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.

March 22, 1969

The Hockey News March 22, 1969

<div class="byline">BY BOB HARRIS</div>MONTREAL, Que. &mdash;Boston&rsquo;s Bruins, giving Montreal&rsquo;s mighty Canadiens spirited fight for the National Hockey League pennant, cornered two of the top unofficial laurels available to them when the league&rsquo;s coaches named Bobby Orr the outstanding single performer and Harry Sinden the outstanding coach of this fastfinishing season in a poll conducted for the march HOCKEY WORLD Magazine.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-02626/2901655-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="268" height="417"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Orr</figcaption></div>This is an unofficial team, as is the fans&rsquo; team which the leaders pick for THE HOCKEY NEWS each season. the otticial tirst and second teams and special awards, such as the Hart Trophy, which goes to the most valuable player in the circuit, will be voted on by sports-writers in NHL cities and will be announced later.Along with Orr and Sinden, NHL coaches voted Gerry Desjardins, the overworked, but outstanding rookie goal-tender of the Los Angeles Kings, the best rookie to break into the big-time this season.Along with Orr at one defense slot on the All-NHL team picked by the coaches are Tim Horton of Toronto at the other defense post, Jacques Plante of St. Louis in goal, Phil Esposito of Boston at center. Gordie Howe of Detroit on right wing and Bobby Hull of Chicago on left wing.Boston had another man on the second team, defenseman Ted Green, and one on the third team, right-winger Ken Hodge. Montreal, vieing with Boston for the pennant, had two men on the second team, right wing Yvon Cournoyer and center Jean Beliveau and one cn the third team, defenseman Ted Harris.The break on order of finish in the outstanding player, outstanding rookie and outstanding coach contests is presented in full in THE HOCKEY WORLD, as are first, second and third allstar units for not only the NHL as a whole, but for the Eastern and Western Divisions as separate circuits.One of the most significant developments of this season in the opinion of the coaches was the swift ascension of prestige of expansion-division placers, not only those who had gained &ldquo;name&rdquo; status previously in the &ldquo;old&rdquo; division, but were regarded as castoffs just a season or less ago, when expansion began, but also veteran minorleague stars and new stars who moved up with expansion.Many expansion-division players made the first, second or third all-NHL teams, including Plante, who, of course, was a long-time NHL All-Star before his retirement three seasons back and his remarkable comeback this season, and his teammate Glenn Hall, who made the third All-NHL team, but was only a few voting points behind Plante. Others were Philadelphia goalie Bernie Parent and defensemen Bill White of L.A. and Al Arbour of St. Louis.In some respects, the impact of age is felt strongly in the coaches&rsquo; version of the best players to perform in major league hockey this season. Plante is 40 and has been in the NHL 12 seasons. Howe is 41 and has been in the NHL 23 seasons. Horton is 39 and has been in the NHL 17 seasons.Certainly, experience must pay off in this game, no matter how swift and tough it is, no matter how gruelling the present travelling schedule.However, youth is well represented in Orr, who at the tender age of 21, after only three seasons in the major leagues, including many games out with injuries, is recognized by NHL coaches as the dominant player in the game, and even as an all-time great already.Considered a spectacular puckcarrier. play-maker and shooter, a &ldquo;coach on the ice,&rdquo; the coaches also rate the super-quick skater a more efficient defensive player than his reputation would indicate. &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

Orr Tops Coaches’ NHL All-Star Teams

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01759/2901593-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="374" height="441"></div>&bull; TWIN CITIES, Minn. &mdash; DESPITE the great success of the St. Louis Blues at the gate this year, when the regular season comes to an end, Minnesota will have attracted the most spectators in the first two regular seasons of the expanded National Hockey League by any one of the six new teams &hellip; The North Stars will pass the 487,000 mark for this season and added to their final total or 438,891 for 1967-68 brings their two-year total to nearly 926,000 &hellip; St. Louis drew 319.205 during the first regular season and they would have to draw 607,000 this year to exceed the North Stars&rsquo; total. They would need an average of 16,000 per game for the entire season to do it &hellip; These interesting figures were passed on to us during our visit here by diligent Dick Dillman, one of the NHL&rsquo;s better public relations directors &hellip; A former hockey writer, Dillman edits one of the best hockey programs in the National League. He has a fine hockey background and is highly regarded by the communications media in this area &hellip; Everyone here feelss Danny Grant should be a shoo-in for the Calder Trophy as the best first-year player in the NHL this season. Grant will end the season holder of every possible record for a freshman forward to rack up in Big League play &hellip; Grant, Claude Larose and Ray Cullen are staging a keen battle for the North Stars&rsquo; scoring title &hellip; General manager-Coach Wren Blair pulled off a real coup when he landed Larose and Grant, last summer. These two former Montreal players have become two of the most popular members of the team and both are potential AllStars this season &hellip; Lou Nanne, the AllAmerican player who is looked upon as a local product by the Twin City fans, is developing into a first-class defenseman for the North Stars and is one of the crowd favorites. His play against Philadelphia in the 2-2 game here the other night was scintillating to say the least. His rushes from the defense are most colorful, and he is an extremely heady player.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03612/2901586-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="262" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Dillman</figcaption></div>&bull; WALTER BUSH, president of the North Stars and his fellow directors, felt very disappointed after the 2-2 stalemate against the Philadelphia Flyers, as the Stars had outplayed the Flyers by a mile throughtout the entire game and only the sensational play of Bernie Parent in the Flyers&rsquo; nets kept the club from the City of Brotherly Love in the game &hellip; The North Stars need every possible point from now until the end of the season if they are to make the playoffs and they were counting on two last Saturday instead of the one they wound up with &hellip; Elmer (Moose) Vasko, captain of the Stars, made his first appearence in this game after being sidelined with rib injuries. At 230 pounds, Vasko is the heaviest plaver in the NHL. Outside of his recent rib injuries he told us he had never felt better than this season. Moose, incidentally, recently sold his liquor store in Chicago and plans to concentrate solely on hockey &hellip; The Minnesota hockey fans are showing more and more enthusiasm towards their club and are becoming much more demonstrative than formerly &hellip; After Danny Grant scored tying the NHL record for most goals by a rookie the fans threw rubber balls, programs etc. on the ice. Even a topcoat made its appearance &hellip; Fans attending games here at the magnificent Metropolitain Sports Center are the latest arriving hockey spectators in the NHL. The biggest bulk of the fans arrive 10 minutes prior to face-off time. In fact they are still coming into the arena five minutes after the game has started &hellip;Colorful Wren Blair, easily one of hockey&rsquo;s most astute executives, is hoarse again. Every year about this time as the playoffs approach Blair loses his voice. Blair, incidentally, is one of hockey&rsquo;s nattiest dressers &hellip; Bernie Parent is giving Philadelphia the best goalkeeping in the NHL right now &hellip; Charles Holt of the University of New Hampshire was voted Coach of the Year and was presented with a fine award at the CCAA annual dinner held at Colorado Springs test week. Minnesota&rsquo;s Walter Walter Bush was the main speaker at the dinner.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02710/2901579-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="276" height="411"><figcaption class="caption-body">Walter Bush</figcaption></div>&bull; &ldquo;WHO IS the Most Underrated Big League Performer?&rdquo; is the title of one of the lead stories in the March issue of HOCKEY WORLD &hellip; THE NHL AllStar Team as selected bv the 12 NHL coaches is another great story in the same issue of HOCKEY WORLD &hellip; This allNHL monthly magazine is fast developing into a powerhouse of must reading for hockey followers. See subscription form in this paper &hellip; Fred Glover of Oakland is recognized by more and more hockey experts as having done the best coaching job in 196869. Boston&rsquo;s Harry Sinden has also done a fine job this season &hellip; Clarence Campbell made everyone happy in the Minnesota area when he said he would squash any trades involving the return of Western Division players to Eastern Division teams where they originally played. This is only right, too, and it would set hockey back a long way if this was not adhered to &hellip; Rumors have been making the rounds that Grant and Larose were to be dealt back to Montreal at the end of the season&hellip; It is expected that two NHL coaching jobs will change at the end of this campaign &hellip; Stan Waylett, Minnesota&rsquo;s 55-year-old trainer, has been looking after hockey clubs for over 30 years and is the oldest trainer in the league &hellip; Already as thin as a matchstick, Camille Henry of St. Louis, lost 10 pounds recently from a bout with the flu. He went to Florida for a week&rsquo;s rest &hellip; Minnesota has a first-rate team song titled: &ldquo;All Eyes Are on the North Stars&rdquo;. It was composed by Don Taft who is now writing one for the Minnesota Vikings.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04528/2901572-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="242" height="450"><figcaption class="caption-body">Danny Grant</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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PASSING THE PUCK

BLUE CHIPS: &mdash; New York is 14-6-4 under Francis in all games since the little man returned behind the bench &hellip; Rod Gilbert has moved into fifth place in the all time Ranger scoring parade with his 369th point, an assist on Jean Ratelle&rsquo;s tying goal versus Montreal March 9 &hellip; Francis has been using Reg Fleming sparingly. When he does put Reggie on, the bombastic Fleming quickly ignites things all over the rink &hellip; &ldquo;I like that,&rdquo; says Francis. &ldquo;Fleming is a rested hockey player so when he does get in there, I expect action and usually get it.&rdquo;&hellip; New York&rsquo;s four lines now are Ratelle, Gilbert, Hadfield; Tkaczuk, Balon, Nevin; Marshall, Jeffrey, Stewart; Hextali, Jeffrey, Marshall etc. etc &hellip; Jean Ratelle has counted in four straight games up through the tie with Montreal on March 9 &hellip; Donnie Marshall&rsquo;s next point will be the 500th of his NHL career &hellip; With 36 points Jim Neilson has exceeded last year&rsquo;s total of 35 when the Chief was named to the second team NHL All Star squad &hellip; The Rangers have 50 power play goals in 229 attempts while they have held the opposition to 28 in 195 tries &hellip; New York got only 46 power play goals in the entire 1967-68 campaign &hellip; &#9632;

Gilbert Jumps To 5th Place In All-Time Ranger Point Race

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0001-01149/2903761-1-eng-US/f0001-012.jpg" title="f0001-01" width="299" height="295"></div>&mdash;ON THE INSIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0001-02122/2903754-1-eng-US/f0001-022.jpg" title="f0001-02" width="309" height="497"></div>Bruins&rsquo; Depth Success Story&mdash;Page 3Parise Stars&rsquo; &rsquo;Unsung Hero&rsquo; &mdash;Page 5Denver U.S. College Champs&mdash;Page 9Delvecchio 3rd 1,000 Point Man Page 15<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0001-0357/2903747-1-eng-US/f0001-032.jpg" title="f0001-03" width="2424" height="1501"></div> &#9632;

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ESPOSITO, HULL, GRANT LEAD ASSAULT ON RECORDS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02655/2901417-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg"></div>(Standings on Wednesday, March 19)EASTERN DIVISIONWESTERN DIVISION<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-03543/2901410-1-eng-US/f0002-032.jpg" title="f0002-03" width="1133" height="301"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. Mar. 11Montreal 3 at St. Louis 0Boston 3 at Minnesota 3Wed. Mar. 12Toronto 4 at Los Angeles 0Pittsburgh 3 at New York 4Oakland 4 at Chicago 1Thurs. Mar. 13Minnesota 4 at Montreal 4Toronto 3 at Oakland 1Boston 1 at Philadelphia 2Sat. Mar. 15Chicago 1 at Montreal 3Boston 4 at Toronto 7Detroit 2 at St. Louis 3hiladelphia 2 at Minnesota 2Pittsburgh 1 at Los Angeles 3Sun. Mar. 16Toronto 3 at Boston 11Detroit 4 at New York 6Philadelphia 2 at Chicago 6Pittsburgh 2 at Oakland 7Minnesota 3 at St. Louis 2GAMES TO COMEWed. Mar. 19Montreal at TorontoDetroit at New YorkBoston at PittsburghChicago at OaklandPhiladelphia at St. LouisLos Angeles at MinnesotaThurs. Mar. 20Pittsburgh at MontrealChicago at BostonDetroit at Los AngelesMinnesota at PhiladelphiaSat. Mar. 22New York at MontrealDetroit at TorontoBoston at ChicagoPhiladelphia at Minnesota(afternoon)Pittsburgh at St. LouisOakland at Los AngelesSun. Mar. 23Toronto at ChicagoBoston at New YorkSt. Louis at PhiladelphiaMinnesota at PittsburghLos Angeles at Oakland &#9632;

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THE NHL SCENE

<h2>EAST</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-05270/2901455-1-eng-US/f0002-052.jpg" title="f0002-05" width="541" height="302"></div><h2>WEST</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-06176/2901448-1-eng-US/f0002-062.jpg" title="f0002-06" width="533" height="297"></div>Ken McKenzie&rsquo;s column . 4 Bill Libby&rsquo;s column .......... 8Ed Fitkin&rsquo;s column ........ 14 Crossword Puzzle .. 23AHL .... 16 WHL .... 19CHL .... 20 EHL .... 21 IHL ... 22 &#9632;

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WHERE THE NHL TEAMS ARE

<div class="byline">BY PAT CURRAN</div>MONTREAL, Que.&mdash;Christian Bordeleau scored his first NHL goal, Jude Drouin and Bob Berry filled the gaps well on recall from the minors and defenceman Serge Savard proved his versatility as the Canadiens despite injuries, gained a little ground in the Eastern Division title race.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01695/2901379-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="270" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jean Beliveau</figcaption></div>But one question loomed large as the Habs pointed to the last fortnight of the schedule, their first-place battle with the Bruins and, soon enough, the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Just how far can the Montreal team go if Jean Beliveau is sidelined for long?The brilliant centre, teamcaptain and points leader at the time with 32 goals and 47 assists, suffered a pulled groin on the last shift of a tame 3-3 tie with Los Angeles Kings. Next day he was favoring the injury while skating at half speed in a game at New York when he collided with Rangers&rsquo; winger Larry Jeffrey.That was all for Beliveau that day and he complained after the game about sore ribs. In the hours following the 2-2 deadlock, Jean suffered extreme pain so much so that he was taken to Lennox Hill Hospital in New York by club physiotherapist Yvon Belanger.X-rays showed nothing broken but Beliveau remained in hospital for three days. He was off skates more than a week as the Habs blanked St. Louis 3-0, struggled to a 4-4 tie with Minnesota and met Chicago in a crucial game at the Forum.&ldquo;I broke a couple of ribs in the same place 10 or 12 years ago,&rdquo; said Beliveau. &ldquo;It was very bad and very painful then and this seems to be the same.&rdquo;Beliveau&rsquo;s status on both the rib injury and the pulled groin remained doubtful until he was permitted to skate again the day before Canadiens&rsquo; rematch with the Hawks at Chicago.The captain&rsquo;s injury was one of several that hit the Habs early in March. Already without left-winger Gilles Tremblay (still trying to recuperate from bronchitis in Arizona), Montreal wound up without two other portsiders.Hardrock John Ferguson came out of the L.A. contest with a pulled groin and a badly bruised shoulder that kept the 25-goal scorer out of three games. Dick Duff hurt his hip at St. Louis and missed the Minnesota game &mdash; a contest that sent yet another regular to the sidelines.Right-wing Claude Provost absorbed a stiff check from North Stars&rsquo; defenceman Leo Boivin and had to be rushed to hospital for a possible arm fracture. The x-rays showed only bruises but Provost was unable to take up his old job of shadowing Bobby Hull.The injuries forced Coach Claude Ruel to do a lot of shuffling from which he received fine efforts from Bordeleau &mdash; the first replacement for Gilles Tremblay &mdash; Drouin from Houston and Berry who was called up from Cleveland.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-04385/2901372-1-eng-US/f0002-042.jpg" title="f0002-04" width="540" height="553"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHRISTIAN BORDELEAU &hellip;Rookie Connects</figcaption></div>Bordeleau started finding himself at left wing &mdash; having been shifted frpm his normal centre spot &mdash; and came up with a goal and an assist against Minnesota. Drouin and Berry wound up working a few shifts on a line with Bobby Rousseau.Serge Savard, the overly offensive rearguard, skated well as a left winger and the change made a spot for veteran Terry Harper to see action at his old defence post. The Harp, inactive over three months due to knee surgery, put new life into the Habs&rsquo; home game with his hitting.HAB-NOTES: &mdash; The club had a couple of firsts last week. Young Chris Bordeleau netted his firs NHL goal and Yvan Cournoyer, with over 40 goals, got into his first NHL scrap &mdash; and lost it against New York rookie Brad Park &hellip; Jean Claude Tremblay showed how fickle the fans can be in Montreal. The defenseman, having a bad year, drew continual boos during the game against Minnesota even while carrying the puck towards a spectacular goal in the second period. But as soon as he hit the net, the fans did a turnabout in applause &hellip; Ted Harris was another casualty for Montreal. The big defenseman suffered a fractured little finger on the right hand at New York but didn&rsquo;t miss a game. &#9632;

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Canadiens Face Stretch Run Minus Ice Leader

