The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.

December 26, 1964

The Hockey News December 26, 1964

<h2>Sat. Dec. 12 PROVIDENCE 1, PITTSBURGH 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-06119/2090403-1-eng-US/f0012-062.jpg" title="f0012-06" width="548" height="759"></div><h2>BALTIMORE 7, HERSHEY 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0798/2090396-1-eng-US/f0012-072.jpg" title="f0012-07" width="542" height="818"></div><h2>BUFFALO 1, CLEVELAND 0</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0882/2090389-1-eng-US/f0012-082.jpg" title="f0012-08" width="539" height="349"></div><h2>ROCHESTER 3. SPRINGFIELD 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-0967/2090382-1-eng-US/f0012-092.jpg" title="f0012-09" width="550" height="473"></div><h2>Sunday, Dec. 13 HERSHEY 4. BUFFALO 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-1058/2090375-1-eng-US/f0012-102.jpg" title="f0012-10" width="540" height="622"></div><h2>ROCHESTER 5, QUEBEC 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-1151/2090368-1-eng-US/f0012-112.jpg" title="f0012-11" width="543" height="576"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH 5. PROVIDENCE 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-1237/2090361-1-eng-US/f0012-122.jpg" title="f0012-12" width="552" height="587"></div><h2>BALTIMORE 4. SPRINGFIELD 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-1329/2090354-1-eng-US/f0012-132.jpg" title="f0012-13" width="547" height="633"></div><h2>Tues., Dec. 15 ROCHESTER 1, QUEBEC 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-1423/2090347-1-eng-US/f0012-142.jpg" title="f0012-14" width="546" height="548"></div> &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

American League Summaries

LOS ANGELES. Calif.Los Angeles&rsquo; centreman Norm Johnson, who is off to his finest start in a most productive Western Hockey League career, is making a habit of gaining mention as the Western&rsquo;s League&rsquo;s Player-of-the-Week.The clever pivot came up with another seven point performance last week in four games played, more points than were garnered by any other player, to move into the league lead in the individual scoring race.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1343/2090755-1-eng-US/f0014-132.jpg" title="f0014-13" width="262" height="424"><figcaption class="caption-body">Norm Johnson</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Blades’ Johnson Pulls Repeat

<h2>ONTARIO JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2><h3>(Standings on Fri. Dec. 18)</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03174/2091498-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="538" height="297"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tues. Dec. 15Oshawa 6. St. Catharines 4.Thurs. Dec. 17Toronto 4, Hamilton 2.Montreal 2. Peterborough 2.<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Fri., Dec. 18Montreal at Niagara FallsKitchener at TorontoSat., Dec. 19Hamilton at OshawaSun., Dec. 20Kitchener at MontrealPeterborough at TorontoNiagara Falls at St. CatharinesOshawa at HamiltonSat., Dec. 26St. Catharines at MontrealHamilton at PeterboroughSun., Dec. 27Oshawa at MontrealPeterborough at KitchenerNiagara Falls at HamiltonSt. Catharines at Toronto<h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3>(Including games of Sun., Dec. 13)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04151/2091491-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="559" height="302"></div> &#9632;

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How They Stand

<div class="byline">Berry</div>DETROIT, Mich.&mdash;There was joy in the Red Wing camp. Gordie Howe had regained his scoring touch.The great right winger finally put an end to his seemingly endless slump Dec. 16 when the Wings topped New York 7-3. Gordie went out and had himself an old fashioned night scoring twice and assisting on two more for a four-point performance.It was Howe&rsquo;s first goal in the last 13 games and shattered what had been the Red Wings&rsquo; star worst slump in his 19 seasons as a National Leaguer. He hadn&rsquo;t scored since Nov. 14 when he shot his 627th against Montreal.When the Red Wings had as many men in the training room and out of action as they had on the ice, they could do little wrong and spent five weeks in first place.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-03388/2089247-1-eng-US/f0002-032.jpg" title="f0002-03" width="519" height="534"><figcaption class="caption-body">RON MURPHY&hellip;Shoulder Problem</figcaption></div>Then, when they got everyone back&mdash;with the exception of Larry Jeffrey who won&rsquo;t re-turn until January or February&mdash;they couldn&rsquo;t do anything right.Perplexed manager-coach Sid Abel juggled the lines after the Wings lost three of four games and were outscored, 19-8.Ted Lindsay finally scored at Olympia for the first time in 12 games since his dramatic comeback and it brought down the roof.Lindsay scored twice against Chicago&rsquo;s Denis DeJordy, first on a jam-in at the corner and second on a breakaway but it wasn&rsquo;t enough to keep Detroit from a 3-2 defeat.The 39-year-old Lindsay, joking about his breakaway goal, said &ldquo;You could read the label all the way in.&rdquo;The goals were his third and fourth of the season.Ron Murphy has been receiving cortisone injections in his shoulder and a final decision on the shoulder will be put off until the end of the month.Since the injections started, Murphy said he has had full use of the shoulder which was injured Nov. 5 and kept him idle for most of a month. &#9632;

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Abel Smiling Again As Howe Scores Twice To Snap Worst Slump In 19-Yenr Career

<div class="byline">BY JIM PROUDFOOT</div>TORONTO. Ont.&mdash;Nobody would ever mistake Punch Im-lach for Santa Claus but the fiery little coach and general manager of the Maple Leafs was brimfiling over with Yuletide spirit this month.&ldquo;If Christmas wasn&rsquo;t coming, I&rsquo;d have to shake this club up,&rdquo; Imlach said, referring to Leafs&rsquo; baffling inconsistency. The way they&rsquo;d been playing. Imlach added, it was amazing they&rsquo;d stayed within range of first place.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01336/2091598-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg" title="Cover-01" width="285" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Pappin</figcaption></div>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got some guys on our farm teams who are playing as though they belong in the Na-tional League&rdquo;, Imlach said, &ldquo;and we&rsquo;ve got some guys here who act as though they belong in the minors.&ldquo;But they&rsquo;re all family men and I&rsquo;d have to be a real louse to send them to Rochester or Victoria or Tulsa. But after Christmas, it&rsquo;ll be different.&ldquo;Listen,&rdquo; Imlach went on, &ldquo;when this gang won the Stanley Cup, they&rsquo;d earned the chance to start this next season. They proved they were the best. But how long can I wait?&rdquo;As it was, Imlach has one man over the roster limit. He didn&rsquo;t drop anybody when the cutdown date was passed Dec. 1 because Dickie Moore went home to Montreal and first Frank Mahovlich, then Bob Pulford, was out of the lineup.Locked in the most serious slumps were Don McKenney and Shack. Jim Pappin didn&rsquo;t have many goals to his credit, but wasn&rsquo;t being used much. Same was true of Billy Harris.Actually, Imlach had planned to go with a complete forward line composed of new players. Instead, Ron Ellis is the only newcomer.&ldquo;Winning the Cup prevented that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;These guys are on the team, as defending champions, until they show me they don&rsquo;t fit.&ldquo;Some of them have,. believe me. But I can wait just a little while longer.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-02229/2091591-1-eng-US/cover-022.jpg" title="Cover-02" width="2208" height="1577"><figcaption class="caption-body">Leafs&rsquo; veteran netminder JOHNNY BOWER appears to have lost his regular goal job to Terry Sawchuk this season. Bower, shown here thwarting Rangers&rsquo; twin terrors, ROD GILBERT, left, and CAMILLE HENRY (21), hasn&rsquo;t seen as much ice time as Sawchuk. However the 40-year-old Toronto puck-stopper is still one of the game&rsquo;s best clutch goalies and it&rsquo;s likely he&rsquo;ll see more action in the second half of the season.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Imlach Plans To Shake Up Champs

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div>DETROIT, Mich.Like Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert M. Hull is a landslide choice to break the 50-goal record this season.He&rsquo;s 2-to-l among the Red Wings to do it.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01450/2089185-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="264" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Hull</figcaption></div>Following the footsteps of Elmer Roper, Dr. George Gallup and the other pollsters, we surveyed the Wings and 10 picked Hull to break it, five said he wouldn&rsquo;t and three were undecided. Every poll has an undecided column and this one won&rsquo;t buck the trend.Defenseman Bill Gadsby picked 54.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s hitting the net with his shots,&rdquo; Gadsby said. &ldquo;He always did take a lot of shots but he missed a lot. Now they&rsquo;re on target.&rdquo;And Gadsby knows what it&rsquo;s like when they are on target.&ldquo;I got hit in the stomach by one last year and it knocked the wind out of me. It&rsquo;s a good thing I was only three yards from him&mdash;I think it picks up speed as it goes along.&rdquo;In addition to his bullet shots, the Wings agree that Hull has bull-like strength to make plays that no one else can make but they all hedged their predictions with &ldquo;if he stays healthy.&rdquo;&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll get 55 barring injury,&rdquo; figured Marcel Pronovost.&ldquo;At the rate he&rsquo;s going, he&rsquo;ll break it,&rdquo; added Al Langlois. &ldquo;Ihope he gets as many as he can as long as they&rsquo;re not against us.&rdquo;Hull already had touched the Wings for five goals in five meetings.Like Pronovost, rookie Gary Bergman picked 55 for Hull &ldquo;and he could go as high as 60.&rdquo;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think he can keep up the pace he&rsquo;s at now,&rdquo; said former Hull teammate Ron Murphy, &ldquo;that would be almost 70 goals. But I think he can score 55 if he doesn&rsquo;t get hurt.&rdquo;&ldquo;He shoots the puck when he gets it,&rdquo; said Bruce MacGregor, who has been doing that himself this season and has blossomed into a scorer. &ldquo;He&rsquo;ll probably have some dry spells but then he comes back with a couple of hat tricks to make up for them.&rdquo;Paul Henderson, who vainly tried to check Hull in a 5-0 victory over Detroit but saw the Chicago superstar still get his stick on a pass from Phil Esposito to score, picked 53 goals for Hull.Norm Ullman and standby goalie Carl Wetzel said &ldquo;over 50.&rdquo;Floyd Smith played it cagy.&ldquo;If he keeps playing as much as he is, you&rsquo;d have to assume he&rsquo;ll tire out and then I&rsquo;d say 46 goals. But if he doesn&rsquo;t tire, he&rsquo;ll get 56.&rdquo;Those who figure Hull won&rsquo;t break the mark he shares with Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard think he&rsquo;ll do no worse than 45 goals.&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t quote me,&rdquo; smiled goalie Roger Crozier, quite understandably since he has to try to stop the lightning shots.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ll catch him,&rdquo; quipped Ted Lindsay.&rsquo;But the best crack was Gordie Howe&rsquo;s and the jest had a ring of truth in it.&ldquo;If he goes like I am, he won&rsquo;t break 30,&rdquo; Howe said.By mid-December, Howe&rsquo;s worst slump of his career had reached 12 games before he broke out with two goals Dec. 16 against New York Rangers. Twice before, in his sophomore season and again in 1953-54, Howe went nine games without a goal.He finished with 16 goals in 1947-48 and shook out of the 195354 slump to finish with 33 goals and win the scoring title. &#9632;

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Wings Wish It Weren’t True But Poll Shows They Favor Hull To Break 50-Goal NHL Mark

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02431/2089216-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg"></div>OVERALL WON AND LOST RECORDS THIS SEASON (INCLUDING GAMES OF THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17) &#9632;

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How Teams Rate In NHL

Following are the latest player movements in hockey:<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>BOSTON&mdash;Gary Dorn-hoefer, forward, optioned to San Francisco of WHL.NEW YORK&mdash;Bob Plager, defenseman, returned to Vancouver of WHL.<h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2>CLEVELAND&mdash;Norm Schmitz, forward, recalled from Omaha of CPHL.ROCHESTER&mdash;Mike Har-baruk, forward, recalled from Tulsa of CPHL.<h2>WESTERN LEAGUE</h2>VICTORIA&mdash;Danny Belisle, forward, purchased from Quebec of AHL.SAN FRANCISCO&mdash;Henry Goy, goalkeeper, called up from Winnipeg Senior League for emergency use.<h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>TOLEDO&mdash;Don Westbrook, defenseman, returned by Springfield of AHL.DAYTON&mdash;Willie Mastin, forward, released.DES MOINES&mdash;Jim Sanko, forward, from Windsor-Chatham of Senior OHA, used as emergency replacement and returned.<h2>EASTERN LEAGUE</h2>GREENSBORO&mdash;Dom Di-Berardino, forward, secured from Jacksonville of EHL. &#9632;

Movements Of Players

Thousands of different 8x 10 glossy photos. Ideal for your bar, den or clubroom 5 for $3.00 Write for FREE new and enlarged illustrated catalog. Send 10# (stamps or coin) to cover postage and handling.ALL SPORTS PHOTOSBox 267-H Freeport. N.Y. &#9632;

SPORTS PHOTOS!

<div class="byline">BY JIM PROUDFOOT</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01449/2089326-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">RON ELLIS&hellip;Rookie Leafs&rsquo; Leading Scorer</figcaption></div>TORONTO, Ont.When 19-year-old Ron Ellis signed his first professional hockey contract last summer, he was told Toronto Maple Leafs would be completely satisfied if he produced 10 goals during his freshman season.As usual, Punch Imlach. the master psychologist who is both coach and general manager of the Toronto club, knew what he was doing.Entirely free of pressure, Ellis hit the 10-goal level in the 25th game of Leafs&rsquo; 196465 schedule and added another the following evening.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s simple,&rdquo; Imlach says. &ldquo;Naturally, I expected he&rsquo;d get more than 10. But I didn&rsquo;t want to set a goal that would be tough on him and cause him a lot of worry. He made 10 easily and the way he&rsquo;s going he&rsquo;s liable to hit 25. From his standpoint, he made his quota with no trouble and everything he does from here on is extra.&rdquo;Ellis is one of the leaders among the finest group of rookies to step into the NHL in several seasons. Others are Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; goaltender, New York Rangers&rsquo; defence twins, Rod Seiling and Arnie Brown, and Yvan Cournoyer of Montreal Canadiens.At this point, it&rsquo;s very difficult to foretell which one might become the ultimate winner of the Calder Trophy, the $1,000 award that goes to the season&rsquo;s top rookie. But it is certainly safe to say Ellis is one of the leading candidates.As THE HOCKEY NEWS went to press, he was Leafs&rsquo; leading goal-scorer.Ellis follows the pattern established by the other two prize newcomers developed during Imlach&rsquo;s regime in Maple Leaf Gardens. Carl Brewer moved into big-league competition di-rectly from Leafs&rsquo; junior farm system, and so did Dave Keon two years later. Link them, Ellis has been an immediate hit.Last winter, Ellis counted 46 goals and 38 assists for Toronto Marlboros, who went on to win the Memorial Cup, emblematic of the national junior championship.Ellis also passed his Grade 13 examinations last year, thereby reaching a break in his educational program that made it easy for Leaf executives to discuss hockey with him. Though he was only 19, they figured he was ready to the NHL.&ldquo;It was a choice between school and pro hockey,&rdquo; Ellis says, &ldquo;and I decided to give hockey two years. When that&rsquo;s done, I&rsquo;ll still be young enough to continue my education, if it looks as though I made the wrong move.&rdquo;In the meantime, Ellis is beginning college work at York University.Born in Lindsay, Ont., Ellis played his kids&rsquo; hockey in the Ottawa Cradle League, where he was spotted by several NHL scouts. Brian Lynch submitted his name to Leafs, who persuaded him to move to Toronto and enter the Marlboro organization at the junior &ldquo;B&rdquo; plateau.&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t forget how close it came to ending right there and then,&rdquo; Ellis says. &ldquo;Alex David-son was the coach with Weston Dukes and I know he was on the verge of cutting me.&rdquo;Ellis was a centre at that time and was shifted to centre just a year ago by Marlboro coach Jim Gregory, who had Pete Stemkowski and Mike Walton, both pros now, and Gary Dineen of the national team, to play the middle.To Gregory goes much of the credit for the well-trained player Ellis has become, always in position, always covering his opposite, always making the correct play. There are times when he looks like Leafs&rsquo; best-drilled man.That comes from his father, Randy Ellis, who is an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was a member of Canada&rsquo;s Olympic hockey team in 1948 and later a minor-league professional. A potentially productive hockey career was sidetracked by the war and by a severe knee injury.&ldquo;Dad is my severest critic,&rdquo; Ellis says. &ldquo;He really gets on me when he thinks I&rsquo;m doing something badly. However, he&rsquo;s leaving more of the work to Punch now because he&rsquo;s got my kid brother, Roger, to worry about. I think Roger&rsquo;s a better hockey player at his age than I was then.&rdquo;Imlach gave Ellis every opportunity to make good, right from the start of training camp at Peterborough in September. And Ellis has justified Imlach&rsquo;s confidence entirely.Ellis opened the season as the right wing for Andy Bathgate and Frank Mahovlich. He started very impressively, too, then tailed off badly when Mahovlich was hospitalized by an unidentified ailment. By the time Mahovlich was ready to return, Imlach had shuffled his for-ward lines completely and had Ellis working the right flank with Dave Keon at centre and Don McKenney on left wing.Ellis&rsquo; speed and defensive skill were equally useful, regardless of where he lined up.And he showed a valuable knack for getting goals when Leafs need them most.Some examples: &rsquo; The tying goal in a game Leafs went on to win over Boston. Leafs&rsquo; only score in a 1-1 draw with Rangers. Another come-from-behind goal, though Leafs ultimately lost. The first goal in a 5-1 victory over Chicago, plus an assist on the winner and the 3-1 goal. The 1-1 goal in a match Leafs tied, 2-2, against Canadiens.And then the equalizing goal in a 3-3 tie with Rangers.It&rsquo;s a record many veterans would like to own and one Imlach wishes many of his regulars could emulate. Considering it, you tend to forget that Ellis won&rsquo;t be 20 until Jan. 8.It makes you wonder about those people who say the supply of hockey talent is drying up, that talented boys are forsaking sports as a career.Ellis, Seiling, Boston&rsquo;s Ron Schock and Chicago&rsquo;s Fred Stanfield, to name four, are right out of the juniors.Crozier has some minorleague experience and so has Arnie Brown.But the betting in Toronto says Ellis will top them all. &#9632;

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Ron Ellis Exceeds Expectations As Scorer; Rated Club’s Brightest Freshman Since Keon

