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.

October 21, 1967

The Hockey News October 21, 1967

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-05266/3112499-1-eng-US/f0007-052.jpg" title="f0007-05" width="590" height="651"><figcaption class="caption-body">Al Arbour</figcaption></div>ST. LOUIS, Mo. &ndash;The St. Louis Blues selected veteran defenseman Al Arbour as team captain before the start of their first plunge into expansion.Arbour, the 35-year-old rearguard who has played 395 big league games in his hockey career, was coaxed into giving up retirement plans by the Blues when they picked him in the NHL expansion draft.Blues announced that Ron Stewart, Jim Roberts and Noel Picard will serve as alternate captains. &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

Arbour Named Blues’ Captain

LOS ANGELES Calif. -The Los Angeles Kings announced a 20-game television schedule for their initial, National Hockey League season. The slate, which includes contests from ten of the other eleven NHL cities, will be beamed over KTLA (Channel 5).The telecasts will be sponsored by Atlantic Richfield Co., United Air Lines, Allstate Insurance Co., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., and Theo Hamm Brewing Co.The 20-game schedule will eminate exclusively from the road.Following is the schedule of television games for the kings:<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-03483/3112309-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="561" height="620"></div> &#9632;

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Kings Plan To Telecast 20 Contests

<div class="byline">BY GEOFFREY FISHER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01794/3112444-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="613" height="888"><figcaption class="caption-body">Seth Martin</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02689/3112437-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="612" height="968"><figcaption class="caption-body">Larry Keenan</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03515/3112430-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="618" height="966"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Roberts</figcaption></div>ST. LOUIS, Mo. &mdash;Glenn Hall, the man with the big pads who could make the St. Louis Blues the best In the Western Division of the National Hockey League, will be lost to the club for at least the first two weeks of the season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-04374/3112423-1-eng-US/f0007-042.jpg" title="f0007-04" width="275" height="492"><figcaption class="caption-body">Glenn Hall</figcaption></div>Hall is recovering from an infection of a hand, a condition that resulted from a minor scratch.Dr. J.G. Probstein, team physician, said that Hall, &ldquo;is on the way to recovery but will need at least two weeks more before he can return to the ice.&rdquo; Dr. probstein made the statement Monday, October 9.Hall suffered a reaction to a shot of penicillin and his hand became red and swollen.Dr. Probstein called the Infection celluotis.Hall, who reported to the Blues late after an agreement with the club allowing him to get the crops in on his farm in Canada, never did get into an exhibition game.Once the hand is healed, he will need additional time to regain his strength before taking his place at goal.There is nothing, in the constitution that dictates that without Hall the Blues must cease to exist as a hockey team. Seth Martin, who patrolled the net for the Canadian National Championship team for a number of years, has given plenty of evidence to support his position as an exceptionally well qualified replacement. Martin was quite phenomenal in several in stances while thwarting charges by the Los Angeles Kings in the final exhibition test at the St. Louis Arena October 7. Behind Martin there is Don Caley, a 21-year-old, obtained from Pittsburgh.In the finale of the exhibition slate, the Blues were waltzing along with a cozy three-goal lead into the third period and Martin must have appeared to be the Wailing Wall to the frustrated Kings since they had plenty to wail about over Martin&rsquo;s air-tight defense. Then, suddenly it happened. An undermanned St. Louis squad ran out of gas and virtually coasted to a complete stop. The Kings poured three goals past Martin in the space of four minutes.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m surprised it wasn&rsquo;t worse,&rdquo; declared manager-coach Lynn Patrick later. &ldquo;Our guys were suddenly under such an attack that they were nearly helpless.&rdquo; As the Blues prepared to lift the curtain on the regular season they were without such established National League performers as centers Ron Schock, and Don McKenney and right wing Ron Stewart. Also sidelined was right wing Roger Picard.Patrick and his top aide, Scotty Bowman, have elected to have 18 or 19 players available at the start.One of the hot prospects that will be available for service is defenseman Gordon Kanneglesser, a young rookie who has drawn expressions of approval from the coaching staff on numerous occasions and is looked upon as one of the real pleasant surprises to come out of the training camp. In the final exhibition game against Los Angeles, this brawny rookie proved to be quick, tough and a hard-hitting crowd pleaser. He hit the Kings&rsquo; Ted Irvine so enthusiastically that Irvine must have thought the Arena clock had dropped on him.It didn&rsquo;t take St. Louis fans long to spot another fellow who should soon be among the local Ice heroes. That&rsquo;s Jim Roberts, a hard-plugging, ready mixer whose reputation as an accomplished penalty killer has longbeen known. Roberts was extremely effective against the Kings and would appear to have a good deal of penalty killing work cut out for him if this Blues&rsquo; aggregation lives up to its past performance.What does Patrick think of the Kings after three engagements with them?&ldquo;We can beat them,&rdquo; was his response.But of the bigger question concerning the rest of the expansion section of the NHL, only time will tell.&ldquo;You gotta see&rsquo;em before you can rate &lsquo;em,&rdquo; declared Patrick. &#9632;

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Ace Goalie Hall Lost For Two Weeks

<div class="byline">BY DAN MOULTON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01758/3113023-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="621" height="1129"><figcaption class="caption-body">DOUG SHELTON &hellip; No One Was Looking</figcaption></div>CHICAGO, Ill. -Young Doug Shelton seems to have won himself a job with the Black Hawks while most observers were looking the other way.When the Hawks opened their camp in the Stadium last month, the 5-9, 170 pound right wing from Woodstock, Ont. was just another face in the crowd of rookies who were striving for spots on the expansion-depleted roster.Nothing about the 22-year-old graduate of the Central League&rsquo;s St. Louis Braves indicated he was ready to step into the NHL, even under the conditions imposed by the expansion talent squeeze.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02679/3113016-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="269" height="480"><figcaption class="caption-body">Doug Jarrett</figcaption></div>He&rsquo;d scored only 11 goals with the Braves in 1966 and his skating, at least during the early workouts, was far from impressive. Most of the attention, therefore, was paid to Paul Terbenche, Roger Bellerive, Wayne Smith, Tom Reid, Wayne Maki, Doug McKay, and Jerry Goyer.Yet, when the exhibition season began, Shelton generally was given at least as much ice time as the other youngsters. He still wasn&rsquo;t dazzling anyone with his brillaint plays or blinding speed. But it was apparent that he knew the value of skating his wing and checking his man.Then, when Coach Billy Reay posted the lineup tor the season opener against the Rangers in the Stadium, there was Shelton&rsquo;s name listed to work at right wing with Center Goyer and Wayne Maki.To be sure, if veterans Doug Mohns and Dennis Hull had been healthy, chances are, Shelton would have watched from the end of the bench. But the important thing is that he was on hand to be used as a replacement.Smith, who was supposed to have the job as No. 5 defenseman pretty well nailed down even before camp started, was with the Portland club of the Western league, when the Hawks&rsquo; season opened. Gone, too, were McKay, Reid, and Bellerive, all to Dallas of the Central league.&ldquo;Doug&rsquo;s earned the shot,&rdquo; said Reay. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not the kind of player who will bring the crowd to its feet very often. But he skates his wing and sticks with his man. And, he has a tremendous shot.&ldquo;He can be a valuable journeyman player in this league for many years, just by checking, working, and picking up 10-12 goals a season.&rdquo;Shelton still must work on his speed and pick up a little finesse, but Reay feels he&rsquo;s up to the job.&ldquo;Doug isn&rsquo;t an instinctive player,&rdquo; said Billy. &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t come up with the brilliant move. But you know that once he has an idea of what you want of him, he&rsquo;ll bust himself to do it.&rdquo;HAWK TALK: Paul Terbenche appears to have made the team, as the No. 5 rearguard and spare forward. Such players should come into vogue this year with the new rule that a team may dress only 16 skaters and 2 goalies until the playoffs, when the limit is raised to 17 skaters.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m delighted with the rule,&rdquo; said Reay. &ldquo;Under the old ruling, a team had too many guys who didn&rsquo;t get enough ice time. All you really need are 11 forwards and five defenseman. That way, you can handle an injury pretty well and you still aren&rsquo;t tying up too many players.&ldquo;Sitting on the bench never helped any player.&rdquo; &hellip;Dave Dryden nailed down the job as No. 2 goalie behind Denis Dejordy with several brilliant performances during the exhibitions, while Dejordy was sitting out the action because of contract negotiations &hellip;Doug Jarrett, whom Reay regards as one of the next superstar defensemen, checked with Billy to see if he&rsquo;d made the team before going home to St. Catharines to pick up his wife and family.&ldquo;I told him it probably was pretty safe, &ldquo;laughed Reay. &ldquo;But I warned him that he&rsquo;d better rent his house in Chicago by the month.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Rookie Sur arises Hawks-Grabs Berth

<div class="byline">By LOU PRATO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0001-01166/3113765-1-eng-US/f0001-012.jpg" title="f0001-01" width="259" height="474"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jack McGregor</figcaption></div>PITTSBURGH, Pa. &mdash;The Pittsburgh Penguins had not yet played their first National Hockey League game when the city&rsquo;s hard-core hockey fans were grumbling apprehensively about Jack McGregor the sale of part of the club to the owners of baseball&rsquo;s Atlanta Braves.The fans, who supported the minor league hockey of the Pittsburgh Hornets for years, wondered if the move on the eve of the Penguins&rsquo; NHL opener foreshadowed a near future franchise shift from Pittsburgh to Atlanta.Even a flat denial of such intentions by Penguins club President, Jack McGregor, did not ease the fears of the city&rsquo;s loyal hockey aficiondos. They were particularly wary of the Braves management, a free-wheeling but calculating organization which unceremoniously abandoned Milwaukee and its legion of dedicated baseball fans for the untapped gold mine in Atlanta who years ago.Pittsburghers are well aware of the Braves&rsquo; reputation as a callous and cold business corporation which does not allow sentiment to enter its affairs. They have read about the treatment given to employes no longer wanted by the Braves such as slugger Eddie Mathews and manager Billy Hitchcock. And Pittsburgh hockey fans don&rsquo;t want to become victims of the Atlanta blitzkrieg.The Braves president, William C. Bartholomay, didn&rsquo;t enhance the situation when he said the purchase of a minority interst in the Penguins was &ldquo;for the purpose of assuring Atlanta a place in the league when it expands again.&rdquo;Even the most naive hockey fan realizes the NHL is years away from another expansion plan. Thus, the interpretation is clear: someday soon Penguins will be transformed into Braves.&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t deny any such Intention too strongly,&rdquo; Penguins President Jack McGregor said when queried about the possible maneuver. &ldquo;We are in Pittsburgh to stay and have no such plans to move the franchise anywhere.&ldquo;The Braves have bought a minority interest in the club and it is simply that. As an extra protection, our legal documents have been drafted in such a way that only the founding Pittsburgh stockholders have the power to say where the sole location of the Pittsburgh franchise will be.&rdquo;McGregor said the move to permit the Braves to buy into the Penguins was a necessary one based on a long range look at the club&rsquo;s financial situation.&ldquo;Another known factor was this: we know Atlanta wants hockey and we want a totally owned and developed minor league team. Now, we can work something out with Altanta. In fact, there is a possibility that Atlanta will be the site of our main farm team next year, provided they get an ice arena.&rdquo;Still, McGregor admits the Penguins&rsquo; stockholders came close to selling a majority interest to the Braves and it is this, above all else, which really scares Pittsburgh hockey fans.&ldquo;We all could have made a big profit,&rdquo; McGregor said. &ldquo;But most of us want to give major league hockey to Pittsburgh. We feel It can be quite successful here and we want to be part of that success.&rdquo; &#9632;

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PITTSBURGH FANS REASSURED CLUB NOT MOVING TO ATLANTA

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0001-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0001-02137/3113796-1-eng-US/f0001-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEAN BELIVEAU &hellip; Another Milestone</figcaption></div>MONTREAL, Que.-Big Jean Beliveau fired his 400th career goal in regular play, last week, as Montreal opened its season against Pittsburgh.The 36-year-old Hab captain is the third highest scorer in NHL history, behind Gordie Howe (650) and the retired Maurice Richard (544). He is the highest-scoring center that the game has known.Beliveau, now in his 15th season with Canadiens, has fashioned a remarkable career. He has scored 20 or more goals in all but four of his completed seasons with the club, and once scored 47 goals in a 70-game campaign. He also scored 45 goals in 64 games during the 1958-59 season.As hockey&rsquo;s third highest scorer, Jean must stay ahead of the competition provided by ex-teammate Bernard &ldquo;Boom Boom&rdquo; Geoffrion. The Boomer came back with New York Rangers, last season, and fired 17 goals to bring his career total to 388. He had retired at the end of the 1963-64 season with a total of 371. &#9632;

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Beliveau Nets 400th Goal

Following are the latest player movements in hockey:<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>LOS ANGELES &mdash; Jacques Caron and George Wood, goal keepers, Jacques Lemieux, Larry Johnston, Jim Murray and Rich Pagnutti, defensemen, Billy Inglis, Doug Robinson, Mike Corrigan, Roger Cote, Brent Hughes, Howie Menard, Bill Smith, Jerry Foley and Dennis Rathwell, forwards, sent to Springfield of AHL.MONTREAL - Bryan Watson, forward, sent to Houston of CPHL. Ernie Wakely, goalkeeper, recalled from Houston as emergency standby.NEW YORK - Larry Mickey, forward, and Allan Hamilton, defenseman, optioned to Buffalo of AHL.TORONTO - Jim Dorey. defenseman, Mike Byers and Jim McKeeny, defenseman, sent to Rochester of AHL.MINNESOTA - Carl Wetzel, goalkeeper, Andre Pronovost, and Leo Thiffault, forwards, sent to Memphis of CPHL.CALIFORNIA - Tom Thurlby and John Gravel, defensemen, assigned to Vancouver of WHL.ST. LOUIS - John Brenneman, forward, traded to Detroit of NHL in exchange for Craig Cameron, Larry Hornung and Don Giese brecht, forwards.PITTSBURGH - Gene Ubriaco, forward, secured from Hershey of AHL in trade for Jeannot Gilbert, forward. Joe Daley, goalkeeper, Bill Speer, defenseman. Bob Rivard, Tom McCarthy, George Konik and Billy Lecaine, forwards, assigned to Baltimore of AHL.CHICAGO &mdash; Wayne Smith, defenseman, loaned to Portland of WHL.<h2>EASTERN LEAGUE</h2>CHARLOTTE - Ted Baylis, defenseman, secured from Knoxville in exchange for forward to be sent later.FLORIDA - Jackie Leclair, forward, obtained from New Haven-of EH-L, in three-way deal. Art Chiup-ka, forward, sent to Long Island. Russ McClenaghan, defenseman, sent to New Haven. &#9632;

Movements of Players

<div class="byline">By GLENN REDMANN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01755/3112023-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="622" height="648"><figcaption class="caption-body">&rsquo;BAT&rsquo; MASTERTON &hellip; New Lease On Life</figcaption></div>TWIN CITIES, Minn. -For those foolish enough to think that National Hockey League expansion hasn&rsquo;t given countless players a new lease on life, we offer the shining example of Bill Masterton, the Minnesota North Stars&rsquo; 29-year-old center.Like anyone who ever laced on a skate in Canada&rsquo;s far flung junior hockey program, Winnipeg native Masterton dreamed of one day playing in the fast-moving sport&rsquo;s only major league &mdash; the NHL.But until March 11, 1965 when president Clarence Campbell announced that the then six-team circuit would expand to 12 clubs by the 1967-68 season, it looked as if Masterton&rsquo;s dream &mdash; and that of many others &mdash; would never be realized.Bill (or Bat as his North Star teammates prefer to call him) didn&rsquo;t get into professional hockey until he was 23, mainly because he chose to pursue a bachelor of science degree in business while on a hockey scholarship at Denver University.But even then, following a senior year in which he scored 27 goals and picked up 55 assists on the way to being named the Most Valuable Player in the NCAA tournament, Masterton figured he had plenty of time to make the big time.&ldquo;I signed with the Montreal organization,&rdquo; recalled Masterton, &ldquo;and was assigned to their Hull-Ottawa farm club (1961-62) in the Eastern Professional League.&ldquo;After scoring 31 goals (and 35 assists) there, I was moved up to Cleveland the following season and had what I thought was a pretty good year (his 27 goals and 55 assists for the Barons made him the American Hockey League&rsquo;s sixth-leading scorer).&ldquo;But the Canadiens were loaded with centers, so I really never had much of a chance to make the grade with them.&rdquo;The failure of one of the other five NHL clubs to draft him from Montreal hastened Masterton&rsquo;s decision to quit pro hockey and return to Denver where he took his master&rsquo;s degree in 1964.&ldquo;By that time&rdquo;, added Bill, &ldquo;1 had gotten married and there was this offer to work (in contract administration) for a big, established firm like Honeywell.&ldquo;Everything seemed to be working out so well, I really didn&rsquo;t have much time to think about hockey.&rdquo;North Stars&rsquo; general manager-coach Wren Blair was aware of Bill&rsquo;s two-year professional record when he scouted the six-foot 190-pounder in several games he played for the U.S. Nationals.&ldquo;I liked what I saw,&rdquo; said Blair &ldquo;so I asked Bill if he&rsquo;d consider giving pro hockey another fling. When he said he would like to try it, I bought his contract from Montreal.&ldquo;From what I saw of Bill in training camp, I think he&rsquo;ll help us. He had the misfortune of getting a shoulder separation just before the exhibition games started, but he worked hard with Lloyd Percival, our physical fitness expert, and was able to return for our last six or seven games and get three goals and a coupe of assists.Masterton says the opportunity to play in the Twin Cities where he wife Carol and their two children &mdash; Scott 3, and Sally 1 &mdash; have made their home, had a big part in his decision to return to pro hockey. &ldquo;I doubt very much whether I would&rsquo;ve considered playing any place else,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;I went to training camp knowing it wouldn&rsquo;t be a picnic, especially after being out of pro hockey for four seasons. I had the opportunity to skate quite a bit last summer when I coached in a summer league, and I think that helped me quite a bit. I was in pretty good shape when I reported.&rdquo;Masterton, who wouldn&rsquo;t have been eligible to compete for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics because of his previous pro experience, admitted he was pleasantly surprised to still be with the parent club as it opened its regular season schedule in St. Louis on Oct. 11.&ldquo;When I signed a two-year contract, I more or less expected to spend this season at Memphis,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I may still end up there but even if I do, I won&rsquo;t be disappointed because, I&rsquo;ve given myself two years to prove that I can play in the NHL.&ldquo;I realize it&rsquo;s going to be tough, but if I get the opportunity to play, I&rsquo;m confident that I can make it.&rdquo;While Bill has no previous NHL experience, he isn&rsquo;t much behind the three other centers on the North Stars in that regard. Andre Boudrias, 23, played in seven games with Montreal. Ray Cullen. 25, has 35 NHL games under his belt, eight with New York in 1965-66 and 27 last season with Detroit from whom the Stars drafted him. Murray Hall, 26, played in 36 contests, 23 with Chicago in 1963-64 and 12 last season with the Red Wings.Another North Stars forward capable of playing either center or wing is Len Lunde, the 30-year-old Edmonton native. He has played in 294 NHL games including 24 with the Black Hawks as recent at the 1965-66 season.ICE CHIPS: Season ticket sales were slightly under 6,000 some 10 days before the North Stars&rsquo; home opener against California on Oct. 11, St. Paulite Larry Jagoe was named to the WCCO radio broadcasting team which will air all 74 North Star games,.. He&rsquo;ll do the color with Al Shaver due to handle the play-by-play &hellip; Jagoe serves WCCO as producer of Minnesota Twins games during the baseball season.Blair brought three goalies south from training camp &mdash; no 1, draft choice Cesare Maniago, No2, Gary Bauman and Carl Wetzel, who played for the U.S. Nationals last season.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02702/3112016-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="1335" height="946"></div> &#9632;