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01697/2901493-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY HULL of the Chicago Black Hawks has won his share of honors this season. Here&rsquo;s Bobby picking up two more top prizes for his ice prowess. At left, he is shown receiving Academy of Professional Sports award as top pro hockey player for the second straight year from owner JACK KENT COOKE of Los while BILL WIRTZ of Chicago, left, and NHL president CLARENCE CAMPBELL, right, look on.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02578/2901486-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="1185" height="1159"><figcaption class="caption-body">At right, Bobby and his proud father, ROBERT HULL SR., look admirinqly at Lester Patrick Trophy awarded to the Black Hawks&rsquo; star for his contributions to hockey in the United States in 1968.</figcaption></div>MONTREAL, Que. &mdash;National Hockey League records were falling like tenpins in a bowling alley.With Phil Esposito, Danny Grant and Bobby Hull leading the onslaught, some two dozen records have either gone or are going into the NHL books.Led by center Phil Esposito as usual, the Bruins scored 19 goals in four games to increase their goal total 276 for the season, 12 more than the old mark set by Chicago in 1966-67. They also have a record 456 assists &mdash; the old one was 439 by Montreal in 1958-59 &mdash; and a record 732 points, which eclipsed Chicago&rsquo;s 701 of 1966-67. And, with 94 penalty minutes during the week, Bruins ran their total to 1,160 for the season, breaking the record of 1,121 by Detroit in 1964-65.Canadiens, however, are still first in the east with 95 points and six games left. They need seven of a possible 12 points to break the record for most points in the standings in a season. Detroit had 101 in 1950-51. Canadiens, with 42 victories, are four short of breaking the record 45 wins in a season which they set in 1955-56. Boston has seven games left and 92 points, 78 of which came from their 39 wins. The west division title and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, of course, was wrapped up officially two weeks ago by St. Louis Blues, who now hold a 21-point lead over second-place Oakland.In the individual statistics, Esposito continues to add to his record-breaking performance as he ran his total to 118 points, including 74 assists. As of now, the Bruin center has six records, all of which he extends with each point. His nearest rival in the scoring race is Chicago&rsquo;s Bobby Hull, who has 98 points, 20 fewer than Esposito, but the second-highest number ever gained in one season. Included in the total is 53 goals, one short of the record 54 Hull scored in 1965-66. Hull has broken the record for most points by a left winger. It was 97 which he had in 1965-66.Altogether, there are 20 individual records which have either been broken so far this season or are most likely to go. Also, for the first time in NHL history, six players have 40 or more goals &mdash; the most in any previous season was three &mdash; and four players have at least 50 assists &mdash; the most in any previous season was three, too.There are also a record number of players with 20 or more goals &mdash; 47, including those with 30, 40 or 50. Of this total, 32 are from the east division and 15 from the west. Four west division players have 30 or more goals, compared to only one player in the new division last season &mdash; Wayne Connelly of Minnesota who had 35 goals but is now with Detroit. Red Berenson of St-Louis, the west division&rsquo;s scoring leader with 76 points, heads his division&rsquo;s 30-goal men with 32.Danny Grant of Minnesota, who has broken the record for most goals by a rookie in a modern-era season, has 31 while Norm Ferguson of Oakland, also a rookie, and Ed Joyal of Los Angeles each have 30 goals. &#9632;

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Esposito, Grant, Hull Lead Assault On Records

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. &mdash;Denver University Pioneers are National collegiate hockey champions in the United States, for the second straight year.The Westerners coached by Murray Armstrong, defeated Corneil 4-3 in the deciding game of the NCAA finals here to retain their title in the four-team playdown. Cornell reached the championship game by beating Michigan Tech 4-3 after Denver had disposed of Harvard handily 9-2.In the consolation game, Harvard downed Michigan Tech 6-5.The game was the wind up for collegiate hockey on both sides of the border. In Canadian action, University of Toronto won it all by defeating Sir George Williams University of Montreal 4-2 in their earlier final game.U.S COLLEGE PLAYDOWNSFinalDenver 4, Cornell 3ConsolationHarvard 6, Michigan Tech 5First RoundCornell 4, Michigan Tech 3 Denver 9, Harvard 2CANADA COLLEGE PLAYDOWNSFinalToronto 4, Sir George Williams 2ConsolationAlberta 5, St. Mary&rsquo;s 3Semi-FinalToronto 3 Alberto 2First RoundToronto 6, Laurentian 3Sir Georges Williams 5, St. Mary&rsquo;s 3 &#9632;

Denver Wins U.S. College Hockey Title Second Year

OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLYFounded October 1st, 1947Published weekly except monthly June through September by Ken-Will Publishing Co. Ltd. 1434 St. Catherine Street West Montreal 3, Canada.Kenneth W. McKenzie President and PublisherWilliam Z. Stevenson Managing DirectorYearly Subscription Rates: $5.00 in Canada$6.00 in the U.S.A, and $8.00 in Foreign Countries.Postage paid at Rouses Point, N.Y.Authorized as second class mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa and for payment of postage in cash.Printed in CanadaVol. 22 MONTREAL, MARCH 22, 1969 No. 24<h2>Leafs&rsquo; Keon Deserves Comeback Of Year Award</h2>As this exciting hockey season heads into the stretch, our thoughts are directed towards individual awards as evidenced by our All-Star ballots. One category which was not mentioned on your ballots concerns the &lsquo;comeback of the year&rsquo;.There is no question in my mind that this honor should go to Toronto&rsquo;s brilliant center, Dave Keon. Last season was a disappointing one for most Maple Leaf players and Keon was no exception. After being a 20-goal scorer, he dipped to 11. There was speculation at age 29 he might be over the hill.Keon&rsquo;s sparkling performance this season quickly dispelled such thoughts. He has passed the 20-goal mark and is heading for one of his finest campaigns. He certainly rates as the prime candidate for &lsquo;comeback of the year&rsquo;.NORMAN RONSKI, Brooklyn, N.Y.<h2>Hockey Enjoying Boom In Minnesota District</h2>Can anyone doubt that hockey is here to stay in Minnesota after our recent Minnesota State high school hockey tournament? Over a three-day span the paid attendance for the state tourney amounted to nearly 80,000. Sandwiched between two North Stars&rsquo; home games of about 15,000 each, the grand attendance to watch hockey in this area amounted to 110,000, a commendable figure in anv city.KENNEATHPEACOCK, White Bear Lake, Minn.<h2>Boston Bruins Not So Tough</h2>Steven P. Gietschier recently expressed some concern regarding the dirty play of the Boston Bruins. I just wanted to let him know that really wouldn&rsquo;t worry about it. Harry Sinden and his beloved Bruins think they are tough, but they will never come close to the toughness exhibited by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the early sixties.In the last Boston vs. Toronto encounter, John McKenzie thought he was tough when he manhandled David Keon. But, after Mike Walton got through with him, McKenzie looked about as tough as my grandmother.There is nothing tough about Don Awrey and Gary Doak hitting smaller forwards from behind. So far they&rsquo;ve managed to avoid John Ferguson, Vic Hadfield, Orland Kurtenbach, Ted Harris, Jim Dorey, Pat Quinn and Barclay Plager.I remember not too long ago when Terry Harper had the same problem as Awrey and Doak. However, after Kurtenbach got through with him, Harper has managed to keep his nose clean. I am thoroughly convinced that Awrey and Doak, too, will shortly learn how hockey is played.ERIC SNYLYK Toronto, Ont. &#9632;

Fan Forum

<div class="byline">BY GLENN REDMANN</div>TWIN CITIES, Minn. &mdash;Most every team in hockey &mdash; or for that matter all sports &mdash; has an &ldquo;unsung hero&rdquo; and far be it for Minnesota&rsquo;s National League representative to be an exception.The North Stars&rsquo; &ldquo;unsung hero?&rdquo; That&rsquo;s easy. It has to be Jean-Paul (J.P.) Parise, the 27-year-old left winger out of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01711/2901624-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="274" height="455"><figcaption class="caption-body">J.P. Parise</figcaption></div>Why J.P.?&rsquo;Well, it&rsquo;s like this. The 5-foot-9 one-time Boston chattel isn&rsquo;t tall enough to stick out like, say, 6-1 Danny O&rsquo;Shea or 6-2 Walt Mc-Kechnie. but the 175 pounds he packs on that frame are mighty potent.Teammates Danny Grant, Claude Larose and Ray Cullen all get more acclaim than J.P. as a goal-scorer and. perhaps this is as it should be because at this writing they have 29, 22 and 21 goals, respectively. But not far behind is, yup, you guessed it, J.P. Parise, with 19.And if one were to check the records, &ldquo;Jeep&rdquo; is taking up right where he left off last season in what the NHL classifies as important goals.&ldquo;if you&rsquo;ll recall, Parise notched 11 goals and 16 assists for the Stars last season in 42 games after Wren Blair plucked him from Rochester in the AHL.And 22 of those 27 points came in the &ldquo;important point&rdquo; category, an 84.6 percentage which led his team and was among the highest marks in the league.Parise&rsquo;s latest &ldquo;big goals&rdquo; came in a 5-2 victory over Oakland, the Stars&rsquo; only home-ice victory in four tries this season against Fred Glover&rsquo;s vastly improved Seals.With the score tied 2-2 going into the 13th minute of the third period, Parise stole the puck near center ice, skated in four or five strides and let go with a sizzling 40-footer that beat goalie Gary Smith.The Seals didn&rsquo;t fold. In fact, they came back only moments later on a 2-on-1 break. But Cesare Maniago&rsquo;s great save on Gary Jarrett protected the one-goal bulge and 10 seconds afterward, Billy Collins and Parise worked a 2-on-1 from a faceoff with J.P. again beating Smith with a 30-footer which clanked off the pipe and went into the far corner to take off the pressure.&ldquo;That 3-2 goal was typical of the effort J.P. puts into his play,&rdquo; smiled Blair afterward.&ldquo;He never goes for a skate after losing the puck. Instead, he stops quickly and works to get it back. It wasn&rsquo;t, in this case, he whom lost the puck. But by hustling that little extra, he regained control. And it paid off.&rdquo;Yes.it paid off. To the dismay of Oakland defenseman Dick Mattiussi, who just happens to also hail from Smooth Rock Falls where he and J.P. play for the same softball team.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a heckuva way to treat an old buddy,&rdquo; lamented Matiussi afterward.One of Parise&rsquo;s staunchest boosters is Wayne Connelly, the hard-shooting right winger who scored 43 goals in 88 regular season and playoff games for the North Stars last season and 14 this season before being traded to Detroit.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no one better in the corner than J.P.,&rdquo; says Wayne. &ldquo;I owe a lot to him. He may not be big, but he&rsquo;s strong and has great balance which makes it real hard to take the puck away from him.&rdquo;Blair ranks Parise among the best two-way left wingers in the league. &ldquo;He must be good,&rdquo; said Wren recently &ldquo;because I&rsquo;ve had at least a half dozen offers for him this season.&rdquo;Parise, of course, would like to score 20 goals this season. It has alwavs been his goal to &ldquo;get 20 in the NHL.&rdquo;In nearly five seasons of minor pro, J.P. had only one 20-goal year. That was when he notched 27 and 63 points with Minneapolis in 1963-64, his second pro season.ICE CHIPS: Danny Grant eclipsed Wayne Connelly&rsquo;s club record of 56 points in a 2-2 tie with St. Louis March 9 by getting both of his team&rsquo;s goals &hellip; It was the first point that the Minnesotans had been able to get on their home ice against the Blues &hellip; And it was done despite the fact that they had to play more than half the game with only three defensemen, because Capt. Moose Vasko sustained a painful rib injury and newcomer Tom Reid drew a match misconduct from referee Bill Friday for arguing a charging minor too vehemently &hellip; The Stars&rsquo; 12th sellout of the season and sixth in the last nine games March 9 pushed season home attendance to 419,584 for 33 games &hellip; That&rsquo;s an average of 12,715 per game and more than 25,000 ahead of last season&rsquo;s gate pace. &#9632;

f0005-01

J.P. Parise Ranks as ’Unsung Hero’ Of Stars

<div class="byline">BY JIM PROUDFOOT</div>TORONTO, Ont. &mdash;For several veins now. it&rsquo;s been taken for granted Dave Keon was Toronto Maple Leafs&rsquo; fastest skater. But there&rsquo;s been a new candidate for that honor over the past season and it now appears that Haul-Henderson is at least as quick as Keon. and perhaps quicker.Henderson has more than speed going for him, too. He&rsquo;s an excellent left-winger and, with three weeks left in Leafs&rsquo; National Hockey League schedule, had 25 goals to his credit. That total could easily have been fifty per cent higher if Henderson had been a bit more fortunate around the opposition nets. His rapidity and centre Norm Ullman&rsquo;s playmaking had furnished him with at least that many more scoring opportunities.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01788/2901686-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="271" height="432"><figcaption class="caption-body">Paul Henderson</figcaption></div>It&rsquo;s just over a year now since Leafs made the trade that brough them Henderson, Ullman and right-winger Floyd Smith from Detroit Red Wings. Critics of the trade complained that Toronto had given up youth in Frank Mahovlich, Garry Unger and Pete Stemkowski to get veterans who might not be around very long.They overlooked Henderson, who turned 26 in January. He would seem to have a brilliant career ahead of him. Remember that his last complete season was 1965-66, his second in the NHL, and he scored 22 goals then. Since then, he&rsquo;d been troubled with injuries and with a respiratory ailment that limited his play. That&rsquo;s cured now and he&rsquo;s emerged as one of the game&rsquo;s finest wingers.Actually, Henderson is playing on his wrong wing. He is a righthanded shot playing on the left side and that&rsquo;s unusual. Rocket Richard was just the opposite, but was considered the exception that proved the correctness of the rule.There&rsquo;s an advantage. Henderson is holding his stick in toward the centre of the rink, which gives him a much better shooting angle when he cuts in on goal. On the other hand, it&rsquo;s more difficult for him to receive a pass.There&rsquo;s no chance of a shift, though. Leafs are hurt of leftwingers. The recent acquisition of Brit Selby from Philadelphia corrected a season-long scarcity. Murray Oliver is the other man on the port side and it&rsquo;s a new position for him. too.Moreover, Henderson and Ullman work well together. They have their old partner, Floyd Smith, back on the right side now after a few weeks of skating alongside Ron Ellis. Smith had been their partner at Detroit.Henderson&rsquo;s play in Toronto is one of the reasons Leafs are eminently satisfied with last spring&rsquo;s big swap, even though the men they gave up have outscored the ones they acquired. At last count, Mahovlich, Unger and Stemkowski had totalled 83 for Detroit while Ullman, Henderson and Smith had 66 for Leafs. Smith was injured for a while but the big difference, of course, is the fact Mahovlich has sailed over the 40-goal plateau.All three are definitely the Leaf type of player, solid positional men and aggressive forecheckers. &#9632;

f0006-01

Speedy Leafs’ Skater Challenges Dave Keon As Fastest On Squad

<div class="byline">BY NORMAN MacLEAN</div>NEW YORK, N.Y. &mdash;The New York Rangers record against the tough Eastern Division teams in the National Hockey League stood at 14-16-3 as the first week of March became history.Not good, you say and you are right, but and the but is a big one, their record in the last six weeks of play against the East is a neat 9-3-3.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01739/2901724-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="262" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Emile Francis</figcaption></div>&ldquo;That record was compiled against the best in the league with the money on the line. My team played a fantastic game in notching a 2-2 tie against Montreal on March 9. We were coming off four games in four and one half days, which is just brutal. Most of my players had only about five hours sleep after having played the night before in Pittsburgh,&rdquo; says Emile Francis, the General Manager&mdash;Coach of the New York Rangers.What Francis does not mention is. that the above log has been compiled by New York since Francis took over from the sickly Bernard Boom Boom Geoffrion on January 18. The Cat used four lines against the Montrealers and has constantly juggled his personnel in the last three weeks due to injuries to Phil Goyette (bad knee), Harry Howell (bad back) and Vic Hadfield (bad knee). He personally patted every player on the back in the dressing room after the supreme effort against Montreal had netted a third period tying goal by Jean Ratelie.&ldquo;We needed that point in the standings and the boys worked hard to get it,&rdquo; said Francis.Emile &ldquo;The Cat&rdquo; is becoming something of a legend in the NHL. He protects his players, a la the famous Ralph Houk of the New York Yankees. For example. Rod Seiling, the youthful defenseman has been hearing the boo birds of recent games. Against Montreal, Rod had the misfortune to have a puck hop over his stick while he was playing the point on the blue line. When the crowd hopped on him and the press tried to rap Seiling for poor play, Francis defended his man vehemently.&ldquo;Rod is playing a fine game, every game now. Early in the season he was off a bit due to injuries to his knee and ankle, but heck that puck just took a bad hop. It could happen to anyone.&rdquo;Under Francis, the non hitting defense of the early part of the campaign has once again become the youthful wonder workers of 1967-68. With Arnie (nine goal) Brown, 27, Seiling, 24, on one duo and Brad Park, 20 and Jim Neilson. 27 on the other the Blueshirts are well fixed on the blue line for years to come, with the Cat at the helm.Walter Tkaczuk has improved his play in the second half of the season and his limited experience no longer is proving a drawback. Walter is getting goals and assists in gobs now and shows definite signs that Francis is right when he counts upon him as the star of the future.For the immediate future, Emile is looking forward to the return of center Phil Goyette from the injured list. Goyette has been out for three weeks, during which time, Dennis Hextall has filled in admirably.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02654/2901717-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="1797" height="1236"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rangers&rsquo; DON MARSHALL (22) carries puck against L.A.&rsquo;s BILL WHITE.</figcaption></div>John Halligan, the Rangers&rsquo; demon publicity director is of the opinion that Goyette&rsquo;s injury may prove to be a blessing in disguise.&ldquo;Phil got three weeks rest at just the right time. At his age (35), he can use the time off and he will be sharp for the playoffs,&rdquo; claims John.Harry Howell, the non pariel blue liner will also attempt to return to the wars after giving his ailing back a complete two week rest. Rangerville is hoping that Howell&rsquo;s back problem does not require surgery such as sidelined Orland Kurtenbach. &#9632;

