Ozzie …the Dangerfield of Hockey “No Respect”.

Growing up I’ve always had a fascination for the underdogs in sports. My favorite sports movies are ‘Rudy’, ‘Rocky’ and ‘Miracle’ because they all deal with inspirational tales of athletes who showed tremendous heart and mental toughness as they beat enormous odds and achieved their dream. Always one to root for the underdog I’ve become in recent years a huge Chris Osgood fan. For years I’ve heard or read the various criticism that the Detroit Red Wings have won Stanley Cups in the past despite having Osgood in net. Even though he still hasn’t won over all the critics in his 15- year career, the man affectionately known in Detroit as “Ozzie” has a big fan in Wings GM Ken Holland. “He’s taken some criticism through the years, but it’s not his fault he’s on a good team,” Holland said. “You can’t win championships without great goaltending and he’s given us great goaltending.” Osgood who has three Stanley Cups on his resume and has won 389 career games, has shown tremendous heart when he easily could have gotten discouraged and developed poor working habits. In September 2001, Osgood’’s career hit a low when after six full seasons with the Wings they placed him on waivers where he was picked up by the struggling New York Islanders. After a little over a year on the Island this Alberta native was traded to the St. Louis Blues. Tied for number 10 on the all time career win list with 389, Osgood who is now 37 years-old had his career resurrected when in 2005/06 he signed a one year deal and began his second stint with the Wings. In his first year back Osgood suffered some nagging injuries and found himself playing second fiddle to Manny Legace, who was having a stellar season. As a backup Osgood never complained and had 20 wins in only 32 games. The following season he found himself backing up Dominik Hasek, and according to team management still didn’t complain and still kept up his superb practice habits. In 2007/08 Osgood played a tighter butterfly style winning 27 games and this time got his big break in the playoffs when Hasek struggled mightily against the Nashville Predators. Taking over last spring from Hasek, Osgood never looked back as he went 14-4 with a microscopic 1.55 GAA. A year later this veteran who had a dismal .887 GAA in the regular season is once again proving his critics wrong. “People that doubt me don’t really know me, so I don’t really listen to it,” Osgood who was given 10 days off from the team in mid-February to re-focus said. “What means most to me is when I step on the ice and fans are chanting my name.” It’s only fitting that the “Ozzie” has made his mark in a blue- collar city since he is a blue-collar kind of goalie. In his Red Wings career Osgood is second on the all time win goalies win list. (Terry Sawchuk first with 351). With two years left on his current contract there is a better than average chance that Osgood will move up to number one on that list. Still despite the many accomplishments and tenacity, many still doubted the goaltending of Osgood which one should never ever do.