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.

October 12, 1973

The Hockey News October 12, 1973

<div class="byline">&#x2014;STRUMM</div><p>SASKATOON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen Ed Chynoweth joined the executive staff of the Western Canada Hockey League midway through the 1972-73 season, he was expected to become the resident trouble shooter.</p><p>Chynoweth, then known as the assistant to the executive secretary. was stern in his warnings to WCHL clubs about excessive brawling and rough play. But in no way did he rule with an iron hand.</p><p>This season, though, Chynoweth holds the president&rsquo;s reins at the league head office here in Saskatoon. And it didn&rsquo;t take him long to don his six guns&hellip;just one exhibition game to be exact.</p><p>Calgary Centennials and Medicine Hat Tigers engaged in a brawl in the WCHL&rsquo;s initial preseason contest, much to Chynoweth&rsquo;s displeasure. A total of 36 penalties, 20 to Medicine Hat, were assessed by the game official and then the league prexy took over.</p><p>In an announcement by Chynoweth. he handed out &ldquo;the most severe suspensions&rdquo; in the league&rsquo;s exhibition season history.</p><p>Three players &mdash; Mai Zinger of Calgary and Randy Marshall and Brad Gassoff of Medicine Hat &mdash; were suspended for the remainder of the exhibition season in addition to their repective team&rsquo;s first regular season game.</p><p>Barry Dean of Medicine Hat was given a two-game suspension for leaving the players&rsquo; bench and teammate Bryan Maxwell received a one-game suspension after being involved in three separate fights which automatically leads to a game-misconduct penalty.</p><p>Zinger and Marshall engaged in a stick-swinging duel and Gassoff molested an official during the game at Calgary.</p><p>Jack Shupe. Tigers&rsquo; coach, was fined $500 and Scotty Munro, coach of the Calgary team, was fined $250. Chynoweth, whose promises to clean up the league may be fulfilled after all, said there was &ldquo;no room in the WCHL or hockey in general for this kind of action.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m prepared to put my reputation on the line that I will not tolerate this kind of nonsense and if this is the way the coaches and players want to act there will be many more suspensions and fines.&rdquo;</p><p>Chynoweth said interference with game officials would be dealt with severely, adding, &ldquo;These men who work in our league do not have to be subjected to manhandling by any player.&rdquo;</p><p>He said he wanted the league to &ldquo;sit up and take notice&rdquo; because it has had a reputation of a lack of discipline.</p><p>Calgary won the game, by the way, 12-0.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Schedules

New WCHL Head Cracks Down After Exhibition Donnybrook

<h2><b>OCTOBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01211/3753289-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="583" height="771"></div><h2><b>NOVEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02160/3753282-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="568" height="1949"></div><h2><b>DECEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03119/3753275-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="593" height="1863"></div><h2><b>JANUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0499/3753268-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="598" height="2102"></div><h2><b>FEBRUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0578/3753261-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="577" height="1566"></div><h2><b>MARCH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0663/3753254-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="588" height="1745"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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Other Leagues

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05598/3751593-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg"></div><h2><b>Government Should Back Colleges</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>ately the demand for Canadian hockey players to staff U.S. college hockey teams has been so overwhelming that it has wiped out any Canadian competition.</p><p>Each year, hundreds of good Canadian junior players choose to go south for an education. The reason is that the rich American colleges can afford to give out 20 hockey scholarships whereas Canadian schools just don&rsquo;t have that kind of money. The few scholarships Canadian schools do have to offer come from Hockey Canada and in no way match the lucrative U.S. offers.</p><p>It is high time for the Canadian Government to step in and give financial aid to Canadian colleges to allow them to compete on an equal basis with their American counterparts.</p><p><b>DAVE BURNS,</b><br><b>Mississauga, Ont.</b></p><h2><b>Limit Draftable Juniors For Pros</b></h2><p>Recently the CAHA has been thrown into a state of chaos with the loss of Mark and Marty Howe to the WHA (even though it was the American Amateur Hockey Association&rsquo;s fault for their ruling on professionals).</p><p>This along with WHA contract talks with under-age Canadian junior stars Dennis Sobchuk and Bill Lochead caused the NHL to get understandably upset at the CAHA with whom they had a contract. Now with the expiration of the pact, Canadian Junior A leagues face player raids from both pro leagues without any compensation.</p><p>A simple solution would be to make a certain number (10) of talented juniors eligible each year as decided by leading scouts, coaches, and general managers of the junior leagues. They would have to be drafted at a higher price as they are certainly more valuable than their counterparts at 20 years old.</p><p><b>DAVE CLARKE,</b><br><b>Toronto, Ont.</b></p><h2><b>Cincinnati Not An NHL Town</b></h2><p>In reference to a letter printed in the August edition of THE HOCKEY NEWS from Jan Krakauer of Cincinnati who feels that Cincinnati has been slighted by the NHL for failure to award that city with a franchise and feels &ldquo;cheated&rdquo; by the fact that the WHA did, we would like to point out these facts:</p><p>1. What makes her think that Cincinnati is such a great hockey town? We remember more than one Swords&rsquo; game where attendance was less than 2,000. Apparently the NHL also remembered.</p><p>2. What does she mean a step backwards for the AHL Swords? The Chicago Cougars (worst record in WHA) on an off night could have torn the Swords apart.</p><p>3. As for watching &ldquo;Francois Who&rdquo; and Henri Nobody we re sure that any NHL fan could identify with Bobby Hull and Gerry Cheevers.</p><p>Although the caliber of play in the NHL, the addition of such &ldquo;nobodies&rdquo; as Pat Stapleton, Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle, and many other ex-NHLers will turn that a round shortly.</p><p>After all, Jan, all that Cincinnati has proved thus far is that it is a minor league hockey town.</p><p><b>RON CORBUT,</b><br><b>GEORGE PERKOWSKI,</b><br><b>Cleveland, O.</b></p><h2><b>Penguins Will Miss Big Eddie Shack</b></h2><p>Being a Penguins fan, I was a little upset after reading the article in August issue of THE HOCKEY NEWS about Eddie Shack being sold to Toronto.</p><p>Shack, although he is getting on in years, is a valuable performer on the ice for his ability as a player (25-20 for 45 points), an entertainer (which always draws people to the games), and a hard-nose who won&rsquo;t back down.</p><p>The latter is where the Penguins will hurt this year. Sure, the Penguins have a good attack unit but when the visitors show their might, the igloo melts! Bugs Watson can help some, but with Eddie gone, not much leftover!</p><p>The Penguins traded Rene Robert. By the way, didn&rsquo;t he score 40 goals? They let Dean Prentice go and he is still pumping in 20 goals per season. Now Shack is gone. I think the Penguins did it again.</p><p>Eddie will be back, just like Dean and Rene. I just hope Andy Bathgate doesn&rsquo;t come back.</p><p><b>JERRY WHITE,</b><br><b>Ashland, Ont.</b></p><h2><b>Fan In Defense Of Bobby Orr</b></h2><p>In your July issue of THE HOCKEY NEWS, I did not agree with the comments R. Smallwood made about Bobby Orr. True, he played most of the season lame, but as the statistics prove, he played sixty-three games and he still got over 100 points. So I think he played pretty well, and deserved the Norris Trophy as the outstanding defenseman.</p><p><b>D. BOULDING,</b><br><b>Regina, Sask.</b></p><h2><b>Chicago Fans Berate Players</b></h2><p>What in heavens name is wrong with the fans in Chicago Stadium? I don&rsquo;t think they know good players when they see them. The two Hawk players I am referring to are Jim Pappin and Dennis Hull.</p><p>I cannot understand why the Stadium fans are always on them, constantly booing them no matter what they do. Pappin and Hull, along with Pit Martin, form one of the best lines in the league.</p><p>It seems to me that these fans could really get behind these players and the team instead of booing them. There must be others like me who would give anything to see a Black Hawk game. I wish it were possible for only the really loyal fans to see the games. If fans could give me just reasons for hating Pappin and Hull, I wish you would let me know. Try to tell me where the Hawks would be without them.</p><p><b>RICK BOGGS</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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IN THIS ISSUE

FAN FORUM

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CARTOON CORNER

<div class="byline">BY HAL SIGURDSON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01929/3751253-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="284" height="452"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jerry Korab</b></figcaption></div><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>S</span>ince they arrived in the league three years ago, rival National Hockey League teams have seldom found defeating the Vancouver Canucks an insurmountable problem. Witness the record: Sixth in a seven team division, seventh in a seven team division and seventh in an eight team division. Now, as they prepare to stride over the threshold of Year Four, the Canucks still appear short of playoff calibre, but opposing coaches may have to do some rethinking in the strategy department.</p><p>Last year virtually every team employed the same game plan, varied only by the calibre of its own personnel. The plan was simple. Hit.</p><p>When conscientiously applied, it was almost invariably successful. Vancouver had the smallest collection of forwards in either division and. in a totally disruptive season, the few big guys around displayed little inclination to hit back.</p><p>&ldquo;When I was with St. Louis we always figured if we hit Vancouver&rsquo;s little guys we&rsquo;d get enough enough chances to win.&rdquo; says goaltender Jacques Caron who was drafted by the Canucks in the off season.</p><p>About the only team that didn&rsquo;t hew to that philosophy was the Montreal Canadiens. Against Vancouver and everyone else the fleet Stanley Cup champions simply skated out and filled the net.</p><p>However, even conceding that exhibition games are an inaccurate barometer, early indications are that teams employing that strategy against Vancouver this season can expect to be hit back. Hard and often.</p><p>Three new muscular frames have been stationed on the Vancouver blueline. They are rookie Bob Dailey, 6&rsquo;5 &frac12; and 215 pounds; Dave Dunn, 6&rsquo;2,, and 215 pounds, and Jerry Korab, 6&lsquo;3&rdquo; and 218 pounds. Additionally rookie right winger Dennis Ververgaert, 6&rsquo;1 and 190 pounds, has proved to be no shringing violet in the heavy going.</p><p>Indiactions that things are changing came in the Canucks&rsquo; first exhibition game against the Los Angeles Kings. Early in the third period the King&rsquo;s Dan Maloney hit little Bobby Lalonde with a bonerattling body check. Last year&rsquo;s Canucks would have offered Lalonde their condolences. This time Ververgaert spent the rest of the night trying to drive Maloney through the boards. (Maloney proved quite capable of looking after himself, but the point is someone went out to hit back).</p><p>In a second exhibition encounter between Vancouver and Los Angeles. Doug Buhr, a big winger trying to mke the jump from Springfield to the Kings, hit Canucks&rsquo; goaltender Dan Bray behind the net. Seconds later Buhr himself in a rousing standup fist fight with Dunn.</p><p>In the third Vancouver-Los Angeles exhibition joust in as many nights Maloney and Korab wound up toe-to-toe, despite the fact they were roomies and shared an apartment when both played for Chicago.</p><p>It may be no more than coincidence that Vancouver won all three games, 5-4, 5-2 and 3-1, but there was reason to believe the Canucks would no longer be the league&rsquo;s 98-pound weaklings.</p><p>There was an indication, too, that the Canucks are going to be a lot tougher in goal than ever before, particularly when that goaltending is provided by Gary Smith. In roughly 58 minutes against the Kings Smith surrendered only a single goal and made a number of outstanding saves.</p><p>&ldquo;This is going to be Vancouver&rsquo;s best season in the NHL,&rdquo; insisted third-year defenseman Jocelyn Guevremont, &ldquo;just wait and see.&rdquo; At this stage, at least, no one was arguing.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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NHL Rivals Won’t Kick Sand In Canucks’ Faces This Year

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02849/3751284-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Yvan Cournoyer of the Canadiens has his sights set on $25,000 TV shooting prize.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>NEW HOCKEY JACKPOT</b></h2><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen Yvan Cournoyer hangs up his skates, he can always look to television for a source of income. Recently, Cournoyer won $6,000 and qualified for a possible additional $25,000 in the Superstars&rsquo; TV competition. Now the Montreal Canadiens right winger has put himself in a position to earn even more money on the tube. Cournoyer and teammates Guy Lapointe and Jacques Lemaire and three NHL goaltenders will compete in a televised penalty-killing contest with the top scorer and goaltender winning $25,000 each.</p><h2><b>HORTON STAYS RETIRED</b></h2><p>BUFFALO&mdash;</p><p>Veteran defenseman Tim Horton showed up at the Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; training camp, but it was only a social call. When Horton arrived rumors circulated that he was looking for a larger salary, waiting for the opening of the season so he could bypass training camp, retiring for good to devote full time to his donut business. The latter proved to the case, at least for the time being. Horton has been known to change his mind.</p><h2><b>TV VIEWERS CUT OFF</b></h2><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>Television viewers in Montreal and Burlington, Vermont will not be seeing any Boston Bruin games this season. The Bruins, on request from the Canadiens who felt Boston games on Channel 22 in Burlington were hurting home attendance. cancelled a contract for the televising of 30 games. The games could be seen on UHF in Montreal. Burlington residents protested to the Canadiens, but to no avail.</p><h2><b>LEAFS&rsquo; CHANGE OVER</b></h2><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p>Toronto Maple Leaf General Manager Jim Gregory promised fans changes last season, and changes he has made. The Leafs&rsquo; entire goaltending brigade from last season is no longer with the team. Jacques Plante was traded late last year after playing 32 games and this fall, both Gord McRae and Ron Low have been dispatched to the minors. McRae, who played 11 games last year with the Leafs, will toil for Oklahoma City of the Central league while Low, in 42 games last year, will play in Tulsa of the same league.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-02

Deadline Stoppers

<div class="byline">BY CHRIS ZELKOVICH</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01934/3751329-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Canadiens are still a power to be reckoned with in East. The Mahovlich brothers, Frank, left, and Pete, give Montreal great depth and scoring potential.</b></figcaption></div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>If anything can be extracted from THE HOCKEY NEWS&rsquo; 1973-74 pre-season poll, it&rsquo;s that in all probability the poll will be wrong.</p><p>The 18 writers polled by THE HOCKEY NEWS are collectively calling for a near repeat of last year&rsquo;s finish. That has occurred with the regularity of Halley&rsquo;s Comet.</p><p>The forecasters are predicting that the New York Rangers, almost unanimous choices for first place last year, will supplant the injury-riddled Boston Bruins in second place. They are also saying that the Toronto Maple Leafs, who didn&rsquo;t get over their October slump until March, will vault over the Detroit Red Wings and jump all the way from sixth to fifth.</p><p>In the NHL West, forecasters say that the Los Angeles Kings will snap last year&rsquo;s deadlock for fifth with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Outside of those small changes, the hockey writers are calling for a carbon copy of last season&rsquo;s standings.</p><p>Despite the loss of Ken Dryden, the Montreal Canadiens are still the favorites for first place in the NHL East. The Habs, who have depth as their greatest asset, collected 16 first-place votes and 141 voter points to top the pre-season poll.</p><p>The Rangers, always a dominating force before the opening of the season, have been chosen for second with 123 points while Boston in the third favorite with 107.</p><p>The Buffalo Sabres, with Gil Perreault and the French Connection, are expected to repeat last season&rsquo;s performance as they collected 86 points for fourth place. The Leafs, who experienced a mass turnover in flayer personnel, are picked to finish fifth with 68 points.</p><p>Detroit is the choice for sixth place with 67 points while the floundering Vancouver Canucks have drawn the nod for seventh with 36 points. New York Islanders, who impressed no one last year, are expected to do the same this season as they collected 20 points.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02800/3751322-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="561" height="2092"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOBBY CLARKE&hellip;Flyers&rsquo; Leader</b></figcaption></div><p>The Chicago Black Hawks suffered several key player losses during the summer, but are expected to repeat as West pennant winners for the fourth straight year. The Hawks polled 133 points.</p><p>The Philadelphia Flyers, and Bobby Clarke, who surprised everyone last season with a second-place finish, will surprise none of the voters this year if they repeat. The Flyers drew 126 points.</p><p>Close behind are the Minnesota North Stars with 118 points while St. Louis Blues are expected to slip into the playoffs again. The Blues picked up 77 points.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03533/3751315-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="1810" height="966"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Canadiens still have too much for rest of East claim the experts. Coach SCOTTY BOWMAN can still count on likes of GUY LAPOINTE, FRANK MAHOVLICH and JACQUES LAPERRIERE this season.</b></figcaption></div><p>The Kings should be close behind with 68 while Pittsburgh is picked for sixth with 61. The sophomore Atlanta Flames are the favorites for seventh place with 41 points while the California Golden Seals are once again expected to inhabit the basement.</p><p>The Seals collected a total of 24 points.</p><p>The voters see the West race as the most exciting with Chicago, Philadelphia and Minnesota all drawing first-place votes. Last season there were only eight points separating the three and the prediction is for a repeat of that.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Habs Choice Without Dryden: Hawks Pick Of West Over Flyers

<h2><b>BOB VERDI</b></h2><h3><b>Chicago Tribune</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04316/3751486-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="506" height="262"></div><h2><b>JACK MCCARTHY</b></h2><h3><b>Boston Herald American</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-05178/3751479-1-eng-US/f0003-052.jpg" title="f0003-05" width="503" height="264"></div><h2><b>BILL FLEISCHMAN</b></h2><h3><b>Philadelphia Daily News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-06120/3751472-1-eng-US/f0003-062.jpg" title="f0003-06" width="497" height="261"></div><h2><b>DWAYNE NETLAND</b></h2><h3><b>Minneapolis Tribune</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-0779/3751465-1-eng-US/f0003-072.jpg" title="f0003-07" width="501" height="265"></div><h2><b>DICK JOHNSTON</b></h2><h3><b>Buffalo Evening News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-0852/3751458-1-eng-US/f0003-082.jpg" title="f0003-08" width="503" height="259"></div><h2><b>GEOFFREY FISHER</b></h2><h3><b>San Francisco Bulletin</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-0938/3751451-1-eng-US/f0003-092.jpg" title="f0003-09" width="502" height="270"></div><h2><b>GREG FARLEY</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-1029/3751444-1-eng-US/f0003-102.jpg" title="f0003-10" width="507" height="263"></div><h2><b>DONALD BERNS</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-1120/3751437-1-eng-US/f0003-112.jpg" title="f0003-11" width="509" height="260"></div><h2><b>BILL LIBBY</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-1217/3751430-1-eng-US/f0003-122.jpg" title="f0003-12" width="509" height="267"></div><h2><b>DAN PROUDFOOT</b></h2><h3><b>Toronto Globe & Mail</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-1311/3751423-1-eng-US/f0003-132.jpg" title="f0003-13" width="513" height="265"></div><h2><b>TONY PETRELLA</b></h2><h3><b>Atlanta Constitution</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-147/3751416-1-eng-US/f0003-142.jpg" title="f0003-14" width="507" height="272"></div><h2><b>HAL SIGURDSON</b></h2><h3><b>Vancouver Sun</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-154/3751409-1-eng-US/f0003-152.jpg" title="f0003-15" width="509" height="271"></div><h2><b>HARRY KLAFF</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-162/3751402-1-eng-US/f0003-162.jpg" title="f0003-16" width="500" height="264"></div><h2><b>RON SIEGEL</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey Pictorial</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-17/3751395-1-eng-US/f0003-172.jpg" title="f0003-17" width="501" height="258"></div><h2><b>CHRIS ZELKOVICH</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-18/3751388-1-eng-US/f0003-182.jpg" title="f0003-18" width="507" height="267"></div><h2><b>JACK BERRY</b></h2><h3><b>Detroit News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-19/3751381-1-eng-US/f0003-192.jpg" title="f0003-19" width="512" height="270"></div><h2><b>JACK CHEVALIER</b></h2><h3><b>Philadelphia Bulletin</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-202/3751374-1-eng-US/f0003-202.jpg" title="f0003-20" width="518" height="267"></div><h2><b>NORMAN MacLEAN</b></h2><h3><b>Hockey News</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-21/3751367-1-eng-US/f0003-212.jpg" title="f0003-21" width="517" height="270"></div><h2><b>HOW THEY&rsquo;LL FINISH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-22/3751360-1-eng-US/f0003-222.jpg" title="f0003-22" width="1156" height="986"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0003-04

How The Selectors Picked Them

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01986/3751538-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="436" height="445"></div><p>&#9679; <b>RUSSIA&rsquo;S TWO</b> top referees attended the NHL officials pre-season training camp outside Toronto. The NHL had 41 officials at the 10-day training session&hellip;Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; fans have been giving the razz to Bernie Parent. They&rsquo;re sore about the deal that sent Doug Favell to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who surrendered their NHL rights to Parent. Bernie was a member of the Philadelphia Blazers of the WHA last season before walking out on them in a salary dispute during i WHA playoffs&hellip;Most of the stronger European hockey countries are switching from I the two-referee system to one referee and two linesmen&hellip;I Wren Blair, the Minnesota North Stars general manager, had an interesting observation on the effect of the NHL Players Association getting the training camp period shortened this year. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s happened,&rdquo; noted Blair,&rdquo; was the players spent their own money renting ice to get into shape before camp started instead of doing it at our expense. Bloomington Arena, a fine rink where we occasionally practice during the season, was renting ice for $70 an hour for two weeks before camp opened. Most of the renters were members of our club&rdquo;&hellip;WGN-TV will televise Chicago Black Hawks&rsquo; road games for the 14th consecutive season. Jim West will again handle the play-by-play and color commentary of the games&hellip;Cincinnati Swords, who won the American Hockey League championship last year under the very able coaching of Floyd Smith, are regarded by many AHL followers as stronger than ever this season and a better than average bet to win the AHL title again&hellip;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02942/3751531-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="261" height="454"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bernie Parent</b></figcaption></div><p>&#9679; <b>JUDE DROUIN</b> of the Minnesota North Stars recently signed a five-year contract with the NHL club. While he was at it, Minnesota GM Wren Blair inked Dennis Hextall, Tom Reid and Barry Gibbs to long-term pacts&hellip;Denny McLain, former Detroit Tiger pitching star, will not host a hockey talk show after all. The original plans were for McLain and Henry Boucha to host the show, but the producer scrapped the idea before it got off the ground&hellip;University of Vermont netminder Dave Reece is making a bid to win the Boston Bruins&rdquo; back-up job&hellip;Boston Bruin coach Bep Guidolin is finding it very difficult to make his final cuts. The Bruins have 10 rookies in camp, the most in recent years. The hockey spectacular run by the WHA in New York drew only 7.092 fans&hellip;Toronto Marlboro netminder Mike Palmateer has been reportedly contacted by a pro team, so maybe the NHL-WHA bidding war hadn&rsquo;t been averted after all&hellip;That wasn&rsquo;t a very popular move by the Chicago Black Hawks to try to pawn off Bobby Hull&rsquo;s number 9 sweater on Dale Tallon. Both Tallon and Hull resented the attempt&hellip;Billy Taylor is back in hockey as a scout with the Washington franchise&hellip;After a disappointing finish last season Pittsburgh Penguins are determined to make the NHL West playoffs this spring. Ken Schinkel, who replaced Red Kelly as coach midway through last season, had this to say: &ldquo;This club is ready to go after a high spot in our division. We have good balance comprised of several young veterans, players with three or four years of NHL experience, and a strong rookie crop.&rdquo;&hellip;The Penguins might have as many as five rookies in their lineup during the early weeks of the season&hellip;Many astute observers feel the present defense of the Montreal Canadiens is the best in that team&rsquo;s history and far and away the tops in the National Hockey League today.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03837/3751524-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="267" height="440"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jude Drouin</b></figcaption></div><p>&#9679; <b>NEW YORK RANGERS</b> are playing six exhibition games in seven nights&hellip;Although a disappointment at training camp. Yvon Lambert. the leading scorer in the American Hockey League last season, will start the year with the Montreal Canadiens&hellip;Shep Goldberg is the new publicity director of the California Golden Seals&hellip;The Seals are long overdue in announcing the name of their new coach. In the meantime Fred Glover continues to do just about everything. Fred is vice-president, general manager and coach of the Seals right now&hellip;The Seals have looked much better than expected in pre-season games&hellip;Gordie Howe received 10 penalties in a single exhibition game for Houston Aeros&hellip;five minors and five majors&hellip;Bunny Larocque seems to have the inside track at the moment to win the Canadiens&rsquo; goalkeeping post&hellip;Minnesota North Stars&rsquo; softball team finished a very successful summer season of charity contests played throughout the state&hellip;New York Rangers plan to hit more this season. Steve Vickers, the NHL&rsquo;s rookie of the year, feels the Rangers would have downed Chicago in the playoffs last Spring if they had shown more aggressiveness and belted more as they did against the Bruins in an earlier playoff round&hellip;Ed Chynoweth, dynamic young Commissioner of the Western Canada Hockey League, is doing a terrific job in guiding the destinies of this ambitious junior circuit. Ed operates his league headquarters from an office in Saskatoon&hellip;The Buffalo Sabres yearbook for 1973-74 is the first to reach our desk and it&rsquo;s a good one&hellip;The 1973-74 edition of the National Hockey League Guide is now available to the public and may be purchased through THE HOCKEY NEWS Book Dept. See order form on page 2&hellip;Mike Hope is the new publicity director of the Los Angeles Kings&hellip;The Kings have a new team of broadcasters this year. Bob Miller will handle the play-by-play and Jim Minnick will be the color commentator. Miller and Minnick are both U.S. hockey products, learning the game in the States.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04735/3751517-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="264" height="452"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ed Chynoweth</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0004-01

PASSING THS PUCK

<p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p>Dale Tallon, a splendid dresser, made some rapid adjustments in his garb after one week with the Black Hawks.</p><p>The 23-year-old center, a much-heralded summer acquisition from the Vancouver Canucks, shed his No. 9 jersey, the most famous numeral in Chicago hockey annals. Thanks to Robert Marvin Hull.</p><p>The Hawk management was so ecstatic over obtaining Tallon that they called a rare press conference to unveil him, and then clothe him in Hull&rsquo;s former uniform.</p><p>But the experiment ended on the night Tallon made his Chicago Stadium debut, a Sept. 23 exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens. Tallon showed up wearing No. 19.</p><p>&ldquo;As far as I&rsquo;m concerned, that No. 9 is sacred,&rdquo; said Tallon. &ldquo;Bobby Hull was one of the three greatest players who ever played this game, and since they gave it to me at that press conference last month. I haven&rsquo;t stopped thinking about it.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been worrying me sick, everywhere I go people are asking me about it, and it&rsquo;s been like a weight around me. I was surprised when they gave it to me at that press conference. They shoved it at me and what was I going to say, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t want it?&rsquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to make a big thing about it, I just don&rsquo;t feel confortable wearing it. I mentioned it to management, and they were very good about it. I asked for No. 19, the number I first wore when I went to Vancouver, and they said it was OK with them.&rdquo;</p><p>Coach Billy Reay, who awarded Tallon No. 9 amidst much pomp and circumstance at the press conference, said, &ldquo;Numbers don&rsquo;t mean a thing to me. If Dale wants to change, that&rsquo;s fine with me. I just told him &lsquo;If that&rsquo;s the way you fell, make them remember you as<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Tallon Says No To No. 9, Selects 19

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011017/3751648-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="294" height="465"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dave Kryskow</b></figcaption></div><p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p>Surprise! Guess where the team which lost the finest left wing in National Hockey League history needs help?</p><p>In a disclosure that ranks right up there with income tax hurting your weekly check and the sun rising every morning, it was revealed at the commencement of training camp this autumn that the Chicago Black Hawks are in search of anyone remotely resembling Robert Marvin Hull.</p><p>For background information, you may recall that Les Black Hawks were in a bit of a pinch on the port side even when they owned Mr. Hull and brother Dennis. That&rsquo;s still only two, and the book says playing three lines per night is good for the health.</p><p>Now then, since Robert has been banking in Winnipeg, the Hawks have been looking for a replacement. And much to his relief. Coach Billy Reay announced, in late September, the following:</p><p>&ldquo;I think, on the basis of what we have seen so far, that we have the people to fill the spots that are available.&rdquo;</p><p>Ergo, the line for left wing forms to the night. The Who&rsquo;s Who Behind Dennis Hull book, still being edited and yet to be published, includes the following:</p><p>Dave Kryshow, a hustling graduate from the Hawks&rsquo; Dallas farm club, for which he counted 35 goals last year. He had two turns whith the Chicago varsity, including a spin during the playoffs, and Reay liked what he saw. Kryskow had a slight problem &mdash; he autographed two contracts last year: one with the Hawks and one with the Edmonton Oilers of. the WHA. Since then, the Winnipeg Jets acquired Kruskow&rsquo;s rights.</p><p>This brings up the interesting possiblity of Bobby Hull, oft-sued by the Hawks, going to court versus the Hawks over a person they hope will help replace him. Says Kryskow: &ldquo;I want to stay in Chicago.&rdquo;</p><p>Next comes Darcy Rota, a 73-goal gunner with the Edmonton juniors and the Hawks&rsquo; No. I amateur draftee in May. His actions during the first week of training camp did nothing to discourage the Chicago brass.</p><p>John Marks performed mostly on defense for Chicago last season, when he played. Reay promoted him to the wing late in the year, and says the bossman now: &ldquo;We know he can play both places.&rdquo;</p><p>Lynn Powis, who skates at center and left wing, did his playing for Omaha last season and clicked for 34 goals. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had our eye on him for a while,&rdquo; says Reay, who got him from the Atlanta Flames in August for defenseman Mike Baumgartner.</p><p>Dick Redmond, a defensemanleft winger, possesses a cannon shot and would like to use it some place. He came from the Oakland-California-Bay Area Golden Seals last winter with much acclaim, but never did get going and didn&rsquo;t even dress for some playoff games. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve lost some weight,&rdquo; says he. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m ready for a good season&hellip; I want to forget last year.&rdquo;</p><p>Walt Ledingham, another center-left wing, toiled with Chicago and Dallas in 1972-73. Illinois production: I assist in 9 games. Texas output: 22 goals, 53 points in62games. &ldquo;We will.&rdquo; promises Reay, &ldquo;give him another good look.&rdquo;</p><p>Tom Peluso and Moe L&rsquo;Abbe, two other Dallas hands, also appeared at camp with eyes on the left alley. Peluso is tough. L&rsquo;Abbe hustles, and every team could use a little of each trait.</p><p>What you had then, was a crowded situation. But competition breeds success &mdash; or something like that &mdash; and almost everyone seemed to be applying for jobs at left wing.</p><p>Everyone but you know who.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-01