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Expansion Lure For Masterton

<div class="byline">&#x2014; REDMANN.</div>TWIN CITIES, Minn. -When Bill Masterton quit a well-paying job with alarge business concern here to take another crack at professional hockey with the Minnesota North Stars, he did It with the blessings of his pretty wife Carol.&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have gone back, especially with two children (Scott 2 1/2 and Sally 1), if Carol wasn&rsquo;t in agreement,&rdquo; said Bill.&ldquo;But she&rsquo;s been watching me play hockey since my days In the junior program, and she&rsquo;s as happy as I am that I&rsquo;m at last getting the opportunity to make it in the National Hockey League.&rdquo; &#9632;

Wife Helped Masterton Decide On Ice Return

<div class="byline">By TOM MONAHAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01761/3112099-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg" title="f0003-01" width="385" height="427"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02636/3112092-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="305" height="507"><figcaption class="caption-body">Harry Sinden</figcaption></div>BOSTON, Mass.&mdash;Any discussion of Bruins improvement over the 1966-67 National Hockey League season still Is rather academic but it seems safe to claim even this early in the season that the B&rsquo;s possess the best 1-2 goalie punch in the league.Coach Harry Sinden freely admits that starting the expanded schedule of 74 games this is one position that gives him absolutely no cercern with Gerry Cheevers and Eddie Johnston to handle the chore.&ldquo;It really doesn&rsquo;t make much difference which one is in the game,&rdquo; says Sinden. &ldquo;They are equally good. Both of them are NHL goalies and can do a great jab.&rdquo;It&rsquo;s a matter of record that Cheevers, the 26-year-old blond who has been batting around the minor leagues since 1961, was the opening game goalie against Detroit at the Garden.<h2>Johnston injured</h2>The choice might not have been so easy for Sinden had Johnston not suffered a muscle spasm in the final exhibition game of training camp at London, Ont.&ldquo;Eddie was looking very good,&rdquo; said Sinden."But that back injury kept him off the ice for about nine days and he just wasn&rsquo;t ready to take over.&rdquo;&ldquo;But Cheevers had a great training season. He was particularly good in the last two games against NHL competition. He allowed both New York and Montreal a goal each and we won both games by 2-1 scores.&rdquo;&ldquo;I know Eddie was disappointed that he wasn&rsquo;t physically ready to start the season,&rdquo; went on Sinden. &ldquo;But he doesn&rsquo;t have to worry about playing. This is along season and both of them will get plenty of work.&rdquo;There were two unusual twists to the Johnston injury.In each of the last two seasons, the six-year Bruin veteran, had started the season only to be benched with injuries before the first week was out.Two years ago he injured a knee and last year he suffered a cut eye.Trying to guard against another incident of this nature, Johnston decided this fall to wear a face mask for the first time in games.&ldquo;I wore it all through training camp and finally became accustomed to it,&rdquo; said Eddie. &ldquo;So what happens 1 do something to my back.&rdquo;The other was a change of mind on Sinden&rsquo;s part.After last season when he carried both Johnston and Bernie Parent through most of the year, Sinden thought it might be better strategy to carry just one NHL goalie and let the other play at Oklahoma City to be ready in case of emergency.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03427/3112085-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="1309" height="1367"><figcaption class="caption-body">GERRY CHEEVERS &hellip; Hot In Training Camp</figcaption></div>Midway through training camp, Harry abandoned the plan.One reason was the difficulty in choosing between Cheevers and Johnston, the other was the thought of who might play goal if Johnston for example was with the Bruins was injured and Cheevers playing with Oklahoma City was hurt at the same time.&ldquo;That wasn&rsquo;t a very pleasant thought,&rdquo; said Harry. &ldquo;We&rsquo;d wind up with a minor league goalie in the nets.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04250/3112078-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="1290" height="1962"><figcaption class="caption-body">ED JOHNSTON &hellip; Muscle Spasm Slows Vet</figcaption></div>&ldquo;This way we don&rsquo;t have any worries about goal.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Bruins Boost Best Goaling ‘Team’

<div class="byline">- MONAHAN</div>BOSTON, Mass. &ndash;Ross Lonsberry, the 20-year-old left wing who was one of the most Impressive players in Boston&rsquo;s training camp, missed the first two games with a severely cut little finger. Lonsberry was stepped on by teammate Ken Hodge during one of the brawls that featured the Oct. 6 exhibition game with Montreal at the Garden &hellip; The cut required 11 stitches &hellip; A total of 33 penalties and 122 minutes were assessed in the fracas &hellip; The first period took an hour to complete. Captain Johnny Bucyk took over at left wing for Lonsberry on the line with Fred Stanfield and Johnny McKenzie &hellip; Visitors to the Garden for the first game of the season were surprised by the sprucing job accomplished during the summer &hellip; The new lockerrooms with plush carpeting and separate medical and storage rooms are the best In the league &hellip; The entire Garden was repainted and new higher plastic protectors were installed behind the nets &hellip; New lighting and ceiling were installed in the lobbies &hellip; But the Garden officials were disappointed they had to cancel plans for new box seats until next year &hellip; A strike delayed delivery until the day before the opener and the Garden will not be idle now for the 10 days necessary to install them &hellip; New promenade seats will be installed by the end of November however. &#9632;

Lonsberry Stepped On In Fracas

<h2>MONTREAL</h2><h3>Goal</h3>WORSLEY, LorneVACHON, Rogatien<h3>Defense</h3>HARRIS, TedHARPER, TerryLAPERRIERE, JacquesSAVARD, SergeTREMBLAY, J.C.VADNAIS, Carol<h3>Forwards</h3>BELIVEAU, JeanBACKSTROM, RalphCOURNOYER, YvanDUFF, DickFERGUSON, JohnGRANT, DannyLAROSE, ClaudeLEMAIRE, JacquesMONAHAN, GaryPROVOST, ClaudeRICHARD, HenriREDMOND, MickeyROUSSEAU, BobbyTREMBLAY, Gilles<h2>CHICAGO</h2><h3>Goal</h3>DRYDEN, DaveNORRIS, Jack<h3>Defense</h3>JARRETT, DougMAROTTE, GillesPILOTE, PierreSTAPLETON, PatSMITH, WayneTERBENCHE, Paul<h3>Forwards</h3>HULL, BobbyHULL, DennisGOYER, JerryMARTIN, PitMIKITA, StanMOHNS, DougMAKI, WayneMAKI, ChicoNESTERENKO, EricORBAN, BillPOWIS, GeoffSHELTON, DougWHARRAM, Ken<h2>TORONTO</h2><h3>Goal</h3>BOWER, JohnGAMBLE, Bruce<h3>Defense</h3>HILLMAN, LarryHORTON, TimMcKENNY, JimPRONOVOST, AndreRUPP, DuaneSTANLEY, Allan<h3>Forwards</h3>ARMSTRONG, GeorgeCARLETON, WayneCONACHER, BrianELLIS, RonKEON, DaveMAHOVLICH, FrankOLIVER, MurrayPULFORD, BobPAPPIN, JimSTEMKOWSKI, PeterWALTON, Mike<h2>BOSTON</h2><h3>Goal</h3>CHEEVERS, GerryJOHNSTON, Eddie<h3>Defense</h3>AWREY, DonDOAK, GaryGREEN, TedORR, BobbySMITH, DallasWESTFALL, Eddie<h3>Forwards</h3>BUCYK, JohnnyESPOSITO, PhilHODGE, KenKRAKE, SkipLONSBERRY, RossMcKENZIE, JohnMURPHY, RonSANDERSON, DerekSTANFIELD, FredSHACK, EddieSATHER, GlenWILLIAMS, Tommy<h2>NEW YORK</h2><h3>Goal</h3>GIACOMIN, EdVILLEMURE, Gilles<h3>Defense</h3>BROWN, ArnieHOWELL, HarryHILLMAN, WayneNEILSON, JimSEILING, Rod<h3>Forwards</h3>BERENSON, RedFLEMING, RegGOYETTE, PhilGILBERT, RodGEOFFRION, BernieHENRY, CamilleHADFIELD, VicJEFFREY, LarryKURTENBACH, OrlandMARSHALL, DonNEVIN, BobRATELLE, Jean<h2>DETROIT</h2><h3>Goal</h3>CROZIER, RogerGARDNER, George<h3>Defense</h3>BERGMAN, GaryCRASHLEY, BartMARSHALL, BertMcCORD, BobWATSON, JimYOUNG, Howie<h3>Forwards</h3>DELVECCHIO, AlexBRENNEMAN, JohnHOWE, GordieHAMPSON, TedHENDERSON, PaulJARRETT, GaryMacGREGOR, BrucePRENTICE, DeanROBERTS, DougSMITH, FloydULLMAN, Norm &#9632;

Starting Teams For NHL’s ‘Old’ Clubs

<h2>PITTSBURGH</h2><h3>Goal</h3>BASSEN, HankBINKLEY, Les<h3>Defense</h3>BOIVIN, LeoMacNEIL, AlMATTIUSSI, DickMcCALLUM, DunePRICE, Noel<h3>Forwards</h3>ANDREA PaulBATHGATE, AndyDEA, BillyDILLABOUGH, BobFONTEYNE, ValINGARFIELD, EarlMCDONALD, AbMCCREARY, KeithSCHINKEL, KenSTRATTON, ArtUBRIACO, Gene<h2>MINNESOTA</h2><h3>Goal</h3>BAUMAN, GaryMANIAGO, Cesare<h3>Defense</h3>JOHNS, DonMcMAHON, MikePLAGER, BillyTALBOT, Jean-GuyVASKO, ElmerWOYTOWITCH, Bob<h3>Forwards</h3>BALON, DaveBOUDRIAS, AndreCULLEN, RayCONNELLY, WayneCOLLINS, BillCHARLEBOIS, BobGOLDSWORTHY, BillHALL, MurrayLUNDE, LenMASTERTON, BillMacDONALD, ParkerTAYLOR, Ted<h2>CALIFORNIA</h2><h3>Goal</h3>HODGE, CharlieSMITH, Gary<h3>Defense</h3>BAUN, BobCAHAN, LarryDOUGLAS, KentERICKSON, AutLEMIEUX, Bob<h3>Forwards</h3>BOEHM, RonBOYER, WallyBURNS, CharlieCLANCY, TerryEHMAN, GerryHARRIS, BillyHARRIS, RonnieHICKE, BillSWARBRICK, GeorgeSZURA, Joe<h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2><h3>Goal</h3>PARENT, BernieFAVELL, Doug<h3>Defense</h3>GAUTHIER, JeanHANNA, JohnMORRISON, JimMISZUK, JohnVAN IMPE, EdWATSON, Joe<h3>Forwards</h3>ANGOTTI, LouBLACKBURN, DonDORNHOEFER, GaryHANNIGAN, PatHOEKSTRA, EdHICKS, WayneKENNEDY, ForbesPETERS, GarryROCHEFORT, LeonSELBY, BritSUTHERLAND, Bill<h2>ST. LOUIS</h2><h3>Goal</h3>HALL, GlennMARTIN, Seth<h3>Defense</h3>ARBOUR, AlHUCUL, FredKANNEGIESSER, GordonPLAGER, BobPICARD, Noel<h3>Forwards</h3>ATTWELL, RonBAUDIN, NormCRISP, TerryKEENAN, LarryMELNYK, JerryMCCREARY, BillMcKENNEY, DonPICARD, RogerRIVERS, WayneROBERTS, JimSCHOCK, RonSTEWART, Ron<h2>LOS ANGELES</h2><h3>Goal</h3>SAWCHUK, TerryRUTLEDGE, Wayne<h3>Defense</h3>AMADIO, DaveLEMIEUX, BobROLFE, DaleWALL, BobWHITE, Bill<h3>Forwards</h3>CAMPBELL, BryanFLETT, BillGRAY, TerryHUGHES, HowieJOYAL, EddieIRVINE, TedKILREA, BrianLABOSSIERE, GordLEMIEUX, RealMacDONALD, LowellSMITH, Brian &#9632;

Starting Teams For NHL’s ‘New’ Clubs

<div class="byline">By ED CONRAD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02771/3112192-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="628" height="579"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY DORNHOEFER &hellip; Getting Second Chance</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03670/3112185-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="590" height="591"><figcaption class="caption-body">PAT HANNIGAN &hellip; A New Flyer</figcaption></div>PHILADELPHIA. Pa. &mdash;The National Hockey League has returned to Philadelphia after an absence of 36 years and it&rsquo;s still anybody&rsquo;s guess as to how it will go over.The Flyers, one of six new expansion clubs, entertain the Pittsburgh Penguins in the ultra-modern Spectrum in their league home opener Thursday night, Oct. 19. By this time, the Flyers will have had three regular season games under their belt before showing the hometown folks exactly what they&rsquo;ve got to offer on the ice.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04571/3112178-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="278" height="493"><figcaption class="caption-body">Keith Allen</figcaption></div>&ldquo;We have the utmost confidence that major league hockey will go over big in Philadelphia,&rdquo; said Ed Snider, chairman of the board and principal stockholder. &ldquo;If we weren&rsquo;t absolutely certain of that, we surely wouldn&rsquo;t have sought a franchise.&ldquo;Philadelphia is a great sports city,&rdquo; continued Snider. &ldquo;The fans will support a team, any team, so long as it is major league.&rdquo;At present the City of Brotherly Love boasts the Eagles (National Football League), the Phillies (the National League of baseball), the 76ers (defending National Basketball Association champions) and the Spartans (a fledgeling member of the brand-new National Professional Soccer League).The problem with hockey&mdash;same as soccer &mdash; is that it is something different in Philadelphia and will take a certain amount of time before a solid fan support is built up. True, the NHL spent one season &mdash; 1930-31 &mdash; in Philadelphia but that time neither the team nor the arena got people excited.In recent years, the only hockey of any significance in the Greater Philadelphia area was offered by Eastern Hockey League clubs, the Ramblers of Philadelphia a few years ago and most recently the Jersey Devils of the Eastern Hockey League in nearby Cherry Hill, N.J.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not expecting miracles,&rdquo; said Snider. &ldquo;We know we&rsquo;re not going to sell every seat for every game. But we understand that and we know our big job is selling the thrills and excitement of hockey to the average sports fan who cheers the Eagles, Phillies and 76ers. But we&rsquo;re positive it can be done.&rdquo;Snider especially will have a great thrill when the Flyers launch their home season. That&rsquo;s because, in addition to being the guiding light in the acquisition of the franchise, he got the ball rolling which resulted in the Spectrum, the new $12 million arena located in South Philadelphia.&ldquo;I really had a lot to do with it,&rdquo; admitted Snider. &ldquo;So I know I&rsquo;ll get that funny feeling when I see the first crowd cheering the Flyers in the Spectrum.&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be mistaken,&rdquo; continued Ed. &ldquo;The Flyers and the Spectrum cost an awful lot of money. Yet we know they&rsquo;re going to be around for a long time. Our investment will be repaid.&rdquo;On the hockey side of things, the Flyers opened their NHL season on the West Coast against California and Los Angeles and prepared for their home debut by battling the Blues on Wednesday, Oct. 18, in St. Louis.It&rsquo;s still too early to say, but the Flyers should present a well-rounded club which will more than hold its own on the ice. The majority of expansion coaches point to Philadelphia as having one of the teams to beat.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had our share of headaches in training camp,&rdquo; said coach Keith Allen. &ldquo;We had those two guys (Ed Van Impe and Joe Watson, a pair of standout defensemen) missing from training camp for a couple weeks because of contract problems. And we had our share of minor injuries.&ldquo;The problem was, of course, that we just couldn&rsquo;t get the right people on the ice at the same time. But things really started to jell just before we opened the season in Oakland.&rdquo;At the start of the season, the Flyers were carrying 19 players &mdash; one above the limit &mdash; because of an ankle injury to defenseman Jim Morrison. The substitute defenseman was John Hanna who was slated to play If Morrison wasn&rsquo;t ready.Other defensemen are Van Impe, Watson, John Miszuk, and Jean Gauthier playing behind goalies Bernie Parent and Doug Favell.The left wings include Brit Selby, Leon Rochefort, Billy Sutherland and Don Blackburn; the center Lou Angotti, Forbes Kennedy, Garry Peters and Ed Hoekstra; and the right-wings Gary Dornhoefer, Pat Hannigan and Wayne Hicks. Dornhoefer was formerly in the NHL with Boston Bruins.All in all, it looks like a great getaway for the Flyers who will undoubtedly erase the memory of &lsquo;the forlorn Quakers, the NHL team that came to Philadelphia left town after just one season not staying around long enough to catch a cold. &#9632;

f0004-02

Flyers’ ‘Brass’ Confident For Expansion Start

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-02654/3112278-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0005-02

