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 24, 1972

The Hockey News March 24, 1972

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div>PHOENIX&mdash;Aut Erickson still wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. He has a recurring nightmare.&ldquo;I get sick.&rdquo; said the Phoenix Roadrunners&rsquo; coach, &ldquo;every time I think how close I came to making a terrible mistake.&rdquo;He did make the mistake, but rectified it before any damage was done.Bob Whitlock was cut from the team in early season but a rash of injuries prompted Erickson to recall the 22-year-old forward. Installed at center ice, he went on a goal scoring streak.It was no coincidence that he was about 15 pounds overweight when he was dropped from the squad and had pared away the excess poundage to about 184 when teammates and rivals started prefacing his name with &ldquo;rookie-of-the-year.&rdquo;Whitlock has 29 goals after 51 games&mdash;he missed six&mdash;and the native of Charlottetown, P.E.I. owns what is probably the hardest shot in the Western Hockey League.Salt Lake City goaltender Wayne Rutledge is in the best position to judge. He has played in 54 of the Eagles 58 game.&ldquo;By far,&rdquo; emphasizes Rutledge. &ldquo;When he shoots from outside the lubeline, there&rsquo;s no way he should score, but the puck seems to do little tricks.&ldquo;He consistently gets away a good, heavy, hard shot. When he&rsquo;s on the ice you have to watch him. It&rsquo;s like when, in the NHL, Bobby Hull, comes on the ice. The goaltender has to get mentally perked up.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt in my mind that Whitlock should be the league&rsquo;s rookie-of-the-year. I don&rsquo;t see anyone even close to him. When he plays against our club, he goes all out all the time and is usually one of the best men on the ice.&rdquo;Nickamed &ldquo;The Boomer&rdquo;, Whitlock has always possessed a hard shot but he has a little more beef behind it than when he graduated from the junior ranks at 165 pounds. Off season weight lifting has added the extra muscle which enables him to hold his own in the rough going.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01163/3038153-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="562" height="1310"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOB WHITLOCK&hellip;Hot Since Recall</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0026-01

IN THIS ISSUE

Whitlock Could Be Top Rookie

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01796/3036998-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="250" height="438"><figcaption class="caption-body">GERRY CHEEVERS Boston-Goaler</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02727/3036991-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="246" height="435"><figcaption class="caption-body">J.C. TREMBLAY Montreal-Defense</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03608/3036984-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="242" height="432"><figcaption class="caption-body">DALLAS SMITH Boston-Defense</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-04510/3036977-1-eng-US/f0011-042.jpg" title="f0011-04" width="248" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEAN RATELLE New York-Center</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-05422/3036970-1-eng-US/f0011-052.jpg" title="f0011-05" width="245" height="432"><figcaption class="caption-body">YVAN COURNOYER Montreal-R. Wing</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-06369/3036963-1-eng-US/f0011-062.jpg" title="f0011-06" width="242" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">VIC HADFIELD New York-L. Wing</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-07334/3036956-1-eng-US/f0011-072.jpg" title="f0011-07" width="243" height="435"><figcaption class="caption-body">TONY ESPOSITO Chicago-Goaler</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-08314/3036949-1-eng-US/f0011-082.jpg" title="f0011-08" width="247" height="419"><figcaption class="caption-body">TED HARRIS Minnesota-Defense</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-09301/3036942-1-eng-US/f0011-092.jpg" title="f0011-09" width="244" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">PAT STAPLETON Chicago-Defense</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-10273/3036935-1-eng-US/f0011-102.jpg" title="f0011-10" width="247" height="444"><figcaption class="caption-body">MURRAY OLIVER Minnesota-Center</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-11245/3036928-1-eng-US/f0011-112.jpg" title="f0011-11" width="244" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">JIM PAPPIN Chicago-R. Wing</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-12220/3036921-1-eng-US/f0011-122.jpg" title="f0011-12" width="241" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body">GREG POLIS Pittsburgh-L. Wing</figcaption></div>MONTREAL&mdash;Have you ever wanted to sit down and try to match the hockey experts?Sure you have! What red-blooded hockey fan hasn&rsquo;t wished he could select an All Star team that would be on a par with the official All Star selectors? Well here&rsquo;s your chance.After many years of selecting your favorite National Hockey League All Stars for THE HOCKEY NEWS, we have em-barked on a new format this season. Now we want our readers to select an Eastern and a Western team.Last week THE HOCKEY NEWS launched its 25th consecutive NHL All Star poll and we feel that this diversion of picking the best players from the East and the best from the West will more than supplant the old system of merely picking a first and a second team from the entire league. You still get to pick two teams.The new plan of individual teams in both East and West will enable readers to concentrate on their favorite division performers. We think it&rsquo;s a brand new challenge to the selectors who have been coming back year after year.Every enthusiastic hockey fan loves the challenge of being able to sit down and select their own All Star team. It&rsquo;s fun and might require a little more concentration on your part to come up with the team to match the official NHL All Stars.Merely clip the ballot shown on this page, read the voting regulations carefully and then fill in your selections. It&rsquo;s simple and exciting both.You are requested to pick both an Eastern and Western All Star team only&mdash;not a first and second team as in past years&mdash;and print the names of the players carefully on the ballot.If you missed our comprehensive list of players published last week, you can consult our NHL rosters on page 17 of this issue to, facilitate your selections.Remember, you are also afforded a chance to cast a vote for the overall outstanding rookie and most valuable players of the year. It&rsquo;s all contained in your ballot.The ballot will appear in three issues only and your team will be announced in THE HOCKEY NEWS dated April 14.Remember, if one of your favorites should fail to gain a berth on the Fan&rsquo;s All Star team by the margin of just a few points, it could be because you didn&rsquo;t send that ballot in as you had intended. So right now, while it&rsquo;s still fresh in your mind, fill out the ballot on this page and mail it right away to All Star Editor, THE HOCKEY NEWS, Room 212, 1434 St. Catherine St. West, Montreal 107, Canada. &#9632;

f0011-01

Picking East, West Teams Real Challenge For Fans

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01764/3037227-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"></div><h2>TOP 25 SCORERS</h2>(Including Games of Sun. March 12)<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02652/3037220-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="1397" height="916"></div><h2>BOSTON Bruins</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03508/3037213-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="735" height="728"></div><h2>BUFFALO Sabres</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04370/3037206-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="723" height="703"></div><h2>CALIFORNIA Seals</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-05277/3037199-1-eng-US/f0014-052.jpg" title="f0014-05" width="733" height="785"></div><h2>CHICAGO Black Hawks</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-06235/3037192-1-eng-US/f0014-062.jpg" title="f0014-06" width="731" height="720"></div><h2>DETROIT Red Wings</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-07191/3037185-1-eng-US/f0014-072.jpg" title="f0014-07" width="737" height="784"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES Kings</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-08165/3037178-1-eng-US/f0014-082.jpg" title="f0014-08" width="721" height="721"></div><h2>MINNESOTA North Stars</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-09151/3037171-1-eng-US/f0014-092.jpg" title="f0014-09" width="733" height="713"></div><h2>MONTREAL Canadiens</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-10135/3037164-1-eng-US/f0014-102.jpg" title="f0014-10" width="735" height="795"></div><h2>NEW YORK Rangers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-11121/3037157-1-eng-US/f0014-112.jpg" title="f0014-11" width="731" height="779"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA Flyers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-12110/3037150-1-eng-US/f0014-122.jpg" title="f0014-12" width="732" height="765"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH Penguins</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1393/3037143-1-eng-US/f0014-132.jpg" title="f0014-13" width="727" height="831"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS Blues</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1474/3037136-1-eng-US/f0014-142.jpg" title="f0014-14" width="735" height="878"></div><h2>TORONTO Maple Leafs</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1565/3037129-1-eng-US/f0014-152.jpg" title="f0014-15" width="731" height="808"></div><h2>VANCOUVER Canucks</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1654/3037122-1-eng-US/f0014-162.jpg" title="f0014-16" width="730" height="710"></div><h2>NHL&rsquo;S EAST-WEST SCOREBOARD</h2>(Statistics include games of Sun. March 12)<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1752/3037115-1-eng-US/f0014-172.jpg" title="f0014-17" width="1378" height="237"></div>(Statistics include games of Sun. March 12) &#9632;

f0014-01

PLAYERS SCORING PENALTY RECORDS

FORT WORTH&mdash;The Fort Worth Wings are still giving it the old college try in their efforts to get out of the Central Hockey League cellar and land a playoff berth.The Wings, making a desperate stretch run, had won three straight games, and were unbeaten in five, before tumbling to Dallas&rsquo; hot Hawks. Mar. 4. Still that was only Fort Worth&rsquo;s second loss in their last 13 games.Bobby Guindon had a hat trick and Ross Perkins became the CHL&rsquo;s No. 2 scorer during the hot run, but Ralph Stewart had the biggest scoring week for the surging Wings.Stewart had a goal and five assists in two games, as he assisted on all three of Guindon&rsquo;s in the March 4 loss to Dallas. The capable center has played only 22 games for Fort Worth, after coming from Tidewater in the American League, but has 30 points to show for it.Perkins, with a goal and two assists, climbed to 70 points, four behind league-leading J.P. LeBlanc of Dallas.Tom Martin had scored twice in a 4-3 verdict at home over Kansas City Feb. 29, but Perkins had to provide the winning goal.<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><h3>CENTRAL LEAGUE</h3>(Standings on Wed. March 15)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0281/3038558-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="578" height="228"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Tues. March 7Tulsa 2 at Fort Worth 4Wed. March 8Dallas 3 at Oklahoma City 5Fri. March 10Dallas 4 at Kansas City 5Omaha 2 at Dallas 9Oklahoma City 4 at Fort Worth 5Sat. March 11Omaha 2 at Dallas 9Oklahoma City 4 at Fort Worth 5Kansas City 4 at Tulsa 4Sun. March 12Fort Worth 2 at Oklahoma City 4Tulsa 6 at Omaha 7<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Wed March 15Kansas City at DallasFri. March 17Dallas at Fort WorthOmaho at Kansas CityTulsa at Oklahoma CitySat. March 18Tulsa at DallasOklahoma City at Fort WorthKansas City at OmahaSun. March 19Oklahoma City at DallasFort Worth at OmahaTulsa at Kansas City<h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2>(Including games of Sun. March 5)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0353/3038551-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="581" height="894"></div> &#9632;

f0029-02

Guindon, Stewart Lead Way As Wings Continue Hot Run

&mdash;PAGE 15<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01538/3039318-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg" title="Cover-01" width="775" height="1442"></div>FANS NHL ALL STAR BALLOTS&mdash;On The Inside&bull; HAWKS STUMBLE OVER PROSPERITY&mdash;Page 2&bull; MONTREAL PLAYERS HOTEL FIRE HEROES&mdash;Page 15&bull; SELLOUTS CREATE NEW SEALS&rsquo; IMAGE&mdash;Page 16<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-02410/3039311-1-eng-US/cover-022.jpg" title="Cover-02" width="1217" height="1781"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Hockey News Photos by Robert Shaver)</figcaption></div>DAVE KEONLeads Leafs Playoff SurgeIT&rsquo;S No BLARNEY&hellip;WHEN CLANCY MOVES THE LEAFS&mdash;Page 10 &#9632;

Cover-01

ORR NHL’S TOP PRODUCER

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02679/3036473-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Hockey News Photo by Robert Shaver)</figcaption></div>Goaler Gump Worsley still resisting face mask.<h2>GUMP KNOCKED COLD BY SHOT</h2>TWIN CITIES&mdash;Gump Worsley has resisted the face mask all these years in the NHL but today the 42-year-old goaler is probably wishing he had joined the swing to the face protector.The Minnesota netminder was knocked flat when a rising shot from the stick of Leafs&rsquo; Paul Henderson caught him square on the nose. Gump had to be assisted from the ice and ultimately replaced by Gil Gilbert. The club did not announce how long Worsley would be out of action. The North Stars were down to one netminder&mdash;Gilbert. Cesare Maniago was also injured earlier in the week.<h2>RANGERS LURE GOYETTE BACK</h2>NEW YORK&mdash;The New York Rangers, striving to shore up their middle after the ankle injury to star Jean Ratelle, have induced veteran Phil Goyette to come out of retirement.The New York Rangers purchased Goyette&rsquo;s contract in a straight cash deal from the Buffalo Sabres. The 38-year-old pivot, who retired from the Sabres earlier in the season, said he would join the Rangers in practice to see if he can come back to help the club.<h2>HOWE&rsquo;S FAMED NO. 9 RETIRED</h2>DETROIT&mdash;Amid glowing tributes to his hockey greatness&mdash;including one from United States Vice-President Spiro Agnew&mdash;Gordie Howe was honored last weekend as the Detroit Red Wings officially retired his famous No. 9 jersey.The 43-year-old Howe, who quit this season after 25 years as top man in the NHL, stood emotionally at center ice as tributes were paid to him. Wings&rsquo; owner Bruce Norris announced a scholarship fund in Howe&rsquo;s honor by which a $1,500 grant will be awarded each year to a high school graduate excelling in hockey.Agnew read a special tribute from President Richard Nixon while Howe stood at center ice accompanied by 14 members of his family, including his wife, four children and his father. &#9632;

f0002-02

Deadline Stoppers

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div>CHICAGO&mdash;&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t expect,&rdquo; revealed William T. Reay, &ldquo;that a team with a 14-point lead will be as aggressive as if things were close.&rdquo;The man speaks truth. The man also speaks about his Chicago Black Hawks. This hockey club, en route to its third straight first place finish, started clanking and wheezing like an overpriced $100 used car as the season neared a finish.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01730/3036442-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="565" height="838"><figcaption class="caption-body">JIM PAPPIN&hellip;Three-Goal Blast</figcaption></div>In the last three weeks of February, plus the first week of March, the Chicago Six performed 14 times, winning just four, losing six and tying four. Not exactly a Clarence Campbell Bowl pace. Total goals scored: 36; total goals allowed: 43. Not exactly a Vezina Trophy pace.But again there was that figure of figures&mdash;the 14-point bulge in the West Division as the Hawks embarked on their final dozen games. During the unimpressive streak&mdash;their dryest spell since they finished last in 1968-69&mdash;the Hawks averted disaster because their nearest pursuers, the Minnesota North Stars, were also acting like a cheap auto.The nadir of the Chicago drought occured when they lost back-to-back contests to the Buffalo Sabres. In both affairs, the Hawks aided the foe considerably by plunking the winning goals in their own net.&ldquo;In all my years of playing, I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ve ever seen a team with this much talent have everything go so wrong at once,&rdquo; said Bobby Hull, who joined the slump by failing to score a goal in two weeks.&ldquo;Usually, you&rsquo;ll see a few individuals have problems. But during the last few weeks, it&rsquo;s hit everybody,&rdquo; Hull continued. &ldquo;The only way to snap it is just to really work hard, everybody.&rdquo;The Hawk ills partly stemmed from injuries. Chico Maki, a vital member of the cast, tore a hip muscle in St. Louis Feb. 15 and was still ailing three weeks later. Then on March 5 in Minnesota, Lou Angotti tumbled into a goal post after being hooked and dislocated his right shoulder. Prognosis: out for a month.Reay added professional juggling to his coaching duties as the below&mdash;.500 spell went on and on. He altered all his forward lines once, twice and then again. And through it all, the only trio which was producing consistently was the line of center Pit Martin, right wrag Jim Pappin and left wing Dennis Hull.The troika combined for four goals&mdash;including Pappin&rsquo;s fourth career hat trick&mdash;when the Hawks scored a half-dozen times to win 6-4 at Los Angeles on the first day of March. The outburst marked the most goals scored in almost a month, and the triumph was the first for Goalie Gerry Desjardins since his return from the broken left forearm.If things appeared to be improving, such thoughts were quickly dashed by the next two outings. In Oakland two nights hence, the Hawks struggled to a 4-4 tie with the Seals. Two days after that, they were beaten by the Minnesota North Stars for the first time in six outings this season.The 2-1 decision for Cesare Maniago shaped up as the first shutout suffered by the Chicagoans since Ed Johnston blanked them neraly two seasons ago in a 0-0 deadlockwith Boston.But Cliff Koroll beat Maniago with just 58 seconds remaining, and thus the Hawks kept their N.H.L. records extant of scoring in 156 straight regular season games and 182 including play offs.&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t that tough a game for me,&rdquo; said Maniago. &ldquo;They didn&rsquo;t have the number of good shots that they usually do.&rdquo;And there was one problem. The Hawks simply were lacking zip. And when they were getting the good opportunities, the marksmanship was poor. And they weren&rsquo;t hitting. Too much can be made of equating penalty minutes with aggressiveness, but it was remarkable that the Hawks were near last this season in sin time after finishing second a year ago.Chicago&rsquo;s depth wore a shallow look, too. In a Stadium game against the Canucks, Reay used the two lines almost exclusively during the final fifth of the game&mdash;hardly an endorsement of the reserve strength.Overall, the Hawks were secure, yet an enigma. Secure for March, but if the uninspired play stretched into April, they certainly could plan vacations for May. From poolside the StanleyCup finals might be an interesting TV show, after all.HAWKEY TALK: Hawks called up Right Wing J.P. Bordeleau for a three-game look on the first half of a long road trip. J.P. bagged 33 goals with the Dallas farm team which was making a shambles of the Central League, and Reay quickly inserted him into the Chicago lineup. Skating with brother Chris and Angotti, J.P. notched two assists in his trial&mdash;his first points in the National Hockey League&hellip;Gary Smith played his first game in more than three weeks when he started at Oakland, but Reay replaced him after two periods&hellip;For career accomplishments, Bobby Hull received a silver hockey stick from the Northland Company. Presenting honor were two former teammates, Ken Wharram and Elmer &ldquo;Moose&rdquo; Vasko.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02667/3036435-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="487" height="640"><figcaption class="caption-body">J.P. BORDELEAU</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03529/3036428-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="543" height="588"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHRIS BORDELEAU</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0002-01

Hawks Stumble Over Prosperity As Tight Defense Springs Leaks

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01735/3036511-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg" title="f0003-01" width="560" height="1022"></div>NEW YORK&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;l be back for the playoffs,&rdquo; vowed New York Ranger center Jean Ratelle after being told that his right ankle had been cracked by a shot from the stick of teammate Dale Rolfe.&ldquo;I feel sorry for Jean. He had an awful lot going for him and I know that he is disappointed, but the team will just work that much harder to take up the slack,&rdquo; said the Ranger captain Vic Hadfield.&ldquo;He was on the threshold of great accolades in this his greatest season,&rdquo; noted Emile Francis, the Rangers general managercoach. &ldquo;No one replaces Ratelle, but I will put Bobby Rousseau between Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield and give them a whirl.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02612/3036504-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="273" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Rousseau</figcaption></div>Fortunately Ratelle&rsquo;s break was above the ankle bone and did not involve ligament damage. He wore a heavy cast from toe to knee for a week, and then was released from the hospital with a walking cast. His wife, Nancy, a registered nurse, will care for Jean until he is able to resume skating in about four weeks.Down the drain is Ratelle&rsquo;s chance to edge out Phil Esposito for the NHL scoring title, probably his chance to edge Phil in the battle for first team all star honors. His lustre in the Hart Trophy balloting should not diminish because it was his sterling play which has made all stars out of Gilbert and Hadfield. At the time of the injury Ratelle had 46 goals and 63 assists for 109 points. Hadfield was 41-49-90 and Gilbert 39-52-91. When Gilbert _gets his 40th goal, it will be the first time in NHL history, that a line has had three players with forty or more goals.The NHL has ruled that all points garnered by Gilbert and Hadfield, while playing together, during Ratelle&rsquo;s absence, will count toward the total needed to break the 336 mark set by last season&rsquo;s Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman trio with Boston. The same procedure was followed two seasons ago when the Esposito, Hodge, Ron Murphy trio broke the mark, with Murphy being out for a portion of the season with a shoulder injury.The shame of it all is that Ratelle was on the brink of being the sixth player in history to score fifty goals in a season and even this seems gone.This has been a season of injuries for New York teams. Willis Reed, the best player on the basketball Knickerbockers is out for the season, Joe Namath of the football Jets, missed most of last year as did Ron Johnson, the 1,000 yard fullback of the football Giants.None of the above removes the pressure or urgent desire of the Rangers and Emile Francis to bring home the Stanley Cup. Realistically, the Rangers will finish second. They are a bit behind Boston to expect the Bruins to lose that often to let them catch up and are fairly safe from Montreal, although they play the Canadiens twice more. The 7-3 whipping of Montreal on February 22, with a fantastic 6 goal splurge in the third period, had to be the highlight of the New York season.Since Ratelle has been out, New York has won three games, including the California game Jean received his injury. Also going under were Buffalo and Vancouver. Francis has tried nine different line combinations and will try more with the addition of Ron Stewart, repurchased from Vancouver for penalty killing duty.At present, Rousseau works with Gilbert and Hadfield. Walter Tkaczuk, Billy Fairbairn and Peter Stemkowski are the next trio and then comes the hat full of tricks. Sometimes it is Gene Carr, Ted Irvine and Bruce MacGregor. At other times the Stemmer drops back and plays center with this line and Glen Sather takes his spot with Tkaczuk. Slats has also filled in quite well for Vic Hadfield, when the captain was put out of a game for accidentally decking linesman Alan Glaspell.&ldquo;I put Rousseau with Hadfield and Gilbert because he moves the puck and because he played with them quite a lot on the power play,&rdquo; revealed Francis. &ldquo;It will take some adjustment, but I think they can work together smoothly.&rdquo;&ldquo;Basically the wingers have to adjust to the center,&rdquo; said Bobby. &ldquo;This is because the center carries the puck and makes the play. A couple of practice sessions should help a lot.&rdquo;Rousseau scored his goal number twenty against Vancouver on March 5. He has been a catch player of superb class and ability this season with the Rangers, coming back from a horrendous four goal campaign last year with Minnesota. Bobby does the job wherever played and does it will skill and finesse. He moves the puck well, skates real quick and can shoot and block shots with amazing agility and ability. He has played all three forward positions, killed penalties and worked the point on the power play. Certainly he is the Rangers MVP, meaning most versatile player.BLUE CHIPS: Brad Park notched his 20th goal of the season against Vancouver, making him only the third defense player in NHL history to get that many in a season. Bobby Orr has done it four times and Flash Hollet did it in the forties&hellip;Walter Tkaczuk also reached the twenty mark against the Canucks with Bill Fairbairn, his partner in forechecking scoring his nineteenth. Walt notched his second shorthanded marker of the season in this game. Bill and KaChook probably get more chances to score than any penalty killers in the NHL with the possible exception of Boston&rsquo;s Derek Sanderson and Ed Westfall&hellip;Ranger injuries this season include Peter Stemkowski, head for 19 games, Dale Rolfe, broken finger for five and bad knee for another five, Ab DeMarco broken ankle for 21, Jim Dorey, separated shoulder for the remaining 18 games after his disastrous Ranger debut and finally Ratelle who will miss 15 games in all&hellip;Rod Seiling has been taking the odd shift on the wing as Francis tries a bit of Leo Durocher shakewell&hellip; &#9632;