Hawks Still on The Hunt For Man To Replace Hull

<p>Following are the latest player movements in hockey:</p><h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p>CHICAGO &mdash; Bill Orban, Clyde Simon, Bob Peppier and Bill Pettinger, forwards, assigned to Tulsa of CHL.</p><p>ST. LOUIS &mdash; John Wensink, forward. assigned to Rochester of AHL. Billy Yeo, goalkeeper. Mike Stevens, defenseman. Jack Borotsik, Ray Schultz, Barry Brooks. Warren Williams and Gord Brooks, forwards, assigned to Denver of WHL. Gary Gresdal and Ray Brownlee, forwards, sold outright to Denver. Ross, Smith and Randy Smith, forwards, assigned to Columbus of IHL. Ron Docken, goalkeeper, Brian, Coughlin, Ned Dowd and Francis Ouimet, defensemen, Clem Morrison and Dave Johnson, forwards. assigned to Johnstown of NAHL. Connie Madigan defenseman, sold outright to San Diego of WHL.</p><p>TORONTO &mdash; Ron Low, goal-keeper, assigned to Tulsa of CHL. Gordon McRae, goalkeeper, Claire Alexander, and Ron Clarke, defensemen, assigned to Oklahoma City of CHL. Denis Deslauriers defenseman, sent to Tulsa.</p><p>ATLANTA &mdash; John Huber, defenseman, assigned to Omaha of CHL.</p><p>DETROIT&mdash;GlenSeperich, goal-keeper, Doug Hinton, defenseman, Don Makey, forward, sent to Tulsa of CHL. Ron Marlow, goalkeeper, released and signed as free agent by Fort Worth of CHL.</p><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;Dave Baton, forward, placed on waivers.</p><p>PITTSBURGH &mdash; Gary Inness, goalkeeper. Dennis Owchar, Ken Picklyk and Dean Sheremeta, forwards, assigned to Hershey of AHL.</p><p>N.Y. ISLANDERS &mdash; Glen Resch, goalkeeper, Dave Pulkkinen, Ron Smith, Glen Irwin, Dave Lewis, Rick Barefoot, Dennis Anderson, Jim Maertz and Ken McPhail, defensemen. Terry Gray, Derek Kuntz, Andre St. Laurent, Ron Kennedy, Denis Desgagnes, Wynne Dempster, Alex Dampier, Mike Kennedy. Vic Teal, Richard Grenier and Bob Nystrom, forwards, assigned to Fort Worth of CHL. Ron Stewart, forward, released to accept coaching job with Portland of WHL.</p><p>N.Y. RANGERS&mdash;Wayne Wood and Curt Ridley, goalkeepers. Ron Fogel, Dwayne Pentland, John Bednarski, Randy Legge, Bob Craig, Marty Gateman, and Nick Polano, defensemen. Norm Dennis, Don Borgeson, Alex Kogler, Jeff Hunt, Rick, Middleton, Al Blanchard, Gerry Teeple and Bert Wilson, forwards, sent to Providence of AHL.</p><p>LOS ANGELES &mdash; Rick Charron, Dave Kelly and Bob Vroman, goalkeepers, Jim Atamanenko, Steve Trachsel, Larry McNabb, Mike Donaldson, and Jack Keel, defensemen. Normand Dube, Wayne Schultz, John Haight, Ken Campbell, Dale Lewis, Jimmy Peters, Dennis Abgrall, Howie Hughesand MarkHeaslip, forwards, assigned to Portland of WHL. Steve Rexe, Herman Hordal and Roly Kimble, goalkeepers, Eldon Simpson, (Jord Smith, Bryon Baltimore. John Dobie and Brian Erickson, defensemen. Murray McNeil, Peter Harasym, John Healey, Karl Hag-garty, Bob McGuigan, Bob Pofferoth, Ross Webley, Don Thompson, Bud DeBrody, Scott Seagrist,</p><p>Norm Park and Reg Kinch, forwards, assigned to Springfield of AHI.</p><p>MONTREAL &mdash; Rich Wilson, defenseman. and Ron Andruff, forward, assigned to Nova Scotia of AHL.</p><h2>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</h2><p>LOS ANGELES &mdash; Howie&rsquo; Heggedal, Bob Wright, Tom Serviss, I Guy Hildebrand, forwards, and Mike Ralph, goalkeeper, assigned to Greensboro of SHL.</p><p>NEW YORK &mdash; Jean Gauthier,, defenseman. jumped club for Rochester of AHL. Kent Douglas, defenseman. jumped club for Baltimore of AHL.</p><h2>WESTERN LEAGUE</h2><p>PORTLAND &mdash; Guyle Fielder, Cliff Schmautz and Larry Leach, forwards, announced retirement from hockey. Gary Kilpatrick, defenseman, retired to take up coaching job with Nelson of WIHL. Rich Van Impe, Bill Saunders, Glen Toner and Tom Foxcroft, forwards, and Gord Nelson, defenseman, placed on waivers.</p><h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p>DAYTON &mdash; Gord Malinoski, defenseman, sold to Minnesota of NHL in exchange for Denis Romaneski, forward, with Saginaw of IHL. Nelson Leclair, forward, purchased outright from Des Moines of IHL.</p><h2>NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2><p>JOHNSTOWN &mdash; Galen Head, forward, named playing-coach of NAHL club. Tom Steeves, forward, traded to Cape Cod of NAHL in exchange for Mike McNiven, forward.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Movements of Players

<div class="byline">&#x2014;By Bill Libby</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011007/3751710-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="291" height="363"></div><h2>WHA Has Amazed All</h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>G</span>ARY DAVIDSON</b> is a young man on the move. The first president of the American Basketball Association and then the World Hockey Association, he has become a specialist in the formation of new sports circuits. Others from his group have formed pro track and team tennis leagues. Not yet 30, Davidson has shot into prominence in little more than a year. He will attain greater prominence in the next year or so. A mover and a shaker, he is far from finished making major moves and shaking up the sporting establishment.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02903/3751703-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="450" height="665"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GARY DAVIDSON&hellip;Not Taken Seriously</b></figcaption></div><p>The hockey league that was launched last year looks like it will last, and has surprised and shaken up the NHL establishment. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t believe that an educated, knowing gentleman such as Clarence Campbell and the experienced owners in his league did not take us seriously,&rdquo; Davidson observes. &ldquo;Well, that was their mistake. Now they know better, but it is too late for them to kill us off as they could have done our first few our first few months.&rdquo;</p><p>Last season, the WHA walked off with Bobby Hull for $1 million up front and another $ 1 million in time payments and lured some lesser stars and many ordinary players from the NHL and its affiliates for from 20 to 50 percent more than they had been making. With such an attractive addition as sudden-death overtimes to increase intensity, and with generally even competition, it overcame ridicule to draw 2,6 million fans, an average of 5,400 per game in its 12 locations. New England and Quebec avaraged almost 7,000 fans per game. Winnipeg 6,100, Los Angeles, New York and Minnesota nearly 6.000, Cleveland 5,200, Houston, Chicago and Philadelphia more than4.000, Alberta 3,800 and Ottawa 3,200. These averages are far from NHL levels, but most of them are acceptable for a first season.</p><p>These teams lost from $200,000 to $2,000,000 each. The least loss was in New England, the largest in Philadelphia. But the Philadelphia owners got $2,000,000 from the sale of their franchise to Vancouver. Ottawa interests, which lost heavily, will profit by a shift to Toronto. Winnipeg interests which also lost heavily, have been offered $4.3 million for its franchise by Milwaukee interests. The original cost of a franchise was$25,000. Now one costs $2,000,000, and Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Phoenix have joined up for the 1974-75 season at that price. Denver, Detroit, Seattle and Miami are among future possibilities.</p><p>&ldquo;Our 12 teams collectively lost around $15 million last season, but by this season are worth, by our estimates. $36 million,&rdquo; Davidson says. &ldquo;You expect to lose money the first few years in any new league. You have to pay premium prices for players. You have to form an organization and promote interest. Inevitably, some owners will operate poorly. Some locations will produce unexpected problems or will prove disappointing. But we lost less money than any other new league ever has. And we are closer to making money sonner than any other new league ever.</p><h2><b>TV Will Improve</b></h2><p>&ldquo;Some of our franchises should show a profit this second season. Others are only another season or two away from it. Some never may, but will be sold to towns where the franchise will prove profitable. We no longer will have to pay exorbitant amounts to lure &lsquo;name&rsquo; players into our league. Simply surviving our first season has made us respectable and increased enthusiasm for our product. Television income from city to city and on a national network basis in going to improve. Major league sports franchises appreciate at an astonishing rate and there are tax advantages to the businessman owner to offset losses. If he does not make money in a given period of time, he can always sell at a profit.&rdquo;</p><p>The handsome and athletic young lawyer gave an interview at the league offices in his home town of Santa Ana, near Los Angeles. He admitted there were &ldquo;weak links&rdquo; left in New York, St. Paul, Houston, Los Angeles and Winnipeg, some of which may make it. some of which may have to be traferred, but pointed out, &ldquo;We already have weeded out some weak links and are ready to weed but the others. Time will tell if the others will hold. Some weak owners have been replaced by stronger men, more geared for the long haul. You are bound to have soft spots in all leagues, especially new ones. The NHL has a weak link in Oakland. The NBA has been in business many years but has never had less than half-a-dozen weak links. We are strong in most spots and in a position to strengthen ourselves elsewhere. Men who were not sure nough of us to risk a small investment in a franchise originally, now, one year later, are paying almost ten times as much for one. They know now we are here to stay.&rdquo;</p><p>The heaviest expense for a new league originally is in payments to attract star players such as Bobby Hull, Derek Sanderson, J.C. Tremblay, Bernie Parent and Gerry Cheevers to give the new operation a major league image and attract interest. Davidson feels the WHA owners already have been repaid the money they chipped in for Hull&rsquo;s bonus by the good his presence has done them. Davidson does not feel the loss of Sanderson and Parent, who jumped back, has hurt too much.</p><p>&ldquo;Whatever their complaints, they could not claim they were not paid what they were promised,&rdquo; Gary observes. &ldquo;Once everyone saw we stood by our bargains, once everyone saw that if a jumper did not stand by his bargain the old league would take him back, once the courts had ruled that the reserve clause did not lock a player to the old league beyond the length of his contract, other players realized the risks of making a move were not as great as feared.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>Big Names Added</b></h2><p>This season, the immortal names of Gordie Howe and Jacques Plante have been added to the WHA rosters, along with such players as Pat Stapleton, Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle and Howe&rsquo;s sons Mark and Marty. The latter were signed out of the amateur ranks short of the age of 20 the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and NHL had deemed acceptable and with the early signings of other youngsters stirred up a storm which altered the system.</p><p>&ldquo;There are some players who are ready to play pro long before they are 20 and many who are not, but no one has the legal right to deny an athlete the opportunity to draw the salary a team is willing to pay him,&rdquo; Davidson observes.</p><p>&ldquo;I am not pretending any noble motives. This is business. All of us, &mdash; owners, coaches, players, &mdash; are in it to make money. If an 18-year-old is ready to play at the top, we want him because he can help us. We have been paying prices beyond reason for established stars as an investment in our future. We could not afford to gamble our available cash in unproven talent, which, unlike the football and basketball stars developed in colleges, do not came into our league as gate attractions. But we have almost all the names we need now and should now begin to appropriate more of our monies to developing players who will put us on a par with the NHL in time.&rdquo;</p><p>Davidson does not pretend the WHA was started as a noble venture to put deserving players into major league uniforms, or major league players into deserving towns, but observes these are benefits which come with the package. He comments. &ldquo;Through our influence hockey players no longer are the most underpaid in sports. And we did develop some neglected talents. Some sneer when a Ron Ward does so much more in our league than he did in the old league, but every year the old league comes up with a Rick MacLeish who does so much more than he ever had done before.</p><p>&ldquo;Some sneered at our loose style of play until there was an 8-7 game and 56 goals scored in six games in the old league&rsquo;s final playoff for the Stanley Cup championship. We averaged a quarter-goal a game more than they did. Their best teams were far better than our best, but our best were better than their worst and we can build up to their level fast, as the new franchise in Buffalo did in their own league. We had much more even competition.</p><h2><b>Beat NHL to Cincy</b></h2><p>&ldquo;It cost $6 million or more to join their league. A new owner can join our league for a third that much, get more and use the savings to buy talent to have a better product. We are expanding to solidify our position. We needed a better geographical distribution of teams to ease travel costs and to increase our television potential. Also we wanted to beat the NHL into the more attractive markets, which we did when we got into Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Phoenix, which they wanted, which they did when they got into Long Island and Atlanta, which we wanted. I&rsquo;m not so sure they&rsquo;ve moved wisely into Washington and Kansas City. Some cities are right and ready for major league hockey, some are not.</p><p>&ldquo;For the most part, we have found we are better off going into cities which already have major league hockey teams, interest and population potential. Even bucking established teams, we seem to have struck gold in Vancouver and we will succeed in Toronto when we get a new arena. In the meantime, we have established ourselves in two of the top hockey markets.</p><p>&ldquo;If a planned new arena goes into that New Jersey sports complex and we move into it, that will solve our New York area situation. We already have fine arenas in several of our cities, have new arenas under construction in Cleveland, Edmonton and Indianapolis and new ones planned in Boston, Toronto, Chicago and Cincinnati. It could be that within a couple of years our arena situation will be superior to the NHL&rsquo;s.&rdquo;</p><p>Key NHL and WHA men held secret merger meetings last season which would have resulted in key WHA cities paying to move into the NHL by this season had not outraged uninformed owners killed the proposal when they found out about it. Now, Davidson says his league does not want a merger.</p><p>&ldquo;We no longer feel we have to pay the NHL anything. We no longer feel we have to drop our franchises which are in NHL cities. We want, instead of a merger, some sort of agreement of co-existence. We would like to end the dollar war over talent, which could cripple both leagues. We would like a common draft, a free interchange of players between both leagues, and. more than regular-season games between teams Of both leagues, playoff competition at season&rsquo;s end to determine hockey&rsquo;s major league champion.&rdquo;</p><p>Davidson has been battling for his place in the sun even within his own league because he is not a hockey man, but he is a businessman who has been battling for his league&rsquo;s identity. He will not linger long in hockey because he is a restless soul, but he will stay in sports awhile because he has found his fortune there.</p><p>At 29, he has made much money, many enemies and even some fast friends. Eventually, he is tempted by politics, and he may make it even if he is not always diplomatic. He is a young man who has been taken much too lightly by many of us in the past, but he should not be dismissed so casually in the future. The ABA is enduring and now it appears the WHA will, too.</p><p>One only hopes the NHL in particular and hockey in general has not been and will not be hurt too much and will even be helped in the long run.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY HARRY KLAFF</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03758/3751741-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="269" height="452"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Gary Howatt</b></figcaption></div><p>LONG ISLAND&mdash;</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to hear about yesterday,&rdquo; barked new coach Al Arbour during the first week of the New York Islanders&rsquo; second training camp. &ldquo;I want to hear about today, tomorrow, and the future.&rdquo;</p><p>Arbour wasn&rsquo;t around last year when the Islanders set all kinds of records for futility, and he couldn&rsquo;t care less. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never missed the playoffs as a player or a coach, and I don&rsquo;t intend to start now,&rdquo; he declared.</p><p>It&rsquo;s hard to find true veterans on the Islander roster, but those who were on hand at Peterborough last fall noticed an immediate difference in the way things were run this time. After a second day of strenuous calisthenics, left winger Brian Spencer could only manage a faint, &ldquo;Whew.&rdquo; Spencer, as most Islander fans know, doesn&rsquo;t usually get tired.</p><p>&ldquo;The big difference this year is competition,&rdquo; offered defenseman Gerry Hart. &ldquo;Last year many guys reported overweight, and any veteran was practically assured of ajob. This year, everything&rsquo;s up for grabs.&rdquo;</p><p>Bryan Lefley is in the perfect position to second Hart&rsquo;s motion. Last season he practically made the team by default, this year he has his work cut out for his if he wants to regain his spot on the blue line.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d be foolish if I didn&rsquo;t work hard at camp. Last year it was easy winning a job. This time, there&rsquo;s a lot of competition. It&rsquo;s like reading a depth chart, but I think I&rsquo;m in good shape. If I don&rsquo;t make it, it will be a crusher.&rdquo;</p><p>A couple of youngsters who believe in competitive spirit and have earned high marks thus far, are Gary Howatt and recent junior graduate Andre St. Laurent. Howatt is best remembered for standing up to tough Bob Kelly of the Philadelphia Flyers in a game late last season following his recall from the New Haven Nighthawks. His goal is to make the parent club from the start, and his hustle has pointed him in the right direction.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s the strongest player I&rsquo;ve ever seen at his size (he&rsquo;s only 59),&rdquo; said Arbour. &ldquo;And he wants to play in the NHL badly.</p><p>&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t back off from anybody,&rdquo; added Earl Ingarfield. who was the Islanders bench boss temporarily last term before resuming his duties as director of player personnel this year.</p><p>St. Laurent was the Isles&rsquo; third amateur selection last May behind Denis Potvin and defenseman Dave Lewis. Andre, who played for the Junior Canadiens in &lsquo;72-&rsquo;73, has been pivoting a line with Howatt on the left flank, and Bob Nystrom on the right side. He got his first assist as a pro on Sept. 21 as the Islanders bowed to Pittsburgh 3-2 in their pre-season opener.</p><p>&ldquo;I was so nervous in the first period, my stick was shaking,&rdquo; admitted the rookie following the game. Arbour was most impressed with the way he maneuvered and head-manned the puck.</p><p>From the very beginning of camp, the man who attracted the most attention both on and off the ice was super-rookie Denis Potvin. Although he suffered an early charley-horse which kept him out of the Pittsburgh game, he is developing according to schedule.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll be a good one,&rdquo; says Arbour. &ldquo;He&rsquo;ll make mistakes, but that tremendous talent is there. He passes the puck as well as any defenseman I&rsquo;ve ever seen.&rdquo;</p><p>Denis&rsquo; passing ability was displayed against the Atlanta Flames on Sept. 22, a contest which ended in a 4-4 deadlock. Denis set up the first two Islander goals by Howatt and Spencer, and the Peterborough crowd got it&rsquo;s money&rsquo;s worth. Potvin also proved that his hitting game was everything it was advertised to be.</p><p>It looks like Denis will be teamed with older brother Jean as one defensive pair. &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ll be together for the exhibitions,&rdquo; said Jean, who has missed a couple of days with a groin pull. &ldquo;I can learn something about hitting from Denis. I&rsquo;d like to get the other club wondering when they&rsquo;re going to get their heads chopped off,&rdquo; the elder Potvin said with a grin.</p><p>The honeymoon is over for the Islanders. Al Arbour likes to win in the worst way, and he will not settle for anything less than 100 percent. Training Camp II is a different animal from Training Camp 1. Arbour expects hard work to pay off, and he isn&rsquo;t prepared to wait.</p><p>L.I. SOUNDS &mdash; Captain Eddie Westfall will see more action at left wing this year instead of his more accustomed right wing. He played the port side during the final month of the &rsquo;72-&rsquo;73 season&hellip;Glenn Resch, who tended goal for New Haven last year, has been sharp, and might give Gerry Desjardins and Billy Smith something to worry about&hellip;Second draft choice defenseman Dave Lewis from Saskatoon is given a shot at making the club&hellip;Desjardins has made it clear that he wants to see much more action than he did a year ago.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-03

NHL Teams

Job Competition Makes Isles Work In Training Camp

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>The professional hockey coach&rsquo;s job continues to be one of the most insecure in the realm of sports.</p><p>Last season there were six new coaches each in the National Hockey League and American Hockey League. This season the number has diminished slightly but the pattern is still there. The NHL has five new men, making it a total of 11 in two seasons, a situation also related to the AHL, which also has five new coaches for 1973-74.</p><p>There appeared to be fewer changes at the lower levels of hockey this season than at the top. Even the new World Hockey Association got in on the coaching turnover act. They dumped four of their mentors after their first year of operation.</p><p>Here is a complete break down of the new new coaches in professional hockey for both major and minor leagues. In all there were 33 changes:</p><h2><b>NATIONAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p>N.Y. RANGERS &mdash; Larry Popein replaced Emile Francis.</p><p>N.Y. ISLANDERS &mdash; Al Arbour replaced Earl Ingarfield.</p><p>DETROIT &mdash; Ted Garvin replaced John Wilson.</p><p>TORONTO &mdash; Red Kelly replaced John McLellan.</p><p>VANCOUVER &mdash; Bill McCreary replaced Vic Stasiuk.</p><h2><b>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</b></h2><p>EDMONTON &mdash; Brian Shaw replaced Bill Hunter.</p><p>CHICAGO &mdash; Pat Stapleton replaced Marcel Pronovost.</p><p>QUEBEC &mdash; Jacques Plante replaced Marcel Filion.</p><p>NEW ENGLAND &mdash; Ron Ryan replaced Jack Kelley.</p><h2><b>AMERICAN LEAGUE</b></h2><p>JACKSONVILLE &mdash; John Hanna replaced John Muckler.</p><p>PROVIDENCE &mdash; John Muckler replaced Larry Popein.</p><p>HERSHEY &mdash; Chuck Hamilton replaced Frank Mathers.</p><p>BOSTON &mdash; Matt Ravlich named sole coach after sharing job last year.</p><p>VIRGINIA &mdash; Bob Lemieux replaced Doug Barkley.</p><h2><b>WESTERN LEAGUE</b></h2><p>PORTLAND &mdash; Ron Stewart replaced Gordon Fashoway.</p><p>DENVER &mdash; Bob McCord replaced John Choyce.</p><h2><b>CENTRAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p>FORT WORTH &mdash; Ed Chadwick replaced Bob Lemieux.</p><p>ALBUQUERQUE &mdash; John Choyce named coach of new team.</p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY &mdash; Ray Miron named coach of new team.</p><h2><b>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p>DAYTON &mdash; Tommy McVie replaced Jimmy Anderson.</p><p>FLINT &mdash; Jerry Serviss replaced Ken Hodge.</p><p>PORT HURON &mdash; Bob McCammon replaced Ted Garvin.</p><p>MUSKEGON &mdash; Moose Lallo replaced Bryan McLay.</p><h2><b>SOUTHERN LEAGUE</b></h2><p>SUNCOAST &mdash; Larry Kish replaced Lloyd Hinchberger.</p><p>GREENSBORO &mdash; Ted Lanyon replaced Don Carter.</p><p>CHARLOTTE &mdash; Pat Kelly replaced Jack Wells.</p><p>WINSTON-SALEM &mdash; Don Carter named coach of new team.</p><p>MACON &mdash; Keke Mortson named coach of new team.</p><h2><b>NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE</b></h2><p>MOHAWK VALLEY &mdash; Brian Conacher replaced Pat Kelly.</p><p>JOHNSTOWN &mdash; Galen Head replaced Tommy McVie.</p><p>MAINE &mdash; Michel Harvey named coach of new team.</p><p>LONG ISLAND &mdash; John Brophy named coach of new team.</p><p>BINGHAMTON &mdash; Wayne Kitchingman named coach of new team.</p><h2><b>OTHER CHANGES</b></h2><p>SUDBURY &mdash; Mac MacLean replaced Barry McKenzie as coach of OHA Major League team.</p><p>EDMONTON &mdash; Ken Hodge replaced Brian Shaw as coach of WCHL team.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Pro Coaching Turnover Continues At Hot Pace

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-02854/3751827-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="272" height="455"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dale Cook</b></figcaption></div><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;</p><p>Fred Shero has some distressing news for NHL opponents: the Flyers plan to hit more this season.</p><p>That groan you heard was the reaction in many NHL training camps.</p><p>Last season the Flyers were suddenly transformed from a mild-mannered club into the most penalized in league history (1,754 minutes). No less than four Flyers &mdash; Dave Schultz, Bob Kelly Andre (Moose) Dupont and Don Saleski &mdash; collected over 200 minutes apiece.</p><p>With their rough reputation firmly established, why would Shero step up the mayhem? Shouldn&rsquo;t the Flyers be following the lead of the Boston Bruins, who fought their way through a season or two several years back, then toned down their act?</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m talking about hitting, not fighting,&rdquo; said Shero as he looked forward to his third season as Flyer coach. &ldquo;I want my team to become more physical. There&rsquo;s nothing wrong with good, clean bodychecks. We plan to devote at least 20 minutes every practice to bodychecking.&rdquo;</p><p>Fine, Fred, but won&rsquo;t your players he reluctant to stage demolition derbies with their own team-mates?</p><p>&ldquo;There are many drills you can run,&rdquo; replied Shero, &ldquo;where you can have contact that shouldn&rsquo;t cause injuries. For instance, you can have a man skate around the net and have another there to take him out with the hip. I want my team to use their bodies more.&rdquo;</p><p>Shero will probably have the Flyers watch their captain, Bobby Clarke, one of hockey&rsquo;s most effective bodycheckers. Labeled &ldquo;Mr. Clean&rdquo; by rivals who resent his unexpected hip checks, Clarke has surprised many a player who cruises over the blueline watching the action elsewhere.</p><p>Other Flyers who won&rsquo;t need many checking lessons are Gary Dornhoefer, Ed Van Impe and Ross Lonsberry.</p><p>Checking wasn&rsquo;t topping Shero&rsquo;s list of priorities as training camp got under was for the first time at the University of Pennsylvania. The Flyers spent the early portion of camp scrimmaging and testing their muscles in the &ldquo;Apollo&rdquo; conditioning program used by many National Football League teams.</p><p>The exhibition opener against the New York Rangers was a financial success and an artistic disaster, for the Flyers. A near-sellout crowd of 16,381 showed up at the Spectrum only to see the Rangers trounce the Flyers. 10-3.</p><p>The loss was most embarrassing to goaltender Bernie Parent who was making his first NHL appearance after a season in the WHA. Parent, an original Flyer, was solved for five first-period goals. When the Rangers scored two more just 1:49 into the middle period, Shero replaced Parent with Bobby Taylor.</p><p>&ldquo;What can I say?&rdquo; Parent kept repeating. &ldquo;My timing was off, my. reactions were late. I had a little trouble concentrating-maybe I was a little tight.&rdquo;</p><p>One thing Parent could say was that wasn&rsquo;t the Edmonton Oiliers out there. The Rangers were flying.</p><p>Parent didn&rsquo;t mention it, but he was virtually deserted by teammates on the first five goals. Either the Flyers were caught in line changes or were out of position as the Rangers surrounded the helpless Parent.</p><p>Must have reminded Parent of his hectic season with the WHA Blazers.</p><p><b>FLYER FILLERS:</b> The camp&rsquo;s first fight, Alan MacAdam of Richmond vs. No. 5 draftee Dale Cook, resulted in X&mdash;rays (negative) of Cook&rsquo;s jaw&hellip;Most impressive draft choice has been No. 4 pick Mike Clarke (no relation to Bobby), a center from Calgary. Several Flyer veterans have admired Clarke&rsquo;s skating and persistence&hellip;First draft choice Larry Goodenough, a defenseman from the London Knights, keeps apologizing for his play but few Flyer brass have complained&hellip;Shero has vetoed Larry Wright, the club&rsquo;s first 1971 draft selection, as a center. Wright&rsquo;s future is probably at left wing.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-02