TORONTO. Ont.Toronto Maple Leafs haven&rsquo;t given up on Dickie Moore.And Moore hasn&rsquo;t given up on himself, either.But it was a discouraging development this month when Moore was dropped from the Maple Leaf lineup after suffering a back injury that seemed to have ruined his comeback attempt.Moore, 34, was drafted by Leafs last June even though he&rsquo;d been out of hockey more than a year.People close to the club were amazed that he got his battered knees into working order and was able to take a regular turn with Leafs.He hadn&rsquo;t scored a goal but his skating was almost back to normal when he was injured in practice.&ldquo;It&rsquo;ll depend on how this sore back comes around,&rdquo; Moore said.But the wagering was that when Moore and his family returned to Montreal, the comeback bid was ended.Nobody can complain. Leafs got more than anybody expected for the $20,000 they put up. Few thought Moore would even report to camp and fewer still thought he&rsquo;d ever be able to Play.And there&rsquo;s still a possibility Moore will make the grade.But he was hardly in a position to overcome a crippling, discouraging setback.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02360/2089357-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="527" height="884"><figcaption class="caption-body">DICKIE MOORE</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Moore Returns To Home But Leafs Not Giving Up

Get yours FREE from BEE HIVE GOLDEN CORN SYRUPAthletes know the value of food energy&hellip;the kind of energy you get from Bee Hive Golden Corn Syrup. Ask your Mom to get you Bee Hive Golden Corn Syrup&mdash;SOON!<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03233/2089395-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="527" height="814"></div>For a free picture of Ron Ellis or any member of the Montreal Canadiens or Toronto Maple Leafs send one Bee Hive Corn Syrup collar or token; top from Durham Corn Starch or Ivory Laundry Starch; collar from St. Lawrence Corn Oil 25 oz. One collar, top, or token for each picture. Show your name and address, name of player you want, and mail to:<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04142/2089388-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="281" height="642"></div>ST. LAWRENCE STARCH COMPANY LIMITED Dept. &ldquo;H&rdquo;, Port Credit, Ont.Mounted pictures measure 5&rdquo; &times; 7&rdquo; &#9632;

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Action shot of Ron Ellis

<div class="byline">BY RED FOLEY</div>NEW YORK, N.Y.&mdash;It cost the Rangers $250 apiece to learn that a hockey team, unlike a jockey, doesn&rsquo;t make money sitting down on the job. That&rsquo;s the amount the club would have given each player if the Rangers had collected at least 26 points in their first 25 games.Blue brass had gotten the approval of NHL prexy Clarence Campbell to distribute the dough and they&rsquo;d even made provisions to pay $50 for every point over the required minimum. The Rangers wound up with a 9-10-6 mark and missed the plateau by two points.They have no one to blame but themselves and their stubborn insistence on trying to regulate the pressure when they&rsquo;re in front.When it comes to sitting on a lead the Rangers have about as much success as a wooden rooster trying to hatch a rubber egg. In at least five of their first 25 games they wound up either losing or being tied after having blown a lead. Had they continued to persist and carry the attack in any one of them they would, as things developed, fulfilled the bonus stipulation.The way hockey is played now, with a heavy accent on shooting and scoring, it takes a unique skill to accomplish this protective tactic. It appears quite obvious that the Rangers, despite having an improved defense, do no possess the degree of proficiency needed to execute this rapidly disappearing art.Yet they continue to pursue this course. No one yet has discovered, let alone developed, a method of scoring goals without shooting the puck and the Rangers are no exception.There are too many games in which passing is substituted for shooting. Ranger patterns are good, often excellent, but their efforts invariably go unrewarded because their skaters linger too long before pulling the trigger.Instead of firing away a Ranger usually looks for a teammate he thinks might have a better angle and because of this the Rangers rarely sustain an attack in the opposing end.Physically they&rsquo;re not a big team and thus are unable to plant their forwards in advantageous positions in front of a goalie with any consistency. The fact they may even have five men in enemy ice doesn&rsquo;t guarantee their strategy. Instead of bombarding a goalie with a succession of shots that would keep him and his mates busy, they invariably end up giving the opposition a chance to reform by shuttling the rubber back and forth until it&rsquo;s too late.It may look like classic hockey on the blackboard, but it isn&rsquo;t paying them dividends on the scoreboard or in the standings.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01513/2089426-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="494" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body">CLARENCE CAMPBELL</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Rangers Blow $250 Bonus Money Each By Lethargic Ice Play

<div class="byline">&#x2014;FOLEY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02478/2089457-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARCEL PAILLE&hellip;Too Loose In Goal</figcaption></div>NEW YORK, N. Y.A 6-1 loss to Chicago, Dec. 9, followed by a 7-1 defeat at Montreal, Dec. 12, ended Marcel Paille&rsquo;s latest tenure as Ranger goalie. The blocky backstop, who missed 10 games because of an injured ankle, replaced Jacques Plante in Boston on Dec. 2 and played the next four games.Plante, however, subbed for Paille the night after the Montreal debacle and Jacques had a 3-2 victory torn from him by Toronto in the final second of play.The Leafs tied the game, 3-3, when Ron Ellis caromed the rolling rubber off Plante&rsquo;s pads at 19: 59 of a game that 15,092 Madison Square Garden spectators thought had ended six seconds before.Toronto pulled goalie Johnny Bower to utilize six skaters in the final minute and they peppered Plante until Ranger defenseman Jim Neilson finally iced the puck with six seconds left. The time-keeper, however, never heard the whistle above the din and the clock kept spinning right up to the buzzer.Ref Bill Friday properly ordered a faceoff in the Ranger end. The puck was hit to the sideboards but Dave Keon slapped it toward the crease where Ellis swatted it in. &#9632;

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Hawks, Canucks Blast Paille From N.Y. Net

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03402/2089488-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg"></div>PLUS 10 ONE-YEAR FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO HOCKEY PICTORIALHave you ever wanted to sit down and predict the finish of the NHL race before it actually happens? Or maybe you think you can name the all-star team or individual trophy winners before they are officially announced? Who do you think will win the league scoring race this year? Well this brand new contest announced by THE HOCKEY NEWS puts you the readers in the position of the experts and all you have to do is to answer the 10 questions shown in the enclosed contest coupon on the right to reap the cash prizes.Contestants will be awarded a maximum number of 100 points. Those coming closest to that figure will be declared the winners.All contest forms must be postmarked not later than December 31, 1964. Winners will be notified at the end of the hockey season in early May, 1965.ELIGIBILITY RULES1. The contest is open to everyone. However, in order to qualify for the full amount of the cash prizes, a contestant must be a subscriber to both THE HOCKEY NEWS and HOCKEY PICTORIAL.2. If you enter and you are not a subscriber to both hockey publications, the prize money will be reduced to half the amount.3. All contestants must use the contest blank shown on the right. No substitute forms will be accepted as valid. You may send in as many forms as you wish.FIRST PRIZE&mdash;$100.00 in cash. SECOND PRIZE&mdash;$50.00 in cash. THIRD PRIZE&mdash;$25.00 in cash.Also 10 one-year Free Subscriptions to HOCKEY PICTORIAL Magazine. &#9632;

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WIN $175.00 IN CASH

(1) When the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1944-45, they had to beat! out Detroit in the finals. In that series their netminder chalked up three! shutouts. Who was the goalie?(2) In 1959-60. Bobby Hull; stole the NHL scoring; championship from a foe; by a mere one point; Tell us the name of the; runner-up.(3) Harry Lumley was and NHL goalie of no mean repute and he saw plenty of action with three big league teams. Name the three NHL teams with which he performed.!(4) Red Horner, a fiery defenseman of the 1930&rsquo;s, holds the record for the most consecutive seasons as the NHL&rsquo;s bad man. How many years in a row did he take that doubtful honour?4 11 8 7(5) Back in 1961-62, two rival! players tied for the NHL scoring championship with 84 points. Who were they?(6) Besides being team-mates. Frank Mahovlich and Allan Stanley have something in common. Do you know what it is?(7) What NHL club did Ebbie Goodfellow&rsquo; once coach?; We&rsquo;ll give you this much; help. He used to play with; Detroit, but that wasn&rsquo;t; the team he mentored.;(8) Elwin &ldquo;Doc&rdquo; Romnes w&rsquo;as the first Black Hawk to win this NHL trophy and the team had to wait 11 years to nab it. Just what did he collect in 1935-36?(9) A famous line copped the first and second positions in the NHL scoring race back in 1939-40. Tell us the name of that unit.(10) You may have to guess at this, but think hard and tell us which NHL rink is the youngest. Do you know the year in which the first game was played there?(Answers Next Week)<h2>Last Week&rsquo;s Answers</h2>(1) Lindsay. Howe & Ullman.(2) Harry &ldquo;Punch&rdquo; Broad! bent.(3) Mrs. Kelly (Andra Mac; Laughlin of skating; fame.)Mrs. Geoffrion (Marlene Morenz, daughter of the immortal Howie.) Mrs. Henry (Noted sin ger Dominique Michel.)(4) Neil & Mac Colville. Lynn & Muzz Patrick.(5) All Arbour, all the others are American born.(6) (b) Works for the CBC.(7) Ed Chadwick (police man).Gus Kyle (Mountie).(8) Once.(9) Bill Mosienko & Doug & Max Bentley.(10) Glenn Hall in 1955-56. &#9632;

HOCKEY…Quiz

<div class="byline">&#x2014;TRAVERS</div>HERSHEY. Pa.King Clancy earned an accolade from Scotty Alexander who tabbed the one-time Toronto Maple Leaf&rsquo;s star as &ldquo;the greatest defenseman for his size in the days of the big men.&rdquo;&ldquo;Clancy weighed about 150 pounds soaking wet,&rdquo; said Scotty. &ldquo;But what a player! He was smart, shifty and sharp. He could make any of the big defensemen sit up and take notice.&rdquo;Scotty also said that the finest forward he ever watched was Howie Morenz.&ldquo;There were so many fine individual stars in the late 1920&rsquo;s and early &lsquo;30&rsquo;s when I was going to NHL games. But I still have to stick with the Leafs&rsquo; &lsquo;Kid Line&rsquo; as the best combination I ever watched.&rdquo;There&rsquo;s been hundreds of great players, but Scotty has his favorite all-star team.&ldquo;Back in the old days when I used to see NHL hockey all the time, I had my favorite all-star team.&rdquo;Scotty&rsquo;s picks are Toronto&rsquo;s famed &ldquo;Kid Line&rdquo; of Charlie Conacher, Busher Jackson and Joe Primeau. On defense he has Eddie Shore and Ebbie Goodfellow. He shared the goal spot between Chuck Gardiner and Turk Broda. &#9632;

Clancy, Morenz, Leafs’ Kid Line Among Scotty’s All-Time Greats

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01470/2089543-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hershey trainer SCOTTY ALEXANDER tends to his usual hockey duties with the Bears as he gets forward GENE UBRIACO ready for a shoulder treatment. Alexander has been around Hershey teams for 19 years and has seen some of the best in action.</figcaption></div>HERSHEY, Pa.&mdash;The hockey world is packed with colorful figures. Some bask in the continual limelight of fame. Others are destined to remain behind the scene. Such is the case of William (Scotty) Alexander, a knowledgeable veteran of his profession.There are those who insist Scotty came with the Hershey Bears&rsquo; franchise in the American League. Could be. However, Scotty, who has trained Hershey ice teams for 19 years, says he&rsquo;s been standing behind the Bears&rsquo; dasher board for (so long he feels like a part of the Sports Arena.Since Scotty elected to become an athletic trainer some 26 years ago, the ever jolly native son of Scotland could fill a book with his experiences. And he&rsquo;s had some dandies.Not too long ago in Buffalo&hellip;but let Scotty tell it.&ldquo;We were playing Buffalo one night and behind our bench a small walkway which allowed me to move around and tend to the players. Well, this one night, some guy who was sitting in the row behind the walkway kept sticking out his leg as I walked by.&ldquo;It was a close game and I was tense hustling around. The guy stuck his leg out for about the tenth time. I wheeled around and gave his leg a quick kick. I damn near broke my toe&mdash;it was a wooden leg. Later I found out he was an ex-Marine who was wounded in the war. We became buddies after that.&rdquo;Scotty was first introduced to the ice game as a &ldquo;rink rat&rdquo; who hung around the old Mutual Street Arena in Toronto. It was the home of the St. Pats, forerunners of the present day Maple Leafs.&ldquo;My mother was a real hockey fan.&rdquo; said Scotty, &ldquo;but my dad. who ran a grocery store, was a fight fan.&ldquo;I guess I knew just about every player who played around Toronto in those days. I remem-ber when Connie Smythe took over the Maple Leafs and built the new Gardens. Art Duncan was the coach. I used to hang around the Gardens all the time.&ldquo;Some of the players like Charlie Conacher. Buzz Boll and Gordie Drillon used to come to the house.&rdquo;While Scotty was picking up pointers from the trainers around Toronto, he also learned to tend goal. Several times in his career he had to fill in when the regular goalie was injured. His most memorable experience once again took place in Buffalo.&ldquo;Red Henry suffered a 30 stitch cut along his forehead so I had to go in the nets,&rdquo; recalled Scotty.&ldquo;I was really shaking. Buffalo! had a great team that year. Frank Eddols. Ed Slowinski and a flock of other stars. Before I could settle down, it looked like the whole Buffalo team was bearing down on me. I moved back in the net and as I did the butt end of my stick got caught in the cords of the net. I turned around to yank it out and the puck whizzed past my ear for a goal. I got out of there with my life. That ended my goalie career.&rdquo;Scotty launched his training profession in 1938 with Baltimore, then a member of the Eastern Amateur League, Jack; Riley, now AHL president, was on the club.Two years later, Scotty went to Buffalo to train the Bisons who were coached by Eddie Shore, now owner of Springfield&rsquo;s Indians in the AHL.While in Buffalo. Scotty handled two Calder Cup champion clubs. In 1945 Scotty was hired to train Hershey an he&rsquo;s loved every minute ot it.Mr. John Sollenberger i chairman of the AHL board of governors! brought me to Hershey,&rdquo; said Scotty. &ldquo;Since I&rsquo;ve been here. I&rsquo;ve worked under four coaches. Don Penniston. Johnny Crawford, Murray Henderson and Frank Mathers. All great guys. Funny thing, as soon as I came to Hershey we won the Calder Cup. We&rsquo;ve won two more since then under Mathers.&rdquo;Scotty has seen so many players come and go in the AHL he says it&rsquo;s impossible to pick an all-time all-star team.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s been a lot of great players come out of this league,&rdquo; he said. And the league has come a long way since I came into it. The calibre of player is much better today. The kids are faster and smarter skaters.&rdquo;&ldquo;Ever since I came to Hershey everyone has been great to me.&rdquo; said Scotty. &ldquo;Mr. Sollen-berger, Mr. Lloyd Blinco, the general manager, and the new club president. Mr. Arthur Whiteman. They&rsquo;re smart executives and wonderful men.&rdquo;Scotty, a great morale builder for the club with his stories, swears he&rsquo;s &ldquo;only 46.&rdquo; There&rsquo;s no way of checking his true age. He says the courthouse in Motherwell, Scotland &ldquo;burned down.&rdquo; He was born on Nov. 18, but he tells everyone &ldquo;you fill in the year.&rdquo;And Scotty&rsquo;s quite a prognosticator. Early in the season when things were not going too good for the Bears, he predicted &ldquo;things will level out&rdquo; and &ldquo;the club is going to fool a lot of people.&rdquo;Shortly after the statement, Hershey caught fire and went through its next 13 games with-out a loss, winning 11 and tieing two. They ran up eight straight road victories. &#9632;

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Hershey Trainer In 19th Year Looking After Bears

THE INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLYFounded October 1st, 1947Published weekly except monthly May through September by Ken-Will Publishinr Co. Ltd.,1434 Ste. Catherine Street West,Montreal 25, Que.Kenneth William McKenzie, President and PublisherWill V. Cote, Vice-Pres. and Gen. Mgr.Yearly Subscription Rates: $4.00 in Canada and the British Commonwealth$5.00 in the U.S.A, and Foreign Countries.Postage paid at Rouses Point, N.Y.Authorized as second class mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash.Printed in Canada.Vol. 18 Montreal, December 26, 1964 No. 12 &#9632;