f0003-01

RANGERS CARRYING ON TITLE DRIVE IN EAST RACE

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01795/3036563-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="520" height="525"></div>&bull; WHEN ROD GILBERT scored against Chicago the other night it marked the first time all members of a forward line scored 40 or more goals in one season. His New York linemates Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield had scored their 40th goal earlier&hellip;Boston&rsquo;s Johnny McKenzie made a sad trip to Calgary recently when his brother died suddenly&hellip;The next meeting of the World Hockey Association will take place next month in Quebec City&hellip;Brian E. Hooking, president of the Cincinnati Hockey Club Corporation, heads a group of Cincinnati businessmen who plan to build a multipurpose arena and make a strong bid for a National Hockey League franchise when the league expands again in 1974&hellip;Donnie Graham, chief scout for the new Atlanta team, has hired Aldo Guidolin and Les Moore as full-time assistants&hellip;Chicago Black Hawks failed to win a game at the Montreal Forum this season&hellip;One of the most remarkable records set this season was established by Gerry Cheevers, Boston goalie. He was personally unbeaten in his last 29 games, which is three more than the previous NHL mark set by Frank Brimsek of the Boston Bruins in 1940-41&hellip;Minnesota goalkeeper Cesare Maniago prefers afternoon games. In three matinee assignments this year Maniago earned a 1-1 tie at New York, shut out Pittsburgh, 2-0, and beat Chicago 2-1&hellip;&ldquo;When you play in the afternoon you don&rsquo;t have all day to sit and worry about the game. You just get up, eat breakfast and hurry out to the rink,&rdquo; informed the tall North Stars&rsquo; ace&hellip;And a Happy Birthday to Minnesota coach Jack Gordon, who recently turned 44. He is having his finest coaching season of his career.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02748/3036556-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="261" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jack Gordon</figcaption></div>&bull; WHEN ST. LOUIS hockey fan Al Roux was passing through Stoney Plain, Alta, last summer, he stopped at the home of Glenn Hall. Playing a joke on the player they used to call &ldquo;Mr. Goalie&rdquo;, Roux approached Hall working on his farm and asked about the prospects of painting the farmer&rsquo;s barn. Hall smiled broadly and said: &ldquo;You must be from St. Louis&rdquo;. Hall, of course, frequently reported late to training camp during his years in the NHL, and the excuse always was that he had to paint his bam&hellip;Ken Dryden, Montreal&rsquo;s standout goalkeeper, will sign a new contract with the Montreal Canadiens any day now. Dryden has supposedly been romanced by the WHA of late, and he and GM Sam Pollock have been holding serious conversations&hellip;E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., handsome young president of the very successful Richmond Robins of the American League, was highly elated when his club passed the 200,000 attendance figure with six home games still left to play&hellip;When Rangers played in Montreal last month it brought the highest television ratings of the season&hellip;Tim Ryan and Norm MacLean are doing a fine job bringing New York fans all the out of town games over WOR-TV, Channel 9&hellip;Another pair of highly qualified telecasters are Boston&rsquo;s team of Fred Cusick and John Peirson who bring the Bruins&rsquo; many fans every home and away game played throughout the entire season. The veteran Cusick was one of hockey&rsquo;s first play-by-play TV announcers&hellip;Bruins games are heard over WSBK-TV (UHF 38)&hellip;Hockey fans raving about the brilliant covers on the &ldquo;new look&rdquo; HOCKEY WORLD. They&rsquo;re really something!&hellip;Punch Imlach makes a habit of getting a chunk of money, as well as a player, every time he trades Eddie Shack. When he was running Toronto he got Murray Oliver and $100,000 from Boston for Shack. Now at Buffalo, Imlach got Rene Robert, plus an undisclosed sum of money, for Fast Eddie&hellip;St. Louis University is touting John Nestic as an All-American center. The sophomore captain of the Billikens has been instrumental &ldquo;in building our hockey program at St. Louis U&rdquo; says his coach Bill Selman.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03650/3036549-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="256" height="449"><figcaption class="caption-body">Claiborne Kobins</figcaption></div>&bull; DON&rsquo;T LOOK FOR Carl Brewer to return to St. Louis next season&hellip;Minnesota now has five players wearing helmets. The league average is between two and three per team&hellip;Coach Johnny Wilson of Detroit points out that his rookie defenseman Larry Johnston has a plus of 26, which makes him a good candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors&hellip;A new lightweight non-bulky mouthguard that provides complete tooth, mouth and lip protection, has been introduced by Safe-T-Guard. For additional information on this revolutionary piece of protective equipment write Madison Dental Company, Box 934 Madison, Wisconsin&hellip;Jacques Plante, one of the opponents who rate Bobby Orr in the current issue of Sport Magazine, had this to say about the Boston defenseman: &ldquo;About each of the great players you say, He&rsquo;s a good skater, or a particularly good stickhandler, or he has a great shot, but something is always missing. Bobby Orr has it all. In front of his own net every other defenseman will have a blind side, or will miss something that&rsquo;s developing behind him; but Bobby is unreal, he sees everything&rdquo;&hellip;With the acquisition of Kevin O&rsquo;Shea the St. Louis Blues have now used 40 players in the 1971-72 season. Only 10 players on the squad now were there at the start of the season&hellip;Jean Ratelle will miss the scoring title but he has a good chance to capture the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04556/3036542-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="257" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">Larry Johnston</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

Founded October 1st, 1947Published weekly except monthly June through September by Ken-Will Publishing Co. Ltd.1434 St. Catherine Street West Montreal 107, Canada.U.S. Office: 16 Maple Street, Rouses Point, N.Y. 12979Kenneth William McKenziePresident and PublisherCharlie Halpin Editorial DirectorLyndon Little Assistant To EditorYearly SUBSCRIPTION Rates: $6.00 in Canada $7.00 in the U.S.A. and $9.00 in Foreign Countries.Postpage paid at Rouses Point, N.Y. 12979. Send address changes to 1434 St. Catherine Street West, Suite 212, Montr&eacute;al, 107, P.Q.Second class mail&mdash;Registration No. 1327Printed in CanadaVol. 25 MONTREAL, MARCH 24, 1972 No. 25 &#9632;

The Hockey News OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLY

<h2>Statistics Refute Bruins&rsquo; Critics</h2>I would like to silence everybody who still choose to criticize the Boston Bruins on their defensive play. With all the records which the Bruins have set for their offensive play many people believe that they have neglected their defensive play.I live in an area filled with Toronto fans and after many of the Bruin games these so called hockey fans tell me everything that the Bruins defensive squad did wrong and many of these comments are directed to Bobby Orr because he rushes with the puck so often. They tell me that he is caught up ice too often and is responsible for many goals against but I feel that this is a definite error on their part.To prove my point I am taking their last ten games. Their record over these games is nine wins and a single loss. For anyone who feels that this record does not speak for itself they have allowed only twenty four goals against and for anyone who feels that this is not enough then look at their season&rsquo;s record. Gerry Cheevers (2.04) and Eddie Johnston (2.31) have combined for a team average of 2.20 and are in second place in the Vezina race and are in first place in the league.Next time anyone wants to make a comment about the Bruins&rsquo; defensive record I would suggest that they look at their own team&rsquo;s record.DAN ROTH, Galt. Ontario.<h2>NHL Expansion Calls For Separate Records</h2>Because there is a good chance that the National Hockey League will expand to 24 teams by 1980. I think the NHL Board of Governors should establish a special commission to deal with the matter pertaining to the official record book.Exparsion has definitely enabled present-day players to reach previously unattainable statistical heights. Such a commission perhaps would agree to retire all records of the &ldquo;modern era&rdquo; up until 1966-67. the last year of the six-team league.A new record book consisting of the expansion era could be revised, with a special provision for those players whose careers extended through both periods. The commission would serve to awaken fans who unconsciously have forgotten about the record of past players.LARRY BEDNARZ. Smooth Rock Falls. Ont.<h2>Ratelle Top Candidate For Lady Byng Award</h2>I am a little annoyed, yet very pleased, that the New York Rangers&rsquo; great, quiet center Jean Ratelle is finally getting the accolades that he has deserved for a long time. However, it was a great disappointment that Jean was not voted number one center for the All Star game even though he finished as first-half scoring champ.If ever a super star lived up to the credentials that are set for the Lady Byng Trophy, then truly Ratelle has this award tucked away in his back pocket this year. But even to win this award would not say enough for this great gentleman.RANDY BAKER. Staten Island. N.Y.<h2>Kings&rsquo; Backstrom Exciting Player</h2>I enjoyed very much Bill Libby&rsquo;s recent article on Ralph Backstrom of the Los Angeles Kings.It is always exciting to watch Ralph play. One never knows when he&rsquo;ll poke check or stick check the puck away and&mdash;as he does&mdash;&ldquo;go around in circles&rsquo; and wind up with the puck, in many, many of his seemingly tireless efforts. He is always giving 110% and it was my privilege and pleasure to ask Ralph a couple of questions at a recent Los Angeles Fan Club meeting where Ralph graciously consented to appear for questions.He speaks well and is pleasant to listen to as well as watch. He said his legs were feeling good and I personally hope he has six plus years of good hockey in him.CHARLES SNIPES, Los Angeles. Calif. &#9632;

Fan Forum

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div>DETROIT&mdash;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all we&rsquo;ve got&rdquo; was the slogan used in Detroit&rsquo;s United Foundation campaign last fall and it&rsquo;s one the Red Wings have adopted for the stretch run to the final playoff berth in the National Hockey League&rsquo;s East Division.The slogan meant the city couldn&rsquo;t depend on anyone else to take care of its problems and that&rsquo;s the way it is with the Red Wings.General Manager Ned Harkness talked trade right up to the deadline. He talked with everyone but Toronto, the club Detroit must beat out for the post-season money.And it&rsquo;s no secret that his primary target was a goalkeeper and that Chicago and Montreal were carrying three of them.&ldquo;Tommy wants half your team,&rdquo; Harkness said after a futile conversation with Chicago Black Hawks General Manager Tommy Ivan.As for Montreal, Harkness said that Phil Myre and Denis DeJordy, the Canadiens&rsquo; backup men, have been idle much of the season and if the Wings acquired a goalkeeper, they wanted one who was in prime condition.So it has come down to Al Smith and Joe Daley being &ldquo;all the Red Wings have got&rdquo; and Daley is in the doghouse.That puts the burden squarely on Smith and he has had his problems, too.Wilson blamed the goalkeeper for a 7-4 defeat in Pittsburgh in which he gave up several bad goals early as Pittsburgh took a 3-0 lead. Detroit rallied to go ahead, 4-3, and then Smith left the goal to join a fight and Pittsburgh scored on the resultant power play.Daley got in dutch after being bombed, 8-1, in Montreal after he had been given a week&rsquo;s vacation. During that time Andy Brown was called up from the minors and thrown right into the front lines&mdash;he drew a starting assignment in Madison Square Garden and lost to the Rangers.Brown played so well that there was speculation he would be given another opportunity but instead, Daley returned to duty.Management was caught napping, too. Brown asked to be sent back to the minors so that he could play regularly so Detroit returned him on Jan. 25. There&rsquo;s a rule that a player must be down two weeks before he can be recalled&hellip;and there&rsquo;s another one that prohibits a team from calling up players from the minors after March 5.Brown went down on Feb. 25 and Daley was clobbered on Feb. 26. The Wings would have liked to recall Brown but they couldn&rsquo;t&hellip;and can&rsquo;t, unless an emergency arises.And it appears the Wings&rsquo; shot at the playoffs will hinge primarily on their goalkeeping. Long ago, in assessing the Detroit and Toronto rosters, Wilson said he felt his club was strong up front and at the blue line but that the Toronto goalkeeping team of Jacques Plante and Bernie Parent had the edge in experience.They&rsquo;ve also got a wide edge in the goals against averages.The pressure in these final weeks will be enormous and most of it will be on the goalkeepers who will be facing a diet of New York, Boston, Montreal and Chicago shooters.&ldquo;We score a lot of goals,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care what club comes in, we can outscore them. We&rsquo;re fourth in the league in scoring.&ldquo;What disturbs me is our goals against,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;The players have to discipline themselves defensively. You can show them on the board but they&rsquo;re the ones who have to react&hellip;&rdquo;How they react will determine whether or not there will be another payday.RED WING NOTES: It appears Henry Boucha will be the only one of the Red Wings&rsquo; five U.S. Olympic team members who will play with the club this season.Boucha, the Wings&rsquo; No. 2 draft choice last summer, signed with the club on Feb. 21 and scored in his first game the next night.Harkness has talked with the other Olympians and said he still is negotiating with Tim Sheehy, that he made an offer to Wally Olds, that Tom Mellor is returning to Boston College and that the club dropped its claim to Bruce McIntosh.Sheehy has hired Boston attorney Bob Wolf to negotiate for him.Mickey Redmond hardly had time to celebrate his 100th NHL goal&hellip;he scored it at 7.08 of the third period in a victory over Pittsburgh&hellip;and scored 101 at 8.20<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01742/3036642-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="564" height="525"><figcaption class="caption-body">ANDY BROWN&hellip;Wings Want Him</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0005-01

Wings Could Miss Playoffs If Goaltending Falters

<div class="byline">BY TOM MONAHAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01826/3036673-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bruins&rsquo; star PHIL ESPOSITO signs on the dotted line after one of his endorsements&mdash;the Phil Esposito Street Hockey Shoe&mdash;joined the Converse Rubber Company, one of the leading leisure, sports and athletic shoe manufacturers in the nation. Looking on approvingly while Espo joins the Converse team is JOEL K. WECHSLER, vice-president of the company. The firm plans to produce a new street hockey shoe, conceived and designed by Esposito, for retail sales about next October 1.</figcaption></div>BOSTON&mdash;The reaction to a Bruins&rsquo; defeat at any time is something to behold. Boston fans have become so accustomed to their favorites winning habit that a loss is greeted with downright indignation.But when it comes in the waning weeks of the season and at the hands of such types as the Los Angeles Kings and it is a shutout against the fire-horse sextet, the indignation is compounded by concern.So many fans still remember the tapering off of last year&rsquo;s Bruin record wreckers leading into and through the first round of Stanley Cup play against Montreal, virtually everyone is looking for signs of a similar deterioration in play.This is the price of fame and greatness. For that 2-0 blanking by the Kings was but the ninth defeat the Bruins had suffered in 66 games. It also was the first in 13-outings against all-comers and ended a home unbeaten streak at 24 games.From a technical standpoint coach Tom Johnson analyzed, &ldquo;The Kings played one of their better games and could have made the score higher were in not for the work of Eddie Johnston in goal.&ldquo;It was a pretty dull effort by us in the overall sense. But they came back with two men all the time. They checked well. We have played worse than we did in that game and still won. So I&rsquo;ve got to think they had something to do about it.&rdquo;Veteran Eddie Westfall concurred with his coach.&ldquo;They did a lot about it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They played a sound game. Not a good game to watch. Not fun to play against. For them it was sound. It was a way they could win.&ldquo;They packed the blueline and we lost our cool, I guess. We tried to stickhandle through instead of slamming it in there and going in and taking control.&ldquo;And that goalie (Gary Edwards) was good. He came up with big saves.&rdquo;The final aftermath was supplied by Johnson when he remarked, &ldquo;We just have to start another streak.&rdquo;So this is a bit different from a year ago when the Bruins clinched the Prince of Wales Trophy and then Johnson elected to rest certain key Bruins to prepare for the playoffs.There is to be no relaxing this year, especially with the upcoming schedule and even while New York is hurting from the loss of Jean Ratelle. The Rangers actually aren&rsquo;t that for behind.Despite the loss to the Kings, the B&rsquo;s still enjoyed a sevenpoint hold on the East Division lead over New York.&ldquo;But,&rdquo; said Derek Sanderson, &ldquo;I count that only a five-point lead because we have played one more game than New York. That&rsquo;s not bad. I don&rsquo;t think they have the time to catch us and I don&rsquo;t think they have the healthy team to do it now.&ldquo;Still you can&rsquo;t forget that we did something wrong against Los Angeles and you&rsquo;ve got to remember what you have done wrong and not do it again.&rdquo;This boils down to a realization of the final 12 games and the picture is not conducive to rest and relaxation.The B&rsquo;s have two games remaining with Toronto and a pair with Pittsburgh. Both of those teams are locked in a fight for a playoff spot.Another two games are scheduled with Minnesota, the second place team in the West and two more with Montreal. There also is a big game with the Rangers at Boston Garden on March 23.This alone should be enough assurance that there will be no complacency among the Bruins prior to this year&rsquo;s Stanley Cup playoffs.<h2>Cashman 7th 20-Goal Man</h2>ICE CHIPS: Ken Hodge is just about due to return to action after being idled a month with a fractured ankle&hellip;But Johnson has not indicated how he will use the big right wing&hellip;Mike Walton has filled in so capably with Phil Esposito at center and Wayne Cashman at right wing that he may hesitate to reunite Hodge with Espo and Cashman&hellip;Cashman became the B&rsquo;s seventh 20-goal scorer for the year&hellip;Last year they finished with nine in that bracket&hellip;Johnny McKenzie is on the verge of turning that corner and Westfall has a shot at it&hellip;McKenzie was shocked by news of the sudden death of a 40-year-old brother in Calgary early last week and was given permission to fly home&hellip;But he rejoined the Bruins for their Wednesday game at Minnesota, flew home again for the funeral and rejoined the Bruins in Pittsburgh. &#9632;

f0006-01

Are Bruins Tapering Off? Loss To Kings Haunts Fans

<div class="byline">BY ED CONRAD</div>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;If the Flyers make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, they&rsquo;ll have to thank one special person.Bobby Clarke?Naw, Gerry Cheevers!True, it does seem mighty peculiar that Cheevers, the Boston Bruins&rsquo; veteran goaltender, would be responsible. However, in an indirect way, he will have played a key role in the Flyers&rsquo; late season comeback&mdash;if it succeeds.That&rsquo;s because Cheevers helped Flyers&rsquo; goaltender Doug Favell get his game straightened out just when Philly needed him most.&ldquo;Gerry and I have been buddies a long time,&rdquo; said Favell. &ldquo;Why, we even played together for two seasons at Oaklahoma City (before NHL expansion).&ldquo;When Gerry was in town the last time with the Bruins, he caught one of our games on TV the night before. The next day he pointed out a few things that he thought he detected wrong with my game. I think they helped.It isn&rsquo;t top secret, either. Favell said Cheevers thought Doug wasn&rsquo;t playing the corners properly, was worrying too much about the man outside instead of the man in front of the crease, and was spending too much time down on the ice.Doug attempted to take advantage of the helpful hints and, not too long afterward, the 26-year-old goalie was playing his best hockey of the entire season. He was as sharp as he ever was.The Flyers&rsquo; orange-masked goalie was in the net in three consecutive tough games and won all three: 3-1 over Detroit in the nationally televised contest, 3-0 over Minnesota and 6-2 over St. Louis. It brought Favell&rsquo;s goals-against average under 3.0Q for the first time in several months.&ldquo;I really was due for a few good games,&rdquo; said Favell, &ldquo;After all, until I beat Detroit, I hadn&rsquo;t won a game since Jan. 9. That&rsquo;s a long stretch to go without winning.&rdquo;Doug feels that he never really played that badly, even at the height of his slump. Nevertheless, the importance of the games dictated he limit the opposition to just one or two goals. The Flyers weren&rsquo;t packing too much of an offensive punch, which in turn put extra pressure on their own netminding.Finally, coach Fred Shero gave backup Bruce Gamble the starting assignment and the 33-year-old veteran played well until sidelined with a coronary in a game in Vancouver. The Flyers called up Don McLeod and then Bobby Taylor as emergency replacements and gave them the opportunity to play until Favell proved he deserved to return as a starter.Doug admits that, as is the case with almost every goaltender who is in a slump, his confidence had vanished. He wasn&rsquo;t playing with a cocky attitude, which is vitally important when it comes time to challenge opposing forwards.The Flyers, of course, are hopeful that Favell can continue to keep up the good work as the regular season comes right down to the tail end&hellip;with four teams battling for only two playoff spots.Granted, Bobby Clarke, who has been absolutely spectacular for the Flyers this past month or more, has been the real star.But, if Gerry Cheevers&rsquo; goaltending tips have straighted out Favell for good, he, too, deserves to wear a halo. &#9632;

Cheevers Straightens Out Doug Favell

<div class="byline">&#x2014;CONRAD</div>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;Bobby Clarke apparently has turned the corner at being the Flyers&rsquo; team leader.This has been evident the past month especially when Clarke almos singlehandedly helped the Flyers return to respectability.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01771/3036728-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="264" height="422"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Clarke</figcaption></div>During a 12-game stretch from Feb. 8 to March 4, the hustling center had scored 12 goals and seven assists for 19 points. Overall, his surge had him right up there among the West Division&rsquo;s top scorers.Quite impressed with Clarke&rsquo;s spectacular play is coach Fred Shero.&ldquo;Bobby is one of the best competitors I&rsquo;ve ever seen,&rdquo; said Shero. &ldquo;If guys like (Frank) Mahovlich were like him, they&rsquo;d score 80 goals.&ldquo;In fact, I don&rsquo;t think Phil Esposito would work as hard for us as Clarke does.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0007-01

