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.

December 26, 1975

The Hockey News December 26, 1975

<p><b>(Standings on Tue, Dec. 16)</b></p><h2>PATRICK DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2120/3486085-1-eng-US/f0022-212.jpg" title="f0022-21" width="523" height="136"></div><h2>SMYTHE DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2217/3486078-1-eng-US/f0022-222.jpg" title="f0022-22" width="525" height="154"></div><h2>ADAMS DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2317/3486071-1-eng-US/f0022-232.jpg" title="f0022-23" width="522" height="132"></div><h2>NORRIS DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2414/3486064-1-eng-US/f0022-242.jpg" title="f0022-24" width="522" height="161"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><p><b>Tue, Dec. 9</b></p><p>Minnesota 0 at N.Y. Islanders 6; Washington 1 at Atlanta 7; Pittsburgh 2 at Kansas City 3; St. Lows 3 at Vancouver 5.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>Buffalo 2 at N.Y. Rangers 2; Philadelphia 1 at California 1; Toronto 3 at Montreal 3; Chicago 7 at Washington 2; Pittsburgh 2 at Detroit 3; St. Louis 0 at Los Angeles 5.</p><p><b>Thu, Doc. 11</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers 5 at Boston 1; Minnesota 5 at Kansas City 3.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>N.Y. Islanders 3 at Atlanta 3, Detroit 5 at Washington 3; St. Louis 2 at Californio 5; Philadelphia at Vancouver (postponed snow storm).</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 13</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers 5 at Detroit 2; N.Y. Islanders 5 at Toronto 3; Philadelphia 6 at Los Angeles 4; Kansas City 1 at Montreal 4; Boston 4 at Pittsburgh 4; Chicago 1 at Minnesota 2.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 14</b></p><p>Toronto 6 at N.Y. Rangers 1; Atlanta 7 at Buffalo 4; Pittsburgh 4 at Montreal 7; Minnesota 4 at Washington 4; Vancouver 2 at Boston 3; St. Louis 4 at Chicago 3</p><h2>GAMES TO COME</h2><p><b>Tue, Dec. 16</b></p><p>Kansas City at Atlanta.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec 17</b></p><p>N.Y Islanders at N.Y. Rangers; Philadelphia at Chicago; Atlanta at Minnesota; Montreal at Los Angeles; Boston at Washington; Pittsburgh at California. Buffalo at Detroit; Vancouver at Kansas City; St. Louis at Toronto.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 18</b></p><p>Toronto at N.Y. Islanders; Minnesota at Buffalo.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 19</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers at Atlanta; Philadelphia at Washington; Pittsburgh at Vancouver, Detroit at Kansas City; Chicago at California</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 20</b></p><p>N.Y Islanders at St. Louis; Montreal at Vancouver; Pittsburgh at Los Angeles; Detroit at Minnesota; Kansas City at Toronto; Buffalo at Boston.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 21</b></p><p>Minnesota at N.Y Rangers. N.Y Islanders at Chicago; St. Louis at Philadelphia; Atlanta at Boston; Montreal at California; Washington at Buffalo.</p><p><b>Mon. Dec. 22</b></p><p>Los Angeles at Toronto.</p><p><b>Tue, Dec. 23</b></p><p>Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers; Philadelphia at Atlanta; Los Angeles at Boston, - St. Louis at Chicago; Buffalo at Kansas City.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers at Detroit; Pittsburgh at Atlanta; Minnesota at Washington; Los Angeles at California; Boston at Buffalo.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-21

IN THIS ISSUE

LOOKING AT THE NHL SCOREBOARD

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div><p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>An informal insiders&rsquo; poll attempts to tell what the Kings are really like. The only player to top several categories is Neil Komadoski, who is listed as first into the dressing room each night and first to the dining table at all times.</p><p>Neil denies the latter. &ldquo;Hey, I can&rsquo;t compare with Larry Brown. Or even the kid, Gary Sargent. I only eat one meal most days.&rsquo;&rsquo; An insider laughs: &ldquo;He may eat only one meal, but he eats it all day long. We don&rsquo;t call him &lsquo;feedbag&rdquo; for nothing.&rdquo;</p><p>A 6-foot, 200-pounder, Komadoski smiles and admits that his wife, Lori, complains about his appetite at times. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s partly her fault. She&rsquo;s a great cook,&rdquo; he comments.</p><p>His main meal is the late-after-noon pre-game meal on game days. And he&rsquo;s not strickly a steak man. &ldquo;I mix it up spahgetti, lasagna, chicken,&rdquo; he grins.</p><p>If that sounds heavy, Neil will set you straight. &ldquo;Dieticians will tell you starchy stuff-carbohy-drates are digested most easily, so are the best pre-game meals.&rdquo;</p><p>He has made a study of it, it seems. Some non-game nights he searches out the best restaurants in southern California and treats Lori to an evening out. They are an active couple. They play a lot of tennis. He plays some golf. She works out at a health club regularly.</p><p>He is not as physical as he seems, however. Husky and handsome, he is a thoughtful, interesting lad. Lately he has taken to reading some heavy stuff, such as a current book on the CIA. &ldquo;I began to realize that we have a lot of time to kill, especially on road trips, and it would be a shame to waste it,&rdquo; he points out.</p><p>On the ice, Neil is physical. He&rsquo;s a strong skater and a heavy hitter, who is not afraid to lose a fight. He makes a lot of mistakes, but he seems to make less the more he plays. Manager Jake Milford says other teams always want to talk trade for Neil but coach Bob Pulford always has been high on his potential and hates to let him go.</p><p>Accordingly, in his fifth season as a pro and fourth as a major leaguer, the 24-year-old defenseman is getting his first real shot at regular duty. Although the left-hander has had to play on the right side a lot because of a shortage of defenseman on that side, he hasn&rsquo;t done badly.</p><p>&ldquo;The last three seasons I didn&rsquo;t play much. I&rsquo;d try too hard when I did play. I&rsquo;d run around out there trying to make an impression.</p><p>Now that I&rsquo;m playing in the regular rotation, I&rsquo;m starting to play positional hockey the way the coach wants it on this team. I was down on the game for awhile, but now I&rsquo;m up. I&rsquo;m gaining confidence in myself. I feel I&rsquo;ll make it,&rdquo; Komadoski comments.</p><p>Pully says, &ldquo;Neil has the best attitude of any player I&rsquo;ve coached If everyone was as easy to coach as Neil, coaching would be easier.&rdquo;</p><p>Terry Harper used to be the last in and the last to leave. Now Neil is the first into the dressing room. Bob Murdoch the last in, Frank St. Marseille the first one out, and Dave Hutchison and Rogie Vachon the last out, according to the insiders.</p><p>Mike Murphy talks the most to the other players, which may be why he was named captain. Murphy and Nevin speak the most scientifically of this sport. Hutchison uses the most colorful language. And he speaks the most to no one in particular.</p><p>Shelly Kannegiesser and Don Kozak work the most on their sticks. But, then, Kozie loses the most sticks. Kozak and Carr are the hardest on sticks, Komadoski the hardest on skates.</p><p>Harper used to be the best reader, but Berry and Murdoch may be now. However, Murdoch is the most apt to sightsee road cities. Kozak reads the least. Hutchison fusses the most with his hair, Butch Goring the least. Shelly is the best dresser, followed by Murphy and Vachon, while Butch is the worst. In fact, he was voted the worst in the league.</p><p><b>KINGS THINGS:</b> Incredibly, the inconsistent Kings lost to one of the worst, Washington, 7-2, then turned around and beat one of the best, Buffalo, 8-3, ending a losing streak and starting a winning streak&hellip;Normally unsentimental Bob Nevin sent his stick to the Hall of Fame and is having the puck mounted as a souvenir for his parents after becoming the 22nd NHL player to score 300 goals. At 37, Nevvy has averaged just under 20 goals a season for 16 seasons. He says he feels as good as ever, so he should surpass Gordie Howe&rsquo;s league record of 786 goals in his 41st season at the age of 62 in the year 2000. If he slows down, it may take a little longer&hellip;In his fifth season at the age of 24, Marcel Dionne tallied his 400th point in Oakland. Tom Williams won the game with a 65-foot shot that eluded Gilles Meloche with less than two minutes to play. It was Tom&rsquo;s longest goal of the season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02779/3485187-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="530" height="614"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>NEIL KOMADOSKI&hellip;Regular Now</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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Komadoski Flexes Muscle On Ice

<p>OKLAHOMA CITY&mdash;</p><p>Four games in five nights left manager-coach Ray Miron a little breathless. Three ties against a lone loss left his Blazers in a first-place tie with archrival Tulsa.</p><p>Short of centers after losing Paul Daigle to a knee operation, the Blazers acquired 23-year-old Gerry Teeple from Providence, in the American League. Gerry in his third season at Providence, had played junior hockey in Miron&rsquo;s old hometown of Cornwall, Ont.</p><p>Blazers held the top three spots in league scoring, as the team blasted away with a 4:09 scoring average. Claire Alexander, moved from defense to right wing, was tops with 35 points, Tom Cassidy had 31, and Scott Garland 27.</p><p>Alexander was busier than his teammates. On their one night off, he flow to Toronto on a one-game callup to the parent Maple Leafs.</p><p>&ldquo;We just haven&rsquo;t been playing as well as we played earlier,&rdquo; Miron said with a shake of his head. The Blazers couldn&rsquo;t hang on to 3-1 and 4-2 leads at home against Fort Worth, and played a 4-4 tie. Mike Ruest, Alexander, Bob Warner and Jack Valiquette provided the OC goals. The next night the Blazers were outplayed all the way in Tulsa, and blanked for 48 minutes before Garland and Cassidy found the net. It was too little and too late, as the Oilers won, 4-2. That squared the 20-game turnpike series at 2-2-</p><p>Alexander scored his 17th goal in 17 games. Nov. 29. at 2:52 of the third period to gain a 3-3 deadlock at Fort Worth. Bob Sykes and Garland had provided an early 2-0 lead which didn&rsquo;t stand up. The fourth game of the grind was a 1-1 tie at home against Salt Lake, as Blazer Pierre Hamel and Eagle Ernie Miller starred in a defensive gem. Only 4:36 was left on the clock when Paul Evans trickled in the Blazer goal that tied it up.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Shorthanded Blazers Top Point Race

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01691/3485558-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="320" height="623"></div><h2>ATLANTA FLAMES</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02603/3485551-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="712" height="708"></div><h2>BOSTON BRUINS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03483/3485544-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="703" height="800"></div><h2>BUFFALO SABRES</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04373/3485537-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="707" height="734"></div><h2>CALIFORNIA SEALS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05274/3485530-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="704" height="693"></div><h2>CHICAGO HAWKS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06221/3485523-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="701" height="744"></div><h2>DETROIT RED WINGS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-07198/3485516-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="717" height="682"></div><h2>KANSAS CITY SCOUTS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-08179/3485509-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="712" height="739"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES KINGS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-09157/3485502-1-eng-US/f0016-092.jpg" title="f0016-09" width="703" height="763"></div><h2>MINNESOTA STARS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-10135/3485495-1-eng-US/f0016-102.jpg" title="f0016-10" width="714" height="724"></div><h2>MONTREAL CANADIENS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-11121/3485488-1-eng-US/f0016-112.jpg" title="f0016-11" width="712" height="751"></div><h2>NEW YORK ISLANDERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-12105/3485481-1-eng-US/f0016-122.jpg" title="f0016-12" width="709" height="730"></div><h2>NEW YORK RANGERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1394/3485474-1-eng-US/f0016-132.jpg" title="f0016-13" width="706" height="828"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA FLYERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1488/3485467-1-eng-US/f0016-142.jpg" title="f0016-14" width="708" height="708"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH PENGUINS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1578/3485460-1-eng-US/f0016-152.jpg" title="f0016-15" width="736" height="794"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS BLUES</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1675/3485453-1-eng-US/f0016-162.jpg" title="f0016-16" width="709" height="732"></div><h2>TORONTO LEAFS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1767/3485446-1-eng-US/f0016-172.jpg" title="f0016-17" width="702" height="729"></div><h2>VANCOUVER CANUCKS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1860/3485439-1-eng-US/f0016-182.jpg" title="f0016-18" width="711" height="798"></div><h2>WASHINGTON CAPS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1955/3485432-1-eng-US/f0016-192.jpg" title="f0016-19" width="702" height="697"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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NHL SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

<p>&mdash;Page 3</p><p><b>TOP RUSSIANS TO FACE NHL IN SHOWDOWN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01602/3487606-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg" title="Cover-01" width="929" height="1289"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-02457/3487599-1-eng-US/cover-022.jpg" title="Cover-02" width="1286" height="1358"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>BILLY HARRIS</b></p><p><b>Tied Club Mark With Islanders</b></p></figcaption></div><p><b>ISLANDERS BECOMING OFFENSIVE THREAT&mdash;Page 9</b></p><p><b>DON&rsquo;T COUNT ME OUT SAYS BOSTON&rsquo;S BOBBY ORR&mdash;Page 12</b></p><p><b>CANADIAN DIVISION DOMINATES WHA&mdash;Page 25</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Cover-01

NHL, RUSSIANS EYE SUPER SERIES

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><p>ST. LOUIS&mdash;</p><p>The St. Louis Blues, who have led the National Hockey League in attendance the past five seasons, surprised their fans and many persons throughout hockey by acknowledging that the franchise is having financial problems.</p><p>Sidney Salomon Jr., chairman of the Blues, and Sid Salomon III, president of the club, admitted their money problems but denied various reports the Blues would move to New Orleans or Seattle or Denver or Miami.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02795/3484763-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="278" height="395"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Sid Salomon Jr.</b></figcaption></div><p>In the case of the Blues the problem is not with the hockey team itself. Even with a slight dip in average attendance this season the Blues are drawing about 17,000 fans a game, and the team apparently will show a season profit of about $350,000.</p><p>But the Salomons also own the St. Louis Arena, where the Blues play, and the huge building is the drain on the franchise&rsquo;s money&mdash;at the rate of about $2 million a year in losses.</p><p>When the Salomons were awarded the St. Louis NHL franchise in 1966, they paid $4 million for the Arena in purchasing it from the previous owner, the Chicago Black Hawks, who had a farm team in St. Louis. Over the years the Blues&rsquo; management has poured some $12 million into the 46-year-old Arena and made it a sports palace. Seating has been expanded, restrooms and concession stands have been refurbished, all new seats have been installed, a new scoreboard and new ice-making equipment have been installed, the Arena Club and Goaltenders Club have been built, and many other improvements made.</p><p>The heavy expenses and interest on mortgage payments have begun to catch up with the owners. The outstanding debt is estimated at about $8 million, and the Salomons confirm the $2 million-a-year deficit in operating the Arena.</p><p>The Salomons, who made their money largely in insurance, are determined to solve the current fiscal problems. They have asked for help from the City of St. Louis, and further talks will be held between representatives of the Blues and the city.</p><p>One factor the Blues&rsquo; management considers a problem is the competition for events from city-owned Kiel Auditorium, and the elder Salomon, a prominent Democratic politician, says he once secured a promise from city officials Kiel would be closed or converted to uses that would not compete with the Arena. Mayor John H. Poelker denies such a promise was made.</p><p>The Salomons asked for help this summer when they proposed that they be allowed to convert a portion of Forest Park across from the Arena into a parking lot to ease the congestion on the large Arena lot. Poelker and the city&rsquo;s Board of Aldermen were ready to approve the idea, but a storm of public protest saved the park from encroachment and doomed the plan for the parking lot. The Blues&rsquo; sale of season tickets is down nearly 2,000 this season, and the Salomons contend that about 1,000 of those who no longer come have responded in a survey that the parking problem at the Arena was a factor in relin-quishing season tickets.</p><p>The Arena is not air-conditioned and lies empty during the hot St. Louis summers while, of course, many of the operating expenses continue. During the winter the Arena is used by the Blues, the Spirits of the American Basketball Association and the hockey and basketball teams of St. Louis University as well as for ice shows.</p><p>The Salomons also complain about high taxes, and the NHL confirms that no other team in the league pays local taxes as high as those paid by the Blues. The heaviest tax is a city five-percent amusement tax levied on admissions.</p><p><b>The amusement tax plus other city and State taxes cost the Blues about $750,000 a year.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-02

Blues Admit To Financial Problems But Salomons Deny Club Will Move

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01863/3484794-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>American-born forward Curt Bennett of the Atlanta Hames is enjoying his best NHL season. The U.S. native is aiming for a 40-goal season and the chances of him making it are good. For details see page 18.</b></figcaption></div><h2>PATRICK BLUES&rsquo; COACH</h2><p>ST. LOUIS&mdash;</p><p>The first man to coach the St. Louis Blues when the NHL launched its 1967 expansion program is back at the helm of the club. Lynn Patrick, 63-year-old senior vice-president of the Blues, is obviously the stop-gap coach of the NHL team. Patrick said he would handle the team until the end of the current season only.</p><p>Patrick succeeds Gary Young as coach of the Blues after Young was fired when the club went into a 10-game tailspin. Young said he wasn&rsquo;t mad at anybody and noted that if a team does not win it&rsquo;s the coach&rsquo;s fault and you have to accept that when you take the job. Patrick was coach briefly last season when Lou Angotti was replaced for the same reason Young was dumped&mdash;they couldn&rsquo;t keep the Blues moving. Young is the second coaching casualty of the 1975-76 season. Detroit axed Doug Barkley last week and moved general manager Alex Delvecchio back into the coach&rsquo;s chair.</p><h2>RUSSIAN UNIMPRESSED</h2><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>The Montreal Canadiens skated over the Kansas City Scouts 4-1 in a Forum game but it didn&rsquo;t impress the &lsquo;scout&rsquo; sent by the Russians to look over the Montrealers in preparation for the upcoming super senes between the NHL and two Soviet teams.</p><p>The &lsquo;scout&rsquo;, who remained nameless, said he had come from Moscow to watch the contest with the hope of seeing a good game but&hellip;He said he planned to see another NHL game and hoped things would be more interesting. What was wrong with the game? The Russian didn&rsquo;t elaborate maintaining his politeness to the end.</p><h2>ULLMAN SCORES SOOTH</h2><p>EDMONTON&mdash;</p><p>Tim Sheehy of the Edmonton Oilers must feel there&rsquo;s no justice in the world. The young Oiler scored four goals in a single game but had the spotlight snatched away by veteran Norm Ullman, who scored only twice&mdash;but one was his 500th career goal.</p><p>Ullman, who switched to the WHA this season after a 20-year run in the NHL with Toronto and Detroit, scored his ninth and 10th goals in the game as the Oilers ripped Quebec 7-4. The former NHL scoring great became the eighth player in history to notch 500 goals in regular-season play joining such hockey luminaries as Gordie Howe. Bobby Hull, Frank Mahovlich, Maurice Richard, Phil Esposito, Jean Beliveau and John Bucyk as members of the 500-goal club.</p><h2>WHA BRAWLERS HIT</h2><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p>The WHA is $4,150 richer after fines totalling that amount were levied against the Cincinnati Stingers and Indianapolis Racers for a light-filled game Dec. 4. Ben Hatskin, chief executive officer of the WHA, imposed the fines, which included $500 each to the two team coaches, Jacques Demers of Indy and Stingers&rsquo; Terry Slater.</p><p>Hatskin fined players a total of $3,150 in the Indianapolis game in which chief referee Bill Friday officiated. Friday handed out four game misconducts, four misconducts, 10 majors and 23 minor penalties.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-01

Deadline Stoppers

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE HALPIN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01868/3484832-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg" title="f0003-01" width="668" height="654"></div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hile all the world waits, the most important and meaningful series in international hockey competition, will soon be unfolded and it is clearly a &lsquo;showdown&rsquo; between the best Russian hockey teams and the finest in the National Hockey League.</p><p>The dramatic eight-game Soviet-NHL exhibition series has aroused unprecedented hockey interest since many, including NHL president Clarence Campbell, feel the affair could present a new potential for world hockey play.</p><p>&ldquo;We hope this new development is the forerunner to the beginning of international competition on a continuing basis,&rdquo; said Campbell, who like many in the hockey world, is probably envisioning a true &lsquo;World Series&rsquo; of hockey involving the best in Russia against the champion of the NHL.</p><p>Certainly, the upcoming eightgame series is pointing in that direction. The games, which are being sponsored by the NHL member clubs in conjunction with the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, is a historial first. It will be Russia&rsquo;s top two teams&mdash;the Central Army and Soviet Wings&mdash;against the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Black Hawks, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Stanley Cup winning Philadelphia Flyers.</p><p>Groundwork for the forthcoming NHL-Russia series was laid three years ago when Team Canada &rsquo;72 dramatically defeated the Soviets 4-3-1 in an eight-game series that had to rank as one of the greatest spectacles in world sport. The ramifications of the victory are still being felt in the hockey world and the upcoming clash is being viewed as another epic battle of the world hockey giants.</p><p>The series begins Sun, Dec. 28 in New York&rsquo;s Madison Square Garden with the Rangers facing the Soviet Army team. It will wind up Sun, Jan. 11 in Philadelphia&rsquo;s Spectrum with the same Army team facing the two-time champion Flyers. In between the Soviet Wings play in Pittsburgh Dec. 29, the Army team in Montreal Dec. 31, the Wings in Buffalo Jan. 4 and Chicago Jan. 7, the Army team will be back on ice Jan. 8 in Boston Garden opposing the Bruins without injured Bobby Orr, and the Wings play in Long Island against the Islanders Jan. 10 before the Soviet Army winds up the eightgame series the next night in Philly.</p><p>Hockey fans will never forget the 1972 confrontation of the NHL-Soviet All Star teams in the spine-tingling eight-game series in both Canada and Moscow, but Campbell points a more critical finger at the presently arranged exhibitions.</p><p>&ldquo;This series will be a truer test and measurement of the caliber of hockey played. The games will come during the season when the players are in peak playing condition. And equally important, this will be a test of team vs. team, not a collection of All Stars unfamiliar with each other&rsquo;s style of play. I guess it will give us a very good reading of who plays the best hockey in the world,&rdquo; he added.</p><p>In 29 Soviet Union championship seasons, the Soviet Army team has won 19 titles, finished second on eight occasions and third once. Prior to the current season, the Army club played a total of 795 games, winning 656, tying 50 and losing 89.</p><p>In 16 U.S.S.R. cup championships, the Army team has won nine titles. In addition, the Army team has been the main supplier of players to the Soviet National team.</p><p>Among those slated to play for the Army team against the NHL are goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and outstanding forwards Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov and Valeri Kharlamov.</p><p>The Soviet Wings, who began championship play in 1947, and have been a perennial contender for the hockey title in the Soviet Union, have played 28 championship seasons. In that time, they have won two titles, placed second four times and third five times.</p><p>During regular season play, the Wings have won 434 games, while tying 85 and losing 270. Like the Army team, the Wings have placed many players on the Soviet National team.</p><p>The Wings will be led by one of the Soviet Union&rsquo;s all-time greats, Aleksandr Yakushev, who was added to the Wings&rsquo; roster for this historical eight-game series. Boris Kulagin will serve as head coach of the Wings.</p><p>All games will be played under NHL rules, using nine NHL officials and two Soviet referees-linesmen, Yuri Karandin and Viktor Dombrowski.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02738/3484825-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="1175" height="1116"></div><p><b>All big name Russian stars will be back to face NHL teams.</b></p><h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Play</h2><p>Sun, Dec. 28&mdash;Soviet Army Team at New York Rangers</p><p>Mon. Dec. 29&mdash;Soviet Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins</p><p>Wed, Dec. 31&mdash;Soviet Army Team at Montreal Canadiens</p><p>Sun, Jan. 4&mdash;Soviet Wings at Buffalo Sabres</p><p>Wed, Jan. 7&mdash;Soviet Wings at Chicago Black Hawks</p><p>Thu, Jan. 8&mdash;Soviet Army Team at Boston Bruins</p><p>Sat, Jan. 10&mdash;Soviet Wings at New York Islanders</p><p>Sun, Jan. 11&mdash;Soviet Army Team at Philadelphia Flyers.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0003-01

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING AND 8 NHL TEAMS ARE READY FOR THE BIG SHOWDOWN

<p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>n view of the overwhelming success of the 1974 and 1975 seminars, hockey coaches again are being given the opportunity to study the Soviets&rsquo; system of hockey. The course will be held this spring in Moscow from May 31 to June 17. Lectures, discussion periods and practical on and off-the-ice session will stress the Soviets&rsquo; scientific approach to the game, training methods, and drills.</p><p>Fred Shero, one of the 1974 participants, praised the course as &ldquo;Certainly one of the greatest learning experiences in my entire hockey career. The overall program was excellent and the course is a must for any serious student of the game of hockey. Their scientific approach to every sport is very impressive.&rdquo; Coach Gary Young of the St. Louis Blues, who was a member of the &rsquo;75 study group echoed Shero&rsquo;s feelings with &ldquo;An important and significant course for all our coaches from our minor league through the NHL.&rdquo;</p><p>Coaches and hockey administrators interested in enrolling in the course or further information concerning the study should write or telephone: Dr. Ed Enos, The Institute of Comparative Physical Education, Loyola Campus, Concordia University, 7200 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, telephone (514) 482-0320. Ext. 732.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Soviets To Share Hockey Secrets

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01920/3484908-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="452" height="463"></div><p>&bull; <b>THE FIRING</b> of Garry Young as coach of St. Louis Blues came as no surprise to those in the know. It had been rumored for weeks that the axe was about to fall on the controversial coach&hellip;Scotty Bowman is the only coach to complete a full season with the Blues&hellip;The famed St. Nicholas Hockey Club of New York will hold their 80th anniversay dinner at the posh Racquet and Tennis Club in New York on May 12&hellip;Steve Durbano, defenseman with the Pittsburgh Penguins, probably gets more useless penalties than any player in the NHL. Recently in Montreal he did it again. He tried to end a goalmouth scramble by moving in front of referee Wally Harris and lifting the net off its moorings. He received a twominute penalty for delay of game&hellip;Gordie Howe didn&rsquo;t win himself any friends by his bush like action when he bowled over referee Ron Asselstine because he objected to one of Asselstine&rsquo;s calls. A man of his stature and experience should know better&hellip;One of the cleanest and most exciting games in years took place in Quebec City between the Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets&hellip;John Van Boxmeer has been playing outstanding hockey for the Canadiens since Sam Pollock called him up. He will be tough to dislodge from a regular defense berth&hellip;Bep Guidolin of the Kansas City Scouts is the only coach in the National Hockey League who signals line changes by a series of piercing whistles&hellip;Frank Mahovlich is having a rough time with Toronto Toros. He can&rsquo;t get himself untracked this season and is the target of the boobirds.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02876/3484901-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="254" height="416"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>John Van Boxmeer</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>THE CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE</b> is enjoying one of its closest races in years with the first five teams bunched together&hellip;Ray Miron, general manager-coach of Oklahoma City, tells us that defenseman Claire Alexander who is the Bobby Orr of the CHL and the standout performer with Oke City, is one of the best offensive defensemen in all of hockey&hellip;Largest crowd to see a CHL game turned out the other evening in Oklahoma City, 7,300 were on hand to watch the locals play their archrivals from Tulsa&hellip;Phil Esposito won&rsquo;t forget the tremendous ovation he received in Boston the night he picked up his 1,200th point&hellip;Toronto Maple Leafs picked up 27 of their 28 points with Wayne Thomas in goal&hellip;Bobby Orr is optimistic that he&rsquo;ll rejoin the Bruins before the season ends and has ordered a new bunch of his custom-made sticks to be ready in the club&rsquo;s dressing room upon his return&hellip;The Boston surgeon who operated on Orr&rsquo;s knee predicts he&rsquo;ll be back before season&rsquo;s end and will play well&hellip;There are more good United States born and developed players performing for U.S. college teams right now than ever before. At one time these top U.S. college clubs were loaded with Canadian players but such is not the case today. Many of the best college teams in the States do not have a single Canadian player on the roster&hellip;Doug Barkley says the best thing to happen to Detroit this season was obtaining Dan Maloney in the trade with Los Angeles. &ldquo;If Detroit had four or five more Maloneys, they&rsquo;d be fighting for the Stanley Cup,&rdquo; stated Barkley&hellip;Montreal goalie Ken Dryden is undergoing tests for allergies to determine what is causing sporadic rashes, especially to his face&hellip;Glenn Resch of the N.Y. Islanders recognized as one of the finest netminders in the NHL right now&hellip;Vancouver Canucks have been trying to deal away two of their forwards, Andre Boudrias and Paulin Bordeleau&hellip;Rumors persist that Los Angeles and Vancouver are about to an nounce a trade shortly&hellip;Richie Hansen of Northport, L.I. who learned his hockey in the New York Metropolitan Junior Hockey Association, is starring for the Erie Blades of the NAHL this season, and could be a regular with the New York Islanders in the near future. Islander fans would then see a true-blue Islander.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03771/3484894-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="256" height="431"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Richie Hansen</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>OVER 200</b> professional players from the National Hockey League, World Hockey Association and affiliated leagues have been cut adrift during the past year. More will follow&hellip;Bernie Parent has been practising with the Philadelphia Flyers in full uniform and hopes to be in the lineup by the end of the month&hellip;The Flyers received a letter from a fan suggesting that on a breakaway the puck carrier should use a karate yell to break the concentration of the defensemen. &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t work,&rdquo; said Ross Lonsberry. &ldquo;&ldquo;I tried it against Jack McIlhargey in practice, but he yelled back and scared me&rdquo;&hellip;This could be one of the reasons the Philadelphia Flyers have won the Stanley Cup the last two years. In the 1972 amateur draft their first four picks were Bill Barber, Tom Bladon, Jim Watson and Al MacAdam. The first three are regulars and MacAdam was traded for Reg Leach, presently their top scorer&hellip;Jean Ratelie and Rod Gilbert were team mates for 24 years before Rangers traded Ratelle to Boston. They helped a bantam team win a city championship the first time either of them ever played in the Montreal Forum.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04669/3484887-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="255" height="411"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Reg Leach</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

<p>Vol. 29 No. 11 DECEMBER 26, 1975</p><p>Founded October 1st, 1947</p><p>Published weekly except monthly June through September by W.C.C. Publishing Ltd., 1434 St. Catherine Street West, Montreal, Canada H3G 1R7. U.S. c/o W.C.C. Publishing, 150 E. 58th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022.</p><p><b>Kenneth W. McKenzie</b><br>President, Publisher and Advertising Director</p><p><b>Don Wall</b><br>Associate Publisher</p><p><b>Charlie Halpin</b><br>Editorial Director</p><p><b>Keith Lawton</b><br>Administration Manager</p><p><b>Pat Beale</b><br>Advertising Co-Ordinator</p><p><b>Ralph Bridgland</b><br>Asst. To Editor</p><p><b>United States Advertising Representatives</b></p><p><b>NEW YORK:</b> Bill Hitzig, National Sports Publishing Corp., 150 East 58th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022. Telephone (212) 593-2100.</p><p><b>CHICAGO:</b> Hooper Jones & Associates, 3322 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, III 60659. Telephone (312) 478-5544.</p><p><b>ATLANTIC STATES</b> (including New York, Boston, Buffalo & Philadelphia: Bob Bassimette, Basainette/White, 50 East 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017. Telephone (212) 986-6210.</p><p><b>YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES:</b> $9.50 in Canada $10.50 in the U.S.A. and $14.00 in Foreign Countries. Sec ond class postage paid at New York, N.Y., 10001 and at additional mailing offices <b>SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO 1434 ST. CATHERINE STREET WEST, SUITE 217, MONTREAL, CANADA H3G 1R7</b>. Second Class mail Registration No. 1327. All inquiries pertaining to subscriptions should be addressed to Subscription Dept, The Hockey News, 1434 St. Catherine St. W. Montreal, Canada H3G 1R7. Printed in Canada.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