The Hockey News

<div class="byline">By Ken McKenzie</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01539/2089650-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="404" height="436"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02418/2089643-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="503" height="76"></div>&bull; THEY SAY that there are over 500,000 boys playing hockey in Russia right now&hellip;With that many youngsters in the Soviet Union playing Canada&rsquo;s National Sport, look for some great Russian teams in future years&hellip;Canadiens&rsquo; Jacques Laperriere looks like a shoo-in for All-Star defense honors at the mid-way mark&hellip;And Claude Provost should poll a number of votes at right wing&hellip;Cliff Pennington is now coaching a boys college team in Montreal. French is spoken only and Cliff, a former Winnipegger, has mastered the new language very well. He is also director of all athletics at the same school&hellip;This has been a tough season for Les Binkley, goalie for the Cleveland Barons. The popular Les injured a groin muscle in the opening game of the season which caused him to miss a number of games. He no sooner re-turned to the lineup that he suffered a broken bone in his ankle&hellip;He has appeared in only six games this season&hellip;Jack Button doing an excellent job as publicity director of the American Hockey League. This is his first year on the job after spending a few seasons as publicist with the Rochester Americans&hellip;Milt Schmidt pleased with the play of Tommy Williams at centre and plans to keep the only United States-born and developed player in the NHL at that position. Williams is currently centering a Boston line with Dean Prentice at right wing and Wayne Maxner on the left side&hellip;Eddie Shack seeing very little action with Toronto these days. He&rsquo;s scored but one goal in 28 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03307/2089636-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="257" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jocques Laperriere</figcaption></div>&bull; TOE BLAKE had the safest and best answer to the question of what league he would put the touring Russian hockey team&hellip;&ldquo;Where would you place the Russians? The American League? The Central Pro League?&rdquo;&hellip;&ldquo;I&rsquo;d put them,&rdquo; said Blake, &ldquo;In the International Hockey League.&rdquo;&hellip;Minnie Menard&rsquo;s Des Moines Oak Leats are continuing their torrid play in the International Hockey League and hold down top spot a few points ahead of Ken Ullyot&rsquo;s Fort Wayne Komets&hellip;An excellent race has developed among the first four teams in Andy Mulligan&rsquo;s loop&hellip;Port Huron Flags and Toledo Blades are not far off the pace&hellip;Once Lefty McFadden gets his Dayton Gems rolling it will be a terrific race with all six clubs right in the thick of it&hellip;It was very evident how much the New York Rangers missed Harry Howell when the veteran defenseman was sidelined with influenza. Harry is the backbone of the club&hellip;THE OFFICIAL NHL RECORD BOOK is just off the press and this latest edition is the finest yet&hellip;This is hockey&rsquo;s No. One record book and lists the final standings and results of players&rsquo; individual performances for every season since the NHL was formed in 1917&hellip;This is a must for the library of every knowledgeable hockey fan&hellip;Costs $1.25 per copy. See order form in this issue&hellip;More and more hockey men are calling for Bobby Hull to score 60 goals this season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04210/2089629-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="281" height="414"><figcaption class="caption-body">Harry Howell</figcaption></div>&bull; THIS is the final week in which to get your entry into the PICK THE WINNERS CONTEST&hellip;so don&rsquo;t get crowded out&hellip;In a survey taken by HOCKEY PICTORIAL among National Hockey League players it was almost unanimous that Bobby Hull would be the first player to score more than 50 goals in one season&hellip;Results appear in the current issue of The World&rsquo;s Official Hockey Magazine&hellip;Buffalo of the AHL is the only team in pro hockey to have two players on its roster born in Europe. They are Paul Popeil, born in Sollested, near Copenhagen, while John Miszuk was born in Naliboki, Poland&hellip;Thirteen players on the Chicago Black Hawks are married and among them they have 30 children, 17 of which are boys&hellip;Len Gaudette, formerly of the Galt Arena and senior hockey club, is the new general manager of the 5,200 seat Cherry Hill Arena in New Jersey (just outside Philadelphia). This is the home arena of the New Jersey Devils of the Eastern League&hellip;Goalie Eddie Johnston ot the Bruins is said to have criticized several of his teammates following his club&rsquo;s 6-3 loss to Toronto&hellip;To all you loyal readers&hellip;and those not so loyal. All you friendly and unfriendly critics&hellip;All you lads and lassies who read and support this paper&hellip;a MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY AND JOYOUS NEW YEAR!<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05174/2089622-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="302" height="440"><figcaption class="caption-body">Paul Popeil</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-06" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-06135/2089681-1-eng-US/f0006-062.jpg"></div><h2>Don&rsquo;t Boo Players Urges Chicago Fan</h2>Hockey News Editor:Fans in NHL cities and all other professional and amateur hockey cities love their team one night and boo them the next. Hockey players have feelings, too. If a team is going bad you fans really get on them. After all name calling and boos tend to make a player start playing cautious, because he doesn&rsquo;t want to be jeered off the team. Fearing every move he makes he will be followed by 15,000 people who all think they should run the team. Don&rsquo;t boo your players. Give them credit, they are experts in their field or else they wouldn&rsquo;t be playing.BOBBY FRIEDLANDER. Chicago, Ill.<h2>Rousseau Tallied Five vs. Crozier</h2>Hockey News Editor:I would like to know if Bobby Rousseau scored five goals in one game and against what team and goaler? Would you please publish the answer.GARRY POND Ottawa, Ont.(Editor&rsquo;s Note: Rousseau scored five goals against Roger Crozier Sat. Feb. 1 in Montreal as Canadiens beat Detroit 9-3).<h2>Reader Lauds News For Better Paper</h2>Hockey News Editor:I have been a subscriber to THE HOCKEY NEWS for the past 2 years now and I just wanted to tell you how greatly improved the paper is this year from an already great publica-tion.Such little things as the &ldquo;Movement of Players column&rdquo;, the attendance figures of games from all pro leagues, the Hockey Quiz, and major league affiliations denoted in all minor and junior hockey league standings have added to the already enjoyable reading. I certainly re-commend it to any hockey fan.Gentlemen, if you wish to print this letter you certainly have my permission.Tony Chiales, Teaneck, N.J.(Editor&rsquo;s Note: Thank you for your words of encouragement).<h2>Close Referee Calls Hurting Game In NHL</h2>Hockey News Editor:As Punch Imlach stated &ldquo;Let the men play hockey instead of a basketball game.&rdquo; The fans are getting annoyed at the officiating and lack of hard hitting because of penalties dished out for almost every hard check. The closeness of calls are ruining this great sport and if things don&rsquo;t change, there won&rsquo;t be too many fans at the games to complain about it.DAVE CARAGHER, Flushing N.Y.<h2>All Hawks Need Is A Little Time</h2>Hockey News Editor:With the hockey season well under way one of the big questions along the beaten paths ofhockey is &ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong with the Black Hawks?&rdquo; Yes, there is something wrong with the Black Hawks, but nothing a little time will cure. With six relative youngsters in the Reay-Ivan picture (Dennis Hull, Stanfield, Brenneman, Robinson, Esposito, Ravelich) the Hawk picture definitely looks bright.(Remember Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita don&rsquo;t have to dye their hair black like three-quarters of the Maple Leafs and half of the Red Wings do in order to remain in the lineup.)A fourth place finish is eminent this season, but within two years or possibly even this year no team on the Continent of North America could compare with the Chicago Black Hawks.GARY NAGEL, Chicago, Ill.<h2>Should Stop Goalers From Throwing Puck</h2>Hockey News Editor:With the new three second rule imposed on goalies, how soon will it be before the NHL does something about goalies throwing the puck out of the playing area? It stops the play, delays the game etc. Toronto&rsquo;s Terry Sawchuk would have to come up with something new should the NHL remedy this &ldquo;escape route.&rdquo;DOUG TURNER, Chicago, III.<h2>Thinks NHL Expansion Not Very Good Idea</h2>Hockey News Editor:Concerning NHL expansion. This is a very poor idea. The reason is obvious. There are not enough good players to go around. The fact that Boston has been in the cellar for the last four seasons indicates that the league is somewhat lopsided. Expansion would only magnify this problem. The same thing would happen to hockey that is happening to baseball, people would be paying big league prices for minor league hockey. Furthermore, not many cities outside of Boston and New York would support a losing team for long.THOMAS WALSH Arlington, Mass.<h2>Roger Crozier Making Plante Eat His Words</h2>Hockey News Editor:A Mister Jacques Plante stated in one of your summer issues that Roger Crozier of the Detroit Red Wings will never be a good goaltender because he bends down too low. Because Crozier has such a fine goals against average, much better than his, Mister Plante should eat his words and 1 imagine they do not taste too good.KEN TABACSKO. Lincoln Park, Mich.<h2>Pit Martin Has Detroit Fan Club</h2>Hockey News Editor:We read the article on Pit Martin with great eagerness, not only because we think the re-fereeing has been unjust this season, but because we have a special interest in him. We&rsquo;re the presidents of his fan club, and anyone interested in joining, please contact:CYNTHIA SADOWSKI 16125 Lincoln Ave., East Detroit, Mich.orDIANNE ALTER 16421 Fairmount Ave., Detroit, Mich. &#9632;

f0006-06

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">BY DAN MOULTON</div>CHICAGO, Ill&mdash;Phil Esposito was progressing nicely towards status as a star centre on his own, but his pace has accelerated since he came under the spell of Bobby Hull&rsquo;s magical ways with a puck.The lanky Esposito replaced Red Hay as Hull&rsquo;s centre two weeks ago and his point pro-duction began to soar, to the point at which he owned nine goals and nine assists after the Black Hawks&rsquo; first 25 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01491/2089712-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="254" height="449"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil Esposito</figcaption></div>Bobby is benefitting from the fact that Esposito has a way with a pass in the offensive zone and is particularly adept at lagging the disk up near the goal-mouth while The Jet is bearing in from his station at left wing.Phil is gaining from the fact that while Hull is on the ice, defenders have to pay special attention to him, thus leaving the other forwards with considerable freedom of operation.Goals scored by each in a recent game against the Wings serve as illustrations. The score was 0-0 in the second When Phil and Bobby broke into Wing ice with a pair of defensemen to beat. Esposito drifted to his right with the puck, then slipped a perfect pass to Hull, who had his man beaten for the last several strides. Bobby and the puck arrived at the goal-mouth at the same time and the Wings&rsquo; Roger Crozier was helpless.A few moments later, Hull shook himself through a pair of Detroit defenders and bore in again on Crozier, Esposito meanwhile coasted in behind the two Wings who had directed their effort to flagging down Hull.Crozier managed to get his pads on Bob&rsquo;s point-blank shot this time, but with the defenders out of position in their pursuit of Hull. Esposito simply skated up and flipped the rebound over Crozier, once again a sitting duck. &#9632;

f0007-01

Young Hawk Dazzling With Hull

(As Seen In The Toronto Star)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02453/2089750-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="302" height="351"></div>TORONTO, Ont.TWO FULL SEASONS and part of a third have gone by since; Bert Olmstead quit hockey and much of the bitterness that surrounded his departure has been forgotten.It was a disillusioning episode. Leafs had just won their first Stanley Cup championship since 1951 and much of the credit was-being given to Olmstead, a gnarled old campaigner who&rsquo;d taught many of the younger players just what is involved in being a bigleague professional athlete. He was their leader and their advisor and when he said &ldquo;jump&rdquo;, they said &ldquo;how high?&rdquo; That might have been part of the reason Leafs decided to let him go; he was becoming so important.The official explanation hardly made sense. Leafs dropped him from their reserved list to make room, they claimed, for some younger employee. Coming from an organization that was making a practice of snapping up every elderly retread that became available, it was a lame excuse.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03368/2089743-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="539" height="581"><figcaption class="caption-body">BERT OLMSTEAD</figcaption></div>New York Rangers dipped into the player pool and drafted Olmstead for $20,000. even though he would have warned them he wasn&rsquo;t interested in working for any U. S. club. He&rsquo;d said it often enough.When Olmstead declined to join Rangers, they suspended him and he&rsquo;s been an outcast from organized hockey ever since. He couldn&rsquo;t even coach the neighbourhood peewees, as long as the ban existed.Olmstead might have spoken up and won reinstatement but his attitude was that if hockey&rsquo;s leaders were willing to treat him that way, after 13 years of service, then to hell with them.Last summer, Olmstead&rsquo;s case was tabled at the annual conference between the National League governors and players&rsquo; representatives from each of the six teams. The shop stewards were informed Olmstead&rsquo;s sins would be washed away as though by magic if he would fill out a routine application for official retirement status. This he finally did.&ldquo;We felt Olmstead can contribute a lot to hockey,&rdquo; says Bob Pulford, who speaks for Leafs at these meetings. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we brought up his situation.&rdquo;The other development was a shuffle in the New York executive suite. Muzz Patrick, the man who made the $20,000 blunder in 1962, was replaced as general manager by Emile Francis, an old friend of Olmstead&rsquo;s. Shortly afterwards, the suspension was lifted.<h2>The Rangers Have Plans For Him</h2>IT HASN&rsquo;T TAKEN Olmstead long to get involved in the game again. His winters are relatively free, since he earns his living by working farms in Saskatchewan and near Calgary, where he resides now. He is coaching a senior amateur team in that city, one that&rsquo;s eligible for the Allan Cup playoffs. Olmstead could even play, if he wanted.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve missed hockey,&rdquo; he admitted yesterday, &ldquo;but not that much.&rsquo;&rsquo;The next step will be to go to work for Rangers, the same outfit he spurned in 1962. The difference, of course, is Emile Francis, whose friendship with Olmstead goes back to their junior days on the prairies two decades ago. They respect each other.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a good hockey man,&rdquo; Francis says, &ldquo;and I think he could help us in a great many ways.&rdquo;Emile the Cat needs assistance, of course. Besides running the Rangers at home and on the road, he is constantly on the prowl, (supervising the club&rsquo;s widespread farm system.He wants Olmstead to start in by scouting talent for him, first at the 1965 world championships in Finland, later throughout Western Canada. It&rsquo;s not difficult to see that Francis is subtly working Olmstead into the operation. He and Ranger president Bill Jennings don&rsquo;t need to be convinced about him; they&rsquo;re trying to sell the idea to Olmstead.Suspensions like Olmstead&rsquo;s are commonplace in hockey. There&rsquo;s logic in the system, too. Rangers may have been mistaken but they did buy Olmstead in good faith. The sport would soon be in chaos if players in this situation were allowed to reject their transfers and seek a better deal elsewhere&mdash;although that&rsquo;s exactly what Red Kelly was permitted to do in 1960 when he refused to move to New (York and subsequently signed with Leafs.The injustice lies in the duration of the ban. Is it fair that it should go on indefinitely? Should it be world-wide in application? The Trail, B.C., team that represented Canada at the 1963 global tournament wanted Olmstead. How could his participation have hurt Rangers? &#9632;

f0007-02

They’ve Pardoned Ex-NHL Star Olmstead

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-04282/2089781-1-eng-US/f0007-042.jpg" title="f0007-04" width="504" height="1192"></div>SOUVENIR DEPARTMENTOlympia StadiumDetroit 8, Michigan U.S.A. &#9632;

f0007-04

DETROIT RED WING SOUVENIRS

TORONTO, Ont.&mdash;Bruins wing Johnny Bucyk was awarded the first penalty shot of the National Hockey League season by referee Bill Friday in a game here against the Maple Leafs.Bucyk made good on the shot, beating goaltender Terry Sawchuk on a pretty play.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03372/2089850-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="267" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body">Johnny Bucyk</figcaption></div>&ldquo;John came over to the bench,&rdquo; said Coach Milt Schmidt, &ldquo;and I told him to skate in slowly on Sawchuk. That&rsquo;s the best way to take a penalty shot, move in slowly on the goal. Most players skate too fast and rush their move.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0008-03

First of Year, Bucyk Scores Penalty Shot

<div class="byline">BY LEO MONAHAN</div>BOSTON, Mass.&mdash;Murphy&rsquo;s Law states that when things go badly, brace yourself, they&rsquo;ll proba b1y get worse. That, at least, is the situation of the lastplace Bruins. They can&rsquo;t win for losing, despite promotions, demotions and countless personnel changes.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01525/2089819-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="272" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eddie Johnston</figcaption></div>Item: The fans are getting restless, especially after watching the B&rsquo;s blow a three-goal lead and lose to Montreal, 5-4.Item: Coach Milt Schmidt has just about exhausted his patience with several unproductive veterans.Item: The B&rsquo;s are holding a pat hand&mdash;four 6&rsquo;s&mdash;and 6th place finish No. 5 is in the of-fing.Item: Veteran defenseman Tom Johnson, a stabilizing effect on the team, still is sidelined with an achin&rsquo; big toe.Item: One line change after another has failed to produce results.Things, as you can see, are pretty sad in Boston. The loss to les Canadiens may have been the final straw. Only 12,103 witnessed that game and they littered the ice with debris when the Bruins yielded three Habs&rsquo; goals in the final five minutes of play. Said one patron:&ldquo;That&rsquo;s it. I&rsquo;ve had it. They won&rsquo;t see me again.&rdquo;A total of 173,175 fans attended the first 14 home games, an amazing attendance when you consider the way the team has played. A falloff in patronage, however, may trigger a whole-sale shakeup.Left wing Ab McDonald, of whom so much was expected when he was acquired from Chicago, has been a major disappointment. He has been used sparingly in recent games.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what it is with McDonald,&rdquo; says Coach Schmidt. &ldquo;He just hasn&rsquo;t untracked.&rdquo;McDonald has been unimpressive since training camp and scored just two goals in the first 25 games.Defenseman Bob McCord also has come under fire by the management. He has been benched on occasion, too, and appears bothered with a chronic back condition.Schmidt has shuffled and reshuffled his lines, hoping to muster an offense that presently is the worst in the NHL. One new shift finds Tom Williams, a centre until he turned pro, shifting back to his old position from right wing.&ldquo;If there&rsquo;s any bright spot, it&rsquo;s the way Williams has played at centre,&rdquo; says Schmidt, who strung the blond American on a line with rookie Wayne Maxner and veteran Dean Prentice, who moved to his off (right) wing.Rookie Wayne Rivers replaced Williams on a line with John Bucyk and Murray Oliver. A &lsquo;muscle&rsquo; line of Reggie Fleming, Forbes Kennedy and Orland Kurtenbach was formed, primarily for checking purposes.The player getting &ldquo;the most ice these days is Eddie Westfall, who has been used as McCord&rsquo;s replacement on defense, occasionally on right wing and as a penalty-killer.&ldquo;I love all the ice I can get,&rdquo; says Westfall, one of the few consistent Boston players in recent weeks.Goaltender Ed Johnston has been beleaguered in nearly every game and was irate when his teammates left him to his own devices trying to run up a score on Canadiens. Said Johnston:&ldquo;A three-goal lead is enough to win any hockey game, but the guys kept getting caught up-ice. Twice we were trapped With four men and just one back with three Canadiens coming in on him. It was sickening.&rdquo;Johnston in no way can be held culpable for Boston&rsquo;s distress. He probably has the most unenviable job in the NHL these days.AROUND THE HUB. Tom Johnson&rsquo;s foot was placed in a cast to ease the pressure on his big toe, struck by a Bobby Hull slap shot two weeks ago. &ldquo;The doctor said I&rsquo;d keep on the cast for another 10 days or so,&rdquo; said Johnson&hellip;Ted Green con-tinues to rank among the team&rsquo;s scoring leaders, a fact that may impress All-Star selectors&hellip;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02456/2089812-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="1629" height="1863"><figcaption class="caption-body">Publisher KEN McKENZIE of THE HOCKEY NEWS met up with several sports dignitaries during his recent trip to Boston. Here he is shown with WESTON W. ADAMS, right front, chairman of the board of the Boston Garden and chairman of the board and president of the Boston Bruins, and EDWARD J. POWERS, left front, president of the Boston Garden. Standing with McKenzie at right is BOB NILON, one of the well-known Nilon brothers, concessionaires at some of the biggest sports events in the United States.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0008-01

