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.

April 6, 1968

The Hockey News April 6, 1968

<div class="byline">By Ken Mc Kenzie</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02761/3079226-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="450" height="455"></div>&bull; THE NATIONAL Hockey League race wound up amid mixed feelings of joy and disappointment. There was jubilation in Boston with the Bruins catching their first playoff berth in 10 years. New Yorkers were ectstatic at the second-place finish of their Rangers&mdash;the highest a Blue shirt team has scaled since 1958-58. Now if the Blues could win the Stanley Cup things would be really jumping around Gotham City. The last time a New York team sipped the sweet wine of victory from the old mug was back in 1939-40 nearly 20 years ago. Toronto&rsquo;s surprise elimination from the playoffs after winning the cup is certain to ignite brisk off-season player movements among the Leafs. Manager-coach Punch Imlach vows he&rsquo;ll make big changes in his team. Imlach has listed five players as &lsquo;untouchables&rsquo;. The rest are trade bait says Punch. Two newcomers who caught the eye of the Leafs&rsquo; chief were Mike Pelyk, the young defense star, and forward Mike Byers. They figure prominently in Leafs&rsquo; future plans &rsquo;.. In the NHL&rsquo;s expansion division, the bitter prospect of not catching a playoff spot in their first year hung heavily over Pittsburgh and Oakland. General Manager Jack Riley said he doesn&rsquo;t intend to stand still in the off-season. He knows what the Penguins need and doesn&rsquo;t think the team is that far away from becoming a contender. Riley believes coach Red Sullivan did a good job and deserves to be rehired. The Penguins lacked bench strength. Riley and Sullivan hope to rectify the situation.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03663/3079219-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="267" height="434"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike Pelyk</figcaption></div>&bull; A TRULY amazing feat of predicting was turned in by author Hugh Hood in the Oct. 21 issue of the Toronto Star when he forecast that the Expansion Division teams in the NHL would win 40 games from the Established clubs this season &hellip; Hood hit it right on the nose but says he is &rsquo;&rsquo;now retiring&rdquo; his &ldquo;crystal ball&rdquo; because &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll never come that close again"&hellip; In publishing his prediction last October to his then astounded readers. Hood explained that &ldquo;hockey doesn&rsquo;t follow form&rdquo; as closely as other sports and that &ldquo;a hockey team can rise to extraordinary heights on a given night.&rdquo; &hellip; Hood chalked up early-season losses on the part of the Eastern Division clubs to &ldquo;over-confidence". Niagara Falls Flyers seem to be making a determined bid to win their second Memorial Cup in four years &hellip; The Canadian junior champion Flyers of &rsquo;65 under Hap Emms and Bill Long were led by current NHL stars Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers), Gilles Marotte (Chicago Black Hawks), Derek Sanderson (Boston Bruins), and Bill Goldsworthy (Minnesota North Stars) &hellip; Niagara, &rsquo;68 edition, grabbed a 2-1 lead over Montreal&rsquo;s Junior Canadiens in the best-of-seven semi-final series with a 5-2 upset win on Montreal ice Sunday &hellip; The Niagara club is a Boston farm team &hellip; Dickie Duff in the March issue of Hockey World Magazine sticks his nose up at the curved stick or banana blade, as it is sometimes called &hellip; &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t control the puck with it,&rdquo; claims Duff&hellip; &ldquo;Mikita and Hull? They&rsquo;re blasters!&rdquo; adds the Canadiens&rsquo; left winger.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04567/3079212-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="259" height="426"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Duff</figcaption></div>&bull; GLENN HALL of St. Louis likes everything about big league hockey except the actual games, so he says. But Gump Worsley doesn&rsquo;t agree with the veteran netminder s outlook.&ldquo;If he didn&rsquo;t like playing goal, he couldn&rsquo;t do it as well as he does,&rdquo; said the Gumper &hellip; Philadelphia Flyers are pleased that the city consented to allow them back in the Spectrum for the playoffs. The Flyers were shut out of their home since Feb. 17 because wind tore a section of the roof off the rink and when it was repaired, a political hassle : kept it closed that much longer&hellip; The Red Wings have a new &rsquo;HUM&rsquo; : line and they&rsquo;re beaming about the : unit&rsquo;s prospects for next year. The line includes Gordie Howe, Gary Unger and Frank Mahovlich &hellip; There&rsquo;s an outside chance a team of NHL barnstormers will head for Europe next month and a series of games &hellip; The hockey players, &lsquo;lawyer&rsquo; Alan Eagleson is doing the spade work for the project &hellip; Canadiens recently chalked a personal milestone for their coach Toe Blake. It was victory No. 500 for the Habs under Blake&rsquo;s direction &hellip; Chicago coach Billy Reay refuses to become involved in a controversy over the recent Boston-Chicago trade that took Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield to the Bruins in return for Gilles Marotte, Pit Martin and Jack Norris. Says Reay, &ldquo;1 don&rsquo;t evaluate a trade on one season. Marotte and Martin have performed well for us,&rdquo; said Reay, who has been asked a 10(1 hundred times if the big deal hurt his team&rsquo;s chances this year. Besides Marotte has developed into a solid fan favorite with the Windy City partisans &hellip; And finally, congratulations to Lefty McFadden and his Dayton Gems of the International League. They went over the 400,000 attendance mark for the second straight year in the thriving IHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05453/3079205-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg" title="f0004-05" width="238" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gilles Marotte</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01545/3080397-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Vezina Trophy Winner Lorne Worsley Sprawls On Ice</figcaption></div><h2>Mikita Grabs 4th Scoring Title In 5 Years</h2>MONTREA, Que.Winning the National Hockey League scoring championship is becoming &lsquo;old hat&rsquo; to Chicago&rsquo;s Stan Mikita.The brilliant center of the Black Hawks pocketed $1,250 as NHL point king this season marking the fourth time in the past five seasons he has had his name imprinted on the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion.Mikita had the distinction of ending up as top man in the point derby without leading either the first or second half scoring race although he wasn&rsquo;t far off the pace in either instance. Bobby Hull won the first-half $500 that goes to the half-way leader. Jean Ratelle of Rangers took it in the second 37 games.Mikita, however, won the big prize, the $1,000 as over-all leader. In addition he got $250 for finishing as runner-up to Hull in the first half of the season. Gordie Howe won the $250 in the second part of the schedule.Mikita placed first with a total of 87 points to beat out Phil Esposito of the Bruins, who had 84. The ex-Hawk pivot still collected $500 as over-all runner-up to Mikita.It seems winning the Vezina Trophy goes hand in hand with Montreal goalkeepers. Over the 42-year span of the NHL, Canadiens&rsquo; netminders have finished in first place 18 times. Lorne Worsley and Rogatien Vachon became the 18th holders of the Vezina for the Canadiens this season when they took the over-all goaling award. However, as in the case of Mikita, they failed to pick up money for leading at the halfway point in the schedule.The honor fell to Bernie Parent and Doug Favell, the two &lsquo;whiz kids&rsquo; of the Philadelphia Flyers in the first half and steady Eddie Giacomin and Don Simmons of the Rangers turned the trick in the second half. The take was $250 each time. Worsley and Vachon still walked off with the big booty &mdash; $1,000 as over-all winners.Worsley had the best personal goals-against average of the 30-odd NHL netminders. He posted a 1.98 mark. Giacomin led in shutouts for the second year with eight. Toronto&rsquo;s goaling duo of Johnny Bower and Bruce Gamble slipped into second spot on the closing weekend behind the Canadiens&rsquo; team to grab the $500 runner-up prize.In other wind-up developments, Mikita scored his 40th goal allowing him to move alongside Hull, who had 44, as the only 40-goal shooters this season. Andy Bathgate of the Pittsburgh Penguins led the expansion scorers with 59 points &mdash; 18th in the final scoring list. Bill &lsquo;Cowboy&rsquo; Flett of Los Angeles Kings paced all rookies in goals with 20 while Derek Sanderson of Boston had the best points total for a freshman performer. Sanderson had 49, three more than Flett.<h2>Stanley Cup Bonus Money Hits $567,000</h2>The National Hockey League&rsquo;s expansion teams are rapidly approaching the moment of reckoning for the Stanley Cup.They&rsquo;ve waited eight long months for the opportunity to be matched against the winner of the established division for the right to prove they&rsquo;re undisputed champions of world professional hockey.Admittedly, the NHL&rsquo;s first inter-divisional &lsquo;World Series&rsquo; of hockey is still a month in the offing when the winner of the Eastern Division meets head on with the winner of the Western section. But the new teams can hardly wait, for their feeling is any team has a chance in a short series and a new team could easily dominate an old team in a seven-game series.At any rate, the expansion teams are rubbing their palms at the thought of an East-West &lsquo;showdown&rsquo; and the fact the NHL has set up a lucrative $567,000 playoff pool is certain to enhance their efforts to emerge as Stanley Cup champions.It&rsquo;s a new era for the NHL after 42 years of pretty well following a patterned playoff format. For the new teams it&rsquo;s a challenge they eagerly want to take up and besides, you can&rsquo;t beat the money. &#9632;

Cover-01

Canadians’ Goaling Team Wins Vezina Trophy

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01782/3079395-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chicago Black Hawks&rsquo; star center STAN MIKITA, left, receives annual HOCKEY NEWS award from publisher KEN McKENZIE as the player of the year in the NHL. Mikita, who swept all the honors in the NHL last season, has won the award twice in the last three years.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02683/3079388-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="1225" height="2491"></div> &#9632;

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Hockey News Award Captured By Mikita

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01773/3079671-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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National Hockey League Summaries

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01743/3079070-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">GORDIE HOWE &hellip;Old No. 9 Still Rolling Along</figcaption></div>DETROIT. Mich. -Aging like the finest wine, Gordie Howe wound up his best goal-scoring season in 11 years with 39 goals.The Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; superstar right wing thus easily swept most of the club&rsquo;s individual trophies, winning the Bruce A. Norris total points award for the 15th time in 22 seasons, the James Norris goals trophy for the 15th time and the Hockey Writers&rsquo; most valuable player award for the 13th time.Howe also figured to be named to the NHL All-Star team by the coaches and finished in the top five of league scoring for the 19th straight year, a fantastic achievement unequalled in other major professional sport.&ldquo;It was a good year but a disappointing year&rsquo;&rsquo;, said Howe who reached his 40th birthday the final night of the regular schedule. &ldquo;I had a good year personally but the team didn&rsquo;t make the playoffs and that&rsquo;s the most important thing.&rdquo;Oddly enough, when the Wings signed Howe, to a two-year contract last fall, general manager Sid Abel said he was doing it so that if Howe didn&rsquo;t have a Howe-like year there wouldn&rsquo;t be all sorts of stories saying he was washed up.Instead, Howe had one of his greatest years. He wound it up with borrowed sticks, though, putting on a fast finish with 20-year-old rookie Gary Unger as his center and using Ron Ellis and Paul Henderson-model sticks.Howe was dissatisfied with his own lumber because the slightly-hooked blade wasn&rsquo;t strong enough so he got two sticks from Ellis, then when he broke them, used some of Henderson&rsquo;s.&ldquo;I got seven goals out of one of Ellis&rsquo; sticks,&rdquo; Howe said.Howe gave both the new and old divisions equal treatment &mdash; he scored an even 20 goals against the new Western Division teams, five against Los Angeles, and 19 against the East.And in 10 games with Unger as his center, Howe scored nine goals.Frank Mahovlich thrived on the change of scene as much as Unger. The Big M slapped home his 300th NHL goal after changing sides and became the Uth player in league history to reach that plateau.Not so fortunate was Frank&rsquo;s brother, Peter, who sat out the final seven games of the season with twisted knee ligaments. A specialist at the University of Michigan Hospital examined the knee and said Peter wouldn&rsquo;t need surgery but he put it in a cast and sent him home for the balance of the season.A visitor to the Wing-Bruin game March 24 was defenseman Carl Brewer &hellip; but Brewer wouldn&rsquo;t comment on what he intends to do, other than finish out the season with the Muskegon Mohawks of the International League. Brewer and Abel have a date to talk though after the EHL playoffs and a Florida vacation for the Brewers.<h2>Ratelle Leads NHL&rsquo;s Second-Half Scorers</h2>MONTREAL, Que.Stan Mikita of the Black Hawks emerged as the over-all scoring leader in the NHL race this season but second-half point honors went to Jean Ratelle of the Rangers.Ratelle finished on top in the second-half with 46 points, the same number accumulated by Detroit&rsquo;s great Gordie Howe, but Ratelle got the nod because of his superior goal average. Ratelle had 22 goals, Howe 21. For leading the way, Ratelle pocketed $500 with Howe getting the $250 as runner-up.Here&rsquo;s how the top six scorers finished the second half:<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02692/3079063-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="588" height="245"></div> &#9632;

f0002-01

Aging Gordie Howe Winds Up Fantastic 39-Goal Year

<div class="byline">BY BOB HARRIS</div>MONTREAL, Que. -The emergence of the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins as powers in National Hockey League race this season was reflected in the 21st annual HOCKEY NEWS All-Star teams.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01748/3079143-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg" title="f0003-01" width="272" height="441"><figcaption class="caption-body">Derek Sanderson</figcaption></div>The fan selectors chose four members of the Rangers and three Boston Bruins on the two teams in a public tribute to the resurgence of the once &ldquo;weak sisters&rdquo; of the NHL.In addition the fans liked Derek Sanderson of Boston as the rookie of the year to enhance the Bruins&rsquo; position in the HOCKEYNEWS yearly poll.Voting results showed two Chicago players &mdash; Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull &mdash; back on the first team with Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New York each gaining one position. The Rangers dominated the second team, led by goalie Ed Giacomin, as they collected three places. Boston got two and Detroit one in the person of the indomitable Gordie Howe.Mikita was selected as the most valuable player for the second straight year in the fans&rsquo; poll to complete the voting.There were four new faces on the first HOCKEY NEWS All-Star team with Lorne Worsley of Canadiens in goal, Bobby Orr of the Bruins and Tim Horton of the Leafs on defense. They formed the second-team combination last season. Rod Gilbert of the Rangers was the other as right wing All-Star choice over Howe.The second team was all New York and Boston with the exception of Howe at right wing. Giacomin received the goaling nod with Jim Neilson of New York and Boston&rsquo;s Ted Green on defense. Jean Ratelle, also of New York, was picked at center with Howe and Boston&rsquo;s Johnny Bucyk at left wing.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02624/3079136-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="567" height="560"><figcaption class="caption-body">STAN MIKITA Chicago &hellip; Center</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03419/3079129-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="537" height="533"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY HULL Chicago &hellip; L. Wing</figcaption></div>Worsley, Gilbert, Neilson, Green, Ratelle and Bucyk were all newcomers to the All-Star teams. Orr and Horton moved up to the first team with Mikita and Hull repeaters. Giacomin was first-team goalie last year and Howe was first-team right wing.Missing from the All-Star selections this year were such NHL luminaries as Norm Ullman, Harry Howell, Pierre Pilote, Ken Wharram and Frank Mahovlich.Bobby Hull, who finished the 1967-68 NHL season on the side lines with an injury, received the most number of votes in the HOCKEY NEWS poll. Hull picked up 19,870, 479 more than he received last year when he set a high for votes with 19,391. Mikita was right behind Hull with 18,748 votes. Orr had 16,531 and Worsley 12,326.Most first-team positions were conclusive with the exception of right wing where Gilbert polled 16,581 votes to edge out Howe, the perennial All-Star, who had 16,403. Green also shaded Pilote by 9,176 to 9,146 in the second-team voting for a defense berth.There was little opposition to Sanderson as top rookie and Mikita as MVP.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04247/3079122-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="570" height="544"><figcaption class="caption-body">LORNE WORSLEY Montreal &hellip; Goal</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-05145/3079115-1-eng-US/f0003-052.jpg" title="f0003-05" width="477" height="561"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY ORR Boston &hellip; Defense</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-06100/3079108-1-eng-US/f0003-062.jpg" title="f0003-06" width="527" height="556"><figcaption class="caption-body">TIM HORTON Toronto &hellip; Defense</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-0767/3079101-1-eng-US/f0003-072.jpg" title="f0003-07" width="560" height="552"><figcaption class="caption-body">ROD GILBERT New York &hellip; R. Wing</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0003-01