Here’s how Kings look

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01761/3112247-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="300" height="499"><figcaption class="caption-body">Doug Robinson</figcaption></div>LOS ANGELES, Calif. -Cut - down time always is most difficult for coaches as well as players in all sports. Decisions must be made, some of which may be mistakes. The six new teams in the NHL&rsquo;s Western Division faced an especially difficult task, since clubs had to be shaped from scratch, from a bunch of strangers.As the campaign began, Red Kelly, a rookie coach, had made his decisions on the 18 Kings who will open the first season of major league hockey in Los Angeles. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t go on the record book or pre-camp estimates,&rdquo; he commented. &ldquo;I had to go on who showed the most in camp.&rdquo; &ldquo;Practice sessions and exhibition games aren&rsquo;t regular-season games, when they start using real bullets in real war, then we really find out who has it,&rdquo; Red added. &ldquo;If somme of the ones I selected don&rsquo;t make it, we&rsquo;ll send out for others. Some of the men I farmed out can come back if they shape in the minors.&rdquo;The most surprising absentees from the Kings&rsquo; season-opening roster were Paul Popiel and Doug Robinson, sent to Springfield of the American League. Popiel, out of the Boston organization, was the fifth player and second defenseman drafted and manager Larry Regan was extremely high on him going into camp. &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t prove it to me in camp. He had a bad camp,&rdquo; Kelly commented.Robinson was only the 11th player selected, but as a high-scoring minor-leaguer in the New York chain, who potted 39 goals in the AHL last season, he had been expected to help out where the Kings need it most, on a wing. &ldquo;He can score, all right, but that&rsquo;s not the only thing a hockey player has to do. Defense counts too,&rdquo; Kelly said.The final roster consisted of Terry Sawchuk and Wayne Rutledge in goal, Bob Wall, Jacques Lemieux Dale Rolfe, Bill White and Dave Amadio on defense, Gray, Lowell MacDonald, Bill Fleet and Howie Hughes on right wing, and Real Lemieux, Ted Irvine and Brian Smith on left wing.All were drafted excepted Rolfe, White, Amadio, Kilrea and Smith, acquired by owner Jack Kent Cooke in the purchase of the Springfield franchise. Three of the Kings&rsquo; five defensemen thus come from Springfield&rsquo;s fifth-place AHL club of last season, but all are well regarded. With Sawchuk and Rutledge set, both Springfield&rsquo;s goalies, Jacques Caron and George Wood, return there.Rolfe, Labossiere and Rutledge were the last to sign. The first two were considered disappointing in camp, but made the club. Possibly they were discontented, but will cut loose now. Rutledge barely beat out amateur Bob Perani, a sensation in camp, perani and his bags rode the bus to the plane for the trip to L.A. before the decision was made to farm him out. A spot where he could play regularly was being sought.Two other amateurs who performed brillantly in camp defensemen Jim Murray and Rick Pagnutti, who almost made the club before being assigned to Springfield, where they will be turned pro. &ldquo;Murray is the most advanced, but Pagnutti, is a real diamond in the rough. Both should make the majors,&rdquo; Kelly said.But the best player in camp was Eddie Joyal, the young veteran centerman, who can fly, but had his wings clipped at this writing.Hobbling on pulled ligaments in his left ankle, Joyal was not quite ready as the season opened, the only ailing King after a 3-3-3 exhibition campaign that convinced Kelly, &ldquo;Our club can play with anyone in the new division".KINGS&rsquo; THINGS - After the Oct. 14-15 openers at Long Beach, the Kings had to play six straight on the road before returning home to L.A.&rsquo;s Sports Arena for an Oct. 31 joust with New York, first home Eastern Division foe. The players anxious to be paid and busy practicing, curried around trying to find housing for their families in the scant week they had in L.A. before hitting the road. It was a tough time. &#9632;

f0005-01

Popiel, Robinson Foil To Make Kings As Kelly Selects 18-Man Puck Squad

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01849/3112340-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg"></div><h2>Campbell Playoff Plot Better For NHL Teams</h2>Hockey News Editor:I was very disappointed to see the N.H.L. Board of Governors reach the playoff system that they did.Clarence Campbell&rsquo;s system, which would have pitted the two strongest teams against each other in the Stanley Cup final was the best plan by far.I realize the Board of Governors wanted to satisfy all the fans, especially the new expansion fans because their plan will ensure a spot for the strongest expansion league team in the Stanley Cup final. This will give the new teams an added incentive to win the Cup.Campbell&rsquo;s playoff plan was more satistactory because the Stanley Cup, throughout history, has always been won by one of two strongest teams fighting it out in the final. This year it will not be the case and will, on an overall basis, lessen the excitement and prestige of winning the Stanley Cup.DAVID HOFFMAN, Sheho, Sask.<h2>Big M Fan Club Bids For Members</h2>Hockey News Editor:As president of the Frank Mahovlich Fan Club, I would like to extend a welcome to any of his fans who wish to join our organization.During the season each member receives three newsletters and a lifetime membership card. Membership for the season is 25c and if possible, a picture of our new member.Our club members are from all over the world but we always have room for more. I&rsquo;ll be watching for YOUR letterThe address of our club is: Frank Mahovlich Fan Club 83 Miramar Cres. Scarborough, Ontario. Canada.CHERYL LUNDY, President, Scarborough, Ont.<h2>Expansion Left Void, Time EHL Took Steps</h2>Hockey News Editor:The Eastern Hockey League has provided much talent to the pro ranks in the past. This year NHL expansion has really taken its toll in talent. Speaking only for Nashville, we have lost Ted McCaskill, all-star centre, and George Standing, right winger, to Minnesota. Also, it is very doubtful if we will get Marv Edwards, all-star goalie, back. Many say he was the best in semi-pro hockey.I&rsquo;m sure some of the 9 other independent teams in the Eastern and International leagues have felt some of this on their rosters.As far as expansion and our boys moving up the ladder is concerned, I&rsquo;m all for it. The problem is that our teams don&rsquo;t get money for them or players. All we received was a big void in spots when training camp rolled around.I consider myself a pretty good hockey buff, and have seen my share of NHL, as well as EHL games. It seems to me the EHL had better start doing something to protect their players.RICHARD PERKINS, Madison, Tenn &#9632;

f0006-01

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">By Ken McKenzie</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02692/3112392-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="536" height="491"></div>&bull; ST. LOUIS &mdash; IT&rsquo;S BEEN a longtime since we visited a major league city and found everyone we talked with, sports fans, press, radio, TV people,, business leaders and plain Joe Citizen,, who were more unanimous in their enthusiasm and respect for the ownership of a professional sports organization than we found here for the people behind the St. Louis Blues &hellip; &ldquo;If the Salomons do something they do it first class", was repeated to us numerous times by the people we contaced on our two-day visit here last week for the opening of the 1967-68 NHL season &hellip; Sidney Salomon, Jr., president of the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Arena, his son, Sid Salomon III, who is executive vice-president of the organization and the St. Louis representative on the NHL Board of Governors, are certainly held in high esteem by the citizens of this keen sports mecca &hellip; Robert L. Wolfson, vice-president and treasurer of the Blues and one of the most successful businessmen in the United States, is also highly regarded by the St. Louis sports fans &hellip; The ancient Arena, built in 1929, has been completely refurbished by the Salomons and oldtime hockey fans in this area would have a hard time recognizing the building. Every aspect of the huge edifice, seating capacity in the 15,000 range, is spotlessly clean and first-class with the latest and most luxurious of materials used &hellip; Clarence Campbell, NHL president who was here for the opener, told everyone in the press box that it was the finest press box in the National Hockey League. He also expounded about the cleanliness and general improvement of the building &hellip; The St. Louis Arena is the only building among the six expansion cities which is not brand new or built within the past five years &hellip; The exclusive Arena Club, limited to 450 season ticket holders, is the finest club of its kind we&rsquo;ve seen anywhere and the 10 private executive boxes are tops in their field. More of these will be built for next season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03507/3112385-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="283" height="477"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sid Salomon III</figcaption></div>&bull; GUS KYLE former NHL defenseman with New York and Boston, works in the front office of the Blues and also does the color on all 74 radio broadcasts of the Blues over Station KMOX. He works with Jack Buck. We were the guest of Kyle on the broadcast of the Pittsburgh-Blues game last Friday &hellip; Twelve of the Blues games will be telecast in color over KPLR-TV with Jay Randolph calling the play &hellip; Wayne Cooper, youthful director of publicity for the Blues has turned out a first-class press book and an excellent program. This is his first season working with a professional hockey club and he has done a topnotch job &hellip; Lynn Patrick, the veteran General Manager-Coach of the Blues, was pleased when told the hockey writers had picked his team to finish fifth in the Western Division&hellip; &ldquo;I&rsquo;d much rather be picked to finish fifth than to be nicked first or second. 1 know how wrong those guys can be, he laughed&hellip; Lynn was disapointed in the play of his team in the opening game but thinks they will develop as the season progresses. &ldquo;We have excellent balance and enough young players who won&rsquo;t really come into their own until after a number of games have been played, Lynn informed &hellip; Geoffrey (Bud) Fisher, St. Louis correspondent for THE HOCKEY NEWS covered the Cleveland Barons for this paper for a number of years when he worked for the now-defunct Cleveland News &hellip; Wally Cross, hockey writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, formerly worked for the Edmonton Bulletin and used to cover Edmonton&rsquo;s Eskimos for THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL NEWS &hellip; Eddie Olson, one of the all-time American Hockey League scoring greats with the old St. Louis Flyers, is the official scorer at the Blues games. Eddie, who is one of the few outstanding U.S. born and developed professional players, is also active in minor hockey in the St. Louis area &hellip; The Blues have been getting excellent publicity in the local papers and a four-color picture appeared on the front page of the Post-Dispatch the day following the Cardinals World Series victory &hellip; The current issue of Sport Magazine presents a fine feature on the 1947-48 Toronto club, led by Ted Kennedy, Syl Apps and Doug Bentley in its Sport&rsquo;s Greatest Teams series.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04354/3112378-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="287" height="491"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gus Kyle</figcaption></div>&bull; DON&rsquo;T BE disillusioned by the Chicago Black Hawks slow getaway in the NHL race. The Hawks have more player problems at the moment than any of the other 11 league teams. The Hawks were without Stan Mikita, Doug Mohns, Chico Maki, Doug Mohns and Denis DeJordy for the start of the new NHL season. Any team would feel the pinch with that kind of talent sitting idle. DeJordy, one of the loop&rsquo;s most stubborn holdouts, had reported and is starting to drill with the Hawks. Mohns is recovering from a muscle spasm that forced him to miss the entire training camp season. Billy Reay said he has never faced such a player dilemma in all the years he has coached in the NHL&hellip; &lsquo;In spite of the Hawks&rsquo; plight, Leafs&rsquo; manager - coach Punch Imlach still thinks they are the team to beat over Montreal. &ldquo;Canadiens don&rsquo;t impress me at all,&rdquo; said Imlach &hellip; Latest to join the face mask brigade in the NHL are Johnny Bower and Ed Johnston &hellip; Isn&rsquo;t it ironic that the two big expansion draft choices, goalies Glenn Hall and Terry Swachuk, both missed the NHL openers &hellip; After watching Pittsburgh, Canadiens&rsquo; Sam Pollock doesn&rsquo;t think the new teams are going to be any soft touch. Pollock points out that the difference between majors and minors in hockey is minute compared to baseball. &ldquo;We used to have trouble beating the Quebec Aces", said Pollock.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05291/3112371-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="291" height="498"><figcaption class="caption-body">Denis DeJordy</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0006-02

PASSING THE PUCK

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -Left winger Larry Keenan topped the St. Louis Blues scoring list in the seven-game exhibition schedule. Keenan had five goals and two assists for seven points. Ron Atwell, center obtained from the Cleveland Barons, was second with one goal and five assists. Noel Picard, burly defenseman, topped the penalty list with 16 minutes. The Blues scored 25 goals in the seven games and were scored on 19 times in winding up with a record of four wins, one loss and two ties. The single loss was to the Los Angeles Kings. They played 2-2 and 3-3 ties with the Kings in two other meetings.The Blues finally cracked the armor of Terry Sawchuk after a total of 79 minutes and 37 seconds of cannonading him in three exhibition games. Keenan got one in the first period of the final exhibition with the Kings and Fred Hucul sent a second shot pas t Terry in the second period. Wayne Rutledge worked the final period for LA &hellip; The Blues have an attractive Press Book or Official Guide available at $1. It Is 72 pages and contains pictures and data on all players expected to remain with the club. Editor is Wayne Cooper, press director. &#9632;

Keenan Top Goal Scorer In Blues’ Exhibitions

Fri. Sept. 15Toronto 6, Boston-4Sat. Sept. 16New York 4, Buffalo (AHL) 1Memphis (CPHL) 6, Minnesota 1Sun. Sept. 17Minnesota 3, California 1New York 7, Boston 0Quebec (AHL) 6, Philadelphia 1Toronto 5, Rochester-(AHL) 2Mon. Sept. 18Minnesota 7, Los Angeles 3Tues. Sept. 19Los Angeles 6, Minnesota 2Boston 9, New York 3Philadelphia 2, Quebec (AHL) 2Wed. Sept. 20Minnesota-10, Memphis (CPHL) 4Thu. Sept. 21Los Angeles 3, Californio 3Toronto 2, Detroit 2Philadelphia 5, Springfield (AHL) 4Fri. Sept. 22Los Angeles 3, Philadelphia 1Toronto 4, Boston 2Sat. Sept. 23Chicago 5, Toronto 4Pittsburgh 7, Philadelphia 3Montreal 4, New York 1Minnesota 4, California 3St. Louis 3, Rochester (AHL) 2Sun. Sept. 24Minnesota 3, Los Angeles 0Pittsburgh 3, California 3Detroit 3, Boston 2Toronto 2, Chicago 1New York 3, Buffalo (AHL) 1St. Louis 6, Rochester (AHL) 2Montreal 5, Quebec (AHL) lMon. Sept. 25Montreal 11, Sherbrooke (QSHL) 2St. Louis 6, Houston (CPHL) 3Tues. Sept. 26Californio 3, Minnesota 3Toronto 4, New York 3Los Angeles 5, St. Louis 1Boston 3, Detroit 1Montreal 11, Granby (QSHL) 0Wed. Sept. 27St. Louis 2, Los Angeles 2Detroit 4, New York 2Pittsburgh 5, California 4Toronto 4, Rochester (AHL) 2Thu. Sept. 28Detroit 5, Canada National Team 1Fri. Sept. 29Pittsburgh 7, Minnesota-2New York 6, Montreal 4Chicago 3, Boston-2Sat. Sept. 30Chicago 6, Montreal 4Calkfornia 3, Los Angeles 1Minnesota-6, Pittsburgh 1Toronto 6, Rochester-(AHL) 3Detroit 2, Canada&rsquo;s National Team 0Sun. Oct. 1California 3, Minnesota-2New York 4, Toronto 2Montreal 3, Chicago 1Pittsburgh 6, Buffalo (AHL) 1Tues. Oct. 3Philadelphia 4, Minnesota 4Boston 2, New York 1Detroit 4, Montreal 1Buffalo (AHL) 4, California 3Wed. Oct. 4Toronto 6, Montreal 1Pittsburgh 2, Minnesota 0Philadelphia 5, Quebec (AHL) 3Thurs. Oct. 5Pittsburgh 5, Minnesota 2Seattle (WHL) 5, Chicago 4Fri. Oct. 6Toronto 1, New York 0Boston 2, Montreal 1Chicago 2, Portland (WHL) 1Sat. Oct. 7Toronto 3, New York 2Los Angeles 3, St. Louis 3Pittsburgh 3, Oklahoma City (CPHL) 1Chicago 5, Portland (WHL) 0Boston 7, Hershey (AHL) 3Sun. Oct. 8Montreal 5, Toronto 4Mon. Oct. 9Toronto 4, Quebec (AHL) 2<h2>FINAL STANDINGS OVERALL EXHIBITION RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01836/3112537-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="589" height="377"></div><h2>AGAINST NHL TEAMS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04418/3112530-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="720" height="452"></div> &#9632;

