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.

January 16, 1976

The Hockey News January 16, 1976

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><p>ST. LOUIS&mdash;</p><p>Lynn Patrick is the most reluctant coach in the National Hockey League.</p><p>Patrick, the 63-year-old senior vice president of the St. Louis Blues and a member of one of hockey&rsquo;s great families, was temporarily assigned the job as Blues&rsquo; coach after Garry Young was fired. Patrick. the willing worker, agreed to the temporary job but made known his wishes to be free of the pressures of coaching as soon as possible.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01875/3480879-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="256" height="408"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jerry Butler</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m an interim coach.&rdquo; said Patrick. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not planning on coaching for the rest of the season, but I&rsquo;ll do what I have to do.&rdquo;</p><p>Sid Salomon III. president of the Blues, indicated that Patrick probably would finish the season. And Patrick, who was the first employee hired by Salomon when the franchise was awarded in 1966. said with a wry grin. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I have the option of resigning as coach&rdquo;.</p><p>As a help to Patrick. Salomon quickly pulled in Leo Boivin, one of the team&rsquo;s scouts, to serve as assistant coach. Boivin runs the Blues&rsquo; practices, and both Patrick and Boivin are behind the bench during games with Pat rick sending the players on to the ice and Boivin occupying a chair in the rear.</p><p>Patrick explained that Boivin is running practices because Patrick hasn&rsquo;t been on skates in eight years and no longer owns a pair.</p><p>&ldquo;And I&rsquo;m not about to buy any either.&rdquo; Patrick said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to be the permanent coach.&rdquo;</p><p>Patrick, of course, was the Blues&rsquo; first coach when expansion hockey dawned in 1967. His assistant coach at the time was Scotty Bowman, a young man plucked from the Montreal organization, where he had held various jobs, including coaching junior teams, but had not yet been given a chance at a top job.</p><p>The plan in St. Louis was to groom Bowman as Patrick&rsquo;s succe-&rsquo;or. but the change came more quickly than expected. With a 4-10-2 record in 16games Patrick left the bench serve as general manager. and Bowman took command of the team. He led the Blues into the next three Stanley Cup finals and coached part of another season before being fired and returning to Montreal for the opportunity he had been wanting, coaching theCanadiens.</p><p>Patrick, moving higher over the years in the Blues&rsquo; front office, had one other stint as the team&rsquo;s coach&mdash;he was the undefeated coach for two games last season after Lou Angotti resigned and before Young was hired.</p><p>Patrick&rsquo;s current term as coach did not have a pleasant start. After a rousing first game in which the Blues beat the Chicago Black Hawks. 4-3, there were three straight very discouraging losses. 6-2 to Toronto, 7-1 to the New York Islanders, and 8-3 to Philadelphia.</p><p>After the loss to the Islanders a st tinned Patrick said. &ldquo;I guess I&rsquo;ve had nights like this before but I don&rsquo;t remember when. It&rsquo;s no fun being behind the bench for games like this.&rdquo;</p><p>After taking over as coach Patrick immediately changed the forward lines. Bob MacMillan once again became Garry Unger&rsquo;s left wing, and hard-shooting Jerry Butler, out since training camp with an injury. joined the line for the first time. Ted Irvine, off Unger&rsquo;s line, sent Floyd Thomson to the bench and took Thomson&rsquo;s place with Pierre Plante and Larry Patey. Claude Larose, off Unger&rsquo;s line, took Butler&rsquo;s place with Derek Sanderson and Chuck Lefley.</p><p>Patrick has coached more than 400 games in the NHL, most of them with the. New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. His first game as a coach was a 3-2 win for the Rangers over the Black Hawks in 1948 with Emile Francis as the Ranger goalie.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02766/3480872-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="559" height="565"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LYNN PATRICK</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-01

IN THIS ISSUE

Patrick Insistent Guiding Blues Temporary

<p><b>GP&mdash;Gomes ployed; G&mdash;Goals, A&mdash;Assists; P&mdash;Points;</b></p><p><b>PM&mdash;Penalty Minutes; SOG&mdash;Shots on Goal; SC%&mdash;Scoring Percentage.</b></p><h2><b>CALGARY COWBOYS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01205/3482280-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="718" height="828"></div><h2><b>CINCINNATI STINGERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02143/3482273-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="714" height="742"></div><h2><b>CLEVELAND CRUSADERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03108/3482266-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="716" height="780"></div><h2><b>DENVER SPURS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0486/3482259-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="726" height="718"></div><h2><b>EDMONTON OILERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0572/3482252-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="718" height="769"></div><h2><b>HOUSTON AEROS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0658/3482245-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="726" height="736"></div><h2><b>INDIANAPOLIS RACERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0750/3482238-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="729" height="793"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA SAINTS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0845/3482231-1-eng-US/f0028-082.jpg" title="f0028-08" width="730" height="733"></div><h2><b>NEW ENGLAND WHALERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0941/3482224-1-eng-US/f0028-092.jpg" title="f0028-09" width="733" height="769"></div><h2><b>PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1040/3482217-1-eng-US/f0028-102.jpg" title="f0028-10" width="722" height="784"></div><h2><b>QUEBEC NORDIQUES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1134/3482210-1-eng-US/f0028-112.jpg" title="f0028-11" width="724" height="690"></div><h2><b>SAN DIEGO MARINERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1231/3482203-1-eng-US/f0028-122.jpg" title="f0028-12" width="720" height="752"></div><h2><b>TORONTO TOROS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1327/3482196-1-eng-US/f0028-132.jpg" title="f0028-13" width="722" height="766"></div><h2><b>WINNIPEG JETS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1421/3482189-1-eng-US/f0028-142.jpg" title="f0028-14" width="720" height="744"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-1521/3482182-1-eng-US/f0028-152.jpg" title="f0028-15" width="1284" height="1102"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>One of the up-and-coming defensemen in the WHA is young Marty Howe of Houston, who had 11 points in his first 31 games and 70 shots on goal.</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0028-01

WHA SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

<p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS 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/f0038-02111/3483075-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="580" height="454"></div><h3>LEADING GOALERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0379/3483068-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="579" height="365"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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SOUTHERN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY JOHN ARNOLD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0454/3483137-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="934" height="1276"></div><p><b>SOLUTION IN JANUARY 23 ISSUE</b></p><h2><b>ACROSS</b></h2><p><b>1. A former Penguin coach.</b></p><p><b>6; That Is. (abbr.)</b></p><p><b>7. Francisco.</b></p><p><b>9. Non Negotiable, (abbr.)</b></p><p><b>10. A.U.S. State. (abbr.)</b></p><p><b>12. Ono of the Bruins answers to this.</b></p><p><b>14. Injured Bruin.</b></p><p><b>16. An NHL defenseman. (Init.)</b></p><p><b>17. Every team wants to do this.</b></p><p><b>19. Former NHL defenseman Boivin answers to this.</b></p><p><b>21. A Bruin forward.</b></p><p><b>24. A Red Wing forward. (init).</b></p><p><b>25. An NHL general manager.</b></p><p><b>28. First name of a California defenseman.</b></p><p><b>31. Fred Stanfield used to be one,</b></p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p><b>1. Washington&rsquo;s Ace Bailey hails from this province.</b></p><p><b>2. Former NHL defenseman.</b></p><p><b>3. Number worn by Don Lever.</b></p><p><b>4. Douglas answers to this.</b></p><p><b>5. Former minor league forward Ronson answers to this.</b></p><p><b>8. 1 st and 5th letters of the alphabet.</b></p><p><b>11. Pictured player.</b></p><p><b>13. Former NHL defenseman.</b></p><p><b>15. A. U.S. State. (abbr.)</b></p><p><b>18. One of the Red Wings.</b></p><p><b>20. Initials of 54-55 Calder Trophy winner.</b></p><p><b>22. Football term. (abbr.)</b></p><p><b>23. Hamilton plays in this division in the OHA Junior league.</b></p><p><b>26. One of the Bruins, (init)</b></p><p><b>27. 12th and 20th letters of the alphabet.</b></p><p><b>29. Pronoun.</b></p><p><b>30. 11 th and 1 st letters of the alphabet.</b></p><h2><b>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S ANSWERS</b></h2><h3><b>ACROSS</b></h3><p><b>1 TALBOT.</b></p><p><b>4. G.E.</b></p><p><b>5. ESPOSITO.</b></p><p><b>11. MARSHALL.</b></p><p><b>12. B.B.</b></p><p><b>13. D.P.</b></p><p><b>15. LOS.</b></p><p><b>17. U.S.A.</b></p><p><b>18. AUG.</b></p><p><b>19. W.R.</b></p><p><b>20. Y.R.</b></p><p><b>21. JOE.</b></p><p><b>22. IAN.</b></p><p><b>24. VERN.</b></p><p><b>25. L.N.</b></p><p><b>26. MATT.</b></p><p><b>27. ERA.</b></p><p><b>29. N.H.</b></p><p><b>30. ULLMAN.</b></p><p><b>31. Y.L.</b></p><h3><b>DOWN</b></h3><p><b>1. TREMBLAY.</b></p><p><b>2. BROS.</b></p><p><b>3. P.E.</b></p><p><b>4. GOLDSWORTHY.</b></p><p><b>6. SABOURIN.</b></p><p><b>7. P.R.</b></p><p><b>8. S.H.</b></p><p><b>9. I.A.</b></p><p><b>10. T.L.</b></p><p><b>14. PARENT.</b></p><p><b>16. S.G.</b></p><p><b>21. JEAN.</b></p><p><b>23. NORM.</b></p><p><b>24. V.M.</b></p><p><b>25. LOU.</b></p><p><b>27. E.L.</b></p><p><b>28. A.A.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-04

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01601/3483261-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">LANNY McDONALD Coming On Strong As Leafs&rsquo; Scorer</figcaption></div><p>RED KELLY OPTIMISTIC LEAFS&rsquo; KIDS WILL PAY OFF&mdash;Page 5</p><p>SABRE OFFENSE TURNING POINT OVER RUSSIANS&mdash;Pages 3-8</p><p>DETROIT FINALLY RESOLVES GOALING PROBLEM&mdash;Page 10</p><p>CANADA U.S. RIVALRY THEME OF WHA&rsquo;S ALL STAR CLASSIC&mdash;Page 24</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-02456/3483254-1-eng-US/cover-022.jpg" title="Cover-02" width="966" height="1494"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN SPENCER Helped Put The On Touring Russians</figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

Cover-01

SABRES, HABS RESTORE NHL PRESTIGE—Page 3

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Fivers were looking forward&mdash;anxiously, cautiously to Bernie Parent&rsquo;s return as the National Hockey League cruised into the 1976 portion of its schedule.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02794/3480175-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="293" height="381"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bernie Parent</b></figcaption></div><p>Parent accompanied the Flyers on their 11-day December imitation of Santa Claus city-hopping. The award-winning goaltender, who underwent neck surgery Oct. 14 and hadn&rsquo;t played a game all season, reported steady progress in his workouts and was hoping to leave the press box for the ice by early January.</p><p>As the longest trip in the Flyers&rsquo; nine-year NHL history concluded with a slapstick 7-5 victory in Washington, the most frequently heard remark along the West Coast, in Chicago and the U.S. capital was, &ldquo;Gee, the Flyers really miss Parent, don&rsquo;t they?&rdquo;</p><p>From the Flyers&rsquo; record, you&rsquo;d never know Parent, the NHL All Star goaltender the past two seasons, was missing. All the Stanley Cup champions had done was win 21 and lose only 4 of their first 32 games.</p><p>Wayne Stephenson played all 32 games, the only NHL goalie to start every game. As he approached Parent&rsquo;s 37 consecutive game streak of three seasons back. Stephenson had been generally very steady. &ldquo;Fort Wayne&rdquo; looked jittery in a few games, like the Washington comedy, but has been hovering around second or third in the NHL with a 2.5 goals-against average.</p><p>One of Stephenson&rsquo;s best efforts was in Oakland as the Flyers began the trip. The day before the 30-year-old goalie had detoured via Winnipeg to visit his father, who had suffered a heart attack. Arriving in Oakland the night prior to the game. Stephenson was superb in a 1-1 tie against the impressive Seals, whose Gilles Meloche was equally effective.</p><p>The Flyers then overwhelmed the Los Angeles Kings, taking a 6-1 lead before settling for a 6-4 victory. Many Flyers thought it was their best effort of the season, ranking with their 3-1 win in Buffalo. Coach Fred Shero was as ecstatic as he ever gets over Bobby Clarke&rsquo;s performance.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never seen Clarke work as hard, and you know how hard he works every game,&rdquo; Shero said. &ldquo;If all our guys worked like Clarke did in this game we&rsquo;d never lose.&rdquo;</p><p>The Flyers didn&rsquo;t have a chance to lose, win or tie in Vancouver the previous night. Three hours before the scheduled faceoff, the Canucks received approval from NHL president Clarence Campbell to postpone the game. An all-day snow had made the Vancouver area&rsquo;s roads treacherous.</p><p>Several Flyers were upset with the postponement, insisting the game could have been played even if the sold-out Pacific Coliseum was only half full. The Flyers recalled playing in Montreal a few years ago following a 16-inch snow storm that trimmed attendance and prevented a few Montreal players from reaching the Forum.</p><p>The Flyers were also disturbed at the probable new date: Feb. 18. the night after the only remaining scheduled Flyers-at-Vancouver game. Playing back-to-back dates at Vancouver will create a seven-game in-10 days grind for the Stanley Cup champions.</p><p>Anyway, from L.A. the Flyers moved on to Chicago where they edged the Black Hawks, 4-2, in one of the season&rsquo;s classic games. Then it was on to Washington, where the only thing both teams didn&rsquo;t do was duplicate the Wilbur Mills-Fanny Foxe Tidal Basin splash.</p><p>The main point made on the trip was, the Flyers are still the team to beat for the Stanley Cup. As former Flyer Bill Clement said after the Capitals bowed. &ldquo;Somebody asked me how you stop the Flyers. I said. &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know. I&rsquo;ve never seen anybody do it.&rdquo;</p><p><b>FLYER FACTS:</b> Bobby Taylor served as back-up goalie on the trip. Shero said the popular &ldquo;Chief&rdquo; would have played had the Vancouver game not been snowed out&hellip;Reg Leach&rsquo;s 14th goal in 12 games tied him with Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Jean Pronovost (each 23) for the NHL Lead.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-02

Flyers Doing Nicely With Stephenson But Champs Anxious For Parent’s Return

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01862/3480206-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Goaler John Davidson of the Rangers will probably look back on this season as his hard luck year. His latest reversal was a broken leg suffered in a collision with Leafs&rsquo; Lanny McDonald on the weekend.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>GOALER BREAKS LEG</b></h2><p><b>NEW YORK&mdash;</b></p><p><b>Young John Davidson of the Rangers is probably wondering what else could happen to him in the course of one NHL season. Davidson suffered a broken leg, a rarity for a goaltender, last weekend when he collided with Lanny McDonald of the Leafs. The injury finishes Davidson for the season and makes the rangy netminder dubious about his pro hockey future. Davidson started the year with St. Louis, was traded to Rangers and was the five-like goaler against the touring Russian Army team as they ran over the New Yorkers 7-3. Davidson admitted he didn&rsquo;t play too well. Then the climax to his troubles came last weekend leaving the slumping Rangers in a precarious goaling position. Ironically, Davidson was one of five goalers in the Rangers camp at the start of the year. An illness eliminated Dunc Wilson and Cat Francis traded off Gilles Villemure and Ed Giacomin leaving him with a rookie Doug Soetart and the ailing Wilson.</b></p><h2><b>WHA BACK IN OTTAWA</b></h2><p><b>OTTAWA&mdash;</b></p><p><b>The WHA returned to this city where it started out in its first year of existence as the Denver Spurs were transferred here to become the Ottawa Civics. The same malady&mdash;failing attendance&mdash;that drove the Ottawa Nationals out of the Canadian Capital to Toronto to become the Toros, brought the financially-troubled Spurs back to Ottawa.</b></p><p><b>The Civics, as the Spurs will be known for the rest of this year, will be supported by the Founders Club of Ottawa, a group dedicated to bringing pro hockey back to the city. They prevailed on Denver owner Ivan Mullenix to move the Spurs. Team captain Ralph Backstrom informed the club he was declaring himself a free agent because of the shift of the Spurs but the WHA has ruled that Backstrom must perform with the Civics because his contract is binding.</b></p><h2><b>RUSSIANS BALKY</b></h2><p><b>TORONTO&mdash;</b></p><p><b>Five of the six countries that will compete in a World Cup-style hockey tournament featuring NHL and WHA pros on the Canada and U.S. teams next year, have indicated their willingness to play except the Russians.</b></p><p><b>Tourney chairman Alan Eagleson said he has received letters of acceptance from the U.S., Finland, Sweden and Czechoslovakia. Canada as the host country is already in. But the Russians are holding back pending clarification of the proposed method of selecting referees for the tournament. Two referees are to be invited from each country except Canada which will invite six. The Russians said they would attend an organizational meeting in Toronto Jan. 7 to declare themselves in or out.</b></p><h2><b>SWINGING COACH</b></h2><p><b>INDIANAPOLIS&mdash;</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis coach Jacques Demers blew his cool when the rival New England Whalers accused him of sending rough and tough Ted Scharf over the boards to start a fight. Demers denied the charge saying he never sends players out to get another player.</b></p><p><b>But Demers decided a little action was necessary to get his point across and he ended up with a broken hand and a game misconduct. Demers said he was mad at Whaler goaler Bruce Landon who accused Demers of sending Scharf after the Whalers. The New England trainer got mixed up in the hassle and Demers slugged him breaking his right hand. Demers had the last word. His Racers ended a four-game losing streak by defeating the Whalers 3-2.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-01

Deadline Stoppers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03497/3480275-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg"></div><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Sun. Dec. 28</b></p><p>Soviet Army 7, Rangers 3</p><p><b>Mon. Dec. 29</b></p><p>Soviet Wings 7, Pittsburgh 4</p><p><b>Wed. Dec. 31</b></p><p>Soviet Army 3, Canadiens 3</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>Soviet Wings 6, Buffalo 12</p><h2><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h2><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Soviet Wings at Chicago (no television)</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 8</b></p><p>Soviet Army at Boston (television)</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>Soviet Wings at Islanders (no television)</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>Soviet Army at Philadelphia (television)<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0003-03

Super Series Scoreboard

<div class="byline">BY RALPH BRIDGLAND</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01867/3480244-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RICK MARTIN&hellip;Credits Heart Of Sabres</b></figcaption></div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f the remaining four National Hockey League clubs meeting the Russians can pick up the momentum provided by the Montreal Canadians and the Buffalo Sabres, we may find the proven best hockey league in the world right under our noses.</p><p>The fact that NHL clubs have gone two games without a defeat to the touring Russian teams has restored sagging NHL pride and lifted the North Americans back into contention in Super Series &lsquo;76.</p><p>On the final evening of 1975 the Canadiens and the Russian Central Red Army battled to a 3-3 sawoffin game three. To say the final score was indicative of the play would be like terming the Sabres&rsquo; 12-6 win over the Soviet Wings in game four as a close-checking affair.</p><p>Perhaps Montreal coach Scotty Bowman summed up his team&rsquo;s performance best when he stated after the game, &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have to take a back seat when we play hockey like that. They (the Soviets) were completely outclassed from start to finish except on the scoreboard and in the nets.&rdquo;</p><p>The Habs outshot the Russians by the astronomical margin of 38-13, controlled the play throughout the contest, forechecked the opposition to a standstill, killed penalties with aplomb and even out-pointed the Soviets in faceoffs, 3921.</p><p>But the big advantage the Russians enjoyed was in the nets where Vladislav Tretiak stymied the Canadiens time and time again while at the other end of the ice Ken Dryden was not enjoying one of his better outings.</p><p>Following the New York Rangers&rsquo; opening loss to the Red Army 7-3 the Pittsburgh Penguins were outscored 7-4 by the Wings. For all intents and purposes the Pens were out of the running after the opening 20 minutes as they fell behind 4-0 and trailed 5-0 early in the second period.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d give anything to play them again tomorrow night,&rdquo; stated Pittsburgh coach Marc Boileau following the game. &ldquo;After we adjusted (at end of first period) we just took the play away from them. But I don&rsquo;t care what team you are playing against, when you get four goals down after the first period, it&rsquo;s tough to come back.&rdquo;</p><p>Wings&rsquo; mentor Boris Kulagin stated, &ldquo;We see these games with NHL teams as a preparation for the Olympics because, as amateur hockey players, this is the most important of all our events.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The guy with the puck isn&rsquo;t necessarily the most dangerous man,&rdquo; said an obviously disappointed Dryden after his club had fought to the draw. &ldquo;The guy beside him could be and probably is.</p><p>&ldquo;A game against the Soviets is never under control. You&rsquo;re never sure of anything against the Russians.</p><p>&lsquo;&lsquo;There was a tremendous amount of uncertainty heading into the game,&rdquo; continued Dryden. &ldquo;Uncertainty is no fun. It&rsquo;s all very theoretical. Mind you, we had more fun than the Rangers but not because of the scoreboard. They (the Rangers) didn&rsquo;t know what they were up against. We learned a bit from the Ranger game.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Everybody was saying they&rsquo;d beat us,&rdquo; opined Guy Lafleur. &ldquo;We worked hard and should have won. The guys are a little bit disappointed. We could have won, we had a lot of chances.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;You might overwhelm them but unless you&rsquo;re a goal up it doesn&rsquo;t make much difference,&rdquo; stated sophomore center Doug Risebrough.</p><p>&ldquo;There was a little preparation for the game. We knew we had to eliminate the 2-on-1 and 3-on-1 breaks. But we couldn&rsquo;t change, there wasn&rsquo;t any time to.</p><p>&ldquo;You can upset them,&rdquo; continued Risebrough, &ldquo;not so much with bodychecking as with taking the man and just getting in front of them and throw their timing off.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re happy we punched a few holes in their armour.&rdquo;</p><p>Red Army coach Konstantin Loktev explained, &ldquo;A low number of shots is typical of us. We only shoot as many times as necessary, and then again this Canadiens team played an exceptionally good game.&rdquo;</p><p>While the Canadiens dented the Soviets&rsquo; game plan the Sabres de-stroyed it with a bazooka-like attack.</p><p>Buffalo had been suspect before the encounter with the Wings since the club was coming off several performances in previous weeks which could be lightly described as unimpressive. But the Sabres quickly turned doubters into believers as they launched an offense that left the Soviets visibly rattled. Why the Sabres could even afford to exhibit some goodwill and score on their own net (Jocelyn Guevremont did just that in the second period) and still come up undisputed winners.</p><p>While Buffalo did tally 12 goals the goaltending they encountered was a far cry from what Montreal shooters faced four days prior. In fact, the Russians even made a pair of unheard of goaling changes but to no avail.</p><p>Rick Martin, who led the Sabres&rsquo; attack with a pair of goals and three assists, credited the win to his club having more heart.</p><p>&ldquo;They (the Soviets) learn to skate, they take aptitude tests, they learn how to play like machines. Then at 18 they say &lsquo;let&rsquo;s put a heart in you.&rsquo; But that&rsquo;s something you&rsquo;re born with.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I thought the difference was in our skating.&rdquo; stated Buffalo coach Floyd Smith. &ldquo;When there was a race. Martin and (Gil) Perreault could pull away from them.&rdquo;</p><p>Wings&rsquo; mentor Boris Kulagin thought the game his players viewed between the Sabres and Los Angeles Kings, which Buffalo lost 9-6, had an adverse effect on his club.</p><p>&ldquo;When our guys watched the Sabres play that night our players thought that it was an easy team to beat and they were mistaken.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02737/3480237-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="558" height="1214"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KEN DRYDEN&hellip;We Had More Fun</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0003-01