Rangers, Bruins Dominate Teams; Mikita MVP, Sanderson Top Rookie

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01807/3079174-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg"></div><h2>Maritimes Becoming Memorial Cup Threat</h2>Hockey News Editor:I have been reading and enjoying your publication for some years now, and I congratulate you and your reporters on your excellent hockey coverage.But there is one area in which I believe your reporting could be improved, and that is on the Atlantic Canadian hockey scene.Although this season sees only one senior calibre hockey league operating (in Newfoundland), there has been a great interest in Junior &ldquo;A&rdquo; hockey in the area. Crowds of up to 5,000 have not been uncommon for a great number of games this season.The three top Junior &lsquo;A&rsquo; clubs in the Maritimes, the Halifax Junior Canadiens, the Moncton Alpine Seals and the Fredericton Red Wings have the strength and power to provide competition for almost any other Junior &lsquo;A&rsquo; club in the nation.Halifax, which is purely OHA Junior material, has competed this season against most OHA clubs and has compiled a tremendous record against them. One of the top OHA coaches has been quoted as saying that if this club were given a chance to play regularly in the OHA, second or third place could possibly be theirs. Halifax is considering joining the OHA in the not too distant future.Moncton and Fredericton, although perhaps not quite as strong as Halifax, can handle themselves against the best of them. An example is when Moncton upset London Nationals of the OHA Junior circuit 6-0 earlier this year in their only meeting with an OHA team.To sum up the Maritime Junior &ldquo;A&rdquo; hockey scene, one may conclude that the Maritime clubs are not to be taken lightly by any team, and that Junior &lsquo;A&rsquo; hockey fans elsewhere in the country can be prepared for a tough battle from the Atlantic Provinces from now on in competition for the Memorial Cup.BOB PRICE Moncton,. N B.Eddie Joyal Should Be Considered For HartHockey News Editor:I would like to express my opinion on Ed Joyal of the Los Angeles Kings. In the I second half of the Western Division schedule, Joyal has kept the Kings in the thick of the race for first place. I think Joyal should get serious consideration for the Hart Trophy.WARD L. CHAPIN. Longueuil. Que. &#9632;

f0004-01

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">BY GIL SMITH</div>MONTREAL, Que. -A new season starts with the playoffs, they say and one man who wants to believe it is Canadiens&rsquo; Henri Richard.Having passed through the worst single campaign of his 13-year career in the NHL, Henri only hopes that the cup rounds will erase the memory of it.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s for sure that I&rsquo;ll be trying my best in these playoffs&rsquo; he says. &ldquo;I want to forget about the season, and a good playoff will help. I was being used quite often during the last few weeks of the season, so I&rsquo;m in good shape. My knees feel good, too.&rsquo;&rsquo;It was knee injuries that accounted for much of Henri&rsquo;s troubles during the past year. He was side lined four times as a result of those injuries, and when he was ready to come back, Habs couldn&rsquo;t find room for him. That led to his famous walk-out, and you can&rsquo;t help wondering if things will ever be quite the same again between Richard and the Canadiens.An outstanding playoff would do a lot for Henri&rsquo;s career, right now. Should he come up with a super effort, Habs would have to think carefully about protecting him in next June&rsquo;s draft. If he fizzles out in the playoffs, however, he&rsquo;ll probably be expendable, for teams can only protect something like fourteen players next June, and they&rsquo;ll probably lean toward their youth. The heir apparent to Henri&rsquo;s spot is Jacques Lemaire, who had an outstanding rookie year. He&rsquo;s 22 years old, which is ten years younger than Richard.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01751/3079257-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="562" height="1213"><figcaption class="caption-body">HENRI RICHARD &hellip; Not Looking Back</figcaption></div>How good a playoff performer is the Pocket Rocket? Statistically, pretty fair. In 12 playoff years, &mdash; he missed 196162 through injury, &mdash; he&rsquo;s been among the top ten scorers, six times. He was scoring leader once, in 1959-60, when he counted three goals and nine assists in eight games. Inevitably, his assists far outnumber his goals, because that&rsquo;s the kind of player he is. After 1960, he went four years without having a real good playoff, but for that matter, so did the team. In 1964-65 he came back strong, the next year he wasn&rsquo;t much, but in last spring&rsquo;s playoffs he did fine. He finished fifth-highest scorer in cup rounds, and second-best man on Canadiens, after Jean Beliveau.In a way, Richard must be sorry that Toronto Maple Leafs are out of it this year, for he&rsquo;s had great success against them. Last spring, in the first game of the cup final, Henri scored three goals against Leafs, for the first playoff hattrick of his career. It was against Toronto, too, that he tied a playoff record for most assists in one period. He counted three assists in the first period against them on April 7, 19&. That made him part owner of what has to be the most popular playoff record in the book, for, all told, 11 players share the mark. It was established originally by Toronto&rsquo;s Nick Metz in 1941, and, though tied ten times, it&rsquo;s remained unbroken in 27 years.A lot will depend on how much action Richard sees in the current playoffs, of course. Habs aren&rsquo;t likely to break up any winning combinations to accomodate him. But, if he gets into action early and sustains a hot pace, he could be an important factor. That would be nice, because, if he doesn&rsquo;t, Canadiens could be without a Richard next season, for the first time in a quarter of a century.&ldquo;WHAT&rsquo;S AN EMPIRE LIFE REPRESENTATIVE?&rdquo; &mdash; He&rsquo;s a friendly, helpful man who has been TRAINED to understand a person&rsquo;s Insurance program which can protect your family all through your earning years, and have that all-important nest-egg waiting for you when you retire. &#9632;

f0005-01

NHL Career At Lowest Ebb, Richard Hoping To Recoup In Stanley Cup Playdowns

MONTREAL, Que. &ndash;Bobby Rousseau hasn&rsquo;t broken any scoring records in this league, but the goals he gets are worth plenty.For instance, in the final meeting of the season between Canadiens and Detroit, Rousseau scored a goal that was worth $47,250.It was the one that turned out to be the winner in Canadiens 7-4 rout of the Wings, and it also assured Habs of a first-place finish for the season. That meant the Prince of Wales Trophy and 21 units of $2,250 each for the team.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-02646/3079288-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="250" height="384"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Rousseau</figcaption></div>Besides being valuable, Rousseau&rsquo;s goal was spectacular. He scored in one-handed fashion, shoving the puck past netminder Roy Edwards while falling to the ice. To put frosting on the cake, the goal was scored while Canadiens were a man short.Rousseau went on to get a total of three goals that night against Detroit. It was the third hattrick of his career, and he also has a five-goal game to his credit. That, too, was scored against Detroit on Feb. 1, 1964.In playoffs, Rousseau has counted 34 points (11-23) in 51 games, over six years. Last year, he scored only one goal but chalked up seven assists in 10 games.His best playoff performance was in 1965, when he counted five goals plus eight assists for 13 points in 13 games. He was third-highest scorer, that year, behind Bobby Hull and Jean Beliveau.Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1965, ending what had been a five-year famine.-GIL SMITH &#9632;

f0005-02

Rousseau’s Big Goal Worth $47,250 To Habs

<div class="byline">BY JIM PROUDFOOT</div>TORONTO, Ont.&mdash;The humiliation was completed with six games remaining in Toronto Maple Leafs&rsquo; 1967-68 schedule. They were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, wherein they had hoped to defend the championship they&rsquo;d won last May.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01838/3079319-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="527" height="524"><figcaption class="caption-body">Paul Henderson</figcaption></div>Only three other teams in the history of the National Hockey League had collapsed so completely. On only three previous occasions had the holders of the Stanley Cup failed even to qualify.Manager-coach Punch Imlach, who refused to give up while there still was a mathematical hope, immediately began to discuss the future once his team&rsquo;s failure was confirmed.He would rebuild, he said, around a nucleus of five players who would be considered &ldquo;untouchable". Dave Keon, Ron Ellis, Norm Ullman, Paul Henderson and Floyd Smith were the five he mentioned. Anybody else, he emphasized, was available for off-season trades.In that category, you would have to include all-star defenceman Tim Horton, Mike Walton, who has been Leafs&rsquo; top scorer this season, and the consistent Bob Pulford.Next, any analysis of the Toronto line up must spotlight some elderly players whose future must be considered doubtful &mdash; go al tender Johnny Bower, defenceman Allan &lsquo;Stanley and Marcel Pronovost and right-winger George Armstrong, the Leaf captain. As players who&rsquo;d helped win the Cup, these men were recipients of Imlach&rsquo;s loyalty. He insisted they had jobs until they demonstrated, beyond doubt, that they weren&rsquo;t good enough. Now, as also-rans&rsquo; they are more vulnerable.You must then consider some athletes Imlach experimented with over recent winters and you must ask whether they&rsquo;ve passed the tests. In this category, you would place Duane Rupp, Brian Conacher, Larry Hillman Wayne Carleton and Jim Pappin, all distinct disappointments this winter.And finally you have the youngsters who may permit Toronto fans to dream of a comeback &mdash; immensely promising defencemen like Mike Pelyk, Jim McKenny and Jim Dorey and such forwards as Mike Byers and Gerry Meehan.It would seem that Imlach has an adequate supply of attackers, considering that the goals were going in regularly late in the season even after Smith was injured.The problem is on defence, where three changes will be necessary, according to Imlach&rsquo;s dissection.And in goal, the question arises whether Imlach will be satisfied to go with Bower and Bruce Gamble or with Gamble and Al Smith next season. The guessing is that he will try to deal for a proven NHL goalkeeper.And a final query: Will Imlach be the coach again, or will he bring in Joe Crozier to handle the bench work while he confines himself to the general manager&rsquo;s office?What went wrong with the 1967-68 Leafs?Well, they never were as strong as the club that won the Cup last spring. Terry Sawchuk and Red Kelly were donated to the NHL&rsquo;s expansion division, along with several other reserve players who had helped give Leafs that vital commodity known as depth. Imlach simply didn&rsquo;t have a vast talent pool to tap for replacements when regulars got hurt or ran into slumps.Almost every player experienced a poor season, for one reason or another.Mainly, Leafs weren&rsquo;t hungry any more. They&rsquo;d been successful over a long period of time and had developed the feeling, if only subconsciously, that they were bound to succeed. Bonus cheques were written down in their budgets and they&rsquo;d forgotten what it meant to work. An example of a hungry team is Boston Bruins. They play hockey the way Leafs did a decade ago when they just got the scent of victory.There isn&rsquo;t much a coach can do in such situation except to rebuild and that&rsquo;s what will be done.Imlach doesn&rsquo;t have the knack of motivating a great team to further successes the way Toe Blake, for example, does in Montreal. But Maple Leaf Gardens is committed to Imlach through the 1970-71 season and the club must be reconstructed to his specifications. That has meant dumping talented athletes and it will mean getting rid&rsquo; of more.Imlach&rsquo;s strength was underlined when he disposed of Frank Mahovlich. In many NHL cities, the coach would have been discarded before a man of the Big M&rsquo;s stature. &#9632;

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Imlach Lists Five ‘Untouchables’, Vows To Rebuild Faltering Leafs

TORONTO, Ont.&mdash;Thomas Michael (Tim) Daly, 84, trainer emeritus of Toronto Maple Leafs, hockey and baseball, died March 29, in Sunnybrook Hospital.He had been in poor health for several years. Arthritis made walking a laborious exercise for him, but he was still a frequent visitor to Maple Leaf Gardens.Born in Pickering in 1884 he started as a trainer in Kitchener, then known as Berlin. He moved to Toronto where he became trainer of the Arenas, who became St Pat&rsquo;s and eventually Maple Leafs in 1926. He retired as Leafs&rsquo; trainer in 1960.He trained Maple Leafs in the International Baseball League from 1911 to 1948, interrupted by two years with Detroit Tigers in the American League in 1920-21 and with New York Giants In the 1912 World Series.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02682/3079357-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="286" height="442"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tim Daly</figcaption></div>In his youth, Daly was an amateur fighter. His pugilistic prowess improved as he related It over the years, although he once held the Toronto boxing championship.As a trainer, Daly was never accused of pampering his athletes. When hockey players complained of muscular aches he usually advised them: &ldquo;skate it out.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03497/3079350-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="248" height="432"><figcaption class="caption-body">RON ELLIS &hellip; An &lsquo;Untouchable&rsquo;</figcaption></div><h2>Two minute hockey quiz</h2>1&mdash;Peter and Frank Mahovlich were both born in Schumacher, Ont.True &#9633; False &#9633;2&mdash;St. Louis coach Scotty I Bowman had his hockey career ended by a stick swung by Jean-Guy Talbot.True &#9633; False &#9633;3&mdash;Chicago&rsquo;s first-place finish in the NHL last season was the first in the club&rsquo;s 41-year history.True &#9633; False &#9633;4&mdash;The penalty shot was introduced to the National Hockey League in 1943-44.True &#9633; False &#9633;5&mdash;New York Rangers went 25 games without winning in 1944 for an NHL record.True &#9633; False &#9633;6&mdash;Dennis and Bobby Hull are both left hand shots and play left wing.True &#9633; False &#9633;7&mdash;Pittsburgh goalie Les Bin-kley jumped direct from junior hockey to professional ranks.True &#9633; False &#9633;8&mdash;Johnny Bower is the only goalie in NHL history to earn an assist in the Stanley Cup playoffs.True &#9633; False &#9633;9&mdash;Billy Reay was the last coach to bring the Stanley Cup to Chicago in 1960-61.True &#9633; False &#9633;10&mdash;Carl Liscombe scored the fastest three goals in the NHL in 21 seconds back in 1952.True &#9633; False &#9633;HOCKEY QUIZ ANSWERSI &mdash; False. Frank was born in Timmins, Ont.2 &mdash; True.3 &mdash; True.4 &mdash; False. It was introduced in 1931-35.5 &mdash; True.6 &mdash; True.7 &mdash; False. He went from Toledo Seniors to Cleveland.8 &mdash; True. It Happened in I962-63.9 &mdash; False. It was Rudy Pilous.10 &mdash; False. Bill Mosienko turned the trick. &#9632;

