The Zaniest Hockey Fan Club In New York

One thing you have to say about New York hockey fans is that they are creative; sometimes to the point of being off-the-wall.

In the 1970's, while I was Rangers beat reporter for the New York Journal-American newspaper, I hung around the club's public relations office a lot. It was a fun place to be because the primary press agent was jovial John Halligan whose sidekick was the beauteous and efficient Janet Fischetti.

John eventually married Janet and – together with aide Arthur Friedman – that publicity department was like a comedy club. Mind you, they were serious and very competent but they also liked a laugh; and so did The Maven.

One of the lead "Stand-Up" comics was Friedman who – merely by exhaling – would make up a nickname or find someone others didn't think was particularly amusing but was funny to Friedman.

Exhibit A was a California (then Oakland) Golden Seals forward named Morris K. Mott. In Friedman's view, the mere name Morris K. Mott was the laugh-riot of the NHL Guide and Record Book. But Easy Arthur didn't stop there.

Having further learned that Mister Mott had earned a Master's Degree in history at a Canadian University, Friedman decided to turn the very average hockey forward into a cult hero.

"Friedman saw to it that the New York media knew of Mott's every move, each of which was toasted with apple juice of the same name," recalled Rangers author-historian Alan Greenberg.

"Mott's positive attitude, likable personality and his name could not escape the discriminating New York fans who always can be counted on to support a hard-working underdog."

With a Morris Mott Fan Club now in place at Seventh Avenue and West 31st Street – alias Madison Square Garden – some serious research revealed more fascinating Morris Mott-isms; one of which is that he was born in a very, very small town.

Creelman, Saskatchewn was bulging with a population of 197 when Moe made it to the NHL in 1972-73. He played 70 games for the Seals, scoring six goals and seven assists for 13 points. (No other Creelman native could make that statement)

Mott's scoring peaked in 1973-74 (9-17-26) to the great joy of the Halligans, Friedman and others in Moe Mott's Manhattan Fan Club.

Greenberg: "Mott took the entire episode with a serious good nature, acknowledging that all of the attention he was receiving put more pressure on him to produce"

Alas, Double M didn't produce enough for him to last in the NHL but Morris did make a name for himself in the academic world. He wound up getting a PHD in history at Brandon (Manitoba) University and taught for years at the college.

But he never obtained in Creelman, Saskatchewan nor Brandon, Manitoban what he got in an office atop Penn Station – The Official One And Only Morris Mott Fan Club!