EXPLODE SUPERMAN MYTH OF TOURING RUSSIAN TEAMS

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-01919/3480327-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="445" height="464"></div><p>&bull; <b>AFTER LOSING</b> the opening two games of Super Series &lsquo;76 National Hockey League teams have bounced back to completely dominate the two Soviet teams in the next pair of encounters&hellip;Montreal Canadiens did everything in their power to down the Central Red Army team on New Year&rsquo;s Eve but could only manage a 3-3 tie despite outshooting the Russians by the incredible margin of 3813&hellip;Then the Buffalo Sabres sent the Wings of the Soviet down to defeat 12-6, in a game that more resembled a basketball game than a hockey encounter&hellip;It was a real shocker for the hockey world which hadn&rsquo;t expected the Sabres to be close, let alone win, after their poor showing in recent weeks&hellip;After the game in Montreal Jacques Lemaire commented, &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to see the Russians play in the National Hockey League. By playing in an 80-game schedule and adopting our life style, they&rsquo;d be a good team, but they&rsquo;d have their problems, too.&rsquo;&rsquo;&hellip;International hockey, especially with the Russians, seems to bring national pride to its peak in Canada. Many Canadians view even the games against American NHL clubs with national pride since the vast majority of the players involved are Canadian born and bred&hellip;A great deal of credit must be heaped on the shoulders of Montreal coach Scotty Bowman, who had his club well prepared for the Soviets&hellip;The Rangers and Penguins had the toughest job in facing the Russians because they didn&rsquo;t know what to expect. Montreal and Buffalo, on the other hand, had the opportunity to see their opposition in action. As the series progresses the other NHL clubs should benefit greatly from knowing how the Soviets will react in certain situations.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02875/3480320-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="257" height="420"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jacques Lemaire</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>PHILADELPHIA FLYERS</b> received unwelcome news when All Star goaltender Bernie Parent was put back into traction because the neck injury he suffered on October 4 did not respond as was anticipated. Parent had been working out with the Flyers but he did not have full mobility and returned to hospital. When he will return is now a bigger question mark than was it was before&hellip;It&rsquo;s quite ironic that the WHA&rsquo;s Minnesota Fighting Saints, who were willing to sign Boston defenseman Bobby Orr for $5 million at the outset of this season, are now in financial straits. The Saints failed to meet their latest payroll but the players agreed to stay with the club despite the financial situation. There are apparently some players, however, who want to get out of Minnesota right away. Mike Walton is supposedly considering a move to the NHL&rsquo;s Vancouver Canucks&hellip;Harold Ballard and King Clancy of the Toronto Maple Leafs were in attendance at the NHL-Soviet games in Montreal and Buffalo and displayed large booster buttons for the NHL clubs. Said Clancy after the contest in Montreal, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the first time in 54 years that I had hoped for a Montreal victory&rdquo;&hellip;Detroit&rsquo;s Dan Maloney didn&rsquo;t play in a recent game against the Maple Leafs at Toronto&rsquo;s Maple Leaf Gardens. Maloney&rsquo;s lawyer suggested that it would be better for his client if he didn&rsquo;t participate in the contest sc that nothing could occur which might endanger his case pending in court in Toronto. Maloney was charged as a result of an incident involving Brian Glennie of the Leafs in the Wings&rsquo; previous visit to Toronto.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03770/3480313-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="263" height="423"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>King Clancy</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>TOM BLADON,</b> often the target of Phila-delphia Spectrum boobirds, is back on the beam. Bladon discovered the sleeping pills he was taking conflicted with his allergy pills, which had been prescribed by another doctor, and left him in a dazed condition. Bladon, who is unbeaten in his rare fighting appearances, more than held his own in a toe-to-toe bout with Bob Gassoff of the St. Louis Blues that resulted in a total of 66 minutes in penalties for both&hellip;Since &lsquo;The Trade&rsquo; between the New York Rangers and Boston the Bruins have not lost in 12 road games. They have recorded eight wins and four ties&hellip;Five former North American professionals are performing in Sweden this season. They are Milt Black, Tom Mellor, Kevin O&rsquo;Shea and the Mott brothers, Morris and Darwin&hellip;NHL referee in chief Scotty Morrison has a 14-year-old son, Don, playing minor hockey in Toronto who is already showing signs of being an excellent future pro prospect&hellip;It was 48 years ago that Dick Irvin suffered a fractured skull in a game between his Montreal Maroons and the Chicago Black Hawks. The injury put an end to Irvin&rsquo;s playing career but he then went on to become one of the best coaches in NHL history with Montreal&hellip;You can only take losing for so long and Adam Keller, coach of the Tucson Mavericks of the Central Hockey League, apparently reached his breaking point. Keller announced his resignation from the Mavericks, who had managed but two wins and five ties in 29 games of the present CHL schedule. He will be replaced by Bob Barlow&hellip;The WHA&rsquo;s Phoenix Roadrunners face a fine of $5,000 and the cost of making up the Indianapolis Racers&rsquo; game expenses as a result of having to postpone their game in Indianapolis because their equipment failed to show up in time for the game.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04668/3480306-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="259" height="420"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Tom Bladon</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05540/3480358-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg"></div><h2><b>Saves Not Goals Against Should Determine Vezina</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span> have wanted to write and complain about a goaltender&rsquo;s average for some time now and after hearing the talk around the Spectrum, I feel now is the time. The word is that Wayne Stephenson will be the All Star goalie this year. If this happens it will be a big joke, with Stephenson getting the last laugh.</p><p>However, whether he makes the team or not, when are the powers-that-be going to change the way a goaltender&rsquo;s average is determined from how many goals are scored to how many saves are made?</p><p>Stephenson may have the second best average in the league, and he may have a 22-4-7 record, but if he were not playing with Flyers he would be sitting on a bench somewhere. He has a rough night if he sees 25 shots. And if he does see that many, you can bet it was a high-scoring game. I know of five different games this year that he let in the first shot on goal. On Nov. 13, John Marks of Chicago scored twice on the first two shots of the game, in the first 33 seconds of the game. And on Dec. 19 in Washington, the first two shots went in again. How sorry I feel for the opposing goaltenders. With the Fivers&rsquo; potent offense, they are often called upon to make twice as many saves as Stephenson. In that Washington game, after the first period, the Flyers had taken 22 shots against Bernie Wolfe while Washington took but 3 shots against Stephenson, and yet the score was tied 2-2.</p><p>This brings me to one final point. If the Vezina Trophy is an individual award for the goaltender, then let it go to the goalie who deserves it by making the most saves. If it is judged by how few goals are scored, then let it be a team trophy with the team&rsquo;s name on it and the team sharing the money.</p><p><b>BARBARA FOCHT,</b><br><b>Levittown, Mass.</b></p><h2><b>Howatt, Islanders Deserve Much Credit</b></h2><p>I truly think that the N.Y. Islanders are one of the best teams in the league. They have one of the best defenses in the league with super star Denis Potvin. All three lines play defense and can score. Lately Andre St. Laurent, Garry Howatt and Bob Nystrom have been playing excellent hockey. Howatt is on a scoring binge with eight goals in the last nine games.</p><p>The &ldquo;Long Island Lightning Company&rdquo; has been playing extremely well. Super rookie Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin have been in the top ten scoring most of the season. Clark Gillies, Bobby Nystrom and Howatt are true policemen.</p><p>I just recently wrote a letter to Howatt explaining to him that I have a stomach illness. Garry is an epileptic so I thought maybe he could give me some words of advice. Surely enough he sent me back an autographed picture with encouraging words to me. I think if he took out time to reply to me he deserves a lot of credit.</p><p>I enjoy your newspaper. Keep up the good work!</p><p><b>MITCHELL ZUCKER</b><br><b>New City, N.Y.</b></p><h2><b>Frustrated Leaf Fan Wants Alexander</b></h2><p>O.K., Toronto Maple Leaf fans, see if you can answer the following questions:</p><p>Who was the first rookie defenseman in the NHL ever to score a hat trick?</p><p>Who won the CHL Rookie Award and CHL Leading Defenseman Award during the &lsquo;73-74 season?</p><p>Who led the Toronto Maple Leafs in plus-minus ratings last year?</p><p>Name the player who is currently leading the CHL in scoring, even though he is a defenseman and missed the first five games of this season?</p><p>If your answer to all the above questions was &ldquo;Claire Alexander, then you are truly a frustrated Maple Leaf fan.</p><p>I think it&rsquo;s time for the Leafs to recall Claire Alexander, and make him a &ldquo;regular&rdquo; on their defense.</p><p><b>ROMAN CHERWONOGRODZKY,</b><br><b>Welland, Ont.</b></p><h2><b>Seals Pushovers No Longer</b></h2><p>I would like to comment on a letter written by Pete Manzolillo in your Dec. 19 issue. First off he is correct in saying how the press does not pay much attention to the Seals. When I started watching hockey four years ago, the Seals were a floundering team, and may I ask, who enjoys reading about a bad team? Today though, it&rsquo;s a different story. The first time I really started &ldquo;watching&rdquo; the Seals was when our High School hockey coach turned out to be Barry Van Gerbig, ex-Seals owner. Right now they have a very excitingteam with young and talented players. No longer are they giving up five to eight goals a game. All this adds up to 25 points in 31 games, a total much better than last year and even comparable to teams such as Pittsburgh. St. Louis and Rangers.</p><p>So all you fans out there our time has come! Push overs no more!</p><p><b>KARL MILLER,</b><br><b>Rutland, Vt.</b></p><h2><b>Take An Umbrella To Wing-Leaf Games</b></h2><p>I live in Detroit, and have been a Toronto Maple Leaf fan for many years. When I go to the Olympia to watch the Leafs and Wings, I almost need an armed guard with me. If one cheers for any team other than the Wings it rains beer, cups and anything else the hostile fans care to throw at you.</p><p>The next time I want to go to a Wings game I think will make it one in Maple Leaf Gardens.</p><p><b>D.J. FORD,</b><br><b>Detroit, Mich.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0004-05

FAN FORUM

<p><b>Founded October 1st, 1947</b></p><p><b>Vol. 29 No. 14 JANUARY 16,1976</b></p><p><b>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 & 58th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022.</b></p><p><b>Kenneth W. McKenzie</b> President Publisher and Advertising Director</p><p><b>Don Wall</b> Associate Publisher</p><p><b>Charlie Halpin</b> Editorial Director</p><p><b>Keith Lawton</b> Administration Manager</p><p><b>Pat Beale</b> Advertising Co-Ordinator</p><p><b>Ralph Bridgland</b> Asst. To Editor</p><p><b>United States Advertising Representatives</b></p><p><b>NEW YORK: Bill Hitzig, National Sports Publishing Corp., 150 East 58th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022. Telephone (212) 593-2100</b></p><p><b>CHICAGO: Hooper Jones & Associates, 3322 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, III 60859. Telephone (312) 478-5544.</b></p><p><b>ATLANTIC STATES (Including New York, Boston, Buffalo & Philadelphia: Bob Bassinette. Bassinette/White, 50 East 42nd St, New York. N.Y. 10017. Telephone (212) 986-6210.</b></p><p><b>YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $9.50 in Canada $10.50 in the U.S.A. and $14.00 in Foreign Countries. Sec</b>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 <b>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.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

The Hockey News No. 14 OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLY JANUARY 16, 1976

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he feeling Toron to Maple Leaf coach Red Kelly had when he sat beside his Christmas tree this year was a good one, the product of four wins in five games by his National Hockey League team.</p><p>Following an 11-game string in which Leafs secured only four ties, the team rebounded strongly in the next five contests. losing only to the New York Islanders. The most impressive triumph was a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, the type of controlled checking team which has given the Leafs trouble this season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01831/3480413-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="251" height="397"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Errol Thompson</b></figcaption></div><p>Kelly looks towards the 1976 portion of the schedule with optimism. confident that his wholehearted support of the Leaf youth movement will pay off.</p><p>&ldquo;There have been times, especially late in games when we had a slim lead or were trying to get a tying goal, when it would have been good to have an experienced lineup to throw in,&rdquo; Kelly said.</p><p>&ldquo;But our kids are slowly coming around, adjusting to keeping their poise under pressure. We&rsquo;re improving all the time, developing more discipline with each game.&rdquo;</p><p>Much of Kelly&rsquo;s optimism is based on the breakthrough made by several Leafs who are in their third and fourth NHL seasons.</p><p>&ldquo;Out of every rookie crop, there are two or three kids, the cream of the crop, who step right in and become front-line players immediately, &ldquo;Kelly explained. &ldquo;But for the others it takes at least two seasons in the NHL for them to get it all together.</p><p>&ldquo;Over the years, it&rsquo;s amazing how many young players really made their big move in their third seasons. By then, they had the confidence to turn their skill into production. It&rsquo;s happening to several players on this team.&rdquo;</p><p>In that category are:</p><p>&mdash;Lanny McDonald, the young right winger who was the Leafs&rsquo; first choice in the 1973 amateur draft. Although he missed three pre-Christmas games with a shoulder injury, McDonald had been the team&rsquo;s best all-round forward in the previous dozen games. Often clumsy and awkward in his first two seasons, McDonald played a more relaxed, and better, game on the road. This season, he&rsquo;s performed well on all ponds.</p><p>&mdash;Errol Thompson, the speedy left winger who produced 25 goals last season, then sagged early this term. Lately, though, he&rsquo;s been performing effectively, using his abundant speed and big shot to produce goals steadily. His work still lacks consistency but he&rsquo;s playing with more drive now.</p><p>&mdash;Bob Neely, the big defenseman who&rsquo;s been plagued by injuries and illness in his first three seasons. The Leafs drafted him in &lsquo;73 as a goon following his high penalty total in junior hockey. That&rsquo;s not his role although he does play best when he&rsquo;s hitting a few people. He has speed, size and a good shot. This season, he&rsquo;s teamed well with veteran Rod Seiling and slowly has developed into a competent defenseman.</p><p>Two players who have been on a verge of big things, however, have skidded badly this season. Center Goerge Ferguson, who had 19 goals in &lsquo;74-75 and appeared on the edge of big things, scored only four goals in 33 games. Blaine Stoughton, a 23-goal scorer after Leafs acquired him from Pittsburgh last season, is the club&rsquo;s biggest disappointment this time. He was even benched for three games.</p><p><b>NOTES:</b> Jim McKenny, who was doing an excellent job on right wing after moving there from defense this season, tore up his knee in a game against Kansas City Scouts and will be out for at least two months. No surgery was required to repair torn ligaments but the knee was placed in a cast&hellip;Two Leafs ended long scoring slumps. Tiger Williams potted his first goal in 14 games while Inge Hammarstrom snapped a 19-game drought&hellip;Stan Weir, the center Leafs landed in a trade with California Seals, continued his strong work. He&rsquo;s the Leafs&rsquo; best playmaking center&hellip;George Ferguson will receive a long look on right wingas McKenny&rsquo;s replacement.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0005-01

Kelly Optimistic Youth Movement Will Pay Off In 76

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-01950/3480451-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="556" height="746"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GIL PERREAULT&hellip;In Middle Of Shakeup</b></figcaption></div><p>BUFFALO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>loyd Smith, coach of the Buffalo Sabres, experimenting to try and pull his club out of an early-season slump, twice broke up the French Connection, the National Hockev League&rsquo;s top-scoring line of 1974-75.</p><p>Gil Perreault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert scored 131 goals last season, their third together as a Buffalo forward line. They generally were considered the most exciting line in the league. But they were having trouble putting the puck into the net as the season passed the one-quarter mark.</p><p>First, Smitty switched his two best left wingers, Martin and Craig Ramsay. He had Ramsay with Perreault and Robert. Martin with Don Luce and Danny Gare. But he then was changing both his potentially highest scoring line and the line that actually was scoring the most.</p><p>So back together went the French Connection. And back went Ramsay to the line some think is the best two-way forward combination in the league.</p><p>But nothing happened with the Connection, so Smitty tried Jacques Richard, the young left winger acquired form Atlanta before the season began, with Perreault and Robert and put Martin with Pete Me Nab and Jim Lorentz.</p><p>Still nothing. The Sabres&rsquo; slumpcontinued.</p><p>Then something happened that necessitated another change and one that was likely to last a month or more.</p><p>Robert got hurt. Rene was hit by Hilliard Graves in a clean check as the Sabres lost a home game (something they rarely have done over the last two seasons) to the Atlanta Flames. He suffered ligament damage to his left knee.</p><p>This was a blow to a team that already was staggering. Robert was the club&rsquo;s leading scorer last season, the first Sabre ever to score 100 points in one campaign. Forty of those points were goals.</p><p>Like the rest of the Sabres, however, Rene was struggling at the time he got hurt. He had 12 goals in 26 games and 15 assists for a total of 27 points. Not bad for many players but not what he expected of himself.</p><p>&ldquo;I think I was trying too hard.&rdquo; said the speedy right winger, as he sat in a hospital bad and pondered the situation two days after the accident. &ldquo;When you try too hard you make stupid mistakes. And then you get up tight and afraid to make more mistakes.</p><p>&ldquo;It looks like everybody is afraid; of making mistakes. We&rsquo;re not playing loose and confident like we did last year.&rdquo;</p><p>Loss of Robert brought Martin back to Perreault&rsquo;s wing and Lorentz was moved into Robert&rsquo;s place on the right wing. Lorentz had centered for Martin and Robert last season when the Connection was broken up by a knee injury to Perreault.</p><p>That didn&rsquo;t work very well, either. The Sabres lost to Detroit in the first game with that line together and the line, which didn&rsquo;t pick up a point, got only three shots on goal.</p><p>Smitty then decided to shake up all of his forwards, or nearly all. He kept the Luce-Ramsay-Gare line together; it was his highest scoring combination, with Gare vying for the league leadership in goals.</p><p>Perreault and Martin were separated again. Gil was put between veteran Fred Stanfield, normally a center, and Richard. McNab had Brian Spencer on the left side and Martin&mdash;the NHL All Star left winger&mdash;on the right.</p><p>A fourth line had Lorentz centering for rookies Terry Martin and Gary McAdam.</p><p>The first game for the new alignment was against the Minnesota North Stars. The McNab-Spencer-Martin line started the game. It took them 11 seconds to score a goal. And 38 more seconds to score another. Both by Martin. Rick scored his third hat trick of the season before the game was over and the Sabres won, 5-2. He had scored only two goals in his last 11 games.</p><p><b>ICE CHIPS:</b> Stanfield, who had not been playing regularly, had a very busy night against the North Stars. Not only did he play a regular shift at left wing, he helped kill penalties and replaced Robert at the point on the power play&hellip;Veteran Roger Crozier tended goal in both the Detroit and Minnesota games for his first back-to-back performance on successive nights in some years.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02748/3480444-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1176" height="960"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RENE ROBERT&hellip;Struggling When Injury Hit</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0006-01

Smith Shuffles Sabres’ Forward Lines As Martin Reacts Favorably To Change

<p>Following are the latest player movements in hockey:</p><h2><b>NATIONAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p>TORONTO<b>&mdash;Jack Valiquette,</b> forward, recalled from Oklahoma City of CHL. <b>Don Ashby,</b> forward, sent to Oklahoma Citv as replacement.</p><p>ATLANTA&mdash;Bill Plett, forward, recalled from Tulsa of CHL.</p><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;<b>Paulin Bordeleau</b> and <b>Bobby Lalonde,</b> forwards, recalled from Tulsa of <b>CHL.</b></p><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;<b>Tommy Williams,</b> forward, placed on voluntary retired list.</p><p>BUFFALO&mdash;<b>Gary Bromley,</b> goalkeeper, recalled from Providence of AHL. <b>Lee Fogolin</b>, defenseman, recalled from Hershey of AHL as replacement for <b>Jim Schoenfeld,</b> defenseman, who Went on disabled list with mononucleosis). <b>Morris Titanic,</b> forward, assigned to Hershey.</p><p>CALIFORNIA&mdash;<b>Tim Jacobs,</b> defenseman. <b>Fred Ahern</b> and <b>Jin Moxey,</b> forwards, recalled from Salt Lake of CHL. <b>Brent Meeke,</b> defenseman, returned to Salt Lake.</p><p>DETROIT&mdash;<b>Don Martineau,</b> forward, recalled from New Haven of AHL as replacement for <b>Danny Grant,</b> forward, who went on disabled list with knee injury that may require surgery.</p><p>MINNESOTA&mdash;<b>Richard Nantais,</b> forward, recalled from New Haven of AHL under emergency conditions.</p><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;<b>Mario Faubert,</b> defenseman, returned to Hershey of AHL.</p><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;<b>Jack Mcllhargey,</b> defenseman, re turned to Richmond of AHL.</p><p>KANSAS CITY&mdash;<b>Doug Horbul,</b> forward, assigned to Baltimore of AHL for remainder of the season.</p><h2><b>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</b></h2><p>INDIANAPOLIS&mdash;<b>Michel Dion,</b> goalkeeper, recalled from Mohawk Valley of NAHL. <b>Ron Buchanan,</b> forward, placed on voluntary retired list.</p><p>PHOENIX&mdash;<b>Dave Walter,</b> forward, assigned to Tucson of CHL.</p><p>CLEVELAND&mdash;<b>Ray McKay,</b> defenseman. recalled from Syracuse of NAHL. <b>Mike Conroy,</b> forward. returned to Syracuse.</p><p>DENVER&mdash;<b>Lynn Zimmerman,</b> goalkeeper, purchased from Erie of NAHL.</p><p>WINNIPEG&mdash;<b>Randy Legge,</b> defenseman. traded to Cleveland in return for <b>Lyle Moffat,</b> forward.</p><h2><b>AMERICAN LEAGUE</b></h2><p>ROCHESTER&mdash;<b>Stan Jonathan</b>, forward, called up from Dayton of IHL on five-game pro trial. <b>Les Auge,</b> defenseman. returned to Dayton</p><p>SPRINGFIELD&mdash;<b>Wes Wiseman</b>, forward, sent to Winston-Salem of SHL on loan.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Movements of Players

<p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>able hockey enthusiasts received a setback when it was announced that three of the four scheduled World Table Hockey Association tournaments for the 1975-76season have been cancelled.</p><p>The only tournament that is still on is the U.S. Open, scheduled for March 27 (singles) and March 28 (doubles). It will be worth $2,500 in prize money, with $500 being the top prize in each tournament.</p><p>Since the U.S. Open will be the only tournament this season, room is being added to accommodate 160 singles entries at the Holiday Inn Downtown Chicago.</p><p>Some of the big names in table hockey expected to be present are: WTHA New York Open champ Grand Ainsley and Brian Carp Edmonton, Alta., Mike Wheeker and Sid Stutz from Detroit. Mark Abkowitz. Dave Feinburg. Steve Bernstein and Joe Crawley of Boston. Howie Hyman, Dave Goodman. Mark Heitel and Debbie Glint of Brooklyn, Bob Delaney and Mike, Clarke of Montreal. Dean Muench. Sam Canzona and Jim Pastor of Chicago, and Allan Ryan and Cliff Whitehorn from Toronto.</p><p>To enter the U.S. Open write to WTHA Chicago, c/o Rick Sorci. 1154 East Paddock Drive. Palatine. Illinois 60067. USA.</p><p>Be sure to read THE HOCKEY NEWS for all table hockey related news.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Table Hockey Report