Bruins Try Everything-Nothing Works

<div class="byline">BY GIL SMITH</div>MONTREAL, Que.If Ebenezer Scrooge were around today, he&rsquo;d probably be a goalie in the NHL.That&rsquo;s the way Canadiens&rsquo; Dave Balon saw it, after some 25 games leading up to the Christmas season. The slick-haired winger had found the league&rsquo;s netminders to be both hard and stingy, through most to the current campaign.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-01510/2089881-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="297" height="424"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dave Balon</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Those guys have really been tough to beat, this season,&rdquo; says Dave, with a trace of indignation. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had plently of chances, but the goalies don&rsquo;t give an inch. They&rsquo;re sure tougher than they were last year.&rdquo;Actually, the situation has been improving for Balon in recent weeks, after a very slow start, indeed. He had 18 points, (9-9) to show for 25 games this season. Last year he had 19 points, including a dozen goals. However, much of Dave&rsquo;s current production had been crammed into one week, when he racked up seven poinnts in a three-game span. He picked up a goal and an assist against Toronto on Dec. 9th; added a goal and two assists against Rangers on the 12th; and topped it off with a pair of goals in Boston the following night That outburst was enough to lift him into a seventh place tie with Chicago&rsquo;s Phil Esposito in the scoring standing. Before that, he was tied for 13th with three other players.Many feel that the return of Henri Richard has benefitted Balon immensely, and without doubt it has been an important factor. During Richard&rsquo;s absence, Dave scored three times in 14 games. With Henri back at center, he got six goals in nine contests. Four of those goals were set up by Richard.But, while the Pocket Rocket has certainly played a part in getting Balon back on the beam lately, other factors have entered into it, too. His shooting has improved sharply, of late, due, perhaps, to an overall increase in confidence when he finds himself in front of the net. Where things are going badly for Balon, he has a tendency to drift his shots from just inside the blueline&mdash;thus providing goalies with the easiest of stops. Recently, though, he has been getting plenty of snap into those shots, and the difference has been apparent on the score sheets.Canadiens, of course, are more than happy to see Dave back in form. He was one of their top goal-getters last season, during a time when some of their best producers were slumping. The fact that Balon and a few other newcomers had outstanding seasons, last year, was one of the key reasons for Canucks&rsquo; hair-breadth finish at the top of the standings. They&rsquo;ll need those contributions again, if they hope to repeat the triumph.Balon, incidentally, should get an opportunity to find out whether the spirit of Christmas really affects goaltenders, this week. Habs meet Detroit in the Motor City on Christmas night and, all things being equal, Roger Crozier will be in the nets. If any goalie has played the part of Scrooge, it has been Crozier as far as Balon is concerned. He has yielded one goal. &#9632;

f0009-01

Baton Hoping Goa lies Get Xmas Spirit As Star Seeks To Boost Goal Mark

MONTREAL, Que.The Montreal Canadiens were hit a crippling blow when star left winger Gilles Tremblay suffered a broken leg against the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 17.Tremblay, who had been among the team&rsquo;s leading scorers, crashed into the backboards in the dieing minutes of the game when checked by Leafs&rsquo; rookie Ron Ellis.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-02483/2089912-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="488" height="1052"><figcaption class="caption-body">GILLES TREMBLAY</figcaption></div>Club doctors said the fracture of the right leg was in the ankle area and that the injury could sideline Tremblay for possibly the rest of the season. He would be out a minimum of two months.The injury was a personal blow to the fast-skating Canadiens&rsquo; winger. He was a candidate for all-star left wing off his spirited first half showing and the day of the game marked his 26th birthday. &#9632;

f0009-02

Tremblay’s Broken Leg Seen Blow to Canadiens

<div class="byline">Gil Smith</div>MONTREAL, Que.Canadiens&rsquo; Ralph Backstrom will have good reason to reine mber a goal he scored in Boston, recently.The fleet Hab centre cha1ked up his ninth marker of the season, and thereby exceeded his entire goal production of last year. Backstrom managed only eight counters in a full 70-game schedule last season, in what amounted to his worst performance since breaking into the N.H.L. He needed only 25 games to top that mark this year.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03429/2089943-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="276" height="408"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ralph Backstrom</figcaption></div>Backstrom, in fact, has been a hot number throughout most of the first half, but the way he started this season made people shudder at the prospect of yet another bad year. In Canadiens&rsquo; first game of the schedule, last October, he broke in alone on Rangers&rsquo; Marcel Paille only to blow the opportunity by shooting directly into the goalie&rsquo;s pads. A few night later in Montreal, Paille robbed him with a kick save on a shot that was labelled for the far corner. None of this was calculated to help Backstrom&rsquo;s confidence after his scoring famine of the year before; but he clicked twice against Chicago shortly after, and the pressure was eased. He has done pretty well since, and, in fact, no man on Canadiens had more goals than Ralph after 25 games had been played. &#9632;

f0009-03

Backstrom Scores 9th Goal To Top Last Year’s Record

Get These Publications&mdash;NOW!<h2>THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY ANNUAL FOR 1965</h2>This 96-page book is jam-packed with full-length features about y^ir favourite hockey stars&hellip;biographical sketches and pictures of over 120 National Hockey League players&hellip;birthdates and places of birth too&hellip;All at a glance!Extra! Special TV Section, complete NHL Teams with Names & Numbers.SEND FOR YOUR COPY TODAY! ONLY 50 CENTS (Postage Paid)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-04365/2090002-1-eng-US/f0009-042.jpg" title="f0009-04" width="376" height="460"></div><h2>THE NEW 1964-65 EDITION OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE GUIDE</h2>This compact 236-page hockey book answers every question imaginable about the National Hockey League. There are also complete records on every player in all the pro leagues&mdash;NHL, AHL, WHL and CPHL. It also includes highlights of the 196364 NHL season and a more extensive coverage on records than ever before.ALL THIS FOR ONLY $1.25 (Postage Paid)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-05290/2089995-1-eng-US/f0009-052.jpg" title="f0009-05" width="263" height="368"></div><h2>OFFICIAL NHL RULE BOOK 1964-65 EDITION</h2>Here&rsquo;s your chance to become an expert. Settle all the arguments around the club and in the office. With this handy pocket-size rule book you&rsquo;ll be able to check a decision or rule on the spot.Fill in the coupon below and enclose 50 cents per copy for handling and mailing.SEND FOR YOUR COPY TODAY&hellip;.50 PER COPY (Postage Paid)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-06251/2089988-1-eng-US/f0009-062.jpg" title="f0009-06" width="233" height="413"></div><h2>OFFICIAL N.H.L. RECORD BOOK 1917-64</h2>This is the most complete Record Book on Hockey ever published. It contains statistics and records unobtainable in any other publication. Hockey fans call this book a &ldquo;Hockey Masterpiece&rdquo;.Complete team standings and individual scoring records by seasons of every player to perform in the N.H.L. from 1917-18 until 1963-64 appear in the OFFICIAL N.H.L. RECORD BOOK.Supply is Limited&mdash;Price $1.25<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-07226/2089981-1-eng-US/f0009-072.jpg" title="f0009-07" width="228" height="323"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-08211/2089974-1-eng-US/f0009-082.jpg" title="f0009-08" width="1028" height="1305"></div> &#9632;

f0009-04

A MUST FOR ALL HOCKEY FANS

&ldquo;you like 7up 7up likes you&rdquo;The editors of HOCKEY NEWS wish to announce that, because of the Christmas holiday, publication date had to be advanced not allowing us to include weekend games of Dec. 19-20 in this issue. They will be carried complete in the next issue.<h2>How They Stand</h2><h3>(Standings on Sat., Dec. 19</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01524/2090033-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="554" height="179"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed., Dec. 16Detroit 7, New York 3Chicago 7, Boston 5Thurs., Dec. 17Toronto 2, Montreal 2Boston 5, Detroit 3<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Sat., Dec. 19Chicago at MontrealNew York at TorontoSun., Dec. 20Montreal at New YorkToronto at DetroitChicago at BostonWed., Dec. 23New York at MontrealFri. Dec. 25Montreal at DetroitNew York at BostonToronto at ChicagoSat., Dec. 26Detroit at MontrealChicago at TorontoBoston at New YorkSun., Dec. 27New York at DetroitBoston at Chicago &#9632;

f0010-01

NATIONAL LEAGUE

It isn&rsquo;t very often that members of the Boston Bruins project them-selves into the National Hockey League limelight. But this past week veteran Dean Prentice did just that as he continued his efforts to pull the Bruins up out of the cellar.The 32-year-old left winger of the Bruins had a highly productive week scoring twice and assisting on four other goals as Boston beat Detroit after losing to Chicago in a two-night road stand.Prentice, who is a member of hockey&rsquo;s select 200-goal club, is also the Bruins&rsquo; No. 1 goal-getter of the season with 11 and the club&rsquo;s top point man along with Ted Green. Both have 20 points.The Bruins&rsquo; troubles would be small in comparison to their lowly NHL standing if they could get as much out of the players as they do out of Prentice, a 13year man in the big time.Mark Ten is pleased to salute Dean Prentice as the player who made his mark in the NHL this past week.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02453/2090088-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="271" height="414"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dean Prentice</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0010-02

THE MAN who made his Mark this week

<div class="byline">BY BOBBY HEWITSON</div>TORONTO, Ont.&mdash;Halifax, Montreal and Kingston all lay claim to being the original home of Ice Hockey in Canada, and as long as the great winter pastime is played, the dispute will likely continue.The history of the game has been confused by claims from all three cities, each in turn pro-claiming their own theories and disputing the theories of the others.However, it seems to be agreed that the game did come from England where it was known as bandy (or field hockey). This, of course, was not on ice, but there is a record of a match played on the old West River near Willingham in the 1820&rsquo;s. (This information is contained in William A. Hewitt&rsquo;s book&mdash;DOWN THE STRETCH.)Moreover some of the rules of bandy on ice resemble those of present day hockey. Here are a few that probably were in use in the 1830&rsquo;s:(1) No bandy stick must be more than two inches wide in any part.(2) No one is allowed to raise the bandy above his shoulder. Only the goalkeeper may hit the ball while it is in the air.(3) No player is to be considered offside when within his own half of the playing ice.(4) The game begins by the referee throwing up the ball in centre ice.(5) The teams consist of 11 players.It is, therefore, more than likely that bandy (field hockey) was the game that was brought to Canada by the garrisons of British soldiers when they located in Halifax, Montreal and Kingston, and the year generally agreed upon for this is 1855.There are also claims that games called &ldquo;hurley&rdquo; and shinny&rdquo; were also a part of the de-velopment of ice hockey, and that these were also brought over by the Imperial soldiers.A Kingston historian, Edward Horsey, who made a long study towards the claim of his native city, wrote that his father left the following reference to hockey in his diary, under the date of 1846-47:&ldquo;Most of the soldier boys were quite at home on skates. They could cut figure eights, and other fancy figures, but shinny was their great delight. Groups would be placed at Shoal Tower and Point Frederick and 50 or more players on each side would be in the game.&rdquo;E. M. Orlick of McGill University, defending the claim of Montreal countered with this:&ldquo;When ice skating came into being in the 17th century, and spread from continental Europe to Great Britain, the field games of &lsquo;hurley&rsquo; and &lsquo;shinny&rsquo; were adopted on ice. Thereis evidence to suggest that &lsquo;hurley&rsquo; on ice was played in Montreal as early as 1837. There is also evidence that &lsquo;shinny&rsquo; was brought to Canada by British soldiers and first played by these soldiers who were garrisoned at Halifax and Kingston in the year 1855. There is also evidence which suggests that the same game, or some modification of it, was played in the New England states at about the same time, or a little later.&rdquo;Out of all the claims and counter-claims of the cities seeking to have the honor of originating the winter pastime, Kingston and Montreal presented the strongest front, while Halifax did not offer too strong a presentation. However, the Montreal trio (Dr. Lamb, F. S. Van Wagner and Professor Orlick) did admit that perhaps hockey was first played in Halifax, but the game was developed into greatness by the students at McGill University, and that it was next played in Ottawa and then in Kingston.In 1941 the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, hoping perhaps to settle the issue once and for all, appointed a Committee of three made up of William A. Hewitt of Toronto, George M. Slater of Montreal and James T. Sutherland of Kingston to make a report.This they did in April 1942, and it was their decision that &ldquo;shinny&rdquo; had been played in Kingston a great many years ago, that &ldquo;shinny&rdquo; and hockey were related games, and that Kingston, thus, was the birthplace of hockey.The report of the Committee in Kingston claims&mdash;reported in part&mdash;&ldquo;The playing of hockey games in Kingston as early as 1855 is certain. Early manuscrips, letters and even stick and pucks used in the early days of hockey have been located.&rdquo;The one important claim that Halifax had to offer was that which related to the fact that J. G. A. Creighton was responsible for the start of hockey in Montreal, and did so by suggesting to a group of friends that they obtain hockey sticks from Halifax and take up the game. Creighton, a McGill student, came from Halifax and had seen the game played in his home town, which seems to be ample proof that if Halifax was not the actual home of ice hockey, it at least predated the game in Montreal.The Montreal report by Professor Orlick, on behalf of his Committee found:(1) The first game of ice hockey, which is definitely called Ice Hockey, was played in Montreal, March 3, 1875, at the Victoria Skating Club.(2) Because this game was played on indoor ice, it was necessary to limit the size of the teams to nine, which rule continued in force until reduced to seven in 1884.(3) In the old &ldquo;shinny&rdquo; game, the playing object was a hard rubber ball. This was found unsuitable for indoor play, and a flat circular piece of wood was substituted. This was suc-ceeded by the rubber puck of today.(4) Goalkeepers were introduced into the game in Montreal. They did not exist in &ldquo;shinny.&rdquo;(5) Within a year of the playing of the first recorded game in Montreal&mdash;March 3, 1875&mdash;there were at least five organized ice hockey teams in Montreal.(6) Ice hockey was introduced in 1878 in Ottawa by Dr. D. P. Ross, a graduate of McGill.(7) E. T. Taylor, who graduated from McGill in 1878, went to Royal Military College in Kingston and introduced that city to the game of Ice Hockey in 1879.It would appear from all this that the various claims differed somewhat in the viewpoint of what actually was being sought:Was it how the game originated?Where it was first played without being organized?When it was first performed as a team game?When and where was the first organized league?On the claim of the first organized league, Kingston had strong support for the formation of a four club league in 1885, made up of Royal Military College, Queen&rsquo;s University, Kingston Athletics and Kingston Hockey Club.Professor Orlick, in defense of Montreal, insists in his research that the first game of hockey was played in Montreal in 1875, that the wooden puck, later a rubber ball, goals, goal posts, umpires and uniforms were first adopted in Montreal. Also that the first Ice Hockey Association in the world was founded in Montreal, that the first modified set of rules were drawn up, and that most of the pioneering and propagating of early hockey emanated from McGill University.The Committee appointed by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to report on the matter of which city deserved to be named the birthplace of hockey were convinced that the earliest existence of the game was in Kingston, where it was first introduced by the garrison of British soldiers during the 1840&rsquo;s and played extensively through the 1850&rsquo;s. &#9632;

Halifax, Montreal, Kingston Lay Claim To Site

(Including Games of Thurs., Dec. 17)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01521/2090126-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="561" height="1061"></div><h2>Goalkeepers&rsquo; Records</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02475/2090119-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="554" height="925"></div> &#9632;

f0011-01

NHL Point Race

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div>ROCHESTER, N.Y.&mdash;Records were made to be broken, and that&rsquo;s exactly what the Rochester Americans appear destined to do.At this writing the Amerks find themselves in an excellent position to shatter five long-standing American Hockey League records and one club mark.Whether the Amerks will smash three of the records will be determined before the first of the year.Those in immediate range are:1&mdash;Most consecutive games away without defeat, including ties. The Cleveland club of 194748 set the record of 12. Red-hot Rochester has swept through 10 straight away games without a loss at this writing and will have played one more by the time this reaches print.2&mdash;Most consecutives games won, no ties. Cleveland&rsquo;s 1943-44 squad holds this mark with 11. The Amerks boast seven straight victories at the moment, and will have played two more before tills is read.3&mdash;The Rochester club record for the longest undefeated streak. The 1956-57 Amerks won eight straight outings and the &lsquo;58-59 club won seven and tied one. As was pointed out above, the season&rsquo;s team has won seven in a row, and will have broken, tied or failed when this reaches print.It will be a while before the success or failure of the Amerks&rsquo; assault on the record book will be known.But coach Joe Crozier&rsquo;s skaters do have a good crack at the following season records:1&mdash;Most games won away in a season. Cleveland, both in 194748 and 1950-51, collected 19 triumphs. Rochester has 10 victories in its first 14 away games, leaving 22 foreign ice visits during which the locals need 10 wins to shatter the record.2&mdash;Fewest games lost away in season. Philadelphia in 1936-37, Hershey in 1942-43 and Cleveland in 1947-48 escaped with only nine defeats. The Americans thus far have suffered with only two reversals.3&mdash;Most points scored away in a season. Again Cleveland&rsquo;s 194748 outfits holds the record, 44 points. Rochester already has 22 points, and still has 22 games remaining in foreign rinks. &#9632;