f0007-01

Francis’ Coaching Acumen Carries Rangers Through Brutal Closing Schedule

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div>DETROIT, Mich. &mdash;There never are too many guns in the arsenal and when Bruce MacGregor found his shooting eye in the closing weeks of the frantic Eastern Division race, the Red Wings beamed.A couple years ago, general manager Sid Abel called MacGregor &ldquo;My redheaded Rocket&rdquo;. It was after the Edmonton-born right wing scored 28 goals, the high for him and the Red Wings in 1966-67.The publicity department latched into the tag, put MacGregor on the cover of the Facts Book and Red Wing Yearbook the following season. And the Rocket was defused.MacGregor went from 28 goals to 15, his smallest output in four seasons.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01774/2901779-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="265" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bruce MacGregor</figcaption></div>This looked like another long, dry, sparkless year for the redheaded Rocket when he couldn&rsquo;t get going in the first half of the season and worked with a variety of linemates.Then, like several other of the Wings. MacGregor found himself in the second half and the puck started going in the net. Whereas a 20-goal season appeared completely out of the question in January, there was a good chance for it going into the Wings&rsquo; final eight games after MacGregor scored a pair against Boston.They were his 16th and 17th goals of the season and each told something about the 28-year-old MacGregor.The first, was a blistering, low slap shot on a fine pass from linemate Pete Stemkowski. Bruin goalie Ed Johnston didn&rsquo;t have time to move on it.MacGregor has a tendency to stickhandle too much &mdash; management says he cuts the puck down to the size of a pea at times &mdash; but when he does shoot, he surprises a lot of people, goalies included.&ldquo;Brucie can fire a puck,&rdquo; said Abel, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s no doubt about that. In practice he&rsquo;s one of the best.&rdquo;Obviously, thev don&rsquo;t pay off on practice goals though. With MacGregor it seems to be a matter of confidence and even though this is his eighth NHL season, he&rsquo;s not as confident as some.MacGregor&rsquo;s second goal in the Bruin game came while he was killing a penalty. He scored because of his persistence. After Nick Libett gloved down the puck at center ice, MacGregor streaked in on Johnston with it and fired.Johnston made the save but MacGregor, being checked then, sill fought to get to the rebound &hellip; did &hellip; and popped it home.Persistence is a MacGregor trademark and always has been. He gets bounced around in the corners like a rubber ball but always bounces back up. unintimidated, never retaliative. He&rsquo;s never won the Lady Byng Trophy but he&rsquo;s the kind of player they had in mind when the award was instituted.Besides illustrating his persistence, MacGregor&rsquo;s second goal showed another of his facets &mdash; adept penalty-killing. That was one of the first duties he was assigned when he reported to the wings and he&rsquo;s had a number of partners. Vai Fonteyne and Paul Henderson come to mind quickly.And while he&rsquo;s been one of the Wings&rsquo; better penalty killers, he was never the offensive weapon as a penalty-killet that he&rsquo;s become this season. The goal against Boston, with Frank Mahovlich in the penalty box. was his third short-handed goal of the season, the seventh of his career.It also proved to be the winning goal, his third of the season. MacGregor&rsquo;s two other short-handed goals were important ones, too. Each was the first goal of the game and the Wings went on to win each game.Once again, MacGregor began looking and playing like Abel&rsquo;s &ldquo;redheaded Rocket.&rdquo;MacGregor&rsquo;s teammates think highly of him. too. He&rsquo;s the Wings&rsquo; player representative. &#9632;

f0008-01

Wings’ GM Abel Elated As MacGregor Rebounds, Sights Set On 20 Goals

<div class="byline">By Bill Libby</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03564/2901817-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="310" height="411"></div><h2>&bull; Coaching Still Best Part Says Poile</h2>Minnesota and Philadelphia went down the stretch battling for playoff position in the west. After fine first seasons, the two expansion clubs had come to earth heavily and were struggling under severe pressure. Early this season, Norman &ldquo;Bud&rdquo; Poile spoke about coaching. The Philadelphia manager, who had one of the greatest minor league coaching records ever, but never got to coach in the majors, said. &ldquo;Coaching is the cream of this business. When I took over this club I had all I could handle just building it up. I felt I had to turn the coaching over to someone else. But I&rsquo;d rather coach than manage any day.&rdquo;He said, &ldquo;As a coach. I looked forward to every game. As a manager, you miss some games and the games blend into each other. You&rsquo;re off at a distance planning the war, instead of being in the trenches with the men fighting the battles. As a manager you have all the suffering the coach has, but can&rsquo;t do as much about it. I take defeat harder than most men, but I never minded the suffering. The ups wouldn&rsquo;t mean much if you didn&rsquo;t have the downs.&rdquo; The Philly coach, Keith Allen, came in. On the surface, he never seems ruffled. Underneath, however, he suffers. His team had been losing. He said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m fine.except for several threatened heart attacks, ulcers, loss of sleep, greying hair, loss of hair.&rdquo;Poile said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;d never interfere with my coach. But I get my two cents in. I guarantee you. As a manager, I can stay mad at players. As a coach, I couldn&rsquo;t. A coach has to live with his players ate with them. I went to sleep with them. I miss that. I miss it a lot. Every coach is different. Allen is a father to his men, patient with them. Our Quebec coach. Vic Stasiuk, is boss of his men, demanding of them. He&rsquo;s the best teacher of kids I&rsquo;ve ever seen in hockey. But he&rsquo;s very strict. You do things his way or you don&rsquo;t do them at all. You give 100 per cent or you stay home. If there&rsquo;s a meeting at 10:45 you show up at 10:45 or you buy trouble. With Keith, 10:50 or 10:55 is all right. He understands some players can only give 90 percent some nights. He&rsquo;s firm in his way, but players put out for Keith because they&rsquo;re fond of him, and for Stasiuk because they&rsquo;re afraid of him.&rdquo;The team struggled on through the season. Forbes Kennedy, a 100 per cent player, but leading the league in penalties, was sounding off as the team waited for a bus in Montreal. Keith told him to cool it. Forbes said he was no kid and no one tells him what to do. In front of the team. Keith had no choice but to suspend him.Keith is a gentleman and someone said, &ldquo;If you can&rsquo;t get along with Keith, who can you get along with?&rdquo; &ldquo;It happens,&rdquo; Allen said the other night. &ldquo;You regret these things, but they happen.&rdquo; He is not, right now, quite as keen on coaching as is Poile. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d be lying it I said I didn&rsquo;t feel the pressure. The writers and fans have been great. We haven&rsquo;t given them anything,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had 27 games in which we scored one goal or no goals. We can&rsquo;t afford a single mistake. It&rsquo;s driving me to drink, figuratively speaking, of course,&rdquo; he smiled. An usher barred his way to his team&rsquo;s dressing room. A reporter identified the coach so he could get through. &ldquo;Maybe it&rsquo;d be better it hadnt gotten Keith said, shaking his head wistfully.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02684/2901810-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="574" height="901"><figcaption class="caption-body">BUD POILE &hellip; Takes Defeat Hard</figcaption></div>Right now. John Muckier also doesn&rsquo;t think coaching is the cream ot this sport. His friend and mentor. Wren Blair, moved Muckier in as Minnesota coach early this season, then had to move him out long before the season was over. Like Poile, Blair felt managing was enough job for one man, but missed coaching. His boss, Walter Bush, made him pick up the reins again. &ldquo;We were in the middle of our 14th straight game without a victory. We&rsquo;d stopped having sellouts. We didn&rsquo;t sell one new season ticket in January. Bush explains. &ldquo;The team was disspirited. I called Blair to a meeting and told him we&rsquo;d have to change coaches. He said he couldn&rsquo;t get anyone good at this point in a season. I told him it was him or me.<h2>&bull; Bush Ordered Blair Back To Bench</h2>&ldquo;Unlike some new owners. I&rsquo;m an experienced hockey man. I gave up my law practice to devote myself full-time to our team and arena in Minnesota. I do many of the chores some general managers do. I realize Wien likes to scout. Our future is based on the new players we acquire. We&rsquo;ll have to get him some help, work it out some way. But he&rsquo;s a great coach and I&rsquo;m not going to let him get away from the bench so soon again. you don&rsquo;t fire a man casually. Muckier is a fine hockey man and we want him in our organization. But Wren swiftly reorgazined the team. Spirit reviwed. We began to win. draw crowds, sell season tickets again. We have an obligation to the community, the players and to ourselves.&rdquo;Blair shook his head wistfully. &ldquo;I had no choice.&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Your first responsibility has to be to the organization. Mr. Bush said I had ro resume coaching. I had to move Muckier back to the minors. How do you live with something like that? He never had a good chance; I know that. I told him he&rsquo;s only in his 30&rsquo;s and will get other chances. Other men have bounced back. He will, too. I hope. So, I took over coaching again. I&rsquo;ll give up managing before I&rsquo;ll give up coaching again. I&rsquo;m with the guys again, and I love it. To begin with, we didn&rsquo;t even talk playoffs. We were too far out. I just said, give me an honest effort. They did. Now we have the playoffs at our finger tips. It&rsquo;s a helluva thrill.He made startling changes, trading away men like Mike McMahon. ayne Connelly and Andre Boudrias. whom he was raving about a year ago. He says &ldquo;They let me down. They let themselves down. But I just wrote them letters telling them how grateful I was tor having gotten to know them, how much I wish for their future. I told them to beware the next trade, which is to the minors, but if they buckle down, they can all enjoy long, tine major-league careers.&rdquo; McMahon and Connelly had just bought homes in Minnesota and Boudrias was planning one. He still is. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not an easy life in sports.&rdquo; Blair sighed. &#9632;

f0008-03

Hockey Ad Lib

EDITH RAMSEY film technician, Culver City, J Calif.:&ldquo;No. Much of the beauty and excitement of this game is feeling really close to the players and you would not have that if you could not see the players well. I would not say, that if I thought there were, many serious head injuries, but I understand there are not. However, if a player feels, he can play better and more daringly while wearing a helmet, I wouldn&rsquo;t critise him for it. Certainly goalies should, wear masks although it takes a lot away not seeing them. They risk too much if they &lsquo; don&rsquo;t wear them. But why, horror masks? Which is what these look like. All goalies should have to wear the same &lsquo; type of mask, a clear plastic. It would be eaual for all.&rdquo;PHIL BEZONsKY, engine company executive, Los Angeles:,&ldquo;No. The chance of serious, injury is so rare, the percent-age of death so small, it is not really justified. The helmets are heavy and uncomfortable for the players and take away from the fans the chance to see the players&rsquo; faces and expressions, which is so great in hockey compared to, say, football, or even baseball, where you do not very often get a real good look at the players.&rdquo;BILL BRAND sales market manager, Toronto:&ldquo;Yes. I know most professional hockey players have expressed opposition to wearing a helmet but I think it is time they did so. And not only would it serve as an injury deterrent but it would encourage youngsters coming up in hockey to wear them. If the, kids use the helmets now when they get to the NHL &lsquo; they&rsquo;ll be accustomed to them. I&rsquo;m all for them.&rdquo;ROGERS ANDERSON,high school teacher, Syracuse, N.Y.&ldquo;Yes. Because of the fact it might save somebody&rsquo;s life. I think the unfortunate accident to Bill Masterton last year should have been the ini centive NHL players needed to wear helmets. If Masterton had been wearing one he&rsquo;d, probably still be around this season. I think it&rsquo;s time big leaguers put their pride behind them and took it upon themselves to wear helmets. Remember fellows it might save your life one day.&rdquo; &#9632;

THE FANS’ CORNER

<div class="byline">BY TOM MONAHAN</div>BOSTON. Mass. &mdash;In all the excitement over Phil Esposito&rsquo;s charge to the NHL scoring championship, during which he already had become the first man in history to tally 100 points, one significant tact has gone virtually unnoticed. This is the recognition that this Bruins outfit is not a one-man team.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-01753/2901872-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="258" height="392"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ken Hodge</figcaption></div>While Esposito and young Bobby Orr have shared the individual attention, the real strength of the Bruins is the offensive balance that has made the East Division battle one of the closest in years.This shows up in several different items.Probably the most striking is that the Bruins have been able to maintain a position at or near the top through the season despite an unprecedented number of injuries.The latest &mdash; the loss of Eddie Westfall for two weeks with a torn rib cartilage &mdash; left Dallas Smith as the only member of the squad who has not missed a game this year due to injury or illness.Gerry Cheevers also has been healthy but he has been alternating in goal with Eddie Johnston since Johnston recovered from a bad head injury.Another item is the probability, that the Bruins will finish the season with eight men scoring 20 or more goals.Going into the final 13 games, the Bruins already had five men over that magic figure.Esposito, of course was the leader with 41, then came Ken Hodge with 38, Johnny McKenzie with 24 and Johnny Bucyk and Fred Stanfield each with 23.On the verge of passing the 20-goal barrier were Derek Sanderson with 19 and Orr and Westfall each with 18.Thus while Esposito has captured the fancy of the fans it is plainly evident that the big center from Sault St. Marie has had considerable help in hauling the Bruins to a total of 257 goals &mdash; just two short of the club&rsquo;s all time high of 259 a year ago and within 17 of tying the Chicago Black Hawks league mark of 264.The record department is another bit of evidence of the Bruins&rsquo; balance, incidentally.Here again Esposito is the leader with 107 points in 63 appearances. His 41 goals are just two short of Cooney Weiland&rsquo;s club record of 43 and he is just six shv of Jean Beliveau&rsquo;s league record for a center of 47.Hodge is just three goals away from matching Dit Clapper as the Bruins&rsquo; highest scoring right wing in history and two more will make him and Espo the first 40-goal scorers the Bruins have had since Weiland and Clapper in 1929-30.Orr is on the trail of Flash Hollett as the league&rsquo;s most prolific scorer for a defenseman. Hollet&rsquo;s league record is 20 and Orr with 18 is sure to catch him. Also Orr&rsquo;s total of 57 points is just two behind Pierre Pilote&rsquo;s all time mark of 59.Bucyk not only surpassed Schmidt&rsquo;s record of most games in a Bruin uniform earlier but also has wiped out Schmidt&rsquo;s mark of 253 career goals including playoffs.Finally, with 38 victories in the pocket after 65 games the Bruins had tied the club record for victories in a single season.The way things are going, the Bruins will need a computer to handle their statistics before the season is over but there can be little doubt that the final analysis of the computer will stress overall balance as the key to success.ICE CHIPS &mdash; Coach Harry Sinden still insists that the final two games of the season between the Bruins and Montreal will decide the East Division championship &hellip; &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see any way either team can carry a five-point lead into that last home and home series,&rdquo; he says &hellip; &ldquo;Of course it is possible that one or the other could fall on its face but I can&rsquo;t look for anything like that to happen.&rdquo; &hellip; With Westfall out of the lineup, Sinden moved Wayne Cashman back to right wing along with Sanderson and Eddie Shack &hellip; Harry will continue his policy of alternating Cheevers and Johnston in the nets &hellip; &ldquo;But I still might change that policy in the final week of the season when we are playing the teams in our division back-to-back, I&rsquo;ll just play it by ear because both men have been doing a great job on the alternating basis,&rdquo; he said. &#9632;

f0009-01

Bruins’ Depth Secret To Success As Club Hangs In Despite Injuries

<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>MONTREAL &mdash; Judes Drouin, forward, recalled from Houston of CHL. Bob Berry, forward, recalled from Cleveland of AHL. Drouin returned to Houston.NEW YORK: Dennis Hextall, forward, returned to Buffalo of AHL.<h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2>BALTIMORE: Marv Edwards, goalkeeper, secured from Amarillo of CHL on loan by Pittsburgh, Jim Coombs, goalkeeper. recalled from Johnstown of EHL as standby netminder and returned.BUFFALO: Terry Pembroke, defenseman. recalled from Omaha of CHL.SPRINGFIELD: John Rodger, forward, secured from Denver of WHL. &#9632;

