“Bill Torrey knew.”
Those were the words from Denis Potvin during a spirited memorial service for the Islanders architect, referring to the innate sense that Torrey had for building a hockey team and dealing with people.
Perhaps the only thing he could not have foreseen was that about 275 people, including figures whom Potvin called “hockey royalty” would turn out to Torrey’s beloved Meadow Brook Club Friday afternoon for a couple of hours of memories and laughter (with an emphasis on the latter).
“I think he would have been embarrassed by all the accolades,” National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman said in an interview after he had made a warm speech about his close friend, who died May 3.