Gretzky. Lemieux. Tank.

Weird call from the announcer. “Did he do it again?!” Huh? “Did the Sun rise this morning?” “Did Jordan hit that game winner?” “Did Brady beat the Jets?” All less obvious answers compared to “Did Tank sink another one?” Few have been such magicians with a twig in their mitts like Tank. No hesitation. Straight five hole. Every single time.

And I mean this without a lick of hyperbole: that arena chanting “FRANK. THE. TANK” is the purest moment in modern American sports history. Those onlookers will go home tonight with newfound hope in their hearts. A new outlook on life. The belief that anything is possible. Because witnessing true greatness inspires the rest of us to be better. That’s what Frank the Tank accomplished out on that ice.