f0006-02

Ex-Leaf Trainer Tim Daly Dies In Hospital At Age 84

<div class="byline">BY GEOFFREY FISHER</div>ST. LOUIS. Mo -When they write the story of the St. Louis Blues first season in the National Hockey League and how they muscled their way into the Stanley Cup playoffs, there will be a lot of Ink given to the likes of Gordon (Red) Berenson, Glenn Hall, Jimmy Roberts, Al Arbour, and Noel Picard&rsquo;s special fan club will be hootin&rsquo; and Hollerin&rsquo; for their gargantuan hero of the blue line. But it could be the most valuable tag ought to be hung around the neck of Scotty Bowman, who at 32 is the youngest coach in the big time of ice hockey.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03513/3079426-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="279" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Scotty Bowman</figcaption></div>Bowman&rsquo;s promising career as a professional hockey player was cut off abruptly back in 1951 during a junior hockey game at the Montreal Forum when Jean Guy Talbot flipped his top and cracked his mace across Bowman&rsquo;s skull. Bowman never played the game competitively again and Talbot, who was suspended for three years for his indiscretion, went on to an illustrious career with the Montreal Canadiens and is now playing a rearguard position for the same Scotty Bowman he nearly killed 17 years ago.But the story of how Talbot came to the Blues Is typical of the kind of coach Bowman is. General Manager Lynn Patrick had the chance to pick up Talbot for the waiver price from Detroit. The old veteran French-Canadian had been drafted by the Minnesota North Stars and later traded to the Red Wings where he failed to impress Sid Abel with his ageing legs. Ta Patrick, Bowman said &ldquo;grab him. If he can still skate he can help us.&rdquo; Talbot can still skate and he has helped the Blues with his seasoned and cool manipulations on the back line.Bowman likes the veterans and particularly the veterans who once wore the spangles of the vaunted Montreal Canadiens where Scotty himself got his earliest and most substantial indoctrination in the mayhem of ice hockey. Thus it was that he prevailed upon Lynn Patrick to make Jimmy Roberts, an ex-Canadien utility man, the first draft choice of the Blues. And thus it was that when the Blues had a chance to entice the fabled Dickie Moore, another living Montreal legend, back to the game, he was for it.Bowman has a certain kind of magic with players. It&rsquo;s probably his ability to communicate with them. As Berenson puts it: &ldquo;Scotty just seem to know how to work with us and we just seem to read him all the way.&rdquo;And if Bowman should ever consider leaving the coaching ranks he might well consider becoming a train dispatcher. IBs ability to calculate a time table for getting the Blues into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in this freshman season is a model of precision planning.&ldquo;When we had played 32 games we only had 23 points,&rdquo; Bowman explained recently. I figured we would need at least 30 for the first 37 games, the half-way point. I talked it over with the squad and told them our need and we went out and got 31 in the first half.&rdquo;Bowman then figured that it would take a minimum of 68 points to make the playoffs which meant the Blues would have to come up with 37 in the second half. With four games left in the regular season they were right on target with 33 points in 33 games of the second half.&ldquo;We had our little slump in mid-March,&rdquo; declared Bowman. &ldquo;It was a tough race and we had some tense nights when It seemed that the pressure of trying to nail down a playoff spot just got us a little too tight. I suppose it was a combination of injuries and pressure that caused us to have our little dip.&rdquo;Bowman feels his Blues have the ability to make a strong bid in the playoffs.&ldquo;You know,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;We have played a close-checking playoff type of hockey most of the season. We missed several key players during the last couple of weeks of the season because of Injuries Billy McCreary has been more valuable to us than many people realize and when he hurt his leg we lost one of our best checkers. Tim Ecclestone is another one that we could not afford to lose for a few games. And Berenson had a thumb that was so sore he couldn&rsquo;t even grip his stick.&rdquo;Does Bowman think the Blues, Barclay Plager and Noel Picard particularly, have been taking too many cheap penalties and that these penalties will be very damaging in the playoffs?&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Bowman, &ldquo;I know our guys have to get a certain number of cheap penalties when they are playing an aggressive game. Barclay and Noel both play the game rough and they&rsquo;re bound to get penalties.&rdquo;In his ninth year of coaching, Bowman has a perfect record of making the playoffs. He did it in his two years at Hull-Ottawa, three years at Peterboro and three years with the Montreal Junior Canadiens.He says this first National Hockey League club reminds him of the one he had at Peterboro one year. Jimmy Roberts and Barclay Plager were with him then, too.&ldquo;They just had that kind of spirit and determination you couldn&rsquo;t beat,&rdquo; recalls Bowman.A thirty-two-year-old handsome bachelor, Scott Bowman thinks he has the same ingredients on this Blues squad.&ldquo;Mentally,&rdquo; I think we are all set for a big playoff performance,&rdquo; he says. &#9632;

f0007-03

Bowman’s Player Moves Factor Getting Blues Into Playoffs

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div>LOS ANGELES. Calif. &mdash;The spotlight never sets on the owner, Jack Kent Cooke. It also shines on the coach, Red Kelly. In the shadows, the manager, Larry Regan, may have been obscured, but he has not been outsmarted. The surprising success the L.A. Kings have enjoyed this season has been heavily Regan&rsquo;s.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01824/3079464-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="282" height="438"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wayne Rutledge</figcaption></div>It has been a great upset. Regan wasn&rsquo;t the first choice for the job and he was a surprise selection. Few felt he as a rookie in his role working with a rookie coach under a domineering owner could succeed. After he drafted the youngest and least-known expansion team, he was expected to land in last place.Instead, with the help of an aggressive owner who bought him a minor league franchise full of pros to back up his scouted selections, and a coach, who proved a fine teacher and a patient mentor, Regan&rsquo;s Renegades battled to the wire for the expansion-division pennant.Never before in sports have so many men, starting even from scratch, faced a clearer test of their abilities. The Kings leaders, including Regan, passed at the top of the class. Yet the tough, confident Irishman insists, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ve proven myself yet. It takes more than one season to do that.&rdquo;How was it to work with Mr. Cooke? &ldquo;Tough,&rdquo; Regan admits with a grin. &ldquo;He is an active owner, who helps run the show. But he is also a brilliant and able person. I&rsquo;ve never spoken with him that I haven&rsquo;t learned something. And while we&rsquo;ve argued many points, I&rsquo;ve never been stopped from doing anything I wanted to do. I know Red admits to the same experience. And Red and I had to learn to work together, too. I think we&rsquo;ve become a sound organization, which I think the players, too, feel.&ldquo;I think Red has proven himself beyond a doubt the finest coach in hockey. And even if clubs like Toronto or Detroit are interested in him, which is only natural, I feel sure he&rsquo;ll stay with us. And with him, I think we have a great future.&ldquo;I think we became a real team when we slumped after our fast start. We made some changes, but we have been the only team in the NHL that didn&rsquo;t make a trade this season. We were patient, we survived it together, and we came out of it a solid club ready to play good hockey for years to come.&rdquo;Possibly Regan overrates his recruits. The offense was inconsistent and the defense porous. Lacking muscle or finesse, the Kings, having good legs, had to outskate their foes and had to struggle to the end to try to top a 500 record.Yet, startlingly, Regan says, &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t trade our roster for any in the NHL. In fact, I feel certain half the established clubs would trade their rosters for ours. I think Toronto and Detroit would, and I think Chicago, minus Hull and Mikita, would, too.&rdquo;&ldquo;I think in players like Bill Flett, Ted Irvine, Real Lemieux and wayne Rutledge we have ripened more brilliant rookies than any team in hockey. We have other brilliant kids behind them. And several veteran minor league stars such as Eddie Joyal, Lowell MacDonald, Howie Menard and Bill White have been outstanding.&ldquo;We proved to a lot of guys that some players just needed a chance to play regularly to make it in the big time. I think some who disappointed me, such as Gordon Labossiere, Dale Rolfe and Paul Popeil, may yet come through. Some surprises have balanced these out. I thought Bill White would be good, but he&rsquo;s been great. I think Bobby Or is the only better defenseman in hockey.&ldquo;I know Red feels our biggest need is for a physically strong center. I&rsquo;d like to get him one, but every club is looking for that kind of guy. I did think our biggest need was for a hitter, but I no longer do since Dave Amadio and Brent Hughes began to hit.&ldquo;Human nature and athletes being what they are, some fellows will feel they have it made and will fall off, some never may play back to this season. But most of our players do figure to get better. The draft may bring some changes. but, basically, I feel that after getting through this difficult first season together so well, we should stick together.&ldquo;After the draft, I fell we&rsquo;d finish first. Now I feel we should be pennant contenders for the next 10 years. I&rsquo;m not the type who ever will be completely satisfied, but I do feel considerable satisfaction.&rdquo; He should. He will be an influential figure in the game long after the brightest of his rookies has retired.Kings Things &mdash; Regan said every player on the roster was being paid more than the $10,000 minimum salary and that the club payroll figures favorably against the NHL average of $18,000 per man. The club offered $1,000 and $500 bonuses per man for a first or second place finish, so, with the NHL positional and payroll bonuses, the guys fought for a minimum of $5,000 each for a first place finish which was as much or more as some of them earned all last season in the AHL. This pressured them to the point where it may have been the final factor in where they finished.When the Kings beat Philadelphia one week from the finish, it put them back at 500 and back in first-place, tied with Philly, for the first time since Dec. 30. Gordon Labossiere, who had not scored in 17 games, banged in the tying goal and Howie Menard his fifth game-winner to keep the Kings unbeaten in their last five against Philly and winner of the season series, 5-4-1.The 20 penalties and 10 on each side, called by ref Bob Sloan, were Kings&rsquo; season records &hellip; Lowell MacDonald&rsquo;s 20th goal brought him one of many individual bonuses the Kings had riding on their performances.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02734/3079457-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="1766" height="1479"><figcaption class="caption-body">Here&rsquo;s Kings&rsquo; TERRY GRAY (7) putting puck in Montreal net during expansion game action. Like many of the other untried Kings, Gray has helped bring the team through in its first year in the NHL.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0008-01

Larry Regan Comes Through For L.A. Kings

<div class="byline">BY TOM MONAHAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-01801/3079495-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Boston&rsquo;s rugged TED GREEN, left, says Bruins are not worried about the pressure of playoff hockey. Green says B&rsquo;s have been playing tough, clutch hockey all year and nothing is going to change because of the playoffs.</figcaption></div>BOSTON. Mass. -As the Bruins await the start of their first Stanley Cup appearance since the 1958-59 season all they have been hearing and reading is what their reaction will be to the pressure of the big series.There is a unanimous and voici-ferous scoff.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s our reaction,&rdquo; said veteran defenseman Teddy Green who admits that this will be his first playoff experience in seven years in the National Hockey League.&ldquo;What pressure can we have on us?&rdquo; asked Green, &ldquo;that we haven&rsquo;t experienced all year long.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known from the start of the season that we had a shot at the big apple if we played the way we are capable.&ldquo;We have had injuries and setbacks and we have had our share of big games right down through the stretch.&ldquo;So what else is new? Once the first game festivities are over these are just hockey games. This is what we came here for &mdash; to play hockey so we are thinking only of that.&ldquo;If anyone thinks we will be all tight and tense just because we haven&rsquo;t been in the playoffs before they will learn differently with the first game and that goes for whatever team we are playing.&rdquo;&ldquo;Have these guys acted like they are under pressure over the last three weeks?&rdquo; asked Coach Harry Sinden.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what anyone else thinks but to me this is the loosest bunch of guys I ever have seen.&ldquo;Remember this has been a long season for everyone. It would be natural if we had a let down in the late games. But we didn&rsquo;t. The guys are just as eager and ready as they were for the first game of the season.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a strange thing,&rdquo; went Sinden, &ldquo;that newspapermen and spectators always start talking about things like pressure of a big game getting to players who have had little experience in this kind of position.&ldquo;I remember reading all about what it would do to the Red Sox last October when they finally won the American League pennant and they got in against the St. Louis Cardinals who supposedly were hardened to World Series play.&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t notice the Red Sox falling down and playing dead against the Cardinals.&ldquo;They took them to seven games and even though they lost they didn&rsquo;t lose easily.&ldquo;What everyone forgot was that the Red Sox had to fight and battle all through the season to win the pennant. Once they did it they were relaxed and they played their normal game.&ldquo;Well we&rsquo;re in much the same boat. We have battled and scrapped all year. Every time we went on the ice we were in a big game.&ldquo;But we made it. We proved we have a good team and no one is going to take that away from us.&ldquo;Good teams and good athletes don&rsquo;t feel pressure. They react to it by playing better.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way this team is and I don&rsquo;t expect anything different than we have done all year long.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how many times I have been asked would I rather play New York or Chicago or Montreal in the first round.&ldquo;I have only one answer. I don&rsquo;t care who we play. Once the playoff starts you can throw away all the records. This is the start of a brand new season.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure the other coaches feel the same way. You have to play your best no matter what team you are facing and that&rsquo;s just what we intend to do.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0009-01

Cocky Bruins Not Concerned About Playoff Pressure Talk

OAKLAND, Calif. -Ted Hampson has finally found a home.The unsung National Hockey League center &mdash; who kicked around with three big league teams and various minor league clubs since turning pro in 1956-57 has finally reached stardom.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-02720/3079526-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="277" height="455"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ted Hampson</figcaption></div>Hampson, who came to the Oakland Seals from Detroit Red Wings last fall in the deal for Kent Douglas, had his greatest NHL season ever, this campaign. He led the Seals in scoring with 17 goals and 37 assists for 54 points, and finished in a tie for fourth place with Red Berenson of St. Louis Blues in the Western Division scoring race.Leader Andy Bathgate of Pittsburgh Penguins finished with only five more points than Hampson. Ed Joyal of Los Angeles Kings was runner-up with 57 points, one more than Minnesota North Stars&rsquo; Wayne Connelly.Gerry Ehman, who also played for Detroit and Toronto in his earlier NHL days, ended up as the Seals&rsquo; number two point man behind Hampson. Ehman accumulated 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points, four more than teammate Billy Hicke.However, Hicke &mdash; who led the club in goals with 21 &mdash; missed 22 games because of illness.<h2>Swedish Netminder Returns Home</h2>BOSTON, Mass -The Bruins returned rookie Barry Gibbs to Oklahoma City for the start of the Central League playoffs, last weekend &hellip; But the young defenseman is rated one of the top prospects for the future &hellip; Swedish goaltender Leif Holmkvist also returned home to Stockholm after the B&rsquo;s final game of the season with Toronto &hellip; He wasn&rsquo;t signed to a contract but the Bruins have invited him back to work with the club next September at their London, Ont. training camp &hellip; &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t look bad,&rdquo; said General Manager Milt Schmidt, after watching Holmqvist for a week in practice, &ldquo;I think he can be all right with the proper training.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0009-02