Movements of Players

<h2>MONTREAL</h2>Goal, Vachon, Worly, Defense, Laperriere, J.C. Tremblay, Harris, Hillman, Savard, Harper, Forwards, Beliveau, Bordeleau, Backstrom, Duff, Cournoyer, Provost, Rousseau, Richard, Ferguson, Redmond, Lemaire.<h2>TORONTO</h2>Goal, Gamble, Bower, Defense, pilote, Pronovost, Horton, Pelyk, Quinn, Ley, Forwards, Ellis, oilman, Oliver, Keon, Mickey, Walton, F. Smith, Henderson, Pulford, Armstrong, Kennedy, Selby.<h2>CHICAGO</h2>Goal, Dryden, DeJordy, Defense, Marotte, Young, McMahon, McKey, Stapleton, Jarrett, Forwards, Boudrias, Martin, Pappin, B. Hull, Mohns, Nesterenko, C. Maki, Wharram, Schmautz, Mikita.<h2>NEW YORK</h2>Goal, Giacomin, Simmons, Defense, Hamilton, Howell, Brown, Park, Neilson, Seiling, Forwards, Gilbert, Nevin, Fleming, Jeffrey, Hadfield, Slewart, Baton, Ratelie, Goyette, Marshall, Tkaczuk, Hextali.<h2>DETROIT</h2>Goal, Crozier, Edwards, Sawchuk. Defense, Baun, Douglas, Popiel, Bergman, Harris. Forwards, Unger, Howe, Delvecchio, F. Mahovlich. MacGregor, Libett, Leclerc, Stemkowski, Monteith, Prentice, Connelly.<h2>BOSTON</h2>Goal, Cheevers, Johnston, Defene, Orr, Green, Westfall, Smith, Awrey, Forwards, Esposito, Hodge, Bucyk, Cashman, Sather, Sanderson, Stanfield, McKenzie, Shack, Murphy, Lorentz, Sanderson.<h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2>Goal, Parent, Favell, Defense, Van Impe, Watson, Miszuk, Stanley, Hale, Cherry, Forwards, Lacroix. Rochefort, Sutherland, Gendron Domhoefer, Sorraiin, Peters, Blackburn, Johnson, Meehan, Byers.<h2>OAKLAND</h2>Goal, Smith, Worthy. Defense: Roberts, Vadnais, Lacombe, Mattiussi, Marshall, Odrowski, Forwards, Laughton, Ehman, Hicke, Hampson, Jarrett, Ingarfield, Dillabouqh, Ferguson, Szura, Perry, Ubriaco.<h2>PITTSBURGH</h2>Goal, Binkley, Daley, Defense, Rupp, Pratt, Price, McCallum, Woytcich, Forwards, Angotti, Fonteyne, Burns, Watson, Swarbrick, Schinkel, Dea, Harris, Boyer, Pronovost, McCreary, Andrea.<h2>ST. LOUIS</h2>Goal, Hall, Plante, Defense Arbour, Bob Plager, Roberts, Barclay Plager, Talbot, Picard, Forwards, Berenson, St. Marseille, Schock, Sabourin, Ecclestone, McCreary, Cameron, Keenan, McDonald, Henry.<h2>MINNESOTA</h2>Goal, Maniago, Rivard, Bauman. Defense, W. Hillman, Boivin, Vasko, McCord, Nanne, Reid, Forwards, O&rsquo;Shea, Cullen, Parise, Lawson, Orban, Johnston, Larose, Collins, Grant, Goldsworthy.<h2>LOS ANGELES</h2>Goal, Rutledge, Desjardins. Defense, Wall, Amadio, Rolfe, B. Hughes, Cahan, White, Forwards, Inglis, Perters, R. Lemieux, H. Hughes, Irvine, Joyal, Flett, Croteau, Anderson, MacDonald, Menard. &#9632;

NHL TEAM LINEUPS

<div class="byline">BY SPENCE CONLEY</div>OAKLAND, Calif.&mdash;Although, blasted 9-0 by the Boston Bruins for their worst loss ever in the National Hockey League, things have been going pretty well for the Oakland Seals.They even have new owners, but then that&rsquo;s notning really new. They&rsquo;ve had a lot of new owners, sort of an owner-of-the month club, if you will.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01770/2901951-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="283" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ted Hampson</figcaption></div>Just before the Seals ended their longest home stand of the season March 2 (six games), the club was sold for 84.5 million to Trans-National Communications, a New York based firm with wide-diversified interests, and the Knox brothers of Buffalo, N.Y.TNC is headed un bv Ellis (Woody) Erdman, a former radio announcer who parlayed $1,500 into a small fortune, and Bill Creasy, a former CBS producer, who helped work out the NHL&rsquo;s current Game of the Week programming.Both are young, aggressive businessmen who feel that with the right amount of work in the right direction, the Seals can make a go of it in Oakland, which is, after all, where the NHL says the franchise is going to stay, regardless.TNC has 80 percent of the stock and the Knoxes, Seymour III and his brother, Northrup, 20 percent. The former has an option to buy out the latter.Bill Torrey, the Seals&rsquo; hardworking executive vice president who will function directly under Creasy&rsquo;s command, feels that the new owners are just what the club has been waiting for.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had the bottom (solid front office management and a drastically improved team) and now we have the top. The future looks pretty good,&rdquo; he says.Although profit and loss statements will come under careful scrutiny, the eventual Seal success must come on the ice.And as most everyone knows, Selke and Glover have done a whale of a job so far in seeing to it that the Seals are a success on the ice.One of the big factors recently has been the play of Ted Hampson, the busy, forechecking specialist who captains the club.Teddy is in the midst of his best ever season in the NHL. By the time the Seals left for the East on their last tour of the Snow Country (March 4), he had moved briskly into the team scoring lead with 23 goals and 38 assists for 61 points in 64 games. Since he only has six penalty minutes, fewest for any player in the top 10, he has a chance for the league&rsquo;s Lady Byng trophy.He was a member of the West Division all-star team, second in the balloting by sportswriters behind St. Louis whiz, Red Berenson.&ldquo;Teddy is a full-time hockey player,&rdquo; says Glover. &ldquo;He gives a top effort every time he goes on the ice. And his smallish size (5-8, 170) doesn&rsquo;t keep him from running into people. He does a complete job.&ldquo;His leadership is outstanding, too. He proves it by going out night after night and showing the others how the job should be done. He&rsquo;s not much of a talker, he&rsquo;s a doer. But when he has something to say, everybody listens. Some guys who wear the &lsquo;C&rsquo; are great talkers, but can&rsquo;t back up their words like Teddy can.Hampson came to the Seals last year in a deal with the Detroit Red Wings and he went on to win the team scoring championship with 54 points. He&rsquo;s well beyond that total now and still going strong.But Teddy lays most of his personal success to the great team effort this season.&ldquo;Everybody is happy with the coaching,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;We are happy because we are winning, and we are winning because we are happy. We are getting some great individual efforts and the team spirit is just great. It&rsquo;s hard to single out any one guy in that kind of a situation.&rdquo;&ldquo;Look at the way Mike Laughton and Norm Ferguson have come through. And Brian Perry, Carol Vadnais, Doug Roberts, and Frank Lacombe have played well, and the guys from Pittsburgh (Bob Dillabough,. Earl Ingarfield, Dick Mattiussi, and Gene Ubriaco) have really come on strong.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not saying that the others haven&rsquo;t done a job,&rdquo; cautions Teddy, &ldquo;they have, but over the last month, those are the guys who have been the difference between going good and going very good. But everybody has contributed.&rdquo;But what about Ted Hampson and his contribution?&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been playing with a lot of guys this year (on his line) and none of them has been selfish with the puck. I&rsquo;ve been getting all kinds of opportunities because of my wings. First it was Gary Jarrett and Billy Hicke, then Ferguson and Tex Ehman, and a little later, Ubriaco. They are the one&rsquo;s responsible for my success.Hampson, a 32-year-old native of Tago, Sask., who played junior at Flin Flon and spent several years in the Detroit organization, sees himself today as:&ldquo;&hellip; a forechecker, mostly. I like to chase the puck a lot. In other years, I&rsquo;ve been more defensive minded, but that was because of my personal situation on the team I was with. But now I am more willing to take a chance in the other team&rsquo;s end of the rink.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0010-01

Hampson Driving Force On Ice For Club

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01761/2902003-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"></div><h2>INDIVIDUAL SCORING LEADERS</h2>(Including Games of Sunday, Mar. 16)EAST DIVISION<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02701/2901996-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="619" height="1194"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03589/2901989-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="607" height="1194"></div>WEST DIVISION<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-04498/2901982-1-eng-US/f0011-042.jpg" title="f0011-04" width="627" height="2391"></div> &#9632;

f0011-01

NHL POINT SCORING RACE

LOS ANGELES, Calif.&mdash;When Kenneth &ldquo;Jiggs&rdquo; McDonald applied for the job of play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Kings, a couple of years ago he was one of over 100 applicants.He was also a very great distance from the home of the Los Angeles team, in fact he was a fulltime resident and broadcaster in Orillia, Ontario. He got around that by sending a tape to L.A. and was subsequently chosen by Jack Kent Cooke as the best man for the job. Cooke, never a man to doubt his own choices, now calls McDonald &ldquo;The greatest hockey broadcaster in America. The fact is however. that a great many residents of Los Angeles would agree with Cooke&rsquo;s summation.McDonald&rsquo;s interest in broadcasting goes hack to his days as a youngster in his native Ontario.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-05418/2902034-1-eng-US/f0011-052.jpg" title="f0011-05" width="247" height="401"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ken McDonald</figcaption></div>&ldquo;As a kid I was fascinated by the communications field, and developed a keen interest in radio,&rsquo; he says. &ldquo;I became a radio announcer in 1956, after my high school years in Galt, disc-jockey, newsman. sports announcer, court reporter, and even typed the station logs. Throughout mv eleven years in radio before joining the Kings. I found play-by-play&rsquo; hockey to be the best part of the job and the part that lenjoved the most.&rdquo;He had been greatly influenced, as a kid, by Foster Hewitt, the famed play-by-play announcer of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he says that the thrill of his life was when the Kings went into Toronto for their first game at Maple Leaf Gardens.&ldquo;There I was, walking out the catwalk to the gondola, suspended a hundred feet over the ice,&rdquo; McDonald recalls. &ldquo;I thought back to when I used to listen to the games as a boy, and it was a great thrill for me to be there&rdquo;.Yet, surprisingly, he had never broadcast so much as a minute of professional hockey, before latching onto the job with the Kings. He was well-versed in amateur hockey, though, having done a considerable amount of broadcasting of it for station CFOR in Orillia.McDonald says that his most unusual &mdash; and distressing &mdash; experience in hockey broadcasting came on Christmas night in 196i, when the Kings were playing in Pittsburgh.&ldquo;Our engeneer from a Pittsburgh station arrives prior to the game and isn&rsquo;t feeling well&rdquo;, McDonald recounts. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s complaining of chest pains and is perspiring heavily. About five minutes before we re to go on the air with a pre-game show, he collapses and dies in the broadcast booth. My &lsquo;small station&rsquo; background came through as I completed setting up the equipment and we got on the air just in time, but it was a terrible experience and a very trying time&rdquo;&ldquo;Jiggs.&rdquo; who is only 5&rsquo;9&rdquo; but who has weighed as high as 287 lbs. picked up his nick-name from the well-known comic strip character, hut had never used the monicker during his days in Canadian radio. When he joined the Kings, however, Jack Kent Cooke learned that he&rsquo;d once been known as Jiggs McDonald, and suggested he revert to it. Jack thought it was much more distinctive than Kenneth.McDonald currently rents a home in West Los Angeles, with his wife Marilyn and two daughters. Kelly Lynn. 3 and. Susan Andrea. 7 months. He picks Montreal Canadiens and the Kings as the most exciting teams to watch &hellip; Montreal for the way they skate and pass the puck around. The Kings because they are young, never give up. and provide an exciting brand of hockey. To many fans, these players were unknown and untried. But, they proved that they belong. &#9632;

f0011-05

Odds Were 100-1 Against L.A.’s ’Jiggs’ McDonald

<div class="byline">BY GEOFFREY FISHER</div>&ldquo;you like 7UP 7UP likes you&rdquo;&ldquo;you like 7UP 7UP likes you&rdquo;ST. LOUIS, Mo.&mdash;Will the St. Louis Blues, who roared through the regular season like an express train to grab off the Western Division title, be able to maintain their momentum for the Stanley Cup action?<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01740/2902065-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="273" height="435"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Roberts</figcaption></div>They suffered their longest losing string of the season as they hit the road early in March to play at Toronto, Montreal, New York and Pittsburgh, losing all four. But they got back home to the St. Louis Arena to wrap up the Clarence S. Campbell Trophy by knocking off the Oakland Seals before another typical standing-room-only crowd of 15,136. That shot Blues home attendance to 472.573.For Coach Scotty Bowman, whose club has been running out front of the Western Division since the opening week, it was a particularly satisfying way to wrap it up. &ldquo;We won it going away,&rdquo; said an exuberant Bowman, &ldquo;and we did it by beating our closest rival (Oakland).&rdquo;But it was evident the Blues were not dispatching their opponents with the same deadly poison that had marked their earlier stampede.Will they be able to ignite all the jets when the Stanley Cup war starts?Jimmy Roberts is confident they can. Roberts, the bery first player to be drafted by the Blues when they opened shop, says this St. Louis hockey club is a lot better than the one that startled the sports world last season by going to the playoff finals against Montreal.&ldquo;Last season,&rdquo; says Roberts, &ldquo;we went into the playoffs very high because we had to make up for a very mediocre season in which we finished third. This time we have a club that can do it on talent if we just play together like an 18-man club.&rdquo;Roberts is a prime example of the kind of player who has carried the Blues to remarkable heights in their first two seasons of big time hockey. Last year he won the 110 per cent Trophy awarded by a local group called &ldquo;The Goaltenders.&rdquo; But the way this firebrand from Toronto plays the game he will always be a top candidate for that kind of honor.He has unlimited versatility where the tools of the trade are skates, stick and puck and he is one of that special breed who can come up with the big play when the big play is needed most.For a fellow who plays defense, forward and kills penalties, he probably comes as close to the complete player as anybody wearing the winged blue note of St. Louis.His durability and talent was perfectly displayed the night the Blues cinched the Western title against Oakland. In the space of five minutes early in the third period Roberts set up Red Berenson to give the Blues a 3-2 lead over the Seals. Less than a minute and a half later it was Roberts taking a pass from Berenson who fired past the Seals Gary Smith to make it 4-2. Twelve seconds later it was Roberts who was dispatched by Coach Scotty Bowman to kill off a penalty.Roberts credits Jacques Plante with a major assist in helping the Blues have such an outstanding season.&ldquo;Jacques has really helped Glenn Hall this year. They have split their games about evenly and they both have great averages and they have been a real great part of the team. Some nights we have let the other teams come in and have 40 or 45 shots at our goal and Jacques and Glenn will still have us coming out with a win.&rdquo;What does Roberts think about the danger of a serious letdown by the Blues after such a successful season in which they sewed up the title three full weeks before the playoffs?&ldquo;I know Scotty (Bowman) is too good a coach to allow us to get complacent and I know the players themselves realize they had a little letdown because our lead was so big. But we know what we have to do to win hockey games and we have proven all season that we can do it.&rdquo;Roberts said he saw no reason for special concern over the Blues having lost four straight when the club went on a road trip that took them to Toronto, Montreal, New York and Pittsburgh.&ldquo;We were playing clubs every night that were fighting toget into the playoffs or to hold a playoff spot and they naturally were hungrier than we were. Now we are going after the Stanley Cup and that&rsquo;s plenty of incentive.James Wilfred (Jimmy) Roberts rarely needs a special incentive to give a peak performance but it just so happens he has one all worked out for the big challenge that lies ahead.That special incentive is an attractive young lady named Judy Gantner who resides in suburban Ferguson, Mo.Jimmy met her around the swimming pool of the apartment house where he makes his home here and they have set the wedding date for May 17. By that time Jimmy Roberts hopes to have the Stanley Cup bankroll to add to the 82.250 share he got from winning the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. &#9632;

f0012-01

Closing-Season Slowdown Not Worrying Blues

&mdash; IN THE EASTThe Boston Bruins hammered 19 goals past National Hockey League netminders this past week and wouldn&rsquo;t you know the man who lead the onslaught would be sizzling Phil Esposito.The high-scoring Boston pivot picked up a fabulous 11 points last week in four games to raise his season total to a record 118 points. The splurge by Esposito enabled him to erase Dickie Moore&rsquo;s 1958-59 record of 113 points for both league and playoff play combined.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02642/2902096-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="269" height="421"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil Esposito</figcaption></div>While becoming the first player in NHL history to score 100 scoring points in a single season, Esposito has been a part or the central figure in setting a half dozen records in recent weeks.With a 20-point pull over Bobby Hull, the Boston centre is breezing to the scoring championship.Esposito&rsquo;s 74 assists eclipsed Stan Mikita&rsquo;s mark of 62 by a center set in 1966-67 and now he is threatening Jean Beliveau&rsquo;s record of most goals by a pivot, 47. He currently has 44.El Producto and THE HOCKEY NEWS are pleased to salute the NHL&rsquo;s plaver-of-the-week in the East:Phil Esposito&hellip; Boston &#9632;

f0012-02

NHL Player Of The Week

&mdash; IN THE WESTMinnesota North Stars are continuing to battle down to the wire to grab one of the two remaining playoff berths in the Western Division and one of their mainstays in the stretch drive is gutty Ray Cullen.The hard-working Minnesota center, who scored 28 times and 53 points last season with the Stars, has recovered nicely from an early-season leg injury and is making his presence felt in the Star&rsquo;s belated drive for a playoff berth.This past week, Cullen scored three times and helped set up two other goals as the Stars ended an unbeaten week with a win and three ties. Cullen had two tieing goals that helped Minnesota to two big points in their battle to overtake L.A. and Philly.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03509/2902127-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="244" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ray Cullen</figcaption></div>With 24 goals and 59 points Cullen is assured of an improved season over his expansion year. He has his sights set on bettering his goal mark and could turn the trick in the remaining two weeks of the schedule.El Producto and THE HOC KEY NEM pleased to salute the NHL&rsquo;s player-of-the week in the West:Ray Cullen...Minnesota &#9632;

