I was sent the photos below of John and Yoko and a Habs sweater back in 2013, from what I assumed was during the couple’s seven-day Bed-In for Peace in Montreal in 1969.
I hadn’t seen these pictures before and I was blown away. But it turned out I was wrong about the Bed-In part. You’ll see why further on down.
It looks like John is holding a sweater bearing number 5. Bernie Geoffrion wore number five from 1951 to ’64, and in 1968 Gilles Tremblay owned the number for two years, retiring after the ’69 season. So it was probably one of these, I thought, but I was wrong about that too!
Lennon, being a huge hockey fan of course, said the following; (Not really but humour me).
“I don’t mind Fergy playing a rough style, but I can’t stand what Ted Green does, especially with his stick,” said John to the room packed with all types of people. “This sort of thing should be taken out of the game. That’s why I promote peace and do the Bed-In thing, to end violence in hockey. Give Peace on Ice a chance.”
John and Yoko then started humming the Imperial Oil Hockey Night in Canada theme, joined by Tommy Smothers and Timothy Leary, two other huge hockey fans.
But maybe a year or so after I posted this, I got the following note from a fellow in Ottawa named Ed Wolk, who was there with John and Yoko, and who has also become my friend since the note!
“Glad to see these photos on your blog.. a bit of a clarification.
1. picture was taken in Dec 1969 months after the bed-in in June.
2. The number on the jersey is actually 15.. Bobby Rousseau.
How do I know?.. I bought that game worn jersey at McNiece’s Sports for $15.00 (that’s what they sold for – new jerseys were $22.)…and presented to John as well as the toques that they are both wearing.
John and Yoko had just spent a week in Toronto…and I figured that it would really piss off Leaf fans if he showed up with a Habs jersey.. The photo made the front page of the Sports section in The Gazette or Mtl. Star the following day.
Mission accomplished… I wonder where that jersey is now?”
Ed also sent a picture of him actually giving the sweater and toque to John at the time!
