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.

February 23, 1973

The Hockey News February 23, 1973

&mdash;Page 2THE INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLYVol. 26&mdash;No. 21 FEBRUARY 23, 1973 Price: 35&#576;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01615/3609248-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg" title="Cover-01" width="454" height="469"></div><h2>HULL KEEPS HAWKS FLYING</h2>&mdash;Page 18<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-02467/3609241-1-eng-US/cover-022.jpg" title="Cover-02" width="841" height="1425"><figcaption class="caption-body">DENNIS HULL A Big Week With Hot Line</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-03206/3609234-1-eng-US/cover-032.jpg" title="Cover-03" width="1548" height="1449"><figcaption class="caption-body">GILLES VILLEMURE and ROD SELLING Sold Defenders Rangers&rsquo; Rise (Hockey News Photo by Robert Shaver)</figcaption></div><h2>WINGS WEARING NEW LOOK</h2>&mdash;Page 3<h2>BRUINS&rsquo; PLAYERS SHARE BLAME FOR JOHNSON OUSTER</h2>&mdash;Page 6<h2>WHA NEW ALBERTA OILER COACH STARTS OFF ON RIGHT FOOT</h2>&mdash;Page 25 &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

RANGERS STREAKING TO TOP

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01244/3608267-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="614" height="571"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. Feb. 6Hershey 5 at Baltimore 1Springfield 2 at Boston 7Providence 1 at Nova Scotia 5Virginia 3 at Richmond 3Cincinnati 0 at Jacksonville 1Wed. Feb. 7Jacksonville 2 at Rochester 5Thur. Feb. 8Nova Scotia 2 at Richmond 3Fri. Feb. 9Richmond 2 at Baltimore 5Rochester 2 at Providence 7Hershey 3 at Springfield 5Nova Scotia 1 at Virginia 4Sat. Feb. 10Hershey 4 at Boston 6Providence 4 at Springfield 4New Haven 1 at Virginia 2Sun. Feb. 11Boston 5 at Providence 5New Haven 4 at Richmond 1Cincinnati 0 at Rochester 3Hershey at Nova Scotia (postponed)GAMES TO COMETue. Feb. 13Hershey at Nova ScotiaWed. Feb. 14Rochester at BaltimoreSpringfield at ProvidenceThur. Feb. 15Rochester at RichmondFri. Feb 16Boston at CincinnatiFrovidence at Virginia (Hampton Roads)Sat. Feb. 17Providence at BaltimoreHershey at Jacksonville (Afternoon)Rochester at New HovenSun. Feb. 18Springfield at Baltimore (Afternoon)Hershey at CincinnatiBoston at Jacksonville (Afternoon)Providence at New HovenRochester at Nova ScotiaVirginia at Richmond<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02193/3608260-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="606" height="679"></div><h2>LOOKING AT AHL LEADERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03141/3608253-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="613" height="802"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-04111/3608246-1-eng-US/f0027-042.jpg" title="f0027-04" width="625" height="775"></div> &#9632;

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY ARV OLSON</div>VANCOUVER&mdash;Vic Stasiuk was comparing Steve Durbano, of all people, to Bobby Orr, of all people.He hadn&rsquo;t drooled so profusely since the last time he sat down before a plate of Ukrainian dumplings.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01451/3607953-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="274" height="361"><figcaption class="caption-body">Andre Boudrias</figcaption></div>You don&rsquo;t get to drool much over hockey players these days if you happen to coach Vancouver Canucks, whom Stasiuk happens to coach.Stasiuk wasn&rsquo;t actually admiring the finesse of Durbano, the ever-improving defenseman of St. Louis Blues, after Vancouver&rsquo;s 5-1 defeat in St. Louis (Feb. 7).He was thinking wishfully. wishing more of his Canucks performed as fearlessly as did Durbano. Stasiuk was trying to get the message across to his Canucks (he&rsquo;s been trying to get in across all season): get tough.&ldquo;No one is scared when they come into our end,&rdquo; Stasiuk moaned. &ldquo;They know they&rsquo;re not going to get hurt, so they come in charging. The word has got around.&ldquo;Look at that Durbano. Tonight he was handling the puck like Bobby Orr. I saw him in junior and everyone said he was just a stumblebum. But he&rsquo;s big and now he&rsquo;s finding out no one wants any part of him. He&rsquo;s handling the puck with confidence because no one wants to check him.&rdquo;Stasiuk breathed, and continued. &ldquo;Josh Guevremont and Dale Tallon were rated way ahead of him (Durbano) as juniors, weren&rsquo;t they? It just goes to prove that you should go for the gutsy guys. Why can&rsquo;t we come up with some one like that?&rdquo;While Stasiuk was disenchanted with most of his players&rsquo; indifference at St. Louis, and two nights earlier in a 8-2 whipping at Detroit, he was more than pleaed with his kids.&ldquo;The kids worked, at least,&rdquo; he said, referring to the rookie line of Don Lever, Gerry O&rsquo;Flaherty and Barry Wilcox. The &ldquo;kids&rdquo; weren&rsquo;t on the ice for any of the 13 goals scored against Canucks in the two games.Another one of Vancouver&rsquo;s rookie, centre John Wright, wasn&rsquo;t on for any of those goals either. He didn&rsquo;t dress for the games.Wright, the U. of Toronto grad who has been playing fine defensive hockey for the Canucks recently, suffered painful injuries in Vancouver&rsquo;s 2-1 victory at Toronto. Late in the game, in which Wright and mates had held Dave Keon&rsquo;s line in check, a shot by Toronto&rsquo;s Jim McKenny deflected off Wright&rsquo;s stick and the puck struck his face. He required 14 stitches to repair cuts in the mouth and several more for a cut under his eye.In that heartening victory, Andre Boudrias potted his 100th goal in a career spanning 404 NHL games. It was his 18th of the season. Andre scored 27 and 25 times in his first two seasons with Vancouver.Notably, Bobby Lalonde got the winner in Toronto. It was only the 10th goal for the little rookie, but it was his fourth game-winner.Canucks will have some of the muscle they&rsquo;ve been lacking at the end of the February. That&rsquo;s when team captain Orland kurtenbach is due to rejoin the team.Kurt, who only started skating recently, has been out since Dec. 21, recuperating from surgery for the removal of his gall bladder and appendix.His return will be welcomed. Stasiuk hopes Kurt can motivate the Canucks to start throwing their weight around. The coach hasn&rsquo;t been able to. &#9632;

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Skidding Canucks Not Throwing Weight Around

<div class="byline">BY BOB STRUMM</div>WINNIPEG&mdash;There&rsquo;s nothing quite like an initiation into Tier One junior hockey. An elbow in the chops here, a jab in the ribs there and a &ldquo;Welcome to t he league, rook&rdquo; are routine greetings tor aspiring greenhorns.Rookies usually wear the good old black and blue colors no matter what their affiliation. And the Western Canada Hockey League is no different than any other major junior circuit.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01185/3609065-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="250" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">Kelly Greenbank</figcaption></div>The first half of the 68-game schedule presents the roughest ride for ambitious WCHL newcomers. Players who survive usually encounter a much more enjoyable rip the rest of the season. Winnipeg Jets, last in the Eastern Division of the WCHL. haven&rsquo;t had much to cheer about this year. But one guy who has broken the monotony is 18-year old winger Don Larway, who leads the rookies in their own private goal-scoring race.With two-thirds of the season gone. Larway found himself showing the way to his first-year counterparts throughout the 12-team circuit. Not that he&rsquo;s the Pied Piper or anything, but Larway&rsquo;s 29 goals are better than any other rookie has to offer.&ldquo;His individual skills are tremendous,&rdquo; Winnipeg coach Gerry Brisson said earlier this season. &ldquo;But he has to learn to be more of a team man.&ldquo;Don scored one of the prettiest goals I&rsquo;ve ever seen to win a game for us in New Westminster&hellip; but he did it all himself. He took the puck behind our own net. and went through the whole Bruins&rsquo; club. It was something else.&rdquo; added Brisson.Larway&rsquo;s goal scoring lead among the rookies is not what you&rsquo;d call overwhelming. Brandon Wheat Kings have a bulls eye shooter of their own named Kelly Greenbank, who has already shown an amazing knack for find ing the net.Greenbank, with 28 goals, is still very much in contention for rookie sharp-shooting honors. Certainly playing with a couple of experienced centers like Robbie Neale and Ron Chipperfield has helped the Wheat King newcomer tremendously.Another Brandon freshman, Rick Blight, and Saskatcxm Blade rookie Danny Arndt are next in line with 24 goals apiece, giving the Eastern Division a stronghold in this out-of-the-way scoring chase.Top man in the Western Division is New Westminster&rsquo;s Wayne Dye. a 19-year old who has only one season to impress the scouts. Dye is doing a pretty good selling job according to some ivory-hunters and has 22 goals to prove it.A pair of Victoria Cougars round out the select circle of seven rookies who have already joined the 20-goal Club. Dave Faulkner has 21 goals and Terry Ewasiuk 20 for the lift h-place Cougars.Ewasiuk. a big winger, is in the same boat as Dye. The Victoria rookie is in his first and last season in the WCHL, and must do a quick promotional job on himself.Although the rookies seem to be more fascinated by goals, the first-year points race provides a bit of a sidelight. The leader here is Blight, who has 51 assists to go with his 24 goals for 75 points. Greenbank is next with 66 points.MEDICINE HAT: Tigers played four games in four nights away from home and put together a four-game unbeaten string&hellip; Two victories and two ties were enough to lift the club into first place in the East&hellip; Tom Lysiak continued to widen his league scoring lead, picking up six goals and seven assists and raising his point total to 117&hellip; Ed Johnstone, the best second-liner in the WCHL. scored five goals and added live assists in the four games&hellip; His goal total now stands at 40.EDMONTON: Oil Kings made coach Brian Shaw angry with a 5-3 defeat against Flin Eion Bombers&hellip; Shaw made his club watch video-tape replays of the game while still in uniform, and then had his club back on the ice for practice until well past midnight The sour mood spread to the Kings as I hey out roughed t he Centennials 4-1 two nights later&hellip; A total of 96 minutes in penalties were assessed in the first period alone&hellip; John Rogers fired his first hat trick of the year in 10-5 triumph over Victoria.NEW WESTMINSTER: Bruins. 9-2 win over Vancouver was a productive one for Punch McLean&rsquo;s rookie crop&hellip; Clayton Pachal. Bob Hess and Brad Rota each scored t heir first WCHL goals during the contest&hellip; Marty Kis-sell. usually confined to a checking assignment, picked up his second hat-trick of the year in the triumph&hellip; Ron Kennedy experienced a rare thrill, scoring with just three seconds remaining to tie Medicine Hat 4-4&hellip;CALGARY: John Davidson and Jerry Holland assumed hero roles for umpteenth time this season as Cents dumped Flin Flon 3-2&hellip; Davidson made 35 saves in Calgary net. while Holland contributed his 40th goal which proved to be winner&hellip; Mike Rogers, the team&rsquo;s point leader with 87. chipped in with two assists.VICTORIA: Ed Boucha. the unknown kid purchased from Flin Flon early in the season, has suddenly found the scoring range&hellip; In three games, he potted five goals, raising his season&rsquo;s total to 12&hellip; Cougars missed victory by 33 seconds when Bombers scored the equalizer&hellip; The 10-man Calgary group which owned the Cougars has sold the club to a five-man Victoria group for more than $100,000&hellip; Eric Bishop, general manager of the team, was the only previous owner who remained with the new group.VANCOUVER: Nats&rsquo; winless streak reached 13 games with a 9-2 defeat to New Westminster and 5-5 tie with Medicine Hat&hellip; Nats have had three droughts of more than 10 games this season.. Goaltender Jack Cummings made 45 saves in deadlock&hellip; Randy Andreachuk and John Senkpiel each scored three times during the week.SASKATOON: Blades&rsquo; winless string reached three games with ties in Brandon and Regina and a 5-3 loss in Swift Current&hellip; The line of Danny Arndt, Garth Dietrick and Bill Laing continued to spark the division leaders&hellip;Arndt has scored six goals in his last six games while Dietrick has earned at least one point in seven consecutive games&hellip;FLIN FLON: In the midst of a nine-game road trip, Bombers remained right on the.500 track with one win, one loss and two ties.. Defenseman Ray Maluta and center Ron Andruff provided the early spark with three goals apiece&hellip; With the absence of injured Al Hillier from his big line, coach Patty Ginnell has shifted Blaine Stoughton from right wing to center&hellip;BRANDON: Ron Chipperfield continued to score his goals in bunches&hellip; Chipperfield scored his third hat trick of season in 9-2 win over Winnipeg&hellip; The 18-year old pivot also has enjoyed three four-goal games and two five-goal games this season&hellip; He is the league leader in goals with 58&hellip;REGINA: Dennis Sobchuk became the third WCHL player to reach 100 points with three goals and an assist against Winnipeg&hellip; It was Sobchuk&rsquo;s fourth hat-trick of the season&hellip; He now has 49&rsquo; goals and 53 assists&hellip; Mike Wan-chuk contributed a goal and two assists in the 4-4 tie with Jets.SWIFT CURRENT: Defense men Leo Parker and Virgil Gates each doubled their season&rsquo;s scoring total with single goals in a 5-3 win over Saskatoon&hellip; Terry McDougall scored twice and added two assists in a 6-4 victory over Brandon as Broncos continued to close in on fourth-place Regina&hellip;WINNIPEG: Jets put together a two-game unbeaten streak with 6-4 win over Swift Current and 4-4 tie with Regina&hellip; Brian Dick exploded for two goals in the first period against Swift Current&hellip; Rookie Gord Blumenschien scored his first WCHL goal.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02137/3609058-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="541" height="561"><figcaption class="caption-body">DANNY ARNDT Goal-a-game Pace</figcaption></div><h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03100/3609051-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="598" height="459"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDMon. Feb.5Victoria 5 at Edmonton 10Tue. Feb. 6Flin Flon 5 at Vancouver 5Brandon 4 at Medicine Hat 6Victoria 3 at Calgary 8Winnipeg 3 at Saskatoon 5Swift Current 6 at Regina 6Wed. Feb. 7Winnipeg 3 at Swift Current 5Thurs. Feb. 8Flin Flon 1 at Medicine Hat 2Brandon 3 at New Westminster 3Victoria 2 at Edmonton 8Fri. Feb. 9Flin Flon 5 at Swift Current 2Calgary 2 at Regina 3Winnipeg 2 at Saskatoon 8Sat Feb. 10Brandon 4 at Vancouver 5Medicine Hat 2 at Edmonton 4Sun. Feb, 11Flin Flon 1 at Regina 2Brandon 6 at Victoria 6Calgary 3 at Soskatoon 4Edmonton 2 at New Westminster 2Swift Current 8 at Winnipeg 10<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0465/3609044-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="601" height="580"></div> &#9632;

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Rookie Crop Cutting Teeth On Flurry Of Goal Storing

<div class="byline">BY NORMMacLEAN</div>NEW YORK&mdash;With an unbeaten string of 16 straight games (14-0-2) the Rangers have zeroed in on Montreal and first place in the NHL East. First is the place to finish and is the easy road to the Stanley Cup. The first place finisher plays the fourth place team, probably Detroit or Buffalo, then crosses over and plays the winner of the second-third place team in the West. This should add up to an expansion team, if Chicago finishes first.Montreal had a four point lead at press time, but the irrepressible Blueshirts are peaking just in demolished Boston 7-3 on Feb. 3, leaving almost the only Bruin laurel in the game a fistic win for Ken Hodge over Peter Stemkowski. After the Stemmer had his jersey pulled over his eyes he was blinded. He looked more like Johnny Bench catching punches that a brawny hockey player.&ldquo;I was trying to get to the bench to tag Emile Francis so he could replace me,&rdquo; quipped Peter later.In the win over Boston Walter Tkaczuk hit for hie first hat trick of the season, hot streak by Tkaczuk. who had some early season scoring problems would be real icing on the Rangers cake. The Tkaczuk line with Billy Fairbairn and Steve Vickers is for real and provides New York with a balanced attack as is the surprise punch shown by the Stemkowski-Bruce MacGregor-Glen Sather trio.Vickers, solid in front of the net and coming back like a true Toronto Maple Leaf product, beat the bejabbers out of Don Marcotte in the Boston game. It showed that even though the Bruins attempted to rough up the Rangers, New York wasn&rsquo;t having any.&ldquo;That was a big game for us,&rdquo; said Brad Park. &ldquo;In the past Boston seemed to win the big ones, sometimes by intimidating us. It didn&rsquo;t happen this time and even when Stemmer lost his fight we were laughing about it later.&rdquo;Stemkowski bounced back with his second hat trick of the season when he helped demolish the Atlanta Flames 6-0 on February 4. Gilles Villemure racked up his second shutout and remained ahead in the individual goalie race. Ed Giacomin played the big game in Boston as Emile Francis continued to juggle with expertise.The unsung hero of the Rangers spurt has been Sather, oft malingned as a no-talent type. Slats, with regular duty, has improved his puck handling and was acting like a super playmaker in Boston and against Atlanta. He scored a clutch goal against the Bruins shooting one handed through Eddie Johnston from 40 feet out and also fed Fairbairn for a goal. In the Atlanta game, he twice suckered the Flames and set up Stemkowski.&ldquo;The Bruins got desperate and tried to bully us, but we wouldn&rsquo;t take it,&rdquo; said the jaunty, cocky Ranger. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m playing better because I know I&rsquo;m playing regular and don&rsquo;t have to create an impression with a body check or just by strirring things up. Confidence comes with playing all the time.&rdquo;Behind Sather stands Ted Irvine, activated for spot duty. Teddy was very happy indeed when he scored against Atlanta, although he knows he is still out of shape.&ldquo;With Sather playing so well, I can take my time and get ready more easily,&rdquo; said Irvine. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;ll take any time I can get. That goal had to help my morale.&rdquo;Vickers also scored in Boston, a milestone goal, his 20th. Steve is a good bet for thirty and just has to be the rookie of the year. He is tough to move in the slot and deadly in front of the net. With Fairbairn at 21 goals and Tkaczuk at 18 all three members of this line will go over the 20 mark.Rod Gilbert banged home his 20th against Atlanta, for his eighth twenty goal season. Only Andy Bathgate and Camille Henry have had as many. With Jean Ratelie and Vic Hadfield already past or at the mark and Stemkowski nearing it, with 18,: even Rangers will certainly surpass twenty goals.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the balance we have been looking for,&rdquo; noted Francis, the coach and GM.BLUE CHIPS: Slats Sather now has 9 goals&hellip; Gilles Ville-mure was 14-6-2 with Ed Giaco-min being 21-7-2. Villemure was at 2.10 in the GA race and Giac at 2.70 after a poor start&hellip; Ted Irvine has missed a total of 24 games with two knee injuries this year&hellip; Overall the Rangers have missed 131 man games through Feb. 6&hellip; Steve Vickers is closing in on the rookie goal record on the Rangers&mdash;26-set by Wally Hergesheimer in 1951-52&hellip; Bobby Rousseau notched his 400th career assist against Atlanta&hellip;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01894/3606839-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="557" height="865"><figcaption class="caption-body">WALTER TKACZUK&hellip; First Hat Trick</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Rangers Zero tn On Top Spot With 16-Came Unbeaten Run

NHL TeamsAtlanta&hellip;&hellip; 14Boston&hellip;&hellip; 6Buffalo&hellip;&hellip; 23California&hellip;&hellip; 17Chicago&hellip;&hellip; 15Detroit&hellip;&hellip; 3Los Angeles&hellip;&hellip; 18Minnesota&hellip;&hellip; 10Montreal&hellip;&hellip; 12N.Y. Islanders&hellip;&hellip; 11N.Y. Rangers&hellip;&hellip; 2Philadelphia&hellip;&hellip; 22Pittsburgh&hellip;&hellip; 7St. Louis&hellip;&hellip; 13Toronto&hellip;&hellip; 8Vancouver&hellip;&hellip; 20Other LeaguesWorld Hockey&hellip;&hellip; 24American&hellip;&hellip; 27Western&hellip;&hellip; 30Central&hellip;&hellip; 32Eastern&hellip;&hellip; 34International&hellip;&hellip; 35Colleges&hellip;&hellip; 36OHA Major&hellip;&hellip; 37WCHL&hellip;&hellip; 38ColumnistsKen McKenzie&hellip;&hellip; 4Bill Libby&hellip;&hellip; 8Other FeaturesFan Forum&hellip;&hellip; 4All Star Game&hellip;&hellip; 10Movements&hellip;&hellip; 12NHL Scoring&hellip;&hellip; 16NHL Summaries&hellip;&hellip; 19NHL Scoreboard&hellip;&hellip; 21WHA Scoreboard&hellip;&hellip; 25WHA Summaries&hellip;&hellip; 26Crossword&hellip;&hellip; 29Hockey Tips&hellip;&hellip; 39Jr. Jottings&hellip;&hellip; 39 &#9632;

WHERE YOU’LL FIND IT ALL

DETROIT&mdash;A standing room crowd of 15,683 saw the Atlanta game, biggest turnout for an expansion team at Olympia.Defenseman Gary Doak is on the limp again after stretching the ligaments in his left knee during the 8-2 victory over Vancouver&hellip; Doak was expected to miss the entire six-game trip and it was his second mishap this season&mdash;he fractured his right leg in the first exhibition game and missed the first five weeks of the season.Marcel Dionne had a streak of at least a point-a-game for 11 games through Feb. 6&mdash;six goals and 13 assists. Redmond had 17 goals in 17 games and 24 in 27, take your pick. &#9632;

Doak On Sidelines Again

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01899/3606908-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rookie HENRY BOUCHA, an American-bred Indian, is the darling o Detroit hockey fans with his colorful headhands. He wears red on the road and white at the Olympia. The new look has also helped Boucha on the ice. He&rsquo;s starting to score goals, too. (Hockey News Photo by Peter Woolley)</figcaption></div>DETROIT&mdash;There is nothing like a winning spell to loosen up the dressing room and, prior to hopping off for a six game swing from Atlanta to Vancouver, the Red Wings were very loose.How loose? Well. General Manager Ned Harkness said that after the team won its first game in Boston Garden in five years, he was tempted to buy a stick-on moustache and walk into the dressing room the next morning and greet the team with &ldquo;Hey look. I&rsquo;ve joined you!&rdquo;And as Henry Boucha continued to catch on with the fans with his colorful red and white head bands, Harkness said he was tempted to buy some feathers and have Coach Johnny Wilson award Henry a feather for every goal and every good game, &ldquo;the way football coaches give decals to put on the players&rsquo; helmets.&rdquo;A couple of years ago Garry Unger&rsquo;s long hair and moustache led to differences between Unger and Harkness, differences that eventually set Unger to speaking his mind about Harkness&rsquo; coaching and when Harkness became GM, Unger was dealt to St. Louis.Unger was something of a trailblazer with his long locks and now it&rsquo;s accepted in hockey, accepted I might add, in direct ratio to a team&rsquo;s won-lost-tied record.Since the Wings&rsquo; record sprouted upwards, so too have some upper lips, notably club captain Alex Delvecchio&rsquo;s, Mickey Redmond&rsquo;s and Boucha&rsquo;s. Even club announced Budd Lynch and Detroit News hockey writer Bill Brennan are growing them and they aren&rsquo;t exactly the &ldquo;now&rdquo; generation.&ldquo;A little moustache isn&rsquo;t going to bother anything,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m flexible as long as they&rsquo;re neat&mdash;why every second person you see on the street has a moustache. As I explained to the players one day, I haven&rsquo;t said yes (about growing one) and I haven&rsquo;t said no.&rdquo;Hair isn&rsquo;t the only thing that&rsquo;s keeping the boys occupied and loose. There&rsquo;s Mickey Redmond&rsquo;s car, described by Wilson as &ldquo;the lemon&rdquo; and by Gary Bergman as &ldquo;The Red Marauder.&rdquo;Despite the advice of his teammates, Redmond bought a secondhand car and it has spent more time in the garage than on the road. While driving to Bergman&rsquo;s on Christmas it caught fire and Redmond had to bail out.Last month he got the car out of the garage and it ran for three days and conked out again. &ldquo;When Mickey goes out to start it in the morning there&rsquo;s only a 50-50 chance it&rsquo;ll run,&rdquo; Tim Ecclestone said. &ldquo;and lately it&rsquo;s been failing in key situations.&rdquo;Two players attached one of those novelty shop bombs, the kind that smoke&rsquo; pop and whistle, to Redmond&rsquo;s car during practice one day and when he got in and started it is began to smoke, pop and whistle and Redmond bailed out again&mdash;he now is able to get out of his car just as fast as he shoots a puck which is some kind of fast since his 36 goals led the NHL through Feb. 6.If Redmond can keep entertaining the team and keep whistling pucks into opposition goals, the Red Wings, loose and happy, may keep up the surge that began just before Christmas.Once 13 points behind fourth place Buffalo, the Wings&rsquo; 16-5-4 won-lost-tied string since midDecember enabled them to cut the deficit to a single point prior to their lengthy February journey that started with their first trip to Atlanta.The Flames may be an expansion team but they&rsquo;ve looked like All-Stars to Detroit, especially goaltender Dan Bouchard. Twice Atlanta beat the Wings on Olympia ice before Wings were able to beat Geoffrion&rsquo;s team, 1-0.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02767/3606901-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="550" height="538"><figcaption class="caption-body">MICKEY REDMOND&hellip; A Hot Number</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03516/3606894-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="537" height="537"><figcaption class="caption-body">NED HARKNESS&hellip; Will GM Be Next?</figcaption></div>At that, Detroit needed a deflected shot&mdash;Tim Ecclestone tipped a Marcel Dionne drive&mdash;to score on Bouchard. Roy Edwards collected his fifth shutout of the season, his NHL high and tied with Ken Dryden for the league lead, in the game but Bouchard, who faced 40 shots to 22 for Edwards, was the top player on t he ice.Wrapped around the very tight Atlanta game were a couple of laughers. 6-4 over California and a 51-shot 8-2 victory over Vancouver, as the Wings wrapped upa run of three home games in four nights after t he All-Star pause.That boosted their home record to 17-9-4. not a particularly impressive oe. That, plus an anemic 10-12-5 record against the supposedly weaker West Division (17-7-2 against the East) has kept the Wings behind Buffalo most of the season. &#9632;

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WINNING SPELL LOOSENS RED WINGS

