Giving Terry Sawchuk a Voice: A Conversation with Canadian author Randall Maggs

In this interview, Randall Maggs discusses the origins of Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems and the long process of researching and writing the book. He reflects on his early awareness of legendary goalie Terry Sawchuk in Winnipeg, the moment that brought him back to hockey, and the years he spent gathering stories from players, referees, and fans of the Original Six era. Maggs explains his goal of giving Sawchuk a chance to “speak for himself,” the challenges of understanding a complex personality, and the influence of family, loss, and immigrant experience on Sawchuk’s life. He also shares insights from his own hockey background, his brother’s professional career, and his connections to communities across Canada. This conversation offers rare insight into the craft behind Night Work and the enduring legacy of Terry Sawchuk. Maggs also references a song by a Canadian songwriter which helped inspire his work. You can listen to it here: Ron Hynes: Sawchuk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.