THE HOCKEY NEWS OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLY

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05541/3484963-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg"></div><h2>Flyers&rsquo; Record Speaks For Itself</h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span> have read many letters downgrading the Philadelphia Flyers, and many letters defending them. Many people just cannot understand why the Flyers keep winning and why they are still the champions. The very special relationship that exists among the players and coaches, within the entire organization and between the Flyers and their fans simply cannot be explained.</p><p>As for their critics, they can knock them all they want. The Flyers do not need defending. Their record stands for itself!</p><p><b>DIANA CASE,</b><br><b>Newark, Del.</b></p><h2>Canadian Pros Excelling In Sweden</h2><p>The &ldquo;top-hockey &lsquo;league&rdquo; in Sweden has this season five players from NHL, WHA or minor leagues.</p><p>On a team, called Frolunda, are Morris and Darwin Mott playing with the U.S. bom Tom Mellor. Both Morris and Darwin are the best scorers on Frolunda, and the best plus-minus players after 12 games. They are getting great publicity in the papers. Kevin O&rsquo;Shea is playing on a lowly team called Timra. He started slowly, but now he has nine goals in nine games. He must be one of the strongest guys in our league.</p><p>Even Milt Black, from Winnipeg Jets, has been good for his team.</p><p>It seems that all of &ldquo;your&rdquo; players are getting better and better. We people here in Sweden are very happy to have them here.</p><p><b>ROLF OLOVSSON,</b><br><b>Dotnsho, Sweden</b></p><h2>Boston Gallery Gods Warrant Visitor&rsquo;s Praise</h2><p>Just recently I attended the Boston Bruin-Pittsburgh Penguin game in Boston which the Bruins won 4-2. I&rsquo;m from Pittsburg, but all I have is praise for the Bruins Gallery Gods whom I had the pleasure of sitting with in their top loft.</p><p>They treated me royally, made me comfortable and game me hot dogs, beverages and all sorts of kindness. To them I say. &ldquo;Thanks&rdquo;, they&rsquo;re a credit to their team, the sport of hockey and their city</p><p><b>FRANK B. MORRISON,</b><br><b>Pittsburgh, Pa.</b></p><h2>Rangers&rsquo; Gilbert Untradable Winger</h2><p>I am writing referring to a letter written by Bob Ravin (Dec. 12). He says that after five Ranger losses you make a trade. Maybe if the California &ldquo;Golden&rdquo; Seals had someone of the calibre of a Brad Park and Jean Ratelle, they could make a trade to &ldquo;help&rdquo; them, which they need.</p><p>You also say that you are not allowed to trade Rod Gilbert. Well, maybe if you saw Rod Gilbert play you would know why. Rod is one of the best offensive and defensive wingers in the league. He always gives all he&rsquo;s got. Rod would be as important to the Seals as Bobby Orr is to Boston.</p><p><b>PETER BRENNAN,</b><br><b>Nanuet, N.Y.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0004-05

Fan Forum

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>Whenever the Rangers are the center of talk in NHL quarters the subject of their passive nature comes up. Stories of teammates standing by and watching Dave Schultz of the Philadelphia Flyers administer a severe beating to Dale Rolfe in the seventh game of the New York-Philadelphia semi-final series two years ago abound.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01951/3485025-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="249" height="415"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Steve Vickers</b></figcaption></div><p>Other horror issues come up about Eddie Giacomin being left more or less unguarded and worked over by tough minded crease hangers of the Gary Dornhoefer type. Some of the old gang did their thing and tried to help out&mdash;in particular Ted Irvine.</p><p>Steve Vickers, the Rangers, All Star left wing, who tells it like it is, went to Esposito&rsquo;s aid in Philadelphia in the afternoon game of Nov. 22 with the Flyers. He did it again when the Blues were harassing Phil when they fell behind in a recent Garden game. And he jumped in when Phil and Blair Stewart of the Caps were going at it early in the first period of the Ranger-Washington game of Dec. 7.</p><p>&ldquo;I think it was a bad call throwing me out as third man in,&rdquo; said Steve. &ldquo;But it gave Jerry Holland a chance to play. I hope I can get my spot back. I would do it again if it happens. I would do it for anyone, not just Phil, although we don&rsquo;t want his ankle to get aggravated.&rdquo;</p><p>Vickers&rsquo; contributions to the Ranger cause have been relatively unsung in the hubub of &ldquo;The Trade&rdquo; and the arrival of so many new faces. This is Steve&rsquo;s fourth year. He is leading the team in scoring with 10-21-31 and has proven he can do it no matter who the center is. So far this season Steve has worked with Jean Ratelle, Walter Tkaczuk, Esposito and Wayne Dillon. At 24, he is just coming into his own&mdash;and rates as a Ranger who backs up team togetherness with his fists.</p><p>Holland took full advantage of his opportunity, potting the tying and winning goals as New York whipped Washington 5-2. It was 22 when Jerry drilled a 38-footer with help from Carol Vadnais in the last minute of the second period.</p><p>&ldquo;That was the key,&rdquo; said Ranger coach Ron Stewart: It changed the game and took it away from them. Holland played very well.&rdquo;</p><p>Jerry got the winner with Washington two men down, when he combined on a three way passing play with Vadnais and Rickie Middleton to put the Rangers ahead to stay in the fifth minute of the third period.</p><p>&ldquo;I have confidence that if I get playing time I can do the job,&rdquo; said the solidly built 5&rsquo;10&rdquo;, 190 pound, former Providence Red. &ldquo;I had played a bit with Esposito in Kansas City when Billy Collins got hurt. I like playing with him and have confidence in myself.&rdquo;</p><p>The spate of Ranger injuries took some of the sheen off an unbeaten week in which New York also tied Buffalo 6-6 on Dec. 4, in what Stewart called, &ldquo;river hockey at its finest. I thought we would get the last shot and win like in basketball. I can&rsquo;t take many more of those.&rdquo;</p><p>The Buffalo game marked the return to the wars of steady Doug Jarrett, who doesn&rsquo;t rush the puck and also doesn&rsquo;t make those killing mistakes. Sir Douglas won the defenseman&rsquo;s player of the night award in Kansas City and has earned his salary since returning. Ron Greschner is his new partner, and the young man looks quite a bit better with the old hand at his side.</p><p>In addition to Collins&rsquo; knee injury suffered when hit by Jean Guy Lagace of the Scouts, Dunc Wilson underwent emergency surgery for an acute appendix in Buffalo which caused the emergency recall of goalie Doug Soetart from Providence.</p><p>&ldquo;I would not be afraid to use Soetart if needed,&rdquo; said Stewart, who was heading into a run of four games in five days.</p><p>All of which left John Davidson, &ldquo;J.D.&rdquo; to everyone in the Rangers&rsquo; room, as clearly the number one goalie&mdash;and the man entrusted to carry the fight for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division.</p><p>Davidson was fighting the puck in Buffalo and allowed a center ice softie from Jerry Korab, but kept working and did a good job in Kansas City and against the Capitals. He is maturing. At 22 it is all in front of the personable 6-3, 205 pound netminder.</p><p>&ldquo;Vadnais and Marotte are playing well, now,&rdquo; said John. &ldquo;Jarrett knows how to get the puck out. He rides the man out and things are looking up. The guys bailed me out with all those goals in Buffalo, but I didn&rsquo;t quit and I made it go the next two games. Espo is our leader. He&rsquo;s playing on a bad ankle and he still gets a point or more a game.&rdquo;</p><p>Phil has eight goals and five assists for 13 points in the 10 games he has dressed for the Rangers. He has 1,199 NHL points, and surely will have surpassed the 1,200 point mark by the time this hits the streets. Only six players have reached this plateau in NHL history.</p><p><b>BLUE CHIPS:</b> Billy Collins will be out six weeks with a badly sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee&hellip;Rod Gilbert has resumed skating&hellip;Nick Beverley is still in the hospital attempting to help his bad back&hellip;The biggest game of the year for New York looms in their Dec. 19 visit to Atlanta, the team they must beat out to claim a playoff spot&hellip;Greg Polis, hustling all the way, finally got his first goal in 20 games in Buffalo.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02749/3485018-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="547" height="571"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN DAVIDSON&hellip;Carries Ranger Hopes</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0006-01

Rangers Start Putting It Together As Davidson Goes It Alone In Goal

<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>TLANTA&mdash;<b>Bob Leiter</b>, forward, removed from active roster and handed release. <b>Cam Botting</b>, forward, recalled from Tulsa of CHL as replacement. Leiter later signed as free agent by Calgary of WHA.</p><p>CHICAGO&mdash;<b>Dave Logan</b>, defenseman, returned to Dallas of CHL.</p><p>MINNESOTA&mdash;<b>Blake Dunlop</b>, forward, recalled from New Haven of AHL. <b>Bill Plager</b>, defenseman, sent to New Haven. <b>Paul Harrison</b>, goalkeeper, assigned to Providence of AHL on loan.</p><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;<b>Bob Taylor</b>, goalkeeper, recalled from Springfield of AHL. <b>Terry Murray</b>, defenseman, returned to Richmond of AHL.</p><p>N.Y. RANGERS&mdash;<b>Doug Soetart</b>, goalkeeper, <b>Jerry Holland</b> and <b>Ed Johnstone</b>, forwards, recalled from Providence of AHL. <b>Dave Maloney</b>, defenseman, returned to Providence.</p><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;<b>Mario Faubert</b>, defenseman, recalled from Hershey of AHL. <b>Wayne Bianchin</b>, forward, sent to Hershey.</p><p>DETROIT&mdash;<b>Phil Roberto</b>, forward, placed on suspended list for 4 games. <b>Mike Korney</b>, defenseman, recalled from Kalamazoo of IHL.</p><p>KANSAS CITY&mdash;Secured NHL rights to <b>Henry Boucha</b>, forward, from Minnesota North Stars in exchange for future NHL draft choice.</p><p>N.Y. ISLANDERS&mdash;<b>Ralph Stewart</b>, forward, assigned to Fort Worth of CHL.</p><p>CALIFORNIA&mdash;<b>Rick Kessell</b>, forward, assigned to Salt Lake of CHL. <b>Ray Martynuik</b>, goalkeeper, reassigned to Tueson of CHL.</p><h2>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</h2><p>TORONTO&mdash;<b>Gilles Gratton</b>, goalkeeper, rejoined club after quitting St. Louis of NHL. <b>Greg Neeld</b>, defenseman, signed to five-game pro trial after playing two games with Buffalo of NAHL. <b>Paul Heaver</b>, defenseman, recalled from Buffalo of NAHL.</p><p>CLEVELAND&mdash;<b>Wayne Muloin</b> and <b>Paul Baxter</b>, defensemen, assigned to Syracuse of NAHL. Baxter recalled along with <b>Brian Bowles</b>, defenseman, from Syracuse.</p><p>CINCINNATI&mdash;<b>Normand Lapointe</b>, goalkeeper, <b>Bruce Abbey</b>, defenseman, and <b>Don O&rsquo;Donoghue</b>, forward, assigned to Hampton of SHL. <b>Murray Myers</b>, and <b>John Kiely</b>, goalkeeper, recalled from Hampton. <b>Steve Andrascik</b>, forward, handed outright release.</p><p>PHOENIX&mdash;<b>Roger Swanson</b>, goalkeeper, and <b>Mike Hobin</b>, forward, recalled from Tucson of CHL for one game and returned.</p><p>EDMONTON&mdash;<b>Blair MacDonald</b>, forward, traded to Indianapolis. <b>Murray Kennett</b>, defenseman, sent to Greensboro of SHL. <b>Bill Laing</b>, forward, recalled from Spokane of WIHL. <b>Peter Morris</b>, forward, sent to Spokane as replacement.</p><p>DENVER&mdash;<b>Billy Gold-thorpe</b>, forward, sent to Binghamton of NAHL. <b>Chris Grigg</b>, goalkeeper, recalled from Syracuse.</p><p>MINNESOTA&mdash;<b>Bruce Boudreau</b>, forward, recalled from Johnstown of NAHL. Traded WHA rights to <b>Greg Neeld</b>, defenseman, to Toronto Toros for WHA rights to <b>Bill Nyrop</b>, defenseman, currently with Nova Scotia of AHL.</p><h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2><p>BALTIMORE&mdash;<b>Rick Foley</b>, defenseman, left team to ponder retirrement.</p><h2>CENTRAL LEAGUE</h2><p>FORT WORTH&mdash;<b>Ron Kennedy</b> forward, sent to Muskegon of IHL.</p><p>TUCSON&mdash;<b>Jim Clarke</b>, defenseman, returned to Phoenix of WHA. <b>Norm Cournoyer</b>, forward, secured from Muskegon of IHL on assignment by St. Louis Blues. <b>Nick Sanza</b>, goalkeeper, returned to Denver of WHA. <b>Mike Rouleau</b>, forward, returned to San Diego of WHA.</p><p>TULSA&mdash;<b>Danny Gloor</b>, forward. placed on disabled list for indefinite period with knee injury. <b>Barry Wilcox</b>, forward, also on disabled list indefinitely with torn tendons in his leg.</p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY&mdash;<b>Gerry Teeple</b>, forward, secured from Providence of AHL on loan.</p><h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p>SAGINAW&mdash;<b>Brian Glenwright</b>, forward, sent to Columbus of IHL on loan.</p><h2>NO. AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2><p>BEAUCE&mdash;<b>Jean Cloutier</b>, goalkeeper, released. <b>Mike Busniuk</b>, defenseman, and <b>Alberto DiFazio</b>, forward, placed on disabled list. <b>Raynald Tremblay</b> and <b>Jean-Luc Duquette</b>, defenseman, and <b>Mike McKegney</b>, forward, activated from disabled list.</p><p>BINGHAMTON&mdash;<b>Rick Lemay</b>, goalkeeper, returned by Rochester of AHL as replacement for <b>Jim Pettie</b>, goalkeeper, who was reassigned to Rochester by Boston of NHL. <b>Bill Gratton</b> and <b>Wayne Clairmont</b>, forwards, activated from disabled list.</p><p>BUFFALO&mdash;<b>Bill Cheropita</b>, goalkeeper, placed on disabled list. <b>Steve Siba</b>, defenseman, signed as free agent. Later placed on disabled list. <b>Cliff Adcock</b>, goalkeeper, signed as free agent.</p><p>JOHNSTOWN&mdash;<b>Denny McLean</b>, forward, assigned by Calgary Cowboys. <b>Wynne Dempster</b>, forward, out for reast of season with broken foot.</p><p>MAINE&mdash;<b>Al MacKenzie</b>, defenseman. traded to Mohawk Valley of NAHL in exchange for <b>Guy Provost</b>, defenseman. <b>Roger Kosar</b>, goalkeeper, sent to Philadelphia of NAHL on loan and later recalled. <b>Pete Donnelly</b>, goalkeeper, recalled by Quebec Nordiques for emergency nd by role.</p><p>MOHAWK VALLEY&mdash;<b>Brian Conacher</b>, forward, returned to voluntary retired list. <b>Kerry Bond</b>, forward, returned by Indianapolis Racers. <b>Don Dawes</b>, forward, released.</p><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;<b>Rejean Lemelin</b>, goalkeeper, returned by Philadelphia Flyers. <b>David Settlemyre</b>, <b>Dean Boylan</b>, defenseman, and <b>Billy Evo</b>, forward, placed on disabled list. <b>Peter Cahill</b>, forward, and <b>Marc BOUSQUET</b>, defenseman, activated from disabled list.</p><p>SYRACYSE&mdash;<b>Terry Marshall</b>, defenseman, and <b>Pat Russell</b>, forward, placed on disabled list. <b>Bob Young</b>, defenseman, purchased from Johnston of NAHL <b>Jim Bolen</b>, goalkeeper, secured as emergency backup goaler.<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/f0008-01940/3485063-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="282" height="349"></div><h2><i>The Good Life&hellip;</i></h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>USKY ENOUGH</b> to be a hockey player, handsome enough to be a television star, young enough to be freaking out at rock concerts, he might seem out of place at art galleries, in museums, at the ballet or the theater, or at auctions of antiques, but these are the places he wants to be. You might not expect to find him behind a book, but this is one of the best places to look for him when he is not at work.</p><p>Denis and Debbie Potvin are an attractive young couple addicted to the pursuit of improving themselves. He is from Hull, Quebec, while she is from Vancouver, British Columbia. His father worked in supplies for the mines, never went beyond the seventh grade. Her father works for the federal aircraft administration. Their mothers were readers. Debbie is a reader, who encouraged Denis to read.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02841/3485056-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="297" height="625"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Denis Potvin</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;Living in New York, I read THE TIMES. At first, it was tough for me. I tried to read everything, and there was too much. I learned to be selective. Now I read about those things that interest me and I am learning a lot. I try to read books that have substance to them, instead of the easy stuff. I want to learn about life beyond my narrow vision of it. The last book I read was Martin Bormann&rsquo;s book. Debbie and I discuss the books we read. I&rsquo;m getting so I really like a good book, which is not bad for a guy of 22 with no more than a high school education,&rdquo; Denis smiles.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t discuss it unless asked about it. I&rsquo;m not pretending I&rsquo;m something I&rsquo;m not. I&rsquo;m nothing so far, but I hope to make something of myself. I&rsquo;m only learning and I know little so far. A lot of the people around me have made more of themselves than I have. A lot of them are interested in life and know a lot about life. Some are better readers than I am. I&rsquo;m not putting anyone down. They do what they want to do. And I do what I want to do.&rdquo;</p><p>In their second year of marriage, in their early 20&rsquo;s, and holding off on a family for a while, Denis and Debbie have purchased a big, three-bedroom condominium in the Garden City suburbs. He says, &ldquo;We are furnishing it to our own tastes. We&rsquo;re fond of wood. We don&rsquo;t like plastics. We hunt out antiques. We go to auction sales in Long Island and Connecticut. We just picked up a big breakfront, a beautiful thing, a 19th century piece, for $900, about a third of what it&rsquo;s worth. I&rsquo;ve read up on antiques and learned a little of what things are worth, but we buy what we like,&rdquo; Denis says. &ldquo;We have a Queen Anne dinning room set and a King George hutch.</p><p>&ldquo;I read about art a lot. I&rsquo;ve learned a little about the masters and the moderns. We go to the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the others. We learn by looking. Debbie is sharper than I am, but we&rsquo;re not at the point where we can purchase a painting as an investment and be sure it will appreciate in value. We probably can make more educated guesses than we could a few years ago. But, again, we go to galleries to buy what we like. At this point we&rsquo;re more apt to pay $400 than $4,000 for a painting, but we want art in our home.</p><p>Recently we went to a showing of Romantics&mdash;Matisse and other greats. We planned to stop in tor a few minutes and stayed hours. It was one of the most thrilling days I&rsquo;ve spent. It got to me. I was inspired by it,&rdquo; the youngster sighs.</p><p>&ldquo;We like modern things, too. We like a lot of different things. We like a lot of pop music. We like movies and we like the theater. We love Broadway shows. I think &ldquo;Wiz&rdquo; is the best Broadway show we&rsquo;ve seen in the last year or so and that&rsquo;s about as modern as you can get. We go to concerts, too. We&rsquo;ve tried ballet. We saw the Ballet Russe. We enjoyed it. We haven&rsquo;t been to an opera yet. It&rsquo;s hard to get good tickets to the Met, but we are going to go as soon as we can. We did go to LaScala in Italy and it was wonderful.&rdquo;</p><p><b>DENIS AND DEBBIE</b> toured Italy last summer. &ldquo;We were in the northern part, primarily,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;The farthest south we got was Rome. I liked Venice best of all the cities we saw. I think Debbie did, too. I think that throughout Italy we liked the old things best. It was like going back into a beautiful time. You don&rsquo;t see old things so much in this part of the world. We tend to tear down the old and put up new. There is nothing wrong with new things. Many are marvellous. But I wish we kept more of the old, also. You feel like you have a hold on history when you&rsquo;re among old, lovely buildings and art that has endured centuries.&rdquo;</p><p>Although Denis does not put down his fellow players, he says he wonders if many of them are not missing something. He says, &ldquo;I guess you&rsquo;d have to say many of them just kill time between games. Many are growing, but many are not. Many are wasting their youth. Many are wasting New York City. You read about the problems of life in New York City and you forget that the city has more to offer than any other in this part of the world. It seems a shame that many don&rsquo;t take advantage of it. Most don&rsquo;t even do the tourist things. We&rsquo;ve been to the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty. We even took the boat ride around Manhattan. It was a terrific trip. You read that it&rsquo;s dangerous even to walk downtown, but I haven&rsquo;t run into many who have been mugged. We&rsquo;ve had no scares. We live in the suburbs where it&rsquo;s quiet. I don&rsquo;t think Debbie is frightened while I&rsquo;m away,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>&ldquo;I wish we had more time to see other cities on the road, but travel is so tight these days you don&rsquo;t get to see much more than the airport, the airplane, the bus, the hotel and the arena. So we plan to see as much of other cities and other countries as we can during the off-season. Fortunately, because I&rsquo;m able to make the kind of money I make, we can afford to do these things. When you make the kind of money we do, you find yourself living among mostly older people. Outside of sports, most people who make this kind of money are older. Many or our neighbors have all but adopted us. They encourage us to expand ourselves. I love hockey and I hope to play a long time, but there has to be more to your life than one interest. I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;ll stay in the sport after I can no longer play and I want to be ready for a life beyond the rink. Usually, you&rsquo;re not yet 40 when you&rsquo;re finished as a player. I won&rsquo;t want to have wasted my youth. So I&rsquo;ve already begun my own business, even though I&rsquo;ve only just begun in hockey.&rdquo;</p><p>Oh, yes, he is a hockey player, one of the best, and he is not wasting his talents in this sport. A 6-foot, 200-pounder, he is strong enough to overpower opposition, but he has the speed on skates, the natural reflexes, and the imaginative moves to be brilliant for beyond the norm. The National Hockey League&rsquo;s number one draft choice at the age of 20 as a graduating amateur, he has exceeded estimations of his potential. He scored 17 goals and assisted on 37 to earn &ldquo;Rookie of the Year&rdquo; honors his first season, became the fifth defensemen in NHL history to top 2o goals with 21 and assisted on 55 to earn first All-Star honors last season.</p><p><b>COACH AL ARBOUR</b> says, &ldquo;He is especially skilled, but unselfish. He is intelligent beyond his years on and off the ice. Older players look to him for leadership and he gives it to them.&rdquo; Manager Bill Torrey adds, &ldquo;Denis simply is unique, both as a player and as a person. He has guts, strength and talent as a player and a lot of sense and sensitivity as a person. This desire to improve himself is no put-on. He is serious about becoming the best he can be at anything that attracts him. And he has the confidence to take on any challenge,&rdquo; teammate Billy Smith marvels.</p><p>&ldquo;I just want to be a first Denis Potvin.&rdquo; When Denis was being boomed as &ldquo;a second Bobby Orr.&rdquo; he said, No one is better than Bobby, but Denis is younger and healthier. When he was in his first season in New York and he was asked how he felt about playing in the shadow of Brad Park, he said, &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know I was.&rdquo; He passed Park, Park was moved on and now Denis is number one in New York, if not in the NHL. Denis shrugs, &ldquo;The Park trade taught me a lot. You have to have more than hockey because as soon as you slip they&rsquo;ll get rid of you.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY RON WEBER</div><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;</p><p>How sweet it was:</p><p>No, not the end of the Canadian postal strike. The object here is the Tel-screen scoreboard at the Capital Centre. Shortly after 10 o&rsquo;clock on the night of Dec. 3 it registered Washington 4, Buffalo 4. And the game was over.</p><p>The Capitals had improved their standing by a point against the dashing Sabres, the same club that had belted them five straight times in their fallen maiden of a season a year ago. True, it fell short of victory (thanks to Jerry Korab&rsquo;s only good move of the night, a head-on 55 foot slap shot with 14 minutes to play) but for one night the Caps were as good as the Sabres. The scoreboard said so.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03702/3485094-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="253" height="421"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Hartland Monahan</b></figcaption></div><p>Oh, the Capitals had a few earlier moments in the sun while opposing Buffalo: An exhibition triumph in September and a &ldquo;moral victory&rdquo; up Niagara way back in October&mdash;a 5-4 defeat after falling behind 4-0 in the first nine minutes. But those didn&rsquo;t count for anything. Whatever happens after this, Buffalo cannot reclaim that lost point.</p><p>Nelson Pyatt, improving every week garnered the first and last goals around John Paddock&rsquo;s first NHL score and captain Bill Clement&rsquo;s backhander past Gerry Desjardins. Strangely, though they were to do it the two games before and after, the Caps did not score first. Washington was outshot only 37-25. We say only, since the previous duel in Buffalo saw the Sabres shot supremacy reach 45 to 11 proportions. The Caps have never been held to fewer than 11 shots.</p><p>The deadlock couldn&rsquo;t have come at a better time, being the start of a six-game-in-eight-days stretch&mdash;with the middle four contests on the road. Right after the game the team took their first charter flight of the season to Boston&hellip;and did themselves right proud again.</p><p>In the city where pilot Milt Schmidt spent 37 years as player, coach and general manager, the Capitals looked the Bobby Orrless Bruins in the eye and nursed a 1-0 lead for 37 minutes. Then defenseman Al Sims, who scored the</p><p>very first Boston goal of the season and had been shut out since, rammed in two tipped shots from the left point to spark the Bruins to a 3-2 victory. Where goalie Bernie Wolfe had been super with the glove the night before, Ron Low leg-padded shot after Boston shot aside, turning away 40 in all. Both Caps&rsquo; tallies were by ex-Bruin Ace Bailey, his first since Oct. 11.</p><p>But the Capitals were outshot 43-13, making a one-goal loss an accomplishment. No such thing happened a day and a half later in Montreal as the Canadiens stuck it to &lsquo;em 54-13 in shots and 9-3 in goals.</p><p>That fray, which was 3-3 until the dam broke with three minutes left in the second period, marked the professional Forum debut of two Montreal natives with the Caps, Hartland Monahan and Wolfe. Bernie had a decent game but two fine plays by Habs&rsquo; Yvan Cournoyer and Yvon Lambert took the competive charm out of the matchup. Monahan led the losers in shots on net with four, but came away dry.</p><p>So the Capitals began the most intensive part of their entire schedule with a tie and two losses. Still, for eight consecutive periods against three of the league toughies, they gave check for check and goal for goal, if not shot for shot.</p><p><b>ICE CAPS:</b> The 54 Canadien shots were a season high for Capital opponents, but 11 under Pittsburgh&rsquo;s figure on the Ides of March of season one. Washington&rsquo;s best is 36, but this year they haven&rsquo;t been over 30&hellip;Monahan, with 12 points in 10 games, took over the team&rsquo;s scoring leadership for a couple of days and maintained his runnerup position in the rookie scoring race. Hartland has donned a helmet under doctor&rsquo;s orders. Blows to the right side of his head cause a focal problem in his right eye&hellip;Blair Stewart got himself a hard hat at the same time saying, &ldquo;The way I play I should have one, eh?&rdquo; But in a couple of scuffles with Bruin Brad Park, the thing fell of right away&hellip;New defenseman Bob Paradise was off to a good start, then pulled a leg muscle&hellip;Yvon Labra&rsquo;s plusminus figure continues markedly better than the other blueliners&hellip;Coach Schmidt called the Capitals&rsquo; tie with Buffalo &ldquo;our best game&rdquo; and justly praised the reflexive work of goalie Wolfe. Milt put Pyatt between Bailey and Stan Gilbertson beginning with that game. Tommy Williams was demoted to the third line.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-03

Capitals’ Glory Hour Attained In Tie Game With Mighty Sabres

f0009-01

CARTOON CORNER

<div class="byline">BY HARRY KLAFF</div><p>LONG ISLAND&mdash;</p><p>It wasn&rsquo;t too long ago that the New York Islanders were synonymous with hockey ineptitude. As a first year expansion club, they set just about every negative record imaginable, and a few more to boot.</p><p>But things were a little different in their sophomore year, as they chopped a full hundred off their goals against column to become one of the better defensive clubs in the league.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-02809/3485125-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="246" height="399"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jeon Potvin</b></figcaption></div><p>Last year the Isles were fully recognized as a strong checking squad, especially after their playoff performance against the Rangers, Penguins, and Flyers. But the Islanders as a high-scoring outfit, one that could challenge the best in goal production? Forget it.</p><p>That was last season, though, and in the words of the poet, what a difference a year makes. After 26 games last year, the Islanders had amassed a total of 83 goals, not a bad figure when one considers the club&rsquo;s output at a similar stage in each of the first two years.</p><p>After the first 26 games this season, the Isles had hit the net a total of 106 times, almost a goal a game better than their clip of 1974-75. Only the big boys&mdash;Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Montreal&mdash;had more.</p><p>&ldquo;I think the difference is that we&rsquo;re controlling the puck more than we used to,&rdquo; says captain Eddie Westfall, whose 12 goals through the first week in December are the most he&rsquo;s ever had at this point in the campaign.</p><p>&ldquo;This is the sort of thing that comes with maturity,&rdquo; he continues. &ldquo;Our system is developing better; we don&rsquo;t give up the puck as much as we used to.</p><p>&ldquo;The first season, we didn&rsquo;t have the puck at all. We&rsquo;d spend all our time chasing after it. This year we&rsquo;ve been controlling it, and the other teams are the ones to chase after it. This is what we have to continue doing.&rdquo;</p><p>Another player who well remembers what life was like back in the Dark Ages of Islander history is Billy Harris. The slick right winger is off to his best start, with 13 goals in 26 games.</p><p>&ldquo;The big difference as far as I&rsquo;m concerned is Bryan (Trottier), says Harris. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the smooth type of center we&rsquo;ve always needed. And he&rsquo;s so easy to adjust to.&rdquo;</p><p>The Isles&rsquo; young line of Trottier, Harris, and Clark Gillies finally has a name. A contest sponsored by a radio station came up with the winning entry of &ldquo;The Long Island Lightning Company.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not bad,&rdquo; said Gillies.</p><p>Lome Henning, another youngster who&rsquo;s seen action in all four of the Islanders&rsquo; campaigns, attributes the newly-found scoring touch to experience.</p><p>&ldquo;We seem to go in spurts, but now our offensive spurts are much longer and more frequent than ever before,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a matter of confidence. We know that everyone is backing everyone else up. We&rsquo;re consciously taking some chances in the offensive zone that we wouldn&rsquo;t have in the past. Now after we score a goal, we&rsquo;ll go right back in and put the pressure on some more.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re playing our positions extremely well,&rdquo; concludes Al Arbour. &ldquo;The team is moving well, and we&rsquo;re getting the puck out of our own end better. And also our power play is doing exceptionally well.&rdquo;</p><p>The Islander power play, once a persistent sore spot, was the best in the league at this writing with 40 goals and a 35 percent average. Harris already has eight power play goals tying the club record set by linemate Gillies last season.</p><p>Perhaps the biggest reason for the marked improvement in this area is the play of Jean Potvin. Jean has more than just a blistering shot from the right point, and has complemented his brother, Denis, who works the left point. Jude Drouin serves as the spare blueline quarterback.</p><p>1&rsquo;he penalty-killing hasn&rsquo;t let up either, as the Isles stand second in the league, killing almost 86 percent of their shorthanded situations. Lorne Henning and Westfall continue to handle most of the load here, with help from Billy MacMillan, Drouin and J.P.Parise.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-02

Islanders Now An Offensive Threat, Too

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>n case you&rsquo;ve been wondering whatever happened to what&rsquo;s his name, Joey Johnston is ready, willing and available to be discovered by the Black Hawks.</p><p>Which places him in the same general category as William T. Reay&rsquo;s missing green fedora.</p><p>But living things first. Johnston, <i>a</i> left winger of proven above-average capabilities, has been making only cameo appearances in the Chicago lineup since being declared healthy a month ago following a near fatal summer auto accident.</p><p>For a man who is used to a full work load, rather than menial labor, frustrations are both understandable and unavoidable.</p><p>&ldquo;I sometimes feel like a rookie all over again out there,&rdquo; said Johnston, who was acquired from the California Seals last spring in exchange for right wing Jim Pappin. &ldquo;There are times when I go out there and I&rsquo;m really nervous.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not fluid. It used to be that I could take a pass in the skates and continue along and make the play in one motion. Now 1 take a check and that&rsquo;ll be the end of that.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01930/3485218-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="283" height="364"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Joey Johnston</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;Maybe I&rsquo;m being too cautious. I don&rsquo;t see it myself, and my teammates don&rsquo;t want to come out and say anything because they probably don&rsquo;t want to worry me.</p><p>&ldquo;But you know, my wife notices that I haven&rsquo;t been as aggressive as I used to be on the ice and she mentioned it tome. I don&rsquo;t think it consciously goes back to the accident I had, but maybe it&rsquo;s related.</p><p>Johnston almost didn&rsquo;t live to talk about that dark night last August when the van he was driving crashed into another vehicle near his home in Peterborough, Ont. Johnston was thrown several feet and was first admitted to the hospital in critical condition with head injuries.</p><p>&ldquo;When you talk about being disappointed in him, I can&rsquo;t say that I am,&rdquo; said coach Reay. &ldquo;After all, he&rsquo;s lucky to even be here. I can&rsquo;t tell you when he&rsquo;s going to be absolutely right I wish I knew.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought in the beginning that it might be six months, and we&rsquo;re just about reaching that time now. I do know when Joey is himself, he&rsquo;s going to be a great addition to this hockey club.</p><p>&ldquo;When I saw him play with Oakland, I thought he was the best player on that club and that&rsquo;s why I picked him for the All Star team when I was coaching it. He&rsquo;s got a great shot and a good instinct to score.</p><p>&ldquo;One thing that has been a bonus is the kind of guy Joey has turned out to be. He has really fit into our team well. He&rsquo;s an easy-going person who&rsquo;s a lot of fun to be around, and the other players on this team love him. They&rsquo;re all rooting for him to make it back, and that includes myself. I&rsquo;m pulling so hard for him that I sometimes have to catch myself.&rdquo;</p><p>Johnston has considered the idea of spending a couple weeks in the minor leagues as a conditioner for his physical and mental processes, but Reay vetoed the notion.</p><p>&ldquo;We sent Dale Tallon down to Dallas last year after he was hurt, but that was with the idea of having him play strictly defense.&rdquo; said Reay.</p><p>&ldquo;In Joey&rsquo;s position, I don&rsquo;t think it would do him any good to play down there. There&rsquo;s just too much difference in the styles of play. We&rsquo;ll have to just ease him back into the lineup up here.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s gotten a little better each time out, and his reflexes still aren&rsquo;t there. He can&rsquo;t stop and start as well as he should. But considering what he&rsquo;s been through, that&rsquo;s not surprising.&rdquo;</p><p>Johnston, no doubt, will be in full view of Chicago hockey fans before long. Which is more than can be said for Reayls hat.</p><p>After the Philadelphia Flyers ended the visiting Hawks&rsquo; five-week, 15-game unbeaten string with a 5-2 victory Dec. 4, an itchy-fingered Spectrum ran asconded with the coach&rsquo;s brim.</p><p>&ldquo;That guy who took it must have been sitting behind the bench planning for it all night,&rdquo; laughed Reay, who considers the chapeau an integral part of a man&rsquo;s wardrobe. &ldquo;That hat cost me about $35 when I bought it, but I got my money&rsquo;s worth. My problem is not hats, anyway, but getting suits to go with them.&rdquo;</p><p>He said nothing about matching ties.</p><p><b>HAWK TALK:</b> That loss to Philadelphia prevented the Hawks from breaking a team record undefeated string. During January and February the 1966-67 Hawks went on a 15-game binge during which they won 12 and tied three.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