<div class="byline">BY Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01950/3606984-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="304" height="353"></div>ATLANTA&mdash;HOCKEY is here to stay The Flames may have difficulty in making the Western Division playoffs in their initial season of NHL play but they ice an interesting and crowd pleasing squad and the keen sports fans of this bustling metropolis are behind them all the way&hellip; This is the third NHL expansion team that Bill Putnam, president of the Flames, has been associated with and all three franchises have been successful. He set up the application for the Los Angeles Kings while working with? Jack Kent Cooke and he was the first president and governor of the Philadelphia Flyers&hellip; General Manager Cliff Fletcher drafted extheir possible points. In 1957-58 they finished tremely well at the NHL meetings last June and Boom Boom Geoffrion has certainly been getting the most out of his charges&hellip; Ten directors dictate the policy of the beautiful Omni, home of the Flames, as well as he Atlanta Hawks pro basketball team&hellip; Paul Duke, former All-American football player who played pro with the New York Yankees, is a member of the Board of Directors. Dillard Munford serves as chairman of the board. Bill Hohlstein. Charlie Loudermilk and John Wilcox.-Jr. are other directors we met during our first visit here&hellip; Almost every game at the Omni is a sellout and the club had over 15,000 when Chicago played here&hellip; Keith McCreary, a popular member of the Flames, scored his 100th NHL goal against the Hawks&hellip; It was a tough game for the Flames to lose as they held a 3-0 lead at one time. They made too many mistakes in the last period to go down 4-3 to the Hawks. Chicago&rsquo;s Stan Mikita injured his heel bone in this game and will be out of action for at least three weeks&hellip; Chicago has played 11 straight games without a defeat. They&rsquo;ve won eight and tied three. They&rsquo;ve lost only one game in their last 14&hellip; It didn&rsquo;t take long for some of the Atlanta directors to comment about the officiating and some were wondering why the new NHL officials seemed to be making more visits to Atlanta than some of the more experienced help<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02906/3606977-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="254" height="417"><figcaption class="caption-body">Cliff Fletcher</figcaption></div>DEREK SANDERSON picked up an assist in his second game since rejoining the Bruins. He received a tremendous ovation every time he stepped on the ice from the jam-packed Boston Garden fans&hellip; Scotty Connal, executive sports director of NBC, doing a great job with his nationally telecast Sunday afternoon games. The between-periods shows have been first rate all the way&hellip; Buffalo&rsquo;s rookie defenseman. Jim Schoenfeld, is gaining a reputation as one of the toughest guys in the circuit&hellip; Toronto Maple Leafs will finish this season with their worst record in the club&rsquo;s 55-year history. Right now the Leafs have gained 40 percent of last in the standings and earned 38 percent of their possible points&hellip; Not one single client of Al Eagleson signed a contract with a WHA club.. Milt Schmidt is looking for a job after 36 years with the Boston Bruins as a player, coach and executive&hellip; It looks like Johnny Wilson has escaped firing at Detroit after the Red Wings great showing of late, six wins in seven starts&hellip; This has been a tough season for NHI, coaches&hellip; five firings and the season not ended yet&hellip; Red Kelly, Phil Goyette. Al Arbour, Garry Young and Tom-Johnson all bit the dust so far&hellip; Vancouver&rsquo;s Bobby Schmautz says the biggest thrill he&rsquo;s ever had in hockey was playing in this year&rsquo;s All Star game. Top thrill for him up to that time was when he first met Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull when he briefly joined Chicago Black Hawks&hellip; Vancouver misses Orland Kurtenbach. out most of this season with surgery that removed his gall bladder and appendix&hellip; former NHL star Andy Bathgate hopes to have his new golf course ready this summer at Burlington, Ont.&hellip; Bep Guidolin turned down two WHA coaching offers to remain in the Boston Bruins&rsquo; organization last summer and now he&rsquo;s happy he did.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03801/3606970-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="250" height="435"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Wilson</figcaption></div>NEW YORK Rangers and St. Louis Blues are in the hottest streaks right now among NHL clubs. The Rangers haven&rsquo;t been beaten in their last 16 games and have won 10 in a row&hellip; Jean-Guy Talbot&rsquo;s Blues have lost but once in their last 13 games&hellip; Bep Gui-dolin, Boston&rsquo;s new mentor, has won three straight games since replacing Tom Johnson as coach of the Bruins. The Stanley Cup champs have yet to lose with Guidolin back of the bench&hellip; Greyhaired Henri Richard has been the outstanding member of the Canadiens in recent games. The 37-year-old Montreal captain seems to have shaken off the worst slump in his lengthy career&hellip; New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres played a penalty-free game on February 4. The last time this happened was on March 22, 1969, between Pittsburgh and St. Louis&hellip; Ron Ward, leading scorer in the WHA. plans to have an operation at the end of the season. The New York Raiders&rsquo; star center said: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a rib touching a nerve and it started bothering me about 15 games ago. Lately it has really started to hurt&rdquo;&hellip; Minnesota North Stars have drawn over 3 million people to regular season games since joining the NHL in 1967&hellip; Steve Durbano of St. Louis missed two months of the season with mononucleosis but he still has a chance to break Barclay Plager&rsquo;s team record of 176 penalty minutes in a season. Durbano has set a last pace this season which could push him past Plager&rsquo;s mark. He has proven to be a very popular player with the rabid St. Louis fans&hellip; There is an 18-year-old girl in Edmonton named Barbara Mandrusiak who has been refereeing minor hockey league games all season and doing a first-rate job. too.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04699/3606963-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="242" height="423"><figcaption class="caption-body">Steve Durbano</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

voL. 26 No.21 FEBRUARY 23, 1973OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLYFounded 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. 12979Charlie HalpinEditorial DirectoKenneth William McKenziePresident and PublisherUnited States Advertising Representatives: Boston: Stephen Ganak, Mediarep Center Inc&hellip; 1425 Statler Office Bldg, Boston, Mass. 02116, telephone (617) 482-5233 New York: Raymond Ogren, Sports Communications Inc. 770 Lexington Ave, New York, N.Y. 10021, telephone (212) HA 1-7800; Chicago: Hooper Jones & Associates, 3322 W Peterson Ave., Chicago, III.60645, telephone (312) 478-5544.Yearly SUBSCRIPTION Rates: $7.00 in Canada $8.00 in the U.S.A, and $10.00 in Foreign Countries.Postpage paid at Rouses Point, N.Y. 12979. SEND ADDRESS CHANCES TO 1431 ST. CATHERINE STREET WEST, SUITE 212, MONTREAL 107, P.Q, Second class mail&mdash;Registration No. 1327.Printed in Canada &#9632;

The Hockey News

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05568/3607039-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg"></div>Overlooking PerreaultWeakens &rsquo;Star&rsquo; SystemThe format under which the NHL All Star squads are selected has got to be revised. It seems every year that the coach who fills out the squad makes at least one poor selection (possibly for many reasons which should not be considered).This year, I can&rsquo;t believe Gil Perreault was left off the squad. I can easily understand him not making first or second team, but to pick the third and fourth best centers in the East and not him is truly unbelievable, especially when he came in third in the hockey writers&rsquo; voting. Another example is picking Ken Hodge over Mickey Redmond. The reasoning is that the coach wanted someone who had played with Esposito. That&rsquo;s fine&mdash;except that he had a chance to fill the highest-scoring line in the league by selecting Perreault (who makes the line go) to play between Martin and Robert.DAVE TRACY Lockport, N.Y.Let Players PickThe All Star TeamsThe omission of Roy Edwards from the East Division All Star team is just another example, in an unending string of injustices, at All Star time every year. If the Professional Hockey Writers Association&rsquo;s three members in each league city cannot pick a team on performance, instead of past performances, or what team a man plays for, the balloting should be turned over to the players.Edwards, after a year of relative inactivity, and nearing 36 years of age, has to be the Comeback Player of the Year&rsquo; in the NHL. At All Star break, Edwards trails only Ken Dryden in games played, goals against average, and shut-outs, and he has achieved this playing for a fifth place team. He is the backbone of a team struggling for a playoff berth.Edwards is to the Red Wings, as Dryden is to the Canadiens&mdash;invaluable. In light of these facts, Gilles Villemure&rsquo;s inclusion on the All Star team is not only a disservice to Edwards, but an indictment of the apathy and unprofessionalism of the &ldquo;Professional&rdquo; Hockey Writers Association. Let the players pick which of their peers are All Stars, not men who profess to know the game, but whose actions make a mockery of such words as &ldquo;All Star&rdquo; and &ldquo;Professional&rdquo;.Florian J. Sitarek Warren, Mich.Graves DeservingOf Rookie AwardProbably, because he plays for a last place team on the West Coast, the Seals&rsquo; Hilliard Graves will not recieve the NHL&rsquo;s rookie of the year honors. When all the votes are in and the Calder Cup is presented to the more publicized Jim Schoenfeld or Steve Vickers, a great injustice will have been done. Graves, the ever-hustling right wing, is currently tied with Chuck Lefley forrookie scoring honors with 17 goals and 15 assists, eight goals and five assists in the past nine games. His totals are more impressive when you consider he plays on an all-rookie line, quite unlike Vickers or Lefley.If Graves is not voted rookie of the year, an honor he richly deserves, his fans will be disappointed&mdash;but that disappointment will be overshadowed by the enjoyment of his play in future years and the satisfaction that we know that the Eastern voters wish they would have voted differently back in &rsquo;73 when this star appeared.BRIAN McNAMARA Moss Beach, Calif.NHL Should EaseFuture ExpansionI would like to level some criticism at the NHL for their plans for the further expansion of the National Hockey League.At the current rate of growth we will undoubtably see a modern version of the Philadelphia Quakers or St. Louis Eagles. The teams I have just mentioned were not the only unsuccessful teams in the early NHL, one can&rsquo;t forget Hamilton or Ottawa, either.Rather than the seemingly unrestricted expansion of the league, I suggest the NHL ease off on new teams for a while. In approximately 5 years, the World Hockey Association will be reduced to a half dozen fairly strong teams, and at that time, a merger would be in order. In the meanwhile, the NHL would not have to suffer the emba-rassment of a few failures.JEFFREY COTTER. Heckman&rsquo;s Island, N.S.NHLGoaling AveragesNot Fair To IslandersIn a recent article, Jim Huber unfairly attributed Atlanta&rsquo;s superiority over the Islanders due to better goaltending, and cited their goals against average as indicative. We all know that the A VG is not the true determination of good goaltending. Take a look at the shots against Smith and Desjardins and note that they are often outshot two and t hree to one.It is not unusual for Islander opponents to take 50-60 shots at the New York goalie. Most certainly this is not his fault, and the goalies should not be blamed for overall team ineptitude. Actually. I believe they hold out pretty well under extremely trying conditions. LARRY FRIEDMAN, Saratoga, N.Y.One Member OmittedFrom Patrick ClanRegarding Byron Schmuland&rsquo;s letter in the Jan. 5 Fan Forum, asking the names and teams of he three Patrick generations. Well, you left one out! How about Glenn Patrick, younger brother of Craig, and son of Lynn? Glenn deserves credit too. and even though he&rsquo;s not in the NHL, he&rsquo;s certainly becoming NHL material.Right now. Glenn is one of the finest defensemen for the Denver Spurs of the Western Hockey League. So please don&rsquo;t forget him next time!ROMA PERRY, Aurora, Colo. &#9632;

f0004-05

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">BY jack McCarthy</div>BOSTON&mdash;The Bruins players took the blame for the firing of Coach Tom Johnson, who was replaced by Armand &ldquo;Bep&rdquo; Guidolin on Monday Feb. 5.Johnson, who took the firing like the class guy he is, said, &ldquo;The coach is always the one to go when things aren&rsquo;t going well. They can&rsquo;t get rid of the players.&rdquo;Although Johnson undoubtedly took the move hard, he took it with his typical stoic calm, outwardly, at least. But the players were something else.Bobby Orr said it this way: &ldquo;Twenty guys got Tom fired. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t work, so Tom got it&mdash;a damned shame. Maybe they should have got rid of some players, instead. I guess that&rsquo;s the way it works in sports&mdash;but this is shameful. We didn&rsquo;t have the damn guts to work for him. He did everything. He tried.&rdquo;The Bruins&rsquo; other big man, Phil Esposito, said, &ldquo;It should have been one of us guys. It wasn&rsquo;t the coach&rsquo;s fault. There should have been a trade to shake things up-and maybe there stille will be a trade.&ldquo;The wrong guy went. Now, well, we have to get behind Bep and work&mdash;work real hard&hellip;&rdquo;Kenny Hodge, who will, incidentally, be out from two to three weeks with a sprained right wrist, said, &ldquo;We let him down on the ice as a team. All the coach can do is tell you to go, then it&rsquo;s up to the players. I was shocked when I came into the room and heard that. We joke a lot around here, but that is no joke&hellip;&rdquo;The veteran Bruin, Johnny Bucyk, said, &ldquo;Tom Johnson became the scapegoat for us. He paid the price for our letdown.&rdquo;And the other Elder statesman, goaler Eddie Johnston, added, &ldquo;We had no indication of this&mdash;none whatsoever. This homestand, (loss to New York, tie by Philadelphia) this is what kilted us. Nobody should blame Tommy. There were 18 or 19 playing for the club who have to share in it. Too bad. He&rsquo;s a super guy.&rdquo;Freddie Stanfield said, &ldquo;Why blame Tom if the players aren&rsquo;t performing up to their poten-tional? Everybody was surprised, believe me. The guy did his darndest, but we weren&rsquo;t doing the job for him&hellip;&rdquo;Mike Walton called Johnson, &ldquo;The best coach I&rsquo;ve ever been associated with in hockey. But, itdidn&rsquo;t surprise me. Something had to be done. We all knew something was coming&mdash;maybe a trade. He tried to kick us in the fanny and get us going but, well, it was just one of those things. I don&rsquo;t see how you can fault Tom.&rdquo;Wayne Cashman said, &ldquo;Tom Johnson didn&rsquo;t let us down. We let him down. Let&rsquo;s face it, Tom got burned and it wasn&rsquo;t his fault. What else can you say?&rdquo;There was more of this, in the same vein, from others, as Bep Guidolin picked up the reins and began the attempt to at least nail down a Stanley Cup playoff berth for the defending champions.Bep started off with tough skating sessions, up and down the ice, that had a lot of tongues hanging out, and that went for everybody, including Orr and Esposito, the stars.Said Bep, &ldquo;It&rsquo;ll be like that every day, only the workouts will get tougher, and there&rsquo;ll be no days off, unless we have five games in six nights or six games in seven nights.&rsquo;Asked about bed-checks on the road. Guidolin replied, &ldquo;I just hope they don&rsquo;t force me to. I don&rsquo;t want to be a baby-sitter, but I will if they force me&hellip;&rdquo; &#9632;

Boston Players Share Blame For Dismissal Of Johnson

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01982/3607094-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="500" height="961"><figcaption class="caption-body">BEP GUIDOLIN&hellip; We&rsquo;ve Got The Talent</figcaption></div>BOSTON&mdash;Bep Guidolin. who took over the Bruins&rsquo;coaching job after Tom Johnson was relieved of that chore, says that he will be tough if he has to, and he started right off in that vein.Johnson, meanwhile, received a three-year contract as an administrative assistant, although his duties were not specified. He will probably work with the man who decided he should be replaced, his good friend, Harry Sinden. managing director.Guidolin had the Bruins on the ice moments after he was named coach and had them skating until their tongues were hanging out. The next day, when the team left for Minnesota in the afternoon, Beppo called a workout in the morning, and that was another toughie.Said Guidolin, &ldquo;I was shocked when I got the word, but it&rsquo;s always been my dream to coach in Boston since I came here as a player when I was 16 years old.&ldquo;I love the people and I&rsquo;ve made a lot of good friends I met my wife Eleanor here when she appeared in Boston with the Ice C&rsquo;apades. The way I see this team is that we&rsquo;ve got the talent. It&rsquo;s just a case of motivating some people, making them believe in themselves. 1 think they may be a little uptight from worrying too much. With three or four wins in a row, there&rsquo;ll be a great improvment.&ldquo;Offense is usually the best defense, but I&rsquo;m a great believer in defense, and legs. I&rsquo;ve always been a disciplinarian, and I&rsquo;ll continue to be that way. We&rsquo;ll practice at 4 in the afternoon after getting off a plane if I think we need it.&ldquo;The name of the game is to hold the lead. And when I talk about defense, 1 mean I want one man back all the time. There may be one or two changes here and there, but I don&rsquo;t believe I have to shake everything up.&rdquo;Guidolin, who said he had had one offer to coach in the NHL and two in the WHA, added, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll lay it down, loud and clear, and that&rsquo;s it. We&rsquo;ve got to dig down and give that little extra in terms of endurance.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0006-01

Shocked Guidolin Not Planning Changes But He’ll Be Tough With Bruins On Ice

<div class="byline">BY DAN DONOVAN</div>PITTSBURGH&mdash;&ldquo;Big&rdquo; and &ldquo;bruiser&rdquo; are suppose to by synonymous. The big guys are supposed to throw their weight around. But though Duane Rupp is the Penguins&rsquo; biggest defenseman, he is also their &lsquo;Gentle Giant&rsquo;.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01888/3607132-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="268" height="454"><figcaption class="caption-body">Duane Rupp</figcaption></div>He is a stick checker, playing the puck rather than the man, while little guys like Bryan Watson do the pounding.&ldquo;It dates back to juniors,&rdquo; Rupp said. &ldquo;The coach told us to concentrate on controlling the puck. If we have the puck, they can&rsquo;t score. It is pretty hard to change after playing that way so long.&rdquo;The problem with stick checking is it can make you look horrible. If you bodycheck, the puck may still be there, but the man won&rsquo;t be.No wonder an unsuccessful stick check is booed by the fans. But they cheer a body check that has a suitable crunch to it even if someone else picks up the puck and scores.Thus, a stick checker in a slump is subject to a lot more derision than a body checker in a slump, as Rupp well knows.For most of this season he was in a deep slump and was one of the few defensemen booed loudly by the faithful Penguin fans.&ldquo;They pay their six dollars,&rdquo; Rupp said, &ldquo;they can do anything they want to.&rdquo;But the slump ended abruptly with the coaching changeover from Red Kelly to Ken Schinkel and it happened at the same time.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02755/3607125-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="1188" height="1153"><figcaption class="caption-body">KEN SCHINKEL&hellip; Getting Most Out Of Rupp (Hockey News Photo by Peter Woolley)</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I have nothing against Red,&rdquo; Rupp said, &ldquo;but some guys can play better for a certain coach while others can&rsquo;t.&rdquo;The Kelly coaching technique that Rupp didn&rsquo;t like was his doughouse system. If you made a mistake, you were soon watching your teammates from the bench.&ldquo;There were several things that happened both last year and this year,&rdquo; Rupp said, &ldquo;that made me lose some of my confidence. Knowing you are going to play regularly even if you make a mistake helps a lot.&rdquo;Playing regularly under Schinkel, Rupp not only started making the stick check work, he started scoring. It became Rupp&rsquo;s Saturday Night of Scoring.The first night Schinkel coached was a Saturday and Rupp scored the winning goal. The next Saturday he again scored the winning goal. The third Saturday he scored the first goal.&ldquo;You have to be a little lucky to score the goals,&rdquo; Rupp laughed. &ldquo;And you have to be playing.&rdquo;As for Schinkel, he was not surprised at his biggest player&rsquo;s improvment.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always thought Rupp was a helluva hockey player,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When he&rsquo;s right, he&rsquo;s the best guy we have at bringing the puck out of our own end.&rdquo;Since that is the Penguins&rsquo; biggest fault, Schinkel had better hope Rupp is right. For even Rupp admits that when he is not right, he is awful, wrong.In this case, big isn&rsquo;t the same as bruiser. Instead, it is the same as playmaker. &#9632;

f0007-01

Duane Rupp Putting Out For New Coach Schinkel

<div class="byline">By Bill Libby</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01971/3607170-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="272" height="357"></div><h2>Players Want Security&hellip;</h2>THE DAY BEFORE his brother had been sent down to the minors, Danny O&rsquo;Shea came across in the next night&rsquo;s road game with a goal and three assists to set up a victory for St. Louis Blues. They weren&rsquo;t just assists eit her, as most assists are, t hrown in to pad point totals. Danny made two tremendous passes to put teammates in on the goal on breakaways. He Iooked this night like the player many thought he could be, which up until now he has not been.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02871/3607163-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="545" height="869"><figcaption class="caption-body">DANNY O&rsquo;SHEA&hellip; You Can&rsquo;t Keep Moving</figcaption></div>Afterwards, the Blues&rsquo; manager, Sid Abel, said, &ldquo;Kevin wasn&rsquo;t playing much and we felt he would be better off down below where he could be playing regularly. We were overloaded with forwards, but the time may come when we need help up front and Kevin could come right back up. He&rsquo;s inexperienced, but he has talent. So does Danny, of course.&rdquo;The Blues&rsquo; coach,. Jean-Guy Talbot, was hopping up and down with happiness and relief; congratulating his players as they trooped off the ice after a nervous 7-5 triumph. Afterwards, his flushed face beamed and he said, &ldquo;O&rsquo;Shea, he was tremendous tonight. He could be this good many nights. I&rsquo;m glad his brother going down didn&rsquo;t bother him too much.&rdquo;Sitting by his cubicle in the dressing room, Danny said, &ldquo;It bothered me. It bothered Kevin. He was very disappointed. I had a long talk with him. I pointed out he was young yet and these things happen in sports and he&rsquo;d be better off playing regularly so he could develop his full potential. 1 said he&rsquo;d be back. I tried to encourage him. It&rsquo;s easy to get down on yourself.&rdquo;Danny should know. The former Ganadian National Team member and Olympian was sold by Montreal to Minnesota in 1967, traded to Chicago in 1971 and then to St. Louis in 1972. He never has realized his potential. He said, &ldquo;I expected to remain in Minnesota. Trades are part of sports, but the trade to Chicago shocked me and before I could recover I was on my way again.&rdquo;Considering himself a center, Danny was depressed at being used on wing by the Blues. With the trade of Frank St. Marseille he had just been restored to the center position which boosted his morale. Also on this particular day he&rsquo;d had a talk with Blues&rsquo; boss Sidney Salomon III, which raised his spirits.&ldquo;I just wanted to know where I stand,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Shea said. &ldquo;Every player on every team wants to know where he stands. You can&rsquo;t play well if you&rsquo;re playing out of position and if the axe is hanging over your head. You can&rsquo;t play well if your mind is all mixed up. I&rsquo;d been traded twice in two years. My brother had just been sent down. I just wanted to know if I figured in the team&rsquo;s plans. Assured I did, 1 feel relieved.&ldquo;I had thought I could score 30 goals this season. I had a disappointing first half, but if I go all out I may still get my 30 in the second half. 1 haven&rsquo;t realized my potential yet. I&rsquo;ve only scratched the surface. I&rsquo;ve been passed around and allowed myself to get down.&rdquo;Daniel Patrick O&rsquo;Shea at 6&rsquo;1&rdquo; and 190 pounds is out of Toronto with size, speed and skill. But he is only in his fifth season in the majors and still maturing. He is tempermental and moody. He also is perhaps typical of many players on the St. Louis roster, who are a stride away from making the Blues big winners again.<h2>A Team In Turmoil&hellip;</h2>SINCE SCOTTY BOWMAN and the Blues parted company this has been a team in turmoil. Al Arbour has twice been hired and fired as coach. Bill McCreary was hired and fired as coach. The manager, Sid Abel, fired himself as coach. Lynn Patrick has been yanked like a yo-you up and down in the managerial ranks. As this is written, Abel remains as manager and Talbot as coach.We say &ldquo;as this is written&rdquo; because where managers and coaches are concerned, as we point out in our new book, &ldquo;The Coaches,&rdquo; this is the most degraded and insecure profession of all. We also wrote a column on Pittsburgh coach Red Kelly and his star veteran Ken Schinkel a little while back. Shortly, Kelly was fired and Schinkel made coach. We wrote a column on the Islanders and in it suggested to coach Phil Goyette that since his club was a loser his job was in jeapordy. The team&rsquo;s bosses said they could not blame Goyette for the team&rsquo;s troubles. Shortly, he was fired.The Salomons, who own the Blues, are generous men whose rewards to their players, make them want to play. They guided their team to the greatest success known to any of the expansionists since the league was enlarged. Falling out with manager and coach Bowman sent their forces into a spin, however, and through many moves among their appointed leaders, they just now seem to be stabilizing again.Cold trading policies have added to the unrest on the roster. The team&rsquo;s leader and greatest player, Red Berenson, was traded away.St. Marseille was traded away. Brother acts are common in hockey, but the Blues had an uncommon one in the trio of Barclay. Bob and Billy Plager.It was broken up when Billy was dealt off. Many of the moves may have been good ones, but when a team&rsquo;s central figures are removed, it has an unsettling effect. As one of the team&rsquo;s veterans said, &ldquo;When a team&rsquo;s best men are traded freely, no one can feel safe or secure.&rdquo;Battling back toward the top, the Blues have become demanding of their hired hands. Kevin O&rsquo;Shea, 6&rsquo;-1&rdquo;, 200 pounds, and 25 years old, couldn&rsquo;t crack the regular lineup so was sent down for awhile. Dressing in swank civvies after one of his better games, big brother Danny admitted. &ldquo;I have to make myself so valuable to this team that it won&rsquo;t want to let me go. A guy can&rsquo;t go on being passed from team to team and stay sharp. Not knowing what&rsquo;s next eats at your guts. You don&rsquo;t want to turn another corner. Around the corner is nowhere.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY DAN PROUDFOOT</div>TORONTO&mdash;By early February, hockey fans in Toronto found themselves turning to other pursuits offering more excitement than following the Maple Leafs. For example, raising house plants, planning summer vacations or studying methods of meditation.Anything was better than considering the sorry plight that was the Maple Leafs. Anything said Rick Kehoe about the team was either vindictive or sympathetic, and both hurt the feelings of the athletes involved.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03730/3607201-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="262" height="442"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rick Kehoe</figcaption></div>One of the troubles with hockey today. Norm Ullman said in a magazine article, is that the hockey writers act like critics instead of reporters. Why don&rsquo;t they spend more time describing goals, Ullman suggested? The answer, of course, is that Leafs don&rsquo;t score enough goals to describe.One fan said on a pre-game radio show, in which listeners and Globe and Mail columnist Dick Beddoes trade Leaf insults, that the team should trade Ullman for a box of cereal&mdash;the brand which he endorses in television advertisements.Obviously, things were bad.And no one could pin the blame on any one person or thing. The reasons for the team&rsquo;s failings are simple. There aren&rsquo;t enough good players playing with enough confidence.Who to blame?. John McLellan as coach? It was true, McLellan couldn&rsquo;t lift the team out of its doldrums. He lost hope himself, and the players couldn&rsquo;t help but notice.But McLellan couldn&rsquo;t take all the blame, not when he started the year with a team which figured to finish sixth in the National Hockey League east. By early February, it was exactly where it deserved to be.Leafs finished fourth in the past season, but the loss of Jim Harrison, Rick Ley&rsquo;, Brad Sel-wood and Bernie Parent ruined a fine building effort that had been started by general manager-Jim Gregory. Now, Gregory took the blame for losing the players to the WHA. But it was team owner Harold Ballard, who refused to pay enough to keep them, and the one who decided to gamble that the WHA would fold.Obviously, Gregory must accept some of the blame, though, because he was in a position to tell his boss that the WHA was tor real&mdash;just as Emile Francis decided as GM of New York Rangers.At any rate. Leaf&rsquo;s ended up with one of the gentlest, most effete squads in the NHL. Dave Keon, Darryl Sittier, the surprising Rick Kehoe and-Jim Mc Kenny have had excellent seasons. Errol Thompson looks promising as a rookie. For these small blessings the Leaf fans must be thankful. Because otherwise, the team simply has not jelled.One thing about the Leafs, they are the most gentlemanly team in the NHL. They average fewer penalty minutes per game than any other team. And when they have a man advantage, Leaf fans realize it means the game may suddenly swing the way of the penalty killers. The power play is one of the least productive in the league, and it has given up six shorthanded goals by February.&ldquo;Playing against the Leafs,&rdquo; said Briar Spencer, the New York Islanders who was drafted from the Leafs, &ldquo;is perfect for a team like us because, let&rsquo;s face it, we&rsquo;re best when we know the game isn&rsquo;t going to be too physical.&rdquo; There&rsquo;s no aggressiveness among the Leafs. So that brings out the best in a lot of teams.&rdquo;Leafs lost Spencer, Harrison and Bill MacMillan, the latter going to the Atlanta Flames, and thus lost all of their heavy-hitting forwards. Injuries this season also ruined the effectiveness of Ullman and I&rsquo;aul Henderson, who could have taken the heat off the defense if they had been able to score as expected.In short, it has been a disastrous season, and by February Leaf fans, players and management were united in their desire to get it qickly ad painlessly as possible.It was a clear case of wait until next year. &#9632;

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Fans Turned Off As Listless Leafs Continue To Slip