Bad News For Rivals, Fighting Flyers to Hit More

<div class="byline">BY JACK McCARTHY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01995/3751858-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="278" height="442"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Andre Savard</b></figcaption></div><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>lthough there is a long, long way to go, the reports from the Bruins&rsquo; training camp on No. 1 draft pick Andre Savard are all good. And you must remember, this is no low-minor team he is playing with, either.</p><p>The Bruins paid a lot of money to keep Savard, a center, from the WHA Nordiques, and the feeling is in some quarters that they have to keep him because of this. But the general feeling among the coaches and players is that Andre, up from the Quebec Remparts (67 goals, 151 points), will do all right. Coach Bep Guidolin says, &ldquo;He handles the puck well and is strong He&rsquo;s heady, smart with the passes. He works hard, has all the tools; He&rsquo;s a good one&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>Savard 20, is 6&rsquo;1&rdquo; and 190 pounds, although he appears slimmer. Harry Sinden, managing director says, &ldquo;One of the things I like is that he&rsquo;ll take a check to make a play. He&rsquo;ll let a man run into him if he can spring one of his wingers for a pass. Orr does that, and most of the good ones do&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;When there is a traffic jam out there, he doesn&rsquo;t shy away like some guys around the league I could name. He&rsquo;s right in it. He goes right through the traffic, not around it. The kid has a good shot and he&rsquo;s clever. He anticipates plays, and that&rsquo;s the sign of a smart one,&rdquo; adds Sinden.</p><p>The Bruins call Savard &ldquo;Andy&rdquo;, and Bobby Orr says of him, &ldquo;Andy is a good hockey player &mdash; smart with the puck. He knows what he&rsquo;s doing&hellip;&rdquo; There have been pretty give-and-go plays between Orr and Savard in camp, reminiscent of the wizardry of Orr and Phil Esposito when they get to ragging the puck.</p><p>Espo, who is coming along from his knee surgery, kids about Savard being a threat to him. Says Phil with a laugh, &ldquo;Hey, he&rsquo;s a center, why should I boost him? But seriously, he looks like a pretty good prospect. He&rsquo;s big and strong and handles the puck well.&rdquo;</p><p>Ken Hodge, the big winger on Espo&rsquo;s line, says, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a worker &mdash; a real good forechecker. He has a nose for the puck. He digs, too. Wayne Cashman and I have played wing for him and he fits in well. He&rsquo;s a pretty good player.&rdquo;</p><p>Savard, himself, is giving it his best shot. He says, &ldquo;Boston, of course, is a pretty hard team to crack. But I&rsquo;m working hard and hoping to do well.</p><p>&ldquo;I find everything faster up here &mdash; the skating, the passing, the checking. It&rsquo;s about what I expected in the change from junior. Everybody has been very nice to me here, I like it.&rdquo;</p><p>Andre, of course, had been eyed by both the Nordiques and the Canadiens, but a apparently doesn&rsquo;t regret his coming to Boston.</p><p>Meanwhile, Coach Bep Guidolin keeps shifting lines around, using the exhibition season and training camp to get a line on what everyone can do. And, of course, Esposito has not been playing in exhibition games, and will not have contact for some time.</p><p>Bep says he won&rsquo;t set his lines until a few days before the opening game on Oct. 10 against Vancouver. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s plenty of time for that,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;Besides, most of the guys have played together for a while and know each others moves.&rdquo;</p><p>Chief John Bucyk, Bruins elder statesman at 38, will be spelled off some this season because of the long grind. Chief is a marvel of physical condition for his age, tough.</p><p>One of his big plusses for the Bruins is controlling the puck in the left corner on the power play with Espo in the slot, Cashman in the other corner, Orr on the right point and??? on the left point.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

Bep Tags Savard “Good One”, Bruin Rookie Draws Raves

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01958/3751896-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="269" height="446"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Rick Dudley</b></figcaption></div><p>BUFFALO&mdash;</p><p>The loss of veteran right winger Larry Mickey early in the Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; training camp, gave Coach Joe Crozier another hole to fill.</p><p>Mickey&rsquo;s left leg was broken in two places when he collided with rookie defenseman Jean Landry during a scrimmage session in the Sabres&rsquo; St. Catharines, Ont., camp. He figures to be out until at least the midway point in the schedule. It was a tough break, indeed, for Mickey. The 29-year-old winger had reported a week early, with the rookies, to make sure he was in shape to hold his job when the veterans checked in. A year ago, when he started his first full season with the Sabres, Larry had said, &ldquo;I never went to a National League training camp sure of making the club.&rdquo;</p><p>That included stints with New York, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Ironically, Larry was in the best position in his 10 pro years when he came to camp this season. After performing as an extra forward through the early part of 1972-73, he became regular right winger on a line with Don Luce and Craig Ramsay and did an excellent job in the playoffs.</p><p>With Mickey out, Crozier figured he had four holes to fill. He needed two right defensemen to replace Tim Horton and Larry Hillman and a left winger to fill the spot of Hugh Harris. Hillman and Harris departed for the World Hockey Association; Horton retired.</p><p>Steve Atkinson, a regular in 1971-72, was battling Norm Gratton, Ren Busniuk and Rick Dudley for the right wing job. Gratton, like Atkinson, was an extra forward at the end of last season. Busniuk and Dudley were up from the Sabres&rsquo; Cincinnati farm club.</p><p>Dudley, a 40-goal scorer for Cincinnati, also was getting a try at left wing, although he had played the right side throughout his brief pro career. John Gould, also from Cincinnati, and Morris Titanic, the Sabres&rsquo; No. 1 draft choice, were the other principal candidates for the left wing berth.</p><p>Dudley was a &ldquo;walk-on,&rdquo; who played only half a season of Junior A hockey, instead of the usual three years. A lacrosse star who played hockey for kicks, he asked for a tryout with the St. Catharines Junior Black Hawks after the season had begun in 1968-69. He finished the season with the Hawks, then turned pro in the Minnesota organization.</p><p>He played for the Iowa Stars in the Central League, the Cleveland Barons in the American and the Flint Generals in the International before asking the Sabres for a tryout as a free agent in 1971.</p><p>Titanic, who scored 63 goals for the Sudbury Wolves in Junior A last season, was not exactly a standout in the early camp. He knew it, however, and was working hard to get over bad habits acquired when he was a junior standout.</p><p>&ldquo;Everything happens at a much faster pace up here,&rdquo; said the young left winger. &ldquo;I have to get used to moving as soon as I get the puck instead of holding it and looking around.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02829/3751889-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="555" height="594"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARRY MICKEY&hellip;Out Til &rsquo;74</b></figcaption></div><p><b>ICE CHIPS:</b> Peter McNab, a huge (6-3 and 224 pounds) center from Denver University, was a scoring star in early rookie games. Playing for the Sabre rookies against the Cincinnati club. Max McNab&rsquo;s son scored four goals and assisted on two in a 9-1 victory. The game was played in a suburban Buffalo rink with a capacity of 3000 and was a sellout at $4 a seat. Goalie Roger Crozier reported two days late and at his highest weight ever, 190&hellip;In the meantime, Gary Bromley, who divided the Cincinnati netminding chores with Rocky Farr last season, was doing some sparkling work in the nets. Jim Schoenfeld worked out for five weeks during the summer with Fred Atkins, the Sabres&rsquo; physical training instructor, and picked up about 20 pounds. He reported at 220. Robert was the first member of the Connection to report. He checked in during the Sabres&rsquo; rookie camp and stated his line&rsquo;s aim was to be the highest scoring forward combination in the league. Coach Crozier said he expects the line to score 125 goals this season. The trio accounted for 105 in 1972-73&hellip;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

Injury To Mickey Puts Fourth Hole In Sabres’ Roster

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01968/3751927-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROGATIEN VACHON&hellip;Still No. 1 In Goal</b></figcaption></div><p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>Competition for positions on the final roster of the Kings is more intense this pre-season than in the previous six seasons the club has been in Los Angeles.</p><p>&ldquo;We are not another Montreal by any means, but we have more major league players now than ever before,&rdquo; points out manager Larry Regan.</p><p>The Kings must stock two top level minor league teams this season, having added the Portland Western Hockey League operation to their original Springfield American Hockey League operation. Ron Stewart has signed to coach Portland and with Springfield coach Jerry Toppazzini and L.A. coach Bob Pulford is overseeing the three-rink Victoria conditioning circus.</p><p>Opening camp, the Kings had 29 players on their Los Angeles roster, 18 players on their Portland roster, 14 on their Spingfield roster and 31 amateurs in for tryouts, for a total of 92 bodies, 61 of them pros, vying for spots. Most of the places on the big club are locked up, but a few are up for grabs. Here is the L.A. list, broken down into &ldquo;probables&rdquo; and &ldquo;possibles:&rdquo;</p><p>Goal: Probables: Rogie Vachon, Gary Edwards. Possible: Bernie Germain.</p><p>Defense: Probables: Terry Harper, Gilles Marotte, Larry Brown, Bob Murdoch, Barry Long, Neil Komadoski. Possibles: Wayne LaChance, John Van Horlick.</p><p>Penalty Killers: Probables: Jimmy Peters, Real Lemieux.</p><p>Centers: Probables: Juha Widing, Butch Goring, Vic Venasky. Possibles: Phil Hoene, Ross Webley.</p><p>Left Wings: Probables: Bob Berry, Dan Maloney, Randy Rota, Possibles: Bill Lesuk, Doug Buhr.</p><p>Right Wings: Mike Corrignan, Bob Nevin, Frank St. Marseille, Don Kozak. Possibles: Doug Volmar, Scott Seagrist.</p><p>Much depends on whether the club decides to go with five or six defensemen. Hopeful of holding a position, 6&rsquo;1&rdquo; Barry Long has cut 20 pounds from the 224 at which he played last season. Neil Komadoski showed promise as a rookie, but played infrequently the last third of the season. Obtained from Montreal, Murdoch. 26, replaces aging Harry Howell, who has drifted into the WHA, and this solidified the defense.</p><p>Peters and Lemieux did such an outstanding job killing penalties last season they probably will be retained as specialists and serve as spares at center and on left wing, respectively. Hoene scored 36 goals for Springfield last season and has a shot at center but he is small at 5-9 and 175 pounds and there may not be a vacancy. However, Venasky, the team&rsquo;s top rookie last season, is slow recovering from a hernia operation.</p><p>After scoring only six goals last season, Lesuk is in danger on the left side. The speedy little Rota figures to&rsquo;stick. Buhr tallied only 10 times at Springfield, but is 6&rsquo;3&rdquo; and 218 pounds and is praised as a prospect by Regan.</p><p>The 6-1, 230-pound Volmar was carried last season, but dressed infrequently. He is slow, but a powerful shooter and deserves a shot at the powerplay unit, at least. He, Don Kozak, who as rough, but not ready as a rookie last season, and Nevin, struggling to stay in the league at 35 after an unproductive season in Minnesota last season, are duelling for one or two spots on the right side.</p><p>Aside from Howell, right-winger Serge Bernier, defected to the WHA, is the only player missing from the roster which concluded the last campaing.</p><p>Comments coach Pulford, &ldquo;The team should be better because we started training camp without a tremendous turnover in talent-from the preceding season for the first time in Kings&rsquo; history.&rdquo;</p><p>KINGS THINGS &mdash; After only 3 &frac12; years as a King, Marotte is senior in service with the L.A. team&hellip;Aside from Vachon and Edwards, Germain, who has mediocre stats at Springfield last season, and 30-year-old ex-Blade Dave Kelly of Portland, were the only pro goaltenders in camp&hellip;Portland opened with three 43-years-olds, Andy Hebenton, Guyle Fielder and Tom Foxcroft, but Fielder retired. Hebenton will double as assistant coach&hellip;Springfield&rsquo;s John Dobie, 21, a 6-1 196-pounder, was given an outside chance to win promotion to L.A.&hellip;For the first time, L.A. had an L.A. boy in camp, an amateur, Brian Bird, 23, 1971 Yale captain who played on the Austrian national team last season at center&hellip;5-10, 180-pound defenseman Jim Atamanenko, a 20-year-old from Saskatoon, showed promise in scrimmages&hellip;The Kings lost their first three exhibition games to Vancouver.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

Kings’ Roster Shows Surplus For First Time In Six Years

<h2><b>HOW THEY FINISHED</b></h2><h3><b>EAST DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01937/3752035-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="598" height="268"></div><h3><b>WEST DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02791/3752028-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="595" height="267"></div><h2><b>TOP 25 SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03699/3752021-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="598" height="761"></div><h2><b>NHL ALL STARS</b></h2><h3><b>First Team</b></h3><p>Goal&mdash;Ken Dryden, Montreal</p><p>Defense&mdash;Bobby Orr, Boston</p><p>Defense&mdash;Guy Lapointe, Montreal</p><p>Center&mdash;Phil Esposito, Boston</p><p>Right Wing&mdash;Mickey Redmond, Detroit</p><p>Left Wing&mdash;Frank Mahovllch, Montreal</p><h3><b>Second Team</b></h3><p>Goal&mdash;Tony Esposito, Chicago</p><p>Defense&mdash;Brad Park, N.Y. Rangers</p><p>Defense&mdash;Bill White, Chicago</p><p>Center&mdash;Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia</p><p>Right Wing&mdash;Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal</p><p>Left Wing&mdash;Dennis Hull, Chicago</p><h2><b>AWARD WINNERS</b></h2><p>Hart Trophy&mdash;Bobby Clarke</p><p>Norris Trophy&mdash;Bobby Orr</p><p>Lady Byng Trophy&mdash;Gilbert Perreault</p><p>Calder Trophy&mdash;Steve Vickers</p><p>Art Ross Trophy&mdash;Phil Esposito</p><p>Vezina Trophy&mdash;Ken Dryden, Michel Plasse, Wayne Thomas (Montreal)</p><p>Conn Smythe Trophy&mdash;Yvan Cournoyer</p><p>Bill Masterton Trophy&mdash;Lowell MacDonald</p><p>Lester Patrick Trophy&mdash;Walter Bush</p><p>Prince of Wales Trophy&mdash;Montreal</p><p>Clarence Campbell Bowl&mdash;Chicago</p><p>Stanley Cup&mdash;Montreal</p><h2><b>FINALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-04621/3752014-1-eng-US/f0013-042.jpg" title="f0013-04" width="592" height="88"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>SEMI FINALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-05508/3752007-1-eng-US/f0013-052.jpg" title="f0013-05" width="594" height="89"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-06429/3752000-1-eng-US/f0013-062.jpg" title="f0013-06" width="609" height="87"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>QUARTER-FINALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-07396/3751993-1-eng-US/f0013-072.jpg" title="f0013-07" width="600" height="88"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-08371/3751986-1-eng-US/f0013-082.jpg" title="f0013-08" width="592" height="90"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(New York wins best-of seven series 4-1)</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-09352/3751979-1-eng-US/f0013-092.jpg" title="f0013-09" width="588" height="90"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-10331/3751972-1-eng-US/f0013-102.jpg" title="f0013-10" width="589" height="89"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>(Philadelphia wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-11303/3751965-1-eng-US/f0013-112.jpg" title="f0013-11" width="599" height="534"></div><h2><b>NHL&rsquo;s Top All Time Scorers</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-12265/3751958-1-eng-US/f0013-122.jpg" title="f0013-12" width="590" height="1224"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-01

Looking Back At Last Year In The NHL

<div class="byline">BY GEOFFREY FISHER</div><p>OAKLAND&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>hose shocks being recorded on the Richter Scale for measuring earthquakes were coming out of Kingston, Ontario where the California Golden Seals were holding war maneuvers prior to engaging the St. Louis Blues in their NHL opener, Wednesday, Oct. 10 at the Oakland Coliseum.</p><p>All indications in the communicates issued from Kingston were that the Seals would be putting a premium on muscle as they seek to escape the stigma of being known as the poor orphans of the NHL.</p><p>Poor because they finished a deplorable last in the standings in &rsquo;72-&rsquo;73 and last in attendance.</p><p>Orphans, still undetermined, because of the on-again, off-again ownership status of Charles O. Finley, who on various occasions during the off season indicated that he was selling the club, that the NHL was buying the club, that some Indianapolis group was buying the club, that an unnamed group was buying the club.</p><p>But as the Seals prepare to launch the season of &lsquo;73-&lsquo;74 the only really important factors so far as the customers are concerned are that the Seals will in fact be playing in Oakland and that they will in fact be coming back to town with most of the coterie of popular youngsters who were carrying the colors last season.</p><p>What has been going on at training camp has made it clear that whatever else the Seals will lack, it will not be aggression.</p><p>Fred Glover, general manager and executive vice-president, continued to serve as coach and all indications were that he would be opening and closing the door on the players bench when the season starts.</p><p>And Glover&rsquo;s promise to come out with a &ldquo;physical team&rdquo; seems to be close to fulfillment. To what he had last season has been added a substantial quantity of size, muscle and fierceness.</p><p>The Glover theory this season seems to be that if the Seals can&rsquo;t out-fancy the enemy they will at least disrupt the enemy.</p><p>An opening salvo was evident in the first exhibition game, Sept. 23, when the Seals blasted the Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-1.</p><p>&ldquo;Physically, we just pushed them around,&rdquo; said Glover after that assault. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think they realized we would come out hitting and we hit them all night.&rdquo;</p><p>Most significant about that Seals triumph was that it was accomplished with five rookies. All five have an excellent chance of being in the lineup when the Seals open the season.</p><p>They include: Dave Hrechkosy, 21-year-old native of Winnipeg who was with Rochester last year. Hrechkosy, a left wing, is 6-2 and &ldquo;104 pounds. Gary Coalter, right wing, who played with Omaha and Providence last season, is 5-10 and 185-pounds. Wayne King, a 5-10, 185-pound center from Salt Lake City, Steve Hull, 5-10, 180-pound forward from Columbus, O. and Paul Shakes, a defenseman from Salt Lake City. Coalter and King are 22 and the others 21.</p><p>Glover, who is starting his sixth season with the Seals, says that this has been the best rookie camp he has ever had at Oakland.</p><p>One position the Seals do not have to experiment with is back in the payoff hole at goal where the brilliant Gilles Meloche at the age of 23 will be starting his third season as goaltender. Meloche, back by the astute veteran Marv Edwards is expected to give the Seals outstanding protection in the nets.</p><p>Of considerable significance is the fact that so many first-year men were held over from rookie camp. When the veterans began working out there were still 22 rookies retained by Glover. It was apparent that his earlier vow about keeping an open mind on the season&rsquo;s starting lineup was meaningful.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-13228/3752073-1-eng-US/f0013-132.jpg" title="f0013-13" width="564" height="693"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WAYNE KING&hellip;Could Crack Varsity</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-14195/3752066-1-eng-US/f0013-142.jpg" title="f0013-14" width="568" height="681"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PAUL SHAKES&hellip;Defense Prospect</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-13

Seals Shun “Fragile” Tag With Emphasis On Muscle

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>It was only the first pre-season game of the new hockey season, but a casual observer would have thought it was mid-January at least.</p><p>In the Philadelphia Spectrum 16. 381 screaming fans belied the exhibition aspect of the Rangers-Flyers game. At least 3,000 of these hockey-starved fans had journeyed from New York to watch Larry Popein make his debuts as the Rangers coach. They were not disappointed.</p><p>The Rangers whomped the highly touted Flyers 10-3, with both Walter Tkaczuk and Steve Vickers getting two goals apiece.</p><p>&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t nervous before the game,&rdquo; said Popein. &ldquo;Why should I be?&rdquo;</p><p>Larry displayed keen aptitude for the feelings of one of his charges, rookie forward Tommy Williams, whom he tried on the point.</p><p>&ldquo;I made a bad pass my first shift on the point but Popein put me right back out there. It made me feel good,&rdquo; said Tommy.</p><p>Williams scored the first goal of the game, an unassisted shot, and continued to contribute to the overall fine play of the line centered by Gene Carr. Mike Murphy, the right winger, also notched a goal.</p><p>Not to be outdone by their competitors on the Kid Line, the old pros centered by Pete Stemkowski, with Ted Irvine on the port side and Bruce MacGregor on the right, got two. Both were unassisted tallies, with Peter authoring the first and Bruce a second tally during a three goal Ranger flurry which started the second period.</p><p>&ldquo;I like the way we skated,&rdquo; said Popein. &ldquo;We had only been on blades for six days, but we took the play right to Philadelphia and were passing and moving the puck with finesse.&rdquo;</p><p>Popein used four lines with the usual Jean Ratelle-Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert being one and Tkaczuk, Vickers and Billy Fairbairn the other.</p><p>Vickers was his usual cool self, combining with his two partners for a neat goal the first period and raising the count to ten with a third period marker.&rsquo; Tkaczuk&rsquo;s two goals gave rise to hopes that Walter might get off to a fast start in the goal scoring department this year.</p><p>His goal totals are 12, 27, 26 24 and 27 in five seasons. That&rsquo;s consistency, but many NHL watchers think Walter could shoot his red lights into the thirties. And he had two slow starts in the last four years.</p><p>&ldquo;People forget just how valuable Tkaczuk is to the Rangers.&rdquo; said Billy Reay, the Chicago Black Hawks coach during last Spring&rsquo;s playoffs. &ldquo;He killls penalties, usually checks the other team&rsquo;s best center and still finds time to have two thirty-goal scorers on his line.&rdquo;</p><p>These two would be the Messrs. Fairbairn and Vickers, both of whom hit that magic number right on the head in 1971-72.</p><p>&ldquo;Tkaczuk forechecked our guys to death,&rdquo; said Flyers personnel director Marcel Pelletier. &ldquo;But remember we were using some using some of our younger defensemen trying to see what they could do.&rdquo;</p><p>What Walter did to the Flyers, he also can do to anyone in the NHL &mdash; with a strength which is amazing.</p><p>Popein alternated Ed Giacomin and Gilles Villemure in goal, with good results. He started with six defensemen, but lost roonie Lawrence Sacharuk with a deep laceration in the corner of his right eye. Ten stitches were required.</p><p>The pairings were the usual &mdash; Brad Park with Dale Rolfe, and Ron Harris with Jim Neilson. Sacharuk was paired with Rod Seiling, with various combos working after Sacharuk&rsquo;s injury.</p><p>Seiling is completely recovered from his late season broken collarbone.</p><p><b>BLUE CHIPS:</b> Peter Stemkowski seemed slimmer and faster&hellip;Bobby Rousseau, Glen Sather, Jerry Butler, Rick Middleton. Al Blanchard and Sheldon Kannegiesser did not dress in the preseason opener&hellip;Rangers led Philly 5-2 at end of first period and forced removal of Bernie Parent early of second period. Bernie allowed seven goals out of sixteen shots&hellip;Popein is happy with depth of Rangers (all four lines scored in Philadelphia game) and early conditioning&hellip;Jim Neilson looks sharp and Brad Park showes no signs of any knee problems, scoring a beautiful goal from up close after delaying and faking the goaler.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01951/3752104-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="570" height="901"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TOMMY WILLIAMS&hellip;Gets Second Chance</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0014-01

Popein Stresses Skating, Blase Rangers Show Life

<p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>here were no headlines when the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they had signed center Bob Me Manama to an NHL contract. Outside of McManama&rsquo;s hometown of Belmont, Mass., the news probably received nothing more than a few lines in a hockey roundup.</p><p>But if McManama continues to develop at the same rate he has so far, his name could become a prominent one in NHL reports.</p><p>The rookie from Harvard University has been the big surprise of the Penguins&rsquo; training camp so far and is a good bet to stick with the varsity.</p><p>McManama scored 52 points in 22 games with Harvard last season and impressed the Penguin scouts enough to warrant a contract offer. But the Pens had McManama ticketed for their Hershey (AHL) farm club before he arrived in camp.</p><p>Since then he has done everything to make Penguin coach Ken Schinkel start thinking of him as an NHL prospect.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d never seen him play before,&rdquo; Schinkel said. &ldquo;But our scouts were high on him. From what he&rsquo;s shown sofar, they didn&rsquo;t overrate him at all. He has great balance and his anticipation is uncanny.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of those kids who has a puck sense, the ability to got to where the puck is going to be. He has an excellent chance of making the team.&rdquo;</p><p>The success of McManama has been in step with the success of other amateurs such as Blaine Stoughton and Wayne Bianchin, both forwards from Flin Flon, Manitoba.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve steadily increased our player pool,&rdquo; Schinkel said as he entered his first full year of coaching. &ldquo;The players from a good junior draft, plus the talent from our farm system have created I very healty competition for jobs. &ldquo;Sure, we have spots that could be improved, but overall we have 5 to be optimistic.&rdquo;</p><p>The players from the farm system who have been impressive are Jim Wiley. Ted Snell and Hank addition, defenseman Ron Jones, plucked from Boston in the intraleague draft, has also turned heads at camp.</p><p>The success of newcomers has Schinkel looking towards the upcoming season with optimism.</p><p>&ldquo;We feel the team is ready to go after a high spot in our division this year,&rdquo; Schinkel said. &ldquo;We have a solid core of good young players with three and four years of NHL experience and a strong rookie crop.&rdquo;</p><p>Schinkel&rsquo;s optimism has been undertandable as the Penguins fashioned a 3-2-1 record in the preseason. But once the season starts, his charges will have to come through if they hope to improve on last year&rsquo;s fifth-place finish.</p><p><b>IGLOO INK:</b> The Penguins showed some mastery over last year&rsquo;s fourth placers. St. Louis, as they dumped the Blues 5-3 and 4-2 in pre-season play&hellip;The double victories came after the Penguins were blanked 2-0 by the New York Islanders and bombed 8-1 by the California Seals&hellip;University of Toronto netminder Gary Inness failed for the second time to make the team. Last year he balked at being sent to the minors and may do the same this year.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Harvard Rookie Hit Of Penguins’ Camp

<div class="byline">BY DWAYNE NETLAND</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01918/3752159-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="276" height="453"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>John Rogers</b></figcaption></div><p>TWIN CITIES&mdash;</p><p>Although he has traditionally been an optimist, general manager Wren Blair has never never issued pre-season proclamations linking His Minnesota North Stars with first place in the West Division. Until this year. Blair was so impressed by what he saw of the North Stars in the early days of training camp at Metropolitan Sports Center that he felt compelled to announce, &ldquo;It looks like this could be our year. We&rsquo;re going to be battling for first place in the West.&rdquo;</p><p>Nobody has ever caught the crafty Minnesota GM in that stance before, but a few things have changed in the National Hockey League over the past year. The North Stars added a few new faces, including the gifted Fred Stanfield, they dropped some of their older legs, and they couldn&rsquo;t help but notice the defections of a few members of the Chicago Black Hawks to the World Hockey Association.</p><p>&ldquo;The Black Hawks have to be down a little,&rdquo; Blair pointed out. &ldquo;They lost Bobby Hull a year ago, now Pat Stapleton and Ralph Backstrom. That should be enough to at least give us a real shot at them.</p><p>&ldquo;Philadelphia has a fine team, and nobody is taking them lightly, but they gave up a No. 1 draft pick to get Bernie Parent back. These days a No. 1 junior pick can not only make an NHL team, he can contribute substantially to it. So that has to hurt the Flyers, even though Parent will give them excellent goaltending.&rdquo;</p><p>Blair emphasized the point that he wasn&rsquo;t conceding first place to the North Stars &mdash; merely that, for the first time, they had a realistic opportunity to reach out for it. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see any West Division team with more depth than ours,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In a tight race, depth can be very important.&rdquo;</p><p>The North Stars opened camp without Doug Mohns and Bob Nevin, who went in the June drafts, and Charlie Burns was about to join them as an ex-North Star at this writing. Blair offered Burns the job of playing assistant coach under Parker MacDonald at New Haven, Minnesota&rsquo;s American Hockey League farm club. Bums was weighing that offer against the possibility of playing for Vancouver. If he does go with the Canucks, the popular Charlie will have a job in the Minnesota organization awaiting him in 1974.</p><p>Against those losses. North Stars have added Stanfield, right winger Tony Featherstone, top junior prospects Blake Dunlop and John Rogers and have regained the venerable Gump Worsley, who left the club to retire last January.</p><p>Rogers, a cow hand from Alberta, looks like a nugget. Despite 200 penalty minutes for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Canada Junior League, he man aged to score 62 goals. And he has been skating well in training camp.</p><p>The North Stars have, over the years, done well by junior hockey in western Canada. They have Barry Gibbs, who played his junior hockey in Calgary; Dennis Hextall, a Brandon grad; and Ted Harris, who was a Winnipeg junior awhile back. None of them, however, went directly from junior hockey to the NHL. Rogers could do it this season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0015-01