Americans Aim At Five Long-Standing AHL Records

<h2>Wed., Dec. 16 BOSTON 5. CHICAGO 7</h2>Boston&mdash;Goal: Johnston; defence: Westfall, Boivin, Green, Awrey, Watson; forwards: Prentice, Williams, Maxner, Kurtenbach, Bucyk, Kennedy, Oliver, Fleming, McDonald, Knibbs, Rivers.CHICAGO&mdash;Goal: Dejordy; defence: Pilote, Vasko, Ravlich, MacNeil, Jarrett; forwards: Mohns, Mikita, R. Hull, Standfield, Esposito, D. Hull, Hay, Robinson, Nesterenko, Maki, McKenzie.Referee: Udvari. Linesmen: Hayes, D&rsquo;Amico.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03403/2090209-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="545" height="911"></div><h2>DETROIT 7, NEW YORK 3</h2>DETROIT&mdash;Goal: Crozier; defence: Langlois, Pronovost, Gadsby, Barkley, Bergman; forwards: Ullman, Martin, Howe, Delvecchio, Murphy, Lindsay, MacGregor, Smith, Henderson, Joyal, MacDonald.NEW YORK&mdash;Goal: Plante; defence: Howell, Brown, Cahan, Neilson, Seiling; forwards: Gilbert, Duff, Ingarfield, Hadfield, Mikol, Fonteyne, Angotti, Ratelie, Goyette, Henry, Marshall.Referee: Ashley. Linesmen: Pavelich, Armstrong.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-04330/2090202-1-eng-US/f0011-042.jpg" title="f0011-04" width="544" height="823"></div><h2>Thurs., Dec. 17 TORONTO 2. MONTREAL 2</h2>TORONTO&mdash;Goal: Bower; Defence: Brewer. Baun, Horton, Stanley, Douglas: Forwards: Kelly, Bathgate, Pulford, Armstrong, Ellis. Stewart. Keon, B. Harris, Pappin. Shack. Mahovlich.MONTREAL&mdash;Goal: Hodge; Defence: Laperriere, J. C. Tremblay, T. Harris, Harper, Talbot; Forwards: Beliveau, Backstrom, Larose, Cournoyer, Provost, Rousseau, Richard, Balon. G. Tremblay, Ferguson, Roberts.Referee: Friday. Linesmen: Pavelich, Armstrong.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-06251/2090195-1-eng-US/f0011-062.jpg" title="f0011-06" width="543" height="534"></div><h2>BOSTON 5. DETROIT 3</h2>BOSTON&mdash;Goal: Johnston; Defence: Green, Watson, Westfall, Boivin, Awrey: Forwards: Kurtenbach, Bucyk, Williams, Maxner, Kennedy, Oliver, Fleming, Mcdonald, Knibbs, Rivers.DETROIT&mdash;Goal: Crozier; Defence: Langlois, Pronovost, Gadsby, Barkley, Bergman; Forwards: Ullman, Martin, Howe, Delvecchio, Murphy, Lindsay, MacGregor, Smith, Henderson, Mcdonald, Joyal.Referee: Skov. Linesmen: Hayes, D&rsquo;Amico.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-07230/2090188-1-eng-US/f0011-072.jpg" title="f0011-07" width="554" height="778"></div><h2>Week&rsquo;s &lsquo;Top Six&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-05280/2090181-1-eng-US/f0011-052.jpg" title="f0011-05" width="534" height="318"></div> &#9632;

f0011-03

National League Summaries

WALLY NORTHERN PRO HOCKEY STICKSWALLY POOL TABLES TABLE TENNIS CROQUET SETSThe editors of HOCKEY NEWS wish to announce that, because of the Christmas holiday, publication date had to be advanced not allowing us to include weekend games of Dec. 19-20 in this issue. They will be carried complete in the next issue.<h2>How They Stand</h2><h3>(Standings on Fri&bdquo; Dec. 18) Eastern Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01505/2090247-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="553" height="152"></div><h3>Western Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02419/2090240-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="546" height="229"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tues., Dec. 15Quebec 3. Rochester 1<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Fri., Dec. 18Buffalo at BaltimoreHershey at PittsburghSat., Dec. 19Pittsburgh at ClevelandQuebec at HersheyBuffalo at SpringfieldSun., Dec. 20Baltimore at BuffaloCleveland at PittsburghQuebec at ProvidenceHershey at RochesterFri., Dec. 25Hershey at BaltimoreSpringfield at ProvidenceBuffalo at RochesterSat., Dec. 26Rochester at ClevelandBaltimore at HersheyBuffalo at PittsburghQuebec at SpringfieldSun., Dee. 27Pittsburgh at BuffaloHershey at ClevelandBaltimore at ProvidenceQuebec at Rochester &#9632;

f0012-01

AMERICAN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY JOE GORDON</div>PITTSBURGH. Pa.&mdash;Just when it looked as though the Pittsburgh Hornets had completely recovered from their unbelievable string of injuries a new one cropped up. This time the victim was veteran goaltender Hank Bassen.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-04224/2090285-1-eng-US/f0012-042.jpg" title="f0012-04" width="289" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Champoux</figcaption></div>Now in his 11th season of professional hockey, the fiery Bassen pulled a groin muscle in an overtime game with Baltimore in the Maryland city. He aggravated the injury further by playing the next five games. Finally it became too difficult for him to return to his feet after hitting the ice to make a save and Coach Vic Stasiuk decided to give the injury a chance to heal.Hornet General Manager Baz Bastien placed a hurried call to Memphis and had rookie Bob Champoux fly in to replace the ailing Bassen. Champoux celebrated his 22nd birthday by beating Providence, 7-1, in his initial start in Pittsburgh. The next night in Providence he turned in another outstanding performance as the Hornets made it two straight, 5-2.Despite this latest stroke of bad luck, Stasiuk is confident that his club is once again on the right track. &ldquo;We have a lot of ground to make up, but I am confident that our personnel is capable of overtaking both Rochester and Buffalo,&rdquo; said Stasiuk. &ldquo;When we had all those injuries, it was pretty tough setting our lines. But now with everyone back, I&rsquo;m sure we&rsquo;U get rolling,&rdquo; added the Hornet mentor.The return of both Lowell MacDonald and rookie Butch Paul to the Hornets by the parent Detroit Red Wings gives Stasiuk more cause for optimism. It was expected that the Red Wings would only return one of the two. So it was a double bonanza when both came back.Paul is centering a line with MacDonald on the right side and Bob Dillabough at left wing. Prior to his recall to Detroit, Paul had sparked the Hornet attack with six points in his first four games after returning to action after a six week layoff as a result of a broken bone in his right leg. He missed two Pittsburgh games while with Detroit, neither of which the Hornets won.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-05151/2090278-1-eng-US/f0012-052.jpg" title="f0012-05" width="534" height="533"><figcaption class="caption-body">HANK BASSEN&hellip;Forced Out Of Action</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0012-04

Rookie Goalie Champoux Stars In Hornets’ Net

<div class="byline">BY CHARLEY BARTON</div>BUFFALO, N.Y.&mdash;In Providence two years ago, Emile Francis pointed to Gerry Melnyk and said, &ldquo;That guy has to be one of the best players outside the National Hockey League.&ldquo;And, with just a little more speed, he would be a capable major leaguer.&rdquo;This was after the Buffalo Bisons had knocked off the Reds in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Melnyk was by far the Herd&rsquo;s most valuable player against the Reds, and also was a stickout in the titlewinning series with Hershey.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03316/2090316-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="291" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gerry Melnyk</figcaption></div>At 30, the soft-spoken Melnyk is in his 11th season as a professional and his third with the Herd. A centre throughout his career, he recently has been moved to right wing by Coach Phil Watson.Francis, newly appointed general manager of the New York Rangers, isn&rsquo;t given to idle chatter. And Watson concurs wholeheartedly in the appraisal of Melnyk.&ldquo;Gerry is the kind of a guy you can play at almost any position,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;And he gives you a real solid performance every night.&rdquo;Last winter, the Bisons missed the playoffs, and Melnyk is first to admit he had a so-so season himself. As this edition of THE HOCKEY NEWS went to press, he was the club&rsquo;s sec-ond-leading scorer and appeared headed for all-star consideration.&ldquo;I seem to have more drive than I had a year ago,&rdquo; Melnyk said. &ldquo;I think Phil has helped me with my skating, and also has reminded me of some of the things I had forgotten about. Like moving into an opening after making a play.&ldquo;The goals seem to be coming. And I&rsquo;ve had good linemates to work with.&rdquo;Gerry now is at right wing with Hank Ciesla and left-winger Billy Dea.Melnyk had a five-season stand with Edmonton in the Western League before moving up to the Detroit Red Wings for two years, and then to Chicago for one.Melnyk and his wife, Jeannette, and their children, Judy, 7, and Bruce, 6, make their off-season home in Edmonton, where Gerry is employed by a natural gas concern. &#9632;

f0012-03

Melnyk Still Giving Out In 11th Year With Pros

<div class="byline">BY BUSTER CLEGG</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01501/2090434-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOB BLACKBURN&hellip;Refs Calling Them Close</figcaption></div>PROVIDENCE, R.I.&mdash;Bob Blackburn of the Rhode Island Reds, playing in his sixth season in the American Hockey League, is well on his way toward establishing a new league record for penalties.The 26-year-old defenseman leads the American loop at this writing with 92 minutes in penalties, and at his present rate will eclipse the league record mark at 224 minutes, set in 196061 by Springfield&rsquo;s Roger Cote, then playing for Rochester.Blackburn, whose hair has turned a pre-mature gray, has amassed his 92 minutes in only 28 games and is running a tight race with Fred Glover. Cleveland&rsquo;s fiery player-coach.According to figures released by the American League, at his present rate Blackburn will finish the season with a total of 237 minutes&mdash;and that&rsquo;s tough in any man&rsquo;s league.Noted strictly as a &ldquo;defensive&rdquo; defenseman. Blackburn likes to play it rough, and his penalty record the past few years displays his willingness to mix it up with the opposition. Last year he was assessed 175 minutes and in 1961-62 he received 157.Blackburn, whose biggest defensive asset is an uncanny knack of blocking enemy shots, is joining the ranks of former Reds&rsquo; ruffians like Eddie Bush, Manny Cutlow, Bob Robertson and Pat Egan&mdash;all of whom at one time had the dubious distinction of leading the AHL in penalties.The Providence team-record through 39 years in pro hockey is held by Bush, who in 1946-47 amassed 182 minutes. Blackburn seems almost assured of breaking that mark, if not the league record, too.To what does Blackburn attribute his new bad man&rdquo; character this year?&ldquo;The referees are calling them really close.&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m playing my usual game on defense, but new rules this year have the referees watching pretty closely.&ldquo;Sometimes it&rsquo;s necessary to get a penalty because it might prevent a goal. In that case it&rsquo;s a good penalty. I feel. However, I try to avoid getting called on plays that won&rsquo;t help the club.There are bad penalties and hurt the club!&rdquo;Blackburn, one of the American League&rsquo;s most improved player in recent seasons, isn&rsquo;t one to go looking for trouble, but can prove to be a tough customer when the going gets tough.COOP SCOOP: The Reds recalled rookie Billy Reid from New Haven of the Eastern League and the 21-year-old youngster responded by getting a goal and an assist in his first three games&hellip;Eddie Kachur, acquired from Los Angeles in a trade for Harry Ottenbriet, scored in his second game as a Rooster and played well. &#9632;

f0013-01

Reds’ Blackburn New AHL ‘Bad Man’, Seen Likely To Set Penalty Record

<div class="byline">BY SHEL FULLERTON</div>CLEVELAND. Ohio.&mdash;Someone with the medical eloquence of a Dr. Ben Casey should be entrusted with the task of covering the Cleveland Barons. The job requires more knowledge than a mere report-er can muster.Almost a complete team of Barons is sidelined&mdash;all for indefinite periods.Latest additions to the casualty list&mdash;joining goalie Les Binkley, centre Cecil Hoekstra and winger Wayne Larkin&mdash;are defensemen Frank Martin and Bill Speer.Gordon Wilkie narrowly escaped being added to the list when he was cross checked on the point of his jaw by the Aces&rsquo; Brian Watson, as Wilkie, empty-handed, was skating toward the Barons&rsquo; bench to get a new stick.Had the blow struck him on either side of the jaw. it is likely that he could have been seri-ously injured. As it happened, he was merely knocked out, with x-rays of the jaw proving negative.Their roster reduced to only 13 active players, including defenseman Ted Lanyon, who just came off the hospital list, the Barons put in a hurry-up call for defensive help to the Montreal Ganadiens. Norm Schmitz, a rangy 21-year-old rear-guard was dispatched from Omaha and looked extremely good in his first outing against the Buffalo Bisons.Bright spot for the Barons has been the scoring power displayed by newcomer Bill Hicke, who tallied three goals and an assist in Quebec as the Barons split a pair with the league-leading Aces.Hicke&rsquo;s arrival has enabled playing-coach Fred Glover to put together a strong scoring line that could turn out to be one of the best in the AHL.Ron Atwell centres the line, with Glover working at right wing and Hicke. a natural right winger, working on the left side. &#9632;

Injuries Reduce Barons To 13-man Roster, Hicke Sparkles As Glover Forms New Line

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div>HERSHEY. Pa.If Frank Mathers discarded the team bus for an ambulance no one could blame the Hershey Bears&rsquo; coach whose players are keeping the Blue Cross plan booming.In a matter of days, Mathers had a &ldquo;Walking Wounded Brigade&rdquo; instead of a hockey team on his hands. If this wasn&rsquo;t bad enough, along came the Boston Bruins to recall rookie defenseman Don Awrey, probably one of the best new faces the American League has seen in quite a span.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03422/2090489-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="288" height="454"><figcaption class="caption-body">Andre Gill</figcaption></div>Hershey, staging a fantastic 13 game unbeaten string&mdash;11 wins and two ties&mdash;over a six week period, had four skaters on the ailing list as of December 12.On Dec. 9 the Springfield Indians checked in and promptly ended Hershey&rsquo;s unbeaten skein. At the same time they sent Claude Dufour, the league&rsquo;s top goalie, to the sidelines with a pulled leg muscle. Joining him was veteran forward Pete Conacher. He has a similar injury.Already on the shelf were forwards Gene Ubriaco with a shoulder ailment, and Bruce Draper with a broken bone of the knee cap.With Awrey up in the majors, Hershey was cut to four defensemen..Andre Gill stepped in in relief of Dufour for games against Baltimore and Buffalo. It was the 22-year-old netminder&rsquo;s initial start in nearly a year. He lost both, allowing 12 goals, though he gave it the old college try.When Buffalo upended the Bears, 5-4, on Dec. 13, it snapped the club&rsquo;s eight game win streak on the road.However, despite all the problems, the Bears remained camped in second place in the Eastern Division and were only nine points off the leading Quebec Aces. Hershey had played three less games.The Bears continue to draw the customers, showing 74,327 fans for the first 14 home games. At this rate, the club will top the 2,000,000 mark for the last nine years, quite incredible for a 7,200 seat arena.ICE CHIPS: Ulf Sterner, the former Swedish Olympic star, made his first appearance with Baltimore in Hershey Dec. 12 and scored a goal. He skates well but is prone to pass a great deal. One thing that&rsquo;s impressive is the fact he always shoots on the net once he wheels over the blueline. Once his checking improves, he may have the equipment to make the big show&hellip;Brian Smith, the young Springfield skater, is one player Hershey wishes would stay home. The rookie flash has popped in five goals against the Bears, including two game winners. &#9632;

f0013-03

Mathers’ Problems Multiply As Dufour Joins Casualties

CLEVELAND, O.&mdash;Cheap assists will soon be a thing of the past in the American Hockey League, or Jack Riley, the league&rsquo;s new president, won&rsquo;t let up until they are.&ldquo;It is unbelievable the way unearned assists continue to be handed out,&rdquo; Riley said here. &ldquo;An assist counts for one point, just like a goal, and in order to maintain proper balance, we must exert every effort to cut out unearned assists.&rdquo;Riley said he has been contacting official scorers throughout the league, and ordering them to crack down on the cheapies.&ldquo;I told one guy he had a perfect record,&rdquo; Riley said. &ldquo;There hadn&rsquo;t been a goal without two assists in any of the 11 games played in his city at the time I called.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s incredible. Imagine, two assists on every goal. He hadn&rsquo;t even had a one-assist goal.&ldquo;I asked him to surprise me some night and have an unassisted goal&mdash;or at least just a single-assist goal&rdquo;Riley appears determined to make an assist mean something. &#9632;

AHL President Riley Plans To Curb Cheap Goal Assists

<div class="byline">BY GEORGE TAYLOR</div>BALTIMORE, Md.All of a sudden, the Clippers are scorers.Ever since the Baltimore entry came into the American League three years ago the club has suffered by lack of scoring. Even in winning seasons, credit never belonged to the attack.And. at the start of the new season the problem was worse than before. As the Clippers floundered in last place in the early going, their scoring average sank below the two goals per game mark.However, now that the forwards found the range, goals are coming in bunches.During a drive which carried Baltimore from last to third place in the Eastern Division, the Clippers struck for 7 goals in four different games. Now the team has a goal average of better than four per game.The scoring spree has given Baltimore tans a new thrill in pro hockey. In the team&rsquo;s first two years in the AHL, Baltimoreans never saw one of their players turn the hat trick.But, in a short period of one month, three Clippers flipped their lids by scoring three goals in a single game.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02458/2090544-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="291" height="434"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Meissner</figcaption></div>Jean Ratelie was the first to click in a game against Providence. Then, Sandy McGregor came through with three goals against Springfield. And Dick Meissner beat Hershey for three goals.Incidentally, Meissner picked up five goals in two games in a pair of road tests with Hershey and Springfield.Baltimoreans have seen Meissner pull the hat trick before. Only the last time he was in the uniform of Hershey the year the Bears knocked Baltimore out of the playoffs.CLIPPER CLIPS&mdash;It has gotten so that you can&rsquo;t tell the stars from the spares on the Clipper roster&hellip;Not with the formula Coach Johnny Crawford has adopted&hellip;Despite a Baltimore victory in Hershey, Crawford switched goalies the following night and came up with a win in Springfield&hellip;Dave Creighton was moved from the bench to the team&rsquo;s first line and responded by scoring half his team&rsquo;s goals upon his return to action&hellip;And at a critical time against the Indians, Crawford benched Swede Ulf Sterner to make room for veteran Harry Pidhirny&hellip;Incidentally, Sterner received an 8-stitch head cut in Springfield&hellip;He quipped: &ldquo;I like to be like the Canadiens and finish the game.&rdquo;&hellip;And he did.Defenseman Don Johns left the team briefly because of the death of his father-in-law in Montreal&hellip;Clippers won five straight on the road, their best away streak ever&hellip; &#9632;

f0013-02

Meissner Leads As Clippers Find Scoring Touch

Before you say SCOTCH &ldquo;say&rdquo; DEWAR&rsquo;S it never varies<h2>Point Race</h2><h3>(Scoring: records as of December 14)</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1156/2090589-1-eng-US/f0014-112.jpg" title="f0014-11" width="556" height="634"></div><h3>GOALKEEPERS&rsquo; RECORDS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1251/2090582-1-eng-US/f0014-122.jpg" title="f0014-12" width="550" height="304"></div><h2>How They Stand</h2><h3>(Standings on Fri.. Dec. 18)</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02399/2090575-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="550" height="224"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed., Dec. 16Victoria 6. San Francisco 5<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Fri., Dec. 18Victoria at Los AngelesSeattle at VancouverSat., Dec. 19Victoria at San FranciscoPortland at SeattleSun., Dec. 20Victoria at Los AngelesSan Francisco at PortlandVancouver at SeattleTues., Dec. 22San Francisco at VictoriaFri., Dec. 25Seattle at PortlandSat., Dec. 26Seattle at VancouverPortland at VictoriaSun., Dec. 27San Francisco at Los AngelesVancouver at PortlandVictoria at SeattleThe editors of HOCKEY NEWS wish to announce that, because of the Christmas holiday, publication date had to be advanced not allowing us to include weekend games of Dec. 19-20 in this issue. They will be carried complete in the next issue. &#9632;