<div class="byline">BY DWAYNE NETLAND</div>TWIN CITIESIt&rsquo;s funny how reputations linger in the National Hockey League. Gordie Howe will always have sharp elbows,-Jean Beliveau a courtly manner and Emile Francis a competitive disposition. Once a guy acquires a special characteristic, it&rsquo;s his forever.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01961/3607232-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="253" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body">Buster Harvey</figcaption></div>That&rsquo;s fine wit h Buster Harvey of Minnesota North Stars, who is building up a rather formidable &rsquo;rep&rsquo; these days as a clutch goal scorer.Of Harvey&rsquo;s total of 12 goals through the North Stars&rsquo; first 52 games, six were either game-tieing or game-winners. He had a stretch in early. January where four successive goals were included in either of the two categories.They came at a time when North Stars needed them the most, too. Stars have traditionally had December slumps but they waited until well past the holidays this season before going into a dip which resulted in four losses and a tie during one five-game stretch.In that two-week span. North Stars tumbled from a comfortable hold on second place in the West Division down to a precarious berth in fourth. What&rsquo;s more, Stars could look down and see only three points separating them from seventh place.It was Harvey who helped the North Stars out of the mud. In a nationally-televised Sunday matinee against Pittsburgh at Metropolitan Sports Center, the young right winger scored two goals as the North Stars won 4-3. Harvey had a chance at a hat trick late in the game, but Pittsburgh goalie Jim Rutherford gloved a close shot for a fine save.&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s a chance for my first hat trick in the NHL,&rdquo; Harvey mused afterward, &ldquo;and I throw the puck right at his glove. Well, if I&rsquo;ve come that close. I&rsquo;ll make one someday.&rdquo;Harvey is a North Star product all the way. He was the club&rsquo;s first choice in the 1970 junior amateur draft. He appeared to tail off a bit in his last year of junior competition with the Hamilton Red Wings, but the Minnesota scouting staff of Harold Cotton, Ted O&rsquo;Connor and Gerald Blair liked his potential and so did general manager Wren Blair.The 1970-71 season was Jack Gordon&rsquo;s first as Minesota coach, and he linked Harvey immediately on a line with Charlie Burns and Danny O&rsquo;Shea. O&rsquo;Shea was traded to Chicago later that season, and Harvey was hurt, eventually losing his regular job to Bobby Rousseau.After a good 1971-72 season at (&rsquo;&rsquo;leveland, in which he scored 41 goals and 95 points, Harvey reported to Minnesota training camp all the more determined to stick this time. He is a far stronger player now than he ever was during his rookie year, and much more clever around the net.NORTH STAR NOTES: Danny Grant, with 338 consecutive games, has the NHL&rsquo;s second-longest durability streak, behind Garry Unger of the St. Louis Blues&hellip; Pittsburgh has seven losses and a tie in its last eight appearances at the Met. Penguins haven&rsquo;t won on Minnesota ice since Feb. 4. 1970&hellip; Bill Goldsworthy&rsquo;s 20th goal marked his fourth straight 20-goal-or-better season for the North Stars&hellip; Doug Mohns got a nasty seven-stitch cut on his lip from a puck in Atlanta&hellip; Wren Blair has not placed goaler Gump Worsley&rsquo;s name on the voluntary retired list, and won&rsquo;t until he is convinced that Wor-sley will not come to camp next fall. Blair tried mightily to persuade the 43-year-old Gump to stick it out this season. &#9632;

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Harvey Likes To Collett Big Goals

<div class="byline">BY HARRY KLAFF</div>LONG ISLAND&mdash;The proverbial handwriting on the wall was evident to Phil Goyette as early as December when it already appeared that his expansionist Islanders might go on to compile the worst record in modern NHL history. Any losing coach worries, but especially one whose club had managed only five wins in four months.The axe finally fell on the quiet rookie mentor on Jan. 29, the day of the annual All Star dinner. General Manager Bill Torrey had told Phil the bad news the night before, but waited until the following day to make public his choice of Earl Ingarfield as successor.&ldquo;In making this move, I emphasize that in no way are we blaming the team&rsquo;s poor record on Phil, but sometimes a move of this scope is necessary and can have a definite positive effect on the team,&rdquo; said Torrey.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01928/3607270-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="256" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Aut Erickson</figcaption></div>Goyette was offered a job in the Islander organization as an assistant to the general manager, but the ex-coach was uncommitted to the offer. &ldquo;1&rsquo;11 just have to think this over,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I did everything I could with these youngsters, but a man can only go with what he&rsquo;s got.&rdquo;In a coincident move, Torrey also announced the hiring of former Phoenix Roadrunner coach Aut Erickson as an assistant to Ingarfield. &ldquo;Aut was doing some scouting for us, but I believe he will serve better here helping to improve our young, inexperienced players,&rdquo; said Bill.The 38-year-old Ingarfield is the second former Ranger tapped by the Islanders to handle the bench. Earl played a total of 12 seasons in the NHL, most of them on Broadway. His best years came in the early 60&rsquo;s when he centered a line of Dean Prentice and Andy Bathgate. Most recently the Lethbridge, Alberta native had served as the Islanders chief Western scout.Ingarfield promised no miracles, but did indicate that some changes would be made around the Islanders camp. &ldquo;I want to get the players to play their positions more,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Also, I really don&rsquo;t know if this club is in proper condition. These are two things we&rsquo;re going to have to concentrate more on for the remainder of the season.&rdquo;&ldquo;You have to let the players know that you&rsquo;re trying to understand them,&rdquo; Earl continued. &ldquo;Our biggest problem is inexperience. It will all come in time, but we will have to work hard at it.&rdquo;In retrospect, it seems that if one character flaw could be detected in Phil Goyette&rsquo;s coaching makeup, it would have to be the lack of a fiery personality. Even from the beginning, there were many observers who doubted that Phil&mdash;long respected as one of the nicest guys in the game&mdash;could breathe fire at his players. Leo Durocher once said that &ldquo;nice guys finish last,&rdquo; a hypothesis that seems to hold water in the case of the Islanders.Throughout his career, Earl Ingarfied was also known as a &ldquo;nice guy&rdquo;. Can he do what Goyette couldn&rsquo;t? The consensus of the players seems to indicate he can.&ldquo;They had to make some changes, and sooner or later it&rsquo;s going to be the coach,&rdquo; says veteran defenseman Arnie Brown who played alongside both Goyette and Ingarfield on the Rangers. &ldquo;Phil gave it his best shot, but I think we&rsquo;ll have more spirit with Earl. For one thing we&rsquo;ll get into shape. Can Ingarfield be strict? You better believe he can be strict.&rdquo; &ldquo;This team needed more discipline because of its general lack of experience,&rdquo; adds Brian Spencer. &ldquo;Phil just couldn&rsquo;t get through to some of the younger players. We have to be whipped more. Earl is different type of coach.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02816/3607263-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="533" height="557"><figcaption class="caption-body">EARL INGARFIELD&hellip; Don&rsquo;t Expect Miracles</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Will Islanders Play Better For New Coach Ingarfield?

Following are the latest player movements in hockey:NATIONAL LEAGUETORONTO&mdash;Randy Osburn, forward, sent to Tulsa of CHL.BUFFALO&mdash;Robert Richer, forward, recalled from Cincinnati of AHL.MONTREAL&mdash;Dave Gardner, forward, recalled from Nova Scotia of AHL.BOSTON&mdash;Rich Leduc, forward, returned to Boston Braves of AHL. Derek Sanderson, forward, signed contract and added to roster.DETROIT&mdash;Bill Hogaboam, forward, returned to Virginia of AHL.CHICAGO&mdash;Moe L&rsquo;Abbe, forward, returned to Dallas of CHL.N.Y. ISLANDERS&mdash;Neil Nicholson, defenseman, recalled from New Haven of AHL. Richard Grenier, forward, assigned to New Haven.N.Y. RANGERS&mdash;Tommy Williams, forward, returned to Providence of AHL.WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.NEW YORK&mdash;Kent Douglas, defenseman, named assistant coach while on disabled list with eye injury. Bob Brown, defenseman, secured from Quebec of WHA.LOS ANGELES&mdash;Mike Jaku- bo, forward, returned to Greensboro of EHL.OTTAWA&mdash;Mary Haney, defenseman, called up from Sault Ste. Marie of USHL and returned.AMERICAN LEAGUERICHMND&mdash;Wayne Ha-wrysh and Bob Gerrard forwards, called up from New Jersey of EHL on 5-game pro trials.ROCHESTER&mdash;Pat Flaherty, goalkeeper, called up from Fitchburg of New England League to act as standby goaler. Darryl Syl, defenseman, called up from Orillia of Ontario Senior League on emergency.VIRGINIA&mdash;John Voss, goalkeeper, recalled from Charlotte of EHL.PROVIDENCE&mdash;Doug Hor-bul, forward, returned to Omha of CHL.WESTERN LEAGUEPORTLAND&mdash;Andre Aubry, defenseman, secured from St. Louis on loan for season to complete deal for Connie Madigan, defenseman.SEATTLE&mdash;Hugh Christen- saen, forward, called up from Kindersley, Sask, on 5-game pro tryout and later returned.CENTRAL LEAGUEFORT WORTH&mdash;Ray Win-terstein, forward, signed as free agent to 5-game pro trial.EASTERN LEAGUESUNCOAST&mdash;Cliff Pennington, forward suspended for failing to report to Long Island of EHL after trade.GREENSBORO&mdash;Don Ward, defenseman, secured from Seattle of WHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03628/3607301-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="553" height="901"></div> &#9632;

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Movements of Players

<div class="byline">BY GIL SMITH</div>MONTREAL&mdash;The Chuck Lefleys, Steve Shutts and Murray Wilsons are the &ldquo;Meter Men&rdquo; on the Cana-diens because they form the basis of the team&rsquo;s, taxi squad. But things could be changing for them.&ldquo;We have a lot of bench strength,&rdquo; says Scotty Bowman, &ldquo;and injuries&mdash;like the one to Pete Mali o v I i c h&mdash;are making us more aware of what we have in reserve.&ldquo;Sometimes, coaches are criticized for switching players and lines around, but the idea is to find out who goes best with whom and at what position. Take Chuck Le-fley. He&rsquo;s been used both at center and on the wing, this season, and has shown he can do a good job at both spots,&rdquo; Bowman continues. &ldquo;I may need him at center, now that Mahovlich is sidelined.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01932/3607339-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="628" height="1039"><figcaption class="caption-body">Murray Wilson</figcaption></div>After Mahovlich&rsquo;s unfortunate knee injury, one which may well keep him out until March, Bowman did some fast innovating at the center-ici spot.&ldquo;I even gave Steve Shutt a try at it,&rdquo; Bowman said. &ldquo;And why not? The name of the game today is versatility. It&rsquo;s not like the old days where guys played one position all through their careers.&rdquo;Rejean Houle, a wingman who was converted to center at the outset of this season, is another who may yet see increased duty at that spot, now that Mahovlich is unavailable. Where Canadiens may have more trouble is in replacing the giant Peter as a penalty-killer. He was one of the best, and nobody on the &ldquo;Taxi Squad&rdquo; has had much experience in that department.However, a fellow named Serge Savard used to be pretty good at puck-ragging while Habs were shorthanded, and undoubtedly he&rsquo;ll get the call again.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll use him with Claude Larose,&rdquo; says Bowman. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ll form one set of penalty-killers. Frank Mahovlich and Jimmy Roberts are the others. It&rsquo;ll be a chance for Savard to show the form that made him one of the best penalty-killers in the business a few seasons ago.&rdquo;There are those who thought that Savard lost something of his mobility, a very necessary ingredient for a successful penaltykiller, following his second leg break last season. He&rsquo;ll get a chance to refute that theory in the days ahead.In truth, Canadiens have to be the envy of every team in hockey for their immense reserve strength. They lose a Ken Dryden, and the tandem of Wayne Thomas-Michel Plasse go into action and keep the team on a winning track. A Jacques Laperriere gets hurt, and Guy Lapointe, Bob Murdoch, Pierre Bouchard et als come to the rescue. An Yvan Cournoyer is sidelined and the Houles, Shutts, and Wilsons are pressed into service with encouraging results.&ldquo;The whole team has played well,&rdquo; said Bowman, as they returned from a West Coast trip in February. &ldquo;Last year after Dryden got hurt, the club faltered. This year, they didn&rsquo;t. We may look back on that as a key factor when this season has come to and end.&rdquo;HAB BITS: What happens to old Canadiens players? They become coaches and get fired, that&rsquo;s what. Tom Johnson, Phil Goyette and Billy McCreary are among the more recent to have walked the plank&hellip;Chuck Lefley and Philly&rsquo;s Bill Barber could be in very hot con-ention for rookie honors at season&rsquo;s end. At this writing, Barber was slightly ahead in the goals department. &ldquo;Because Lefley isn&rsquo;t used on our powerplay,&rdquo; says Scotty Bowman&hellip; Larry Robinson, the excellent young rearguard, got his first NHL goal against L.A. on Feb. 3rd&hellip; The knee injury suffered by Peter Mahovlich in that same game was the first serious injury he&rsquo;s had since joining Canadiens&hellip; Murray Wilson had a dozen scoring points going into the month of February, and every one of them had been scored on the road&hellip; Habs continued to be the least scored upon team in either division, going into February. Among the reasons: Gcalies Wayne Thomas and Michel Plasse with averages-of 2:25 and 2:31 respectively, and the defense pairs of Robinson-Lapointe, and Laperriere-Savard.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02803/3607332-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="256" height="439"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHUCK LEFLEY&hellip; In Rookie Hunt</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Taxi Squad To See More ke As Canadiens Test Depth

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01905/3607370-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="268" height="391"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob McCord</figcaption></div>ST. LOUIS&mdash;Bob McCord is the oldest member of the St. Louis Blues by more than six years.McCord will be 39 years old on March 30. The St. Louis player closest to him in age is Jacques Caron, who will be 33 on April 21.But McCord has been a valuable defenseman for the Blues this season. He was called up from the Denver Bob McCord Spurs a few weeks after the start of the season when Andre Dupont suffered a bruised tailbone. Dupont was later traded to Philadelphia Flyers, but McCord is still skating a regular shift with the Blues.&ldquo;I think I&rsquo;m working as hard as anybody on the club,&rdquo; McCord said. &ldquo;Now and then I may get a little tired, but I think I&rsquo;m in good shape.&rdquo;McCord is not a newcomer to the National Hockey League. He had been in 273 NHL games before this season. He spent 10 years in the &rsquo;minor leagues, mostly with Springfield, before breaking into the NHL with the Boston Bruins in the 1963-64 season at the age of 29.McCord spent two years with the Bruins, then a couple of seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and in the first season of expansion was traded by the Wings to the Minnesota North Stars.&ldquo;I had two pretty good years with Minnesota,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but I got into a disagreement with Wren Blair over hockey. I thought I was still capable of playing.&rdquo;McCord spent the next two years in the minors with Phoenix and Denver and he blames Blair for that development.&ldquo;He was the reason I never got another shot at the league before this season.&rdquo; McCord said. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t see the World Hockey Association for myself, and I&rsquo;m very pleased that now I have another chance in the NHL. I thought all along that I was capable of playing.&rdquo;The Blues&rsquo; corps of defensemen has been hit hard by injuries this season, and McCord has proven to be just what the team needed for added stability.Coach Jean Guy Talbot says, &ldquo;we needed experience, and McCord has been in the league before. He gives you 100 per cent all the time, and he&rsquo;s not going to be caught down the ice. He&rsquo;s got that experience, and you can count on him.&rdquo;Talbot coached McCord last season at Denver and can appreciate the veteran&rsquo;s talents.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a rushing defenseman,&rdquo; says McCord. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather give the puck to a forward than rush.&rdquo;Talbot and McCord, incidentally. were once traded for one another in a one-for-one deal. On Oct. 19. 1967. the two defensemen switched teams when McCord went from the Red Wings to the North Stars and Talbot went from the North Stars to the Red Wings.On some of the first few Blues&rsquo; teams McCord at his present age would have matched the average, age of such follows as Glenn Hall.-Jacques Plante. Doug Harvey. Dickie Moore. Phil Goyette and Al Arbour. But on the current St. Louis team, loaded with younger players, McCord becomes the old man.Caron became the second oldest on the team to McCord when Frank St. Marseille. 33. was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Paul Curtis.But McCord doesn&rsquo;t need sympathy. He&rsquo;s playing consistently well, and the Blues are glad they have him. &#9632;

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Second Time Around Proving Good Omen For Veteran McCord

<div class="byline">BY JIM HUBER</div>ATLANTAOkay, make all your jokes now and get them out of the way. In the beginning, it was Flames Burn Up Ice and Flames Doused By Bruins, right?Well, that was to be expected.Now they&rsquo;re calling Atlanta the Blue Flames. Just because there are five (5, count &rsquo;em, 5) former St. Louis Blues involved in the Atlanta operation.The first to join was general manager Cliff Fletcher, the exBlues assistant GM. Then came Billy Plager, the defenseman, in the draft. And Noel Picard on waivers. And Curt Bennett, once in the Blues organization, from the Rangers.The latest of course is Al Arbour.The old bespectacled defenseman, who was fired several weeks ago as coach of the Blues, was hired by Fletcher as an all around handyman type who will do some scouting, handle anything and everything Fletcher and the Flames need done.Fletcher&rsquo;s calling his old friend and new helper &ldquo;Super Scout.&rdquo;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not often you can find a man of this caliber,&rdquo; says Fletcher, &ldquo;so you must take advantage of it, right? He&rsquo;s one of the top six or seven men in the game. He&rsquo;s really an asset to any organization but more to ours. Geez, he&rsquo;s never missed a playoff in 19 years as player or executive. Maybe that&rsquo;ll be an omen for us, eh?&rdquo;Arbour and the Blues settled his two-year contract. Fletcher says Arbour turned down several NHL coaching jobs and knows only too well Arbour won&rsquo;t be with the Flames forever.&ldquo;There will be two new clubs soon,&rdquo; said Fletcher. &ldquo;I fully expect one of them to make Al their GM. They&rsquo;d be foolish not to consider him closely. He&rsquo;d make one heck of a good executive.&rdquo;ICE SPARKS: Kerry Ketter, the one-time Canadien who was Atlanta&rsquo;s first expansion draft choice, has shaved off his moustache. &ldquo;I want to get rid of that damned Mark Spitz image,&rdquo; he laughs. And it&rsquo;s true. Ketter has had hundreds of people come up to him this season and ask for not only autographs but clips of hair and swimming lessons&hellip;Fred Creighton, the successful minor-league coach who now handles Atlanta&rsquo;s Omaha farm club, showed another side of his talents one Saturday night in St. Louis when he played color man for a period on the Flames radio broadcast.Curt Bennett, who has stepped right in and played extremely well since comming to the Flames, carries a dictionary with him on every trip. He apparently is brushing up on the words he&rsquo;ll use as part of the new Creative Writing course he&rsquo;s taking at Emory University&hellip; The Flames television broadcasts are now seen in Florida through stations in Miami and St. Petersburg. Combined with the powerful WSB&mdash;TV in Atlanta, the flagship station, the young Atlantans can now be seen by approximately 10 million people. &#9632;

Flames Can’t Won’t Keep Super Scout Al Arbour Forever

NEW YORK&mdash;The United States Hockey Hall of Fame, America&rsquo;s first national shrine to the ice sport, announced selection of 25 charter enshrinees for the new Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota.The announcement was made by Hall President Donald M. Clark during a luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria honoring Tom F. Lockhart, retiring president of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States.The Hall&rsquo;s National Selection Committee, which met last fall in Boston, picked 15 players: nine pros, five ex-college skaters, and one amateur. In the coaching ranks the colleges turned out two Hall of Famers with the secondary schools equaling that number. The committee also selected three administrators from the pro ranks while the international and amateur ranks produced one and two enshrinees respectively.In making the formal announcement Clark commented, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re particularly proud of the work of the committee in choosing the initial group. The excellent geographic and hockey area balance of the committee resulted in the same kind of balance in the selections. Of the 25 selectees, 12 were from professional hockey while the remaining 13 came from non-pro areas. Geographically, 12 are from the East and 13 from the West.&rdquo;Charter members enshrined included players Clarence &lsquo;Taffy&rsquo; Abel, Hobart &lsquo;Hobey&rsquo; Baker, Frankie Brimsek, John P. Chase, Cully Dahlstrom, John B. Garrison, Frank &lsquo;Moose&rsquo; Goheen, Mike Karakas, Myles J. Lane, Sammy LoPresti, John Mariucci, George Owen, Winthrop &lsquo;Dig&rsquo;Palmer, &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; Romnes, and Frank &lsquo;Cod-dy&rsquo; Winters.Administrators included George V. Brown, Walter A. Brown, J.L. &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; Gibson, Lockhart, William Thayer Tutt, Lyle Z. Wright, and coaches Malcolm Gordon, Eddie Jeremiah, Clifford Thompson and Alfred &lsquo;Ralph&rsquo; Winsor.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01915/3607446-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="265" height="496"><figcaption class="caption-body">Frank Brimsek</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02776/3607439-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="292" height="499"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Mariucci</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03590/3607432-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="272" height="503"><figcaption class="caption-body">Cully Dahlstrom</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04426/3607425-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="256" height="502"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike Karakas</figcaption></div>Of the 15 players named to the Hall, nine of them performed in the NHL. Three were goalers, Brimsek, Karakas and LoPresti. Four were defensemen, Abel, Lane, Mariucci and Owen. Romnes and Dahlstrom, both of whom played for Chicago Black Hawks, were forwards.Probably the most exciting of the new Hall of Earners was Brim-sek, who picked up the name &lsquo;Mr. Zero&rsquo; for his shutout netminding. Brimsek, a native of Eveleth, played for Boston and Chicago from 1938 to 1950. He won the Calder and Vezina trophies, was a first team All Star in 19.38-39 and 1941-42. Brimsek was a second team All Star six times and was considered one of the great goalers of his era. &#9632;

f0014-01

U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Admits First 25 Members

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01886/3607484-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">MAI GOLDENBERG of Pawtucket. R.I. is a Chicago Black Hawks fan and he doesn&rsquo;t mind letting everyone know about it. Goldenberg even has his license plates with the words HAWKS on them. This isn&rsquo;t too diplomatic in Bobby Orr territory, but Mai takes the jibes and catcalls in stride.</figcaption></div>CHICAGO&mdash;It wasn&rsquo;t too long ago that the only sound jarring Gary Smith&rsquo;s ear lobes was the constant buzz of pucks. But that&rsquo;s when Gary Smith was a goalkeeper for the Oakland-Bay Area California Golde Seals.Smith now holds a similar position with Chicago Black Hawks, although the similarity ends with the position. He no longer feels like the bullseye in an archery contest, he no longer sags from overwork, and the sound of pucks has been replaced by the sound of silence. Except, of course, for those rampant trade rumors.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s one thing I hear wherever I go.&rdquo; said Smith. &ldquo;First Boston. then Detroit, then Toronto. I&rsquo;d like to stay with the Black Hawks, because I really like it here. But all those things you keep hearing make me uneasy.&rdquo;Smith&rsquo;s apprehension during the middle of winter was increased by his infrequent assignments. For instance, he played one game on Dec. 28 in Buffalo. Hawks were destroyed that night, 8-2. and while Smith hardly resembled Georges Vezina, the Chicago Six hardly looked like a major league hockey club, either.Smith&rsquo;s next call was almost three weeks later, a 6-4 victory in Detroit Jan. 17. He played quite well that evening, which was good because he had more than two weeks to savor it before finally receiving another start. That resulted in a 2-2 deadlock at Philadelphia. Again. Smith was quite adept.&ldquo;I wish I could play a little more often,&rdquo; said Smith, &ldquo;but the coach is the boss, and you can&rsquo;t argue with the way Billy (Reay) has been doing things because it&rsquo;s successful.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to play about 30 games a year. If they were spread out it would be OK with me. But the way it&rsquo;s been lately, it&rsquo;s very tough to stay sharp. The only way you can be right is to play often.&rdquo;Coach Reay was well aware of Smith&rsquo;s yearn for more work.&ldquo;But it&rsquo;s been tough because Tony (Esposito) has been going so well,&rdquo; said the bossman. &ldquo;And I know that Smitty will be ready when I call on him.&rdquo;Smith is one fine goaltender whose apparent satisfaction with being No. 2 fits well with the Hawk situation, whereby Esposito ranks No. 1 and desires frequent work.Smith, in fact, is such a desirable commodity that nearly every trade rumor which cropped up i-eemed terribly logical. A lot of clubs need help in the nets, Esposito is good for perhaps 55 games per season, and the Hawks possess a couple of promising young goalies in the minors.The perfect solution to fill a couple of Hawk holes on the forward wall? Trade Smith, naturally.Except that the Chicago upper echelon enjoys having two polished goalies, and that a couple of those trade rumors are no more I han just that.&ldquo;I keep reading where we&rsquo;re going trade Smith for Derek Sanderson.&rdquo; said Reay. &ldquo;Well. there&rsquo;s no way we would make that deal.&ldquo;The truth is, it&rsquo;s never ever gotten to the talking stage. And even if it did, we wouldn&rsquo;t make it (Smith for Sanderson). I think that business started in the Boston papers. But that&rsquo;s as far as it got in my mind.&rdquo;Reay, mildly miffed at all the make-believe deals involving his club, was quite pleased with the Hawk ways at the two-thirds poi nts of t he season.The Chicagoans had forged into a nine-point lead in the West Division, thanks to an eight-game unbeaten string.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been a lot more consistent lately,&rdquo; said Reay. &ldquo;That and the fact that we&rsquo;re getting good goalkeeping. Anyway you look at it, that&rsquo;s really the name of the game.&rdquo;HAWK-EY TALK: Chico Maki registered his 350th National Hockey League point with a goal against St. Louis Feb. 4. Maki has been centering a third line composed basically of left wing Dan Maloney and right wing J. P. Bor-deleau&hellip; More rumors: Pat Stapleton, still being hotly chased by the World Hockey Association Chicago Cougars, may enter the rink business with Cougar Owner Jordon Kaiser. Then again, Stapleton might remain with the Hawks. Then again, the AJl-Star defenseman might do what he threatened to do at the start of this season. Retire.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02748/3607477-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="541" height="538"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY SMITH&hellip; Feeling Uneasy</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0015-01