Depth Makes Blair See 73-74 As Year Of North Star

<p>TWIN CITIES&mdash;</p><p>After only a week of skating and scrimmaging, the North Stars embarked upon their busiest exhibition schedule in history, with seven games in eight nights at seven different sites. Their itinerary carried them from Minnesota to Toronto to the New York area and then out to the West Coast for three games &hellip; Coach Jack Gordon was pleased with the condition in which all players reported. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to have a very competitive exhibition schedule with several jobs on the line,&rdquo; Gordon said, &ldquo;and it looks like everyone was aware of that, the way they reported in such great shape&rdquo;&hellip;Gump Worsley ordered a face mask and wore it in the first exhibition game against Toronto. Gump was the last remaining NHL goaler playing without a mask. His reaction:&ldquo;It didn&rsquo;t hamper my vision at all. I actually liked it.&rdquo; Minnesota currently has a 28-man varsity roster. Wren Blair feels 24 of them can play in the NHL, and will try to make deals for the five who don&rsquo;t make the 19-man final roster&hellip; Lou Nanne, who normally plays at right wing, has been used at defense quite a bit in training camp. He was an All-American collegiate defenseman at the University of Minnesota a decade ago.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Gump Tries Face Mask And Likes It

<div class="byline">BY CHRIS ZELKOVICH</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03520/3752252-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GLENN GOLDUP &hellip; Montreal Canadiens</b></figcaption></div><p>MONTREAL &mdash;</p><p>Contrary to popular belief, there are advantages to not winning championships.</p><p>Take the New York Rangers or Boston Bruins, for instance. They headed into training camp aiming for first place, improvements on last year&rsquo;s records. Or how about the New York Islanders or California Seals? Their training camps have to be full of optimism. They can improve just by showing up.</p><p>Things are quite the same in the Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; training camp, though. Somehow it&rsquo;s hard to imagine coach Scotty Bowman saying, &ldquo;We fully expect to improve on last year&rsquo;s record-setting season and win the Stanley Cup again.&rdquo;</p><p>Last season when the Habs set an NHL record for fewest losses (10), they needed an excellent bench and the solid netminding of Ken Dryden. With Dryden gone and the bench decimated by defections and trades, a repeat performance would seem impossible.</p><p>But just because the Canadiens won&rsquo;t match last year&rsquo;s record season that doesn&rsquo;t mean they won&rsquo;t repeat as Prince of Wales Trophy winners. At least, that&rsquo;s the way Bowman sees it.</p><p>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t be thinking of what happened last year,&rdquo; Bowman said. &ldquo;We got off to a good start and when the injuries came we had the players to Till the holes.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to say we can repeat our record of last year, and I&rsquo;m not saying we can&rsquo;t. Who knows, maybe we wen&rsquo;t have to.</p><p>&ldquo;Replacing Dryden won&rsquo;t be easy. You just can&rsquo;t replace a guy like him. But the threee goaltenders we have are looking sharp.&rdquo;</p><p>If there has been one note of optimism in the Canadiens&rsquo; preseason games, it has been the work of the three netminders battling for Dryden&rsquo;s job. Canadiens no longer have that can of spinach in their shirts in Dryden. But Michel Plasse, Michel Larocque and Wayne Thomas have shown enough in pre-season games to warrant drawing their paycheques in Montreal this year.</p><p>Larocque, who at the beginning of camp had to be regarded as the dark horse in the Replace Dryden Derby, looked most impressive in the Habs&rsquo; 5-4 loss to Vancouver (the first time a Montreal team has lost to the Canacks.)</p><p>Larocque, only 21, played the third period and blocked-17 of 18 shots, bringing back memories of the man who anchored the Habs for the past two seasons.</p><p>The only shot that beat Bunny was taken by Andre Boudrias, who scored during a wild scramble with nine seconds showing on the clock. And according to Larocque, had Boudrias taken a&rsquo; proper shot, the game would have ended in a 4-4 tie.</p><p>&ldquo;I was there,&rdquo; Larocque related. &ldquo;I would have had it if he had shot high the way he (Boudrias) had wanted. But he missed the shot&hellip;and the slow one fooled me.&rdquo;</p><p>Larocque turned in two strong periods in the Habs&rsquo; 5-3 exhibition win over Boston in Montreal, although he showed his inexperience. On several plays, the Ottawa 67 grad had been beaten but was saved by outstanding defensive plays by Jacques Laperriere and Guy Lapointe.</p><p>The next night in Chicago, Larocque blanked the Black Hawks in his one period of action before Thomas took over and allowed all three goals in a 3-3 tie.</p><p>At this point, it appears that Larcoque will crack the varsity and if he continues to show the form he has exhibited, could even be the starting netminder on opening night. Bowman has admitted that Larocque is a head of both Plasse and Thomas at this point.</p><p><b>HAB-BITS:</b> Rookie Yvon Lambert, who was a shoo-in for a spot on the team before training camp, has not impressed anyone. But in all probability, he will stay since the Canadiens&rsquo; protected him during the summer&hellip;Rookies Dave Gardner, John Van Boxmeer and Rick Wilson have been so-so. But one player with an outside chance of making the team is center Ron Andruff from Flin Flon. Andruff played a standout game in the Habs &lsquo;9-3 win over Los Angeles&hellip;Jacques Lemaire is now wearing a helmet, and a haripiece underneath. You&rsquo;d think he&rsquo;d want to show off his new hair&hellip;Bob Gainey the Habs&rsquo; top draft pick, has been used sparingly in the preseason games and will most likely start the season in Nova Scotia. Glenn Goldup has been with Nova Scotia during the exhibition season&hellip;Both have been impressive, but need more seasoning.</p><h2><b>MEET THE ROOKIES</b></h2><p>Rookies don&rsquo;t normally crack the lineup of a Stanley Cup champion, and for that reason most junior graduates would rather be drafted by weaker teams. But the prospects of cracking Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; strong lineup didn&rsquo;t deter left winger Glenn Goldup. The 6&rsquo; 190-lb. native of Toronto was the Habs&rsquo; second choice in the amateur draft and has shown enough in pre-season to justify his selection. Last year Goldup scored 49 goals and added 64 assists while drawing 258 minutes in penalties. Young Goldup has a head start on the NHL over other rookies. His father was Hank Goldup, a former Toronto Maple Leaf and New York Ranger of the 1940&rsquo;s.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02650/3752245-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="1180" height="806"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MICHEL LAROCQUE&hellip; Could Win No. 1 Job</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0016-03

Larocque Making Habs Forget Dryden

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01757/3752214-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="270" height="402"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Barclay Plager</b></figcaption></div><p>ST LOUIS&mdash;</p><p>Barclay Plager is an enthusiastic captain of the St. Louis Blues.</p><p>The rugged Plager is a true lover of the game he plays, and his positive attitudes are undoubtedly one of the reasons he was chosen captain of the team last season. If other players become depressed, Plager becomes even more determined to have the Blues succeed. Plager views his role as captain quite realistically. He knows that the distinction of being captain does not give him the power to solve whatever individual or collective problems the team may contain. He&rsquo;s determined to do anything he can but he looks at his role quite humbly.</p><p>&ldquo;As captain I have to go on the ice and do my best,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;so that other guys with more ability will also do their best.&rdquo;</p><p>Opposition players who have felt the wrath of the battling Plager on the ice may not picture him as a self-deprecating fellow, but Plager in sincere in his respect for his teammates and their talents.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re definitely stronger this year and we&rsquo;re a more experienced team.&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We know we&rsquo;ve got a 40-goal scorer in Garry Unger, and two others, Gary Sabourin and Jack Egers, are 30-goal scorers or close to it. Fran Huck finished off strong last season. Pierre Plante has his wrist fixed; Steve Durbano has a year under his belt, and personally I think that Floyd Thomson is going to surprise people.</p><p>&ldquo;Some of us can have better years team we has last year,&rdquo; Plager added, &ldquo;and I put myself in that category. Last season we had our ups and downs but we made the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Plager was actually one of the big reasons why the Blues again made the playoffs. He and several other veterans helped to bring the team closer in the second half of the season and keep intact the Blues&rsquo; record as the only team in the National Hockey League that has never missed the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;Ourexperience makes us better this year,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Durbano, Plante. Wayne Merrick, Jean Hamel and Wayne Stephenson were all rookies last year and they played real well; and you can&rsquo;t really call Thomson a veteran because he didn&rsquo;t have that much playing time before. Then, of course, Durbano was out for two months with mono last season, and Ab DeMarco wasn&rsquo;t with us all year.&rdquo;</p><p>DeMarco, Durbano and Hamel are on defense with Plager along with Brent Hughes and Plager&rsquo;s brother, Bob. Those six form a pretty solid group, and Plager believes that two blue-chip rookies, George Pesut and Bob Gassoff, will have a tough time in cracking that lineup. But, of course, tough-guy Plager would be the first to lend a helping hand to a rookie.</p><p>Jean Guy Talbot was named coach of the Blues last season after the team sank to seventh place, and the rest of the season was a struggle to regain respectability. Plager agrees that Talbot&rsquo;s guiding hand from the beginning of this season is an advantage for the team.</p><p>&ldquo;Guy has always been a winner,&rdquo; Plager said, &ldquo;and he&rsquo;s played under two of the best coaches ever. Toe Blake and Scotty Bowman. I&rsquo;d like to have just the money that Guy has made in the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;One thing he has is the respect of all our players.&rdquo; Plager added. &ldquo;The team this year could be an exciting team.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-01

Plager Sees Blues’ Vets Key To ‘73

<div class="byline">BY TONY PETRELLA</div><p>ATLANTA&mdash;</p><p>The prevailing attitude in the Atlanta Flames&rsquo; training camp is one of extreme optimism.</p><p>The Flames opened their exhibition season with a 2-0 victory over Toronto, followed by a 4-4 tie with the New York Islanders, and then beat Buffalo, 4-3.</p><p>Normally, that would be enough to make any team happy. But the Flames were especially pleased because several key players were sitting in the stands, during those last two games.</p><p>&ldquo;This is just an exhibition game. Our main concern is looking at our young players,&rdquo; general manager Cliff Fletcher said before the game against Buffalo in St. Catharines. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to find out which ones can help us right now and which ones are going to help us in the future.&rdquo;</p><p>That night, the Flames&rsquo; most impressive line during training camp, Curt Bennett, Chuck Arnason and Keith McCreary, was not even at the Garden City Arena. The trio had been sent back to Ottawa along with veteran defenseman Doug Mohns and rookie Jean Lemieux. Center Bobby Leiter was in the stands watching.</p><p>Against the Islanders, the top defensive unit of Randy Manery and Pat Quinn, the line of Rey Comeau, Jacques Richard and Leon Rochefort, plus defensemen Noel Price and Bob Paradise didn&rsquo;t suit up.</p><p>Arnason, obtained from Montreal. has been impressive in preseason play.</p><p>&ldquo;Geez, I&rsquo;m gonna have a damn good hockey team,&rdquo; Geoffrion said when the game ended. &ldquo;Islanders had ail their people out there and they couldn&rsquo;t beat us.</p><p>&ldquo;Look at that. We give them a 3-0 lead and come back to tie. 4-4. What do you think would have happened if we had all those guys dressed who were in the stands?</p><p>&ldquo;Different game maybe, eh? Let me tell you one thing, they wouldn&rsquo;t have walked in for two goals if my regular defensemen were in there. But, you got to try the kids. That&rsquo;s the only way to find out what they can do and correct their mistakes.&rdquo;</p><p>Geoffrion was equally enthusiastic after the wild finish against Buffalo, when the Sabres gave up an empty net goal but came back to score once and threaten again in the final seconds.</p><p>&ldquo;We were in better shape than them,&rdquo; Geoffrion said. &ldquo;But, this was their first game, eh? After just a few days, there&rsquo;s no way they can be ready for us. Afterall, we&rsquo;ve been skating for a week.</p><p>&ldquo;But, this is our third game in three days don&rsquo;t forget. Some of my guys are tired, too. And with Bennett, Arnason and McCreary, 1 would have had another damn good line to put in there.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m real happy, though. Even Joe Crozier (the Sabres&rsquo; coach) couldn&rsquo;t believe how my guys were skating. I&rsquo;m gonna keep testing them for another couple days. After the Buffalo game next week, I&rsquo;ll start putting the lines together so they can get their timing.</p><p>&ldquo;I say this. We&rsquo;re gonna be damn good. 1 can see it.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01650/3752283-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="569" height="810"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CHUCK ARNASON &hellip; Trade Paying Off</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0017-01

Kids Have Geoffrion Beaming With Optimism

<h2>N.H.L. Player&rsquo;s of the week.</h2><h3><b>In The East</b></h3><p><b>ANDRE BOUDRIAS &mdash; Vancouver</b></p><p><b>The Vancouver Canucks have become the pre-season surprise around the NHL and much of the credit belongs to a little pivot by the name of Andre Boudrias.</b></p><p><b>The 30-year-old Canuck center has played a major role in the team&rsquo;s six straight victories without a loss in NHL training camp exhibition play. In fact, Boudrias has been poison to rival dubs since the camp games opened.</b></p><p><b>A 30-goal man last season. Boudrias started early this year by scoring wice and setting up a third as Vancouver whipped Los Angeles 3-1. When the Canucks upset Montreal Canadiens 5-4 it was Boudrias who fired the deciding goal with just seconds to play in the game.</b></p><p><b>A fine start for Andre Boudrias and the Vancouver Canucks.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03405/3752321-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="557" height="586"></div><h3><b>In The West</b></h3><p><b>AL McDONOUGH &mdash; Pittsburgh</b></p><p><b>Most of the scoring spotlight with the Pittsburgh Penguins belonged to Syl Apps last season but when it came to goal scoring it rested with Al McDonough, Apps, highly-effective right wing linemate.</b></p><p><b>McDonough, Apps and Lowell MacDonald formed one of the West Division&rsquo;s finest lines last season and it appears they are about to do it again if their exhibition games&rsquo; performance is any indication.</b></p><p><b>McDonough pumped in two goals including the game winner as the Penguins toppled the St. Louis Blues 4-2 in an exhibition contest at Flint, Mich. McDonough scored 35 for the Pens last season and it would seem he hasn&rsquo;t lost any of his scoring touch in the ensuing months. The St. Louis Blues will attest to that.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04299/3752314-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="559" height="584"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-03

NATIONAL LEAGUE

<h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Thur. Sept. 20</b></p><p>Montreal 5, Nova Scotia (AHL) 3</p><p><b>Fri. Sept. 21</b></p><p>Atlanta 2, Toronto 0</p><p>Boston 5, Montreal 3</p><p>Chicago 6, Dallas (CHL) 4</p><p>Detroit 3, St. Louis 2</p><p>Vancouver 5, Los Angeles 4</p><p>Pittsburgh 3. N.Y. Islanders 3</p><p><b>Sat. Sept. 22</b></p><p>Atlanta 4, N.Y. Islanders 4</p><p>Montreal 5, Boston 3</p><p>California 8, Pittsburgh 1</p><p>St. Louis 5, Detroit 4</p><p>Vancouver 5, Los Angeles 2</p><p>N.Y. Rangers 10, Philadelphia 3</p><p><b>Sun. Sept. 23</b></p><p>Atlanta 4, Buffalo 3</p><p>N.Y. Islanders 3, California 1</p><p>Montreal 3, Chicago 3</p><p>Vancouver 3, Los Angeles 1</p><p>Minnesota 5, Toronto 4</p><p>N.Y. Rangers 6, Providence (AHL) 2</p><p><b>Mon. Sept. 24</b></p><p>Minnesota 4, Toronto 3</p><p><b>Tue. Sept. 25</b></p><p>Buffalo 2, Atlanta 2</p><p>N.Y. Islanders 5, Minnesota 1</p><p>Vancouver 5, Montreal 4</p><p>Philadelphia 9 Richmond (AHL) 2</p><p><b>Wed. Sept. 26</b></p><p>Boston 2, N.Y. Rangers 2</p><p>Philadelphia 3, Detroit 1</p><p>Montreal 9, Los Angeles 3</p><p>Minnesota 8, New Haven (AHL) 4</p><p>N.Y. Islanders 2, Pittsburgh 0</p><p>Toronto 2. St. Louis 2</p><p><b>Thur. Sept. 27</b></p><p>Atlanta 4, Detroit 3</p><p>Chicago 6, Boston 4</p><p>Vancouver 2, Montreal 1</p><p><b>Fri. Sept. 28</b></p><p>Minnesota 4, Los Angeles 4</p><p>Pittsburgh 4, St. Louis 2</p><p><b>Sat. Sept. 29</b></p><p>N.Y. Islanders, 2. Atlanta 0</p><p>Boston 3, Chicago 2</p><p>Philadelphia 4, Buffalo 3</p><p>Toronto 5, Detroit 0</p><p>Los Angeles 2, Minnesota 1</p><p>Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 3</p><p><b>Sun. Sept. 30</b></p><p>Atlanta 5, Nova Scotia (AHL) 3</p><p>Boston 5, N.Y. Rangers 3</p><p>Philadelphia 5, Buffalo 3</p><p>California 4, Pittsburgh 4</p><p>Toronto 4, Detroit 2</p><p>Vancouver 7, Minnesota 3</p><h2><b>STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01665/3752352-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="544" height="554"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-01

EXHIBITION SCOREBOARD

<div class="byline">BY JACK BERRY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02535/3752383-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="273" height="443"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mickey Redmond</b></figcaption></div><p>DETROIT&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>M</span>ickey Redmond, first 50 goal scorer in Red Wing history, didn&rsquo;t waste any time in picking up where he left off. The curly-haired, mustachioed right wing scored all three goals in the Wings&rsquo; 3-2 exhibition season opener against the St. Louis Blues and added another the following night against St. Louis in a 5-4 defeat. Redmond obviously is happy, happy that linemate Alex Delvecchio, The Great Feeder, didn&rsquo;t join the Howe family in Houston, and happy with the five year contract he signed during the summer.</p><p>Redmond took considerable ribbing from his teammates last season for the old car he drove, a car that regularly smoked, sputtered and stalled. When the story appeared in the paper, a local car dealer put Redmond in a posh hardtop and after nicking the Norris money silo, Redmond could buy a couple showrooms full of cars.</p><p>One thing money hasn&rsquo;t been able to buy&mdash;yet&mdash;for the Red Wings is playoff team in the last four seasons and they&rsquo;ve had some outstanding individual performances with Redmond&lsquo;s right at the top.</p><p>The 25-year-old Peterborough, Ont., resident led the team in goals the last two seasons, firing 42 in I971-72 and then netting 52 last season.</p><p>Actually, he did a little bit better than that&mdash;three goals worth that weren&rsquo;t counted by referees and goal judges. The biggest &ldquo;steal&rdquo; came in a game in Montreal when a Redmond shot whizzed into the back top of the net and came out almost as quickly.</p><p>It showed clearly in the television replay but that didn&rsquo;t help Redmond and he took it philosophically&hellip;after he&rsquo;d cooled down.</p><p>Enough of them did count, though, that Redmond was voted first All Star right wing, his first All Star honor in six NHL seasons during which he has scored 156 goals, 100 of them in the last 2&frac12; seasons following his trade to Detroit from Montreal along with Guy Charron and Bill Collins for Frank Mahovlich.</p><p>Again this year Redmond and Delvecchio will be starting out with a new partner on left wing and it&rsquo;s expected that Ace Bailey, acquired last March from Boston, will operate there although Red Wing Coach Ted Garvin had Tord Lundstrom, a Swedish import, playing there in the second St. Louis game.</p><p>Al Karlander, not much to look at as a skater but a man who had a knack for coming up with the puck and getting it to his linemates, worked with Redmond and Delvecchio part of last season. But as the season wore on, Karlander was seen less.</p><p>That was one of the points of difference between General Manager Ned Harkness and Johnny Wilson that led to Wilson&rsquo;s dismissal and Karlander, not taking a chance on utility duty again this season, jumped to the New England Whalers even though the Red Wings Facts Book still lists him as a member of the team.</p><p>Bailey registered a point a game in 13 games with the Wings last season and he&rsquo;s looked to as the muscleman for the line.</p><p>One of Garvin&rsquo;s primary aims is to make the Wings a tough team, something that is easier said than done. But in their initial exhibition outings they did show more aggressiveness than they have in the recent past.</p><p>And they&rsquo;ve also taken some licks. Nick Libett needed eight stitches to close a cut on his forehead and he tore the tendon in the little finger of his right hand during a fight with Pierre Plante of St. Louis.</p><p><b>RED WINGS NOTES:</b> There&rsquo;s a full page in the Red Wing Facts Book devoted to Gordie Howe&rsquo;s achievement&hellip;The Wings aren&rsquo;t treating him as a non-person even though Gordie hasn&rsquo;t minced his words about the way he feels about Harkness. American-born (Cranston, R.L.) defenseman tom Mellor, All-America at Boston College last winter and member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, has been getting considerable duty as has Ron Simpson, a Cornell product who played at Tidewater last year. Thommie Bergman, the Wings&rsquo; Swedish find last season, has been held out of scrimmages to give additional rest to the knee he had operated on during the summer. Left wing Rick Newell, 24-goal scorer at Tidewater, was going to be given a full shot in training camp but was hit in the mouth by a deflected shot 10 minutes into the first day of camp and suffered a broken jaw and other mouth injuries&hellip;He&rsquo;s back on skates but it wasn&rsquo;t certain when he&rsquo;d be able to play.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-02

Happy Redmond Spells Goals For Red Wings

<h2><b>EAST DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01636/3752519-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="263" height="249"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>B</span>OSTON &mdash;</b> Goal, Gil Gilbert, Ken Broderick, Ross Brooks; defense, Bobby Orr, Carol Vadnais, Don Awrey, Dallas Smith, Nick Beverley, Gary Doak; centers, Phil Esposito, Richard Leduc, Derek Sanderson, Doug Gibson. Andre Savard, Gregg Sheppard; right wings, Ken Hodge, Fred O&rsquo;Donnell. Terry O&rsquo;Reilly. Doug Roberts; left wings, John Bucyk. Don Marcotte, Wayne Cashman, Dave Forbes, Dave Hynes.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02525/3752512-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="246" height="243"></div><p><b>BUFFALO &mdash;</b> Goal, Roger Crozier, Dave Dryden, Gary Bromley; defense, Mike Robitaille, Tracy Pratt. Jim Schoenfeld, Larry Carriere, Paul Curtis, Joe Noris. Jean Landry. Paul Terbenche; centers, Gil Perreault, Don Luce, Gerry Meehan; right wings, Rene Roberts, Steve Atkinson, Larry Mickey, Jim Lorentz, Rick Dudley, Ron Busniuk; left wings, Rick Martin, Craig Ramsay, Norm Gratton, John Gould, Morris Titanic.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03412/3752505-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="302" height="178"></div><p><b>DETROIT &mdash;</b> Goal, Roy Edwards, Denis DeJordy, Doug Grant; defense, Gary Bergman, Thommie Bergman, Larry Johnston, Ken Murray, Ron Stackhouse, Rick Foley, Rick Newell. Ron Simpson; centers, Red Berenson. Marcel Dionne, Alex Delvecchio, Henry Boucha; right wings, Mickey Redmond, Bill Collins, Brian Lavender; left wings, Nick Libett, Tim Ecclestone, Guy Charron, Ace Bailey.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04351/3752498-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="291" height="232"></div><p><b>MONTREAL</b> &mdash; Goal, Michel Plasse, Wayne Thomas, Bunny Larocque; defense, Jacques Laperriere, Pierre Bouchard, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, John Van Boxmeer, Rick Wilson; centers, Henri Richard, Pete Stemkowski, Jacques Lemaire, Ron Andruff, Dave Gardner; right wings. Yvan Cournoyer. Claude Larose, Guy Lafleur, Jim Roberts, Chuck Lefley; left wings, Frank Mahovlich, Murray Wilson, Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Glenn Goldup, Yvon Lambert.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05288/3752491-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="264" height="258"></div><p><b>N.Y. ISLANDERS &mdash;</b> Goal. Gerry Desjardins. Billy Smith; defense. Gerry Hart. Bill Mikkelson, Bryan Lefley, Neil Nicholson, Jean Potvin, Denis Potvin; centers, Lome Henning, Dave Hudson, Tom Miller, Ralph Stewart, Dave Pulkkinen; right wings, Craig Cameron, Bob Cook. Billy Harris, Ed Westfall; left wings, Germain Gagnon, Ernie Hicke, Gary Howatt. Billy MacMillan. Brian Spencer.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06224/3752484-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="255" height="252"></div><p><b>N.Y. RANGERS &mdash;</b> Goal, Ed Giacomin. Gilles Villemure; defense, Brad Park, Dale Rolfe, Jim Neilson. Rod Seiling, Ron Harris. Sheldon Kannegiesser, Larry Sacharuk; centers, Walter Tkaczuk. Jean Ratelie, Pete Stemkowski. Gene Carr; right wings. Rod Gilbert, Bruce MacGregor, Bill Fairbairn, Mike Murphy, Bobby Rousseau, Steve Vickers; left wings. Vic Hadfield, Tommy Williams, Ted Irvine, Glen Sather.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-07196/3752477-1-eng-US/f0019-072.jpg" title="f0019-07" width="285" height="287"></div><p><b>TORONTO &mdash;</b> Goal, Doug Favell, Ed Johnston, Dune Wilson; defense, Brian Glennie. Rick Ley, Jim McKenny, Ian Turnbull, Joe Lundrigan, Mike Pelyk; centers, Dave Keon, Norm Ullman, George Ferguson, Darryl Sittier; right wings, Ron Ellis, Pierre Jarry, Rick Kehoe. Lanny McDonald; left wings, Denis Dupere, Paul Henderson, Garry Monahan, Errol Thompson.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-08180/3752470-1-eng-US/f0019-082.jpg" title="f0019-08" width="317" height="223"></div><p><b>VANCOUVER &mdash;</b> Goal, Gary Smith. Jacques Caron; defense, Josh Guevremont, Greg Boddy, Barry Wilkins, Dave Dunn, Bob Dailey, Jerry Korab; centers, Andre Boudrias, Orland Kurtenbach, Don Lever, Bobby Lalonde, Richard Lemieux; right wings, Bobby Schmautz, John Wright, Dennis Ververgaert, Paulin Bordeleau, Bryan McSheffrey; left wings, Dave Balon, Jerry O&rsquo;Flaherty, Dan Tannahill.</p><h2><b>WEST DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-09155/3752463-1-eng-US/f0019-092.jpg" title="f0019-09" width="257" height="228"></div><p><b>ATLANTA &mdash;</b> Goal, Dan Bouchard, Phil Myre; defense, Arnie Brown, Jean Lemieux, Randy Manery, Noel Picard, Kerry Ketter, Doug Mohns, Bob Paradise, Noel Ptice, Pat Quinn; centers, Curt Bennett, Rey Comeau, Bob Lieter, Tom Lysiak; right wings. Chuck Arnason, Lucien Grenier, Lew Morrison, Leon Rochefort. Larry Romanchych; left wings, Butch Deadmarsh, Keith McCreary, Jacques Richard, John Stewart.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-10136/3752456-1-eng-US/f0019-102.jpg" title="f0019-10" width="268" height="235"></div><p><b>CHICAGO &mdash;</b> Goal, Tony Esposito. Mike Veisor; defense, Bill White, Keith Magnuson, Doug Jarrett, Len Frig, John Marks, Dick Redmond, Phil Russell; centers, Pit Martin, Dale Tallon, Stan Mikita. Rob Palmer; right wings, Jim Pappin, Chico Maki, Cliff Koroll, J.P. Bordeleau, Moe? Abbee; left wings, Dennis Hull, Dave Kryskow, Darcy Rota. Walt Ledingham.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-11121/3752449-1-eng-US/f0019-112.jpg" title="f0019-11" width="264" height="117"></div><p><b>CALIFORNIA &mdash;</b> Goal, Gilles Meloche, Marv Edwards; defense, Marshall Johnston, Bob Stewart. Ray McKay. Terry Murray, Brent Meeke, Paul Shakes; centers, Ivan Boldirev, Joey Johnston, Walt McKechnie, Morris Mott, Stan Weir; right wings, Hilliard Graves. Reg Leach, Craig Patrick, Gary Coalter: left wings, Gary Croteau, Stan Gilbertson, Pete Laframboise.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-12113/3752442-1-eng-US/f0019-122.jpg" title="f0019-12" width="236" height="278"></div><p><b>LOS ANGELES</b> &mdash; Goal, Rogatien Vachon, Gary Edwards; defense, Terry Harper, Gil Marotte, Larry Brown, Bob Murdoch, Barry Long, Neil Komadoski, Wayne Lachance, John Van Horlick; centers, Juha Widing, Butch Goring, Vic Venasky, Phil Hoene, Ross Webley; right wings, Mike Corrigan, Bob Nevin, Frank St. Marseille, Don Kozak, Doug Volmar. Scott Seagrist; left wings, Bob Berry, Dan Maloney, Randy Rota, Bill Lesuk, Doug Buhr.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1394/3752435-1-eng-US/f0019-132.jpg" title="f0019-13" width="259" height="235"></div><p><b>MINNESOTA &mdash;</b> Goal, Cesare Maniago, Gump Worsley; defense, Barry Gibbs, Ted Harris, Dennis O&rsquo;Brien, Fred Barrett, &ldquo;Lou Nanne, Tom Reid, Billy Plager; centers, Jude Drouin, Dennis Hextall, Murray Oliver, Fred Stanfield, Blake Dunlop; right wings. Bill Goldsworthy, Fred Harvey, Tony Featherstone, John Rogers, Terry Holbrook; left wings, Danny Grant, Jerry Byers, Jean-Paul Parise, Dean Prentice.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1486/3752428-1-eng-US/f0019-142.jpg" title="f0019-14" width="287" height="193"></div><p><b>PHILADELPHIA &mdash;</b> Goal, Bernie Parent, Michel Belhumeur, Bob Taylor; defense, Barry Ashbee, Ed Van Impe, Joe Watson, Andre Dupont, Brent Hughes, Tom Bladon; centers, Bobby Clarke, Bill Clement, Rick MacLeish, Orest Kindrachuk; right wings, Gary Dornhoefer, Bill Flett, Simon Nolet, Don Saleski; left wings, Ross Lonsberry, Dave Schultz. Bill Barber, Bob Kelly, Brent Leavins.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1576/3752421-1-eng-US/f0019-152.jpg" title="f0019-15" width="267" height="224"></div><p><b>PITTSBURGH &mdash;</b> Goal, Jim Rutherford, Andy Brown; defense. Dave Burro&rsquo;ws, Darryl Edstrand, Bryan Watson, Duane Rupp, Yvon Labre, Jean-Guy Lagace, Ron Jones; centers, Syl Apps, Bryan Hextall, Ron Schock. Jim Wiley, Ron Lalonde; right wings, Nick Harbaruk, Al McDonough, Jean Pronovost; left wings, Lowell MacDonald, Greg Polis, Robin Burns, Jim Shires, Wayne Bianchin.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-1669/3752414-1-eng-US/f0019-162.jpg" title="f0019-16" width="298" height="252"></div><p><b>ST. LOUIS &mdash;</b> Goal, John Davidson, Wayne Stephenson; defense, Barclay Plager, Bob Plager, Ab DeMarco, Steve Durbano, Chris Evans, Jean Hamel, Brent Hughes; centers, Lou Angotti, Wayne Merrick, Danny O&rsquo;Shea, Garry Unger; right wings, Fran Huck, Kevin O&rsquo;Shea, Pierre Plante, Gary Sabourin; left wings. Jack Egers, Phil Roberto, Floyd Thomson, Michael Cormier.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0019-01