f0012-03

<h2>TUES. MARCH 11</h2>MONTREAL 3 at ST. LOUIS 0<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01728/2902298-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="625" height="423"></div>BOSTON 3 at MINNESOTA 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02679/2902291-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="607" height="555"></div><h2>WED. MAR. 12</h2>TORONTO 4 at LOS ANGELES 0<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03630/2902284-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="604" height="513"></div>OAKLAND 4 at CHICAGO 1<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-04578/2902277-1-eng-US/f0013-042.jpg" title="f0013-04" width="613" height="586"></div>PITTSBURGH 3 at NEW YORK 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-05475/2902270-1-eng-US/f0013-052.jpg" title="f0013-05" width="646" height="544"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-06405/2902263-1-eng-US/f0013-062.jpg" title="f0013-06" width="619" height="180"></div><h2>THURS. MAR. 13</h2>MINNESOTA 4 at MONTREAL 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-07375/2902256-1-eng-US/f0013-072.jpg" title="f0013-07" width="649" height="597"></div>BOSTON 1 at PHILADELPHIA 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-08352/2902249-1-eng-US/f0013-082.jpg" title="f0013-08" width="613" height="426"></div>TORONTO 3 at OAKLAND 1<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-09335/2902242-1-eng-US/f0013-092.jpg" title="f0013-09" width="622" height="481"></div><h2>SAT. MAR. 15</h2>CHICAGO 1 at MONTREAL 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-10313/2902235-1-eng-US/f0013-102.jpg" title="f0013-10" width="625" height="450"></div>PITTSBURGH 1 at LOS ANGELES 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-11288/2902228-1-eng-US/f0013-112.jpg" title="f0013-11" width="616" height="479"></div>DETROIT 2 at ST. LOUIS 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-12252/2902221-1-eng-US/f0013-122.jpg" title="f0013-12" width="624" height="586"></div>PHILADELPHIA 2 at MINNESOTA 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-13218/2902214-1-eng-US/f0013-132.jpg" title="f0013-13" width="624" height="387"></div>BOSTON 4 at TORONTO 7<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-14185/2902207-1-eng-US/f0013-142.jpg" title="f0013-14" width="594" height="914"></div><h2>SUN. MAR. 16</h2>TORONTO 3 at BOSTON 11<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-15153/2902200-1-eng-US/f0013-152.jpg" title="f0013-15" width="615" height="789"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-16111/2902193-1-eng-US/f0013-162.jpg" title="f0013-16" width="604" height="303"></div>PITTSBURGH 2 at OAKLAND 7<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-1790/2902186-1-eng-US/f0013-172.jpg" title="f0013-17" width="604" height="597"></div>PHILADELPHIA 2 at CHICAGO 6<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-1876/2902179-1-eng-US/f0013-182.jpg" title="f0013-18" width="622" height="609"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-1959/2902172-1-eng-US/f0013-192.jpg" title="f0013-19" width="607" height="117"></div>MINNESOTA 3 at ST. LOUIS 1<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2039/2902165-1-eng-US/f0013-202.jpg" title="f0013-20" width="634" height="534"></div>DETROIT 4 at NEW YORK 6<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2130/2902158-1-eng-US/f0013-212.jpg" title="f0013-21" width="619" height="873"></div> &#9632;

f0013-01

National Hockey League Summaries

<div class="byline">with ED FITKIN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01728/2902343-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="323" height="429"></div>PHIL ESPOSITO HAS SHATTERED all scoring records in the National Hockey League this season and the slender center of the boistlerous Boston Bruins is superstitious to the extent that he credits the socks he wears to the games for much of his success &hellip; &ldquo;These socks are lucky,&rdquo; he will tell you. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been wearing them to most of the games. My wife washes them, hut that&rsquo;s all. I don&rsquo;t want to change my luck, so I won&rsquo;t let her darn the holes in them.&rdquo; &hellip; As they&rsquo;d say on Laugh-In. Phil: Sock it to &lsquo;em! &hellip; I&rsquo;he Canadian Parliament saw fit to pass a motion congratulating Espo on becoming the first player in NHL history to reach (and surpass) the 100-point mark in a season &hellip; En route to his record-wrecking total, Esposito shattered the assists record of 62 set by Stan Mikita &hellip; and also gets his name in the NHL record book as the center with the most assists and most points in the game&rsquo;s history &hellip; Bobby Hull, who is chasing Phil to the wire for the scoring title but at this writing was a dozen points back, could salvage some consolation for what has so far been a disappointing Chicago season by setting an all-time mark for goals &hellip; In reaching the 50 plateau for the fourth time in his remarkable career, Chicago&rsquo;s Golden Jet still had 10 games in which to surpass his own record of 54 goals &hellip; Barring unforeseen injury, I think he&rsquo;ll do it, and more power to him. The way Bobby kept playing, with no letup in pace or aggressiveness when he had a broken jaw wire tight for six weeks and had to live on a liquid diet, was a tribute to the tremendous competitive spirit and courage of this rare athlete. You know now why he&rsquo;s a super-star.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03479/2902336-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="260" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil Esposito</figcaption></div>HULL AND BOB PULFORD ARE THE KEY FIGURES in a business group trying to get permission of the City of Toronto to build a million-dollar marina on Toronto Island, which already has three private yacht clubs &hellip; The fact that only one marina on the Great Lakes apparently has been making money, that one at Sarnia, didn&rsquo;t deter Hull and Pully from avidly seeking the Toronto franchise &hellip; Bobby was quoted as saying that he wanted to be part of the Toronto development, part of the image of the &ldquo;fastest-growing city&rdquo; in Canada, where, he added, he intended to hang up his skates &hellip; Neil Armstrong has been a linesman in the NHL for 12 years, and that&rsquo;s exclusively in the NHL, never in the minors &hellip; When he broke in, Neil was so thin that if he turned sideways, you thought he was part of the blueline &hellip; For want of something better to do during his idle moments this hockey season, Neil sat down one night and figured out how many different plane trips he had made and would make, barring being grounded, until the end of the season &hellip; It worked out to 105 plane flights &hellip; &ldquo;On top of that,&rdquo; he told me during a chat in the Mount Royal lobby in Montreal, &ldquo;I have had eight train trips, 21 car rides and one bus ride. &hellip; The car rides were the short-hop assignments from his home in Sarnia to Detroit and Toronto &hellip; The bus ride was from Detroit to Pittsburgh when his scheduled flight from Detroit was cancelled at the last moment because of a heavy snowstorm &hellip; Art Skov. who has been in the NHL for 13 years, first as a linesman and later as a referee, had this comment when I mentioned what a tough year for injuries it had been on officials: &ldquo;It sure has. It&rsquo;s not how well you referee the game any more &mdash; but if you survive.&rdquo;FOOTNOTES &hellip; Sharpest sniper around NHL nets since the days of Rocket Richard is Yvan Cournoyer, perhaps Montreal&rsquo;s next superstar &hellip; He&rsquo;s positively deadly from 10 to 12 feet out, in any direction &hellip; Apparently he&rsquo;s just as smart off ice, is president of a realty company and oil company in Montreal with an office in a building that cost him $96,000 to build &hellip; Those hockey paychecks and playoff extras must be really some thing! &hellip; Boston Bruins fans, who are &ldquo;sign happy&rdquo; again, have one that salutes Teddy, Pie and Turk &hellip; Teddy is Ted Green, Pie is Johnny McKenzie and Turk is Derek Sanderson &hellip; In other arenas, where teams aren&rsquo;t doing well, you see signs proclaiming that the GM or the coach must go. Not in Boston. They have one that simply reads: Harry Sinden. It&rsquo;s right alongside one that simply reads: Orr. So you know how much affection they have for their coach &hellip; The Los Angeles Kings have a rookie left-winger up from Springfield, Gary (Bull) Croteau who starred for St. Lawrence University in U.S. college hockey last year and holds a B.A. in economy &hellip; He played as many games in his first year as a pro as he did in four years at college.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02617/2902329-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="268" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body">Yvan Cournover</figcaption></div>YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON KING CLANCY for some colorful quotes before, during and after a hockey game &hellip; Halfway through a recent Leaf-Canadien game in Montreal, which the Habs won 5-3. Clancy asserted: &ldquo;This game is so tame they could put a dozen eggs on the ice without breaking one of them&rdquo; &hellip; Afterwards, he was quoted as saying: &ldquo;Never in my life have I seen such long-distance checking. Imagine ourteam had only 16 hits (body checks) throughout the game &hellip; usually we average 50 to 55. If our fellows don&rsquo;t but away the feather dusters, we re going to get stoned&hellip;. Entering the press room, Clancy bumped into Toe Blake. Toe quipped: I hat was the hardest check of the night King.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0014-01

Footloose

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div>&mdash;LOS ANGELES, Calif.With 10 games to play before the playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings were struggling simply to secure a position. They had won only one of their last 13 games, none of their last seven, and had fallen 15 games below .500. Most of this was accounted for by their poor road performances, where they had won only one of their last ten, two of their last 20 and had only five wins in 35 outings.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04349/2902374-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="272" height="450"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill White</figcaption></div>However, the Kings were in line for some consolation prizes, the first of which fell to Gerry Desjardins, Bill White and Eddie Joyal, unofficial honors, but distinctive ones nevertheless. In a poll conducted for the new, March issue of Hockey World Magazine, NHL coaches named Desjardins &ldquo;rookie of the year&rdquo; and voted White a second-team defense berth on the all-star NHL honor team and first team in the West. Joyal shared a third-team center berth on the all-star Western Division team.Desjardins was an overwhelming choice over some of the best first year men ever to break into the NHL in the same season. &ldquo;Rookie of the year&rdquo; and runnerup MVP in the high-minor American League last season, Desjardins has a shot at rookie laurels, as will be voted by NHL writers, in the majors this season. Although his statistics are only ordinary, the coaches clearly recognized the quick-handed, gutty youngster&rsquo;s brilliant performances in an iron-man role on a defenseless team.Not quite defenseless, however. On a team short of strong defensive players and honest two-way players. White has been a standout since the veteran minor-league star was rescued from Springfield and the AHL prior to expansion last season. A good offensive player and steady defender, the rangy White has rallied from a second-half slump this season. He gained a startling prize as the NHL coaches voted him the fourth-best defenseman in the entire circuit. He is almost certain to be voted the Kings&rsquo; MVP.Joyal, a swift skater and sharp shooter had 29 goals at this writing and was second only to Red Berenson of St. Louis in goal-getting in the Western Division. In a day deep with quality centers. Joyal trailed only Berenson and Oakland&rsquo;s Ted Hampson and tied Minnesota&rsquo;s Ray Cullen in the voted ranking of expansion division pivots this season. Joyal won the Kings MVP laurel last season and his rise to the 30-goal plateau, which he should have surmounted by the time this reaches print, is quite an achievement for a fellow who was kicked around by NHL teams for years.Bill Flett, the strong, but streaky&rsquo; sophomore right-winger, who had 23 goals at this writing, pulled enough votes to make the honorable mention list as he served in fourth place at his position in his division. Flett was an all-star in the expansion division as a rookie last season and has come back with a satisfactory, if not spectacular showing in his critical second season, when so many prominent rookies of last season tailed off sharply.Wayne Rutledge, second among Western Division goalies in the Hockey World voting while a rookie last season, was blanked this time around by injuries which have sidelined him most of the campaign and by the swift ascension to star status of Desjardins, but Rutlege, better than several first-string goal-tenders in the NHL right now, figures to bounce back next season to alternate status in the one place in which the Kings are at least two-deep with quality goal.KINGS&rsquo; THINGS &mdash; The Kings have been outhot in their last seven games, which is one of the things with which Desjardins has had to contend. However, the weary rookie has been jumpy of late&hellip; Just promoted, rookies Billy Inglis and Gary Croteau were sidelined with chest and shoulder injuries. Jimmy Peters came off the bench to center Lowell McDonald and Ted Irvine and all three got hot together.Irvine got three goals in seven games. MacDonald got six goals in six games. After going without a goal for 31 games, Peters tallied two. Ron Anderson now has gone 34 games without a goal, Howie Hughes 15 games. However, Anderson, like Peters, has been frozen to the bench. In the last seven games, the Kings have scored one power-play goal, foes eight. &#9632;

f0014-04

Desjardins, White, Joyal Honored By NHL Coaches

<div class="byline">BY LOU PRATO</div>PITTSBURGH. Pa.&mdash;Bryan Watson hasn&rsquo;t turned into a saint, exactly, but the bad boy reputation which followed him into Pittsburgh may have to be altered.He&rsquo;s still a tough guy and that characteristic will never change. But since joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in late January, Watson has been a tough guy with manners.His rate of accumulating penalty minutes has been reduced drastically since the trade which sent him from Oakland to Pittsburgh. He planned it that way, he says, so that his new team had at least a chance to make the Stanley Cup playoffs.&ldquo;I discovered it was more advantageous to the team if they had me on the ice instead of in the penalty box,&rdquo; Watson says. &ldquo;We have played a lot of old division teams in recent weeks and in the condition we are we can&rsquo;t afford many penalties. So, I decided to be more careful.&rdquo;Still, although Watson has been more careful, he hasn&rsquo;t altered his basic, slambang style of play. Of all the Penguins, he is the one most likely to give a check at any moment &mdash; and to take one, too.But because of Watson, the Penguins still have an outside shot at a Western Division playoff spot. Until Watson&rsquo;s arrival, the Penguins were plodding along with listless performances that sank them deeper into last place.As the NHL season neared the home stretch, the Penguins were still in last place. But their performance on the ice had improved by almost 100 percent. They were skating better, passing better, scoring better, hitting better and&mdash;most important of all &mdash; winning more often. And the rejuventation could be traced directly to the 25-vear-old Watson.&ldquo;He has been an inspiration to everybody,&rdquo; says goalie Joe Daley. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen how hard he plays and we&rsquo;ve all reacted to it.&rdquo;Coach Red Sullivan agrees. &ldquo;He makes the other guys want to put out more,&rdquo; Sqllivan says. &ldquo;He takes a piece of a guy and makes an effort to be on his toes the whole time. His actions have brushed off on the other guys and they&rsquo;re playing better, especially since I put him back on defense.&rdquo;Switching Watson from a wing to defense was probably the best move Sullivan has made this year. Watson came from Oakland as a wing, even though he had been a defenseman most of his hockey career. After a few games he asked Sullivan if he could take a crack at defense and he has made the most of the switch.&ldquo;We noticed the change immediately,&rdquo; says Daley, who has been the Penguins main goalie in recent weeks. &ldquo;Not only was he hitting guys coming across the blue line, but he was clearing the puck out of our territory. Before, we&rsquo;d play around with the puck and before you knew it the other team would steak it and get a score. He sure has made things better for a goalie.&rdquo;Watson admits he is more relaxed and comfortable on defense. In fact, the only thing he misses by not being at wing is his nickname of &ldquo;Superpest.&rdquo; That was what everybody called him when he used to be assigned to shadow the opposition&rsquo;s scoring star. Chicago&rsquo;s Bobby Hull once labeled Watson&rsquo;s shadow techniques as malicious.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02632/2902405-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="550" height="612"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRYAN WATSON &hellip; Better To Stay On Ice</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0015-02

Watson Curbs Penalties To Lift Penguins

ICE CHIPS: Already assured of their best total point seasons are Pete Stemkowski and Alex Delvecchio &hellip; it&rsquo;s been a memorable season for each.Stemkowski scored 20 goals for the first time in his six-season pro career and has been everything the Wings hoped he&rsquo;d be&hellip; and a little more.Delvecchio became the NHL&rsquo;s third 1,000 point man, joining Gordie Howe and Jean Beliveau while running up his best point total in 18 seasons. And unfortunately, he probably will miss out on the All-Star team again.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01702/2902436-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="253" height="414"><figcaption class="caption-body">Alex Delvecchio</figcaption></div>Howe broke his single season assist record of 49 and could break Andy Bathgate&rsquo;s record of 58 for a right wing. BERRY &#9632;

f0015-01

Delvecchio Third 1000-Point Man

<div class="byline">BY GEORGE DUFFY</div>PROVIDENCE, R.I. &mdash;Like many players in the American Hockey League, veteran John Sleaver has a suitcase covered with labels. He has performed with eight pro clubs.The labels read Chicago, Buffalo. Quebec, Three Rivers, Vancouver, Denver, Victoria and Providence, to mention a few.But although Sleaver, who is over six feet tall and weighs 185 pounds, has worn many uniforms, he is still the same knowledgeable hockey man who some fans in Rhode Island call the &ldquo;Red&rdquo; Auerbach of the ice hockey world.This of course, would be in reference to Sleaver&rsquo;s constant companionship with a cigar. &ldquo;I like a good cigar,&rdquo; says the Copper Cliff. Ont. native. Auerbach, the famed former coach of the Boston Celtics and now the general manager of the N.B.A. team, is a continual cigar puffer.Just a week ago after he had played an important role as the Reds edged Baltimore, 3-2 in an important Eastern Division game, Sleaver sat in the Reds&rsquo; room, half dressed, with the smoke of a four alarm fire pouring from a cigar.&ldquo;Boy what a game,&rdquo; said John, &ldquo;it was just like a playoff.&rdquo;As expected, John had little to say about himself, he rarely does.But Coach Dave Creighton and those close to the Providence hockey scene, know full well that Sleaver is one of the veterans who has made a very important contribution to the Reds in 1968-69.John has not set the scoring world on fire, totalling only 417-21 in 57 games. But these figures do not concern Sleaver who early in the season became the Reds&rsquo; penalty killing specialist and has made mockery of the enemy&rsquo;s power play.&ldquo;I really like to score.&rdquo; John was saying, &ldquo;but my job is to keep the other team from scoring. In a way, I guess I&rsquo;m like a defensive specialist in football. I have a special job to do and I enjoy it.&rdquo;Sleaver enjoys it but the opposition may not. In a game at Rochester late last month, the Americans had a man advantage for two minutes and got only one weak shot on Providence goalie Marcel Paille. Sleaver was the main reason.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1279/2902467-1-eng-US/f0016-122.jpg" title="f0016-12" width="550" height="571"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHN SLEAVER &hellip; Loves To Score</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0016-12