Hampson Top Point Maker With Seals

<div class="byline">BY NORMAN MacLEAN</div><h2>Giacomin Seen Key To Team&rsquo;s Cup Hopes</h2>NEW YORK, N.Y. -The Rangers won the death struggle with the amazing Boston Bruins for second place in the National Hockey League&rsquo;s Eastern Division, but one fact seemed to stand out above everything else &mdash; no matter what, the key to the New York hopes in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs rest on the shoulders of Ed Giacomin.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01817/3079564-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="288" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Orland Kurtenbach</figcaption></div>Giacomin, the Rangers&rsquo; third year netminder gave a classic example of the ebb and flow in his play during the stretch drive. On march 20 at Chicago he stopped 20 shots in the first period alone and wound up with 51 saves as he literally gave a classic demonstration on how to play goal. The Blues won the clutch game 5-3 on the wings of Eddie&rsquo;s play and Bob Nevin&rsquo;s hattrick.Hockey experts were raving at the job Eddie did against the Messrs Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and company. One long time habitue of the Chicago Stadium said that it was the best period of goal tending he had seen in twenty years &mdash; and this included the long stay of Mr. Goalie &mdash; Glenn Hall with the Hawks.&rsquo;&rsquo;He broke our hearts in that first period,&rdquo; said Gilles Marotte, the Chicago defenseman.Giacomin, for his part, still faulted his play, blaming himself for the goal by Doug Mohns which tied the score at 3-3 at 14:06 of the final period. Eddie was caught out of his net while trying to play a loose puck behind his cage and eventually Mohns batted it in with his hand.This typifies Giacomin&rsquo;s play.He has the guts of a burglar and is perhaps the most exciting net-minder in the National Hockey League. But he does make the odd mistake and can occasionally flub the dub. Against Toronto on March 24, Eddie was home free with a 3-0 lead in the first stanza when he let a 75 foot center ice loff by Paul Henderson slip through his glove. As a result, New York had to fight desperately to hold a 4-2 win.&rsquo;&rsquo;I expect that both Giacomin and the entire Ranger team will do better in the playoffs than they did a year ago,&rdquo; says Emile Francis, the Ranger General Manager Coach. &ldquo;Last year, just making the playoffs was enough. It isn&rsquo;t going to be that way this time.&rdquo;Giacomin says, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to make any predictions like I did last year. We will just play them one game at a time &mdash; and see what happens. However. I will say that I am quite a bit more confident &mdash; and that I have learned a lot since we played Montreal last spring.&rdquo;This may be the key to the whole business, Eddie&rsquo;s confidence and just plain maturity, both as a person and a performer. Last year Giacomin scored nine shutouts and posted a goal against average of 2.54. He was the NHL&rsquo;s All Star first team netminder, out still did a rather spotty job in two of the playoff losses to Montreal.A standup guy, Eddie admitted his miscues in the playoffs and came back in 1967-68 to a rather shaky start, but around December 10, he started to take hold and suddenly one finds that Eddie has eight shutouts this year and a rather good 2.45 goals against record. That&rsquo;s right, statistically, Giacomin has done just about the same as last years&rsquo; sensational performance &mdash; but without the accompanying raves.All that Rangerville wants is more of same in the upcoming playdowns so that Gogo Giacomin becomes steady Eddie. If the rest of the team can stay healthy, instead of hobbling as it did a year ago, this observer calls New York for a win In the first round series. A year ago, Jim Neilson, now the Rangers top blue liner was out with a bad ankle and had to split ice time with Al MacNeil when he played. Phil Goyette hurt his groin in game number one and Harry Howell&rsquo;s back was kicking up. The team did not have Ron Stewart (acquired in a trade for Red Berenson in late November) and Jean Ratelle was but a pale carbon of his present self.The Rangers stock in trade now is depth. They have three good lines. The scoring line of Ratelle, Rod Gilbert and either Vic Hadfield or Camille Henry, the holding line of Goyette with Bob Nevin and Donnie Marshall and the unsung heroes of the club, the checking line of Orland Kurtenbach, Stewart and rugged Reg Fleming. Nevin stepped into the spotlight in late season games with his fine play all over the Ice and his great clutch hat trick against the Hawks that won the big Chicago game and at least a temporary hold on second place. Kurtenbach, the quiet man of the dressing room made all the right noise with his stick versus the Leafs with two quick goals on March 24, as the Blues showed that when the Hot Line was sputtering a bit, the others would take up the slack.And the defense is in the best shape it has been in years, without a super dependance on Harry Howell, who is partnered with Arnie Brown. Brownie has been outstanding of late and almost resembles Pierre Pilote with the way he gets off the mark with the puck &mdash; and moves it up ice. The Neilson, Rod Seiling combo is young, tough and sure and they are all backed up by Wayne Hillman, the best non-regular defenseman in the NHL today.Thus, the stage Is set for the Stanley Cup quarter finals. Rangerville waits with baited breath as the big season roars to Its annual climax. Can New York really do it this year? No one knows, but Ranger playoff tickets have become as big as New York Football Giant tickets were in the heyday of Charlie Conerly, Kyle Rote and Frank Gifford. Gotham obviously feels that the Cup playoffs will be the champagne of the ice campaign and who is to say that they are wrong?<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02701/3079557-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="2426" height="883"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rangers will rise or fall on goalkeeping of ED GIACOMIN, shown sprawling on ice to make save off Toronto&rsquo;s BOB PULFORD (20). Giacomin has been big factor in B lues&rsquo;lofty NHL finish this season.</figcaption></div><h2>20,000 Battle For NY Ducats</h2>NEW YORK N.Y. -A crowd of over twenty thousand fought over about eight thousand playoff tickets at the public sale on March 25. Some fans slept in the MSG lobby &hellip; With one game left, NY shows 21-8-7 at home, 17-1-1 on Sundays (that loss to the LA Kings and Cowboy Bill Flett) and the best record of anyone against the West &hellip; Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle were named the winners of the annual CYO most popular Ranger award &hellip; The Metropolitan Hockey Writers Association&rsquo;s annual bash at the Tavern on the Green was an unqualified success &hellip; &#9632;

f0010-01

Rangers Hail Down Second Spot For Playoffs

<div class="byline">BY ED CONRAD</div>PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -If the Flyers prove to be the surprise team of this year&rsquo;s Stanley Cup playoffs, some credit will have to go to Brit Selby&rsquo;s barber.That&rsquo;s because, unlike Sampson of Biblical times whose strength was in his long growth of hair, Selby&rsquo;s performance on the ice seems best just after he has gotten a short haircut.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02736/3079602-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="285" height="451"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brit Selby</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Naw, that&rsquo;s silly, there&rsquo;s nothing to it,&rdquo; smiled Brit, the Flyers talented forward who just turned 23 last week. &ldquo;If the puck is going to hit the net, it&rsquo;s going to do it no matter how long or short a guy wears his hair.&rdquo;You&rsquo;d never prove it by the way Selby found new life on offense just a few hours after getting a haircut in Los Angeles the other afternoon.Brit was in the throes of a long scoreless slump when he erupted for both of the Flyers&rsquo; goals in their 4-2 loss to the Kings in their crucial Western Division battle on the West Coast.It ended an 18-game goalscoring famine for Selby who two years ago ranked as the rookie of the year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His 15th goal and 28th point of the season for the Flyers bettered by one his output with the Maple Leafs that year.Just a coincidence, perhaps, that it should happen just a few hours after his crewcut.Strangely enough, when Brit returned from nearly two months of recuperation following a shoulder separation suffered in a game against Minnesota in November, he returned to action with a flourish &mdash; and a short haircut. Until he was injured against the North Stars, he had been having all kinds of trouble scoring his first goal.However, Selby started having all kinds of luck with his shots and in quick order became one of the club&rsquo;s most consistent goal producers and most potent offensive threats. He contributed 12 goals in 16 games.Some time later, however, Brit&rsquo;s hair had grown to a considerable length and his scoring knack was definitely dampened. But the young forward was opposed to getting another crewcut because (1) he thought he looked better in long hair, and (2) he really didn&rsquo;t think it had an effect on his performance on the ice.In fact, the guys on the team started razzing Selby about getting his ears moved.&ldquo;Hey, buddy, you&rsquo;d better get a haircut &mdash; a real short one &mdash; in time for our game tomorrow night,&rdquo; kidded center Forbes Kennedy a couple weeks ago. &ldquo;Either you get it yourself or we&rsquo;re going to give one to you.&ldquo;And, buddy, when I tell you it&rsquo;s going to be a short one if we have to give it to you, you can bet it&rsquo;s going to be REAL short.&rdquo;Still, Selby managed to escape the clippers because the concern of Kennedy and the rest of the Flyers&rsquo; players was simply an effort to do something to get the club winning again.Even without Selby&rsquo;s haircut, the club started snapping to life and Kennedy&rsquo;s threat was all but forgotten.Brit, though had not forgotten about Forbes&rsquo; reference to a crew cut. Neigher did he forget that the other guys on the team felt that he was a lot better player &mdash; psychologically, at least - with a short haircut So he finally visited a barber.The Flyers figure Selby&rsquo;s hair won&rsquo;t be all grown back for another month or so. In fact, they feel, if he can make some noise offensively until then, the whole team may get crewcuts for the Stanley Cup finals.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01807/3079595-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="1238" height="4310"></div> &#9632;

f0011-02

Selby Scoffs L.A. Haircut Started Him Scoring Again

<div class="byline">BY DAN MOULTON</div>CHICAGO, III. -Chicago hockey fans have to hope that their heroes have been conserving themselves for the Stanley Cup playoffs in recent games because If they haven&rsquo;t, the Black Hawks have degenerated Into one of the poorest hockey teams to represent this city in nearly 15 years.The offense has sputtered dread fully. The defense has been caught out of position so often some of Billy Reay&rsquo;s rearguards probably have forgotten where they are supposed to be. And as far as netminding Is concerned, to call It inadequate almost is charitable.The skid has assured the Hawks of a fourth place finish their worst since the 1957-58 season when they finished fifth and one has to wonder if they can right themselves in time to be any factor at all in the post-season go round.Reay has been juggling his forces in a wild attempt to hit on a combination that perform at least on a National league level. During a recent 7-2 battering by the Montreal Canadiens, he broke up his two regular defense combinations, moving Doug Jarrett alongside Gilles Marotte and putting Pat Stapleton and Pierre Pilote together. In addition, Billy employed an extra defense combination made up of rookies Paul Terbenche and Tom Reid.But the Canadiens took advantage of all three groups to put on one of their more impressive scoring displays of the season, at least in Chicago Stadium.&ldquo;I was just trying to get something started,&rdquo; said a dejected Reay. &ldquo;For a while I went with four forward lines, so I decided to try six defensemen. The way we&rsquo;ve been going, nothing is going to help. If you use eight defensemen and six lines, nothing works unless everybody is skating.&ldquo;And we aren&rsquo;t skating.&rdquo;One of the most disappointing aspects of the slump has been the part played in it by the Hawks&rsquo; famous Scooter line, which once could best that its defensive record was as impressive as its offensive mark. For much of the way lately, however, the Scooters have been one of the Hawks&rsquo; poorest defensive lines.In a recent loss to the Rangers, Mikita and company were on for four of the five opposition goals and fared little better against the Canadiens.Another factor in the skid has been the slumping play of Defenseman Pat Stapleton, one of the league&rsquo;s better rearguards the last two years.&ldquo;I have a hunch he&rsquo;s never really come back from a bad ankle sprain he suffered in Los Angeles a month ago,&rdquo; said Reay. &ldquo;There sure is something wrong with the way he&rsquo;s been going, I&rsquo;d hate to think he just slipped that much.&rdquo;The goalies have been left to their own devices much of the time in recent games. But it has to be admitted that at times, those devices fell far short of what could be expected of NHL performers. Denis DeJordy still is nursing that split finger on his catching glove and much of the Hawks&rsquo; hopes for a respectable playoff showing almost have to rest with his coming back to play brilliantly.HAWK TALK &ndash; The Canadiens made their annual delayed appearance for the game here March 24. At least once a year, the Canadiens train from Montreal delays their arrival for a Sunday night game and this time they made it to the Stadium a half hour before the scheduled start of the game.Reay was furious, although he insisted that the half-hour delay in the starting time was no factor in his team&rsquo;s poor showing.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just that we have a 7:30 starting time and every team in the league observes it except the Canadiens,&rdquo; said Billy.&ldquo;Toe Blake just marched in and announced that he&rsquo;d be ready to play at 8 p.m. &ldquo;&rsquo;What right has he got to dictate things like that. I was two minutes late getting started in Toronto one night and you should have heard the screaming. Every other team knocks itself out to observe the starting times. We&rsquo;ve chartered planes, caught buses, and everything else to make sure we get where we&rsquo;re supposed to be on time. Why shouldn&rsquo;t the Canadiens?&ldquo;Some night next year, I&rsquo;m going to lock our dressing room door in the Montreal Forum and not show up on the ice until 20 minutes after the game is supposed to start.<h2>NHL Player Of The Week &mdash; IN THE EAST</h2>Stan Mikita of the Black Hawks has been in the NHL only nine years and already he is threatening to break Gordie Howe&rsquo;s record of having won the most individual scoring championships.The 40-year-old Howe has captured the Art Ross Trophy as point leader in the NHL six times in his 22 years in the league. Mikita this season won the award for the fourth time in the past five years and could go on to surpass Howe&rsquo;s record.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01789/3079640-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="269" height="396"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stan Mikita</figcaption></div>The 28-year-old Mikita wrapped up his fourth Ross award this past weekend when he won the over-all NHL title with 87 points. He also joined teammate Bobby Hull as the only two 40-goal men in the league this season. Hull counted 44 times, Mikita 40.A perennial high scoring center and All-Star, Mikita&rsquo;s play this season was one of the few bright spots in the dismal Chicago showing.THE HOCKEY NEWS and El Producto Cigars are pleased to salute the NHL&rsquo;s player-of-the week in the East:Stan Mikita&hellip; Chicago<h2>NHL Player Of The Week &mdash; IN THE WEST</h2>Larry Keenan is probably hockey&rsquo;s hard-luck performer but it hasn&rsquo;t stopped him from becoming a force with the new St. Louis Blues in the NHL.The crew-cut, six-year pro came up with two big performances to help the Blues grab off third place in the expansion division of the NHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02678/3079633-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="260" height="451"><figcaption class="caption-body">Larry Keenan</figcaption></div>Plagued by injuries in the past three years that forced the Toronto Maple Leafs to give up on him as a big league prospect. Keenan this year got his big chance when St. Louis grabbed him in the expansion draft. Today with the NHL schedule ended, the move had to be a good one for the Blues.Keenan scored three times as the Blues swept a weekend double from Minnesota to nudge the North Stars out of third place in the final standings. In the Blues 3-2 decision on home ice, Keenan sank two third-period goals, including the game winner and came back the next night to get the game-opening goal and start the Blues on the way to a 5-3 win that sewed up third spot.THE HOCKEY NEWS AND El Producto Cigars are pleased to salute the NHL&rsquo;s player-of the-week in the West:Larry Keenan&hellip; St.Louis &#9632;