Flyers Give Clarke Credit For Turnabout In Stretch

<div class="byline">&#x2014;By Bill Libby</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01811/3036766-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="282" height="363"></div><h2>Of Sickness And Injury&hellip;</h2>FIGHTING FOR A PLACE in the playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; hopes were handed a severe blow when Bruce Gamble, their veteran goaltender, suffered a heart attack. It is a team game and an injury or sickness which strikes down a key player is a team loss, but, of course, it is a blow which hits especially hard at the individual, himself.Gamble was playing in Vancouver and while he began to &ldquo;feel funny&rdquo; and had trouble breathing in the first few minutes, he did not ask out and, incredibly, not only finished the contest, but won it for his team, 3-1. The team went on to Oakland and he went on to a hospital for an examination after complaining of chest pains and high blood pressure and the heart attack were diagnosed.Suddenly he was out for the rest of the season, if not forever, and at 33 the 14-year pro career of the stocky swinger with the long sidebums seems to have been prematurely curtailed following a brave &ldquo;show must go on&rdquo; performance that defies disbelief. &ldquo;You never know,&rdquo; he sighed later. And you never do.Only a week or so earlier, Los Angeles goaltender Rog Vachon had made a swift but apparently innocent shift to his left and he tore all the ligaments in one knee and by the next day had gone under the surgeon&rsquo;s scalpel and been enchased in a cast to his hip. In that same game, Gilles Marotte raised Montreal defenseman Terry Harper high into the sideboards with a clean check and the plexiglass which is not supposed to be dangerous when it dissolves razored through muscles and tendons in his right forearm, forcing him to the operating room, putting him on the sidelines and placing Canadiens&rsquo; high hopes on a lower level.The same week Gamble was stricken, Minnesota goaltender Cesare Maniago slashed Ken Hodge with his stick as he cruised across the crease and Boston&rsquo;s explosive scorer suffered a broken ankle. It has been a difficult season for the handsome Hodge, but suddenly it went almost impossible. And the Bruins, bidding to recapture the precious Stanley Cup, found they had to make a substitution on their first line. Boston center Phil Esposito needed a new winger and even the phenomenal Phil has to have help if his side is to go all the way. The first Sunday in March Chicago lost centerman Lou Angotti with a shoulder seperation.But, possibly the most severe blow taken by any team was absorbed the first of March. When New York center Jean Ratelle was struck on the ankle by a shot from ironically enough, his own teammate, Dale Rolfe, a bone was broken and he was knocked out of action at a critical time in the season. Unless Ratelle returns in form for the playoffs, Rangers Cup chances have been busted pretty bad.Since Emile Francis rebuilt the Rangers into a pennant contender five or six years ago, the team has been taunted as one which choked in the clutch. Rangers were eliminated in the opening round three straight post-seasons, but then carried Chicago to seven games, three of them overtime games, before bowing out in the semi-finals last season, and those who criticized this were cruel and unreasonable.Boston was beating out New York for the pennant this season, but the hottest line in the league was the one led by Ratelle. He, Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield were averaging 40 goals apiece with a month to go, and with a good defense behind them spearheaded the team&rsquo;s thrust for the coveted trophy. Called by his coach the most consistent player and the finest gentlemen he&rsquo;d dealt with in the sport, Ratelle was the inspirational leader of the Rangers. He was in a close race with Esposito for league scoring laurels and because the voters who should have voted for Esposito last season may have felt they should not vote for Bobby Orr every season, Ratelle wasn&rsquo;t a bad bet for most valuable player honors in the circuit.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02721/3036759-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="544" height="870"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEAN RATELLE&hellip;What Can You Do?</figcaption></div><h2>A Man At His Hockey Peak&hellip;</h2>AT 31, HIS 11TH SEASON up top was his tops. He already had 100 points. But a team-mate shot and saw it go astray and shouted too late and Ratelle tried to get out of the way too late and all of a sudden he was crumpled in a pile and later he lamented, &ldquo;What can you do?&rdquo; Well, there is nothing you can do. Injuries are going to happen and they strike sometimes when least expected and when most harmful to the individual and to his team. It was especially sad for Ratelle, who has made a comeback from spinal surgery of five seasons or so ago, and played in pain for awhile, strapped into a confining corset.His longtime linemate, Gilbert, had two spinal fusions, in 1961 and 1965, and he said recently that after the first one he figured he was all right, but after he had to have a second one he could no longer count on anything! &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t help but be pessimistic that it can happen again it any time and I will be finished, all this will be over for me. I know I can&rsquo;t go through a third operation.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;I almost lost a leg from infection. The pain wasn&rsquo;t good. I thought I might not play again. I wouldn&rsquo;t want to be hurt so I couldn&rsquo;t play. It scares me sometimes.&rdquo;Almost certainly, more football players suffer injuries than athletes in any other sport. Some seasons, one out of three players on some teams have wound up having knee operations. Some fellows are waiting for a final operation when they&rsquo;re finished just so they&rsquo;ll be able to walk around a golf course after retirement. But hockey is a hard game, too. A football player can go limp when hit. Hockey is one sport in which there are solid, hard surfaces such as sideboards and goal-posts against which players can be pounded. And they are struck by sticks, slashed by skates and pelted by those hard, heavy pucks. These guys make good money and get a lot of glamour, but as many lose games as win games, the travel is terrible, pressure to produce pounds at them, and injuries can happen at any time which can be disastrous. &#9632;

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div>ST. LOUIS&mdash;At age 33 Gerry Odrowski finds himself the oldest player on the St. Louis Blues.The average age of the Blues has been dropping steadily since Jacques Plante was traded to Toronto less than two years ago, and the current St. Louis team is now the third-youngest in the National Hockey League. At various times over their five seasons of existence the Blues have had 15 players&mdash;or nearly 20 percent of those who have worn the St. Louis uniform&mdash;who were older than Odrowski is now. So Gerry is a bit young to be St. Louis&rsquo; oldest player.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03597/3036797-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="266" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gerry Odrowski</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I never dreamed I&rsquo;d be the oldest man on an NHL team at 33,&rdquo; Odrowski said. &ldquo;Now some of the guys are calling me &lsquo;Pops.&rsquo;&rdquo;&ldquo;But I just call them &lsquo;young whippersnappers&rsquo; and join in the fun,&rdquo; Odrowski said. &ldquo;I do a lot of kidding in the dressing room, and, of course, you can only crack jokes like that when you get along with everyone.&rdquo;The Blues acquired Odrowski from the Phoenix Roadrunners Nov. 27 and have used him successfully as a penalty-killer. When Odrwoski joined the team, he had to wait for the distinction of being the oldest player. At that time the honor was held by a rookie, 34-year-old Jim McLeod, who was later sold back to the Portland Buckaroos.&ldquo;I had my mind set to be in Phoenix all season,&rdquo; Odrowski said. &ldquo;We liked it there. But one Friday afternoon while I was having my pre-game meal Aut Erickson called me and said, &lsquo;How would you like to go to St. Louis? &ldquo;&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to be kidding,&rdquo; Odrowski told Erickson. &ldquo;What do they want with me.&rdquo;But the Blues had plans for the veteran player and immediately teamed him with Terry Crisp as the team&rsquo;s penalty-killers. The St. Louis fans appreciate the efforts of the hard-working pair and applaud both of them with gusto.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice to hear the applause,&rdquo; Odrowski smiles. &ldquo;You know you&rsquo;re doing the job and you can appreciate the recognition. If they booed, I wouldn&rsquo;t be here long.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0008-03

Chance With Blues Totally Unexpected But Odrowski Happy

<div class="byline">BY CHARLEY BARTON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-01788/3036828-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">DAVE DRYDEN&hellip;Needs More Game Action (Hockey News Photo by Robert Shaver)</figcaption></div>BUFFALO&mdash;Dave Dryden was line for more active duty in the closing weeks of the National Hockey League schedule that he had been earlier.In the Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; first 65 games, Dryden, the backup goaltender, started only 10 games and made 13 appearances. Roger Crozier, the No. 1 man, handled the rest of the work.As the team prepared to leave for a 10-day, five-game trip, Joe Crozier, the acting coach, indicated Dryden and Roger Crozier will alternate starting assignments.&ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t any doubt in my mind that Roger Crozier is the best goaltender in the National Hockey League today,&rdquo; said the Buffalo coach, who is not related to his backstop.&ldquo;I some times wonder what might happen to a club like ours without the support Roger gives us. I can recall any number of games since I&rsquo;ve been here when we&rsquo;ve struggling and he&rsquo;s held us together until we were able to reorganize.&rdquo;As this edition of The Hockey News went to press, Roger Crozier&rsquo;s record reflected 10 wins, 31 defeats and 13 ties. Dryden had 3 wins. 6 losses and 2 ties.At one stage. Crozier started 22 straight games before Dryden, a one time Black Hawk, turned in a brilliant performance in a 2-1 victory at Chicago. The next night Crozier took over in a 4-3 decision over the Hawks here.Dave also played well in a 4-1 loss at Montreal in which his brother, Ken, was the Canadiens&rsquo; goalkeeper. Ken now leads the Dryden family series, 3-0.&ldquo;Dave has played darn well for us and simply deserves more game action,&rdquo; said Joe Crozier. &ldquo;My present plans are to alternate Roger and Dave for the rest of the season.&ldquo;We can give Roger some additional rest, and Dave will get more play under game conditions.ALONG THE BOARDS: A year ago, in their first season in the NHL, the Sabres were mathematically eliminated as playoff contenders with 12 games remaining. This season they were &ldquo;out&rdquo; with 13 games to play&hellip;Richard Martin, the Sabres&rsquo; record-breaking rookie with 41 goals, missed two games with a bruised shoulder. &#9632;

f0009-01

Sabres To Play Dryden More In Final Run Down Stretch

Following are the latest player movements in hockey:<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>NEW YORK&mdash;Phil Goyette, forward, purchased from Buffalo in straight cash deal. Goyette presently on retired list. Norm Gratton, forward, returned to Omaha of CHL.BUFFALO&mdash;Butch Deadmarsh, forward, and Ray McKay, defenseman, sent to Cincinnati of AHL. George Morrison, forward, placed on suspended list for failing to report after trade from St. Louis. John Gould, forward, recalled from Cincinnati.VANCOUVER&mdash;Ron Stewart, forward, traded to New York in return for Mike McMahon, defenseman. McMahon transferred from Providence to Rochester in AHL. Poul Popiel, forward, sent to Rochester. Ed Dyck, goalkeeper, assigned to Seattle of WHL.DETROIT&mdash;Ralph Stewart, forward, purchased outright from Vancouver. Stewart presently on loan to Fort Worth, will remain with CHL club. Andy Brown, goalkeeper, recalled from Fort Worth.ST. LOUIS&mdash;Floyd Thomson, forward, assigned to Denver of WHL. Wayne Stephenson, goalkeeper, recalled from Kansas City of CHLBOSTON&mdash;Doug Roberts, forward, recalled from Boston of AHL.PITTSBURGH&mdash;Tim Horton, defenseman, placed on injury list for rest of season with shoulder separation.CALIFORNIA&mdash;Lyle Carter, goalkeeper, recalled from Baltimore of AHL and assigned to Salt Lake of WHL on loan.LOS ANGELES&mdash;Bob Pulford, forward, on disabled list for 10 days with back injury. Brian Carlin, forward, recalled from Springfield of AHL as replacement.MINNESOTA&mdash;Bob Paradise, defenseman, returned to Seattle of WHL. Jim McElmury, defenseman, assigned to Cleveland of AHL. Gil Gilbert, goalkeeper, recalled from Cleveland.<h2>WESTERN LEAGUE</h2>SEATTLE&mdash;Barry Cummins, defenseman, secured from Portland of WHL on loan. John Shmyr, defenseman, signed to five-game pro tryout from Vancouver seniors.PHOENIX&mdash;Wayne Hicks, forward, dropped from roster.PORTLAND&mdash;Jim Mo Leod, goalkeeper, placed on disabled list, possibly for rest of season with knee injury.<h2>CENTRAL LEAGUE</h2>TULSA&mdash;Gerry O&rsquo;Flaherty, forward, placed on disabled list with broken ankle. Bob Charlebois, forward, returned to college in Ottawa after six-game emergency replacement stint.<h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>TOLEDO&mdash;Moe Brunel, forward, placed on disabled list for rest of year with fractured cheekbone.PORT HURON&mdash;Herb Leverton, goalkeeper from Port Huron High school, used in emergency role. &#9632;

Movements of Players

<div class="byline">BY DAN PROUDFOOT</div>TORONTO&mdash;The day before his 69th birthday, Frank (King) Clancy took over as interim coach of Toronto Maple Leafs, and he still was celebrating nine days afterward. Not the birthday, though. The chuckles were over his four consecutive wins as coach.Leafs, who had lost four of five games before coach John McLellan was knocked out by his ulcer, beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in Clancy&rsquo;s debut. Then they defeated Vancouver, St. Louis and Los Angeles, and then came the piece de resistance, a spectacular 5-1 win over Detroit Red Wings, their arch-rivals for fourth place in the Eastern Division. The win streak was kept intact and the Leafs bristled as they took over possession of fourth spot.The win over the Red Wings, of course, boomed as the most important of Clancy&rsquo;s pinch-hitting accomplishments.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01805/3036890-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="241" height="441"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brian Spencer</figcaption></div>By the time Leafs edged the Kings&mdash;3-1 with all goals by a fourth-line Clancy improvised, Brian Spencer, Denis Dupere and Pierre Jarry&mdash;reporters were scrambling for his record as parttime coach.It was established Clancy had 12 wins, two losses and a tie during almost a decade of spot duty leading up to the Wings game. In 1967, while Leaf manager-coach George Imlach was hospitalized with a hiatus hernia, he coached in seven wins, two losses and a tie.Clancy belittled his latest streak of success. &ldquo;My part in it has been overplayed. For instance, Punch had the team turned around in 1967 before he went into hospital. This time, the club was ready to move when Johnny became ill.&rdquo;However, Clancy made changes which helped Leafs drop their defeatist attitude. Some players thought the very fact that something had changed in their daily routine made a difference. Others pointed out to Clancy&rsquo;s innovations and positive attitude. For instance, he moved David Keon from the point to left wing on the power play, switching him with Paul Henderson.Clancy also began using all his players, such as when he inserted Dupere between Jarry and Spencer, who was recalled from Tulsa Oilers. All three played all-out against Los Angeles, and Spencer&rsquo;s goal was his first in the NHL since Feb. 10, 1971.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like leaving a line out too long,&rdquo; said Clancy. &ldquo;I think that by working in short, all out shifts, players maintain their stamina better than in long shifts. But, for the most part, I&rsquo;ve just continued things the way Johnny would have done them.&rdquo;Ironically, Clancy&rsquo;s latest successes followed a burst of Toronto area publicity which revealed the Leaf players resented his usual work as vicepresident of the team. As VP, Clancy&rsquo;s duties were undefined, and his penchant for shooting the blarney led many players to suspect the value and extent of his influence. They felt his actions were undermining McLellan&rsquo;s ability to coach effectively.But, the same players who revealed privately they dislike Clancy as a top executive also indicated his coaching was a breath of fresh, if blarney-laden, air.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02690/3036883-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="547" height="821"><figcaption class="caption-body">KING CLANCY&hellip;Turns Leafs Around</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0010-01

Clancy’s Touch No Blarney As Maple Leafs Come To Life

1&mdash;Anyone is eligible to cast ballots for the National Hockey League All Star Team, but each reader may submit ONLY ONE ENTRY, naming an Eastern and Western team, as well as MVP and Outstanding Rookie overall in the NHL.2&mdash;The ballots will run for three weeks. Final ballot will appear in the issue dated March 31, 1972.3&mdash;Use blanks published in THE HOCKEY NEWS, or reasonable facsimile or tracings of same if you do not wish to deface your copy. Be sure to fill in your own name and address.4&mdash;Ballots must be mailed to. All Star Editor, THE HOCKEY NEWS, Room 212, 1434 St. Catherine St. W., Montreal 107, Canada. &#9632;

All Star Voting Regulations

<div class="byline">BY BOB SMIZIK</div>PITTSBURGH&mdash;Through 50 games of the 1971-72 season, 38-year-old Val Fonteyne climbed over the boards when the Penguins were shorthanded and time after time Val would do the thankless task of killing the penalty and then return to the bench. Playing as a defensive specialist, Fonteyne turned in only two goals and two assists until coach Red Kelly promoted the speedy left wing to the number one line with Syl Apps and Jean Pronovost.Greg Polis had been filling the left side of the line, but after the Pens were dealt a pair of back-to-back shutouts, Kelly switched Fonteyne to the front line.The move brought instant success as the Penguins downed Philadelphia 5-2 with Pronovost scoring a pair of goals in the span of 21 seconds and Apps scoring a shorthanded marker.While Fonteyne has been setting the world on fire with his scoring of two goals and four assists, his linemates have really perked up. Pronovost has rammed in six goals and picked up four assists, while Apps has lit the red light three times and assisted on seven goals.Pronovost has surpassed Polis as the team&rsquo;s leading goal scorer with 24 and bettered his own mark of 21 for goals by a right wing.Kelly isn&rsquo;t positive Fonteyne has been the ingredient which has made the line go, but he&rsquo;s not about to change to find out.&ldquo;They&rsquo;re getting the points,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re moving. They weren&rsquo;t getting points before and that&rsquo;s why I was upset. Now they&rsquo;re getting the points.&rdquo;Fonteyne, in typical modest fashion refuses to take credit for the sudden scoring outburst. &ldquo;Everybody likes to play regularly,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad to be out there but the most important thing is that the team wins. I wouldn&rsquo;t care if I was playing or not if the team was winning.&rdquo;Fonteyne isn&rsquo;t sure how long he will stay with Apps and Pronovost but speculates, &ldquo;As long as we keep getting the points, I guess Red will keep us together. All I can do is give it my best.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s the story of Val Fonteyne&rsquo;s career and why he has lasted 12 years in the NHL. He always gives it his best.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01776/3037053-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="545" height="567"><figcaption class="caption-body">VAL FONTEYNE&hellip;Turns To Offense</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0012-01

Fonteyne Gets Pens’ Top Line Moving

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01766/3037084-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="919" height="644"></div><h2>Don&rsquo;t Shoot!</h2>If you&rsquo;re rushing in on a defender, avoid shooting the puck so it will hit him. The goal is the target. You might hit the defender&rsquo;s leg pad and see the puck rebound at an angle you can&rsquo;t reach, but he can. He&rsquo;ll be away on a break and you&rsquo;ll skate right past, out of the play.Failing a clear shot on goal, aim for the back boards and keep going in for the rebound. &#9632;

f0013-01

Hockey for Kids

<div class="byline">BY GIL SMITH</div>MONTREAL&mdash;Stories of individual heroism proceeded the Montreal Canadiens on their return from a near tragic road trip that took them to several cities but notably St. Louis.It isn&rsquo;t every day that big league hockey stars get the opportunity to play the role of hero and save lives but it happened to the Canadiens and they reacted in the same heroic way men pluck children from icy rivers.The Canadiens&mdash;J. C. Tremblay, Butch Bouchard, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, to name a few&mdash;were involved in a dramatic rescue in a smoke-filled St. Louis hotel that had been ravaged by fire and threatened the very safety of Canadiens&rsquo; coach Scotty Bowman and his travelling aide, Floyd Curry, among others.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01738/3037258-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="263" height="440"><figcaption class="caption-body">Serge Savard</figcaption></div>Witnesses to the early morning fire on the fourth floor of the hotel where the Canadiens were quartered after they had disposed of the St. Louis Blues hours earlier 5-1, testified that had it not been for the heroism of the Montreal players, lives could easily have been snuffed out. Reports indicated that Tremblay, Bouchard and Lapointe repeatedly scaled firemen&rsquo;s ladders to help hotel lodgers from their smoky rooms and played a vital role in getting Bowman and Curry safely out of the hotel.Guests publicly thanked the Canadiens&rsquo; players who were instrumental in leading them to safety.For the hard-lucked Savard, who kicked out a window to let smoke escape and received a severely lacerated leg for his efforts, it was another in a series of unfortunate events that have plagued his career the past two years.But Savard is no stranger to adversity. His promising career has twice been halted by serious injury, and he&rsquo;s now struggling through a comeback that would discourage most athletes.But, adversity has given Savard the ability to look objectively at his situation, and not become unnerved by the realities of it. &ldquo;I find it tougher now,&rdquo; he said after a recent game, &ldquo;than I did when I first began to play in February. The schedule has tightened up for us. and I find it tiring. But, I&rsquo;ll get there and I should be hitting my real stride by playoff time.&rdquo;Savard, as most everyone knows, was sidelined for over a year with a broken leg&mdash;the second such injury he&rsquo;s suffered in the last two seasons.He returned to action on Feb. 4 against the California Golden Seals, as Canadiens neared the end of a road trip. His first game in Montreal was against Chicago Black Hawks on Feb. 10 and he picked up two assists, while showing a willingness to mix it up along the boards and in corners.&ldquo;I feel good,&rdquo; he said, after that one. &ldquo;The leg feels like new. When I came back the last time, I had pins in the leg and I guess I came back too soon, anyway. Now, the bone has been grafted and the leg&rsquo;s stronger.&rdquo;Watching him in the games, you could see flashes of the old skill and mobility. At his best, Savard is one of the most mobile rearguards in hockey and he still has the nifty moves. It&rsquo;s the pace at which he makes them that&rsquo;s changed. He is, not surprisingly, a lot slower than he used to be.&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t really hit full stride,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It will take time. And, timing. You lose that when you&rsquo;re on the shelf.&rdquo;By the time the month of March dawned, Canadiens were grinding their way through a heavy schedule. A March 1st encounter versus Buffalo was their seventh game in 12 days and Savard, for one, was finding the going a bit heavy.&ldquo;When the games come back to back, or with just a day or so in between, it can be tough,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough even when you&rsquo;ve been playing regularly and are in top shape.&rdquo;Savard is looking ahead to the playoffs, when he hopes and expects to be back in full stride. &#9632;

f0015-01

Montreal Players Heroes In St. Louis Hotel Fire

MONTREAL&mdash;On the basis of points-pergame, defenseman Bobby Orr of Boston Bruins owns the NHL&rsquo;s highest ratio among players with 500- or more points.Orr scored his 499th, 500th and 501st career points at Pittsburgh, March 11 and his 502nd against the Penguins at Boston on March 12 during his 397th regular-season game. That gave him a career ratio of 1.262 points per game, which is ahead of teammate Phil Esposito whose 756 points in 606 regular-season games produces a ratio of 1.248 points per game. Amazingly, over the past three seasons, Orr has scored just six fewer points than Esposito&mdash;366 to 372.Meanwhile, Esposito continues to lead the Art Ross Trophy race with 121 points, including a League-leading 59 goals. His 25 power-play goals tie the record he set last season and he is only one short of his record 16 game-winning goals, also set last season. Orr picked up six points last week to move within two of second-place Jean Ratelle of New York Rangers who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Linemates Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert also of Rangers are tied for fourth place with 94 points each, 12 more than Frank Mahovlich of Montreal Canadiens. Chicago Bobby Hull is in seventh position with 81 points and needs only three more goals to reach the 600 mark in regular season play.The league&rsquo;s leading pointgetter last week was center Bobby Clarke of Philadelphia Flyers whose eight points (three goals and five assists) vaulted him into a share of 11th place in the scoring parade from 17th a week ago.Brad Park of New York reached a milestone last week by becoming only the second defenseman in history to score more than both 21 goals and 64 points in a season. Orr, of course, was the first.It was a rough week for those goaltenders trying to overtake Chicago&rsquo;s combination of Tony Esposito, Gary Smith and Gerry Desjardins for the lead in the Vezina Trophy race. The next three teams&rsquo; (New York, Minnesota and Boston) averages went up while the Hawks managed to maintain their mean of 2.13 goals against per game. &#9632;