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01872/3480544-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="495" height="579"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN HOLMES</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02747/3480537-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="502" height="590"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PETER DEMERS</b></figcaption></div><p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>The trainers are the unsung stars of the National Hockey League. They keep the players playing. They keep them in uniforms, skates and sticks, tape their injuries, minister to their sicknesses, and sometimes hail them out of jams.</p><p>The Kings have two that are typical of the breed in Peter Demers and his first lieutenant John Holmes. They are younger than some, but about as efficient as any. Pete is 30. Holmes 26. Yet both are veterans of their trade.</p><p>Demers is a product of Providence, Rhode Island, and apprenticed with the hometown team in the American League for four years then with Columbus Checkers in Ohio in the International League for a year, then with the Kings&rsquo; former farm in Springfield. Mass, back in the AHL, for a year before coming up to the Kings three seasons back.</p><p>Holmes hails from Seattle, and apprenticed with the hometown Totems of the Western League for three years after a year as assistant trainer and backup goaler with the Jersey Devils of the Eastern League. In an emergency he&rsquo;d probably be beaten into the nets by broadcaster Stu Nahan. Now in his fourth season here. Holmes came as aide to Norm Mackie, now in Atlanta.</p><p>Demers says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had schooling. but a lot of trainers learned on the job. The job has been modernized in recent years. We have fine facilities here. We have good therapy and workout equipment and a great medical staff.&rdquo;</p><p>Doctors Vince Carter and Steven Lombardo are the host hockey physicians, while Dr. Larry Paben is the team dentist. Visitors are tended as freely as home players. There is a temptation for trainers to treat injuries medically at times, but Demers says We may handle emergencies on the spot, but we&rsquo;re careful not to go too far. Doctors are available to us home and away and all we really do is follow their instructions.</p><p>&ldquo;We work on muscles, give rubdowns and tape injuries. The proper taping can free an injured player to play. The thrust of athletic medicine is to get the athlete back into action, but management here has made it clear players who are not fit to play should not play no matter how much they are needed. However, an athlete may play with a problem that would have an average player laid up.&rdquo;</p><p>Demers says. &ldquo;We feel a part of the game-after-game pressure the players feel. We have to be psychologists in that every player has to be dealt with differently. Some need to be nursed more than others, though there are no hypochondriacs here as I&rsquo;ve seen on some clubs. You have to know who you can talk to and how to talk to him after a defeat. for example. &ldquo;It helps that most are appreciative of us.</p><p>Aides Wade Goldby and Bob Messener help out at home, but on trips Demers and Holmes are responsible for 1.450 pounds of equipment which must be moved around. In addition to the basic uniform, they take two sets of sweater-shirts for ever player, plus a few extras. And two sticks per game per player. This totals about 150 sticks for a four-game trip. Plus pads, skates and so forth. Trainers sharpen skates, but players tape sticks.</p><p>When they get off the plane, the players head for their hotel by chartered bus, but the trainers must take the equipment to the arena in a truck provided by the home team, then lay it out and hang it up in the dressing room of the otherwise deserted arena. Many arenas are in depressed areas and the trainers so sometimes find themselves nervously searching for a cab-ride to the hotel late at night.</p><p>&ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t been hit yet. but we worry the most in Chicago and Detroit. We waited almost an hour in 13-below weather one night outside the Olympia.&rsquo;&rsquo; Holmes notes. &ldquo;You can call &lsquo;em. but cabs won&rsquo;t come some places some times.&rdquo;</p><p>After the games and practices, there is the drudgery ofcleaning up the littered locker room. However. they now send the sweaty and soiled uniforms and underwear out to a laundry instead of standing over hot washing machines as they used to. The home teams take care of the visiting team&rsquo;s laundry.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an interesting and exciting life, despite the drudgery of some of it.&rdquo; Demers says. &ldquo;But we have no off-days during the season and if a difficult life for a family man. If it wasn&rsquo;t for the summers off I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;d stay with it&rdquo;. Pete and his wife Marilyn have a two-year-old daughter. Aimee Elizabeth. He has a 21-foot boat berthed in Rhode Island and is devoted to fishing.</p><p>Holmes is into karate. He and Wally Emery, a master of this flourishing sport, have designed vastly-improved gloves and shoes for contact karate matches. have set up in sales and are promoting events at the Forum. Unmarried. John smiles and says, &ldquo;A lot of ladies get interested in me when they find out I&rsquo;m with the hockey team, but a lot of them turn off when they find out I&rsquo;m just a trainer.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03539/3480530-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="510" height="1152"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Knowing that most of the players, such as Butch Goring, are appreciative of their work, helps Holmes and Demers over the rough spots.</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0007-01

Kings’ Holmes, Demers Typical Of Unsung Breed

<div class="byline">&#x2014;By Bill Libby</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-01939/3480582-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="284" height="360"></div><h2><b>The Flickering Flame&hellip;</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>L</span>AST SEASON, ERIC VAIL</b> scored 39 goals and was selected Rookie of the Year in the National Hockey League. This season when he scored a goal with 23 seconds left in a game in mid-December to tie spectacularly the New York Rangers it was the first goal of the season for the Atlanta Flame left winger. Sophomore Jinx? Maybe, but Vail was not getting goals because he was not getting into games because of injuries and Eric is always getting injured.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02840/3480575-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="293" height="630"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Eric Vail</b></figcaption></div><p>Recently we have written about ordinary-sized fellows such as Garry Unger and Danny Grant who were threatening the league record for consecutive games played. Today we write about a big guy, Vail, who is well on his way to a league record for games missed. Built like a bull, the 6&rsquo;2&rdquo;, 215-pound blond breaks like fine china. &ldquo;I may be bigger than most people, but my bones break just like anyone else&rsquo;s,&rdquo; he mourns.</p><p>Vail started the season before last in the Omaha minors. Called up to the Atlanta majors, he got off to a terrific start. Then in a game in Minnesota he broke a vertebrae in his back bumping into teammate Pat Quinn. He was sidelined a month. As soon as he returned, he bumped right back into Quinn again and separated his shoulder. Clearly, Quinn is more dangerous to teammates than to foes. Eric wound up with only two goals in 23 games. As it turned out this was a bit of a break because he fell two games short of the 25 required to complete a rookie campaign and still was eligible for rookie honors last season.</p><p>Wearing a football-style protective collar, he tallied 39 ti mes and took the trophy despite missing almost a month with a broken wrist. He had two three-goal games in his first haul of nine goals, then fractured the wrist running into Terry Harper. He sat out eight games, then returned to play a dozen games with a hard cast on the wrist. He had two two-goal games despite the handicap. Once the cast came off, he really came on. He tallied 22 times in the last 30 contests.</p><p>He went to training camp full of high hopes and promptly cracked a collarbone in a scrimmage. After sitting out the first four weeks of the new season, he finally got back into action. After a game in Los Angeles, the Atlanta ace sat in the dressing room, sighed and said &ldquo;I hope my run of bad luck finally is over. It&rsquo;s been one thing after another and I&rsquo;m beginning to get psychotic about it.</p><p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t like it when people suggested I might be injury prone, but I asked a doctor about it and he said no. I went to a bone specialist and he said he could see nothing in the makeup of my bones to suggest they were susceptible to being broken. I was never injured as a junior. So I guess it&rsquo;s just been a run of bad luck</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m tired of playing in pain and, believe me, I&rsquo;ve had a lot of pain the last two or three years. And a lot of games I couldn&rsquo;t play. Too many. I hope I&rsquo;ll be healthy from here on in.&rdquo;</p><p><b>WHEREUPON THE BIG GUY</b> went out and separated his shoulder and was sidelined again.</p><p>In the first third of the current campaign he got into only a few games. Sowhen he got his first goal and it tied a game, he had a right to do a bit of a dance. He really was celebrating simply being alive. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been discouraging, but I guess all I can do is go on and hope it won&rsquo;t happen again. I&rsquo;ve wasted a lot of time, but there hasn&rsquo;t been anything I can do about it. I can&rsquo;t give up and throw away my ability,&rdquo; I said.</p><p>He has been criticised for not playing more aggressively, for not throwing his weight around more, but who can blame him if he&rsquo;s being a bit protective of his bones? Anyway, a lot of big guys have had the same sort of criticism over the years. Hitting is not a matter of size, but of desire. Some of the smallest players hit the hardest and most often. Many big guys are mild-mannered.</p><p>He says, &ldquo;Maybe because we&rsquo;re big we don&rsquo;t feel we have to prove we&rsquo;re tough when we&rsquo;re growing up. It&rsquo;s just not in my nature to go around roughing people up, I play teh game straight. I skate my wing, dig the puck out of the corners, pass it and shoot it. I try to check my man, but I don&rsquo;t try to break him into little pieces. I don&rsquo;t have many tights. I don&rsquo;t pick on people. And they don&rsquo;t pick on me. I guess not too many people want to mix with a man my size. 1 do try to use my strength toadvantage.&rdquo;</p><p>The big guy does play powerfully. He holds people off the puck easily and can&rsquo;t be budged oft it, himself. Despite his size, he&rsquo;s a surprisingly good stick-handler and skater. When he comes barrelling through a defense, toward the nets he looks like a runaway freight train and the goaler must feel like he&rsquo;s tied to the tracks. Perhaps for this reason, and also because as a boy he was so in love with trains his nickname was &ldquo;Choo Choo,&rdquo; a coach in junior nick named him &ldquo;The BigTrain.&rdquo;</p><p><b>SOME OF HIS TEAMMATES</b> still call him &ldquo;Train,&rdquo; but more call him &ldquo;Big E&rdquo; now, which Eric prefers. &ldquo;It reminds me of &lsquo;Big M&rsquo;&mdash;Frank Mahovlich, who always has been my hero. He comes from my home town of Timmins, Ontario, he&rsquo;s a big guy and he plays the game the way I like to play it, so I&rsquo;ve patterned my play after him somewhat. When he left league to go to the other league, I felt it would be all right to change from my old number, 25, to his number, 27. Now if I can just score as many goals as he did&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>Eric&rsquo;s father, Ken, nicknamed &ldquo;Sparky,&rdquo; played junior with the Newmarket Red Wings and was with them when they won the Memorial Cup in 1933. Offered a contract by the Rangers, he refused it because he had another year of eligibility left in the junior ranks. He never got another chance. Instead, he wound up working in the gold mines, but not making the money the owners made. He worked underground,&mdash;hard, dirty work, until he hurt his leg. Now he works in security. When Eric got his chance, his father urged him to grab it fast. Which the graduate of the Sudbury Wolves did. He is the second youngest of seven children&mdash;six boys and a girl. Most are working in the mines. Two, Terry and George, played junior at Oshawa, but wound up in the mines. Eric missed that. Or, rather he says, he doesn&rsquo;t mind having missed it.</p><p>Eric has a family of his own. At 22, he and his wife, the former Sylvia Chambers, celebrated the fourth anniversary of their marriage in December and they celebrated it with a daughter, Natasha Rae, born in May. They have a house of their own in the north part of Atlanta and live a quiet life. A former high school football player, Eric golfs in the 70&rsquo;s and has started to play a lot of tennis. Although young, handsome and handsomely paid, Eric leans to an orderly life. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a settled down sort of guy,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Besides,&rdquo; he smiles, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m always in a cast, so how can I run around?&rdquo;</p><p><b>THE BIG, AGREEABLE GUY</b> has a couple of problems. For one, he has a problem with weight. He likes to eat a lot and takes on a lot of pounds easily. Coach Fred Creighton works him extra hard when Eric is in condition to work. &ldquo;I keep after him,&rdquo; the coach concedes. &ldquo;He has to watch himself, especially when he&rsquo;s hurt and sitting around a lot. He&rsquo;s big enough as it is, he doesn&rsquo;t have to pack any extra pounds.&rdquo; Vail grins and says, &ldquo;I only eat when the coach isn&rsquo;t looking.</p><p>Vail&rsquo;s other problem is his defense. Creighton concedes, &ldquo;The big guy could play the other guys tighter. I keep after him about that, too. He has a lot of natural talent and I don&rsquo;t want him to waste it. He can do almost anything. But, really, he&rsquo;s young and he hasn&rsquo;t been up long, he had less than a season in the minors and with all the times he&rsquo;s been sidelined he just isn&rsquo;t very experienced yet. He&rsquo;s got a lot to learn and he&rsquo;s learning. He&rsquo;s going to be a great one.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<h2><b>Sun. Dec. 28 RED ARMY 7, N.Y. RANGERS 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03701/3480634-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="591" height="505"></div><h2><b>Mon. Dec. 29 SOVIET WINGS 7, PITTSBURGH 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04442/3480627-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="592" height="550"></div><h2>Wed. Dec. 31 RED ARMY 3. MONTREAL 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05332/3480620-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg" title="f0008-05" width="595" height="432"></div><h2>Sun. Jan. 4 SOVIET WINGS 6, BUFFALO 12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-06266/3480613-1-eng-US/f0008-062.jpg" title="f0008-06" width="586" height="663"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0008-03

Looking At Series’ Games

<div class="byline">BY JACK MCCARTHY</div><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>ast season, which was Bobby Schmautz&rsquo; first full tour of duty in a Boston Bruins uniform, was not as productive as he thought it would be. and he was unhappy about it.</p><p>Schmautz. who came to the Bruins from Vancouver Canucks in the last third of the 1973-74 season, knew that he had been obtained mainly for his scoring ability.</p><p>He had 38 goals at Vancouver in 1972-73, and was always known as a tough checker, who played the body, and as a shooter whose shot tended to rise on a goaltender. But some nagging injuries last season, including a broken thumb: a gashed forearm and sprained muscles in his neck, kept him down to 21 goals in 56 games.</p><p>As mentioned, Schmautz knew that he been obtained as a scorer, and this season was anxious to prove his worth. And, as the Bruins prepared for a West Coast trip, leaving Boston Garden to the Ice Capades for two weeks, Schmautz has been making his contribution.</p><p>At this writing, Bobby had 12 goals and eight assists, playing in all games but one, and missing that because of an eight-stitch gash in his right arm after running into the boards.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-02808/3480672-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="288" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Gilles Gilbert</b></figcaption></div><p>Moreover. Schmautz&rsquo; goals have been important. He had five game-winning goals and three which tied games for Boston, which is good clutch production.</p><p>He has most recently been performing on a line with Don Marcotte on left wing and Jean Ratelle at center. He began the season with Gregg Sheppard and Ken Hodge and shifted to Ratelle&rsquo;s line when the slick center came over from New York in &ldquo;The Trade&rdquo;.</p><p>One of the things which has made him more valuable than ever this season, outside of his scoring and his solid bodychecking has been his back-checking, something that coach Don Cherry has been looking for from the team as a whole. And. it has not hurt Bobby&rsquo;s scoring at all playing with Ratelle, who is a master at setting up goals for his wings.</p><p>All of this, of course, comes from getting a lot of solid ice time, which he readily admits.</p><p>With 12 goals before Christmas, he has a fine shot at the 30 goals that he feels he can produce for this team.</p><p><b>BOSTON BEANS:</b> Gilles Gil bert had his goals-against in the 2.00 range during the spell of 17 straight games he worked in the nets before sitting down to let Dave Reece oppose the Washington Caps. Reece won, 3-2.</p><p>The Bruins, who tied Buffalo for the lead in the Adams Division, made up 10 points on the Sabres in less than a month, beginning on Nov. 23 and ending on Dec. 17&hellip;West Coast trips have not been all that productive for the Bruins over the years, but this one may be an exception&hellip;&ldquo;The Trade&rdquo; has been holding up splendidly for Boston, with Ratelle, Brad Park and Joe Zanussi all doing well&hellip;Boston fans can&rsquo;t wait until Orr&rsquo;s return to get another peek at Orr and Park playing the points on the power play.</p><p>The new Boston Garden-Bruins management of the Jacobs brothers of Buffalo has gotten right into the problems of cleaning up the old Garden, and fresh paint appeared throughout the building almost simultaneously with their arrival, and the floors are clean.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03623/3480665-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="566" height="833"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB SCHMAUTZ&hellip;Coming On Strong</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-02

Schmautz Throws In Five Game Winners During Outburst

<div class="byline">&#x2014;BY BILL MAKI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-01909/3480703-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>&ldquo;Well, he did say he was going to show us a HAT TRICK tonight!&rdquo;</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-01

CARTOON CORNOR

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div><p>DETROIT&mdash;</p><p>For a change, the Detroit Red Wings don&rsquo;t have to worry about who&rsquo;s going to play goal when Jimmy Rut herford isn&rsquo;t.</p><p>It&rsquo;s been a long time since the Wings were in a position to feel comfortable when their &ldquo;other&rdquo; goalie was in the nets. But with veteran Eddie Giacomin around, there&rsquo;s no longer a concern.</p><p>Detroit has had trouble finding two experienced, capable NHL goalies in recent seasons. They solved one pressing problem in January, 1974, when they reacquired Rutherford in a trade from Pittsburgh. That gave the Wings&rsquo; a No. 1 goalie.</p><p>But since then, they&rsquo;ve had trouble finding a capable backup. The minor league shuttle system saw a half-dozen goalies come and go but it wasn&rsquo;t until the Wings latched onto Giacomin that they elimated the problem.</p><p>Eddie was claimed on waivers by Detroit from the New York Rangers early in the season and his contributions have been significant. First of all, he&rsquo;s taken the burden off Rutherford and the two goalies are sharing the duties. It certainly has made a difference in Jimmy&rsquo;s performances to date.</p><p>&ldquo;I guess you could say I feel better,&rsquo;&rsquo;Rutherford said. &ldquo;I feel much more relaxed. Not during the game, you understand, but at other times. Now I know I won&rsquo;t be playing every game and I have a chance to relax a little more. It helps relieve the tension.&rdquo;</p><p>And with Rut herford and Giacomin guarding the net, the Wings much-criticized defensive statistics are creeping toward respectability. However, on several occasions when the goals-against began to look better something happened to destroy the progress like the 9-1 bombing in Vancouver. Giacomin played in that game but was absolved of any blame.</p><p>The club&rsquo;s goals-against&mdash;the announced goal is to get it as close to 3.00 as possible&mdash;still was at 4.00 but the bad beatings were coming with less regularity and the scores of Detroit games were beginning to look like NHL scores should.</p><p>For instance, in a nine-game stretch which included the loss to Vancouver, the Wings&rsquo; goals-against read like this across the board&mdash;1-5-3-9-2-2-2-3-5. As you can see, in six of the games the club allowed three or less goals.</p><p>Although there was no announced plan, a pattern of alternating the two goalies was beginning to develop. Rutherford&rsquo;s GA in 16 games was 3.81 while Giacomin, in 12 games as a Red Wing, was at 4.08.</p><p><b>MOTOR CITY SHORTS:</b> Doug Barkley, who was fired as coach on Dec. 5, remains in the organization as a professional scout. He took some time off to think it over and then accepted the post&hellip;Bill Hogaboam had 10 goals in 17 games. He missed 13 with a shoulder injury&hellip;The Wings are the second most penalized team in the league behind Philadelphia&hellip;the power play has been ineffective and is a major cause of concern for Alex Delvecchio. He&rsquo;s tried several different combinations but none clicked.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02778/3480741-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="586" height="876"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JIM RUTHERFORD&hellip;More Relaxed</b></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-01929/3480734-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="1188" height="1604"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ED GIACOMIN&hellip;His Presence Eased Goal Problem</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0010-02

Giacomin, Rutherford Give Detroit Goal Depth

<div class="byline">BY HAL SIGURDSON</div><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>B</span>ecause they have not played as well as anticipated, the Vancouver Canucks have taken a fair amount of heat over the first half of the National Hockey League season.</p><p>On an individual basis, however, several Canucks have been far from disappointing.</p><p>Consider the following:</p><p>Harold Snepsts: A fourth round draft choice in 1974, the Edmonton Oil Kings&rsquo; graduate wasn&rsquo;t given the slightest chance of making the NHL roster.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01902/3480772-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="264" height="416"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Harold Snepsts</b></figcaption></div><p>He did. The Canucks recalled him after just 19 games with their Central League team in Seattle and he was coming on strong until a knee injury put him out for the season.</p><p>This season his improvement has continued steadily to a point where he now ranks as one of the Canucks&rsquo; more reliable defensemen. Always strong at protecting the front of his net, he&rsquo;s becoming more adept at handling the puck.</p><p>Dennis Kearns: If the Canucks were winning more games, people would be paying the nifty Vancouver defenseman the kind of attention he deserves. As the season headed into the New Year only five NHL defenders had recorded more assists than the former run in Chicago farmhand.</p><p>And only one of those, Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders, had substantially higher than the 20 piles up by the quiet Kearns.</p><p>Rick Blight: The Canucks are not a flamboyant team on the ice and Blight, their first round draft choice last June, fits right into the mold.</p><p>But in his unspectacular way, the former Brandon Wheat Kings right winger is playing extremely good hockey. He appears headed for a 25-30-goals season, handles the puck well and makes remark-ably few mistakes for a rookie. He figures to score a lot of goals over the year because he gets his shot away quickly and invariably manages to get something on it.</p><p>Ron Sedlbauer: The sophomore left winger played just enough games. 26, last season to disqualify himself from this season&rsquo;s rookie competition. But though he&rsquo;ll never win the Calder Trophy, the big youngster from Burlington, Ont., has the ability to collect a lot of baubles for his trophy case.</p><p>He comes equipped with size, speed, strength and a good shot. &ldquo;He can be as good as he wants to be,&rdquo; his coach Phil Maloney says. Sedlbauer is frequently good right now. When he adds more consistency to his work, he&rsquo;ll be a potential All Star.</p><p>Chris Oddleifson: The former Boston center&rsquo;s long suit is he never quits. The thought never even seems to occur to him.</p><p>Though he&rsquo;s not a big goal scorer himself, his wingers invariably prosper and for one reason or another he&rsquo;s played with a number of them this season.</p><p>Strong in the faceoff circle, Oddleifson rarely plays a bad game and when he does it&rsquo;s never through lack of effort. In addition, he ranks as one of the better defensive centers in the league.</p><p>&ldquo;I hate to think where we&rsquo;d be without him,&rdquo; says Maloney.</p><p>A lot of other Canucks like Mike Robitaille, Garry Monahan. Gerry O&rsquo;Flaherty, John Gould, Bob Dailey, John Grisdale and Tracy Pratt have run afoul of injuries&mdash;some of them two or three times.</p><p>Just when they get their game going, they&rsquo;ve wound up out of the lineup, or getting switched around to adjust because someone else has been injured. If they stay healthy both they and the Canucks will get better.</p><p>&ldquo;The first half has been disappointing,&rdquo; Maloney allows, &ldquo;but we&rsquo;re going to get it together for the second half.&rdquo;</p><p>The way the rest of the teams in the Smythe Division have been spinning their wheels, any team that puts together a strong finish can take it all.</p><p><b>CANUCKS CAPERS:</b> Bobby Lalonde celebrated his return from a week with the Central League Tulsa Oilers by scoring a goal and two assists as the Canucks whipped Pittsburgh 5-1.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

