One of hockey's most colourful characters, from hockey's most
colourful era, tells all
Gilles Gratton was not a typical pro hockey player. He refused to don
his equipment and man his net if the planets were not properly aligned.
He skated naked at practice. He created one of hockey's most famous
goalie masks based on his astrological sign. He fought with coaches and
management, speaking his mind to his detriment. Sex, drugs, and rock 'n'
roll ruled his life, not stopping pucks. Truthfully? He never really
wanted to be an NHL goaltender; he wanted to be Tibetan monk. And so, he
quit hockey to seek enlightenment.
Now, in his autobiography, Gratton teams up with author Greg Oliver to
tell his wild and at times, yes, loony story: from his early days in
Montreal, where his brother Norm Gratton became an NHL player, too;
through his stints with the OHA's Oshawa Generals, the Ottawa Nationals
and Toronto Toros of the rogue WHA, and the St. Louis Blues and New York
Rangers in the NHL.