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IVY LEA -- Bring together a renowned Leaf, a Hab great and a legendary Blackhawk and you get controversy as interesting as anything in politics.

Supporters of Bob Runciman - no stranger to political controversy - enjoyed some equally lively partisan banter on the hockey front at the Tory MPP's Afternoon in the Islands fundraiser here Saturday - even if the back-and-forth between hockey greats was all in fun.

This year's invited hockey legends were the famed "Golden Jet" Bobby Hull, the Montreal Canadiens' "Roadrunner," Yvan Cournoyer, and Ron Ellis of Toronto Maple Leafs fame.

While Leafs fans seemed to form the majority in this Tory blue crowd, Cournoyer, though ever the gentleman, was not too shy, when his time came at the microphone, to let show his tricolore with some jabs at the Leafs, who won their last Stanley Cup in 1967.

"I think Toronto is the only team who won the Stanley Cup in 1967," joked Cournoyer, who won the Cup 10 times with the Habs. "The only pictures that they have are still in black and white."

Ellis, given his colours, could only resort to self-deprecation. He won over the crowd by saying that, in his job at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, he tells visitors that he and Cournoyer have 11 Stanley Cups between them.

The pair, who both went to the NHL at the same time and played together on Team Canada in the 1972 series against the Soviets, remain good friends, said Cournoyer.

Meanwhile, Ellis said the four words he dreaded most from Leaf coach Punch Imlach came whenever they were playing Chicago: "You've got Hull tonight."

When the microphone was handed to Hull, the Golden Jet began by praising Cournoyer and the Canadiens.

"It was something to come into the Montreal Forum to play against the greatest franchise in all of hockey," he said.

But he didn't pull his punches when discussing the Blackhawks under the direction of Bob Pulford, whom he accused of turning one of the greatest sports franchises ever into one of the worst.

Hull, 67, who now lives in Sarasota, Florida, devotes much of his time to raising money for children's charities.

He said he hasn't been following the NHL as much since his son, Brett, retired last year, but he approves of the rule changes made in the wake of the 2004-05 players' strike.

"I think that they had to make the rule changes in order to get the talented players back in the game," said Hull, adding the new game no longer favours players who dump the puck in and chase it.

Cournoyer, 62, now works as an ambassador for the Canadiens.

In a subsequent interview in French, he said his most memorable career moment was at the beginning, when, as a member of the Junior Canadiens, he got a call in 1963 to suit up for his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings.

"How many people can realize their dream?" he said.

While these are no longer glory days for the Habs, Cournoyer said he starts each season with the hope the team will win the Stanley Cup.

"If you don't think you're going to win the Stanley Cup when you start the season, you have a problem," he said. "You'd be better off going skiing."

Ellis, 61, is the director of public affairs at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. His career highlights include playing on the last Stanley Cup winning Leafs squad.

While he and his colleagues played for much less money in the 1960s, Ellis does not resent the huge sums athletes make today.

"The game's been very good to me," he said. "I can't complain."

Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory entered the hockey fray in his speech to the partisan crowd.

Tory, who plans to run in a Toronto riding in the 2007 election, predicted next year will bring two significant victories: a new Tory government and a Stanley Cup win for the Leafs, on the 40th anniversary of their last championship.