NHL WEEK—In Review

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02662/3037327-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg"></div><h2>THE TOP NETMINDERS</h2>(Including games of Sunday, March 12)<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03552/3037320-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="1112" height="362"></div><h2>COMPLETE GOALKEEPING RECORDS FOR NHL TEAMS</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04430/3037313-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="1110" height="2180"></div> &#9632;

f0015-02

LOOKING AT NHL GOALERS

<div class="byline">BY JOHN PORTER</div>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and CanadaOAKLAND&mdash;Anybody who has been to Oakland Raider football games has seen the sign plenty of times at the entrance to the ColiseumArena parking lot.But there was more then one hockey fan who had to blink his eyes to make sure it wasn&rsquo;t a mirage when he drove up to buy tickets before a game against Boston.&ldquo;Event Sold Out Ticket Holders Only&rdquo;, was the sign awaiting thousands of fans who never before had trouble getting a California Golden Seals ticket on game night.Now this may not impress fans in most National Hockey League cities. It would take a &ldquo;Game Not Sold Out. Tickets Available&rdquo; most places around the league to raise eyebrows.But Oakland&rsquo;s different. The team has had name after name and owner after owner. And two last-place clubs in four seasons to boot.So it the Golden Ones can sell out two games straight, as they did Feb. 23 (Boston) and March 3 (Chicago), then maybe something good is happening in the Bay Area. Like hockey, for instance.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01578/3037358-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="258" height="429"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bert Marshall</figcaption></div>In fact, over a stretch of six home games, the Seals averaged 9,000 in paid attendance. Still not too impressive, of course, but well above the 6,042 average for 34 home dates this season.And certainly it&rsquo;s an improvement over the 5,181 average last year.&ldquo;I still think in the next couple of years you won&rsquo;t be able to buy a ticket at the game,&rdquo; claimed owner Charles O. Finley. &ldquo;Hockey is just now beginning to be received enthusiastically in the Bay Area.&rdquo;His ticket manager backed him up.&ldquo;You could see the interest growing in Pittsburgh when they made the playoffs and got by the first round,&rdquo; said Sam Russo. &ldquo;Most of the fans here feel this season we&rsquo;ve put together the most exciting team we&rsquo;ve ever had.&rdquo;Exciting it is. And a chance to make the playoffs it has.Finley&rsquo;s predecessors computed 8,500 to be the average attendance break-even point, but the Chicago insurance man isn&rsquo;t sure what his profit level would be.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t even operate with a budget. I spend what&rsquo;s needed to be spent,&rdquo; he said. By his estimate, that was $400,000 on players this season.Despite key injuries to veteran defenseman Bert Marshall, now the club&rsquo;s captain, and centerman Walt McKechnie, the Seals made no last-minute trades or called up any farmhands before the deadline.&ldquo;We decided to stick with the players that got us this far. The spirit is just great, we&rsquo;ll make the playoffs,&rdquo; said general manager Garry Young.That&rsquo;s a tall order with Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Philadelphia eyeing the same two remaining playoff spots in the West Division, but the Golden Seals shouldn&rsquo;t lack for stamina being the youngest club in the NHL.Experience could be the hurting factor, and the loss of Marshall, who has seven seasons in the NHL, is critical.Most of California&rsquo;s players have said at one time or another a big crowd in their own building helps them, so the upswing in attendance is important, too. &#9632;

f0016-01

Two Sellouts Create New Image For Revamped Seals

<h2>In The East</h2>Super Bruin Bobby Orr continues to scintillate National Hockey League audiences with his prowess as an offensive defenseman.The brilliant Boston backliner turned in a six-point week to top the East performers as he moved to within two points of injured Jean Ratelle of New York in the scoring race. Orr&rsquo;s totals of 32 goals, 75 assists and 107 points indicate he could surpass his career-high mark of 37 goals, 105 assists and 139 points set last season.Orr, who has only been outscored 372-366 by teammate Phil Esposito in the past three seasons, picked up three points in the 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh, helped set up the winning goal in downing Minnesota 5-4 and scored what amounted to the tieing goal in the 4-4 standoff with the Penguins.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02501/3037396-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="547" height="678"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY ORR&hellip;Boston Bruins</figcaption></div><h2>In The West</h2>Fantastic is the word to describe the performance of Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers in recent weeks as he leads the expansion club in its bid to land a West Division playoff berth.Clarke was high man in the overall NHL last week with three goals and five assists as he vaulted into a share of 11th place in the scoring race from 17th spot a week ago. Clarke figured in all five goals as Philadelphia beat Los Angeles 5-3 raising his season totals to 29 goals, 40 assists and 69 points, six more than he had for the entire 77 games last season.In a recent 12-game stretch, Clarke had 12 goals, 17 assists and 19 points to become the Flyers&rsquo; ice leader.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03400/3037389-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="548" height="650"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY CLARKE&hellip;Philadelphia Flyers</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0016-02

Player’s of the week

C-Captain.A-Alternate Captain<h2>MONTREAL</h2>GOALPhil MyreDenis DejordyKen DrydenDEFENSEJacques La perrierePierre BouchardJ.C. Tremblay AGuy LapointeSerge SavardDole HogansonBob MurdochCENTERHenri Richard CPete MahovlichLarry PleauR. WINGYvan CoumoyerGuy LafleurJim RobertsRejean HouleL. WINGFrank Mahovlich AJacques LemaireClaude LaroseMarc TardifINJURREDTorry Harper A.<h2>CHICAGO</h2>GOALTony EspositoGary SmithGerry DesjardinsDEFENSEPat StapletonBill WhiteKeith MagnusonDoug Jarrett AJerry KorabCENTERStan Mikita APit MartinBryan CampbellAndre LacroixR. WINGCliff KorollEric Nostoronko ADarryl MaggsJim PappinL. WINGBobby HullDennis HullChris BordeleauJ.P. BordeleauINJUREDLou AngottiChico Maki<h2>BOSTON</h2>GOALGerry CheeversEd JohnstonDEFENSEBobby OrrDallas SmithCarol Vodnais CTed Green ADon AwreyCENTERPhil Esposito AFred StanfieldDerek SandersonR. WINGJohn McKenzieEd Westfall ADoug RobertsL. WINGJohn Bucyk AWayne CashmanGarnet BaileyDon MarcotteINJUREDKen HodgeMiko Walton<h2>ST. LOUIS</h2>GOALErnie WakelyJacques CaronWayne StephensonDEFENSEAndro DupontBarclay Piaget ABill PlogerLarry HornungBob Ploger ACad Brower AJohn ArbourChris EvansCENTERGarry UngerTerry CrispFrank St. Marseille ADanny O&rsquo;SheaCurt BennettR. WINGGary SabourinMiko MurphyPhil RobertoKevin O&rsquo;SheaL. WINGJack EgersBrian LavenderGerry Od rowskiINJUREDNoel Picard<h2>DETROIT</h2>GOALAl SmithJoe DaleyAndy BrownDEFENSEGary Bergman AAmie Brown ARon StackhouseLarry JohnstonBob WallRon HarrisCENTERAlex Delvecchio CRed Berenson AMarcel DionneR. WINGMickey RedmondBill CollinsDoug VolmarLeon RochefortTim EcclestoneL. WINGNick UbettDanny JohnsonGuy CharronHenry BouchaAl KadanderINJUREDNone<h2>CALIFORNIA</h2>GOALGilles MelocheGary KurtDEFENSERick SmithMarshall JohnstonDick RedmondPaul ShmyrBob StewartCENTERWalt McKechnieIvan BoldirevBobby SheehanR. WINGNorm Ferguson AGerry Pinder AWayne CadetonCraig PatrickReg LoachL. WINGGary CroteauStan GilbertsonGarry JarrettJoey JohnstonErnie HickeINJUREDTom WebsterBert Marshall C<h2>TORONTO</h2>GOALBernie ParentJacques PlanteDEFENSEBob Baun AJim McKennyBrad SelwocdBrian GlennieRicky LeyMike PelykCENTERNorm Ullman ADave Keon CJim HarrisonDon MarshallR. WINGRon Elks AGuy TrottierRick KehoeBilly MacMillanPierre JarryBrian SpencerL. WINGGarry MonahanDenis DupereDarryl SittierPaul HendersonINJUREDNono<h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2>GOALDoug FavellBob TaylorDEFENSEBarry Ashbee AWayno HillmanJoe WatsonRick FoleyJean PotvinBrent HughesBill BrossartCENTERBobby ClarkeEd JoyalBill ClementR. WINGGary Dornhoefer ALew MorrisonBill FlettSimon NoletL. WINGJean-Guy GendronBobs-llyMiko ParizeauRoss LansberryINJUREDBruce GambleDon McLeodEd Van Impe<h2>NEW YORK</h2>GOALEd GiacominGillos VillemuroDEFENSEBrad Park AJim Neilson ARod SeilingGary DoakDale RolfeCENTERWalt TkaczukBobby RousseauPete StemkowskiR. WINGRod Gilbert ABill FairbairnBruce MacGregorRon StewartL. WINGVic Hadfield CTed IrvineGlen SatherGeno CarrINJUREDAb DeMarcoJim DoroyJean Ratelie<h2>PITTSBURGH</h2>GOALJim RutherfordLes BinkleyDEFENSEDave BurrowsSheldon KannegiosserBryan WatsonDuane RuppDarryl EdestrandCENTERRon SchockBryan HextailSyl App.Bobby LeiterR. WINGNick HarbarukKen Schinkel AJean PronovostAl McDonoughEddie ShackL. WINGGreg PolisStove CardwellVai FonteyneINJUREDKeith McCreary ATim Horton A<h2>BUFFALO</h2>GOALRoger CrozierDave DrydenDEFENSEAl Hamilton AJim WatsonTracy Pratt.Mike RobitailleLarry HillmanCENTERGerry Meehan CDon LuceJim LorentzGilbert Perreault ARene RobertR. WINGStove AtkinsonMiko ByersDanny LawsonL. WINGRichard MartinCraig RamsayRandy WyrozubGeorge MorrisonJohn GouldINJUREDNone<h2>LOS ANGELES</h2>GOALGary EdwardsBill SmithDEFENSEDoug BarrieHarry Howell APaul CurtisBob WoytowichGilles Marotte ACENTERRalph Backstrom AButch GoringJuha WidingJimmy JohnsonR. WINGLucien GrenierSergo BernierMike CorriganL. WINGBob BerryReal LemieuxBill LesukBrian CarlinINJUREDLarry BrownRogation VachonBob Pulford C<h2>VANCOUVER</h2>GOALDune WilsonGeorge GardnerEd DyckDEFENSEPat QuinnJocelyn GuevremontDennis KeamsJohn SchellaGrog BoddyBarry WilkinsDale Tallon ACENTEROrland Kurtenbach CAndre Boudrias ARon WardRichard LemieuxR. WINGWayne ConnollyRosai re PaiementBobby SchmautzL. WINGWayne MakiTod TaylorDave BalonBobby LalondeINJUREDNone<h2>MINNESOTA</h2>GOALLome WorsleyGilles GilbertDEFENSETed Harris CTom ReidDennis O&rsquo;BrienDoug MohnsBarry Gibbs ACENTERTed HampsonMurray OliverCharlie Bums AJude DrouinDennis HextailR. WINGBill GoldsworthyLou NannoBob NevinL. WINGDanny GrantDean PrenticeJean-Paul PariseINJUREDCraig CameronCesare Maniago &#9632;

NHL Team Rosters

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01490/3037574-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="431" height="290"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02435/3037567-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="487" height="297"></div><h2>Tues. March 7 LOS ANGELES 2 at ST LOUIS 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03360/3037560-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="582" height="533"></div><h2>Wed. March 8 MONTREAL 5 at PITTSBURGH 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04284/3037553-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="586" height="759"></div><h2>DETROIT 1 at TORONTO 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05235/3037546-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="586" height="556"></div><h2>CHICAGO 3 at NEW YORK 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06200/3037539-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="590" height="580"></div><h2>BOSTON 5 at MINNESOTA 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-07177/3037532-1-eng-US/f0017-072.jpg" title="f0017-07" width="589" height="653"></div><h2>BUFFALO 3 at CALIFORNIA 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-08145/3037525-1-eng-US/f0017-082.jpg" title="f0017-08" width="596" height="696"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA 6 at VANCOUVER 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-09129/3037518-1-eng-US/f0017-092.jpg" title="f0017-09" width="585" height="830"></div><h2>Thur. March 9 MONTREAL 5 at ST. LOUIS 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-10119/3037511-1-eng-US/f0017-102.jpg" title="f0017-10" width="593" height="596"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA 5 at LOS ANGELES 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-11102/3037504-1-eng-US/f0017-112.jpg" title="f0017-11" width="616" height="782"></div><h2>Fri. March 10 BUFFALO 2 at VANCOUVER 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1291/3037497-1-eng-US/f0017-122.jpg" title="f0017-12" width="597" height="568"></div><h2>Sat. March 11 CHICAGO 1 at MONTREAL 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1375/3037490-1-eng-US/f0017-132.jpg" title="f0017-13" width="588" height="422"></div><h2>CALIFORNIA 1 at TORONTO 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1464/3037483-1-eng-US/f0017-142.jpg" title="f0017-14" width="593" height="495"></div><h2>NEW YORK 4 at DETROIT 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1553/3037476-1-eng-US/f0017-152.jpg" title="f0017-15" width="589" height="602"></div><h2>BOSTON 4 at PITTSBURGH 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1651/3037469-1-eng-US/f0017-162.jpg" title="f0017-16" width="589" height="773"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA 2 at ST. LOUIS 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1744/3037462-1-eng-US/f0017-172.jpg" title="f0017-17" width="600" height="678"></div><h2>BUFFALO 3 at LOS ANGELES 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1837/3037455-1-eng-US/f0017-182.jpg" title="f0017-18" width="588" height="632"></div><h2>Sun. March 12 TORONTO 2 at MINNESOTA 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1930/3037448-1-eng-US/f0017-192.jpg" title="f0017-19" width="584" height="464"></div><h2>CALIFORNIA 7 at NEW YORK 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02400/3037441-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="595" height="804"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH 4 at BOSTON 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03299/3037434-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="594" height="698"></div><h2>CHICAGO 3 at DETROIT 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04234/3037427-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="586" height="598"></div> &#9632;

f0017-01

National Hockey League SUMMARIES

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div>LOS ANGELES&mdash;This season the Los Angeles Kings almost certainly will become the first expansion team to miss the playoffs three straight seasons. They are as this is written 26 games below.500. They finished last season 15 games below.500. They finished the season before that 38 games below.500, so they have slipped back.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01494/3037629-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="552" height="584"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY EDWARDS&hellip;Moment Of Glory</figcaption></div>The most extreme example of their inability to compete with the better clubs is reflected in their record in the rinks of the established teams. When they upset the Bruins in Boston, 2-0, on the first Sunday evening in March, it snapped a string of 28 straight games in which they had failed to win on the road against the six old-line clubs.The Kings had no victories, 14 defeats and three ties this season, and two victories, 58 defeats and 11 ties in the last four seasons against the teams which were established in the majors when the Kings and other expansionists joined up in 1967. They had last beaten a old-line club Jan. 6, 1971, in Chicago and lost again in Boston four years earlier. Their roster has altered considerably, but their level of attainment has not.Overall, the Kings had failed to win in 15 straight road games against established teams and expansionists, alike. Their road record against expansionists is respectable, 5-10-4, leaving their road record overall at 6-24-6 for this season. Curiously, they tied, 1-1, in their last visit to Boston. The Bruins had been undefeated in 24 straight games at home.Overall, the Bruins had won nine straight, including a 5-4 victory in Los Angeles eight days earlier, and had lost only one of their last 26 games. But Juha Widing and Ralph Backstrom scored first-period goals and Gary Edwards stopped 38 shots as just under 15,000 fans in old Boston Garden saw the top team in the sport stalled by a bottom club, in what had to be the Kings&rsquo; grandest moment of the season.Even in a season such as this one, there have been high spots. Brightest previously was a 7-4 upest of Chicago in L.A. the first of February. There was a 1-1 tie at home with Montreal. There was a tie in Detroit and two victories over the Red Wings in L.A. There was a victory over Toronto in L.A. and a 1-1 tie in Maple Leaf Gardens immediately preceding the 1-1 tie in Boston Garden.And there was 2-1 victory in St. Louis, only the second time in 18 starts in St. Louis the Kings had beaten the Blues.Edwards&rsquo; shutout of Boston was his second shutout of the season. His first also came on the road. 7-0, in Philadelphia in the seventh game of the season. The little rookie has been struggling since taking over full-time netminding following the sidelining of regular Rog Vachon for the season the third of February, but his record is respectable at 11-184 considering the team&rsquo;s record, 17-43-7. Denis DeJordy was 0-5-0 before departing and Vachon 618-3 after coming in.Big young Billy Smith has been given only two starts since being brought in from Springfield as the backup netminder and was scorched for six goals in each, but drew difficult assignments, in Montreal and at home against Chicago. He has size, is aggressive and tough and deserves a shot at ordinary opposition as a fair test.In his 6-4 loss to Chicago, a fight on the ice late in the game led to fights all over The Fabulous Forum, one involving two male fans, another involving two female fans, and a third involving, believe it or not, two ushers, who got mixed up in scuffling to subdue the two original combattants.For all the spirit shown on and off the ice, however, the Chicago loss was the fifth in a six-game home-stand which closed the coffin on the Kings&rsquo; playoff hopes. Still, coach Fred Glover has his players putting out, as evidenced by their extra-effort shocker in Boston. &#9632;

f0018-01

Kings Playoff Hopes Fading

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05179/3037667-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg"></div>(Standings on Mon. March 13)<h2>EAST DIVISION</h2><h2>WEST DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-06148/3037660-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="1103" height="340"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Tues. March 7Los Angeles 2 at St. Louis 4Wed. March 8Montreal 5 at Pittsburgh 4Detroit 1 at Toronto 5Chicago 3 at New York 3Boston 5 at Minnesota 4Buffalo 3 at California 6Philadelphia 6 at Vancouver 5Thur. March 9Montreal 5 at St. Louis 1Philadelphia 5 at Los Angeles 3Fri. March 10Buffalo 2 at Vancouver 3Sat. March 11Chicago 1 at Montreal 1California 1 at Toronto 2New York 4 at Detroit 2Boston 4 at Pittsburgh 6Buffalo 3 at Los Angeles 5Philadelphia 2 at St. Louis 4Sun. March 12Toronto 2 at Minnesota 2California 2 at New York 4Pittsburgh 4 at Boston 4Chicago 3 at Detroit 2<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Mon. March 13Philadelphia at MontrealTues. March 14Buffalo at MinnesotaPittsburgh at VancouverWed. March 15Montreal at TorontoNew York at ChicagoLos Angeles at CaliforniaThur. March 16New York at DetroitBoston at Los AngelesBuffalo at PhiladelphiaVancouver at MinnesotaFri. March 17Vancouver at BuffaloSt. Louis at CaliforniaSat. March 18Minnesota at MontrealChicago at TorontoNew York at PhiladelphiaPittsburgh at Los AngelesSun. March 19Montreal at DetroitToronto at New YorkMinnesota at BostonBuffalo at ChicagoSt. Louis at Vancouver (Afternoon)Pittsburgh at CaliforniaTues. March 21Detroit at VancouverCalifornia at Minnesota &#9632;