Johnston Disappointed With Chicago Showing But Lucky To Be There

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01901/3485256-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"></div><h2>Genius Or Otherwise?</h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>E&rsquo;S A FASCINATING MAN</b> really, that Fred Shero, the fellow who has masterminded the ascent of the Philadelphia Flyers to the National Hockey League summit.</p><p>One of his monologues leaves you in a quandary. What is the man? A genius, the only original thinker in the game who has produced a new way doing things? A con man, a bunco artist who has baffled his players and the entire world, for that matter, with theories and words, all those trick inspirational messages and if he wasn&rsquo;t in hockey, he&rsquo;d be selling rain to farmers?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02777/3485249-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="518" height="429"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Fred Shero</b></figcaption></div><p>Like most successful men, Shero is a combination of those things. He has a new front every hour or so, a different man to different people.</p><p>To those who regard hockey as a simple little game, he&rsquo;s a puzzle because he makes it all sound so complicated. When Fred is in top vocal form, a Flyer rush sounds more complex than a Rommell tank assault.</p><p>To some outside the game who dislike the violence in the sport, he&rsquo;s evil because he created the Broad Street Bullies. In the view of some social scientists, he developed the science of intimidation and made fighting and two-handers a part of the team&rsquo;s tactical repertoire along with positional play and quick clearing a weapon to be used in specific situations.</p><p>Mostly, Shero is a breath of fresh air in a profession backboned by the cliche, a repetition of the same alibis and explanations, a list which should be numbered, then the numerals merely told to reporters by coaches in post-game interviews to save time.</p><h2>Was He Kidding?</h2><p><b>SHERO WAS AT HIS BEST</b> following a recent game against the Maple Leafs at Toronto, the Flyers&rsquo; first visit to Ontario since the &ldquo;McMurtry factor&rdquo; came into existence.</p><p>Roy McMurtry, the provincial attorney-general, ordered a crackdown on overt hockey violence and Detroit&rsquo;s Dan Maloney was charged with assault causing bodily harm following an incident with Leafs&rsquo; Brian Glennie.</p><p>There was great interest in the game as the fans wanted to see if the Flyers cooled their rowdy act. Scalpers were getting $50 per ticket.</p><p>Shero&rsquo;s comments following a 1-1 tie in an excellent, hard-hitting fast-paced game which saw no fights and 81 shots on goal were superb entertainment.</p><p>Although the players on both teams felt the game was hard and tough, and the fans loved it, Shero saw it differently. His remarks were a rare combination of indignation, theorization and put-on.</p><p>&ldquo;If the Leafs make the playoffs, McMurtry should be named to the NHL All Star team,&rdquo; Shero said.</p><p>&ldquo;What he&rsquo;s done isn&rsquo;t good for hockey because both teams were afraid to throw a decent bodycheck. Is that the style of hockey people want to pay good money to watch?</p><p>&lsquo;&lsquo;Some of our guys were useless out there because they were afraid to hit. Dave Schultz, who&rsquo;s very aggressive, had such a bad night that I had to bench him in the third period.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s hurting Maple Leafs, too, because they&rsquo;ve been playing fairly aggressively. They have to play half their games under those stupid rules.&rdquo;</p><h2>Fred&rsquo;s Seven Rules</h2><p><b>HAVING DISPENSED WITH</b> the propaganda, Shero moved to hockey theory and, on that topic, his language is like no other coach&rsquo;s. He talked about both teams backing off and conceding too many zones, how they failed to challenge the puck carrier and how the defensemen didn&rsquo;t &ldquo;emphasize territorial gains&rdquo; by not moving to the points quickly enough.</p><p>Shero&rsquo;s favorite speech, the one he delivers to many coaching clinics and hockey groups, always contains his seven rules for winning hockey and there&rsquo;s nothing very complicated about them.</p><p>1. Never go offside on a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 break; 2. Never go backwards in your own zone except on a power play; 3. Never throw the puck out blindly from behind your opponent&rsquo;s net; 4. Never pass diagonally across the ice in your own zone unless 100 percent certain; 5. Wings on wings between the bluelines, except when able to intercept a pass; 6. Second man go all the way for a rebound, 7. Defense with the puck at opponents&rsquo; blueline, look for places before shooting.</p><p>It is a simple game. It&rsquo;s Fred Shero who&rsquo;s complicated.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

FRANK ORR SAYS:

<div class="byline">BY JACK MCCARTHY</div><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>B</span>obby Orr says, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t count me out yet,&rdquo; and his doctor says that he expects that Orr will be playing very well again before this season is over. Which once more means the Bruins have to hang tough with the Buffalo Sabres, and we may yet see No. 4 back at the point for the final charge.</p><p>Orr, of course, underwent surgery for a left knee problem, his fifth knee operation, on Nov. 29, and will be lost to the team until mid-February at least.</p><p>Orr, naturally, doesn&rsquo;t want to make any predictions on what he will be able to do. Not when he is still in bed, but he says, &ldquo;Six or seven years ago, somebody wrote that I only had two years of hockey left. So, I&rsquo;m not ready to call it a day yet.</p><p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t count me out yet&hellip;&rdquo; Knowing the almost ferocious determination of this guy, one would be bananas to bet against him coming back to once again lead the Bruins in a late-season charge.</p><p>The surgeon who performed operations Nos. 3, 4 and 5 on Orr&rsquo;s left knee, Dr. Carter Rowe, said, &ldquo;I expect Bobby will be skating again in six or seven weeks.</p><p>&ldquo;He had been coming along fine after the first operation. Things looked very encouraging. This time is the first that the operation has been on the outside of the left knee. All the others were on the inside.</p><p>&ldquo;I would say that Bobby will play very well again before this season ends. There is no doubt about it in my mind&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>Meanwhile, the Bruins, led by Gregg Sheppard ran an unbeaten streak to 12 games, with Al Sims chipping in two goals to beat the Washington Caps, 3-2. Boston still has not sold out this year, alt hough 13,621 for the expansion Washington entry was not bad at all.</p><p>Don Marcotte, the solid winger who had missed 22 games with a knee problem after crashing into a goal post, took his first turn since the accident, and now is ready to help the club. He will be a big plus.</p><p>But, Orr, Park, Ratelle and Marcotte aside, the guy who is having a super year is Sheppard, who was up to 12 goals by the first of December, and was racking up assists at the same rate.</p><p>Said Capt. John Bucyk, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a spark plug. He&rsquo;s flying and the whole line is flying&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>Coach Don Cherry said, &ldquo;Shep is a throwback to the old school. He plays hurt. Now he has a bad arm and a bruised leg. If he&rsquo;s not an All Star, I don&rsquo;t know who is.</p><p>Ratelle, a slick center himself, says, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of the best centers in the league&mdash;and he&rsquo;s getting better all the time.&rdquo;</p><p>As for Gregg, he just says, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m getting plenty of ice, that&rsquo;s all I know. I go for open ice, and I get the puck. And, I&rsquo;m getting my shots&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>Another thing Shep has going for him in the Bruins&rsquo; picture is his hustle. He makes things happen. One of his best moves is his willingness, despite his size, to step into a puck-carrier and knock him off the puck.</p><p>For example, in a shorthanded situation at the Garden against Pittsburgh, Shep stepped into Ron Stackhouse no less and the puck came clear to Brad Park. The exRanger broke away to score the insurance goal into an empty net.</p><p>Said Park, &ldquo;Shep&rsquo;s block set it up. No question about it He&rsquo;s quite a player. I appreciate him more now that I&rsquo;m on his side&hellip;&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03610/3485287-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="544" height="706"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOBBY ORR&hellip;No Predictions</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0012-03

Orr, Physician Optimistic Of Effective Return To ice

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01876/3485339-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"></div><h2>Howie Meeker tells you how to get it.</h2><p>Howie Meeker: coach, hockey analyst, and former Maple Leaf star.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02767/3485332-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="756" height="786"></div><p>Let&rsquo;s clear the air before we start. Good skates don&rsquo;t necessarily mean expensive. Sure, you get what you pay for, but there are certain fundamental requirements that all skates should have. Unfortunately, not all of them do. So here&rsquo;s what to look for. The only place you need support is in the counter and around your ankles-not around your toes or arches. Most low-priced skates have counters made of pressed cardboard or cheap leather. A new skate may feel sturdy at first, but when used or wet, the material either breaks, cracks or softens. Result: the skates lose their heel support and are useless. Prove it yourself: Grasp the counters of your skates from behind. Pinch the two sides together, then twist them from side to side. If they&rsquo;re soft, pitch them out. (And I bet you thought you had weak ankles.) Now, back to your new skates. If the counter is firm you&rsquo;ll have to decide whether the stiffness is permanent. You pretty well have to trust the clerk&rsquo;s expertise as to how they are made. Or the Skates&rsquo; name. If the skates have a polyurethane counter, then you&rsquo;ve got all the support you need.</p><p><b>Lacing</b>. Too many players unknowingly harm their game because of improper lacing.</p><p>First, the eyelets over the ball of the foot, just behind the toes, should be pulled until snug enough to take up the slack in the skate boot, so that there isn&rsquo;t any loose leather around the foot.</p><p>Next, there&rsquo;s the eyelets over the front curve of the ankle. They&rsquo;re very important. Too much pressure can inhibit your tendon and foot movement. Lace them loosely so that there&rsquo;s just enough lace tension so that they won&rsquo;t slip and affect the tighter sections around the ball of your foot and ankle.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03683/3485325-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="862" height="885"></div><p>Then there&rsquo;s the eyelets at the top of the skate boot. These must be pulled as tightly as possible without hampering your circulation or tendon movement. OK. Now lace the skates in the same way you lace your shoes. Don&rsquo;t loop lace because it doesn&rsquo;t allow the skate to &lsquo;give&rsquo;. With cross lacing, the laces slip to adjust as you skate keeping the pressure equal at each eyelet. Firm support is what you want. Lace too tightly and you&rsquo;ll cut the circulation to your feet. You&rsquo;ll end up with cold feet.</p><p>Now, if the new pair of skates you&rsquo;re trying on need to be tightened so that you&rsquo;re uncomfortable, then there&rsquo;s something wrong with them.</p><p>Some players skip lacing the top eyelet. Don&rsquo;t. It&rsquo;s the key point to which all the extra leather is drawn for complete support.</p><p>Another common mistake is wrapping extra lengths of lace around the ankle or down under the arch of the skate. Again, don&rsquo;t. It only places additional pressure on the Achilles tendon or arch stopping blood circulation. Your performance Will suffer too.</p><p>If you&rsquo;d like a copy of Howie Meeker&rsquo;s Hockey Basics book, send $1.95 to Bauer Skates, 51 Ardelt Ave., Kitchener, Ont. Quantities are limited.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-04611/3485318-1-eng-US/f0013-042.jpg" title="f0013-04" width="684" height="126"></div><p><b>The Official Skate of the National HockeyLeague.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0013-01

SUPPORT.

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01885/3485370-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>OREST KINDRACHUK&hellip;Prefers To Be Plus Player</b></figcaption></div><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>hicago&rsquo;s Phil Russell was discussing the Philadelphia Flyers minutes after the Flyers had snapped the Black Hawks&rsquo; unbeaten streak at 15 games.</p><p>&ldquo;The Flyers follow the golden rules of hockey,&rdquo; said the talented young defenseman. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re always on the puck and in the corners. I&rsquo;ve always been told that&rsquo;s where you win games.&rdquo;</p><p>One of Philadelphia&rsquo;s most frequent visitors to the corners is Orest Kindrachuk. The pride of Saskatoon and people of Ukrainian descent everywhere has drawn these accolades recently:</p><p>From Fred Shero: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s at least as good as Bobby Clarke in the corners under pressure.&rdquo;</p><p>From Marcel Pelletier, the Flyers&rsquo; player personnel director and goodwill ambassador: &ldquo;He is the best man I have seen in the corners for many years.&rdquo;</p><p>On a team where Clarke, Bernie Parent, Rick MacLeish and Dave Schultz attract the most attention, Kindrachuk has been relegated to second billing off the ice. On the ice, he has quietly developed into one of the NHL&rsquo;s most reliable centermen.</p><p>After 26 games Kindrachuk was already within eight points of his 31-point total of last season. The 23 points which tied him for fifth in Philadelphia scoring aren&rsquo;t his top priority, however, and that&rsquo;s not because his wingers, Schultz and Don Saleski, aren&rsquo;t exactly Art Ross Trophy candidates.</p><p>&ldquo;Being a plus player is more important than the points you get,&rdquo; said the third-year regular who was signed as a free agent. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think about points. We&rsquo;ve always been a checking line. Maybe sometimes we do think too defensively, but I enjoy what I do. Bird (Saleski), Davey and I enjoy working together.&rdquo;</p><p>Kindrachuk&rsquo;s outlook reflects what makes the Flyers tick. Through the leadership of Shero and Clarke the Flyers are all dedicated to winning. For example, listen to Kindrachuk talking about the continual threats to his job. Since his rookie season, Larry Wright, Bill Clement, Terry Crisp and now, Mel Bridgman, have been proposed as regular centers only to see Kindrachuk seize the job.</p><p>&ldquo;When I first came here I just wanted to make the club,&rdquo; the 5&rsquo;10&rdquo;, 175-pound young man nicknamed &lsquo;O&rsquo; said. &ldquo;I would have played left wing, defense, even goal just to be with these guys. I don&rsquo;t worry about people trying to take my job. I just want to contribute every game.&rdquo;</p><p>One game where Kindrachuk&rsquo;s contribution had to be noticed saw the Flyers leading 4-3 and the Canucks preparing to replace goalie Ken Lockett with a sixth skater in the final minutes, Kindrachuk zipped a 40-footer past Lockett with 57 seconds remaining to clinch the decision. Earlier, Kindrachuk had assisted on two goals.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think the goalie expected Kindrachuk to shoot,&rdquo; said Vancouver GM-coach Phil Maloney. &ldquo;Kindrachuk is a lot like our Chris Oddleifson: he handles the puck well, he&rsquo;s intelligent and he&rsquo;s a competitor.&rdquo;</p><p>Kindrachuk, a bright, witty soul who hopes to continue his studies toward an optometry career, is more of a competitor since his back miseries of last season have been cured.</p><p>&ldquo;I think the biggest difference in the way I&rsquo;m playing is I feel good,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The last half of last season my back was really bothering me. I&rsquo;m a couple pounds lighter, too, so I have more zip.&rdquo;</p><p>Smiling, Kindrachuk added, &ldquo;Must be that Ukrainian food&mdash;it gives me an energy.&rdquo;</p><p>Waiter, bring more borsh and warynyke for Fred Shero&rsquo;s good friend.</p><p><b>FLYERS FACTS:</b> Don Saleski is making his goals count: of his five, three were game-winners, tying him for the club lead with Rick MacLeish&hellip;Gary Dornhoefer enjoys playing against Chicago: In the first three games the hustling veteran winger had one goal and five assists.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

Flyers Say Kindrachuk Compares With Clarke

<div class="byline">BY RALPH BRIDGLAND</div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>nybody who thinks Pete Mahovlich doesn&rsquo;t give 100 percent every time he&rsquo;s on the ice, and there apparently are still a few disbelievers left in Montreal, should take several things into consideration.</p><p>The surname Mahovlich hasn&rsquo;t exactly been linked with hard work down through the years. Brother Frank has been plagued with the one-way hockey player tag all through his career and Pete has also had a share of knocks against him.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01860/3485401-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="268" height="427"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pete Mahovlich</b></figcaption></div><p>Both men have deceptive speed and their styles make it appear at times that they are taking it easy when in reality things are the exact opposite.</p><p>But today&rsquo;s hockey fan has gotten into the bad habit of talking without thinking. How can anyone lay the term lackadaisical at the feet of &lsquo;The Big M&rsquo; with 533 goals and 1,103 points in his 18-year NHL career? And the same goes for Peter who has blossomed into one of the NHL&rsquo;s premier pivot men.</p><p>And the people who said that Pete&rsquo;s 117 points last season were courtesy of Guy Lafleur, who scored 53 goals in nearly every way imaginable but standing on his head, have seen their contention shot down because the high-scoring unit of Lafleur, Mahovlich and Steve Shutt is no more. Why, you ask, would a troika of this calibre be broken up? For no better reason than to create a better one and it appears coach Scotty Bowman in a moment of genius did just that.</p><p>Two-thirds of the line stayed intact with Mahovlich still at center and Shutt on the left wing but Yvan Coumoyer has moved into the spot left vacant by Lafleur on the right.</p><p>The change hasn&rsquo;t hurt any of the parties involved as Lafleur and Mahovlich rank one-two in the NHL points parade but the big winner is the Montreal hockey club.</p><p>The line has been together for a dozen games, the Canadiens have won nine, tied two and lost once during that stretch, and the threesome has counted eight game-winning goals.</p><p>All three members of the line are well ahead of their 1974-75 point totals but Peter is especially pleased with the way he has performed thus far.</p><p>&ldquo;I think I&rsquo;ve played better up to this point than any other year,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It usually takes me a couple of months to get going.&rdquo; A couple of months have now passed and it makes one wonder what is going to happen the rest of the campaign if Pete is only now getting into high gear.</p><p>The 6&rsquo;5&rdquo;, 205 pound center, who fits the &lsquo;Little M&rsquo; description as much as Kate Smith does the adjective slender, has found little difficulty in adjusting to having the speedy &lsquo;Roadrunner&rsquo; on his right side.</p><p>The key to the line&rsquo;s impressive showing to date? &ldquo;The guys are working hard,&rdquo; states Mahovlich, &ldquo;and it&rsquo;s paying off for us.&rdquo;</p><p>Hear that Montrealers, Pete Mahovlich is working hard. It shouldn&rsquo;t come as a big surprise since he&rsquo;s been doing it for 10 years and will continue to give all he has for as long as he continues to play the game.</p><p><b>HAB-BITS:</b> Sweater No. 16 was officially retired before the Habs&rsquo; game with Toronto at the Forum on Dec. 10. Elmer Lach and Henri Richard each received sweaters bearing their number. Toe Blake, former linemate of Lach on the famous Punch-Line (Blake, Lach and Maurice Richard) made the presentation to Lach and Emile &ldquo;Butch&rdquo; Bouchard presented Henri with the memorable souvenir of his distinguished career&hellip;That game with the Maple Leafs was a real thriller as Wayne Thomas made his first start in the Forum since being traded to Toronto and almost pulled off a minor miracle as the game wound up 3-3. The Canadiens fell behind 3-1 after two periods and it looked like their home unbeaten string was in jeopardy. But third period goals by Jacques Lemaire and Guy Lapointe lifted the Habs into the tie. Thomas was brilliant in the Toronto net as he faced 38 Canadien shots and time after time had the Habs shaking their heads in disbelief with his miraculous saves. An indication of the onslaught Thomas faced was the 12-1 shots-on-goal advantage Habs held in final period after 12 minutes&hellip;If the Habs don&rsquo;t keep up their present winning trend it won&rsquo;t be for lack of team spirit. When Lapointe tallied the equalizer with only four minutes remaining in the game the Montreal bench emptied as the players went to congratulate Lapointe on his marker.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0015-01

New Forward Combination Sparking Canadiens

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><p>BUFFALO&mdash;</p><p>DEE-fense, DEE-fense, what ever happened to DEE-fense, Sabres?</p><p>That&rsquo;s what Buffalo hockey fans were wondering when their favorites concluded their first sizeable road trip of the season, three games on the West Coast and one in Washington D.C.</p><p>When the Sabres left on their West Coast jaunt they were first in the National Hockey League in defense. Their goalies, Gerry Desjardins and Roger Crozier, were leading the Vezina Trophy race with the best goals-against average in the league.</p><p>The players, who started talking about improved defense at the start of training camp, were talking it up more that ever. Even members of the French Connection were stressing how important checking is in this game of hockey.</p><p>And then&hellip;and then&hellip;and then&hellip;the Sabres apparently forgot all about DEE-fense. Checking is something you do with your hat, if you are old-fashioned enough to wear a hat; that&rsquo;s what they seemed to think.</p><p>In the four road games the Sabres gave up 18 goals. An 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings was their worst of the season.</p><p>Even more shattering for the fans, however, was the fourth road game, against the Washington Capitals, last in the NHL and a team the Sabres never had failed to defeat before.</p><p>The game ended in a 4-4 tie. Milt Schmidt, coach and general manager of the Caps, called it his team&rsquo;s finest effort and there&rsquo;s no question but that his club was skating and taking advantage of every Sabre mistake.</p><p>Of which there were plenty. The Caps continually came up with 3-on-2 and 2-on-l breaks and outright breakaways. &ldquo;This game was a defenseman&rsquo;s nightmare,&rdquo; said Buffalo backliner Bill Hajt, afterwards.</p><p>If that was a nightmare, the Sabres&rsquo; return to their home rink was even worse. They tied again, against the New York Rangers, but this time the score was 6-6.</p><p>Coach Floyd Smith refused to blow his top or single out any individual or group for the defensive letdown.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re careless in our own end,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re giving up goals we. shouldn&rsquo;t. But everybody on the ice is at fault, not just the last man.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not from lack of effort. We&rsquo;re just running around in our own end and making mistakes. Maybe everybody is trying to do too much instead of just doing his own job.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re having a December letdown, just as we did last season. We have that home stand at the start and get off to a good lead and then figure we have it made.</p><p>&ldquo;But you have to keep working in this game.&rdquo;</p><p>While the club was having its defensive problems, Danny Gare kept up his offensive heroics. The sophomore right winger scored his 50th NHL goal in the game against the Rangers. It also was his 19th goal of the season, in 25 games.</p><p>What made it all the more sensational was that Danny had been carried off the ice with a painfully twisted ankle during practice only two days before.</p><p>It was a freak accident. Gare was standing along the boards during a line rush drill when Morris Titanic, returning from his rush, hit Dan&rsquo;s left skate with his skate. Gare&rsquo;s ankle was twisted and down he went.</p><p>The ankle turned out to be only slightly sprained, however, and Gare played the next night against Washington. He did such an outstanding job the following night against the Rangers, he received the second star award.</p><p><b>ICE CHIPS:</b> The first star award in the Ranger game went to a surprised Sabre defenseman Jerry Korab. Korab had been on the ice for all six New York goals. But he also was on for four of the six Buffalo goals, scoring one himself and starting the play on the final goal of the game. His goal came on a shot from center ice.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01590/3485596-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="568" height="1085"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DANNY GARE&hellip;On Scoring Spree</b></figcaption></div><h2>TEAM PENALTIES</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02514/3485589-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="589" height="673"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0017-01

Sabres Fall Apart On West Coast Swing

<h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>Looking At NHL Goalers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01600/3485627-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="594" height="2096"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-01

NATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY ALAN TRUEX</div><p>ATLANTA&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen a consistent 17 and 18-goal scorer suddenly breaks through with 31, suspicions immediately arise. The word &ldquo;fluke&rdquo; usually comes into discussion.</p><p>That is the way it was with Curt Bennett of the Atlanta Flames. After two years of being just an average center for the Flames, he was shifted to left wing last year and was transformed into an All Star.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02487/3485658-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="256" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Curt Bennett</b></figcaption></div><p>He scored 31 goals and 64 points. In his three previous NHL seasons, he had never scored more than 18 goals or 41 points.</p><p>There was much doubt that Bennett&rsquo;s 1974-75 season was for real. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t expect him to have a year like that again,&rdquo; was the word from some people within the Flames&rsquo; organization. &ldquo;Some of his goals were kind of dubious.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;What am I supposed to say?&rdquo; asked Bennett. &ldquo;That I&rsquo;m not going to score that many goals again? I don&rsquo;t see why I can&rsquo;t do better this year. Maybe I&rsquo;ll get 40, who knows?&rdquo;</p><p>Bennett started right out this season as if he were trying to prove himself all over again. During the first quarter of the season he was the only Flame who seemed to know where the net was. He had 11 goals in the first 20 games, while no one else on the team had more that six.</p><p>And while some of Bennett&rsquo;s goals last year were deflections off his legs, and others seemed to just dribble in, there was nothing at all lucky about his goals early this season. All were hard, well-placed shots which would have been difficult for any goaltender to stop.</p><p>Bennett appeared to be shooting the puck better than last year. &ldquo;I think maybe my shot is a little harder this year,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just a matter of practicing a lot.</p><p>&ldquo;A shot goes through different stages. It&rsquo;s not a constant thing. Sometimes guys will have the big shot and sometimes their shot will look like a creampuff.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have the real heavy shot, like Bobby Hull, the kind that knocks the goaltender&rsquo;s stick or glove into the net with it. Some guys have heavy shots that just destroy everything, but mine isn&rsquo;t like that.&rdquo;</p><p>But Bennett&rsquo;s shot is plenty fast, and he launches it so quickly that he appears likely to improve on last season&rsquo;s impressive statistics.</p><p>Bennett&rsquo;s value to the team is not just scoring, however. Coach Fred Creighton this year is trying him on penalty killing. With his long, gangling reach, the 6-3, 195-pound Bennett is very effective at breaking up power play passes.</p><p>And for three years he has been one of the Flames&rsquo; three or four best checkers. He is often used on specially-formed checking lines to stop such proficient scorers as Phil Esposito and Bill Goldsworthy.</p><p>Bennett, 27, is a graduate of Brown University, where he played Ivy League hockey against Montreal goalie Ken Dryden, who was at Cornell. Bennett has a younger brother, Harvey, who is a rookie with the Pittsburgh Penguins.</p><p>&ldquo;Harvey has more talent than I have,&rdquo; Curt insists. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a lot bigger than I am (6-4, 215), and he has a natural hard shot. He doesn&rsquo;t have to practice at all.&rdquo;</p><p>Curt remains the Flames&rsquo; hardest worker in practice. He feels that because of his American hockey background, he had to work more on his skating and shooting than his Canadian teammates.</p><p>And off-ice, Bennett still finds time for a hundred other activities. He learned to speak Russian in college, but Bennett is now working diligently on French. He carries a pocket cassette player with language tapes in it, and he plays them on team flights.</p><p>Some of Bennett&rsquo;s other interests includes karate, boxing lessons, yoga, isometrics, judo, carpentry, memory-training, reading, writing, tennis and world travel. And he says he&rsquo;s now getting into &ldquo;Eastern thought, Zen, that kind oi thing.&rdquo;</p><p>While Bennett at one time may have been an average hockey player on ice, he never was an average one off it.</p><p><b>FLAMES NOTES:</b> Rick Bowness, Flames&rsquo; No. 2 draft pick last summer, has been playing very well in Tulsa, and Flames president-general manager Cliff Fletcher indicated Bowness may be called up&mdash;&ldquo;if some of the players we have insist on playing themselves off the team.&rdquo; Bowness is an aggressive right winger.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-02

Bennett Bright Light For Flames, Could End Season With 40 Goals

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03366/3485689-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="917" height="852"></div><h2>Tips for Goalies</h2><p>Here are a few basic lips on glove saves for goallenders:</p><p>1. Stay loose on your skates, with your knees slightly bent so you can move quickly.</p><p>2. A glove save is better than one made with your stick. Grabbing the puck prevents dangerous rebounds and a gloved save can be tossed where a teammate can pick it up. Arebound from a stick save can end up on an opponent&rsquo;s stick for that second chance.</p><p>3. When you make a glove save, try to get your body behind the glove in case the puck squirts out of your grasp.</p><p>4. Keep your glove hand at your side, close to your leg&mdash;about knee high and wide open, facing the play.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-03

MINOR HOCKEY TIPS

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div><p>DETROIT&mdash;</p><p>Entering December, Walt McKechnie&rsquo;s name had a prominent place among the National Hockey League&rsquo;s scoring leaders.</p><p>There was McKechnie, with 12 goals and 15 assists, ranked 13th and in the company of the big stars.</p><p>The lanky centerman is capitalizing on a chance to play regularly in Detroit and is off to the best start of his career.</p><p>McKechnie is delighted with all the ice time he&rsquo;s been receiving with the Red Wings and the proof is in his play. He&rsquo;s the center on the No. 1 line with wingers Dan Maloney and Michel Bergeron, plays the power play and also is one of the team&rsquo;s top penalty killers. In fact, McKechnie has three shorthanded goals and one of them came with the Wings two men short.</p><p>The Wings acquired McKechnie in a trade with Boston last February and on the surface it appeared an inconsequential trade. But now. Big Walter is making the trade look like a heist.</p><p>&ldquo;I have a lot to prove, to myself and to others,&rdquo; McKechnie said.&rdquo; I think I had the ability to play in Boston but I never had the chance. I knew right from the start of training camp that I wouldn&rsquo;t get the chance. Last year hurt me a lot. Not getting a chance to play, just sitting on the bench, hurt my career.&rdquo;</p><p>McKechnie described his fast getaway as &ldquo;by far my best start.&rdquo;</p><p>However, he&rsquo;s not getting carried away.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a firm believer that this game has a way of evening out,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Just when you think you have this game under control, it jumps up and grabs you.&rdquo;</p><p>The McKechnie line has been outstanding. In fact, McKechnie, Maloney and Bergeron rank 1-2-3 in Detroit scoring. The line clicked in the first game it was together with both Maloney and Bergeron scoring a pair of goals in that game.</p><p>&ldquo;The reason the line has been successful is that our styles complement each other so well,&rdquo; McKechnie said. &ldquo;Danny and I are both from London and we talked about playing together last summer. We felt we could be effective together but of course we didn&rsquo;t go to management.</p><p>&ldquo;Maloney is the leader of the line, there&rsquo;s no question of that. He works so hard that he makes us work, too. He&rsquo;s such a digger that he makes things happen and Michel is a fine goal scorer. &ldquo;</p><p>McKechnie, like the other Detroit players, is confident the club can make the playoffs this season even though it has an uphill battle.</p><p>&ldquo;Like all athletes, we have a lot of pride and it&rsquo;s very important to us to make the playoffs,&rdquo; McKechnie said.&rdquo;We&rsquo;re improving. Considering that we didn&rsquo;t win in our first 10 games, our record isn&rsquo;t that bad and we&rsquo;re certainly in the race with the teams we must catch.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01579/3485720-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="565" height="555"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WALT McKECHNIE&hellip;Has Lot to Prove</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0019-01