Probable Starting Lineups For NHL Teams

<div class="byline">BY DAN PROUDFOOT</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01483/3752557-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="266" height="446"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Norm Ullman</b></figcaption></div><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>t any training camp, the experts with the inside look and the most candid opinions are the rainers brought in for the specific task of whipping hockey players into condition. In the case of the Maple Leafs, the men directing the jogging, the calisthenics, the weight-lifting and even the practice scrimmages were Bill Hayward and Earl Thompson of the Canadian Armed Forces. Elsewhere, Minnesota North Stars utilized a pentathalon coach, Buffalo Sabres hired a wrestler, and almost all teams looked outside of their organization for conditioning expertise.</p><p>Hayward, of Pettawawa, Ont., and Thompson, of Ste. Agathe, Que., have become Leaf regulars, completing their fourth training camp, and as such they have developed keen hockey eyes.</p><p>&ldquo;The veterans, generally speaking, come in better shape than the younger players,&rdquo; Thompson was saying, early in the camp. &ldquo;Normie Ullman, for instance, reported in fantastic condition. He runs a mile or two a day all summer.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The younger players may not realize what they&rsquo;re in for at training camp, so they don&rsquo;t prepare as well. This is a generalization, of course, but there&rsquo;s no doubting the kind of shape an Ullman or a Dave Keon is in.&rdquo;</p><p>Ullman, who will be 38 Dec. 26, missed 11 games early last season with a knee injury. He never regained his conditioning and by the end of the year had been switched from his center position to left wing with Darryl Sittler and Rick Kehoe. The story widely accepted was that Ullman had lost his legs and was ready for the retirement list.</p><p>But, trainer Thompson&rsquo;s prediction is that Ullman will have a big season. Exhibition game performances suggested his conclusion will prove to be correct.</p><p>Ullman thrived on the running around the upper corridors of Maple Leaf Gardens, and the medicine balls and heavily weighted artillery shells of the circuit training bothered him no more than the goal-mouth checking he faced in early exhibitions.</p><p>Leafs opened training camp with Doug Favell, Ed Johnston, Dune Wilson, Gord McRae and Ron Low as goaltenders. The latter two, with whom Leafs concluded the past season, seemed doomed from the start and were among the first cuts.</p><p>Low was sent to Tulsa Oilers, the former Leaf farm team now operating as an independent in the Central Hockey League, and McRae went to Oklahoma City, Leafs&rsquo; new No. 1 team.</p><p>&ldquo;The hardest working goalie of the bunch is Wilson,&rdquo; Thompson confided. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s leading them all in effort, and he looks good in the nets too.&rdquo;</p><p>Thus, the early line was established that Leafs probably would enter the season with Favell, Johnston and Wilson. The 25-year-old came to Leafs from Vancouver Canucks has carried the reputation of placing his hockey career low in his personal priorities, but the opposite was true with his pitch for work with the Leafs.</p><p>The primary targets for Hayward and Thompson were reducing the chances of knee injuries, strengthening upper bodies and building aerobic capacities.</p><p>They, like coach Red Kelly, weren&rsquo;t worried by Leafs losing their first three exhibition games. &ldquo;This team is going to be all right,&rdquo; said Thompson. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got a lot of good bodies trying for spots, and when the team gets cut down to size they&rsquo;ll produce.&rdquo;</p><p><b>LEAF NOTES:</b> In early exhibition games, George Ferguson impressed by showing much more confidence than he had in his disappointing rookie year&hellip;All three Leafs&rsquo; top rookie picks, Lanny McDonald. Bob Neely and lan Turnbull, fitted in well, as though their junior careers were years, not months, behind them&hellip;Inge Hammarstrom, from the Swedish national team, was delighted to find himself playing right wing for Dave Keon&hellip;Borje Salming, the second Swede, suffered a slipped disc and was unable to skate after the first days of training camp.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02358/3752550-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="574" height="756"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DUNC WILSON&hellip;Hard Worker</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0020-01

Ullman In Top Shape For Comeback

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>E</span>very season at least one team in the National Hockey League embarrasses the pre-season prognosticators by finishing higher than anyone expected.</p><p>Last season the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers, both picked to finish out of the playoffs, came up with outstanding seasons. This year, the dark horse could be the Vancouver Canucks.</p><p>The Canucks, at the bottom of the league standings since their inception in 1970-71, started off the exhibition with six straight victories.</p><p>The Canucks knocked off Los Angeles three times, Minnesota once and then victimized the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens twice. Prior to that the Canucks had never beaten the Habs.</p><p>After six games, the Canucks are atop the NHL pre-season standings. But the relevance of that achievement takes on a new perspective when the fact that the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames are second and third is brought into consideration.</p><p>The sophomore Islanders, which set a new record for fuitlity last year, are sporting a 4-0-2 mark and had won four straight games.</p><p>The Islanders&rsquo; expansion sisters, the Atlanta Flames, have also been impressive, establishing a 3-1-2 record.</p><p>On the other side of the ledger, the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres have been the least impressive. The Wings have managed a meager 1-5 log, and had lost their last five outings.</p><p>The Sabres, which got off to such a strong start last year, were at the bottom of the exhibition standings will an 0-3-1 record. The Sabres, lone point came in a 2-2 tie with Atlanta.</p><p>The Canadiens have not been that strong in the pre-season play, winning two, losing three and tying one. The defending Western Division pennant winners, Chicago Black Hawks have played at a mediocre 1-1-1-pace.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Vancouver Canucks Pre-Season Surprise In NHL

<h2><b>EXHIBITION SCOREBOARD</b></h2><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Wed. Sept. 19</b></p><p>Winnipeg 6, Chicago 1</p><p><b>Frl. Sept. 21</b></p><p>New England 3, Toronto 1</p><p>Winnipeg 6, Chicago 2</p><p><b>Sat. Sept. 22</b></p><p>Toronto 5, Cleveland 2</p><p><b>Sun. Sept. 23</b></p><p>Quebec 3. New England 1</p><p><b>Tue. Sept. 25</b></p><p>Chicago 3, Cleveland 2</p><p>Quebec 4, Toronto 3</p><p>Los Angeles 2, Phoenix (WHL) 2</p><p><b>Round-Robin Tournament</b></p><p>Houston 1, New York 0</p><p>Houston 1, New England 0</p><p>New England 2, Winnipeg 0</p><p>New England 1, New York 0</p><p>Winnipeg 1. New York 0</p><p>Winnipeg 1. Houston 1</p><p><b>Wed. Sept. 26</b></p><p>Cleveland 3, New England 1</p><p>Toronto 2, Winnipeg 1</p><p>Syracuse (NAHL) 5, New York 4</p><p>Vancouver 5, Roanoke (SHL) 0</p><p><b>Thur. Sept. 27</b></p><p>Los Angeles 3, Houston 2</p><p>Quebec 4, Toronto 3</p><p><b>Frl. Sept. 2</b></p><p>Minnesota 5, Chicago 4</p><p><b>Sat. Sept. 29</b></p><p>New England 3. Minnesota 1</p><p>New York 5, Los Angeles 3</p><p><b>Sun. Sept. 30</b></p><p>Toronto 4, Cleveland 2</p><p>Houston 4, Winnipeg 1</p><p>New York 5, Los Angeles 4</p><h3><b>STANDINGS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01355/3752612-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="546" height="364"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-01

WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

<h2><b>In The East</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04186/3752650-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="516" height="596"></div><p><b>BOBBY GUINDON &mdash; Quebec</b></p><p>The Quebec Nordiques have been lowering the boom on their World Hockey Association rivals with regularity and some of their players have been finding the range in bunches.</p><p>Last week it was Michel Parizeau who turned the Nordiques on with his scoring prowess. This week the honor belonged to Bobby Guindon, who achieved a three-goal week for the Nordiques as they continued to roll unbeaten in WH A pre-season exhibition games.</p><p>Guindon fired two goals as the Quebecers beat Toronto Toros 4-3 and came back with another goal in Nordiques&rsquo; third straight exhibition victory. Young Guindon is a former Detroit chattel and he, too, came up with a scoring reputation that never quite bloomed in the NHL. It appears it is starting to take shape in the WHA.</p><h2><b>In The West</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05154/3752643-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="514" height="586"></div><p><b>TOM GILMORE &mdash; Los Angeles</b></p><p>When Tom Gilmore was cavorting around the minor leagues as a member of the Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; organization, he always had a good reputation as a goal scorer. The Wings brought him along slow, obviously too slow for Gilmore&rsquo;s liking. He decided to jump to the rival World Hockey Association and he hasn&rsquo;t regretted his move.</p><p>Last week when the Los Angeles Sharks stopped the Houston Aeros and the Howes 3-2 it was Gilmore who triggered the gamewinning goal. He had scored earlier in the game and skated away as the offensive star of the night.</p><p>The Sharks are looking to move upwards in the WHA&rsquo;s West Division race this season and they are obviously counting on Gilmore to help improve their offense. His exhibition play is a pretty good start towards achieving his goal with the Sharks.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-04

W.H.A Player’s of the week

<div class="byline">BY ALEX HARDY</div><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02270/3752688-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="573" height="1697"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PETE DONNELLY &hellip; Not So Confident</b></figcaption></div><p>Can an American goalie carry the load in big-time hockey? Vancouver Blazers think so.</p><p>Phil Watson, general manager, says Peter Donnelly, a graduate of the Detroit minor hockey program, can do the job as Blazers No. 1 goalie. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re counting heavily on him.&rdquo; Donnelly, recalling last season when he was netminder for the most scored-up on team in the WHA, New York Raiders, isn&rsquo;t so confident.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03235/3752681-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="293" height="448"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ernie Wakely</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s always somebody who wants your job. There&rsquo;s a couple of guys giving me a chase this year,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>Donnelly&rsquo;s history, from junior ranks in Hamilton in 1965 to this year when New York dumped him after getting Jimmy McLeod, has been a case of not being quite good enough.</p><p>In 1969-70 he quit hockey, spending his time stydying at University of Detroit and working a double shift after hours.</p><p>A year later he was at Quebec City, where he played all of two periods with Aces of the AHL. The next year was a breakthrough. He played regularly with Jersey Devils. Buffalo Sabres and New York Raiders noticed, and Raiders grabbed him.</p><p>When Donnelly shut out Philadelphia Blazers in an early appearance, Blazers officials liked what they saw. He still only managed a 3.56 goals against average. But the Vancouver defense, while far from the WHA&rsquo;s best, is still superior to New York&rsquo;s. As a result, Donnelly should show improvement this season.</p><p>Elsewhere with Blazers, early exhibition play indicates Blazers will have five or six new faces this season. They include Donnelly and center Ron Ward who were with New York last winter. Other newcomers who have looked good include forwards Jim Adair and Mike Chernoff, both left-handed shooters.</p><p>Meanwhile, Brent Leavins, who signed contracts with Blazers and Philadelphia Flyers, opted for the NHL club.</p><p><b>WINNIPEG:</b> Playing coach Bobby Hull&rsquo;s right elbow&mdash;the one which required surgery during the summer &mdash; is bothering him again. Not enough, however, to stop him from scoring two goals and two assists as Jets routed Chicago 6-1 in their exhibition opener. With the exception of his elbow, Hull showed up for training camp in the best shpae of his life. He had just finished putting up 50,000 bales of hay for his herd of cattle, buffalo and horses this winter. Goalie Ernie Wakely looks ripe for another superior season. He stopped 19 shots in the opening period of Jets&rsquo; first game. Defenseman Jim Hargreaves, exWinnipeg junior who returned from Vancouver Canucks, has added some badly-needed hitting power along the blueline. Young Kelly Pratt has also impressed and may make the jump directly from junior.</p><p><b>LOS ANGELES:</b> Sharks Coach Terry Slater put his charges through two-a-day workouts during training camp at the Sacramento Ice House. The forward lines received most of Slater&rsquo;s attention, since Sharks added several new front-liners during the off-season in an attempt to increase goal production. Slater went mainly with new faces in the early exhibition so he could evaluate the talent for the future. Sharks became the first WHA culb to play against a Western League team when they met Phoenix Roadrunners in Tucson Sept. 25. Phoenix was just announced as the 15th WHA franchise for the 1974-75 season, joining Indianapolis and Cincinnati as newcomers to the league. Sharks will again air all of their 78 WHA contests on KGBS radio. Gary Moreell, who doubles as director of player personnel, will deliver the play-by-play with Bud Tucker handling color.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> After a slow start, club leader Jim Harrison exploded and appears set for an outstanding season. General Manager Bill Hunter says Harrison would be a super-star in any league. The only thing that could prevent Harrison from having a sensational season is if a contract dispute with Hunter isn&rsquo;t settled. Harrison is so strong and skillful a stickhandler that rivals find it almost impossible to steal the puck. Bob McAneeley, fulfilling the promise he showed as a 15-year-old junior, was a big surprise of training camp. On the other end, right-winger Ron Anderson, left-wingers Dennis Kassian and Brian Carlin and defenseman Bob Falkenberg weren&rsquo;t sharp. Oilers spent part of their training camp in the jewel of the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park.</p><p><b>MINNESOTA:</b> One of the stranger sights at Fighting Saints&rsquo; training camp was John Bailey, a 42-year-old veteran of hockey&rsquo;s hard knocks. Bailey went around warning Saints youngsters not to call him &ldquo;an old man.&rdquo; He once played with the old St. Paul Saints where he has the reputation as a crowd-pleasing brawler, and last was a pro in 1969 with Columbus of the International League. Meanwhile, Saints officials who had publicly stated they would go after Bobby Orr if he became a free agent, were rebuffed when said he doesn&rsquo;t want to play in the WHA. He is working on an addition to his boston contract which would extend it to 1983.</p><p><b>HOUSTON:</b> Gordie Howe admits he is nervous entering the season. &ldquo;My worry is that after the great treatment the people of Houston have given me. I won&rsquo;t be able to fulfill their expectations.&rdquo; Meanwhile. Aeros owners had cause to worry about hockey&rsquo;s salary levels&rsquo; when two of their chattels &mdash; Larry Hale and Larry Lund &mdash; bought themselves a hockey team. Relax, fellows, they only bought the Penticton Broncos of the B.C. Junior League in Canada. The price was in thousands of dollars, not millions. Hale and Lund are Penticton natives.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-02

Blazers Will Rest Hopes On American-Born Goaler

<div class="byline">BY WALT BURROWS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01335/3752733-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="254" height="346"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ron Ryan</b></figcaption></div><p>CLEVELAND&mdash;</p><p>It was just like getting a double shot against the flu bug. It could even be called a booster.</p><p>Cleveland Crusader general manager Jack Vivian and Coach Bill Needham had their own words for it, and when translated, was a carbon copy of: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just what we need to go all the way.&rdquo;</p><p>The &ldquo;it&rdquo; referred to is the acquisition of the Hillman brothers, Larry and Wayne, a move that gives the Crusaders as good a defense as there is in the WHA.</p><p>&ldquo;We wanted to add both experience and maturity on our backline for the coming season and feel these signings go a long way towards our accomplishing that,&rdquo; said Vivian.</p><p>Both players have extensive backgrounds in the National Hockey League. Larry has skated the past two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres while Wayne has spent the past four seasons with the Philadelphia. Flyers. Coming to the Crusaders, it will mark the second time the Hillmans have been on the same club. Both Larry and Wayne wore the Philadelphia Flyer uniform for the 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons.</p><p>Larry, 36, has been in professional hockey for 18 seasons with 15 of those being in the NHL. He has played with six other NHL clubs in addition to Buffalo. He scored 29 points on five goals and 24 assists last year. His best season was with the Flyers in 1969-70 when he had five goals and 26 assists for 31 points.</p><p>The 34-year old Wayne has had 11 seasons of National Hockey League exposure. In addition to Philadelphia, he has also seen action with Minnesota, Chicago and the New York Rangers. Last year with the Flyers, Wayne had 10 points, all coming on assists.</p><p>His most productive campaign was the 1965-66 season with the New York Rangers when he had three goals and 17 assists for 20 points.</p><p>Combining the brother duo with All Star defenseman Paul Shmyr gives Cleveland a tough backline tandem to front All Star goalie Gerry Cheevers.</p><p>Needham, a defensive-minded coach, was excited with the acquisitions. &ldquo;What can I say?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;With two experienced players right from the NHL, we have to be strengthened. I remember, all too well, what happened to us in the playoffs last year when our defense was riddled with injuries. It cost us all chances of winning.&rdquo;</p><p>The WHA rights to Larry were obtained from Chicago in exchange for center Joe Hardy, while the league rights to Wayne were obtained from the New York Golden Blades for a future draft choice.</p><p>The Crusaders have loaned four of their rookies to the Macon Whoopee&rsquo;s in the newly former Southern League.</p><p>Dispatched to the Whoopee&rsquo;s were forwards Ray Adduono, Normand Cournoyer, Ron Morgan and Al Rycroft. All four played together last year with the Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League, then Cleveland&rsquo;s top farm club.</p><p><b>NEW ENGLAND:</b> New coach Ron Ryan greeted the Whalers&rsquo; five new players, from the National Hockey League, to the team&rsquo;s major leauge camp with open arms. All five were barred from participating with the WHA entry until Oct. 1 since they were under contract with the NHL.</p><p>The new Whalers include Al Karlander, formerly of the Detroit Red Wings, Don Blackburn, formerly of the New York Islanders; Gerry Gray, formerly of the New Haven Night Hawks; Mike Keeler, previously of the Portland Buckaroos, and Hugh Harris, late of the Buffalo Sabres.</p><p>Ryan, who took over the coaching duties after Jack Kelley stepped down to take the full-time general manager dutes, said the additions to the World Cup champions should make the Whalers &ldquo;a more aggressive team. These men, particularly, Karlander and Blackburn, should help our power play which was weak last year.&rdquo;</p><p><b>NEW YORK:</b> Coach Camille Henry immediately trained his sights on defense when the Golden Blades opened their camp at the Branch Brook Arena in Neward, N.J.</p><p>Only Ken Block, a standout last year, and 40-year-old Harry Howell, who was given a two-year contract at $50,000 per year after being released by the Kings in the NHL. appear certain of spots on the Golden Blades&rsquo; backline.</p><p>Henry admits that he would like to carry five defensemen, which opens the competition for three remaining spots to the other 11 candidates in camp. Among them are Butch Barber, who was acquired from the Cougars for Wally Olds; Ray LaRose, obtained from Houston for the rights to a college goalie, and Bob Brown, Hal Willis, Bob Winograd and Bill Speer who played with New York last season when defense was virtually unknown.</p><p><b>CHICAGO:</b> New player-coach Pat Stapleton was hindered by the Oct 1 starting point for both himself and other NHLers coaxed into the Cougars&rsquo; camp.</p><p>Stapleton also explained the Hardy-Hillman swap. &ldquo;We respect Hillman&rsquo;s NHL background,&rdquo; the skipper said, &ldquo;but our primary commitment is in building for the future and we feel that dealing for Hardy will be of far greater benefit in the long run.&rdquo;</p><p>Stapleton&rsquo;s prime concentration was on the 42 man rookie contingent, of which nine members are defenseman. Included in the number were nine professionals who saw little or no WHA action last season; right winger Gerry Andreatta, defensemen Bill Coakley Dick McGlynn, Pierre Viavand Dan Justin, right winger Darrel Knibbs, goaltender Paul Menard, left winger Francois Rochon, and center Dave Walter.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02262/3752726-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="568" height="734"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARRY HILLMAN</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03202/3752719-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="555" height="748"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WAYNE HILLMAN</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0023-01

Crusaders Expect To Go All Way With Addition Of The Hillmans

<p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>The Howes made hockey history when they stepped on the ice Sept. 26 in Madison Square Garden and it took big daddy just 21 seconds to let rival World Hockey Association netminders know he was around.</p><p>Gordie Howe and sons Mark and Marty were in the Houston lineup when the Aeros, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers and New York Golden Blades were involved in a unique four-team six period hockey spectacular in which each team played each other for a period of 15 minutes.</p><p>Howe, on the ice for the first time in a WHA game since unretiring after two years out of the NHL, scored with his first shot on goal just 21 seconds into the game. Goaler Bill Derglund of the Whalers, a rookie this season, was the victim of the Howe shot. The goal triggered a wild response from the crowd, which was a disappointing 7,092.</p><p>The four-team tournament did much to enhance the WHA image in New York despite the small crowd. The performance of the young Howe boys drew enthusiasm all round and particularly from Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets. &ldquo;Those kids are really going to be something,&rdquo; said Hull.</p><h2><b>Made Sport History</b></h2><p>The Howes actually made sport history when they appeared on the ice, becoming the first father-son group ever to compete together in a major league event.</p><p>While the Quebec Nordiques were rolling along with three wins in three WHA exhibition starts to set the early hot pace, the Howes and Hull were back on the ice for a packed audience of 10,077 in Winnipeg a week later as Houston stopped the Jets 4-1.</p><p>Neither Hull nor Howe was able to score in the game in which a veteran named Murray Hall stepped up to steal the spotlight from the game&rsquo;s greatest players. Hall scored once and set up two other goals by John Schella and rookie Jim Sherritt as the Aeros sent the overflow crowd home dejected.</p><p>It was the largest crowd ever to see the Jets play in Winnipeg.</p><p>The Toronto Toros defeated Cleveland 4-2 for their third victory in six starts in WHA exhibition action. It was the third loss in four starts for the Crusaders.</p><p>New York&rsquo;s rejuvenated Golden Blades came up with a pair of victories over Los Angeles Sharks 5-3 and 5-4 to boost their early season stock. Two goals by Kevin Morrison won one game for the Blades. Rookie Pat Hickey also scored twice to nail down a victory for the Toros against Cleveland.</p><p>Three scoring heroes for the Quebec Nordiques were J.C. Tremblay, who scored the winning goal in a 4-3 decision over the Toros. Michel Parizeau also got two in an early Quebec win and Bobby Guindon fired three goals in one week as the Nordiques won two more to stay unbeaten against WHA competition.</p><p>Jim Harrison and Brian McKenzie scored goals to led lead Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 decision against Vancouver Blazers in another WHA game.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Howe Scores First Goal In WHA After 21 Seconds; Nordiques Set Hot Pace

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01343/3752795-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="288" height="442"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Gordie Howe</b></figcaption></div><p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>&ldquo;All three of our expansion sites were targets of the National League. But they chose the WHA, largely for the reason that we don&rsquo;t just talk&hellip;we take definitive action.&rdquo; And with that, Gary L. Davidson, president of the growing World Hockey Association, foresees three 5-team divisions for the 11974-75 season I with the addition of Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Phoenix to the league.</p><p>The young WHA enters its second season of play with essentially the same 12 clubs that launched the league on its increidible journey a year ago. Except for the Blazers, now lodged in Vancouver after a year in Philadelphia, and the Toronto Toros, transplanted from Ottawa, the WHA roster remains intact with the Chicago Cougars, Cleveland Crusaders, Edmonton Oilers, Houston Aeros, Los Angeles Sharks, Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers, New York Golden Blades, Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets.</p><p>The season opener is Saturday, Oct.6 with New York at Cleveland, followed by Chicago at Toronto and New England at Quebec on the 7th. Other home openers will see Quebec at New England on the 9th, Winnipeg at Vancouver on the 10th, Winnipeg at Edmonton and Vancouver at Minnesota on the 12th, Houston at Los Angeles on the 13th, Cleveland at Houston on the 21st and Winnipeg at Chicago on the 30th.</p><p>Citing the unbelievable growth of league that hockey skeptics reasoned would never get on the ice, Davidson &mdash; a 38-year-old articulate counselor at law from nearby Orange County &mdash; points out that WHA franchises over an 18-month period have risen in value from $25,000 to in excess of $2 million.</p><p>The Cincinnati franchise, headed up by Bill Dewitt, joined the WHA back in May while Indianapolis and Phoenix were granted franchises within a week of each other in mid-September.</p><p>&ldquo;All three of those cities were coveted by the NHL,&rdquo; said Davidson. &ldquo;The fact that they chose to indentify with the WHA substantiates our major league status and is a credit to our existing franchises.&rdquo;</p><p>Dick Tinkham and John Weissert, who also control the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association, hold the Indianapolis franchise while the Phoenix owners hip consists of Karl Eller, Bert Gaetz and Jim Wells.</p><p>The Phoenix ownership is essentially the same as that which controls the Roadrunenrs, one of the outstanding independent operations in minor league hockey. Disposition of the club&rsquo;s Western League franchise will be determined at the close of the 1973-74.</p><p>The Phoenix club experienced its first direct confrontation with a WHA team Sep. 25 in an exhibition game with the Los Angeles Sharks at Tucson.</p><p>Davidson, who, along with Sharks&rsquo; President Dennis Murphy, organized the ABA six years ago, described the WHA&rsquo;s ratio of progress as being five years ahead of that experienced in the basketball league.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re working from a more knowledgeable financial base than when the ABA was launched,&rdquo; said Davidson. &ldquo;THe WHA has more sound businessmen, much better balance.&rdquo;</p><p>While upwards of 68 players of major NHL stature, led by the incomparable Bobby Hull, switched over to the WHA last season, the total was somewhat less this year &mdash; largely for the reason that WHA clubs were not starting from scratch and were more selective in their player procurement program.</p><p>Former NHLers of note who have moved over, though, include the likes of Rejean Houle, Marc Tardif, Pat Stapleton, Darryl Maggs, Ralph Backstrom, Dale Hoganson,&rsquo; Cam Newton, Serge Bernier, Mike Walton, Al Karlander, Carl Brewer, The Hillman brothers (Wayne and Larry). Jim Hargreaves, Harry Howell. Don Blackburn, Hugh Harris, and Rick Smith.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02270/3752788-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="1200" height="844"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WHA President GARY DAVIDSON, right, shown presenting World Trophy to New England Whalers&rsquo; president HOWARD BALDWIN as first league champions, has been driving force in getting new WHA off drawing board and onto the ice.</b></figcaption></div><p>Then there is the unretiring of all-time great Gordie Howe, who&rsquo;ll play alongside his two sons, Marty and Mark, in Houston with the Aeros.</p><p>The Cougars in Chicago, who finished last in the WHA West in the inaugural season, appear to have strengthened the most for the new campaign.</p><p>Stapleton, a perennial defensive star with the cross-town Black Hawks, will till the role of playingcoach on a club that has been bolstered with the likes of Backstrom, Maggs and Newton.</p><p>The Quebec Nordiques added three former NHLers in the persons of Houle; Bernier and Hoganson, Minnesota acquired Walton, Smith and Cardwell, New England pulled in Karlander, Blackburn and Harris, the Toros landed Brewer, Hargreaves went to the Winnipeg Jets, Howell to New York, the Hillman boys to Cleveland, and Tardif has taken up residence in Los Angeles with the Sharks.</p><p>Of particular interest as the clubs swung into the exhibition schedule was the calibre of the five under-20 juniors that elected to turn professional in the WHA.</p><p>The Crusaders have Tom Edur, 19, up from Toronto of the Ontario Hockey Association; Wayne Dillon, 18, also of Toronto, went to the Toros, Dan Justin, an 18-year-old American product, is on the Cougar roster, and then there are the Howe boys, Marty. 19. and Mark, 18, who. like Dillon and Edur, are former Marlboros.</p><p>Other outstanding Canadian juniors in the 20-year-old bracket who&rsquo;ll debut in the WHA include Reg Thomas in Los Angeles. Denis Patry in Quebec. Francois Rochon in Chicago, Jean Tetreault. Ed Humphreys and Jimmy Jones in Vancouver. Peter Marrin, Pat Hickey, Lou Nistico and Gord Titcomb in Toronto, Russ Walker and Robbie Neale in Cleveland, and Jim McCrimmon, Bill Laing and Blair McDonald in Edmonton.</p><p>&ldquo;The parity we experienced for the first season was unbelievable,&rdquo; recalled Davidson. &ldquo;This season could be a repeat of that.&rdquo;</p><p>A mere 11 points separated the top four clubs in the West last year, and five teams in the East back of New England &mdash; ultimate winners of the World Trophy &mdash; were fighting for playoff berths into the final week of the season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-01

