Top Performers In Minors

NHL Teams Virtually ‘Safe’ With 18 Players Protected

MONTREAL— Unless an outbreak of pre-draft trading develops in the interim, the National Hockey League’s summer ’73 intra-league player picking session could conceivably become an uneventful affair. All signs point to a lean draft for only one reason. There’s hardly any worthwhile players available to the 16 NHL teams. This is the year the clubs are permitted to protect their best 18 skaters without fear of losing anyone of any consequence. Not only are first-year pros and college players still exempt from drafting but as an added bonus for what they’ll lose in the 1974 expansion draft all big league goalkeepers are in the deep freeze for this one. In other words there will be no drafting of netminders this year. It all adds up to a skimpy draft sitting for the current NHL…

Habs To Enter Summer Draft With Wary Eye On Rich Roster

MONTREAL— Rich in talent and loaded with reserves, the Montreal Canadiens would appear on the surface to be prime targets for some of the “Have Not” clubs, in the 1973 June draft. The Rules of the game say they can protect 18 skaters, disregarding goalies who are not eligible for drafting this year. Thus, the Habs have to worry about guarding 18 forwards and defensemen. They do not have to concern themselves about Ken Dryden, Michel Plasse, Wayne Thomas or any other goalie in their chain, this time‘round. Also exempt are first-year-pros, like Steve Shutt, Dave Gardner, John Van Boxmeer and others whom Habs obtained in the amateur draft of 1972. Still others, like Morris Stefaniw and Tony Featherstone who played for Nova Scotia Voyageurs last season, are the property of other organizations; therefore…

Don Caley Goes Out Winner After Runners Capture Cup

PHOENIX— Captain Adam Keller said it for everyone. “This is by far the most gratifying victory.” There had been other championships in this and other leagues for many of the Phoenix Rad runners, but none to match their victory in the Lester Patrick Cup finals, emblematic of the Western Hockey League playoff championship. “I guess it’s because we kept coming back all season,” said Keller “and we played for such a great guy. What a coach Sandy Hucul has become!” “We came back to win the Coleman Hall Cup,” pointed out Keller, “We even had to come back tonight to win it.” The Roadrunners had been 10 points behind the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in mid-January and overtook them to finish first by four points to win the WHL’s regular-season crown. The Eagles jumped into…