Raps Apathy Of Red Wings

DETROIT— A former Red Wing, one of so many playing for other National Hockey League teams these days, cracked wryly that “maybe they peaked too soon." The allusion was to the Wings’ rigorous training camp and their season-opening, six-game victory streak that has been followed by mediocrity and dispirited play, particularly’ on the road. Coach Johnny Wilson reached a peak, too, of frustration and in patience. He scathingly indicted the team after a 7-0 loss in Minnesota and said it had “too many gutless hockey players on the road.” He followed that up with a 90-minute practice the next day in Detroit despite a game night with Vancouver. When sophomore Marcel Dionne, the Wings’ highest scorer, gave what Wilson considered less than his best in the drill, he sent him off the ice. Dionne, of…

Looking At The Races

Redmond Needed To Shore Up Left Wing

CHICAGO— A few eyebrows around the National Hockey League had to go a fluttering early this month when the Chicago Black Hawks, who lead the circuit in defensemen, latched onto still another one. Dick Redmond was his name, but where, oh, where would he play? The reply came quickly. The Black Hawks, you see, do not lead the league in left wings. Fellow named Robert Hull bolted town, leaving only brother Dennis as an experienced portsider. Massive Jerry Korab was not exactly prompting Coach Billy Reay to emit words of praise, while Dan Maloney was slowly, but surely, acquiring some polish. from the California Golden Seals for the expressed purpose of enforcing the left side. Cost: Darryl Maggs and cash. “I really like Maggs as a person, and I think he’s got the potential to…

Bruin Letdowns Worry Johnson But Big Names Come Through

BOSTON— As the Bruins inched closer and closer to Canadiens in the NHL East, first one, then another Bruin appears in the headlines as the talent of the Stanley Cup champions begins to show. After a very slow start, and some shifting of lines and goalkeepers Boston appears to be ready to justify the potential, even with the dents made by WHA defections and draft losses. Coach Tom Johnson, ever cautious, has said right along that he hoped to keep chipping away at Canadiens’ lead, which at one time was 13 points, and recently came down as low as one. He was asked if he had any timetable for taking over first place from Montreal, or, for that matter, New York. He said, “It’s hard to set a timetable for that sort of thing.…