WHA’s Emphasis On Action Beats NHL To 3 New Cities

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><h2><b>New York On The Spot</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>J</span>erry Delise is the key man as the New York Golden Blades enter Year 11 of the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s impact on the New York sporting scene. In order to attain total major league status the WHA must have a strong standard bearer in Gotham, the heart of the communications outlets of the United States.</p><p>It has a major league arena in Madison Square Garden, even if the rental is a stiff one. but the team fell behind when the league had to assume financial responsibility last season. New owners were brought in, with Ralf Brent assuming the presidency and Lee Matison being veep. They made one quick move &mdash; the hiring of Delise (pronounced Deh-Lease) at a reported $85,000. Jerry, an unusual person in that he is an American who worked for the Montreal Canadiens for 11 seasons in one form or another, is a self made man.</p><p>&ldquo;We have a ways to go,&rdquo; said the affable Delise. &ldquo;Harry Howell will help on defense. I expect him to give us a stability the old Raiders lacked last year. He had something to do with the Los Angeles Kings, reducing their goals against total from 305 to 245 last year.&rdquo;</p><p>Delise&rsquo;s title is that of managing director of the Golden Blades, which mean he handles all player personnel moves &mdash; and also keeps his fingers in the promotional till. Jerry&rsquo;s teams have won 15 titles since 1955, with the Muskegon Mohawks of the International Hockey League winning five in seven years. THE HOCKEY NEWS honored him with the selection as minor league executive of the year.</p><p>Jerry hired a personnel director and scout at a reported $30,000 in the person of Bill McDermott. McDermott and Delise met as opponents. McDermott was a player representative for three years for the Boston based Nationwide Sports concern. He had fullback Jim Nance and the San Francisco 49ers Bruce Taylor amongst his clients as well as numerous NHL and WHA players.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01289/3752826-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="371" height="377"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ANDRE LACROIX&hellip;Big Catch</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I was impressed with McDermott&rsquo;s ability and knowledge of the available hockey talent. He was on top of things and knows where the young players are,&rdquo; said Delisle. Nonetheless, McDermott will help more in the future. Coach Camille Henry&rsquo;s team worked under the handicap of an embargo on trades for a time last year, but then pulled off the whopper in which Andre Lacroix was acquired for Ron Ward. Lacroix is another Bernie Parent&mdash;he lives in and loves Philadelphia and was happy to come to New York, which is the closest thing to Philly now extinct in the WHA. Lacroix is a slickster, who once was rated the 1965-66 MVP in the Ontario Hockey Association ahead of Bobby Orr. As the leader of the Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; French Line with Guy Gendron and Simon Nolet, Andre has known what the brunt of scoring responsibility is. He is in a similar position with the Golden Blades.</p><p>The tell on the Blades whole season may be in the response to regular status at 36 of Jim McLeod, the Chicago Cougars MVP and regular last season. Gary Kurt, with a two year no-cut contract at $60,000, is the backup. McLeod has been a winner in the Western Hockey League in the past. His job is to get the relatively high-scoring Blades into the playoffs. Players of the genre of Wayne Rivers (currently having a contract problem), Bobby Sheehan, Gene Peacosh and Norm Ferguson, plus Lacroix, will put the puck in the net.</p><p>Thus the Golden Blades whole season may depend on two oldsters, 41 years old Harry Howell on the blueline and McLeod in the nets. They make Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets seem almost a baby.</p><p>Hull, 34, is happy and ready for the new season. He expects better things than last year when litigation kept him out of 15 games.</p><p>&ldquo;I had been off skates for seven months when I finally played last year. I think I can do better this season. I don&rsquo;t like to make predictions but I will be disappointed if I don&rsquo;t get 60 goals,&rdquo; said Bobby.</p><p>Since Phil Esposito holds the NHL standard of 58, many were hoping he would set his sights on this mark.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a lot of goals and Phil had optimum circumstances the season he set that record. He got 25, I think on the power play alone,&rdquo; noted the balding but still handsome Hull.</p><p>Bobby expects to work with center Chris Bordeleau and wingman Norm Beaudin again this season. All three scored over 100 points last year.</p><p>Winnipeg Jets owner Ben Hatskin is still happy with his venture into the World Hockey Association, but admits, &ldquo;The Jets have to be promoted. They are not going to leave Winnipeg. If I moved them or sold them I would have to leave town, too.</p><p>Most experts feel there is room in major league hockey for Winnipeg, equating that franchise with Green Bay in the National Football League. It has the area potential, but going to see Hull and the Jets must become the thing to do in the surrounding Manitoba country side.</p><p>Gary Davidson is bouncing with joy and confidence over his two year old baby hockey league these days. Cincinnati will start operations next year and &ldquo;has ironed out their arena problems,&rdquo; according to the WHA president. &ldquo;I also am looking forward to Phoenix and Indianapolis joining up next season. Both cities were on the NHL list for their expansion.&rdquo;</p><p>The WHA staged 468 games last year, drawing 2.479,679, an average of 5,298. That doesn&rsquo;t compare with the National Hockey League and its near capacity in Philadelphia, New York (Rangers), Boston. Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis, but its better than any rookie professional league had a right to expect. Playoff attendance increased the average to 6,938 for 31 games, drawing 215,092.</p><p>Speaking of Vancouver, Phil Watson, an old friend, is ensconced as general manager of the Blazers, who go head and head with the NHL Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Coliseum. Over 9,000 season tickets have been sold so far, which makes Bernie Brown seem like a seer in opting out of the crowded Philadelphia situation.</p><p>The word is that the WHA is a going thing now. Operating losses last season did not exceed more than $300,000 for any team. Since these teams received their franchises for only $25,000, an owner can easily recoup by selling for the numerous offers being received. Most are in the near $3 million category, half of the NHL&rsquo;s $6 million, but viable and still very spendable.</p><p>&ldquo;Cincinnati. Phoenix and Indianapolis wanted a major league label for their hockey,&rdquo; said Davidson, speaking at a press conference in New York.</p><p>The WHA is aware of the extra effort that must be shown in New York. Hull put it perfectly, saying, &ldquo;If I had spent my career in New York I would have doubled my endorsements and public image, although I am very happy at what I accomplished in Chicago.&rdquo;</p><p>Walt Marlow, the WHA&rsquo;s effervescent new publicity director, and Max Muhleman, the executive director of the WHA Properties Company, as well as Davidson were all in New York for a pre-season doubleheader and analysis of the situation.</p><p>&ldquo;New York needs a super star, but how many of them are around? Not everyone can have one,&rdquo; noted Hull, accurately, if not modestly.</p><p>Houston Aeros trustee Paul Deneau feels the Texas sextet has three in the Howe family.</p><p>&ldquo;The Howe&rsquo;s are unreal. They have youth, experience and more youth. We have to be better with them. I figure we move up one notch for sure in the regular season and a notch and a half in the playoffs,&rdquo; said Deneau.</p><p>Since the Aeros finished second last year and won their first round playoff before losing four straight to Winnipeg in the West finals, Deneau expects big things.</p><p>Bill Dineen, the Aeros coach, said, &ldquo;Gordie is in great shape. I predict he will score 35 goals this season and help out in many other ways also. And Mark can be a great player. He can score and has savvy beyond his years.&rdquo;</p><p>The WHA is happy with the signing of the 18-year old Mark and 19-year old Marty Howe plus the Cleveland Crusaders&rsquo; coup in signing their Toronto Marlboro teammate defenseman Tom Edur, another under-age junior.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-01

AROUND THE WHA

<p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>Players and management in the World Hockey Association have established a new relationship.</p><p>WHA President Gary L. Davidson and Players&rsquo; Association General Counsel Curt Leichner, in a joint announcement, have finalized a two-year agreement between players and management. The initial agreement, specific details of which were not released, came as the result of meetings between Player Association representatives and the WHA owner council.</p><p>Davidson and Leichner said the mutual agreement provides for standardization in the areas of training camp procedures, travel allowances, reimbursements, and staff administrative procedures. Also included are additions in the players&rsquo; medical and pension plans, and a dental plan.</p><p>Formal recognition of the Players&rsquo; Association, formed last January, was extended by the WHA. and both Davidson and Leichner hailed the agreement as another step in the continued success of the league, which enters its second season of play Oct 6 in Cleveland.</p><p>WHA Administratrator James W. Browitt, along with trustees W.D. (Bill) Hunter of Edmonton, Dennis Murphy of Los Angeles and Jim Smith of Houston with attorney Patrick Nagel, comprised the owner council.</p><p>Represented on the Players&rsquo; Council were Bill Hicke (Edmonton Oilers), president; Gerry Odrowski (Los Angeles Sharks), president elect; Kent Douglas (New York Golden Blades) vice-president; Rick Sentes (Toronto Toros) secretary, and Ron Buchanan (Cleveland Crusaders) treasurer.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

WHA, Players Agree On New 2-Year Pact

<div class="byline">BY GREG FARLEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01294/3752909-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="274" height="418"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dave Forbes</b></figcaption></div><p>PROVIDENCE&mdash;</p><p>One axiom John Muckler has sworn by in his long relationship with the hockey media is not to go out on a limb without a parachute.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re going to have a strong hockey club here once the final trims are made,&rdquo; he offered, &ldquo;but I won&rsquo;t make any predictions. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult to set any goals when you&rsquo;re not really sure what you&rsquo;re going to work with, or how long you&rsquo;re going to have it.&rdquo;</p><p>However, a neck-and-neck, merry-go-round playoff scramble wouldn&rsquo;t surprise him in the least.</p><p>&ldquo;Rochester made some valuable pickups and his built a good, veteran hockey club,&rdquo; he observed &ldquo;Boston will be strong again, although losing Leduc to the Bruins may hurt them some.&rdquo;</p><p>And, despite the loss of several standouts from last year&rsquo;s club, John isn&rsquo;t shedding any tears for Nova Scotia, defending division champions.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02238/3752902-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="569" height="745"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RICK MIDDLETON&hellip;Top Draft Pick</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03199/3752895-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="567" height="746"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN BEDNARSKI&hellip;Versatile New Face</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04153/3752888-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="573" height="738"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>NORM DENNIS&hellip;Came In Trade</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05121/3752881-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="567" height="735"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DON BORGESON&hellip;Making New Start</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;They lost a lot,&rdquo; he conceded, &ldquo;but there&rsquo;s more where that came from. They&rsquo;ve got plenty of good boys who played sparingly last year and are ready to move right in, plus they&rsquo;ll be getting most of the Canadiens&rsquo; top amateurs.&rdquo;</p><p>Nor would he discount the chances of Parker MacDonald&rsquo;s New Haven Nighthawks, bolstered by much of the talent John developed at Cleveland and Jacksonville.</p><p>&ldquo;I was impressed with Minnesota&rsquo;s draft choices,&rdquo; he pointed out, &ldquo;and most will wind up at New Haven. Playing with veterans like Gary Gambucci will help them mature quickly. They&rsquo;re going to be tough.&rdquo;</p><p>But John is hoping that a couple of early season visits to the Reds&rsquo; blueline may soften them up. particularly when newcomers John Bednarski and Ron Fogal are on duty.</p><p>&ldquo;Both were with Rochester last year, (where they combined for 326 PIM)&rdquo; he noted, &ldquo;and have performed well in pre-season. They&rsquo;re going to give us a strong defense with Marty Gateman, Randy Legge, Nick Polano, etc. all returning.&rdquo;</p><p>Only 21, Bednarski is a hot head who can not only fight (nine majors last year), but can score. John survived a concussion and a deep scalp wound to tally 14 times adding 24 assists, and came on strong in the playoffs with a goal and eight setups in six games.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to have youth on this team with kids like Rick Middleton (Rangers&rsquo; top pick),&rdquo; he promised, &ldquo;and returnees like Al Blanchard, Gerry Teeple and Bert Wilson, plus the addition of Norm Dennis and Don Borgeson, should make it a very interesting season&hellip;Dennis came to New York in a trade Borgeson, who has toiled mostly in the WHL. went to the Rangers from St. Louis.</p><p><b>SPRINGFIELD:</b> It&rsquo;s a busy week for Jerry Toppazzini and the Kings, with five exhibitions in seven days&hellip;They visit the Reds in Providence then meet the Braves twice (at Fitchburg and the Big E) and the Reds once again (at The Big E) over the weekend. The preseason finale brings Rochester here next Wednesday&hellip;The hectic preseason windup will provide Toppazzini with a final basis for cutdowns.</p><p><b>NEW HAVEN:</b> The long-awaited visit by the New York Islanders, with many of last year&rsquo;s Nighthawks on the roster to New Haven comes October 3, and a large turnout is anticipated&hellip;One again. North Stars appearance here last week was well received&hellip;Youngsters Rod Norrish and Chris Ahrens both had good camps. Norrish, who rifled 22 goals for the Barons, is a verstaile left winger. Ahrens is a highly-touted defensive prospect, who led the AHL in penalty minutes (248) last year.</p><p><b>BOSTON:</b> At press time, left winger Dave Forbes was making a very serious bid to stay with the Bruins, and a pair of goals in rehearsal againts the Canadiens didn&rsquo;t hurt his chances one bit&hellip;Braves conclude the exhibition grind against the Kings (twice), Voyageurs and Amerks.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-01

Ranger Cuts Give Reds Solid Squad

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03160/3752978-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>When the State of Virginia recently made personalized automobile license plates available, E. CLAIBORNE ROBINS Jr., youthful owner of the Richmond Robins, arranged to buy this one to serve as a reminder of the goal he has set for his club - first place in the American Hockey League. The Robins, coached by Larry Wilson, are preparing for their third year in the AHL.</b></figcaption></div><p>RICHMOND&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Richmond Robins want to be No. 1 this year and owner E. Claiborne Robins Jr., doesn&rsquo;t mind letting everyone know about it. He went out and bought himself a license plate for the state of Virginia with the numerical one on it and he says he expects his Robins to live up to his predictions.</p><p>One thing seems certain. Robins&rsquo; AHL club will be a definite contender this season after finishing fourth last season in their division. The Robins are in line for the overflow talent from the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and the prospects are extremely good since the power-packed Flyers have virtually no room for new players this year with the club deciding to go with a set lineup.</p><p>Richmond coach Larry Wilson, who, is also general manager in addition to his coaching chores, figures to come up with a strong team since the AHL club will have a little more say in controlling players. The system was worked out with the Flyers during the offseason and Wilson expects to get the cream of the Flyer crop when the cuts are made.</p><p>Here are some of the players who appear &lsquo;ticketed&rsquo; for Richmond: goalers Ray Boutin, Jim Park. Roger Kosar and possibly Bobby Taylor; defensemen Yvon Bilodeau, Larry Goodenough, Doug Ferguson, Serge Lajeunesse, Don McCulloch, Jack Mcllharey, Roger Pelletier, Ken Southwick, Frank Spring, and Jimmy Watson; forwards Mike Clarke. Dale Cook, Bruce Cowick, Rene Drolet, Bob Gerrard, Wayne Hawrysh. Larry Keenan, Orest Kindrachuk. Brent Leavins, Al McAdam. Gary MacMillan, Bert Scott. Bob Wright and Tom Young.</p><p>The Robins already own Danny Shock, who scored 48 goals for Richmond last year. They purchased his contract outright from Philadelphia.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-03

Robins Wants Richmond Club To Be No. 1 In AHL This Year

<div class="byline">BY JOHN TRAVERS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01274/3752947-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="271" height="461"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dean Sheremeta</b></figcaption></div><p>HERSHEY&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Hershey Bears will have a new look, including the front office, for their opening American League game against the New Haven Nighthawks Oct. 13.</p><p>Frank Mathers, who piloted the team for 17 years, is now presidentgeneral manager. He handed over the coaching reins to Chuck Hamilton, a former Hershey standout, who had spent the last two seasons at Denver in the Western League.</p><p>During training camp at Brantford, Ont., Mathers and Hamilton worked closely together in assembling this year&rsquo;s Hershey contingent which should be among the contenders for the South Division title.</p><p>Among a few of the newcomers to the Bears fold should be center Ken Picklyk, 6-1, 195. former McMaster University skater; goalie Gary Inness&rsquo;, 6-0, 195, out of Toronto University; winger Dean Sheremeta, 6-2, 195, formely of Fort Wayne, and defenseman Dennis Owchar. 6-0, 185. who starred for the Toronto Malboros last year.</p><p>There may be several more, but only a few days before the season opener, final decisions of placement by Pittsburgh Penquins were still being made.</p><p>Hamilton came out of training camp optimistic about the Bears.</p><p>&ldquo;We should have a good solid team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are young, maybe younger than last year&rsquo;s Hershey team. And we have players with American League experience.&rdquo;</p><p>Picklyk drew attention in training camp with his standout play.</p><p>&ldquo;He put on weight since last year,&rdquo; said Hamilton, &ldquo;and it&rsquo;s hard to believe it&rsquo;s the same kid. He can really go and he handles the puck well.</p><p>Owchar, who aided the Marlboros to the Memorial Cup championship, also was impressive in camp with his hitting ability.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a tough kid and when he hits someone he really cracks &ldquo;em,&rdquo; said Hamilton.</p><p><b>BALTIMORE:</b> Leading the vanguard of candidates for this year&rsquo;s Clipper team will be 13 Baltimore owned skaters. Expected to return are right winger Marc Dufour, who along with center Bob Rivard and left winger Brian Murphy formed the club&rsquo;s top line in 1972-73. Ageles Jim Bartlett, the AHL&rsquo;s sixth leading all-time scorer at 352 goals in 914 career games, plans to try for his 20th season. Coach Jim Morrison is hoping for six to a dozen players from the Detroit Red Wings with whom the Clippers will be working this year.</p><p><b>VIRGINIA:</b> Reports emerging from the Wings training camp indicated new coach Bob Lemieux, who also is GM. may have a strong club. Lemieux took over when Doug Barkley decided to coach in Europe. Bill Hogaboam and Len Fontaine looked very sharp in camp, while two Swedish players. Tord Lindstrom and goalie Leif Holmquist were impressive. Last year the Wings were the surprise club in their division, going all the way to the Calder Cup semi-finals before bowing.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02218/3752940-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="563" height="603"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARC DUFOUR</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0027-01

Hershey Getting New, Younger Look

<div class="byline">BY JOHN ARNOLD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03140/3753047-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="791" height="1029"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SOLUTION IN OCTOBER 12 ISSUE</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>ACROSS</b></h2><p>1&mdash;Chicago veteran</p><p>5&mdash;Morning</p><p>7&mdash;Ontario (abbr.)</p><p>9&mdash;Played 30 games for St-Louis last year.</p><p>11&mdash;Pronoun.</p><p>13&mdash;A Houston forward.</p><p>14&mdash;13th and 9th letters of the alphabet.</p><p>15&mdash;Hotel.</p><p>17&mdash;Nickname of ex-Leaf Bailey.</p><p>19&mdash;A high soft shot.</p><p>20&mdash;Initials of Armstrong of Rochester.</p><p>21&mdash;Virginia, (abbr.)</p><p>23&mdash;1960-61 Stanley Cup champs.</p><p>26&mdash;Finished 1st in the East last year, (abbr.)</p><p>27&mdash;Bobby Orr played junior here.</p><p>29&mdash;Shortstop, (abbr.)</p><p>30&mdash;An NHL coach.</p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p>1&mdash;Coaches Nova Scotia in AHL.</p><p>2&mdash;Pictured player</p><p>3&mdash;One of the Hawks answers to this.</p><p>4&mdash;Adjective.</p><p>6&mdash;Gordie Howe was born in this month.</p><p>8&mdash;One of the North Stars answers to this.</p><p>10&mdash;I5th and 1st letters of the alphabet.</p><p>12&mdash;A former Hawk answers to this.</p><p>16&mdash;No. (fr.)</p><p>18&mdash;Coaches San Diego in WHL.</p><p>21&mdash;Former NHL defenseman nicknamed &ldquo;Moose&rdquo;.</p><p>22&mdash;Jarrett of Chicago answers to this.</p><p>24&mdash;Every NHL team plays this amount of games on the road.</p><p>25&mdash;9th and 23rd letters of the alphabet.</p><p>26&mdash;Bernie Parent was born in this month (abbr)</p><h2><b>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERS</b></h2><p>1&mdash;PARENT.</p><p>5&mdash;L.A.</p><p>7&mdash;OR.</p><p>8&mdash;IVAN.</p><p>9&mdash;LABINE.</p><p>Il&mdash;P.G.</p><p>12&mdash;ICE.</p><p>13&mdash;LEO.</p><p>14&mdash;TEN.</p><p>15&mdash;R.T.</p><p>16&mdash;ART.</p><p>17&mdash;L.O.</p><p>18&mdash;11.</p><p>19&mdash;AN.</p><p>20&mdash;B.E.</p><p>21&mdash;A.R.</p><p>23&mdash;ORR.</p><p>24&mdash;COCRNOYER</p><p>27&mdash;E.S.</p><p>28&mdash;10.</p><p>29&mdash;SEPT.</p><p>30&mdash;ANDY.</p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p>1&mdash;PILOTE.</p><p>2&mdash;ROBINSON.</p><p>3&mdash;ERIC.</p><p>4&mdash;TIE.</p><p>5&mdash;LAPERRIERE.</p><p>6&mdash;ANGOTTI.</p><p>10&mdash;N.E.</p><p>17&mdash;LAROSE</p><p>20&mdash;BRYAN.</p><p>21&mdash;ACES</p><p>22&mdash;BRIT.</p><p>23&mdash;00.</p><p>25&mdash;NO.</p><p>26&mdash;ROY.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-03

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

<div class="byline">BY HANS TANNER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01261/3753016-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="272" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jean Landry</b></figcaption></div><p>JACKSONVILLE&mdash;</p><p>The Jacksonville Barons lost a pretty good hockey player before they even had been assigned a player this fall.</p><p>To straighten out that confusing statement, here&rsquo;s the story: When John Hanna signed as coach of the Barons, he intended to be a playing coach. The 38-year-old defenseman had been a solid performer in the American League for 6 1/2 years with the Quebec Aces and had gone on to stardom in the Western League with Seattle. Despite his age, the Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association persuaded him to play for them last season, and he was going well until 13 games were left on the schedule. It was then that his right leg was broken.</p><p>&ldquo;The doctor apparently told my wife that I&rsquo;d never skate again,&rdquo; Hanna recalls. &ldquo;Butlfooledhim&hellip;for a while. I was out of the cast in two months and was skating June 24.</p><p>&ldquo;Everything was progressing nicely and I fully intended to play this season. Then about a month ago, my right leg suddenly blew up on me. The swelling went down again and I felt sure I would be able to play.</p><p>&ldquo;But now I find I can&rsquo;t go on the leg without it blowing up. Apparently the top of a joint in my leg was shattered. I&rsquo;m afraid that&rsquo;s it. If I tried to play on it and got hit, I could be crippled.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be 39 in April, so I couldn&rsquo;t expect to play too much longer anyway.&rdquo;</p><p>Little more than two weeks before the AHL schedule was to open, Hanna still didn&rsquo;t know the name of one player he was going to have in Jacksonville.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not the least bit worried, though&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The Crusaders have exhibition games coming up with the Toronto Toros and the New England Whalers, and they are the teams that are going to help Cleveland stock the club. We&rsquo;ll have some names soon and from what I can see, they&rsquo;ll be good ones.&rdquo;</p><p>Candidates from the Crusaders&rsquo; rookie camp who have to be considered possibles are goalie Yves Belanger (2.39 goals-against average in 37.6 games for Syracuse of the Eastern League), defenseman Tom Edur (the 18-year-old signed from the Toronto Marlboro juniors), Robert Fee (Laval juniors), Wayne Pushie (Michigan Tech) and Bill Green (Notre Dame), and forwards Pete Badour (Bowling Green), Brad Buetow (University of Minnesota), Brian Mason (Clarkson College), Rob Neale (Brandon juniors), John Vanderburg (Laurentian University) and Russ Walker (Saskatoon juniors).</p><p><b>NOVA SCOTIA</b> &mdash; Ken Dryden&rsquo;s decision to retire from the Montreal Canadiens isn&rsquo;t likely to have any immediate effect on the goaltending situation with the Voyageurs.</p><p>Since the Canadiens carried both Wayne Thomas and Michel Plasse as well as Dryden last season, Dryden&rsquo;s departure still leaves the Canadiens with two.</p><p>But should either or both fail to perform adequately in the pressure situation which they suddenly have been thrust into, Michel Larocque could be summoned from Novia Scotia.</p><p>Larocque posted a 2.50 goals-against average in 47 games as a rookie pro with the Vees last season and for his efforts was voted the second team all-star netminder.</p><p>Leading candidate for the Voyageurs&rsquo; other goalie spot in Dave Elenbaas, who played for Cornell University last season and led the Ivy League with a goals-against average of 2.22.</p><p>Two other U.S. collegians are among those battling for positions with the Voyageurs. They are frowards Jim Cahoon (14 goals and 32 assists in 30 games for North Dakota University) and Sean Shanahan of Providence College.</p><p><b>CINCINNATI</b> &mdash; Floyd Smith, coach of the Swords, just smiles knowingly when anyone asks about his club&rsquo;s chances this season.</p><p>&ldquo;Oh, we won&rsquo;t be as strong as last season, 1 suspect,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;And the rest of the teams who were way down seem to be improved. I think the league will be much better balanced.</p><p>&ldquo;But we&rsquo;ll be okay.&rdquo;</p><p>What he means is that he doesn&rsquo;t expected Cincinnati to win 54 games, tie 5 and lose only 17 as last-season&rsquo;s Swords did, but he does expect his team to finish on top of the South Division.</p><p>There&rsquo;s a good crop of rookies battling for jobs, one or two of whom may stick with the parent Buffalo Sabres and probably three, or four who will be, Swords.</p><p>Among those in the running are goalie Dave Margach, who has a quick glove and played for the University of Calgary, defenseman Jean Landry (Quebec juniors and Buffalo&lsquo;s second pick in June&rsquo;s amateur draft) and forwards Morris Titanic (61-60-121) for the Sudbury juniors and the Sabres&rsquo; first draft choice), Pete McNab (23-29-52) in 28 games for Denver University and son of San Diego boss Max McNab), Yvon Dupuis (50-76-126) for the Quebec Remparts, Andre Deschamps (47-51-98) for the Remparts, Neil Korzack (University of Toronto). Fred Hunt Jr. (University of Vermont and son of Buffalo assistant general manager Fred Hunt) and Wayne Chrysler (19-34-53) for the St. Catharines juniors).</p><p>The biggest problem facing Smith and the Buffalo brass will be deciding which talented players to put in Cincinnati.</p><p><b>ROCHESTER</b> 8 The Amerks had an amazing amount of success with mostly inexperienced players last season, but coach Don Charry isn&rsquo;t going to tampt fate again this year.</p><p>In fact, rookies are finding it tought to crack the squad as Charry begins the paring down process during training camp.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02189/3753009-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="567" height="906"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TOM EDUR&hellip;Possible Baron</b></figcaption></div><p>At this point, only three non-pros would seem to have a chance at landing spots as there are 20 professionals in the running for only 18 spots. Cherry is planning to carry just the number of players allowed in uniform for a game instead of any extras.</p><p>&ldquo;If we get injuries, we&rsquo;ve got several clubs in the North American and Southern Leagues where we can get amergency help.&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve talked with these teams and we&rsquo;ve sent them some players from our training camp. Also, these clubs now can use the chance to play an AHL game or two as an incentive for their players to try hard.&rdquo;</p><p>The rookies still hanging on are goalie Neil Higgins, Boston College goaltender the past four years and son of Ernie Higgins, who makes masks for most of the goalies in pro hockey: defenseman Ken Reid, who played for the Kingston. Ont., Senior A team last season and forward Doug Ferguson 30 goals and 70 assists for Syracuse of the Eastern League.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