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EXHIBITION SCOREBOARD

<div class="byline">BY JIM PROUDFOOT</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02745/3112575-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="281" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bruce Gamble</figcaption></div>TORONTO, Ont. -Punch Imlach Maple Leafs&rsquo; coach and general manager, agrees with analysts who think his team may do much more scoring than usual this season. He does not agree, however, that this increased productivity will be necessary because of defensive shortcomings.&ldquo;How can they say that?&rdquo; Imlach demanded. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got the same four defensemen who won the Stanley Cup last spring. What could be better than that?&rdquo;Yes, he was reminded, but Terry Sawchuk isn&rsquo;t around this year to support Johnny Bower, the antique goaltender.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a factor, all right,&rdquo; Imlach said, &ldquo;but you&rsquo;d be surprised to know how much I&rsquo;m counting on Bower. I felt he could have played a lot more games thant he did in recent years but I didn&rsquo;t let him do it because I had Sawchuk and I wanted to use him and keep him sharp.&ldquo;And I certainly don&rsquo;t expect Bower to be injured as much as he was last season. You don&rsquo;t get two years like that in a row.&ldquo;Furthermore,&rdquo; Imlach added, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a lot of confidence in Bruce Gamble, who&rsquo;ll be our second goalie. I think he&rsquo;s proven that he&rsquo;s a big-leaguer.&rdquo;Imlach, however, is a man who prefers to think positively and he likes to discuss the vast potential of his forward lines which, as the Leaf opener drew near, shaped up this way;First line-Pete Stemkowski at centre, with Wayne Carleton and Jim Pappin.Second line-Dave Keon at centre, with Frank Mahovlich and George Armstrong.Third line-Mike Walton at centre, with Murray Oliver and Ron Ellis.Looking for steady work&mdash;Bob Pulford and Brian Conacher.Montreal Canadiens, widely considered the team to beat in the National Hockey League this season, yielded 10 goals to Leaf scorers in a pair of exhibition games late in the preseason schedule.&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be surprised,&rdquo; Imlach advised. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have a lot of nights like that this season.&rdquo;Another reason for predicting higher Leaf production is the 24 games they&rsquo;ll play against the NHL&rsquo;s new expansion clubs. With the exception of California Seals, who&rsquo;ve obtained Bobby Baun and Kent Douglas, these teams look as though they&rsquo;ll be weak defensively.A very pleasant surprise during the exhibition schedule was Murray Oliver, who was obtained from Boston Bruins in an off-season trade for Eddie Shack. Normally a centre, he found himself required to adapt to left wing, something he&rsquo;s done most efficiently as a partner for Ellis and Walton.Ultimately, however he&rsquo;ll have to withstand challenges from Pulford and Conacher, both of whom were late getting in shape because of prolonged contract disputes with Imlach.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03616/3112568-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="1332" height="2001"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHNNY BOWER &hellip; He&rsquo;s Punch&rsquo;s Ace In The Hole</figcaption></div>That&rsquo;s the kind of competition Imlach enjoys seeing among his employees. There&rsquo;s been too little of it, really, and Carleton and defenceman Duane Rupp, along with Oliver, will be the only newcomers to the lineup this season. Only Canadiens are closer to being a stand-pat club.And so, while Imlach obviously won&rsquo;t do anything more than hint at it, and smile, the suspicion grows that Leafs couldbe a powerhouse in the NHL this season. They look like a well-balanced outfit, with the kind of scoring potential that wins schedule titles. They&rsquo;ve won the Stanley Cup playoffs four times in the past six years, remember, but have finished first only once. That&rsquo;s something they may be about to change. &#9632;

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Bower To Get More Ice Time

<div class="byline">BY GIL SMITH</div>MONTREAL. Oue.-The Canadiens&rsquo; 2-1 squeaker over Pittsburgh in the now historic first meeting between old and new entries in the expanded league, has opened the floodgates of opinion in Montreal hockey circles.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-01814/3112606-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="273" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lorne Worsley</figcaption></div>Some feel that Habs played below their potential, &mdash; to put it charitably. Others feel that Pitts burgh played above theirs; But one man, Floyd Curry, the ex-Canadiens winger who is now a front-office executive, felt that Habs&rsquo; reputation may have worked against them in the long-awaited first meeting between old and new clubs.Says Curry: &ldquo;In my opinion the pressure was on Montreal more than it was on Pittsburgh. After all, Canadiens have a big reputation and they were expected to win big. It may have backfired on them in this case.&ldquo;Canadiens were determined to out-skate them, but Pittsburgh were skating like mad. The only thing is, Pittsburgh were skating all over the ice, very scrambly, and pretty soon we were doing the same thing. In other words, we played their game.&ldquo;I think we were a bit tense. There was plenty of pregame publicity in Pittsburgh, which I think is a very good thing for hockey, mind you, but it made the team quite conscious of their image as a topnotch squad. They all wanted to win big and it might&rsquo;ve tightened them up.&rdquo;Another game observer was NHL Administrator Brian O&rsquo;Neill, who disagrees with Curry about where the pressure was.&ldquo;It was on Pittsburgh more than on Montreal,&rdquo; said O&rsquo;Neill. &ldquo;They were the new entry and didn&rsquo;t want to get bombed in front of their hometown fans. That&rsquo;s the kind of situation that created pressure on a team, I would think.&rdquo;One man who was keeping his own counsel about it all &ldquo; &hellip; because my opinion couldn&rsquo;t be printed,&rdquo; was Toe Blake. The coach wasn&rsquo;t saying much but he had the team out on the ice in practice the morning after the game, despite the fact that they arrived back in the city only at 2. A.M. &ldquo;They need work,&rdquo; was his only comment.Canadiens started the season without the services of Gump Worsley, Terry Harper and Dick Duff, who were on the injured list after exhibition games. Worsley&rsquo;s knee is reported to be actins up. Harper suffered a shoulder separation in a pre-season game in Boston, while Duff also had a bad knee as the result of a collision.Harper, according to first reports, figured to be out three weeks, but later estimates had him returning to action approximately a week after the schedule got underway.No one, including himself, knew just when Duff would be back. But, there was a surprise replacement for him at left wing in the person of Bobby Rousseau. According to those who saw the game in Pittsburgh, Rousseau didn&rsquo;t look out of place patrolling the left side of the Back-strom-Larose unit. Rousseau is normally a right-winger, who also plays a little cenre on occasion.Canadiens play back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday this week, when they meet Rangers in New York and then entertain Toronto Maple Leafs in the Forum. They follow that with a home date against Boston on Oct. 21st, then get a four-day breather. &#9632;

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New Penguins Surprised Hubs, But Game Disenchanted Blake

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-02731/3112637-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY ROUSSEAU &hellip; Not Out Of Place On Left Side</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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CHANGED WINGS

<div class="byline">BY NORMAN MacLEAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01827/3112675-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="284" height="493"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jean Ratelle</figcaption></div>NEW YORK, N.Y. &ndash;As the New York Rangers launched the 1967-68 N.H.L. season General Manager Coach Emile Francis&rsquo; theory on the effects of expansion was due for a test.Francis is on record as saying, &ldquo;With the player supply having been spread somewhat thinner by expansion, it will be the clubs which can avoid injury who will have the best chance to move up In the race.&rdquo; Unfortunately for Francis and the Rangers, the New Yorkers are going to have to disprove that theory in the early days of the season. After the losing Ranger exhibition against Boston on October 3, the New York dressing room looked more like a hospital ward than anything else.Hot Rod Gilbert, who was playing in only his third preseason game, was hit from the blind side and fell heavily on his wrist. At first it was thought to be broken, but this fear proved groundless. The wrist was placed In a cast nevertheless. This injury hurt especially hard since Gilbert had held out for the first two weeks of training. Francis fined him $500 for not reporting, but eventually the two men got together and agreed upon the highest Ranger contract in history.Gilbert, who had worked out on his own, had played well in the three games in which he participated. He had been playing with the new French line of Jean Ratelle, Camille Henry and Rod.Left Winger Larry Jeffrey was hit in the eye with a stick and had to be hospitalized overnight, defenseman Harry Howell suffered a spasm of the muscles in his back and Jim Neilson, another blueliner came up with a Charley horse.Howell and Gilbert&rsquo;s injuries were the most serious as they prevented them from playing in the Friday October 6 exhibition game with Toronto.It was Jeffrey&rsquo;s second injury of the training camp season and seemed to place the hard working digger in the star crossed category. He had been out ten days previously with water on the knee caused by a too rapid return from surgery last spring. Jeffrey must now wear a brace at all times.&ldquo;I tore ligaments that I had repaired in Detroit three years ago, but I&rsquo;ll be able to continue my career with the brace,&rdquo; says Larry.Continuing the story of the Black and Blues, Boomer Geoffrion was out with a strained knee and Alan Hamilton, the highly touted rookie defenseman was recovering from a serious whack in the eye from a stick. With Hamilton and Jeffrey both wearing eye patches, the Blues camp looked like something out Dry Tortuga. Hamilton was later optioned to Buffalo of the AHL.Francis says, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll do alright in spite of the injuries. I have my toes crossed so that there will be no more.&rdquo;The Cat may have to patch and juggle his lineup until the more serious of the lame and halt are back in shape, but he has proven to be a master of this in the past. Also, it will be here that the New Yorkers&rsquo; squad depth should stand them, in good stead.On the bright side, Francis claims, &ldquo;Jean Ratelle has been outstanding in Training. He is fully recovered from the spinal fusion surgery he had at the end of the 1965-66 campaign. Last year he couldn&rsquo;t even tie his own shoelaces. I look to him to take up a lot of slack.&rdquo;Ratelle who was racked up by the Buffalo Bisons&rsquo; Ron Ingram in a preseason game now feels that he can again take the rough stuff that is NHL hockey. He was almost decapitated by Ingram (suffering a deep gash in his eyebrow) but bounced right back. Jean still has the smooth touch when he passes the puck and at 27 should be ready for the biggest year of his career. His previous high was a 21-30-51 season two years ago.Bob Nevin has also sparkled in the preseason work. Nevvy suffered a knee injury in training camp last season and literally limped through the campaign. His goal output fell from 29 to 20 as a result. The Blues&rsquo; captain will be a key man on the right side until Geoffrion and Gilbert are back in top shape.BLUE CHIPS &hellip; Rod Seiling looked very good and opened as fifth defense man and spare forward. Top line of Center Phil Goyette, Left Wing Donnie Marshall and Nevin still intact &hellip; Rookie forward Bob Jones has been shuffled off to Buffalo &hellip; Gilles Villemure, Blues number two netminder wears a mask but All-Star Ed Giacomin does not &hellip; Henry matched stride for stride with Canadiens&rsquo; Bobby Rousseau in exhibition and may just make club&hellip; After Holding Out, Don Simmons, vet goalie who performed with Vancouver last season reported and was asseigned to Buffalo of the American League &hellip; Red Berenson has been flying and should prove valuable as he can play both center and wing &hellip; Red had buck luck goalless season a year ago due to injuries, but is proven NHLer &hellip; Ranger brass doesn&rsquo;t like system which will pair expansion division against old line NHL in the Stanley Cup Finals &hellip;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02710/3112668-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="1292" height="2230"><figcaption class="caption-body">EMILE FRANCIS &hellip; Expects Rangers To Show Well</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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But Injuries Take Toll As Rangers Open Season

<div class="byline">&#x2014;MacLean</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-03577/3112706-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="290" height="483"><figcaption class="caption-body">Camille Henry</figcaption></div>NEW YORK, N.Y.&mdash;After a break of two years and a couple of months, Camille &ldquo;The Fly&rdquo; Henry has returned to the New York Rangers &mdash; and he finds his surroundings somewhat different.&ldquo;I wish that Iwas24not34. Now he have some real muscular gents who will try to protect little me. I wish it was this way fourteen years ago when I first started out with the Rangers,&rdquo; says Camille.When asked to name names, &ldquo;The Eel&rdquo; mentioned Wayne Hillman, Reg Fleming and Orland Kurtenbach. This is not meant to slight the still very rambunctious Vic Hadfield, but Vic was on the scene when Henry last played with New York. In fact, it was Hillman for whom Henry was traded to Chicago in February of 1965.In a recent exhibition game Camy was hit with a flying elbow from Montreal&rsquo;s Claude Larose. On the next shift, Emile Francis, the New York coach threw Kurtenbach and Fleming at the Canucks &mdash; and bodies began to bounce around all over the ice.&ldquo;The only time that happened in the past was when Lou Fontinato was playing for the Rangers,&rdquo; recalled Henry. When he was around I even got a little cocky myself at times, knowing that he would come in the corners and dig me out if I got into trouble.&rdquo;Henry who gets most of his tallies on tip ins, rebounds and so called &ldquo;garbage goals&rdquo; scored 248 goals in eleven years as a Ranger. He was the Captain of the Broadway six when he was dealt to Chicago. At about 140 pounds he has to be the smallest man in the N.H.L., but his moxie and never say die spirit have endeared him to all.Camy notes, &ldquo;When I was here before, we lost more than we won &mdash; and sometimes seemed whipped before the game started. Now this club feels that it can beat anybody.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Rangers Changed For Best Says Returning NHL Vet

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01818/3112737-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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NHL SCORING RACE

DETROIT, Mich. -A record three-year half - million dollar contract for radio and television coverage of Detroit Red Wings hockey games has been signed by the Red Wings and the Stroh Brewery Co. of Detroit.The $500,000 contract represents the most money ever paid for radio-TV rights to hockey in Detroit, according to Lincoln Cavalieri assistant general manager of Olympia, who negotiated the pact with StrohUnder terms of the agreement, all Red Wings games each season&mdash;a total of 74 in the expanded National Hockey League &mdash; will be broadcast live on radio in Detroit over station WWJ.Live television coverage will include 31 road games sponsored by Stroh on WKBD-TV, Channel 50, and two games shown on WJBK-TV, Channel 2, as part of the National Hockey League&rsquo;s game-of-the-week series on CBS-TV.The only road games not on TV will be four contests played by the Red Wings in Los Angeles and San Francisco-Oakland. These games will not be shown because of the late (11 p.m.) starting time on Detroit TV.Radio coverage will be carried to other parts of Michigan by a statewide network expected to number some 20 stations.Thirteen stations already have been lined up to receive the games: Ann Arbor &mdash; WOIA; Flint-WFDF, Lansing - WSWM; Midland - WMDN; Sturgis-WSTR; Cheyboygan &mdash; WCBY; Bad Axe &mdash; WLEW; Alma &mdash; WFYC; Jackson &mdash; WIBM; Grand Rapids &mdash; WZZM; Ludington &mdash; WKLA; Battle Creek - WKFR; and St. Joseph - WSJM.Some 10 more stations are expected to join the network before the season-opening game on Wednesday (Oct. 11).Budd Lynch and Bruce Martyn will provide commentary on both radio and television coverage of Wings games. Barry DeChant will handle intermission programs on TV games carried by WKBD-TV.Two other sponsors have purchased portions of the broadcasts and telecasts from Stroh. They are Buick Motor and United Air Lines. &#9632;

Record Radio, TV Contract Signed By Detroit Wings

Diminutive Charlie Hodge of the California Seals took a long time to make up his mind about reporting to the NHL&rsquo;s expansion club, but the Seals are happy he did.And, undoubtedly, so is Charlie.Hodge posted the first shutout of the newly started major league season when he blanked Wren Blair&rsquo;s Minnesota North Stars 6-0 in Oakland&rsquo;s classic &lsquo;Jewel Box&rsquo; arena.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01802/3112792-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="284" height="500"><figcaption class="caption-body">Charlie Hodge</figcaption></div>It was ironic that Hodge should be the first to get his name at the top of the netminders&rsquo; list when his status was completely doubtful just 10 days prior to his NHL debut.The Seals clicked for two home ice victories and in the two games, Hodge, the one-time holder of the coveted Vezina Trophy while with Montreal&rsquo;s Canadiens, limited the opposition to a solitary goal.The Seals are among the &lsquo;top clubs&rsquo; in expansion. A poll of experts conducted by THE HOCKEY NEWS last week showed California as the team to beat in the Western Division.With performances like the two Hodge turned in his first two games, Bert Olmstead&rsquo;s Seals won&rsquo;t be far off the mark.THE HOCKEY NEWS is pleased to salute California&rsquo;s Charlie Hodge as the NHL&rsquo;s player-of-the-week in the West.CHARLIE HODGE&hellip;California &#9632;

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NHL Player Of The Week — IN THE WEST

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02690/3112823-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg"></div>(Standings on Wed. Oct. 1 8)<h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Wed. Oct. 11Montreal 2 at Pittsburgh 1New York 6 at Chicago 3Detroit 4 at Boston 4Philadelphia 1 at California 5Minnesota 2 at St. Louis 2Fri. Oct. 13Pittsburgh 3 at St. Louis 1Sat. Oct. 14Chicago 1 at Toronto 5Detroit 2 at Montreal 6Philadelphia 2 at Los Angeles 4Minnesota 0 at Californio 6St. Louis 4 at Pittsburgh 2Sun. Oct. 15Toronto 5 at Chicago 3Montreal 2 at Boston 6New York 2 of Detroit 3Minnesota 3 at Los Angeles 5<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Wed. Oct 18Montreal at New YorkDetroit at TorontoBoston at ChicagoPhiladelphia at St. LouisMinnesota at PittsburghLos Angeles at CalifornioThurs. Oct. 19Toronto at MontrealBoston at DetroitPittsburgh at PhiladelphiaSat. Oct. 21Boston at MontrealNew York at TorontoChicago at PittsburghCalifornia at MinnesotaLos Angeles at St. LouisSun. Oct. 22Pittsburgh at New YorkSt. Louis at DetroitLos Angeles at ChicagoCalifornia at Philadelphia &#9632;