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SKIDDING BLACK HAWKS PERPLEX CHICAGO FANS

<div class="byline">BY GLENN REDMANN</div>TWIN CITIES. Minn. -For five games from March 7 to 16, Minnesota somehow salvaged two ties from a grand total of six goals against Pittsburgh (2-2), New York (1-1), Philadelphia (4-2 and Los Angeles (2-1).General manager-coach Wren Blair, to put it mildly, was fit to be tied.&ldquo;Unless we start putting the puck in the net,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we might just as well forget about making the playoffs.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01771/3079702-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="271" height="453"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike McMahon</figcaption></div>Blair&rsquo;s words left no doubt that he was disappointed with the play of some of his forwards. They were spoken loudly enough. apparently, for the majority to hear.And what happened in the Minnesotans&rsquo; next four starts would seem to indicate that Wren&rsquo;s message reached home, because the red light went on 15 times and the resultant two victories and two ties (both away from home) just about clinched a coveted playoff berth.The tremendous turnabout began with a crowd-pleasing 5-1 victory over the defensively-troubled Detroit on March 18 at the Sports Center.Among those scoring goals in that game who had been in the doldrums before were centermen Andre Boudrias and Ray Cullen and defenseman Mike McMahon.McMahon, easily the top offensive defenseman in the West Division this season (and quite a bit better defensively than most people give him credit for), snapped a personal goal-less streak of 11 games.Boudrias, who sees more ice time than any other Minnesota forward because of his penalty-killing and sometimes power play duties, had gone six games without a goal until he struck against the Wings. Cullen, still a wee bit out of top shape following a three-week period on the side lines with an ankle fracture, ended a seven-game drouth.&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t imagine how happy I am to see us scoring our share of goals again,&rdquo; said Blair. &ldquo;During that dry spell after we beat Montreal (3-2 on March 2), it seemed for awhile as though we were still getting some good scoring opportunities. But when the goals didn&rsquo;t come, I guess some of them started to press.&rdquo;Although Blair didn&rsquo;t say so in as many words, that 2-1 loss to the Kings here on March 16 might&rsquo;ve been a blessing in disguise. The Stars had whipped Red Kelly&rsquo;s club three times and tied them once in four previous games on Sports Center ice. So when they let a 1-0 lead slip from their grasp in the last four minutes, it seemed to make them all the more determined against the invading Motor City team the next afternoon.The Minnesotans gained a measure of revenge on L.A. March 20 by rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the last period to deadlock the Kings at the Forum. Boudrias, Cullen and West Division goal-scoring leader Wayne Connelly (who snapped a six-game (drought) all beat goalie Terry Sawchuk in that game, Boudrias getting the tying tally with less than a minute left.In the next game of the modest four-tilt streak, a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh here March 23, Cullen got the only goal Cesare Maniago really needed for his sixth shutout. But just to make sure, Bill Goldsworthy tallied what was only his fourth goal since Jan. 14 and Boudrias hit an open-netter five seconds from the finish.The Stars and Penguins played a nationally-televised rematch the following afternoon, and after trailing 1-0, 2-1,3-1 and 4-2, Blair&rsquo;s crew rallied to get a 4-4 standoff on third-period goals by Boudrias and McMahon.J.P. Parise&rsquo;s third goal in the last six games and Parker MacDonald&rsquo;s first after nine goal-less contests kept the Stars within shooting distance in the first two periods. Two of Pittsburgh&rsquo;s goals against Maniago were deflections.Upon returning from the Steel City, Blair wasn&rsquo;t quite ready to celebrate. But the smile on his face indicated that his crew couldn&rsquo;t have picked a better time to start finding the net.If they can keep up the pace, the Stars are going to make it rough on somebody in the playoffs. &#9632;

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North Stars Snap Slump To Lift Team’s Hopes For First NHL Playoffs

<div class="byline">&#x2014; By Bill Libby</div><h2>Blair Blasts Stars</h2>Struggling through the stretch at then of this. first regular season of expansion the National Hockey League, the professional in the infant Western Divison were suffocating under pressures more severe than most of than ever had known before. Few of them ever had earned the sort of prestige and money that were at stake As Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Minnesota, St. Louis and Pittsburgh fought for a pennant or for playoff positions, the strain wore on them.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02659/3079747-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="281" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wren Blair</figcaption></div>On a Saturday night in Minnesota, the North Stars lost a lead and a game to the Kings in the last five minutes. Manager and coach Wren Blair blistered his players afterwards, while rival Red Kelly&rsquo;s crew whooped and hollered in their nearby quarters. Only four nights later in Los Angeles, the Kings lost a lead and settled for a tie with the North Stars in the last minute of another game. But Blair still wasn&rsquo;t satisfied Half a city block away, around a bend and down a long corridor, newsmen in the bowels of the Forum could hear ; Blair roaring at his men in their locker room; &ldquo;There is no way those blanks can tie you blanks if you play your blanking game,&rdquo; he shouted.When he had cooled down and was confronted, he said, &ldquo;We should have gotten another goal and the victory. That would have been poetic justice for Saturday night.&rdquo; Normally natty, he was creased by concern. His jacket was wrinkled, his tie askew, his hair mussed. Sweat streamed down his cheeks previously. he noted: &ldquo;The stakes are piled pretty high right now.&rdquo;Red Kelly does not shout, but he punishes his players for misdeeds in his own way, which may be worse. For five minutes, he lectured his crew in their tense quarters He seemed, a player said later, sick, hurt and angry. When he emerged into the corridor for the postgame inquisition, his first &rsquo;words to the writers were, &ldquo;Well, these guys just blew a thousand bucks each.&rdquo; That is the amount of the bonuses the L.A. management had offered the players for a first place finish. Actually, with League bonuses, this meant first place would be worth $5,000 to each man. Several of them played a full season in the American League for that kind of money last year. One earned $4,500 So they were as were most of their rivals, struggling for what was for them and their families, an enormous amount of money and a great potential rise in their standard of living.<h2>Kings Were Ready</h2>In his disappointment with the Minnesota tie Kelly felt like all was lost. Exactly two nights later, after his boys had bounced back to rout St Louis, he had regained his high hopes. &ldquo;We might do it yet you never can tell,&rdquo; he said. a grin on his Irish face. Manager Larry Regan, another Irishman, also grinning now, said &ldquo;We will do it. There is no doubt of it.&ldquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03514/3079740-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="274" height="439"><figcaption class="caption-body">Marcel Pelletier</figcaption></div>They had Philadelphia to face the next night. Lynn Patrick, the St. Louis manager, who coached in L.A. last season, and who always seems worried seemed worried now, not only about his own club, but also about Philly. &ldquo;It we don&rsquo;t start winning, Pittsburgh will catch us,&rdquo; Lynn said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re worried about making the playoffs Philly and L.A. can worry about winning the pennant. L.A. will win Saturday night. Philly was in town early. They spent the day laying in the sun around a swimming pool. I know what that does to the guys.Marcel Pelletier, a life-long bon-vivant and now a special scout for Philly, shrugged off the effects of sunshine. &ldquo;Zey may have been laying down, but they were zinking about the game. Zey want the pennant. We won&rsquo;t skate wiz ze Kings, but we&rsquo;ll rough the game away from zem.He did a little tap-dance. &ldquo;After we win, we celebrate,&rdquo; he grinned.Philly did not win. They played rough, but they did not win. They were more rested, but L.A. skated them to defeat. There were 20 penalties and the goals were mostly by guys who hadn&rsquo;t scored in 16 or 17 games, but when the score was added up, L.A. had won. Pelletier was not dancing now. &ldquo;I go back to ze hotel and go to zleep,&rdquo; he said.Philly coach Keith Allen stood off the one side of the press-room. He said, &ldquo;Since the roof was blown off our Spectrum, we have been on the road for around a month. It is tough enough to play well when you are living out of suitcases on a normal road trip. It is almost impossible to do It when you have been away from home as much as we have. Hie guys are tired. They&rsquo;re worried about their families They&rsquo;re like a bunch of gypsies right now &rdquo; He made a sour face, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been in first place since the first of the year. If we lose it now, this way, it will be a shame.&rdquo;<h2>Sullivan On Outs?</h2>In Minnesota on Sunday, Pittsburgh blew a two-goal lead and was tied by the North Stars Minnesota&rsquo;s Blair said, &ldquo;So we got another tie. So when are we going to win one?&rdquo; And Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Red Sullivan said. &ldquo;The tie&rsquo;s good enough for them. It&rsquo;s not good enough for us. We needed the win to stay in the running. We may be sitting on our seats in April, wondering where we&rsquo;re going to work next season.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04372/3079733-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="275" height="420"><figcaption class="caption-body">Red Sullivan</figcaption></div>It has been rumored that Sullivan, a fine gentleman and a brilliant hockey man, will be fired as coach in Pittsburgh. The franchise has been sold, it also have been rumored that Bert Olmstead will be fired as manager and coach in Oakland, that the franchise will be sold and moved to Vancouver. All Olmstead and his Seals had at the end of the season was the chance to spoil someone else&rsquo;s dreams. They were last. Every season, someone finishes first and someone finishes last. Some make money and some get fired. And in between such extremes, there is such agony as few fans could imagine.Sometimes, there even Is more pain than playing competitively produces. For example after the Kings&rsquo; last victory, Howie Menard, who had scored the winning goal, sat facing a large sign which details in bright colors the sums that could be won by the Kings. He was not talking about the game, about his goal, or about dough. He was talking about his brother Hillary nicknamed &ldquo;Minnie&rdquo; who had been blinded in the right eye when struck by a stick in an amateur game a few weeks earlier.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s 33 years old, he&rsquo;s married and he&rsquo;s got three kids,&rdquo; little Howie said. &ldquo;He could have gone far in the game, but he let his chances go He was a manager and coach a few years back He&rsquo;s a salesman now and just playing for fun. Some fun. I guess it can happen in this game, but what&rsquo;s worth an eye? The guys chipped in some money for him. Gee, I feel terrible. I go out and play my best because we&rsquo;ve got a lot at stake, but I can&rsquo;t help thinking about my brother.&rdquo;Normally, Menard is a light-hearted guy. Not long ago, when owner Jack Kent Cooke swept in on the team, he said, in his way, &ldquo;Here they are, all my sons.&rdquo;&ldquo;I wish we were,&rdquo; Howie piped up, loud and clear. &#9632;

f0014-02

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY CHARLEY BARTON</div>BUFFALO, N.Y.-Guy Trottier rejoined the Buffalo Bisons for the closing 10 days of the American Hockey League schedule and made his presence felt in a hurry.The rookie right-winger was considered through for the season when he underwent knee surgery Jan. 29. Instead, he resumed skating March 4, took part in a scrimmage March 19, and played a regular shift March 23 in Hershey.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01746/3079778-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="276" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">Guy Trottier</figcaption></div>The next night Trottier and Wayne Larkin scored two goals apiece as the Heard romped to a 7-1 decision over the Baltimore Clippers in a key game in Buffalo&rsquo;s Memorial Auditorium.Trottier was the club&rsquo;s top goal-getter with 13 when he was hurt. The problem was compounded by the loss of Larry Mickey, also a right-winger, for the season, Mickey broke the left arm, the same one he fractured last April in an auto accident in Omaha.&ldquo;The leg feels pretty good, but I&rsquo;m short of conditioning and timing,&rdquo; said Trottier. &ldquo;It will take a few games to get really back in shape.&rdquo;Coach Fred Shero was cheered by Trottier&rsquo;s auspicious return.&ldquo;Guy knows where to be, and what to do with the puck when he gets it,&rdquo; Shero said. &ldquo;We knew he would be a good one the way he looked in training camp. He has lived up to all our hopes.&rdquo;Trottier turned pro with the Bisons last fall following an illustrious career in the International League with the Dayton Gems.His two-month absence from the line up will cost him a chance of gaining all-star and rookie honors, something he appeared headed for when the season was at the midway point. &#9632;

f0015-01

Trottier Makes Sparkling Ice Return With Buffalo

<div class="byline">BY LOU PRATO</div>PITTSBURGH, Pa.&mdash;It would be an understatement to say Pittsburgh hockey fans were disappointed in the first edition of the new National Hockey League team. But no one is more upset with the way the Penguins performed this year than their number one fan &mdash; Jack Riley.Riley, of course, is a fan officially via his executive position as general manager of the team. But his heart and mind makes him a true Penguin fan &mdash; just like the steelworker who pays his four bucks to sit in the upper part of the Civic Arena and watch his team skate (or not skate, as the situation evolved frequently during the past season.)&ldquo;I know the fans were disappointed in what we did this season,&rdquo; says the 48-year-old Riley, one time president of the American Hockey League. &rsquo;&rsquo;Red (Sullivan) and I were more disappointed than most.&rsquo;&rsquo;I could give a lot of reasons for what happened this year but I guess most people would think I&rsquo;m trying to alibi. We had our share of injuries but that really isn&rsquo;t any reason to lose. You&rsquo;ve got to have depth to take up the slack when your regulars get injured and we just simply lacked the depth. We hope to rectify this situation next year by obtaining more players.&rsquo;&rsquo;But I still have a lot of faith in this club. Sure, we made some mistakes in the draft and otherwise. But we went right down to the last week of the schedule and we had a chance for the playoffs. And that&rsquo;s not bad. If we had been run right out of this league I&rsquo;d say we had great problems and I&rsquo;d be worried about next year. But we were in there all the way and but for some breaks that didn&rsquo;t go our way we might have finished one-two.&rdquo;Riley is concerned about the criticism he has heard about the coaching of Sullivan. The complaints are mainly from the fans who boo loudly from the stands or shout derogatory remarks towards the Penguins bench.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02670/3079809-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="562" height="874"><figcaption class="caption-body">JACK RILEY &hellip; Disappointed GM</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Well, I want to lay this thing to rest right here,&rdquo; Riley says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been satisfied with Red&rsquo;s coaching. He had a lot of things to contend with and I don&rsquo;t think he did a bad job. You know the fans are always on a coach when he&rsquo;s losing and when we started to go bad here they got on Red.&rdquo;One of the principal reasons behind the public&rsquo;s vocal outbursts against Sullivan can be traced directly to Sullivan&rsquo;s own words. Ever since the expansion draft in Montreal last June, Sullivan tabbed the Penguins as his type of team &mdash; an aggressive, hard-checking unit. But often, the team has appeared as a direct contrast to this; they were frequently shoddy in their skating and passing and lackadasical with their checking. And Sullivan admits this.&ldquo;I still feel we haven&rsquo;t checked hard enough,&rdquo; Sullivan says. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got guys who have the size and should be using it more. I tell them and I show them but I can&rsquo;t play for them. But some of these guys will have a lot to prove to me next year or else.&ldquo;The last thing I want to do is give an excuse for our season. I&rsquo;ve been around too long for that. But I agree with Jack. We didn&rsquo;t have enough depth to cope with our injuries. That plus the fact that some guys got complacent and didn&rsquo;t put out like they should.&ldquo;You know, a lot of people said our club was too old and that&rsquo;s why we faltered towards the end. But I don&rsquo;t agree one bit. If you analyze this team closely you&rsquo;ll see some of the older players were my best down the pike.&rdquo;Riley is optimistic about next season even though his disappointment about this year shows and he hopes the fans don&rsquo;t give up on NHL hockey in Pittsburgh.&ldquo;I think the fans in Pittsburgh were very demanding because of what the Hornets did last year in winning everything in the AHL,&rdquo; Riley says. &ldquo;But for the most part the fans in Pittsburgh have been good to us. We disappointed them this year but it&rsquo;s going to be different next year.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0015-02