Smith Ponders Future As Trade Talk Swirls

(Including games of Sun. Dec. 17)<h2>ATLANTA Flames</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01722/3607746-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="304" height="256"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02623/3607739-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="781" height="565"></div><h2>BOSTON Bruins</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03498/3607732-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="329" height="297"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04387/3607725-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="777" height="545"></div><h2>BUFFALO Sabres</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05288/3607718-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="297" height="273"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06232/3607711-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="784" height="564"></div><h2>CALIFORNIA Seals</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-07209/3607704-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="357" height="217"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-08190/3607697-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="801" height="565"></div><h2>CHICAGO Black Hawks</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-09168/3607690-1-eng-US/f0016-092.jpg" title="f0016-09" width="289" height="301"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-10146/3607683-1-eng-US/f0016-102.jpg" title="f0016-10" width="757" height="571"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-11132/3607676-1-eng-US/f0016-112.jpg" title="f0016-11" width="1432" height="1021"></div><h2>DETROIT Red Wings</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-12115/3607669-1-eng-US/f0016-122.jpg" title="f0016-12" width="296" height="209"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-13104/3607662-1-eng-US/f0016-132.jpg" title="f0016-13" width="765" height="586"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES Kings</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1497/3607655-1-eng-US/f0016-142.jpg" title="f0016-14" width="292" height="294"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1587/3607648-1-eng-US/f0016-152.jpg" title="f0016-15" width="760" height="557"></div><h2>MINNESOTA North Stars</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1684/3607641-1-eng-US/f0016-162.jpg" title="f0016-16" width="296" height="249"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1776/3607634-1-eng-US/f0016-172.jpg" title="f0016-17" width="759" height="559"></div><h2>MONTREAL Canadiens</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1869/3607627-1-eng-US/f0016-182.jpg" title="f0016-18" width="1443" height="472"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1964/3607620-1-eng-US/f0016-192.jpg" title="f0016-19" width="333" height="229"></div><h2>NEW YORK Islanders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2049/3607613-1-eng-US/f0016-202.jpg" title="f0016-20" width="775" height="607"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2146/3607606-1-eng-US/f0016-212.jpg" title="f0016-21" width="271" height="277"></div><h2>NEW YORK Rangers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2244/3607599-1-eng-US/f0016-222.jpg" title="f0016-22" width="740" height="613"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2342/3607592-1-eng-US/f0016-232.jpg" title="f0016-23" width="286" height="250"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2440/3607585-1-eng-US/f0016-242.jpg" title="f0016-24" width="766" height="541"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA Flyers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2536/3607578-1-eng-US/f0016-252.jpg" title="f0016-25" width="306" height="283"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2634/3607571-1-eng-US/f0016-262.jpg" title="f0016-26" width="787" height="559"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH Penguins</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2729/3607564-1-eng-US/f0016-272.jpg" title="f0016-27" width="289" height="253"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2827/3607557-1-eng-US/f0016-282.jpg" title="f0016-28" width="784" height="604"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS Blues</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2920/3607550-1-eng-US/f0016-292.jpg" title="f0016-29" width="301" height="307"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-3020/3607543-1-eng-US/f0016-302.jpg" title="f0016-30" width="772" height="576"></div><h2>TORONTO Maple Leafs</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-3120/3607536-1-eng-US/f0016-312.jpg" title="f0016-31" width="280" height="259"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-3216/3607529-1-eng-US/f0016-322.jpg" title="f0016-32" width="766" height="556"></div><h2>VANCOUVER Canucks</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-3316/3607522-1-eng-US/f0016-332.jpg" title="f0016-33" width="329" height="229"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-3412/3607515-1-eng-US/f0016-342.jpg" title="f0016-34" width="760" height="583"></div> &#9632;

f0016-01

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY GEOFFREY FISHER</div>OAKLAND&mdash;Don&rsquo;t try to tell Gilles Meloche that the game of ice hockey is played with only one puck at a time.Meloche, who draws his pay check from the California Golden Seals, has been caught in so many blizzards of flying discs this winter that he flinches at the sight of an English muffin at breakfast.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03436/3607791-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="260" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gilles Meloche</figcaption></div>If he and his shell-shocked goaltending partner, Marvin Wayne Edwards, were serving as soldiers in military combat, they would be overdue for R and R (Recreation and Rehabilitation). Game after game in the nets for the overmatched Seals they both can only believe that they are portraying the victims in a re-enactment of the &ldquo;St. Valentine Day Massacre.&rdquo;Meloche. the 22-year-old babyfaced cage cop. has been the target of one of the most brutal assaults in the modern history of the National Hockey League. The veteran 37-year-old Edwards has been dropped into, the cauldron for fewer than one-third of the Seals&rsquo; engagements.But playing goal this season for the Seals can seem like one-third of a season every game.In his first 41 games this season Meloche was hit with more than 1.500 shots and it is nothing less than a tribute to his skill and courage that his goals-against average has been held close to the 4.25 level. He has probably set an NHL record for stopping flying rubber during a most recent four-game siege.On Jan. 28 at Philadelphia the Flyers edged the Seals, 4-3, and Meloche made 42 saves. Three nights later in Madison Square Gardens the Rangers beat the Seals, 3-1, and Meloche knocked down 58 blasts at his net.In the St. Louis Arena, Saturday, Feb. 3, Meloche&rsquo;s scrobatics repelled 51 shots by the rampaging Blues but again the Seals lost, this time6-l.Back home against Montreal Sunday, Feb. 4, it was another 6-1 debacle as Meloche thwarted the dazzling Canadiens 39 times.In the four games the doughty youngster repelled 190 shots while giving up 19 goals. That means there were a total of 209 shots taken at Meloche in the four-games. His performance won&rsquo;t make him a candidate for the Vezina Trophy but it should earn him an honorary membership in the magicians union.After 51 games Seals had given up 226 goals and were well on the way to breaking the all-time NHL record of 320 that were scored against them in the 1970-71 season. Only New York Islanders, with a goals-against performance even worse than the Seals, were the only competition for the du bious distinction.With one-third of the schedule remaining there appeared to be little hope that the Seals could as much as extricate themselves from their depressing sojourn at the bottom of the Western Division.Whatever flicker of hope there was apparently expired with the succession of serious injuries that deprived them of the services of Joey Johnston, Craig Patrick and Gary Croteau.Johnston, who was a key sparkplug in making the Seals go, had his jaw broken in Chicago Jan. 14 when Black Hawk winger Dan Maloney collided with him. At the time Joey was the club&rsquo;s top scorer and an inspiring competitor. After three weeks on the sidelines he was only being used sparingly by Coach Fred Glover.Patrick, the club&rsquo;s fourth leading scorer, possibly its best checker, and a supurb hustling forward, was recovering from a severe skate cut that penetrated to the bone on an ankle.Croteau continued to hobble on a leg damaged by a collision with a goal post.<h2>TOP 25 SCORERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01619/3607784-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="1228" height="991"></div><h2>Looking At NHL Goalers</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02535/3607777-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="1159" height="2739"></div> &#9632;

f0017-03

Golden Seals’ Goalers Like Ducks In Shooting Gallery

LOUISVILLE SLUGGERHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada byHILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTDArnold Street. Wallaceburg. OntarioSold in U.S and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGERHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada byHILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTDArnold Street. Wallaceburg. OntarioSold in U.S and Canada<h2>Player&rsquo;s of the week</h2><h3>In The East</h3>The Boston Bruins went into a slump recently, leaving hockey fans everywhere a little shocked at seeing the powerhouse NHL club fade slowly away from the East Division pennant picture.There were a few excuses offered for the plight of the Bruins and a coaching change was made. The fact that Mike Walton was out of the lineup recuperating for a nasty injury that required 100 stitches didn&rsquo;t help either.But Walton returned to the club on a full-time basis last week and helped pick the Bruins up out of the doldrums and put them back on the winning track. The speedy Walton scored four goals in Boston&rsquo;s three wins, including a first-period hat trick over Pittsburgh Penguins as the Bruins got back in the East battle.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02509/3607829-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="535" height="592"><figcaption class="caption-body">MIKE WALTON&hellip; Boston Bruins</figcaption></div><h3>In The West</h3>A lot of hockey fans wondered what would become of the Chicago Black Hawks without Bobby Hull after the super left winger decided to change leagues last year. Stan Mikita picked up the slack and began drawing heavy publicity for his outstanding play.Dennis Hull, Bobby&rsquo;s younger brother, continued to plug away for the Windy City crew and now that Mikita has been sidelined for three weeks with a foot injury, Dennis will have to carry an even bigger load for the Hawks.Dennis scored five goals and assisted on three more last week as the Hawks posted three wins and moved 13 points ahead of the second-place Philadelphia Flyers in the West. Included in Dennis&rsquo; productive week was his 200th NHL goal against Atlanta Flames. Of the 21 points picked up by the Hull-Pit Martin-Jim Pappin line, Dennis had managed eight and moved up to fourth place in the NHL scoring race.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03382/3607822-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="536" height="573"><figcaption class="caption-body">DENNIS HULL&hellip; Chicago Black Hawks</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0018-02

NATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div>LOS ANGELES&mdash;Serge Bernier may be the most exciting King. If not, he&rsquo;s right behind Butch Goring. For a fellow who did not start serious skating and did not try to play hockey until he was 1.3, Bernier is something special.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01630/3607860-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="247" height="424"><figcaption class="caption-body">Serge Bernier</figcaption></div>He went out for his high school team only because all of his friends were on the team, but it took him two years to make it. He thus does not have the foundation and experience of most players and sometimes it shows. He is a swift skater, goes for the goal and probably gets more breakaways and scoring chances than anyone else on the team, but he has trouble finishing off plays.Less than two weeks after he suffered a severely twisted ankle, he returned to action and set a club record with a four-goal game in Oakland late in December. &ldquo;It was just one of those games,&rdquo; he shrugs. &ldquo;I had more opportunities than usual. Some of my shots went in, but actually I missed some more that might have gone in, too. I missed a breakaway and an open net.&rdquo;He had only 11 goals at midseason, but had 18 by the 54th game in early February. He says, &ldquo;We were winning. I don&rsquo;t seem to work as hard when we&rsquo;re ahead. I play more defense and don&rsquo;t go in as deep on offense. Lately, we&rsquo;ve had more trouble winning and I find myself working harder. Butch Goring, my center, was out awhile and I tried to pick up the load offensively. Also we had mostly road games in January and I feel looser and play better on the road. At home I find myself tight from not wanting to make mistakes in front of our fans.&rdquo;Big Bernier is 6-1, 190 pounds and can do it all on the ice. The moustachided French-Canadian from Padoue, Quebec is, at 25. in his sixth season as a professional. Traded by Philadelphia last season. he has scored 23 goals each of the last two seasons and should top that this season. By the 50th game he had topped 26 assists to set a new club record for right-wingers.He must straighten out his thinking so he is pyschologically set to go all out in all games, no matter the score or locale. He must sharpen his shooting. But because of his background he could reach his peak later than most. He has the assets for stardom. And the flashy style and look to be a big man in this game.Bernier must be a big man for the King the rest of this season. They need all the offense they can get. Their defense has fallen apart.It was warned that January could be a month of disaster for the club. It may have been just that, though not quite in the way that was expected. An ice show makes them homeless most of this month. Soon they may want to give their club a break by interrupting this attraction yearly. However this year they did better on the road than at home.Through the first game of February they faced 12 of 15 games on the road. Eight points or so figured satisfactorily for the road and they got them with three victories and two ties. But they got no victories and only one tie and one point at home and lost again at home to Montreal in the second game of February. This one was 7-1 with Bernier getting the only goal. They have given up 24 goals in their last four games at home since the turn of the year.As feared, jinxes have jarred them. They led 3-0 against Rangers before being tied 4-4, and 4-0 in Minnesota before being tied 5-5, and overwhelmed Montreal for ten minutes without scoring before falling apart. They have not beaten Rangers in 18 games, Minnesota in 16 or the Canadiens in 12, and their collapses in these games has sapped their spirit and killed their confidence. &#9632;

f0018-01

Serge Bernier Saves Big Blasts For Kings’ Road Games

C-CaptainA-Alternate CaptainMONTREALGOALWayne ThomasMichel PlatteDEFENSEGuy LapointeSerge SavardLarry RobinsonDale HogansonBob MurdochJacquet Laperriere ACENTERHenri Richard CJacquet LemaireRejean HouleWINGGuy LafleurClaude LaroseJimmy RobertsChuck ArnasonYvan Cournoyer AWINGFrank Mahovlich AMarc TardifChuck LefleyMurray WilsonStove ShuttINJUREDPierre BouchardKen DrydenPete MahovlichBOSTONGOALEd JohnstonJohn AdamsRott BrooksDEFENSEDallas Smith AOon Awrey ACarol VadnatsNick BeverleyBobby OrrCENTERPhil Esposito AFred StanfieldRich LeducGregg SheppardWINGKen HodgeFred O&rsquo;DonnellDoug RobertsTerry O&rsquo;ReillyWINGJohn Bucyk ADon MarcotteGarnet BaileyWayne CashmanMike WaltonINJUREDNoneDETROITGOALRoy EdwardsAndy BrownDenis DeJordyDEFENSERon StackhouseLarry JohnstonGary DoakThommie BergmanKen MurrayGary Bergman ACENTERRed Berenson AMarcel DionneAiea Delvecchio CHenry BouchaWINGMickey RedmondBill CollinsBrian LavenderWINGNick LibettTim EcclestoneGuy CharronAl KarlanderBill HogaboamINJURETORONTOGOALRon LowJacques PlanteDEFENSEMike PelykJim McKennyLarry McIntyreTerry ClancyJoe LundriganJohn GradaleCENTERDave KeonGeorge FergusonDarryl SittierNorm Ullman AWINGRon EllisRick KehoePierre JarryRandy OsburnWINGPaul HendersonGarry MonahanErrol ThompsonDenis DupereINJUREDBrian GlennRANGERSGOALEd GiacominGilles VillemurePeter McDuffeDEFENSERod SeilingAb DeMarcoRon HarrisDale RolfeBrad Park AJim Neilson ACENTERJean RatelieWalt TkaczukPete StemkowskiBob RousseauWINGRod Gilbert ABill FairbairnBruce MacGregorWINGGlen SatherVic HadfieldStevo VickersTom WilliamsINJUREDGene CarrTed IrvineBUFFALOGOALDave DrydenRoger CrozierDEFENSELarry HillmanMike RobitailleTracy PrattPaul TerbencheTim Horton AJim SchoenfeldCENTERGilbert Perreault AGerry Meehan CJim LorentzDonLuceWINGRene RobertSteve AtkinsonLarry MickeyCraig RamsayWINGRick MartinJohn GouldRandy WyrozubHugh HarrisINJUREDVANCOUVERGOALDune WiltonEd DyckDEFENSEJocelyn Guevremon ADale Tallon AJim HargreavesGreaa BuddyBarry Wilkins ADennis KearnsCENTERAndre Boudrias ARichard LemieuxJohn WrightWINGBob SchmautiBobby LalondeGerry FlabArtyBryan McSheHreyBarry WilcoxWINGDon TonnahillDon LeverDave BalonINJUREDBruce BullockWayne MakiOrland Kurtenboch CISLANDERSGOALGerry DesjardinsBilly SmithDEFENSEArnie BrownBill MikhelsonJim MairBrian LefleyGerry Har*Ron SmithCENTERDave HudsonTom MillerLorne HenningRalph StewartWINGBilly HarrisCraig CameronEddieWejtfall CBob CookWINGRichard GrenierBrian SpencerDon BlackburnGermain Gagnon AINJUREDRonStewartTerry Crisp ACHICAGOGOALTony EspositoGary SmithDEFENSEBill White AKeithMognuscPhil RussellJohn MarksPot StapletonCENTERStan Mikilo APit MartinLou AngottiChico MakiWINGCliff KorollJim PappinBordeleauMoe L&rsquo;AbbeWINGDennis HullDan MaloneyJerry KorabDick RedmondINJUREDDoug Jarrelt AST. LOUISGOALJacques CaronWayne StephensonBob JohnsonDEFENSEBob Plager ABarclay Plager CJean HamelBob McCordChris EvansPaul CartitCENTERGary UngerFran HuckWayne MerrickMike LampmanWINGMike MurphyGary Sabourin APhil RobertoPierre PlanteWINGJack EgersFloyd ThomsonDanny O&rsquo;SheaINJUREDBrent HughescaliforniaGOALGilles MelocheMarv EdwardsDEFENSERick Smith ABert Marshall CMarshall JohnstorTed McAneeleyBobby StewartCENTERWalt McKechnieStan We&gt;rIvan Boldirev AWINGReggie leachHilliard GravesCraig PatrickDarryl MaggsWINGStan GilbertsonGary CroteauPete LaframboiseDel HallJoey JohnstonINJUREDNonoPhiladelphia]GOALDoug FavellMichel BelhumeurBob TaylorDEFENSEBarry AshbeeAndre DupontWayne HillmanJoo Watson ATom BadonEd Van ImpeCENTERBobby Clarke CBill ClementRick MacLeishR.WINGGary Dornhoefer ADon SaleskiSimon NoletJean PotvinBill FlettWINGBob KellyRoss LonsberryDave SchultzBillBarberINJUREDNonPITTSBURGHGOALJim RutherfordCam NewtonDEFENSEDave BurrowsDarryl EdestrandDuane Rupp ASheldon KannegiesserJean-Guy LagaceBryan WatsonCENTERSyl Apps ABryan Hextail ARon SchockRick KessellR. WINGNick HarbarukAl McDonoughJean PronovostL-WINGEddie ShackGreg PolisLowell MacDonaldJim ShiresINJUREDNonoLOS AHGELESGOALRogotien VachonGary EdwardsDEFENSETerry HaroerGilles Marotte AHarry Howell ABarry LongNeilKomadoskiLarry BrownCENTERJuha Widing AJim PetersVic VenaskyFrank St. MarseilleButch GoringWINGDoug VolmarMike CorriganBill lesukSerge BernierWINGBob BerryReal LemieuxDonKozakRalph Backstrom AINJUREDNoneMINNESOTAGOALCesare ManiogoGiles GilbertDEFENSETed Harris CBarry Gibbs ATom ReidDennis O&rsquo;BrienFred BarrettDoug MohnsCENTERJude DrouinDennis HextailMurray OliverCharlie BurnsWINGBob NevinBill GoldsworthyBuster HarveyLou NanneWINGDanny GrantJeao-Paul Parise ADean PrenticeINJUREDNone.ATLSANTAGOALDan BouchardPhil MyreDEFENSEPat Quinn ABill Ploger ARandy ManeryKerry KetterNoel PicardBob ParadiseCENTERBobby LeiterRey ComeauCurtBennettWINGNorm GrattonLew MorrisonLarry RomanchychLeon RochefortWINGErnie HkkeKeith McCreary CBilly MacMillanJohn Stewa-tINJUREDLucien GrenierNoel Prkae A &#9632;

NHL Team Rosters

f0019-01

National Hockey League SUMMARIES

GAMES COMPLETED<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01295/3607984-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="607" height="763"></div>Tues. Feb. 6Toronto 2 at N.Y. Islanders 4Vancouver 1 at St. Louis 5Wed. Feb. 7Pittsburgh 2 at Montreal 5California 3 at Toronto 5N.Y. Islanders 0 at N.Y. Rangers 6Boston 3 at Minnesota 2Detroit 5 at Atlanta 3Buffalo 1 at Chicago 2Philadelphia 1 at Los Angeles 2Thur. Feb. 8California 0 at Buffalo 4Minnesota 2 at St. Louis 3Fri. Feb. 9Philadelphia 10 at Vancouver 5Chicago 4 at Atlanta 3Sat Feb. 10Buffalo 1 at Montreal 2Los Angeles 4 at Toronto 2N.Y. Rangers 6 at N.Y. Islanders 0Pittsburgh 3 at Boston 6Detroit 1 at Minnesota 3California 2 at St. Louis 5Sun. Fev. 11Montreal 2 at N.Y. Rangers 2Los Angeles 0 at Boston 2Detroit 5 at Buffalo 2Vancouver 3 at Minnesota 6Philadelphia 2 at Chicago 7Californio 1 at Atlanta 3GAMES TO COMETue. Feb. 13N.Y. Islanders at PhiladelphiaVancouver at BostonLos Angeles at St LouisWed Feb. 14N.Y. Rangers at MontrealBuffalo at TorontoN.Y. Islanders at ChicagoDetroit at Los AngelesVancouver at PittsburghSt. Louis at MinnesotaAtlanta at CalifornioThur. Feb. 16Detroit at California Atlanta at VancouverSat. Feb. 17Philadelphia at Montreal N.Y. Islanders at TorontoBoston at Minnesota Detroit at Vancouver Buffalo at Pittsburgh Chicago at St. Louis Atlantaat Los AngelesSun. Feb. 18Montreal at Toronto N Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers Boston at Chicago Pittsburghat Buffalo Minnesota at Philadelphia Los Angeles at CaliforniaTue. Feb. 20Pittsburgh at N.Y. IslandersBoston at VancouverPhiladelphia at St. LouisWed Feb. 21Montreal at Chicago Atlanta at TorontoN.Y. Rangers at Los AngelesBoston at CaliforniaSt. Louis at MinnesotaThurs. Feb. 22Montreal at DetroitN.Y. Islanders at PittsburghVancouver at BuffaloFri. Feb. 23N.Y. Rangers at California &#9632;

f0021-01

NHL SCOREBOARD

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0022-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01321/3608022-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILL BARBER&hellip; Can&rsquo;t Worry About Calder</figcaption></div>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;What is Bill Barber doing wrong?Barber, the Flyers&rsquo; 1972 first-round amateur draft choice, has been the NHL&rsquo;s leading rookie scorer, but outside of Philadelphia&rsquo;s Spectrum the talented left wing-center has gained little at-L ntion.Perhaps not scoring at the pace of Gil Perreault and Rick Martin, the last two Calder Trophy winners, is Barber&rsquo;s problem. After contributing a goal and assist in the 2-2 tie Feb. 4 at Boston (ending the Bruins&rsquo; 15-game domination of the Flyers), Barber had 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists). At similar stages, Perreault and Martin were on their way to 38 and 44-goal seasons respectively. It&rsquo;s doubtful if Barber of any of his Calder Trophy competitors will match the rookie goal totals of Buffalo&rsquo;s dynamic duo. Consequently, voters are expected to focus on versatile forwards like Barber, defensemen such as Chicago&rsquo;s Phil Russell, Buffalo&rsquo;s Jim Schoenfeld, the Flyers&rsquo; Tom Bla-don, or goaltender like Atlanta&rsquo;s Dan Bouchard.Observers who see Barber daily.are impressed by his puck-carrying skill, ice astuteness, checking and. lately, timely hitting.&ldquo;He can think out there&mdash;he has a picture of what is right,&rdquo; said Flyers&rsquo; coach Fred Shero.Barber doesn&rsquo;t seem too concerned about dusting off his tro phy case for the Calder. Oh, he checks the scoring progress of Montreal&rsquo;s Chuck Lefley, California&rsquo;s Hilliard Graves. Boston&rsquo;s Greg Sheppard, Rangers&rsquo; Steve Vickers, and Islanders&rsquo; Billy Harris, but the impression is Barber won&rsquo;t sulk all summer if he is out-voted.&ldquo;I was talking to my Dad (in Callander, Ont.) and we said it would be nice if I won it&mdash;who wouldn&rsquo;t want it?&mdash;-but every game I&rsquo;m just trying to concentrate,&rdquo; Barber said. &ldquo;If I worry about it, I&rsquo;m going to run into trouble. I never thought about it before the season. My only goal was to make the NHL and play with Philadelphia.&rdquo;Barber admits he was worried last October when, instead of opening the season with the Flyers, he was wearing a Richmond Robins&rsquo; uniform.&ldquo;Being sent down really hurt,&rdquo; the 6-foot, 190-pounder said. &ldquo;Maybe I was too confident in training camp. I found it hard adjusting in Richmond. I didn&rsquo;t realize checking was so important.&rdquo;Barber must have adjusted quickly. After scoring nine goals in 11 games for the Flyers&rsquo; AHL farm club, the former Kitchener Ranger was recalled.&ldquo;He was brought up in an emergency (Bill Flett&rsquo;s sprained knee),&rdquo; said Shero, &ldquo;but he played so well we couldn&rsquo;t sent him down.&rdquo;Lately, Barber has been playing well with Bobby Clarke at center and Flett on right wing.&ldquo;Bobby has really helped me a lot.&rdquo; said Barber. &ldquo;He wants me to shoot a lot. If he wants me to carry the puck out, he&rsquo;ll yell &lsquo;carry it.&rsquo; He knows the game as well as anybody.&rdquo;Even if others aren&rsquo;t aware of it. the Flyers know they have a prize rookie in Bill Barber.FLYER FILLERS:&mdash;Flyers&rsquo; surge into second in West Division was marked by several milestones: equallying club unbeaten streak (5-0-3). Bobby Clarke&rsquo;s 100th NHL goal (in four seasons) and defenseman Wayne Hillman&rsquo;s 100th NHL point (in 13 seasons). Following first-ever victory in Chicago Jan. 13, Flyers reversed their previous road blues with 2-1-1 mark.<h2>Top Rookie Goal Scorers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02245/3608015-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="598" height="295"></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

Hot Storing Flyers’ Rookie, Barber Virtually ‘Unnoticed’

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div>BUFFALO&mdash;Only two originals remain with the Buffalo Sabres, two obtained in the National Hockey League&rsquo;s expansion draft of 1970 and with the club ever since. Both are doing a strong job as the Sabres fight for a playoff berth.Center Gerry Meehan, the learn captain, and defenseman Tracy Pratt are the pair. Meehan was drafted from the Philadelphia Flyers and has played practically every game for the Sabres since they entered the NHL.Pratt was taken from Pittsburgh Penguins. He has been with the Sabres continually but was hurt both last season and his. He was sent to Cincinnati Swords of the American League in 1971-72 for 16 games to play himself back in shape after suffering a leg injury.This year Tracy was hurt early. He missed four games because of an ankle injury and returned to action before it was completely healed. He had a rough time for a while but by midseason was playing as good hockey as any defenseman on the club.Tracy was, in fact, tied with leading scorer Rene Robert as the top plus-minus player on the club at the All-Star Game break. Each had a plus-15.Pratt, son of the Hall of Famer, Babe Pratt, is one of the few United States-born players in the NHL. Tracy was born in New York while his father was playing for the Rangers but the family moved to Canada when Babe was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs six weeks later. Tracy did most of his growing up in the West, after the family moved to Vancouver, where his father now is assistant to the vice president of the Canucks.Meehan came to the Sabres as a left winger but was moved to center by Punch Imlach, then the coach as well as general manager, early in the club&rsquo;s first season. He went back to the wing briefly this season when he got off to a slow start but he&rsquo;s been starring at center most of the campaign.It has been his line, with Hugh Harris on the left side and Jim Lorentz on the right, that picked up the scoring slack when the French Connection of Gil Perreault, Rick Martin and Robert slumped.By the All-Star break, Meehan had 27 goals, more than he ever scored in an entire NHL season before. In the final game before the All-Star break, when the Sabres lost to the Atlanta Flames, 8-5, and the fans even booed the French Connection for the first time, Meehan&rsquo;s line scored three of Buffalo&rsquo;s goals. Meehan had four assists.The following game, when the Sabres bounced back with a 5-3 victory ever the Los Angeles Kings, the Meehan line came through with three goals. Meehan had two assists. The line went scoreless in the next start, away against the New York Islanders, a 1-1 tie, but the following night in Buffalo picked up six points in a 5-1 win over the same Islanders.In 16 games, including the win over the Islanders, Meehan accumulated 21 points. He had eight assists in the last four games when his right winger. Lorentz, scored six goals.ICE CHIPS: One other player picked in the 1970 expansion draft still is with the Sabres. He is Paul Terbenche, defenseman, who played in the minors the last two seasons and has been sidelined by an ankle injury.Doug Rombough, who grew up in Fort Erie, Ont., just across the Niagara River from Buffalo, was called up from the Cincinnati Swords when Terbenche and winger John Gould were hurt. Rombough scored a goal in his first NHL game, the 5-1 triumph over the Islanders. His parents were in the stands.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01302/3608053-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="553" height="581"><figcaption class="caption-body">TRACY PRATT&hellip; Playing His Part</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0023-01