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LOOKING AT NHL RACE

MONTREAL, Que. -The Los Angeles Kings, ridiculed by many after last June&rsquo;s National Hockey League expansion draft, are quietly smiling to themselves today as they share first place in the west division with California Seals.The Kings made poor selections many experts said after the draft but the team&rsquo;s officials insisted people should wait and see. Although they have played only two of 74 games on the schedule, the Kings have won both starts. Seals also won their two games, including one in which goaltender Charlie Hodge became the first netminder to gain a shutout this young season.Meanwhile, in the east division, Toronto Maple Leafs picked up where they left off last spring by taking two games from the defending NHL champion Chicago Black Hawks, whom the Leafs eliminated in the 1967 Stanley Cup playoffs on their way to the cup title. The victories enabled Leafs to join Montreal Canadiens atop the standings, each with four points, although Canadiens played three games. Boston Bruins, who finished last in 1966-67, and Detroit Red Wings, last season&rsquo;s fifth-place team, are tied for third with three points each. New York Rangers are fifth with two points while the Hawks lost all three starts.St. Louis Blues are third in the west division with three points, one more than fourth-place Minnesota North Stars. Philadelphia Flyers lost both games last week and are last.In individual scoring, Yvan Cournoyer, former power-play specialist but now a regular right winger with Canadiens, took possession of first place with three goals and four assists for seven points. He holds a one-point lead over three-time scoring champion, Bobby Hull of Chicago, who has three goals and three assists.Seven players are tied for third place, including four California Seals-defenseman Kent Douglas and forwards Billy Harris, Gerry Ehman and Bill Hicke. The others with five points are Jean Beliveau of Canadiens, who scored the 400th regular season goal of his career in Habs&rsquo; 2-1 opener against Pittsburgh, and Boston forwards John McKenzie and Fred Stanfield.Former Hawk Phil Esposito, traded to Boston since last season became the first player to score three or more goals in a game this term when he scored four against Montreal. Fred Stanfield, who also went to Boston In the Esposito trade, leads in assists with five.Hodge, drafted by Seals from Canadiens, is the leading goaltender with a goals-against average of only .50. In two games he allowed one goal. Dave Balon of Minnesota and Brian Kilrea of Los Angeles lead in penalty minutes with 12 each while Canadiens lead the teams with 48 minutes. &#9632;

SEALS, KINGS JUMP NHL TEAMS

The more critical National Hockey League fans are probably wondering how the Chicago Black Hawk could afford to allow a player of Phil Esposito&rsquo;s calibre to get away from them.Esposito added fuel to the fire last weekend when he broke out with a four-goal performance to lead the Boston Bruins to a 6-2 win over Montreal Canadiens.It was the first four-goal blast in the NHL since Paul Henderson of Detroit turned the trick early last season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03545/3112878-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="284" height="480"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil Esposito</figcaption></div>Bruins gave up top defenseman Gilles Marotte to lure Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield away from the Black Hawks and at the moment the off-season deal is definitely working to the Bruins&rsquo; advantage.Exposito&rsquo;s four-goal display had Boston fans in a frenzy and no doubt set the rest of the NHL buzzing at what&rsquo;s ahead when a player like Esposito can explode like he did in one game.The HOCKEY NEWS is pleased to salute Boston&rsquo;s Phil Esposito as the NHL&rsquo;s player-of-the-week in the East.PHIL ESPOSITO&hellip;Boston &#9632;

f0012-03

NHL Player Of The Week — IN THE EAST

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01782/3112909-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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National Hockey League Summaries

<div class="byline">&#x2014; By Bill Libby</div><h2>North Stars Impress</h2>After the exhibition season had concluded the most impressive team in the NHL&rsquo;s Western Division in the opinion of most observers was the Minnesota North Stars. However, the regular season may be another thing. Most of the new clubs&rsquo; managers think it will be the end of the year before form begins to tell. Minnesota was not without its troubles. It had to open on the road. And Robert McNulty, boss of the new Metropolitan Stadium said &ldquo;it&rsquo;ll be nip and tuck&rdquo; as to whether the 14,400-seat arena would be ready by the Oct. 21 home opener. A key player, Bill Taylor, who tore cartilege in one knee the first week of training camp, had to have an operation which should sideline him until late November, And two players who should have been among the most important, forward Andre Pronovost and defenseman Pete Goegan, were among several suspended for failing to sign contracts prior to the beginning of the campaign. Wren Blair has felt all along too many were trying to take the new teams for too much money, which is why the manager didn&rsquo;t sign a coach and is coaching, himself.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01784/3112954-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="289" height="481"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dave Balon</figcaption></div>After three weeks of negotiations, Blair did sign the brightest Star of all, Dave Baton, who was the No. 1 pick of the entire expansion draft, aside from goalies. Baton is believed to be getting $17,500. He said the decision to include the Western Division winner In the Stanley Cup final hastened his signing. Of course, the Stars have to get there first, but Baton points out, &ldquo;Even the cup losers get $8,000 or so. &lsquo;&rsquo;Baton added, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like bonuses for goals scored because you get puck conscious. Bonuses for points scored are all right, however.&rdquo; Mike McMahon, whose father played for Montreal&rsquo;s 1944 Stanley Cup champions, was the scoring sensation of the pre-season action. The 25-year-old defenseman comes out of the New York chain and could be a starry Star. The Stars don&rsquo;t have a &ldquo;name&rdquo; goalie, but 28-year-old Carl Wetzel, a former Army MP and one of the few American-born players in the top ranks, was brilliant as he outshone veterans Cesare Maniago and Gary Baumann incamp. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather be &ldquo;stuck&rdquo; with three good goalies in their 20&rsquo;s, than with one star in his late 30&rsquo;s or early 40&rsquo;s,&rdquo; said Blair, eyeing L.A.&rsquo;s Terry Sawchuk and St. Louis&rsquo; Glenn Hall.<h2>Abel Stepping Down?</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02670/3112947-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="280" height="496"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Watson</figcaption></div>With Hall and Don Caley injured, Lynn Patrick&rsquo;s St. Louis club was down to one goalie, former Canadian National star Seth Martin, a few days before the opener. Enthusiastic vice-president Sid Salomon in, who purchased a complete set of goal-tending equipment and talked Lynn Patrick into teaching him how to guard the nets in camp, was prepared to step in at a moment&rsquo;s notice. One wonders how much Lynn knows about tending goal, however. Of course, his father, Lester, was a goalie of brief, if bright fame &hellip; With Hall, 36, in the nets, and Al Arbour and Fred Hucul, each 35, in front of him, offensive interlopers may get tangled up in the beards. However, these are real hockey players. Most kids should play with their fire &hellip; Doug Harvey narrowly escaped permanent Injury when he was hit in the eye with a stick at an instructional clinic in St. Louis &hellip; The new Kansas City player-coach-manager sat with both eyes bandaged for awhile, while Blues&rsquo; director of player personnel Frank Mario took over his duties temporarily.Sid Abel denies it but Baz Bastien, who coached Pittsburgh to the AHL title last season, has taken over as coach of Detroit. Sid will manage from the stands, while Bastien coaches from the bench during the regular season, as they did during the exhibition season, Bastien is 47 and a good one &hellip; Jim Watson, a second-year-pro, appears to have made the Red Wing defense. He played with San Diego last year and the tip on him was that he was a diamond in the rough. He&rsquo;s big, brave and fast, but a club official pointed out, &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t make too many mistakes and the scouts would shrug them off, but they always came at the wrong times, costing us games.&rdquo; &hellip; It was the week before the season opened before Philadelphia signed key men defensemen Ed Van Impe and Joe Watson and forward Bob Dillabough, the latter hobbled by a knee that has not yet recovered properly from an offseason operation &hellip; L.A. also went late before signing discontented Gordon Labossiere and Dale Rolfe. Some Kings felt they were not paid soon enough or given enough time in their new home town.to find lodgings for their families before having to take off on a two-week road trip. Of course, all clubs have similar problems. Almost every player is new to their owners, managers, coaches, teams and towns.Football Ram owner Dan Reeves, a gentleman, currently enjoying some deserved success, does not deny he remains sad over having lost the L.A. NHL franchise to Jack Kent Cooke. &ldquo;It is not that I do not have plenty to keep me busy, but hockey is a great game and I enjoyed being part of it and I miss it,&rdquo; Reeves told us the other day &hellip; Another ex-Blade, Marcel Pelletier, a gentleman of more extravagant manners, currently in the Philadelphia front office, was honored by his home town of Sorel when his new team playerd an exhibition in the Quebec community recently.<h2>Kent Top Point Man</h2>No one take a loss harder than Bert Olmstead, the California Seal skipper. Bert has been generous with his praise lately. He is very high on his defenseman Kent Douglas and goalie Gary Smith, a wanderer who may play more than veteran Charley Hodge. Bert says, &ldquo;Kent should be the best pointman on the power-play and one of the best at getting his puck out of the zone in the league. And Gary is the best young goal-tending prospect in hockey.&rdquo; Bert cut Tracy Pratt, Babe&rsquo;s son, to Vancouver, and Alain Caron to Buffalo. Thus, Caron, one of hockey&rsquo;s greatest shooters over, failed to make an expansion club &hellip; The new Vancouver Coliseum, where an expansion team should have been located, will be ready at year&rsquo;s end. Former Toronto Marlboro coach Jim Gregory is the new mentor there.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03526/3112940-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="281" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body">Kent Douglas</figcaption></div>The Oakland club will televise 15 of their road games with publicist Tim Ryan and broadcaster Mai Alberts at the mike &hellip; Detroit is televising 33 road games, skipping only the four on the West Coast because the 11 p.m. starting time in the Michigan city would be too late. Budd Lynch, Bruce Martyn and Barry DeChent will be the mikemen &hellip; Two season ago, in an eight-player trade, Detroit got Gary Jarrett, Andy Bathgate and Billy Harris, while Toronto got Marcel Pronovost, Larry Jeffrey, Eddie Joyal, Lowell MacDonald and Autry Erickson. Jarrett is blossoming into a Wing star, while Pronovost is still solid with Toronto. Jeffrey seems to be shaking an Injury problem and seems headed for stardom with New York. Bathgate is with Pittsburgh, Harris and Erickson with Oakland, Joyal and MacDonald with L.A. The trade stocked the expansion. Chicago may be happy it didn&rsquo;t lose Eric Nesterenko in the expansion draft, though it did not protect him originally. Eric, always a solid NHL player, though never the player most expected him to be, enjoyed his finest pre-season camp &hellip; Chicago coach Billy Reay said of his star, &ldquo;If I was going to put up $2,000,000 for a new hockey team, I&rsquo;d invest it all for one player, Bobby Hull. He would be worth every penny.&rdquo; But would Reay or the Hawk owners have sold Hull? Never. And would an expansion team have won with Hull and 17 players not even taken by the other expansion clubs? Never. &#9632;

f0014-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04381/3112985-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="286" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sid Abel</figcaption></div>DETROIT, Mich.&mdash;There&rsquo;s a new took behind the Red Wing bench this season so the boss can get a new look from on high. General manager-coach Sid Abel has turned over most of the bench direction to assistant general manager Baz Bastien for the season.Abel emphasize there is no change in titles-he&rsquo;s still the general manager and coach.Bastien was manager-coach of the Wings&rsquo; farm club at Pittsburgh last season and he led the Hornets to the American Hockey League regular season and playoff titles.When the franchise was disbanded because an NHL team was awarded the city, Bastien was left without a post. So, after Johnny Mitchell, Abel&rsquo;s aide the past few years, returned to Johnstown, Pa., as vice president and general manager of the Jets, Abel named Bastien assistant general manager.He showed his trust immediately, assigning Bastien plus Fort Worth coach Fern Flaman and Doug Barkley to run most of the training camp workouts.Abel observed from the stands and liked It so much he decided to continue during the season.&ldquo;Baz generates a tot of enthusiasm on the bench,&rdquo; Abel said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s tough on the players during the workouts but he does it in a jovial way.&rdquo;And actually, the new method gives Abel a chance to do more coaching.&ldquo;You can pick things out better from above than you can at ice level,&rdquo; Abel said.During practices he sat up in the stands, calling directions when needed, and during the games sat in club owner Bruce Norris&rsquo; secluded box. During the season he said he&rsquo;d watch from a press box vantage point.At Olympia he&rsquo;d have no problem with communication to the bench since there&rsquo;s a telephone from both the press box and Norris&rsquo; box to the bench. And there&rsquo;s the between periods intermission.It&rsquo;s strange, really, that hockey hasn&rsquo;t gone In much for either upper level coaching or filming of games, both of which have been standard operating procedure for so many years in football where, like hockey, the worst spot to see the game is from the bench.Bastien, 47, has worked directly or indirectly with the Wings for some 10 years and was connected with the AHL since just after World War n when he starred in goal with Pittsburgh, then lost his right eye when hit by a shot in training camp his third year in the league.Abel has turned over the coaching on occasion to assistants for a game or two but never for an extended period and, if all works out well, Bastien will be behind the bench for the majority of the Wing games this season. &#9632;

f0014-04

Detroiters Wondering If Shift Of Bastien Will Become Permanent

<div class="byline">BY DON LOBB</div>SUDBURY, Ont. -When Leo Gasparini of the Sudbury Wolves in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association sold his Junior A franchise to a cartel of local citizens, he may have given the five-team league its greatest shot in the arm in years.Headed by Bud Burke, an electrical contractor who has built a five-business empire from a tool box up, and including Chucker Ross, a former hockey player and now an accountant, Pat Scully, a salesman, Dr. Roily LeClair, a physician and legal eagle Jean Marc Labrosse, the new management team of the Wolves sparked a battle with the OHA brass to have the CAHA suspend the management of teams who have practiced NOHA personnel with their clubs this year.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03562/3113054-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="291" height="485"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ab Demarco</figcaption></div>The rule book calls for a one-year suspension. Sudbury Wolves want it made clear that even if the OH A brass won&rsquo;t go that far this time, tampering or raiding has got to stop.The OHA annually sends its scouts into the hinterlands in search of developing talent and this year they succeeded in coaxing Billy Yeo, a 17-year-old netminder who completed the season with the fourth place Wolves to turn out with Kitchener.Wolves hadn&rsquo;t released Yeo. He is back in Sudbury seeking his release now. Burke claims that the use of Yeo in three exhibition games is more than ample reason for the one-year suspension of the manager and the coach of the Kitchener club.Meanwhile the Walter Dubas &mdash; coached Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds have served notice that they aren&rsquo;t to be easily dethroned as defending champions in the NOHA.After Marcel Clements and his rebuilding Wolves had thumped Ab Demarco&rsquo;s North Bay Trappers 9-7 in the league opener, Greyhounds unveiled their "67-&rsquo;68 entry. Dubas dressed Julio Francella, whose brother Mario last year paced the league as a point-getter, and the youngster hit for four goals. Bob Smith, the all-time scoring king in the NOHA, graduated from the Greyhounds to professional ranks this fall and he was replaced by Ed Smith, no relation. Smith notched a pair of goals as Hounds whipped the Sudbury entry 9-5.Demarco&rsquo;s crew proved again that they&rsquo;ll be tough to beat on their home ice. They doubled back to down Espanola Eagles and the Garson-Falconbridge Combines by 9-3 and 9-5 scores in play during the second week of the schedule.Every club in the loop has faced a major rebuilding job. Demarco lost his son, Ab junior, to OHA&rsquo;s Peterborough club. His three-year veteran goaltender Andre Lalonde outgrew the junior age limit and Randy Prior, a shifty, nifty high-scoring left winger is also overage. He has a solid defence quartet, none of whom had the puck-clearing, playmaking or scoring ability of young Ab, but who serve adequately.From an early assesment after all clubs have completed one swing through the opposition, Greyhounds stick out at the head of the pack, Trappers look like a good bet for second, Wolves and Combines should fight it out for third and fourth slot and it looks like the dungeon, again, for McCarthy and his Eagles. &#9632;

f0015-03

‘Raiding’ By OHA Rouses Sudbury

<div class="byline">BY CHARLEY BARTON</div>BUFFALO, N.Y.-The Dolbeau Dandy is back.Alain (Boom Boom) Caron, a 47-goal shooter with the Buffalo Bisons two years ago, was returned on option by the California Seals, who took him in the National Hockey League&rsquo;s expansion draft last June.The 29-year-old Caron collected 35 goals and 25 assists in 71 games with the Portland Buckaroos in the Western Hockey League last winter. Previously, he set an all-time single-season professional record of 77 goals in 71 games with St. Louis in the Central Pro League.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01596/3113092-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="268" height="501"><figcaption class="caption-body">Alain Caron</figcaption></div>The gray-thatched Caron, who also romped through 61 and 46-goal seasons at St. Louis, started his scoring heroics long before enrolling with the pros.He totaled 76 goals for the Amherst Ramblers in the Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League, and fired 69 goals in 45 games in his first season of junior hockey in Dolbeau, Quebec, where he was born and raised.Caron, who owns one of the hardest and most accurate slap shots in the sport, readily admits he&rsquo;s an offensive-minded player, but insists he&rsquo;s much better defensively than some people think.He isn&rsquo;t blessed with too much speed, yet is remarkably fast getting to a loose puck inside the opposition blue line. His scoring ability speaks for itself.The Bisons, with a complete working agreement with the New York Rangers also will get some player help from California, and Caron was the first player delivered by the expansion division club.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll get three or four players from the Seals,&rdquo; said General Manager Fred Hunt. &ldquo;We hope to get one defenseman, naturally, we were pleased to have Caron returned.&ldquo;He was a big hit with our fans when he spent a complete season in Buffalo, and he figures to be popular again.&rdquo;&ldquo;He has to help us score goals.&rdquo;ALONG THE BOARDS Caron was sent to the Bisons the day after the Bisons beat California, 4-3, in an exhibition game at the Seals&rsquo; Port Huron, Mich., training camp &hellip; Ed Chadwick was giving the Bisons&rsquo; first-rate goaltending, and appeared headed for a big season. The club was still seeking a backup goalie in the closing week of training camp &hellip; Phil Soisson of Radio Station WGR was the new play-by-play man in Buffalo, as he made his debut as a hockey announcer.<h2>How They Stand</h2>(Standings on Tues. Oct. 1 7)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02517/3113085-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="641" height="308"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Oct. 11Buffalo 5 at Providence 3Fri. Oct. 13Buffalo 1 at Springfield 6Sat. Oct. 14Rochester 5 at Buffalo 4Baltimore 0 at Cleveland 2Providence I at Hershey 8Quebec 0 at Springfield 5Sun. Oct. 15Springfield 4 at Providence 7Cleveland 4 at Quebec 3Baltimore I at Rochester 5<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tues. Oct. 17Rochester at BaltimoreCleveland at QuebecWed. Oct 18Rochester at HersheyFri. Oct. 20Rochester at ProvidenceCleveland at VancouverSat. Oct. 21Baltimore at HersheyProvidence at SpringfieldCleveland at SeattleSun. Oct. 22Baltimore at BuffaloQuebec at ProvidenceHershey at RochesterCleveland at Portland &#9632;

f0016-01

Bison Fans Hail Boomer’s Return To Herd

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03414/3113123-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0016-03