f0018-05

NHL SCOREBOARD

<div class="byline">BY DWAYNE NETLAND</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0019-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01474/3037698-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Minnesota&rsquo;s BILL GOLDSWORTHY is all smiles after learning that his autobiography entitled &ldquo;The Goldy Shuffle&rsquo; is in its third printing. Goldsworthy is shown with RALPH TURTINEN, left, and RICHARD RAINBOLT, who conspired with the hot-scoring North Stars&rsquo; winger on the book. It is a story of Goldsworthy&rsquo;s exciting career since he came to the North Stars in the 1967 expansion of the NHL and how he conquered his inner storms to become a colorful big league star</figcaption></div>TWIN CITIES&mdash;Many of the hockey fans of Minnesota were quite concerned the North Stars would lose some key personnel to the World Hockey Association, but general manager Wren Blair acted in typical decisive fashion to preclude that possibility.Blair, who had been closeted in a series of meetings with individual Minnesota players for over a month, announced the signing of five North Stars to multi-year contracts.Bill Goldsworthy and Murray Oliver were sealed for three years, and Danny Grant, Lou Nanne and J.P. Parise signed for two years each.Goldsworthy&rsquo;s signing was considered the most significant, since the big, popular right winger had been on the pre-draft negotiation list of the North Stars&rsquo; cross-town rivals, the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA.The St. Paul owners wanted Goldsworthy as the nucleus of their new franchise and Goldy, for his part, was willing to listen. Blair, however, did not sit idly by during their negotiation. He went after Goldsworthy, too, and didn&rsquo;t let up until he had Goldy&rsquo;s signature on a North Star contract.Immediately after Blair&rsquo;s announcement, the Minnesota WHA team, through president Jim Adams, claimed it had with-drawn its offer to Goldsworthy. &ldquo;That was a bush tactic,&rsquo;&rsquo; said Goldy. &ldquo;The offer was still good at 3 p.m. today, right before I signed with the North Stars.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a load to have this problem off my mind. I thought it over carefully, and decided I had an obligation to the North Stars and to the National Hockey League. Now I&rsquo;m really glad it&rsquo;s all settled.&rdquo;Goldsworthy, 27. is zeroing in on his third straight 30-plus goal season. Those two factors, his youth and his consistency, were instrumental in Blair&rsquo;s zealous pursuit of him.The multi-year contracts were somewhat uncharacteristic of Blair. He had a negative experience with them three years ago when Andre Boudrias, Wayne Connelly and Mike McMahon were all signed to two-year pacts after outstanding seasons in the initial expansion winter of 196768.The three players, who tailed off sharply in their second season at Minnesota, were all gone by the middle of that February.&ldquo;Just because it backfired on me once doesn&rsquo;t mean I wouldn&rsquo;t try it again.&rdquo; explained Blair. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m willing to have my mind changed.Blair expects to announce several more Minnesota contract signings within the next few weeks, and could concievably have the entire club in the fold by the end of the current season. &#9632;

f0019-01

All North Stars May Be In Fold By End Of Season

<div class="byline">BY RICK PEARSON</div>ST. PAUL&mdash;It has been quite a year for goalie Mike Curran, late of the Green Bay Bobcats.First, he stopped shot after shot in a faraway place called Sapporo and led the United States hockey team to second place and a silver medal in the Winter Olympic Games.Then, he joined the Minnesota Fighting Saints.Which makes Curran, 27, the first player to sign a standard players contract with the World Hockey Association.Bernie Parent, also a goalie like Curran, joined the WHA fold one week earlier but Parent&rsquo;s contract&mdash;although binding&mdash;is an agreement that will lead to the signing of a standard WHA contract after completion of the current National Hockey League season.&ldquo;Five years from now I hope to be able to look back as a pioneer,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I know that sounds corny, but I mean it.&rdquo;Curran, who was one of the Saints&rsquo; four preferred selections prior to the WHA draft, signed a two-year pact calling for a reported $25,000 per year and $5,000 bonus.Signing Curran gives the Saints a 1-3 record in. what Minneapolis media has decided is a round-by-round battle for players. Henry Boucha, the Saints No. 1 draft choice, signed with the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. Bill Goldsworthy, another of the Saints&rsquo; preferred four, signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota North Stars for $50,000 next year and $60,000 the final two seasons, plus incentives that could make the total package worth $200,000. And Jim McElmury, a middle-round Saints&rsquo; pick, also was picked off by the North Stars and signed to a multiple-year contract.Goldy is but one of many North Stars who agreed to terms as general manager Wren Blair offered an unprecedented number of multiple contracts. He also demanded some of his players at number one farm team Cleveland sign by March 1.&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s face it.&rdquo; said Saints&rsquo; general manager-coach Glen Sonmor. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the end of the world just because we didn&rsquo;t land three players. Every player they (the NHL) sign makes it easier for us to sign someone else.Curran, a native of International Falls, Minn., and an All-America at the University of North Dakota, has been playing with Green Bay of the United States League and working as a sales representative for a milk Company. He probably would have foregone the Olympics if two of his close friends, Keith Christiansen (also drafted by the Saints) and Tim Sheehy (chosen by New England), hadn&rsquo;t persuaded him to join the club.The WHA will begin its inaugural season in early October with 12 teams in two divisions playing a 78-game schedule.The divisional setup:East&mdash;Dayton, Miami, New England, New York, Ottawa and Quebec.West&mdash;Calgary, Chicago, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota and Winnipeg.Each team will play a 4-and-4 home and away series within its own division and a 3-and-3 series against teams in the other division. An extra home-and-away series will be scheduled between natural rivals.The &ldquo;natural rivals&rdquo; bit works out magnificently. The pairings are New York and New England, Quebec and Ottawa, Dayton and Chicago, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton and Miami and Los Angeles.The opening game is scheduled in Miami&rsquo;s new Executive Square Garden, Saturday, Oct. 14, but there is a possibility the start of the season may be advanced one week. &#9632;

Olympic Goaler Curran First To Sign New League Contract

<div class="byline">BY JOHN ARNOLD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01320/3037753-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="827" height="1102"></div><h2>SOLUTION IN MARCH 31 ISSUE</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3>1&mdash;Pictured player.6&mdash;One of the Red Wings answers to this.7&mdash;Goaltenders protect this.8&mdash;First name of a high scoring NHL rookie.11&mdash;19th and 22nd letters of the alphabet.12&mdash;A Buffalo farmhand.13&mdash;Pronoun.15&mdash;Verb.16&mdash;Preposition.17&mdash;Number worn by Johnston of California.18&mdash;Nickname of ex-Black Hawk Fogolin.20&mdash;12 across once played for this team. (abbr.)21&mdash;Initials of a San Diego forward.22&mdash;Recently took over from Ratelle. (init.)24&mdash;Led The NHL in penalty minutes in 196566.26&mdash;Good for one point.27&mdash;Initials of one of the Hawks.28&mdash;No. 15 for Montreal answers to this.<h3>DOWN</h3>1&mdash;Recently injured his knee.2&mdash;A Minnesota center.3&mdash;First name of 1967-68 Hart trophy winner.4&mdash;One of the Hawks answers to this.5&mdash;Former NHL forward now with Tidewater.9&mdash;Laugh.10&mdash;Initials of Denis DeJordy&rsquo;s brother.14&mdash;Red Storey was one.16&mdash;Each team plays 39 of these games.17&mdash;Initials of one of the North Stars.19&mdash;An NHL right winger.22&mdash;First name of a high scoring North Star.23&mdash;Initials of a former New York captain.24&mdash;Foot. (abbr.)25&mdash;Number of playoff goals scored by Tkaczuk last season.27&mdash;First name of one of the Bruins.<h2>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERS</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3>1&mdash;PLANTE.7&mdash;A.S.9&mdash;ARBOUR.10&mdash;L.M.11&mdash;E.N.12&mdash;ICE.14&mdash;LEACH.16&mdash;11.18&mdash;NOR.20&mdash;EEL22&mdash;VAL23&mdash;N.H. A.24&mdash;E.S.25&mdash;ROBERTS.30&mdash;VADNAIS.31&mdash;O.C.32&mdash;EA.33&mdash;NINETEEN<h3>DOWN</h3>1&mdash;PAPPIN.2&mdash;L.R.3&mdash;ABEL.4&mdash;NONE.5&mdash;T.U.6&mdash;ERIC.7&mdash;ALE.8&mdash;S.M.13&mdash;CHEEVERS15&mdash;HULL17&mdash;10.19&mdash;REARDON.21&mdash;EAST.23&mdash;NEVIN.26&mdash;ONCE.27&mdash;B. A.28&mdash;E.I.29&mdash;SEA.32&mdash;E.N. &#9632;

f0020-01

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and Canada<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE(Standings on Tues. March 14)<h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01199/3037805-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="582" height="153"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02136/3037798-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="584" height="279"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tues. March 7Providence 1 at Nova Scotia 5Cleveland 3 at Tidewater 1Wed March 8Springfield 6 at Hershey 3Thur. March 9Cleveland 0 at Cincinnati 5Springfield 1 at Rochester 3Fri. March 10Novo Scotia 5 at Providence 2Boston 3 at Richmond 4Hershey 3 at Tidewater 0Sat. March 11Tidewater 5 at Hershey 2Baltimore 3 at Springfield 3Sun. March 12Baltimore 1 at Novo Scotia 4Cincinnati 2 at Providence 1Hershey 2 at Richmond 7Cleveland I at Rochester 5Boston 2 at Tidewater 2<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. March 14Springfield vs Tidewater (at Hampton Roods)Wed. March 15Cleveland at BaltimoreRochester of BostonProvidence at HersheySpringfield at RichmondThur. March 16Providence at CincinnatiHershey at Tidewater (at Norfolk)Rochester of BaltimoreFri. March 17Boston at Novo ScotiaSat. March 18Richmond at BaltimoreProvidence at ClevelandCincinnati at HersheyRochester at SpringfieldSun. March 19Hershey at Cleveland (afternoon)Boston at Novo ScotiaBaltimore at ProvidenceCincinnati at RichmondTidewater at Rochester<h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03116/3037791-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="587" height="821"></div><h3>GOALKEEPERS RECORDS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0497/3037784-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="589" height="775"></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

AMERICAN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY BARRY SWINEHART</div>CLEVELAND&mdash;Barons general manager and coach John Muckier has his club on that annual torture chamber known as the final month of the American Hockey League season with some alterations in the club&rsquo;s lineup brought on by injuries.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0586/3037836-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="268" height="439"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim McElmury</figcaption></div>Muckier, who&rsquo;s club is locked in the five-team fight for playoff spots in the American Hockey League&rsquo;s Western Division, has been forced to make changes on both the forward lines and the backline as his club headed into the home stretch of the 1971-72 campaign.The first move was when defenseman Fred Barrett suffered a shoulder seperation in mid-February. With Barrett out, Gary Geldart moved into the regular spot opposite Wayne Muloin. The Barons also increased the defensive corps to six with the recall from Fort Wayne of Ron Wilson and the assignment to Cleveland of recent U.S. Olympic defenseman Jim McElmury.A fractured cheekbone suffered by center Terry Caffery forced-Muckler to make his next move. To replace the high-scoring Caffery, Muckler placed Fred Speck between Buster Harvey and Billy Heindl. With Speck on that line, Grant Erickson moved back to center from left wing and was reunited with Terry Holbrook and Gary Gambucci. That unit had skated together previously until Gambucci sustained a fractured cheekbone early in February which caused him to miss three weeks of action.BLUELINERS: Caffery and Barrett remained out of the Barons lineup while Geldart joined them for a short time with strained ankle ligaments. Norm Beaudin suffered bruised ribs but did not miss any action with the injury. The Barons return home on March 18 to face the Providence Reds and play six of their final eight contests in Cleveland.Harvey continues to pace the club in scoring with 80 points on 31 goals and 49 assists. Gordon Labossiere moved into a tie with the injured Caffery for the second spot on the club with 74 points. Labossiere has a team leading 36 goals added to 38 assists for his points while Caffery has 28 goals and 46 assists. Beaudin became the third Baron to break the 30 goal mark. The Barons&rsquo; right winger has 30 goals and 31 assists for 61 points. Harvey now ranks second in AHL scoring with Labossiere and Caffery tied for fourth in the league. &#9632;

f0022-05

Injuries Force Shakeup In Barons

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div>HERSHEY&mdash;The Hershey Bears are hoping they have regained the touch for the stretch run in the Western Division race, one of the closest in years in the American League.The Bears wound up an eight game in ten night stand last month with a 4-3-1 record to close in on front-running Balti-more and second place Cleveland.On Mar. 3 the Bears, camped in third place, were two points away from Baltimore and only one behind the Barons. Until Dec. 19, Hershey had held top spot, but then things became sticky.Coach Frank Mathers club started the new year with a bang, winning four straight. However, from Jan. 9 the team only managed to score back-to-back wins twice through the next 23 games.Rookie goalie Cam Newton put together two topnotch games, Feb. 26-27, backstopping the Bears to a pair of 3-2 decisions over Richmond and Rochester. Veteran Andy Gill came up with a win and a tie to aid the cause.&ldquo;Newton has improved very much since the start of the season,&rdquo; said Mathers, who may drop his strategy of alternating Gill and Newton as the Calder Cup playoffs near.It&rsquo;s unlikely that Mathers would switch off netminders in the playoffs, thus the decision on who gets the starting job may soon be forthcoming.In 28 games Newton had a 3.43 average, allowing 94 goals on 1,040 shots. He had a home record of 7-5-2 and was 7-5 on the road for a 14-10-2 overall mark.Gill appeared in 29 games, allowing 88 goals on 934 shots for a 3.20 average. &#9632;

Mathers Hopes Bears Have Regained Touch

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div>ROCHESTER&mdash;The Rochester Americans, struggling to avoid finishing in the American Hockey League cellar for the fourth straight season, fared very well just before the midnight March 5 deadline for changing players.While they lost little forward Bobby Lalonde, recalled by the parent Vancouver Canucks, they added a pair of players who coach Don Cherry figures can put the Amerks into the playoffs.Mike McMahon was acquired on loan from the New York Rangers and Pool Popiel was waived to Rochester by Vancouver.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02137/3037898-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="241" height="406"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike McMahon</figcaption></div>Their arrival will bring to three the number of new Americans in the past week. Veteran Willie Marshall is back and his status has changed and he&rsquo;ll finish out the rest of the season with the Amerks as a pro, enabling him to enhance his two new individual AHL records&mdash;most goals scored and most games played.Marshall established both marks when the Americans beat Springfield 3-1 on March 9. Willie dressed for his 1,202nd game and contributed his 523rd career goal to take both records away from Fred Glover.The acquisition of Popiel and McMahon was a real shot in the arm for the Americans&rsquo; playoff hopes.Oddly, McMahon had been with Providence, the team the Amerks are lighting with for the fourth and last playoff spot in the Eastern Division. Providence got nothing out of the deal. Vancouver sold veteran wing Ron Stewart back to the Rangers as part of the arrangement, with the rest of the deal to he completed after the season.McMahon is a 30-year-oId defenseman who twice (1964-65 and 1966-67) was chosen the outstanding defenseman in the Central League.He&rsquo;s always been a fine offensive defenseman, something the Amerks need for their power play. With St. Paul of the Central League in &lsquo;64-65, he scored 20 goals and assisted on 41 others.In the AHL he has played with Baltimore (and made the second All Star team two seasons ago for his play with the (&lsquo;lippers), Quebec, (&lsquo;leveland and Springfield.His record also includes 223 National League games with New York, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit. Pittsburgh and Buffalo.Popiel, the Danish-born skater who plays both defense and left wing, will be used up front by Rochester. He&rsquo;s 29 years old and has played 214 NHL games with Boston. Los Angeles, Detroit and Vancouver. He suffered a broken bone in his right foot in November and missed 25 games this season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01177/3037891-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="534" height="584"><figcaption class="caption-body">POUL POPIEL&hellip;Waived Through NHL</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0023-02

Marshall Takes Over Glover’s Records

<h2>Fri. March 3 CLEVELAND 4 at SPRINGFIELD 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03109/3037950-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="592" height="770"></div><h2>Sat. March 4 BOSTON 5 at SPRINGFIELD 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0487/3037943-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="592" height="666"></div><h2>Tues. March 7 PROVIDENCE 1 at NOVA SCOTIA 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0570/3037936-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="583" height="562"></div><h2>Sun. March 5 PROVIDENCE 3 at NOVA SCOTIA 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0661/3037929-1-eng-US/f0023-062.jpg" title="f0023-06" width="582" height="636"></div> &#9632;

f0023-03

American League Summaries

Willie Marshall has reached two more milestones in his long and glorious AHL career. Admittedly the 40-year-old center wasn&rsquo;t the most productive performer in the league last week, but when you have scored the 523rd goal and played in the 1.202nd game of your career, both new records, then that rates as something special. Marshall lifted both marks from Fred Glover.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0756/3037981-1-eng-US/f0023-072.jpg" title="f0023-07" width="507" height="504"><figcaption class="caption-body">WILLIE MARSHALL</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0023-07

Player Of The Week

<div class="byline">BY GREG FARLEY</div>BOSTON&mdash;After suffering through a midseason victory famine on the road, Bep Guidolin&rsquo;s rejuvenated Braves have steamrolled over all opponents&mdash;both home and way&mdash;in recent weeks.And it couldn&rsquo;t have happened at a better time according to the enthusiastic rookie AHL coach.&ldquo;I guess you can say that we&rsquo;ve really come on strong over the last portion of the schedule,&rdquo; he remarked. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been more than satisfied with our road play on the last two trips.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had some bum luck on foreign ice this year&mdash;hot goaltenders, injuries, bad calls, etc.&mdash;but it hasn&rsquo;t gotten the guys down.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01189/3038012-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="266" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Garry Peters</figcaption></div>&ldquo;It was frustrating us more than anything else, because most of the time we were outshooting the other teams. We went something like nine or 10 games in a row without a win on the road, and we were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to win one.&ldquo;The important thing, though, is that they never stopped trying. They could&rsquo;ve quit but they kept plugging away, and eventually the breaks started working for us.&ldquo;Now we know we can win our share in any arena, and we&rsquo;re confident that we&rsquo;ll do well at Halifax. We&rsquo;re going to need superlative efforts though&mdash;those Voyageurs are tough.&rdquo;Bep insisted that if any pressure is involved, it falls on the Voyageurs.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re on top and it&rsquo;s up to them to knock us off. We can afford a split of the series, but they need to take at least two out of the three contests to make up any ground on us.&rdquo;He also hopes that his team will carry its present momentum right into the playoffs.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not at all concerned about who we might meet in the playoffs,&rdquo; Bep pointed out. &ldquo;we&rsquo;re just happy to be there.&ldquo;Naturally we&rsquo;d like to have both Steve Stirling and Terry O&rsquo;Reilly back in time for them, but we&rsquo;ll be ready regardless.&rdquo;Guidolin has also been pleased with the return to form of center Garry Peters, who has picked up 11 scoring points since coming off a serious knee injury. It couldn&rsquo;t have come at a better time.BRAVES BRIEFS: Braves clinched a playoff position the first AHL club to do so&mdash;by tying the Reds at Providence&hellip;The two road telecasts from Cincy and Rochester, which saw the Braves erase third period two goal deficits to gain ties in both, have been well received&hellip;Next scheduled telecast is a March 31 contest from Rochester, although plans were in the works at press time to televise one or two additional games. &#9632;

f0024-01

Pace Setting Braves Back On Warpath

<div class="byline">BY GEORGE DUFFY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02134/3038043-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rookie goaler WAYNE WOOD talks with scoring star ALTON WHITE during lull in action with the Providence Reds. Both players have hopes of making it into hockey&rsquo;s big apple&mdash;the National Hockey League. Their immediate goal is to get the Reds into the AHL&rsquo;s Eastern Division playoffs.</figcaption></div>PROVIDENCE&mdash;Wayne Wood, a good looking 20-year-old netminder, suddenly has made the playoff picture extremely bright for the veteran studded R.I. Reds of the American League.The young New York Ranger owned goaltender sparkled in goal with 45 saves as the Reds edged Baltimore recently 2-1 to move five points in front of Rochester in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division.Wood joined the Reds when Don McLeod was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. With Omaha of the Central League, Wood had played a total of 974 minutes and recorded a 3.38 goals against average.After a pair of part time performances against Rochester and Springfield, Wood got his first start against the Boston Braves on Feb. 27. He had 31 saves in earning a 3-3 tie against the powerful Braves. Then in the Baltimore clash, Wood recorded his first AHL triumph with an amazing job. He lost his first start 5-3 in Halifax to the high-flying Voyageurs but gave a good netminding performance.Wood stands 6-1 and weighs 180 pounds. Last year in 48 games with the Montreal Canadien Juniors. Wayne had a 3.66 goals against average in 48 games. He allowed 177 goals and had one shutout.A golfing enthusiast with a four handicap, Wood finds playing for the Reds &ldquo;very gratifying&rdquo;. He told Coach Larry Wilson: &ldquo;The players are smarter in this league and the veterans on this club have helped me and have been great to me. I&rsquo;m sure glad New York gave me the chance to play with the Reds.&rdquo;With some healthy action ahead for the Reds in the final crucial 14 games of the season, Wilson has Wood and 39-year-old Marcel Paille to play goal.If the younger Wood gets the nod, it will not surprise the Providence club which is laden with older players. After the Bal-&middot; timore game, the squad raved about Wood&rsquo;s play in beating the Clippers. He is only 20 but he may be on the verge of putting playoff money in the pockets of some guys who are from 10 to 15 years his senior. &#9632;

f0024-02

Wood’s Play Surprises Reds

<div class="byline">BY BOB ELMER</div>BALTIMORE&mdash;Coach Terry Reardon&rsquo;s Baltimore Clippers, who have been clinging to first place in the AHL West, will have to continue &ldquo;doing their own thing&rdquo; for the remainder of the campaign without further help from the parent California Golden Seals.Due to injuries and other considerations, California&rsquo;s GM Garry Young, was unable to dispatch relief assistance to the Clippers at the March 5 deadline for personnel changes.Somewhat surprised at the turn of events, Reardon admitted, &ldquo;that I had expected one or two players from the Seals, so we&rsquo;ll just have to make out the best we can for the rest of the year. My main fear, however, has to be injuries. If a couple of our key players get hurt, then we&rsquo;re going to have a tough time making the playoffs.&rdquo;As for the players themselves, doughty John French put it as well as any of them by offering, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve made it this far with what we&rsquo;ve got right now. So, as the old expression has it, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and that&rsquo;s us.&rdquo;At a recent banquet for the team tendered annually by the Feedayes of the Boumi Temple, Reardon told the large gathering of Clipper enthusiasts that &ldquo;this year&rsquo;s club is a funny club. They seem to win the games when they have to, and I hope it continues.&rdquo;Injuries to Howie Menard and Marc Dufour (whose had a real tough winter with a series of crippling hurts) dealt the battling Clips a hard blow in late February and early March. It was at this juncture that the Clippers were supposed to take advantage of a seven out of eight home game stretch and give themselves a little cushion from the pursuing Cleveland Barons, Hershey Bears, Cincinnati Swords and more recently the revived Richmond Robins.Unfortunately for Baltimore hockey buffs, management, players et al., the team only managed to win two of those seven while being tied no less than three times and bowing twice. So, the so-called home ice did not pan out as well as had been expected.Turning into the home stretch of the season&rsquo;s last three weeks, the home schedule still favoured the Clips. In their final dozen starts, eight are listed for the friendly confines of the Civic Center where the team had won 17, lost seven and tied six in their first 30 local appearances.With six road showings remaining, the Clippers road log read 11 wins, 17 setbacks and 4 ties embellished by an important 4-2 win in Rochester to snap a three-game losing streak.In a late-hour development, the NHL Seals recalled goaler Lyle Carter and shifted him to Salt Lake of the Western League to help the Eagles in their stretch drive for a playoff berth. The Clippers had been carrying three netminders with the arrival of Jim Shaw from Portland of the WHL. Bob Whidden has handled most of the Baltimore net duties this season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01156/3038074-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="549" height="578"><figcaption class="caption-body">LYLE CARTER&hellip;Shifted to WHL</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0025-01

