Yeah we used to heat our new blades over the stove too, though I didn't bend mine to the extent my brother did. He was a Bobby Orr man and played left-handed defense, while I was an Esposito man and played left-handed centre, though I gradually switched from left-handed shooting to my more-natural right-handed shooting...but I loved the back-handed shot, which is far more effective on a straight blade, so my blade curve was never really pronounced.
Whenever we did see other kids with seriously-curved blades, they reminded us of one of Esposito's linemates at the time, Ken Hodge. Talk about a curve...his had to be only barely legal...and you're right, those shots that kids would take with them used to go all over the place.