f0014-11

WESTERN LEAGUE

SEATTLE, Wash.&mdash;Seven and six point weeks by two red-hot centremen has brought about a sudden change in the individual scoring race. Los Angeles Blades&rsquo; pivot Norm Johnson fired three goals and added four assists in four games to move into the number one spot in the individual race.Johnson now has a record that stands at 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points in 27 games. Vancouver&rsquo;s Billy McNeill rifled a goal and set up five others to take over the number two spot. McNeill now has 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points in 28 games. Seattle&rsquo;s Guyle Fielder was pushed back into third place as he was able to pick up only two points, both assists, in two games played by the Totems. He now has 6 goals and 34 assists in 28 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01497/2090620-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="272" height="439"><figcaption class="caption-body">Don Head</figcaption></div>Los Angeles winger Brian Smith was held to only one goal in four games last week but it was enough to keep the fleet winger at the top of goal scoring list in League play. Smith now has 19 markers in 27 games played, two more than his nearest rival, San Francisco&rsquo;s Wayne Connelly, who has fired 17 goals in 26 games played.Fielder, despite being pushed from the top of the individual scoring race, still holds the lea-gue assist lead. The crafty playmaker has set up 34 goals, four more than the second-best player in this department, Johnson of Los Angeles, who has assisted on 30 markers.Seattle&rsquo;s Jimmy McLeod allowed only four goals in two games played by the Totems last week to improve his average by four percentage points and hold firmly to his lead among the active goalkeepers of the league. McLeod now has allowed a total of 71 goals in 28 games, for a 2.54 average.Portland&rsquo;s Don Head remains comfortably lodged in second place with a 2.91 average. He&rsquo;s the only other goalkeeper under the 3: 00 mark and has watched 64 goals go by in 22 games played. Head came up with the biggest play of the season as far as goalkeepers are concerned as he gained an assist in last week&rsquo;s play. The burly backstop was the second man on the assists on the fifth goal scored by Portland against Los Angeles. He passed the puck to Van Impe who, in turn, gave it to Cliff Schmautz who fired the number five goal in the Bucks 5-3 win over the Blades. &#9632;

f0014-01

Johnson Unseats Fielder As WHL’s Leading Scorer With 7-Point Week

SAN DIEGO, Calif.San Diego will not enter Western Hockey League competition in 1965 as scheduled because of delays in starting construction of a sports arena, a city spokesman reported.The city had been awarded a hockey franchise on the assumption that a 13,500-seat arena would be completed by next October. Bob Breitbard, local businessman who leads the pro-ject, is still trying to arrange financing and work has not yet begun on the structure.Breitbard said he is proceeding with financing for the facility and the new target date for completion is 1966. He has offered to operate a franchise in another WHL city in the interim.Breitbard did not say where he would operate the franchise. &#9632;

San Diego May Not Operate Before 1966 Season In WHL

<h2>Wed., Dec. 9 VANCOUVER 5, LOS ANGELES 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03298/2090724-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="546" height="579"></div><h2>SAN FRANCISCO 3, PORTLAND 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04224/2090717-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="545" height="478"></div><h2>Fri., Dec. 11 LOS ANGELES 3. SEATTLE 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-05171/2090710-1-eng-US/f0014-052.jpg" title="f0014-05" width="541" height="429"></div><h2>VANCOUVER 4 SAN FRANCISCO 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-06143/2090703-1-eng-US/f0014-062.jpg" title="f0014-06" width="556" height="743"></div><h2>Sat., Dec. 12 VANCOUVER 5 SAN FRANCISCO 8</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-07107/2090696-1-eng-US/f0014-072.jpg" title="f0014-07" width="544" height="844"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES 3, VICTORIA 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-0889/2090689-1-eng-US/f0014-082.jpg" title="f0014-08" width="555" height="715"></div><h2>Sun., Dec. 13 LOS ANGELES 3. PORTLAND 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-0976/2090682-1-eng-US/f0014-092.jpg" title="f0014-09" width="551" height="726"></div><h2>VICTORIA 1, SEATTLE 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1066/2090675-1-eng-US/f0014-102.jpg" title="f0014-10" width="552" height="447"></div> &#9632;

f0014-03

Western League Summaries

<div class="byline">&#x2014;By Bill Libby</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02416/2090793-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="281" height="425"><figcaption class="caption-body">Fred Hucul</figcaption></div>LOS ANGELES, Calif.The Western Hockey League is into the second third of its season and the picture is beginning to come into focus. Seattle is out in front. Vancouver has moved up into contention with Portland. Los Angeles is striving to retain a playoff berth, but slipping. Left at the gate, Victoria and San Francisco are trying to reorganize for a playoff push&hellip;Seattle and Portland recently played a back-to-back set. The largest crowd in Seattle history, 9,545 in the new Coliseum, saw the Totems score three goals in two minutes to beat Portland 4-3. The next night 10,652 persons, short only six persons of being the largest crowd in Portland history, jammed the Ice Palace to see the Bucks get revenge on Seattle, 3-1&hellip;Portland, which annually leads the league in attendance, is now averaging 7,892 fans per home game, the best yet for this point. Seattle is averaging 7,044.Pat Stapleton and Andy Hebenton are playing big-league hockey for Portland. Moved to a forward line from the defense, Stapleton is playing both ends of the ice effectively and scoring more clutch goals than anyone else in the league. The ageless Hebenton recently scored a goal or an assist in 14 straight games to break by one Art Jones&rsquo; four-year-old team record. The night he was stopped, he may have been handicapped, playing with a nine-stitch gash near his hairline suffered when cut by a skate in a collision with Seattle&rsquo;s Larry Zeidel the night before&hellip;Cliff Schmautz is recovering rapidly from a siege of Bell&rsquo;s Palsy, a partial facial paralysis&hellip;Coach Hal Laycoe has strengthened the Bucks by obtaining former San Francisco defenseman Jim Wilcox from Springfield of the AHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01474/2090800-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="238" height="399"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pot Stapleton</figcaption></div>Seattle suffered a serious loss when veteran all-league defenseman Gordy Sinclair was struck in the left eye by a deflected puck. Four stitches were taken under the eye, two on the eyelid, and he was immobilized in traction in the hospital for fear of bleeding behind the eye, but he is coming along all right and will be back by the first of the year&hellip;Coach Keith Allen bolstered the Totems by obtaining a checking wing, longtime WHL meanie Chuck Holmes, from Memphis of the Central League. This was a Detroit organization deal, with Billy Carter sent to Pittsburgh of the AHL to complete it&hellip;Bobby Barlow scored his eighth hat-trick in three seasons to spark Seattle past Vancouver 4-3. In that one, Jimmy McLeod, the league&rsquo;s top goalie, lost his glove, but caught the last shot barehanded and waved it above his head triumphantly.Coach Max McNabb of Vancouver says he cannot recall a season when there were so many serious injuries. &ldquo;Possibly, the players read all those stories about officials cracking down and calling infractions closely, and they have relaxed and are not protecting themselves,&rdquo; he supposes. His best player lately has been Billy McNeill, who always had the talent, but has not always used it. He is playing tremendous hockey. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s settled down in Vancouver and is happy there, and now has a good mental attitude,&rdquo; McNabb points out&hellip;Caught a recent broadcast by Jim Robson, young CKWX Vancouver sports director, and he does an exceptional job.L. A. is having its troubles. Lately, tne team has been scored on more often than it scored when it had a power-play advantage. The players are trying, but they are not executing properly. Very few are checking. Young goalie Jack Norris makes sensational saves, but blows easy ones. He lifts his team up, then depresses it. Howie Young was so frustrated re-cently, he scored a brilliant but useless late goal and, instantly, in one motion, whipped both gloves and his stick high in the air in disgust&hellip;Brian Smith, Norm Johnson and Willie O&rsquo;Ree are playing well, but they are exceptions. Sensational Smith now has 19 goals in 28 games for the league lead, while Johnson is duelling Seattle&rsquo;s Guyle Fielder for the points lead&hellip;Coach Alf Pike complains, Our boys like to stand around to see who&rsquo;s going to put the puck in the net. I explain all the time that if you can&rsquo;t check, you can&rsquo;t win, but I can&rsquo;t get it over to them.&rdquo; The Blades offered Gordy Haworth, Stan Maxwell or Warren Hynes to San Francisco for Ed Panagabko, but Seal boss Bud Poile turned them down&hellip;Poile returned forward Mike Draper to parent Boston, loaned centre Larry Lund to Minneapolis.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03353/2090786-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="282" height="441"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Perreault</figcaption></div>With his Victoria team staggering, Rudy Pilous purchased WHL veteran Danny Belisle from Quebec of the AHL, brought in defenseman Bob Taylor and goalie Gary Smith, and benched defensemen veteran all-star Fred Hucul and young Barry Trapp, who promptly quit the team. SF&rsquo;s Poile is bidding for one or the other&hellip;&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got no complaints against my men as individuals,&rdquo; Poile says. &ldquo;Our trouble is that we&rsquo;ve not jelled into a team all this time. We have to stop giving the puck away. We make too many mistakes. To light a fire under veteran goalie Bob Perreault, he recalled Henry Goy from the Winnipeg Senior Amateur League. Perreault got hit in the mouth by a puck in a game against Vancouver, Goy moved in and hung on to an 8-5 win.No one in hockey looks more surprised or distressed than Perreault when a goal is scored on him. Recently, he said, &ldquo;Our team, we play a little too wide-open hockey, I think. Everyone wants to score but the goalie, I think&rdquo;&hellip;Portland goalie Don Head, scored both an assist and a goal, within seven minutes, the other night. After feeding the puck up ice to Cliff Schmautz for a breakaway goal, he was so excited, he later cleared a long, soft shot by sweeping it into the net behind him. The Bear broke his stick and he could have broken his arm in his frustrated rage&hellip;Former Seal goalie Bev Bentley is now an assistant golf pro at Sharp Park Golf Course in San Francisco. Hockey was so frustrating, he turned to a nice, peaceful game. Next, he is going to try commando warfare. &#9632;

f0015-02

Western Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div>VANCOUVER. B. C.Hot on the ice, Vancouver&rsquo;s Canucks have been cold off the freeze. Defeat at the polls of a by-law that would have allowed with city council to negotiate with Stafford Smythe and Toronto for an $8 million coliseum may have signalled the end of pro hockey in the British Columbia city. The club has cost owner Fred Hume more than $300,000 to run it in the city&rsquo;s rundown, 5,080-seat Forum. It and Victoria are in serious trouble.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just a question of how much longer Hume wishes to go on entertaining the people of Vancouver at his own expense,&rdquo; Western Hockey League president Al Leader says. He indicated the league is ready to move into a 13,900-seat rink due in San Diego by Oct. 1, 1965, and claim major league status soon.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04274/2090831-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="291" height="429"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ron Matthews</figcaption></div>Sadly, one of the real surprise teams of the first part of the season has been the Canucks. A last-place team last season, Vancouver has lately surged into a battle with Portland for second place, and both are within striking distance of the leading Seattle club.Vancouver was dangerous, but defenseless last season, and they are still scoring a lot and giving up a lot of goals this season, but they have now brought the two into better balance.&ldquo;Actually, we were in the race at season until the last week or so, and we did not lose out by much&rdquo;, coach Max McNabb points out. &ldquo;We lost 19 games by one goal. We felt we didn&rsquo;t want to make a complete change, but just bolster the team here and there, which is what we&rsquo;ve done, and which is what has helped.&rdquo;Vancouver&rsquo;s big attackers are Billy McNeill, Buddy Boone and Phil Maloney. The team&rsquo;s powerplay, steadied by veteran Ron Matthews, has been the best in the league, while the penalty-killing unit, keyed by assistant coach Larry Popein, has been very effective.Defensemen Dune McCallum, Les Hunt, Bill Burega and Bob Plager, have been adequate in front of goalie Gilles Villemure, who started slow, but has come on fast in replacing Marcel Paille. Both Paille and Plager were recalled by the Rangers.&ldquo;We expect Plager back, but not Paille,&rdquo; McNabb says. &ldquo;Until Plager was recalled, we were able to use veteran Matthews almost exclusively on the powerplay. Fresh, he&rsquo;s been a tremendous help. We&rsquo;ve been able to spot veteran Popein primarily killing penalties. Fresh, he&rsquo;s been very effective. These were things we couldn&rsquo;t do last year when we were not as deep in good players, and it&rsquo;s helped us.&ldquo;Physically, we weren&rsquo;t strong on the left side on defense last year, but we&rsquo;ve bolstered our-selves there with Burega and Plager. And, I&rsquo;d say the fourth big difference has been McNeill, who played only the last part of last season with us. He&rsquo;s settled down, he&rsquo;s happy and he&rsquo;s playing wonderful hockey. Our veterans, like Phil Maloney, have always played well for us. Overall, our spirit has been excellent. Proof of this has been that we&rsquo;ve survived a bad string of injuries. But, then almost everyone has been hit by injuries in the league.&rdquo;Boone, who had 10 goals in the early going, missed nine games with pulled knee ligaments before recently returning. He was particularly missed early. The most recent serious injury has been to Bob McCusker, a tough wing who suffered a bad concussion when he ran into Portland&rsquo;s Bill Shvetz, was out six games and now wears a helmet.&ldquo;I could name almost every one on the roster who has helped out when we needed it,&rdquo; McNabb says. &ldquo;Almost everyone has contributed substantially. We could still be doing certain things better, of course, but, generally, I&rsquo;m happy with the way the team has been performing to date, and I&rsquo;m optimistic for the future.&rdquo;McNabb is also happy for his lost goalie, Paille. Rangers had given up on him before surprising by recalling him when Jacques Plante got hurt this season. &ldquo;It is not right to make up your mind on a player too soon,&rdquo; McNabb says. &ldquo;Paille has become a very steady goalie. I understand he&rsquo;s played exceptionally for New York, and I&rsquo;m not surprised.&ldquo;And I would not want them to give up on Villemure. We were a tired team when he joined us and we did not play well in front of him. Nor did he play well. But he may have been disappointed that the Rangers sent him to us and took Paille, instead. But. he&rsquo;s playing better now. as we are, he&rsquo;s helped us, and he has a fine future.&rdquo;Which is more than the Vancouver franchise may have. &#9632;

f0015-04

Rejection Of Coliseum Land Deal May End Pro Hockey In Vancouver; Canucks Undismayed, Set Hot Pace

GALT, Ont.Guelph Regals&rsquo; big line remained in a first place tie in the OHA senior hockey race for the second straight week but it was another Regal who made the biggest gains.Playing coach Jack McIntyre, former NHL star, returning to the lineup with a protective face mask after missing 11 games because of a broken jaw, moved into the top ten. McIntyre, who&rsquo;s scored eight points in three games since coming off the injured list, has 22 points in eight games and is tied for ninth place.Leading goal scorer, Joe Malo, and top assist man. Don McGregor, remained tied at the top with line mate Dave Luciuk however. Each scored three points in a pair of Guelph wins to run their point totals to 36.Malo&rsquo;s 17 goals are tops as are McGregor&rsquo;s 26 assists.The line has amassed 102 points in 19 games, easily the most prolific pace in the five-team league. Second place Galt Hornets have the next most productive unit in Joe Hogan, Earl Balfour and Pete Kowalchuk. They&rsquo;ve combined for 70 points.Hogan stands fourth in the scoring race with 29 points, seven off the pace. Welland Blacks&rsquo; classy Vance Millar is fifth with 28.Regals&rsquo; Boat Hurley continued his red-hot netminding. Hurley has surrendered only 51 goals in 19 starts for a 2.68 average. Galt&rsquo;s Dave Dryden is second with a 3.25 record in 20 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-05206/2090862-1-eng-US/f0015-052.jpg" title="f0015-05" width="267" height="428"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jack McIntyre</figcaption></div>Guelph, with six men in the Top Ten scorers, paces the league in all other statistics at the halfway mark in the schedule. They have most goals, 114; most assists, 192; most scoring points, 306: and most minutes in penalties, 386.Other scoring totals are: Woodstock 80-127,207; Galt 77-122, 199; Oakville 75-115, 190; Welland 60-91, 151.Club penalty minutes totals are Guelph 386, Woodstock 378, Oakville 328, Galt 273, Welland 204. &#9632;

