I did a terrible thing today: I told a dreadful lie! I'd been skiing at Whitewater and after a good day on the slopes I need to hitch a lift back to Nelson where I'm staying. Well the only car to stop was a big SUV with a Toronto Maple Leafs flag flying from the window. The driver stopped and wound the window down.

"Are you a Leafs fan?" he asked.

The correct response to that question is as follows:

"No sir! I am a fan of your arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, the greatest team in the history of Ice Hockey. The Leafs suck!"

However, one glance at the driver and I could tell that wasn't the response to get me out of the snow (did I mention it was snowing? It was!) and into the car. So I came over all gormless Brit!

"What? Hockey? Yeah, sure - whatever.."

He didn't seem convinced. He needed one final betrayal on my part. And I, spineless wretch that I am, was happy to oblige:

"Say 'Go Leafs Go'"

"Go Leafs Go!" - aaaargh! The words burnt in my throat. Guy Lafleur - I'm so sorry! Ken Dryden, Bob Gainey, Jaques Plante, Jean Beliveau - can you forgive me? But I was in. And 30 mintues later I was back in Nelson at the very charming Dancing Bear Hostel. I felt dirty and ashamed. I went straight to the shower to clean myself up, and offer a silent prayer to the spirit of Rocket Richard that he would understand.

Go Habs Go!