Defense Pair Among Five Top Vancouver Producers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-01900/3480810-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"></div><h2><b>Expensive Baby Beef</b></h2><p><b>WILF PAIEMENT IS ONLY 20</b> years of age but he&rsquo;s doing okay for himself, you&rsquo;d be forced to agree.</p><p>For openers, his salary is in the range of $200,000 per year, the amount Kansas City Scouts of the National Hockey League pay him for patrolling right wing The Scouts hardly could afford to sign him back in 1974 when they made him their first draft pick. But they couldn&rsquo;t afford not to sign him, either, if they wanted to have any future as a &lsquo;74 expansion team.</p><p>Paiement also has a full-length mink coat, which alone makes him unique. If it doesn&rsquo;t, then name another 20-year-old from Earlton. Ont., who&rsquo;s the baby in a family of 16 children who has a mink coat.</p><p>He won the mink coat from a furrier in Kansas City who promised to give one to the first Scout player who scored three goals in a game. Paiement did it this season against, of all people, the Montreal Canadiens.</p><p>His teammate and sometime center Guy Charron came close to collecting the coat. He had two goals in a game, then hit the post in his bid for the third score&mdash;and the mink.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02776/3480803-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="440" height="437"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Wilf Paiement</b></figcaption></div><p>The Scouts have made some progress in their second season, although they&rsquo;ve progressed a very short distance down a very long road. Under coach Bep Guidolin&rsquo;s hard-driving, disciplined approach, the Scouts have been breathing on the tails of the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks in the Smythe Division.</p><p>Their problem is scoring enough goals to transform their strong checking into wins. If the game is low scoring, then Scouts are a tough foe for anyone to handle. They just can&rsquo;t excel in shooting matches.</p><p>Paiement got his career off to an excellent start when he produced 26 goals as a 19-year-old rookie in &lsquo;74-75. He&rsquo;s cast in the Moses role with the Scouts and if they are to have a future, then Paiement must become the leader. That placed a rather large load on his young, broad shoulders.</p><h2><b>He Had Pressure Galore</b></h2><p><b>PAIEMENT FELT THAT</b> pressure acutely during his rookie season.</p><p>&ldquo;I was the team&rsquo;s first draft choice and my contract received far too much publicity,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Sometimes the pressure turned me upside down, especially when I felt I wasn&rsquo;t helping the team.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d never encountered anything like it in junior hockey and sometimes I just forgot what to do. Then I realized that I wasn&rsquo;t doing myself any good by getting down because when that happened, I tightened up. I just had to plug away and try to make things go right.</p><p>&ldquo;A hockey player I admire is Darryl Sittler of the Maple Leafs because he works so hard all the time. He&rsquo;s an honest player, always trying his best and that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;d like to be.&rdquo;</p><p>Paiement credits Guidolin&rsquo;s patience with getting him back on the track this season after a slow start.</p><p>&ldquo;I had plenty of chances to score early in the year and I didn&rsquo;t get the goals,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Then I started to press and things got worse. I was running around all over the ice, which meant my defensive play slipped, too.</p><p>&ldquo;Bep is a super guy and he never got on my back about it. He just kept telling me to go up and down my wing and sooner or later the goals would come. They did.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>Father Is Unchallenged</b></h2><p><b>THE PAIEMENT FAMILY</b> comprises a large segment of the population in Earlton, a small Northern Ontario town.</p><p>&ldquo;There are 16 of us in the family and, at the last count. I think 1 had 73 nephews and nieces,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t get home for Christmas but there were about 80 on hand for the party. When the family gathers, it&rsquo;s a pretty wild time. The crowd is big but so is the</p><p>An older brother Rosaire is a winger with the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association and his father. Wilf, Sr., has gained considerable fame in Northern Ontario for his wrist-wrestling feats. He&rsquo;s won several regional competitions and was finalist in the Canadian championships a few years ago.</p><p>&ldquo;That was pretty good, considering he was 62 at the time.&rdquo; Wilf said. &ldquo;In the final, he wrestled a big guy from Temiskaming and they were in the hold for 3-1/2 minutes, a pretty long time, before he beat my dad.&rdquo;</p><p>Although young Wilf, at 6 feet and 190 pounds, is a very strong lad, he avoids any wrist wrestling combat with his father.</p><p>&ldquo;You think I&rsquo;m crazy?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;His ar ns are three times as big around as mine and he&rsquo;d break me in half, maybe three pieces, even though he&rsquo;s 66.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

FRANK ORR SAYS

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>uring his seven-year war against all foreign forces threatening the Black Hawks. Keith Magnuson has had all the breaks. He&rsquo;s fractured his jaw, his ankle, his wrist, plus the National Hockey League record for penalty minutes.</p><p>When time permitted, he lost, knee cartilage, countless pints of plasma, a couple bicuspids, one appendix and a few fights.</p><p>But now, Chicago&rsquo;s good bad man is waging the greatest battle of them all. It must be told that doctors fear there is no way he can avoid a hernia while taking his hockey intravenously from a hospital bed.</p><p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t stand listening to these games.&rdquo; said Magnuson, who, true to his word, wasn&rsquo;t standing much during mid-December. He became suddenly ill one morning, and doctors quickly operated to correct an intestinal blockage and eliminate a recalcitrant appendix. The prog-nosis was a four-week sentence of enforced idleness to the Black Hawk who can stand it least.</p><p>&ldquo;What bothers me most, outside of letting the team down, is that I was really hoping to go the whole year without missing a game,&rdquo; said Magnuson, who had done just that (28-for-28) before his tummy ache. &ldquo;I had good luck the first couple years I was playing, but since then, it seems like I&rsquo;ve been jinxed.&rdquo;</p><p>But when Magnuson is around, he emits a verve for his work pos-sessed by few athletes. Because of that he is, no questions asked, the Black Hawks&rsquo; spiritual leader, a monument to fearless abandon which he never abandons.</p><p>His value on the ice is multiplied tenfold off the ice, but detractors who don&rsquo;t see the whole picture often label him as overrated. Not so. Here&rsquo;s a man who bleeds for his comrades, punishes himself, and never errs on the side of caution. Indeed, on a club that too often performs as though its sole aim in life is a Nobel Peace Prize. Magnuson is, in fact, underrated.</p><p>Ask other general managers about him and they start to salivate. Everyone should own a Magnuson, they say, because here&rsquo;s a guy who&rsquo;ll never need a heart transplant. His streetcar is named desire.</p><p>Ask even Tommy Ivan, the general manager who does own him, a savvy veteran executive who tosses around praises like Jack Benny used to throw out $10 bills.</p><p>&ldquo;One thing about Keith,&rdquo; said Ivan. &ldquo;Any mistakes he makes are honest ones. He may make a bad play and cause a goal to be scored. But it&rsquo;s not because he&rsquo;s not trying. If anything, it&rsquo;s probably because he&rsquo;s trying too hard.</p><p>&ldquo;And I&rsquo;ve never heard him make an excuse yet. You not only look for good players in my job, you look for good people, and you&rsquo;ll never find a finer guy than Magnuson.&rdquo;</p><p>At the time of his departure, Magnuson was playing not only good team hockey, but good tame hockey. The man who once set an NHL standard for sittings (291 penalty minutes in 1971. since broken by Dave Schultz). had amassed only 30 minutes in 28 games. Furthermore, his &ldquo;plus-minus&rdquo; ranking was tops on the Hawks when he was grounded. He still craves the physical stuff, mind you. It&rsquo;s just that his brushes with the law are more judiciously timed.</p><p>So it was that chances for his appearance in the NHL All Star Game Jan. 20 appeared good. Until his misfortune. But there will be other seasons, and. the voracious hunger will not leave Magnuson. Other characteristics have, though.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s settled down a lot.&rdquo; said Cliff Koroll. a former roomie who is no longer that since both have been married. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t use to call him &lsquo;The Riddler&rsquo; for nothing. He used to do the darndest things. Like the notes he&rsquo;d write to himself: &lsquo;Wake UP, Eat Breakfast, Go to Practice.</p><p>&ldquo;The best story, though, probably was when he came home one afternoon and left his car running outside because somebody told his it was a good way to charge the battery. Late that night, we&rsquo;re watching TV when he jumps out of the chair and runs outside in his bathrobe. He forgot the car had been on for eight hours. The battery was charged, but the gas tank was on &lsquo;E.&rsquo; That&rsquo;s Maggie.&rdquo;</p><p><b>PARTING SHOTS:</b> Left wing Darcy Rota scored his 50th National Hockey League goal Dec. 19 in Oakland. It came, however, during a 5-2 loss to the California Seals. That defeat was the fourth straight for the Hawks, who went unbeaten in November, then took a December tumble&mdash;one win, six losses and five ties in their ensuing dozen contests&hellip;Joey Johnston, a proven left wing, has been trying right wing with the Black Hawks. Progress has been slow, though, and coach Billy Reay is easing Johnston along after his brush with death in an August automobile accident&hellip;Flyer Coach Fred Shero on Chicago: &ldquo;They don&rsquo;t carry the puck enough, I don&rsquo;t think. They seem to get the puck, then shoot it rather than try to make plays.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03609/3480841-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="554" height="674"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KEITH MAGNUSON&hellip;Dogged By Injuries</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0012-03

Hard-Luck Hawk Magnuson Grounded Again By Surgery

<p>Washington&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he rigors of coaching a National Hockey League team are very demanding. But being the bench boss of a club like the Washington Capitals can prove to be downright impossible.</p><p>Thus Milt Schmidt, who had assuned the dual responsibilities of coach and general manager with the Caps, resigned both positions to devote more time to his family. The fact that Milt is going on 58 years of age no doubt entered into his decision.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01884/3480910-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="526" height="607"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TOMMY McVIE&hellip;Replaces Schmidt</b></figcaption></div><p>Schmidt joined the Capitals in their initial NHL campaign in 1973-74 as GM and assumed the dual duties of coach-GM on March 22 of last year.</p><p>Taking over behind the Washington bench is Tommy McVie, who had held the same position with the Caps&rsquo; International League farm team in Dayton.</p><p>He takes over the reins of a club mired in the cellar of the NHL&rsquo;s Norris Division with three wins and five ties in 39 games.</p><p>McVie&rsquo;s coaching debut was less than a spectacular one as the Caps were shut out in two of their first three games under their new mentor and were outscored 19-5.</p><p>Assuming the role of general manager is Max McNab, who had been president of the Central Hock ey League until accepting the position in Washington.</p><p>McNab, father of center Peter McNab of the Buffalo Sabres, has previous exposure to the role of GM with the San Diego Gulls of the old Western Hockey League.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

McVie Named Caps’ New Bench Boss

<div class="byline">BY RON WEBER</div><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;</p><p>Where it has been Nelson Who? and Hartland Who?&mdash;and even Milt Who? and Hockey Who?&mdash;it was now Bob Who? and Harvey Who?</p><p>The Washington Capitals dealt for Bob Sirois and Harvey Bennett on consecutive days in mid-December. Neither was known to many of the hockey fans and most of the populace hereabouts. But the Capitals are a building club and the other miserly teams in the NHL don&rsquo;t usually let go of their well known names. So hockey-talking Washingtonians will continue sounding like owls.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02758/3480941-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="256" height="417"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Harvey Bennett</b></figcaption></div><p>Actually. Bennett is a common hockey name. Harvey&rsquo;s older brother, Curt, has seen to that. Not only because he can play a darn good left wing (and center) for the Atlanta Flames but also because of Curt&rsquo;s well-publicized off ice activities that have earned him a karate brown belt, the ability to speak fluent Russian, etc. If Harvey has such exotic habits, we in Washington are not aware of it yet.</p><p>What we are aware of are his dimensions: 6&rsquo;4&rdquo;, 215 pounds. Standing on his skate blades he can look half the NBA Washington Bullets straight in the eve. The Caps were very aware how hard it is to move him out of the crease area after two defenders couldn&rsquo;t do the job in an early meeting of the teams.</p><p>And Pittsburgh was aware that Stan Gilbertson could score goals. After all. it was the Penguins who gave up four to Stan on closing day last April. So, a straight one-forone swap was arranged with the Pens Wren Blair.</p><p>Says the Caps assistant to the president Lefty McFadden &ldquo;We now have a strong guy. a fairly decent skater, who plays good defense. We think that we can make him an offensive threat.&rdquo;</p><p>With only three goals and three assists to show for this 32-game Penguin career. Bennett is scarcely that yet. However, Harvey-spent quite a bit of time as a spare forward and when he did play it was with varied linemates, and perhaps out of position on left wing.</p><p>As McFadden explains. &ldquo;Harvey may be at left wing for us, at least for awhile, but we think his best spot is center.&rdquo; Lefty watched him play pivot for another Capital club, the Des Moines Capitals at the International League, and opines, &ldquo;He was the toughest forward in the whole league. And that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re looking for: toughness up front. I don&rsquo;t think he takes stupid penalties, but he wants to play.&rdquo;</p><p>Bennett had a chance to show-how bad he wants to play almost immediately. With the rest of the Penguins he had just flown cross-country to Oakland, when he was informed of the trade and given a plane ticket back. He passed Gilbertson in the air somewhere, maybe over Des Moines, and played the next night fortheCaps.</p><p>Both, oddly, are American-born players. For Harvey it started 24 years ago in Cranston. Rhode Island. His daddy. Harvey. Sr., was a long-time goaliein the Bruins organization and played in Boston during World War II. (It&rsquo;s amazing how many of ex-GM Milt Schmidt&rsquo;s acquisitions have Boston backgrounds.) While Curt went to Brown, young Harv chose Boston College. He is married to a nurse.</p><p>Sirois, is three years younger is unmarried, and like teammates Hartland Monahan and Bernie Wolfe, was born and raised in Montreal. In his last season for the Junior Canadiens his 153 points included 72 goals. As Lefty says. &ldquo;He can put the puck in the net. Scouts Billy Taylor, Red Sullivan. Milt and I have seen this kid may-be 40 times and he is always somewhere close to the net. Last time I saw his shooting log he had 90 shots on goal. A real smart hockey player, Sirois is tough to knock off his feet&mdash;he can take a check.&rdquo; But, Lefty, he&rsquo;s gotta have a weakness or the Flyers would not have let him go. &ldquo;Well, he&rsquo;s not a hitter but he will skate off and leave some of the guys who are aggressive.&rdquo;</p><p>McFadden might have added, the Caps just got a hitter&mdash;Bennett.</p><p>The Capitals sought out Philadelphia general manager Keith Allen about Sirois (pronounced See-wah) as early as last season and were real close to dealing for him more than once. When he came it was for the proverbial player to be named later. Later means after the season. Washington will not lose a key performer, and promised McFadden. &ldquo;It will NOT be an amateur draft choice. There were other forwards available, some in the NHL. but we felt this kid fit our needs best.&rdquo;</p><p><b>ICE CAPS:</b> With the arrival of Sirois and Bennett, right wing John Paddock was returned to Richmond. He had one goal in eight games. Gordie Lane, hauled up from Dayton when Bob Paradise pulled a muscle, also scored. Defenseman Lane went back after three contests&hellip;With Tommy Williams retired. Ron Lalonde skated regularly at center&hellip;The Bennett-Gilbertson deal was hard to figure from Pittsburgh&rsquo;s point of view. Gil seems to offer what they have most of (scoring) and not whey they need (checking)&hellip;Caps did something no other team had managed: tied the North Stars.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-02

Caps Hope Bennett, Sirois Will Give Lift

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01859/3480972-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="255" height="419"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Phil Esposito</b></figcaption></div><p>Phil Esposito took a pass from Steve Vickers and put the puck behind Vladislav Tretiak, the Soviet Army goalie. It made the score Army 7, Rangers 3, but it was important to Esposito.</p><p>&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t scored in eight games,&rdquo; said Phil. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll take it. It counts as far as I&rsquo;m concerned.&rdquo;</p><p>Esposito has played well for the Rangers since The Trade&mdash;and has been a big plus in the dressing room as the new captain. But he hasn&rsquo;t scored with frequency of his career in Boston where he knocked in totals like 76, 68, 66, 61 and 55 in recent years. Espo hurt his ankle in Los Angeles in his second game as a Ranger, and the appendage is still sore, but that isn&rsquo;t the real reason for his problem.</p><p>In analyzing the Ranger&rsquo;s loss to the Russians, Phil said. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know how to put the puck in the net when we get the chance. The big clibs do it. The Bruins in 1970 did it, the old Montreal Canadiens and Red Wings did it. And the Flyers do it today. When the Russians got power-play chances they cashed the n. I got ten shots on the net and only one goal. When you get ten shots you should get at least three goals.&rdquo;</p><p>In most games Esposito hasn&rsquo;t been getting ten shots, or anywhere close to that number. Some Ranger fans feel that he should have different linemates than Steve Vickers and Rod Gilbert. Putting Esposito with gunners of the genre of Vickers and Gilbert just might create the need for three pucks.</p><p>Esposito will not comment when asked about this situation and says that where he plays and with whom is up to coach Ron Stewart.</p><p>&ldquo;Just as long as I log a lot of ice time it&rsquo;s okay,&rdquo; answered Phil.</p><p>Early in Esposito&rsquo;s New York tenure, in mid-November. Stewart tried to place Phil between right wing Bill Fairbairn and left wing Walt Tkaczuk. Tkaczuk, normally a center, had made 30-goal scorers of Fairbairn and the long-departed Dave Balon earlier in his career. He has sporadically been shifted to wing this season, usually playing the port side with Pete Stemkowski at center. For some reason, the experiment with Esposito was short-lived, but it seemed likely the Rangers would revive it.</p><p>Esposito, 33, completely revised the way a center plays his position. The normal modus operandi for the pivot is the Jean Ratelie, Jean Beliveau-style, meaning the center sets up his wings with scoring opportunities. When Phil got to Boston, Wayne Cahsman and Ken Hodge reversed that, digging the puck out of the corners and setting Espo up in the slot.</p><p>In Boston Cashman is struggling offensively and Hodge has been benched and not playing. Gilbert and Vickers, and Rick Middleton, who played on Espo&rsquo;s line when Gilbert was hurt, have been scoring, but Esposito is now drawing assists instead of scoring goals.</p><p>It might seem that the way to go would be to place Wayne Dillon with Vickers and Gilbert and give Esposito to Fairbairn and Tkaczuk. Phil has played very well for a man with a bad ankle, one which still requires heavy taping and icepack treatment after every game. He never was fast, but he&rsquo;s slowed down more than most realize. His place is in the slot, and it&rsquo;s up to the Rangers and coach Stewart to figure out how to get the puck to him.</p><p>&ldquo;In order to make the playoffs we must have two lines scoring,&rdquo; said one of the Ranger vets, a survivor of the trade purge. &ldquo;The other line checks, but two scoring lines are a must. And that means Esposito must be taken away from Steve and Rod.&rdquo;</p><p>The Blueshirts are facing their longest road trip of the season when they journey to St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Vancouver, California and Pittsburgh on January 6 through 18.</p><p>One Ranger buff, commenting on the fine play of the Soviet Army team said, &ldquo;Next year they&rsquo;ll put them in the Patrick Division just to make it that much tougher on us.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0015-01

Esposito Not Scoring With Usual Frequency

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01690/3481129-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="327" height="624"></div><h2><b>ATLANTA FLAMES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02602/3481122-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="708" height="769"></div><h2><b>BOSTON BRUINS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03482/3481115-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="710" height="757"></div><h2><b>BUFFALO SABRES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04372/3481108-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="710" height="768"></div><h2><b>CALIFORNIA SEALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05273/3481101-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="718" height="792"></div><h2><b>CHICAGO HAWKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06220/3481094-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="718" height="764"></div><h2><b>DETROIT RED WINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-07197/3481087-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="724" height="720"></div><h2><b>KANSAS CITY SCOUTS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-08178/3481080-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="728" height="766"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES KINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-09156/3481073-1-eng-US/f0016-092.jpg" title="f0016-09" width="726" height="750"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA STARS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-10134/3481066-1-eng-US/f0016-102.jpg" title="f0016-10" width="716" height="790"></div><h2><b>MONTREAL CANADIENS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-11120/3481059-1-eng-US/f0016-112.jpg" title="f0016-11" width="721" height="744"></div><h2><b>NEW YORK ISLANDERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-12104/3481052-1-eng-US/f0016-122.jpg" title="f0016-12" width="715" height="766"></div><h2><b>NEW YORK RANGERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1393/3481045-1-eng-US/f0016-132.jpg" title="f0016-13" width="716" height="830"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA FLYERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1487/3481038-1-eng-US/f0016-142.jpg" title="f0016-14" width="712" height="720"></div><h2><b>PITTSBURGH PENGUINS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1577/3481031-1-eng-US/f0016-152.jpg" title="f0016-15" width="750" height="802"></div><h2><b>ST. LOUIS BLUES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1674/3481024-1-eng-US/f0016-162.jpg" title="f0016-16" width="711" height="733"></div><h2><b>TORONTO LEAFS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1766/3481017-1-eng-US/f0016-172.jpg" title="f0016-17" width="717" height="741"></div><h2><b>VANCOUVER CANUCKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1859/3481010-1-eng-US/f0016-182.jpg" title="f0016-18" width="716" height="794"></div><h2><b>WASHINGTON CAPS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1954/3481003-1-eng-US/f0016-192.jpg" title="f0016-19" width="724" height="722"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0016-01

NHL SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

<div class="byline">BY ALAN TRUEX</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0017-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01589/3481160-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CLAUDE ST. SAUVEUR&hellip;Best Shot On The Flames</b></figcaption></div><p>ATLANTA&mdash;</p><p>Claude St. Sauveur has been playing so well for the Atlanta Flames that coach Fred Creighton has no choice but to play him.</p><p>Creighton at times has tried to get by with St. Sauveur playing only when the team had a man-advantage. But the strategy had to be changed during a game Dec. 19.</p><p>The Flames were facing their playoff rivals, the New York Rangers, in a crucial game in The Omni. St. Sauveur has not been one of Atlanta&rsquo;s most efficient checkers, so Creighton didn&rsquo;t want him out there against the explosive Rangers.</p><p>The plan was to limit the fastskating Frenchman to power plays only. In the first period. St. Sauveur got only one shift. Then in the second period, he scored a power-play goal, then allot her one four minutes later.</p><p>So Creighton started giving him more ice time, and St. Sauveur scored a hat trick, and one of his shots was deflected into the net for another point. He finished with a five-point night as the Flames won 8-3.</p><p>St.Sauveur. a 22-year-old jumper from the World Hockey Association. is a spectacular skater, with moves and balance and grace. He also has what one Flames scout maintains is &ldquo;the quickest and best shot on the club.&rdquo;</p><p>Despite less than regular ice time. St. Sauveur scored 14 goals and 28 points in his first 35 games in the NHL.</p><p>He was so brilliant offensively that fans had a difficult time understanding how Creighton could afford to keep the guy on the bench.</p><p>However. The Saint insisted he understood the situation perfectly.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough playing just one shift in the first period,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but I understand how Fred wanted to get a defensive line&rsquo; going. I know I&rsquo;ve had problems defensively.&rdquo;</p><p>But had it not been for St. Sauveur&rsquo;s defensive problems, it&rsquo;s doubtful the Flames ever would have gotten him.</p><p>He played with Vancouver (now Calgary) in the WHA last season, but because of checking deficiencies. he was benched and became disenchanted with the team.</p><p>Coach Joe Crozier was also not all that enchanted with St. Sauveur. and the young centerman was turned loose to join the Flames.</p><p>It was a major coup for Atlanta general manager Cliff Fletcher, since it cost him only a little cash to pay off the California Seals, who had original rights to St. Sauveur.</p><p>It took St. Sauveur some time to get adjusted to the quickness of pace in the NHL. He was having trouble releasing his shot quickly, and he didn&rsquo;t have a point for his first five games.</p><p>Since then, he has improved steadily, along with most of the other Flames. Recently. The Saint took 10 shots on net against Kansas City.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m shooting the puck a lot more,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I used to wait around too long, trying to move into better position or make a pass. Now I&rsquo;ve learned just to shoot it as soon as you can.&rdquo;</p><p>Indeed, he is shooting so well that Creighton may have to start looking the other way on those occasional defensive lapses.</p><p><b>NOTES:</b> Following a 7-3 loss in Philadelphia Nov. 26. Flames went on a tear and produced an 82-2 record. Included were wins over Chicago, Buffalo and Boston&mdash;all away from home&mdash;and a tie against Philadelphia in The Omni.</p><p>The club was showing remarkable offensive development, rising from 16th in the goals-for rankings to eighth. The defensemen continued to play very consistently, with Randy Manery coming on strong at mid-season and averaging a point a game for the month of December.</p><p>Larry Romanchych was hitting top form at right wing, but then he went out with another knee injury. Dec. 16. and was expected to miss three weeks.</p><p>Dan Bouchard&rsquo;s goaltending keeps getting better as the season progresses. At press time, he had the third-best goals-against average in the league, 2.39. His greatest, strength is. he makes practically all his saves standing up. so few rebounds get by him.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0017-01

