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October 19, 1973
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.
Decimated By Graduations, Tigers Aiming For Fourth
MEDICINE HAT— There’s one facet of the Western Canada Hockey League’s increasingly valuable package which hasn’t changed since they closed the vault on the 1972-73 season. And you can thank the faithful fans of the 12 respective clubs for this bit of stability. Here in Medicine Hat, for instance, the Tigers are still number one as far as the regular customers of the 4,800-seat Arena Convention Centre are concerned. But the rest of the WCHL membership is bent on proving otherwise in the upcoming months… and that’s what concerns Tiger coach Jack Shupe. Shupe lost nine players from his defending league champions through graduation, and these nine represented a bundle of goals and a sin bin full of penalty minutes. It was proven during the pro drafts of May when Tiger diplomas…
Byers Fails To Replace Ice Veteran
TWIN CITIES — Forwards Jerry Byers and Steve West and defensemen Ron Wilson and Chris Ahrens were sent out to New Haven as the first cuts of training camp. The optioning of Byers was somewhat of a surprise, since it was felt that he would eventually be moving into the left wing spot of 41-year-old Dean Prentice. Prentice wasn’t about to give his job up. so Byers went down…J. P. Parise was hit by a shoulder injury…Barry Gibbs became a third-time father during camp…North Stars had a wild exhibition schedule of seven games in eight nights at seven different cities. Their only day off was spent in traveling from New York to Portland…“It’s tough right now.” said Blair, “but it will get the guys in shape quickly and that’s what we…
Gainey’s Solid Defensive Play Wins Rookie Spot On Canadiens
MONTREAL— Somehow Bob Gainey just doesn’t fit. He’s a first round draft choice, and he’s big at 6‘2”, 187-lbs. A scorer, right? Wrong. Robert Gainey is a defensive forward. You know, those things that went out with ducktail harcuts and white socks. First round draft choices are usually guys like Denis Potvin and Tom Lysiak, guys who can score. Defensive forwards are little guys like Jim Roberts and Fran Huck. Gainey just doesn’t fit either of those molds. But one place Gainey does fit is in the Montreal Canadiens plans for this season. The Peterborough native is one of four rookies who will start this season with the defending Stanley Cup champions. “Bob is staying with the team, because he’s earned a spot,” says Hab coach Scotty Bowman. “He’s shown us a great deal in the…
Sophomore Season More Comfortable For Tough Durbano
ST. LOUIS— Steve Durbano says he feels “more comfortable” in his second year in the National Hockey League. Durbano’s feelings must be discomforting for the opposition. If he had felt any more comfortable last season as a rookie, he would have hung his nameplate on the doors of the NHL offices. Durbano’s rookie season was not a total artistic success. He was beginning to develop when he was forced out of action for two months with mononucleosis. Then he bounced back with a lot of gusto before slumping toward the end of the season. But Durbano at least showed that he was in the right league. He burst into the NHL as if he belonged in the big league all the time and he cut a wide swath as one of the enforcers…