American Hockey League Summaries

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK SANTANIELLO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01508/3113168-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="283" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body">Poul Popiel</figcaption></div>SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-The Kings hockey club of the American I Hockey League I has been completely renovated from top to bottom. Eddie Shore sold the former Indians to Los Angeles sportsman Jack Kent Cooke for some $800,000. The LA team in turn will use Springfield as a top farm club.Eddie Shore is no longer with the team. He will be merely an &ldquo;advisor.&rdquo; However, shrewd Eddie retains the franchise in the AHL, rights to the Eastern States Coliseum ice for home games, concessions and such. Cooke got 26 players, their contracts and other physical equipment.Johnny Wilson is the general manager-coach this season. A former NHL star, he coached Princeton U. hockey team last season. He replaces general manager Jack Butterfield, who moved up to full time AHL president. Coach last season was Teddy Shore, who will be the arena manager this season.Inside the Coliseum things are a whole lot different. It has been renovated, cleaned up, painted, with new lighting and a new sound system. Serving as public relations man for the team is Charles Hill. It certainly looks like a new era in hockey for this city.Eleven veterans and eight new players will be back with the Kings this season. Jacques Caron and George Wood will work between the pipes. Caron started brilliantly in goal last season, got into trouble with Shore and Wood had a great season as his replacement.Defensemen Larry Johnston and Jim Holdaway are the old pros on defense. Forwards back from last season include Jerry Foley, Yves Locas, Roger Cote, Jim Anderson, and Randy Miller. Howie Menard and Bill Smith will each center a line.New players include Mike Corrigan who played with Rochester last season and Doug Robinson, who has seen service with Buffalo and Baltimore. Two seasoned new defensemen include Poul Popiel from Hershey and Jacques Lemieux who played at Cleveland.Bill Inglis of Houston and Brent Hughes who played at Memphis are also players with pro background. Young amateur Rick Pagnutti and Dennis Rathwell from the Johnstown, jets of the Eastern League club have been sent here. Both have great futures.General manager-coach Wilson has announced plans to have all Kings home and road games broadcast over station WSPR in Springfield &hellip; Some of the road games will be telecast over Channel 22 here &hellip; Bill Rasmussen will do play by play with Charles Hill working on the color &hellip;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02453/3113161-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="1296" height="1011"><figcaption class="caption-body">JACQUES CARON &hellip; Sent By LA. Kings</figcaption></div><h2>AHL&rsquo;S EARLY LEADERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03375/3113154-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="1337" height="1491"></div> &#9632;

f0017-01

Cooke Gives Kings’ ‘New Look’ From Coach John Wilson Down

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div>ROCHESTER, N.Y.&mdash;The two players with the longest records of service with the Rochester Americans &mdash; Stan Smrke and Gerry Ehman &mdash; won&rsquo;t be on hand for the 1967-68 American Hockey League season.Smrke, who had skated on left wing for the Amerks during nine of their first 11 years in the AHL, failed to report to training camp and, after talking with general manager-coach Joe Crozier, announced his retirement. Stan, who celebrated his 39th birthday last month, played more regular season games &mdash; 513 &mdash; than any other player in Rochester hockey history. He scored 197 goals to rank third on the alltime Amerk list, assisted on 239, also third, and totaled 436 points, fourth for Rochester.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04294/3113199-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="277" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stan Smrke</figcaption></div>Smrke&rsquo;s retirement surprised a few, including Crozier. After injuries and illness allowed him to be in uniform for only 50 games in 1965-66, during which he mustered just 11 goals and 20 assists, Stan returned with a bang last season and tallied 31 goals and 30 assists while playing in all but of the 72-game schedule.Ehman, on the other hand, was about to start his eighth season with the Americans when Crozier dealt his veteran right wing and team captain to the California Seals of the National League for Jean-Paul Parise and Bryan Hextall on Sept. 30.It was no secret that Ehman was having contract difficulties, and the chance to pickup Parise, who is 25, and Hextall, who is 26, in exchange for Ehman, who&rsquo;ll be 35 Nov. 3, was too good to pass up.Gerry was second to Smrke in games played with 465, was the alltime Amerk point-getter with 520, was tied for first with Bronco Horvath in assists at 283 and was second to Dick Gamble in goals with 237.A couple of familiar faces also are missing on defense. Al Arbour, Mr. Everything for the Amerks for five seasons, was drafted by St. Louis of the National League and Duane Rupp, who blossomed under the wing of Arbour, earned a berth with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Those two had played a total of 539 regular season games on the blueline for Rochester. &#9632;

f0017-04

Vets Smrke, Ehman Gone From Amerks As Stan Quits Game

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05242/3113230-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="290" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chuck Hamilton</figcaption></div>HERSHEY, Pa. -Coach Frank Mathers&rsquo; experiment of converting Chuck Hamilton from a forward to a defenseman appears to be paying dividends as the Hershey Bears veteran skater has acquitted himself in fine fashion at his new assignment in two exhibition games.Hamilton, a 5-11, 175-pounder from Kirkland Lake, also proved he can handle himself when the going gets rough.In dropping a 7-3 decision to the Boston Bruins, Hamilton got into a dandy fight with big Ted Green. Before the brawl ended, both benches had emptied on to the ice to take part in the pier sixer.In three other exhibition games, the Bears beat and tied the Baltimore Clippers, while losing to the Philadelphia Flyers.&ldquo;Hamilton&rsquo;s been doing okay on the backline,&rdquo; said Mathers.&ldquo;He blocks shots well and checks well. He just might be able to make the switch.&rdquo;As the season&rsquo;s opening game approached, Mathers had 21 skaters including goalies John Henderson and Andre Gill &mdash; in training camp.&ldquo;I figure to cut two forwards and a defenseman,&rdquo; said Mathers.Among the Bears&rsquo; rookie crop are defenseman Bob Heaney, forwards Rosaire Paiement, Bill Heindel, and Don Marcotte.Through the exhibition schedule, Mathers gave the newcomers a good look and expressed satisfaction with their play.However, when the opening gong rings, the Bears are expected to be counting on Roger Dejordy, Gil Gilbert, Bob Leiter, Wayne Maxner, Myron Stankiewicz and for the scoring punch.Hershey appears to be in fine shape on defense with holdovers Barry Ashbee, Ralph Keller, Pete Ford and Mike Mahoney.Veteran center Mike Nykoluk, the league&rsquo;s most valuable player last season, is quickly rounding into shape. He was hampered for a time with a back ailment. &#9632;

f0017-05

Hamilton ‘Experiment’ Pays Off For Mathers

PORTLAND, Ore. -Hal Laycoe of the Portland Buckaroos was the dean of Western Hockey League coaches as the 1967-68 season got under way.Laycoe, who played 11 National Hockey League seasons with New York, Montreal and Boston, Is starting his 12th WHL campaign.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01512/3113268-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="283" height="488"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hal Laycoe</figcaption></div>He coached for three years at New Westminster and one at Victoria before moving to Portland where he now is starting his eighth season.Laycoe has won more championships during the regular season (five) and more games (415) than any coach in Western League history.His overall WHL record is 415 victories, 301 defeats and 58 ties for a victory percentage (discounting ties) of .580.The victory percentage is the highest in league history for any coach with more than there campaigns.Laycoe also piloted the Portland Buckaroos to the Lester Patrick Cup in the playoffs in both 1961 and 1965.Second most-experienced skipper is Alf Pike, who took over at the new Phoenix franchise.This will be the eighth Western League full season for Pike, a one-time star winger with the New York Rangers. He previously coached at Winnipeg, Calgary and Los Angeles.Pike has piloted clubs to one Lester Patrick Cup and two first place finishes during regular campaigns.His overall Western League coaching record is 226 victories, 231 defeats and 27 ties for a percentage of .495.Next in line is Max McNab, piloting San Diego for the second straight campaign.McNab, a center with the Detroit Red Wings when they won the Stanley Cup in 1950, is starting his seventh WHL season.He can look back on one first-place finish (with Vancouver) and his overall record, for full seasons shows 175 victories, 227 defeats and 20 ties for a victory percentage of .435.Coaching for the second year &mdash; and second in the Western League &mdash; is Bill MacFarland at Seattle.MacFarland can do only one thing to improve on his &ldquo;rookie&rsquo;&rsquo; record &mdash; finish first in the regular season and then win the playoffs.Last season he piloted Seattle to second during the regular campaign on a record of 39 victories, 26 defeats and 7 ties for a victory percentage of .600.The the Totems swept to the Lester Patrick Cup in the playoffs, knocking off the California Seals in six games and the Vancouver Canucks in fouc straight.Newest coach in the league is Vancouver&rsquo;s Jim Gregory, who comes West after a successful career of coaching junior hockey in Ontario.And as the season was about to begin, Gregory was the only undefeated coach in the circuit.There are two persons, incidentally, who will dispute official Western League coaching records.One is Gordon Fashoway, now scout and assistant general manager of the California Seals, and the other is Berlyn Hodges, trainer of the Portland Buckaroos.Fashoway, when he was scouting for Portland, handled the Buckaroos four times last season when illness stopped Laycoe from making a road trip.Portland won all four games.Fashoway naturally figures he heads the coaching list with a perfect record.And Hodges figures he&rsquo;s second. He has handled teams three times in the absence of Laycoe. He has yet to taste defeat.<h2>How They Stand</h2>(Standings on Tues. Oct. 17)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02415/3113261-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="644" height="173"></div><h3>GAMES COMPIETED</h3>Mon. Oct. 9Phoenix 3 at Vancouver 3Fri Oct. 13Phoenix 1 at Seattle 3San Diego 3 at Vancouver 5Sat. Oct 14Phoenix 1 at Portland 4Son Diego I at Seattle 3Sun. Oct. 15Vancouver 1 at Portland 8<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Wed. Oct 18Seattle at PortlandThurs. Oct. 19Portland at SeattleFri. Oct 20Phoenix at San DiegoCleveland at VancouverSat. Oct. 21San Diego at PhoenixCleveland at SeattleSun. Oct. 22Phoenix at San DiegoCleveland at Portland &#9632;

f0018-01

Portland Pilot In 11th Year

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03312/3113299-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">CLIFF SCHMAUTZ &hellip; Not the Bashful Type</figcaption></div>PORTLAND, Ore. &ndash;Clifford Harvey Schmautz, right winger of the Portland; Buckaroos, is many things.He is, for example, a fine goal scorer. He set a Portland club record of 46 two years ago.He is a great golfer. He fired a 68 over a championship course a couple of summers back to top Seattle&rsquo;s Guyle Fielder in a head-on match.One thing Schmautz is not &mdash; bashful.Removed from the game during an exhibition in Portland between the Buckaroos and the Chicago Black Hawks, Schmautz was asked what was wrong.&ldquo;I could have kept playing but it would have been embarrassing,&rdquo; he said.Embarrassing?&ldquo;Sure,&rdquo; he shrugged. &ldquo;You know the crowd came to see Bobby Hull. And I was checking him. And if I had kept on checking him, the crowd wouldn&rsquo;t have been able to see Hull get a shot off.&rdquo;P.S.Medics said it was a sore groin that took Schmautz off the ice.The Black Hawks, Incidentally tipped Portland 2-1 in the game. And the Buckaroo home-ice record against National League opposition is now &ldquo;only&rdquo; .500.Portland is 2-1 against Toronto, 1-0 against Boston but 0-2 against Chicago.The Hawks blasted the Bucks 5-0 a night later in Victoria.But an evening earlier, Seattle surprised Chicago, 5-4 in Seattle, with Golden Guyle Fielder notching a pair of goals for the Totems. &#9632;

f0018-03

Bucks, Totems Hold Their Own In Exhibitions With NHL Clubs

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0019-06" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06196/3113389-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">GUYLE FIELDER &hellip; More Records Ahead</figcaption></div>SEATTLE, Wash.&mdash;Eleven of the first fourteen leading Western League scorers will return this year as well as the top three goalkeepers, so in spite of the expansion draft there should be no noticable difference in the caliber of play.Lou Jankowski of Phoenix will start the season with the record of most goals scored in the WHL by active player. Lou has 340 to his credit and is third in all-time scoring. Gordon Fashoway is the alltime goal scorer with 485 followed by Sid Finney with 368 &mdash; both have retired. Jankowski needs 28 goals to take over second place and could do so this year.Guyle Fielder of Seattle is in fourth place with 333 followed by Art Jones of Portland with 328. Jones scored 38 goals last year and if he continues at this pace he could move into third place.No active player is remotely close to Fielder&rsquo;s record of 1,088 assists&mdash;no active player in pro hockey is close to that mark. Fielder, also, leads in points scored in the WHL with a total of 1,421 plus 83 points he scored one year in the American Hockey League for a total of 1,504 points in pro hockey. Closest to this record is Gordie Howe of Detroit with 1,436 points. All of the above records are for League Games only and do not include playoff points.Next active player to Fielder in points is Art Jones of Portland with 846 and Phil Maloney with 824. Jones is in third place in all-time WHL records; 23 points behind retired Rudy Filion. &#9632;

f0019-06

11 Of Top 14 Scorers Back For WHL Year

SEATTLE, Wash. &mdash;Referees in the WHL this season will be assigned by the National League as to all other professional leagues again this year and with NHL clubs on the West Coast, WHL cities will see more of the top referees.Those signed by the National League and who will work all professional games are: Vern Buffey, John Ashley, Art Skov, Bin Friday, Bruce Hood, Ron Wicks, John d&rsquo;Amico, Bob Sloan, Wally Harris, Tom Smith, Yves Tessier, Lloyd Gilmour, Dave Newell, Bryan Lewis, John McCauley and Bill Beagan.Scotty Morrison is the Referee-in-Chief and win be assisted by Frank Udvari and Dutch Van Deelen. Local linesmen will be used. &#9632;

NHL Referees To Work Western League Games

<div class="byline">By JOHN WHITE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01492/3113358-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="281" height="499"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Kilpatrick</figcaption></div>VANCOUVER, B.C. -In the southern sectors of the Western Hockey League; the question kept popping up during the summer:&ldquo;But what is Vancouver going to do for hockey players?&rdquo;The wise old heads never blinked an eye.&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you worry,&rdquo; one said. &ldquo;If any one can come up with hockey players, it&rsquo;s Coley Hall. He&rsquo;a never failed yet.&rdquo;Well, Coleman Hall did the job so well that as the Western League&rsquo;s 20th season got under way, there still were a reported 27 players on the roster of the Vancouver Canucks.And what a pot-pourri.New Canuck Coach Jim Gregory had players who last season wore the uniforms of every single club in the Western League except Seattle.It was a club whose performances in the early going would be absolutely impossible to forecast with any degree of accuracy.Some of them have shown, in the past, flashes of absolute brilliance.But age could be a factor. At least ten of Vancouver&rsquo;s players could look back on a decade or more of professional hockey.No one questions the ranking of Phil Maloney, for example, as one of the all-time greats of the Western Hockey League. But Maloney was 40 years old the week before the season started. He was starting his 20th professional campaign.How long could the legs last?And Larry Pope in was good for six consecutive fruitful years with the New York Rangers. But that was in the &lsquo;50s. And this would be his 17th professional season.One thing seemed sure, unless a whole pile of past spark had died. No one would push Vancouver around.There were nine defensemen still on the roster as the season opened, and some of them are rated among the most rugged performers in the Western circuit.Big Larry McNabb, for example, never has had a call from the Ice Follies. But it wouldn&rsquo;t be surprising if a few boxing promoters have picked up the telephone.McNabb, who has drawn 666 minutes in penalties in 330 games in the Western League, quieted down considerably last season with San Diego.But he was still one of the best policemen in the league, as he was in the days when he was helping spark San Francisco to two straight Lester Patrick Cups under Norman (Bud) Poile.Then there was Tracy Pratt, the son of hockey immortal Walter (Babe) Pratt. Pratt, sent to Vancouver&rsquo;s blue line by the California Seals, also was reasonably subdued last season with Portland, just 92 minutes off the ice.But this strapping youngster, who packs close to 200 pounds on a 6-1 frame, loves to mix it.Then throw in young Gary Kilpatrick from the now defunct Los Angeles Blades and a tough youngster named Jim McClosky from California and you have more muscle at the blue line.Add to this crew the likes of John Gravel, Tommy Thurlby, Jean Marc Picard and Ralph Winfield, and Vancouver was going to have a problem just picking the guys who would play.In goal, the Canucks appeared to be going with Jean-Guy Morissette, a tiny netminder who set the American Hockey League on fire in the 1964 Calder Cup playoffs with Cleveland.In nine clutch games, he simply held opponents to 17 goals, an average of just 1.89 a contest to lead the league.Up front, Vancouver boasted tremendous scoring potential if past performances could be repeated.Center was well-manned by the veteran Maloney, Gordon Vejprava, Ray Cyr and Mike Laughton.Maloney is sixth on the Western League&rsquo;s all-time scoring list.Maloney had a fine campaign last season at 39. He secored 66 points to tie for 14th in the league.Will he repeat at 40?Vejprava last season went wild. He led Vancouver with 82 points on 36 goals and 46 assists and ranked third in the Western Hockey League. It was by far the best season of a career that started in the 1954-55 campaign in the American League.A repeat performance and Coach Gregory&rsquo;s sleep will be much sounder.Laughton, a youngster, had a fine rookie season (16 goals), while Cyr, used sparingly by California last season, seemed a question mark. He has known great seasons in the past, including a 64-point output as recently as &lsquo;63 with San Francisco. And he led all WHL playoff scorers in 1960 with 16 points.But time does march on.On left wing, Gregory could pick from among Danny Belisle, Bruce Carmichael, Norm Schmitz, Ron Hutchinson and Barry Watson.Belisle and Carmichael certainly are proven goal scorers.Belisle sniped 25 in just 62 games with California last season, never has scored fewer than 20 in any campaign in a professional career that started in the fall of 1965.His best record was 40 with Los Angeles in &lsquo;63.Watson, son of long-time National League star Harry Watson, I got a late start last season because of injuries and never quite got completely untracked with Vancouver. He finished with 10 goals in 45 games.On right wing as the season started, Vancouver had Dave Duke, Pete Panagabko, Larry Popein and Bob Cook.Popein, one of the toughest checkers in all hockey, also had a fine season offensively with 22 goals last year. Only lack of legs could hurt him.Cook was a bit disappointing as a rookie with the Canucks. Duke, when he&rsquo;s right, is capable of a 20-goal season at any time. Panagabko has flashed hot and cold in the Western League.Teams, it bears repeating, that collect material from all over the place - and experienced material with great past performances - often can do just about what they put their mind to doing.If Maloney, Vejprava, Belisle and Carmichael match their best previous efforts and if McNabb and Pratt, in particular, are as rough as they can be, it could be a long season for the opponents of Jim Gregory&rsquo;s Vancouver Canucks.There should be one big incentive, too.Vancouver&rsquo;s brand-new Forum, which lists a seating capacity of 16,000, should be ready by the first of the year.Canuck owners wouldn&rsquo;t mind packing in fans with a hot hockey club.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02421/3113351-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="577" height="749"><figcaption class="caption-body">TRACY PRATT &hellip; Sent By Seals</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03342/3113344-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="569" height="733"><figcaption class="caption-body">PHIL MALONEY &hellip; Still Going At 40</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04293/3113337-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="585" height="699"><figcaption class="caption-body">GORDON VEJPRAVA &hellip; Can He Repeat Year?</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05245/3113330-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="595" height="762"><figcaption class="caption-body">LARRY McNABB &hellip; Muscle For Canucks</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0019-01