Flames Have No Choice But To Play St. Sauveur

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>tlanta Flames appear determined to bask in some of the glory enjoyed last season by their 1972 expansion partners, the New York Islanders, who surprised everyone by reaching the Stanley Cup semi-final.</p><p>Thanks to their fine play since the end of November. Flames have vaulted into the thick of contention in the NHL&rsquo;s Patrick Division. In their last 19 games. Flames have won 13, lost only four and tied two for 28 of a possible. 38 points and today find themselves just one point back of second-place Islanders and 11 behind defending Cupchampion Philadelphia Flyers. In 22 games prior to November 28 when their current streak began, Flames had an 8-12-2 record. Since then, only Montreal Canadiens with 33 points and Flyers with 29 points have earned more than Atlanta in its last 19 games. Canadiens-record over that span is 15 wins, one ioss and three ties while Flyers won 13 (the same as Atlanta), lost three and tied three. Boston Bruins, another hot club of late, have also earned 28 points during this period with a 12-3-4 record. Islanders gained 26 points on 12 wins, five losses, two ties.</p><p>Over all, again only Montreal and Philadelphia, with 27 and 25 victories respectively, have won more games than Atlanta&rsquo;s 21. a total equalled by Boston, Buffalo and Los Angeles.</p><p>As they were last season. Tom Lysiak and Curt Bennett are Flames top pointgetters, although neither appears among the League&rsquo;s leading scorers. Lysiak has 18 goals. 19 assists for 37 points while Bennett has 19 goals (including six game-winners), 15 assists for 34 points. Hilliard Graves, perhaps the most improved Atlanta player, is third with 10-22-32. In 67 games last season he managed 10 goals. 19 assists for 29 points.</p><p>Flames next three scorers were all off-season acquisitions who have proved pleasant surprises to coach Fred Creighton and general manager Cliff Fletcher. Claude St-Sauveur was a fourth-round Amateur Draft choice of California Seals in 1972 who opted to play in the WHA for the past three seasons before Atlanta acquired his rights last summer. St-Sauveur. a rookie to the NHL this season, has 16 goals and 15 assists in 41 games. Next comes Bill Flett who was claimed on waivers last May 20 from Toronto Maple Leafs, with who the scored 15 goals and 25 assists in 77 games last season. He already has 17 goals and 12 assists in only 39 games this season. Following Flett is Dave Kryskow who came to Atlanta. June 5. 1975. from Detroit in exchange for Bryan Hextall. Kryskow is 9-20-29 so far while he only managed the same point total in the entire 1974-75 season with Washington and Detroit.</p><p>In addition. Flames are enjoying solid goaltending from Dan Bou-chard (2.52 average) and Phil Myre 12.95) Their combined average is 2.76. fifth best in the NHL and only two percentage points higher than Chicago and Philadelphia goaltending which shares third place at 2.74.</p><h2><b>TEAM PENALTIES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02513/3481191-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="602" height="674"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0017-02

NHL WEEK—In Review

<p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>NHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03365/3481222-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="594" height="955"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-03

NATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY KEN RUDNICK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01599/3481253-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="552" height="924"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DENIS HERRON&hellip;Thrives On Work</b></figcaption></div><p>KANSAS CITY&mdash;</p><p>If it were merely a matter of milkshake consumption, by now Denis Herron would be contending for airspace with the Goodyear blimp. There would be no getting the puck around him.</p><p>Herron, in his ceaseless effort to build himself into a better goaltender for the Kansas City Scouts, didn&rsquo;t drink milkshakes over the summer. He inhaled them. Four to six a day by his count, nine or 10 a day by the reckoning of Gary Croteau, who probably got sick just thinking about it.</p><p>&ldquo;He won&rsquo;t stop at anything to improve,&rdquo; said Croteau, a left wing who is Herron&rsquo;s teammate.</p><p>An odd couple, Croteau and Herron. Croteau, at 6 feet and 200 pounds, looks like he fell off the cover of a muscle magazine. Herron, at 5-10 and 143 pounds as last season ended, looked like one of the guys in the back of the magazine, the one getting sand kicked in his face by the bully at the beach, the &ldquo;Before&rdquo; in an add for a body-building course.</p><p>The Herron who emerged from the mini-gym in the basement of Croteau&rsquo;s suburban Kansas City home at the end of the summer wasn&rsquo;t about to beat up any bullies, but he was 10 pounds heavier, which may account for the fact he was still standing after playing 15 consecutive games through Dec. 20.</p><p>He took over for the injured Bill McKenzie at the beginning of the second period Nov. 23 in Buffalo and, with McKenzie still hampered by a strained left knee, had made 14 straight starts.</p><p>&ldquo;Heck, in the old days a goalie would play 50 straight games,&rdquo; said Bep Guidolin, the Scouts&rsquo; coach.</p><p>In the old days, of course, there were less stringent prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment. And in the old days they didn&rsquo;t make National Hockey League goaltenders who were build like Herron.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s not flabby,&rdquo; said Bep, that old master of understatement. &ldquo;Those are the kind of guys who get tired&mdash;the flabby ones. He&rsquo;s hard. He seems to be a bear for work. He&rsquo;s not complaining.&rdquo;</p><p>If he had been, the Scouts would probably have taken a look at Rocky Farr, the goaltender they acquired before the start of the season from the Buffalo organization. Farr, now with Springfield of the American League, has played 18 NHL games&mdash;18 more than Bill Oleschuk, called up from Port Huron of the International League to fill a uniform for eight games. Oleschuk was sent down when McKenzie recovered sufficiently to fill the uniform and satisfy the NHL regulation that insists each team have two goaltenders dressed for each game.</p><p>Meanwhile, Herron was holding up well under the strain, keeping hisgoals-Yigainst average under 3.5 a game for a club that reminded no one ofthe Philadelphia Flyers.</p><p>&ldquo;He plays that way all the time,&rdquo; Bep told a writer impressed by Herron&rsquo;s performance in a 3-1 loss to Atlanta on Nov. 16. &ldquo;He deserves to be on the All-Star team (the Campbell Conference squad for the NHL All-Star Game in Philadelphia). Vote for him.&rdquo;</p><p><b>LOOSE PUCKS:</b> The Scouts won back-to-back games at home Dec. 17 and 19, nipping Vancouver, 6-5, and whipping Detroit, 41. Croteau, who had only two goals previously this season, scored two against Vancouver and one against Detroit. He was getting a regular shift after being used almost exclusively for penaltykilling for more than a month. &ldquo;Give me seven guys like that,&rdquo; said Bep, referring to Croteau&rsquo;s non-stop hustle, &ldquo;and I won&rsquo;t be too far away from having a good hockey team.&rdquo;&hellip;Kansas City was still plagued by the inability to get consistent scoring from any line other than the unit of Guy Charron at center, Wilf Paiement on right wing and Craig Patrick on left wing. The club&rsquo;s steadiest defenseman in recent weeks has been Larry Johnston&hellip;The Scouts have not put together a three-game winning streak in their two-year history. After beating Vancouver and Detroit, they had a good chance to get over that hump in Toronto, taking a 1-1 tie into the third period. But the Leafs struck for four unanswered goals to win, 5-1, on Dec. 20.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-01

Milkshake Diet Added Extra Pounds, Helped K.C. Goaler Herron Win Job

f0018-02

Looking At NHL Goalers NHL Leaders

<div class="byline">BY PAT THOMPSON</div><p>TWIN CITIES&mdash;</p><p>When the Detroit Red Wings came to Minnesota in October for an exhibition game during training camp. Pierre Jarry decided to telephone one of his former teammates.</p><p>Jarry. trying to make the Red Wings roster, and Ted Harris, coach of the Minnesota North Stars, played briefly together in Detroit during the 1973-74 season, and Jarry wanted to let Harris know he was not happy in his present situation.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01578/3481315-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="261" height="406"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pierre Jarry</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I think Teddy knew what I was going through in Detroit.&rdquo; said Jarry. &ldquo;When nothing happened right away after I called him. I forgot about it.&rdquo;</p><p>The Red Wings shipped Jarry. a 26-year-old forward, to New Haven, where the North Stars and Detroit send their prospects. Harris did not forget, and the North Stars traded minor league right winger Don Martineau for the 5&rsquo;11&rdquo; speedster.</p><p>In his first 12 games. Jarry responded with five goals and three assists, and took great delight in notching two of those scores in a 53 victory over Detroit in Minnesota (Dec. 20).</p><p>&ldquo;I would rather not even talk about my experiences with Detroit.&rdquo; said Jarry. &ldquo;I would just as soon forget about it. You can&rsquo;t believe how happy I am to be with the North Stars. Now that I&rsquo;ve been able to score a couple of goals. I&rsquo;m skating with confidence again.&rdquo;</p><p>Jarry has had this confidence before. He won the Central League scoring championship at Omaha in 1970-71 with 46 goals and 46 assists. and was called up by the New York Rangers for the 1971-72 season but netted only three goals in 34 games.</p><p>The Rangers peddled him to Toronto for Jim Dorey that same season. and he played all of 1972-73 with 19 goals and 18 assists for the Maple Leafs.</p><p>Jarry had his best scoring season in 1973-74 with the Leafs in 12 games and with the Red Wings. who sent Tim Ecclestone to Toronto in exchange, in 52 games. He finished the year with 17 goals and 23 assists.</p><p>Detroit placed him with Virginia to start out 1974-75. recalling him for 39 games. Jarry expected it would be the same this year.</p><p>&ldquo;It seems I never played on the same line more than one or two game. and hardly ever as a regular.&rdquo; Jarry said. &ldquo;Being a regular makes a big difference.&rdquo;</p><p>With Bill Goldsworthy out until the end of January with knee troubles. Jarry helps make up what has been Minnesota&rsquo;s top line of late. Rookie Tim Young centers the line and Dean Talafous plays on the right with Jarry on the left flank.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been playing well together.&rdquo; said Jarry &ldquo;We like to move the puck around.&rdquo;</p><p>Another line that started taking up some of the slack in Gold&mdash;worthy&rsquo;s absence was the tandem of Blake Dunlop at center. Ernie Hicke at left wing and Glen Sather at right wing. Hicke scored twice against the Red Wings, one into an empty net. and Sat her once.</p><p>That victory moved the North Stars within one point of moving out of last place in the Conn Smythe Division and only a pair out of third place with games in hand on the teams ahead. That is quite a comeback from losing 16 of their first 20 games.</p><p>&ldquo;We are playing the disciplined type of game that was so successful for us when Jack Gordon was coaching.&rdquo; said Lou Nanne. &ldquo;We know what we have to do to win&mdash;play a disciplined game every game out. And we&rsquo;re starting to get something for our effort.-.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0019-01

Speedy Jarry Hustles Way Onto North Stars

<div class="byline">BY BILL HEUFELDER</div><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>igging out from his executive duties as president of the Pitts-burgh Penguins, of which he owns a piece of the action, Wren Blair gave a general assessment of the club itself.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been playing adequately. but we&rsquo;re in and out.&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I think there&rsquo;s a lot of explosive talent.&rdquo;</p><p>Blair wouldn&rsquo;t draw an argument. The Penguins, for example, bombed California. 9-2, getting hat tricks from Svl Apps and Bat-tleship Kelly, as they began a swing along the West Coast.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01422/3481353-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="261" height="430"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mario Faubert</b></figcaption></div><p>The victory snapped a six-game stretch without a win on the road, but the following night at Vancouver. they lapsed into their bad habits. Vancouver whisked to an early lead and romped. 5-1.</p><p>Earlier this season, the Penguins lost five in a row on home ice. equalling their total number of defeats at the Civic Arena last season. Their inconsistency has robbed them of opportunities to challenge second-place Los Angeles in the Norris Division.</p><p>Blair, not telling any secrets, would like a stronger defensive performance from a team that boasts nine 20-goal scorers from the previous season.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a theme I&rsquo;ve discussed all the way.&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s been some improvement, but we&rsquo;re still a long way away. I know it&rsquo;s a problem.</p><p>&ldquo;This team can score enough, but we&rsquo;ve got to rid of some of the goals in the other column (goals-against).&rdquo;</p><p>Blair, taking a closer look at the personnel, preferred to dwell on the club&rsquo;s youth, notably the defense. which includes Dennis Owchar and Mario Faubert, who began the season in Hershey.</p><p>&ldquo;Owchar has played very well for us since we brought him up.&rdquo; Blair noted, &ldquo;and Faubert looks like he&rsquo;s going to be a great hockey player.&rdquo; Faubert. drafted in 1974 out of St. Louis University, played 10 games with the Penguins last season and has added another handful with his recent recall.</p><p>Blair looked beyond the current roster to mention another defense-man. Russ Anderson, a 6&rsquo;3&rdquo; junior at the University of Minnesota. The Penguins made him their No. 2 choice in last spring&rsquo;s draft. &ldquo;He plays it tough.&rdquo; Blair said.</p><p>With his optimistic appraisal of youthful reinforcements on defense. which already includes several young but experienced players. Blair suggested the abundance could provide bargaining power for future trades.</p><p>Up front, the former coach and general manager of the Minnesota North Stars mentioned left wing Wayne Bianchin, a promising rookie with Pittsburgh two years ago. Bianchin. after an off-season surfing accident in which he broke his neck, is in the second season of a long comeback.</p><p>He began the current campaign on the Penguins&rsquo; roster, but has been sent to Hershey. Still. Blair is confident the hustling 22-year-old winger will return.</p><p>Says Blair. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s making prog-ressand looks like he&rsquo;ll be OK. &ldquo;</p><p>Blair has swung two deals with Washington, one of them figuring to reap a benefit for the future. He dealt Bob Paradise to the Caps in return for their second-round draft choicein the spring.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have our first-round pick and two in the second round.&rdquo; Blair explained. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a good chance that all three choices could make our club the next year.&rdquo;</p><p>The Penguins surrendered a No. 1 choice, either next year or in &lsquo;77, in the deal that brought Rick Kehoe from Toronto, but Blair said Jim Gregory, the Toronto GM. has indicated the Leafs will wait until the final year to exercise the option.</p><p>In the second, and most recent, deal with the Caps. Pittsburgh received Stan Gilbertson, who had 13 goals and ranked as their leading scorer. in exchange for another left winger. Harvey Bennett. Through 22 games. Bennett had delivered three goals and collected 51 penalty minutes with the Penguins.</p><p>Blair said he expects to take a closer look at the team shortly. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll spend a little more time on the road with them after the New Year.&rdquo; he said.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02322/3481346-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="566" height="697"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DENNIS OWCHAR&hellip;Praised By Blair</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0020-01

Penguins Long Way From Solid Defense

<div class="byline">BY ROY CRAIGIE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0021-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01266/3481384-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB STEWART&hellip;Under Extra Pressure</b></figcaption></div><p>OAKLAND -</p><p>One of the brightest lights for the rookie-laden California Seals this season has been No. 4, veteran defenseman Bob Stewart.</p><p>Stewart has kept the Seals&rsquo; blueline corps in a respectable state throughout a season of hills and valleys for California, and has, in the absence of Jim Neilson, become the recognized leader of the team both on and off the ice.</p><p>When Neilson was injured in a game in late November against Atlanta and it became apparent that the Chief was lost to the club indefinitely while recovering from knee surgery, a great extra burden was placed on the broad shoulders of Stewart.</p><p>First of all, he was named team captain&hellip;a natural choice. Secondly. he had to go out and lead a team that was destined to have more problems on defense just when every thing seemed to be going well.</p><p>In the middle of their long December home stand, the Seals were hit with injuries to two more blueliners&mdash;Mike Christie and George Pesut. Christie played for a period of time without a helmet, after starting the season wearing one. As fate would have it, he suffered head cuts in one particularly wild game against St. Louis, and the cuts didn&rsquo;t heal and became infected, necessitating hospitalization for treatment.</p><p>About the same time, Pesut. whose role as a utility defenseman took on added importance when Neilson left the scene, sustained a back injury and was also sidelined.</p><p>That just left Stewart with Rick Hampton and Len Frig to man the Seals&rsquo; blueline, and a quick call went out to Salt Lake City for rearguards Tim Jacobs and Brent Meeke. Both men played briefly with the Seals until the walking wounded returned to action.</p><p>Through it all, Stewart&rsquo;s consistent play and leadership stood out like a beacon of light stabbing through storm-tossed seas. Game in and game out, the authority of No. 4 was a noticeable thing around the Seals&rsquo; net. Cleaning people out of the slot, taking care of business in the corners, calming things down when play got hectic in the California zone.</p><p>Stewart, who was the Boston Bruins&rsquo; No. 1 draft pick back in 1969. is now in his fifth NHL season and his fourth full go-around with the Seals. He has earned, and justifiably so, a solid reputation as a rugged defender&hellip;a tough, hardhitting. determined individual not to be messed with. So. opponents keep their heads up coming in on Stewart and try to give him a wide berth if they can.</p><p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to be aggressive and be able to check.&rdquo; Says Stewart, &ldquo;you&rsquo;ve got to be a tough, intimidating hockey player&hellip;it&rsquo;s all part of a defenseman&rsquo;s job.</p><p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to gain respect from other players.&rdquo; continues the stocky, 206-pound, 6&rsquo;1&rdquo; defender who just seems to take everything in stride. &ldquo;If an opponent is in front of the net or in the corner with me, I want him to know he&rsquo;s going to get hit every time. I want him to know that I&rsquo;ll always be around.&rdquo;</p><p>The fact that Stewart is &ldquo;always around&rdquo; is a comforting feeling for Seals&rsquo; coach Jack Evans, who was no pussycat himself in 12 rough seasons as one of the NHL&rsquo;s toughest defensemen. &ldquo;We can always count on Stewie,&rdquo; says Evans, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s consistently good and commands respect from opponents because of his toughness. He is easily he most physical of our defensemen.&rdquo;</p><p>Stewart&rsquo;s penalty totals have declined since his first full season when he logged 181 minutes in the cooler. Cheap minors and majors for fighting are not a part of his regular repertoire now. Not that he&rsquo;ll back away from a fight&hellip;far from it, hut as he says, &ldquo;you don&rsquo;t have to fight very much once you&rsquo;ve been around for a few years. I don&rsquo;t get challenged much now because they know I&rsquo;m not going to back down. Sometimes I can&rsquo;t avoid a fight, but I&rsquo;ll never go out and start one.&rdquo;</p><p>As for those irritating minors, Stewart explains &ldquo;I&rsquo;m staying away from cheap penalties now. Instead of running at someone, I just wait for mv chance and then get in a couple of good bodychecks. I&rsquo;ll always play a tough game.&rdquo;</p><p>The Seals in general and Jack Evans in particular are pretty happy about that.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-01

Seals’ Rugged Defender Stewart Keeps Blueline Corps Respectable

<p><b>(Standings on Mon. Jan. 5)</b></p><h2><b>NORRIS DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2216/3481656-1-eng-US/f0022-222.jpg" title="f0022-22" width="535" height="154"></div><h2><b>ADAMS DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2316/3481649-1-eng-US/f0022-232.jpg" title="f0022-23" width="530" height="128"></div><h2><b>PATRICK DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2413/3481642-1-eng-US/f0022-242.jpg" title="f0022-24" width="531" height="133"></div><h2><b>SMYTHE DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-259/3481635-1-eng-US/f0022-252.jpg" title="f0022-25" width="545" height="154"></div><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Mon. Dec. 29</b></p><p>Montreal 6 at Washington 0; Atlanta 2 at Toronto 6; Los Angeles 1 at Minnesota 2.</p><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Philadelphia 2 at N.Y. Islanders 6; Kansas City 2 at Vancouver 5; California 3 at Chicago 5.</p><p><b>Wed Dec. 31</b></p><p>Atlanta 8 at N.Y. Rangers 1, Washington 0 at Det roit 4; Los Angeles 1 at Pittsburgh 5; Boston 6 at Minnesota 1.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 1</b></p><p>California 1 at Toronto 5; Philadelphia 4 at Kansas City 2; Los Angeles 9 at Buffalo 6.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>St Louis 1 at Atlanta 7; California 8 at Washington 5. Boston 4 at Vancouver 4.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Chicago 1 at N.Y. Islanders 1; Philadelphia 8 at Pittsburgh 4; Atlanta 6 at Kansas City 4; Washington 0 at Montreal 7. Detroit 1 at Toronto 0; Boston 3 at Los Angeles 0, Minnesota 2 at St. Louis 3.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>Toronto 8 at N.Y. Rangers 6, N.Y. Islanders 3 at Philadelphia 5; Pittsburgh 3 at Chicago 5; Vancouver 4 at Detroit 3.</p><h2><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h2><p><b>Tue. Jan. 6</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers at St. Louis. Kansas City at N.Y. Islanders, Detroit at Atlanta; Vancouver at Washington.</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Philadelphia at Toronto; Montreal at Minnesota, Pittsburgh at California; Los Angeles at Kansas City</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 8</b></p><p>Toronto at N.Y. Islanders; Los Angeles at Philadelphia Washington at St Louis, Minnesota at Detroit. Vancouver at Buffalo.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Chicago at Atlanta, California at Washington</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers at Kansas City; Detroit at Montreal; Van couver at Pittsburgh, Los Angeles at Toronto; St. Louis at Minnesota. Californio at Boston</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers at Chicago; Vancouver at Atlanta. Toronto at Montreal. Boston at Washington Pittsburgh at Buffalo</p><p><b>Tue. Jan. 13</b></p><p>Detroit at N.Y. Islanders; Los Angeles at Atlanta: Mon treat at Washington; Pittsburgh at Boston; Buffalo at St. Louis</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 14</b></p><p>N.Y Rangers at Vancouver; Kansas City at Detroit; &lsquo;Chicago at Californio; Toronto at Minnesota</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 15</b></p><p>Pittsburgh at Philadelphia; St Louis at Atlanta; Washington at Buffalo, Los Angeles at Boston; Toronto at Kansas City</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 16</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers at California; Chicago at Vancouver<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-22