Riley, Sullivan Both Agree Lack Of Depth Hurt Penguins

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK SANTANIELLO</div>SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -Kings tans have been rewarded well in the first season West Coast millionnaire Jack Kent operated a club here. The team got into the AHL Play-offs this term after finishing up the track the last few seasons.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01585/3079854-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="296" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body">Randy Miller</figcaption></div>But we can&rsquo;t help wondering what might have been here. The team looked like a sure fire cinch for first place much of the season. Recalls to Los Angeles and some injuries &mdash; but mostly recalls &mdash; depleted the local team.No club, not even Springfield, could afford to lose players such as Brent Hughes, Doug Robinson, Howie Menard and Jim Murray without hurting. They even lost Dave Amadio and Dale Rolfe. The parent club sent them down to help, then recalled both.Springfield did get back center ice man Brian Kilrea. The 32-year old veteran played well here since returning. But Los Angeles sent little other player help. That&rsquo;s the major reason the locals did not win the Eastern Division.Los Angeles kept 22 players, including seven defenseman, while Springfield was really hurting on defense. They might have sent a couple down to help out. With just a little more ammunition in the form of players from LA the locals might have won the pennant.Randy Miller was a steady player for the Kings here this season. The popular winger skated hard, made his share of goals and worked every time he was out on the ice. The 27-year-old, six footer weighs 180. He hails from Windsor, New Brunswick.At this writing, Randy potted 13 goals and 23 assists for 36 points. He&rsquo;s a pretty tough guy out there on the ice, too. He&rsquo;s not afraid to step into a man, either. He had 55 penalty minutes up to this writing.Last winter in 71 games here, Miller potted 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points while spending 78 minutes in the sin bin. He&rsquo;s below last season&rsquo;s point production, but the popular winger plugs all the time.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02507/3079847-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="1225" height="719"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03406/3079840-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="2475" height="3095"></div> &#9632;

f0016-01

Kings’ Hopes For Pennant Dimmed By L.A. Recalls

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div>HERSHEY. Pa. -The Cleveland Barons swept three individual awards and tied for another in balloting by American Hockey League coaches for their 16th annual all-star teams selected for HOCKEY NEWS and the Harrisburg, Pa. Patriot-News.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01497/3079899-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="252" height="428"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dave Creighton</figcaption></div>Jerry Des Jardins, a first team choice at goal, walked off with the most valuable player prize; center Jim Patterson took the rookie award, while Bill Needham, another first team selection, was chosen as the best defenseman.Player-coach Fred Glover tied with Providence coach Dave Creighton for coach of the year recognition.Ironically, Cleveland missed making the Calder Cup playoffs. For 60 games the Barons led both the Western Division and the entire eight team circuit. Then Des Jardins suffered a serious knee injury and Cleveland went into a tailspin, evidence that Des Jardins was the keyman In the team&rsquo;s earlier fine play.Both Creighton and Glover iced young teams and Providence was one of the big surprises of the Eastern Division, especially in the latter stages of the season.The teams are all-opponent. No coach could vote for his own player In team balloting, but could vote for his own man for the Individual awards.The lone unanimous selection was center Andre Lacroix, the&rsquo; Quebec Aces flash, who Is now In the National League with the Philadelphia Flyers. Players got five points for a first team vote and three for a second.Under AHL rules Lacroix will not be eligible for the loop&rsquo;s official team since he had departed the Aces before the sportswriters and sports casters turned In their nominations. However, In the case of the coaches balloting, no restrictions were placed on them.Lacroix led the league&rsquo;s scorers from practically the season outset and was still on top with 87 points as the campaign entered the final week.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02442/3079892-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="559" height="516"><figcaption class="caption-body">JIMPATTERSON &hellip; Rookie of Year</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03366/3079885-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="569" height="519"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILL NEEDHAM &hellip; Top Defenseman</figcaption></div>In addition to Lacroix, Needham and Des Jardins, other first team selections were Ron Ingram, Buffalo, defense; Bob Barlow, Rochester, left wing, and Eddie Kachur, Providence, right wing.Second team choices Included, goalie Bob Perreault, Rochester; defense, Bob Morrison, Quebec; Darryl Sly, Rochester; center Mike Nykoluk, Hershey; left wing Roger DeJordy, Hershey, and right wing, Norm Ferguson, Cleveland. &#9632;

f0017-01

Barons Dominate AHL Teams, Awards

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0017-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04290/3079944-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg"></div>ROCHESTER, N.Y.&mdash;A Hollywood script writer couldn&rsquo;t have done any better than the Rochester Americans did all by themselves in wrapping up the American H o c k e y League&rsquo;s Western Division championship here March 24.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05239/3079937-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="297" height="434"><figcaption class="caption-body">Len Lunde</figcaption></div>The Amerks went into the Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend needing two wins to clinch their third divisional crown in the last four seasons. They came up with the big effort to whip Providence in the Rhode Island city 5-3 Friday, then let down and dropped a 7-5 game in Baltimore the following night.Now it was Sunday the 24th and 6,712 Rochester fans showed up to see their heroes go for the title.All the Amerks did was to reach double figures for the first time during the 1967-68 campaign, piling up a 10-1 triumph over the Springfield Kings.And as evidence of the team effort Joe Crozier has been getting, every player on the squad that night except goalies Bobby Perreault and Cart Wetzel picked up scoring points.Nine different Amerks collected goals and 14 were credited with assists. Len Lunde led the scorers with a goal and three assists for four points. Bob Barlow, Bryan Hextall and Murray Hall each had three, Duke Harris, Marc Reaume, Dick Gamble, Don Johns and Les Duff two each, and Bronco Horvath, Jim McKenny, Darryl Sly, Ted Taylor, Don Cherry and Red Armstrong one each.The 10 goals were the most ever scored by a Rochester team against Springfield since the Amerks joined the league in 1956-57.The latest title further shined Crozier&rsquo;s already glistening record as coach of the Americans.In five years behind the bench year, Crozier now has three Western Division titles, should have his second overall AHL championship and will be shooting for his third Calder Cup in the current playoffs. The other two years Crozier&rsquo;s clubs finished second &mdash; once just one point out of first and the other time seven points out.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06204/3079930-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="1208" height="938"></div> &#9632;

f0017-04

Americans Grab Division Title With 10-Goal Blast At Kings

<div class="byline">BY JOHN WHITE</div>PORTLAND, Ore. -Well, they might as well change the name.Instead of the Western Hockey League, make it the Portland Hockey League.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01501/3080010-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="262" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Art Jones</figcaption></div>Only the playoffs have preserved the sanity of rivals of the Buckaroos from Oregon after winning the Western League&rsquo;s regular-season championship. For the skaters from the Rose City it was the fourth-consecutive regular-season title.It was worse than that.It was Portland&rsquo;s sixth regular season championship in the last seven seasons.In the entire history of professional hockey in every league that ever existed on the North American continent, only two teams ever boasted comparable records.The Detroit Red Wings, of course, took seven straight National Hockey League titles between 1949 and 1955.The Montreal Canadiens won six out of seven between 1956 and 1962 or &mdash; if you prefer &mdash; between 1958 and 1964. It works both ways.Professional hockey returned to Portland, after a decade of absence, in the fall of 1960 with the opening of a new Memorial Coliseum here.In those eight seasons since the first drop of the puck, Portland has won more games than any other professional hockey club in the world.These were the standings for games played through March 24 of the current campaign:Rank Team Victories1. Portland 3192. Montreal 2983. Rochester 2964. Quebec 2915. Hershey 2896. Seattle 2787. Springfield 2718. Chicago 2719. Toronto 27010 Cleveland 269Over the past eight seasons &mdash; Including the current one &mdash; there have been two major keys to Portland&rsquo;s astounding hockey success.The most important, perhaps, has been toughness on the road.The second reason has been strong defense.And nothing had changed this season as the Buckaroos were driving for their fourth consecutive title.With one week to play, Portland had the best road record in the Western League &mdash; 15 victories, 16 defeats and 3 ties.This was the seventh time in eight seasons that the Buckaroos had posted the best road record in the circuit.In fact, the Buckaroos this year enjoyed all of their biggest nights on the road.With one game to play, the Portland club had skated six times in Vancouver &mdash; that&rsquo;s on the Canucks&rsquo; home ice - and had posted six victories for one of the unbelievable records in all pro hockey this season.In San Diego, the Buckaroos in February took the ice twice in one week with first place at stake and throngs of 13,148 and 13,542 wild fans cheering the home-town Gulls.Portland won both games to pull away from San Diego for good.In Seattle?It&rsquo;s like kicking your little sister even to talk about it. The Totems&rsquo; three largest crowds of the season were 13,070 &hellip; and 12,161 &hellip; and 12,068.All three games were against Portland. The Buckaroos haven&rsquo;t lost yet &mdash; two victories and a tie.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02405/3080003-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="599" height="442"></div>The biggest came on the night of March 24. A Seattle victory would have cut Portland&rsquo;s lead to one point with each club facing four more games.Portland won, 2-1. on Art Jones&rsquo; goal with less than two minutes to play. The lead was five points &mdash; and Portland needed just one victory in the last three meetings with the Totems to wrap up the title.Defensive toughness?The two best defensive records in Western League history were owned by the Vancouver hockey clubs of 1954 and 1958. Each team allowed opponents to score only 174 goals in 70 games.Portland, with four games to play, had yielded only 159 goals in 68 clashes.The Buckaroos clearly would finish as the Western League&rsquo;s best defensive club of all time.None of it was surprising. In eight years, Portland never has ranked worse than second defensively in the Western League.It seems incredible that in the first 19 seasons of the Western Hockey League no goalie ever matched the all-time record goals-against average of 2.40 posted by Lorne (Gump) Worsley with Vancouver in 1954.With four games to play, both Portland goalies were below that mark &mdash; Jimmy McLeod at 2.26 and rookie pro Marv Edwards at 2.34.Offensively, the sparks of the Portland attack this season have been Captain Art Jones at center and winger Bid Saunders.Saskatoon product Jones, with a week to play, held an eight-point lead over Len Ronson of San Diego in the battle to lead the Western Hockey League in scoring.Jones had 84 points on 32 goals and 52 assists. Ronson had 76 points on 41 goals and 35 assists.The Winnipeg-born Saunders had sniped 37 goals to tie his career record set with Portland in 1963 and was the chief challenger of Ronson for the league lead in red lights.And you might add a word for Buck defenseman Doug Messier who had scored a career record of 42 points with one week to play and was tied with San Diego&rsquo;s Gordon Sinclair in a race to lead WHL blueliners in scoring.So, with one week to play, six titles in seven seasons seemed assured.As mentioned, only the playoffs have made it interesting for the rest of the league.In the last seven years, Portland has won the playoffs twice.For Buckaroo rivals, there was some hope during the month of April.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03304/3079996-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="1218" height="828"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04237/3079989-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="550" height="701"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILL SAUNDERS &hellip; Provided Offensive Spark</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05182/3079982-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg" title="f0018-05" width="1854" height="2255"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04291/3079975-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="1231" height="882"></div> &#9632;

f0018-01

It’s Same Old Refrain In WHL As Bucks Win All The Marbles

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01481/3080048-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="574" height="605"><figcaption class="caption-body">ARNIE SCHMAUTZ &hellip; His Goal Beat Phil</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02412/3080041-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="583" height="595"><figcaption class="caption-body">PHIL MALONEY &hellip; His Assists Topped Arnie</figcaption></div>VANCOUVER, B.C. &ndash;Phil Maloney of the Vancouver Canucks and Arnie Schmautz of the Portland Buckaroos are a couple of brats who throw tantrums.They are impolite and inconsiderate. In fact, they are downright rude.Invite &rsquo;em to your house for dinner, and they probably would throw the food at you.You think not?Just check what happened in the next-to-last week of the Western Hockey League&rsquo;s regular season.On a Wednesday night in Portland, the Buckaroos and their fans threw a &ldquo;night&rdquo; for Schmautz, who has announced he&rsquo;s hanging up the skates for good at the end of this campaign, his 13th as a professional.Two nights later, on a Friday in Vancouver, it was Maloney&rsquo;s turn to be the guest of honor.Few players are more deserving of a salute from the fans, either.Schmautz, the smallest player In pro hockey, was playing his 865th regular-season game as a professional on the night he was honored &mdash; and the total was 947 If you count playoffs.He had scored 595 regular season points, including 244 goals, and had drawn 718 minutes in penalties that had driven opponents to distraction.Arnie ranked as Portland&rsquo;s all time Ironman, was third on the Buckaroos&rsquo; all-time scoring list, second in assists, fourth in goals and first in penalty minutes among forwards.Maloney, on the other hand, is almost too much to believe. At the age of 40, he is playing his 20th professional season.On the night he was applauded, Maloney was playing his 1,307th regular-season game and could look back on 498 goals and 887 assists for a total of 1,385 points.Throw in playoffs and the totals were 1,410 games played, 539 goals, 949 assists and 1,488points.You could write for hours about Maloney.Let&rsquo;s just say that he&rsquo;s been voted the Most Valuable Player in both the Western and American Hockey Leagues and that no other player in the history of the game can make that statement.So the stage was set. Rather the stages were set.In Portland, the fans responded. The turnout was 7,388 &mdash; largest mid-week crowd of the season.In Vancouver, the fans exploded. The turnout was 12,583 &mdash; largest crowd of the year in the British Columbia metropolis.You couldn&rsquo;t move without bumping Into a gift.For Schmautz, the highlights in Portland were a trip to Hawaii for Arnie and his beautiful wife, Mary, a darkroom full of expensive camera equipment and an electric golf cart &mdash; plus other gifts by the dozen.For Maloney, the highlight was a brand-new convertible automobile &mdash; plusother gifts by the dozen.The Vancouver players were respectful as Schmautz was honored. The Portland players were respectful as Maloney was honored.Until the puck was dropped, that is!No point In dragging it out. Vancouver whipped the Buckaroos in Portland, 4-2, on Arnie Schmautz night. Portland whipped the Canucks In Vancouver, 3-0, on Phil Maloney night.By now you can see it coming, can&rsquo;t you?That&rsquo;s right. The guy who ruined Arnie Schmautz night was Phil Maloney. He set up three of Vancouver&rsquo;s four goals with gorgeous assists.And the guy who ruined Phil Maloney night? Who else? Arnie Schmautz He scored Portland&rsquo;s first goal &mdash; which proved to be the game-winner. And his assist set up the insurance goal &mdash; even though the Insurance wasn&rsquo;t needed. &#9632;