Age May Be Detractor For Canucks But Vancouver Loaded With Talent

<div class="byline">BY MATT DENNIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01337/3113465-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="307" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body">Carl Wetzel</figcaption></div>DETROIT, Mich. &ndash;Less than ten days before the opening of the Central Professional Hockey League season, Montreal Canadiens dropped a 4-1 decision to the Detroit Red Wings at Olympia Stadium.The defeat was not any cause for jubilation for Montreal general manager Sam Pollock and coach &ldquo;Toe&rdquo; Blake but it served as a testing ground for younger players in the Montreal organization who were destined to be wearing the uniforms of the Houston Apollos in the Central League this season.&ldquo;There is a possibility that we might carry two &mdash; maybe three rookies when we open the season but that will depend on our injury situation,&rdquo; said Blake.Tie Montreal rookies dressed for the Olympia game included Carol Vadnais and Serge Savard, defensemen, Danny Grant, Mickey Redmond, Jacques Lemarire and Gary Monahan, all forwards.There was a possibility that four of the six could wind up in Houston. Vadnais appeared to have made the Habs as fifth rearguard meaning that Savard would be free to be sent out to the Apollos, where he spent last season. Savard was being retained by Montreal because of an injury to regular defenseman Terry Harper.Of the attackers, Canadiens will likely send two of the four to Houston. Two will be kept, likely Monahan and Redmond. Grant and Lemaire were with Houston last season.Houston received help when Canadiens sent rugged Bryan Watson to the Apollos on 24-hour recall. Watson was with Detroit last season and was picked up in the off-season in a trade after he had been drafted by Minnesota.Meanwhile, Apollo coach Ray Kinasewich was feeling pretty good about his new Houston squad.Kinasewich said, &lsquo;If we don&rsquo;t finish one or two with this team I&rsquo;m going to quit.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s pretty bold talk for Houston&rsquo;s second-year hockey coach, but it represents his evaluation of the Apollos.&ldquo;I am truly elated with the players the Canadiens have given us this year,&rdquo; Kinasewich said. &ldquo;I think that we have a great bunch of youngsters and that they&rsquo;ll prove it.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02251/3113458-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="632" height="669"><figcaption class="caption-body">NICK BEVERLY &hellip; Hot Blazer Rookie</figcaption></div>It&rsquo;s hard to argue with Kinasewich if their training record means anything. The young A polios finished the training season with an 8-1-1 record, losing only to the National Hockey League&rsquo;s St. Louis Blues, and tieing only once with the American Hockey League&rsquo;s Cleveland Barons.The 20-man roster will include goalies Ernie Wakely, 26, who was the number one goalie for the Cleveland Barons last season, Rocky Farr, 21, who was with the Junior &ldquo;A &ldquo;OHL last season, and Lyle Carter, 21.Defensemen will be Paul Curtis, 20, Murray Flegel, 19, Steve Hunt and Daniel Sharpe, 22, both from Peterborough, and Savard, 20.Centers will be Christian Bordeleau, 20, and Jude Drouin, 18, both of whom were with the Junior Canadiens&rsquo; OHA team last season Brian Lavender, 20, and Maurice St. Jacques, 19.Wingmen will be Ernie Hicke, brother of California&rsquo;s Billy Hicke, Dale Blomquist, 20, the leading scorer in training this season, Robin Burns, 21, Dick Sente?, John Vanderburg, 21, Gary Butler, 21, Elgin McCann, 20, Gilles Gratton, 20, and Watson.OKLAHOMA CITY: Russ Gillow, appeared to have grabbed the goaltending spot for the Oklahoma City Blazers and centreman Jim Lorentz, who scored 33 goals and counted 59 assists for Niagara Falls in the Ontario Hockey Association junior ranks last winter should provide plenty of power up front.Coach Murray Davison liked the work of Nick Beverly and Barry Wilkins, a pair of graduates from Oshawa Generals for defense duty. Clem Tremblay, a teammate of Lorentz notched 81 scoring points in 48 games and along with Westerner Bill Lesuk looked to be another rookie to make the club.FORT WORTH: Coach Fern Flaman was enthusiastic about his Wings as he headed into Fort Worth to open the season noting that, &ldquo;Gerry Abel, Jimmy Peters, Pete Mahovlich, Dave Rochefort, Jim Cardiff Warren Godfrey, Irv Spencer, Ron Anderson, Lou Marcon, Al Johnson Gary Marsh, Rick McCann, Bob Falkenberg and Duke Harris all have had previous pro experience to go along with top goalkeeper Roy Edwards. Back up goalie Don McLeod, Jim Neikamp, Hank Monteith and Sandy Snow are our only rookies. This should be a good club all the way.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03208/3113451-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="553" height="672"><figcaption class="caption-body">BARRY WILKINS &hellip; Impressed Davison</figcaption></div>TULSA: With Serge Aubry, a goalie from Sherbrooke senior club of last season, coach Johnny McLellan was going along with a strong rook e crop. Harry Shaw, &ldquo;Red&rdquo; Armstrong, Jim Davidson and Ray Dupont were the only pro veterans in his lineup before the opening of the campaign. Jim Dorey Gerry Meehan, Mike Byers, Barry Simpson, Andre Hinse, Gord Nelson, Dom Diberardino, Mike Cournoyer and Doug Longpre headed the rookie crop.DALLAS: Coach Bobby Kromm was looking toward Mike Chernoff, Paul Terbenche and Yves Cournoyer to head his returnees from the St. Louis Braves he handled last season. Either Bob Sneddon or Jack Norris, two pro experienced goaltenders, were to head to Dallas and there was a possibility that Doug Shelton, Roger Bellerive and Geoff Powis would be under Kromm&rsquo;s guidance again. Terbenche, Norris and Skelton were still with Chicago.Tom Reid and Ray McKay were a pair of rookie reaguards who showed up strong at camp and in the pre-season exhibition tests.MEMPHIS: Carl Wetzel, a seasoned American-born pro was set for the goalkeeping post with Johnny Muckler&rsquo;s South Stars and up front Andre Pronovost, Leo Thiffault, Dave Richardson and Bill Taylor have experience. Ted McCaskill, Ray Carpenter and Don Herriman topped the rookies.OMAHA: &ldquo;Jake&rdquo; Milford had experience in goal but was loaded with promising rookies like Bill Fairburn, Yuha Widing, Jack Me Creary, Terry Pembroke, Cal Purinton, Joe Johnson, Wayne Bell and Dennis Hextall but was looking toward the parent New York Rangers for experienced help before his first game.<h2>How They Stand</h2>(Standings on Wed. Oct. 18)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04157/3113444-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="635" height="322"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Oct. 11Houston 0 at Fort Worth 3Fri. Oct. 13Fort Wayne 6 at Memphis 0Sat. Oct. 14Dallas 0 at Fort Worth 4Omaha 1 at Houston 8Sun. Oct. 15Kansas City 2 at Oklahoma City 7Omaha 1 at Tulsa 3<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tues. Oct. 17Dallas at MemphisWed. Oct. 18 Omaha at Oklahoma CityKansas City at TulsaThurs. Oct. 19Dallas at MemphisSat. Oct. 21Tulsa at Oklahoma CityFort Worth at Houston &#9632;

f0020-01

Kinasewich Predicts Apollos Will Be Near Ton In CPHL Race

<div class="byline">By HARVEY POLLACK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01195/3113503-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="296" height="504"><figcaption class="caption-body">Art Chiupka</figcaption></div>CHARLOTTE, N.C. &ndash;The eradication of the Charlotte Checker didn&rsquo;t material! ze and, now coach Fred Creighton is relieved and much more optimistic about the coming Eastern Hockey League season.It appeared for a time that all four members of the Charlotte rearguard would be among the missing this year and there was an air of pessimism around the Charlotte camp. It looked as if Ralph Winfield, Randy Murray, Rick Foley and Jim Lane all would be absent when the team opened its drills at Fort Erie, Ont.Creighton was blessed with an abundance of forwards, but he realized that he needed some protection for his goalie. The blows came quickly. Winfield, a vet since 1963 with the Checkers, worked out with Vancouver and said even if he didn&rsquo;t make the team, he would enter business there. Murray was moved up in the Toronto organization.Then Foley went to the Toronto camp and Lane to the New York Rangers&rsquo; camp. Creighton didn&rsquo;t know if he would have one experienced defenseman back. When things were at their darkest, some light came through. First Foley and Lane returned to the club, fortunately or unfortunately depending how you look at it, neither of them making the grade. Lane came to camp with an injured knee but even that didn&rsquo;t bother Creighton.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02141/3113496-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="631" height="656"><figcaption class="caption-body">NORM DEFELICE &hellip; Hangs Up Skates</figcaption></div>Still two experienced defenders were not enough. So, Creighton made a deal with Knoxville to reacquire Ted Baylis, who started the season with the Checkers last year but then was traded to Knoxville. The Checkers will send a forward to Knoxville for Baylis.Now Creighton is happy. &ldquo;We now have three experienced defensemen, the same number we started with last season. &ldquo;Baylis will help us for he played well for us in the past and he has the potential to be one of the league&rsquo;s best", the skipper said.Two years ago Baylis posted 47 points from his defensive slot, posting 14 goals and 33 assists. Last year, he fell to four goals and 18 assists at Knoxville. Creighton is certain he will revert to his former style with the Cneckers who now loom as one of the strongest teams in the Southern Division.NASHVILLE: Although Marv Edwards and Ted McCaskill will be among the missing this season, the Flyers have their defense corps intact. Coach Lloyd Hinchberger will join Leo Olivier, Norm Ryder and Florent Pilote on the back line. George Standing is gone from the front line to Memphis, but Wayne Clairmont, Gil St. Jacques and Wally Sprange are available.LONG ISLAND: Butch Morris is a question mark, possibly heading for San Diego. The club will have a Western Canada tinge this year with many of the new candidates hailing from Edmonton, and other western sectors. The team is embarking on its ninth EHL season and coach Gene Achtymichuk looks for an upsurge in the team&rsquo;s status &hellip; Les Calder is counted on as a key performer.NEW HAVEN: Russ McClenaghan is expected to be one of the top scorers for the club this season. Coach Don Perry will head the defense corps. He might have played this season at Long Island but the chance to coach the Blades changed Perry&rsquo;s mind.JERSEY: Coach Gordie Stratton disappointed that goalie Norm DeFelice has decided to retire. Team has quite a few veterans returning and also received some additional youngsters from the Philadelphia Flyers. Club drilled at its rink here.CHARLOTTE: Checkers lost goalie Lynn Zimmerman to Rochester and forward Larry McKillop to Quebec. Zimmerman is the fourth goalie the Checkers have lost in three years but the club seems to come up with new ones. The team and 22 aspirants at the Fort Erie training camp with many promising juniors in the group.JOHNSTOWN Team trained at Niagara Falls under new pilot Dick Roberge, now 33 but set to be a playing skipper. Dennis Rathwell&rsquo;s back is still a question mark. New GM John Mitchell is optimistic about the Jets chances this year. He had three title teams here in his last stretch with the team.SYRACUSE: A 15-year-old boy won the contest to name the team the Blazers and earned two season tickets. The team trained at St. Thomas, Ont. Coach Harry Pidhirny expects to get help from the Boston Bruins. He looked over some youngsters last month at the Bruins&rsquo; training camp. His EHL veteran nucleus will include Richie Cusson of New Haven; Lorne O&rsquo;Donnell from Clinton and Wayne Caufield from Long Island.FLORIDA: Rockets trained at Belleville, Ont. where 23 candidates reported. Coach Bob Sabourin was delighted to find wingman Cum my Burton, one time Detroit player among the group. The Rockets tryed unsuccessfully to get Burton to play last year. Forwards Ron Willy, and Billy Glashan, defenseman Jim Lorette and goalie Harrison Gray all are back. Jackie LeClair, pilot at New Haven last year has been secured in a 3cornered deal that sent Art Chiupka to Long Island and Russ McClenaghan to New Haven.GREENSBORO: Ron Muir has signed for his eighth EHL season. The team trained at Niagara Falls where Ron Spong directed drills. Spong went to the training camp of Dallas to look at some prospects he hopes to get eventually from Chicago. Don DiBerardino may come back here is he doesn&rsquo;t stay with Tulsa. Richard Bullard is now president, succeeding Carson Bain who quit because of business duties.KNOXVILLE: Don Labelle has received permission from his employer to play with Knights. Ken Turlik drilled with Springfield. Club did its training here. Coach Pat Egan believes his team will take a little time to develop because of the many youngsters on the squad. Team will jell fast once the youngsters get confidence, says Egan. &#9632;

f0021-01

Foley, Lane Back To Bolster Checker Hones

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0021-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0399/3113555-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg"></div><h2>NORTHERN DIVISION</h2>Clinton CometsJersey DevilsJohnstown JetsLong Island DucksNew Haven BladesSyracuse Blazers<h2>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h2>Nashville FlyersGreensboro GeneralsCharlotte CheckersKnoxville KnightsFlorida RocketsSalem Rebels<h2>Hockey Races</h2>QUEBEC SENIOR LEAGUE(Standings on Mon. Oct. 16)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01215/3113548-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="789" height="241"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Oct. 13Nationals 3 at St. Hyacinthe 5Sun. Oct. 15Granby 3 at St Hyacinthe 2Victoriaville 6 at Drummondville 4Nationals 8 at Sherbrooke 3<h3>ONTARIO SENIOR LEAGUE</h3>(Standings on Tues. Oct. 17)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02151/3113541-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="787" height="383"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Oct. 6Toronto 6 at Kingston 2Sun. Oct. 8Oakville 3 at Belleville IMon. Oct. 9Toronto 1 at Guelph 0Tues Oct. 10Guelph 4 at Galt 3Belleville 3 at Kingston 4Wed Oct. 11Oakville 2 at Toronto 8Fri Oct. 13Orillia 2 at Guelph 4Woodstock 2 at Belleville 4Kingston 2 at Collingwood 3Sat. Oct 14Collingwood 1 at Galt 2Woodstock 2 at Kingston 5Sun. Oct. 15Toronto 1 at Oakville 3Galt 1 at Borne 2<h3>ONTARIO JUNIOR LEAGUE</h3>(Standings on Tues. Oct. 17)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03129/3113534-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="786" height="377"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Thurs. Oct. 5St. Catharines 3 at Peterborough 1Toronto 10 at Hamilton 4Fri. Oct. 6Ottawa 0 at Niagara Falls 9Sun. Oct. 8Hamilton 1 at St. Catharines 4Toronto 10 at Ottawa 5Kitchener 10 at Oshawa 1Tues. Oct. 10Ottawa 2 at London 1Thurs. Oct. 12Kitchener 1 at Hamilton 7Oshawa 2 at Peterborough 3St. Catharines 5 at Ottawa 1Fri. Oct. 13Toronto 4 at Niagara Falls 7Montreal 1 at Kitchener 4Sun. Oct. 15Hamilton 1 at Oshawa 4Niagara Falls 6 at Montreal 1Peterborough 4 at Ottawa 4Toronto 2 at St. Catharines 1London 0 at Kitchener 8<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tues. Oct. 17Oshawa at LondonThurs. Oct. 19Peterborough at HamiltonFri. Oct 20St Catharines at NiagaraFalls Ottawa at KitchenerMontreal at PeterboroughSat. Oct 21Ottawa at OshawaSun. Oct. 22Peterborough at MontrealNiagara Falls at St. CatharinesKitchener at TorontoHamilton at Ottawa &#9632;