LOOKING AT THE NHL SCOREBOARD

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01293/3481604-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="730" height="964"></div><h2><b>Mon. Dec. 29 ATLANTA 2, TORONTO 6</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02219/3481597-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="596" height="455"></div><h2><b>MONTREAL 6, WASHINGTON 0</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03191/3481590-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="583" height="433"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES 1, MINNESOTA 2</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04147/3481583-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="587" height="388"></div><h2><b>Tue. Dec. 30 PHILADELPHIA 2, ISLANDERS 6</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05122/3481576-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="583" height="558"></div><h2><b>KANSAS CITY 2, VANCOUVER 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0695/3481569-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="592" height="385"></div><h2><b>CALIFORNIA 3, CHICAGO 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0783/3481562-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="623" height="494"></div><h2><b>Wed. Dec. 31 ATLANTA 8, RANGERS 1</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0873/3481555-1-eng-US/f0022-082.jpg" title="f0022-08" width="591" height="413"></div><h2><b>WASHINGTON 0, DETROIT 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0965/3481548-1-eng-US/f0022-092.jpg" title="f0022-09" width="586" height="409"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES 1, PITTSBURGH 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1055/3481541-1-eng-US/f0022-102.jpg" title="f0022-10" width="639" height="421"></div><h2><b>BOSTON 6, MINNESOTA 1</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1151/3481534-1-eng-US/f0022-112.jpg" title="f0022-11" width="588" height="439"></div><h2><b>Thu. Jan. 1 CALIFORNIA 1, TORONTO 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1247/3481527-1-eng-US/f0022-122.jpg" title="f0022-12" width="598" height="411"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA 4, KANSASCITY2</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1340/3481520-1-eng-US/f0022-132.jpg" title="f0022-13" width="602" height="501"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES 9, BUFFALO 6</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1432/3481513-1-eng-US/f0022-142.jpg" title="f0022-14" width="592" height="611"></div><h2><b>Fri. Jan. 2 ST. LOUIS 2, ATLANTA 7</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1530/3481506-1-eng-US/f0022-152.jpg" title="f0022-15" width="596" height="409"></div><h2><b>CALIFORNIA 8, WASHINGTON 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1624/3481499-1-eng-US/f0022-162.jpg" title="f0022-16" width="605" height="576"></div><h2><b>BOSTON 4, VANCOUVER 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1721/3481492-1-eng-US/f0022-172.jpg" title="f0022-17" width="610" height="439"></div><h2><b>Sat. Jan. 3 CHICAGO 1, ISLANDERS 1</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1820/3481485-1-eng-US/f0022-182.jpg" title="f0022-18" width="575" height="360"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA 8, PITTSBURGH 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1920/3481478-1-eng-US/f0022-192.jpg" title="f0022-19" width="597" height="613"></div><h2><b>ATLANTA 6, KANSAS CITY 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2019/3481471-1-eng-US/f0022-202.jpg" title="f0022-20" width="598" height="490"></div><h2><b>WASHINGTON 0, MONTREAL 7</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2119/3481464-1-eng-US/f0022-212.jpg" title="f0022-21" width="620" height="454"></div><h2><b>DETROIT 1, TORONTO 0</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01271/3481457-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="625" height="310"></div><h2><b>BOSTON 3, LOS ANGELES 0</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02212/3481450-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="623" height="367"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA 2, ST. LOUIS 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03162/3481443-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="598" height="442"></div><h2><b>Sun. Jan. 4 TORONTO 8, RANGERS 6</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04129/3481436-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="606" height="563"></div><h2><b>ISLANDERS 3, PHILADELPHIA S</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05105/3481429-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="591" height="490"></div><h2><b>PITTSBURGH 3, CHICAGO 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0692/3481422-1-eng-US/f0023-062.jpg" title="f0023-06" width="611" height="463"></div><h2><b>VANCOUVER 4, DETROIT 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0778/3481415-1-eng-US/f0023-072.jpg" title="f0023-07" width="609" height="457"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-01

National Hockey League Summaries

<div class="byline">BY HARRY KLAFF</div><p>LONG ISLAND&mdash;</p><p>The Islanders had just defeated the Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden on December 17th. and Peter Stemkowski was asked what makes the Islanders so much tougher this year as compared to years past.</p><p>&ldquo;Discipline&rdquo;, said Pete. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re a well-disciplined club. They scored that First goal, and they were ready to make it stand up all night.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0866/3481687-1-eng-US/f0023-082.jpg" title="f0023-08" width="266" height="414"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Al Arbour</b></figcaption></div><p>Checking tenaciously and setting up a brick wall at the blue line, the Islanders limited the Rangers to 26 shots on goal, most of which coming from the perimeter. &ldquo;It was an easy game,&rdquo; concluded Billy Smith, who had only one or two tough saves all night.</p><p>Last year, the Islanders were still considered an expansion team that played clutch and grab hockey. &ldquo;Even last year, we would play it close to the cuff and not take many chances.&rdquo; said defenseman Gerry Hart, who well remembers what playing for a real expansion team is like. &ldquo;This year we&rsquo;re controlling the game more, but every player knows he still has an assignment to carry out.</p><p>If somebody blows an assignment, rest assured he&rsquo;ll hear about it from coach Al Arbour. Under Al&rsquo;s system, each player knows where he should be in any given situation or possible contingency that might arise.</p><p>And when executed properly, the maneuvers are done with such precision that they resemble a well-rehearsed segment from the Ice Capades.</p><p>A typical case in point occurred in the second period of the Ranger game. Denis Potvin controlled the puck at the right point, as right wing Billy Harris began streaking for the net from the same spot.</p><p>A typical case in point occurred in the second period of the Ranger game. Denis Potvin controlled the puck at the right point, as right wing Billy Harris began streaking for the net from the same spot.</p><p>Potvin held the puck a second, and then started to carry into the slot. Harris then slammed on the brakes, and scurried back to cover the vacant point.</p><p>Potvin&rsquo;s drive was blocked in front, and the Rangers broke out. But instead of a two-on-one, Harris made it two-on-two, and nothing developed.</p><p>&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t a prearranged play.&rdquo; said Harris afterwards. &ldquo;I saw Denis breaking in, so I covered up. Usually this is the job of whoever is closest to the play. But it&rsquo;s not a specific order. We just know that when the point is unprotected, someone has to cover.</p><p>&ldquo;It should be automatic&rdquo;, added Denis. &ldquo;Especially on the right side. Billy, Bobby (Nystrom) and Eddie (Westfall) know what to do in such a case. When the point man goes in and nobody covers, it usually means that there is a lack of communication somewhere.</p><p>&ldquo;On a play like that, the other defenseman should be yelling to our wingers to be alert, so there is some kind of verbal communication,&rdquo; Potvin continues. &ldquo;You. look at a team like the Bruins where Bobby Orr is always moving in on goal. The wingers are always backing him up.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;This is something we try to stress in practice, but it&rsquo;s not a case of one particular winger being told to drop what he&rsquo;s doing to cover the point,&rdquo; stressed Arbour. &ldquo;Denis could be moving in, but the right wing could be trapped in the corner.</p><p>&ldquo;In other words, the forward who is closest to the play should be the one to get back. For instance in tonight&rsquo;s game (a 4-2 victory over Toronto on December 18th), Denny broke in, and Bryan (Trottier) went back to cover the point. He was the one closest to the puck.&rdquo;</p><p>By now. the results of Arbour&rsquo;s disciplined style are well known. And one major reason for the Islanders&rsquo; fine defensive record is the relatively few number of three-on-two&rsquo;s and two-on-one&rsquo;s they permit. Add on a steady, conservative defense, and forwards who look to prevent goals as much as they look to score them, and you have a mighty stingy hockey club.</p><p>Even stingy enough to be in the running for the Vezina Trophy.</p><p><b>ISLAND SOUNDS:</b> Smith&rsquo;s shutout over the Rangers was his second of the year, and gave the Isles six on the season. Glenn Resch&rsquo;s four tied him with Ken Dryden in that department.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0023-08

Discipline Spells Success For Islanders

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH 4 BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH 4 BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>HOUSTON&mdash;</p><p>The Houston Aeros haven&rsquo;t exactly been pushovers in December, but their record is nothing like the 11-3-0 mark they posted in November.</p><p>The Aeros. winning in Phoenix with a third period comeback on goals by Andre Hinse and Frank Hughes, and losing in San Diego, are 5-5-0 for the month.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve won it two years in a row and everybody is really waiting for us.&rdquo; said coach Bill Dineen. &ldquo;We used to win all the games in the third period, but it&rsquo;s getting tougher now.&rdquo;</p><p>Seven of the 10 games in December have been decided in the third period with Houston rallying to win three of them.</p><p>The Aeros are home for six straight games, which should increase their Western Division lead of six points over Minnesota.</p><p>Meanwhile, all three members of the Howe family were named to the American squad for the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s fourth annual All Star game at Cleveland. Jan. 13. 1976.</p><p>Gordie Howe was named to the first team for the third time since he came into the league three years ago.</p><p>His two sons, left wing Mark and defenseman Marty, were named as alternates while teammate John Schella was named to the second team&rsquo;s defense.</p><p>The media selected the first and second teams and Dineen, who will coach the U.S. squad named the alternates, but to avoid any hassles, he said he picked the players next in line in the balloting.</p><p>Mark. 20. says his remarks about leaving Houston when his current contract is up were &ldquo;misinterpreted and that his only complaint has been about lack of attendance.</p><p>&ldquo;All I meant was that the only thing I don&rsquo;t like about Houston is that we don&rsquo;t have enough people at our games,&rdquo; he said before the Houston Sports Writers and Sportscasters Association. &ldquo;I said I appreciate the job the media has done and that 1 hope they can get more people out for the Aeros&rsquo; games.</p><p>&ldquo;I hope people don&rsquo;t see this as an attempt to get more money on my next contract. All I meant was that I&rsquo;d like to see more people in the seats.&rdquo;</p><p>The Aeros are currently averaging 8,083 fans per game through the turnstiles with more than 9.000 tickets sold per game.</p><p><b>OTTAWA:</b> Jim Sheritt and Ralph Backstrom each scored a pair of goals as the Ottawa Civics posted a 6-3 victory. their first over the San Diego Mariners in three games this season.</p><p>Backstrom&rsquo;s goals were his 15th and 16th of the season, tying him for the club lead with Don Borgeson, Both Backstrom and Borgeson were named as alternates for the U.S. team in the World Hockey Association All Star game before the team moved to Ottawa from Denver.</p><p>Backstrom is the Civics&rsquo; points leader and is 14th in the league, second in the Western Division with 37.</p><p><b>SAN DIEGO:</b> Joe Noris&rsquo; goal was his 16th of the season and his seventh in the last five games.</p><p>It was also the clincher in a 3-1 victory for the San Diego Mariners over the Houston Aeros, Norm Ferguson also counted his 16th of the season in the Mariner victory.</p><p>The victory increased the Mariners&rsquo; third place hold to three points over Phoenix.</p><p>Kevin Morrison, a second team selection for the All Star game, scored two goals and two assists and fellow defenseman Brent Hughes added a goal and two assists in a 7-3 rout of the Cincinnati Stingers.</p><p>Center Andre Lacroix and left wing Gene Peacosh were first team All Star selections.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01278/3481718-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="558" height="722"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARK HOWE&hellip;Remarks Misinterpreted</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-01

Houston’s Three Howes All Stars; Aeros Discover Winning Tougher

<p>CLEVELAND&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>anada vs the United States&mdash;that&rsquo;s the theme of the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s fourth annual All Star game which will be played here at the Coliseum in Cleveland Jan 13.</p><p>In honor of the 200th birth year of the United States, players selected from the Canadian division of the WHA will face players selected from the two U.S. divisions of the WHA.</p><p>Ben Hatskin, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the World Hockey Association, announced the teams, which were chosen by a vote of the news media from the two countries.</p><p>U.S. selectors were allowed to vote only for players of U.S. teams and Canadian selectors for players of Canadian teams. Voters were not permitted to vote for players on teams from the cities they represent.</p><p>The game could mark the last time Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe&mdash;two of the most outstanding players in major league history&mdash;face each other in an All Star game.</p><p>Hull, of the Winnipeg Jets, was selected on the first Canadian team at left wing, and Howe of the Houston Aeros. won a berth at right wing on the first U.S. team.</p><p>Hull will be playing in the All Star game for the fourth time. Howe, playing the WHA for the third season, will be playing in his third game. Goaltender Gerry Cheevers of the Cleveland Crusaders, will also be playing in his fourth All Star game. Playing with Cheevers in their fourth All Star game will be Rick Ley of the New England Whalers. Andre Lacroix of the San Diego Mariners and Tom Webster oft he Whalers.</p><p>Joining Hull on the Canadian team in their fourth classic will be J.C. Tremblay of Quebec Nordiques and Danny Lawson of the Calgary Cow-boys.</p><p>Hull, the only player in WHA history to have scored 200 goals in league play, has 80.4 major league goals to his credit and Howe has scored 858 major league goals during his brilliant career.</p><p>Other-voted to the first Canadian team are J. C. Tremblay. Quebec Nordiques and Lars-Erik Sjoberg of the Winnipeg Jet at defence: Vaclav Nedomansky of the Toronto Toros at centre, and Anders Hedberg of Winni pegat right wing.</p><p>Rounding out the first U.S. team are Pat Stapleton of the Indianapolis Racers and Paul Shmyr of the Cleveland Crusaders on defense: Andre Lacroix of the San Diego Mariners at center and Gene Peacosh, also of San Diego at left wing.</p><p>Second team players for the U.S. are Christer Abrahamsson. New England Whalers, goal: Kevin Morrison. San Diego Mariners and John Schella. Houston Aeros. on defense: Dave Keon of the Minnesota Fighting Saints at center. Claude Larose of the Cincinnati Stingers at left wing and Mike Walton, also of Minnesota at right wing.</p><p>Voted to the second Canadian team are goalie Don McLeod of the Calgary Cowboys: Barry Long of the Edmonton Oilers and Larry Hornung of the Winnipeg Jets on defense; Ulf Nilsson of Winnipeg at centre and Marc Tardif and Real Cloutier, both of Quebec Nordiques al left and right wing respectively.</p><p>Bill Dineen of Houston will coach the American squad and Jean-Guy Gendron of Quebec will be behind the bench of the Canadian team. The two coaches were finalists in the Avco World Trophy championship final last season.</p><p>Each coach picked eight additional players and based their elections on the balloting. Gendron chose Thommie Bergman of Winnipeg and John Miszuk of Calgary as defensemen. centres Serge Bernier and Chris Bordeleau of Quebec Frank Mahovlich of Toronto and Rejean Houle of Quebec at left wing and Danny Lawson of Calgary and Rusty Patenaude of Edmonton as right wingers.</p><p>Dineen selected Marty Howe of Houston and Ley of New England as his defensemen: Robbie Ftorek of Phoenix and Wayne Carleton of New England at center and Mark Howe of Houston and Ralph Backstrom of Ottawa at left wing. He took Don Borgeson of Ottawa Civics and Webster of New England as his right wingers.</p><p>Each team in the World Hockey Association is represented on the All Star teams.</p><p>It will be the first time the Howe family has played together on an All Star team. In 1973-74 Mark Howe was selected to the second team but it will be the first appearance for Marty.</p><p>The only rookie on either team is sensational Claude Larose of Cincinnati. After 28 games this year the 20-year-old Larose has scored 17 goals and picked up 13 assists. Last season he played with Sherbrooke of the Quebec Junior Hockey League and scored 69 goals and had 76 assists.</p><p>Officials for the game will be refereein-chief. Bill Friday, and the linesmen will be Ross Keenan and Graham Hern.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02214/3481756-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="567" height="796"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GERRY CHEEVERS&hellip;4th All Star Game</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03152/3481749-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="561" height="797"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TOM WEBSTER&hellip;Perennial Choice</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-02

Canada U.S. Rivalry Seen Theme Of All Star Game In Cleveland

<div class="byline">BY RICH PASSAN</div><p>INDIANAPOLIS&mdash;</p><p>Surprise, hockey fans. The Indianapolis Racers are alive and still winning hockey games.</p><p>Their early season foot was no fluke. The Racers are still playing solid hockey for new coach Jacques Demers and enjoying every moment of it even though they have to work harder.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01228/3481787-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="269" height="418"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bob Fitchner</b></figcaption></div><p>The Racers play a maddening check-and-wait-for-the-break type of hockey for Demers and. at one stage, rattled off a 9-5-1 record, easily the best among World Hockey Association East Division team-over a comparable period.</p><p>Furthermore, the Racers are 6-1-1 within the East Division, one of the main reasons they are challenging for the top spot. They tasted the rarefied air of first place for a couple of games before falling into a short 1-3-1 slump.</p><p>The worst game came in Phoenix, a contest the Racers dropped. 7-1. getting only 11 shots on goal. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s one game I want to forget.&rdquo; said Demers, who quickly forgot it.</p><p>While Whitey Stapleton is the mainstay back on defense, Demers said the forwards should come in for their fair share of praise for their consistent two-way play.</p><p>While he was reluctant to single out anybody. Demers said Bob Fitchner, Bobby Sicinski and Nick Harbaruk have been playing &ldquo;great hockey.&rdquo; Sicinki and Harbaruk broke into the Indianapolis lineup only after Demers replaced Gerry Moore behind the bench early in the season.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know why they weren&rsquo;t playing under Moore,&rdquo; said Demers. &ldquo;They have scored some key goals for us this season.&rdquo;</p><p>In a couple of back-to-back games with the Cleveland Crusaders, Sicinski combined to set up four goals and score one himself in a 5-4 sudden-death overtime victory in Indy and 5-3 loss the next night in Cleveland.</p><p>Fitchner, who has been playing one wing with Harbaruk on the other with Sicinski. scored the game-winner in the sudden-death triumph.</p><p>Tired of hearing it. Demers said his club&rsquo;s performance this season is &ldquo;no tluke. When I came in as the coach. 1 established a system and it has paid off. I have the men believing they are not a losing team.</p><p>&ldquo;Everybody else believes we can&rsquo;t win. but we believe it and that&rsquo;s what counts.&rdquo; continued Demers. &ldquo;And I think we can keep it up the whole season. But we&rsquo;ve got to work hard.</p><p>&ldquo;All I want the men to give me is 100 percent effort and 60 minutes of hockey.&rdquo; said Demers, whose record is one game over. 500 at this writing.</p><p>The first period of the second Cleveland-Indianapolis game produced 23 penalties good for 133 minutes. Joey Dame, scheduled to work the lines, refereed that period because referee Peter Moffat was snowbound in Columbus and late for the game.</p><p>Dame resumed the lines work and Moffat called just four penalties after the first period, all coming with less than two minutes to go in the game.</p><p>A 10-minute donnybrook at the conclusion of the first period was the evening&rsquo;s highlight. The forerunner of the brawl, which saw four men ejected, occurred at 7:39 when rookie Indianapolis defenseman Kim Clackson high sticked Cleveland&rsquo;s Jim Harrison, who required seven stitches to close the wound.</p><p>Cleveland captain Paul Shmyr gained a measure of retribution a couple of shifts later, but missed Clackson&rsquo;s head with his stick. Cleveland defenseman Paul Baxter also objected to Clackson&rsquo;s tactics and drew 10 minutes.</p><p>When the period was over, Baxter and Shmyr exited the penalty box and joined another Cleveland defenseman, Bryan Maxwell, in an effort to retaliate against Clackson, who was being cordoned off by his teammates.</p><p>Maxwell got through and Baxter eventually paired off with Fitchner. When it was all over, Clackson, Baxter, Fitchner and Maxwell got the thumb. Clackson collected 25 minutes to push his season total to a remarkable 210 minutes in just 30 games.</p><p>At this rate, the young man will wind up in the neighborhood of an astounding 550 minutes.</p><p><b>CLEVELAND:</b> The Crusaders snapped a four-game losing streak with their victory over Indianapolis. J.A. Stewart scored the game-winner, beating Indy goalie Leif Holmquist while Whitey Stapleton hung on the Cleveland left winger&rsquo;s back&hellip;It was only the third victory in the last 14 games for the slumping C&rsquo;s. whose record in one-goal games is just 5-8&hellip;The Crusaders still have a six-game losing streak on the road to snap&hellip;Crowds have been extremely low for the last several games, but owner Jay Moore said the fans will show if the club ices a good product&hellip;Defenseman Ray McKay has been recalled and center Mike Conroy returned to Syracuse of the North American Hockey League.</p><p><b>NEW ENGLAND:</b> The Whalers, getting super goaltending from Christer Abrahamsson, rattled off a five-game unbeaten streak before dropping a 4-2 decision in Cincinnati. During that streak, the Whalers and Minnesota Fighting Saints played only the second scoreless tie in WHA history. The first took place Jan. 8, 1974 in Chicago between the now-defunct Cougars and Cleveland Crusaders&hellip;After game then New England coach and general manager Jack Kelley called Abrahamsson &ldquo;the best goaltender in the WHA.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-01

Demers Has Players Believing They’re Not Losers

<h2><b>LEADING SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03116/3481849-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="594" height="488"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0025-03

WHA Leaders

<div class="byline">BY JIM KERNAGHAN</div><p>QUEBEC&mdash;</p><p>A year ago, it was the fabulous Bobby Hull-Anders Hedberg-Ulf Nilsson line; this year, the fiery troika belongs to Quebec Nordiques.</p><p>Marc Tardif, Buddy Cloutier and Chris Bordeleau comprised the most devastating trio at the mid-way point of the 1975-76 season, with Tardif leading the goalscorers and pointgetters with 34 and 72, respectively. His 38 assists were only two behind leading linemate-Bordeleau, who had 40 as they were 1-2 among the league&rsquo;s attackers.</p><p>Not far behind was 19-year-old Cloutier, who had accounted for 29 goals and 22 assists for seventh place among the shooters.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02164/3481818-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="279" height="423"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Marc Tardif</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got our line going well now,&rdquo; said Tardif, after the three had scored four goals in a 6-1 whitewash of Toronto Toros (Tardif getting two and Bordeleau and Cloutier, one apiece).</p><p>The return of Dale Hoganson to the club after injuries plus the return of J.C.Tremblay to health put Nordiques back in the picture after a flat run of games.</p><p>But make no mistake about it: it&rsquo;s the firepower that has the Nordsatop the Canadian Division. And Tardif, who recently signed a 10-year contract with Quebec&mdash;much to the chagrin of the Montreal Canadiens, who felt they could lure him back&mdash;is the guiding light.</p><p>&ldquo;You come to realize how important he is to us when you consider the majority of his goals are on the road,&rdquo; said teammate Rejean Houle, himself a 25-goal scorer.</p><p>In the Toronto game, Tardif nearly squared off with Greg Neeld, the oneeyed defenseman who wears a mask. Tardif pointed to the mask and Neeld started to take it off before linesmen jumped in to halt the battle.</p><p>&ldquo;Actually, we&rsquo;re all very impressed with that kid, playing the way he has with one eye,&rdquo; said Tardif afterwards.</p><p>Going into the Toronto game, Nords had given up 21 goals in two games, losing 10-4 to San Diego Mariners and dropping an 11-7 decision to Cincinnati Stingers. In the game against Mariners, San Diego had a league record 64 shots on goal.</p><p>But, with the return of Hoganson and Tremblay, there also was a return of some order behind the blueline.</p><p><b>WINNIPEG:</b> One club successful in making mid-season trades was Winnipeg, which acquired Lyle Moffat from Cleveland in exchange for defenseman Randy Legge and future considerations.</p><p>Legge, 30, was picked up by the Jets after the Baltimore Blades folded last season. He had played one game for Jets before being assigned to Mohawk Valley Comets of the North American League.</p><p>Moffatt, 27, was signed as a free agent last summer by Cleveland after leaving the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. With Cleveland, he had four goals and seven assists in 33 games.</p><p>Although Nordiques dominate the scoring leaders, the Jets are there. Hull held third place with 24 goals and 33 assists, leading Nilsson by one point. The latter had 17 goals and 39 assists while Hedberg had 24 goals and 23 assists.</p><p>Joe Daley in goal remained a large part of the Winnipeg success story, though, with a goals-against mark of only 71 in 27 games, 17 of which he won.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> When they lost a 6-3 decision to Toronto Toros, it marked the sixth game for Oilers without a win and desperation was setting in there, too.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to make trades but it&rsquo;s all economics,&rdquo; said general manager Bill Hunter. &ldquo;All anybody wants to trade off is a big contract.&rdquo;</p><p>Oilers need scoring and coach Clare Drake was juggling lines in efforts to get something going. However, he is pleased with 20-year-old rookie Bob Russell, who started the season with Oilers, then was demoted to the minors for a spell. He returned before a road trip and counted five points in three games to earn a spot.</p><p><b>TORONTO:</b> The struggling Toros didn&rsquo;t fool around when they made changes, starting with a two-game leave of absence for coach Bobby Baun after which he again took the reins and brought up four players from Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League.</p><p>Toros brought up Steve Atkinson, Dave Syvret, Greg Neeld and Paul Crowley. Forward Atkinson, who played four seasons with Buffalo Sabres and rookie Syvret, figured to be the ones retained.</p><p>In elevating that quartet, Toros sent down Tony Featherstone, Mike Amodeo, Rick Cunningham, Bob D&rsquo;Alvise and Mario Vien. Aside from Vien, who was to be placed with an American League team, and Cunningham, who was sick, none reported and were released by Toros.</p><p>At last count, their lawyers were looking into the matter.</p><p><b>CALGARY:</b> Good honest hard work has the Cowboys where they are and should continue to keep them there as the most tenacious club in the WHA just keeps grinding. The Cowpokes started the week with a 10-1 pasting of the Toros in Calgary, edged the Jets, 54, in Winnipeg, then did it 6-4 against Winnipeg in a return engagement at home.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s coaching,&rdquo; summed up Oilers&rsquo; Hunter. &ldquo;Coach Joe Crozier believes in hard work and that&rsquo;s the reason for Calgary&rsquo;s success. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-02