Meehan, Pratt Still Doing Their Thing

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04124/3608098-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="288" height="433"></div><h2>WHA FEAT OF THE WEEK</h2>During his NHL career, BOBBY HULL, thrilled hockey audiences ail over the country with his goal-scoring explosiveness. He rattled three pucks into the net in one game last year and went on a 21-game point-scoring streak. WHA crowds have been waiting patiently for Bobby to explode and he finally came through against Alberta with his first league hat trick. Despite a late start, Hull had 32 goals in his first 42 WHA games.WHA LEADERS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01309/3608091-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="636" height="1735"></div><h2>WHA SCOREBOARD</h2>GAMES COMPLETED<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02241/3608084-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="612" height="575"></div>Mon. Feb. 5Chicago 5 at Cleveland 7Minnestoa 6 at Houston 3Tues. Feb. 6Philadelphia 3 at Ottawa 3New England 4 at Alberta 2New York 4 at Minnesota 5Wed. Feb. 7New England 1 at Alberta 3Winnipeg 2 at Houston 5Philadelphia 0 at Quebec 3Thur. Feb. 8Winnipeg 3 at Houston 1New York 3 at Ottawa 2Minnesota 1 at Los Angeles 3Quebec 2 at Chicago 5Fri. Feb. 9Minnesota 0 at Alberta 6Ottawa 7 at New England 3Sat. Feb. 10Quebec 4 at Philadelphia 5Winnipeg 6 at Los Angeles 5New York 4 at Cleveland 8Houston 0 at Chicago 3Sun. Feb. 11Winnipeg 3 at Los Angeles 0Cleveland 1 at Philadelphia 6Ottawa 2 at New York 3Minnesota 5 at Alberta 7New England 2 at Quebec 2GAMES TO COMEMon. Feb. 12New York at ClevelandTue. Feb. 13Houston at AlbertaNew England at PhiladelphiaChicago at Los AngelesWinnipeg at MinnesotaWed. Feb. 14Cleveland at PhiladelphiaOttawa at QuebecThur. Feb. 15Ottawa at MinnesotaHouston at AlbertaWinnipeg at ChicagoLes Angeles at New England(Boston Arena)Fri. Feb. 1 6Los Angeles at QuebecNew York at PhiladelphiaHouston at WinnipegSat. Feb. 17New England at QuebecOttawa at ChicagoMinnesota at ClevelandSun. Feb. 18Houston at WinnipegLos Angeles at PhiladelphiaChicago at MinnesotaTue. Feb. 20Alberta at ClevelandChicago at QuebecLos Angeles at OttawaWed. Feb. 21Alberta at New YorkThur. Feb. 22Quebec at HoustonPhiladelphia at OttawaFri. Feb. 23Alberta ot New EnglandBoston Arena) &#9632;

f0024-04

WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

ST. PAUL&mdash;Attendance in the World Hockey Association continues to climb.Prior to the league&rsquo;s All Star game the first week of-January, WHA teams had played before 1.154.859 fans in 233 games, an average of4,956. Since then, it&rsquo;s been 440,582 in &lsquo;83 games&rsquo; an average of 5,308. With those kind of figures it&rsquo;s little wonder the WHA is headed for the 2,000,000 fan mark.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03168/3608129-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="244" height="421"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ron Ward</figcaption></div>Minnesota&rsquo;s Fighting Saints, enjoying the comfort of the new $19 million St. Paul Civic Center, have the best average attendance since the All Star game. The Saints have played to 50.485 persons in seven games, an average of 7,497.New York has averaged 7.420 (29,682 for four games). New England has averaged 7,109 (28,437 for four games). Winnipeg has averaged 6.718 (47.028 for seven games) and Quebec has averaged 6,672 (40.033 for six games).The WHA had its greatest weekend attendance-wise&mdash;Feb. 2-4. Ten games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday attracted 69,961 spectators. an average of 6,996.New York had its best crowd in history (10.304) for a Sunday afternoon game with Quebec, Houston played to t he first sellout in t he city&rsquo;s hockey history when 9,549 jammed the Sam Houston Coliseum Saturday to watch the Aeros defeat Minnesota 7-1, Alberta had its fourth sellout of the year as 5,200 watched Winnipeg edge the Oilers 5-3 at Edmonton and Cleveland had a near-sellout of 9,219 for its 5-3 victory over Philadelphia in the Cleveland Arena Friday.Meanwhile, on the ice, the old &lsquo;Lamplighter&rsquo; was back on top of the WHA&rsquo;s individual scoring race.New York&rsquo;s Ron Ward turned on the red light twice and assisted on four other goals during the week to boost his total points for the season to 84. He has 39 goals and 45 assists.Andre Lacroix of Philadelphia, who was tied with Ward for the lead a week ago and pulled ahead of him on Feb. 2, is second three points hack. Lacroix has 36 goals and 45 assists for 81 points.Bunched in the 70s are Terry Caffery of New England (29-48&mdash;77), Tommy Webster of New England (38-35-73), Danny Law-son of Philadelphia (40-32&mdash;72) and Gordon Labossiere of Houston (26-44&mdash;70).The remainder of the top 10 includes Chris Bordeleau of Winnipeg with 69 points, Norm Beaudin of Winnipeg with 66,-Jean-Claude Tremblay of Quebec with 66 and Wayne Carleton of Ottawa with 65.Lawson&rsquo;s 40 goals is tops, while Tremblay leads in assists with 57. John Schella of Houston continues to lead by a wide margin in penalty minutes with 174.Among the goaltenders, it&rsquo;s still Cleveland&rsquo;s Gerry Cheevers against the field. Cheevers leads the WHA in most victories (26), best won-lost-tied percentage (.684 on 26-12-0), lowest goals against average (2.50 on 96 in 2300 minutes), highest save percentage (.918 on 1087 of 1183 shots on goal), highest allowed frequency (12.38 on 96 of 1186 shots on goal), most shutout games (5) and most shutout periods (51).Winnipeg&rsquo;s Ernie Wakely and New-England&rsquo;s Al Smith are the other WHA goalies with 20 victories. Alberta&rsquo;s-Jack Norris has 19, while Jim McLeod of Chicago, Bernie Parent of Philadelphia and Peter Donnelly of New York each have 17.Houston&rsquo;s power play is still the best in the WHA and Cleveland is the best at fighting off penalties. The Aeros have scored 38 times in 131 power playes for a 29.0 percentage. It averages out to a goal every 3.44 times the Aeros have a manpower advantage. The Crusaders have been short handed 234 times and have given up only 30 goals, an 87.1 percentage and a 7.80 frequency. &#9632;

f0024-03

WHA Sets Sights On Two Million Mark

<div class="byline">BY ALEX HARDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01256/3608160-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="549" height="565"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILL HUNTER&hellip; Steps Up To Coach</figcaption></div>EDMONTON&mdash;Sometimes a change works wonders&mdash;even for the Alberta Oilers of the World Hockey Association.The slumping Oilers underwent a change of coaching at the coaching level when vice-president Bill Hunter stepped up to relieve Ray Kinasewich of the reins of the club.The Oilers appeared to like the idea and went out and won their first game under Hunter, a 3-1 decision against the tough New England Whalers.Hunter made the coaching switch just hours before the Oilers were go to take the ice to face the Whalers. He said he felt something had to be done to shake the team out of its doldrums since time was running out and the fourth-place Los Angeles Sharks, the team the Oilers must dislodge for a playoff spot, weren&rsquo;t slowing down.Hunter predicted confidently, &ldquo;We are confident this move will stimulate our team&hellip; to earn a playoff spot and to assure that we will be building a strong organization for the future.&rdquo;&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s a great idea,&rdquo; Kinasewich said after being told he would be expected to return as coach next year to fulfil the remainder of a two-year contract.&ldquo;Every club needs to make changes,&rdquo; Kinasewich said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s my job to help determine what changes we will need before next season.&rdquo;Hunter said Kinasewich&rsquo;s job for the rest of this season will be to assess current talent on the Oilers and recruit players for next season. Kinasewich and his coaching assistant Glenn Hall were signed well after the Alberta club was formed. Hunter has maintained right along that the Oilers are a better team than they have shown on the ice. It was Hunter who selected the players for the team when the WHA was instituted.Meanwhile, if Hunter was disillusioned with some of his Oilers he certainly couldn&rsquo;t point the finger at Jim Harrison the way he has been producing of late.At first. Harrison didn&rsquo;t seem overly impressed with his feat: 10 points in one game, a pro hockey record.Today, however, thinking back on the event, he admits it is &ldquo;kind of hard to believe.&rdquo; Harrison&rsquo;s amazing output, which came Jan. 29 at Edmonton against New York Raiders, jumped him from 22nd place to 13th in the WHA scoring parade.The victim was Raiders&rsquo; young third-string goalie Ian Wilkie, an Edmonton native who had many outstanding games as a junior in the same arena where Harrison blitzed him. &ldquo;If these things are supposed to build character, by now I must be leading the league in character,&rdquo; he shrugged.Actually, Wilkie played well and had no chance on most of the goals. But the onslaught has made his goals-against average read like a batting average. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the problem,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Most people only see your goals against, they don&rsquo;t see the circumstances,&rdquo; lamented the young netminder.Certainly, he hopes he&rsquo;s seen the last of Jim Harrison for a long while.WINNIPEG&mdash; The road-weary Jets spent the week in a slump. They were turning more and more to the line of Bobby Hull, Chris Bordeleau and Norm Beaudin to do it all, but that line was being checked hard by opponents. Other Jets lines, noticeably Wally Boyer-Milt Black-Dunc Rousseau, were slipping. Still, the club got a high compliment from Cleveland&rsquo;s outstanding young forward Gerry Pinder, who said the recent four games with Winnipeg were &ldquo;the toughest four games I&rsquo;ve ever played.&rdquo;HOUSTON&mdash; Aeros slipped a little after a sizzling January win streak. Still, they were hot on Winnipeg&rsquo;s tail and boasted some individual leaders. Gord Labossiere was the top scorer in the West Division (fifth best in the WHA) and defenceman John Schella maintained his lead in penalty minutes. Forward Ted Taylor caused a stir in one game when he brawled with Chicago&rsquo;s tough Rosaire Paiement. The two swapped punches for a full 30 seconds.MINNESOTA&mdash; Fighting Saints, one of the WHA&rsquo;s smaller clubs, beefed up their lineup for the final playoff drive by adding big, tough Bill Young (6-1, 195) from Los Angeles. Saints dealt off Fred Speck and undisclosed cash. General manager-coach Glen Son-mor calls Young &ldquo;a great young hockey player, just now coming into his own. His size and strength will help us tremendously up front.&rdquo;LOS ANGELES&mdash; Sharks counted a couple of key victories to remain very much alive in the playoff race. Gary Veneruzzo kept on scoring goals (two more crucial markers). Still, Sharks cannot win with regularity, and coach Terry Slater threatened to get rid of three or four non-producers. In a brilliant move which Slater says came to him in a dream, he put defenseman Gerry Odrowski at center with Veneruzzo and Alton White, and the line scored two goals in the first six minutes. Bob Perreault, 42-year-old goalie who had been scouting for Sharks, joined the team as a player to add depth for the playoff drive.CHICAGO&mdash; The news that Cougars were going to enter a bidding war with the NHL Black Hawks for Hawks stars Stan Mi-kita and Pat Stapleton, combined with a stern warning from coach Marcel Pronovost, stirred Cougar players into a winning streak during the week. Mikita and Stapleton were being sought to give the club &ldquo;name&rdquo; talent and badly needed strength down the middle. Lack of stars has hurt crowds at International Amphitheatre. &#9632;

f0025-01

Hunter Takes Over Oilers, Club Responds With Victory

<h2>NEW ENGLAND</h2>GOAL: Al Smith, Bruce Landon.DEFENSE: Jim Dorey, Ted Green, Paul Hurley, Rick Ley, Brad Seiwood.CENTER: Terry Caffery, John Danby, John French, Larry Reau.R. WING: Tom Earl, Mike Hyndman, Tim Sheehy, Tommy Williams.L. WING: Kevin Ahearn, John Cunniff, Tom Webster, Brit Selby<h2>QUEBEC</h2>GOAL: Serge Aubry, Jacques Lemelin, Richard Brodeur.DEFENSE: Jacques Blain, Ken Desjardine, Frank Locombe, J.C Tremblay, Pierre Roy.CENTER: Michel Harvey, Jean Payette, Andre Gaudette.R. WING: Yves Bergeron, Alain Caron, Rejean Giroux, Paul Larose, Renald Leclerc, Frank Golembrosky.L. WING: Mike Archambault, Jean-Guy Gendron, Bob Guindon, Pierre Guite, Michel Parizeau.<h2>NEW YORK</h2>GOAL: Gary Kurt, Peter Donnelly, Ian Wilkie.DEFENSE: Kent Douglas, Jean Gauthier, Wally Olds, Ken Block, Bill Speer, Hal Willis, Bob Winograd, Bob Brown.CENTER: Norm Ferguson, Mike Laughton, Gene Peacosh, Garry Peters, Bob Sheehan, Ron Ward, Brian Perry.R. WING: Jamie Kennedy, Wayne Rivers, Bob Jones.L WING: Brian Bradley, Craig Reichmuth, Jarda Krupkka, Ted Sharf.<h2>OTTAWA</h2>GOAL: Les Binkley. Giles Gratton, Frank Blum.DEFENSE: Mike Amodeo, Rick Cunningham, Brian Gibbons, Chris Meloff, Ken Stephenson, Steve Warr.CENTER: Gavin Kirk, Bob Leduc, Bob Charlebois.R. WING: Mike Boland, Steve King, Tom Martin, Dick Sentes, Guy Trottier, Brian Conacher.L. WING: Wayne Carleton, Ron Climie, Jack Gibson, Tom Simpson.<h2>CLEVELAND</h2>GOAL: Gerry Cheevers, Bob Whidden.DEFENSE: Ray Clearwater, John Hanna, Jim McMasters, Wayne Muloin, Paul Shmyr, Billy Horton.CENTER: Doug Brindley, Ron Buchanan, Bob Dillabough, Skip Krake, Dick Pumple.R. WING: Jim Wiste, Paul Andrea, Ted Hodgson.L WING: Joe Hardy, Grant Erickson, Garry Jarrett, Gerry Pinder.<h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2>GOAL: Bernie Parent, Marcel Paille.DEFENSE: Jim Cardiff, Irv Spencer, Ronnie Plumb, John Migneault, Richard Campeau, Dave Hutchison.CENTER: Bryan Campbell, Andre Lacroix, Jacques Lapierre.R. WING: Danny Lawson, Johnny McKenzie, Don O&rsquo;Donoghue, Michel Boudreau.L. WING: Don Herriman, Don Burgess, Michel Plante.<h2>LOS ANGELES</h2>GOAL: George Gardner, Russ Gllow, Bob Perreault.DEFENSE: Bart Crashley, Ralph MacSweyn, Jim Niekamp, Gerry Odrowski, Jim Watson.CENTER: J.P. Leblanc, Ted McCaskill, Tom Ser-viss, Joe Szura, Gary Veneruzzo.R. WING: Steve Sutherland, Mike Byers, Alton White, Peter Slater.L. WING: Tom Gilmore, Earl Heiskala, Fred Speck, Bernie MacNeil.<h2>WINNIPEG</h2>GOAL: Joe Daley, Ernie Wakely, Gordon Tumik son.DEFENSE: Bob Ash, Steve Cuddie, Larry Hornung, Bob Woytowich, Joe Zanussi.CENTER: Chris Bordeleau, Wally Boyer, Danny Johnson, Garth Rizzuto, Duke Asmundson.R. WING: Norm Beaudin, Milt Black, Bill Sutherland, Brian Cadle.L WING: Bobby Hull, Ab McDonald, Dune Rousseau, Cal Swenson, Jean-Guy Gratton.<h2>MINNESOTA</h2>GOAL: Mike Curran, Jack McCartan, Carl Wetzel.DEFENSE: John Arbour, Terry Ball, Mike McMo-hon, Dick Paradise, Frank Sanders, George Konik, Blaine Rydman.CENTER: Mike Antonovich, Ted Hampson, Jim Johnson, Terry Ryan.R. WING: Keith Christiansen, Wayne Connelly, Billy Klatt.L. WING: George Morrison, Mel Pearson, Bob MacMillan, Len Lilyholm, Craig Falkman, Bill Young.<h2>ALBERTA</h2>GOAL: Ken Brown, Jack Norris.DEFENSE: Ken Baird, Doug Barrie, Steve Carlyle, Bob Falkenberg, Bob Wall, Al Hamilton, Roger Cote.CENTER: Jim Harrison, Ed Joyal, Bob McAneeley, Ross Perkins.R. WING: Ron Anderson, Bernie Blanchette, Billy Hicke, Rusty Patenaude.L. WING: Brian Carlin, Vai Fonteyne, Dennis Kassian, Ron Walters, John Fisher.<h2>HOUSTON</h2>GOAL: Wayne Rutledge, Don McLeod, Bill Hughes.DEFENSE Dune McCallum, Gord Kannegiesser, John Schella, Larry Hale, Ray Larose.CENTER: Murray Hall, Ed Hoeksfra, Gord Labossiere, Larry Lund, Keke Mortson.R. WING: Don Grierson, Duke Harris, Frank Hughes, Brian Smith.L. WING: Brian McDonald, Paul Popiel, Jack Stanfield, Ted Taylor.<h2>CHICAGO</h2>GOAL: Andre Gill, Jim McLeod. Paul Menard.DEFENSE: Ron Anderson, Butch Barber, larry Cohan, Dick Proceviat, Larry Mavety.CENTER: Bob Skinski, Bob Whitlock, Rod Zaine.R. WING: Dan Lodboa, Jim Benzelock, Dick Sarrazin, Rosaire Paiement.L WING: Reg Fleming, Brian Glenwright, Bob Liddington, Rick Morris, Jan Popiel. &#9632;

WHA Rosters

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01261/3608215-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="217" height="223"></div>Sun. Feb. 4CLEVELAND 3 at OTTAWA 2FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Ottawa, Charlebois, (Carleton, Simpson)&hellip;&hellip; 1:04Penalties&mdash;Jarrett 0:31, Gibson 1:56, Gibbons 9:43, Stephanson 15:42, Pinder 17:06.SECOND PERIOD2&mdash;Cleveland, Jarrett (Buchanan, Shmyr)&hellip;&hellip; 0:58Penalties&mdash;Pinder. Stephanson 0:12, Stephanson 4:57.THIRD PERIOD3&mdash;Cleveland, Andrea (Erickson, Wiste)&hellip;&hellip; 2:264&mdash;Cleveland, Pumple (Horton)&hellip;&hellip; 7:095&mdash;Ottawa, Gibson&hellip;&hellip; 14:16Penalties&mdash;Cheevers (served by Buchanan) 8:55, Muloin 18:07.Shots against:Cheevers&hellip;&hellip; 8 5 12&mdash;25Binkley&hellip;&hellip; 13 12 10&mdash;35Attendance: 4,165WINNIPEG 5 at ALBERTA 3FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Alberta, Joyal (Fisher, Fonteyne)&hellip;&hellip; 6:46Penalty&mdash;Carlyle 9:41.SECOND PERIOD3&mdash;Winnipeg, Bordeleau (Hornung, Beaudin)&hellip;&hellip; 11:294&mdash;Winnipeg, Sutherland (Black, Woytowich)&hellip;&hellip; 14:275&mdash;Winnipeg, Hull (Bordeleau, Beaudin)&hellip;&hellip; 18:01Penalties&mdash;McDonald 9:11, Joyal 10:44.THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Winnipeg, Hull (Hornung, Bordeleau)&hellip;&hellip; 1:217&mdash;Winnipeg, Hull&hellip;&hellip; 7:018&mdash;Alberta, Blanchette (Barrie, Walters)&hellip;&hellip; 16:17Penalties&mdash;Woytowich 15:20, Daley (misconduct) 16:17, Hamilton 17:33.Shots against:Norris&hellip;&hellip; 9 13 7&mdash;29Daley-Wakely&hellip;&hellip; 13 6 10&mdash;29Attendance: 5,200.QUEBEC 4 at NEW YORK 5FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;New York, Bradley (Ward, Rivers)&hellip;&hellip; 5:312&mdash;Quebec, Leclerc (Desjardme, Gaudette)&hellip;&hellip; 5:413&mdash;New York, Rivers (Block, Word)&hellip;&hellip; 14:00Penalties&mdash;Parizeau Gendron (misconduct) Scharf (double minor) 0:30, Willis Guite (minors, majors) 8:46.SECOND PERIOD4&mdash;Quebec, Golembrosky (Lacombe)&hellip;&hellip; 6:355&mdash;Quebec, Guite (Parizeau)&hellip;&hellip; 16:346&mdash;New York, Rivers (Bradley, Speer)&hellip;&hellip; 16:537&mdash;New York, Ward (Bradley, Speer)&hellip;&hellip; 17:10Penalties&mdash;Gendron Ward (majors) 6:35, Winograd 8:51.THIRD PERIOD8&mdash;New York, Peocosh (Ferguson, Sheehan)&hellip;&hellip; 8:209&mdash;Quebec, Leclerc (Gaudette, Blain)&hellip;&hellip; 15:38Penalties&mdash;NoneShots against:Donnelly&hellip;&hellip; 8 8 9&mdash;25Aubry&hellip;&hellip; 10 13 9&mdash;32Attendance: 10,304.NEW ENGLAND 3 at LOS ANGELES 4FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;New England, Webster (Sheehy)&hellip;&hellip; 6:272&mdash;Los Angeles, Veneruzzo (Odrowski, Leblanc)&hellip;&hellip; 8:233&mdash;Los Angeles, Crashley (Odrowski)&hellip;&hellip; 12:44Penalties&mdash;Szura 4:31, Hurley 7:05, Ahearn 12:16, Gilmore 14:35.SECOND PERIOD4&mdash;Los Angeles, Heiskda (Serviss, Speck)&hellip;&hellip; 4:085&mdash;New England, Selby (Caffery, Webster)&hellip;&hellip; 11:30Penalty&mdash;Odrowski 17:37.THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Los Angeles, Slater (Szura)&hellip;&hellip; 0:307&mdash;New England, Caffery (Williams)&hellip;&hellip; 12:56Penalty&mdash;Hurley 5:17Shots against:Gillow&hellip;&hellip; 8 9 6&mdash;23Smith&hellip;&hellip; 9 6 10&mdash;25Attendance: 6,184Mon. Feb. 5CHICAGO 5 at CLEVELAND 7FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Chicogo, Paiement (Sinciski, Fleming)&hellip;&hellip; 0:402&mdash;Cleveland, Hodgson (Cleorwater, Erickson)&hellip;&hellip; 4:363&mdash;Cleveland, Brindley (Hodgson, Erickson)&hellip;&hellip; 15:584&mdash;Cleveland, Wiste (Pumple)&hellip;&hellip; 19:27Penalties&mdash;Morris 8:04, Fleming 18:52.SECOND PERIOD5&mdash;Cleveland, Wiste (Andrea, Horton)&hellip;&hellip; 5:116&mdash;Chicogo, Paiement (Whitlock)&hellip;&hellip; 6:307&mdash;Chicago, Lodboo (Movety, Morris)&hellip;&hellip; 8:158&mdash;Cleveland, Buchanan (Clearwater, Pinder)&hellip;&hellip; 10:489&mdash;Chicago, Sicinski (Fleming, Paiement)&hellip;&hellip; 14:1CPenalties&mdash;Clearwater 5:50, Fleming 10:12, Cleveland (bench) 13:21THIRD PERIOD10&mdash;Cleveland, Jorrett (Andrea, Pinder)&hellip;&hellip; 10:4311&mdash;Chicago, Morris (Zaine)&hellip;&hellip; 18:3212&mdash;Cleveland, Jarrett&hellip;&hellip; 19:47Penalties Wiste 4:09, Paiement 9:24.Shots against:Cheevers&hellip;&hellip; 6 16 12&mdash;34McLeod 24 12 12&mdash;49Attendance; 2,673MINNESOTA 6 at HOUSTON 3FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Minnesota, Sanders (Konik)&hellip;&hellip; 0:242&mdash;Minnesota, Morris (Christiansen, Johnson)&hellip;&hellip; 3:273&mdash;Minnesota, Lilyholm (Sanders, MacMillan)&hellip;&hellip; 17:21Penalties&mdash;Popiel 3:20, Konik 7:22, McCallum 17:30SECOND PERIOD4&mdash;Houston, Grierson (Taylor, Lund)&hellip;&hellip; 9:005&mdash;Minnesota, Young (Johnston)&hellip;&hellip; 17:06Penalties&mdash;Hampson 8:20, Taylor 9:20, Lilyholm, Hughes 15:58.THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Minnesota, McMahon (MacMillan)&hellip;&hellip; 8:067&mdash;Houston, Taylor (Grierson)&hellip;&hellip; 9:188&mdash;Minnesota, Johnson (Young, Paradise)&hellip;&hellip; 7:329&mdash;Houston, Harris (Hoekstra)&hellip;&hellip; 13:23Penalty&mdash;Popiel 12:47.Shots against:McLeod&hellip;&hellip; 6 4 14&mdash;34McCartan&hellip;&hellip; 11 8 16&mdash;35Attendance: 3,119.Tues. Feb. 6PHILADELPHIA 3 at OTTAWA 5FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Philadelphia, Plante (McKenzie)&hellip;&hellip; 7:012&mdash;Philadelphia, Campbell (McKenzie, Spencer)&hellip;&hellip; 19:19SECOND PERIOD3&mdash;Philadelphia, Boudreau (Plante, McKenzie)&hellip;&hellip; 12:204&mdash;Ottawa, Gibson (King, Kirk)&hellip;&hellip; 12:515&mdash;Ottawa, Charlebois (Carleton, Simpson)&hellip;&hellip; 19:05Penalties: Lawson 6:29; Kirk 6:46, Sentes Cardiff 8:26THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Ottawa, Carleton (Simpson, Charlebois)&hellip;&hellip; 0:307&mdash;Ottawa, Simpson (Carleton, Charlebois)&hellip;&hellip; 13:118&mdash;Ottawa, King (Kirk. Warr)&hellip;&hellip; 19:52Penalties: Lacroix 19:52Shots against:Binkley&hellip;&hellip; 12 8 9&mdash;29Parent&hellip;&hellip; 13 10 14&mdash;37Attendance: 2,313.NEW ENGLAND 4 at ALBERTA 2FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Alberta, Wall (Corlye, Harrison)&hellip;&hellip; 8:072&mdash;New England, Pleou (Webster)&hellip;&hellip; 14:593&mdash;New England, Webster&hellip;&hellip; 16:05Penalties: Selby 2:24, Carlyle 9:23, Dorey 10:31SECOND PERIOD4&mdash;New England, Pleou (Ley)&hellip;&hellip; 0:105&mdash;New England, Sheehy (Cunniff, Ley)&hellip;&hellip; 7:5Penalties: Falkenberg 13:39; Seiwood 19:02THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Alberta, Potenoude (Carlyle)&hellip;&hellip; 19:34Penalties: Ley 2:33, Webster 6:38; Danby 14:39Shots Against:Norris&hellip;&hellip; 6 9 6&mdash;21London-Smith&hellip;&hellip; 9 11 9&mdash;29Attendance: 3,897NEW YORK 4 at MINNESOTA 5FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Minnesota, Hampson (Christiansen, Klatt)&hellip;&hellip; 4:312&mdash;Minnesota, Klatt&hellip;&hellip; 11:52Penalties: Perry 2:44; Schart 7:47, Konik 13:13; Johnson 16:45; Willis 19:23SECOND PERIOD3&mdash;New York, Ferguson (Sheehan, Peacosh)&hellip;&hellip; 8:284&mdash;Minnesota, Connelly (Konik, MacMillan)&hellip;&hellip; 12:025&mdash;Minnesota, Klatt (Hampson, Ball)&hellip;&hellip; 14:146&mdash;New York, Peocosh (Ferguson, Sheehan)&hellip;&hellip; 15:587&mdash;Minnesota, Connelly (Konik)&hellip;&hellip; 17:26Penalties: NoneTHIRD PERIOD8&mdash;New York, Peocosh (Ferguson)&hellip;&hellip; 0:179&mdash;New York, Ferguson (Rivers)&hellip;&hellip; 19:37Penalties: Konik 17:36, Peocosh 19:07Shots Against:Curran&hellip;&hellip; 16 14 19&mdash;49Kurt&hellip;&hellip; 19 13 8&mdash;40Attendance: 6,295Wed. Feb. 7NEW ENGLAND 1 at ALBERTA 3FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Alberta, Baird (Walters, Parkins)&hellip;&hellip; 3:25Penalties: Seiwood 1:35; Barrie 10:14; Dorey 12:07; Falenberg 16:20.SECOND PERIOD2&mdash;New England, Caffery&hellip;&hellip; 4:083&mdash;Alberto, Perkins (Hamlton, Baird)&hellip;&hellip; 6:34Penalties: Ley 1:05, Cote 8:06.THIRD PERIOD4&mdash;Alberta, Walters (Perkins, Baird)&hellip;&hellip; 16:22Penalties: Patenaude 0:33; Barrie (major) 17:02; French (major) 17:02.Shots against:Norris&hellip;&hellip; 7 9 7&mdash;23Smith&hellip;&hellip; 6 6 9&mdash;21Attendance: 3,699WINNIPEG 2 at HOUSTON 5FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Winnipeg, Rizzutto 7:482&mdash;Houston, Hughes (Labossiere, Schello)&hellip;&hellip; 10:063&mdash;Winnipeg, Zanussi (Swenson, Rousseau)&hellip;&hellip; 13:00Penalties: Popiel 4:31, McCallum 12:06.SECOND PERIOD4&mdash;Houston, Stanfield (Popeil, Mortson)&hellip;&hellip; 8:115&mdash;Houston, Hall (Labossiere)&hellip;&hellip; 11:20Penalties: Popiel 4:29; Zanussi 18:24.THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Houston, Grierson (Schello, Lund)&hellip;&hellip; 0:247&mdash;Houston, McDonald (Stanfield, Hale)&hellip;&hellip; 8:11Penalties: Schello 4:24, McCallum 11:42.Shots against:Rutledge&hellip;&hellip; 19 9 6&mdash;34Wokely&hellip;&hellip; 8 16 6&mdash;30PHILADELPHIA 0 at QUEBEC 3FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Quebec, Caron (Gendron, Parizeau) 18:01Penalties: Cardiff, Leclerc 0:43, Lacroix 4:17, Cardiff, Leclerc 19:59.SECOND PERIOD2&mdash;Quebec, Tremblay (Bergeron, Payete)&hellip;&hellip; 5:413&mdash;Quebec, Caron (Desjardine, Lacombe)&hellip;&hellip; 9:30Penalties: Herriman 16:49.THIRD PERIODNo scoringPenalties: Gendron 3:29, McKenzie 5:26, McKenzie (minor, major, double misconduct), Leclerc (minor, major, misconduct) 9:51, Campbell 16:42, Poyette 18:09.Shots against:Aubry-Brodeur&hellip;&hellip; 8 12 9&mdash;2Parent&hellip;&hellip; 13 14 13&mdash;40ATTENDANCE: 8,153Thur. Feb. 8WINNIPEG 3 at HOUSTON 1FIRST PERIOODNo scoring.Penalties: McCollum 2:11; Schello 6:40; Gratton 14:38; Cadle, Schello 19:03.SECOND PERIOD1&mdash;Winnipeg, Johnson (Gratton, Cuddie)&hellip;&hellip; 8:58Penalties: Woytowich 6:09; Labossiere 9:17; Ash (major) Mortson (major) Cadle (major) Schello 13:18 (major).THIRD PERIOD2&mdash;Winnipeg, Hull (Beaudin, Daley)&hellip;&hellip; 12:523&mdash;Houston, Hull (Popiel)&hellip;&hellip; 15:264&mdash;Winnipeg, Beoudin (unassisted)&hellip;&hellip; 19:37Penalties: none.Shots against:Rutledge&hellip;&hellip; 10 11 11&mdash;32Daley&hellip;&hellip; 4 17 17&mdash;38Attendance: 7,462.NEW YORK 3 at OTTAWA 2FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;New York, Ferguson (Peacosh, Ward)&hellip;&hellip; 4:572&mdash;New York, Block (Olds)&hellip;&hellip; 7:003&mdash;Ottawa, Kirk (Gibson, Cunningham)&hellip;&hellip; 9:15Penalties: Gibbons 3:47, Reichmuth 6:00, Winogord 17:47.SECOND PERIODNo scoring.Penalties: Block 11:27, Simpson, Perry 12:51, Carleton 17:53.THIRD PERIOD4&mdash;Ottawa, King (Gibson)&hellip;&hellip; 1:135&mdash;New York, Peacosh (Ferguson, Ward)&hellip;&hellip; 14:09Penalty: Gibbons 13:41.Shots against:Binkley&hellip;&hellip; 11 7 8&mdash;26Donnelly&hellip;&hellip; 17 12 8&mdash;37Attendance: 2,123.QUEBEC 2 at CHICAGO 5FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Chicago, Morris (Lodboo, Fleming)&hellip;&hellip; 3:262&mdash;Chicago, Morris (Anderson, Lodboa)&hellip;&hellip; 9:213&mdash;Chicago, Whitlock (Anderson, Liddington)&hellip;&hellip; 18:22Penalties: None.SECOND PERIOD4&mdash;Chicago, Liddington (Lodboa, Mavety)&hellip;&hellip; 7:305&mdash;Quebec, Tremblay&hellip;&hellip; 11:05Penalties: Leclerc, 7:55, Sicinski 10:04, Leclerc 10:04, Zaine (major), Tremblay (major) 19:21.THIRD PERIOD4&mdash;Chicago, Liddington (Lodboa, Movety)&hellip;&hellip; 7:305&mdash;Quebec, Tremblay&hellip;&hellip; 11:05Penalties: Leclerc, 7:55, Sicinski 10:04, Leclerc 10:04, Zaine (major) Tremblay (major) 19:21THIRD PERIOD6&mdash;Quebec, Lacombe (Archambault)&hellip;&hellip; 0:587&mdash;Chicogo, Benzelock (Whitlock, Movety)&hellip;&hellip; 1:12Penalties: None.Shots against:McLeod&hellip;&hellip; 9 15 17&mdash;41Brodeur-Aubry&hellip;&hellip; 9 9 15&mdash;33Attendance: 3,714.Fri. Feb.9MINNESOTA 0 at ALBERTA 6FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Alberta, Joyal (Walters, Barrie)&hellip;&hellip; 7:292&mdash;Alberta, Harrison (Fonteyne, Blanchette)&hellip;&hellip; 8:41Penalties: Baird 4:55, Christiansen 6:39, Konik 8:17, Joyal 17:12.SECOND PERIODNo scoring.Penalties: Falkenberg 7:12, Young 8:32, Perkins 19:28.THIRD PERIOD3&mdash;Alberta, Walters (Cote, Falkenberg)&hellip;&hellip; 5:544&mdash;Alberto, Potenoude (Perkins)&hellip;&hellip; 17:315&mdash;Alberto, Harrison (Joyal)&hellip;&hellip; 19:346&mdash;Alberta, Barrie (Joyol)&hellip;&hellip; 9:56Penalties: Sanders 16:47, Hamilton 18:57.Shots against:Morris&hellip;&hellip; 7 10 10&mdash;27Curran&hellip;&hellip; 12 12 15&mdash;39Attendance: 3,304.OTTAWA 7 at NEW ENGLAND 4FIRST PERIOD1&mdash;Ottawa, Gibson (Kirk, Stephenson)&hellip;&hellip; 15:382&mdash;New England, Caffery (Selby, Webster)&hellip;&hellip; 17:58Penalty: Kirk 6:08SECOND PERIOD3&mdash;Ottawa, Simpson (Carleton, Stephenson)&hellip;&hellip; 1:474&mdash;Ottawa, Gibson (Cunningham)&hellip;&hellip; 2:175&mdash;New England, Caffery (Webster, Green)&hellip;&hellip; 7:416&mdash;Ottawa, Leduc (Boland, Sentes)&hellip;&hellip; 19:22Penalties: Cunningham, Cunniff (majors) 14:17, Warr 15:14, Hurley 18:11.THIRD PERIOD7&mdash;Ottowa, Sentes (Leduc, Stephenson)&hellip;&hellip; 8:098&mdash;Ottawa, Simpson (Unassisted)&hellip;&hellip; 10:009&mdash;New England, Pleau (Dorey, Caffery)&hellip;&hellip; 16:4610&mdash;New England, Webster (Pleau, Caffery)&hellip;&hellip; 17:2111&mdash;Ottawa, Kirk (King)&hellip;&hellip; 17:53Penalties: Charlebois 14:47, Sheehy, Cunningham 16:10, Leduc (minor misconduct) 16:28.Shots against:Landon&hellip;&hellip; 14 14 8&mdash;36Gratton&hellip;&hellip; 14 9 20&mdash;43Attendance: 4,274.Sat. Feb. 10HOUSTON 0 at CHICAGO 3FIRST PERIODNo scoring.Penalties: Taylor 0:39, Schello 5:09, Procziat 9:21, Movety 14:06.SECOND PERIOD1&mdash;Chicago, Lodboa (Fleming)&hellip;&hellip; 0:22Penalties: Schello 8:38, Popiel (major) 3:04, Morris 15:35.THIRD PERIOD2&mdash;Chicago, Popiel (Paiement)&hellip;&hellip; 9:043&mdash;Chicago, Anderson (Sicinski)&hellip;&hellip; 17:34Penalties: Hale 11:50, Schello 17:30, Lodboa 5:36, Paiement 17:30.Shots against:J. McLeod&hellip;&hellip; 15 12 10&mdash;37D. McLeod&hellip;&hellip; 7 10 11&mdash;28Attendance: 5,851. &#9632;