McKechnie Thrives On More Ice Time

<div class="byline">BY BILL HEUFELDER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01423/3485751-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DENNIS OWCHAR&hellip;Made Trip 12 Times</b></figcaption></div><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>ennis Owchar&rsquo;s 1974-75 professional hockey season is neatly summed up in two lines which read that the young defenseman played 24 games at Hershey and 46 with the club that owns him, the Pittsburgh Penguins.</p><p>What the lines do not reveal is that Owchar lived a fractured existence, on the run between the two cities. &ldquo;I made the trip one way 12 times,&rdquo; Owchar recalled. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s six return tickets.&rdquo;</p><p>When the Penguins assigned him to Hershey at the close of the exhibition campaign this time around, nobody had to point the way. And he wasn&rsquo;t altogether surprised at making the trip.</p><p>&ldquo;They had six experienced defensemen which led me to believe I wouldn&rsquo;t make the team,&rdquo; Owchar said. Which is not the same as saying that he wasn&rsquo;t capable of playing in the big time.</p><p>&ldquo;I believe I would have been okay,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was just starting to feel good when I got sent down.&rdquo;</p><p>If you&rsquo;re Dennis Owchar, no matter how many times you make the trip, it hurts going back. &ldquo;I was half expecting it,&rdquo; he said of his Hershey assignment during preseason, but completely dreading it.&rdquo;</p><p>Conceivably, Owchar can forget about the minors indefinitely and hopefully forever. The Penguins requested that he travel the beaten path another time early last month and eventually informed him that it would be fine if he sent out his laundry.</p><p>Owchar, who last season had apartments in both Pittsburgh and Hershey for a stretch, has settled down with the Penguins, both on and off the ice. A third-round draft choice three years ago after completing his junior career with the Toronto Marlies, he finds himself with the firmest hold of his brief career on a big league job.</p><p>The refinement of his aggressive style and puck-handling ability was such that the Penguins gave him more confidence by sending one of their veteran defensemen Bob Paradise, to the Washington Caps.</p><p>Owchar is not concerned about holding up his end, having suffered through the breaking-in period last season. &ldquo;The puck-carrying was the last part of my game to come around,&rdquo; he noted.</p><p>In the midst of nine forwards who became 20-goal scorers, Owchar was aware of his tendency to get rid of the puck, often prematurely.</p><p>&ldquo;I wanted to give it to (Jean) Pronovost or (Syl) Apps, somebody who could do a heckuva lot more with it than me,&rdquo; he said. In his eagerness, the puck tended to wind up on an opponent&rsquo;s stick.</p><p>In a faulty bit of timing, the fortunes of the Penguins took a turn for the better upon Owchar&rsquo;s latest arrival. They proceeded to lapse into a rash of high-scoring games, most of them winding up in defeat.</p><p>Owchar didn&rsquo;t let the poor stretch affect him, mainly because he figured his stay would be brief. &ldquo;I was under the impression they wanted me for one or two games,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;I stayed in a hotel for 10 games.&rdquo;</p><p>By the time Owchar received the word to find a more permanent residence in town, the reeling Penguins spun out of their trouble by putting together a four-game winning streak, on the strength of another player who surprisingly had been with the Bears this year, goalie Michel Plasse.</p><p>Owchar, only 22, did not lack for work at Hershey, which was forced to employ three forwards on defense at various times because of illness, injuries and recalls by the parent clubs, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.</p><p>&ldquo;I was playing 30 or 40 minutes a game,&rdquo; Owchar said. &ldquo;I was on the ice every second shift, playing the power play and killing penalties.</p><p>All the work may have enabled Owchar to finally get the minors out of his system. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how going back and forth affects other guys, but it wears me down mentally,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough not knowing where you&rsquo;re going to be.&rdquo;</p><p><b>PENGUIN NOTES:</b> Vic Hadfield staged a scoring spree with 10 goals in as many games, moving him to within four games of his pace when he delivered 50 goals in 1971-72&hellip;Pronovost extended his consecutive game scoring string to a club record 15 games, in the process setting another mark with 13 goals in one month&hellip;He registered his 15th goal in his 22nd game&hellip;Last season, he didn&rsquo;t get No. 15 until the 35th game&hellip;Rick Kehoe remains out with a cracked ankle bone&hellip;with Chuck Arnason also sidelined the Penguins recalled Jacques Cossette, their No. 2 draft choice from last season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0020-01

Owchar Cracks Penguins After Bumpy Climb To Top

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he situation was perfect for Dave &ldquo;Tiger&rdquo; Williams when the Toronto Maple Leafs promoted him from their Oklahoma City Blazers farm team in the Central League midway through the 1974-75 National Hockey League season.</p><p>The Leafs were floundering, a pacifist, injury-riddled team with little spunk. Williams had plenty of that. The Leafs&rsquo; second round selection in the 1974 amateur draft, he had acquired 202 penalty minutes in 39 CHL games.</p><p>The Tiger injected some spark into the Leafs. In his first practise session with the team, he rammed several mates and, suddenly, dull workouts had some life. Williams displayed a willingness to fight which knew no bounds. By the end of the season, his knuckles resembled a sack of walnuts. He didn&rsquo;t win them all, either, although in his own mind, the Tiger never really lost a bout.</p><p>But the brash young Williams was more than just another pretty fist. Although a laboring skater, he contributed 10 goals and 19 assists in 42 Leafs games, working well on a line with center Darryl Sittler and Ron Ellis.</p><p>During the summer, the Leafs sent Williams to a power-skating school and his skating has improved. But the early portion of the &rsquo;75-76 season has been a time of great frustration for the Tiger. In the Leafs&rsquo; first 24 games, he acquired only two goals. Williams wants more scores very badly and that hasn&rsquo;t helped. He&rsquo;s been tight and pressing, the worst ingredients to add to a scoring slump.</p><p>One factor which has hurt Williams&rsquo; offensive output is the fact, that he&rsquo;s not working with Sittler and Ellis. Sittler has new wingers this time and Ellis retired in September.</p><p>&ldquo;When I came up last year, I landed in a great spot,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Ellis and Sittler were two experienced players who made it easy for me. I could come from behind on the play, pick up their garbage and get 20 goals a season.</p><p>&ldquo;This year, I&rsquo;ve played most of the time with Don Ashby and Inge Hammarstrom and they play a different style. They&rsquo;re both very fast and we haven&rsquo;t got it together.&rdquo;</p><p>Williams also has reduced the number of fights in which he&rsquo;s involved, although not by design.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m available if anyone wants a scrap,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;ve fought most of the tough guys in the league and there&rsquo;s not much for any of us to prove by fighting again.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s another factor, too. Teams just don&rsquo;t go after our good players the way they did last season. When the dummies would work on Borje Salming or Sittler or Ellis, I&rsquo;d work on them because those guys are my bread and butter. This year, the team has more guys who won&rsquo;t take any guff and the others leave us alone.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02196/3485782-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="550" height="631"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DAVE WILLIAMS Easing Up On Fights</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0021-02

Williams Doing Job Without Scoring

<div class="byline">BY PAT THOMPSON</div><p>TWIN CITIES&mdash;</p><p>When your team is in last place in its division, it&rsquo;s likely that only one of your teammates is going to be selected to play in the All Star game.</p><p>In the case of the Minnesota North Stars, leading scorer Bill Goldsworthy will probably get the call again to represent his team Jan. 20 in Philadelphia.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01267/3485813-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="285" height="389"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Fred Barrett</b></figcaption></div><p>Goldy probably will deserve the invitation, but it is unfortunate for 25-year-old defenseman Fred Barrett that the North Stars are not having a better season.</p><p>The 6&rsquo;, 188-pound Ottawa, Ont., native is All Star mettle, if not this season, then in future years. Barrett, as coach Ted Harris likes to refer to him, is a defenseman&rsquo;s defenseman.</p><p>Barrett is not a flashy skater, nor a big shooter. He just plays his position, and Minnesota&rsquo;s opponents know it when Barrett plants one of his jolting checks. A lefthanded shot playing right defense, Barrett seldom draws a penalty for his hits. They jolt, but they&rsquo;re legal.</p><p>Perhaps the fact that he scored only five goals in 205 games since 1970-71 before this season has kept him out of the limelight. His teammates and followers, however, recognize the ability&mdash;he was voted the outstanding North Star defenseman in 1974-75 despite missing 18 games with injuries.</p><p>&ldquo;When you look at the statistics and see how the Parks, the Orrs and the Potvins score so often,&rdquo; said teammate Tom Reid, &ldquo;guys who are playing excellent defense like our own Freddie Barrett often fail to get the recognition they deserve.&rdquo;</p><p>Barrett, before this season, has received recognition as the North Star most likely to get the &ldquo;breaks.&rdquo; Since his rookie year in 1970-71, Barrett has suffered broken bones in his thigh, his collar, his hand, his ankle and his foot.</p><p>Barrett has yet to play a full schedule. The most games he has played since turning pro came last year when he appeared in 62.</p><p>Barrett took considerable ribbing in this year&rsquo;s training camp when he suffered the first injury&mdash;a black eye when struck by a puck. But he has appeared in every regular season game this year in what could be his best season.</p><p>He also took it upon himself to end a 22-game goal-less stretch for Minnesota defensemen in an early December meeting against the Toronto Maple Leafs. His shot from the right point lifted the North Stars to a 3-1 victory.</p><p>&ldquo;Not being a high scoring defenseman myself,&rdquo; said Harris, &ldquo;I am not that concerned about my defensemen scoring a lot of goals. I want them to play their position and help get the puck out of our zone. Any goal they score is gravy as far as I&rsquo;m concerned.&rdquo;</p><p>Leave the defense to Barrett and the goal scoring to Goldsworthy, the 31-year-old team captain who started rolling the first week of December with five goals in a four-game span in which the North Stars put together their first three-game winning streak since the 1972-73 season.</p><p>Goldsworthy was not willing to go along with the theme, &ldquo;Stop Goldy, and you stop the Stars.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;We have other guys who can score,&rdquo; said Goldsworthy, who would finish between 40 and 50 goals at his current pace. &ldquo;But to win, this team must perform as a unit. When we work together, we&rsquo;ll get our chances. But everybody on the team has to play well&mdash;the forwards have to check, the defensemen have to check and we have to have good goal tending.&rdquo;</p><p>The North Stars came up with just that type of effort in their three-game streak ending with a 40 shutout by goalie Cesare Maniago over the Kansas City Scouts. Four different players scored goals, Maniago was spectacular and the 36-year-old veteran had a lot of support in his third straight victory.</p><p>Just the opposite occurred in a 6-1 loss in Philadelphia the next night.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-01

Steady Rearguard Barrett Victim Of North Stars’ Plight

<h2>Tue, Dec. 9 MINNESOTA 0, ISLANDERS 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01294/3486033-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="574" height="358"></div><h2>WASHINGTON 1, ATLANTA 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02220/3486026-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="583" height="462"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH <i>2.</i> KANSAS CITY 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03192/3486019-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="579" height="406"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS 3. VANCOUVER 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04148/3486012-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="582" height="453"></div><h2>Wed, Dec. 10 BUFFALO 2, RANGERS 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05123/3486005-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="579" height="360"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA 1, CALIFORNIA 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0696/3485998-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="580" height="386"></div><h2>TORONTO 3. MONTREAL 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0784/3485991-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="583" height="461"></div><h2>CHICAGO 7, WASHINGTON 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0874/3485984-1-eng-US/f0022-082.jpg" title="f0022-08" width="586" height="488"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH 2, DETROIT 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0966/3485977-1-eng-US/f0022-092.jpg" title="f0022-09" width="579" height="484"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS 0, LOS ANGELES 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1056/3485970-1-eng-US/f0022-102.jpg" title="f0022-10" width="585" height="442"></div><h2>Thu, Dec. 11 RANGERS 5, BOSTON 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1152/3485963-1-eng-US/f0022-112.jpg" title="f0022-11" width="581" height="385"></div><h2>MINNESOTA 5, KANSAS CITY 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1248/3485956-1-eng-US/f0022-122.jpg" title="f0022-12" width="583" height="434"></div><h2>Fri, Dec. 12 ISLANDERS 3, ATLANTA 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1341/3485949-1-eng-US/f0022-132.jpg" title="f0022-13" width="584" height="460"></div><h2>DETROIT 5. WASHINGTON 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1433/3485942-1-eng-US/f0022-142.jpg" title="f0022-14" width="596" height="485"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS 2. CALIFORNIA 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1531/3485935-1-eng-US/f0022-152.jpg" title="f0022-15" width="579" height="461"></div><h2>Sat, Dec. 13 RANGERS 5, DETROIT 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1625/3485928-1-eng-US/f0022-162.jpg" title="f0022-16" width="588" height="511"></div><h2>ISLANDERS 5, TORONTO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1722/3485921-1-eng-US/f0022-172.jpg" title="f0022-17" width="587" height="476"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA 6, LOS ANGELES 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1821/3485914-1-eng-US/f0022-182.jpg" title="f0022-18" width="585" height="499"></div><h2>KANSAS CITY 1, MONTREAL 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1921/3485907-1-eng-US/f0022-192.jpg" title="f0022-19" width="580" height="432"></div><h2>BOSTON 4, PITTSBURGH 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2020/3485900-1-eng-US/f0022-202.jpg" title="f0022-20" width="583" height="452"></div><h2>CHICAGO 1, MINNESOTA 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01272/3485893-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="578" height="368"></div><h2>Sun, DEC. 14 TORONTO 6, RANGERS 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02213/3485886-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="579" height="422"></div><h2>ATLANTA 7, BUFFALO 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03163/3485879-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="582" height="475"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH 4, MONTREAL 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04130/3485872-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="585" height="501"></div><h2>MINNESOTA 4, WASHINGTON 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05106/3485865-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="588" height="406"></div><h2>VANCOUVER 2, BOSTON 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0693/3485858-1-eng-US/f0023-062.jpg" title="f0023-06" width="578" height="400"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS 4, CHICAGO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0779/3485851-1-eng-US/f0023-072.jpg" title="f0023-07" width="584" height="448"></div><h2>NHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0867/3485844-1-eng-US/f0023-082.jpg" title="f0023-08" width="587" height="705"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-01

National Hockey League Summaries

<p><b>C&mdash;Captain</b></p><p><b>*&mdash;Rookie</b></p><h2>ATLANTA</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Dan Bouchard</p><p>Phi Myre</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Pal Quinn C</p><p>Barry Gibbs</p><p>Larry Co mere</p><p>Ed Kea</p><p>Randy Manery</p><p>Jean Lemieux</p><p>Ken Houston</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Curt Bennett</p><p>Roy Comeau</p><p>Tom Lysiak</p><p>Gerry Meehan</p><p>* Claude St, Sauveur</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Hilliard Graves</p><p>Bill Flett</p><p>Tim Ecclestone</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Ken Houston</p><p>Dave Kryskow</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>EricVail</p><p>Larry Romanchych</p><h2>CALIFORNIA</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Gilles Meloche</p><p>Gary Simmons</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Lon Frig</p><p>Rick Hampton</p><p>Miko Christie</p><p>Bab Stewart</p><p>George Pesut</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Dave Gardner</p><p>Wayne Merrick</p><p>* Ralph Klassen</p><p>* Dennis Maruk</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Gary Sabounn</p><p>Wayne King</p><p>*Bob Murdoch</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Dave Hrechkosy</p><p>Al Mac Adam</p><p>* Gary Holt</p><p>* Bob Girard</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Jim Neilson</p><h2>BOSTON</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Gillo* Gilbert</p><p>* Dave Reace</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Gary Doak</p><p>Darryl Edestrand</p><p>Al Sims</p><p>Dallas Smith</p><p>Brad Pork</p><p>Joe Zanussi</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Joan Ratelle</p><p>Andre Savard</p><p>Gregg Sheppard</p><p>* Barry Smith</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Hank Nowak</p><p>Bobby Schmautz</p><p>Ken Hodge</p><p>Terry O&rsquo;Reilly</p><p>Earl Anderson</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>John Bucyk C</p><p>Dave Forbes</p><p>WayneCashman</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Don Marcotte</p><p>Bobby Orr</p><h2>CHICAGO</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Tony Esposito</p><p>Michel Duinas</p><p>Gilles Villemure</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Keith Magnuson</p><p>Dick Redmond</p><p>Dale Tallon</p><p>* Bob Murray</p><p>Phil Russell</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Ivan Boldirev</p><p>Bobby Shoehan</p><p>Pit Martin</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>CliffKoroll</p><p>Grant Mulvey</p><p>J.P Bordeleau</p><p>* Alain Daigle</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Dennis Hull</p><p>Darcy Rota</p><p>John Marks</p><p>Joey Johnston</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Bill White</p><h2>BUFFALO</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Roger C roiier</p><p>Gerry Desjardins</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>JimSchoenfeld C</p><p>Jerry Korab</p><p>J. Guevremont</p><p>Bill Hajt</p><p>* Paul McIntosh</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Don Luce</p><p>GilPerreault</p><p>Peter McNab</p><p>JimLorentz</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Danny Garo</p><p>Rene Robert</p><p>Fred Stanfield</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Richard Martin</p><p>Brian Spencer</p><p>Craig Ramsay</p><p>Jacques Richard</p><p>Morris Titanic</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>None</p><h2>DETROIT</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Jim Rutherford</p><p>Ed Giacomin</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Jean Hamel</p><p>Rick Lapointe</p><p>Bryan Watson</p><p>Terry Harper</p><p>Barry Salovaara</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Phil Roberto</p><p>Bryan Hextail</p><p>Walt McKechnie</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>* Michel Bergeron</p><p>Mickey Redmond</p><p>* Dennis Polonich</p><p>Bill Lochead</p><p>J.P. Leblanc</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Danny Grant C</p><p>Nick Libett</p><p>Dan Maloney</p><p>Mike Bloom</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Bill Hogoboom</p><h2>KANSAS CITY</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Dems Herron</p><p>* Bill Oloschuk</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Coude Houde</p><p>Jean-Guy Logace</p><p>Larry Johnston</p><p>Gory Borgman</p><p>Dennis Patterson</p><p>Ken Murray</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Guy Charron</p><p>Eddie Gilbert</p><p>Dave Hudson</p><p>Bob Murray</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Simon Nolet C</p><p>WilfPaiement</p><p>Randy Rota</p><p>Buster Harvey</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Gary Croteau</p><p>Craig Patrick</p><p>Norm Dube</p><p>Rabin Burns</p><p>Germain Gagnon</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Denis Dupere</p><p>Bill McKenzie</p><h2>MONTREAL</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Michel Larocque</p><p>Ken Dryden</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Don Awrey</p><p>Guy Lapointe</p><p>Serge Savard</p><p>Larry Robinson</p><p>Pierre Bouchard</p><p>Jahn Van Boxmeer</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Pete Mahovlich</p><p>Doug Risebrough</p><p>* Doug Jarvis</p><p>Jacques Lemaire</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Guy Lafleur</p><p>Mario Tremblay</p><p>Jim Roberts</p><p>Yvan Cournoyer C</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Yvon Lambert</p><p>Steve Shutt</p><p>Bob Gainey</p><p>Murray Wilson</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>None</p><h2>LOS ANGELES</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Rogie Vachon</p><p>Gary Edwards</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Bob Murdoch</p><p>S. Kannegiessor</p><p>Neil Komadoski</p><p>Dave Hutchison</p><p>Larry Brown</p><p>* Gary Sargent</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Marcel Dionne</p><p>Gone Carr</p><p>Vic Vonasky</p><p>Whitey Widing</p><p>Butch Goring</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Miko Murphy C</p><p>Mike Corrigan</p><p>Bob Nevin</p><p>Frank St. Marseille</p><p>Don Kozak</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Bob Berry</p><p>Tom Williams</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>None</p><h2>ISLANDERS</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Glonn Resch</p><p>Billy Smith</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Gerry Hart</p><p>Bert Marshall</p><p>Denis Potvin</p><p>Joan Potvin</p><p>Dave lewis</p><p>Dave Fortier</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Eddie Westfall C</p><p>Lorne Handing</p><p>Ralph Stewart</p><p>* Bryan Trottier</p><p>Andro St. Laurent</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Jude Drouin</p><p>Billy Harris</p><p>Bob Nystrom</p><p>Garry Howatt</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Clark Gillies</p><p>J.P. Parise</p><p>Billy MacMillan</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>None</p><h2>MINNESOTA</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Cesare Mamago</p><p>PeterLoProsti</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Tom Reid</p><p>Dennis O&rsquo;Brien</p><p>Doug Hicks</p><p>Fred Barrett</p><p>Dwight Bialowas</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Dennis Hextali</p><p>* Tim Young</p><p>* Dave Cressman</p><p>Pierro Jarry</p><p>Bryan Hextali</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Bill Goldsworthy C</p><p>Dean Talafous</p><p>Craig Cameron</p><p>Lou Nanno</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>John Flesch</p><p>Ernie Hicke</p><p>Glen Sather</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>None</p><h2>RANGERS</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>John Davidson</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Carol Vadndis</p><p>Gil Marotte</p><p>Ron Greschner</p><p>Larry Sacharuk</p><p>John Bednarski</p><p>Doug Jarrett</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>* Wayne Dillon</p><p>Walt Tkaczuk</p><p>Peter Stemkowski</p><p>Phil Esposito C</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Rod Gilbert</p><p>Bill Fairbairn</p><p>Rick Middleton</p><p>Bill Collins</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Stove Vickers</p><p>Greg Polis</p><p>* Pat Hickey</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Ron Harm</p><p>Dune Wilson</p><p>Nick Beverley</p><h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Wayne Stephenson</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Tom Bladon</p><p>Andro Dupont</p><p>Larry Goodenough</p><p>*Jim Watson</p><p>Joe Watson</p><p>* Jack Mcllhargey</p><p>Ed Van Impe</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Bobby Oarke C</p><p>Rick MacLoish</p><p>Torry Crisp</p><p>Orest Kindrachuk</p><p>* Mol Bridgman</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Gary Dorn hoofer</p><p>Rog Loach</p><p>Don Soloski</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Bill Barber</p><p>Dave Schultz</p><p>Bob Kelly</p><p>Ross Lansberry</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Borme Parent</p><h2>TORONTO</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Wayne Thomas</p><p>Gordon McRae</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Borje Sal mi ng</p><p>Rod Seiling</p><p>Jim McKenny</p><p>Ian Turnbull</p><p>Brian Glennie</p><p>Dave Dunn</p><p>Bob Neely</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Darryl SittiorC</p><p>George Ferguson</p><p>Stan Weir</p><p>* Don Ashby</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Blaine Stoughton</p><p>Lonny McDonald</p><p>Inge Hammarstrom</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Dave Williams</p><p>Errol Thompson</p><p>* Pat Boutotte</p><p>* Greg Hubick</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Doug Favoll</p><h2>PITTSBURGH</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Gory Inness</p><p>Michel Masse</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Dave Burrows</p><p>Stevo Durbano</p><p>Ron Stockhouse</p><p>Barry Wilkins</p><p>Dennis Owe har</p><p>Colin Campbell</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Ron SchockC</p><p>Syl Apps</p><p>Pierro La rouehe</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Chuck A mason</p><p>Rick Kehoe</p><p>Joan Pronovost</p><p>Lew Morrison</p><p>Jacques Cossette</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Vic Hadfield</p><p>Lowell MacDonald</p><p>Harvey Bennett</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>None</p><h2>VANCOUVER</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Gory Smith</p><p>Ken Lockett</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Bob Dailey</p><p>Ab DeMarco</p><p>Miko Robitaille</p><p>Dennis Kearns</p><p>Harold Snepsts</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Andre Boudnas C</p><p>Don Levor</p><p>Chris Oddleifson</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>John Gould</p><p>Paulin Bordeleau</p><p>Gerry O&rsquo;Flaherty</p><p>Dennis Vorvorgaert</p><p>* Rick Blight</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Bobby Lalonde</p><p>Grogg Boddy</p><p>Ron Sodlbauer</p><p>* Glen Richardson</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Tracy Pratt</p><p>Garry Monahan</p><p>John Gnsdolo</p><h2>ST. LOUIS</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Yvos Belanger</p><p>Eddie Johnston</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Barclay Pla ger C</p><p>Bob Mager</p><p>Bob Hess</p><p>BobGassoff</p><p>Rick Wilson</p><p>* Bruce Affleck</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Garry Unger</p><p>Chuck Lofley</p><p>Larry Patey</p><p>Derek Sandersor</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Pierre Monte</p><p>ClaudeLarose</p><p>Brian Ogilvie</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Royd Thomson</p><p>Tod Irvine</p><p>Rod Berenson</p><p>Bort Wilson</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Jerry Butler</p><h2>WASHINGTON</h2><h3>GOAL</h3><p>Michel Belhumeur</p><p>Ron Low</p><p>*Bemio Wolfe</p><h3>DEFENSE</h3><p>Yvon Lobro</p><p>Grog Joly</p><p>Jack Lynch</p><p>* Johp Paddock</p><p>Bob Paradise</p><p>Ron Jones</p><h3>CENTER</h3><p>Bdl Cement C</p><p>Tommy Williams</p><p>Nelson Pyatt</p><h3>R. WING</h3><p>Stan Gilbertson</p><p>Blair Steipart</p><p>BobGryp</p><p>* Hartland Monahan</p><p>Ace Bailey</p><h3>L. WING</h3><p>Miko Marson</p><p>Ron Lalonde</p><p>* Tony White</p><h3>INJURED</h3><p>Ron Anderson<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NHL Team Rosters

<p>OAKLAND&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he controversy and second-guessing had yet to die down when the St. Louis Blues made their first trip to the West Coast since centers Larry Patey and Wayne</p><p>Merrick had changed uniforms.</p><p>The trade, which both the Seals and Blues believed would aid their respective causes, went the way of the California club, at least for the time being.</p><p>The Seals soundly set the Blues back on their heels to the tune of 52 and to add insult to injury the recently acquired Merrick scored what proved to be the winning goal.</p><p>Al MacAdam continued to set the Seals&rsquo; scoring pace as his goal and an assist in the St. Louis encounter lifted his point total to 24, including 12 goals which leaves him second on the team in that department behind Gary Sabourin who has 12.</p><p>The win over the Blues coupled with a 1-1 home ice draw with the Philadelphia Flyers, left the Seals well within striking distance of the third place Toronto Maple Leafs, who lead the Seals by three points in the Adams Division playoff race.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Merrick Pays Seals Instant Dividends

<h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>WHA Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03153/3486171-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="557" height="614"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ANDERS HEDBERG</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04117/3486164-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="589" height="935"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-03

WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

<div class="byline">BY RICH PASSAN</div><p>INDIANAPOLIS&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>N</span>o longer are fans of the World Hockey Association making fun of the Indianapolis Racers. Last season&rsquo;s clowns are this season&rsquo;s surprises.</p><p>&ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t got a great club with the names,&rdquo; said coach Jacques Demers, who took over the bench job from Gerry Moore six games into the season and has guided the Racers back in the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s East Division race.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01279/3486209-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="288" height="436"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Larry Pleau</b></figcaption></div><p>Demers installed a highly disciplined style of play and the Indy skaters have taken to it well. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re playing the system and liking it,&rdquo; said Demers, whose teaching has helped cut down drastically on the goals against.</p><p>The Racers have been knocking off everybody. In one three-game stretch, they beat Winnipeg, Cleveland and New England, the latter two on foreign ice. In one eight-game stretch, the Racers permitted 13 goals of which seven were power-play tallies.</p><p>&ldquo;This club is as good as this as long as it works hard and believes in itself,&rdquo; said Demers, the youngest coach in the league.</p><p>One of the big reasons for the Racers&rsquo; success, which has seen them climb back into the race for the top spot in the East, is defenseman Whitey Stapleton. The veteran backliner is averaging 45 minutes a game and seems indestrucible.</p><p>Stapleton, who coached the now-defunct Chicago Cougars last season, was bothered last year by a pinched nerve in his neck. Now he is healthy and playing as well as ever.</p><p>&ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t right for an old man to play that long,&rdquo; said Stapleton after logging nearly 50 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Cleveland recently. &ldquo;Basically, I feel good. I had a good rest this summer.&rdquo;</p><p>The Indianapolis goaltending duo of Andy Brown and Leif Holmquist has played a large part, too, in why the Racers are looking respectable. &ldquo;Andy has been super for us and Leif has come on strong lately,&rdquo; said Demers.</p><p>The big difference this season, according to Brown, is the improvement around his crease. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not getting that many rebounds to handle,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The defensemen are clearing the first shot.&rdquo;</p><p>Brown has received some heat locally and plays strictly on the road while Holmquist handles the home games. The latter&rsquo;s 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets was especially sweet since the veteran Swedish National goalie faced seven of his countrymen.</p><p>Off the ice, the Racers made a positive move in hiring Hall of Fame defenseman Doug Harvey as their chief scout. Harvey has been with the Houston Aeros for the past two-plus seasons and was the man most responsible for getting Gordie Howe and Co. into the WHA.</p><p>Harvey will scout all phases of hockey for the Racers, who never had a chief scout. Moore also will do some scouting.</p><p><b>CINCINNATI:</b> The Stingers&rsquo; losing streak ended at eight games in Cleveland with a 5-3 victory with rookie goaltender John Kiely winning in his major league debut&hellip;Coach Terry Slater shook up the troops, sending goalie Norm Lapointe, defenseman Bruce Ab bey and right winger Don O&rsquo;Donoghue to Hampton of the Southern Hockey League and bringing up center Pat Donnelly, right winger Murray Myers and Kiely&hellip;Right winger Steve Andrascik was given his outright release&hellip;Rick Dudley was honored by the home crowd Dec. 8 against Denver.</p><p><b>NEW ENGLAND:</b> The Wha lers have been playing well defensively and only recently have they begun to find the range offensively. Center Larry Pleau, scoreless in his first 20 games, scored goals in his next three outings&hellip;The Harpoonists would be a runaway leader in the East Division if they were winning instead of losing one-goal games. They are 2-6 in that category&hellip;Goaltender Christer Abrahamsson, since becoming the No. 1 netminder, has logged a 2.69 goals-against average, but has only a 6-8 record to show for it.</p><p><b>CLEVELAND:</b> The Crusaders have gone sour at home, where they are 6-6 after the first dozen games. The only victory in the last five outings was a gift, courtesy of the Toronto Toros&hellip;The Toros blew an 8-2 lead with 22 minutes left and lost, 10-9, with John A.Stewart&rsquo;s goal in the last 20 seconds winning it&hellip;The game produced four WHA records and tied eight other league records. The Cleveland forward line of Jim Harrison, Ron Ward and Gerry Pinder accounted for eight of the 10 goals&hellip;The C&rsquo;s sent down veteran defenseman Wayne Muloin and rookie rearguard Paul Baxter to their Syracuse team in the North American League and brought up rookie backliner Brian Bowles.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02215/3486202-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="557" height="1205"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PAT STAPLETON&hellip;Healthy And Hot</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-01

Indy Racers Turning Their Fans On As Club Becomes Surprise Of Season

<div class="byline">BY JIM KERNAGHAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01229/3486247-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg"></div><p>QUEBEC CITY&mdash;</p><p>With the concept of a Canadian Division vs. a combined Eastern and Western Division All Star team game coming up, opponents immediately felt that the best of a five-team set-up facing the best of the combined might of nine teams was unfair.</p><p>Hardly. A peek at some of the performances in the Canadian Division one short week into December shows that, by the time the game is played at Cleveland in January, Canadian Division players should more than hold their own.</p><p>For starters, after eight weeks of play, Canadian Division players not only held all 10 spots in the scoring race but had all four of the league&rsquo;s 20-goal scorers.</p><p>Marc Tardif, who is the heart of the Quebec Nordiques, led with 23 goals and a total of 44 points while Toronto&rsquo;s Vaclav Nedomansky had 23 goals and 35 points, Real Cloutier of the Nordiques 20 goals and 33 points and Anders Hedberg of the Winnipeg Jets, 20 goals and 37 points.</p><p>Nordiques had no sooner taken a blasting from coach Jean-Guy Gendron for dropping a 5-3 deci<b>sion</b> to the Toros when his club rebounded to move within two prints of the division leading Jets, eking out a 3-2 win as the respective clubs have the best records in the WHA.</p><p>In five meetings this season, Jets retained the edge, three wins to <b>two.</b> Goalie Richard Brodeur, with <b>the</b> score tied, 1-1, made a critical breakaway stop on Bobby Hull and the Nordiques turned right around, Serge Bernier putting the Nords out front.</p><p><b>WINNIPEG:</b> The Jets see some intimations of last season when their big line, Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg, established a scoring mark of 362 points. At their current torrid pace, they&rsquo;ll come close to that.</p><p>Hull has 17 goals and 42 points, Nilsson 14 goals and 42 points and Hedberg 20 goals and 37 points as the most dangerous trio in the league.</p><p>Jets lost a tight one to the Houston Aeros, a 5-4 loss in which Gordie Howe received the first suspension and largest fine of his 28 year hockey career&mdash;two games and $1,000&mdash;for jostling referee Ron Asselstine.</p><p>But Hull picked up two goals in that one to become only the second professional hockey player to score more than 800 goals. He got Nos. 801 and 802. Interestingly, he did it against the man who leads them all, Gordie Howe, who had 857 goals at press time.</p><p><b>TORONTO:</b> The baffling Toros, once looking for help, suddenly had more than they needed as Gilles Gratton retired from the St. Louis Blues of the NHL and was hoping to land a five-year contract with the Toros&mdash;the team he&rsquo;d spurned just last spring.</p><p>That was the major arrival, although Toros hoped they could come to terms with defenseman Carl Brewer, the former NHL All Star. Brewer was one of the stalwarts with the Toros in their first year in Toronto three season ago. but retired last spring.</p><p>Gratton, 23, was charged with breach of his five year, $101,000 contract with the Toros last spring on a number of points and indicated to the club they could tear up the pact. They did.</p><p>He rebounded to St. Louis, where he was presented with a six year, $100,000 pact. Disagreements with coach Garry Young resulted in his departure for Toronto, where owner Johnny Bassett was willing to give him another chance.</p><p>Another new face in the Toro dressing room was that of Greg Neeld, the former Marlboro junior who lost his left eye in a hockey accident and who had been playing in Reno. Neeld was given a five-game trial after performing one game with the Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League.</p><p><b>CALGARY:</b> In a month which sees the hottest intradivisional action of the year, the tenacious Cowboys got off to an important start, dropping archrival Edmonton Oilers twice, taking an 8-3 decision at home and a 5-4 margin two nights later in Edmonton, but dropping a 4-3 game to Toronto at home. Third place Calgary, led by Danny Lawson offensively (14 goals, 16 assists), had the second best goaltending mark in the league, with Don McLeod sailing along at 3.16 goals-a-game clip. With games in hand over every-body in the division but Toronto, Cowboys were hitting at a .580 win percentage and maintained a strong hold on third place.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> What&rsquo;s happening to the Oilers? Oilers started the week with a cracking 7-2 win over the Toros, then dropped those crucial games against Calgary and suddenly were in tenuous possession of fourth place in the Canadian Division. Moreover, the last place Toros trailed by only six points and had five games in hand. Look no farther than home and road performances.</p><p>Oilers were highly respectable before home audiences, posting nine wins, three losses and a tie and outscoring the opposition, 5840. On the road, they nearly seize up as their record&mdash;2-13-1&mdash;is the league&rsquo;s worst. Not only had Edmonton grabbed only five points in 16 away games, they were outscored 82-47.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02165/3486240-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="1149" height="1287"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Among the leading WHA scorers this season are two European performers, Vaclav Nedomansky, left, of the Toronto Toros, and Winnipeg&rsquo;s Ulf Nilsson. Nedomansky has 23 goals and 35 points while Nilsson has 42 points to tie linemate Bobby Hull for the Jets&rsquo; team scoring lead in his second WHA season. Nilsson and Hull have lifted Jets into division lead ahead of Edmonton and Quebec.</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0025-01

