Love love love that story! Marty is one of my favorites of all time. Then you threw in Vrby, Michal, Doan and Klesla. I love these guys. The good ole days.. thanks Craig!
Craig, one of your best articles ever! Thank you so much for giving us the rest of the story. This is the stuff that makes me love sports. Too often we never have any idea. Thanks for taking this professional journey. We are all going to be so much better for it.
Thank you for this inside look into our Czech players. I went to the Memorial Cup in Red Deer where Hanzel's poster still hangs in the foyer as one of the best to have played there. I also have the poster framed and hung of our Olympic athletes at Sochi of which he was one. It's hung on my wall with his signed puck underneath. He was so maligned for having a "back made of glass" and few recognized the punishment he received in the role he played. My husband is a retired firefighter who has 5 bulging discs and a torn back muscle from his service. There are times when he lifts a cup or turns to get out of the car that render him unable to walk or make his spine look like an "S" instead of straight. He would point out little "tells" of just how much Hanzel was playing through injury a good part of the time. Role players like he and Micalek rarely get the appreciation they deserve. He was not only a good player but a phenomenal person. I have a picture of the day Craig Cunningham did the media drop of the puck after returning from his horrible heart attack that cost him his leg. Captain Doan represented the Coyotes but even though he was not Captain, Hanzel represented the Wild so that he could do this for his former team mate. Character always shines.
I don't think fans realized how valuable Marty was to the team. Like you say, he was the 1st line center and also the lower line grinder in front of the net. The team still has not replaced his abilities.
Hard to believe that he hurt his back his first season and struggled with it his entire career. Wish him well with his new after hockey career.
I totally remember a game I was at a few years ago and these four Canadians sitting in front of us were lightheartedly poking fun at Hanzal’s skating abilities and how when he was in juniors (probably Red Deer, I imagine) he couldn’t skate worth a damn back then either. Gave us all a good chuckle. Best wishes to Marty on his retirement.
Love the article. We had some great Czech players back then and it was fun to watch them play together. My wife and I were in Philly and New York during that road trip when Marty scored on the other Marty at the Rock. That trip was one of a few bright spots in the Gretzky era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFQFVCg6iRA
What a nice visit and a thoughtful tribute. I think it was noticeable that his back was an issue early on, still what a shame. But I also think he has the right of it - he's young still and he has a long life ahead of him, it may have been a hard decision but it was a mature decision. Some guys go the other way and it's just hard to watch them continue to struggle, but I guess if you really love a thing it can be hard to put away.
Love love love that story! Marty is one of my favorites of all time. Then you threw in Vrby, Michal, Doan and Klesla. I love these guys. The good ole days.. thanks Craig!
Yandle and Marty took more chirps than any Coyotes ever and they're both in my top ten most valuable Coyotes of the Glendale forward era.
Also good to hear Vrby (also in the same to ten) is still in your contact list.
Craig, one of your best articles ever! Thank you so much for giving us the rest of the story. This is the stuff that makes me love sports. Too often we never have any idea. Thanks for taking this professional journey. We are all going to be so much better for it.
Thank you for this inside look into our Czech players. I went to the Memorial Cup in Red Deer where Hanzel's poster still hangs in the foyer as one of the best to have played there. I also have the poster framed and hung of our Olympic athletes at Sochi of which he was one. It's hung on my wall with his signed puck underneath. He was so maligned for having a "back made of glass" and few recognized the punishment he received in the role he played. My husband is a retired firefighter who has 5 bulging discs and a torn back muscle from his service. There are times when he lifts a cup or turns to get out of the car that render him unable to walk or make his spine look like an "S" instead of straight. He would point out little "tells" of just how much Hanzel was playing through injury a good part of the time. Role players like he and Micalek rarely get the appreciation they deserve. He was not only a good player but a phenomenal person. I have a picture of the day Craig Cunningham did the media drop of the puck after returning from his horrible heart attack that cost him his leg. Captain Doan represented the Coyotes but even though he was not Captain, Hanzel represented the Wild so that he could do this for his former team mate. Character always shines.
I think if you asked long time Coyotes fans who their 5 favorites are, Marty Hanzal makes just about everyone's list.
I don't think fans realized how valuable Marty was to the team. Like you say, he was the 1st line center and also the lower line grinder in front of the net. The team still has not replaced his abilities.
Hard to believe that he hurt his back his first season and struggled with it his entire career. Wish him well with his new after hockey career.
I totally remember a game I was at a few years ago and these four Canadians sitting in front of us were lightheartedly poking fun at Hanzal’s skating abilities and how when he was in juniors (probably Red Deer, I imagine) he couldn’t skate worth a damn back then either. Gave us all a good chuckle. Best wishes to Marty on his retirement.
Love the article. We had some great Czech players back then and it was fun to watch them play together. My wife and I were in Philly and New York during that road trip when Marty scored on the other Marty at the Rock. That trip was one of a few bright spots in the Gretzky era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFQFVCg6iRA
To quote the great fashion designer Mr. Jacobim Mugatu, "That Hanzal is so hot right now."
What a nice visit and a thoughtful tribute. I think it was noticeable that his back was an issue early on, still what a shame. But I also think he has the right of it - he's young still and he has a long life ahead of him, it may have been a hard decision but it was a mature decision. Some guys go the other way and it's just hard to watch them continue to struggle, but I guess if you really love a thing it can be hard to put away.
Awesome article! Definitely underrated while he was in AZ but glad to see him doing great now. Always love when you catch up with former Yotes!