Quebec Trio Takes Over As WHA’s Leading Unit

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01234/3482027-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="360" height="1072"></div><h2><b>Tue. Dec. 30 QUEBEC 4, MINNESOTA 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02182/3482020-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="601" height="482"></div><h2><b>SAN DIEGO 3, NEW ENGLAND 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03146/3482013-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="593" height="429"></div><h2><b>INDIANAPOLIS 1, DENVER 2</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04111/3482006-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="590" height="448"></div><h2><b>EDMONTON 3, TORONTO 6</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0588/3481999-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="593" height="496"></div><h2><b>WINNIPEG 5, HOUSTON 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0667/3481992-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="593" height="519"></div><h2><b>Thu. Jan. 1 EDMONTON 1, CALGARY 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0756/3481985-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="590" height="444"></div><h2><b>Fri. Jan. 2 SAN DIEGO 2, INDIANAPOLIS 0</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0848/3481978-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="586" height="357"></div><h2><b>QUEBEC 4, CLEVELAND 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0942/3481971-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="584" height="504"></div><h2><b>CALGARY 3, EDMONTON 1</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1039/3481964-1-eng-US/f0026-102.jpg" title="f0026-10" width="590" height="366"></div><h2><b>PHOENIX 1, TORONTO 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1136/3481957-1-eng-US/f0026-112.jpg" title="f0026-11" width="589" height="416"></div><h2><b>DENVER 1, CINCINNATI 2</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1230/3481950-1-eng-US/f0026-122.jpg" title="f0026-12" width="604" height="345"></div><h2><b>Sat. Jan. 3 CLEVELAND 2, NEW ENGLAND 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1330/3481943-1-eng-US/f0026-132.jpg" title="f0026-13" width="613" height="437"></div><h2><b>SAN DIEGO 3, CINCINNATI 5</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1426/3481936-1-eng-US/f0026-142.jpg" title="f0026-14" width="597" height="481"></div><h2><b>PHOENIX 4, QUEBEC 1</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1523/3481929-1-eng-US/f0026-152.jpg" title="f0026-15" width="587" height="468"></div><h2><b>OTTAWA 2, HOUSTON 4</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1618/3481922-1-eng-US/f0026-162.jpg" title="f0026-16" width="585" height="451"></div><h2><b>WINNIPEG 6, CALGARY 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1715/3481915-1-eng-US/f0026-172.jpg" title="f0026-17" width="596" height="514"></div><h2><b>INDIANAPOLIS 1, MINNESOTA 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1814/3481908-1-eng-US/f0026-182.jpg" title="f0026-18" width="572" height="410"></div><h2><b>Sun. Jan 4 NEW ENGLAND 2, INDIANAPOLIS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1914/3481901-1-eng-US/f0026-192.jpg" title="f0026-19" width="584" height="468"></div><h2><b>PHOENIX 2, CLEVELAND 3</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2012/3481894-1-eng-US/f0026-202.jpg" title="f0026-20" width="590" height="370"></div><h2><b>WINNIPEG 8, EDMONTON 1</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2111/3481887-1-eng-US/f0026-212.jpg" title="f0026-21" width="592" height="494"></div><h2><b>OTTAWA 5, MINNESOTA 2</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-2210/3481880-1-eng-US/f0026-222.jpg" title="f0026-22" width="596" height="486"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0026-01

World Hockey Association Summaries

<p><b>(Standings on Tue. Jan. 6)</b></p><h2><b>CANADIAN DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-239/3482072-1-eng-US/f0026-232.jpg" title="f0026-23" width="528" height="146"></div><h2><b>EASTERN DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-247/3482065-1-eng-US/f0026-242.jpg" title="f0026-24" width="539" height="126"></div><h2><b>WESTERN DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-256/3482058-1-eng-US/f0026-252.jpg" title="f0026-25" width="538" height="152"></div><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Quebec 4 at Minnesota 4; San Diego 3 at New England 5; Indianapolis 1 at Ottawa 2; Edmonton 3 at Toronto 6; Winnipeg 5 at Houston 3.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 1</b></p><p>Edmonton 1 at Calgary 5.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>San Diego 2 at Indianapolis 0; Quebec 4 at Cleveland 5; Calgary 3 at Edmonton 1; Phoenix 1 at Toronto 4; Ottawa 1 at Cincinnati 2.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Cleveland 2 at New England 3, San Diego 3 at Cincinnati 5; Phoenix 4 at Quebec 1; Ottawa 2 at Houston 4; Winnipeg 6 at Calgary 3; Indianapolis 1 at Minnesota 3.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>New England 2 at Indianapolis 3, Phoenix 2 at Cleveland 3; Winnipeg 8 at Edmonton 1; Ottawa 5 at Minnesota 2.</p><h2><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h2><p><b>Tue. Jan. 6</b></p><p>Indianapolis at Edmonton; Cincinnati at Houston; New England at Denver; Winnipeg at Calgary, San Diego at Toronto.</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Son Diego at Cleveland; Toronto at Winnipeg; Phoenix at Minnesota.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 8</b></p><p>Indianapolis at Calgary; Cincinnati at Phoenix; New England at Denver.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Indianapolis at Winnipeg; Cleveland at Houston; San Diego at New England, Toronto at Edmonton.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>San Diego at Quebec; Houston at Minnesota, Denver at Phoenix.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>Indianapolis at Cleveland; Minnesota at Cincinnati; San Diego at New England; Calgary at Toronto, Den ver at Winnipeg; Houston at Edmonton.</p><p><b>Tue. Jan. 13</b></p><p>WHA All Star game in Cleveland.</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 14</b></p><p>Houston at Winnipeg.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 15</b></p><p>Cleveland at Indianapolis, Cincinnati at New England; Calgary at Quebec, Minnesota at San Diego.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 16</b></p><p>New England at Cleveland; Edmonton at Winnipeg; Minnesota at Phoenix.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-23

WHA SCOREOARD

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div><p>PHOENIX&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Phoenix Roadrunners arrived in Indianapolis in plenty of time for a World Hockey Association game with the Racers, but their equipment did not.</p><p>American Airlines failed to load the gear on board the flight the Roadrunners took from Phoenix.</p><p>The league by-laws call for a $5,000 fine. Transportation difficulty is no excuse for missing a game plus the expenses incurred by the home team for arena rental, staffing, etc.</p><p>Bill MacFarland. president of the Roadrunners, said that the Racers were calling for a forfeit and $80,000 to cover the gate.</p><p>Bud Poile. vice-president of operations for the WHA, said, &ldquo;The main thing now is to get the game rescheduled. If we can&rsquo;t satisfy Indianapolis, then we&rsquo;ll take it to the board of trustees.&rdquo;</p><p>The airline took total blame for the goof.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s not much we can say,&rdquo; said Dick Tyler, American Airlines&rsquo; public relations officer. &ldquo;They had the baggage there, not only on time, but ahead of time. It got overlooked, pure and simple.</p><p>&ldquo;Apparently it was sitting on a ramp beside the plane, but because of heavy traffic, the rain, among other problems, it was overlooked.&rdquo;</p><p>MacFarland indicated he expected to recover some of the club&rsquo;s losses and fines from the airline.</p><p>The Racers&rsquo; hard stand could be in response to the harsh treatment they received a few days before, in Phoenix.</p><p>The Roadrunners allowed the Racers just 11 shots on goal, a new WHA record. in a 7-1 rout.</p><p>The old record of 12 was set Nov. 20. 1973, when the Los Angeles Sharks whipped the Minnesota Fighting Saints, 6-3.</p><p>Defenseman Jim Niekamp and right wing Gary Veneruzzo. new Roadrunners. were part of that Los Angeles club.</p><p>The Roadrunners, who had allowed 28 power play goals in 24 games, ran their streak to four games in which they haven&rsquo;t allowed a power play goal.</p><p>The streak was brought to an end by Andre Hinse as the Houston Aeros scored twice in the third period. Frank Hughes got the other for the winner to defeat the Roadrunners 4-3.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Runners Made Game But Equipment Didn’t

<p>ST. PAUL&mdash;</p><p>The Minnesota Fighting Saints have been given 90 days to raise $500,000 or face bankruptcy and time appears to be running out on the WHA club.</p><p>The Securities Division of the Minnesota Commerce Department has given the team permission to try to raise $2.5 million through the sale of limited partnership units to its players, coaches and the public. However, the sales will be stopped and all monies returned to investors if the 90-day deadline is not met.</p><p>Papers filed with the Commerce Department showed the team has lost $4.9 million in just over three years and that the team was forced to borrow $200,000 to meet its last two payrolls.</p><p>The prospectus said the team had to have the $200,000 loan guaranteed by outside sources, and failure to meet a twice-a-month payroll would result in the Saints being taken over by the league.</p><p>It also includes a warning that if the recent loans are called before the partnership offering is completed, &ldquo;it is likely that the partnership would be placed in bankruptcy and cease operating the hockey franchise.&rdquo;</p><p>The document listed Belisle&rsquo;s salary at $55,000 and general manager Glen Sonmor at $35,000 The annual payroll for 27 players totals $1.3 million, an average of slightly more than $48,000 per player.</p><p>The prospectus also advised that the club has a number of liabilities and any three creditors could file a petition for an involuntary adjudication of bankruptcy.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been very open in the past,&rdquo; said Belisle, &ldquo;but there&rsquo;s a limit on how much we can talk about our financial situation. I believe sports fans are tired of reading about financial problemsand contract disputes. I know I&rsquo;m tired of talking about them.&rdquo;</p><p>Meanwhile the Saints seemed bankrupt in goals.</p><p>They were shut out twice in three games, first by Cleveland then in a rare double shutout with New England.</p><p>The 0-0 tie was the second in the WHA&rsquo;s four season history. The first came Jan. 8, 1974. and involved Cleveland and the late Chicago Cougars.</p><p>The Saints had gone 200 regular season games without being blanked until Cleveland did it. The double zero figured when two of the league&rsquo;s best goaltenders met. New England&rsquo;s Christer Abrahamsson has a 2.53 goals against average, second only to the 2.50 by Winnipeg&rsquo;s Joe Daley. Minnesota&rsquo;s John Garrett is third with a 2.90 mark.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Time Running Out On Saints As Creditors Continue To Close In

f0027-01

Looking At WHA Goalers

<div class="byline">BY SCOTT HERRON</div><p>MINNEAPOLIS&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>O</span>nly one two-game series was played between league opponents in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association the weekend prior to Christmas break but it was a series that could have ramifications in the 1976 portion of the season.</p><p>Defending champion Minnesota swept Colorado College 6-2. 3-2 to move into a three-way tie for second place with Michigan Tech and Michigan. four points behind league-leading Michigan State. All four teams have four losses. State maintaining its lead with a 10-4 record, compared to the others 8-4.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re in first place in the loss column and that&rsquo;s where it counts,&rdquo; says Gopher coach Herb Brooks. &ldquo;But at this point in the season there is no first place or last place team. This is the best balance I&rsquo;ve seen in the league in a longtime.&rdquo;</p><p>The Gophers found out how balanced the WCHA is in its four series prior to the one with the Tigers, who are in the midst of a five-game losing streak that also includes a 9-2 loss to the U.S. Nationals and 6-3, 7-3 setbacks to St. Louis University. Minnesota split all four series.</p><p>After opening the season with an impressive 5-2 victory over the Nationals in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game in Eveleth. Minn, and sweeping St. Louis 4-3. 6-3. the Gophers handled Minnesota-Duluth5-4 in overtime and 4-2 their first venture into the WCHA. But then the Champs lost to Denver, Michigan State and Wisconsin three Fridays in a row before relatiating on Saturday, and when it seemed as though they broke their jinx by defeating North Dakota 4-2 in a series opener, the Sioux got back at them on Saturday with a solid 6-3 triumph.</p><p>&ldquo;We just weren&rsquo;t scoring any goals,&rdquo; says Brooks, explaining the &ldquo;losing streak, &ldquo;which many coaches would consider a string of success. &ldquo;We had the opportunities, but they weren&rsquo;t goingin.&rdquo;</p><p>Part of Minnesota&rsquo;s problem was injuries to key players, most notably defensemen Reed Larson and Joe Micheletti. Larson was hampered by a lingering back problem, which still requires him to wear a brace, and Micheletti suffered a knee injury that kept him out of action for six weeks. Micheletti made his return against Colorado College.</p><p>&ldquo;Just having Joe (Micheletti) in the lineup helps, even if he doesn&rsquo;t score,&rdquo; says Brooks of the junior from Hibbing, Minn. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not in shape yet after being off for six weeks, but he got out for a few shifts against Colorado and in another couple of weeks he&rsquo;ll be okay.&rdquo;</p><p>A healthy Reed Larson is a key to the Gophers&rsquo; success, too. The sophomore from Minneapolis is considered the best defenseman in the league, not only for his terrible slapshot that leaves goalies quaking and his ferocious body checks that sometimes leave opponents sprawled on the ice. but he&rsquo;s also a terrific skater who very seldom gets caught out-of position.</p><p>Defense has been Minnesota&rsquo;s strong point this year, a primary reason why goalies Jeff Tscherne and Tom Mohr have led the league with goals-against averages under three. And alt hough Brooks has a whole crop of good defensemen. he&rsquo;s set tied upon four, not including Micheletti whom he&rsquo;d like to switch to center. Reed Larson is paired with former Gopher football linebacker Russ Anderson, Minnesota&rsquo;s 6&rsquo;2&rdquo;, 210-pound &ldquo;enforcer&rdquo;, and freshman Billy Baker, a prize catch from Grand Rapids. Minn., is teamed with Robin Larson.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going with these guys because they have really distinguished themselves,&rdquo; Brooks explains. &ldquo;Last year we had six defensemen who were pretty equal and if you have that situation it&rsquo;s good for morale purposes to play them all. But if you have four who really distinguish themselves. I think it&rsquo;s best to go with them.&rdquo;</p><p>Without All-American Mike Polich around to light their fire this year, the Gophers have had to rely on other sources for their goal production. Junior Tom Vannelli appeared as though he would be an able replacement early in the season when he scored nine goals in five games, but he has tailed off. But Brooks foresees this forward making more of a contribution in the 1976 portion of the season.</p><p>&ldquo;Our young forwards are more used to the league now and they&rsquo;re starting to contribute,&rdquo; Brooks says&hellip;&rdquo; We&rsquo;re starting to jell. Not completely by any means, but we&rsquo;re right in there. I think were in good position to challenge for one of the top spots. But then so is everybody else.&rdquo;</p><p>Minnesota met St. Louis for a second non-league series Dec. 27-28. before facing Tech in an important league series in Minneapolis Jan. 2-3. Then it&rsquo;s off to Notre Dame before coming home to entertain Denver and bearing down to win a second straight WCHA championship.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01170/3482318-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="568" height="778"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HERB BROOKS&hellip;We&rsquo;re Improving</b></figcaption></div><h2>College Races</h2><h3><b>WCHA CONFERENCE (Standings on Fri. Dec. 26)</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0392/3482311-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="602" height="282"></div><h3><b>Games Completed</b></h3><p><b>Minnesota 6, Colorado College 2</b></p><p><b>Minnesota 3, Colorado College 2</b></p><p><b>Notre Dome 9, Harvard 7</b></p><p><b>Notre Dame 6, Boston College 5</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-01

Minnesota Sweep Of Colorado College Bunches Already Tight WCHA Title Race

<div class="byline">BY TOM BURKE</div><p>HAMILTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>H</span>e&rsquo;d just been staring through a bus window for eight and a half hours at the East&rsquo;s worst snow storm in a couple of years. But that didn&rsquo;t dampen Jim Higgins&rsquo; enthusiasm for talking about his Colgate University hockey team.</p><p>The Red Raiders, 3-5 overall and 2-5 in ECAC Division One, were enjoying a couple of days off for exams before the Christmas tournaments hit. But rest was an unknown qualtity to Jim Higgins, new man on the job at Starr Rink. He had been down in his native Boston area, scouting out the high school talent and hoping to find the right youngsters to lead Colgate hockey back to respectability in the East.</p><p>&ldquo;Our biggest problem is our lack of depth.&rdquo; noted Jim. &ldquo;We had a total of 21 kids on the roster and a couple of injuries cut us down to sixteen skaters and two goalies after the loss to St. Lawrence (7-5).</p><p>&ldquo;The kids we have are really working hard and they have a tremendous attitude. But to give you an example, when we beat RPI in overtime, we skated the entire last ten minutes of the third period and the overtime with just two lines.&rdquo;</p><p>The win over the Engineers, keyed by Greg Post&rsquo;s goal in the extra session, was perhaps Colgate&rsquo;s most satisfying effort to date. The prior outing they had lost 7-5 to St. Lawrence after leading 4-3 in the third period.</p><p>Other Colgate wins came over Yale 8-5 and Air Force, a non-league encounter. at the Utica Tournament. Losses were 8-6 to Providence. 4-2 to Clarkson, 4-3 to New Hampshire, and 7-2 at Brown. All teams who have beaten Colgate thus far were playoff teams last season, except for St. Lawrence which is off to a very good start. Brown may be. one of the best teams in the league, so the 7-2 blowout is understandable.</p><p>So, it looks as though the record could be a winning one. given a few bounces of the puck in Colgate&rsquo;s favor. But Higgins refuses to alibi, citing only the Clarkson game as the one that got away.</p><p>&ldquo;We outshot Clarkson, especially early, but their goalie had a super game.&rdquo; he reminisced. &ldquo;And against New Hampshire we took only two penalties so we were able to stay close. We don&rsquo;t have enough depth to spend a lot of time killing penalties.</p><p>&ldquo;I want us to play a tight forechecking game, with tight defense&mdash;sort of like Brown&mdash;but we can&rsquo;t mat ch their players yet.&rdquo; he added.</p><p>Perhaps Brown crops up so often because Higgins spent a year there as assistant to Dick Toomey before taking over at Colgate last spring. Brown vaulted back into the playoffs in 197475 and is well on its way to a superb year. And two years ago. Jim was assistant at Dartmouth when the Greenies made the playoffs for the first time in a decade. His record of association with rejuvenated programs led to Hamilton and his first head coaching assignment.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to get some players from the New England area to beef up the roster.&rdquo; Higgins explained. &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t really recruited aggressively in the Boston area for about ten years, so we re a lot like a new school in town when we talk to kids.</p><p>&ldquo;Also. 1 can&rsquo;t believe how competitive it is in the Boston area. Why. when I went to a high school tournament there I even saw a couple of coaches from the WCHA recruiting there.&rdquo;</p><p>But Higgins has a large contingent of Colgate alumni in the Boston area to help him out. which they should be willing to do in light of the new competitiveness of their school. Realistically it probably will take him three or four years before more aggressive recruting will result in a roster of 25 to 30 Division One hockey players. Still, right now things look good, and while Colgate shouldn&rsquo;t make the playoffs, they have to be regarded as upset threats in any game.</p><p>Last season. Colgate went 10-17. but 5-17 in Division One play. Fourteen returning lettermen greeted Higgins upon his arrival, and he&rsquo;s built around most of them to where there are two top notch lines, five defensemen. and a pair of goalies.</p><p>The first line consists of John Barnett. Barry Kibsey, and John Rheault, The second unit features Post. Mike Dosdall, and Joe Cyr. Dave Mackenzie and Steve McGrath were two of the most recent occupants of the third line. with Higgins experimenting for a replacement for Bob Ries, out for a month with a fractured cheekbone.</p><p>Dan Desmond returned to school this year and teams with Larry Gibson on one defense pair. Bill Davis and Doug Kelly are another duo, with Ken Decock also seeing action. McGrath had been a rearguard before his shift to forward. Post had been in action at wing, but went back to center to help the Raiders win some more faceoffs. So the juggling has gone in front of Kevin Barry and Ron Spadaccini, and it&rsquo;s likely to continue until Higgins comes up with the right combinations.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking for each of my players to give his maximum effort in every game,&rdquo; summed up Higgins. &ldquo;That way we&rsquo;ll stay in there with everyone.&rdquo;</p><p>At least, that&rsquo;s how it&rsquo;s been happening thus far for Colgate. Sure, there will bea lot of empty gas thanks in the third period of some game but at least no one is taking Colgate lightly.</p><p>And for Jimmy Higgins, that&rsquo;s one fine accomplishment in his first month in charge.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02135/3482349-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="574" height="834"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JIM HIGGINS&hellip;Could Use Help</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0029-02

Colgate Thin In Player Depth But Higgins Likes Club’s Drive

<p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. ITO Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. ITO Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>AHL Leaders</h2><h3><b>LEADING SCORERS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02148/3482387-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="592" height="539"></div><h3><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03111/3482380-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="584" height="473"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0030-02