Clippers Get Word, Don’t Expect Help From Golden Seals

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK SANTANIELLO</div>SPRINGFIELD&mdash;Sink or swim, the Springfield Kings will go the rest of the way with the players they have on their roster, which numbers 19 plus two goalers. The club has been doing well with what they have. In fact they have played at a much better pace than last year when they barely squeezed into the playoffs after a postseason one game playoff with Quebec.At the moment, the old veteran Ed Hoekstra is playing the finest hockey of his career at 45 with the Kings. He has found a new life in the game with 15 goals and 58 assists.Another top veteran with 41 goals and leading the league in that department, Wayne Rivers is playing his best hockey in a 10-year career. He is a cinch to break the Kings all time scoring record of 45 goals, held by Doug Robison, now a member of the Nova Scotia club. Rivers&rsquo; best was 38 goals last season with Baltimore. Despite some spells with injuries, Wayne has been popping goals since the start of the season. He is also one of the players the new WHA has drafted for next season, which makes him happy, too.Brian Carlin is a top winger who is also in line for rookie of the year honors. He started out fast and has scored 29 goals this season. Center Wayne Chernecki is another first year pro who has played well this season. He has scored 19 goals.Wayne Schultz, obtained from Cleveland in a trade last season, and Jim Stanfield are two more veterans who have stood out. Stanfield has scored 19 times, Schultz 17. Rookie Norm Park, with 12 goals, has been improving as the season goes on. &#9632;

Kings Set For AHL’s Final Run

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and Canada &#9632;

WESTERN LEAGUE

SALT LAKE CITY&mdash;Wayne Rutledge finally got a night off.The big netminder has played in 54 of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles&rsquo; 58 games and appeared in 46 straight&hellip;His first rest since Oct. 30 came March 3 when Lyle Carter showed up on loan from the California Golden Seals of the National League via Baltimore of the American League.Carter won his first start, 5-3 over the last place Seattle Totems.The Eagles are still locked in a struggle for fourth place with the San Diego Gulls and the race for playoff spots looks as if it will go down to the wire.If so, the Eagles only need to continue their performnce since mid-season and they&rsquo;re in. They own an 11-7-4 mark in 22 games since the mid-way point of the schedule after posting a 15-19-2 record in the first half. It left them at an even.500 but one point behind the Gulls.Rutledge, besides being the league&rsquo;s busiest goaltender, is also the winningest. He has won 24, lost 23 and tied six with one shutout.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0468/3038184-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="830" height="1166"><figcaption class="caption-body">Salt Lake goaler WAYNE RUTLEDGE doesn&rsquo;t take kindly to anyone invading his net crease. Here he lashes into ANDRE HINSE of Phoenix in solid exchange of punches. (Phoenix Gazette Photo)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0026-04

‘Iron Man’ Coaler Hested By Eagles

<h2>WESTERN LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Wed. March 15)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02115/3038222-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="579" height="234"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Wed March 8Phoenix 1 at Denver 5Salt Lake 4 at Son Diego 4Seattle 4 at Portland 6Thur. March 9San Diego 4 at Salt Lake 3Fri. March 10Denver 4 at Seattle 3Sat. March 11Portland 3 at Salt Lake 2Phoenix 3 at San Diego 4Denver 3 at Seattle 5Sun. March 12Portland 1 at Denver 4<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Wed. March 15Salt Lake at DenverSeattle at Son DiegoPhoenix at PortlandThur. March 16Seattle at PhoenixFri. March 17Portland at Son DiegoSat. March 18Son Diego at DenverPortland at PhoenixSun. March 19San Diego at PortlandWed. March 22Portland at DenverPhoenix at Salt lakeSeattle at San DiegoFri. March 24San Diego at DenverPortland at Salt LakeSeattle at Phoenix<h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2>(Including Games of Sun. Feb 27)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0391/3038215-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="583" height="451"></div> &#9632;

f0026-02

Looking At WHL Race

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div>PORTLAND&mdash;The Portland Buckaroos&rsquo; hopes of overhauling the Phoenix Roadrunners for second place in the Western Hockey League standings were dealt a serious blow by Andre Hinse of the Roadrunners.Hinse tipped a Bob Whitlock shot past Portland goaltender Jim McLeod for what turned out ot be a nothing goal. The Buckaroos won the game 5-3 and cut the Runners&rsquo; lead to four points once again.The damage was to McLeod. He badly strained his knee in lunging to attempt the save and is expected to be sidelined for two weeks. The Buckaroos have seven games in that span and with only 17 left on the schedule.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01147/3038260-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="252" height="441"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jimmy McLeod</figcaption></div>The Buckaroos do have one advantage if the race goes to the wire. Their last three games are all against the last place Seattle Totems. The Runners, at the same time, will be playing the San Diego Gulls twice and the Denver Spurs once.After a very un-Buckaroo-like start, Portland has risen from fifth place, reducing the Runners&rsquo; margin from 13 points to four. They have won six straight and 10 of their last 13.McLeod&rsquo;s role in that rise is apparent. Since he was bought back from St. Louis of the National League, McLeod compiled a won-loss record of 9-2.The Bucks have been the hottest team in 1972. Since they received Guyle Fieder and Jake Rathwell in a trade with Salt Lake City, they have won 17, lost six and tied one.Nearest to that record are the Eagles, who picked up Lyle Bradley and Fred Hilts in the trade. They have won 13, lost eight and tied six over the same span. The Phoenix Roadrunners are 13-13-0, league-leading Denver 9-6-6, San Diego 9-13-2 and the last place Seattle Totems 318-5.The trade not only activated the Buckaroos&rsquo; second line, with Fielder centering Bill Saunders and Andy Hebenton, but it seems to have turned Art Jones loose on a scoring streak that has seen him pull away in the individual scoring race.The 35-year-old redhead has scored in 22 consecutive games and needs one more to tie the WHL record, first set by Barrie Ross with Winnipeg in 1958-59 and equalled earlier this season by Denver&rsquo;s Fran Huck.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02112/3038253-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="1782" height="1177"><figcaption class="caption-body">Veteran Portland scoring star ART JONES accepts THE HOCKEY NEWS award as minor league player of the year for 1970-71 from Western Hockey League President BILL McFARLAND. Jones led Portland to WHL title last season while winning point scoring championship in what was considered the top performance of the year. (Hockey News Photo by Bruce McCurtain)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0027-01

Bucks’ Hopes Dashed For 2nd Place Finish With McLeod Injured

<h2>Wed. March 1 SEATTLE 3 at SALT LAKE 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0384/3038333-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="592" height="551"></div><h2>SAN DIEGO 2 at PORTLAND 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0478/3038326-1-eng-US/f0027-042.jpg" title="f0027-04" width="592" height="668"></div><h2>Thur. March 2 DENVER 4 at SAN DIEGO 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0564/3038319-1-eng-US/f0027-052.jpg" title="f0027-05" width="592" height="592"></div><h2>Fri. March 3 SEATTLE 3 at SALT LAKE 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0656/3038312-1-eng-US/f0027-062.jpg" title="f0027-06" width="589" height="744"></div><h2>Sat. March 4 PHOENIX 6 at SEATTLE 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0749/3038305-1-eng-US/f0027-072.jpg" title="f0027-07" width="587" height="700"></div><h2>SALT LAKE 3 at SAN DIEGO 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0846/3038298-1-eng-US/f0027-082.jpg" title="f0027-08" width="580" height="649"></div><h2>Sun. March 5 PHOENIX 3 at PORTLAND 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0945/3038291-1-eng-US/f0027-092.jpg" title="f0027-09" width="588" height="691"></div> &#9632;

f0027-03

Western Hockey League Summaries

Golden Guyle Fielder has become the highest scoring player in professional hockey with the attainment of the 1,856th point of his career last week. Fielder, who had a six-point week for the Portland Buckaroos, surpassed the great Gordie Howe, who retired this season with a lifetime point total of 1,855. Fielder was the high point man in the WHL last week moving him into 12th place with 54 points.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-1042/3038364-1-eng-US/f0027-102.jpg" title="f0027-10" width="534" height="618"><figcaption class="caption-body">GUYLE FIELDER</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0027-10

<h2>Sun., Feb. 27 TULSA 4 at DALLAS 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0280/3038489-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="587" height="545"></div><h2>Tues., Feb. 29 KANSAS CITY 3 at FORT WORTH 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0355/3038482-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="591" height="599"></div><h2>Wed., March 1 KANSAS CITY 2 at OKLAHOMA CITY 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0443/3038475-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="584" height="472"></div><h2>Fri., March 3 OMAHA 2 at TULSA 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0534/3038468-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="587" height="599"></div><h2>KANSAS CITY 4 at DALLAS 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0627/3038461-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="588" height="754"></div><h2>Sat., Mar. 4 OKLAHOMA CITY 3 at OMAHA 0</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0724/3038454-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="583" height="419"></div><h2>TULSA 3 at KANSAS CITY 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0821/3038447-1-eng-US/f0028-082.jpg" title="f0028-08" width="592" height="650"></div><h2>DALLAS 5 at FORT WORTH 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0918/3038440-1-eng-US/f0028-092.jpg" title="f0028-09" width="593" height="722"></div><h2>UNITED STATES LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Sat. March 11)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1018/3038433-1-eng-US/f0028-102.jpg" title="f0028-10" width="577" height="161"></div><h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1112/3038426-1-eng-US/f0028-112.jpg" title="f0028-11" width="583" height="522"></div> &#9632;

f0028-02

Central League Summaries

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallacaburg, Ontario Sold in U. S. and CanadaOMAHA&mdash;Injuries were taking their toll on the Omaha Knights the first week of March. A six-game unbeaten string that had the Knights threatening Tulsa for second place in the Central League was broken by a pair of losses, and all of a sudden they were facing a tough challenge from Oklahoma City for third place.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01137/3038395-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="535" height="873"><figcaption class="caption-body">MURRAY KEOGAN&hellip;Fires Hat Trick</figcaption></div>Both losses for the week were &ldquo;four-point games&rdquo;, since they involved the teams the Knights are nearest in the standings. A March 3 game in Tulsa broke the Omaha string, as the Oilers scored three goals in the middle period to take a 5-2 decision. Then the Knights came home and suffered their first shutout of the season the following hight, 30, at the hands of Oklahoma City&rsquo;s John Adams.On Feb. 25 the surging Omahans had pulled to within three points of the second-place Oilers, but the loss in Tulsa left coach Larry Popein&rsquo;s men eight points back with only 12 games left. And a six-point cushion over third place OC in late February had dwindled to two points after the shutout. And the Blazers still had 15 games on their schedule.After getting back left wing Tom Williams from the parent New York Rangers a week earlier, the Knights sent up high-scoring right wing Norm Gratton Feb. 27.Defenseman Brian Lefley, sidelined with an ankle injury, came back for limited action Mar. 4. But the Knights had lost blueliner Bob Ash, with a bad cut over his right eye in the game at Tulsa, and colleague Rick Newell was bruised by stopping shots with his mid-section and a leg in the same game. He was unable to play the third period of that game, and saw only brief duty the next night. With three defensemen on the injured list, Popein had to move wingers Williams and Steve Vickers back.Right wing Larry McKillop caught a stick in the eye at Dallas, Feb. 25, and missed a week of action. Then center Bill Hogaboam, the club&rsquo;s leading scorer injured an ankle March 4, and was expected to miss two or three weeks.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re taking our lumps,&rdquo; agreed general manager Jake Milford, &ldquo;but it&rsquo;s no use crying about it. Nearly every club goes through some point in the season where they have a lot of injuries. It&rsquo;s just the breaks of the game.&ldquo;But it really tightens up the race. We thought we had a little cushion in third place, and were making a move toward second.&rdquo;The club&rsquo;s three top scorers scored no points for the week. Hogaboam, with 65 points was tied for fifth in the CHL race. The absent Gratton had 63, ranking seventh in the league, and Williams had 54.Rookie defenseman Steve Durbano had picked up 346 penalty-minutes at the end of February, and was setting a CHL record by drawing new penalties in almost every game. (The old mark was 331 minutes, set by Dennis O&rsquo;Brien for Iowa in 1969-70). Steve was closing in on the all-time professional hockey mark set last winter when David Schultz drew 382 mnutes for the Quebec Aces in the American League.DALLAS: Coach Bobby Kromm was moaning about the absence of a righthanded shot in his Blacks Hawk lineup, but he was getting no sympathy from the rest of the league. After suffering three straight losses, including two straight at home for the first time this season, the Hawks closed the week by edging Kansas City, 6-4, and Fort Worth, 5-4, in spite of hat tricks by Murray Keogan for KC and Bob Guindon for the Wings.As a result the Hawks had an 18-point bulge over second-place Tulsa, which had only 15 games left.The Oilers had narrowed that gap slightly by going into the Hawks&rsquo; own rink and posting a 41 upset, Feb. 27. But then Tulsa ran into road difficulties, and the Hawks resumed their winning ways.Dave Hudson&rsquo;s two goals featured the home victory over the KC Blues, Danny Lodboa scored twice in the triumph at Fort Worth the next night, when the Hawks had a real scare. After jumping into a 4-0 lead in the first 13 minutes, Dallas relaxed a bit. Guindon got two goals in the final period, closing the margin to 5-4, with 4:39 on the clock. The Wings lifted goalie Any Brown in the closing seconds, and a bid for the tying tally bounced off the goalpost.J.P. LeBlanc had only an assist in the week&rsquo;s three games, but held to the league scoring lead on 74 points, as his rivals didn&rsquo;t cash in on that &ldquo;slump&rdquo;. He was four points in front of Fort Worth&rsquo;s Ross Perkins, and six ahead of Tulsa&rsquo;s Jean Payette. Bob Sicinski had two goals and four assists for the week, and held fourth place in the league on 66 points.TULSA: Big right wing Brian Marchinko made unexpected scoring noise for the Oilers. After getting exactly three goals in his first 51 starts, the 6-foot, 184-pounder from Weyburn, Sask., knocked in four tallies in two nights!Two of the goals, including a great display of stickhandling for an unassisted score, featured the Oilers&rsquo; 5-2 victory over Omaha at home, March 3. The next night, &ldquo;Chink&rdquo; got two more, but they weren&rsquo;t quite enough at Kansas City, as the Blues broke a late tie to win, 4-3. Since Marchinko also had an assist in these two games, he collected six points in two nights, compared to 13 for the whole previous season.But just as the Oilers were about to return to full strength, the injury Jinx struck again. Right wing Gerry O&rsquo;Flaherty, who had scored a goal in three straight games, suffered a broken ankle when he was hit by a shot in that March 3 victory. Defenseman Ken Desjardine sprained a shoulder in the game at KC. Desjardine was expected to miss a week, and O&rsquo;Flaherty three weeks.OKLAHOMA CITY: John Adams turned in a magnificent game at Omaha, Mar. 4 to post his second shutout of the campaign. The 25-year-old goalie from Thunder Bay, Ont., blanked Tulsa, 4-0, Jan. 22 at Oklahoma City.&ldquo;John was standing on his head to kick &lsquo;em out in that firt period,&rdquo; Blazer general manager Bill Levins observed. &ldquo;They had a lot of scoring chances&rdquo;.Brian Bradley put the Blazers ahead in the first four minutes, but OC didn&rsquo;t get a comfortable lead until Greg Sheppard tallied, and then Bradley again, late in the second period.That was Sheppard&rsquo;s 36th goal, as he closed in on the club record of 40, set by Steve Atkinson in 1968-69. His 35th was scored with 8:19 left in the game to provide a 3-2 home victory over the Kansas City Blues Mar. 1. Three points in two games ran Shep&rsquo;s total to 65 points, and he was tied for fifth in the league race with Omaha&rsquo;s Hogaboam. Bill Klatt had 56, after getting one assist for the week.KANSAS CITY&mdash;That string of 18 games without a victory finally ended for the Kansas City Blues, who were playing a gruelling string of five games in six nights, with Thursday, Mar. 2 the only break.It wasn&rsquo;t until the fourth game of that grind that the Blues finally found victory, as they edged Tulsa, at home, 4-3, Mar. 4. Dale Yutsyk and Doug Smith scored in the final period to clinch the victory, Kansas City&rsquo;s first since Jan. 15. The dismal span had included 10 losses and eight ties.They started the long grind with a 4-3 loss in Fort Worth, Feb. 29, in a battle that was tied three times before Ross Perkins won it with 8:43 left. Then came a 3-2 setback at Oklahoma City, won by Greg Sheppard&rsquo;s late goal.The Blues lost more than the game, as right wing Bob Collyard was hospitalized with a possible concussion, after a crash into the boards. March 3 the Blues lost in Dallas, 6-4, before a return to the friendly American Royal rink brought a long-awaited victory. They were to finish the grind at home against Fort Worth, March 5.The Blues were only four points out of the fourth and last playoff spot, with 14 games left, but they were also only four points ahead of last-place Fort Worth, which had 16 to play.Keogan&rsquo;s hat trick in the loss at Dallas gave him six points in four games (four goals, two assists). Norm Dennis had two of each to remain the club scoring leader with 61 points, eighth in the league.Yutsyk played but sparingly in the Mar. 4 game when he became a hero. He was returning to the lineup after a knee injury. &#9632;

f0028-01

Hobbled Knights Fighting Off OC Blazers; Dallas Continues Runaway Despite Slump

Brian Marchinko has become a late season bloomer for the Tulsa Oilers. After compiling only three goals in his first 51 CHL games, the young winger has become the club&rsquo;s most prolific scorer through last week. Marchinko scored four times in two nights and helped set up two more goals for a six-point week, top among league marksmen and a spurt that the Oilers can use with the impending CHL play offs near at hand.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01106/3038520-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="465" height="598"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN MARCHINKO</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0029-01

