Tony Hand: A Missed NHL Star?
Mia Bode
2025-04-16 14:57:22
Count answers: 6
Homesickness was the reason for coming home in the end and when it came down to it, I missed playing about with my mates and, of course, my family too. Looking back at the experience now, I should have stayed and worked at it. I didn’t know what to expect when I went out there and there was no guidance to help me. Once you were in North America, you were cut off from the rest of the world and that was difficult to adjust to. In hindsight, it would have been logical to stay there and see where it took me.
Reta Grimes
2025-04-16 14:03:57
Count answers: 7
As the first British player to be drafted in the NHL, Hand had an opportunity to make it at the very highest level but chose to come home. We’ll never know whether Hand could have been a success in the USA, but his decision to return to these shores was certainly beneficial to the British game. During his 33-year domestic playing career Hand was a popular figure with fans across the country, while he also enjoyed nearly 20 years on the international stage with Great Britain.
Doyle Larson
2025-04-16 12:37:51
Count answers: 2
There is no doubt that Tony Hand is one of the greatest "what ifs" in the history of the NHL. The Edmonton Oilers selected Hand in the 12th round of the 1986 NHL Draft, and Hand was invited to training camp. Hand impressed the coaching staff, with head coach Glen Sather commenting that Hand was the second-smartest player on the ice, behind only Wayne Gretzky. What if Tony Hand had signed a contract with the Oilers instead of heading back home?
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