f0019-01

Arnie Schmautz, Maloney Ruin Each Other’s Night

<div class="byline">BY SHEL FULLERTON</div>CLEVELAND, OHIO -Youth is having its day and the list of those unable to understand what goes on in the minds of today&rsquo;s younger generation would stretch around the world-by the elongated route the astronauts fly.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03337/3080079-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="281" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Fred Glover</figcaption></div>Add to those admittedly confused by youthful thinking is one Fred Glover, Cleveland Barons&rsquo; coach, to whom the vagaries of the youthful mind are about as plain as Sanskrit.Glover, whose team had to battle right down to the wire before finding out whether or not it would gain the playoffs, confesses that (he thought processes of some of his players have him completely at sea.About his team, which floundered badly at season&rsquo;s end after leading the Western Division for most of the campaign Glover was quoted as saying:&ldquo;With the majority of players, you can see what they are thinking by the way they talk and the way they play. But with some of these guys, I wonder. Their talk and action off the ice doesn&rsquo;t coincide with what they do on the ice. The puzzle just doesn&rsquo;t fit together.&ldquo;This involves some of the guys who have been around a few years, too-not just the new players.&ldquo;I know what they&rsquo;re capable of doing. They won during the first four months of the season. I can try to in still confidence in them but I can&rsquo;t put it there.&rdquo;Glover let money talk as the Barons headed out on the road for their final five games. In simple black and white, he drew a picture of the financial difference between winning and losing.&ldquo;I never saw anybody yet who didn&rsquo;t like to pick up extra money,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Maybe we&rsquo;ve got a bunch of rich people who don&rsquo;t need the money.&ldquo;I have come to the conclusion that the only ones who can inspire them are themselves. You can only draw the picture so many times.&rdquo;Temporarily, the me: sage came across. The Barons began their final road trip by edging Springfield before heading for Quebec, Rochester and Buffalo, where the issue would be decided,Jerry Des Jardins&rsquo; return to health spurred the club but a hip injury to Howie Glover, the team&rsquo;s leading goal scorer, planted a black mark on the picture. &#9632;

f0019-03

Attitude Of Barons Baffling Even To Old Pro Like Glover

<div class="byline">BY MATT DENNIS</div>OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla -&ldquo;We finished with 88 points, best of all the teams in the league and I&rsquo;m proud of the way my boys came through. Last season, we grabbed 85, good enough for first. It&rsquo;s only coincidence I guess but we have the same number of wins in 70 games as we did last season, 38. Only difference this year is we tied three more games Last year we had dropped 23, this year 20,&rdquo; said playing-coach Murray Davison of the Oklahoma City Blazers at the end of the regular Central Pro Hockey League schedule.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01327/3080124-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="275" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Lorentz</figcaption></div>The Tulsa Oilers finished atop the Northern Division, with 85 points.Over the 70 games, rookie Jim Lorentz sparkled ending up with 33 goals and 50 assists for 83 points.Ron Buchanan suffered a leg injury in the final week of the campaign and was a doubtful starter in the series against Tulsa. In 64 outings, Buchanan fired 26 goals and assisted on 48 for 74 points.Freshman Grant Erickson enjoyed a strong season with 27 goals and 34 assists for 61 points.The Blazers set a new league mark in allowing only 174 goals over 70 games bettering the record set by Minneapolis Bruins in the 1964-65 campaign when they gave up 193.Goalies Russ Gillow and Dennis Gibson racked up a new team shutout mark of 11 with Gillow wielding the brush on eight occasions. Previous team high was nine set by St. Paul Rangers in the 1963-64 term.Gillow matched the individual shutout record set by Marcel Pelletier of St. Paul in the winter of 1963-64 and bettered the goals-against mark for the circuit with a 2.21 average. Cesare Maniago in 67 games with Minneapolis compiled a 2.75 mark while Gillow in 43 games covering 2,524 minutes racked up a classy 2.21 goals-against figure.TULSA: Mike Byers was called up from the Oilers to the Toronto Maple Leafs after counting 14 goals and five assists in 27 games.Rene Robert was in the midst of a five-game pro trial with the Oilers coming in from the Three Rivers, Que. Junior team where he scored 69 goals in 66 games and coach John McLellan was impressed with his efforts.FORT WORTH: wings were ready for their playoffs against Dallas in a five-game quarter final after capturing a second-place berth in the Southern Division.Rick McCann remained as their top point-getter with 20 goals and 50 assists for 70 points in 66 outings.Gary Marsh with 24 goals and Al Johnson with 23 were the leading goal-getters.KANSAS CITY: Georges Guilbault and Wayne Rivers were tied as the leading goal-getters for the Blues with both showing 25.Gary Veneruzzo was the club&rsquo;s top point-getter with 21 goals and 50 assists for 71 points.Coach Doug Harvey wanted a &ldquo;tightening up of defence&rdquo; for the playoffs against the Memphis South Stars noting that the first two games were to be played in Kansas City and commented, &ldquo;If we win both those game at home we&rsquo;ll be in good shape in the best-of-five set.&rdquo;DALLAS: Brian McDonald was the Black Hawks top point-getter over the season with 24 goals and 45 assists for 69 points in 67 games.Oscar Gaudet was their top sniper with 30 goals, second time in his four-year pro career that he has hit 30 or better. He fired 37 with the St. Louis Brayes of the CPHL in the 1965-66 term.MEMPHIS: (Germain Gagnon was the top point-getter for the South Stars over the season with 26 goals and 34 assists in 65 outings.Looking toward the playoffs, John Muckler general manager-coach of the Stars in commenting on playing the first two games of the best-of-five quarter final at Kansas City said, &ldquo;Playing there isn&rsquo;t going to hurt us. The pressure will be on Kansas City because they must win both games on their own ice. We can go into the first game relaxed and I think we can win one of the first two and to win the series, well have to do it in four games.&rdquo;HOUSTON: Jude Drouin, 18-year old rookie of the Apollos, ended up their top point-getter for the season with 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points. Dick Sentes was runner up with 21 goals and 33 assists for 54.Defenceman Bryan Watson had eclipsed the league penalty mark with 289 minutes. Previous high was the 262 sat out by Larry Johnston of Tulsa in the 1964-65 season.Rocky Farr was returned to the Apollos in the final 10 days of the season after being on emergency loan to Cleveland of the American League.Special awards were made to Chris Bordeleau, Sentes, Watson, Drouin, Carol Vadnais, and goalie Ernie Wakely for their performances over the season.OMAHA: Juha Widing was the leading point-getter for the Knights who missed the playoffs along with Houston.Widing had 26 goals and 31 assists for 57 points in 60 games, four more than linemate Bill Fairbairn who had 21 goals and 32 assists in 68 outings.Special awards were made to Widing and Fairbairn as the leading rookie and the most sportsmanlike players, respectively and Joe Johnston, another rookie who was a 22-goal marksman was named the most popular player.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02242/3080117-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="1854" height="2490"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03201/3080110-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="626" height="1598"></div> &#9632;

f0020-01

Oklahoma Carries Impressive Record Into First Round Of CPHL Playdowns

<div class="byline">BY HARVEY POLLACK</div>CHARLOTTE. N.C. -When the chips are down, Chuck Stuart is a great man to have on your side as the Charlotte Checkers will attest as they battle Greensboro in the Southern Division finals of the Eastern Hockey League playoffs.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02135/3080176-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="262" height="449"><figcaption class="caption-body">Art Hart</figcaption></div>For it was Stuart who literally single-handedly brought the victory over Nashville that enabled the Checkers to earn the meeting with regular season champion Greensboro. And it was Chuck also who continued to play a key role in this series as Charlotte jumped away to a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven game set.Meanwhile in the North, favored Clinton had to go to seven games to oust underdog New Haven and for a time was on the brink of elimination. The Comets will represent the North in the EHL finals agains either Greensboro or Charlotte.But the playoff hero thus far has been Stuart. Chuck didn&rsquo;t have a good year. He missed a dozen games and wound up with a subpar 78 points. For a fellow who holds the all time EHL record of 153 points, this was an off season.But his skipper, Fred Creighton, didn&rsquo;t give up on the brilliant center. And luckily too, for Stuart turned the tide in the series. After Nashville won its first game at home, the Flyers looked for a second night triumph. Then they could go to Charlotte for the last three games of the season with a 2-0 edge, needing only one win in three starts to eliminate the Checkers.But they didn&rsquo;t reckon with Stuart. Chuck posted a hat trick in the second game to spark a 6-3 win that caused Lloyd Hinchberger to yelp, &ldquo;Chuckle killed us. It was bound to happen sooner or later. He hadn&rsquo;t been scoring well but he certainly picked an opportune time for Charlotte to come out of his slump. &ldquo;Art Hart&rsquo;s two goals won the first game at Charlotte and then Stuart came through in the clincher with another hat trick to give him six goals in the four game series. Chuck had 10 goals in the last six games of the regular season as he prepared himself for the playoffs.Then came the Greensboro series, and Stuart continued his whirlwind play. Two of his goals and two of his assists were instrumental in the opening game conquest and in the second fray he notched another tally to help his mates forge into a 2-0 lead.Stuart could prove the difference in the southern series and Creighton is counting on him to continue his prolific production and possibly bring the EHL title here for the first time since the 1956-57 campaign.Up North, New Haven muffed a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead over Clinton. The Blades surprised the Comets by winning the first game at Clinton and went home with a split. If they could sweep their two home games, they would have had a commanding 3-1 edge. But after taking their home opener, the Blades lost their second home fray to allow the Comets to equalize the series and regain the home ice advantage.Two wins over Comets doubled New Haven&rsquo;s regular season total since Clinton held a 11-1-2 edge. Al Johnstone replaced Roger Wilson in the cage for the Blades for the Clinton series after latter&rsquo;s work had helped win Johnstown series. Johnstone had been side lined since Feb. 8 with a harm string muscle problem.SYRACUSE: Clobie Collins, last pilot of year, says Blazers had less practice time than any team in league. Don Perry says he gave Blazers some tips on player help but the team never followed up the advice. Rookie Ray Adduono, No. 1 yearling in the North, had a night in waning days of regular season. Team drew 4,752 on a Merchants Night for largest crowd of year by far here.CLINTON Comets 24-game undefeated streak was snapped here by New Haven in opener of Northern finals. Only other home loss this year w s by Johnstown on Jan. 5. Borden Smith wore helmet to protect injured ear. Fan here grabbed Don Perry&rsquo;s stick causing ref Ted Daily to warn that any repetition would result in fan&rsquo;s ouster. Smith&rsquo;s two goals in 4th game enabled Comets to square series.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0394/3080169-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="565" height="596"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHUCK STUART &hellip; Red Hot In Playoffs</figcaption></div>JOHNSTOWN Galen Head played for Detroit in stretch run after a brilliant 125 point season here. Defenseman Mike Crupi&rsquo;s shoulder separation and Billy Ives&rsquo; broken toe were eyed by the medicos after season. Carlo Longarini will spend off-season in Sault Ste. Marie.SALEM: Pittsburgh GM Jack Riley is looking over talent that could help the Rebels next season. Coach Dave Lucas hopes for a more favorable schedule next season. Lucas turned down a chance to play for Baltimore claiming he wasn&rsquo;t in shape. Rebels averaged 1,800 fans per game and 64,000 attendance for season. Sam Gregory tied Jim Jago for club assist laurels with 42, while Tom Schiller was club&rsquo;s penalty leader with 165 minutes off ice.NEW HAVEN Jean Marie Nicole picked most popular Blade and goalie Al Johnstone MVP. Ron Hergott was fined for off-ice incident to become Don Perry&rsquo;s third fine of season, the other two being &ldquo;late for practice&rdquo; fines. Mike Rondeau&rsquo;s 10-point performance in season finale with Syracuse is still talk of club Rondeau bothered by bad knee, Ray Carpentier by gimpy leg and Nicole by a cold in playoffs. Crowds have been almost all sellouts for playoffs. Blades&rsquo; loss here to Comets was first since Feb. 7.JACKSONVILLE Coach Bob Sabourin will run summer ice program here from April through August. Harold White, Jackie LeClair and Harrison Gray will assist at least part of the time. Rockets&rsquo; playoff attendance of 7,780 was encouraging for next season. After 2-1 win over Greensboro in playoffs, Sabourin tossed a few chairs happily onto the ice and White tried to shoot them into the nets. Bob Mullins went home nursing a pinched nerve in his arm.NASHVILLE Flyers disappointed by loss to Charlotte and now are pointing for a season ticket sale of 750 with the current total over 400. Owner Mark Parrish still negotiating better dates and better rental here. Lloyd Hinchberger pleased with season considering number of personnel lost from last season and loss of Norm Ryder and Flo Pilote for half the season. Team&rsquo;s coasting with lead cost it a vital second game in Charlotte series.CHARLOTTE Game time for first playoff game with Greensboro was moved so as not to conflict with telecast of North Carolina basketball game. Coach Fred Creighton lauded goalie Bob Whid-den for his great play vs Nashville. Ron Spratt playing with pulled leg muscle. Checkers wouldn&rsquo;t agree z with Greensboro plan to play one game here and next three on Gens ice. Line of Moe Savard, Art Hart and Ernie Dyda playing brilliantly in post-season action.GREENSBORO: Ron Spong was confident that home ice advantage would enable his team to beat Charlotte despite 2-0 deficit. He also was disappointed with club&rsquo;s checking. Defenseman Bill Adair missed Florida series but played vs Charlotte. Tough Florida series may have sapped Gens. It took shutout in finale by John Voss to win series.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01186/3080162-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="646" height="4257"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0479/3080155-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="1218" height="2259"></div> &#9632;