f0015-05

Broken Jaw No Drawback, McIntyre On Scoring Spree

<div class="byline">BY MATT DENNIS</div>TULSA, Okla.&mdash;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01349/2090900-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="263" height="410"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom McCarthy</figcaption></div>Tulsa Oilers broke loose on a five-game winning streak and for a day sat in first place in the Central Professional Hockey League but when they idle St. Paul Rangers moved back to the front-running spot.But the brief whiff of air in the rareified atmosphere in the pace-setting position only ser-ved to whet the appetite for the Oilers and they predict they will be back there soon.In their winning streak they rammed home 25 goals and gave up 14 sparked by veterans Tom McCarthy, Gary Jarrett, Marc Reaume and Don Simmons McCarthy ran his goal total for the season to 14 to take over the lead in the league scoring race with the same number of assits for 14 points, Jarrett had flashed the light 10 times and defenseman Reaume is proving an adept playmaker with 14 assists to go along with his three goals. Simmons was a tower of strength in goal and had only one &ldquo;wild&rdquo; night when St. Louis Braves slipped seven past him but the Oilers counted nine at the other end of the ice for victory.Gary Veneruzzo has been a pleasant surprise to general manager Ray Miron and coach Rudy Migay playing at centre. Not expected to be a prolific scorer, he tallied four goals early, is passing the puck with authority and is steering clear of the penalty box.Rightwinger Nick Harbaruk was called to the Rochester team of the American League when injuries hit and the Oilers understand his loss is only temporary. He had scored eight goals before his departure and Mike Corbett will fill in until he returns.ST. PAUL&mdash;Rangers are finding the Minneapolis Bruins and Tulsa Oilers breathing down their necks in the tussle for first place. They miss Ulf Sterner, the Swedish star, who was promoted to the American League after scoring 12 goals.Their rivalry with Minneapolis has heightened and after a 6-0 defeat on home ice before a crowd that was over the 4,000-mark drew more interest for the next return engagement.Rangers&rsquo; general manager Jake Milford has been beseeching Emile Francis, boss of the New York Rangers farm system for a couple of goal-scoring forwards. Barrie Ross, Mel Pear-son and Paul Andrea have been making the plays but unless Marc Dufour is on the ice, the puck doesn&rsquo;t end up in the opponents&rsquo; net.An increase in the attendance has been noted via a drive spear-headed by Milford and civic officials.MINNEAPOLIS&mdash;Playing coach Harry Sinden of the Bruins has been waxing with enthusiasm on the play of Terry Crisp who has been giving out with a &ldquo;double effort&rdquo; since Bill Knibbs and Wayne Maxner, his top pointmen were called up to the Boston Bruins.&ldquo;He is stealing the puck from the opposition and with checking, he&rsquo;s finding himself in posession more often to make a play. He&rsquo;s a worker,&rdquo; claims Sinden.Wayne Schultz, Skip Krake Pete Panagabko working as a unit tallied 10 goals in four games in showing improvement and Larry Lund clicked for a goal in his first appearance of the season in a Minneapolis uniform.OMAHA&mdash;Goalie Ernie Wakely is showing few ill effects of the new injury that postponed his debut in the Knights&rsquo; cage this season and over his first nine games following Jean Guy Morissette&rsquo;s departure, he compiled a 2.89 goals-against mark. In 59 games last season, he posted a 2.93 goals-against mark.Norm Dennis has been the team&rsquo;s top sniper over the first 21 games with seven goals, one better than Bob Charlebois.ST. LOUIS&mdash;Gus Kyle is still trying to get his Braves un-tracked after their injury streak and with the return of John Brenneman, a 28-goal scorer last season, should help on offence and NHL veteran Wayne Hillman is expected to show muscle on defence.General manager Tommy Ivan of the parent Chicago Black Hawks had only praise to offer on the progress by Doug Jarrett under Kyle. The rookie was impressive in his first three NHL games with Hawks.Kyle is hoping that all waiver difficulties will be straightened out and that it will be possible for Dennis Hull to join the Braves where he will assuredly get more ice time and experience than with the NHL Black Hawks.MEMPHIS&mdash;Memphis fans have shown their avid interest in hockey and in their first four home games, the Wings drew an average of 2.500 fans.Howie Menard suffered an eye injury in a game against Minneapolis and could be lost to the club for two weeks.In order to change the Wings&rsquo; inconsistent offence that will go in high gear one night and then proceed in the opposite direction, the next time out, Wings&rsquo; obtained Billy Carter from Seattle on loan for the season in return for Chuck Holmes.Andre Pronovost, an NHL veteran with Montreal, Boston and Detroit, was assigned to Memphis to bolster the attack that produced less than three goals per game on the average over the club&rsquo;s first 16 outings. Pronovost had been with the Pittsburgh Hornets.The editors of HOCKEY NEWS wish to announce that, because of the Christmas holiday, publication date had to be advanced not allowing us to include weekend games of Dec. 19-20 in this issue. They will be carried complete in the next issue.<h2>How They Stand</h2><h3>(Standings on Fri., Dec. 18)</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-0693/2090893-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="556" height="253"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed., Dec. 16St. Louis 4, St. Paul 2<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Fri., Dec. 18Omaha at MinneapolisSt. Louis at St. PaulTulsa at MemphisSat., Dec. 19St. Louis at OmahaTulsa at MemphisSun., Dec. 20St. Louis at MinneapolisOmaha at St. PaulMemphis at TulsaWed., Dec. 23St. Louis at MinneapolisFri., Dec. 25St. Louis at MemphisTulsa at St. PaulSat., Dec. 26Minneapolis at St. LouisTulsa at St. PaulOmaha at MemphisSun., Dec. 27Memphis at St. LouisSt. Paul at OmahaTulsa at Minneapolis &#9632;

f0016-01

Old Pros Spearhead Tulsa In Drive For Lead

<h2>Fri., Dec. 4 MINNEAPOLIS 6. ST. PAUL 0</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02287/2090952-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="550" height="522"></div><h2>TULSA 4, OMAHA 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03217/2090945-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="553" height="653"></div><h2>Wed., Dec. 9 ST. PAUL 1, MEMPHIS 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04178/2090938-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="553" height="671"></div><h2>Thurs., Dec. 10 ST. PAUL 1. TULSA 0</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05122/2090931-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="548" height="461"></div> &#9632;

f0016-02

Central League Summaries

IT&rsquo;S THE WORLD&rsquo;S OFFICIAL HOCKEY MAGAZINE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-0782/2090990-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="455" height="561"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-0876/2090983-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="1110" height="736"></div> &#9632;

f0016-07

HOCKEY PICTORIAL

<h2>ONTARIO SENIOR LEAGUE</h2><h3>(Standings on Fri., Dec. 18)</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01287/2091105-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="548" height="151"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tues., Dec. 15 Woodstock 2. Galt 1 LEADING SCORERS<h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02245/2091098-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="550" height="405"></div><h2>MARITIME SENIOR LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Fri, Dec. 18)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03187/2091091-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="546" height="130"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed., Dec. 16Windsor-Dartmouth 4, New Glasgow 2Thurs., Dec. 17New Glasgow 15, Halifax 7Moncton 9, Windsor-Dartmouth 1<h2>QUEBEC SENIOR</h2><h3>(Standings on Thurs., Dec. 17)</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04135/2091084-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="550" height="155"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sun., Dec. 13Drummondville 4, Verdun 3Sherbrooke 6, St. Hyacinthe 3Tues., Dec. 15St. Hyacinthe 3, Drummondville 1<h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05100/2091077-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="550" height="232"></div><h2>OTTAWA-ST. LAW. SENIOR (Standings on Wed., Dec. 16)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-0678/2091070-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="550" height="178"></div><h2>OTTAWA DISTRICT JUNIOR (Standings on Wed., Dec. 16)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-0772/2091063-1-eng-US/f0017-072.jpg" title="f0017-07" width="554" height="281"></div><h2>WESTERN ONTARIO JUNIOR (Standings on Wed., Dec. 16)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-0847/2091056-1-eng-US/f0017-082.jpg" title="f0017-08" width="550" height="179"></div><h2>EASTERN INTERCOLLEGIATE (Standings on Wed., Dec. 16)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-0937/2091049-1-eng-US/f0017-092.jpg" title="f0017-09" width="545" height="254"></div><h2>SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR (Standings on Sat., Dec. 5)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1030/2091042-1-eng-US/f0017-102.jpg" title="f0017-10" width="547" height="224"></div><h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1124/2091035-1-eng-US/f0017-112.jpg" title="f0017-11" width="549" height="426"></div><h2>MANITOBA JUNIOR LEAGUE (Standings on Dec. 13)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1218/2091028-1-eng-US/f0017-122.jpg" title="f0017-12" width="546" height="130"></div><h2>UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE (Including Games of Sun., Dec. 6)</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1315/2091021-1-eng-US/f0017-132.jpg" title="f0017-13" width="545" height="157"></div> &#9632;

f0017-01

Hockey Races

<h2>EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE (Standings on Fri., Dec. 18)</h2><h3>Northern Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-169/2091143-1-eng-US/f0017-162.jpg" title="f0017-16" width="547" height="176"></div><h3>Southern Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-177/2091136-1-eng-US/f0017-172.jpg" title="f0017-17" width="545" height="200"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tues., Dec. 15Greensboro 8, Charlotte 6Wed., Dec. 16Clinton 5, Jacksonville 0New York 2, New Haven 2Thurs., Dec. 17Nashville 5, Clinton 2<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Fri., Dec. 18Johnstown at New JerseyNew York at Long IslandJacksonville at GreensboroClinton at KnoxvilleSat., Dec. 19Charlotte at JohnstownKnoxville at JacksonvilleGreensboro at NashvilleLong Island at New YorkSun., Dec. 20Clinton at New JerseyCharlotte at New YorkJohnstown at New HavenKnoxville at JacksonvilleWed., Dec. 23Charlotte at New HavenJohnstown at New YorkFri., Dec. 25Jacksonville at KnoxvilleCharlotte at NashvilleSat., Dec. 26New Haven at New YorkJohnstown at Long IslandNew Jersey at ClintonNashville at GreensboroKnoxville at CharlotteSun., Dec. 27Long Island at JohnstownNew Jersey at New YorkClinton at New HavenCharlotte at JacksonvilleKnoxville at Greensboro &#9632;

f0017-16

Looking At EHL Race

<div class="byline">BY HUGH TOWNSEND</div>HALIFAX, N.S.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1510/2091205-1-eng-US/f0017-152.jpg" title="f0017-15" width="281" height="444"><figcaption class="caption-body">Fleming Mackell</figcaption></div>The first month of the Maritime Senior Hockey League can be summed up in two words&mdash;Fleming Mackell.The former National Hockey League star, now playing coach of the New Glasgow Rangers, has been a one-man show in the loop&rsquo;s early action.Mackell, who joined the Rangers late last season, was all by himself at the top of the league scoring race after a month&rsquo;s action and his club was riding high at the head of the circuit&rsquo;s standings.Rangers, who in recent years were accustomed to battling to escape the league cellar, have been leading the league since opening night. Mackell has been the difference.In the first 15 games the former NHL all-star centre potted 23 goals and added 26 assists for a sensational 49-point record. He was 20 full points up in the scoring race. Trailing in the runner-up slot was last year&rsquo;s scoring champ, Jacques Allard of Windsor-Dartmouth Keiths.Mackell&rsquo;s play has been the difference in Rangers&rsquo; winning or losing. He missed two of Rangers&rsquo; first 17 games&mdash;one by illness, the other when he was on a scouting expedition&mdash;and the club dropped them both decisively.While Rangers and Mackell blazed along at a sizzling pace, the Halifax Schooners were finding new win formulas that jumped the club from the basement into a deadlock with Monctan Hawks for second place.Schooners were receiving strong netminding performances from masked Don Mason while the scoring was being lead by Gilles St. Jacques, Ron Allain and Alf Flanagan.ATLANTIC BREEZES&hellip;Mackell had a commanding lead in all three scoring departments&mdash;goals, assists, points&hellip;Rangers&rsquo; Jules &ldquo;Crash&rdquo; Bou-chard, one of the most colorful players in loop history, was running away with &ldquo;bad-man&rdquo; honors. The burly rearguard spent 146 minutes in the penalty box in the first 15 games&hellip; &#9632;

f0017-15

Ex-NHL Star Mackell Proves One-Man Show For Leading New Glasgow Scoring 23 Goals

<div class="byline">BY HARVEY POLLACK</div>COMMACK, N.Y.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1412/2091174-1-eng-US/f0017-142.jpg" title="f0017-14" width="255" height="412"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Muckier</figcaption></div>One of the pet ways for a team to win a flag is to gobble up the lower clubs and hold its own against the contenders. If that theory works in the Eastern Hockey League this season then the Long Island Ducks stand an excellent chance of winning their first divisional crown.John Muckier&rsquo;s crew has posted a terrific record against the three laggards in the Northern Division&mdash;the Jersey Devils, New Haven Blades and New York Rovers. Their card against these three foes stood at 15 wins and two losses as the EHL log moved towards the halfway mark. Against other opposition the Ducks only had a 6-8 mark, but still their imposing performances against the tailenders had them battling Clinton for the divisional lead.This success was not confined to the home ice either. The Ducks won 7 of eight from the trio at home and took eight of nine on the road. They were 6-1 against Jersey, 5-1 versus New Haven and 4-0 versus their nearby rival, the Rovers. New Haven&rsquo;s early season win repre-sented the only foreign loss the Ducks suffered.Mucklei-especially is delighted with the road victories for they are hard to come by in this league. The Ducks road success against the trio is far out of line with the overall league average of about one road win in three tries.The Ducks believe this superiority may come especially handy in the stretch of the race.JACKSONVILLE: Club&rsquo;s fortunes didn&rsquo;t improve with switch of Ed Babuik into cage in place of Gordie Dibley. Scotty Munro says the job is still up for grabs between the duo. Munro dickering for defenseman and forward at San Francisco and Minneapolis. Billy Staub missed action with injured knee. Ron Willey steady scorer. Club lost seven of first eight starts with Greensboro.GREENSBORO: Garry Sharp posted fifth hat trick to tie the club record. Bobby Boucher sidelined indefinitely with eye injury. Club purchased Dorn DiBerardino from Jacksonville to fill the hole. Game with Charlotte televised. Prexy Tom Lockhart visited here on a trip around southern rinks. During club&rsquo;s four-game losing streak, coach Ron Spong&rsquo;s check showed that his juniors were on the ice the fewest times when goals were scored by the opposition. Danny Blair may be back by Jan. 1.NASHVILLE: Dusty Blair sidelined with sprained back and pinched nerve. Goalie Marv Edwards playing despite sprained elbow which at first was feared to be a cracked bone. Boosters club gave team Xmas party. Juniors are scoring much higher than last year&rsquo;s youngsters. Norm Ryder&rsquo;s overtime goal won at Long Island. A fan punched referee Hugh Mulryan in Flyers&rsquo; game at Johnstown and was promptly arrested. Club through with northern jaunts with 4-2 record.CLINTON: Comets staved off Long Island&rsquo;s threat to depose them as Northern pacesetters. Jim Jago&rsquo;s overtime goal nipped Jets. Team won 15th straight at home over New York. Comets and Syracuse Stars have home-and-home series. Some Comets went home to Canada during schedule lull. Former Comet Wayne Brown is with Syracuse.KNOXVILLE: Nashville&rsquo;s John McLellan, appraising the Knights&rsquo; Reggie Grigg, said &lsquo;Grigg can really go to town if you let him run around loose. We just didn&rsquo;t put the wood to him.&rdquo; Game with Charlotte saw Earl Heiskala battle Checkers&rsquo; Ralph Winfield twice in a game that saw free-for-all erupt. Eight misconducts and four game misconducts were called by ref Yves Tessier. Fan club gave team Xmas party.CHARLOTTE: Checkers won five straight to get into thick of third place fight. Checkers now have lost 16 straight at Greensboro. Rookie John Vopni starting to score. Checkers won two games with great third period comebacks from 3-goal deficits. Goalie Gaetan Dessu reault doing well after so-so start.LONG ISLAND: Andre DuBuc suffered strained shoulder muscles and was out for a week. John Muckier giving out cigars due to birth of new son. Gordie Stratton scored goals in eight straight games.NEW YORK: Rovers will face Long Island Xmas night at Norwalk, Conn. Team drew 1,743 on cold night at Syracuse in routing New Haven, 8-1. De-fenseman Jim Murray scored twice versus Blades as did Red Johansen.NEW HAVEN: Blades scrimmaged Yale University&rsquo;s team when rink wasn&rsquo;t available. Blades lost nine in row including several one-goalers and were in jeopardy of being caught by New York.JERSEY: Club hopes for improved attendance after first of year and after eight-game road trip. Reggie Meserve and Don Grosso off injured list and only Wayne Caulfield is still sidelined. Harvey Turnbull and Jerry Wakshinski also back on duty.JOHNSTOWN: Jets lost three straight at home for the first time since 1958. Ralph Mac-Sweyn due back after recuperating from eye injury. Jets won first two games in South at Jacksonville and Charlotte. Dick Roberge continues to pace club&rsquo;s point production. &#9632;

f0017-14

Long Island (leans Up On Tailenders; Eye Injury Puts Boucher Out 01 Play

<h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Fri, Dec. 18)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01294/2091236-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="555" height="242"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed., Dec. 16Fort Wayne 7. Toledo 4Port Huron 4, Des Moines 2Thurs., Dec. 17Fort Wayne 10, Dayton 6<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Fri., Dec. 18Muskegon at ToledoSat., Dec. 19Toledo at MuskegonDayton at Des MoinesPort Huron at Fort WayneSun., Dec. 20Dayton at Des MoinesToledo at Port HuronTues., Dec. 22Fort Wayne at DaytonWed., Dec. 23Toledo at Des MoinesFri., Dec. 25Fort Wayne at MuskegonDes Moines at ToledoPort Huron at DaytonSat., Dec. 26Port Huron at MuskegonDes Moines at FortWayne Dayton at ToledoSun., Dec. 27Fort Wayne at PortHuron Muskegon at Dayton &#9632;

f0018-01

<div class="byline">BY BOB REED</div>DAYTON, O.&mdash;Dayton&rsquo;s Gems, holding down last place in the International Hockey League, had won only four of their first 22 starts, but if there was any consolation for the Gems&rsquo; followers, who were still coming out in encouraging numbers, the Gems had lost a lot of close ones.Of their 18 losses up to that time, seven had been by only one goal and three others by two goals. Five of the seven one-goal losses came on Dayton ice, where they had lost nine of their 11 starts.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02212/2091274-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="294" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Joe Kastelic</figcaption></div>But the Gems continued their efforts to strengthen. Up to the middle of December they had employed 25 different men in icing the 14 players per game allowed by IHL rules, indicating frequent shifting.Latest to depart in the continued shakeup was defenseman Willie Mastin, only Negro play-er left in the league after the Gems&rsquo; previous release of Irving Campbell. Mastin came from Montreal.Newest addition to the club was Ian Macintosh, 35-year-old former New York Ranger and Cincinnati Mohawk. Formerly a forward, Macintosh was installed on defense, because Coach Warren Back said, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been giving the puck away too many times. Ian has the know-how and should be a steadying influence.&rdquo;TOLEDO&mdash;Terry Slater scored the hat trick in an 8-2 vic-tory over Muskegon&hellip;Rookie defenseman Carl Lackey was suspended indefinitely for not appearing for a game, saying he felt he was not doing the team any good&hellip;Don Westbrook scored his first goal in a 5-2 loss to Fort Wayne&hellip;Chick Chalmers drew a two-minute penalty for not having a palm in his glove.FORT WAYNE&mdash;Rookie Terry Pembroke&rsquo;s goal in 5-2 win over Toledo was the first by a Komet defenseman in eight games&hellip;Komets&rsquo; 6-1 loss at Muskegon was their most onesided of the season&hellip;Eddie Long was out of the game with a pulled groin muscle&hellip;Bob Rivard led scoring with 36 points.MUSKEGON&mdash;Ken Hayden, out with leg injury since Nov. 26, started skating again&hellip;The Zephyrs, after winning four out of five, were stopped by Toledo. 8-2&hellip;The Z&rsquo;s had only a 6-31 scoring record against the Komets in three games, then trounced them 6-1&hellip;Lyle Porter, on Army furlough, watched his old mates&hellip;The Z&rsquo;s had two league leaders Joe Kastelic in goals and Stan Konrad in assists.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03128/2091267-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="525" height="784"><figcaption class="caption-body">IAN MACINTOSH&hellip;Back In Hockey</figcaption></div>PORT HURON&mdash;The Flags&rsquo; 3-1 loss to Des Moines was first in seven games and only second in 10 home games&hellip;Bill Le-Caine set a new club mark with at least one point in 18 straight games&hellip;Guy James, new&rsquo; IHL &ldquo;iron man,&rdquo; played in his 418th straight game&hellip;Gary Ross, out with jaw and skull fracture, started to skate.DES TWOINES&mdash;The Leafs used Jim Sanko, playing coach of the Windsor-Chatham independent team, as an emergency replacement&hellip;Goalie Ray Mikulan had 37 saves in beating Port Huron, 3-1. &#9632;

f0018-02

One-Goal Losses Keep Dayton Gems Down In Race; ‘Iron Man’ James Plays In 418th Straight Game