‘Smoky’ Sleaver Skating With 8th Pro Club

<h2>TUES. MAR. 11</h2>BUFFALO 1 at QUEBEC 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01549/2902568-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="610" height="531"></div><h2>WED. MAR. 12</h2>Hershey 1 at Cleveland 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02472/2902561-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="625" height="498"></div><h2>FRI. MAR. 14</h2>PROVIDENCE 1 AT BALTIMORE 6<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03372/2902554-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="601" height="576"></div>CLEVELAND 6 at SPRINGFIELD 6<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04297/2902547-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="580" height="751"></div>BUFFALO 3 AT QUEBEC 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05225/2902540-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="610" height="339"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06178/2902533-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="610" height="216"></div><h2>SAT. MARCH 15</h2>BALTIMORE 2 At HERSHEY 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-07165/2902526-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="604" height="690"></div>QUEBEC 5 At SPRINGFIELD 6,<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-08149/2902519-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="613" height="558"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-09128/2902512-1-eng-US/f0016-092.jpg" title="f0016-09" width="642" height="297"></div>ROCHESTER 3 At CLEVELAND 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-10108/2902505-1-eng-US/f0016-102.jpg" title="f0016-10" width="612" height="567"></div><h2>SUN. MAR. 16</h2>SPRINGFIELD 5 at ROCHESTER 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1194/2902498-1-eng-US/f0016-112.jpg" title="f0016-11" width="636" height="609"></div> &#9632;

f0016-01

American League Summaries

ASK YOUR DEALER ABOUTLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS (FORMERLY WALLY)(Hockey sticks distributed in the U.S. through the Hillerich & Brodsby Co.)ASK YOUR DEALER ABOUTLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS (FORMERLY WALLY)Hockey stick distributed in the U.S. through the Hillerich & Brodsby Co.)<h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Tues. Mar. 18)EASTERN DIVISION<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1368/2902606-1-eng-US/f0016-132.jpg" title="f0016-13" width="586" height="171"></div>WESTERN DIVISION<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1463/2902599-1-eng-US/f0016-142.jpg" title="f0016-14" width="601" height="165"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. Mar. 11Buffalo 1 at Quebec 5Wed. Mar. 12Hershey 1 ot Cleveland 5Fri. Mar. 14Providence 1 at Baltimore 6Buffalo 3 at Quebec 3Cleveland 6 at Springfield 6Sat. Mar 15Rochester 3 ot Cleveland 4Baltimore 2 ot Hershey 5Quebec 5 at Springfield 6Sun. Mar. 16Cleveland 1 at Baltimore 10Quebec 1 at Buffalo 5Hershey 3 at Providence 5Springfield 5 ot Rochester 3GAMES TO COMEWed Mor 19Buffalo at BaltimoreCleveland at HersheyRochester at ProvidenceFri. Mar. 21Rochester at BaltimoreSat. Mar 22Providence at ClevelandQuebec at HersheyBuffalo at SpringfieldSun. Mar. 23Baltimore at ClevelandBuffalo at ProvidenceQuebec at Rochester &#9632;

f0016-13

How They Stand

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div>HERSHEY, Pa. &mdash;It will be quite a spell before Mike Nykoluk will forget the night of Mar. 1, 1969.The veteran Hershey Bears center joined the select 700 point crowd in scoring a goal and assisting on two others against the Baltimore Clippers.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01462/2902637-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="264" height="417"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike Nykoluk</figcaption></div>The &ldquo;Big Bear&rdquo; received an un precedented standing ovation from the jammed-packed Sports Arena audience of 7,600. It lasted nearly a full minute.&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t ever remember anything quite like it,&rdquo; said Hershey&rsquo;s general manager-coach Frank Mathers. &ldquo;It was a great tribute to Mike&rsquo;s play.&rdquo;Nykoluk, the American League&rsquo;s third greatest playmaker of all time with 551 assists, shows 150 goals for his 701 points in 849 games. Only two other Hershey skaters ever topped the 700-point mark, Willie Marshall, now with Baltimore, and Bruce Cline, who retired last year. Ironically, Marshall played in the game when Nykoluk reached another milestone in 13-year pro career.Hershey, streaking toward its third straight Eastern Division championship, has been clobbering everyone in sight on home ice to fatten the point spread over the other East clubs.Mathers charges have won 22 of 29 home games, out-scoring the opposition, 141-67, at the Sports Arena. As of Mar. 1 the club boasted a seven game win streak at home and had lost only one of its last 13 games here.Meanwhile, Garnet Bailey, the brash 20-year-old rookie left winger, continued on the hottest scoring streak in all pro hockey. The fiery forward in his last 14 starts had connected for 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in his stretch drive for a cracl at &ldquo;Rookie-of-the-year&rdquo; honors.Gil Gilbert and Michel Harvey continue to pace the league&rsquo;s scorers with Gilbert front-running the pack with 79 points after 60 games. Harvey had 76 as both were taking dead aim at the 100 opoint standard in the final 14 games.Harvey says the Bears are the greatest scoring team he&rsquo;s ever played on in his pro career. He&rsquo;s not about to get any argument seeing as the Bears have eight 20 goal scorers in their ranks. &#9632;

f0017-01

Bears’ Nykoluk Hits 700-Point Milestone In 849th AHL Game

<div class="byline">By GEORGE DUFFY</div>PROVIDENCE, R.I.It was Sunday night at anicient R.I. Auditorium and as has been the case for the last 43 years, a large, very vocal crowd was on hand to watch the R.I. Reds.The action sped toward defenseman Wayne Muloin and the man who stands only 5-8 ran one of the opposition into the boards and almost up into the 15th row of seats. The crowd roared its approval and Wayne smiled triumphantly.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02410/2902668-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="254" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wayne Muloin</figcaption></div>Running enemy skaters into the boards has become a way of life with Wayne Muloin, so much so that from a world of hockey obscurity he has become the conversation piece for many a scout who visits R.I. Auditorium.Providence has had some solid hitters over the years, fellows like the late Art Lesieur in the 30&rsquo;s and Art Michaluk, who was a thumper to behold in the late 40&rsquo;s when the Reds were owners of the Calder Cup.Unlike Lesieur and Michaluk who had good size, Muloin is small to be running around like the Boston to New York Express. He weighs only 175 pounds. But as one American League player recently said: &ldquo;If he weighed 220 pounds and hit that way there might not be many forwards left in the league.&rdquo;Born in Dryden, Ont. the day before Christmas in 1941, Muloin&rsquo;s one aim is to become a National Leaguer. &ldquo;I think this is the dream of every young player who first puts on a pair of skates.&rdquo;Wayne has been with the Reds since the 1965-66 season but he once wore the uniform of the Detroit Red Wings. It was only for three games and Muloin simply says &ldquo;I had a cup of coffee in Detroit and then left town.&rdquo;He may not leave so fast the hiext time. As late as last season, there were some members of the press in Rhode Island, along with some executives, who thought Muloin would never make it. But the comment has all changed now. &#9632;

f0017-02

Reds’ Muloin Throwback To Old Thumpers

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div>ROCHESTER, N.Y.&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to let this job bother me,&rdquo; Dick Gamble was saying shortly after being named player-coach of the Rochester Americans last fall. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll just do the best I can and if it&rsquo;s not good enough &hellip; Well they can fire me. I won&rsquo;t quit and I won&rsquo;t let it get me down.&rdquo;Now it&rsquo;s the early morning &hellip; like 4 a.m. or so &hellip; on Sunday, March 9, and here&rsquo;s this same Mr. Gamble tossing and turning in bed, a victim of insomnia because his Amerks have scored just one goal in their last five periods of hockey and only two in their last eight &mdash; all on home ice.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03339/2902699-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="256" height="446"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Gamble</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Yes, I know I said I wouldn&rsquo;t let this thing get to me, but I guess it just goes with the job,&rdquo; he admitted afterward.&ldquo;Sure I was concerned, not only because we weren&rsquo;t scoring, but because we weren&rsquo;t even skating and had two ties and a loss in our last three games on home ice.&ldquo;I finally got up about 5 a.m. and had a glass of milk while I was trying to think of things to try. I decided to switch all the lines, but didn&rsquo;t tell anyone until it was their turn against Hershey that night.&rdquo;Gamble&rsquo;s shuffle put veteran Billy McNeill in Ron Ward&rsquo;s spot on the big line with Red Armstrong and Gamble, moved Ward between Gerry Sillers and John Gofton, and inserted Les Duff, normally a left wing and mostly a penalty killer, at center for Andy Champagne and Tom McCarthy.For a period and a half it appears Gamble would be in for nightmares instead of insomnia that night as Hershey grabbed a 2-0 lead. But Duff popped in his eighth and ninth goals of the season &mdash; the last with only 1:57 remaining to break a 2-2 tie &mdash; and Ward reached the 30-goal plateau in his rookie i season as Rochester grabbed a much-needed 3-2 victory over the Bears.Gamble, who certainly is in the running for coach-of-the-year honors in the AHL in his freshman, season as bossman, slept peacefully after the Hershey game. &#9632;

f0017-03

Coach Gamble Admits Concern As Americans Stop Scoring

<h2>NEW YORK METRO LEAGUE</h2>(Final Standings)Eastern Division<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01468/2902800-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="613" height="173"></div>Western Division<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02378/2902793-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="625" height="169"></div>LEADING SCORERS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03279/2902786-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="616" height="285"></div><h2>B.C. JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04220/2902779-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="616" height="235"></div><h2>WEST COAST JUNIOR</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05166/2902772-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg" title="f0018-05" width="643" height="275"></div><h2>NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-06137/2902765-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="610" height="213"></div>LEADING SCORERS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-07121/2902758-1-eng-US/f0018-072.jpg" title="f0018-07" width="622" height="384"></div><h2>FINGER LAKES COLLEGIATE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-08102/2902751-1-eng-US/f0018-082.jpg" title="f0018-08" width="610" height="414"></div>PLAYOFF RESULTSSemi-FinalsCanton Tech 6, Brockport 3Buffalo U. 7, Rochester Tech 4ConsolationBrockport 4, Rochester Tech 4 (o.t.)ChampionshipCanton Tech 3, Buffalo Univ. 2LEADING SCORERS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-0990/2902744-1-eng-US/f0018-092.jpg" title="f0018-09" width="634" height="300"></div><h2>MINNESOTA INTERCOLLEGIATE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1078/2902737-1-eng-US/f0018-102.jpg" title="f0018-10" width="610" height="321"></div><h2>INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1173/2902730-1-eng-US/f0018-112.jpg" title="f0018-11" width="625" height="207"></div> &#9632;

f0018-01

Hockey Races

<div class="byline">BY CHARLEY BARTON</div>BUFFALO, N.Y. &mdash;Allan Hamilton is once again the prize prospect he was when the New York Rangers signed him to a pro contract and sent him to Omaha of the Central Pro League three years ago.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1267/2902831-1-eng-US/f0018-122.jpg" title="f0018-12" width="259" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body">Allan Hamilton</figcaption></div>Some of the original lustre and polish wore off, but it won&rsquo;t be long before Hamilton is a highly valued player again if he can maintain his present standard of play.The 22-year-old Hamilton anchored the Buffalo Bisons&rsquo; defense; originated a series of dangerous rushes and scored the winning goal in a 2-1 triumph over the Baltimore Clippers. It was his best game in two seasons with the Herd.&ldquo;Al has been playing well for six weeks &hellip; like the plaver we thought he would be when he first came to our club in Omaha three years ago,&rdquo; said Fred Shero, the Buffalo coach.&ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t any doubt about it, this guy has he toolls to do it all if he wants to. He can go on to be one of the top players in the game. It&rsquo;s all up to him.&rdquo;Hamilton knows he was something of a disappointment last season and earlier this year with the Bisons.&ldquo;I had a good year in my first season as a pro in Omaha, and now I&rsquo;m determined to work my way back up to the National League,&rdquo; said the rugged defenseman, who came here when the Rangers recalled rookie Brad Park early in the season.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m getting lots of work, and I can only play well when I do get plenty of ice time. I want to get back up to the NHL, and I&rsquo;ll work hard to get there.&rdquo;Hamilton has been double and triple-shifted recently. Capt. Ron Ingram has been out with a pulled groin muscle and Bob Blackburn has been with the parent Rangers. Club Center Dennis Hextail has returned from the NHL.Blackburn was expected back as soon as Harry Howell has ready to rejoin the New Yorkers.Meanwhile, the Bisons brought in defenseman Terry Pembroke from Omahh to share the rearguard action with Bob Ash, Randy Legge, Larry Hornung and Hamilton. Pembroke has been used sparingly. &#9632;

f0018-12

Ranger Chattel Hamilton Good Enough For NHL

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK SANTANIELLO</div>SPRINGFIELD, Mass. &mdash;Two Springfield Kings players are often seen and not heard. But Mike Corrigan and Dennis Rath-well, nevertheless, manage to get the job done for the team. Their combined play has been steady and productive since the beginning of the season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1355/2902862-1-eng-US/f0018-132.jpg" title="f0018-13" width="255" height="435"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dennis Rathwell</figcaption></div>Mike, nicknamed Butch by his mates, is rated a standout prospect by Los Angeles. In fact, he was well-regarded by the Toronto Maple Leafs from where the Kings drafted him to play here. The popular center turns in a strong game.A late starter last season, Rathwell appears to be one of the stand-out players this winter. His bone-crushing checks can be heard all around the Eastern States Coliseum. He is a type of player who likes to mix it up.A very quiet individual, Corrigan is a married guy with two daughters. He stands 5-10, 180 pounds. The lad is just 23 and was born and still resides in Ottawa. He is fortunate that he can play both the wing and center spot for the Kings.Rathwell is 28, stands 5-9 and weighs 175. He is also married with one son.Starting in the pro ranks in 1966 with Tulsa, Corrigan potted 11 goals and 21 assists in his first full season with Rochester in 1967. Here last season with the Kings, Butch hit 24 goals, 30 assists, second in team scoring behind Gerry Foley.Last season here, Rathwell had 17 goals, 18 assists. He is regarded as the hardest checker in the AHL. Fred Glober, former Cleveland coach now in the NHL. rated him the toughest wing in the league.Corrigan had a real slow start here this season. He came to training camp in the fall out of shape, but there was an excuse. He was operated on to correct a knee condition. In training camp, Mike was loaned to Denver to get in shape.Butch often works the checking line for the Kings. But he&rsquo;s clever around the net and manages many tip-ins. Rathwell js known as a digger, checker and hitter. Together they are doing a great job this winter. &#9632;

f0018-13

Corrigan, Rathwell Get Job Done In Own, Quiet Way For Springfield

PALMER, Mass. &mdash;Jack Bauman of Pittsburgh, president of the American Hockey League Booster Clubs convention, wants all members to keep Labor Day weekend open for the 1969 get together.Convention dates are September 5, 6 and 7.Bauman said no site has been set as yet for the convention but as soon as it is all registered member clubs will be notified. &#9632;

