine with new boss Kyle Dubas. So it's some prove-it time for Simmonds, who turns 31 years old in August. Simmonds, who earned $1.5 million (U.S.) from the Flyers this season, also gave thanks to what he calls his “second family,” a group of friends with whom he played minor hockey for most of a decade. When Wayne Simmonds was growing up poor and black and hopeful in Scarborough, he was surrounded by signs he could never make it. His presence at the front of the net has played a role directly or indirectly in many goals during the Leafs ’ current 7-0-1 tear. He is known to his teammates and fans by the nickname "Wayne Train". Sure, he potted in 17 goals last season per NHL.com. He’s an established NHL force these days, 23 … Wayne Simmonds has suffered a hand injury and will miss six weeks. Two of the NHL's most prominent ambassadors for diversity in P.K. That shows me the excitement they have. So many people were telling him he couldn’t make it. Lil Wayne became the youngest rapper signed to Cash Money Records at just 11 years old, and he dropped out of high school before getting his GED. It is a $1.5MM AAV and a full No-Movement Clause for the veteran power forward. Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds has had bananas thrown at ... it always goes back to 'go back to ... are selected for elite training camps when they are still in elementary school. “We have such a close group of guys. “This year, going through the unrest and racism that came to the forefront, it’s a vital conversation for us have; in hockey and every walk of life. The NHL Signing: Wayne Simmonds & Day One NHL Thoughts. He was quick to praise his parents for all they’ve done. He’s an established NHL force these days, 23 years old and coming off a career-best 28-goal season. The “proud Torontonian”, from a family of five children in Scarborough, he’s long supported causes around the city and this year became part of the Hockey Diversity Alliance which grew out of the Black Lives Matter movement. You don’t have a chance.’ But he wasn’t listening,” said Brandon Sinclair, one of Simmonds’ childhood friends, now a Toronto financial planner. In 68 total games, he had eight goals and 17 assists and 66 penalty minutes. He was a subplot as the Flyers sent captain Mike Richards to the Kings. “We’re going to have to see what number’s available, figure something out.”, 1 being least likely, and 10 being most likely. It was neither the first nor the last time Simmonds has been confronted with such stupidity. Bad hockey play. Falling off, getting hurt, getting up, laughing about it. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Inspired by what former NHLer Kevin Weekes’ program did for him as a boy, Simmonds helped youth sports festivals such as ball hockey and joined with locals Joel Ward, Chris Stewart and Nazem Kadri who gave the HDA a push. Falling out of trees,” Joe Sanito, a Toronto mason who played minor hockey and attended Birchmount Park Collegiate with Simmonds. It goes to show there’s no right way to get there. “Sometimes you take a second and you look around and you’re like, ‘Wow. The team, which has been rolling of late, with quite a bit of contribution from free agent signee Wayne Simmonds, look like they will be without their veteran forward for quite some time. The first reported UFA signing with the market now open is one that many saw coming. Simmonds spent 2019-20 with the Devils before being traded at the deadline in February to the Sabres. After three seasons in L.A., he was traded this past off-season to Philadelphia, where he has flourished. “ ... It’s not something to be tolerated.”. “My mom made me make a promise and I’ve kept it, that I’d always give back to the community.”. Simmonds did acknowledge that the Maple Leafs had some serious cap issues, but hinted he was looking more for a good fit than a big pay day. "I was just coming in here trying to prove myself as a good hockey player," he said Wednesday night. Wayne Simmonds reacts after being named the 2017 Honda Ridgeline NHL All-Star MVP following the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Tournament Final at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Jan. 29, 2017. I’m in the NHL.’ ... It’s really nice.”, It has its not-so-nice moments. “To be helped out (financially) like that, I think it gave him even more of a push. “When you don’t come from much, you know you’ve got to work hard if you want to change your situation.”. I don’t think I’ve concentrated on anything else so hard in my life than to be a hockey player,” Simmonds said this week. The beloved former Flyer signed with the Devils on Monday. And it seems like he’s taken that to the ice.”. When Wayne Simmonds took his first go-around he missed completely and unlike everyone else he got down on all fours and did 10 pushups. (Christopher Moorhouse was later fined $200.) to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Find out why Lil Wayne … Simmonds has previously played for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres. Wayne Simmonds’ stint with the Nashville Predators did not go as planned (David Berding-USA TODAY Sports) General manager Ray Shero is taking a chance on him and hoping he can bounce back. Crosby, an Olympic-gold prodigy, has been doing interviews about his on-ice mastery since age 7. When he first came down the hallway to the Devils’ locker room at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night, Wayne Simmonds was all smiles. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Metropolitan Division’s Wayne Simmonds, right, celebrates his goal with Taylor Hall during the NHL All-Star game on Sunday. To order copies of He was 22 years old and had scored 39 career goals. 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