f0026-01

World Hockey Association Summaries

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div>NORFOLK&mdash;Virginia Red Wings continue to press Hershey for second place in the Western Division which has been dominated by the powerful Cincinnati Swords since early December.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0586/3608305-1-eng-US/f0027-052.jpg" title="f0027-05" width="265" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jack Lynch</figcaption></div>At the outset of Februrary, Wings were a mere five points behind the Bears but had played three less games. And it appears that the two clubs will battle it out for the runner-up slot right down to the wire.Coach Doug Barkley has done an outstanding job with the Wings, who only a year ago at the 47-game mark showed a mere 28 points. This season at the same stage, the club had 58 points, a 30-point difference.In the first seven game against Hershey, Wings held the series lead, 3-2-2 and a 26-24 goal edge, though being out-shot 258 to 207.The key factor in closing out second is the attaining of the home ice edge in the opening round of the Calder Cup playoffs.Art Stratton, who is enjoying one of his finest pro seasons, continues to lead the club scorers with 62 points on 23 goals and 39 assists at the 47-game mark. He has notched four goals against Hershey.And Barkley has received a solid road performance from his team. Wings were 13-6-3 on foreign ice for 29 points, while ironically at home they had 29 points on a 12-8-5 standard. Within their own division, th club showed a fine 17-7-3 mark for 35 points.Goalie George Hulme. who appeared in 19 games, was sent to Fort Worth of the Central League while John Voss joined the Wings. He had been on loan to Charlotte of the Eastern League. In 35 games last year with Virginia he had a 3.55 average and three shutouts.Doug Grant&rsquo;s goal play continued to sparkle as he paced the AHL with three shutouts. He was fifth in average with a five 2.97 in 29 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0672/3608298-1-eng-US/f0027-062.jpg" title="f0027-06" width="545" height="581"><figcaption class="caption-body">ART STRATTON&hellip;Top Virginian</figcaption></div>HERSHEY:&mdash; Bears turned in an 11-4-2 record in January for 24 of possible 34 points, a.766 percentage. It was the best January record for a Hershey team in 35 years in the AHL. Hershey played to 8,270 fans in the 7,200-seat Sports Arena in a game against Cincinnati. Swords won, 3-1, but the crowd was fourth largest ever at Hershey. And the night before facing the Swords, Hershey tied a club record for most goals when they drilled in 15 against Baltimore in a 15-2 rout. Center Jim Wiley continued to take dead aim at the rookie-of-the-year prize by leading the overall team scoring with 55 points. Defenseman Jack Lynch and winger Steve Cardwell were shipped in by the parent Pittsburgh Penguins. In his first five games, the 6-2 Lynch connected for three goals.BALTIMORE&mdash; Clippers, who had gone through a five-game winless stretch on home ice, finally broke into the victory column the last day of January with a 4-1 decision over Jacksonville. Three days earlier, Baltimore played to a 4-4 standoff against New Haven. Since Marc Dufour returned from the injured list, the offense has started to show life. Dufour nailed two goals in the Jacksonville game and player-coach Jim Morrison&rsquo;s work on defense aided the club tremendously. In 15-2 loss to Hershey, Baltimore goal judge Bill Brooks wound up with a sore thumb. &ldquo;I pushed the button for the goal light 11 times,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and it probably will be a week before my thumb&rsquo;s back in shape.&rdquo;RICHMOND&mdash; Robins managed to pick up only one win in its last half-dozen starts in the final two weeks of January holding a slim three-point lead over Jacksonville (43-39) with both clubs having played 50 games. In the interim, Jacksonville was 4-3 in seven-game span, gaining valuable ground in the scrap for fourth place in the West, last spot open for the playoffs. Forwards Bob Gerrard and Wayne Hawrysh both were brought up from EHL&rsquo;s Jersey Devils for a &rsquo; five-game tryout. &#9632;

f0027-05

Virginia-Hershey Battle Going Down To Wire

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div>ROCHESTER&mdash;The success of the Rochester Americans on the ice for the first half of the schedule has been one of the biggest surprises of this American Hockey League season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01233/3608343-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="256" height="433"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tony Featherstone</figcaption></div>But while the Amerks have lost some of that &ldquo;Cinderella&rdquo; image recently as injuries and poor play combines to send them into a skid, their success at drawing fans continues to be amazing.Plagued by last-place clubs for four straight years under the ownership of Vancouver Canucks, Rochester fans learned to stay away from the games. And it was not without some fears that four local businessman bought the franchise from Vancouver during the summer and tried to put together a squad that would entice the people back to the War Memorial.They hired former defenseman Don Cherry to run the show, and it became a smash at the gate as well as on the ice.For the first 26 home games, the Amerks played before 129,949 spectators, an average of 4,998. That&rsquo;s an increase of 1,279 a game over last season when 96,684 attended the first 26 games. The totals for 26 games were 116,598 in 1970-71, 104,720 in 1969-70 and 110,230 in 1968-69.The War Memorial seats 7,010, and Amerks crammed 7,813 in for Nova Scotia on Jan. 19, 6,735 for Hershey on the 21st and 8,034 for Boston on the 28th. Then followed two more 6,400-plus turnouts.The night of the 8,034 crowd, an estimated 500 people had to be turned away at the door because of fire regulations.Joe Hudson, a Rochester banker who is president of the club, obviously is more than pleased with the attendance figures.&ldquo;It was so late last summer when we took over that we had no time to prepare a budget,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;All we could do was use last year&rsquo;s expenses to establish a preliminary budget and figure out what we&rsquo;d need at the gate to meet it. We came up with a figure of about 4,600 admissions at the full ticket price.&ldquo;The 4,998 average is an in-the-building figure and includes hospital groups, veterans groups and similar non-revenue-producing spectators, so actually we are just about at the break-even point.&ldquo;If the crowds continue near the level we&rsquo;ve been getting lately, we&rsquo;ll make some money. And that&rsquo;s something we never dreamed of doing this season.&rdquo;While the reports from the box office were great, the medical reports were not.Injuries to John Bednarski (concussion and deep head cut) and Wayne Morusyk (knee) left Cherry with three able-bodied defensemen. He moved winger Rod Graham back for most of one game, but Graham had been one of the top offensive players in recent games, so he was moved back up front and veteran Red Armstrong went back on the blueline for a game and a half and performed capably.Goalie Gaye Cooley pulled a hamstring muscle in his right leg and was shelved for a couple of weeks. Pat Flaherty, the NCAA College Division East All-American goalie from the University of Massachusetts, was brought in from Fitchburg of the New England League as a standby. And he got to make his pro debut Feb. 3 when Amerks lost 9-3 in Springfield. Flaherty came in during the third period in relief of Lynn Zimmerman.CINCINNATI: Swords were working on another unbeaten streak as month of February started and through Feb. 5 had nine victories and two ties over an 11-game span. And seven of the games were on the road.Rick Dudley and Murray Kuntz started February with goal-scoring sprees&mdash;each collecting five in the first three games of the month. Kuntz had two goals and Dudley one in a 4-0 shutout of Baltimore Feb. 1. Dudley netted three goals and Kuntz two in a 9-4 romp past Richmond on the 3rd, and each scored a goal in a 2-1 triumph in Baltimore on the 4th. Those goals raised Dudley&rsquo;s total to 26 and Kuntz&rsquo;s to 25.The shutout over Baltimore was only the second for the Swords and for goalie Rocky Farr this season. Farr&rsquo;s other blanking came Nov. 29 over the then Cleveland Barons.First instance of a fan becoming involved with a player in Cincinnati happened Feb. 3 when Orest Kindrachuk of Richmond was attacked by a spectator as he was leaving the ice following a fight with the Swords&rsquo; Larry Carriere.JACKSONVILLE: Barons&rsquo; hopes of snagging a playoff spot in the Western Division received another jolt Feb. 4 in Cleveland in the club&rsquo;s final appearance there. Richmond scored four times in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and take a 5-1 victory which moved the Robins six points ahead of Jacksonville in the struggle for the final playoff berth. A Jacksonville win would have left the Barons only two points behind Richmond.Jacksonville played a pair of afternoon games in Cleveland on the 3rd and 4th and didn&rsquo;t attract a total of 1,000 spectators. A crowd of 537 showed up on the 3rd to watch the Barons take a 3-1 triumph over Baltimore, and 435 saw the Richmond game.The Barons and Baltimore played an unusually clean game in Baltimore on Jan. 31. Only one penalty was called in the game, and that was to the Clippers.Rookie Steve West scored Barons last three goals, (two against Baltimore and one against Richmond), on Cleveland ice to raise his total to 21 for the season. Gary Gambucci reached the 20 plateau Jan. 30 as did Terry Holbrook on Feb. 2.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02165/3608336-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="568" height="589"><figcaption class="caption-body">RICK DUDLEY&hellip; On Scoring Spurt</figcaption></div>NOVA SCOTIA: Voyageurs are looking to lock up the Eastern Division title this month. Their schedule calls for only three games on the road in February and eight on home ice, including six of the last seven.Tony Featherstone registered his 30th goal of the season and Yvon Lambert his 35th, in a 7-2 romp over Providence Feb. 4. Despite not joining the Vees until more than a dozen games into the season, Morris Stefaniw, who centers Featherstone and Lambert, is bidding to lead the league in assists. He was picking them up at faster than a one-a-game rate, with 41 for his first 38 games. &#9632;

f0028-01

But So Are Amerks’ Injuries

<div class="byline">BY GREG FARLEY</div>NEW HAVEN&mdash;Willie O&rsquo;Ree has come a long way from his early days with&rsquo; Kitchener-Waterloo Junior Canucks to his present employ with New Haven of the AHL, and now at the age of 37, a lot of people figure the old man should be thinking about retirement.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01198/3608374-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="272" height="367"><figcaption class="caption-body">Willie O&rsquo;Ree</figcaption></div>Fortunately for the Nighthawks Willie isn&rsquo;t one of them.&ldquo;This is my first full season in the AHL,&rdquo; explained Willie, who was approaching his 20th goal despite joining the club some 12 games into the season, &ldquo;and I think I&rsquo;ve proved I still have a lot of hockey left in me.&rdquo;Willie has done that and more. Beginning with his second game as a Nighthawk when he shocked Virginia with a brilliant short-handed goal to give New Haven its first home win of the season, the crafty right winger has provided a sound example for the less experienced Nighthawk sharpshooters.&ldquo;When we secured Willie on loan from San Diego, we were counting on him to work with some of the kids and help to bring them along more rapidly,&rdquo; related Parker MacDonald, &ldquo;but we never anticipated the kind of production he&rsquo;s given us.&ldquo;I know a lot of people scoffed when we arranged for Willie to come here, but I think he&rsquo;s made believers of everyone by now.&rdquo;The detractors had at least partial justification to support their cynicism. After all, hadn&rsquo;t Willie, a legend in the Western League over the past 11 seasons, slumped to 18 and 16 goal productions in the last two years following 38 and 24-goal showings in the two previous campaigns? And didn&rsquo;t injuries and time appear to have caught up with Willie last season, restricting the Fredericton, N.B. veteran to 48 games.Willie refused to be discouraged. however, and his performance over the past four months has vindicated that determination. and New Haven&rsquo;s faith in him.BOSTON: Overlooked in the Braves&rsquo; second half resurgence has been the play of 20-year-old center Chris Oddleifson, who works between wingers Bob Gryp and Craig Sarner. Chris is a wizard on faceoffs, and no one is more aware of his talents than his linemates, who both went on scoring sprees shortly after being united with Christopher.SPRINGFIELD: Scott Seagrist emerged from a mid-season scoring famine in time to help Kings snap a seven-game winless skein and assemble a modest undefeated string of their own. K ings are convinced the faltering Reds can be overtaken, and they&rsquo;ve got plenty of time left to prove it.PROVIDENCE: Reds have performed one of the most drastic reversals of form in recent league history, and are in very serious danger of dropping into fifth place unless they shape up in a hurry. The entire team seems to have drifted into a collective coma since the first of the year, and its most recent pit-fall has been running out of steam after establishing early first-period leads. &#9632;

f0029-01

Rejuvenated O’Ree Near 20 Goals In Bid To Liven Up Nighthawks

<div class="byline">BY JOHN ARNOLD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02162/3608405-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="841" height="1050"></div>SOLUTION IN MARCH 2 ISSUEACROSS1&mdash;Former Minnesota forward.5&mdash;An NHL defenseman. (init.)7&mdash;Initials of 29 across.8&mdash;Selby answers to this.10&mdash;One of the Portland Buckaroos.13&mdash;Estimated time of arrival. (abbr.)14&mdash;Former Philadelphia defenseman.15&mdash;NHL referee in chief answers to this.16&mdash;Initials of Lacombe of Quebec.17&mdash;Before.18&mdash;First name of a Toronto defenseman.19&mdash;Initials of Drolet of Richmond.20&mdash;Native Province of pictured player. (abbr.)21&mdash;15th and 5th letters of the alphabelt.23&mdash;Preposition.24&mdash;One of the Cleveland Crusaders.27&mdash;Initials of a former Hawk.28&mdash;Ditto. (abbr.)29&mdash;An NHL assistant coach.31&mdash;Initials of former forward Kachur.32&mdash;Plays forward for New Haven.DOWN1&mdash;Pictured player.2&mdash;Former Boston and Detroit forward.3&mdash;Every team likes an early one.4&mdash;Canadian Province. (abbr.)5&mdash;One of the Hawks answers to this.6&mdash;Wears No. 12 for Chicago.9&mdash;One of the Leafs. (int.)11&mdash;Former Montreal defenseman.12&mdash;Compass point.16&mdash;Plays left wing for Alberta.18&mdash;10th and 15th letters of the alphabet.22&mdash;One of the Islanders answers to this.24&mdash;NHL General Manager.25&mdash;14 across used to be known as this.26&mdash;Too.30&mdash;Either.LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERSACROSS1&mdash;LAROSE.5&mdash;V.F.6&mdash;AB.7&mdash;AYE.9&mdash;BERENSON10&mdash;O.L11&mdash;TUES.13&mdash;N.R.14&mdash;SOS15&mdash;GUM.16&mdash;ERE18&mdash;LZ.19&mdash;REAY.21&mdash;LEO.22&mdash;E.G.23&mdash;V.H.26&mdash;ERIC28&mdash;HABS.29&mdash;PHILDOWN1&mdash;LABOSSIERE2&mdash;ABEL3&mdash;OREE4&mdash;EAST.5&mdash;VENERUZZO.8&mdash;YOUNG12&mdash;O&rsquo;SHEA17&mdash;REG.18&mdash;LEACH.20&mdash;YVES.24&mdash;H.R.25&mdash;VAL27&mdash;I.P. &#9632;

f0029-02

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01229/3608443-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="606" height="299"></div>GAMES COMPUTEDWed. Feb. 7Dallas 4, at Portland 4Seattle 3, at Phoenix 2Fort Worth 3 at Salt lake 7Thurs. Feb. 8Dallas 3 at Seattle 3Denver 1 at San Diego 5Fri. Feb. 9San Diego 1 at Phoenix 4Dallas 4 at Salt Lake 2Sat. Feb. 10Salt lake 4 at Seattle 4Fort Worth 6 at Portlond 3Sun. Feb. 11Fort Worth 5 at Seattle 2Phoenix 3 at San Diego 5Dallas 4 at Denver 7GAMES TO COMETue. Feb. 13San Diego at Fort WorthWed. Feb. 14Salt Lake at PortlandSan Diego at DallasPhoenix at DenverThur. Feb. 15Salt Lake at SeattleDenver at PhoenixFri. Feb. 16San Diego at OmahaPortland at DenverSat. Feb. 17San Diego at TulsaSeattle at PhoenixPortland at Salt LakeSun. Feb. 18Seattle at PortlandSalt lake at Denver<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02174/3608436-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="621" height="532"></div> &#9632;

f0030-01

WESTERN LEAGUE

SAN DIEGO&mdash;The rivalry between Phoenix Roadrunners and San Diego Gulls is a classic.After seven games this season, they are split evenly with three wins and a tie apiece. In the six seasons, since the rivalry began with the Roadrunners entering the Western Hockey League in 1967-68, one season later than San Diego, the record between the dubs is dead even. 35-35-6.Gulls this season lead the league. in fewest goals, 134, and Roadrunners have scored the most, 213.Gulls have Ken Broderick, whose 2.78 goals against average is well ahead of runnerup Lyle, Carter&rsquo;s 3.36 mark. Roadrunners have Murray Heatley who leads the WHL scoring race by seven points. Both clubs are near unbeatable at home. Roadrunners own a 17-2-5 home-ice record. Gulls are 17-3-3. at home. One of the two Roadrunner losses at home was to San Diego. One of the Gulls&rsquo; three home-ice losses was to Phoenix.There are seven games remaining between the two southern rivals. Anyone want to bet they don&rsquo;t split them. 3-3-1? &#9632;