AHL Booster Clubs To Meet Sept. 5-7

<div class="byline">BY JOHN WHITE</div>SEATTLE. Wash. &mdash;Spring is approaching, and that should mean it&rsquo;s time for the &lsquo;Big Bear&rsquo; to go on the prowl again.And if he proves as tough a customer this year as he has in the past, then don&rsquo;t bet against the Seattle Totems I becoming the first team in Western Hockey League history to win the Lester Patrick Cup three times in a row.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01447/2902924-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="259" height="441"><figcaption class="caption-body">Don Head</figcaption></div>The &lsquo;Big Bear&rsquo;, of course, is Donald Charles Head, a goaltender obtained from the Portland Buckaroos in the summer of 1967 in the deal that sent Jimmy McLeod to the Bucks.McLeod has gone wild this season. By mid-March he was sporting a goals-against average of 2.29. And if he continued that pace for the rest of the campaign, he would wind up with the lowest mark in the history of the league.Head&rsquo;s goals-against average, meanwhile, was up to 3.03 in mid-March. thanks chiefly to a nine-goal bombing in Denver. And 3.03 doesn&rsquo;t seem to be much of a record for a guy whose career average (2.78) is the lowest of all time in the Western League.But there&rsquo;s another way to look at a goalie&rsquo;s record. How many games does he win for you?And Head&rsquo;s record with three weeks to play was just a bit astounding. &lsquo;Seattle had a 28-27-10 record. Head had won 19. lost 11 and tied 4 for a team that was playing just a shade above 500 hockey.On March 11, there were five goalies in the Western League with winning records. And, discounting ties, this was the way they ranked in percentage of victories:<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1184/2902917-1-eng-US/f0019-112.jpg" title="f0019-11" width="612" height="166"></div>Head trailed only Kelly and McLeod who were playing with a first-place hockey team that had a 16-point bulge over Seattle in the standings.Head&rsquo;s record on home ice was 16 victories, 3 ties and only 3 defeats. On the road, he was 3-8-1.But the playoffs have really been meat for the Big Bear. In 43 playoff games for Portland and Seattle since 1961. Head has allowed only 95 goals for a 2.21 average &mdash; lowest of all time in the Western League.His best record was 1.44 &mdash; another all-time mark &mdash; for nine games with Portland in the spring &mdash; of 1965.The Totems, in mid-March. were battling the San Diego Gulls for the third spot in the final standings.And this battle could go right to the wire, too, because Seattle might prefer to play first-place Portland (the Buckaroos were eight points out in front with three weeks to play) rather than second-place Vancouver in the playoffs.By mid-March. Seattle&rsquo;s problems were pretty much the same as they had been all season.The Totems were having trouble scoring.With 200 goals in their first 65 games, they ranked fifth in the Western League. Bob Courcy. with 36 goals, was having a strong season. But Chuck Holmes (23 goals) was the only other forward on the club over the 20-mark.One guy who was not having trouble scoring was defenseman John Hanna. Hanna sniped 22 goals in his first 62 games. He had a good shot at breaking the all-time record for goals by a defenseman in the Western League.The record of 25 was set by Doug Barkley with Calgary in the 1961-62 campaign. &#9632;

f0019-01

Head Carries Hopes For Third League Title

For The Best In Hockey Reading It&rsquo;s HOCKEY PICTORIAL Hockey&rsquo;s Most Exciting PublicationSave $$$$$$ Subscribe To The HOCKEY NEWS Receive 35 Issues At Home & Save $3.75<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1277/2902969-1-eng-US/f0019-122.jpg" title="f0019-12" width="560" height="576"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHN HANNA &hellip; Eyes 25-Goal Record</figcaption></div>WESTERN LEAGUE(Standings on Mon. Mar. 17)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1365/2902962-1-eng-US/f0019-132.jpg" title="f0019-13" width="607" height="233"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDWed. Mar. 12Vancouver 2 at Portland 2Fri. Mar. 14Denver 6 at San Diego 7Portland 4 at Vancouver 2Phoenix 3 at Seottle 7Sat. Mar. 15Seattle 6 ot San Diego 8Phoenix 1 ot Portland 1Sun. Mar. 16Vancouver 6 at Portland 5LEADING SCORERS(Including Games of Sun. Mar. 9)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1460/2902955-1-eng-US/f0019-142.jpg" title="f0019-14" width="601" height="582"></div> &#9632;

f0019-12

<h2>Fri. Feb. 21</h2>SEATTLE 1 At VANCOUVER 7<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02389/2903056-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="610" height="690"></div><h2>SAT. FEB. 22</h2>PORTLAND 5 at DENVER 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03316/2903049-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="610" height="614"></div>SAN DIEGO 2 at SEATTLE 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04271/2903042-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="610" height="585"></div><h2>SUN. FEB. 23</h2>PORTLAND 3 At PHOENIX 1<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05226/2903035-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="625" height="357"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06178/2903028-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="613" height="153"></div>SANDIEGO 3 AT VANCOUVER 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-07154/2903021-1-eng-US/f0019-072.jpg" title="f0019-07" width="616" height="564"></div><h2>TUES. FEB. 25</h2>SEATTLE 2 AT VANCOUVER 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-08139/2903014-1-eng-US/f0019-082.jpg" title="f0019-08" width="616" height="490"></div><h2>WED. FEB. 26</h2>PHOENIX 0 AT DENVER 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-09118/2903007-1-eng-US/f0019-092.jpg" title="f0019-09" width="613" height="456"></div>SAN DIEGO 1 AT PORTLAND 6<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-10100/2903000-1-eng-US/f0019-102.jpg" title="f0019-10" width="607" height="657"></div> &#9632;

f0019-02

WESTERN LEAGUE SUMMARIES

<div class="byline">BY TOM RENO</div>OMAHA, Neb.&mdash;While Omaha stormed back into the No. 1 spot in the Northern Division of the Central Hockey League last week, Knights&rsquo; rookie Don Luce was named the league&rsquo;s &ldquo;Plaver of the Week.&rdquo;In four outings last week, Luce fired seven goals and four assists for 11 points as Omaha grabbed a three-point lead over Tulsa, 65-62 in the North.Luce, third highest scorer last year for the Ontario Hockey Association while playing for the champion Kitchener club, now has scored 22 goals and 23 assists for 55 points in his first pro season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01291/2903094-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="274" height="442"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Lorentz</figcaption></div>Omaha General Manager Jake Milford praised Luce as one of the most steady-players in the CHL. &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t have a bad game,&rdquo; says Milford. And, he&rsquo;s been able to play every game in sport that usually keeps a guy out with an injury some time during a 72-game schedule.&rdquo;Jim Lorentz of Oklahoma City has all but wrapped up the CHL scoring honors, but a technicality may give the title to teammate, Steve Atkinson. Lorentz now leads with 96 points, but has played only 49 of the 50 required games. Atkinson now has 72 points and leads the loop in goals scored with 38.Ernie Hicke, Houston, is third with 70 points and Oklahoma City&rsquo;s Tom Webster, and Omaha&rsquo;s Juha Widing have 69. Jim Wiste of Dallas is next with 66. Tied with 65 points each are Oscar Gaudet, Dallas, and Gary Veneruzzo, Kansas City.The three Southern Division teams for the CHL playoffs are now set as Oklahoma City, Dallas and Houston have clinched berths. In the North, Omaha, Tulsa and Kansas City are assured of being in the playoffs, but what remains to be decided is the order of the divisional finish. Playoff action is scheduled to open March 28.Oklahoma City has 86 points with Dallas and Houaton tied each with 75 in the South. Following Omaha and Tulsa in the North is Kansas City with 61 points. Omaha and Tulsa meet in important games Friday at Omaha and Sunday at Tulsa.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0571/2903087-1-eng-US/f0020-052.jpg" title="f0020-05" width="469" height="579"><figcaption class="caption-body">DON LUCE &hellip; 11-Point Week.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0020-01

Omaha Rookie Don Luce CHL’s ‘player-of-week’ With 7-Goal Outburst

<h2>CENTRAL LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Wed. Mar. 19)Northern Division<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02214/2903139-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="622" height="176"></div>Southern Division<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03178/2903132-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="625" height="205"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues Mar. 11Dallas 4 at Amarillo 3Oklahoma City 4 at Kansas City 6Wed. Mar. 12Konsas City 5 ot Dallas 9Memphis 3 at Tulsa 5Oklahoma City 3 ot Fort Worth 3Fri. Mar. 14Konsos City 2 ot Amarillo 8Tulsa 5 ot Omaha 5Sat. Mar. 15Amc rillo 3 ot Fort Worth 2Houston 2 at Dallas 3Oklahomo City 3 at Tulsa 7Omaha 2 at Memphis 5Sun. Mar. 16Amarillo 2 at Kansas City 8Houston 4 ot Oklahoma City 5Omaha 4 at Tulsa 6GAMES TO COMEWed. Mar. 19Dallas at Kansas CityOmaha at Fort WorthTulsa at MemphisThurs. Mar. 20Tulsa at HoustonFri. Mar. 21Oklahoma City at Kansas CityOmoho ot DallasSat. Mar. 22Dallas at Oklahoma CityFort Worth at MemphisKansas City ot OmahaTulsa at AmarilloSun. Mar. 23Dallas ot HoustonFort Worth at TulsaMemphis at AmarilloOklahoma City at OmahaLEADING SCORERS(Including Games of Sun. Mar. 9)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04135/2903125-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="607" height="516"></div> &#9632;

f0020-02

New Subscribers To THE HOCKEY NEWS Guaranteed To Get First Issue Within Two WeeksHOCKEY NEWS Makes An Ideal Gift On Any Occasion. Give A Subscription To Dad Or Brother<h2>FRI. FEB. 21</h2>FORT WORTH 2 at TULSA 7<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0653/2903282-1-eng-US/f0020-062.jpg" title="f0020-06" width="630" height="777"></div>MEMPHIS 2 at KANSAS CITY 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0744/2903275-1-eng-US/f0020-072.jpg" title="f0020-07" width="615" height="599"></div><h2>TUES. FEB. 25</h2>AMARILLO 4 at HOUSTON 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0837/2903268-1-eng-US/f0020-082.jpg" title="f0020-08" width="594" height="654"></div><h2>WED. FEB. 26</h2>OKLAHOMA CITY 3 at Ft. WORTH 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0926/2903261-1-eng-US/f0020-092.jpg" title="f0020-09" width="621" height="528"></div>OMAHA 1 at MEMPHIS 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-1022/2903254-1-eng-US/f0020-102.jpg" title="f0020-10" width="597" height="555"></div>TULSA 0 at KANSAS CITY 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-1116/2903247-1-eng-US/f0020-112.jpg" title="f0020-11" width="612" height="246"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-1215/2903240-1-eng-US/f0020-122.jpg" title="f0020-12" width="619" height="264"></div><h2>THURS. FEB. 27</h2>OMAHA 1 at HOUSTON 6<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-1313/2903233-1-eng-US/f0020-132.jpg" title="f0020-13" width="610" height="543"></div><h2>FRI. FEB. 28</h2>AMARILLO 2 at DALLAS 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-1412/2903226-1-eng-US/f0020-142.jpg" title="f0020-14" width="610" height="660"></div>HOUSTON 2 at TULSA 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-1512/2903219-1-eng-US/f0020-152.jpg" title="f0020-15" width="607" height="450"></div>OKLAHOMA CITY 2 at MEMPHIS 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-168/2903212-1-eng-US/f0020-162.jpg" title="f0020-16" width="592" height="486"></div><h2>SAT. MARCH, 1</h2>AMARILLO 5 AT TULSA 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-176/2903205-1-eng-US/f0020-172.jpg" title="f0020-17" width="607" height="129"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-185/2903198-1-eng-US/f0020-182.jpg" title="f0020-18" width="613" height="546"></div>DALLAS 2 AT FIT. WORTH 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-192/2903191-1-eng-US/f0020-192.jpg" title="f0020-19" width="604" height="559"></div>MEMPHIS 1 AT KANSAS CITY 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-202/2903184-1-eng-US/f0020-202.jpg" title="f0020-20" width="598" height="510"></div>OMAHA 2 AT OKLAHOMA CITY 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-212/2903177-1-eng-US/f0020-212.jpg" title="f0020-21" width="604" height="517"></div><h2>SUN. MARCH. 2</h2>FORT WORTH 0 AT OMAHA 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-222/2903170-1-eng-US/f0020-222.jpg" title="f0020-22" width="610" height="483"></div> &#9632;

f0020-06

Central League Summaries

<div class="byline">BY HARVEY POLLACK</div>GREENSBORO, N.C. &mdash;The Greensboro Generals made a garrison finish to capture the Southern Division regular season crown of the Eastern Hockey League, while the Clinton Comets coasted home to the Northern Division crown.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01154/2903313-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="264" height="408"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lyle Carter</figcaption></div>The two division winners were joined by Nashville, Charlotte and Jacksonville for the Southern playoffs and by Johnstown, New Haven and Long Island for the Northern post-season play.Greensboro&rsquo;s ascent to the top spot was in doubt until the final weekend of play. Nashville had taken the southern lead about a month ago but had a light schedule thereafter. It was ahead of the Gens by points but the Gens had games in hand. Eventually the Dixie Flyers finished their season on a Tuesday and then stood helplessly idle as Greensboro began to cut into a four point deficit.Ron Spong&rsquo;s Gens whipped Salem twice to tie Nashville and then scored the clinching win over Charlotte. As an added gesture the team picked up an added point via a tie with Salem in the finale.The Gens had ice problems, however, for the playoffs and though they were entitled to the home ice advantage, they had to start at Jacksonville. And the Rockets pulled off a 3-2 win to take the early edge in the best-of-five series. There was no race for third and fourth places, and the other series matched Nashville with Charlotte.Up north, Clinton easily won the divisional crown with a 98-point total that was the best in either division and thus earned the Comets the home ice advantage in any series in which they participate. The Comets, however, went into the playoffs with a problem as their great goalie, Lyle Carter, suffered an ankle injury on the final weekend could be handicapped in playoff play if he isn&rsquo;t sidelined altogether.SYRACUSE: Blazers&rsquo; finances got a boost when they played a home game at Johnstown on the last weekend and drew 3,200 fans. Ray Crew&rsquo;s team ended the year with six straight losses, and 17 defeats and two ties in their final 19 games. The club had as few as nine men available for some of the stretch games. Crew says he will be back next year if the team is still here.SALEM: Rebels were upset at tailend of year when club was labeled &ldquo;patsies&rdquo; by Greensboro press. Al Osborne, Gil St. Jacques and Jan Popiel&rsquo;s injuries to all home games. Coach Dave Lucas lamented failure to make playoffs due to bad start but is optimistic about club&rsquo;s chances next season.JERSEY: Devils lost finale at Long Island to miss playoffs after wiping out 11-point defit in two weeks. Team picked up 20 points over a year ago and had rookie sensation Larry Pleau but won&rsquo;t have him next year. Coach Marcel Pelletier was not happy about the abrupt end of the year but said he learned a lot in his first season as a skipper. Rej Maltais had slight concussion vs Long Island. Pelletier fined $100 for unruly actions.LONG ISLAND: Ducks helped themselves into playoffs by beating Jersey twice here in final four days of campaign. Herm Karp, who began season with Jersey, scored vital goals to help whip old mates. Norm Schmitz bothered by bronchial attack as playoffs opened. Club owner Al Baron threatened $1,500 fine for team if it failed to make playoffs but later rescinded threat after a club meeting.CHARLOTTE: Winger Jack McCreary was coming fast at season&rsquo;s close. Injuries to Chuck Stuart (shoulder) and Barry Simpson (knee) crimped club&rsquo;s playoff hopes. Frank Golembrosky had five point game vs Jacksonville. Winger Roger Ouimet and defenseman Rick Foley had extra duty while Stuart and Simpson were out.JACKSONVILLE: Rockets had six game losing streak at end of season but hoped to reserve strides in playoffs. Tim Tabor playing well in nets. Largest crowd in history (6,678) saw kids&rsquo; night game. Fans here upset by actions of Charlotte&rsquo;s Barry Burnette who likely would be fined by league and disciplined by his club. Ron Willy named club MVP and top scorer. Ted Baylis most valuable defenseman and Harold White most popular plaver.JOHNSTOWN: Jets set new league mark for penalties. Spare goalie Jim Coombs was standby for Garry Sharp had 4-goaler vs Syracuse as goalie Lynn Zimmerman posted back to back shutouts. Head with an ankle injury and Zimmerman with split finger were not up to par for playoffs. Dick Roberge hit 1,500 plateau in alltime scoring.CLINTON: Borden Smith had hat trick vs Jersey and Moe St. Jacques vs Long Island. Lyle Carter wound up with 13 shutouts, two below league mark. Len Speck received more than 50 gifts including a color TV and a stuffed bear on his night. Jack Kane voted favorite player by fans. Comets had battle royale with New Haven here that still has fans talking. Ref Bob Anselm called game with 2:23 remaining to insure &ldquo;safety of players and spectators.&rdquo;NASHVILLE: Flyers loss at Jacksonville in finale hurt chances of finishing first but coach Lloyd Hinchberger is confident his team can do well in playoffs against any opposition. Team finished 27-6-3 at home. Don Labelle&rsquo;s foot injury hurt defense. Cliff Pennington wound up as southern scoring king according to unofficial figures &hellip; Pennington, Wally Sprange and Wayne Clairmont will be big offensive guns in plavoffs.NEW HAVEN: Blades were in scoring slump as season closed by 12-goal effort against Syracuse in finale might spur Don Perry&rsquo;s team in playoffs. Bobby Peters deemed most improved player on club. Billy Orr back in action with special mask to protect broken cheekbone. He had hat trick in late season fray as did helmeted Mike Rouleau vs Long Island. Goalie Dave Hainsworth suffered back injury in final weekend but is expected to operate in the plavoffs.GREENSBORO: Dorn Di-Berardino and Billy Armour not placed on playoff rosters. Doug Carpenter wearing protective mask over broken nose. Wayne Caufield bothered by pulled muscle and Roger Wilson by ankle injury. Moe L&rsquo;Abbe five goals helped beat Salem in crucial game and then he suffered groin injury. Coach Ron Spong said team played as well in final week as it did in early phases of campaign. &#9632;