Canadian Division Stars Show Scoring Might

<p><b>(Standings on Tue, Doc. 16)</b></p><h2>CANADIAN DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2310/3486491-1-eng-US/f0026-232.jpg" title="f0026-23" width="526" height="154"></div><h2>EAST DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-248/3486484-1-eng-US/f0026-242.jpg" title="f0026-24" width="528" height="130"></div><h2>WEST DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-257/3486477-1-eng-US/f0026-252.jpg" title="f0026-25" width="527" height="156"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><p><b>Tue, Dec. 9</b></p><p>Minnesota 5 at Toronto 3; Cleveland 3 at Denver 6; Quebec 1 at Calgary 4; Cincinnati 4 at Houston 6.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>Minnesota 2 at New England 3; Indianapolis 2 at Phoenix 1; Toronto 5 at Winnipeg 6; Quebec 4 at Edmonton 7.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 11</b></p><p>Indianapolis 3 at Son Diogo 3; Edmonton 3 at Calgary 2.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Minnesota 0 at Cleveland 1; Indianapolis 2 at Houston 4; Cincinnati 4 at Phoenix 2; Calgary 2 at Winnipeg 4; Quebec 4 at Toronto 6.</p><p><b>Sat, Doc. 13</b></p><p>Houston 3 at Minnesota 4; Phoenix 4 at Denver 2; Cincinnati 3 at San Diego 3; Cleveland 4 at New England 5; Toronto 3 at Quebec 6.</p><p><b>Sun, Doc. 14</b></p><p>Houston 4 at Cleveland 3; San Diego 2 at Phoenix 4; New England 2 at Indianapolis 2; Calgary 3 at Toronto 3; Winnipeg 3 at Edmonton 1.</p><h2>GAMES TO COME</h2><p><b>Tue, Dec. 16</b></p><p>Son Diego at Houston; Cincinnati at Denver; Edmonton at Indianapolis; Calgary at Quebec. Winnipeg at Toronto.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 17</b></p><p>New England at Minnesota; Edmonton at Cleveland.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 18</b></p><p>Indianapolis at Phoenix; Cincinnati at San Diego; Winnipeg at Quebec.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 19</b></p><p>Cleveland at Indianapolis; Edmonton at New England; Calgary at Toronto, &middot; San Diego at Denver.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 20</b></p><p>Winnipeg at Minnesota; Houston at Phoenix. Indianapolis at Cleveland; New England at Cincinnati; Calgary at Quebec.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 21</b></p><p>Minnesota at Winnipeg; Houston at San Diego; Phoenix at Indianapolis; Quebec at Cincinnati; Toronto at Edmonton.</p><p><b>Mon. Dec. 22</b></p><p>New England at Cleveland.</p><p><b>Tue, Dec. 23</b></p><p>Minnesota at Denver Phoenix of Cincinnati; Quebec at San Diogo; Toronto at Calgary; Winnipeg at Edmonton.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>Denver at Houston; Cincinnati at New England Calgary at Winnipeg; Edmonto at Toronto, Phoenix at San Diego.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-23

WHA SCOREBOARD

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01235/3486446-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="366" height="1085"></div><h2>Tue, Dec. 9 MINNESOTA 5, TORONTO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02183/3486439-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="579" height="431"></div><h2>QUEBEC 1, CALGARY 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03147/3486432-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="576" height="383"></div><h2>CINCINNATI 4. HOUSTON 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04112/3486425-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="584" height="532"></div><h2>Wed, Dec. 10 MINNESOTA 2, NEW ENGLAND 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0589/3486418-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="578" height="406"></div><h2>INDIANAPOLIS 2, PHOENIX 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0668/3486411-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="573" height="382"></div><h2>TORONTO 5, WINNIPEG 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0757/3486404-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="587" height="630"></div><h2>QUEBEC 4, EDMONTON 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0849/3486397-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="589" height="557"></div><h2>Thu, Dec. 11 INDIANAPOLIS 3, SAN DIEGO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0943/3486390-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="593" height="530"></div><h2>EDMONTON 3, CALGARY 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1040/3486383-1-eng-US/f0026-102.jpg" title="f0026-10" width="582" height="458"></div><h2>Fri, Dec. 12 MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1137/3486376-1-eng-US/f0026-112.jpg" title="f0026-11" width="582" height="382"></div><h2>INDIANAPOLIS 2, HOUSTON 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1231/3486369-1-eng-US/f0026-122.jpg" title="f0026-12" width="587" height="381"></div><h2>CINCINNATI 4. PHOENIX 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1331/3486362-1-eng-US/f0026-132.jpg" title="f0026-13" width="591" height="488"></div><h2>CALGARY 2, WINNIPEG 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1427/3486355-1-eng-US/f0026-142.jpg" title="f0026-14" width="581" height="435"></div><h2>QUEBEC 4, TORONTO 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1524/3486348-1-eng-US/f0026-152.jpg" title="f0026-15" width="583" height="559"></div><h2>Sat, Dec. 13 HOUSTON 3, MINNESOTA 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1619/3486341-1-eng-US/f0026-162.jpg" title="f0026-16" width="589" height="563"></div><h2>PHOENIX 4, DENVER 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1716/3486334-1-eng-US/f0026-172.jpg" title="f0026-17" width="589" height="385"></div><h2>CINCINNATI 3, SAN DIEGO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1815/3486327-1-eng-US/f0026-182.jpg" title="f0026-18" width="585" height="462"></div><h2>CLEVELAND 4, NEW ENGLAND 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1915/3486320-1-eng-US/f0026-192.jpg" title="f0026-19" width="582" height="457"></div><h2>TORONTO 3, QUEBEC 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2013/3486313-1-eng-US/f0026-202.jpg" title="f0026-20" width="585" height="464"></div><h2>Sun, Dec. 14 HOUSTON 4, CLEVELAND 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2112/3486306-1-eng-US/f0026-212.jpg" title="f0026-21" width="586" height="436"></div><h2>SAN DIEGO 2, PHOENIX 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2211/3486299-1-eng-US/f0026-222.jpg" title="f0026-22" width="589" height="440"></div><h2>NEW ENGLAND 2, INDIANAPOLIS 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01141/3486292-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="591" height="478"></div><h2>CALGARY 3, TORONTO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02101/3486285-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="587" height="431"></div><h2>WINNIPEG 3, EDMONTON 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0375/3486278-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="584" height="444"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0026-01

World Hockey Association Summaries

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div><p>PHOENIX&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>B</span>ill MacFarland, president of the Phoenix Roadrunners, denied his club was threatening the Phoenix fans that if crowds don&rsquo;t improve, the team will move.</p><p>&ldquo;The worst thing you can do is threaten to move a team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;ll kill you. You lose your season ticket holders, have sponsors quit on you, get the players upset, get the president&rsquo;s family upset, my father&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>If support should deteriorate to a level as to render the World Hockey Association franchise inoperative here, the owners would just &ldquo;throw in the towel and fold it up.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01217/3486529-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="286" height="392"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bill MacFarland</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;When you analyze the cities that are available with buildings, this is the best place for us to be,&rdquo; said MacFarland. &ldquo;Plus, everyone involved in the ownership is a Phoenix resident and not interested in owning a team in Oshkosh, Cedar Rapids, Collingwood or anywhere but Phoenix.&rdquo;</p><p>What the owners are interested in is taking in some partners, to spread the losses thinner, and generating more support from the business community to sell more season&rsquo;s tickets.</p><p>&ldquo;Losses would be less per owner if there are 10 owners instead of three major partners,&rdquo; said MacFarland. &ldquo;I feel there is a valuable advertising vehicle to major companies and a major tax advantage to limited partners.&rdquo;</p><p>MacFarland said he is envious of the New England Whalers with partners like Aetna, Travelers, Hartford National, etc. He also said he hopes to get Phoenix companies to invest in season tickets.</p><p>&ldquo;We have to get the business community involved,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Only five major companies in Phoenix have more than eight season tickets, not by the employees but the company.&rdquo;</p><p>MacFarland says he has appealed to the Chamber of Commerce to form a committe to help promote pro sports and to bring other pro sports into the community.</p><p>&ldquo;I may be dumb,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;but I feel that a successful pro franchise in hockey, basketball, tennis or any other, is a great benefit to a community. It generates business, draws businesses to the community and promotes tourism.</p><p>&ldquo;The business community just isn&rsquo;t supporting us in the style to which we should be accustomed.&rdquo;</p><p>Despite the lack of such support, MacFarland says the club&rsquo;s operation is far from the critical stage. The attendance is down an average of 377 paid per game, compared to last season after 10 games, but the revenue is up due to an increase in ticket prices.</p><p>&ldquo;The turnstile count is down 1,118 on average,&rdquo; said MacFarland, &ldquo;simply because I refuse to paper the house. We&rsquo;re up $20,000 in gate receipts and to me that is a pertinent figure.&rdquo;</p><p>Of the first 10 games, only one has been on a Saturday night and four have been on Sunday afternoons, which have proved to be poor draws.</p><p>Attendance annually picks up rapidly after Christmas but the Runners are averaging slightly over 6,000 at present and need a 10,500 or better to break even.</p><p>Meanwhile, Del Hall is having an identity problem.</p><p>Since the 26-year-old left wing was moved to a line with Robbie Ftorek and John Gray, he thinks he&rsquo;s Bobby Hull.</p><p>Hall, not Hull, ended a nine-game scoreless streak with four goals and five assists in two games&mdash;both one goal decisions over division leaders.</p><p>Hall clicked for two goals and two assists in a 5-4 victory over New England, then scored in overtime for a 6-5 victory over the Houston Aeros for a two goal, three assist night.</p><p>Robbie Ftorek counted a hat trick plus two assists against the Aeros.</p><p>The line has nine goals and 13 assists in the two games since it was formed. Hall has four goals and five assists with his new line, Ftorek four and four and Gray one and four.</p><p><b>MINNESOTA:</b> The Fighting Saints&rsquo; offer to Bobby Orr stands, regardless of the condition of his knees, said the Saints president Wayne Belisle.</p><p>Orr is recuperating from his fifth knee operation and is in the final year of his contract with the Boston Bruins. He has not reached agreement on a contract renewal with the National Hockey League team.</p><p>Belisle tried to sign Orr to a contract earlier this year reportedly for $4 million to $6.5 million over five to seven years. He said the offer has been repeated.</p><p>&ldquo;The Minnesota Fighting Saints want Bobby Orr, the best player in hockey,&rdquo; said Belisle. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve made him an offer and we&rsquo;d like him to take it.&rdquo;</p><p>On the ice, the Saints got third period goals from Mike Walton, his 13th, and Henry Boucha, his 10th, to come from behind and defeat the Denver Spurs 4-3. The Saints, despite playing just one game in more than a week, remain in second spot in the World Hockey Association West, three points ahead of San Diego.</p><p><b>SAN DIEGO:</b> Andre Lacroix, coming off another slow start, scored a goal and two assists as the San Diego Mariners stopped the New England Whalers, 4-1, to retain third place in the World Hockey Association West ending a three-game losing streak. Gene Peacosh contributed his 16th goal.</p><p>Earlier in the week the Mariners were twice victimized in one game. Willy Lindstrom scored with 57 seconds left to give the Winnipeg Jets a 54 victory.</p><p>In the same game, Bobby Hull scored his 14th and 15th of the season to run his career total to 800 goals. He trails only Gordie Howe, playing president of the Houston Aeros, as the alltime major league goal scorer.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02170/3486522-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="533" height="530"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROBBIE FTOREK&hellip;Bags Hat Trick</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0027-01

WHA Club Needs More Community Support

<p>HOUSTON</p><p class="dropcap"><span>G</span>ordie Howe, the playing-president of the Houston Aeros, was fined $1,000 and suspended two games for abuse of referee Ron Asselstine in a World Hockey Association game.</p><p>Howe and Aeros&rsquo; goaltender Ron Grahame, both WHA first team All-Stars, had been suspended indefinitely after an incident in a game in Houston.</p><p>In a statement issued by the WHA office, Hatskin said Howe&rsquo;s suspension covers Houston&rsquo;s game the following night at Phoenix, won 6-5 by Phoenix in overtime, and the team&rsquo;s next scheduled date, Dec. 9 at home with Cincinnati.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03129/3486560-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="290" height="414"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>John Tonelli</b></figcaption></div><p>Howe&rsquo;s fine is for $850 plus the automatic fines of $50 for misconduct and $100 for misconduct penalties.</p><p>Grahame&rsquo;s suspension was also lifted with the goalie missing only the Phoenix date and his automatic $50 and $100 fines stand.</p><p>Meanwhile, WHA vice-president in charge of operations, Bud Poile, did accept Asselstine&rsquo;s request to be relieved of duty.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s taken time off for the next few davs,&rdquo; said Poile. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve given him sometime to think things over. He&rsquo;s a good official.&rdquo;</p><p>The game resulted in 30 penalties, for 100 minutes.</p><p>Asselstine became so upset about the incidents with Grahame and Howe that he left the ice with 12:50 remaining in the second period and not until he talked with coaches Bill Dineen of Houston and Bobby Kromm of Winnipeg did he return.</p><p>&ldquo;One thing I didn&rsquo;t like was Asselstine left the ice and wouldn&rsquo;t return. We can&rsquo;t have that kind of referee in our league, either. He either has to be boss out there or he&rsquo;s no good to us.&rdquo;</p><p>Grahame was the first to leave. He brandished his stick over his head when he confronted Asselstine and had to be tackled by teammate Ted Taylor when he went after the referee a second time.</p><p>Howe was called for high sticking, exchanged words with Asselstine and gave him &ldquo;just a little elbow,&rdquo; in Howe&rsquo;s own words.</p><p>Asselstine called a game misconduct and when the 10,702 fans in The Summit showered the ice with debris in disagreement and Asselstine left for his dressing room.</p><p>&ldquo;When the man who&rsquo;s supposed to be the craftiest who has over played the game (Howe) drives me in the guts, it&rsquo;s obvious I&rsquo;m not the man for the job,&rdquo; said Asselstine.</p><p>Howe said inconsistent calls prompted his action.</p><p>&ldquo;The guy was making awfull calls,&rdquo; said the 47-year-old all-time hockey great. &ldquo;I rumbled at the referee. One time I did give him an elbow and you shouldn&rsquo;t do that to an official.&rdquo;</p><p>In other matters. Aero legal counsel Harrison Vickers announced that the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association&rsquo;s request for an injunction against John Tonelli of the Houston Aeros had been dismissed.</p><p>The CAHA sought to keep Tonelli from playing for the Aeros in a dispute surrounding the WHA&rsquo;s team&rsquo;s signing of Tonelli. The CAHA and the Aeros were unable to arrive at a compromise settlement on development fees for the 18-year-old star.</p><p>Tonelli has scored eight goals and one assist in 24 games with the Aeros.</p><p><b>DENVER:</b> Financial help from local investors is necessary if the Denver Spurs are to survive the current World Hockey Association season, the team&rsquo;s owner said.</p><p>&ldquo;Now is the time for a person or persons to come forward if pro hockey is to be saved in Denver,&rdquo; said Ivan Mullenix, a St. Louis businessman.</p><p>Mayor William McNichols has personally intervened on behalf of Mullenix but is having difficulty finding enough investors to assure the survival of the team, the Rocky Mountain News reported, due to a tight area money market.</p><p>Another reason investors are unsure about investing is that Mullenix wants the new partnership to assume responsibility for the team&rsquo;s debts. Mullenix has invested $2.5 million in the team since he began running it as a farm club for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League three years ago, but about two-thirds of that is borrowed.</p><p>In addition, Mullenix has reportedly secured a $1.5 million loan from the First National Bank for the continued operation of the club. The News reported that the bank had extended an additional $300,000 in the past few months.</p><p>The paper had reported the team would fold by the end of the year, but Mullenix denied issuing any ultimatum.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-03

Aeros Get Tonelli Cleared But Howe Suspended, Fined

<div class="byline">BY HAL SIGURDSON</div><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;</p><p>Dennis Kearns is a calm, rational person not given to emotional outbursts. He plays defense with much the same approach.</p><p>It is ironic, then, that Kearns should become a center of controversy even before he played his first National Hockey League game in a Vancouver Canucks&rsquo; uniform.</p><p>The Canucks claimed him from the Chicago Black Hawks in the intra-league draft of 1971 after three minor league seasons in Portland and one in Dallas.</p><p>Nothing controversial in that, but minutes later he was to become something of a local cause celebre&hellip;perhaps the first outward sign things were not going smoothly between Bud Poile and Hal Laycoe.</p><p>Poile was the Canucks&rsquo; general manager of the day and Laycoe their coach. Later their disagreements were to create tremendous upheavals in the team&rsquo;s internal structure and Kearns became the tip of that iceberg.</p><p>Immediately after the draft Poile let it be known drafting Kearns was strictly Laycoe&rsquo;s idea, that he&rsquo;d had another player in mind.</p><p>&ldquo;Laycoe better be right,&rdquo; added Poile. &ldquo;His job may be at stake.&rdquo;</p><p>It was said jokingly, but many people took the remark seriously.</p><p>From that moment Kearns, who then as now simply wanted to be left alone to do his job, became identified as a &ldquo;Laycoe man.&rdquo;</p><p>People caught up in the Poile-Laycoe internal politics immediately zeroed in on the unfortunate Kearns. To those who supported Poile. Kearns could do nothing right. Those who favored Laycoe insisted he could do no wrong.</p><p>In the process he became the object of either unfair criticism or towering praise. He also became extremely embarrassed and twitchy over the entire situation.</p><p>On minute Laycoe would be proclaiming him as the &ldquo;next Doug Harvey,&rdquo; while in the next someone else would be insisting he didn&rsquo;t belong in the league.</p><p>Nor was his position helped when he was protected in the 1972 expansion draft and the popular Pat Quinn was not. Subsequent events have demonstrated both SHOULD have been protected, but at the time it was again leaked that this was a &ldquo;Laycoe&rdquo; decision.</p><p>Small wonder, then, that it is on ly in the last two seasons, or since neither Laycoe nor Poile have been directly associated with the team, the Kearns has begun to demonstrate his ability as a solid NHL defenseman.</p><p>He started to come on strong last season perhaps simply because Phil Maloney, the Canucks&rsquo; current general manager-coach, viewed him not as anybody&rsquo;s &ldquo;man,&rdquo; but just as a hockey player.</p><p>&ldquo;Playing in this league is easy,&rdquo; his defense partner Bob Dailey noted last year. &ldquo;If I get into trouble all I&rsquo;ve got to do is give the puck to Kearns.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Canucks’ Kearns Demonstrating Defensive Ability

<div class="byline">BY KEN RUDNICK</div><p>KANSAS CITY&mdash;</p><p>This is not a story about a great hockey play. It is, instead, about Mike Baumgartner, who passed briefly through Kansas City and the National Hockey League on the way to whatever it is he decides to do with the rest of his life.</p><p>A blond, 6&rsquo;2&rdquo;, 195-pound defenseman of marginal major league talent, Baumgartner played only 17 NHL games, all of them last season for the Scouts. The last, although no one planned it that way, was on the night of Dec. 14 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City.</p><p>Early in the third period of an otherwise forgettable 2-2 tie, Dennis Kearns, a Vancouver Canucks defenseman. launched a slapshot from the Scouts&rsquo; blueline. If Baumgartner could have ducked in time, he would have. He couldn&rsquo;t and the puck struck him near his left eye.</p><p>The sight in the eye was affected and Baumgartner out the rest of the season, hoping&mdash;vainly, it turned out&mdash;his vision would improve enough for him to make a successful comeback. The signs, he admits now, weren&rsquo;t good.</p><p>&ldquo;I tried playing some softball around here last summer,&rdquo; said Baumgartner recently from his home in Roseau, Minn. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t hit the ball and I tried to play first base, but it was tough following the throws.&rdquo;</p><p>Against that background, he reported to the Scouts&rsquo; training camp in Port Huron, Mich. Charitably put, he was totally ineffective and was shipped to their Springfield (Mass.) farm club in the American League.</p><p>&ldquo;It was difficult,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I had trouble following the puck and stickhandling. I believe the doctors wanted to tell me not to play before camp started, but I wanted to play.&rdquo;</p><p>After a brief bit of soul-searching, he decided to report to Springfield rather than return with his wife, Sandy, to Roseau. His second game with Springfield was his last in professional hockey. In it he suffered a broken nose. He was sent to specialists in Boston and Kansas City to determine if further damage had been inflicted on his left eye.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no way of telling if it was,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a scar in the back of the eye that&rsquo;s changing all the time. My sight isn&rsquo;t as good as it was six months ago and it won&rsquo;t get any better.&rdquo;</p><p>Now that he is back in Roseau, a community of about 3,000 not far from the Canadian border, finished as a player at the age of 26, he finds himself missing the game.</p><p>&ldquo;I still wake up in the morning, get a cup of coffee and think I should be going to practice,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I live right across from the rink here. Right now I spend as much time at the rink as I ever did. I watch the high school team practice and I talk to the bantams once in a while, try to teach them some of the things I&rsquo;ve learned in the last 10 or 15 years.&rdquo;</p><p>Mike Baumgartner will not spend the rest of his left wandering aimlessly around the rink across from his home. He is no tragic figure. If anyone playing in the Scouts&rsquo; organization was prepared to cope with a career brought to a premature end, he was the one. He has a degreee from the University of North Dakota in political science and a teaching certificate and there is always the land.</p><p>&ldquo;It was tough the first couple of weeks after we moved back here,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;But now I accept it. I can teach and coach and I&rsquo;ve always loved to farm. I farm with my dad in the summer and we&rsquo;ve got enough land to keep us busy. I don&rsquo;t know whether I&rsquo;ll buy more land and farm fulltime. I guess I&rsquo;ll make a decision in the next couple of months.&rdquo;</p><p>In the meantime, all that remains is to wish him well.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Baumgartner Adjusting To Life Without Hockey

<div class="byline">BY TOM BURKE</div><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he 1975-76 College All Star team, American edition, hit the Boston area for four games shortly before Thanksgiving. While they didn&rsquo;t look quite like turkeys, they hardly seemed potential bosses of the Innsbruck barnyard in a couple of months.</p><p>The team, of course, is the United States Olympic squad, coached by Wisconsin mentor Bob Johnson, who&rsquo;s taking a year off from directing the Badgers. The youngest team ever to wear the U.S.A. colors, this is the crew that must face the Russians, Czechs, Swedes, Finns and the rest in the 1976 games. Prospects don&rsquo;t appear bright to retain 1970&rsquo;s Silver Medal, off the Olympics&rsquo; Hub area showing.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01171/3486653-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="279" height="380"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ted Thorndike</b></figcaption></div><p>Staring off at Durham, N.H., the Nationals routed New Hampshire 114. Next evening they struggled to top a young Boston College team 6-5. At Boston Garden the next night, a rebuilding Harvard sextet embarrassed the Yankees 5-2. Then on the fourth straight evening a lightly regarded Dartmouth team held the U.S.A. to a 3-3 tie in Hanover.</p><p>To be fair, four road games in four nights is brutal for any team. But Bob Miller, a mere freshman at UNH last year, contends that the big score over his school team shouldn&rsquo;t have happened. So while road weariness was a factor on the latter stops, perhaps the rout of a good UNH team wasn&rsquo;t a true indicator of the Olympic team&rsquo;s prowess either. &ldquo;UNH was awed at us, and they shouldn&rsquo;t have been,&rdquo; said the Billerica, Mass, native who was rookie of the year in Durham last winter.</p><p>&ldquo;They just waited and hung back for us to do something. They&rsquo;re much better than the score showed.&rdquo;</p><p>Miller centers the Olympics&rsquo; top line between Colorado College&rsquo;s Steve Sertich and Minnesota alumnus Buzz Schneider. The only other Eastern representatives are Salem State&rsquo;s Dick Lamby at defense and Harvard&rsquo;s Dan Bolduc and Ted Thorndike.</p><p>The rest of the 21 man squad hails mostly from colleges of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. All told, fourteen are Minnesota natives while three are from Massachusetts, two from Michigan, and once each from Maine and California.</p><p>A few other Easterners had been with the squad at different times but dropped off. Defenseman Ron Wilson, a first stringer, bailed out and returned to Providence College a few days before the Boston trip. Initially interested but electing not to go along for personal reasons were such fine performers as Boston College&rsquo;s Richie Smith, Vermont&rsquo;s Bill Koch and Boston University&rsquo;s Mike Eruzione and Pete Brown. Harvard goalie Brian Petrovek, who gleefully stymied his ex-mates at Boston Garden, had been cut from the Olympic squad after tryouts last summer.</p><p>Outwardly at least, Johnson and assistant coach Grant Standbrook were unflustered. After the Dartmouth tie, their team&rsquo;s record against all opposition was 22-8-2, with all but two of the games away from the titular home arena in Madison, Wisconsin.</p><p>&ldquo;This is the only way to do it, the only way,&rdquo; bubbled Johnson after the narrow win at BC.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been on the road all the time, and it&rsquo;s hard to play with emotion every game. See, we didn&rsquo;t play with much emotion tonight. It seems like a Sunday night all right.&rdquo;</p><p>Johnson, a nut on complete physical conditioning, noted that his team contains ten collegiate underclassmen who help lower the average age to 21 years. Goalie Blaine Comstock is the greybeard at 26, with just one other, forward Mike Randolph, over 22.</p><p>Perhaps they can only get better if the peregrinations of the training schedule don&rsquo;t burn them out. Still, while the Americans tour against collegians and minor pro teams, the Russians will be unfurling Hammer and Sickle in NHL rinks.</p><h2>College Races</h2><h3>WCHA CONFERENCE</h3><p><b>(Standings on Fri., Dec. 12)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02136/3486646-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="573" height="277"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Fri., Nov. 28</b></p><p>Colorado College 3, Duluth 2. Denver 3, Michigan 2; Michigan State 6, North Dakota 4, Michigan Tech 5, Notre Dame 3. Wisconsin 4, Minnesota 2.</p><p><b>Sat., Nov. 29</b></p><p>Colorado College 6, Duluth 3; Michigan 6, Denver 5; Michigan State 8, North Dakota 3, Michigan Tech 6, Notre Dame 5; Minnesota 6, Wisconsin 1.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 3</b></p><p>U.S. Nationals 3, Minnesota 1.</p><p><b>Fri., Dec. 5</b></p><p>Colorado College 2, Denver 1; Michigan State 6, Michigan 4; Michigan Tech 6, Duluth 1; Minnesota 4, North Dakota 2, Notre Dome 5. Wisconsin 2.</p><p><b>Sat., Dec. 6</b></p><p>Michigan Tech 8, Duluch 4, North Dakota6, Minnesota 3; Wisconsin 2, Notre Dame 2; Colorado College 7, Denver 3; Michigan 8. Michigan State 4.</p><h3>ECAC CONFERENCE</h3><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Dec. 1)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0393/3486639-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="576" height="455"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>U.S. Olympics 6. Boston College 5</p><p>St. louis 4, Boston College 2</p><p>St. Louis 7, Boston College 2</p><p>Boston University 5, Providence 3</p><p>Clarkson 11, Buffalo 4</p><p>Bowling Green 6. Clarkson 4</p><p>Bowling Green 3. Clarkson 1</p><p>Providence 8, Colgate 6</p><p>Clarkson 4, Colgate 2</p><p>Cornell 11, Waterloo 1</p><p>York 8, Cornell 5</p><p>Cornell 15, Ottawa 2</p><p>Cornell 6, U.S. Olympics 4</p><p>Cornell 3, New Hampshire 2</p><p>Dartmouth 3. U.S Olympics 3</p><p>Dartmouth 8. Princeton 7</p><p>Harvard 5, U.S. Olympics 2</p><p>Northeastern 6, Yale 4</p><p>Merrimack 6, Providence 5</p><p>St. Louis 8, Providence 6</p><p>St. Louis 8, Providence 0</p><p>Providence 9, Lake Superior 1</p><p>Providence 9. Merrimack 5</p><p>Bowling Green 10, RPI 3</p><p>RPI6, Bowling Green 5</p><p>RPI 8, Lake Superior 4</p><p>U.S. Olympics 9. RPI 3</p><p>St. Lawrence 7, Queen&rsquo;s 6</p><p>St. Lawrence 6, Laval 2</p><p>St. Lawrence8, Buffalo 4</p><p>Lake Superior 9, St. Lawrence 7</p><p>St Lawrence 4, Lake Superior 1</p><p>St. Louis 7, Vermont 5</p><p>St. Louis 6, Vermont 2</p><h3>NORTH COUNTRY TOURNAMENT</h3><p>Concordia 5, Vermont 2</p><p>Clarkson 5, St. Lawrence 1</p><p>Concordia 6, St. Lawrence 0</p><p>Clarkson 3, Vermont 1</p><h3>Championship Final</h3><p>Concordia 5, Clarkson</p><h3>Consolation</h3><p>St Lawrence 8, Vermont 4</p><h3>UTICA TOURNAMENT</h3><p>New Hampshire 13, Pennsylvania 5</p><p>Colgate 6, Air Force 2</p><h3>Championship Final</h3><p>New Hampshire 4, Colgate 3</p><h3>Consolation</h3><p>Air Force 7, Pennsylvania 5<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-01