Roadrunners, Gulls ‘Even’ In Ice Duel

<div class="byline">BY DOUG McCONNELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03129/3608498-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">CONNIE MADIGAN&hellip; Wants Shot At NHL</figcaption></div>PORTLAND&mdash;The financially troubled Portland Buckaroos sold one of the Western Hockey League&rsquo;s all-time All-Stars, Connie Madigan to the St. Louis Blues and received further aid from the WHL.The WHL guaranteed the Buckaroos financing to get them through the rest of the season. The arrangements were made at a league meeting in San Diego.WHL president Bill MacFarlnd acknowledged: &ldquo;The problem is to get them through the rest of this season. We have a guarantee from the National Hockey League that someone will operate the franchise next season.&rdquo;MacFarland speculated on the operation pointing out: (1) the New York Islanders don&rsquo;t have a development club, and they are operating the New Haven entry in the American League this season. It will be taken over next season by Minnesota North Stars; (2) Kansas City and Washington, expansion franchises granted to begin play in the 1974-75 season, will need development clubs.&ldquo;Those would seem to be the available markets for now.&rdquo; said MacFarland. unless someone wanted to make a change.&rdquo;Harry Glickman, president of the Buckaroos, said the franchise had been weakened by deteriorating attendance.Currently resting in fifth place in the standings, the Buckaroos attracted an average of only 3,350 fans to its seven home dates in January. One of those games. against Tulsa Jan. 10, drew the all-time Portland Low of 1,040 fans.Glickman, part of the original management of the WHL club, now in its 13th season, said he had no offers for the club.&ldquo;The future of hockey is going to be either in the National League or as a development club,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s possible to operate at a profit any longer as an independent minor league team.&rdquo;Buckaroos never had trouble when they were winning. Until last season, when they finished third, the Bucks had eight first place finishes and three second place finishes in 11 seasons.They spoiled the Portland fans.Buckaroos received, besides an undetermined amount ofcash. the loan of Denver defenseman Andre Aubrey, 25, for the remainder of the season, in the deal for the 38-year-old Madigan.The deal had Madigan&rsquo;s blessing.&ldquo;He requested to be traded or sold in two conversations I had with him,&rdquo; said Berlyn Hodges, the former Portland trainer who is a club vice-president and took over earlier this season as interim coach. &ldquo;When we had the opportunity to sell him to a National Hockey League club, we did.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the thing he wanted, so we accommodated him.&rdquo;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not really playing here like I can play,&rdquo; said Madigan, &ldquo;but maybe I can help another club more than I can help this one.&rdquo;&ldquo;I think I can play in the NHL,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;I think I deserve a chance in St. Louis.&rdquo;The Spurs expected to receive Madigan, but he did go to St. Louis instead&hellip; for the time being.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to go to Denver,&rdquo; Madigan said further. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to play out my career in a land of sunshine, San Diego or Phoenix.&rdquo;Coincidentally, Ivan Mullenix, who bought the Spurs from the Blues this season, had remarked less than a week before the Blues bought Madigan that:&ldquo;I think major league clubs that have full working agreements with minor league clubs should realize that they need to provide some players with star identification that will attract a following, players such as Howie Young of Phoenix and Connie Madigan of Portland. The Blues have not done this and I criticize them for it.&rdquo;He is the all-time WHL leader in penalty minutes with 1,744 and led the WHL, with 146 minutes, at the time of his sale.The 5-9, 180-pound hardrock was named to the WHL All Star team seven times, four times to the first team. He won the Hal Laycoe Cup in 1966 as the league&rsquo;s outstanding defenseman. &#9632;

f0030-03

Troubled Bucks Get WHL Aid As Club Falls On Hard Times

<div class="byline">Y DOUG McCONNELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0031-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01209/3608543-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg"></div><h2>Totems Take &lsquo;Walk&rsquo; To Protest Referee&rsquo;s Calls</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02166/3608536-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="1504" height="881"><figcaption class="caption-body">Seattle coach PHIL MALONEY glares at referee Bob Kilger, then pulls his team off the ice and heads for dressing room in game at Phoenix.</figcaption></div>Arizona Republic PhotosSEATTLE&mdash;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03139/3608529-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="268" height="432"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dave Dunn</figcaption></div>Bill MacFarland. president of the Western Hockey League, suspended his investigation of Phil Maloney&rsquo;s &ldquo;walk&rdquo; in Phoenix to attend the National Hockey League All Star game and accompany i ng league meetings in New York.When referee Bob Kilger called 42 of 44 first period penalty minutes against Maloney&rsquo;s Seattle Totems, the coach removed his team to the dressing room in an apparent protest and forfeit.There were 5 minutes and 8 seconds remaining in the period.Phoenix Roadrunners&rsquo; president Jim Wells, who is also vice-president of the WHL, bolted to the Seattle dressing room where he told Maloney:&ldquo;You walk out and you&rsquo;re through in hockey. If you don&rsquo;t get back out there. I&rsquo;m calling Lyman Walters right now.&rdquo;Walters is vice-president of the Totems&rsquo; parent club, the Vancouver Canucks, and represents the Totems&rsquo; on the WHL board of directors.Maloney replied that he wanted Kilger to know how he felt about his officiating, returned his club to the ice after cooling off a few minutes.Kilger suspended play again with 2:57 left on the first period clock, and tacked it onto the second. to allow the timekeeper time to sort out delayed penalty confusion.It also allowed tempers to coo1.&ldquo;They were trying to intimidate us,&rdquo; judged Roadrunner center Don Liesemer.If there was first period intimidation. Kilger appeared determined to intercept it.Leo Thiffault served the only first period Phoenix penalty, for high sticking, while Seattle&rsquo;s Dave Westner was sentenced for elbowing. Larry Bolonchuk for holding, then Tim Steeves for interference and Bolonchuk to a misconduct for protesting it, then Larry McNabb for interference and Dick Mortenson for high sticking while playing under the delayed whistle of McNabb&rsquo;s infraction.McNabb, the team captain, erupted, drawing a misconduct, then a game misconduct.Before play began again, Kilger had called a bench penalty on the Totems for delaying the game.Maloney pondered the situation a moment, then took his team to the dressing room.The Roadrunners were able to cash in on the two-man advantage they held for 3:45 for one power play goal, but&rsquo; added to an earlier power play goal and an even-strength score in the final seconds of the interrupted period, took a 3-0 lead and held on for a 5-2 victory.MacFarland confired that had Maloney not returned his club to the ice, forcing a ticket refund to a crowd of 9,792, the Seattle club would have been held responsible.Even with over 3,000 boy scouts in on half price tickets, the gate was estimated at about $30,000.Meanwhile, the Totems are still in the WHL, but they are only making rare appearances.Problems with home dates and WHL scheduling have them away from home for a 26-day period but they only played seven times in that span. Of the first six. they won two, lost three and tied one&mdash;respectable road production.Where they&rsquo;re not producing is in the scoring column. Totems have counted just 18 goals in six games and 14 of those goals belong to four players.Bob Walton and his winger. Danny Seguin, scored four each. Don Westbrooke. who played with the Walton-Seguin combo for three games, counted two, and defenseman Dave Dunn triggered four.In fact, Dunn has 13 points, including five goals, in the last nine games.Walton and Seguin are both 4-6&mdash;10 in the last six and Walton is tied for second in WHL scoring with Salt Lake&rsquo;s Lyle Bradley with 58 pointa apiece, seven behind Murray Heatley of Phoenix. Walton has 21 goals. Seguin has 48 points, including 20 goals, for a tie for eighth spot.The Totems had two week-long layoffs in their long hiatus from the Seattle Center Coliseum, but both were providential.During the first, Maloney was able to take the club back to a mid-season training camp regiment of two-day workouts.The second week allowed the Totems time to recover from an en masse attack of the flu. Goaltender Dan Brady was hospitalized in San Diego with it for three days. Even trainer Pat Dunn was struck down, missing only his second game in 23 years.Arrangements for road games aren&rsquo;t the only travel bookings made by the Totems. Goaltender Ed Dyck was recalled by Vancouver, leaving Brady and Dave McLelland, while Hugh Christensaen was returned to Kindersley, Sask. &#9632;

f0031-01

Enraged Maloney Pulls Totems Off Ice As 9,792 Look On

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02153/3608581-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="628" height="390"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDWed. Feb. 7Dallas 4 at Portland 4Fort Worth 3 at Salt Lake 7Thurs. Feb. 8Dallas 3 at Seattle 3Fri. Feb. 9Dallas 4 at Salt Lake 2Omaha 6 at Tulsa 2Sat. Feb. 10Fort Worth 6 at Portland 3Sun. Feb. 11Dallas 4 at Denver 7Fort Worth 5 at Seattle 2GAMES TO COMETue. Feb. 13San Diego at Fort WorthWed. Feb. 14San Diego at DallasFri. Feb. 16Fort Worth of TulsaSan Diego of OmahaSat. Feb. 17Omaha at DallasSan Diego vs Tulsa (at Oklahoma City)Sun. Feb. 18Dallas at OmahaTulsa at Fort WorthFri. Feb. 23Dallas vs Tulsa (at Oklahoma City)Omaha at Forth Worth<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0399/3608574-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="620" height="925"></div> &#9632;

f0032-02

CENTRAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div>TULSA&mdash;There was only one word to describe the Tulsa Oilers streaking. Some of the streaks were good, more of them were bad. but in the process they were rewriting most of the clu joining the Central League back in 1964.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01208/3608619-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="278" height="399"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brian McKenzie</figcaption></div>Through the first week of February, the Oiler season had been divided into five distinct phases, only two of which were pleasing to coach Jerry Moore. They were 1-7-2 for the first 10 games of the season. Oct. 13-Nov. 8. which included their first invasion of Western League territory. &rsquo;Then came a more pleasant 4-1-2 phase. Nov. 10-23. But the surge ended after &rsquo;Thanksgiving, and the Oilers tied a club record by losing their next eight games, Nov. 25-Dec. 15.Suddenly they turned it around and went 12 games without a loss. Dec. 16 Jan. 13. That 10-0-2 span, which included the first two stops on their second Western League invasion, tied a CHL mark. It also included record club feats of seven straight victories and four straight road triumphs.&hellip;But when the bubble burst, the effects were disastrous. &rsquo;Two disheartening losses on their final Western swing gave them a record of 2-8 for Jan. 13-Feb. 2. and seven straight setbacks on the road put them within one of tying another club record.The week started badly with a 4-2 loss in Omaha.-Jan. 28. a game that saw referee Bob Kilger hand out 186 minutes in penalties. 100 to Omaha and 86 to Tulsa. The surging Knights had a 4-0 lead early in the middle period.Clare Alexander. amateur defenseman completing a three-game pro trial, scored both Oiler goals on power plays. The Orillia. Ont. milkman was offered a Tulsa contract, but went home to think it over. Later he advised Oiler general manager Ray Miron he didn&rsquo;t think it would be fair to his team to quit it in mid-season, as the Orillia &rsquo;Terriers are having a great year, and have visions of winning the Allan Cup in the Canadian senior playoffs.The Oilers were never in the game at San Diego. Feb. 1. Gull goalie Ken Broderick came within four minutes of posting his fourth shutout of the season. Jack Michie spoiled the shutout with 5:42 left, but that was Tulsa&rsquo;s only tall in a 7-1 loss. Tom &rsquo;Trevelyan, Bruce Cowick, Gerry Goyer, Murray Kennett, Len Ronson, Bob Courcy and Mike Bloom scored for San Diego.A wild game in Phoenix the next night was tied 2-2 alter one period, and 4-4 after two. But the Oilers stopped hitting in the final period and bowed. 7-5.John Gray. Oiler right wing from the University of New Hampshire; had the hat trick in Pheonix (his first, the Oilers filth) and had another goal disallowed in the first period. Referee Andy Hellemond ruled Gray had kicked the puck into the net. He also disallowed an apparent goal by Oiler Jack Michie in the first, ruling Michie deflected Brian St. John&rsquo;s shot into the net with a high stick.Reg Bechtold registered his 29th goal in that game, tying the league-leading mark set by Fort Worth&rsquo;s Ralph Stewart before he was lost in a trade in mid-January.Oilers acquired left wing Randy Osburn. No. 2 amateur draft choice of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he scored his first pro goal in the Phoenix game. He had seen but Limited duty with the Leafs, and had two NHL assists in 26 games. Osburn scored 43 goals and 100 points for the London Knights in the OHA Major Junior League last winter.Jim Boyd and John Gofton each scored twice for Phoenix in the victory. Jack DeCloe and Cam Fryer, sent from Tulsa to the Roadrunners in December when they couldn&rsquo;t win jobs in the Oiler lineup, also counted Phoenix goals, as did Wayne Hicks.Fryer&rsquo;s was an unbelievable shot&mdash;from an impossible angle, he backhanded the puck between his legs, and it bounced off a post into the net.Oiler coach Gerry Moore philosophically gave his lads credit for trying hard. &ldquo;We outshot the other teams in both those losses out West.&rdquo; he observed, &ldquo;but our defense didn&rsquo;t play well, and our goaltending was brutal.&rdquo;Rookie goalie Grant Cole, pressed into starting duty when Gordie McRae was called up to Toronto, had only 48 total stops in the San Diego and Phoenix games, but let in 14 goals. Moore was planning to try amateur Jean Louis Levasseur, who had come down from Orillia as Cole&rsquo;s backup.Second-year pro Dave Fortier continued to be the Oilers&rsquo; outstanding defenseman. and had a way of making his partner look good, while Tulsa&rsquo;s other blueline combination, no matter who it was, was letting in goals.Bechtold had a goal and an assist in three outings. With 55 points he was leading all active players in the CHL scoring race, but still trailed the departed Stewart by 10 points, Lyle Moffat was third with 53 points, and Bob Duncan dropped to 10th with 40.In spite of three straight losses, Oilers stayed within a point of third-place Fort Worth, which lost both its games for the week.OMAHA&mdash; The second-place Knights were hottest team in the Central League, as January turned into February, but a trip into Western League territory lowered their temperature considerably.After beating Tulsa in Omaha, Jan. 28, the Knights&rsquo; sixth straight game without defeat, they took a 5-3 setback in Phoenix, played a 3-3 tie in Salt Lake and then absorbed a 5-1 licking in Denver on the first three nights in February.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0464/3608612-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="547" height="574"><figcaption class="caption-body">RANDY OSBURN&hellip; First Pro Goal</figcaption></div>The line of Brian McKenzie, Allie Sutherland and Norm Gratton was doing most of the scoring. while the Knights&rsquo; former top line of Wayne Schaab. Lynn Powis and Alan Young was being held in check. Sutherland scored two goals at Phoenix. McKenzie had two at Salt Lake and scored the only Knight tally in Denver.Knights got back speedy, versatile forward Doug Horbul. who had been at Providence in the American League. Coach Fred Creighton was using Horbul principally at right wing, but he has play all three forward positions for Omaha.Without a victory in their last four road games, the Knights were anxious to get back home, where they hadn&rsquo;t lost in four starts.DALLAS&mdash;Two straight victories over archrival Fort Worth made it a good week for Bobby Kromm&rsquo;s Black Hawks, and the way Kromm outsmarted Wings&rsquo; coach Bob Lemieux in the victory at Fort Worth made it especially gratifying.Four goals in the first period had featured a 7-3 romp in Dallas. Feb. 2. Mike Baumgartner&rsquo;s early power goal for the Hawks was matched by Bob Collyard for the Wings, but then Walt Ledingham. Ian McKegney and Gary Donaldson scored for Dallas, the last two tallies only 11 seconds apart.Bob Peppier, Danny Spring and Don Cordon scored later for the Hawks, Collyard got another for Fort Worth, and Michel Cormier also scored for the Wings.The next night, before 7,189 fans in Fort Worth&rsquo;s mammoth Tarrant County Convention Center. Dallas had a 2-1 lead after two periods. Peppier and Y von Bilodeau owned the Hawk goals, and Bernie Cagnon had scored for the Wings.When Bilodeau drew a tripping penalty at 8:53 of the-third. Lemieux challenged the curvature of Ledingham&rsquo;s stick. The Fort Worth coach had spied the extreme curvature much earlier, but had been biding his time.Measurement proved Lemieux right, and Ledingham drew a minor penalty. leaving the Hawks two men short. The situation was eased somewhat when Hawk goalie Michel Dumas and Fort Worth left wing Cruen had a stick altercation 29 seconds later. But the Wings still had a one-man advantage, and Collyard tied the score at 11:02.However, the strategy backfired. At 13:18 Kroom challenged the stick of Fort Worth defenseman Charlie Shaw, and he drew a two-minute penalty. Brian Ogilvie cashed in a Hawk power attack two seconds before that penalty expired. Moe L&rsquo;Abbe, returned from a brief callup to the Chicago Black Hawks, scored another power goal at 17:30 to complete the 4-2 Dallas triumph.FORT WORTH&mdash;Two losses to Dallas ran the Wings&rsquo; unhappy record to eight straight games without a victory since Jan. 14 (coinciding with the loss of league-leading scorer Ralph Stewart to the New York Islanders in a trade by the parent Detroit Red Wings).The Wings had seven players on the injury list, although a few of them were still trying to play. &#9632;

f0032-01

Tulsa Streaks Good And Bad—Setting Club Records

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01188/3608657-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="604" height="397"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDWed. Jan. 31Green Bay 2 at Sioux City 4Thurs. Feb. 1Sault 2 at Marquette 4Fri. Feb. 2Sioux City 1 at Chicago 4Calumet 0 at Thunder Bay 11Sat. Feb. 3Chicago 5 at Green Bay 8Sioux City 0 at Marquette 5Calumet 2 at Waterloo 7Sun. Feb. 4Sioux city 3 at Green Bay 6Calumet 2 at Waterloo 10Chicago 6 at Sault 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02143/3608650-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="630" height="921"></div> &#9632;

f0033-01

HOW THEY STAND

<div class="byline">BY FRANK BROWN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01203/3608695-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="553" height="820"><figcaption class="caption-body">TONY McCARTHY&hellip; Hot Scoring Rookie</figcaption></div>WOONSOCKET&mdash;The attendance situation remains a paradox in Woonsocket. Rhode Island Eagles are playing exciting hockey and are in the midst of one of the tightest playoff races in recent years. Every game is of the &lsquo;must win&rsquo; variety, as the Eagles chase the first place Cubs and fight off Long Island for second place in the EHL&rsquo;s Central Division.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0476/3608688-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="290" height="411"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ted Scharf</figcaption></div>Yet for some reason, all the earmarks of daily sellouts are missing. Despite the fact that the team plays in tiny Brother Adelard Arena, area residents aren&rsquo;t doing much in support of the locals. As a result, Rhode Island ledgers are showing more red ink than black and the club&rsquo;s future in the area has been questioned.Nonetheless, president Jack Sheehan is steadfast in his attempts to keep the club going. Sheehan recently announced that the Eagles would play their games in their small home arena rather than move to a more spacious building not far away; he feels it would be a disservice to the fans who have been supporting the club to rob them of their chance to see playoff hockey. Sheehan said the team likes its affiliation with this small Atlantic city and made it clear that should the team be forced to move, it would still remain in the Rhode Island area.On the surface, it would seem that Sheehan&rsquo;s dedicated efforts for the Woonsocket fans should be rewarded with a strong following, yet such is not the case. There has been an improvement in attendance in recent weeks, but it might be too little too late.CLINTON: Who&rsquo;d have thought the lowly Comets would defeat Syracuse? Well, it happened. Ron Riley scored four goals and Warren Williams added six assists in pacing Clinton to the 6-4 win. which broke the Blazers&rsquo; unbeaten streak at 26 games. Unfortunately, though, the win came just after the Comets were mathematically eliminated from making the playoffs. The flu bug made its way to Utica, felling Bob Foster and Butch Williams just before a 9-2 loss to Cape Cod.LONG ISLAND: Ducks continue their solid play, keeping pace with the Eagles for second place in the Central Division. The upcoming schedule seems pretty good for the Long Islanders, with their 15 remaining games being split up the middle (seven on the road, eight at home). Scrappy Ted Scharf was called to the injury-riddled New York Raiders, and didn&rsquo;t waste a minute before throwing his weight around. To fill Scharf&rsquo;s place on the roster, defenseman Bob Bradshaw was activated.SUNCOAST: Suns can feel Charlotte breathing down their necks for that last playoff spot as the season enters its final weeks. Only four points separate the teams. Can you lose a game because of a bad goal net? The Suns just might say yes. They had scored twice in less than a minute to cut a Long Island lead to 4-3 when Ducks found a hole in the netting of their goal. While the net was being fixed, the charging Suns lost a bit of their edge and didn&rsquo;t carry the play after action was resumed. The line of captain Billy Smith, Al Barrett and John Raynak has been doing well for Suncoast.CHARLOTTE: A recent game got off to an odd start for the Checkers. First, Greensboro Generals were delayed for the afternoon match. Then, the referee didn&rsquo;t show up After using a linesman as referee, it was discovered that the penalty clock didn&rsquo;t work. Checkers won anyway, 7-3. Charlotte still suffers from &ldquo;road-itis&rdquo;, and the illness threatens to prove fatal to the team&rsquo;s playoff hopes. A team that wins only three of more than 30 games is going to have a hard time making it.GREENSBORO: It was an upside down week for Generals, who surprised fans by winning on the road, then losing at home. It&rsquo;s almost always the other way around. The loss came after the club had tied its record of going 20 games at home without a loss. That standard was set in the championship year of 1962-63. Left wing Mike Jakubo returned from the Los Angeles Sharks of the WHA. Wally Sprange has become the EHL&rsquo;s second 100-point scorer this season. Bobby Thompson, shelved since Dec. 26 with an ankle injury, came back to action. Generals must have embarrassed Rhode Island goalie Paul Menard, who let in four first period goals, then came out for second period wearing a mask.NEW JERSEY: Devils, already fighting an uphill battle against sagging attendance and the rest of EHL Central hobbled by injuries. With Bob McKinstry and Terry Moran hurt, Devils gave up five first period goals and dropped a 7-3 decision to Ducks. Jersey had only two full lines and one extra forward for that game. It was a game Devils &ldquo;had to win&rdquo;, according to coach Jim Hay, but they didn&rsquo;t make it. They find themselves eight points out of third with time running out. It won&rsquo;t be easy for the Cherry Hill gang.JOHNSTOWN: Jets proved themselves one of the few teams capable of holding their own with Syracuse, battling to a 3-3 tie. Rookie center Tony McCarthy, who skates between Galen Head and Dave Birch, has scored 53 points to share the team lead with linemate Head. And he&rsquo;s just 20 years old. Jets rallied from a three goal deficit to a 7-4 win over Clinton, scoring five goals in just over four minutes during second period.SYRACUSE: Although no one thought it would happen, Blazers finally lost a game after 26 unbeaten in a row. The 6-4 loss to Clinton came in the third game of a brutal six-game-in-six-days stretch. The home unbeaten string, at 29 straight, is still intact. Yves Belanger returned to Syracuse nets after a brief stay with Cleveland Crusaders.ROANOKE VALLEY: Yves Archambault made 46 saves, gained his first shuout of year, and broke a jinx all at same time. Rebs&rsquo; blanking came on Charlotte ice, where Roanoke Valley had only one win in six years. Claude St. Sauveur eclipsed club record for scoring when he netted his 41st of the year. Jim Jago held the old mark with 40. The line of St. Sauveur with Pierre Paiement and Wayne Horne has been nicknamed &ldquo;the Turtleneck Line&rdquo; due to the additions to their uniforms of the highnecked shirt. Goalie Dan Sullivan, following the trend of netminders to wear painted masks, had the Rebel insignia emblazoned on his.CAPE COD: Cubs obtained goaltender Ray Gibbs to fill in for the injured Bob Dupuis. Joe Mulcahy, the 22-year-old Bruins&rsquo; prospect, is the only American-born player on the Cubs. Defenseman Bob Fahlgren was placed on the 14-day injured list and had his place on the roster filled by center Bob Murphy, who has recovered from his injury. Luc Simard should finish with 74 goals at the pace he is scoring. &#9632;

f0034-01

Crowds Down But Eagles Stay Near Top; Ousted Comets Take It Out On Syracuse

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02151/3608733-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="614" height="705"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. Feb. 6Greensboro 4 at Cape Cod 7Clinton 1 at Rhode Island 9Suncoast 3 at Charlotte 3Wed. Feb. 7Clinton 0 at Syracuse 11Johnstown 4 at New Jersey 2Suncoast 2 at Charlotte 6Thur. Feb. 8Clinton 3 at Johnstown 5Long Island 1 at Cape Cod 10Suncoost 3 at Roanoke Valley 8Fri. Feb. 9Greensboro 8 at Rhode Island 8Cape Cod 0 at New Jersey 4Suncoast 4 at Roanoke Valley 6Long Island 6 at Clinton 5Johnstown 3 at Syracuse 3Sat. Feb. 10Long Island 3 at Clinton 9Rhode Island 6 a Johnstown 3Roanoke Valley 2 at Cape Cod 5New Jersey 2 at Syracuse 6Sun. Feb. 11Cape Cod 3 at Clinton 8Roanoke Valley 6 at Rhode Island 3Greensboro 6 at Long Island 4Suncoast 4 at Charlotte 2Syracuse 4 atJohnstown 1GAMES TO COMETue. Feb. 13New Jersey at Cape CodGreensboro at SuncoostRoanoke at CharlotteWed. Feb. 14Long Island at SyracuseCape Cod at Rhode IslandRoanoke Volley at GreensboroThur. Feb. 15Syracuse at JohnstownGreensboro at Roanoke VolleyFri. Feb. 16New Jersey of Rhode IslandCape Cod at Long IslandGreensboro at CharlotteSat. Feb. 17Cape Cod at SyracuseRoanoke Valley at JohnstownSuncoast at GreensboroSun. Feb. 18Cape Cod at JohnstownNew Jersey at Rhode IslandSyracuse at Long IslandTue. Feb. 20Long Island at Cape CodNew Jersey at CharlotteWed. Feb 21Clinton at SyracuseRhode Islond at Long IslandCharlotte at SuncoastNew Jersey at GreensboroThur. Feb. 22Suncoast at Roanoke ValleyFri. Feb. 23Syracuse at ClintonCape Cod at Long IslandRhode Island at New JerseyRoanoke Volley at Charlotte<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03112/3608726-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="609" height="565"></div> &#9632;

f0034-02

<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01192/3608785-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="620" height="543"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDWed. Feb. 7Muskegon 6 at Fort Wayne 6Toledo I at Port Huron 6Saginaw 1 at Dayton 6Columbus 1 at Flint 8Fri Feb. 9Muskegon 7 at Des Moines 3Fort Wayne 3 at Toledo 4Dayton 1 at Flint 3Columbus 4 at Saginaw 4Sat. Feb. 10Muskegon 3 at Des Moines 4Flint 3 at Fort Wayne 7Columbus 1 at Port Huron 4Soginaw 5 at Toledo 1Sun. Feb. 11Port Huron 3 at Fori Wayne 1Columbus 3 at Dayton 10Toledo 1 at Saginaw 0GAMES TO COMEWed. Feb. 14Des Moines at ToledoDoyton at SaginawThur. Feb. 15Des Moines at MuskegonSat. Feb. 17Columbus at MuskegonToldo at Port HuronFort Wayne at Des MoinesSun. Feb. 18Flint at Port HuronToledo at SaginawFort Wayne at Des MoinesWed. Feb. 21Muskegon at Des MoinesThur. Feb. 22Toledo at DaytonFri. Feb. 23Fort Wayne at Port HuronColumbus at FlintSaginaw at Des Moines<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02158/3608778-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="643" height="1057"></div>MUSKEGON&mdash;The Muskegon Mohawks are striving to gain the third and final playoff position in the International Hockey League&rsquo;s North Division while their ace scorer Gary Ford is attempting to win another individual league scoring title.As matters stand after the Feb. 14 weekend, Ford could achieve his goal long before his aspiring teammates. Ford is progressing rapidly up the individual point ladder but the Mohawks are sputtering in the closing weeks of the schedule.Ford, who entered last week eight points in arrears of leader Wayne Zuk of Flint, came on strong to close the gap to four points. Zuk has tallied 89 points, Ford 85 but the amazing part of it all is that the Muskegon whiz has accomplished his scoring totals in 16 games less than Zuk.Ford, who already has won the IHL scoring title the past two years, came to Muskegon a month after the season started o when he opened the year with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League. When the Mohawks got into trouble and floundered in last place, the parent Canadiens hustled Ford back to Muskegon along with-goaler Graham Parsons, and defenseman Ed Sidebottom to shore up the IHL club.The Hawks have been fighting an uphill battle to beat out the pesky Toledo Hornets for the last Northern playoff berth. Ford had helped tremendously with his scoring antics&mdash;35 goals and 50 assists in just 41 games&mdash;but it may not be enough to save the Muskegon club.Two weeks ago, Muskegon won twice but so did Toledo. The teams met in a head-to head confrontation on Toledo ice, and the Hornets emerged with a 6-4 win.Last week, Muskegon gained some ground. They beat Saginaw and Dayton but lots to Port Huron while Toledo was taking it on the chin against Des Moines during a one-win-one-loss week.Last week, the Mohawks lost another step on the Hornets by winning one, losing once and tieing a third. Toledo split four games evenly and continued to lead the Hawks by six points and had the advantage of a game in hand.While Port Huron battles Flint lor the top spot in the North, the Hornets and Mohawks have a little feud of their own going while Saginaw watches helplessly from last place.In the South Division race, Dayton continues to hold sway over Fort Wayne. The best the Komets could do was a win and a tie in four IHL starts while the Gems pushed ahead with a pair of wins over Saginaw and Columbus while losing to Flint.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03117/3608771-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="610" height="437"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0494/3608764-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="557" height="529"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY FORD&hellip; Coming On Strong</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0035-01