Player of The Week

<div class="byline">BY HARVEY POLLACK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01130/3038666-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="547" height="1224"><figcaption class="caption-body">LEE INGLIS&hellip;Vital Hat Trick</figcaption></div>CLINTON&mdash;After being counted out by most observers, the Clinton Comets made an eleventh hour comeback to preserve their streak of participating in the Eastern Hockey League playoffs.Clinton was the lone surprise entry into the post-season play as their late surge enabled them to catch both New Haven and Long Island and sweep into third place after languishing in the fifth spot a good portion of the tailend of the campaign. Clinton beat out New Haven by three points for the third spot, and the Blades nipped Long Island by a point to send the Ducks home early.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0285/3038659-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="268" height="450"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ted Tucker</figcaption></div>A five-game winning streak that started 10 days before the close of the campaign was the big surge that brought the Comets into post-season play. Probably the most vital win in the skein and the one that sounded Long Island&rsquo;s death knell was the 5-2 win the Comets recorded over the Ducks on Long Island&rsquo;s ice on the next to last Sunday.This game took all the starch out of the Ducks and Ed Stankiewicz couldn&rsquo;t even capitalize on a game the following Wednesday which was shifted to Commack from New Haven when the Blades had ice problems. They lost this added &ldquo;home&rdquo; game whereas a win would have enabled them to beat out the Blades by a point.Clinton goalie Ted Tucker played brilliantly in the stretch and he was expected to be a key figure in the series with the Johnstown Jets (the other series paired Syracuse with New Haven in the North and Charlotte with Sun Coast and Greensboro with Roanoke Valley in the South). In the games that counted Tucker was tough in the clutch.Offensively, Pat Kelly was delighted with the scoring surges of Denis Desrosiers, Bill Bannerman, Dave Lee, Murray McNeil and Don Herriman. New wing Mike Legge also was a key factor as he wasn&rsquo;t intimidated by the opposition after his late addition to the roster.The Comets hadn&rsquo;t missed the playoffs since the 1957-58 season, but Kelly had the scare of his life before his men pulled through, scoring the clincher at home on the last Saturday of the campaign.Late season game with Syracuse saw an outburst that caused each team to get 65 minutes in misconduct penalties for one fight. Comets snapped 27-game road log without win in key game at Long Island. Dennis Desrosiers has been wearing surgeon&rsquo;s gloves under his regular gloves to counter a skin rash.ROANOKE VALLEY: Goalie Roger Kosar was hurt in a late season game when he was knocked unconscious by a flying puck. Trainer Gary Crigger had to step into the breach in his pro debut. Coach Colin Kilburn upset over Bob Giovati&rsquo;s officating after his club suffered 13 stitches, a lost tooth and a cut nose with no penalties against the opposition. Bobby Guindon returned to action as did Jim Jago from injuries. Rebels protested game at St. Pete when goal was scored with net off the posts.SUN COAST: Suns just missed catching Roanoke Valley for third place but they had a surprising season for an expansion team. Suns had to wear old Jacksonville jerseys when they brought wrong suits to Jacksonville for game with Greensboro. Meager crowd saw game to make return to Jacksonville very unlikely.CHARLOTTE: Business manager Ernie Dyda played in several late games for short-handed Checkers. Bob Shup ejected from St. Petersburg game for shoving ref Bill Pringle. Injuries to Jack Wells, Bob Mowat and Wayne Schaab hurt club&rsquo;s record. Checkers blanked for first time all year on next to last game of season. Fred Creighton missed game because of business problems and Dyda took over as coach. Robert Richer set new Checker scoring record for rookie.SYRACUSE: GM Bill Charles took over coaching reins when coach Ron Ingram was ejected from Clinton game. Lee Inglis&rsquo; hat trick helped in title win over Comets&hellip;Ray Adduono smashed the EHL record for points and assists while winning scoring. Mike Ruest suffered eye cuts from flying puck. Blazers received Marine Midland Bank Trophy for winning season series with Clinton. Blake Ball&rsquo;s health a key playoff factor.LONG ISLAND: Coach Ed Stankiewicz upset by team&rsquo;s late season collapse after he had even been figuring on a possible first place finish in early February. &ldquo;We just went stale in the last few weeks. I never thought it could happen but it did,&rdquo; said Stanky. Six losses in 10 home games hurt.NEW HAVEN: Broken pipes caused Blades to switch home game to Long Island but surprisingly, they won it. Goalie Jim Armstrong celebrated 29th birthday with win over Long Island. Jim Ivison cut to make room for return of injured Norm Schmitz. GM Nate Podoloff made rare road trip. Late season tie broke road famine for Blades. Paper here conducting contest to pick all time Blades.JOHNSTOWN: Gene Peacosh cleared century mark in point production. Reg Kent suffered six stitch eye cuts. Jets handicapped in stretch by Bob Vroman&rsquo;s continuous shuttling back and forth to AHL. Largest crowd of year 4,035, saw win over Ducks.JERSEY: Bobby Gerrard and Ted Scharf reported to Richmond when EHL season ended. Peter Donnelly is New Haven&rsquo;s backup goalie. Gary Gresdal set new Devils&rsquo; record for penalties when he eclipsed Blake Ball&rsquo;s mark of 362. The Devils set new league mark for penalties, topping old Charlotte total of 1,617. Bob Murphy had hat trick as Donnelly blanked Syracuse.GREENSBORO: Don Carter was so angered by a penalty shot goal by Charlotte that he pulled team of the ice and tossed two folding chairs onto the ice. He brought team back within allotted five minutes. Ken Turlik and Karl Haggarty had late season ailments.<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2>EASTERN LEAGUE(Final Standings)<h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0361/3038652-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="578" height="183"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0449/3038645-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="585" height="255"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Mon. March 6New Jersey 2 at Syracuse 8<h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2><h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0544/3038638-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="587" height="306"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0635/3038631-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="583" height="281"></div><h2>GOALKEEPERS RECORDS</h2><h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0726/3038624-1-eng-US/f0030-072.jpg" title="f0030-07" width="586" height="302"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0821/3038617-1-eng-US/f0030-082.jpg" title="f0030-08" width="577" height="181"></div><h2>EHL PLAYOFFS</h2><h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3>Semi-Finals<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0918/3038610-1-eng-US/f0030-092.jpg" title="f0030-09" width="581" height="107"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Thur. March 9New Haven 1 at Syracuse 5Sun. March 12New Haven 2 at Syracuse 5<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Tues. March 14Syracuse at New HavenThur. March 16Syracuse at New HavenFri. March 17New Haven at Syracuse (if necessary)Sun. March 19Syracuse at New Haven (if necessary)Tues. March 21New Haven at Syracuse (if necessary)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1015/3038603-1-eng-US/f0030-102.jpg" title="f0030-10" width="585" height="105"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Wed. March 8Clinton 0 at Johnstown 8Sat. March 11Clinton 3 at Johnstown 4Sun. March 12Johnstown 2 at Clinton 6<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Tues. March 14Johnstown at ClintonThurs. March 16Clinton at JohnstownFri. March 17Johnstown at Clinton (if necessary)Sat. March 18Clinton at Johnstown (if necessary)<h2>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h2>Semi-Finals<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1112/3038596-1-eng-US/f0030-112.jpg" title="f0030-11" width="584" height="108"></div>(Sun Coast leads best-of-seven series 2-1)<h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Tues. March 7Sun Coast 1 at Charlotte 6Fri. March 10Sun Coast 3 at Charlotte 2Sun. March 12Charlotte 3 at Sun Coast 5<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Mon. March 13Charlotte at Sun CoastTues. March 14Sun Coast at CharlotteWed March 15Charlotte at Sun Coast (if necessary)Mon. March 20Sun Coast at Charlotte (if necessary)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1211/3038589-1-eng-US/f0030-122.jpg" title="f0030-12" width="579" height="83"></div>(Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)<h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Tues. March 7Roanoke 2 at Greensboro 5Wed. March 8Greensboro 2 at Roanoke 3<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Mon. March 13Roanoke at GreensboroTues. March 14Greensboro at RoanokeWed. March 15Roanoke at GreensboroSat. March 18Greensboro at Roanoke (if necessary)Sun. March 19Roanoke at Greensboro (if necessary) &#9632;

f0030-01

Comets Keep Record Intact By Squeezing Into Playoffs

<div class="byline">BY JOHN GUGGER</div>FORT WAYNE&mdash;The Fort Wayne Komets, in 20 years of association with the International League, haven&rsquo;t had much trouble making the post-season playoffs.They&rsquo;ve missed postseason play on just four occasions during that time, their most recent absence being in the early 1960s. But for the last four seasons, the Komets have found it easier to get out of playoff activity than get in.Fort Wayne has won just three of 17 playoff games since 1967-68. In most instances late-season collapses have accompanied the K&rsquo;s demise.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01113/3038732-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="285" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body">Merlin Jenner</figcaption></div>There are signs, though, this season will be different.The Komets had come on strong of late with five wins in their last six games, including road victories in Flint, Toledo, and Port Huron. They had moved into second place in the IHL&rsquo;s South Division five points ahead of Des Moines, their first-round playoff opponent.&ldquo;An ideal situation is to have your team playing its best hockey heading into the playoffs,&rdquo; Komets&rsquo; coach Marc Boileau said. &ldquo;Lots of times things don&rsquo;t work out that way. But lately we&rsquo;ve been playing solid hockey.&rdquo;The Komets took the season series from Des Moines, 6-5-1, including two victories in the Iowa city. The Leafs eliminated Fort Wayne in five games last season in a first-round playoff.The two teams will meet in a best-of-five pairing this spring with the first two games scheduled, in all probability, in Fort Wayne.The Komets have been steady most of the year defensively, especially since Paul Hoganson has assumed nearly all the work in goal.Lately, Fort Wayne has opened up on offense as injuries have healed and lines have been stabilized.The club&rsquo;s top three scorers&mdash;Rusty Patenaude, Larry Billows, and Jim Boyd&mdash;had all missed games with injuries and had played in sub-par condition. But at press time all were back in the lineup and scoring well.Billows, Patenaude, and Gary Swain formed the top Fort Wayne line but there were other important contributions, too.Tom McVie had begun to find the net after a disappointing start and newcomer Al Rycroft was hitting at a point-per-game pace.The Komets really turned it on last weekend winning three games, 3-1 over Toledo, 4-2 against Port Huron and a 10-3 drubbing of Des Moines. McVie picked up four goals, including two game winners and had six assists in the three games. Boyd had four goals and five assists and Rycroft scored three times and helped set up five others.TOLEDO: Hornets were averaging 2,500 for last 10 home dates&hellip;Jim Paterson tied for IHL goal-scoring lead with 42&hellip;Moe Brunel lost for season when he fractured cheekbone for second time this year&hellip;Jim Collins donned helmet&hellip;Hornets were just 17-18 at home&hellip;Club had nine more wins than last year&hellip;MUSKEGON: Bryan McLay&rsquo;s 42 goals tied for top mark in league&hellip;Ross Butler continues to be sidelined with toe injury&hellip;Dave Hainsworth registered first shutout&hellip;Lynn Margarit was only Mohawk with more than 100 penalty minutes&hellip;Hawks had eight 20-goal scorers, five 30-goal men&hellip;Sunday afternoon crowds disappointing.FLINT: Merlin Jenner registered first shutout by stopping 35 Dayton shots&hellip;Gens tied high mark on offense for season with 9-1 lacing of Columbus&hellip;Flint clinched playoff position over Toledo&hellip;GM Frank Gallagher put club through two-a-day workouts hoping to shake slump&hellip;Most of Dave Gorman&rsquo;s goals came on power play, where he was being used almost exclusively&hellip;PORT HURON: Wings went 23 games without losing by more than one goal&hellip;They were 156-2 during that time&hellip;Steve Sutherland&rsquo;s eye reported OK&hellip;Wings have suffered two shutouts this season, both 6-0 in Muskegon&hellip;Port Huron High School senior Herb Leverton pressed into duty in goal&hellip;Larry Klewchuk had two goals, two assists in second game after shift to left wing&hellip;DAYTON: Gems sold tickets in press box to establish all-time high attendance of 5,641&hellip;Club had back-to-back sellouts of over 5,600&hellip;Andy Fortin pulled after allowing three goals in three minutes at start of game in Toledo&hellip;Late slump hurt team&rsquo;s chances of topping 50 victories in season.DES MOINES: Nellie LeClair&rsquo;s streak without penalty remained in tact when referee Jake Forbes fingered another Leaf by mistake for tripping call&hellip;Bob Perreault lost shut-out bid with 70 seconds to play against Columbus.COLUMBUS: Ten of Seal&rsquo;s victories came were at home, where club had 10-23-1 record&hellip;Seals were 3-29-1 on road&hellip;Agnus Beck had seven penalty minutes in 63 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0287/3038725-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="547" height="584"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOMMY Me VIE&hellip;Starting To Move</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0371/3038718-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="541" height="595"><figcaption class="caption-body">AL RYCROFT&hellip;Point-a-Game Pace</figcaption></div><h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE(Standings on Tues. March 14)<h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0456/3038711-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="582" height="131"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0546/3038704-1-eng-US/f0031-052.jpg" title="f0031-05" width="585" height="206"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Wed. March 8Port Huron 3 at Fort Woyne 3Fri. March 10Muskegon 4 at Port Huron 6Toledo 5 at Des Moines 10Sat. March 11Fort Wayne 2 at Muskegon 3Columbus 3 at Port Huron 2Toledo 2 at Des Moines 4Dayton 3 at Flint 4Sun. March 12Toledo 4 at Fort Wayne 9Port Huron 2 at Muskegon 3Dayton 4 at Columbus 3Des Moines 5 at Flint 3<h2>GAMES TO COME</h2>Tue. March 14Fort Wayne at Port HuronWed. March 15Columbus at DaytonDes Moines at ToledoFri. March 17Toledo at MuskegonFlint at Des MoinesSat. March 18Dayton at Fort WayneColumbus at MuskegonToledo at Port HuronFlint at Des MoinesSun. March 19Des Moines at ColumbusFort Wayne at DaytonMuskegon at Flint<h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2>(Including games of Sun. March 5)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0628/3038697-1-eng-US/f0031-062.jpg" title="f0031-06" width="586" height="706"></div> &#9632;

f0031-01

Streaking Komets Rate Top Dark Horse Playoff Threat

TOLEDO&mdash;Contributions have reached the $1,200 figure and are still coming in for former International League veteran Shorty Malanchuk, who is recovering here following extensive surgery to remove cancerous growths.Malanchuk, who played three years for Toledo and also for Fort Wayne, Des Moines, and Indianapolis in an eight-year IHL career, was given a night here recently at a Hornets&rsquo; game. The bulk of the money was contributed then, but other IHL teams and officials have also made separate contributions.Malanchuk spent nearly two months in a hospital and the contributions are being used to help defray the medical expenses for the 35-year-old former defenseman, his wife, and three young children.Anyone interested in aiding the plight of the Malanchuk family can send a check or cash to: Shorty Malanchuk Fund, c/o Toledo Hornets Hockey Club, Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, 43605.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0722/3038763-1-eng-US/f0031-072.jpg" title="f0031-07" width="262" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">Shorty Malanchuk</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0031-07

Shorty Malanchuk Fund Aids Stricken Player

<div class="byline">BY TOM BURKE</div>BURLINGTON&mdash;Minus Bowdoin. the best team in the league, the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division Two playoffs got underway March 4. It was the first time for the new expanded eight team playdown, and three of the four home teams took victories.Top seeded Vermont blasted eighth ranked Lowell Tech 7-0 in Burlington. Lowell goalie Mike Gerogosian saved 62 Vermont shots. UVM netminder Steve Eckerson was tested only 17 times. Fred Hunt notched a goal and two assists and Ted Yates managed a goal and three assists for the Catamounts.Challenger to Vermont for the second round turned out to be Buffalo. The Bulls, under former BU star Eddie Wright, were seeded fifth and came up with a 9-5 win over home team Boston State at BU&rsquo;s Walter Brown Rink. Buffalo hopped off to a 5-2 lead after one period and coasted home. Dale Dolmage was the top Bull sniper with four goals and an assist.Second seeded University of Massachusetts avenged an earlier defeat by up-and-coming St. Anselm&rsquo;s with a 5-3 decision at Amherst. Don Riley&rsquo;s two goals paced the Redmen in the penalty-pocked tilt.Massachusetts will host the third seeded Merrimack Warriors in the second playoff round. Thom Lawler&rsquo;s crew took a 4-2 decision from Salem State in the Billerica Forum for their first round win. Four different Merrimack players scored.Bowdoin, defending champion, had to sit out the playoffs due to a ruling by the presidents of the New England Small College Athletic Conference, a subdivision of Division Two. The Polar Bears finished out the season with an overall record of 17-4 after final week wins of 3-2 over Division one&rsquo;s Boston College and 5-3 over Colby. The win over BC was Sid Watson&rsquo;s 200th career victory. &#9632;

Vermont Flexing Ice Muscles With Bowdoin Out Of Playoffs

MADISON&mdash;The powerful Denver Pioneers had a job to do and they did it unwaveringly as they skated to the league championship just when Wisconsin Badgers figured they had it locked up.Denver won it all and now must rank as the odds-on-favorites to win the Western Collegiate Hockey League playoffs and go on to the NCAA championships March 1618 in Boston.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01121/3038818-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="258" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Crosby</figcaption></div>The Badgers saw their hopes for a WCHA championship crumble under the powerful attack of the Pioneers on the closing Weekend. Denver came into Madison trailing Wisconsin by two points in the standings and needed two wins to take the title. The Pioneers got just that as they beat Wisconsin 4-2 and 6-2. The Badgers finished the WCHA season with a 208 record for the best winning percentage in the league but under the point system to determine the standings Denver finished with 52 points. Wisconsin was second with 48. The defeats marked the first time the Badgers had dropped a two-game series at home since December 12-13, 1969 when Denver also turned the trick 5-3 and 4-1. The Badgers have lost only three games out of 16 in the Dane County Coliseum this year.In spite of the losses, Wisconsin achieved its highest WCHA finish since entering the league three years ago and now face Michigan Tech in the semi-final playoffs. The Badgers also set school records for the best winning percentage overall.756 on a 24-8 record and for a WCA percentage at.714. The Badgers also won their first Big Ten hockey championship and set a total of 14 team records including most victories in a season with 24 overall and 20 in WCHA play and set school records for longest winning streak overall with 10 in a row and in the WCHA with 8 straight wins.The 1971-72 Wisconsin team set school records in WCHA play for most goals (134); most assists (165); most total points (299); highest goals per game average (4.79); most penalties one season (177 for 369 minutes) and the fastest three goals in a game (1.01). Individually, co-captain Jim Young, Dafter, Mich., set six school records and tied another. Young is now the Wisconsin leader in WCHA career points (69); career goals (34); single season goals (19); and for scoring by a left wing in one WCHA season with 19 goals, most assists (17); and most points (36).For the regular season, sophomore center Gary Winchester Calgary, Alberta was the leading scorer with 19 goals, 25 assists for 44 points overall and 18 gools, 22 assists for 40 points in WCHA play.Michigan Tech, the defending WCHA champions, finished 7th this season with an 11-15 record in WCHA play and the Huskies were 15-16-1 overall. They visited Madison earlier this season for a two game series and Wisconsin beat them twice 6-3 and 6-1 back on December 17-18. Including those games the Huskies and Badgers have met 12 times with Wisconsin winning 6, Michigan Tech 5 and one game ended in a tie.The Huskies are led by sophomore center Gary Crosby who in regular season play scored 21 goals with 33 assists for 54 points. Second in scoring was senior wing Ed Chestolewski with 13 goals and 28 assists for a total of 41 points. Crosby&rsquo;s 33 assists is a school record for a single season. Michigan Tech Goaltender Morris Trewin has allowed an averange of 4.15 goals per game in 20.7 games this year and has one shut-out to his credit, a 3-0 win at Michigan.A total of 8,143 fans witnessed each Denver game at Wisconsin to give the Badgers 12 consecutive sellout-standing room only crowds and a school record of 125,797 for 16 home games and a record average of 7,862 per game. Wisconsin led the nation in both attendance categories for the third consecutive year.A whole new hockey season starts for the Badgers March 78, as they host Michigan Tech in the WCHA semi-final playoffs. The total goals at the end of the two games will determine the playoff winner who will then advance to the final playoff series next weekend. The final playoff winner will enter the NCAA tourney at Boston. &#9632;

f0032-01

Wisconsin Hopes Fade As Denver Takes Title

<div class="byline">By Tom Burke</div><h2>Cornell Ends On Top, Dartmouth Eased Out</h2>Playoff time was only a week away as the eight-man ECAC Playoff Selection Committee sat down in Boston&rsquo;s Hotel Sonesta for the annual brain drain. Everyone wanted a clear-cut process of elimination for seedings of the first round of playdowns to be held Tuesday, March 7 at the home rinks of the top four seeded teams.&ldquo;Surrrre&rdquo; said the committee. &ldquo;But first&hellip;The committee then proceeded to map out a conglomeration of ands, ifs, and buts which adequately reflected this season&rsquo;s upset-ridden ECAC season. It was entirely necessary, and those involved did a remarkable job. For the record, the committee was chaired by Seaver Peters, Dartmouth&rsquo;s athletic director; joining him were four other representatives of Division One schools: Warren Schmakel of Boston University; Jack Riley of Army; Andy Mooradian of UNH; and Bob Kane of Cornell. Division Two delegates were Gus Sullivan of Boston State; Hox Webber of Hamilton; and John Winkler of Colby.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0521/3038877-1-eng-US/f0032-052.jpg" title="f0032-05" width="255" height="428"><figcaption class="caption-body">Craig Brush</figcaption></div>Going into that final week of regular season action, February 29 to March 4, three teams were as sured of a home ice berth by the committee for Division One: Harvard (14-5-1) would be third; Cornell (14-3) or Boston University (15-3-1) would make top seed with the loser of their March 1 tilt getting the runnerup spot.Three more teams would battle for spots four through six: New Hampshire (11-5), Pennsylvania (12-7), and Clarkson (11-8). A day later, the committee seeded the Golden Knights a definite sixth and waited for the outcome of the two games left to each UNH and Penn before awarding the fourth spot.Confused? There&rsquo;s more. The committee named four teams still eligible for the seventh and eighth spots, pending outcomes of games in the final week. RPI (9-7-1) and Providence (9-8) had finished their divisional schedules and had to sweat out games left to Brown (9-9-1) and Boston College (10-10). Dartmouth (7-8-1) had a good enough overall record to merit some consideration with two games left on its schedule, but one big factor considered by the committee was the re-cords of the involved teams against the rest of the teams in the playoff picture over the entire season. So, despite her stupendous upset of Cornell and Harvard, Dartmouth had to be eliminated since it had only beaten two other contenders (BC and Penn) and had lost a game to each contender it had beaten in addition to losing a pair of tilts to Clarkson. Dartmouth didn&rsquo;t play BU, RPI, UNH, or Providence at all, either.So much for the preliminaries. Cornell took over as regular season king with a 3-2 decision over Boston University at BU&rsquo;s new rink. It was the first loss of the season there for BU, a team frustratingly unable to shake off the Cornell curse. In a nutshell, Cornell came to play, made their own breaks, and effectively shut off BU&rsquo;s vaunted power play three of four times.A low slap shot by Bill Murray deflected off goalie Dan Brady&rsquo;s stick for a 1-0 Cornell lead, but Toot Cahoon tied it up before the period ended. Doug Marrett wheeled the BU net virtually unmolested and fed Craig Brush for the go-ahead goal at 1:58 of the second, and Brush reciprocated nicely in the third to wrap it up. Chasing the puck into the comer, Brush held his pass out until defenseman Ric Jordan slid by on his tummy. Brush fed Marrett cruising in, and the soph-more whacked it by Brady from about 20 feet out. Cornell had 32 shots on net to BU&rsquo;s 25 in an excellent game won by the better team on the ice that night. BU&rsquo;s third line yelded all three Cornell goals.Harvard kept pace with two wins on the final week, the Crimson jumped off to a 2-0 lead at Brown, then staved off a closing rally by the home team in the third period to win 3-2. Dave McCay and Steve Shea scored in the third period to give the Bruins hope, but Bill Corkery&rsquo;s goal in that frame proved the difference and eliminated the Bruins from post-season participation. Brown&rsquo;s season closed out with an 8-0 drubbing by Cornell at Ithaca. Harvard, meanwhile, was outslugging Yale in a meaningless game, 8-4. Five Crimson goals in the third period paced the win, and some near-fights broke out with 2:06 remaining. No one was suspended.Pennsylvania secured fourth place on the final night by whipping Boston College 8-3 in another physical contest in Philadelphia. Earlier in the week, Penn had dumped Princeton 7-3 while UNH was shutting out Army 4-0. Clarkson beat the Wildcats 8-5 in Potsdam the night before to open the door for Jim Salfi&rsquo;s Quakers. BC&rsquo;s loss dropped the Eagles out of consideration for seventh place. Thus, RPI was awarded seventh seed and Providence eighth. Had BC and Brown both won their remaining games, BC would have been seventh and Brown eighth. If only one had made it, RPI would have been dropped to eight and Providence eliminated. Oh, those, ands, ifs, and buts!Senior Paul Morrison, who had a hat trick on the night, scored two goals within 15 seconds of each other late in the second period to lift Penn into command ever BC, 4-1. A total of 34 minutes in penalties were whistled in the game, with the key calls in the second period when BC gained the early momentum but was forced to play a man short four times to none for the home team. It was the final game for Snooks Kelley, retiring from BC after 36 years. His final career mark reads 501 wins, 242 losses, and 15 ties.At Clarkson, the Golden Knights scored three time in the third period to beat UNH 8-5. Penalties abounded and figured prominently in the scoring; Clarkson had five power play goals, two of which came while two men up; UNH had three power play tallies.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0613/3038870-1-eng-US/f0032-062.jpg" title="f0032-06" width="262" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill Corkery</figcaption></div><h2>NEW YORK METRO LEAGUE</h2>(Standings On Thur. March 9)<h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0276/3038863-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="579" height="155"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0343/3038856-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="577" height="126"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0432/3038849-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="589" height="676"></div> &#9632;

f0032-05

DOWN EAST

SHERBROOKE&mdash;The defending champion University of Toronto Blues and the St. Mary&rsquo;s University Huskies from Halifax will be the only repeaters from last year&rsquo;s tournament as the winners of the four intercollegiate athletic conferences meet here March 16-18 to decide the 1972 Canadian Intercollegiate hockey championships.The two new squads in attendance this year will be the Sir George Williams University Georgians from Montreal (repre-senting Quebec) and the University of Alberta Golden Bears (representing Western Canada).The Georgians, returning to the national finals for the first time since 1969, pulled the biggest upset in the regional play-downs when they parlayed sensational goaltending by sophomore Bernie Wolfe into a stunning 1-0 overtime upset of the powerful Loyola College Warriors in the Quebec final. The Warriors, Quebec representatives the past two years, were runaway winners of the regular season schedule.The Alberta team, coached by student national team mentor Clare Drake, gained the national championships by downing archrival University of Calgary Dinosaurs 3-1 in the WCIAA finals. The Golden Bears return to national playoff competition after an absence of one year.St. Mary&rsquo;s, who have been defeated by Toronto in the CIAU title game the past two years, won a berth at Sherbrooke with a convincing 7-1 trouncing of the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers. The Huskies were first-place finishers in the Maritime conference.As for the defending champs from Toronto, they earned the Ontario title by defeating the York University Yeomen, who edged them by one point for the regular season schedule, by a 6-2 count in the final game of the OUAA playdowns.It will be the seventh consecutive trip to the nationals for the Blues who have taken national honors five of the past six seasons.The opening day draw of the three-day affair calls for Toronto and Sir George to meet in one semi-final match while Alberta and St. Mary&rsquo;s will battle in the other. The second day will feature the consolation final between the two semi-final losers while the final game goes March 18 with national television coverage by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1311/3038908-1-eng-US/f0033-132.jpg" title="f0033-13" width="565" height="882"><figcaption class="caption-body">BERNIE WOLFE&hellip;Put Georgians In Nationals</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0033-13