Injury Forces Hanna To Retire As Player

<div class="byline">BY DOUG McCONNELL</div><p>PORTLAND&mdash;</p><p>The Portland Buckaroos will have a brand new look this season.</p><p>Oh, Art Jones is still around but only four of his friends from last year&rsquo;s team are back, and the Buckaroos have the newest coach in hockey.</p><p>Just when it seemed the Buckaroos, now owned and operated as a farm club by the Los Angeles Kings, would open without a coach, the announcement was made that Ron Stewart, a veteran of 21 years in the National Hockey League, will be the new bench boss.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01256/3753092-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="567" height="1176"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RON STEWART&hellip;Portland Coach</b></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02199/3753085-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="1203" height="1260"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>One of the WHL&rsquo;s most colorful performers is back in the league. He&rsquo;s CONNIE MADIGAN, the all-time penalty leader of the circuit and a perennial &lsquo;bad man&rsquo; during his nine years with Portland. The San Diego Gulls picked up Madigan from St. Louis in a straight cash deal. For complete details see page 31.</b></figcaption></div><p>Stewart, a 41-year-old left wing, retired at the end of last season, winding up career that saw him in the uniforms of the Toronto Maple Leafs (for 13 years), the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and the New York Islanders.</p><p>Gome is pro hockey&rsquo;s all-time leading point scorer, Guyle Fielder, who reported to training camp at Victoria, B.C., and took note of the youth movement before making his decision to pack up after 22 years as a professional.</p><p>Fielder, scored more than 2,000 points during his career. He spent part of 1971-72 and all of 1972-73 with Portland. He played 15 years for the Seattle Totems in the late 1950s and through the 1960s.</p><p>Also gone are two of the Western Hockey League&rsquo;s all-time goal scoring leaders, Cliff Schmautz and Bill Saunders.</p><p>Schmautz retired to go into his brother Arnie&rsquo;s successful roofing business in Portland. Larry Leach decided to stay home on his farm in Western Canada and Gary Kilpatrick, after one year in retirement to coach Cranbrook, B.C., in the Western International Hockey League, retired again. Kilpatrick will coach Nelson. B.C., in the WIHL this season.</p><p>Saunders, along with Dick Van Impe, Tom Foxcroft, Gord Nelson and Glen Toner, were put on waivers.</p><p>The only holdovers from last season&rsquo;s cellar dwellers are ageless Andy Hebenton, Ken Campbell, defenseman Mike Donaldson and goaltender Dave Kelly.</p><p>John Wolf, the young publicity director of the Kings who was promoted to the post of general manager of the Buckaroos, said he expected the Buckaroos of 1973-74 to include defenseman Larry McNabb, who played for Portland last season, and winger Howie Hughes, who did his skating for the Sna Diego Gulls last season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03153/3753078-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="561" height="1074"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HOWIE HUGHES&hellip;New Buckaroo</b></figcaption></div><p>Both are owned by the Kings and were loaned out last season.</p><p>The Kings took over the Buckaroos in the middle of last season when the former WHL powerhouse fell on hard times.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-01

Portland Greybeards Gone, Buckaroos Have New Look

<div class="byline">BY DOUG McCONNELL</div><p>PHOENIX&mdash;</p><p>The World Hockey Association offers &ldquo;major league&rdquo; hockey to Phoenix nex season.</p><p>The National Hockey League offered an expansion franchise in three, five or seven years&mdash;or not at all.</p><p>And a competitive team, under the handicap of little sharing of talent in the NHL expansion draft, after five or 10 years of supporting losers.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01235/3753130-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="247" height="472"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dale Yutsyk</b></figcaption></div><p>Jim Wells president and general manager of the Phoenix Roadrunners, cited the possibility of &ldquo;being competitive right from the start,&rdquo; as one of the advantages of joining the WHA instead of waiting for an NHL franchise that might never come. &ldquo;Besides,&rdquo; said Wells, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s always nice to be wanted. There&rsquo;s no doubt in any of our minds that we eventually would have been given an NHL franchise, but the WHA wanted us now, not three, five or seven years down the line. There are other advantages. First, there&rsquo;s the economics&rsquo; of the thing. Then, the WHA provides diversity with teams from a wider area, and I think in the NHL we would see more of the teams in our own division and less of the rest of the league than we will in the WHA.&rdquo;</p><p>Wells, in making the announcement from his Phoenix office and jointly with WHA president Gary Davidsion from his office in Santa Ana, Calif., did not disclose the WHA entry fee but it is believed to be similar to the $2 million paid a week befor by an Indianapolis group.</p><p>Even though that&rsquo;s up greatly from the $25,000 paid last year by WHA charter members, it&rsquo;s $4 million less than an NHL expansion franchise.</p><p>&ldquo;We can use the extra cash to sign the players to build a winner,&rdquo; said Wells.</p><p>The WHA reaches east to New York and west to Vancouver and Los Angeles as does the NHL but it also dips as far south as Houston and Phoenix and as far north as Edmonton and Winnipeg.</p><p>Davidson said that three divisions of five teams each would be created when Phoenix, Cincinnati and Indianapolis are added next season.</p><p>Vancouver, Edmonton, Los Angeles and Phoenix with either Winnipeg or Houston would form the western division.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure they won&rsquo;t try to add another team,&rdquo; said Wells, &ldquo;to create four divisions of four teams each or two divisions of eights.&rdquo;</p><p>Another reason for joining the WHA is the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, which after seating additions scheduled following the state fair this fall, will seat 12,599 for hockey.</p><p>&ldquo;We have no assurances that the NHL would waive its restrictions on expansion franchises to cities with buildings with a minimum of 15,000 seats,&rdquo; said Wells. &ldquo;We would have two choices: build a new coliseum or destroy the face of a beautiful building by putting up 36 posts to increase the seating to NHL requirements.</p><p>&ldquo;Another thing,&rdquo; added Wells, &ldquo;is that by the time our application is voted on, you don&rsquo;t know how many axes there are to grind or how many obligations there are.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02188/3753123-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="539" height="741"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JIM WELLS&hellip;Wanted Us Now</b></figcaption></div><p>The Roadrunners made a formal application for an NHL franchise in the spring of 1972 and while awaiting word, received an invitation to join the WHA.</p><p>The announcement of the jump next season to the WHA came as no surprise.</p><p>The Roadrunners, a few days earlier, had announced they were the first team aligned with the NHL to schedule an exhibition game with a WHA club, meeting the Los Angeles Sharks in Tucson, Sept. 25.</p><p>At the same time, Davidson announced the granting of the WHA franchise to Indianapolis and that the Phoenix announcement would come shortly.</p><p>Karl Eller one of the Roadrunners&rsquo; major stockholders, declared before the NHL&rsquo;s June draft meetings that the Roadrunners would be in the NHL or the WHA next season and when the NHL refused to commit any franchise for the 1976 expansion, the Roadrunners&rsquo; course was set.</p><p>The Roadrunners will said Wells, operate in the WHL this season but will participate in the WHA business affairs and the WHA amateur draft in the spring.</p><p>The ownership of the Roadrunners will not undergo any change, Wells said. Bert Getz is the new chairman of the board, replacing L.G. (Gary) Hooker, who resigned recently because of ill health. Other members of the board of directors are Eller, Lynn Hester, Stephen W. Craig and Dr. Tim Lewis.</p><p>The Roadrunners&rsquo; WHL franchise will either be moved, possibly to Tucson, and operated by the Roadrunners, or it will be sold, sIS Wells.</p><p>Wells said that several details of the Roadrunner move into the WHA still have to be worked out, including the Phoenix participation in an expansion draft.</p><p>The WHA announced in the spring, when awarding a franchise to Cincinnati, that Cincinnati would participate in the 1973 amateur draft, which it did, and will draft from the amateurs next spring and would draft six players in an expansion draft next summer.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Cincinnati team is expected to sign some &ldquo;name&rdquo; players from the NHL.</p><p>The Indianapolis team, according to the recent announcement, will draft 12 players in an expansion draft besides participating in the 1974 amateur draft.</p><p>Wells pointed out that the Roadrunners are the first team to move &ldquo;in toto&rdquo; into a major league and several members of the current Roadrunner team are of WHA caliber, so &ldquo;we might not want to draft 12 players from an expansion pool and we certainly don&rsquo;t need to draft as many as do Indianapolis and Cincinnati.&rdquo;</p><p>The Roadrunners added foiur players, bringing the number of they own to 21, in late summer deals.</p><p>The Roadrunners obtained center Murray Keogan, leftwinger Dale Yutsyk and defenseman Andre Aubry from the St. Louis Blues&rsquo; organization and center and left winger Dave Bonter from the Vancouver Canucks.</p><p>Keogan, Yutsyk and Aubry are ex-collegiate stars, Keogan was the Blues&rsquo; first draft choice in 1970 but elected to remain at the University of Minnesota until he finished college. Yutsyk was picked off the Colorado College campus the previous year, but like Keogan, awaited graduation before turning pro.</p><p>Aubry played at a Canadian university in Quebec and last season was his first as a pro.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-01

Economics, Parity, Immediate Franchise All Factors In Roadrunners Joining WHA

<p>DENVER&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>H</span>ow soon they forget. Back in the 1970-71 season when the Denver Spurs were hours from folding up, Billye Tellinger almost single handedly kept hockey alive in the Mile High City.</p><p>She quit her job as the club&rsquo;s secretary and went to work for the Spurs for nothing. Then, she got the ball rolling and kept it going until it had picked up $50,000 for operating expenses for the remainder of the Western Hockey League season.</p><p>Her only reward was to watch her Spurs, operated by the St. Louis Blues in 1971-72, win the league championship and the Lester Patrick Cup in the playoffs.</p><p>She was given another reward last month. She was fired by the Spurs.</p><p>It was one of the first moves by Gus Kyle, who was appointed the club&rsquo;s public relations in midsummer, replacing Billye after she had held that office for a year.</p><p>It didn&rsquo;t endear him to the Denver news media nor a large segment of the fans.</p><p>Wrote Harley Key of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver&rsquo;s morning paper:</p><p>&ldquo;For devotion to duty, service above and beyond the call and general excellence, the Denver Spurs of the Western Hockey League have passed out a bonus.</p><p>&ldquo;They fired Billye Tellinger, mainspring in the front-office operation, Girl Friday and the gal who almost personally saved the franchise from extinction and then held the operation together with spit, glue and paper clips during trials and tribulations of the immeidate past.&rdquo;</p><p>Like everyone else, Key wanted to know why.</p><p>&ldquo;I really don&rsquo;t believe we have to comment on it,&rdquo; said Kyle, who pointed out that Billye had been demoted on his arrival to a secretary&rsquo;s role.</p><p>&ldquo;Kyle said he didn&rsquo;t believe it was necessary to explain the dismissal of secretarial help,&rdquo; reported Key, who pointed out that &ldquo;Mrs. Tellinger didn&rsquo;t by any stretch of the imagination fall into the category of a secretary.&rdquo;</p><p>To his question if Billye was competent, Key reported Kyle responded: &ldquo;Oh, yes. Very much so and our wishes go out to Billye in any future endeavour. We would give her the highest of recommendations. She&rsquo;s a great girl and was great in her job.&rdquo;</p><p>The Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association didn&rsquo;t wait long. They offered her a job immediately and after a short vacation, she went to work for the Rockets.</p><p>The Spurs&rsquo; loss is the Rockets&rsquo; gain.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Saviour Of Spurs Gets Her Reward—She’s Fired

<p>SAN DIEGO&mdash;</p><p>The Western Hockey League&rsquo;s all-time &ldquo;bad man&rsquo;, Connie Madigan is back.</p><p>The hard-nosed defenseman was purchased outright by the San Diego Gulls from the St. Louis of the National Hockey League. Madigan played 20 games in the NHL last season after starring with Portland Buckaroos for nine years.</p><p>Madigan will be in the Gulls&rsquo; lineup for their eighth season opened Fri. Oct. 5 in the Sports Arena against the Phoenix Roadrunners.</p><p>Coach Jack Evans had a good look at most of his younger players in first pre-season game against the Portland Buckaroos in Bellingham. Portland topped San Diego 4-2 as Evans sat out most of his veterans and took a good hard look at the kids. Laurie Yaworski, a one year pro and newcomer Bernie Gagnon tallied for the Gulls John Adams and rookie Dave Fischer shared the goaltending duties.</p><p>Veteran performers John Miszuk, Al LeBrun, Bob Courcy, Gerry Goyer, Bob Champoux, Roger LaFreniere and Tom Trevelyan did not see action in the Portland game. All are expected to see plenty of ice time in preparation for the opener against Phoenix.</p><p>The first month of the 1973-74 season the Gulls will play six home games, three on Friday, two on Saturday and a Sunday evening contest. The Phoenix game which is the home opener is the first Friday night contest of the young season. Then on Sunday the 7th the Seattle Totems make their first appearance in San Diego in a game which will face off at 7:00 p.m.</p><p>Salt Lake City invades the Arena on Saturday night Oct. 20 and Portland makes their first local appearance on Saturday, Oct. 27.</p><p>Face off for all Gull games in 8:00 p.m. with the exception of the Sunday games which begin at 7:00 p.m.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Gulls Get Madigan From Blues

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01236/3753223-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="288" height="455"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ron Marlow</b></figcaption></div><p>OMAHA&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>wo players who had joined the Omaha Knights for their successful playoffs last spring were looking the sharpest the first week of training camp, as the Knights and the parent Atlanta Flames worked out in Ottawa. They were Jackie Wells, player-coach at Charlotte in the Eastern League last winter, and John Huber, Des Moines defenseman who led the International League in penalties with 282 minutes last season.</p><p>Omaha coach Fred Creighton made a winger out of Huber for the playoffs, because &ldquo;he loves to hit people,&rdquo; and continued to use the rookie up front in training camp.</p><p>With the parent Flames taking a good look at several men from last year&rsquo;s Adams Cup champions, Creighton couldn&rsquo;t be sure just how many experienced hands the Knights would have for the Central League season-opener, Oct. 13.</p><p>Forwards Wayne Schaab (31 goals), Allie Sutherland (23), Scott Smith (19) and Alan Young (18) were expected back after fine rookie years. Blue-liners could include Ed Kea, and either Dwight Bialowas or Jean Lemieux. One or both of the latter pair could stay with Atlanta.</p><p>Center Lynn Powis, who garnered 34 goals for the Knights last season, was traded to Chicago Black Hawks, and could possibly be wearing a Dallas uniform in the CHL this winter. In return the Flames got Dallas defenseman Mike Baumgartner, who is a possibility for-Omaha.</p><p>Center John Martin, who started at Omaha last winter but went to Baltimore in the American League in mid-season, could return to the Knights. They could also get defenseman Kerry Ketter from Atlanta.</p><p>Goaltending possibilities were Jim Shaw (formerly with Dallas and Fort Worth), who spent last season at Baltimore (3.64) average, and Ted Lenssen, who was at Des Moines (4.63).</p><p>Of the Flames&rsquo; top amateur draft choices, center Tom Lysiak (58 goals for Medicine Hat) was expected to stick with Atlanta, but center Vic Mercredi (52 goals for New Westminster, B.C.) was an Omaha possibility.</p><p>Among the other draftees, Creighton was hoping to get winger Eric Vail, who had 48 goals for Sudbury last year. Other prospects included left wing John Flesch, Lake Superior State College; right wing Bob Law, North Dakota University, and defensemen Ken Houston, from Chatham; Bob Bilodeau, New Westminster; Glen Surbey, Loyola Montreal, and Guy Ross, Sherbrooke.</p><p><b>TULSA:</b> The first seven players assigned to the new-look independent Tulsa Oilers weren&rsquo;t announced until Sept. 23, when Chicago Black Hawks assigned four and Detroit Red Wings three.</p><p>Other National League clubs were to announce player loans to Tulsa, the date general managercoach Ray Miron would assemble his squad at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto for its first practice session.</p><p>Chicago loaned left wing Bill Orban, a veteran of seven professional seasons, including three in the big time with the Hawks and Minnesota North Stars. Bill began last season with Portland in the Western League, but missed most of the campaign with a thigh injury, which required surgery.</p><p>The other Black Hawk chattels sent to Tulsa were three forwards with Dallas&rsquo; first-place CHL finishers last season&mdash;right wing Clyde Simon and left wings Bob Peppier and Bill Pettinger. All three were rookies at Dallas a year ago.</p><p>Detroit sent defenseman Doug Hinton, who played the past three seasons with Fort Worth of the CHL, plus amateur goalie Glen Seperich and center Dan Makey.</p><p>Seperich was with the Port Huron Flags of the International League last winter, but had a four-game trial with Fort Worth in February. Makey, once a promising intermediate hockey player, chose professional baseball for a career, but has decided his future is on the ice, not on the diamond.</p><p>Assignments expected by Miron from other NHL clubs Sept. 24 included three from Atlanta, two from the New York Rangers, two or three from St. Louis, and seven from Toronto.</p><p>Among the early Toronto arrivals in Oklahoma City were goaler Gordon McRae and defensemen Claire Alexander and Ron Clarke. Clarke and Alexander impressed in four-goal pro trials last year with Tulsa after being called up from the Ontario Senior Hockey League. McRae also saw service in 42 CHL games with Tulsa before going up to perform in 11 NHL games with the Maple Leafs.</p><p>Other Leaf possibilities for either Tulsa or Oke City were 40-goal center Reg Bechtold from last year&rsquo;s Oiler club, Lyle Moffat, who also scored 40 times for tulsa, and defensemen Dave Fortier, and Brian Bowles as well as most of leafs&rsquo; amateur draft picks with the exception of Lanny McDonald and Ian Turnbull.</p><p><b>FORT WORTH:</b> Although most of the Wings will be new to Fort Worth fans this season, since the new York Islanders are the new parent club, there was one familiar face on the club at Peterborough, Ont. training camp.</p><p>Goalie Ron Marlow, at Fort Worth the past two seasons, was signed as a free agent, after he was cut by the Detroit system. A succession of injuries kept Marlow out of competition most of last season, but he compiled a 2.56 average in the 13 games he played, the lowest average in the CHL.</p><p>The squad was completed by the signing of four players who broke in as rookies with New Haven in the American League last year. They were center-left wing Richard Grenier, center victor (Skeeter) Teal, right wing Bob Nystrom and defenseman Ken McPhail.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02176/3753216-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="557" height="711"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BILL ORBAN&hellip;Sent By Hawks</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03121/3753209-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="541" height="708"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GORDON McRAE&hellip;Back In CHL</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0032-01

Tulsa Lands Seven From NHL Teams; Leafs Drop McRae Down To Blazers

<div class="byline">BY LEN HOYES</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0754/3753327-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="268" height="461"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Moose Lallo</b></figcaption></div><p>MUSKEGON&mdash;</p><p>For the first time in 14 seasons there&rsquo;s a new look in the training camp of the Muskegon Mohawks.</p><p>And for the first time in seven seasons the Mohawks go into training with a resolve that &ldquo;what happened last season won&rsquo;t happen again.&rdquo; General ManagerCoach Moose Lallo enters the 1973-74 campaign in the International Hockey League as the &ldquo;king of all&rdquo; for the first time. The onetime IHL all-star defenseman is optimistic as he ponders a new working agreement with the New York Islanders.</p><p>He expected to have 35-to-40 candidates and. for the most part, the Mohawks of &rsquo;74-&rsquo;75 will be new. The only &ldquo;sure&rdquo; returnees are forwards Brian McLay, Bob Tombari and Bob Olein and defenseman Dan Sharpe.</p><p>Most of the troubles in a fourthplace finish in the IHL&rsquo;s North Division last season can be blamed on a shaky start.</p><p>Most of the summer of 1972 was devoted to changeover in ownership as Lallo, heading a 10-man group of Muskegon hockey boosters. negotiated with owner Jerry DeLise.</p><p>Lallo already had been named general manager by DeLise but had given up his coaching duties to McLay, one of the highest-scoring forwards in the IHL&rsquo;s 29-season history.</p><p>The complete changeover didn&rsquo;t happen until Oct. 17, after the season had begun.</p><p>DeLise, a former HOCKEY NEWS minor league executive of the year, stayed with the Mohawks as advisor until Oct. 31. The colorful but sometimes controversal DeLise later signed as managing director of hockey personnel for the New York Golden Blades of the World Hockey Association.</p><p>During his 12-year Muskegon stay the Mohawks won the regular-season championship four times in a one-division IHL and twice won division titles. They won the Turner Cup in the playoffs in 1962 and 1968.</p><p>With the changeover in management and coaching, the Mohawks got off to a poor start both in the standings and at the box office. They were 0-8-1 for the first nine games and 1-15-2 for the first 18.</p><p>Much of the problems stemmed from the absence of help from the parent Montreal Canadiens. Only two players, Gary Ford and Graham Parsons, arrived all season.</p><p>However, Ford, was the key to the Mohawks&rsquo; reversal. He eventually scored a career-high 141 points with 60 goals and 81 assists, winning the scoring title for third time in six seasons and being named most valuable player.</p><p>Now Ford probably won&rsquo;t be back. At 27 years of age, he&rsquo;s too old to play in the IHL as a pro-on-option and is playing the second year of a two-year contract. He was by Montreal to Minnesota and is ticketed for New Haven in the American Hockey League.</p><p>So, it&rsquo;s a new look for the Mohawks of 1973-74.</p><p>Lallo is back behind the bench, having replaced McLay partly through last season when the latter suffered a knee injury which restricted action to 43 games. McLay returns as captain, a post which Tombari handled last winter.</p><p>Lallo spent considerable time at the Islanders&rsquo; training camp in Peterborough, Ont., lining up prospects.</p><p>Eric Nadel, Mohawk public relations director, said, &ldquo;Moose called me and he&rsquo;s optimistic because he thinks we&rsquo;ll be getting some good young players. They&rsquo;ll be making final cuts before our training camp begins and we should get them early in the season.&rdquo;</p><p>A good start is essential to Muskegon, because most of its crowd comes from gate sales. Nadel said, &ldquo;It looks like we may have 300 to 400 season tickets sold this season so we hope to get a winning start to get the other fans interested quickly.&rdquo;</p><p>Last year, the Mohawks averaged only 2,142 for their first 20 games but drew 3,297 for the last 17 for an over-all average of 2,672. Included in the last 17 games were six crowds of more than 4,000.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re opening training camp to the public for the first time. Our booster club, which was started only last January, already has 435 members,&rdquo; Nadel said.</p><p>&ldquo;Moose wants this team to belong to the fans. We want everyone to get involved. Every one of the owners is a local person who believes in Muskegon. They&rsquo;re telling the fans &lsquo;This is your team:&rsquo; and they&rsquo;re selling in on that basis.&rdquo;</p><p>Everyone in Muskegon, especially the owners of the Mohawks, is figuring on a contending team.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0847/3753320-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="558" height="858"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GRAHAM PARSONS&hellip;Returns To Hawks</b></figcaption></div><p><b>AROUND THE IHL</b> &mdash; Fort Wayne Manager-Coach Marc Boileau assisted in the Pittsburgh Penquins&rsquo; training camp where defenseman Jim Pearson and goalie Don Atchison were impressive. The Komets are preparing for their 22nd consecutive season&hellip;Flint Generals lost high-scoring Wayne Zuk to the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association&hellip;Port Huron needing to fill three big holes with retirement of Billy LeCaine, promotion of Bobby McCammon to coach and signing of goalie Bill McKenzie to five-year contract by Detroit Red Wings.</p><p>Saginaw Coach Don Perry, already in town, figures on losing 60-goal scorer Dennis Desrosiers to New Haven but figures on most of the other stars of 1972-73 back, plus goalie Graham Parsons who played in Muskegon&hellip;Toledo defenseman John Gravel among the invitees to training camp by the Minnesota North Stars&hellip;Columbus Coach Moe Bartoli happy with performance of Owls&rsquo; rookie hopefuls in St. Louis training camp at Flint.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-07

Lallo Promises Reversal Of Last Season Only Four Hawks Assured Employment

<h2><b>OCTOBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01229/3753393-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="606" height="818"></div><h2><b>NOVEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02176/3753386-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="593" height="1187"></div><h2><b>DECEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03135/3753379-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="601" height="1487"></div><h2><b>JANUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0489/3753372-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="605" height="1461"></div><h2><b>FEBRUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0558/3753365-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="582" height="1076"></div><h2><b>MARCH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0639/3753358-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="564" height="154"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-01

SOUTHERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY DAVID LAMM</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0733/3753438-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="277" height="446"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ted Lanyon</b></figcaption></div><p>GREENSBORO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>B</span>y nature, Ted Lanyon is a conservative fellow. The new coach of the Greensboro Generals thinks defense wins hockey games. That comes as no surprise since the former rearguard won more than his share during a sparkling minor league career.</p><p>When it was announced this summer that Lanyon, who spent many of his successful playing days in Greensboro, was returning to the Generals as the coach, the 34-year-old made no big promises. &ldquo;The Generals will ice a well-conditioned, enthusiastic team,&rdquo; he told reporters. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t promise a championship, but I can promise I&rsquo;ll make every effort to bring the first Southern Hockey League crown to Greensboro.&rdquo;</p><p>Because of his well-Known reluctance to go overboard with his tongue, Lanyon recently shocked the local media.</p><p>After he and Norman Curtis, president and general manager of the Generals, returned from a trip to the Los Angeles Sharks&rsquo; training camp, Lanyon noted, &ldquo;I saw more talent in the Sharks&rsquo; camp than I&rsquo;ve ever seen in a hockey camp.&rdquo;</p><p>The Generals, of course, are the Sharks&rsquo; top farm club and they expect much of that talent to wind up wearing Greensboro&rsquo;s new red and white uniforms.</p><p>Curtis was in full agreement with his coach, who says he won&rsquo;t return to the ice as a player &ldquo;unless it&rsquo;s absolutely necessary.&rdquo;</p><p>Lanyon and Curtis discussed the situation with Coach Terry Slater of the Sharks and Slater mentioned several skaters likely ticketed for Greensboro.</p><p>Among the names mentioned were Howie Heggedal, Bob Wright, Nelson Leclair, Tom Serviss and Guy Hildebrand, all forwards.</p><p>Heggedal played with the Generals last year, scoring almost a goal a game and being named the player of the year in the defunct Eastern League&rsquo;s Southern Division.</p><p>Wright is a Montreal Canadien draftee who chose the WHA. &ldquo;He should be the most exciting right winger to ever play in the South,&rdquo; commented Curtis, who isn&rsquo;t as conservative a talker as Lanyon.</p><p>Serviss spent last year with the Sharks, while Leclair played for Des Moines of the International League. Hildebrand was an All-American at Colorado College who is labeled a future superstar.</p><p>Another name mentioned was Mike Ralph, who did a fine job in goal for the Generals last year.</p><p>Lanyon and Curtis also visited the New York Islanders&rsquo; camp at Peterboro, Ont., to check on the progress of defenseman Brian Derksen, an All Star performer for the Generals last year.</p><p>&ldquo;Ifthe Islanders feel Brian needs another year of seasoning, we should get him,&rdquo; beamed Curtis.</p><p>Greensboro fans got a good look at many of the Generals prospects recently when the Sharks played the Houston Aeros (and papa Gordie Howe and sons) in an exhibition game in the Greensboro Coliseum.</p><p>Over at nearby Winston-Salem, the Polar Twins weren&rsquo;t ready to list names, but optimism was flooding the area.</p><p>The Polar Twins will get their team from the Edmonton Oilers, and the WHA club is telling the new franchise it will have a contending team.</p><p>&ldquo;Bill Hunter, vice president and general manager of the Oilers, told me on the telephone we can expect to have a championship-calibre teams,&rdquo; said Pat Shetler, the Twins&rsquo; administrative director.</p><p>Don Carter, the Twins&rsquo; general manager-coach, has been in the Oilers camp since opening day assisting the parent club and is echoing the same feeling.</p><p>Meanwhile, back home President Bob Davison is elated over how well the Winston-Salem community is taking to hockey.</p><p>&ldquo;We had a luncheon with the Chamber of Commerce,&rdquo; said Davison, &ldquo;and the response was tremendous. The business leaders of this city want a winner and a good wholesome form of entertainment for their citizens.&rdquo;</p><p>Memorial Coliseum, home of the Polar Twins, will have ice facilities completely installed in time for the team to work out for a week before its Oct. 12 season opener against the visiting Generals. Winston-Salem, incidentally, will play two exhibition games at Charlotte Oct. 7 and 10.</p><p>At North Bay, Ont., General Manager-Coach Keke Mortson has 40 candidates trying to make the Macon Whoopees&rsquo; roster.</p><p>&ldquo;We need some help defensively,&rdquo; reported Mortson. &ldquo;but overall I&rsquo;m pleased with the progress we&rsquo;re making.&rdquo;</p><p>The effort of the players is what pleases Mortson the most. In a recent workout, defenseman Steve Johnson checked Tom Driscoll so hard that Driscoll suffered a broken leg.</p><p>Johnson, drafted from the Generals, and left winger Wayne Horne, drafted from Roanoke Valley, are looking good.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we made two wise draft selections,&rdquo; said Mortson.</p><p>Keke will bring his team to Macon for its last 10 days of camp and that&rsquo;s creating a lot of interest in the Georgia city which is entering its first year of hockey.</p><p>General Manager-Coach Pat Kelly of the Charlotte Checkers is scouting the Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; and California Golden Seals&rsquo; camps looking over prospects who might wind up with the Checkers who opened training camp Oct. 1 at St. Catharines.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited,&rdquo; said Kelly.</p><p>Coach Gregg Pilling of the Roanoke Valley Rebels doesn&rsquo;t say it, but he&rsquo;s seriously thinking of giving Rebel fans their second championship in as many years.</p><p>The Vancouver Blazers of the WHA are loaded with talent, says Pilling who has been assisting Coach Phil Watson in camp.</p><p>&ldquo;The Blazers have a lot of good players who won&rsquo;t be able to make their team,&rdquo; said Pilling. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not promising any championship, but we will have a good team&mdash;and another crowd-pleasing team.&rdquo;</p><p>Competition in the camp is so close that neither Watson nor Pilling is ready to start releasing names. The Rebels opened their own camp Oct. 1 in the Virginia city. Exhibitions game are set for Oct. 9 vs. the Suns and Oct. 10 vs. the Generals.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0828/3753431-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="541" height="697"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HOWIE HEGGEDAL&hellip;Goal-a-Game Pace</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0918/3753424-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="513" height="647"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TOM SERVISS&hellip;Eyed By Generals</b></figcaption></div><p>The New England Whalers and the Minnesota Fighting Saints staged an exhibition game is St. Petersburg. Fla., giving Sun coast Sun fans a look at some of the talent their team may get. Both WHA teams are using the Suns as their top farm club.</p><p>Coach Larry Kish opened the Suns&rsquo; training camp Oct. 1 at Woonsocket, R.I.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-07