f0021-02

Stuart’s Scoring Heroics Sparks Charlotte Into Southern Finals

<div class="byline">BY BOB REED</div><h2>Muskegon Rookie Ford Wins Scoring</h2>MUSKEGON, Mich.&mdash;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01206/3080214-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="561" height="592"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY FORD &hellip; Rookie Cleans Up</figcaption></div>Gary Ford of the Muskegon Mohawks, just voted &ldquo;Rookie of the Year&rdquo; in the International Hockey League, emerged as the league&rsquo;s scoring champion for the season, beating out Dayton&rsquo;s Don Westbrooke, who had been the front runner most of the season.According to unofficial figures, Ford finished with 115 points and Westbrooke with 110.The rookie center clinched the honor with a great finish scoring his sixth hat trick of the season in the final game against Port Huron. The three goals tied him for the lead in that department with the Flags&rsquo; Randy Prior, who scored one in the same game Each finished with 56, according to unofficial figures.It was the first time, at least for many years, that a rookie has won the IHL scoring championship. The veteran Len Thomson of Fort Wayne won it last year with a record 139 points.Meanwhile IHL clubs were engaged in the first playoff series, after one of the most dramatic finishing fights for playoff spots in the league&rsquo;s history.It was the champion Mohawks meeting third place Columbus and the second place Dayton Gems playing Fort Wayne&rsquo;s Komets, fourth place team in the best four-out-of-seven series.Although the Mohawks were theoretically and statistically the favorites on the basis of having an edge over every team in the league in the season&rsquo;s meetings, that advantage was virtually nullified by the history of past IHL playoff upsets. In the last three seasons the league champions have been ousted in the first series and in the last two in four straight games, which happened to Dayton last season and Muskegon the year before.Whatever happens in the playoffs can hardly be more nerve-tingling than the finish that decided the third and fourth spots. Third place, taken by Columbus, in only the second year in the league for the Checkers, was decided when they beat Toledo&rsquo;s Blades, 4-2, in the Chex&rsquo; final game.That left it up to the Komets and Blades on the final day. The Komets needed a win at Dayton to clinch it but could manage only a tie. The Blades then had to win at Port Huron but they bowed to the Flags, 6-4 and the Komets were in by one point. They had never missed the playoffs in nine years of coaching by Ken Ullyot.PORT HURON: Lloyd Maxfield, former coach and this year administrative assistant of the Port Huron Flags, announced that he is leaving hockey at the close of the season to enter private business. He said that a head Injury he received three seasons ago and the pressures that come in hockey prompted his decision. In three years coaching the Flags he won one league title and the Turner Cup playoff prize. In eight seasons as a player he was consistently one of the top scorers and led the league in 1964-65, when he also coached and piloted the Flags to the season title.FORT WAYNE: Merv Dubchak and Bob Baird had hat tricks in a 10-2 defeat of Port Huron, in which Flags&rsquo; goalie Norm Jacques stopped 51 Komet shots &hellip; Reggie Primeau, hailed by Coach Ken Ullyot as the &ldquo;most-under-rated player in the league", got the important goals in the closing games with Des Moines and Dayton &hellip; Randy Gates hit for four in the last two games &hellip; A closing crowd of 7,876 brought the season total to 168,269 for a 4,674 average &hellip; Len Thomson was on the All-Star squad for the eighth time.DAYTON: Alain Beaule, named on the All-Star second team, scored 59 points, a record for a Dayton defenseman &hellip; Goalie Glenn Ramsay was on the All-Star squad for the eighth time &hellip; Barry Merrell, side lined for a month with a knee injury, got back in action &hellip; The Gems finished with a season attendance of 143,587, an average of just under 4,000.COLUMBUS: The Checkers gained the playoffs in their second year in the league by winning 18 and tieing one in the last 24 games &hellip; Goalie Gordon Dibley was back in the nets after getting a special mask to protect his injured eye &hellip; Teammates voted Bert Fizzell top offensive player, Jack Turner best defensive and Dick Procoviat top rookie &hellip; Checker attendance reached 119,200 compared to last year&rsquo;s 75,565.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0498/3080207-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="592" height="573"></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

Fort Wayne Edges Toledo For Lost Playoff Spot

TOLEDO, O. -There were only two repeaters from last season on the All-Star first team of the International Hockey League selected by sports writers and broadcasters in the seven IHL cities.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02143/3080259-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="293" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Goodwin</figcaption></div>John Goodwin, left wing of the Fort Wayne Komets and Glenn Ramsay, Toledo goal keeper, were the only players on the first team who were there last year and Ramsay had to share the honors with Muskegon&rsquo;s Bob Porani, the two winding up in a tie. Len Thomson, who was on the first team last year, was placed on the second.Of the 12 players elected for the first and second teams, the champion Mohawks placed five. Besides Perani Carl Brewer was named defenseman and Gary Ford center on the first team, with Jean-Guy Lagace at defense and Joe Kastelic at left wing on the second team. In addition Muskegon&rsquo;s Moose Lallo was named coach.Brewer and Don Westbrooke of Dayton, right wing, were the only unanimous choices.Rookie of the year was Ford, a unanimous choice, with Randy Prior of Port Huron runner-up.The Gatschene Trophy, awarded for playing ability and sportsmanship, was shared by Komets&rsquo; Len Thomson and Dayton&rsquo;s Westbrooke. It was the sixth time Thomson received the honor, including two ties.The Governor&rsquo;s Trophy, awarded to the leading defenseman, went to Brewer, unanimously, with Jack Turner of Columbus runner-up.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03120/3080252-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="1219" height="561"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0587/3080245-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="1853" height="2910"></div> &#9632;

f0022-02

Muskegon Dominates All-Stars

QUEBEC CITY, Que. -During the past week, the sports casters and writers around the American Hockey League, were called on to vote for the various individual awards, as well as for the All-Star teams. As it has been the case in recent years, the Quebec Aces, who have played real &ldquo;razzle dazzle&rdquo; hockey under Vic Stasiuk, this season will have serious candidates in all departments.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01183/3080297-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="286" height="462"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Morrison</figcaption></div>The Aces deserve consideration at nearly every position, on either the first or second all-star team. In goal, rookie Fernand Rivard was trailing Rochester&rsquo;s Bobby Perreault by only a few goals in the goalkeeping race when this was written. Rivard&rsquo;s average was 3.08.On defense, Jimmy Morrison, the oldest player on the team, is still regarded as one of the best rearguards in the league and he and Terry Ball are largely responsible for the Aces fine defensive record.Simon Nolet is away ahead of the field, among right wingers. Nolet, who is in his third year in the AHL was locked in a tight battle with Bobby Barlow, of Rochester for the scoring championship right up until the final game.Guy Gendron, who has been playing professional hockey for almost half his life, is showing no signs of slowing down-he has been one of the circuit&rsquo;s top marksmen, as well as a stready back checker and must be considered for all-star honors on left wing.The Aces have more candidates than any other team in the league, for the Garrett Memorial Award, presented to the top rookie. They Include goalie Rivard, defenseman Ball, and right winger Dick Sarrazln.Rivard stands an excellent chance of being selected for the &ldquo;Les Cunningham Award&rdquo; presented to the most valuable player in the league.Morrison of course will be the leading candidate for the Eddie Shore Plaque, awarded to the top defenceman. If there was an award for the best coach, Vic Stasiuk would surely rate. Stasiuk was left with a very young team by the Philadelphia Flyers at the start of the year. He had only a few veterans to work with, yet his team has been in playoff contention all season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02143/3080290-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="574" height="579"><figcaption class="caption-body">FERN RIVARD &hellip; May Be Top Rookie</figcaption></div>No matter what happens in the playoffs, the 1967-68 season will have been one of the most exciting ones ever for Aces, and one which will be long remembered by Quebecers, who have turned-out in almost unprecedented numbers, to see their exciting Aces in action. &#9632;

f0023-01

Quebec Aces Players Rate In Voting For AHL Awards

<div class="byline">BY VIN CIMINI</div>PROVIDENCE, R.I.&mdash;At this time last year the Reds were en route back to their homes in Canada. They had just gone through their worst season ever, winning-wise, and the causes were many. To enumerate them here would be tedious and only a re-opening of old sores.A year later, as this story is being written, the Reds were in the playoffs in the American League&rsquo;s Eastern Division. The reasons for their remarkable rise are many but again space is limited so to list them all is impossible.However, one of the major causes for the young team&rsquo;s coming of age is the direct result of the work of a man whose fine and dedicated work has, for the most part, gone unheralded many times too often.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03112/3080328-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="272" height="469"><figcaption class="caption-body">George Army</figcaption></div>George Army is now nearing the completion of his 37th year as the trainer for the Rhode Island Reds, and the dean of professional hockey trainers gives no indication whatsoever of letting up.George came to the Reds back in 1930-31 while still a AAA baseball player.He stepped into the semi-pro ranks back in 1918 and was in the game for twenty years, a remarkable feat considering he was a catcher, and he has the broken fingers to testify to that.&ldquo;I caught quite a few greats,&rdquo; recalls Army. &ldquo;Guys like Lefty Grove, Walter Johnson and Carl Hubbell.&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t the best hitter in the world but I could catch pretty well and I guess that&rsquo;s why I stayed with it so long.In 1936 he began a fulltime hitch with the Reds which has him going strong even today, 37 years after he first taped a pro hockey player&rsquo;s ankle.No greater description could be written to describe his achievements with the Reds than that found in the team program referring to him as the man who &ldquo;&hellip; has taped, stitched and bandaged Reds hockey teams into prominence since the early 30&rsquo;s.&rdquo;He is a master at his trade and an Invaluable asset as far as the Reds are concerned.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re a healthy hockey team this year,&rdquo; said Reds&rsquo; general manager Buster Clegg.&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t win hockey games with crippled players and thanks to George we&rsquo;ve been in tip-top shape all season.&rdquo;In honor of his outstanding work with the Reds he was installed as a pillar member of their Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964. Just recently he received the Schaeffer Circle of Sports Award as pro hockey&rsquo;s greatest trainer. A fitting tribute, indeed. &#9632;

f0023-03

Reds’ Trainer George Army Winds Up 37 th Year On Job

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div>DETROIT, Mich.&mdash;Rarely In recent years have the Red Wings picked up an excellent young player in a trade.Usually it&rsquo;s the other way around, the Wings give up youngsters to get older, experienced players.But, now, it appears, the Wings have struck a gold mine.It&rsquo;s dangerous to go overboard on a 20-year-old player but Gary Unger has been something else for the Red Wings: unbelievable. In 13 games as a Red Wing he had 5 goals and 10 assists for an overall 6-11-17 record in 28 games.It would be easy to dismiss the young center&rsquo;s work with the Wings following the big Detroit-Toronto trade as expected, after all, he&rsquo;s playing between Frank Mahovlich and Gordie Howe.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-0177/3080366-1-eng-US/c0004-012.jpg" title="C0004-01" width="278" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Unger</figcaption></div>That is, it would be easy if you hadn&rsquo;t seen Unger play.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing he can&rsquo;t do,&rdquo; praised Howe, &ldquo;shoot, check and make the plays. And when you tell him something, he listens &mdash; that&rsquo;s rare these days.&rdquo;In his 22 years Howe has teamed with more players than anyone in hockey and of Unger he says: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s more aggressive than anyone I&rsquo;ve played with recently.&rdquo;Then, with a big grin, westerner Howe said: &ldquo;Of course, he&rsquo;s a westerner.&rdquo;Unger, an Edmonton native, makes eye-popping plays look simple. In the Wings&rsquo; final meeting with Boston this season he poked the puck away from Dallas Smith, went around him from right wing - Unger&rsquo;s left-hand shot-and beat Gerry Cheevers with a backhander.&ldquo;He was a real pro on that play,&rdquo; Howe said. &ldquo;He showed me about four moves on one play. He gave Smith a little change of pace and you don&rsquo;t expect to see that in a youngster. Then he made a helluva play to get the goal.&rdquo;And Unger isn&rsquo;t the least bit awed by playing between Mahovlich and Howe.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a funny guy&rdquo; Howe grinned. &ldquo;The writers are always asking him about playing between Frank and myself so he told one guy it&rsquo;d be all right &rsquo;if they learn to put the puck in the net.&rsquo; &ldquo;In his season-closing stint with Detroit, a period of four weeks, Unger showed the same kind of poise Bobby Orr had as a rookie last season and that&rsquo;s a mighty high achievement.He was so good that Wing followers found it hard to believe &hellip; or else figured Unger will forget everything he knows during the summer.&ldquo;He plays now as if he&rsquo;d played two or three years of pro hockey and yet he started the season as a Junior,&rdquo; said Red Wing general manager Sid Abel who balked at the deal with the Leafs until Unger was Included.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very high on him. I think he&rsquo;s going to be a terrific hockey player.&rdquo;Unger&rsquo;s puck sense with the Wings was uncanny. While it certainly was a great break for him to team with Mahovlich and Howe, he made many of the plays that resulted in goals strictly on his own perseverance. He has a knack for threading his way through the traffic and keeping or picking up the puck.The work of the Mahovlich-Unger-Howe line was so impressive that it almost made Wing fans forget the almost entirely dismal season.And it&rsquo;s been a strange season for Unger.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had two big breaks. First I was cut by the Marlboros and sent to London a year ago and I played there regularly. The second break was the trade to Detroit.&ldquo;I was surprised when I was traded to Detroit but I like it now. It would take me three to four years with Toronto before I&rsquo;d get a chance to play regular &mdash; look at Mike Walton, even he sat on the bench a lot,&rdquo; Unger said.The Wings also picked up a bonus in Unger &mdash; since he&rsquo;s only 20, they don&rsquo;t have to protect him in the June draft. And from the way he played since joining the team, it looks like they&rsquo;ll keep receiving bonuses for years to come. He really looks too good to be true.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-0258/3080359-1-eng-US/c0004-022.jpg" title="C0004-02" width="1792" height="1426"><figcaption class="caption-body">Playing goal for the Detroit Red Wings this season has been no Sunday school picnic outing for men like ROY EDWARDS, shown here looking for puck with big JEAN BELIVEAU of Montreal acting as &rsquo;screen&rsquo;. Edwards in his rookie year and Roger Crozier experienced rough year.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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April 6, 1968

PASSING THE PUCK

Canadians’ Goaling Team Wins Vezina Trophy

Hockey News Award Captured By Mikita

National Hockey League Summaries