f0021-01

Greensboro Gens Win South In Battle To Wire

<h2>EASTERN LEAGUE</h2>Northern DivisionSemi-Finals<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02115/2903484-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="618" height="161"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDWed. Mar. 12Long Island 2 at Clinton 13Thurs. Marc. 13Clinton 8 at Long Island 4Sat. Mar. 15Long Island 2 ot Clinton 14<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0377/2903477-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="626" height="135"></div>FINALS(Best-of-seven series)(NEW HAVEN vs CLINTON)Wed. Mar 19New Haven vs Clinton (At Utica)Thurs. Mar. 20New Hoven vs Clinton (At Utica)Fri. Mar. 21Clinton at New HavenSun. Mar. 23Clinton at New HavenTues. Mar. 25New Haven at Clinton (if necessary)Wed. Mar. 26Clinton at New Haven (if necessary)Sat. Mar. 29New Haven vs Clinton (At Utica)Southern DivisionSemi-Finals<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0466/2903470-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="622" height="140"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. Mar. 11Greensboro 2 at Jacksonville 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0559/2903463-1-eng-US/f0021-052.jpg" title="f0021-05" width="626" height="145"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDFri. Mar. 14Chorlotte 1 at Nashville 8Sun. Mar. 16Chorlotte 3 ot Nashville 5<h2>ONTARIO SENIOR LEAGUE</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0651/2903456-1-eng-US/f0021-062.jpg" title="f0021-06" width="612" height="109"></div><h2>QUEBEC SENIOR LEAGUE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0743/2903449-1-eng-US/f0021-072.jpg" title="f0021-07" width="608" height="137"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0837/2903442-1-eng-US/f0021-082.jpg" title="f0021-08" width="616" height="131"></div><h2>WESTERN INTERNATIONAL</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0931/2903435-1-eng-US/f0021-092.jpg" title="f0021-09" width="618" height="125"></div><h2>SASKATCHEWAN SENIOR</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1028/2903428-1-eng-US/f0021-102.jpg" title="f0021-10" width="610" height="121"></div><h2>ALBERTA SENIOR</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1122/2903421-1-eng-US/f0021-112.jpg" title="f0021-11" width="614" height="117"></div><h2>ONTARIO JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>QUARTER-FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1214/2903414-1-eng-US/f0021-122.jpg" title="f0021-12" width="610" height="141"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1312/2903407-1-eng-US/f0021-132.jpg" title="f0021-13" width="616" height="139"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1410/2903400-1-eng-US/f0021-142.jpg" title="f0021-14" width="624" height="147"></div><h2>NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR</h2>SEMI-FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-159/2903393-1-eng-US/f0021-152.jpg" title="f0021-15" width="616" height="133"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-168/2903386-1-eng-US/f0021-162.jpg" title="f0021-16" width="628" height="127"></div><h2>QUEBEC JUNIOR</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-177/2903379-1-eng-US/f0021-172.jpg" title="f0021-17" width="626" height="125"></div><h2>CENTRAL JUNIOR</h2>SEMI-FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-187/2903372-1-eng-US/f0021-182.jpg" title="f0021-18" width="608" height="127"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-197/2903365-1-eng-US/f0021-192.jpg" title="f0021-19" width="614" height="135"></div><h2>ALBERTA JUNIOR</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-207/2903358-1-eng-US/f0021-202.jpg" title="f0021-20" width="616" height="127"></div><h2>SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-217/2903351-1-eng-US/f0021-212.jpg" title="f0021-21" width="616" height="121"></div><h2>MARITIME JUNIOR</h2>FINALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-226/2903344-1-eng-US/f0021-222.jpg" title="f0021-22" width="620" height="113"></div> &#9632;

f0021-02

LOOKING AT PLAYOFF RACES

<h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Wed. Mar. 19)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01171/2903578-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="602" height="271"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. March 11Fort Wayne 3 ot Des Moines 4Port Huron 4 at Toledo 6Wed. March 12Muskegon 3 at Doyton 5Fort Wayne 2 at Des Moines 3Fri. March 14Port Huron 6 at Muskegon 4Doyton 3 at Columbus 7Des Mornes 3 at Toledo 6Sat. March 15Columbus 1 at Muskegon 11Des Moines 3 at Port Huron 7Fort Wayne 3 at Toledo 3Sun. March 16Fort Wayne 2 at Doyton 12Muskegon 3 at Port Huron 4Des Mornes 3 at Columbus 3GAMES TO COMEWed. Mar. 19Toledo at Fort WayneFri. Mar. 21toledo at Des MoinesDayton at MuskegonColumbus at Port HuronSat Mar. 22Columbus at Fort WaynePort Huron at MuskegonToledo at Des MoinesSun. Mar. 23Muskegon ot Port HuronLEADING SCORERS(Including Games of Sun. March 9)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02111/2903571-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="610" height="461"></div><h2>MASSACHUSETTS JUNIOR</h2>(Standings on Mon. Mar. 10)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0397/2903564-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="604" height="177"></div>LEADING SCORERS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0479/2903557-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="610" height="297"></div><h2>MICHIGAN JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Tues. Mar. 4)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0569/2903550-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="610" height="203"></div><h2>NEW ENGLAND LEAGUE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0653/2903543-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="620" height="207"></div><h2>CENTRAL JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0751/2903536-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="618" height="199"></div>LEADING SCORERS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0845/2903529-1-eng-US/f0022-082.jpg" title="f0022-08" width="596" height="255"></div><h2>SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0941/2903522-1-eng-US/f0022-092.jpg" title="f0022-09" width="628" height="185"></div><h2>UNITED STATES LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Mon. Mar. 3)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1033/2903515-1-eng-US/f0022-102.jpg" title="f0022-10" width="612" height="255"></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

<div class="byline">BY BOB REED</div>PORT HURON, Mich. &mdash;The Port Huron Flags will be back for an eighth season in the International Hockey League, according to an announcement by John F. Wismer, president and general manager of the Flags.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1130/2903609-1-eng-US/f0022-112.jpg" title="f0022-11" width="254" height="425"><figcaption class="caption-body">Doug Volmar</figcaption></div>For several years it has been rumored that the Flags were about to drop out of the league because of discouraging attendance. And in mid-season last year Wismer was quoted as saying it would be his last year unless the club could break even, which it reportedly did not.Wismer told Port Huron newsmen, &ldquo;Coach Ted Garvin and I are in complete accord. The Flags will be back next season and Ted will be our coach&rdquo;.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to finish what I started,&rdquo; said Garvin. &ldquo;I feel we&rsquo;ll have a title contending team next year, and also, don&rsquo;t count this club out of the playoffs this year.&rdquo;Garvin has been given the go-ahead to do some scouting of young players in Canada who might be signed to come to training camp next year. Wismer also said that reservations have been made to attend the National Hockey League meetings in Montreal this summer in attempt to get some assignments of players.With the assurance that Port Huron will return to the IHL for another season, the makeup of the circuit was still doubtful. Des Moines has been talking of moving into the Central League, which would offer better geographical position compared to the present mileage requirements imposed upon the Oak Leafs and other IHL clubs.Flint, Mich, is expected to be a new member of the circuit. But it has been reported the city has not yet met all league requirements. Frank Gallagher, who will head the franchise, has said that the necessary financial backing is available and realv.FORT WAYNE: Playing coach Len Thomson scored four goals, three in the first period, in a 5-5 tie with Muskegon &hellip; High scoring right wing Merv Dubchak was declared out for the season following an attack of hepatitis. He had 43 goals &hellip; Rookie goalie Ken Lockett made his second start, losing at Muskegon, 4-1&hellip; General Manager Ken Ullyot&rsquo;s sister died in Prince Albert, Sask She was the wife of Johnny Walker, well-known in hockey as a scout for the New York Rangers and long associated with the game.COLUMBUS: Doug Volmar had his sixth hat trick of the season in Des Moines, giving him 60 goals, breaking the league record of 58 for a rookie, previously set by Gordon Vejprava of the Marion Barons in 1953-54 &hellip; Defenseman Bill Bond was back in action after he was thought to be out for the season with a dislocated shoulder &hellip; The Checkers had a playoff berth clinched, with a chance of passing fort Wayne for fifth.MUSKEGON: The Mohawks were virtually assured of third place and a favorable position in the playoffs &hellip; Neither the Mohawks nor Komets could win a game on opponents&rsquo; ice. The Mohawks were 6-0-0 at home and 0-4-2 away &hellip; The Hawks handed the Blades two straight one-sided defeats after losing nine straight to them &hellip; Gary Ford notched a tying goal against the Komets with only 58 seconds remaining.DES MOINES: The Oak Leafs broke an unbeaten streak of eight games at home when they lost to Columbus, 5-1 &hellip; The Leafs had won only three out of 33 games on the road &hellip; They had only two wins and a tie in 11 meetings with the Checkers, whom they were trying to catch for the last playoff spot &hellip; Rich Brown collected his 200th assist in the IHL.DAYTON: Most of the Blades have gone to the curved stick, made popular by Bobby Hull of the Black Hawks &hellip; Defenseman Moe Benoit hit for two long goals in a 4-2 defeat of Port Huron &hellip; Duke Asmundsen had his second hat trick of the season &hellip; The Gems finished 64-2 over first place rivals Toledo &hellip; They were certain to set a new attendance record after bringing in 147,082 in 33 home games.TOLEDO: The slumping Blades, winning only three out of their last 13 games, fell seven points behind the leading Gems &hellip; Coach Terry Slater said he would keep Bill White in goal through the regular season, hoping Glenn Ramsay would be ready for the playoffs &hellip; Gordon Tucker, secured from Muskegon at cutoff time, was giving the Blades a lift &hellip; A Toledo goal judge had his card lifted by Commissioner Andy Mulligan after complaints by visiting Oak Leafs. &#9632;

f0022-11

Port Huron Plans To Remain In IHL

<div class="byline">BY JACK GATECLIFF</div>OTTAWA, Ont. &mdash;Ottawa 67s were overwhelmed 13-4 by Montreal Canadiens in their final game of the Ontario Hockey Association junior A schedule but even that loss failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Ottawa fans.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01151/2903647-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="247" height="408"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill Long</figcaption></div>Two nights earlier they had edged Toronto Marlboros 6-4 thereby clinching the final eighth playoff position and after that accomplishment their second season in junior A was a guaranteed success.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02112/2903640-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="546" height="586"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARCEL DIONNE &hellip; Sets Rookie Mark</figcaption></div>Before the schedule started coach Bill Long said that he would be perfectly happy if the 67s could qualify for the playoffs.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re still a young club&rdquo;, said Long. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care where we fit in as long as we get one of the first eight positions&rdquo;.For a time even that modest aim seemed out of reach of the 67s.They were in ninth place for much of the season but three wins in the last two weeks &mdash; over Niagara Falls, Kitchener and Toronto &mdash; nudged them into the last playoff spot just two points above Oshawa.The Generals joined last year&rsquo;s pennant winners, the Kitchener Rangers, on the sidelines as the post-season games got underway.The Rangers finished last after leading the group the previous two years.Montreal Canadiens succeeded Kitchener as regular season champions, winning seven and tying two of their last nine games for a six-point margin over second place St-Catharines Black Hawks.The Hawks only lost one of their last 16 games but a rash their last 16 games but a rash of ties (five) cost them any chance of bringing the first since Stan Mikita played with the Teepees in 1958-59.Peterborough, strong contenders for the pennant until the last three weeks, won only one and tied one of their final seven games and ended 11 points behind St. Catharines in third place.Fourth position wasn&rsquo;t decided until the final night of the schedule.Niagara Falls Flyers defeated Kitchener 5-3 while St. Catharines downed Hamilton 5-3, giving the Flyers a one-point edge in fourth place.This meant that the Wings had to take on first place Montreal in the opening round while Niagara Falls met eighth place Ottawa.Toronto Marlboros were sixth, London Knights seventh, Ottawa eight, Oshawa ninth and Kitchener tenth.The playoff partners are Montreal and Hamilton, St. Catharines and Toronto. Peterborough and London, Niagara Falls and Ottawa.Rejean Houle, sensational Montreal right winger, won the points scoring championship with 108 on 53 goals, 55 assists.The actual goal scoring leader was Doug Acomb of Toronto with 54.Marcel Dionne, Drummond-ville-born 17-vear-old with St. Catharines, set a league record for rookies with 100 points on 37 goals. 63 assists. &#9632;

f0023-01

Ottawa 67s Late Kick Produces Playoff Berth

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0386/2903678-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="885" height="1191"></div>SOLUTION IN MARCH 29 ISSUE<h2>ACROSS</h2>1&mdash;Pictured player.7&mdash;The (Fr.)8&mdash;Initials of one of the Leafs.9&mdash;Initials of a Ranger forward.10&mdash;Wears No. 14 for Detroit.12&mdash;One of the Bruins answers to this.13&mdash;9th and 12th letters of the alphabet.14&mdash;An Oakland forward.16&mdash;Number worn by 1 down.17&mdash;Initials of Duff of Rochester.18&mdash;Also.20&mdash;Pictured player is 26.22&mdash;1967-68 Norris trophy winner.23&mdash;Initials of former great Boucher.24&mdash;One of the North Stars answers to this.26&mdash;Initials of The N.H.L.&rsquo;s Eastern Supervisor of Officials.28&mdash;Last season&rsquo;s top rookie.31&mdash;1st and 22nd letters of the alphabet.32&mdash;First name of one of the Wings.33&mdash;An N.H.L. Linesman answers to this.34&mdash;Initials of an injured Bruin.<h2>DOWN</h2>1&mdash;A Leaf forward.2&mdash;One of the Rangers.3&mdash;One of the San Diego Gulls.4&mdash;First name of a Former St. Louis Goalie.5&mdash;Football term.6&mdash;One of the Kansas City Blues.11&mdash;Initials of McCarthy of Rochester.15&mdash;Highest male voice.19&mdash;Recently traded to Minnesota by Chicago.20&mdash;Initials of an N.H.L. captain.21&mdash;A former Ranger.24&mdash;One of the Hawks answers to this.25&mdash;Initials of Dennis of Kansas City.26&mdash;First name of one of the Bruins.27&mdash;Lou Nanne played for this Country&rsquo;s Olympic team.28&mdash;Francisco.29&mdash;One of the Rangers answers to this.30&mdash;Native Province of pictured player, (abbr.)<h2>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERS</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3>1&mdash;KELLY5&mdash;L.L.7&mdash;ERA.8&mdash;GEO.9&mdash;CROZIER.12&mdash;NORANDA.14&mdash;R.O.15&mdash;CAN.17&mdash;B.I.18&mdash;ONT.19&mdash;MAX.20&mdash;IN.21&mdash;IV.23&mdash;LIL26&mdash;N.A.27&mdash;IRVINE.30&mdash;S.K.32&mdash;TEA.33&mdash;K.E.34&mdash;NEILSON.<h3>DOWN</h3>1&mdash;KEON.2-&mdash;E.R.3&mdash;LACROIX.4&mdash;YVON.5&mdash;LEE.6&mdash;LORENTZ.8&mdash;GIACOMIN.10&mdash;R.A.11&mdash;Z.D.13&mdash;ORBAN.16&mdash;A.N.19&mdash;MIKITA.22&mdash;VASKO.23&mdash;IVAN.24&mdash;11.25&mdash;IN.28&mdash;R.E.29&mdash;EEL.31&mdash;KEN. &#9632;

f0023-03

Hockey Crossword

<div class="byline">BY ED CONRAD</div>PHILADELPHIA, Pa. &mdash;If the Flyers make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, it&rsquo;ll be understandable if the teams they beat out are fit to be tied.That&rsquo;s because the Flyers are flirting with the Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; all-time NHL record of 23 ties while making their headway in the standings.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01162/2903716-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="270" height="426"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Sarrazin</figcaption></div>Their recent 2-2 standoff with the Maple Leafs in Toronto was their 19th of the season and meant that, slowly but surely, the Flyers were heading in the direction of the playoffs. It gave them a bit of breathing room over the Minnesota North Stars, the team they were battling for fourth place, the final playoff berth.This particular tie was especially significant because it extended the Flyers&rsquo; unbeaten streak to five games, longest of the season, just when momentum means so much. Oddly enough, however, the Flyers&rsquo; streak included only one victory &mdash; but four ties.&ldquo;Our objective is to make the playoffs,&rdquo; said Flyers&rsquo; coach Keith Allen. &ldquo;Of course, we play to win every game. But every point we pick up is helping us achieve our goal.&rdquo;The latest tie was realized when Dick Sarrazin scored with 10 minutes remaining, the ninth time in the 19 ties that the Flyers had come from behind. It meant that the French Line of center Andre Lacroix (20 goals) with JeanGuy Gendron (19 goals) and Sarrazin (12) has figured in 51 goals.It&rsquo;s not quite the production of some of the big-name lines in the NHL but it&rsquo;s quite a figure when you consider that the Flyers had scored only 141 goals in 66 games, the most impotent figure in the league.Still, the Flyers are hanging right in the race for the playoffs, despite the fact that they had won only 14 games in that lengthy span. Oakland,&rdquo; for example, finished with only 15 victories last season but was miles away from a playoff berth.In fact, Allen feels his club has as good a chance as any other team to do well in the playoffs, providing it gets there.&ldquo;I think if we make the playoffs aqd go into them with a little momentum, we&rsquo;ll have a real good chance to move into the finals,&rdquo; said Keith.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02112/2903709-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="555" height="754"><figcaption class="caption-body">ANDRE LACROIX &hellip; Hits 20-Goal Mark</figcaption></div>&ldquo;And that even goes for St. Louis (a team the Flyers hadn&rsquo;t beaten in their first seven meetings).&ldquo;I know it&rsquo;s not right me saying it, since we haven&rsquo;t even made the playoffs yet, but I&rsquo;ve been telling our guys all along that we can win in the playoffs if we can only get there.&ldquo;True, we haven&rsquo;t won consistently all season but I feel we&rsquo;re bound to start doing it. And, if we start playing that way just before the playoffs, the momentum could really carry us along. After all, that&rsquo;s what the Blues did after finishing third last season.&rdquo;Allen was speaking optimistically even though the Flyers had posted only two victories in the 18 games preceding their game against Oakland at the Spectrum March 9. They had played seven ties in that span, beating only Oakland and Los Angeles. They were winless on the road in their last 13 games.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really amazing the way we&rsquo;re still in the running for a playoff berth,&rdquo; continued Allen. &ldquo;Only 14 victories! But our bunch of ties has really helped us. Nineteen ties means 19 points and they all add up.&rdquo;The Flyers were still getting outstanding goaltending from Bernie Parent, the No. 1 reason they are where they are. Without him, the Flyers probably would be dead. However, they are still alive and kicking. &#9632;

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March 22, 1969

Orr Tops Coaches’ NHL All-Star Teams

PASSING THE PUCK

Gilbert Jumps To 5th Place In All-Time Ranger Point Race

ESPOSITO, HULL, GRANT LEAD ASSAULT ON RECORDS