Lanyon Not Making Promises But Generals Can Be Threat

<p>LONG ISLAND&mdash;</p><p>When the Chicago Cougars of the World Hockey Association announced they were going to take over the North American Hockey League franchise here by stocking the club with top players, they just weren&rsquo;t whistling in the dark.</p><p>Club general manager Gerry Lamoureux probably couldn&rsquo;t believe his eyes when the Cougars unloaded 13 of their cuts on his club, which on paper will make the Long Island team a strong contender for league honors.</p><p>For starters the Cougars dropped defenseman Larry Cahan, goaler Andre Gill and forwards Dan Lodboa, Dick Sarrazin and rugged Reg Fleming in the laps of the NAHL Cougars.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01220/3753490-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="566" height="595"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DAN LODBOA</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02184/3753483-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="559" height="577"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PETE MARA</b></figcaption></div><p>It was just what the Long Islanders needed to be able to rank with the rest of the NAHL clubs in the reorganized league. The four players are all top performers with good records in past years. Cahan, who is admittedly not too young for pro hockey at 39, is still considered a good checker and offensive scorer who could prove a definite asset to the Cougars Fleming has already played with several NHL clubs and Gill was a top net-minder in the AHL with Hershey Bears for years before jumping to Chicago last season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03137/3753476-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="558" height="858"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>REG FLEMING</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04111/3753469-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="551" height="849"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARRY CAHAN</b></figcaption></div><p>Probably the best catch of all is hard-shooting Dan Lodboa, who had 61 goals in two years with Dallas in the Central League. The former Cornell University star could be a big man for the Long Island team.</p><p>Other players assigned to the Cougars from the WHA were goaler Paul Menard, defensemen Dick McGlynn, Doug Towler and Dan Justin, a big rookie from Minneapolis junior hockey; and forwards Darrell Knibbs, Gary Connelly, Bill Fraser and Pete Mara.</p><p>Certainly the presence of players like Sarrazin, who once was a fine prospect in the Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; chain, Lodboa, Fleming, Mara and Knibbs, the latter two former International Hockey League stars, is bound to boost the Cougars into a litle threat under new coach John Brophy.</p><p>In other NAHL developments, two league teams were strutting after toppling their parent WHA clubs. The Syracuse Blazers knocked over the New York Golden Blades 5-4 and the Maine Nordiques took the measure of their top club, the Quebec Nordiques, in an early exhibition start.</p><p>Both games were more of an experiment for the teams involved but the NAHL clubs were feeling pretty good about coming back with victories, nonetheless.</p><p>The Cape Cod Cubs appear to have lost high-scoring Jim Sherritt to the Los Angeles Sharks of the WHA. Sherritt has been outstanding in exhibition games and could catch a berth in the major league.</p><p>Getting back to the Cougars, they have added an Oct. 9 exhibition date against the B.C. Dusters to be played at the Long Island Arena. Already scheduled is a home and home series against Cape Cod and the big Oct. 5 date with the WHA Chicago Cougars at the Arena.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-01

Cahan, Fleming Among 13 Optioned To L.I. Cougars

<h2>SEPTEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01198/3753563-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="617" height="329"></div><h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02148/3753556-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="645" height="1778"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03110/3753549-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="623" height="2017"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0473/3753542-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="636" height="1774"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0545/3753535-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="602" height="1859"></div><h2>FEBRUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0631/3753528-1-eng-US/f0036-062.jpg" title="f0036-06" width="606" height="1843"></div><h2>MARCH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0727/3753521-1-eng-US/f0036-072.jpg" title="f0036-07" width="613" height="1607"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0036-01

ONTARIO MAJOR LEAGUE

<p>TORON TO&mdash;</p><p>Toronto Marlboros have just completed a deal with the Sudbury Wolves bringing highly touted defenseman Greg Neeld to Toronto.</p><p>In exchange for Neeld the Wolves are to receive defenseman Jim Stewart, right wingers Paul Crowley and Geoff Green as well as future considerations.</p><p>Crowley and Green have two years remaining and Stewart three years, giving the Wolves a pretty good nucleus over the next two seasons.</p><p>In receiving Neeld, the Marlies pick up a much needed defenseman. Neeld has two years of eligibility.</p><p>In 54 games last year, Greg scored 9 goals and 31 assists while spending only 41 minutes in the penalty box.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Marlboros Acquire Neeld From Wolves

<div class="byline">BY JOHN HENDRY</div><p class="dropcap"><i><span>T</span>his is the second in an 11-part series highlighting individual clubs in the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior A League. This week &mdash; Kitchener Rangers</i>.</p><p>KITCHENER&mdash;</p><p>Since the exit, of Walter Tkaczuk. Jack Egers, Don Luce, Mike Robitaille, Tim Ecclestone and Ab Demarco, the fans of Kitchener have never seen their heroes emerge from the second division. In fact, when it appeared two years ago that they just might make it to the top internal strife led to complete despair on the ice, and all hopes for a contender were quickly quelled.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0822/3753594-1-eng-US/f0036-082.jpg" title="f0036-08" width="287" height="453"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Rick Chartraw</b></figcaption></div><p>Part of that improved team were players such as the popular Bill Barber, Minnesota hopeful Jerry Byers and Tom Cassidy, now in the California Seal organization. As the sun rose on the opening day of the 1973 training camp in Kitchener, a strange feeling of optimism filled the air, a confidence not felt in over five previous seasons.</p><p>Among the reasons for the optimism was the arrival of Doug Risborough, super center acquired from Guelph, in the Southern Ontario Junior A loop.</p><p>Risborough a very talented and natural player, displayed his attributes well last year by winning every award there was available to him among them &mdash; most valuable player, outstanding forward, most points, most goals and most penati minutes.</p><p>His teamate Rick Chartraw said recently &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been trying to figure out who reminds me of since camp opened and I finally got it &mdash; Walter Tkaczuk. He&rsquo;s strong as an ox and virtually impossible to knock off the puck. He&rsquo;s a fantastic hockey player.&rdquo;</p><p>Chartraw, a 19-year-old, hailing from Erie, Pa. is another big reason coach Eddie Bush, is smiling while glancing over his list of returnees.</p><p>Rick has all the attributes of making himself a mark in hockey. He&rsquo;s a big kid (6&rsquo;2&rdquo;, 211 lbs.) and with his side job working on construction, he is developing an extremely strong body.</p><p>&ldquo;This is my year. &ldquo;Rick said &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to develop myself into the number one defensive draft choice this year. All I have to do is dedicate myself for six months &mdash; and I&rsquo;ll do it.&rdquo;</p><p>Each time out Chartraw improves. He gives little room, lays on a lot of lumber and is perhaps one of the meanest men in hockey in front of the net.</p><p>Other returning defensemen are 19-year-old Jerry Badiuk, a specialist in punishing checks and high flying hip checks and 17-year-old Dave Maloney a shoo in star of the future. Dave has played with the Rangers since he was 15 and has kept the fans on the edge of their seats with his extraordinary puck control and end to end rushes.</p><p>Also returning is last year&rsquo;s first draft choice (midget) Larry Huras. He&rsquo;s a big kid (6&rsquo;2&rdquo;, 185 lbs.) and has had problems getting his confidence but has desire. When the confidence comes he could be a good one.</p><p>Returning forwards this year are Glen Richardson, Tony White, Rick Bourbonnais, Brian Bye, Colin Thompson, Joe Fortunato, Mke McKegney, Brian Jones, Frank Davis, Gord Cowan and Paul Evans.</p><p>Much to the dismay of the other 10 member clubs in the league, the above list is also a potential threat to statisticians.</p><p>Fortunato in his second year is quite possibly the fastest skater in the entire league; coupled with his native ability to put the puck in the net. Coach Bush is looking for big things from him this season.</p><p>Size appears to be a commodity this season with the Rangers. Returning forwards Rick Bourbounnais, Glen Richardson and Peter Sturgeon, and Mike McKegney are all over six feet.</p><p>Bourbonnais and Richardson have already established themselves as rugged fighters in the first three exhibition games, both scoring unanimouis decisions over their opponents.</p><p>Peter Sturgeon, sent to Chatham of the Southern Ontario Junior A league last year, has shown his desire to stay by some pretty impressive playing &mdash; including a hat trick against the Toronto Marlboros. Sturgeon 6&rsquo;1&rdquo;, 217 lbs, likes the rugged play and has given many aching bones, bruises and black eyes to the opposition.</p><p>Former Rookie of the Year, Evans, whose specialty is killing penalties, is also back in the lineup.</p><p>Evans is an smooth skater, tireless checker and an extremely talented stick handler.</p><p>Paul is the kind of kid every coach wished he had 20 of. He never gives up.</p><p>Rangers this year have a pretty solid lot of goaltenders, led by returnee Bob Blanchet.</p><p>Back up position has not yet been chosen, mainly because at the time of writing Rangers still have five goalies in camp. The number two position will probably go to either Jim Brown or Don Edwards. Both Edwards and Brown are exciting goalies with some good moves.</p><p>No team can rely solely on its returnees, the Ranger organization especially has learned this.</p><p>Among the most impressive of the first year players are defenseman Bill Clark (a rugged hitter who thrives on rough play) and Dwight Foster, a right winger who streaks around the ice like a bee. Dwight has shown some good &ldquo;efforts in recent exhibition games.</p><p>The Kitchener organization would be remiss if it didn&rsquo;t pick up at least one player with a million dollar name, this years is Danny Jakalovic (his friends call him Danny). Coach Eddie Bush is quite high on Danny because of Jakalovic&rsquo;s desire and ability to to play wide open aggressive hockey. He has also, been picking up points in games, and could be a crowd pleaser in Kitchener.</p><p>If coach Bush is able to coordinate and develop this group they will definitely end up in the first division.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0036-08

Long-Suffering Rangers Title Threat

<h2><b>OCTOBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01179/3753684-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="600" height="1648"></div><h2><b>NOVEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02139/3753677-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="590" height="1855"></div><h2><b>DECEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03105/3753670-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="626" height="1696"></div><h2><b>JANUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0485/3753663-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="632" height="1925"></div><h2><b>FEBRUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0569/3753656-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="571" height="1860"></div><h2><b>MARCH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0654/3753649-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="611" height="1864"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0037-01

WESTERN CANADA LEAGUE

<h2><b>WEST</b></h2><p>1&mdash;<b>Calgary</b></p><p>2&mdash;<b>Edmonton</b></p><p>3&mdash;<b>Medicine Hat</b></p><p>4&mdash;<b>Kamloops</b></p><p>5&mdash;<b>New Westminster</b></p><p>6&mdash;<b>Victoria</b></p><h2><b>EAST</b></h2><p>1&mdash;<b>Regina</b></p><p>2&mdash;<b>Brandon</b></p><p>3&mdash;<b>Flin Flon</b></p><p>4&mdash;<b>Saskatoon</b></p><p>5&mdash;<b>Swift Current</b></p><p>6&mdash;<b>Winnipeg</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

How WCHL Will Finish

<div class="byline">BY BOB STRUMM</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0740/3753739-1-eng-US/f0037-072.jpg" title="f0037-07" width="280" height="479"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ken Hodge</b></figcaption></div><p>SASKATOON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>oretelling the future in junior hockey has few comparisons in degree of difficulty. It&rsquo;s like picking the winner in a beauty contest among quintuplets</p><p>From season to season, there&rsquo;s very little to choose from club to club. The intangibles are numerous. And the inconsistencies of performance are due to the vast change over of personnel with each new year. Last season, the Western Canada Hockey League had 82 graduates, an average of almost seven per club. More than 50 of those are currently vying for employment in either the National Hockey League, the World Hockey Association or another pro circuit further down the ladder.</p><p>It&rsquo;s the accompanying invasion of strange faces which makes junior hockey so exciting. New stars which blossom in the WCHL&rsquo;s 12 member cities bring new hope and a fresh outlook with each schedule opener.</p><p>The foundation of the Western league has remained rather stable for the 1973-74 chase for the silverware, although there have been two franchise changes and three coaching alterations. The newest entry is expected to inject much-needed balance into the British Columbia sector of the league.</p><p>Kamploops Chiefs have assumed the Vancouver Nats&rsquo; franchise, joining Victoria Cougars and New Westminster Bruins as the West Coast trio. Chiefs&rsquo; coach will be Joe Tenant, who handled the club last year when it was a member of the B.C. Junior League.</p><p>The other franchise switch occurred in Winnipeg where a group of businessmen headed by Gerry Brisson assumed control of the team from Ben Hatskin. The entry will remain in Winnipeg and be nicknamed the Clubs instead of the Jets.</p><p>The two remaining coaching changes also involved Western Division teams. Ollie Dorohoy has inherited the island paradise in Victoria, while Ken Hodge takes over from Brian Shaw as boss of the Edmonton Oil Kings.</p><p>The regular schedule begins Oct. 4 with Saskatoon in Flin Flon, Calgary in Kamloops and Swift Current at Brandon. Each club plays 68 games.</p><p>Following is a brief look at the 12 clubs in order of expected finish with coaches and last season&rsquo;s record listed in parentheses:</p><h2><b>Western Division</b></h2><p>1. Calgary Centennials (Scotty Munro, third last season, 35-22-11) &mdash; The Cents have a bundle of talented returning forwards which should make them the highest-scoring club in the WCHL. These include Jerry Holland and Mike Rogers, both of whom collected more than 100 points in 1972-73. Also back are Danny Gare and Danny Mandryk. Cents&rsquo; only question mark is in goal where Garth Melarchuk inherits the pads of John Davidson, first-round draft choice of the St. Louis Blues.</p><p>2. Edmonton Oil Kings (Ken Hodge, first last season, 40-20-8) &mdash; The Kings lost the heart of their hockey club up front including first-round draft Darcy Rota. But they&rsquo;re never too far from the top and have some talented youngsters back such as Terry McDonald, Harold Snepsts. Terry Bucyk and Rocky Maze. The key-to-the Kings,&rsquo;though, will be their goaltending tandem of Larry Hendrick and Doug Soetaert, back for their third season together.</p><p>3. Medicine Hat Tigers (Jack Shupe, second last season, 39-20-9) &mdash; Gone are junior superstars Tom Lysiak and Lanny McDonald plus the whole starting defence corps and netminder Sam Clegg. The Tigers have a lot of rebuilding to do but have experienced players like Boyd Anderson (112 points), Ed Johnstone (105 points). Brad Gassoff, Barry Dean and Bryan Maxwell to form the core.</p><p>4. Kamloops Chiefs (Joe Tennant. sixth last season as the Vancouver Nats, 10-55-3) &mdash; There will be very little carry-over from last year&rsquo;s sorry bunch, but a couple of dandies who will help are Randy Andreachuk and Gord Stewart (74 points). Chris McMasters, scoring champion in the BCJHLin 1972-73. could become this league&rsquo;s rookie-of-the-year if he continues his preseason pace. Player help from Calgary includes forwards Jack Patterson and Timber Peck.</p><p>5. New Westminster Bruins (Punch McLean, fourth last season. 31-22-15) &mdash; Bruins&rsquo; top three scorers are gone, so is goaltender Terry Richardson (a first-round draft choice), and three-quarters of the defence is AWOL. It means Punch McLean has a giant rebuilding job to do and for the first time in three seasons the fourth Western playoff spot won&rsquo;t be a shoo-in.</p><p>6. Victoria Cougars (Ollie Dorohoy. fifth last season. 13-51-4) &mdash; The Cougars will close the gap between themselves and the rest of the pack considerably. A trade with the Regina Pats brought experienced players Brad Anderson and Glen Ing to the island. Returnees Al McLaren, Rick Williams, Rick Lapointe and Don Dziadyk have played well. Goaltender Glenn Beuckart and forward Al Dreger have been impressive rookies. But last place is still their destiny.</p><h2><b>Eastern Division</b></h2><p>1. Regina Pats (Bob Turner, third last season, 30-28-10) &mdash; The Million Dollar Kid. Dennis Sobchuk. is back to spearhead the offence along with linemates Clark Gillies and Mike Wanchuk and a host of other returnees. Greg Joly returns to anchor the defence and goaltender Ed Staniowski is another experienced performer. This should be the Pats&rsquo; year.</p><p>2. Brandon Wheat Kings (Rudy Pilous, fourth last season. 29-30-9) &mdash; Centre Ron Chipperfield, the Western Division&rsquo;s leading goalscorer a year ago with 72, is in uniform again. The Wheaties also have numerous returnees including Rick Blight, the 1972-73 rookie-of-the-year. Others are Kelly Greenbank, Rick Piche and goaltender Jim Rankin. The Wheat Kings seem to have the perfect blend of rookies and returnees this season.</p><p>3. Flin Flon Bombers (Patt Ginnell, second last season, 39-19-20) &mdash; Bombers will be tough to score against with defencemen Doug Hicks, Blair Davidson and Duan Bray and goaltenders Harvey Stewart and Roger Swanson back in the lineup, Up, front, there are a group of little guys who can put the puck in the net. The best is centre Al Hillier, out much of last season with a broken leg. Others are Kelly Secord, Del Iannone and Robbie Watt.</p><p>4. Saskatoon Blades (Jack McLeod, first last season. 4611-11) &mdash; The Blades lost 11 players from their Eastern Division championship team including goaltender Ed Humphreys who led the league with five shutouts and a 2.57 goals-against-average. Still, the Blades have some good ones returning&hellip;top scorer Bob Bourne (93 points), winger Danny Arndt and defenceman Pat Price. The Saskatonians will have to scramble to salvage the last playoff spot.</p><p>5. Swift Current Broncos (Stan Dunn, fifth last season, 27-35-6) &mdash; Broncos will be so close and yet so far again this year. They have a lot of experience on the front lines with Terry Ruskowski, David George and Dave Williams leading the way. Broncos also have one of the league&rsquo;s biggest lines consisting of rookies Willie Friesen, Ron Delorme and Bob Watson. But</p><p>6. Winnipeg Clubs (Gerry Brisson, sixth last season. 1642-10) &mdash; A change of name and a switch of franchise rights won&rsquo;t help Winnipeg this season. The Clubs have enough returnees from last year but maybe that&rsquo;s more of a hindrance that a help. The best of the crop is forward Don Larway Who led the team in with 35.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0037-07

Centennials Tops In West, Pats Should Win East Flag

<h2><b>SEPTEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01211/3753812-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="589" height="263"></div><h2><b>OCTOBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02160/3753805-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="604" height="1897"></div><h2><b>NOVEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03120/3753798-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="610" height="1846"></div><h2><b>DECEMBER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0481/3753791-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="614" height="1903"></div><h2><b>JANUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0557/3753784-1-eng-US/f0038-052.jpg" title="f0038-05" width="604" height="1853"></div><h2><b>FEBRUARY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0644/3753777-1-eng-US/f0038-062.jpg" title="f0038-06" width="599" height="1671"></div><h2><b>MARCH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0739/3753770-1-eng-US/f0038-072.jpg" title="f0038-07" width="605" height="1650"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0038-01

QUEBEC MAJOR LEAGUE

<div class="byline">&#x2014;BY HERB MYERS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01193/3753867-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="243" height="418"></div><h2><b>Manitoba Hockey League</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>oaching changes and the addition of a new franchise highlighted the league&rsquo;s pre-season activity. MJHL Commissioner <b>Bill Addison</b> announced the expansion of the league to nine teams this season as the Brandon Tier II Wheat Kings were admitted, but turned down an application from Thunder Bay. Brandon will serve as a farm club for the Major Juniors and will be coached by <b>Doug Clark</b>. At Selkirk, the Steelers have high hopes for the season following the signing of veteran <b>George Dorman</b> as coach of the youthful Steelers. Dorman, who last season led the West Kildonan North Stars to a second place finish in the Southern Division, brings an impressive coaching record with him to Selkirk and a challenging club is expected Replacing Dorman at West Kildonan is <b>Greg Lacomy</b>, who will be in his first Junior A season following eight successful coaching seasons in Juvenile hockey. Portage la Prairie Terriers, the Centennial Cup Champions, not only lost twelve overage players from last year&rsquo;s top Tier II club, but <b>Muzz MacPherson</b> has relinquished the Portage coaching reins to turn to scouting. The Terriers new coach, <b>Dale Peters</b>, is no stranger to the league, for he is a former MJHL and West Canada HL referee. At Dauphin, the Kings president <b>George Brayshaw</b> announced that former CHL and AHL player <b>Barrie Ross</b> had taken over the coaching duties, replacing <b>Cliff Lennartz</b>. The 37-year old Ross spent last season with the Russell Rams, in addition to eight years with the Yorkton Srs after completing his pro career with St. Paul and Buffalo. Defenseman <b>Brian Engbloom</b> of the Winnipeg Monarchs, the leagues MVP last season, accepted a hockey scholarship with NCAA champion University of Wisconsin. Two of last year&rsquo;s Selkirk Steelers, forwards <b>Gordon Williams</b> and <b>Milt Longworth</b>, had attended the St. Louis Training Camp.</p><h2><b>Ontario Provincial League</b></h2><p>The 44-game Provincial League schedule opened on Sept. 30 with the Markham Waxers the only league newcomer replacing Kingston, who moved up to the OHA Major. Early season information has the Vaughan Nats, Wexford and Richmond Hill tabbed as the teams to beat. <b>George Sterey</b>, last year&rsquo;s Vaughan coach, has moved up to VP of the large Nats organization and former Secretary <b>Paul Winneli</b> takes on the GM duties. Nats coach <b>Chuck Cromie</b> welcomed seven returning 18-year old Nats who will form the nucleus of this year&rsquo;s club. Forwards <b>Doug Bernett</b>, <b>Ken Wallace</b>, <b>Ray Koopman</b>, <b>Al Love</b> and high scoring <b>Bob Osborne</b> should provide firepower up front while blueliner <b>Charles Hughes</b> and goalie <b>Ray Hough</b> are expected to steady the defense. The Nats had a strong Jr. B club and should experience no shortage of capable Jr A performers. Two of last years overage Nats, center <b>John Cook</b> and defenseman <b>John Cowan</b>, were invited to the training camps of the California Golden Seals and New York Islanders while <b>Ron Bobbette</b> has been in the Toronto Toros rookie group.</p><h2><b>British Columbia League</b></h2><p>Coach <b>Don Slater</b>, who led the Penticton Broncos to the Western Centennial Cup finals only to lose to Portage la Prairie in seven games and <b>Don Culley</b> of Kelowna, are the only returning coaches from last season. The league lost Kamloops to the West Canada Major Jr, but added the Langley Lords with Mgr. Coach <b>Gil Lundihn</b> at the helm. The Vancouver Villas were moved to White Rock and <b>Gord McBeth</b> has been named skipper of the Centennials. Other new coaches include veteran player <b>Bob Briscoe</b> with Nanaimo Clippers, <b>Vern Dye</b> with Vernon Vikings, <b>Glen Newport</b> with Chilliwack Bruins and <b>Lawrence Gingras</b> with the Bellegham Blazers. The league opened its 62-game season on September 29th and will continue play through March 3rd Coach Slater has a rebuilding job on his hands as eight of his to| performers will not be returning this season. League leading scorer <b>Chad Campbell</b> is attending Denver University, league&rsquo;s number two scorer <b>Bob Nicholson</b> left for Providence College, Oustanding defense man <b>Ed Dempsey</b> is at Michigan Tech, forward Mike Heifield at North Dakota University, All-Star goalie <b>Glen Bueckert</b> moved up to the West Canada Major Jr with Victoria as did <b>Grant Mulvey</b> and <b>Les Crozier</b> who went to Calgary and Edmonton. 20-year-old <b>Lee Crozier</b> has joined the Macon Whoopees in the Southern Hockey League.</p><h2><b>Southern Ontario League</b></h2><p>The new Buffalo Tondas are playing their home games at Hyde Park until their new 2,000 seat arena in N. Tonawanda is readied in mid-December. The Tondas have signed two working agreements, one with St. Catherines to receive help from the OHA Major club and one with Fort Erie of the Niagara District Jr. B, where the Tondas will send their surplus personnel. Coach <b>Jerry Serviss</b>, instead of returning to Windsor, was named to coach the Flint Generals in the IHL. <b>Dennis Kemp</b>, Guelph&rsquo;s all-star goalie, is seeking a pro job in the Atlanta Flames camp. <b>Dino Serra</b>, Niagara Falls&rsquo; leading scorer last season, turned down pro offers to accept an RPI college scholarship.</p><p><b>Slap Shoots&hellip;Dean Worsley</b>, son of Minnesota North Stars&rsquo; goalie <b>Gump Worsley</b>, is try ing out with Oshawa in OHA Major&hellip;Brock University is conducting hasty search for a coach as coach <b>Dave Perrin</b> decided to return from Erie, Pa&hellip;Fort Erie Mgr. <b>Pat Murphy</b> announced that veteran Intermediate player <b>Larry Musselman</b> will replace Ike Sparling as coach of the Jr. Meteors in Niagara Jr. B&hellip;Newly formed 8-team New England Junior Hockey League will open 60-game schedule with seven Massachusetts teams and one from Rhode Island&hellip;<b>Sean Sheehy</b>, from International Falls, Minn., attending Boston College this fall, is the brother of Tim, ex-Boston College All-American now a star for the WHA New England Whalers&hellip;Duluth, Minn, high school star <b>Steve Oakes</b>, averaging a goal a game for the past two seasons, enrolled at Dartmouth College&hellip;Twins <b>Pat</b> and <b>Mike Flanagan</b> each scored 69 points for Choate School last season and will play this year for Coach <b>Allan Soares</b>&rsquo; Brown University Bruins<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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October 12, 1973

New WCHL Head Cracks Down After Exhibition Donnybrook

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

FAN FORUM

CARTOON CORNER