Toronto, St. Mary’s Return To Seek National Ice Title

<h2>ECAC CONFERENCE</h2>(Final Standings)<h3>DIVISION I</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01104/3039016-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="585" height="467"></div><h3>DIVISION II</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0277/3039009-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="585" height="548"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><h3>DIVISION ONE</h3>Colgate 4, St. Lawrence 3New Hampshire 4, Army 0Cornell 3, Boston University 2Harvard 3, Brown 2Dartmouth 15, Northeastern 5Pennsylvania 7, Princeton 3Clarkson 8, New Hampshire 5Harvard 8, Yale 4Pennsylvania 8, Boston College 3Cornell 8, Brown 0Dartmouth 5. Princeton 4<h3>INTERDIVISIONAL</h3>Bowdoin 3, Boston College 2Colgate 3, Middlebury 1<h3>DIVISION TWO</h3>(First Round Playoffs)Buffalo 9, Boston State 5Vermont 7, Lowell Tech 0Merrimack 4, Salem State 2Massachusetts 5, St. Anselm&rsquo;s 3<h2>WCHA CONFERENCE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0356/3039002-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="581" height="277"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Denver 4, Wisconsin 2Denver 6, Wisconsin 2North Dakota 6, Michigan Tech 5North Dakota 4, Michigan Tech 3Michigan State 9, Notre Dame 8Notre Dame 6, Michigan State 2Minn-Duluth 8, Colorado College 5Colorado College 10, Minn-Duluth 4Michigan 5, Minnesota 3Michigan 4, Minnesota 3<h3>SEMI-FINAL PLAYOFFS</h3>Michigan Tech at WisconsinNotre Dame at DenverMichigan at North DakotaMinn-Duluth at Michigan State<h2>QUEBEC CONFERENCE</h2>Final Standings<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0443/3038995-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="587" height="236"></div><h2>PLAYOFF GAMES COMPLETED</h2>(sudden death semi-finals)Sir George 6, Sherbrooke 3Loyola 5, Bishop&rsquo;s 4Sir George 1, Loyola 0 (Sudden-Death Final)<h2>LEADING SCORERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0537/3038988-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="580" height="277"></div><h2>INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0629/3038981-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="580" height="128"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0726/3038974-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="580" height="475"></div><h2>ONTARIO CONFERENCE</h2>(Final Standings)<h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0824/3038967-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="584" height="208"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0921/3038960-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="583" height="210"></div><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Western 5, Windsor 2Guelph 2, McMaster 1York 6, Laurentian 1Toronto 10, Ottawa 1(sudden death quarter-finals)Toronto 5, Western 2York 6, Guelph 2 (Sudden death semi-finals)Toronto 6, York 2 (Sudden death final)<h2>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h2><h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1019/3038953-1-eng-US/f0033-102.jpg" title="f0033-10" width="580" height="258"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1118/3038946-1-eng-US/f0033-112.jpg" title="f0033-11" width="581" height="236"></div><h3>MARITIME CONFERENCE</h3>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1217/3038939-1-eng-US/f0033-122.jpg" title="f0033-12" width="584" height="287"></div> &#9632;

f0033-01

Looking At The Races

<div class="byline">BY BOB BRISCOE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01114/3039131-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="546" height="578"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEFF ABLETT&hellip;Over 100 Points</figcaption></div>NEW WESTMINSTER&mdash;When the New Westminster Bruins moved to this west coast city from Estevan this season, southern Saskatchewan lost one of the most established clubs in the Western Canada Hockey League.But the Bruin brass, Ernie McLean and Bill Shinske, preferred to look at the bright side of things.&ldquo;Bill Hunter in Edmonton and Scotty Munro in Calgary have had things pretty well their own way in this Western Division for the last few seasons. We intend to be cut in on some of that action, McLean warned.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-134/3039124-1-eng-US/f0034-132.jpg" title="f0034-13" width="250" height="436"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lorne Henning</figcaption></div>The Bruins of New Westminster certainly have been cut in on some of the action in their first season in the Western Division.As the race for playoff berths in the division narrowed down to the last 10 games, the Bruins were battling the defending league champion Edmonton Oil Kings for second place.And it may be that the pennant-bound Centennials, coached by Chuck Holdaway, will decide which of those two teams finishes second and gets the extra home game in the semi-final.It is obvious the Cents, who owned a 10-point lead with 10 games to play, were playing no favorites. After suffering a humiliating 6-3 loss to fifth-place Victoria Cougars in Calgary, the Cents travelled to the west coast to present Bruins with a loss and hold them to an overtime tie. At the same time, Oil Kings were suffering two road losses in Swift Current and Winnipeg before winning one in Brandon.With Centennials taking three of a possible four points from Bruins, it left Oil Kings with the task of winning four of their remaining eight games to assure themselves of second.That, however, is easier said than done. Oil Kings face Centanials twice in Edmonton and Bruins once in New Westminster in three of those games.Meanwhile, any hopes the fourth-place Medicine Hat Tigers had of catching Bruins or Oil Kings pretty well vanished when they lost two straight home games to Regina Pats and Swift Current. After 62 games, Tigers were nine points behind Bruins and were almost certain to face Centennials in the first round of the western division playoffs.The expansion Victoria Cougars and Vancouver Nats remained mired deep in fifth and sixth place respectively, Cougars 30 points behind Tigers and Nats seven back of them.Although ending the week by suffering a 7-1 loss to Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg, the Regina Pats maintained their hold on first in the Eastern Division with 36 wins and two ties in 58 games.Jackie McLeod&rsquo;s Saskatoon Blades remained in second, three points back of Pats, who owned three games in hand. Pats needed only six wins in their remaining 10 games to wrap up the pennant under rookie coach Earl Ingarfield, recently named a western scout for the expansion New York Islanders.Brandon Wheat Kings fell below the.500 mark during the week with three straight losses, two to Flin Flon Bombers and one to Edmonton. With 30 wins in 61 games, Rudy Pilous had the Wheat Kings three points ahead of Bombers, who had played 63 games. Four wins out of their remaining seven games will assure Wheat Kings of third spot.Winnipeg Jets clung to their slim hope of catching fourth spot by winning two straight games at home against Edmonton and Regina. But the pair of Brandon losses in Flin Flon, one coming after Brandon held a 4-0 lead, didn&rsquo;t brighten the picture. Bombers need only five points out of their remaining five games to grab fourth place and the probable first-round playoff berth against Regina.Swift Current Broncos, mired in the Eastern basement, showed some life with wins over Edmonton and Medicine Hat with a lopsided 10-0 loss to Saskatoon the only black mark on their week.Statistically the top three positions in the league&rsquo;s scoring race remain unchanged this week, although three other players have surpassed the century plateau.Scoring statistics, show that Jeff Ablett of Medicine Hat Tigers, Lome Henning of New Westminster Bruins and Rob Neale of Brandon Wheat Kings have joined the Tiger pair of Tom Lysiak and Stan Weir along with Flin Flon Bombers&rsquo; Blaine Stoughton in the 100-point circle.Ablett has 105, on 54 goals and 51 assists, while Henning and Neale are tied for fifth place, each with 103.Lysiak continues to set the scoring pace with 124 points, on 41 goals and a league-leading 83 assists. Weir follows with 119 (52 goals, 67 assists) and Stoughton is third at 110 (53 goals, 57 assists).The league&rsquo;s stop goal-scorer is 17-year-old Ron Chipperfield of Brandon who has 56 goals in 56 games. Ablett, with 54, is second.In the goal-tending department, Calgary Centennials&rsquo; rookie John Davidson is still well in front with a 2.35 goals-against average and six shutouts. Terry Richardson of New Westminster Bruins has climbed over the 3.00 mark (3.03), but is still second.Richardson is also tied with Larry Hendrick of Edmonton Oil Kings and Henry Durkin of Swift Current Broncos for second spot among goaltendes with shuthouts. Each has three.Edmonton&rsquo;s Phil Russell is the league&rsquo;s badman with 284 minutes in penalties, while the Medicine Hat duo of Bob Gassoff (271) and Jim McCrimmon (266) follow.<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2>WESTERN CANADA LEAGUE(Standings on Mon. March 6)<h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0269/3039117-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="586" height="178"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0352/3039110-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="586" height="182"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0438/3039103-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="584" height="452"></div><h2>CANADIAN CENTRAL LEAGUE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0531/3039096-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="582" height="134"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0622/3039089-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="586" height="289"></div><h2>MID-WEST AMATEUR LEAGUE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0717/3039082-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="582" height="162"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0813/3039075-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="584" height="291"></div><h2>NEW ENGLAND LEAGUE</h2>(FINAL STANDINGS)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-098/3039068-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="584" height="179"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-108/3039061-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="578" height="278"></div><h2>CENTRAL COLLEGIATE</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-119/3039054-1-eng-US/f0034-112.jpg" title="f0034-11" width="582" height="132"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-128/3039047-1-eng-US/f0034-122.jpg" title="f0034-12" width="581" height="318"></div> &#9632;

f0034-01

New Westminster Giving Oil Kings Battle; Magic Number Six For Title-Bound Regina

<div class="byline">BY JACK GATECLIFF</div>TORONTO&mdash;To paraphrase the old saying: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not whether the Marlboros win or lose but how many goals they score a game.&rdquo;The powerful Toronto club continued its relentless charge towards the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior A pennant with awesome scoring strength and with less than two weeks to play in the schedule were assured first place in the 10-team standings for the first time since 1967 when they went on to win the Memorial Cup.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0278/3039169-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="273" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">Al Blanchard</figcaption></div>In recent weeks Marlboro opponents have been fortunate if they escape without the Toronto club reaching double figures.During a 21-game stretch the Marlboros were beaten only once and their victories included a 14-3 thrashing of the defending champion St. Catharines Black Hawks and an almost equally-impressive 12-5 win over second place Oshawa Generals.The Generals had led the league from the first week of October until they were caught and passed by the Marlies in February and their defeat before more than 15,000 fans in Maple Leaf Gardens ended their hopes of catching the Toronto club.Leading the way for the Marlies is their line of superkids centered by Dave Gardner with Bill Harris and Steve Shutt on the wings.Each member of the line has scored more than 50 goals, the first time this feat has been accomplished in Ontario Junior A history.All three along with George Ferguson graduate this year and are certain to be top NHL draft choices in June.Gus Bodnar, who coached the 1967 Marlboros to the national championship and now holds the same position with Oshawa said that in his opinion the latest edition of the Marlies was &ldquo;stronger on the frontside but probably not quite as good defensively,&rdquo; as the team of five years ago.Players from the 1967 club who graduated to the National Hockey League include Brad Park, Brian Glennie, Gerry Meehan and Mike Byers.It seems safe to assume that coach Frank Bonello will send just as many players into major league hockey from the 1971-72 team as Bodnar did in 1967.OSHAWA: After playing amazingly consistent hockey following their ninth place finish a year ago the Generals ran into their first real slump&hellip;Including the 12-5 loss to the Marlboros Oshawa had only one tie (with London) in four games but coach Gus Bodnar is confident his club will shake the problems well before the playoffs&hellip;Gilles Gratton back in goal after suffering minor injury against St. Catharines.PETERBOROUGH: The Petes under coach Roger Neilson making late run for third place and still have chance of catching Oshawa for second&hellip;Peterborough went on six-game unbeaten streak (five wins, one tie) and hadn&rsquo;t lost since 8-4 setback on home ice to Oshawa Feb. 17&hellip;If any team is to extend the Marlies in the playoffs it could be Peterborough but they have not had great success in recent seasons during post-season games.OTTAWA: Scramble continues between Bill Long&rsquo;s 67s, Peterborough and Kitchener for third, fourth and fifth positions&hellip;67s won three straight to keep pace with other two clubs and with defenseman Denis Potvin back on defense Ottawa is at full strength and set for playoffs&hellip;Ottawa has had good year but not as outstanding as some had predicted.KITCHENER: Like Ottawa and Peterborough, Kitchener Rangers hope to finish no worse than fourth to gain advantage of extra home game in first round of playoffs&hellip;Rangers blanked Niagara Falls 8-0 and 5-1 both before large crowds at Memorial Auditorim&hellip;Al Blanchard, 19-year-old rookie still team&rsquo;s top scorer and a good bet to be one of early picks in draft.NIAGARA FALLS: After excellent start Paul Emms&rsquo; Flyers have not been consistent recently and double setback to Kitchener cost them any chance of finishing higher than sixth place&hellip;However still big improvement over club which was last for two successive years&hellip;Don Lever, big, strong and aggressive the club&rsquo;s undisputed leader and another excellent professional prospect.ST. CATHARINES: Black Hawks went 11 games with only three losses but recent slump in which they lost three games in a week (two to Montreal, one to Toronto) has coach Frank Milne a little worried&hellip;Milne especially unhappy with goaltending and may try midget Bill Cheropita and juvenile Jim Hopgood in nets during some of remaining games&hellip;Hawks mathematically certain of qualifying for playoffs for 27th time in 29 years of Junior A in St. Ca-tharines&hellip;Captain and center Bob MacMillan expected back after missing more than 20 games with hepatitis, bruised shoulder and sprained ankle.LONDON: Barring improvement in playoffs it will be another disappointing season in London&hellip;Knights with their big line of Reg Thomas, Randy Osburn and Dennis Ververgaert appeared to be strong on paper but lacked depth&hellip;Knights almost certain to catch the seventh or eighth playoff position but their fans had hoped for a higher finish.MONTREAL: Young Montreal team seems destined to miss playoffs for first time since joining the OHA a decade ago but came up with two late-season wins (4-1, 10-5) over St. Catharines which gives promise for future&hellip;Despite poor over-all record club has improved under Roger Bedard and has had steady goaltending from Nick Sanza and Pierre Peruse&hellip;Indications now are that Canadiens will return for another year in the Ontario league after earlier reports they might join the Quebec Junior Hockey League.HAMILTON: As certain as the Marlboros will finish first, the Red Wings will end last&hellip;It&rsquo;s been a rough season for rookie coach Harry Neale but scarcity of talent gave him little chance of improving his club&rsquo;s position&hellip;Owner Nick Durbano beating the bushes for new players for next season&hellip;Terry Ryan only player who has performed well game in and game out.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01102/3039162-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="1121" height="891"><figcaption class="caption-body">The OHA Junior League has a new point scoring leader after last week&rsquo;s play as the result of Toronto Marlboros&rsquo; 26-goal offensive in two weekend games. Marlboros&rsquo; captain BILLY HARRIS, above, took over first place from Niagara Falls&rsquo; Don Lever with 118 points. Lever had been leading most of the season. (Hockey News Photo by Lyndon Little)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0035-02

Marlboros’ Awesome Power Surpassed 1967 Cup Team

<h2>ONTARIO MAJOR JUNIOR</h2>(Standings on Tues. March 14)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0354/3039256-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="579" height="279"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2>Tues. March 7Toronto 5 at London 8Kitchener 7 at Oshawa 3Ottawa 4 at Hamilton 6Thur. March 9St Catharines 5 at Peterborough 8Fri. March 10Hamilton 4 at London 6Oshawa 6 at Toronto 5Peterborough 5 at Niagara Foils 2St Catharines 1 at Ottawa 4Kitchener 3 at Montreal 4Sun. March 12Kitchener 5 at St Catharines 6Niagara Foils 4 at Toronto 4Oshawa 3 at London 1Hamilton 4 at Montreal 7<h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0447/3039249-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="584" height="529"></div><h2>QUEBEC JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Mon. March 13)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0542/3039242-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="574" height="278"></div><h2>NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0631/3039235-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="575" height="130"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0730/3039228-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="583" height="409"></div><h2>IHL JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>(Standings on Wed. March 1)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0826/3039221-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="580" height="132"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0926/3039214-1-eng-US/f0035-092.jpg" title="f0035-09" width="580" height="288"></div><h2>MICHIGAN JUNIOR LEAGUE</h2>(FINAL STANDINGS)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1020/3039207-1-eng-US/f0035-102.jpg" title="f0035-10" width="578" height="176"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1118/3039200-1-eng-US/f0035-112.jpg" title="f0035-11" width="577" height="298"></div> &#9632;

f0035-03

Amateur Hockey Races

<div class="byline">BY HAL SIGURDSON</div>VANCOUVER&mdash;In the long history of the National Hockey League, only three defensemen have ever scored 20 or more goals in a single season.William (Flash) Hollett was the first. He scored 20 for the Detroit Red Wings back in 1945. It didn&rsquo;t happen again until the 1968-69 season when Boston&rsquo;s fabulous Bobby Orr broke the 20 barrier for the first time. He&rsquo;s gone well past that total every season since.New York&rsquo;s Brad Park made it a trio this season when he hit the 20 mark for the first time in his career.Hal Laycoe, beleaguered coach of the beleaguered Vancouver Canucks, is convinced the total won&rsquo;t remain long at three.He believes, in fact, his Canucks could well be the first in NHL history to have two 20-goal defensemen on the same team.Laycoe is putting his faith in Dale Tallon and Jocelyn (Josh) Guevremont, respectively the Canucks&rsquo; first round amateur draft choices in their first and second years of existence.Tallon, in fact, may hit the 20-goal plateau this season, but even so he won&rsquo;t join the select three since he&rsquo;s spent half the season playing on the forward line. Ten of the 15 goals he has at the moment were scored as a forward.Guevremont, in his rookie season, has 11 goals. While it is highly unlikely he&rsquo;ll hit the 20 mark in the games remaining in the season, he could well top the record for rookie defensemen.The record is 14. It is held by Tallon. (Orr scored 13 in his first season with the Bruins).&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll predict right now that Guevremont will get 20,&rsquo;&rsquo; says Laycoe. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s already got the shot. As his timing and quickness improve he&rsquo;ll get 20&hellip;at least 20&rdquo;.Laycoe hesitates to make the same prediction for Tallon only because he still isn&rsquo;t totally convinced the big guy may not yet turn out to be a forward rather than a defenseman. But if defense is to be his position, he doesn&rsquo;t doubt Dale will crash the 20-goal barrier.Laycoe is much more willing to talk about what the future may hold for his two talented young defensemen than what the present has served up for all the Canucks.Small wonder.Heading into the final lap of the season, the Canucks had only one win and one tie to show for their last 17 games. They were last, three points behind sixth place Buffalo, in the East Division.Save for the small salve of a 33 tie in Chicago, the Canucks&rsquo; recent seven-game road trip was a total disaster. They lost twice in Detroit and once each in Toronto, Montreal, Boston and New York.On the trip they averaged 1.4 goals per game and were shut out for the 11th and 12th times this season.Meanwhile, the club made a few moves just before the March 5 trading and player movement deadline.Ron Stewart, originally obtained in a deal with New York last November, was dealt back to the Rangers. In exchange the Canucks get veteran defenseman Mike McMahon for their Rochester farm club for the balance of the season. The deal will be completed when the season is over.The Canucks also sold minor league forward Ralph Stewart to Detroit for &ldquo;future considerations&rdquo;.General manager Bud Poile also did some shifting within the organization. He recalled pintsized forward Bobby Lalonde, the club&rsquo;s second round amateur draft choice, from Rochester and farmed out two other players.He sent Poul Popiel, the veteran handyman, to Rochester and despatched rookie goaltender Ed Dyck to Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League. &#9632;

Search for your favorite player or team

March 24, 1972

Whitlock Could Be Top Rookie

Picking East, West Teams Real Challenge For Fans

PLAYERS SCORING PENALTY RECORDS

Guindon, Stewart Lead Way As Wings Continue Hot Run