Eastern College All Stars Deflate Touring Olympians In 4-Game Series

<div class="byline">BY SCOTT HERRON</div><p>HOUGHTON&mdash;</p><p>It was bound to happen.</p><p>No matter how productive Michigan State&rsquo;s power play is, or how stingy Minnesota&rsquo;s defense, or Colorado College&rsquo;s goaltending it was bound to happen. Almost a sure thing.</p><p>Michigan Tech would begin making its move in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association race.</p><p>It was understandable why some people doubted the Huskies at the art of the season. They might be the defending national champions, but they&rsquo;re missing many of the stars that carried them to the title. Defensemen Bruce Abbey and Bob Lorimer and forwards Bob D&rsquo;Alvise, an All-American, and Billy Steele graduated. And goalie Jim Warden, defenseman Paul Jensen and forward Steve Jensen joined the Olympic team.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re in the middle with a few other clubs chasing the leaders.&rdquo; Tech coach John Machines said before league play got underway. &ldquo;We have some definite questions that have to be answered. I&rsquo;m uncertain about our defense and in goal. And we have some young kids at right wing.&rdquo;</p><p>Well now MacInnes, who is in his 20th season at Michigan Tech, is gaining confidence in his club. All of his questions haven&rsquo;t been answered, but with a five-game winning streak to the Huskies&rsquo; credit, he&rsquo;s thinking more highly of them. Tech was in second place as of Dec. 12 with an 8-4 record and 16 points, two points behind league-leading Michigan State. 9-3.</p><p>&ldquo;At this point in the season we are higher than I thought we&rsquo;d be and I have higher expectations for us,&rdquo; says MacInnes, who has guided Tech to six WCHA titles and three national championships, making the trip to the NCAA tournament eight times. &ldquo;We had eight headliners on our team last year and six of them are gone. This is bound to put holes in your game. But we&rsquo;ve been fortunate to have had people take their place.&rdquo;</p><p>Michigan Tech always seems to have players in the wings ready to take the place of departed stars. A galaxy of them adorn a wall at the Student Ice Arena on the Michigan Tech campus, along with cases full of gold and silver championship trophies, and hockey memorabilia from the Copper Country on Michigan&rsquo;s Upper Peninsula.</p><p>Tech has produced 25 team AllAmerica selections, including 19 who played for MacInnes, and only Denver University ranks ahead of it in the number of former players currently active in professional hockey. Tony Esposito, three times named All-America and Lou Angotti are two of the most famous.</p><p>Center Mike Zuke, and All-American two years ago as a sophomore, has been the most obvious Husky to fill the Gap in Tech&rsquo;s game. He&rsquo;s played a key role for the Huskies since his freshman season when he was the WCHA&rsquo;s rookie of the year, but he&rsquo;s playing the best hockey of his career this year according to his coach.</p><p>&ldquo;Mike is playing the best that he has ever played for us,&rdquo; says MacInnes, who going into a non-league series with Lake Superior State Dec. 12-13, needed just two victories to give him 400 for his career. &ldquo;Not just goal scoring. He&rsquo;s a complete hockey player. He plays defense as well as offense.&rdquo;</p><p>Zuke, who sustained a mild concussion when he ran into an opposing defenseman and crashed against the boards in a game against Duluth, ranks fifth among WCHA scorers (led by prolific Tom Ross with 38 points), two points behind teammate George Lyle. Zuke has 12 goals and 10 assists to Lyle&rsquo;s 12 goals and 12 assists</p><p>Tech, which in its last six games has split a two-game series with Michigan and swept Notre Dame and Duluth, doesn&rsquo;t face league competition again until Jan. 2-3 when it plays at defending WCHA champion Minnesota&rsquo;s home ice. Then the Huskies host tough Colorado College the next week before travelling to East Lansing to play Michigan State.</p><p><b>WCHA NOTES:</b> Ross had three goals and three assists in State&rsquo;s 6-4, 48 split with Michigan and has now collected at least a point in 79 straight games.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Rebuilding Huskies Moving Up Already

<div class="byline">BY AL FISCHER</div><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>BALTIMORE&mdash;</p><p>The &ldquo;breaks&rdquo; continue to go against the Clippers. In a week that began promisingly enough with a 5-1 victory over Rochester, the Clippers stumbled in Springfield, losing 5-3, and then came home to drop a 4-2 decision to Hershey&rsquo;s resurgent Bears.</p><p>The defeats sent the Baltimore club reeling into the cellar of the Southern Division, a spot they could occupy for some time unless they reverse the &ldquo;tough breaks.&rdquo; They were out the next night after an 8-2 conquest of New Haven.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01201/3486715-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="284" height="366"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dennis Giannini</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not playing badly,&rdquo; offered playing coach Kept Douglas, &ldquo;but things just aren&rsquo;t going our way. Look at the Hershey game. Dennis Giannini even had his stick raised after we thought we had a tying goal. Then, that goalie puts his foot out and deflects the puck. He didn&rsquo;t even see it. We pull our goalie and they hit the empty net. That&rsquo;s the kind of breaks we&rsquo;ve been getting.&rdquo;</p><p>The Clippers have consistently outshot their opponents, but the results of that phase of the game have been disastrous.</p><p>Only the 5-1 victory over Rochester offered any solace to the frustrated Baltimore fans, whose patience is beginning to wear a little thin as they wait for the club to make a concentrated surge.</p><p>Baltimore&rsquo;s ranks suffered a jolt early in the week, when popular Rick Foley went home to make a decision as to his possible retirement.</p><p>Foley, one of the most popular players to ever wear a Baltimore uniform, due mainly to his reputed tough guy style of play, &ldquo;simply has not done the job we want him to do,&rdquo; remarked Ross Pierpont, one of the Baltimore owners.</p><p>&ldquo;We have had many discussions as to what is wrong, and unless the club turns things around soon, we will have to take measures,&rdquo; Pierpont added.</p><p>A newspaper report, quoting a city official as saying &ldquo;the Clippers will fold by Christmas,&rdquo; had club officials in an uproar.</p><p>The lack of scoring power is the chief concern at present. Only the veteran Giannini has proved a consistent goal scorer. When the top point-maker on the team is a defenseman, and the playing-coach at that, then you&rsquo;re going to have to look elsewhere for scoring help.</p><p>The addition of Jack Egers will help, but the former Ranger has still not gotten into the best of shape and it will take time, and time may be running out for the Clippers.</p><p>Giannini was the lone player in double figures in goal scoring with 14, nobody else was even close.</p><p>Baltimore&rsquo;s 83 goals were the lowest of any team, although defensively, a goals allowed total of 81, was the league&rsquo;s best.</p><p><b>NOVA SCOTIA:</b> The Voyageurs played but twice last week, both against Providence and a split of the two games left the Vees with a slim one point edge over Rochester in the Northern Division race.</p><p>The Voyageurs took the opener of a two-set series with the Reds, registering a 5-4 overtime decision, but Providence turned the tables next time out with a 3-2 decision, scoring two goals within 31 seconds to gain the decision.</p><p>For the first time this year, the Voyageurs enjoyed a week without recalls, a rather unusual feat for a club which supplies help to two National League teams. But parent clubs Montreal and Atlanta were both winning with what they had and the Voyageurs were thankful.</p><p>Although they only played twice, the Voyageurs were delighted when Pierre Mondou gained a share of the league leadership in point production. Mondou shared the lead with Richmond&rsquo;s Larry Fullan.</p><p>Guy Chouinard broke a tie with Ron Andruff for the team lead in goal scoring. Chouinard now has 15, with Andruff just one behind.</p><p>The Vees remain as the league&rsquo;s top club offensively, showing 113 goals thus far, and their defense wasn&rsquo;t too bad either, sharing second with Rochester and having allowed only one more goal than league leading Baltimore in that category. The Vees had played two more games than the Clippers however.</p><p>Goaltender Dave Elenbaas leads the league with a 2.82 goals allowed average in 29 starts. Although Richmond&rsquo;s Mrazek boasts a 2.74, he has played in only six games.</p><p><b>ROCHESTER:</b> The Amerks slipped slightly on their way to the top last week, splitting four games to remain one point in arrears of front-running Nova Scotia.</p><p>The week opened with a 3-0 blanking of the Voyageurs, but a 5-1 loss in Baltimore and a 5-2 loss to Hershey at home evened the slate after the Amerks won in Springfield.</p><p>The addition of rookie defenseman Les Auge and the return of veteran backliner Rick Pagnutti from the injury list, softened the loss of rearguards Joe Zanussi and Al Simmons, although the recall of high-scoring Doug Gibson did hamper the offense against closechecking Baltimore and Hershey teams.</p><p>The Amerks are fast becoming a team of last minute winners or losers. In their first 20 games, eight were decided in the final four minutes or less.</p><p>In Gibson&rsquo;s absence, Gordie Clark has taken over the club point leadership while Paul O&rsquo;Neil, who has enjoyed seven multiple goal games thus far, tops the team in goal scoring and shared the league lead in that category with Springfield&rsquo;s Norm Dube.</p><p>Team captain Barry Merrell has joined Gibson, Clark, Dave Hynes and O&rsquo;Neil on the list of the league&rsquo;s top 20 scorers, with Ron Garwasiuk and Rene Drolet making strong bids to also gain that luminous distinction.</p><p>The Amerk injury list included goalie Ross Brooks, defensemen Pagnutti and Harry Shaw and winger Brian Murphy.</p><p>Gibson&rsquo;s promotion resulted in the Amerk acquisition of center Barry Smith, Boston&rsquo;s No. 2 draft selection, who had been retained earlier by the Bruins, instead of Gibson, because of what Bruin officials termed &ldquo;Smith&rsquo;s checking ability.&rdquo;</p><p><b>PROVIDENCE:</b> The Reds spent most of the week in Nova Scotia where they split a pair of games to remain six points behind the division-leading Voyageurs.</p><p>It was a tough assignment for us,&rdquo; commented coach John Muckier. &ldquo;We were in their rink and they were coming off two losses to Rochester.&rdquo;</p><p>Ed Staniowski, No. 1 draft pick of the parent St. Louis club, was sensational in the second game, as the Reds scored a 3-2 decision, rebounding from a 5-4 overtime loss earlier in the week.</p><p>Goals by Eddie Johnstone and Bernie Lukowich within 31 seconds provided the triumph.</p><p>The return from the Rangers of defenseman Dave Maloney also helped the Reds against the speedy Voyageurs, while the offensive work of Johnstone, Lukowich and Greg Holst continues to be impressive. Holst took over the goal scoring lead, while Johnstone shares third place in league scoring.</p><p>Offensively the Reds ranked second to Nova Scotia with 108 goals scored, but defensively the figures were not too imposing, the Reds having allowed 115, second only to last place Springfield. Providence&rsquo;s 558 penalty minutes was tops in the division and second in the league to Hershey&rsquo;s 615. Johnstone&rsquo;s five game-winning goals were a league high&hellip;</p><p><b>SPRINGFIELD:</b> Only veteran Norm Dube gave Indian fans much to cheer about as their club flounders in the division cellar.</p><p>The veteran forward shared the league lead in goal scoring with Rochester&rsquo;s O&rsquo;Neil, each with 19, while Norm&rsquo;s 30 points earned him a share of third place in the league scoring race.</p><p>Dube&rsquo;s nine power play goals, best in the league, also gives him an outside shot at the league record of 21, set by New Haven&rsquo;s Steve West in 1973-74.</p><p>Dube, along with Rochester&rsquo;s Dave Hynes are the only players to boast a four-goal game, while Dube also has a regular hat trick on his record.</p><p>The Indians are mired in the basement, mainly due to two things, no offense and a porous defense. Their 80 goals are the lowest in the league, while the 127 allowed are the highest.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02149/3486708-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="564" height="732"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GORDIE CLARK&hellip;New Scoring Leader</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0030-01

Clippers Stumbling Without Ice Breaks; Voyageurs, Amerks Still Head To Head

<div class="byline">BY AL FISCHER</div><p>HERSHEY&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t took a little time, but the Bears have finally moved into their accustomed position as a contender and are moving rapidly toward the top in the American League&rsquo;s South Division.</p><p>They began the week in last place, but when the week ended, the Bears were entrenched in second place, only four points behind the pace-setting Richmond Robins.</p><p>Hershey&rsquo;s climb represented a stretch in which the Bears won 10 and tied another, while losing but twice as they finally went over the .500 mark.</p><p>The addition of Lee Fogolin and Ron Jones on defense has been one of the main factors in the Bear resurgence. Those additions allowed coach Chuck Hamilton to return Steve Cardwell and Ted Snell to their normal wing positions.</p><p>The continued excellence in the goal, both by veteran Don Edwards and rookie Gord Laxton, has also been a bonus for the Bears.</p><p>Laxton, sent down for a second time by the parent Pittsburgh club, has lost only once in seven starts, while Edwards recently posted the team&rsquo;s first shutout.</p><p>Laxton was brilliant in a 4-2 victory over Baltimore, a triumph which, at the time, moved the Bears out of the division basement, with the Clippers replacing them in that spot.</p><p>The Bear offense, slow to get started this season, has finally started to jell. Yves Bergeron registered the team&rsquo;s second hat trick of the season, joining team point leader Derek Smith in that category.</p><p>Mario Faubert was recalled for a short stay with the Penguins, and scored a goal in his first game back in the big time.</p><p>Gary McAdam continues to be an idol of Bear fans. The young right winger has scored 14 points in his 12 games on a balanced effort of seven goals and a like number of assists.</p><p><b>RICHMOND:</b> The Robins, experiencing several lineup changes recently, still had enough to remain as the pace-setter in the Southern Division,</p><p>They were unbeaten in three starts last week and clung to a four-point advantage over onrushing Hershey.</p><p>The Robins lost right winger John Paddock to the Washington Caps on recall, and then lost defenseman Ron Jones to Hershey via a trade between the Caps and Pittsburgh.</p><p>The Caps however, replaced Jones by sending down top draft choice Pete Scamurra and the Robins continued their winning ways.</p><p>Steve Short, the league penalty leader most of the season, dropped that somewhat ignominious label when Hershey&rsquo;s bad boy Steve Cardwell passed him in minutes spent in the penalty box.</p><p>Short has been hampered somewhat by an injury to his hand and was seeing limited action.</p><p>Larry Fullan continues as the team point leader as the Robin goal output remained the best in the Southern Division, and Fullan shared the league lead in point scoring with Nova Scotia&rsquo;s Pierre Mondou, each with 33, although Fullan&rsquo;s 28 assists were a league best.</p><p>The Robins 38 power-play goals were a league best.</p><p>They enjoyed what may have been their finest defensive effort ever, registering back-to-back shutouts against New Haven, with Mike Belhumeur and Jerry Mrazek sharing goaltending duties.</p><p>Bob Sirois and Andre Peloffy continue their battle for the team lead in goal scoring. Sirois led a week ago, but Peloffy is now back on top, 14-13.</p><p><b>NEW HAVEN:</b> Coach Parker MacDonald had the Nighthawks in second place for a few days, but back-to-back shutout losses to Richmond and a poor performance at home in an 8-2 loss to Baltimore, dumped the Hawks back into the cellar.</p><p>Baltimore gained the edge in third place with the victory as the two clubs, along with Hershey all spent time in the cellar in the past week.</p><p>The parent Minnesota club recalled Dwight Bialowas, somewhat depleting the Hawk defensive corps and it showed in the game against the Clippers, whose eight goals, were a high for the year for the Baltimore club. Minnesota also recalled center Blake Dunlop.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01182/3486746-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="521" height="475"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GARY McADAM&hellip;Idol Of Bear Fans</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0031-01

Hershey Finally Moves Into Contending Position

<h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2><p><b>Standings on Tue, Dec. 16</b></p><h3>NORTH DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02142/3486840-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="574" height="137"></div><h3>SOUTH DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03118/3486833-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="582" height="133"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Tue, Dec. 9</b></p><p>Springfield 2 at Baltimore 4</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>New Haven 7 at Hershey 8; Providence 4 at Rochester 1.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Hershey 6 at Baltimore 5; Nova Scotia 5 at New Hoven 0; Richmond 4 at Providence 3; Rochester 7 at Springfield 5.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 13</b></p><p>Baltimore 3 at Hershey 4; Nova Scotia 3 at Springfield 1</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 14</b></p><p>New Haven 3 at Novo Scotio 8. Baltimore 3 at Providence 5; Hershey 0 at Richmond 4; Springfield 3 at Rochester 6.</p><h3>GAMES TO COME</h3><p><b>Tue, Dec. 16</b></p><p>Springfield at Richmond.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 17</b></p><p>Richmond at Baltimore; Providence at Hershey; Rochester at New Hoven</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 19</b></p><p>Springfield at Baltimore; New Haven at Providence; Novo Scotia at Richmond; Hershey at Rochester.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec 20</b></p><p>Novo Scotia at Hershey; Providence at New Hoven; Rochester at Springfield.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 21</b></p><p>Baltimore at Nova Scotia; Springfield at Providence, - Hershey at Richmond; New Haven at Rochester.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>Richmond at Baltimore; Springfield at New Haven; Hershey at Nova Scotia, - Providence at Rochester.</p><h2>CENTRAL LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue, Dec. 16)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0493/3486826-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="578" height="193"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Mon. Dec. 8</b></p><p>Tulsa 6 at Salt Lake 3.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>Tucson 2 at Dallas 2. Fort Worth 2 at Salt Lake 4.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Oklahoma City 2 at Dallas 4; Fort Worth 4 at Salt Lake 7; Tucson 4 at Tulsa 8</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 13</b></p><p>Fort Worth 1 at Oklahoma City 3; Dallas 4 at Tulsa 0.</p><h3>GAMES TO COME</h3><p><b>Tue, Dec. 16</b></p><p>Fort Worth at Tulsa.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 17</b></p><p>Tulsa at Dallas; Salt Lake at Tucson.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 19</b></p><p>Tulsa at Fort Worth; Dallas at Oklahoma City; Salt Lake at Tucson.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 20</b></p><p>Fort Worth at Dallas; Oklahoma City at Tulsa.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 25</b></p><p>Dallas at Fort Worth, Tulsa at Oklahoma City.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>Oklahoma City at Salt Lake; Dallas at Tulsa.</p><h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Wed, Dec. 17)</b></p><h3>NORTH DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0580/3486819-1-eng-US/f0031-052.jpg" title="f0031-05" width="581" height="160"></div><h3>SOUTH DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0657/3486812-1-eng-US/f0031-062.jpg" title="f0031-06" width="578" height="136"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>Muskegon 2 at Fort Wayne 2.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Kalomazoo 1 at Muskegon 5; Flint 1 at Port Huron 2; Toledo 2 at Saginaw 2; Fort Wayne 6 at Columbus 4.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 13</b></p><p>Hint 5 at Fort Wayne 1; Muskegon 4 at Port Huron 3; Columbus 3 at Dayton 6; Saginaw 2 at Toledo 3</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 14</b></p><p>Fort Wayne 5 at Flint 5; Muskegon 5 at Columbus 1Dayton 5 at Saginaw 4; Toledo at Kalamazoo 0.</p><h3>GAMES TO COME</h3><p><b>Wed, Dec. 17</b></p><p>Saginaw at Fort Wayne; Kalamazoo at Dayton; Flint at Columbus; Port Huron at Toledo</p><p><b>Fri, Dec 19</b></p><p>Muskegon at Hint; Dayton at Columbus, Saginaw at Kalamazoo; Fort Woyne at Toledo.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 20</b></p><p>Dayton at Fort Woyne, Flint at Muskegon; Columbus at Port Huron; Kalomazoo at Saginaw.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 21</b></p><p>Kalamazoo at Port Huron, - Fort Woyne at Dayton; Saginow at Flint; Muskegon at Toledo.</p><p><b>Tue, DEC. 23</b></p><p>Fort Woyne at Kalamazoo; Columbus at Saginaw</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 25</b></p><p>Toledo at Fort Wayne.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>Saginaw at Dayton; Columbus ot Toledo, Flint at Kalamazoo.</p><h2>NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue, Dec. 16)</b></p><h3>East Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0745/3486805-1-eng-US/f0031-072.jpg" title="f0031-07" width="577" height="150"></div><h3>West Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0839/3486798-1-eng-US/f0031-082.jpg" title="f0031-08" width="577" height="151"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Mon. Dec. 8</b></p><p>Johnstown 1 ot Beauce 8</p><p><b>Tue, Dec. 9</b></p><p>Johnstown 9 ot Maine 5</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>Johnstown 2 at Cape Codders 3; Maine 2 ot Buffalo 8, Syracuse 5 otErie 2, Philadelphia 2 ot Binghamton 3.</p><p><b>Thu, Doc. 11</b></p><p>Maine 2 at Syracuse 6; Cape Codders 4 ot Mohawk Volley 3; Johnstown 2 ot Beauce 3.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Binghamton 4 at Philadelphia 5; Syracuse 2 at Buffalo 4.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 13</b></p><p>Erie 3 at Mohawk Valley 4; Buffalo 2 at Syracuse 3; Cape Codders 4 ot Johnstown 5; Beauce 11 at Maine 6.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 14</b></p><p>Cape Codders 3 at Johnstown 5; Beauce 5 at Binghamton 3; Maine 2 at Erie 3.</p><h3>GAMES TO COME</h3><p><b>Tue, Dec. 16</b></p><p>Beauce at Cape Codder, Maine ot Buffalo</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 17</b></p><p>Maine at Syracuse, Johnstown at Erie, Buffalo ot Binghamton.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 18</b></p><p>Maine atMohawk Valley; Beauce at Philadelphia.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 19</b></p><p>Mohawk Valley ot Buffalo, Erie ot Johnstown, - Binghamton at Syracuse; Beauce ot Philadelphia.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 20</b></p><p>Syracuse ot Maine, - Binghamton at Cape Codder, Philadelphia ot Mohawk Valley; Buffalo at Erie.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 21</b></p><p>Syracuse at Beauce; Cape Codders ot Binghamton; Philadelphia ot Erie.</p><p><b>Tue, Dec. 23</b></p><p>Maine at Beauce; Cape Codders at Buffalo.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>Johnstown ot Mohawk Volley; Syracuse ot Binghamton Erie at Buffalo.</p><h2>SOUTHERN LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standingson Tue, Dec. 16)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0928/3486791-1-eng-US/f0031-092.jpg" title="f0031-09" width="576" height="190"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Tue, Dec. 9</b></p><p>Greensboro 1 ot Charlotte 4.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 10</b></p><p>Roanoke 3 ot Hampton 3.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 11</b></p><p>Greensboro 6 at Winston-Salem 4, Roanoke 4 ot Tidewater 3.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Tidewater 1 at Charlotte 3; Hampton 2 at Greensboro 4; Winston-Salem 6 ot Roanoke 7.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 13</b></p><p>Tidewater 2 at Hampton 1; Greensboro 3 at Winston-Salem 4.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 14</b></p><p>Charlotte 6 at Winston-Salem 3.</p><h3>GAME TO COME</h3><p>Charlotte ot Tidewater.</p><p><b>Wed, Dec. 17</b></p><p>Charlotte at Hampton, - Tidewater ot Greensboro.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 19</b></p><p>Hampton at Tidewater; Greensboro at Charlotte. Roanoke at Winston-Salem.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 20</b></p><p>Winston-Salem at Hampton; Tidewater at Roanoke.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 21</b></p><p>Hampton at Roanoke; Charlotte at Winston-Salem, - Tidewater at Greensboro.</p><p><b>Tue, Dec. 23</b></p><p>Roanoke at Greensboro.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 26</b></p><p>Greensboro at Hampton, Winston-Salem ot Tidewater, - Roanoke at Charlotte.</p><h2>UNITED STATES LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue, Dec. 9)</b></p><h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1022/3486784-1-eng-US/f0031-102.jpg" title="f0031-10" width="579" height="138"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1119/3486777-1-eng-US/f0031-112.jpg" title="f0031-11" width="578" height="162"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Sioux City 1 at Milwaukee 9</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 5</b></p><p>Sioux City 7 at Central Wisconsin 3; Green Bay 5 at Traverse City 3.</p><p><b>Sat, Dec. 6</b></p><p>Sioux City 7 at Marquette 4; Green Bay 1 at Traverse City 8. Milwaukee 6 at Waterloo 5</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 7</b></p><p>Sioux City 0 ot Waterloo 3<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-02

LOOKING AT THE MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

<p class="dropcap"><span>N</span>HL&middot; 1&mdash;Montreal 2&mdash;D&eacute;troit. 3&mdash;Boston. 4&mdash;N.Y. Rangers. 5&mdash;Chicago. 6&mdash;Toronto. 7&mdash;Los Angeles. 8&mdash;Pittsburgh. 9&mdash;California. 10&mdash;Philadelphia. 11&mdash;Minnesota 12&mdash;St. Louis. 13&mdash;Vancouver. 14&mdash;N.Y. Islanders. 16&mdash;Atlanta. 17&mdash;Kansas City. 18&mdash;Washington. WHA: 19&mdash;Calgary 20&mdash;Cincinnati 21&mdash;Cleveland. 22&mdash;Denver. 23&mdash;Edmonton.&rsquo; 24-&mdash;Houston. 25&mdash;Indianapolis. 26&mdash;Minnesota. 27&mdash;New England. 28&mdash;Phoenix. 29&mdash;Quebec. 30&mdash;San Diego. 31&mdash;Toronto. 32&mdash;Winnipeg Inter-League. 23&mdash;N.Y. Rangers (NHL) 4-St. louis (NHL). 34&mdash;Montreal (NHL) & Atlanta, (NHL). 36&mdash;Pittsburgh (NHL) & Buffalo (NHL). 37&mdash;-New England (WHA) & Washington (NHL). 38&mdash;Detroit (NHL) & Minnesota (NHL). 39&mdash;Atlanta (NHL) 4 Vancouver (NHL). 40&mdash;Phoenix, Houston 4 San Diego (WHA). 41&mdash;Los Angeles (NHL)&rsquo; I&raquo; N.Y. Islanders (NHL). 43&mdash;Kansas City (NHL) 4 N.Y. Rangers (NHL). 44&mdash;Boston (NHL) 4 Washington (NHL). 45&mdash;Minnesota (NHL) 4 Vancouver (NHL). 46&mdash;Calgary (WHA), Kansas City (NHL) 4 Minnesota (WHA). 47&mdash;Philadelphia (NHL i 41 Washington (NHL). 50&mdash;Boston (NHL), San Diego (WHA). 51&mdash;Buffalo (NHL) 4 Toronto (WH&Acirc;T $2&mdash;Montreal (NHL) 4 Toronto (WHA). 55&mdash;Buffalo (NHL) 4 Calgary (WHA). 56&mdash;Buffalo (NHL) 4 Cleveland (WHA). 57&mdash;N.Y. Rangers (NHL) & St-Louis (NHL). 58&mdash;Detroit (NHL) 4 Edmonton (WHA).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Minor League Affiliations

<h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>CHL Leaders</h2><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02128/3486902-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="578" height="276"></div><h3>GOAUNG RICORDS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0379/3486895-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="579" height="324"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0032-02

CENTRAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div><p>TULSA&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t was either feast or famine for Orland Kurtenbach&rsquo;s Tulsa Oilers in the closing days of November. But there were two feasts and only one famine, and the Oilers vaulted into a first-place tie with the rival Oklahoma City Blazers.</p><p>Thanksgiving night the Oilers whipped the Blazers, 4-2, in the Tulsa Assembly Center to tie for the top rung. Oke City moved a point ahead with a 3-3 Friday tie in Fort Worth, while the Oilers were absorbing a 7-1 shellacking in Dallas.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01183/3486933-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="269" height="378"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Curt Ridley</b></figcaption></div><p>Returning home to face Salt Lake on Saturday, the Oilers found themselves down, 3-0, after 14 minutes of action. But Kurt&rsquo;s men fought back to gain a 6-4 victory over the Eagles by scoring four times in the final period.</p><p>That meant first place by a one-point margin, but the Blazers moved back into equal standing with a 1-1 home tie against Salt Lake Nov. 30, Oklahoma City&rsquo;s third tie in four starts. Tulsa, however, had a game in hand. The two leaders were four points ahead of Dallas, five in front of Fort Worth, seven ahead of Salt Lake, and 22 in front of Tucson.</p><p>Kurtenbach was down to seven ablebodied forwards for the trip to Dallas, and had only eight for the home game against Salt Lake. He used defensemen Bob Bilodeau and Glen Surbey at left wing, and Bilodeau scored the first goal in the winning rally against the Eagles.</p><p>Kurt had lost center Danny Gloor (his top scorer) to a knee injury, and left wing Glen Richardson to the parent Vancouver Canucks the previous week. Thanksgiving night left wing Barry Wilcox tore the lining of a tendon in his left leg, and was sidelined for an indefinite period. Center Danny Seguin suffered a hip pointer the same night, but played against Salt Lake, after trying unsuccessfully to play in Dallas.</p><p>The Oilers were flying in the Thursday game, and the Blazers weren&rsquo;t. Curt Ridley, the league&rsquo;s stingiest goalie, blanked the visitors for more than 48 minutes. By that time two goals by Bill Plett after Jim Wiley&rsquo;s opener had provided Tulsa with a 3-0 lead.</p><p>Scott Garland scored on an OC power play at 8:38 of the third period. With 1:50 left in the game, Blazer Tom Cassidy narrowed the margin to 3-2. But the OC rally ended when Blazer goalie Mike Palmateer was lifted, and Andy Spruce scored for Tulsa with 33 seconds to go.</p><p><b>DALLAS:</b> Big news for Big D fans! The Black Hawks finally beat Fort Worth after a loss and four straight ties. The feat was achieved on a 4-2 count in Fort Worth, Nov. 29, and evened the 20-game turnpike series.</p><p>Coming on the heels of a 7-1 home romp over Tulsa, the decision at the opposite end of the D-FW Turnpike gave the Hawks a modest unbeaten string of three games.</p><p>Third-period goals by Dave Elliott and Gary Donaldson provided the victory in Fort Worth. Terry Smith had scored in the first period, Duane Wylie in the second, but the score was tied at the end of those stanzas.</p><p>The previous night the Hawks had breezed to a 3-0 lead over Tulsa in the first period, and made it 5-1 in the second. Mike Veisor lost his shutout at 13:26 of the middle period. Donaldson scored twice in the rout, with other goals from Michel Archambault, Moe L&rsquo;Abbe, Pierre Giroux, Elliott, and Reggie Giroux.</p><p><b>FORT WORTH:</b> Two ties with Oklahoma City and a loss to Dallas gave Terry Gray&rsquo;s Texans an unhappy string of four games without victory, three of them in their own Will Rogers Coliseum, where they had previously been unbeaten in five starts.</p><p>They needed three goals in the second period to rally for a 4-4 tie in Oklahoma City, Nov. 26. Brad Anderson, Joe Leduc (his first goal of the season) and Mark Heaslip provided the tie, after Bob Bourne had scored in the first.</p><p>In OC two nights later it was the Blazers who had to tally for a tie in the third period, after the Texans had overcome an early 2-0 Blazer lead. Once again it was Bourne scoring the first Fort Worth goal, with Dave Salvian and Dennis Abgrall forging the second-period lead.</p><p>Abgrall and Neil Nicholson, returning from a shoulder injury, scored against Dallas, but the Texans couldn&rsquo;t answer two Hawk goals in the final period, one into an empty net.</p><p><b>TUCSON:</b> The player shuffle continued, as Adam Keller Mavericks returned left wing Ron Delorme to the WHA Denver Spurs and defenseman Jim Clarke to the Phoenix Roadrunners. The Runners sent down defenseman George Tower and left wing Peter McNamee, who had played for Keller in Tulsa last season. Tower, who was with Denver in the CHL a year ago, had been with Columbus in the International League. Defenseman Ron Serafini was lost to Cincinnati Stingers in the WHA trade which brought Gary Veneruzzo to Phoenix.</p><p>Right wing Neil Lyseng was slowed by an injury. Goalie Roger Swanson and center Mike Hobin went to Phoenix for one game, but didn&rsquo;t suit up.</p><p>The Mavs played only one game the last week of november, but getting there was almost as tough as what happened after they arrived. A snowstorm in the Rockies, a Denver airport closed by fog, an alternative landing in Colorado Springs, a long wait for a bus, and finally flying into the Salt Lake airport just before weather closed it down&mdash;none of these were conducive to a good game on arrival.</p><p>The next few hours weren&rsquo;t pleasant, either, as the Golden Eagles romped to a 9-3 victory. Steve West of Tucson got the first goal, Grant Erickson managed a 2-2 tie in the first period, but the count was 6-2 before Hobin got the Mavs&rsquo; last goal.</p><p>Hobin, honored as the Mavericks&rsquo; player of the month, was the club scoring leader with 22 points, ranking ninth in the league.</p><p><b>SALT LAKE:</b> Lyle Bradley, certainly no stranger to the nets in his seven previous pro seasons (and the Western League&rsquo;s leading scorer two seasons ago) played the first 18 games for the Golden Eagles this season without a goal.</p><p>Then he erupted for three in the Eagles&rsquo; 9-3 victory over Tucson at the Salt Palace, and two nights later he had the only Salt Lake goal in a 1-1 tie at Oklahoma City. In between the Eagles squandered a 3-0 early lead and went down to a 6-4 defeat in Tulsa.</p><p>After yielding an early goal in that game with Tucson, the Eagles opened fire with Bradley&rsquo;s backhand on a first-period power play. They had a 3-2 lead after one period, and it was 6-2 after two.</p><p>Paul Tantardini, Sundberg, Jim Moxey, Fred Ahern, Brent Meeke and Paul Shakes joined Bradley in the scoring parade.</p><p>If they thought the 29-second pair of goals was quick, the Eagles had to be impressed the next night in Tulsa, when Tom Price and Ahern tallied eight seconds apart in the first period. Tantardini had counted early, and Salt Lake had a 3-0 lead with only 13:49 gone. But Moxey&rsquo;s second-period goal was the only further Eagle scoring, and Tulsa came back to win on four goals in the third, one into an empty net.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-01