Hawks Battle Hornets For Last IHL Playoff

<div class="byline">BY TOM BURKE</div>BOSTON&mdash;Christmas came on the instant replay February second when four ECAC teams&mdash;Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Brown&mdash;received word that their previous defeats by Boston University had turned into 1-0 victories.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01171/3608823-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="259" height="412"><figcaption class="caption-body">Allan MacCormack</figcaption></div>Yes, the sage ECAC upheld their decision that BU forward Dick De-Cloe is not eligible to play college hockey&mdash;a letter-of-law verdict if there ever was one. So. BU Terriers dropped their first 11 wins, counting those four ECAC Division One tilts, and plummeted to 14th in the standings. It&rsquo;s hard to believe, especially when the committee granted an unusual second hearing of the case. For a while it looked as if they&rsquo;d have the sense o back down. Now. all that remains to be seen in whether this will spawn a flurry of snitching on similar players by people in the know.So, along with the forfeit. Princeton emerged the happiest out of the week with three wins, two of them coming on the ice. Walt Snickenberger&rsquo;s return, along with Mark Stuckey&rsquo;s, powered the Tigers to wins of 5-4 in overtime at Penn and 4-2 over Yale. But, no respite for the downtrodden&mdash;Stuckey collided with a teammate early in the second period of the Yale game and busted his clavicle to sit him down for the season. With 16 points in 10 games, the speedy soph was the leading scorer and just in his third game back from an eye ailment.At Penn, the Tigers blew leads of 3-0 and 4-2 as Penn scored twice in the last two minutes. In the extra period, Phil Robinson gloved a Dietrich Gyetko shot and flung it to the corner. Paul McNamara tossed the rubber out to Wayne Bezan at center and he scored unmolested at 5:08. Then, with their former frosh coach Paul Lufkin back at Baker with his Elis, Bill Quackenbush&rsquo;s charges scored three times in 61 seconds early in the third frame.New Hampshire broke an 11-game win skein by Boston College with an 8-7 overtime win at Durham. The &lsquo;Cats&mdash;and pardon me, they too are unbeaten at home with 6-0-1&mdash;got a hat trick from Ed Freni as they poured 51 shots on Ned Yetten. But Warren Brown was the real hero, scoring UNH&rsquo;s first and last goals. The first was a short-handed tally, while in the extra frame he dug out a rebound from Yetten&rsquo;s pads and flipped it home.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been playing well ever since the Czechoslovakia game&rdquo; (a 4-0 loss) said a happy Charlie Holt. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re skating four lines and though two of them aren&rsquo;t covering very well in the zone they&rsquo;ve helped us quite a bit.&rdquo;But UNH had a long trip ahead of them as they bused to Canton the next night and couldn&rsquo;t hold St. Lawrence in Appleton Arena, losing 6-3. Allan MacCormack opened and closed the Larrie scoring. Just as St. Lawrence looked like it would disappear into the circular file, they bounced out with two straight wins to near the.500 league mark, the first coming over Dartmouth 4-2. SLU bounded out to a 4-0 lead and coasted.Providence dropped a pair to Brown, 5-3, and Northeastern, 6-2, before tipping Clarkson 3-2 on Mike Marvell&rsquo;s powerplay slapshot. Clarkson, slipping rapidly, had been bombed by BU 8-3 the night before despite a 46 save job by Kevin Woods. Jerry York&rsquo;s defense has been decimated by illness which has hardly helped.Don Hears, Rob Mackness, and Tom Misener all had two goals as RPI bombed Army 9-3 for its only ECAC win of the weeks. George Clark tallied twice for the Cadets and Bill Goodwin stopped 45 shots.Northeastern edged closer to playoff consideration with their win over Providence and a 3-2 decision over Colgate, Clare Moffatt scored from the point with less than a minute to go after Al Forslund&rsquo;s second goal tied the count with 4:58 left.For the second straight year, Dartmouth edged-Cornell in Hanover, 3-2, but didn&rsquo;t ne.ed overtime to do it. Bob Hayes and Pete Quinn scored in the second period to break a 1-1 deadlock. Fred Riggall, back from a leg injury. had the other Green goal as well as the only two in Dartmouth&rsquo;s loss to St. Lawrence. Not surprisingly, Carlo Ugolini and Bob Murray had the Cornell scores.BC topped Yale 6-2 at home before UNH broke their win skein. Jim King and Jim Doyle each scored twice for the Eagles, while Bobby Kane reached the 20 goal mark with the Elis&rsquo; only scores, both on power plays.In Division two. Vermont knocked off Bowdoin, a tormentor in recent years, by a 7-3 count.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0392/3608816-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="610" height="753"></div> &#9632;

f0036-01

ECAC Sticks It To Terriers Boston Univ. Forfeits 11 Wins

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0461/3608868-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="606" height="1635"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDDIVISION I GAMESBoston College 6, Yole 2Northeostern 6, Providence 2Princeton 5, Pennsylvania 4RPI 9, Army 3Northeastern 3, Colgate 2St. Lawrence 4, Dartnouth 2Brown 5, Providence 3New Hapshire 8, Boston College 7Boston University 8, Clarkson 3Pennsylvania 5, Brown 3Providence 3. Clarkson 2Dartmouth 3, Cornell 2St. Lawrence 6, New Hampshire 3Princeton 4, Yale 2INTERDIVISIONAL GAMESBoston Univ, 7, Massachusetts 2Northeastern 6, Massachusetts 5Harvard 10, St. Nick&rsquo;s 1DIVISION II GAMESMerrimack6, Boston 1Framingham 7, Nasson 3Lowell Tech 6, Colby 5Middlebury 2, Williams 1Holy Cross 10, Trinity 7Norwich 11, MIT 4Boston State 9, AIC 6Merrimack 9, Holy Cross 2Hobart 6, Nichols 3Middlebury 4, St. Anselm&rsquo;s 3Holy Cross 9, Worcester St. 4Vermont 7, Bowdoin 3Bridgewater 19, Maine-Gorham 1Williams 8, Boston State 6Bentley 10, Stonehil 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0537/3608861-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="633" height="237"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDSt. Louis 5, Lake Superior 3St. Louis 9, Lake Superior 3Ohio State 8, Lake Forest 0Ohio State 8. Lake Forest 2Bowling Green 5. RPI 3Bowling Green 3, RPI 0Buffalo 7, Ohio University 6Buffalo 8, Ohio University 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0624/3608854-1-eng-US/f0036-062.jpg" title="f0036-06" width="606" height="947"></div> &#9632;

f0036-04

COLLEGE HOCKEY SCENE

<div class="byline">BY STEVE KLEIN</div>SOUTH BEND&mdash;The McNaughton Cup, symbol of Western Collegiate Hockey Association dominance and one of the most valuable trophies in all college sports (the silver loving cup is insured for-$10,000), is not the only thing league teams started playing for three months ago.WCHA teams play their four-month schedule for position in the final standings, and while the McNaughton Cup may represent first place, second place is just as good, and third and fourth isn&rsquo;t bad either when the post-season playoffs begin in early March.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02124/3608899-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="268" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">Graham Wise</figcaption></div>All the 26 to 30 game regular season league schedule accomplishes is the elimination of two teams and the seeding of the other eight for the semi-finals on March 6 and 8, just two days after the regular season ends. In that two-game, total goals round, the first four teams are rewarded with home-ice (No. 1 plays No. 8, No. 2 plays No. 7. etc).Home teams won seven of those eight semi-final games last year, and all four home teams advanced to the final round with home ice again determined by the regular season standings. So, first place Denver and second place Wisconsin again played at home, and this time the home teams were 3-0-1 and NCAA-bound.With just one month remaining in the regular season, eight teams still have a shot at finishing in the top four. Here is a team-by-team outlook heading into the final eight games:DENVER: When the Pioneers split an eight-point series with Wisconsin at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs last month (the Denver Arena was condemned in December), DU coach Murray Armstrong predicted his team would finish among the top two. After sweeping Colorado College, 7-2 (in the Denver Coliseum) and 7-5, the Pioneers are making that prediction look good. Although Rob Palmer and Pete McNab are the leading scorers, Denver is winning with balance and consistency.MICHIGAN STATE: Spartans have lost three less points than Denver (ll to 14), and still have an excellent shot at first and certainly second Key series for MSU includes an eight-pointer at Denver and an eight pointer to close the season at home with Colorado College.Spartans have had some trouble defensively in their last four games, allowing 31 goals. But against Michigan, they had enough fire-power for 6-5 and 8-5 victories. Michigan had a 5-4 lead in the first game with 77 seconds remaining, but Steve Colp scored on a power play and Mark Calder on a breakaway for the victory.State suffered its first serious innury of the season a week before at Notre Dame when freshman Daryl Rice broke his ankle. He is out for season.WISCONSIN-MICH. TECH: Winter Carnival weekend is always a lot of fun at Houghton, and it was even more enjoyable after the Huskies had swept the Badgers, 7-1 and 5-3. Breakaways by Darwin Mott. Graham Wise and Bob D&rsquo;Alvise. two goals by Lome Stamler and freshman Jim Warden&rsquo;s 36-save goaltending were the big factors in the first game rout.Wisconsin remains in good position for a high finish, however, with three of four series and 16 of 20 points remaining at home, where the Badgers are 12-0. Tech still has four games to play with Denver but is in solid contention for at least third or fourth.NOTRE DAME-NORTH DAKOTA: After scoring 30 goals in three games, including a 9-3 victory over North Dakota, the sizzling Irish were cooled off by ice-cold Sioux, 3-2. North Dakota had not won in its last six games and had dropped 17 straight points.The Irish and Huskies were in a dead heat for fourth after the weekend with 30 points won, 22 lost and 20 remaining, but 16 of Notre Dame&rsquo;s remaining 20 points are on the road. North Dakota, with only 16 points remaining, still has an outside shot at fourth.MINNESOTA, MINN. DULUTH: After splitting their series in Duluth (MD lost T2 on John Perpich&rsquo;s shorthanded goal, then won, 7-5), Minnesota was in a similar situation to North Dakota with only 16 points remaining. Duluth is eighth with 18 points, but with 28 points remaining (20 on the road), the Bulldogs still hope for a fourth place finish.COLORADO COLLEGE: Tigers played remarkably well at home Saturday against Denver considering both Guy Hildebrand and Doug Palazzari were out with shoulder seperations. With 24 points remaining, coach Jeff Sauer still hopes to catch eighth place Duluth, eight points ahead. Michigan, tenth with only eight points, appears to have even less hope than the Tigers. &#9632;

f0036-02

Denver Making Prophet Of Armstrong

LAKE SUPERIOR&mdash;Lake Superior had a golden opportunity to wrap up the Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship singlehandedly but blew it.The Lakers missed the chance to clinch it all by themselves when they dropped a weekend series in St. Louis 5-3 and 9-3. Lake Superior has 26 points based on a 9-3 CCHA record, but is now fin-Jim Peck ished with regular season play and must depend upon St. Louis to lose or tie one of their remaining six games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01157/3608930-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="259" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Peck</figcaption></div>John Flesch scored a goal at the 21 second mark of the second period on Friday to tie the score at 1-1, but that was as close as Lake Superior came to the Bills all weekend. St. Louis scored four in a row before Ian Ward&rsquo;s power play goal at 18:20 of the second period. Flesch added another goal in the third period, but it wasn&rsquo;t enough.On Sunday night LSSC fell behind 4-0 and that was it. Larry Myers and John Lee-scored in the second period, and Ward put his second of the series in during the third period, but despite Don Muio&rsquo;s 48 saves the Lakers lost.St. Louis kept its championship hopes alive with the sweep of the league leading Lake Superior Lakers this past weekend.Rick Francis scored a power play goal to give St. Louis a 1-0 first period lead in the first game.With the score tied at 1-1. Dave Davies went to work. The junior from Toronto. Ont., then set up or scored the next three goals, two were short handed, to give the Bills a 4-3 lead. Rick Kennedy notched the fifth marker which came in handy later as the Lakers picked up two power play goals. The win was Coach Bill Selman&rsquo;s 100th career win. and the 9-3 win on Sundy evened his mark at 101-101-9.On Sunday night Jim Peck scored twice in the first period, as Sean Coghlan and Davies added one each to pace a 4-0 lead. Kennedy added his 34th of the year, a new season record. John Nestlc and Charles Labelle gave St. Louis a 7-2 lead after two periods, to ice the game.The Bills-Lakers series drew 11,209 fans to the Arena and they saw exciting action as St. Louis picked up the pair. In the series, St. Louis goalie. Ralph Kloiber came up with 61 saves, while Muio was called on to save 83 shots for the Lakers.The Bills must win all six remaining games to win the CCHA Title.Ohio State traveled to Lake Forest and picked two victories from the non-conference oppo-nents 8-0 and 8-2.Bowling Green Falcons came up with a pair of fine defensive games and swept past RPI 5-3 and 3-0.Goalie Terry Miskolczi was the difference in each game, as the Falcons won on Friday after trailing 3-2 at the start of the third period. Miskolczi made 22 saves in the final stanza while Pete Badour tied the game at the fifty-one second mark. John Stewart scored the winner on a break-away. &#9632;

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St. Louis Keeps Hopes Alive With Sweep

<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0390/3608982-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="589" height="337"></div>GAMES COMPLETEDTues. Feb. 6Sudbury 7 at Hamilton 7St. Catharines 2 at Oshawa 6Thur. Feb. 8Toronto 8 at Peterborough 6Fri. Fev. 9Sudbury 2 at Kitchener 6Oshawa 3 at Ottawa 13London 10 at Sault Ste. Marie 1Peterborough 1 at Toronto 11Sat. Feb. 10Kitchener 4 at Sudbury 6Sun. Feb. 11Ottawa 2 at Toronto 11Hamilton 4 at St. Catharines 4Peterborough 4 at Oshawa 2Kitchener 4 at Sault Ste Marie 5London 7 at Sudbury 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0474/3608975-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="606" height="1143"></div><h3>COLLEGE RACE</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0558/3608968-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="602" height="525"></div>GAMES COMPUTEDCarleton 7, Ottawa 7Windsor 2, Brock 1Western 6, York 5Waterloo 9, Lutheran 5Laurentian 5, Ottawa 3Toronto.16, Ryerson 5Queen&rsquo;s 12, McMaster 4Laurentian 6, Carleton 1Windsor 11, Brock 6Queen&rsquo;s 7, Carleton 3Western 5, Lutheran 3Windsor 10, McMaster 5Brock 9, Ryerson 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0646/3608961-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="616" height="1065"></div> &#9632;

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OHA MAJOR JUNIOR

<div class="byline">BY JACK GATECLIFF</div>LONDON&mdash;London Knights have littlechance of rising above fourth place in the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior A League but judging by their play in recent weeks they could be a contending force when the playoffs open late next month.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02121/3609013-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="264" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Neeiy Ownership</figcaption></div>Knights have a far from glowing history since London was granted a Junior A franchise in the 1966-67 season.has changed, coaches have come and gone on an almost yearly basis and the turmoil is almost certainly part of the reason they have never finished higher than sixth position.However this season it&rsquo;s a different story.Owner Howard Darwin brought in Bill Long who had been successful as coach and general manager of the Ottawa 67s and prior to that a coach under Hap Emms in Barrie and Niagara Falls.Long had his problems early in the schedule but appears to have brought order out of chaos. With six weeks left in the seasonKnights have pulled into a solid fourth spot, well above St. Catharines Black Hawks and Os-hawa Generals with whom they had been waging a tight struggle.They won eight straight games and while still depending to a great extent on the highest-scoring line in the league&mdash;center Reg Thomas and wingers Dennis Ververgaert and Andy Spruce-are also getting good production from lesser lights such as Lou Nistico. Dennis Maruk and Terry Martin.The word is out&mdash;watch out for London Knights when the post-season games get under way.At the top of the lague, To ronto Marlboros, almost conceded first place after going 25 games without a loss between October and December, are suddenly being challenged by Peterborough and Ottawa.The Petes in particular have been playing steady hockey and with games in hand still have an excellent chance of overtaking coach Goerge Armstrong&rsquo;s Marlboros if the defending pennantwinners should falter.TORONTO: With back-to-back wins over ninth place Kitchener, Marlboros continued in first place but Petes are closing in fast&hellip; Marlies have been struck with injuries and illness at a critical point in their schedule&hellip; Defenseman Marty Howe still at home in Detroit with mononucleosus and his return appears indefinite&hellip; Outstanding forward Paulin Bordeleau missed several games injuring his back after slipping on stairs&hellip;Fortunately Marlies are able to draw on excellent talent from their Markham Junior B farm team.PETERBOROUGH:Petesunder coach Roger Neilson won key game over Ottawa 6-3&hellip; Regular goalie Frank Salive in hospital with tonsilitis but backup Mike Kasmetis playing only his fifth game was outstanding against 67s blocking 33 shots&hellip; Doug Gibson club&rsquo;s leading scorer and has only four minutes in penalties&hellip; Defenseman Bob Neely continuing rugget play on blueline as well as scoring more than his share of oals&hellip; Neely was one of major reasons Petes upset Marlboros last year and advanced into Memorial Cup playoffs&hellip; Seven consecutive wins put team right behind To ronto.OTTAWA: Rough week for Leo Boivin&rsquo;s 67s in their bid for first or second place&hellip; Suffered 4-3 upset in Hamilton to Red Wings and defeat, coupled with 6-3 loss to Petes and 5-2 to London left them in third place&hellip; Derek Smith scored three goals to put them back in victory column 11-3 over last place Sault Ste. Marie but chances of pennant are fading&hellip; Strong defense however will give all opponents problems in playoffs.LONDON: Barring injury Grimsby, Ont. native Ververgaert almost certain to become first London player to win points championship&hellip; The 6 ft. 1 in. right winger is well over the 100-point mark and could be a threat to OHA Junior A record of 161 points set by Brian Cullen of St. Catharines Teepees in 1953-54 schedule&hellip; Thomas in second place and rookie Spruce among top 10 marksmen to round out most prolific line in league&hellip; Attendance growing with average now above 3,000.ST. CATHARINES: With open week in schedule Hawks played two games in Thunder Bay, winning first 10-4 over Vulcans of Junior Tier Two group and losing second 7-5&hellip; Captain Jeff Jacques playing especially weil but unless they put together lengthy win-streak Hawks appear destined to finish no better than fifth and face first place club in quarter-finals&hellip; Coach Frank Milne&rsquo;s pre-season aim was at least fourth place to get extra game on home ice in first round&hellip; Bob MacGuigan of Charlottetown. P.E.I. scored four in 6-4 win over Sudbury.OSHAWA: Generals had poor start, played well in mid-schedule but seem to have lost their momentum with no wins, two ties and four defeats in last half of January&hellip; Rick Middleton having great season and solid fourth in league points&hellip; Two of three Oshawa goals came from Middleton in 7-3 defeat to London but several other players not coming through as expected after second place finish in 1971-72&hellip; Still hope to catch Hawks for fifth place but more scoring punch required.SUDBURY: Morris Titanic having brilliant season and should be a high draft choice in NHL meetings next June&hellip; A strong, husky forward he may approach 50-goal mark&hellip; Wolves seem assured playoff spot after move from Niagara Falls which will be feather in cap for rookie coach Larry Rubic&hellip; Team has strengthened with addition of Max Hansen and Terry Casey from St. Catharines but at least a year away from champion ship hopes&hellip; Titanic reached 4()-goal mark in 10-1 loss to Oshawa then added two more following night while Wolves were losing 6-4 to St. Catharines&hellip; Mike Marson. one of two black players in league (Mike Me-Keanev of Kitchener is the other) looks like candidate for NHL with superlative play.HAMILTON: Surprise 4-3 home ice win over Ottawa helped club morale but coach Dave Draper just can&rsquo;t get them cracking on road&hellip; At last count Wings had lost 14 straight away from Hamilton Forum which is chief reason they are in eighth place&hellip; However like Sudbury they should qualify for playoffs which is some consolation&hellip; Rolly Kimble playing superb hockey in nets after being obtained from Peterborough last month and was big reason for win against Ottawa&hellip; Pat and Greg Hickey, Jim Moxey and Ron Sedlbauer Hamilton leaders even in defeat hut team lacks bench strength.KITCHENER: Rangers lost at home to Ottawa (7-5) and Toronto (4-0) then suffered third successive setback in Maple Leaf Garden putting crimp in efforts to climb out of ninth place and into playoffs&hellip; Paul Evans and Frank Davis doing their best to keep flickering hopes alive but it looks like a &ldquo;wait &lsquo;til next season&rdquo; for coach Eddie Bush&hellip; Resignation of general manager Punch Scherer who was succeeded by three-man committee seems to have done nothing toimprove team.SAULT: In first season, Greyhounds will be on sidelines when playoffs open&hellip; The only question is whether they will be 10th or ninth&hellip; General manager Angelo Bumbacco still enthused over team in Ontario League after sending so many players south for more than 20 years&hellip; With fine minor system and return of players such as Dan Hinton, Mark Melody and John Campbell, team&rsquo;s record of only seven wins in first 45 games will improve in 1973-74. &#9632;

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London Rated ‘Dark Horse’ For Playoff Run

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01168/3609110-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="562" height="1765"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02121/3609103-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="624" height="1747"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0561/3609096-1-eng-US/f0039-052.jpg" title="f0039-05" width="642" height="2681"></div> &#9632;

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Looking At The Races

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0394/3609148-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="274" height="330"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0477/3609141-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="1126" height="1075"></div><h2>Remember Your Job</h2>Defencemen are supposed to display the courage of lions, the strength of water buffaloes and the caution ofcats. Of these, caution is the greatest. Your job as a defenceman is to protect the goal.If your defensive partner (C) covers a single attacker coming in. sou (A) should automatically fall back toensure the aggressor (B) doesn&rsquo;t somehow get by your mate.Too. it&rsquo;s very likely there&rsquo;ll be another attacker coming in looking for lixise pucks or rebounds, so you&rsquo;ll have him to deal with andthc pucktoclear.When dropping back, be sure you don&rsquo;t set yourself in the goalie&rsquo;s line of sight to the puck. If you screen the play, that first lorward coming in might get a nice shot away which would be in the net and your goalie not even see it coming. &#9632;

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HOCKEY… For Minors

<div class="byline">&#x2014;BY HERB MYERS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0651/3609179-1-eng-US/f0039-062.jpg" title="f0039-06" width="250" height="427"></div><h2>Centennial Cup Playoffs</h2>In 1970 Junior A hockey was divided into two classifications Major Junior A and Junior A. All teams participating in the Ontario, Quebec and West Canada major junior A leagues were placed in the major junior category and compete annually lor the Memorial Cup. All other teams were placed in the Junior A category, and beginning with the 1970-71 season competed lor the new national trophy, the Centennial Cup, emblamatic of Tier 2. Junior A supremacy.Guelph CMC&rsquo;s had little difficulty in last spring&rsquo;s cup competition, compiling a playoff record of 22 wins and three losses. In their Southern Ontario-Jr. league playoff. Guelph easily disposed of St. Thomas in four straight games and then took four out of five games from the strong Detroit Jr. Red Wings. Three straight victories over Sault Ste. Marie Can-adiens of the Northern Ontario Jr A league, gave Guelph the Ontario championship and moved CMC&rsquo;s into the Eastern Canada playoffs. Thunder Bay Vulcans proved to be their toughest playoff competition, as each team won two of the first four games, but Guelph moved on with afth game win and a &rsquo;Thunder Bay forfeit in the final. They won the the Eastern finals in four straight over Charlottetown, P.E.I and made ready to tangle with the defending champion Red Deer Rustlers, who had repeated their previous year&rsquo;s West Canada championship, and entered the finals with a playoff record of 15 wins, five losses and 3 ties. Four straight wins were recorded bycach Billy Taylor&rsquo;s CMC&rsquo;s over the Rustlers and the Centennial Cup belonged to Guelph.<h2>1973 Eastern Cup Prevue</h2>Defending Champion Guelph, renamed the Biltmores, look to be the best bet to represent the East in the Centennial Cup finals again this year. Nine veterans of last season&rsquo;s champions have returned, led by high scoring forwards Doug Riseborough and John Rutherford plus top blueliners Dennis Neilly and Mike Zettel. In goal Guelph has two Junior A veterans, Dennis Kemp and Randy Simpson and the addition of Major Junior A performers Tony Herlick, Stu Towers and Larry Kellett gives strength and depth to the club for the long playoff haul. Biltmores, however, will have no easy time within their own league as Chatham Marrons, Niagara Falls Flyers, Windsor and Welland have all shown marked improvement as playoff time approaches.Pembroke Lumber Kings, leaders of a stronger Central Jr. A League, may surprise a few teams and if the Kings can get by the runnerup M&W Rangers of Ottawa, they could go all the way. Their high scoring line ofstevecroucher, Pat Hahn and Randy Mohns can hold its own in anyjunior league, and the addition of Major Junior A veterans Bob Wright. (Jord Barrett and Marty Gannon gives balance and depth to the club which has a solid netminder in Brian Shields. &rsquo;Their 16year old winger Rodney Shutt can he a big help in his first playoff series.In the New Brunswick Jr. A. if Moncton Alpine Beavers can getby the up-and-coming Sussex Royals, they could be the Maritimes&rsquo; best bet. Sid Veysey, Dan Upton, Paul Cormier, John Henry, Jean-Paul Leblanc, Captain Bill Black and goalie Bobby Wade lead the club which last year were eliminated by Charlottetown Islanders. The Islanders and Newfoundland&rsquo;s representative do not have league competion. hut usually come up with a strong entry for cup play.The Thunder Bay Junior A expanded from four teams to nine teams with four in the Can-Am Jr A and five in the Thunder Bay Jr A. The Vulcans gave Guelph their toughest battle last year and the winner in the area could do it again.Two unknown factors this season are the Ontario Provincial Junior A and the Quebec Tier 2 Junior A playoff kings. Both leagues were formed this year from very last Junior B clubs and have not been tested outside their own leagues. Vaughan Nationals and Richmond Hill Rams have shared the Ontario Provincial lead all season, and with 8 of their 12 teams in the playoffs anything can happen. In Quebec, the Lac Megantic Royals, Grand&rsquo;Mere Bruins and Waterloo Marrons were early leaders, but in the new league, the champion could also be surprise.Next Week&mdash;A look at the Western Canada entries. &#9632;

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JUNIOR OTTINGS

<div class="byline">BY GIL SMITH</div>MONTREAL&mdash;A sophomore and a veteran journeyman are among the most improved players on Montreal Canadiens.Coach Scotty Bowman threw bouquets to rightwinger Guy Lafleur and alternate forwarddefenseman Jimmy Roberts, when asked to name the players who had shown the most progress this season.&ldquo;Lafleur has matured both as an indivdual and a player,&rdquo; Bowman said. &ldquo;Despite a 29-goal performance last season, he didn&rsquo;t play up to the form of which he&rsquo;s capable. This year, he&rsquo;s putting out more, moving the puck better and always seems to be in position to get that shot right on the net.&rdquo;Roberts, a 32-year-old veteran who followed Bowman to St. Louis after haying broken in with Canadiens, earned praise for an outstanding effort this year.Traded back to Montreal from St. Louis in December of 1971 for Phil Roberto, Roberts was unsettled and unhappy last season. But, this year, acclimatized to his surroundings, Jimmy is proving to be a real asset and has fitted in wherever needed.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s done a great job on the line with Frank Mahovlich and Henri Richard,&rdquo; said Bowman. &ldquo;Really digging that puck out of corners and getting it to the man in the slot. And, of course, he&rsquo;s very effective as a checking forward, too. Plus the fact that he kills penalties as well as playing a regular shift.&rdquo;Roberts is in his ninth full NHL season, with time almost equally divided between the Blues and Habs. He has never missed a year of playoffs, either, since coming to Canadiens in the 1963-64 campaign. He&rsquo;s been on two Stanley Cup winners as well.Meanwhile, Claude Larose, now a veteran of some 600 NHL contests, is one of the more typical examples of what has been called &ldquo;Canadiens strength in reserve.&rdquo;His most productive seasons were the two he spent with Minnesota in the late &rsquo;60&rsquo;s seasons which saw him score 25 and 24 goals for the best marks of his eight-year NHL career.After two years with Minnesota, during which he achieved star status, Larose was traded back to Montreal for Bobby Rousseau. The date was June 10, 1970.Since then, Larose has put together seasons of 10 and 20 goals while seeing somewhat limited duty with Canadiens. &#9632;

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February 23, 1973

RANGERS STREAKING TO TOP

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Skidding Canucks Not Throwing Weight Around

Rookie Crop Cutting Teeth On Flurry Of Goal Storing