Dan Daoust was a Montreal native who was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs after four games with the Habs.
Q: Was the trade difficult to handle?
Daoust: It was, but not for long because I had two good years with Montreal's farm team in Halifax where I scored 98 and 65 points. In my opinion they should have given me more opportunity. I had no family, I was full of vim, vigor and vitality and I pulled on that great old Maple Leaf uniform and set out to make the best of it. My first two games as a Maple Leaf were in Chicago and St Louis and then to the Forum in Montreal. It was a great game where I recorded a goal and an assist, was named a star and it was a 4 - 4 tie. Then it was back to the Gardens and I had an assist as we won a very exciting 6 - 5 game. The crowds roared from beginning to end and from then on I was a Maple Leaf. My career in Toronto had several turns. In my third year, I played left wing with Rick Vaive and John Anderson. I recorded 74 points including 56 assists because that was when Rick Vaive became the first Maple Leaf to score more than 50 goals. I was feeling good about myself but they converted me to a checker playing against the top line “The Savards and the Yzermans.” I was now a two way forward. It wasn't as much fun.
Q: What was your biggest hockey thrill?
There were several, but my first year in pro I made the NHL All Rookie team at left wing. Before that I played Junior in Cornwall under Coach Doug Carpenter and we upset Sherbrooke 6 - 5 in the deciding game of the Quebec Junior Playoffs and we went on to win the Memorial Cup. Sherbrooke had a dozen NHL drafts but led by the great Hawerchuck we persevered and won the National Junior Title.
Q: Who had the greatest impact on your career?
When you know that less than 1% of your players will make the NHL, I had a special desire and tried to accept the good from my coaches and ignore the bad. I played minor hockey in Kirkland Lake; I would play 50 - 60 minutes a game and if you had the desire you would develop. My dad had an impact on me. He loved the game and I can remember my dad, who wasn't very big, felt you had to be tough and he would line up the players and have them run at him. I learned toughness from dad.
Q: You played in Switzerland after you retired from the NHL. Describe that experience!
It was a great experience. We played in Thurgau near the French and German borders close to Lake Constance and it was beautiful. We had a good time as a family. My wife and the kids and I learned to speak passable German. Financially, it was okay but that was after they paid the Canadians big money because the Russians and Czechs could be acquired for $10,000; they wanted to get out from behind the poverty stricken Iron Curtain.
Q: What are you doing now?
I run a very successful hockey school during August; it's 5 years old and growing. I also have a company that sells sporting goods and team association jackets. It's hectic but you have to be cautious and strict because the margins are not large.
Q: Do you have any suggestions that would make the game better?
I would like to see older refs officiate kids hockey. Usually it's kids refereeing kids and the players don't learn enough about respect for the game, officials or their opponents. Also, parents and coaches have got to let the kids have more fun playing without losing their desire to win and do their best.
Q: What about your roller hockey?
In 1993 I played with the Toronto Planets. My first game, I put on roller blades for the first time and I didn't know how to stop, but not many did so there was a lot of crashing, but I learned and it was fun. I scored 19 points including 5 goals in 5 games.
I became an assistant coach for Canada in Anaheim. It never replaced hockey but it was good for me physically and I picked up a few extra bucks.