Tulsa Rebounds To Battle Blazers For Lead

<div class="byline">BY JACK GATECUFF</div><p>LONDON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Ontario government&rsquo;s decision to crack down on hockey violence, both on the ice and in the stands, has resulted in six criminal charges being laid as the result of a battle at the London Treasure Island Gardens a month ago.</p><p>Following more than three weeks of investigation by provincial police, Const. Bill Litowski of the London detachment said that Hawk defenseman Kevin McCloskey had been charged with assault causing bodily harm while coach Paul Emms and defenseman Bob Manno were charged with causing a disturbance by fighting.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01162/3486988-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="260" height="412"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mike Fryia</b></figcaption></div><p>Three spectators&mdash;Marco Schembri of St. Thomas, John Bernaads of Ingersoll and Vernon Brown of London were hit by the same type of summon as Emms and Manno.</p><p>They are scheduled to appear in court early next month.</p><p>The disturbance was allegedly caused when a fan threw a hot cup of coffee into the face of St. Catharines forward Andy Whitby after a fight on the ice involving Whitby and Brad Marsh of London, charges were the latest legal move against hockey violence which was sparked by Ontario Attorney-General Roy McMurtry following a report on hockey by his brother Bill McMurtry (a Toronto lawyer) after an Ontario Junior B final between Hamilton and Bramalea was cancelled in the spring of 1974.</p><p>At that time Bramalea refused to play the second game of the series in Hamilton after an abnormally rough game on their home ice.</p><p>The most serious of the charges is against McCloskey who is an American citizen. If convicted he could be deported.</p><p>Oddly enough neither McCloskey nor Whitby (who was not charged) are now with the St. Catharines team.</p><p>McCloskey was sent down to Toronto Nationals of the Provincial Tier Two Junior A League and Whitby was given his outright release because of chronic knee injuries.</p><p>London, which won the controversial game 13-4, was not involved in the incident as a team but was ordered to post a $5000 good performance bond as it was the third such playerfan brawl there this year.</p><p>The arena also had to guarantee sufficient police protection to maintain order.</p><p>At the time of the outbreak there were security men in the building but no police officers.</p><p>After they arrived one fan was taken to hospital by ambulance and required stitches for facial cuts and several others suffered minor injuries.</p><p><b>HAMILTON:</b> Last season Hamilton Fincups were known more for their tough checking, aggressive hockey under coach Bert Templeton, than any exceptional scoring prowess&hellip;This year they have retained the muscle but added punch around the opposition&rsquo;s net and the combination has given them first place in the Emms Division&hellip;In two games during the week they scored 26 goals, trouncing Kitchener Rangers 12-3 and St. Catharines Black Hawks 14-4&hellip;In the first game 13 players divided 30 scoring points but only defenseman Ron Roscoe had two goals&mdash;all the others were singles&hellip;Against St. Catharines captain Dale McCourt, considered by many scouts to be the top pro prospect in Ontario, had three goals and four assists while defenseman Ted Long had a goal and five assists.</p><p><b>LONDON:</b> The Knights, who had been keeping right on the Fincups&rsquo; heels, dropped back a stride when they were beaten, on home ice, 5-3 by Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds&hellip;The big difference was the second period when the &lsquo;Hounds scored four times, breaking a 1-1 deadlock&hellip;Tom Revail, Steve Stockman and Tom Rowe were the Knights&rsquo; marksmen in their only game of the week.</p><p><b>KITCHENER:</b> By suffering the 123 loss to Hamilton, Kitchener Rangers just about verified that the race for first place in the Emms Division is strictly between Hamilton and London&hellip;However they bounced right back to shut out Oshawa Generals 4-0 as the line of Don Maloney, Mark Holbrook and Dwight Foster scored a goal each within the space of three minutes in the second period.</p><p><b>TORONTO:</b> Coach George Armstrong was near the desperation point as his defending Memorial Cup champions just couldn&rsquo;t put any kind of a winning streak together&hellip;He even threatened to resign if that would help the cause&hellip;No sooner spoken than the Marlies went into Kingston and beat the Canadians 6-4 on four third-period goals in a game played in front of 3,789 spectators.</p><p><b>ST. CATHARINES:</b> As if the Black Hawks didn&rsquo;t have enough problems with charges pending following the London battle, they were swamped 144 in Hamilton despite bringing in a new goaltender Rick Szabo who started the season with Sudbury Wolves after previously playing right in Hamilton.</p><p><b>WINDSOR:</b> Spitfires still picking up a win here and there although posing no playoff threat&hellip;After losing at home to the Hawks despite a pair of goals by Joel Quenneville they upset Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 6-3&hellip;Mike Dwyer delighted 3,050 Windsor fans by scoring once in each period and breaking their latest losing streak of eight games and singles went to Gary Purdon, Charlie Skjodt and Jack Anderson.</p><p><b>SUDBURY:</b> Greyhounds moved almost 10 points ahead of the pack in the Leyden Division and have the entire city talking Junior A&hellip;It&rsquo;s been the most excitement there for hockey since the old senior days and coach Jerry Toppazzini, a former National Leaguer, has the club playing not only winning but crowd-pleasing hockey.</p><p><b>SAULT:</b> Greyhounds&rsquo; 6-3 loss to Windsor perhaps wasn&rsquo;t as surprising as it appeared as it was the sixth loss in eight games for the Sault&hellip;Before the slump they had been giving Sudbury a fair run for first place&hellip;However their win in London made up for a lot of miseries as Tim Coulis, John Tavella, Romano Carlucci and Randy Borbely scored in the second period to spark them to the 5-3 win.</p><p><b>KINGSTON:</b> Canadians lost their only game of the week, 6-4 on home ice to Toronto Marlboros and it was a blow, temporarily at least, to their hopes of finishing second&hellip;However it&rsquo;s still attracting large crowds in their third season of &ldquo;big time&rdquo; amateur hockey.</p><p><b>OSHAWA:</b> Oshawa is one of the lower-scoring teams in the league but they make their goals count as evidenced by their 2-1 win over Peterborough&hellip;The two points kept them right up with Kingston and the Sault for runner-up&hellip;Mike Boyd and Glenn Knight scored third period goals</p><p><b>OTTAWA:</b> The 67s often look like they&rsquo;re going to drop out of playoff contention only to come back and win an important game&hellip;This is what happened when they defeated Windsor 51.</p><p><b>PETERBOROUGH:</b> It&rsquo;s not difficult to put the finger on Peterborough&rsquo;s problem as they seem destined to finish last for the first time since their opening year in the league 15 seasons ago&hellip;They just can&rsquo;t score&hellip;In fact their 72 goals is about one-half the next lowest team in their own division and more than 30 behind the freshmen from Windsor&hellip;They did break out for more than their usual total with 5-2 win against Kitchener on goals by Tony Cassolato, Mark Kirton, Mike Fryia, Ron Mason and Brad Pirie&hellip;Fryia just returned from a pro tryout and will complete the season with the Petes as an over-age junior&hellip;His presence should help.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-01

New Hockey Violence Crackdown Hits OHA Players After London Ice Brawl

<h2>HOW THEY STAND ONTARIO MAJOR LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Sat, Dec. 13)</b></p><h3>Emms Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02122/3487033-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="581" height="189"></div><h3>Leyden Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0389/3487026-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="584" height="188"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Sat, Doc. 6</b></p><p>Sudbury 3 at Toronto 3.</p><p><b>Sun, Doc. 7</b></p><p>Sault Ste. Marie 6 at St. Catharines 2; Sudbury 4 at Oshawa 2; Peterborough 5 at Toronto 4; Hamilton 6 at Kitchener 4; Windsor 9 at Kingston 8; London 3 at Ottawa 1.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 11</b></p><p>Kingston 6 at Peterborough 1; St. Catharines 1 at Sudbury 8; Kitchener 11 at Windsor 8.</p><p><b>Fri, Doc. 12</b></p><p>Oshawa 6 at Toronto 2; Peterborough 3 at Kingston 6; Ottawa 2 at Kitchener 2; Windsor 4 at Sault Ste. Marie 7; Hamilton 5 at London 2.</p><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0473/3487019-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="580" height="311"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0033-02

OHA MAJOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

<h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>IHL Leaders</h2><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02126/3487071-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="581" height="394"></div><h3>GOALING RECORDS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0397/3487064-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="585" height="586"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-02

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY BUD GALLMEIER</div><p>DAYTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>ayton&rsquo;s Gems, who are threatening to pull away from all potential challengers in the South Division of the International Hockey League, are following a simple formula to carry out that threat.</p><p>The Gem success formula is a variation of the basehall creed which dictates victory over the second division and an even break with the contenders if the pennant flag is to fly in center field. The Gems are whipping their South Division rivals and playing .500 hockey against North Division teams.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01176/3487102-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="255" height="393"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jim Pettie</b></figcaption></div><p>Biggest boost in the Gems&rsquo; skate to the front in the South also the best overall record) has been almost complete domination of the defending champion Toledo Goaldiggers. After dropping the opening game of the season to Toledo (on home ice yet), the Gems haven&rsquo;t lost to Toledo in three games&mdash;all on foreign ice. Dayton has posted a pair of victories and one tie on the cozy ice block in Toledo&rsquo;s Sports Arena&mdash;the major factor in a five-point lead.</p><p>Tommy McVie&rsquo;s skaters also have dominated the other two clubs in the South&mdash;Fort Wayne and Columbus. The Gems are 3-1 against the Komets and 5-0 over hapless Columbus. The one loss to Fort Wayne marked the Gems&rsquo; poorest showing of the season, however The Komets whipped the Gems, 10-3, in the only meeting between the two thus far at Fort Wayne&rsquo;s Coliseum.</p><p>The Gems also hold a slight&mdash;ever so slight&mdash;edge over North Division clubs. The plus is with Muskegon against whom the Gems have won and tied in two meetings. The Dayton record against the other North Division clubs reads: Port Huron, 2-2, Flint. Saginaw and Kalamazoo, 1-1 each.</p><p>McVie is not without some problems, however, despite his front row seat. Jim Pettie, who just may be hockey&rsquo;s most travelled goalie, showed up in Dayton again recently. Pettie, who was in Dayton most of last season, has been in eight cities since September and showed up in Dayton this time from Rochester. This gives McVie three goalies on the roster&mdash;Gary Carr and Garth Malarchuk are the other two&mdash;and McVie will have to make some decisions in a hurry.</p><p>Also defenseman Gordie Lane has been called up for a three-game tryout with the Washington Caps of the National Hockey League.</p><p><b>TOLEDO:</b> Ted Garvin has changed a little. Normally, he&rsquo;s not too concerned where his team can be found in the standings as long as they qualify for the playoffs. But not any more. Garvin has let it be known he isn&rsquo;t happy skating second to Dayton in the South Division.</p><p>&ldquo;Where my team was in the standings never used to bother me too much because I felt the playoffs were what you should strive for. But I know the fans want to see us in first place and you can be sure that our guys are trying to get there. We have had some trouble with a few of the clubs&mdash;notably Saginaw&mdash;but I can tell you we will be going all out to change that,&rdquo; Garvin said recen tly.</p><p><b>FORT WAYNE:</b> The Komets, who boasted the best offense in the league during a string of eight straight undefeated games in the Memorial Coliseum, have gone into a slight tailspin. Injuries to key veterans&mdash;Terry Pembroke and Terry Thomson&mdash;left Ralph Keller with an inexperienced defense. And loss of center Terry McDougall for two games cut the offensive potential. The Komets, who were moving into a challenging position for second place in the South, dropped three straight, including a 5-3 loss to last-place Columbus. The loss was the third straight to the Owls, who had won only four games all season&mdash;three from the Komets.</p><p><b>COLUMBUS:</b> Moe Bartoli might not be ready to push the panic button&mdash;but he&rsquo;s looking for it. The Owls just haven&rsquo;t been able to put things together and Bartoli has brought in another player he hopes might solve some of the Owl problems. The newcomer is Glen McLeod, a right winger obtained from New Haven of the American Hockey League. To make room for McLeod, the Owls have sent John Blaylock to Kalamazoo.</p><p>&ldquo;We hesitated giving up Blaylock (obtained from Fort Wayne earlier) but we think this is a profitable exchange,&rdquo; Bartoli said. Commenting on his team, Bartoli said: &ldquo;We have to start intimidating people.&rdquo;</p><p><b>PORT HURON:</b> Manager-coach Bob McCammon and his red-hot Flags welcomed a breather following 11 games in 17 days. And while the schedule was demanding&mdash;it was also rewarding. The Flags picked up 15 of a possible 22 points during that span to take a solid hold on first place in the NorthDivision.</p><p>The sustained effort started in Columbus and concluded in Kalamazoo&mdash;both with victories. During the streak, the Flags moved from third place to first and the way the Flags have been playing, unseating them will be quite a chore.</p><p><b>SAGINAW:</b> The rapid return to form of Marcel Comeau has boosted pennant stock for the Gears. Sidelined for a month after minor surgery, Comeau picked up at least one point in the four games he&rsquo;s appeared since his return. Included was a game-winning goal against Flint.</p><p>Comeau&rsquo;s surprising showing prompted coach Don Perry to comment: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m amazed. I don&rsquo;t know of anybody on our club who could do what Comeau has done.</p><p><b>MUSKEGON:</b> Signs that the slump-ridden Ernie Moser and Gary Ford are starting to awaken, has Muskegon fans feeling much better about the North Division race. The Mohawks. struggling along third-best in the division, put together three games without a loss to solidify the third place slot and apply some pressure on Saginaw and Port Huron.</p><p>Moser pumped in his fifth and sixth goals of the season as the Mohawks blanked Fort Wayne with Ford and Pat DeMarchi getting the key assists. Rick Molinaro followed with a two-goal effort in a 5-3 win over Toledo and Moser got the tying goal in a 2-2 tie at Fort Wayne.</p><p><b>FLINT:</b> The Generals dropped a pair of crucial games to Saginaw and found themselves in third place. Flint lost at Saginaw, 7-5, after taking a 2-0 lead and then dropped a thriller, 2-1, to the Gears in Flint.</p><p>A bright spot for Flint has been the power play. The team set a club record by scoring at least one power goal in 13 straight games. During the streak, the Generals have scored 18 power goals in 50 chances&mdash;a 36 percent conversion record.</p><p><b>KALAMAZOO:</b> Injuries have been a major factor in the recent problems for the K-Wings, who have settled in the North Division cellar after an early season run for the top. The latest to join the infirmary brigade was Dave White, the K-Wings&rsquo; top marksman with 25 points on 12 goals and 13 assists.</p><p>One of the few bright spots for the K-Wings in recent weeks has been the steady play of Mike Wong. The big guy from Minneapolis has scored 11 goals and been credited with 11 assists over the last 19 games.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-01

Gems Follow Simple Formula To South Lead; Standings Take On New Meaning For Garvin

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE PENTON</div><p>BRANDON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he young-tyke hockey fans in Western Canada aren&rsquo;t the only ones anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus this year. There are a few junior stars in the Western Canada Hockey&rsquo; League who are hoping Mr. Claus comes through with their requirements.</p><p>Here are just a few of the obvious requests: Ed Chynoweth, the league president, is hoping Santa brings goodwill to the league, so that the brawling, which the prexy has been attempting to cut down, will be non-existantin &rsquo;76.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01164/3487133-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="270" height="374"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jeff McDill</b></figcaption></div><p>For Victoria&rsquo;s Jim Gustafson, who is grateful to the WCHL for instituting the over-age rule, Santa has a regular professional job for him next season. That also applies to other top overagers like Brandon&rsquo;s Dale McMullin, Calgary&rsquo;s Jerry Bancks, Cougars&rsquo; Mike Will and Kamloops&rsquo; Darryl Ferner.</p><p>To the goalies in the league, Santa will make their Christmas happy by giving Don Murdoch a hockey stick made of spaghetti, to give the netminders a sporting chance against the supersniper from Medicine Hat. Seriously, Murdoch is hoping his stocking is filled with the WCHL goal-scoring record of 91 or more, of which he is presently on pace to snap.</p><p>Winnipeg owner Gerry Brisson has asked Santa for a rule which would make league games just two periods in length. If they were only 40 minutes, Brisson&rsquo;s Clubs would be running away with the East Division, instead of being stuck in third place.</p><p>To Saskatoon&rsquo;s Bernie Federko, Santa is planning on giving him his 150-point, 100-assist season which the Foam Lake, Sask., native asked for back in October.</p><p>Ernie McLean out in New Westminster isn&rsquo;t asking much of Santa Claus, just a return of the WCHL championship to his Queen Park Arena. Oh yes, Ernie would like one thing he didn&rsquo;t get last year&mdash;the Memorial Cup.</p><p>Two of the clubs in the league which came out with bleak financial pictures last week&mdash;Kamloops and Brandon&mdash;are hoping Santa brings them full houses for the next few seasons, and winning hockey teams. Those requests, though, go hand in hand.</p><p>Dune McCallum in Brandon would like nothing better than finding a topflight left-winger in his Christmas stocking, while Harvey Roy in Kamloops thinks he has the sort of team that not even Santa could improve.</p><p>Merry Christmas for Dave Amodeo of Calgary and Brian Shaw of Edmonton would be better crowds than their World Hockey Association cousins. If that&rsquo;s not possible, then how about All Star berths for Cents&rsquo; defenseman Rick Hodgson and Edmonton winger Rocky Maze?</p><p>Earl Ingarfield in Lethbridge had high-flying Bryan Trottier taken from his team, but Steve Tambellini has been a fair replacement. All Ingarfield&rsquo;s asking from Santa is a player of Tambellini&rsquo;s stature for the next 20 or 30 years. That&rsquo;s all.</p><p>The Flin Flon owners, since Santa stops there first, are hoping for another Richmond Gosselin-Mark Davidson duo. Also, a few more people in the rink. And in Regina, Bob Turner secretly wishes the over-age rule would be extended to included 22-year-olds, so that Dennis Sobchuk, Clark Gillies and Greg Joly would be eligible to return tospark his last-place Pats.</p><p>Got all that, Santa? Mr. Chynoweth and the WCHL owners thank you. They&rsquo;ll have milk and cookies, or perhaps a souvenir hockey puck, sitting by the fireplace on your arrival.</p><p><b>VICTORIA:</b> Jim Gustafson stretched his consecutive game point streak record to 26 as the Cougars split two games. Jeff McDill got two goals in a 61 win over Calgary, but the Cougars were victims of thf rampaging Kamloops Chiefs, who ran their unbeaten road record to 13 straight with a 6-3 win.</p><p><b>KAMLOOPS:</b> Included in Chiefs&rsquo; 13-game road streak were 11 victories and two ties. The old record was nine straight, set by the 1967 Estevan Bruins. The Chiefs weren&rsquo;t invincible at home, though, splitting one-goal games against Calgary Centennials. Rookie Len Dies scored two goals in just his third WCHL game, a 7-4 win over Edmonton. Don Moores and Rob Flockhart had six points each in the four games to lead Chiefs&rsquo; week.</p><p><b>NEW WESTMINSTER:</b> Bruins were stunned 7-6 at home by Calgary in their only game of the week. Cents got five power-play goals against the Bruins, whose furious third-period comeback fell short&rsquo;. Goalie Kerry Nisbett was reinjured in that game, so Blaine Peterson was acquired from Brandon to fill the gap. Defenseman Terry Hochstetter went to Wheat Kings in that deal.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> Oil Kings won their third straight at home with <i>a</i> 3-2 win over Medicine Hat, but hit the road and lost 7-4 in Kamloops, despite Brent Peterson&rsquo;s three-goal performance. Rookie Paul Messier left the team when his father, Doug, lost his coaching job in the recent ownership shuffle.</p><p><b>CALGARY:</b> Cents had their most successful road excursion of the year, splitting four games in B.C. Newlvacquired Gary Rissling has been the sparkplug, getting three goals and five assists to figure in half of Calgary&rsquo;s 16 goals. He hit for the hat trick in the 7-6 win in New West, and added three assists in the 4-3 triumph over the Chiefs. Jerry Bancks also had three goals in the New West game.</p><p><b>MEDICINE HAT:</b> Don Murdoch took over the league&rsquo;s lead in goals from Saskatoon&rsquo;s Bernie Federko by firing four in a 7-4 Tiger victory over the Pats in Regina. It was Murdoch&rsquo;s second four-goal game on the road this year. He now has 34 goals in just 27 games. Murdoch got single tallies in the other two Tiger games of the week, but each one was a loss&mdash;4-3 at home against Saskatoon and 3-2 in Edmonton.</p><p><b>LETHBRIDGE:</b> Tigers got a split (1-1) week when Steve Tambellini&rsquo;s penalty-shot goal was the winner in a 4-3 win over visiting Flin Flon. Tambellini, now with 19 goals, got another one in a 7-3 defeat to Saskatoon. Brian Sutter had a goal and three assists in the two games.</p><p><b>SASKATOON:</b> Blades&rsquo; sevengame unbeaten streak was snapped with a 3-0 loss in Brandon. Also broken in that game were 14-game point streaks by Bernie Federko and Blair Chapman, one-two in the league scoring derby. The rest of the week was fine, though, as the first-place Blades got three wins and a tie, all on the road. In a 4-3 win in Winnipeg, Blades trailed 3-0 after four minutes of the third period before rallying. Stan Gulutzan, after a slow start this year, rattled in five goals duringthe week.</p><p><b>REGINA:</b> Pats won two to stretch their unbeaten streak to five games, but had Murdoch and the Tigers snap it with a 7-4 win in Regina. Earlier, though, the Pats beat the Wheat Kings 5-3 as Jon Hammond, Rob Tudor and Drew Callander got three points each in Brandon, and went home to double up Flin Flon 8-4 as Hammond got three goals. In the loss to Medicine Hat, rookie Ray Myers got his first WCHL goal.</p><p><b>FLIN FLON:</b> The line of Rich Gosselin, Mark Davidson and Kim Davis got 12 of Bombers&rsquo; 18 goals as they won one of four. Davis got three in a 7-4 win over Winnipeg, but on the week, Gosselin led with 11 points. Davidson had seven and Davis six. But no longer are the Bombers a joke. Coach Mickey Keating has them playing fine hockey.</p><p><b>BRANDON:</b> Wheat Kings beat Saskatoon 3-0 in their most impressive outing of the year, as Glen Hanlon recorded his second shutout of the season. Dale McMullin was on a hot streak, picking up 14 points in four games, including his second six-point game (3-3) ina week. McMullin exploded in a 7-4 win over Flin Flon. Danny Bonar has a 12-game point streak going while McMullin&rsquo;s is 13.</p><p><b>WINNIPEG:</b> There was still a dark cloud hanging over the Clubs&rsquo; camp as their winless streak reached seven in falling to third place. Cause for slight rejoicing, though, was a 5-5 comeback tie against Saskatoon, as Gerry Pion evened things up with 31 seconds to play. But in their next start, Clubs led 3-0 early in the third, but lost to Blades 4-3. All Star defenseman Kevin McCarthy got a spot in the top 10 scorers, but key injuries to high-scoring Gord Blumenschein and goalie Lome. M&ouml;lleken kept the Clubs trumped.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-01

Over-Age Rule Boon To WCHL Clubs; Murdoch On Record Scoring Course

<h2>HOW THEY STAND WESTERN CANADA LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Sat, Doc. 6)</b></p><h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02136/3487178-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="574" height="184"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03102/3487171-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="576" height="186"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Saskatoon 4 at Medicine Hat 3; Calgary 4 at Kamloops 5</p><p><b>Sun, Nov. 30</b></p><p>Saskatoon 7 at Lethbridge 3; Kamloops 6 at Victorio 3; Calgary 7 at New Westminster 6; Regina 5 at Brandon 3.</p><p><b>Mon. Doc. 1</b></p><p>Hin Flon 7 ot Winnipeg 4.</p><p><b>Tue, Doc. 2</b></p><p>Calgary 1 at Victorio 5; Flin Flon 4 at Brandon 7.</p><p><b>Wed, Doc. 3</b></p><p>Flin Flon 4 at Regina 8, Medicine Hat 2 at Edmonton 3; Calgary 4 at Kamloops 3; Saskatoon 5 at Winnipeg 5.</p><p><b>Thu, Doc. 4</b></p><p>Saskatoon 0 at Brandon 3.</p><p><b>Fri, Doc. 5</b></p><p>Flin Flon 3 at Lethbridge 4; Medicine Hot 7 at Regina 4; Edmonton 4 at Kamloops 7; Saskatoon4 at Winnipeg 3.</p><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0484/3487164-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="580" height="669"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0035-02

Western Canada Hockey League

<div class="byline">BY GARY CLARK</div><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>WILLIAMSVILLE&mdash;</p><p>The sweeping rule changes instituted earlier this season by North American Hockey League commissioner Jack Timmins have had an immediate and massive impact on the play of league games.</p><p>When the NAHL announced its extensive revisions on Thursday, Nov. 13, the announcement was lavished with very generous coverage in both the national and local media in the United States and Canada, including a cover story in THE HOCKEY NEWS. Much of the editorial reaction was favorable. In a few cases it was unfavorable. In short, a great deal of attention was focussed on whether the changes would have their intended effect: decreasing gratuitous violence and eliminating the abuse of officials.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01144/3487216-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="257" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Brian Marchinko</b></figcaption></div><p>Sufficient results are now at hand to declare the NAHL experiment an immediate success. Including the &ldquo;no contest&rdquo; in Beauce, which did not count in regular statistics, 66 games had been played prior to the adoption of the rule revisions. Under the new rules, 64 games have been completed.</p><p>The results: There were 65 misconducts, 20 game misconducts, five match penalties, and four third man infractions assessed under the WHA rules in use at the time, a total of 94 such infractions, in the first 66 games. In the next 64 games there were 15 misconducts, seven game misconducts, and one match misconduct, a total of 23.</p><p>&ldquo;The rule changes have unmistakably produced the exact results that we were looking for,&rdquo; declared Timmins after studying the figures. &ldquo;We could not be more pleased.&rdquo;</p><p><b>BINGHAMTON:</b> Despite their troubles in the win-loss columns, the Dusters continue to enjoy success at the box office unparalleled anywhere in the NAHL and perhaps anywhere in the minor leagues. Every Duster home game is an automatic sellout announced at 4,855.</p><p>Captain and 1974-75 MVP Rod Bloomfield was the Dusters&rsquo; most recent nomination for NAHL player of the week. While Roddy did not win the league honor, he did have an outstanding week. His five goals and two assists were highlighted by a hat trick performance in Buffalo that included two short handed scores.</p><p><b>BUFFALO:</b> The Toronto Toros signed defenseman Greg Neeld, the subject of much controversy ever since he lost the sight in one eye after an accident in an OHA game two years ago. Neeld played two games with the Norsemen and was recalled by the Toros on a five-game pro trial.</p><p>Neeld was considered a top junior prospect at the time of his injury, but was barred from the NHL by a rule prohibiting one-eyed players from participating in league games. Neeld has a lawsuit still pending against the NHL.</p><p><b>CAPE COD:</b> The Codders got back on the scoring track in an 11-3 romp over the Buffalo Norsemen. The Codders scored six or more goals in each of their first five games of 1975-76, but had managed to duplicate the feat only three times in the ensuing eighteen games. The Codders benefitted from a hat trick by Ron Snell as well as two goal performances by Yvan Bouillon and John Cunniff.</p><p>Steve Richardson has performed well since being assigned by the New England Whalers. The 26-year-old center had 10 points in his first eight Cape Cod games.</p><p><b>ERIE:</b> Brian Marchinko has established an unusual record in his two, months in the league. The former New York Islander has scored 13 goals thus far, every one of them on the road. So many players have a proclivity for scoring at home and disappearing into the dashers on the road that the Blades have taken to calling Marchinko the &ldquo;Roadrunner&rdquo; in honor of his reversal of the usual pattern.</p><p>Larry Mavety is proving that there is not substitute for experience. The defenseman was a long time All Star in the International and Western Leagues before the arrival of the WHA gave him an opportunity to crack the majors. Now he has returned to the minors, at least for a while, and he is off to a quick NAHL start. With four goals and eight assists in only seven games he has already surpassed every other Blade blueliner in scoring save Jim Pritchard and Denis Andersen.</p><p><b>JOHNSTOWN:</b> The Jets suffered their first serious disabling injury of the season when they lost left wing Wynne Dempster to a broken foot. The injury occurred when Dempster was struck by a shot directly on bis instep. The injury came as the Jets embarked on their most difficult road trip of the season, a seven game swing that concluded with four stops in the &ldquo;far east&rdquo; at Beauce, Maine, Cape Cod, and Beauce again.</p><p><b>MAINE:</b> The Nordiques responded to Maurice Ducharme&rsquo;s threats of a shakeup with a stunning 6-3 road victory over the Cape Codders. It was the first road win this season for the Nordiques, who had lost 13 in a row on foreign rinks. Actually that streak stood at 16 straight over a two year period including losses in their last three games away from home in 1974-75. The Nords scored five straight times and then held on as the Codders rushed back with three of their own. An empty netter by Jacques Blain sealed the upset.</p><p><b>MOHAWK VALLEY:</b> Coach Ted McCaskill teamed recently acquired Frank Hamill on a line with Bobby Jones and both immediately went on a scoring binge. Jones, off to a slow start, jumped right into the league&rsquo;s top 20 socrers with on goal and 10 assists in four games. Meanwhile Hamill pounced on his former teammates with three goals in a home-and-home series against the Dusters. Reports out of Mohawk Valley indicate that Jones and his new right wing complement each other perfectly.</p><p><b>PHILADELPHIA:</b> Bob Collyard set a Firebird record when he scored at least one point in 19 consecutive games. Collyard was stopped by Gilles Tremblay and the Beauce Jaros despite the fact that his teammates accounted for five goals in an 8-5 loss. It was only the third game of the season in which Collyard had not scored at least one point.</p><p><b>SYRACUSE:</b> The Blazers injured players were all preparing for a late December return to action. Star netminder Jacques Caron has begun skating in preparation for his return from a knee injury suffered on Nov. 12 against Cape Cod. He was expected back in the lineup some time before Christmas. Defeaseman Jim Marsh, at first feared lost for the season, had the cast removed from his broken leg and ankle on Dec. 9.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02103/3487209-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="556" height="655"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOE HARDY&hellip;Takes Over Jaros</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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NAHL Crackdown On Hockey Violence Having Desired Effect Around Loop

<h2>Dave Staffen Erie Blades</h2><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>oes a player who has scored 10 goals in his last six games sound like a legitimate player of the week? That is exactly the tear that young left wing Dave Staffen completed this past weekend with three more scores in a two-game home stand for the Erie Blades.</p><p>Actually Staffen&rsquo;s blistering pace extends farther back than that. Through games of Nov. 16 Dave had connected only four times in 15 games. Even though he had tallied 37 goals in the International Hockey League in 1974-75, his first season out of the junior ranks, some were wondering if the step up to the NAHL might be too big for him.</p><p>There are no more doubts now. Staffen has scored 14 times in his last 11 games. And Staffen is not simply finishing off someone else&rsquo;s plays. Virtually every one of his scores has come on one of his booming slappers from 40 or more feet out. His coach with the Blades, Nick Polano, claims that he beat Jim Pettie of the Dusters with a shot that no one in the Broome County Arena ever saw.</p><p>Dave Staffen is a very worthy North American Hockey League player of the week for the week of Dec. 1 through Dec. 7.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NAHL Player of the Week

<p>BEAUCE&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen was the last time a professional coach resigned while his team was riding the crest of a seven-game winning streak that had vaulted them into first place? Marc Picard has done just that.</p><p>Picard&rsquo;s short but turbulent career as coach of the Beauce Jaros came to an end on Dec. 8 when he informed Beauce general manager Andre Veilleux by phone shortly before the Jaros were to take the ice against the Johns town Jets that he was stepping down from his post.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0378/3487271-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="252" height="406"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Marc Picard</b></figcaption></div><p>Immediatley named to suceed Picard was Joe Hardy, the leading-scorer in the NAHL. Hardy had been Jaros&rsquo;captain prior to his appointment.</p><p>There was no definitive word from either the Jaros or Picard as to why he abdicated the bench job only 24 games into the team&rsquo;s first season. But a continual tempest had swirled around the former coach of the QJHL Quebec Remparts from literally the first day of the NAHL season.</p><p>The Jaros have established a reputation as the most boisterous team in pro hockey, a reputation that many felt that Picard was directly responsible for.</p><p>In the two very first regular season games that the Jaros ever played they were assessed a total of 142 penalty minutes. Little more than one week into the season a storm was raised when Binghamton Duster owner Jim Matthews, backed by news accounts in the local media, charged that Picard had threatened to &ldquo;get&rdquo; Jamie Bateman, a Duster winger, prior to a game in which the Jaros became involved in a fight with Bateman just three seconds after the start of the game.</p><p>On Nov. 7 a game being played at Beauce between the Jaros and the Mohawk Valley Comets was halted and declared &ldquo;no contest&rdquo; because it was so filled with brutality that it threatened the safety of the few players who had not already been tossed from the game.</p><p>Picard returned to the Jaro bench on Nov 26. In the first game of his return an incident erupted between Jaro players and members of the Syracuse police that resulted in the arrest of five Jaros on charges of second degree assault. Their cases are scheduled to be heard on Dec. 17.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Picard Quits Jaros, Hardy Named Coach