<div class="byline">BY STANLEY BRINK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-0492/2091305-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="274" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Moriucci</figcaption></div>CAMBRIDGE. Mass.&mdash;Ralph (Cooney) Weiland, now in his fifteenth season as head coach of Harvard University, is one of a group of former National Hockey Leaguers to make names for themselves atter the playing careers closed.Weiland, as most old timers recall, was one of the great centres of history while performing for Boston. J. Murray Murdoch (New York Rangers) is at Yale; John Mariucci (Chicago Black Hawks) at University of Minnesota: Edward J. Jeremiah (Boston at Dartmouth College since 1937.Murray Armstrong (New York Americans and Detroit) has been with University of Denver since 1956. Previously he handled Regina Pats Junior &lsquo;A&rsquo; club for nine seasons. The Pats went along at a. 637 clip during his stay.Other National Leaguers now out of coaching but who served tours in the field were Victor Heyliger (Chicago) at University of Michigan; Elwyn &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; Romnes (Chicago) at Minnesota; Clifford (Fido) Purpur (Chicago) at University of North Dakota.<h2>WESTERN INDEPENDENT</h2>DULUTH, Minn.&mdash;On the basis of matches scheduled with Western Collegiate Hockey Association members, University of Minnesota-Duluth, belongs but without official sanction. Of the 27 listed 19 are with such WCHA members as Minnesota, North Dakota, and Michigan Tech.Add to these Colorado College, Michigan, and Michigan State and only University of Denver is missing. Technicalities, it is reported, bar Duluth from the fold.Minnesota-Duluth is the sole western independent playing a major varsity circuit. Coach Ralph A. Romano has 17 lettermen on the squad headed by Keith &ldquo;Huffer&rdquo; Christiansen one of the banner wingers in Duluth history.<h2>NEW VERMONT RINK BURLINGTON. Vt.&mdash;</h2>A multi-purpose field house is the latest addition to athletic facilities of University of Ver-mont. Occupying one half is the hockey rink, 190 &times; 85, while the other half is the track-baseball area.The hockey rink, seating 3,400, is in constant use. When the players are not on hand, a skating school holds. The general public, students, faculty, and staff make good use of the open periods. When the ice comes out, four tennis courts are set up.In the other half is a 10 lap track and a 55 yard straightaway. The baseball cage is large enough to permit laying out an infield.Hockey, missing from the Vermont calendar since 1950-51, returned as an intercollegiate sport last winter.<h2>DENVER, BU FAVORITES</h2>DENVER, Colo&mdash;Denver University in the West, Boston University in the east are the favorites for sectional honors in a poll of coaches. North Dakota and Michigan also stood high in the West, Providence, and Boston College in the east. &#9632;

f0018-04

Former Bruin Weiland In 15th Year As Harvard Coach

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-0571/2091336-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0018-05

Change Of Address Coupon

For The Man On Your Shopping ListGIVE HIM A SUBSCRIPTION TO<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-0663/2091374-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="545" height="1104"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-0757/2091367-1-eng-US/f0018-072.jpg" title="f0018-07" width="998" height="1138"></div>ATTRACTIVE CHRISTMAS CARDS SENT UPON REQUEST &#9632;

f0018-06

THE HOCKEY NEWS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0019-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01269/2091405-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg"></div><h2>SOLUTION IN NEXT WEEK&rsquo;S ISSUE</h2><h2>ACROSS</h2>1. Chicago player shown in centre.4. Given name of Meeker, exLeaf star.7. Upon.8. Initials of player who wears No. 17 for Rangers.9. A Ranger player has only once won this trophy.11. This Black Hawk hails from Humboldt, Sask.13. Preposition.14. This NHL manager is a native of Toronto.16. Jean Picrad&rsquo;s second name.17. Tellurium (Sym.)18. 16th & 14th letters of the alphabet.19. Montreal defenseman.20. Stanley&rsquo;s nickname.21. John Hanna spends his summers in this province (abbr.)22. Osmium (Sym.)23. This player played 61 games for Hershey last season.26. NHL club which holds record for most assists in one season (abbr.)27. What Detroit failed to do in 7th Cup final last spring.28. Given name of Boesch, exLeaf.<h2>DOWN</h2>1. Player who scored the most Leaf goals in a single season.2. Lou Angotti is of this descent.3. Teams often call on farm systems for this.5. Number of NHL teams with which pictured star has played.6. NHL team with which 11 down last played (abbr.)10. Toronto&rsquo;s publicist.11. Pittsburgh forword, first name Ted.12. NHL linesman.15. Month in which Ron Murphy was born.17. Camille Henry plays this during the summer.23. Golf term.24. Native province of Punch Imlach (abbr.)25. Initials of Weibe, Hawk of the 1930&rsquo;s.26. Abbreviation for chartered accountant.<h2>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S SOLUTION</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3>1. Duff4. Paul7. Orch.8. L. A.9. Nine10. F.C.11. T.D.12. La.14. Abe16. Chi.18. Roy19. Ten20. Ken.21. One22. S.E.23. R.D.24. C.C.25. E.J.27. OHA.29. Shero32. Swedish33. C.H.34. On35. Cotton<h3>DOWN</h3>1. Denmark2. Fonteyne3. Fred.4. Phil5. Ulf6. Lachine13. Actor15. Boesch17. Henderson24. Coach26. John28. A.S.29. Sept.30. HD.31 E. T &#9632;

f0019-01

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

<div class="byline">BY JACK GATECLIFF</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02221/2091436-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="291" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Gregory</figcaption></div>TORONTO, Ont.The success story written by Jim Gregory in the past 10 years would do justice to a Horatio Alger novel.A student at St. Michael&rsquo;s College in the early 50&rsquo;s Gregory had a yen, like most young Canadians, to play hockey.&ldquo;I had one strike against me before I even tried out for the junior club,&rdquo; he said this week. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t skate&rdquo;.Gregory did the next best thing to playing for the club. He volunteered for and was accepted as trainer.After graduating from SMC he continued in that capacity, strictly on a part time basis, while working as a saleman for a Toronto industrial concern.He got his first real break in 1961 when he was appointed coach of St. Michael&rsquo;s during their first and only season in the now-defunct Toronto Metro junior A league.&ldquo;I could hardly believe my ears when Stafford (Staff Smythe, president of Maple Leaf Gardens) offered me a full time job in hockey,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It seemed like a dream until I actually did handle the club in its first game.&rdquo;Gregory made the most of his chances.The Majors finished in first place that year but were defeated in the All-Ontario final by Hamilton. Red Wings of the long-established OHA junior A league.No sooner had Gregory got his bearings as a coach than the club collapsed under him.Deciding to de-emphasize sport, St. Michael&rsquo;s pulled out of junior hockey.However the players were transferred to Neil McNeil High School and Gregory was once again in business.For the second straight season his club won the Metro pennant, then extended Niagara Falls Flyers from the OHA league to six games before suffering elimination.For the second time in two years the team Gregory handled packed away their equipment for the last time following the final game.However last year Gregory came back stronger than ever.Appointed coach of the Toronto Marlboros when that club returned from the Metro League to rejoin the provincial group, he again had a tremendously successful season.In first place from the opening week of the schedule the Marlboros only lost nine of 56 games, and finished with 87 points, 22 more than the runner-up Montreal Canadiens.It was only a formality as they rolled to the Memorial Cup over Ontario, Quebec and finally, Edmonton Oil Kings in the championship finals in Maple Leaf Gardens.Gregory thus had the fantastic record of finishing first with three different teams in three consecutive seasons.With only six regulars back from last year&rsquo;s club and missing such sensational performers as Rod Seiling (now with New York Rangers) many felt that the Marlboros&hellip;and Gregory&hellip;might be in for a rough season this year.However at the moment the Dukes are is their familiar first position, albeit a little shakier than at the same point last year.Rumors persist that Gregory will give up his coaching position and concentrate on his other job with the Toronto Maple Leaf organization, director of the Marlboro minor farm system.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to quit coaching,&rdquo; says the 29-year-old darkhaired Gregory. &ldquo;But I find that I just don&rsquo;t have enough time to devote to both jobs.&rdquo;Mentioned prominently as a replacement is Gus Bodnar, onetime ecntre star with Toronto, Chicago and Boston in the National Hockey League and a former coach of the St. Catharines Teepees. &#9632;

f0019-02

Jim Gregory Builder Of Champions, Realizing Dream As Merlies’ Pilot

<div class="byline">BY BILL COLLINS</div>WINNIPEG, Man.The protective face mask went up and Brave goalie Wayne Stephenson&rsquo;s average tumbled.A few weeks after the inaugural of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League season and with Braves flunking their early exams, Stephenson decided to shelve his mask.&ldquo;I want to see what happens without it,&rdquo; he announced to coach Bill Allum. &ldquo;Things can&rsquo;t be any worse.&rdquo;Actually, the finger of guilt wasn&rsquo;t really pointing at the 19-year-old sophomore.But brothers of the goalie fraternity are generally superstitious.In his mind, Stephenson actually believed his mask was responsible for Braves&rsquo; early losses.He&rsquo;s still convinced.Backed by their brilliant netminder, Braves began their slow rise to the league lead. They&rsquo;re still winning.After four straight losses to open the season, Braves are in first place.They batted. 843 with 27 of a possible 32 points in their next 16 games (13-2-1).During the stretch, Stephenson registered back-to-back shutouts. The string of scoreless minutes, by also carrying into two other games, totalled 174 minutes and 35 seconds.As the string increased, two other statistical columns diminished. Stephenson became the score-happy league&rsquo;s premier goalie with an average of 2.60 and a percentage-of-shots-stopped figure of 90.2.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s been the big guy,&rdquo; commented one Brave exec. &ldquo;If we didn&rsquo;t have him, we&rsquo;d be trailing this league by half a dozen points instead of leading by six.&rdquo;IN THE CREASE: Probably, Stephenson&rsquo;s only regret is that his brother still isn&rsquo;t around&hellip;Younger brother Brian was a bright rookie for Monarchs but, after suffering a shoulder injury, sat out a few games before re-joining his juvenile club in the city&rsquo;s southend&hellip;Warriors&rsquo; one-two punch, Ken Sucharski and Doug Overton, still top the league&rsquo;s scoring column&hellip;Sucharski has 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points, three ahead of Overton (13-19)&hellip;Right on their heels is Braves&rsquo; Bill Heindl (14-17)&hellip;Each has played 20 games. &#9632;

Drops Face Mask To Change Luck, Goalie Stephanson Wins Praise For Lifting Braves Into Lead

<div class="byline">BY GREG DOUGLAS</div>DETROIT, Mich.&mdash;Don&rsquo;t ever tell Billy Reay of the Chicago Black Hawks bad luck strikes in a series of three. He refuses to believe it&hellip;and with good reason.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c4-01145/2091529-1-eng-US/c4-012.jpg" title="C4-01" width="276" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chico Maki</figcaption></div>Reay is outwardly pleased with the combined performances of his three Sault Ste. Marie hockey players this year. So pleased, in fact, two of them are currently working on a line with Bobby Hull while the third sees as much ice time on defense as any of the other Hawk regulars.Chico Maki, 25, is the veteran of the trio both in years and experience. The hustling right winger came to Chicago to stay in 1962-63 as a centre. Today he skates on the right side with the second Sault native, centre Phil Esposito, and Hull at left wing.Esposito cracked the big time last year for Chicago following his banner season in the Central Pro League at St. Louis. The big 193-pounder has been a major surprise for Hawk fans to date, scoring eight goals in the club&rsquo;s opening portion of activity.&ldquo;Phil and Chico have been playing real well with Hull,&rdquo; Reay was saying here at the Olympia last weekend. &ldquo;I made the move with the hopes it would free Phil a bit. Naturally, the opposition is going to cram Bobby a little more than usual, so we figured with the extra elbow room Esposito will score more often.&rdquo;Mat Ravlich, a barrel-chested 24-year-old rearguard, is the third Sault Ste. Marie product presently flirting with stardom in Chicago.Ravlich was originally a member of the Black Hawks&rsquo; family but was nabbed by the Boston Bruins organization two years ago. Last June, however, Chicago and the Bruins became involved in that Murray Balfour&mdash;Jerry Toppazini swap and with them went Ravlich and fellow minor leaguer, Mike Draper.Ravlich seemed destined for Buffalo and another year of work &lsquo;down on the plantation&rsquo; until Doug Mohns, a Chicago regular, injured his foot. Reay gave the call to Matt, and he&rsquo;s stuck ever since.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d venture to say Ravlich is staying with us for the balance of the year,&rdquo; Reay said outside Chicago&rsquo;s dressing room as they prepared to play the Wings at the Olympia. &ldquo;Matt&rsquo;s the type of player who has to work for anything he gets. He&rsquo;s done a fine job for us,&rdquo;Ravlich caught on so rapidly with the Hawk fans Reay was forced to find a new spot for Mohns when he returned. Mohns, like Maki, is noted for his tenacious fore-checking. He joined Stan Mikita and Kenny Wharram on a line and has been getting along tremendously well.&ldquo;Checking is the big difference up here,&rdquo; Ravlich admitted after the Hawks had shaded Detroit 3-2. &ldquo;There is always somebody on you. In the minors, you car fool around a bit with the pucl but in the National League you can&rsquo;t take any chances. A mis take usually results in a goal.&rsquo;The road to hockey&rsquo;s major league was a long, tedious grind for all three. &#9632;

C4-01

Sault Boys Paying Off For Chicago

<div class="byline">BY DAN MOULTON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="C4-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c4-02143/2091560-1-eng-US/c4-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">DENIS DEJORDY&hellip;Gained Confidence</figcaption></div>CHICAGO, Ill.&mdash;When Goalie Ed Chadwick suffered a concussion a month ago while tending goal for the Buffalo Bisons he quite unwittingly started a chain of events which resulted in the salvation of Denis DeJordy&rsquo;s National Hockey League career.At the time Chadwick whacked his skull on the ice, DeJordy&rsquo;s status as the Black Hawks&rsquo; No. 2 goalie behind the veteran Glenn Hall was shaky at best.Called up from Buffalo at the start of last season to give Hall frequent breathers, Denis was used infrequently for the first half of the year and not at all after a New Year&rsquo;s night to the New York Rangers in the Chicago Stadium.This season Coach Billy Reay insisted that DeJordy would spell Hall on a fairly regular schedule and to prove his intention, Billy used Denis in the third game of the season against the Red Wings in Detroit and in game No. 4 against the Canadiens in the Forum.The Wings beat him 3-1 and in Montreal, the Canadiens came back from a 3-0 deficit to gain a 5-5 tie, mainly because of Denis&rsquo; shaky netminding.It seemed as though Reay and Manager Tommy Ivan&rsquo;s plans to have two solid goalies available all year would have to be abandonned again. That shelling in Montreal affected DeJordy so deeply that his play suffered even in practice sessions.Long shots began to elude the usually quick-handed youngster from Montreal. Usually a stand up goalie in the Jacques Plante tradition. Denis began to flop and let rebounds in. In short, his confidence had vanished. He could do nothing right. And both he and his bosses began to wonder if he&rsquo;d regain the skills that made him one of the most sought after netminders in hockey three years ago when he paced Buffalo to every available title in the American League.Reay knew that the only way DeJordy could regain his touch would be to play. But Billy knew also that if he were to use the youngster and he were subjected to another shelling, DeJordy might be permanently ruined.Then, Chadwick suffered his concussion. The rest reads like a movie script. Denis promptly was dispatched to Buffalo, where he worked himself back into condition. Then, when Hall asked for relief recently, Denis was able to take over in the Chicago net and spark the team on a winning streak that pulled the Hawks from fifth place back into contention for the top spot.In four games, Denis allowed four goals and recorded a shutout over Detroit for his first victory before a Chicago Stadium crowd.DeJordy&rsquo;s rejuvenation wasn&rsquo;t achieved by magic during his three weeks with the Bisons, In fact, what happened in his first game with Buffalo was most discouraging.&ldquo;We won the first game I played at Buffalo,&rdquo; Denis recalled. &ldquo;But the score was 5-4 and I was pretty lousy. I was shaky all through the game.&rdquo;&ldquo;Things were a little better against Pittsburgh in the next game but I still wasn&rsquo;t satisfied What convinced me at last that I still might be able to do the job whs the way I played in two games in Quebec.&ldquo;The Aces have a good American League team and I knew I&rsquo;d have to be good to hold them down. We lost both games but I thought I played pretty well. Both games were close and in one I made about 50 stops. From then on, I felt pretty good.&rdquo;Denis credits the steady work and nothing else for his comeback.&ldquo;I have to work regularly or have a special kind of practice, I guess,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a goalie who has to see a lot of rubber.&rdquo; &#9632;

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December 26, 1964

American League Summaries

Blades’ Johnson Pulls Repeat

How They Stand

Abel Smiling Again As Howe Scores Twice To Snap Worst Slump In 19-Yenr Career