f0021-03

Eastern Hockey League’s 1967-68 Schedule

<div class="byline">By BOB REED</div>TOLEDO, O. &mdash;Most of the International Hockey League clubs had their largest training camps in years in preparing for the 23rd season of play, opening October 20.The reason for this was the fact that many of last year&rsquo;s players were still in training camps of professional clubs and their return to the IHL was doubtful. It was though probable that a goodly percentage of the trainees would be back in time for the opening faceoffs but general managers and coaches were taking no chances, having invited in one of the largest crops of rookies in years to their training camps.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04106/3113586-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="286" height="483"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lionel Repka</figcaption></div>The Port Huron Flags were expected to have the largest camp in the league in attempting to get back in the playoffs which they missed last season. The Flags had 10 returning veterans, with another 20 to 25 rookies seeking berths, including five defensemen and 13 forwards. They had two new goaltenders signed, Ray Reeson from Woodstock, Ont. and Andre Lalonde from North Bay, Ont., to compete for a job with veterans Norm Jacques and Dwight Bearchall.The Flags lost two All-Star performers, defenseman Larry Mavety and right wing Frank St. Marseille Mavety is with Vancouver of the WHL. Billy LeCalne and Marty Reynolds were still in NHL training camps. The Flags have a working agreement with the California Seals and were hopeful of receiving some players from them.Dayton was another club that was planning a large training camp. Coach Warren Back and General Manager Lefty McFadden invited over 30 players to report, including four rookie goalies to try for the job vacated by Pat Rupp, who joined the U.S. Olympic team.Columbus had 30 men on its training camp list. The Checkers had the heaviest exhibition schedule of any club, playing five games before the opening, one with Nashville of the Eastern League and two each with Dayton and Muskegon of the IHL.At Fort Wayne, Coach Ken Ullyot had his usual small training camp, having invited only 10 rookies to report. Out of these he needed to find three, possibly four defensemen. Lionel Repka was the only blue liner from last year certain to return. Terry Pembroke, Cal Purinton, Randy Legge and Paul Shmyr were still in other camps. Ullyot, however, expected to have the main strenth in his front lines-Len Thomson, Johnny Goodwin, Merv Dubchak and Norm Waslawski back.Toledo&rsquo;s Turner Cup champions were being bolstered by several rookies from their new major league affiliate the Los Angeles Kings, with whom they have a working agreement.Muskegon was placing great hopes in Carl Brewer, surprise new Mohawk and All-Star National League defenseman, who was signed as a player and assistant to Coach Moose Lallo.Commissioner Andy Mulligan announced the appointment of Jean Zicat as a referee for the 1967-68 season.Zicat, a native of Quebec City, will serve as a fulltime referee with the league replacing Dave Newell, who accepted a post as an official with the National Hockey League this year. Zicat has officiated for the past seven years in the Quebec area and is highly regarded by hockey experts.Zicat joins eleven other referees in the league for the new season. Returning this year are Fred Blackburn, Sam Sisco, &ldquo;Skeets&rdquo; Harrison and Medo Martinello of Windsor, Ontario, &mdash; Bill Doyle, Pete Glaab and Norm Foster of Sarnia, Ontario, George Harrison of Cooksville, Ontario; Bill Bell of Chicago, &mdash; Bill Purcell of Toledo and Jim Semerad of Omaha.Among the new rules changes in the IHL this season will be the elimination of &ldquo;sudden-death&rdquo; overtime during the regular season. It will be a part of the playoffs. Also changed for the new season will be the awarding of the James Norris Memorial Trophy. This year it will go to the team whose goalies have the lowest combined &lsquo;goals-against&rdquo; average. Previously the trophy was awarded to the goalie selected to the first All-Star team and not on an average basis. &#9632;

f0022-04

Expansion Losses Force Teams To Hold Big Training Camps

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0023-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01193/3113617-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg"></div>SOLUTION IN OCTOBER 28 ISSUE<h2>ACROSS</h2>1&mdash;One of the California Seals.4&mdash;Initials of an NHL coach.6&mdash;The NHL should have two interesting ones this season.9&mdash;Former Ranger nicknamed &ldquo;Bones".10&mdash;3 down was born in this month, (abbr.)11&mdash;Skating requisite.13&mdash;&hellip;&hellip;.. Francisco.14&mdash;Initials of Anderson of Springfield.15&mdash;22nd and 15th letters of the alphabet.16&mdash;1962-63 Stanley Cup Champs, (abbr.)17&mdash;Scored 83 points with Omaha last season.20&mdash;Initials of Taylor a former Leaf.21&mdash;Initials of Erickson of California.22&mdash;14th and 9th letters of the alphabet.23&mdash;This former Bruin is now with the Flyers.28&mdash;Initials of one of the Rangers.29&mdash;Won WHL rookie award in 1965-66.<h2>DOWN</h2>1&mdash;Pictured player.2&mdash;One of the Minnesota North Stars.3&mdash;First name of one of the Hawks.4&mdash;This St. Louis forward scored 10 Goals for Boston last season.5&mdash;Same as 21 across.7&mdash;Initials of Guidolin a former Ranger.8&mdash;Plays goal for St. Louis.12&mdash;Recently sent to Buffalo by L.A.14&mdash;One of the Habs answers to this.15&mdash;A Minnesota defenseman18&mdash;Grant of Montreal answers to this.19&mdash;City in Nevada.24&mdash;Initials of Kachur of Providence.25&mdash;Initials of Reibel an ex Red Wing.26&mdash;Initials of Minnesota&rsquo;s No. 1 draft choice.27&mdash;25th and 1st letters of the alphabet.<h2>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERS</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3>1&mdash;SELBY.5&mdash;K.S.7&mdash;ALVIN.9&mdash;ERR.11&mdash;ICE.12&mdash;MORTSON.13&mdash;ERA.15&mdash;TOR.16&mdash;W.B.18&mdash;SAM.19&mdash;E.F.20&mdash;K.U.23&mdash;IMLACH27&mdash;C.U.28&mdash;ALLAN CUP.30&mdash;J.N.31&mdash;L.T.32&mdash;BEP.<h3>DOWN</h3>1&mdash;STEMKOWSKI.2&mdash;LARRY.3&mdash;B.L.4&mdash;YVES6&mdash;STEWART.8&mdash;NINETEEN.10&mdash;R.O.14&mdash;R.O.17&mdash;BAUMAN.21&mdash;WALL.22&mdash;RUPP.24&mdash;L.L.25&mdash;CAT.26&mdash;H.N.27&mdash;CUE.29&mdash;C.B. &#9632;

f0023-01

Hotkey Crossword

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div>(As Seen In The Toronto Star)TORONTO. Ont.-Following the biggest season in its history, the Ontario Hockey Association Junior A series enters a new era with the 1967-68 schedule.Now the league has expanded to 10 teams with the addition of Ottawa 67ers. The new agreement between the National League and the amateurs ends any pro sponsorship, but all team will operate independently.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03120/3113648-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="279" height="486"><figcaption class="caption-body">Walt Tkaczuk</figcaption></div>It will be another bitterly competitive league. Mariboros, Kitchener Rangers, Hamilton Red Wings and St. Catharines Black Hawks should have a merry wrangle for the top four spots. Montreal Junior Canadiens, London Nationals, Oshawa Generals, Peterborough Petes and Niagara Fal s Flyers lack the experience depth of these four while Ottawa is all rookie. Here&rsquo;s how they stack up.<h2>Kitchener Rangers</h2>Centre Walt Tkaczuk, the league&rsquo;s finest allround player, by himself is the equal of some teams. Add about 10 solid players and Rangers are favored.Mike Robitaille, John Barber and Jimmy Jones plus rookies Ab DeMarco and Al Calvert form a sound defence. Jim Krulicki, Don Luce, Jack Egers, Cam Crosby and Dan Seguin plus some fine rookies from a strong B team give forward depth. Goaltending is the only question. George Hainsworth carries a famous name; in pre-season play, he&rsquo;s been inconsistent.<h2>Toronto Marlboros</h2>Marlies won the Memorial Cup last spring with eight rookies. Presumably, all should be better this year. They&rsquo;ll have to be as five key players graduated. Balance is again a strong point. Although the forwards are small, their speed and slick passing bridges the muscle gap.Terry Caffery, Tom Martin, Richie Bayes, Doug Acomb, Frank Hamill, John Wright and Gord Davies are potential 20-goal scorers. Brad Park and Fred Barret anchor a tough defence with rookies Rick Jordan, Ivan Labre and Steve Dmytruk. Cam Newton and Gary Edwards are sound goalies.<h2>St. Catharines Black Hawks</h2>Peanuts O&rsquo;Flaherty&rsquo;s great enthusiasm boosted the balanced Hawks into the first division last season. This year, Hawks rate high because of the league&rsquo;s best goalie, Peter McDuffe, and a sound defence of Barry Salavarra, Jerry Korab, Dennis Gibbons and Ron Anderson.Returning forwards John Fisher, Maurice L&rsquo;abbe, Pete Mara, Vic Teal and Glen Sherwood are a sound nucleus. Rookies Dennis Giannini, Don O&rsquo;Donoghue, Dale Powers and Bob Chammel were all good Bs.<h2>Hamilton Red Wings</h2>Red Wings are deepest in experienced talent, losing only four players from the league finalists. Despite their drubbing by Marlies in the opener, Wings are a contender.Goalie Gerry Gray and Paul Hoganson, defencemen Rick Smith, Dennis Gibbons, Lee Carpenter and Randy Manery, towards Dan Lawson, Sandy Snow, Ronald Leclerc, Ron Climie, Jim Adair and Ed Hatoum give a solid base. Rookies Gary Coalter, Tom Trevelyan and Gal Russell round out the brigade.<h2>Montreal Canadiens</h2>Junior Canadiens have only six returnees, but, as always, Quebec has produced enough talent for a contender. Habs added four players from the Thetford team which Marlies beat in the eastern finals last year.Defence is solid with Norm Descoteaux, Jim Bannantyne, Pierre Bouchard and rookie Francois Lacombe. Bernard Gagnon, Ralph Stewart and Paul Lessard are vet forwards. Rejean Houle, Marc Tardif and Gil Perreault from Thetford and an Indian lad, Arthur Quoquochi from Dolbeau are strong rookies. Frosh goalies are Bruce 1&rdquo; Mullett and Ted Tucker.<h2>Oshawa Generals</h2>Generals&rsquo; manager Matt Leyden describes his club as big, young and eager. Oshawa will ice perhaps the league&rsquo;s best rookie crop, but the eight returnees are far from illustrious.Goalie Dune Wilson, defencemen Jim Whittaker and John Clayton, forwards Brian Morenz, Bob Walton, Ron Dussiaume, Joe O&rsquo;Donnell, Garry Dionne and Joe Robertson are back. Defenceman Bob Stewart, from Prince Edward Island, and centre Dale Tallon, from Rouyn, are top freshmen.<h2>London Nationals</h2>Premature professionalization of Gary Unger and Jim Dorey cost Nationals two superb players. Unger, shelved with knee troubles, may be back when healthy. Nats aren&rsquo;t counting on it. Instead, they&rsquo;re rebuilding.Sound in goal (Ron Marlow, Ted Ouimet). Glen Shirton, Guy Allen and Bob Pate anchor the defence but Nats are excited about rookies Rick Falk and Don Culbert. Vet forwards are Walt McKechnie, Brian Murphy, Mat Westgate, &lsquo;Moe St. Jacques and Gary Boughner. Rookie Darryl Sittier is highly regarded.<h2>Niagara Falls Flyers</h2>In 66-67, Flyers scored plenty, but were hurt by a weak defence. Hap Emms is back at the controls now and Flyers will revert to tight checking, a necessity because the big shooters have moved on.Emms has the basis of a good defence with Rick Ley, Rick Thompson and Mike Keeler. Returning forwards are Ross Webley, Steve Atkinson, Tom Webster and Gary Swain. Niagara has problems in goal where Phil Myre is inconsistent.<h2>Peterborough Petes</h2>With only six experienced, mediocre Junior A players, Petes are in for a long season. Goalie Mike Lovett, defencemen Dick Redmond and George Graham, forwards Trevor Conn, Gord Tucker and Bob Black form the nucleus.Top rookies are defencemen Henri Lehvonen, Ken Johnson and Ron Stakos, forwards Terry Blewett and Rick McLeish. Any finish higher-, than sixth would be a miracle.<h2>Ottawa Giers</h2>The new entry, under coach Bill Long will move into the plush, new Ottawa rink around Christmas with a rookie-rich team. Until then, home games are in Hull.Long feels he has sound goaltending in Pat Donnelly and Gary Doyle. Jim Blain is the lone experienced defenceman, but he was the fifth wheel with Marlies. Jim Nahrgang from New Hamburg is a rookie of great promise. Top forwards are Jean Potvin, Pete Laframboise and Wes Peters. There appears to be no way the 67ers can escape the basement. &#9632;

f0023-03

‘New Look’ Circuit Aiming For Another Banner Season

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02147/3113679-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Red Wings will again look to their &lsquo;Big Three&rsquo;, GORDIE HOWE, left, NORM ULLMAN, and ALEX DELVECCHIO, right, this season. It will be their task to get Detroit back into the playoffs.</figcaption></div>DETROIT, Mich. &ndash;Alex Delvecchio&rsquo;s nickname is &ldquo;Fats.&rdquo;In the publicity book it says Delvecchio is called &ldquo;Fats&rdquo; ^because he has full cheeks.&rdquo; When Delvecchio reported for the Red Wing training camp last month it looked like he was full a few other places, too. Like around the waist.Other people thought so, too. Like general manager-coach Sid Abel.Abel didn&rsquo;t rant or rave or threaten fines. He&rsquo;s not that kind. What he did was put Delvecchio on shifts with the minor leaguers.That hurt Delvecchio, the Wings&rsquo; captain.It hurt more when, from the first day of camp, Abel moved Delvecchio&rsquo;s longtime linemate, Gordie Howe, to Delvecchio&rsquo;s longtime, position, center. Delvecchio? Back on the fourth line.Publicly Abel said it wasn&rsquo;t fair to young players, trying to make the team, to be held back because Alex wasn&rsquo;t skating up to his potential. He noted that many players taught in summer hockey schools and already were flying.He also noted he thought Alex would &ldquo;be there&rdquo; when the season was ready to start.Delvecchio was.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no doubt the combination shook him up,&rdquo; Abel said. &ldquo;He took off about 12 pounds or more and was just about our best player in the last couple of exhibitions before we opened the season.There was a lot of head-shaking over Delvecchio&rsquo;s excess suet going into camp since, despite finishing 10th in the scoring race last season, he dropped from a career high 31 goals the previous season to 17, from 69 total points to 55.And the Red Wings fell from fourth to fifth.But he worked himself into shape for a 17th NHL season, all with the Wings and he regained his old spot on the top line with Howe returning to right wing and rookie Gary Jarrett on the left side.The trio finished the exhibition season as Detroit&rsquo;s top scorers, Howe netting eight points and Delvecchio and Jarrett seven each on three goals and four assists in seven games. &#9632;

f0024-02

‘FATS’ AIN’T FAT, NO MORE!

DETROIT, Mich. -Five rookies were on the 18-man, roster that opened the 1967-68 hockey season for the Detroit Red Wings.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01203/3113710-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="277" height="488"><figcaption class="caption-body">George Gardner</figcaption></div>The Red Wings, starting the campaign in Boston, went with a lineup that includes defensemen Jim Watson and Bart Crashley; left winger Gary Jarrett; right winger Doug Roberts; and reserve goaltender George Gardner.The five rookies all played in the Detroit organization last season and four of them-all but Watson&mdash;saw limited service with the Wings.Roberts, 24, a Detroiter who was rookie-of-the-year in the Central League two seasons ago, played 13 games with Detroit at the tailend of 1966-67 and scored three goals. He is being carried as the Wings&rsquo; spare forward and probably will see service on all three lines.Jarrett, 25, has earned the left wing spot on the Wings&rsquo; top line with center Alex Delvecchio and right winger Gordie Howe. Jarrett finished second in preseason scoring for Detroit and last season topped Pittsburgh scorers in the American Hockey League with 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points.Crashley, 21, and Watson, 24, are opposite types on defense. Crashley, Detroit&rsquo;s top amateur one year ago is a play maker who counts on finesse to do the job, while Watson, a four-season pro, is a hard-hitter who took 158 minutes in penalties last season at San Diego in the Western League.Gardner, 25, played 11 games with the Wings last season as stand-in for Crozier. He was an AHL All-Star two seasons ago while playing at Pittsburgh. &#9632;

f0024-01

Five New Red Wings Make Bow

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.-For the third straight season, the Oklahoma City Blazers have broken their season ticket sales and almost 1,500 tickets were put in the mail.The Blazers, who have won two consecutive Central Hockey League championships in their first two seasons here, have led the league in attendance both seasons.This summer the Blazer staff along with its booster organization, &ldquo;The Hockey Hounds&rdquo; have compiled a grand total of 1,489 season tickets, compared with 1,374 last season. In 1965-66, the Blazers&rsquo; first year here, the mark was only 728.&ldquo;The Hockey Hounds (a 10-man group) have certainly worked hard this summer and sold nearly 1,250 of the season tickets themselves,&rdquo; said Bill Levins, Blazer general manager. &#9632;

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October 21, 1967

Arbour Named Blues’ Captain

Kings Plan To Telecast 20 Contests

Ace Goalie Hall Lost For Two Weeks

Rookie Sur arises Hawks-Grabs Berth