<div class="byline">BY RALPH BRIDGLAND</div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>Y</span>ou would think a team with 10 wins and three ties in 30 games would have enough on-ice troubles without having to cope with anything arising off the playing surface.</p><p>The Laval Nationals boast that record which leaves them mired in the West Division basement of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.</p><p>As if the team&rsquo;s standing wasn&rsquo;t enough worry for the club&rsquo;s directors, coach Jacques St. Jean tendered his resignation when he was not afforded the luxury of a two-year written contract.</p><p>If the Laval executive didn&rsquo;t believe in the saying, &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t rain but it pours,&rdquo; its member should now.</p><p>No sooner had St. Jean resigned his coaching position than did the National players decide that it was time for a strike.</p><p>The Laval club was scheduled to play in Chicoutimi on Friday Dec. 5 but the game had to be postponed when the players didn&rsquo;t show up for the team bus. The bus was scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. but not a single player put in an appearance. General manager Andre Bolduc called each player and told them that the bus would be leaving at 11 a.m. But still not a player was to be seen.</p><p>Then league authorities stepped in and ruled that if the Nationals did not play a game in Trois-Rivieres on Sunday night, the team&rsquo;s members would face suspensions for the remainder of the 1975-76 season.</p><p>Well, the Nationals played the game in Trois-Rivieres, but without a coach, or at least not what most people would consider a mentor in the true definition of the word.</p><p>Yvon Vautour, captain of the team and 19 years of age, became playercoach for the troubled Nationals. The score in Trois-Rivieres, which was really unimportant was 5-3 in favor of the Draveurs.</p><p>How did a 19-year-old get the go-ahead to coach a major junior hockey team? After St. Jean&rsquo;s departure, his assistant Jean-Guy Lavoie was installed as interim coach but the players refused to perform under him. Thus, under the terms drawn up by the players, the strike would end if Vautour were installed as coach until a successor to St. Jean who had to meet the players&rsquo; approval, was hired.</p><p>After Vautour guided the club to another defeat (2-0 at home to Cornwall), Yves Nadon, who is director of hockey operations for St. Jerome of the Quebec Junior A League, was appointed personnel director of the Nationals.</p><p>Nadon was brought in &ldquo;to solve the problems of the team,&rdquo; according to GM Bolduc. &ldquo;He is looking for a coach or maybe he will coach. He may stay forever, he may only stay a month.&rdquo;</p><p>The solution to the Laval problem was devised by the league and the Nationals&rsquo; players found it acceptable.</p><p>As soon as 19-year-olds start calling the shots in major junior hockey it&rsquo;s time to take a very close look at amateurhockey in general.</p><p><b>SHERBROOKE:</b> Beavers became first club to reach 200-goal mark this season as they racked up 20 goals in three games during week but managed to win only twice&hellip;Peter Marsh scored four times to lead Sherbrooke over Sorel 15-5 and he also paced attack with a pair of markers in 4-3 edging of Quebec&hellip;Only setback was 8-1 in Trois-Rivieres where Beavers fired 37 shots at Draveurs&rsquo; net but only Bernard Harbec managed to dent the twine&hellip;Marsh&rsquo;s outburst boosted his league leading goal total to 36 and left him on topin QMJHL points race with 67.</p><p><b>CORNWALL:</b> Royals now a full eight points back of leading Beavers and could fall farther behind as Sherbrooke has played one less game&hellip;Won two of three encounters during week but will have to put a long winning streak together if they are to challenge for West Division pennant&hellip;Dan Geoffrion led club in 7-3 win over Shawinigan with two goals and then Royals blanked Nationals 2-0 right in Laval&hellip;Loss came in Sorel 5-4 as Ed Clarey had tied contest mid-way through final period but Black Hawks came back four minutes later to notch the winner&hellip;Pierre Brassard (32-22&mdash;54) and Geoffrion (21-33&mdash;54) tied for fifth in league points derby.</p><p><b>MONTREAL:</b> If coach Jacques Laperriere&rsquo;s Juniors could play all their games at home they would be far and away the Quebec League&rsquo;s premier team. But unfortunately for Laperriere half of his club&rsquo;s contests are played on the road&hellip;At the Forum the Juniors have only lost once in 12 outings but away from home it&rsquo;s a completely different story&hellip;In foreign arenas the Juniors have triumphed only four times and added four ties in 16 games&hellip;Opened week&rsquo;s activities with 4-2 win over Hull at home with third period goals by Kevin Reeves and Mike McDougall spelling the difference&hellip;Normand Dupont scored hat trick, with two of the three markers shorthanded in 6-1 thumping of Chicoutimi at Forum&hellip;But then Montreal paid return visit to Chicoutimi and Laperriere&rsquo;s woes came to the fore as his club suffered 6-2 setback&hellip;Play of 16-year-old goaler Marco Baron big plus for Juniors. In three games with club he has a 1.00 goals-against average, a remarkable feat in junior hockey.</p><p><b>HULL:</b> Won once in three tries but are starting to play better hockey under coach Marcel Pronovost&hellip;Dropped tough 4-2 decision at Montreal Forum and then were nipped 4-3 at home by Quebec&hellip;Lone victory was 9-4 in Shawinigan as Jean-Marc Grandmaitre recorded the hat trick&hellip;Glen Sharpley has moved into top ten scorers with 53 points including 21 goals&hellip;Festivals are now only four points behind third place Montreal and have increased bulge over cellar dwelling Laval to seven points but Juniors have five games in hand and the Nationals have played three fewer games.</p><p><b>TROIS-RIVIERES:</b> Draveurs and Quebec renewing battle started last season as Trois-Rivieres holds one-point edge over Remparts atop East Division standings&hellip;Dropped 6-5 verdict to Remparts on home ice before over 4,500 hometown fans&hellip;Bounced back to down Laval 5-3 as Gaetan Boucher and Richard Dalpe scored two goals apiece&hellip;Then dumped Sherbrooke 8-1 despite being outshot 37-33 as Daniel Coutu turned in stellar performance between the pipes. Boucher and Claude Periard scored a pair of markers apiece in win over Beavers&hellip;Boucher has moved into second place in league points race with 63 (30-33).</p><p><b>QUEBEC:</b> Remparts kept pace with Draveurs winning two of three&hellip;Sole setback was at home as Sherbrooke came up with 4-3 win&hellip;Remparts defeated Trois-Rivieres 6-5 despite trailing 4-1 with less than three minutes remaining in middle period. Denis Turcotte tallied twice for Quebec&hellip;Remi Levesque recorded a pair of goals in 4-3 edging of Festivals in Hull&hellip;Remparts have come on strong defensively lately and are now rated fourth in the entire league in the goals-against department.</p><p><b>SOREL:</b> As much as the Remparts and Draveurs are battling it out for top spot, the Black Hawks and Chicoutimi are going to be fighting for third place&hellip;Split week&rsquo;s outings losing 15-5 in Sherbrooke and then returning home to down Cornwall 5-4&hellip;Lucien Deblois led Black Hawks over Royals with two goals&hellip;Sorel staying close enough to leaders that if one of them falters Hawks will be within shooting range of runnerup position.</p><p><b>CHICOUTIMI:</b> Home-and-home games with Montreal constituted Sa-gueneens week&hellip;Came out with split, winning at home 6-2 and dropping game at Forum 6-1&hellip;Andre Boudreau had two goals and a pair of assists in home-ice win&hellip;Sylvain Locas has fallen to third in QMJHL points race as his 29-32&mdash;61 total leaves him six points behind the leader&hellip;Sags trail Sorel by two points but can erase that margin by winning game in hand they hold over Hawks.</p><p><b>SHAWINIGAN:</b> After putting together a couple of good games things appear to back to normal in Shawinigan&hellip;Coach Claude Dolbec resigned his position with the club and has been replaced by general manager Jack St. Onge until a suitable replacement for Dolbec can be found&hellip;Meanwhile, on the ice, the Dynamos were dropping decisions to Cornwall 7-3 and Hull 94&hellip;The pair of defeats leaves club with by far most undesirable record in league, six wins and two ties in 30 games.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Player Strike Adds To Nats’ Woes; Royals Fall Behind Surging Beavers

<h2>HOW THEY STAND QUEBEC MAJOR LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Dec. 15)</b></p><h3>East Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01134/3487361-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="579" height="152"></div><h3>West Division</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02103/3487354-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="579" height="153"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Sun, Dec. 7</b></p><p>Chicoutimi 1 at Montreal 6; Sherbrooke 4 at Quebec 3; Shawinigan 4 at Hull 9; Laval 3 at Trois-Rivieres 5; Cornwall 4 at Sorel 5.</p><p><b>Mon. Dec. 8</b></p><p>Cornwall 2 at Laval 0.</p><p><b>Tue, Dec. 9</b></p><p>Quebec 4 at Hull 3; Sherbrooke 1 at Trois-Rivieres 8, - Montreal 2 at Chicoutimi 6.</p><p><b>Wed, DM. 10</b></p><p>Laval 5 af Sherbrooke 10.</p><p><b>Thu, Dec. 11</b></p><p>Trois-Rivieres 2 at Cornwall 10.</p><p><b>Fri, Dec. 12</b></p><p>Trois-Rivieres 3 at Montreal 8; Sorel 4 at Quebec 8; Hull 7 at Shawinigan 5; Chicoutimi 1 at Sherbrooke 6.</p><p><b>Sun, Dec. 14</b></p><p>Shawinigan 5 ot Qubec 3; Laval 5 at Hull 5; Chicoutimi 2 at Cornwall 9; Montreal 1 at Trois-Rivieres 3; Sherbrooke 4 at Sorel 9.</p><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0373/3487347-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="576" height="276"></div><h2>ONTARIO SENIOR LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Dec. 8)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0458/3487340-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="579" height="201"></div><h2>SOUTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR</h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Dec. 8)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0544/3487333-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="578" height="204"></div><h2>ONTARIO PROVINCIAL JUNIOR</h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Dec. 8)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0636/3487326-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="578" height="324"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0037-01

Quebec Major Hockey League

<h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</h2><h3>HOCKEY STICKS</h3><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>SHL Leaders</h2><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02112/3487399-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="585" height="529"></div><h3>GOALING RECORDS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0380/3487392-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="580" height="359"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0038-02

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY STEVE WAID</div><p>WINSTON SALEM&mdash;</p><p>It seems as if the Southern League moves from one financial crisis to another and still finds a way to come out of it smelling like roses.</p><p>The latest crisis involves the Winston-Salem Polar Twins. In existence for three years, the Polar Twins slumped to the bottom of the SHL standings this year thanks to a 10-game losing streak. That and the fact that Twins&rsquo; management did little to promote the team no doubt had a lot to do with the Twins&rsquo; dwindling attendance, which slumped to less than 1,500 per game.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01158/3487430-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="268" height="379"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Normand Lapointe</b></figcaption></div><p>Then, during the week of Nov. 25, Twins&rsquo; owner Ed Timmerman, who took over sole ownership of the team this season, announced that he&rsquo;d had enough. He announced that the team had only enough capital to last for three more weeks. Further, he said that he could not pay his players</p><p>Well, what could have been a disaster for the SHL was neatly and uniquely avoided. First, the players announced that they would play through the week of Dec. 2 without pay. They wanted to see just exactly what was going to happen to their team.</p><p>Then, the wheels were set in motion to insure city takeover of them. Most cities don&rsquo;t want to be saddled with a liability, but Winston-Salem didn&rsquo;t consider the Twins a liability, since the team generated good income for the Winston-Salem Coliseum.</p><p>So, the city council members, the city manager and even the mayor effectively pushed through proper legislation to take over the team. The city agreed to operate the team on an interim basis, hoping to make a profit with the team and then sell to a private owner.</p><p>That plan changed quickly. With the city&rsquo;s takeover came an offer from promoter James Crockett of Charlotte, N.C., to lease the team, an almost unheard venture in any professional sport.</p><p>Crockett, who is one of the owners of the Charlotte Checkers, agreed to divest himself of his Charlotte interests and lease the team from the city of Winston-Salem. The city welcomed him and agreed to lease the team to him. Under the terms of the agreement, Crockett will lease the team for the remainder of the 1975-76 season and he will then have an option to lease it for two more years.</p><p>So, the stability of the Polar Twins for at least the rest of this season and perhaps even longer is assured.</p><p>Twins were the second team this season to be saved from oblivion in the SHL. Tidewater&rsquo;s Sharks were saved earlier by a team purchase by a Tidewater physician. With new foundations for both Twins and Sharks, and the stability of franchises in Roanoke Hampton. Charlotte and Greensboro, SHL is on solid footing for the year.</p><p>Twins didn&rsquo;t slough off on the ice while financial woes came to a head. The team took 4-4 ties at Hampton and Tidewater Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, then lost to Charlotte 9-2 before defeating Greensboro twice.</p><p><b>GREENSBORO:</b> Generals&rsquo; injury problems still haven&rsquo;t been eased, but nevertheless, the team continues to play good hockey. Even though Generals went 1-3 during week of Nov. 25, two of the losses were by one goal.</p><p>Veteran center Wally Sprange, who has been skating in minor leagues for years and has stuck with Greensboro over last five seasons, has moved into lead in SHL scoring. He has seven goals and 27 assists in 24 games. He&rsquo;s also one of the SHL leaders in shorthanded goals with two.</p><p><b>CHARLOTTE:</b> Checkers continue to pace the SHL, holding off challenges from Roanoke and Hampton. Roanoke was once as little as four points behind Checkers, but Charlotte responded with 3-1 win over Rebels in Roanoke Nov. 30 to make it a six-point pad. Defenseman Jean Landry and Bob Smulders got key goals in game with Wayne Chrysler assisting on both.</p><p>&ldquo;We needed the win,&rdquo; said Checkers&rsquo; coach Pat Kelly. &ldquo;We were once 51-1 on the road then we slumped and lost five straight. So we needed to get back winning on the road.&rdquo; Checkers had lost a 4-2 encounter to Greensboro the night before beating Rebels.</p><p>Yvon Dupuis continues to be Checkers&rsquo; top scorer with 19 goals and 11 assists. He will certainly be the first player in SHL this season to hit 20-goal mark. Dave Gilmour, back skating with the Checkers after groin injury, has 12 goals and 15 assists in just 21 games.</p><p><b>TIDEWATER:</b> Sharks have fared better lately. The team went 1-1-1 during week of Nov. 25 with 6-3 win over Greensboro being best night. In that game, center Steve Doloff scored the hat trick. Ron Ashton, acquired from Roanoke, gave coach John Hanna the muscle he desperately wanted when he cuffed his way around the ice in 4-4 tie with Winston-Salem Nov. 26.</p><p>Sharks dealt center Michel Boudreau to Hampton during the week. Boudreau had 19 points in 24 games with Sharks. Hampton needed help at center, and Boudreau was expendable in the mind of Kevin Johnson, new Sharks&rsquo; general manager.</p><p><b>HAMPTON:</b> Parent club Cincinnati Stingers have pulled raids on Gulls, snapping up high-scoring center Pat Donnelly, goalies John Kiely and Rick Coutu and winger Murray Myers. The Gulls went scrambling to find replacements before the Stingers responded and sent goaler Normand Lapointe, defenseman Bruce Abbey and winger Don O&rsquo;Donoghue down to help Hampton. Both Lapointe and Abbey were object of much attention during 1975 summer pro hockey draft with both the WHA and NHL trying to sign them.</p><p>Gulls did get goalie Peter Donnelly, who spent time with Quebec of WHA and Maine of NAHL this season. Earlier Boudreau came from Tidewater to help fill void at center.</p><p>Gulls went through the week of Nov. 25 without losing a game and thus moved into second place in SHL, one point ahead of Roanoke.</p><p><b>ROANOKE:</b> After a fine nine-game unbeaten streak in which team won 10 of 11 games, Rebels drifted into complacency during week of Nov. 25. They lost to Charlotte twice and lost one and tied one with Hampton, teams Rebels must beat to keep in race for first place.</p><p>&ldquo;We just are not producing,&rdquo; said Rebel coach Jack Chipchase. &ldquo;We aren&rsquo;t working together in our system. We have too much individual play.&rdquo;</p><p>Rebels ended the week with two straight losses at home and fell into third place in SHL. However winger John Raynak continues to be team&rsquo;s best scorer with 14 goals and 18 assists in 25 games.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-01

New Twins’ ‘Owner’ Leases Club For Season

<div class="byline">BY JOHN ARNOLD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0455/3487461-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="935" height="1264"></div><h2>SOLUTION IN JANUARY 2 ISSUE</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3><p>1&mdash;A former Vezina Trophy winner.</p><p>7&mdash;Recently sent to minors by the Islanders. (init.)</p><p>9&mdash;An NHL coach.</p><p>10&mdash;One of the Penguins, (init.)</p><p>11&mdash;Initials of former NHL forward Nesterenko.</p><p>12&mdash;Skating requisite.</p><p>14&mdash;High scoring Philly forward.</p><p>16&mdash;Denotes number worn by Lambert.</p><p>18&mdash;Neither.</p><p>20&mdash;Nickname of former NHL&rsquo;er Henry.</p><p>22&mdash;Fonteyne answers to this.</p><p>23&mdash;National Hockey Association, (init.)</p><p>24&mdash;Former NHL forward Shack. (init.)</p><p>25&mdash;Pictured player.</p><p>30&mdash;Recently traded to New York.</p><p>31&mdash;15th and 3rd letters of the alphabet.</p><p>32&mdash;Each. (abbr.)</p><p>33&mdash;Number worn by Jean Pronovost.</p><h3>DOWN</h3><p>1&mdash;One of the Seals.</p><p>2&mdash;One of the Habs. (init.)</p><p>3&mdash;An NHL general manager.</p><p>4&mdash;Number of playoff goals scored by 2 down last season.</p><p>5&mdash;20th and 21st letters of the alphabet.</p><p>6&mdash;One of the Flames answers to this.</p><p>7&mdash;Beverage.</p><p>8&mdash;Initials of an injured Hawk.</p><p>13&mdash;A WHA goaltender.</p><p>15&mdash;An NHL left winger.</p><p>17&mdash;Denotes number worn by lafleur.</p><p>19&mdash;An AHL general manager.</p><p>21&mdash;Cincinnati is in this section of the WHA.</p><p>23&mdash;One of the LA. Kings.</p><p>26&mdash;Number of times Perreault has won the Lady Byng Trophy.</p><p>27&mdash;Former Philly defenseman. (init.)</p><p>28&mdash;Former NHL&rsquo;er Ingarfield (init.</p><p>29&mdash;Body of water.</p><p>32&mdash;Same as 11 across.</p><h2>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERS</h2><h3>ACROSS</h3><p>1&mdash;STAPLETON.</p><p>8&mdash;AWREY.</p><p>9&mdash;W.C.</p><p>10&mdash;ROBINSON.</p><p>13&mdash;NOLET.</p><p>14&mdash;I.R.</p><p>15&mdash;APR.</p><p>18&mdash;ERR.</p><p>20&mdash;BOB.</p><p>22&mdash;R.l.</p><p>23&mdash;VASKO.</p><p>27&mdash;B.G.</p><p>29&mdash;BOLTON.</p><p>30&mdash;EA.</p><p>31&mdash;OSLO.</p><p>32&mdash;CARL.</p><p>34&mdash;ST.</p><p>35&mdash;EAST.</p><h3>DOWN</h3><p>1&mdash;SARNIA.</p><p>2&mdash;TWO.</p><p>3&mdash;ARBOUR.</p><p>4&mdash;P.E.I.</p><p>5&mdash;LYNN.</p><p>6&mdash;OWNER.</p><p>7&mdash;N.C.</p><p>11&mdash;S.O.</p><p>12&mdash;OLIVER.</p><p>16&mdash;PROVOST.</p><p>17&mdash;H.R.</p><p>21&mdash;BALL.</p><p>24&mdash;STOP.</p><p>25&mdash;K.O.</p><p>26&mdash;ONCE.</p><p>28&mdash;GALT.</p><p>29&mdash;BOS.</p><p>30&mdash;A. A.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-04

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

<div class="byline">BY HOWIE STALWICK</div><p>TRAIL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f one thing seemed certain in the Western International League after the first few weeks it was that the Cranbrook Royals were going to make a runaway of the regular season race.</p><p>Gerry Goyer&rsquo;s crew jumped to a 6-0 opening this year and didn&rsquo;t lose their second game until their 10th outing, but suddenly the Royals&rsquo; bid for league honors was being challenged seriously by Trail&rsquo;s youthful Smoke Eaters.</p><p>The Smokies have rallied after a lukewarm beginning to move within four points of the leaders and many team followers are pointing to the acquisition of longtime National Hockey League star Eric Nesterenko as the key to the club&rsquo;s surprising turnabout.</p><p>The 42-year-old Nesterenko joined the Smoke Eaters as player-general manager a couple of weeks into the 1975-76 season and the exChicago Black Hawk standout has overcome the age factor to provide a very steadying influence on the young and rather inexperienced Trail skaters.</p><p>Eric said one of the prime reasons he considered the Trail job was because of the city&rsquo;s outstanding ski areas, an activity which he first took up in his last season of organized play two years ago as a player coach in Lausanne, Switzerland.</p><p>Despite the year off skates the crafty veteran has performed most admirably thus far although he admitted that the senior amateur loop has proven much tougher than he had first expected.</p><p>It&rsquo;s really a good hitting and skating league. There&rsquo;s none of that loose fluffy stuff,&rdquo; said Nesterenko. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of fine players, a lot of ex-pros and boy do they hit. &ldquo;</p><p>Nesterenko&rsquo;s GM duties also keep him busy and he happily reported that the team is drawing 600 or 700 better than last year. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re averaging around 1,600, 1,700 a game,&rdquo; said Nesterenko.</p><p>And it looks like he&rsquo;s doing just as good a job off the ice as on. Nesterenko claimed the Smokies&rsquo; great improvement is largely due to the gradual acceptance of coach Norm Dennis&rsquo; pro style defense and offense which stresses the use of all five players working together.</p><p><b>KIMBERLEY:</b> Dennis Schick continues to lead the WIHL in scoring with 11-22-33 but the team will be hurt offensively if center Ken Ireland takes advantage of an invitation to join Roanoke Valley of the Southern League. Defenseman Gene Strate is performing quite well for the Dynamiters.</p><p><b>CRANBROOK:</b> The Royals have been only 8-6 after their opening six triumphs, but veteran Billy Martin is just getting going. The league&rsquo;s second all time leading goal scorer had a five-goal week recently to pull within 17 of exKimberley standout Dick Vincent with 323 goals. Defenseman Dave Haley&rsquo;s job commitments will keep him out of 11 games. Goaltender Leo Karchie remains the WIHL&rsquo;s number one puckstopper with a goals-against average still down around 2.80.</p><p><b>NELSON:</b> The Maple Leafs suddenly have turned into the league&rsquo;s &ldquo;spoilers&rdquo; under coach Mike Laughton knocking off Trail 5-2 and Cranbrook 6-5 in the same week to mov into a fourth place tie with Kimberley for the final playoff rung. The victory over Trail was the first in six tries against the Smokies. Rick Klassen had a hat trick in the Cranbrook win.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

The WIHL Scene

<div class="byline">BY BILL HILTS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-0460/3487516-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="330" height="412"></div><h2>Southern Ontario League</h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Guelph Planters dominate the SOJHL scoring race so far this season, holding five of the top six spots. Guelph&rsquo;s <b>Mike Yosurack</b> currently holds a four point lead over <b>Phil Tunney,</b> with a total of 28 goals and 25 assists for 53 points. Tunney has 27 goals and 22 assists for 49 points.</p><p>Guelph&rsquo;s <b>Carl Reinhart</b> is the league&rsquo;s leading playmaker with 34 assists. <b>Terry Gregory,</b> also from Guelph and <b>Scott McKenzie</b> of Chatham share third spot in the scoring race with 45 points each.</p><p>The Guelph goalie, <b>Mike Blake</b> leads the puckstoppers with a 3.79 goals-against average. He also has recorded the only shutout in the league so far this season.</p><h2>New England League</h2><p>The Tyngsboro (Skate 3) Huskies and the South Shore Braves both began runs for the final two playoff berths with a pair of victories each, and the Springfield Olympics stretched their lead to five points with two wins also in New England Junior Hockey League action.</p><p>Coach <b>Bob Dupuis&rsquo;</b> Huskies, who had lost six of their previous eight games but five of them by just one goal, vented all their frustrations on the Tri-Valley Squires by erupting for a 14-5 victory. Then the Huskies defeated the Berwick Vikings 11-7 to draw within two points of third place. <b>Jim Collins</b> pumped in four goals and assisted on two others in the win over Tri-Valley while <b>Chip Bettencourt, Dale Metzler</b> and <b>Bob MacLeod</b> had two goals each <b>Rich Cavallaro</b> scored twice fo the Squires, and <b>Mark Hansen</b> stopped 62 shots. <b>Gerry Moschella</b> then fired in five goals and set up two others as the Huskies downed the Vikings. <b>Jack Stein</b> added two goals for Tyngsboro, while <b>Andy Crowther</b> tallied three times for Berwick and <b>Mike Fielding</b> chipped in with a pair.</p><p>South Shore stunned Berwick 4-3 and followed up by shocking Berlin 9-6 as the Braves escaped the cellar. <b>Charlie Ryan</b> and <b>Rob Ainslie</b> netted two goals apiece to surprise the slumping Maroons, who have now won only two of their last eight games. <b>Dennis Martin</b> scored three times for Berlin, and <b>John Normand</b> added his 29th and 30th goals to take over <b>sec</b>ond spot in the NEJHL scoring race with 51 points.</p><h2>New York-Penn League</h2><p>The Niagara Falls Mangs Sharks are showing plenty of hustle and a balanced attack as they continue their current unbeaten streak to seven-games. Included in the record is a tie with the league-leading Southtown Cougars and a win over third place Rochester Monarchs. The Sharks goalie <b>Mike Bagocus</b> has come up with solid performances between the pipes, as has his back-up <b>Keith Dera.</b> In the league scoring race the Niagara Falls entry has no one in the top 20. Evidence of their balanced attack.</p><p>Veteran <b>Steve Eccles</b> of the Syracuse Stars, the league&rsquo;s fifth place team, is the scoring leader with 23 points in just eight games. <b>Greg Jantzi</b> of the Amherst Knights is only a single point behind following 11 games played. Behind Jantzi, three more Am herst players are in the scoring lineup, <b>Leo Lynett</b> in third spot with 19 points, <b>Jeff Brownschidle</b> with 18.</p><p>High scorer for the Buffalo Blades is <b>Pat McCrossan</b> with 15 points, <b>Mike Brigante</b> leads with 12 points for the Sharks, three Monarchs are tied for their team scoring lead with 13 points each Dave <b>Bagley, Jerry Shorthouse</b> and <b>Dave Trevor; Chris Weinholtz</b> leads the Cougars with 17 points.</p><h2>New York Metropolitan</h2><p>Two wins for the New York Americans moved them up into fourth place, one point behind the third place LIAC Flyers in Met Junior Hockey action.</p><p><b>Joe LaGatutta&rsquo;s</b> two goals and the goaltending of <b>Pat Glennon,</b> led the Amerks to their second win of the year against Suffolk, downing the Royals 4-3. Suffolk&rsquo;s only two losses of the season have been against the Americans.</p><p><b>Matty Byrnes</b> had three goals and <b>Steve Busardo</b> and <b>Mike ladenza</b> shipped in withtwo goals each as the Amerks beat the New York West-siders 10-2.</p><p><b>Frank DeMayo,</b> the MJHA player of the week, stopped 63 New Hyde Park shots shutting out the Arrows 4-0. The Gulls managed four goals in just 22 shots to pick up their seventh win of the season.</p><p>Two goals by <b>Mike Formanek</b> led the Westsiders to a 6-5 victory over the Essex Jr. Rockets. Essex came right back the next evening to post their fourth win of the year, edging LIAC <b>6-5. Jim Keys</b> had the hat trick for Essex.</p><h2>Midwest League</h2><p>Following an 8-3 loss at home to Hennepin, the Mavericks were outscored 11-2 by St. Paul, also at home. <b>Walt Kyle</b> and <b>Mike Stoltzner,</b> who have been Austin&rsquo;s premier goal-getters, were held scoreless in both outings. Hot right wing <b>Russ Welch</b> helped provide the Vulcans with a perfect 2-0 week, getting four goals&mdash;including two power play scores in a 7-5 win over Hennepin and three assists in Vulcans&rsquo; 11-2 route of Austin.</p><p>Newcomers <b>Jim O&rsquo;Neill</b> and <b>Rick Mellum</b> tallied three goals apiece against Austin. Veteran netminder <b>Mark Nazzoleni</b> kicked out 72 shots in the pair of games to improve his season average.</p><p><b>Mike McMillen</b> and <b>Mike Hoberg,</b> both St. Cloud Blues alumni, connected for three goals each in Hennepin&rsquo;s 8-3 triumph over Austin&hellip;Second win of the week came when Hennepin dumped the Weber Seniors 8-5. The Saints&rsquo; only disappointment was a defeat at the hands of St. Paul Strong performances by <b>Dan Nelson, Mike Knoke, Randy Larch</b> and <b>Brian</b> Benson hint that coach Mike Menard&rsquo;s troubles at defense may be over.</p><p><b>Doug Monro,</b> a native of Winnipeg and a defenseman on the Braves Memorial Cup-winning club of 1958, has taken over as coach of the Bloomington Stars from <b>Doug Larson.</b> Larson will remain active with the club and will handle team publicity.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0039-04

JUNIOR JOTTINGS

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>n relation to total goals scored, the power-play means more to New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks than any other team in the National Hockey League.</p><p>Exactly one-quarter of all goals scored so far this season were done with the opposition shorthanded. Islanders, however, collected 37.6 percent of their 125 goals with the man advantage and Canucks scored 34.1 percent of their 88 goals on the power-play.</p><p>Of the 1,788 goals scored in the NHL after 270 games, 448 were power-play. That means a bigger percentage of goals than ever before are being scored with opponents serving penalties and the Islanders have the most potent extra-man attack in NHL history. They have scored 47 goals so far on the power-play and have had 132 advantages for a scoring percentage of 35.6 The highest percentage in previous, recent seasons was 29.7 by New York Rangers in 1973-74 when they scored 66 goals on 222 opportunities.</p><p>The third-highest producing power-play in the NHL, in relation to over-all goals, belongs to New York Rangers, who have scored 30 of their 104 goals with a man advantage for 28.8 percent.</p><p>Individually, only 10 players in the league have gained at least half their over-all scoring points on the power-play and five of those are Islanders, led by the defensive brother combination of Denis and Jean Potvin. Denis had seven power-play goals and 18 assists for 25 power-play points. He is tied for seventh in the scoring race with 40 points, the same as Yvan Courno yer of Montreal. Jean, who has 29 points over-all, has been on the ice with a man advantage for 21 points, including 16 assists, giving the Potvins a total 46 power-play points.</p><p>Rookie Bryan Trottier also has 21 points on the power-play and 41 over-all, which places him in a fifth-place tie with Marcel Dionne of L.A. Billy Harris of the Islanders had collected 17 of his 32 points off the power-play and Clark Gillies has 15 of 27 the same way. That means the five Islanders mentioned have gathered 35 goals and 99 points on the power-play, or 59.3 percent of their total goals (59) and 58.6 percent of their points (169). The top 10 scoring leaders, collectively, have a total 165 goals and 418 points, 57 goals and 156 points of which are powerplay, or 34.5 percent and 37.3 percent, respectively.</p><p>Following are the over-all goal and point totals for the leaders with their power-play goal and points totals in brackets: Guy Lafleur, Montreal, 19, 49 (6, 17); Pete Mahovlich, Montreal, 17, 45 (6, 13); Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia, 15, 44 (6, 18); Jean Pronovost, Pittsburgh, 22, 43 (6, 15); Marcel Dionne, L.A., 21, 41 (5, 8); Trottier, 13, 41 (6, 21); Cournoyer, 16, 40 (4, 15); D. Potvin, 12, 40 (7, 25); Syl Apps, Pittsburgh, 11, 38 (5, 12); Garry Unger, St. Louis, 19, 37 (6, 12).</p><p>Dennis Kearns leads Vancouver Canucks with power-play points. He has 15, all assists, and 18 points over-all (one goal, 17 assists). Yvon Lambert of Montreal, who is tied with Gillies for the power-play goal-scoring lead, has exactly half his 18 goals with a man advantage but none of his nine assists were on the power play.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-01110/3487568-1-eng-US/c0004-012.jpg" title="C0004-01" width="993" height="1373"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-0281/3487561-1-eng-US/c0004-022.jpg" title="C0004-02" width="1352" height="1340"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>The Islanders&rsquo; defensive brother combination of Denis (left) and Jean Potvin lead the NHL in power-play points.</b></figcaption></div><h2>NEW ENGLAND JUNIOR</h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Dec. 8)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-0348/3487554-1-eng-US/c0004-032.jpg" title="C0004-03" width="574" height="218"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-0423/3487547-1-eng-US/c0004-042.jpg" title="C0004-04" width="573" height="191"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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December 26, 1975

LOOKING AT THE NHL SCOREBOARD

Komadoski Flexes Muscle On Ice

Shorthanded Blazers Top Point Race

NHL SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS