He Will Never Skate Again
When Toller was 13, he developed a huge lump below both knees. Skating had become painful and jumping had become excruciating. He had a condition called Osgood Schlatters that most often afflicts growing boys aged ten to fifteen. The family was told that Toller would absolutely,
positively, never skate again. Toller spent the next many months with both legs in plaster casts extending from the ankle to the groin. When the casts came off, he was able to gradually resume walking, and then skating, but was warned that he must not run, and he must not jump. He continued to train. He began to jump. He won the 1964 Canadian Junior Championship.