AMERICAN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY AL FISCHER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01200/3482418-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="541" height="753"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TERRY REARDON&hellip;On The Lookout</b></figcaption></div><p>HERSHEY&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Bears finally made it to the top of the Southern Division, and they did it the hard way, defeating Richmond, the erstwhile leader on the Robins&rsquo; home ice at the Richmond Coliseum.</p><p>It was a long haul for the revitalized Bears, who began the season in rather inauspicious style, losing their first two games by shutouts.</p><p>In fact, the Bears could hardly win at all in the early going, registering just a single victory in their first nine starts, and the constant recalls by co-working partners Buffalo and Pittsburgh certainly hampered coach Chuck Hamilton&rsquo;s efforts to set up any forward lines that would remain together long enough to gain some continuity and recognize each other&rsquo;s moves.</p><p>However, Hamilton persevered and when the Bears skated off with a 6-4 decision in Richmond, first place was theirs. The victory in Richmond climaxed a climb that saw the Bears win 15, tie four, and lose but three.</p><p>The return of Wayne Bianchin and Gordon Laxton from Pittsburgh plus the addition of Lee Fogolin and Gary McAdam from Buffalo and Ron Jones from Washington were key factors in Hershey&rsquo;s drive to the top.</p><p>Laxton&rsquo;s goaltending was spectacular as was that of teammate Don Edwards in Hamilton&rsquo;s alternating system. Fogolin and Jones helped to shore up a somewhat thin defensive corps, while McAdam and Bianchin spurred what had been a somewhat erratic and sporadic offense.</p><p>Bianchin, a speed merchant, had a brilliant weekend against Baltimore two weeks ago when the Bears swept a home-and-home series with the Clippers, while the hard-working McAdam has become a darling of the Hershey fans</p><p>The lacklustre start is a thing of the past and the Bears are confident of staying on or near the top the rest of the way.</p><p>The Penguins also returned Jacques Cossette in time for the Richmond game, in fact he arrived earlier and was in uniform to help the Bears beat Nova Scotia, 3-2, the night before, to set up the head-to-head battle for first place.</p><p><b>RICHMOND:</b> The Robins, al-though knocked off the top perch, were secure in second place, with a ten-point bulge over New Haven, and the Virginia club received good news when the parent Philadelphia Flyers returned defenseman Jack McIlhargy to the Robins&rsquo; fold and copartner Washington sent back John Paddock and also assigned Ron Anderson.</p><p>It had been rumored that Baltimore might be trying to land Anderson, who has been injured most of the season, but appears to be rounding into shape now.</p><p>McIlhargey had remained with the Flyers from the start of training camp due to injuries on the Philadelphia defense. Those injuries have now cleared up and the Flyers want the young defenseman to get more playing time, this his demotion to the minors after accruing 81 minutes in penalties in the big time.</p><p>Paddock&rsquo;s return should help the Robin offense. He had two big games just before his recall. The Robin offense, which had been leading the division in goal-scoring, slumped slightly, but coach Larry Wilson was not panicking.</p><p>The goaltending of Mike Belhumeur and Jerome Mrazek has been excellent and the Robins, selected by some to finish last in the division, have caused the &ldquo;experts&rdquo; to re-evaluate their opinions.</p><p><b>NEW HAVEN:</b> The Nighthawks quit the cellar again last week, but their hold on third place was a slim one.</p><p>A 6-2 decision over Providence was followed by a 4-2 triumph over Rochester and coach Parker MacDonald was smiling a little more during the holiday season.</p><p>The recent addition of Bill Plager has certainly provided a lift for the defense as has the improved play of rookie rearguard Jim Nahrgang.</p><p>The defense has been making life a little easier for goal tenders Brian Holderness, Doug Grant and Pete Me Duffe as the Hawks appear to have found an answer to their early-season problems.</p><p>Norm Gratton, off to a slow start, has finally started to produce the goals that were expected of the veteran forward and his contribution should be enough to help the Hawks challenge for a playoff berth.</p><p>Gratton had a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over Providence, a night after Bill Lochead registered the hat in a loss to the same Reds.</p><p>Tom Colley remains the club&rsquo;s leading point scorer and the team shared the league lead with Richmond on power-play goals.</p><p><b>BALTI 4ORE:</b> The Clippers dropped into the cellar once again as Christmas week arrived. The climax was a 2-1 loss to Springfield. Earlier in the week the Clips lost to Richmond, although two of team members reached career milestones, Moe Stefaniw registered his 200th career point and Ralph MacSweyn hit the centurypoint mark.</p><p>The losing streak reached five games and playing-coach Kent Douglas and the players held a two-hour dressing room discussion after the game.</p><p>The strain of playing one man under the normal limit is having its effect.</p><p>It got worse when Jack Egers followed Rick Foley into retirement the same night the Clippers broke their slump with a 5-2 victory over Richmond.</p><p>General manager Terry Reardon keeps insisting, &ldquo;We are looking for the&mdash;right man.&rdquo; Unfortunately, the press hasn&rsquo;t been able to discern just what Reardon&rsquo;s definition of &ldquo;right man&rdquo; is.</p><p>There has been no attempt to talk Foley out of his self-imposed retirement, nor has any contact been made with Steve Andrascik, a young, tough, hard-checking forward, who sits 90 miles away in Hershey, just itching for a chance. Brian Marchinko, currently having an excellent year in the North American League is another Reardon let get away, apparently due to a salary dispute, as did rookie Brian Coughlin, who refused to come to camp without a signed contract, although he asked very little.</p><p>With only eight forwards on hand, Douglas can ill afford penalty specialists, and the opposition has been converting rather regularly of late on power-play setups.</p><p>Mike Lampman&rsquo;s 29 points is a club leading figure, while Dennis Giannini remains well ahead in goal scoring with 16. He and Lampman are the only two players in double figure goal scoring for the beleagured Clippers.</p><p>The Clippers have been in most games, with 12 of their 17 losses coming by a single goal. That has been the downfall, the lack of that clutch goal producer that plummeted the Clippers into the basement of the Southern Division.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-01

Hershey Makes It To Top The Hard Way; Stumbling Clippers Looking For “Right Man”

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0834/3482449-1-eng-US/f0030-082.jpg" title="f0030-08" width="708" height="590"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0741/3482456-1-eng-US/f0030-072.jpg" title="f0030-07" width="124" height="168"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>The Crouch</h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he crouch is the classic position a goalie takes&mdash;with good reason. He can see more of the play, every muscle is ready for action and he's covering up the dangerouslowerareaofthegoalmouth.</p><p>Remember these statistics: Seven out of 10 goals are scored by pucks shot below the knees. One of 10 shots above the goalie&rsquo;s knees finds the Our hands react faster to brain commands than our feet, so naturally the crouch puts our hands closer to the area the action is likely to be.</p><p>Curiously, most forwards shoot at the area between the knees and shoulders of a goalie. They don&rsquo;t seem to learn that low shots are best; so much the better for the goalie. By crouching like a cat ready to spring, he puts his hands right in the target area.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-08

MINOR hockey tips

<h2><b>QUEBEC MAJOR LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Sun. Jan. 4)</b></p><h3><b>East Division</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0485/3482501-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="583" height="158"></div><h3><b>West Division</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0566/3482494-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="582" height="161"></div><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Sun. Dec. 28</b></p><p>Cornwall 3 at Montreal 2; Laval 6 at Quebec 7; Trois-Rivers 7 at Hull 6; Chicoutimi 3 at Sorel 5.</p><p><b>Mon. Dec. 29</b></p><p>Sorel 3 at Laval 3.</p><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Quebec 1 at Montreal 4; Shawinigan 1 at Chicoutimi 12; Cornwall 3 at Trois-Rivieres 4.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>Sorel 2 at Montreal 3; Chicoutimi 3 at Quebec 3; Hull 7 at Laval 2; Shawinigan 2 at Cornwall 14.</p><h2><b>LEADING SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0652/3482487-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="574" height="290"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0030-04

HOW THEY STAND

<div class="byline">BY AL FISCHER</div><p>ROCHESTER&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>or the fourth time in as many weeks, the Rochester Amerks had a chance to take over the Northern Division lead, and for the fourth straight time they failed.</p><p>They did manage to earn a share of the lead with Nova Scotia for awhile, but with an opportunity to take over the undisputed lead, the Amerks dropped a 4-2 decision to New Haven.</p><p>Nova Scotia took over the top spot with a victory over Hershey, while the Amerks were snowed out of a game with Providence.</p><p>The Amerks and Voyageurs were due for three meetings before 1975 ended, and the first one ended in a 2-2 deadlock.</p><p>The Rochester club remained third in league scoring and second in defense. Dick Mattiussi&rsquo;s charges had registered 136 goals entering the last week of the year and surrendered 106.</p><p>Paul O&rsquo;Neil was within reach of the league record of unassisted goals. The young forward had registered five thus far, just three off the record set by Cleveland&rsquo;s Johnny Holota in 1946-47.</p><p>O&rsquo;Neil&rsquo;s 23 goals were a league high, but both Hynes and Clark were ahead of him in total point production, Hynes with 38 and Clark with 35.</p><p><b>NOVA SCOTIA:</b> With their lead challenged, the Voyageurs won five out of six during the holidays and kept a slim two-point advantage over Rochester. In a head-to-head struggle with the Amerks, Rick Chartraw gained the Vees a 22 deadlock.</p><p>Chartraw and Bill Nyrop have frequently been mentioned in trade talk between parent Montreal and other NHL clubs. Los Angeles for one is extremely interested in either defenseman.</p><p>Guy Chouinard and Pierre Mondou were deadlocked for the team scoring lead at 36, with Chouinard one ahead in goals 16-15 and Mondou the assist leader with 21.</p><p><b>PROVIDENCE:</b> The Reds re mained within hailing distance of first place Nova Scotia despite a loss and a tie, but coach John Muckler&rsquo;s club is still seven points in arrears of the pace-setting Voyageurs and five behind second place Rochester.</p><p>A scheduled trip to Rochester was wiped out when the Logan Field Airport in Boston was fogged in and the team was unable to take off. A rescheduling will be made by the league.</p><p>Following a tough loss in Hershey, the Reds came home and battled to a 3-3 deadlock with Rich mond&rsquo;s Southern Division contenders. The tie gave the Reds a 105-2 record on home ice.</p><p>Team captain Lynn Powis took over the league scoring lead during the holidays, while Greg Holst con tinued his assault at the consecutive game point-scoring record.</p><p>Holst registered a point in both the Hershey loss and tie with Rich-mond and has now scored a point in 16 straight games. The league record of 24 games was set by Cleveland&rsquo;s Tommy Burlington in 1946.</p><p><b>SPRINGFIELD:</b> The Indians short streak ended quickly in back-to-back losses to Rochester and Providence, but then rebounded for a victory and their first tie of the season against New Haven.</p><p>Norm Dube and Billy Inglis continue as the heart of the sporadic Indian offense, whose 113 goals equal Baltimore for the lowest mark in the league.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01181/3482532-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="522" height="648"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DAVE HYNES&hellip;Hot Point-Getter</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0031-01

Amerks Again Fall Short Of Division Lead

<h2><b>AMERICAN LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Wed. Jan. 7)</b></p><h3><b>North Division</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02141/3482626-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="595" height="131"></div><h3><b>South Division</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03117/3482619-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="620" height="132"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Richmond 0 at Hershey 3; Rochester 0 at Nova Scotia 4</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>Hershey 1 at New Haven 3; Baltimore 2 at Providence 4; Novo Scotia 4 at Rochester 2.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Providence 6 at Baltimore 4; New Haven 5 at Hershey 2; Rochester 8 at Richmond 6; Novo Scotia 5 at Springfield 5.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>Hershey 4 at Providence 6; Springfield 1 at Rochester 8.</p><h3>GAMES TO COME</h3><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Springfield at Hershey; New Haven at Richmond.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Novo Scotia at Providence; New Haven at Rochester.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>Baltimore at Hershey; Richmond at Springfield.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>Nova Scotia at Providence; Richmond at Rochester; Baltimore at Springfield.</p><p><b>Tue. Jan. 13</b></p><p>Rochester at Baltimore.</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 14</b></p><p>Baltimore at Hershey; Springfield at New Haven; Richmond at Nova Scotia,&middot; Providence at Rochester.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 15</b></p><p>Richmond at Baltimore</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 16</b></p><p>Novo Scotia at New Haven; Rochester at Providence; Hershey at Springfield.</p><h2><b>CENTRAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. Jan. 5)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0492/3482612-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="604" height="182"></div><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Tucson 1 at Salt Lake 7</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 1</b></p><p>Oklahoma City 3 at Fort Worth 8, Tucson 7 at Salt Lake 4</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>Dallas 3 at Oklahoma City 0, Fort Worth 4 at Tulsa 5</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Tucson 4 at Dallas 0; Tulsa 5 at Fort Worth 2; Oklahoma City 2 at Salt Lake 4.</p><h3><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Jan. 6</b></p><p>Tucson at Fort Worth</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Salt Lake at Dallas</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Dallas at Fort Worth; Tucson at Oklahoma City; Salt Lake at Tulsa.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>Tucson at Dallas; Salt Lake at Oklahoma City,&middot; Fort Worth at Tulsa.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>Dallas at Tucson.</p><p><b>Tue. Jan. 13</b></p><p>Salt Lake at Fort Worth</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 14</b></p><p>Dallas at Tucson; Salt Lake at Tulsa.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 16</b></p><p>Tulsa at Dallas; Oklahoma City at Fort Worth; Tucson at Salt Lake.</p><h2><b>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standing on Tue. Jan. 6)</b></p><h3><b>NORTH DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0579/3482605-1-eng-US/f0031-052.jpg" title="f0031-05" width="584" height="157"></div><h3><b>SOUTH DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0656/3482598-1-eng-US/f0031-062.jpg" title="f0031-06" width="589" height="110"></div><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Toledo 1 at Columbus 5.</p><p><b>Wed. Dec. 31</b></p><p>Kalamazoo 4 at Muskegon 6; Flint 3 at Port Huron 3; Toledo 3 at Dayton 7.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 1</b></p><p>Muskegon 3 at Saginaw 3.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>Dayton 2 at Flint 4; Fort Wayne 6 at Kalamazoo 3, Saginaw 1 of Toledo 5; Port Huron 6 at Columbus 9.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Columbus 3 at Muskegon 2; Kalamazoo 2 at Fort Wayne 7; Dayton 2 at Port Huron 2; Flint 2 at Saginaw 4.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>Muskegon 5 at Columbus 1 Dayton 4 at Toledo 4; Fort Wayne 3 at Flint 3.</p><h3><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Jan. 6</b></p><p>Port Huron at Saginaw</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Columbus at Dayton</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 8</b></p><p>Fort Wayne at Columbus.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Dayton at Muskegon; Kalamazoo at Flint; Fort Wayne at Toledo; Saginaw at Port Huron</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>Fort Wayne at Muskegon; Kalamazoo at Port Huron; Flint at Dayton,&middot; Saginaw at Columbus.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>Port Huron at Flint; Dayton at Saginaw; Muskegon at Kala-mazoo; Columbus at Toledo.</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 14</b></p><p>Columbus at Fort Woyne; Muskegon at Toledo.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 16</b></p><p>Flint at Columbus; Dayton at Kalamazoo; Saginaw at Toledo; Muskegon at Port Huron.</p><h2><b>NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue. Jan. 6)</b></p><h3><b>EAST DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0744/3482591-1-eng-US/f0031-072.jpg" title="f0031-07" width="592" height="174"></div><h3><b>WEST DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0838/3482584-1-eng-US/f0031-082.jpg" title="f0031-08" width="600" height="163"></div><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Binghamton 1 at Mohawk Volley 2; Cope Codders at Beauce (postponed); Johnstown 2 at Syracuse 2; Philadelphia 9 at Buffalo 5.</p><p><b>Wed. Dec. 31</b></p><p>Mohawk Volley 5 at Binghamton 3. Erie 1 at Johnstown 5.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 1</b></p><p>Binghamton 1 at Maine 7 Syracuse at Cape Codders (postponed).</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>Erie 2 at Syracuse 6: Johnstown 6 at Buffalo 3; Maine 0 at Beauce 10.</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Syracuse 4 at Mohawk Valley 7; Binghamton 2 at Erie 2. Cape Codders 3 at Maine 4; Philadelphia 1 at Johnstown 5</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>Buffalo 2 at Syracuse 6; Mohawk Volley 4 at Beauce 7 Erie 3 at Binghamton 2; Maine 4 at Cope Codders 6; Philadelphia 2 at Johnstown 7.</p><h3><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Jan. 6</b></p><p>Mohawk Valley at Maine</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 7</b></p><p>Syracuse at Binghamton; Buffalo at Erie; Mohawk Valley at Cape Codders.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Cape Codders at Beauce; Erie at Philadelphia; Maine at Syracuse; Johnstown at Binghamton</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>Cope Codders at Mohawk Valley: Philadelphia at Buffalo; Johnstown at Erie; Syracuse at Maine.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 11</b></p><p>Buffalo at Philadelphia, Cope Codders at Binghamton; Syr-acuse at Beauce</p><p><b>Tue. Jan. 13</b></p><p>Johnstown at Buffalo</p><p><b>Wed. Jan. 14</b></p><p>Erie at Cape Codders; Maine at Binghamton. Mohawk Volley at Philadelphia.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 15</b></p><p>Syracuse at Mohawk Valley, Erie at Maine; Binghamton at Buffalo</p><p><b>Fri. Jon. 16</b></p><p>Erie at Beauce; Binghamton at Johnstown; Syracuse at Phi-ladelphia.</p><h2><b>SOUTHERN LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue. Jan. 6)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0927/3482577-1-eng-US/f0031-092.jpg" title="f0031-09" width="593" height="180"></div><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Dec. 30</b></p><p>Greensboro 0 at Roanoke 3</p><p><b>Wed. Dec. 31</b></p><p>Tidewater 1 at Greensboro 2.</p><p><b>Thu. Jan. 1</b></p><p>Tidewater 2 at Winston-Salem 6.</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 2</b></p><p>Greensboro 4 at Tidewater 3. Hampton 3 at Charlotte 4</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 3</b></p><p>Roanoke 6 at Greensboro 6, Charlotte 1 at Winston-Salem 3.</p><p><b>Sun. Jan. 4</b></p><p>Charlotte 4 at Roanoke 4. Hampton 5 at Winston-Salem 2</p><h3><b>GAMES TO COME</b></h3><p><b>Tue. Jan. 6</b></p><p>Roanoke at Charlotte</p><p><b>Wed. Jon. 7</b></p><p>Tidewater at Hampton</p><p><b>Thu.Jan.8</b></p><p>Greensboro at Winston-Salem, Hampton at Roanoke</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 9</b></p><p>Winston-Salem at Charlotte</p><p><b>Sat. Jan. 10</b></p><p>Greensboro at Tidewater, Hampton at Roonoke, Charlotte at Winston-Salem</p><p><b>Sun, Jan. 11</b></p><p>Hampton at Greensboro; Roonoke at Tidewater</p><p><b>Tue. Jan. 13</b></p><p>Winston Salem at Charlotte</p><p><b>Wed. Jon. 14</b></p><p>Greensboro at Hampton</p><p><b>Tltu.Jan.15</b></p><p>Roanoke at Tidewater</p><p><b>Fri. Jan. 16</b></p><p>Winston-Salem at Hampton; Tidewater at Charlotte; Greensboro at Roonoke</p><h2><b>UNITED STATES LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Wed. Dec. 25)</b></p><h3><b>NORTHERN DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1021/3482570-1-eng-US/f0031-102.jpg" title="f0031-10" width="587" height="128"></div><h3><b>SOUTHERN DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1118/3482563-1-eng-US/f0031-112.jpg" title="f0031-11" width="597" height="154"></div><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Wed. Dec. 17</b></p><p>Traverse City 2 at Milwaukee 9</p><p><b>Thu. Dec. 18</b></p><p>Sioux City 7 at Marquette 3</p><p><b>Fri. Dec. 19</b></p><p>Waterloo 7 at Milwaukke 9; Sioux City 7 at Central Wisconsin 4; Marquette 1 at Green Bay 9</p><p><b>Sat. Dec 20</b></p><p>Marquette 2 at Traverse City 12; Sioux City 6 at Central Wisconsin 7, Green Bay 3 at Waterloo 2.</p><p><b>Sun. Dec. 21</b></p><p>Sioux City 8 at Milwaukee 5; Marquette 9 at Traverse City 11.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-02

LOOKING AT THE MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

<p class="dropcap"><span>N</span>HL <b>1</b>&mdash;Montreal <b>2</b>&mdash;Detroit <b>3</b>&mdash;Boston <b>4</b>&mdash;NY R&auml;ngen. <b>5</b>&mdash;Chicago <b>6</b>&mdash;Toronto <b>7</b>&mdash;Los Angeles <b>8</b>&mdash;Pittsburgh <b>9</b>&mdash;Californio <b>10</b>&mdash;Philadelphia. <b>11</b>&mdash;Minnesota <b>12</b>&mdash;St Louis. <b>13</b>&mdash;Vancouver <b>14</b>&mdash;NY Islanders <b>16</b>&mdash;Atlanta <b>17</b>&mdash;Kansas City IS&mdash;Washington WHA: <b>19</b>&mdash;Calgary <b>20</b>&mdash;Cincinnati <b>21</b>&mdash;Cleveland <b>22</b>&mdash;Denver <b>23</b>&mdash;Edmonton <b>24</b>&mdash;Houston <b>25</b>&mdash;Indianapolis. <b>26</b>&mdash;Minnesota <b>27</b>&mdash;New England <b>28</b>&mdash;Phoenix <b>29</b>&mdash;Quebec <b>30</b>&mdash;San Diego 3)&mdash;Toronto <b>32</b>&mdash;Winnipeg Inter-League <b>33</b>&mdash;NY Bongers (NHL & St louis NHl) <b>34</b>&mdash;Montreal NHL & Atlanta (NHL) <b>36</b>&mdash;Pittsburgh (NHl) & Buffalo (NHL). <b>37</b>&mdash;New England (WHA) & Washington (NHL). <b>38</b>&mdash;Detroit (NHl) & Mm nesoto (NHl) <b>39</b>&mdash;Atlanta (NHl) & Vancouver (NHL) <b>40</b>&mdash;Phoenix. Houston & Son Diego (WHA) <b>41</b>&mdash;Los Angeles (NHl) & N.Y. Islanders (NHL) <b>43</b>&mdash;Kansas City (NHL) 8 N.Y. Rangers) NHL; <b>44</b>&mdash;Boston (NHL 4 Washington (NHL) <b>45</b>&mdash;Mm I&rsquo;esotoiNHL&middot; & Vancouver &lsquo;NHli <b>46</b>&mdash;Colgoiy |WHAi. Kansas Crfy &lsquo;NHi, & Minnesota (WHA); <b>47</b>&mdash;Philadelphia NHL & Washington (NHL) <b>50</b>&mdash;Boston (NHL). Son Diego (WHA) <b>51</b>&mdash;Buffalo (NHl) & Toronto (WHAT <b>52</b>&mdash;Montreal (NHl) & Toronto (WHA). <b>55</b>&mdash;Buffalo (NHl) 8 Calgary (WHA) <b>56</b>&mdash;Buffalo (NHL) 8 Cleveland (WHA) <b>57</b>&mdash;N.Y. Rongers (NHD 4 St. Louis(NHl) <b>58</b>&mdash;Detroit (NHl) & Edmonton (WHA).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Minor League Affiliations

<p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLE RICH & BRADSBY LTD Arnold Street Wallaceburg Ontario Soldin U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLE RICH & BRADSBY LTDArnold Street Wallaceburg Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><h2>CHL Leaders</h2><h3><b>LEADING SCORERS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0378/3482688-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="586" height="311"></div><h3><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0453/3482681-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="592" height="381"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0032-03

CENTRAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div><p>DALLAS&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>M</span>ike Veisor&rsquo;s second shutout of the season, a 4-0 victory in Tulsa&rsquo;s Assembly Center, Dec. 13, kept the Black Hawks in first place, but the margin remained only a single point over the former occupants of the ladder&rsquo;s top rung, the Oklahoma City Blazers.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01182/3482726-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="250" height="420"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bill Plett</b></figcaption></div><p>The Hawks had climbed into first place the previous night at home, as Veisor keyed a 4-2 triumph over the Blazers. The Saturday victory in Tulsa left the Oilers three points off the pace, while Fort Worth trailed by six, Salt Lake by seven, and Tucson by 28.</p><p>Dallas had held first place for a few days at the start of November, but had been rudely disposed of by the Oilers, who took back-to-back victories over Gordon Fashoway&rsquo;s men. Nov. 7-8. Since then, however. Veisor had shown his mastery over the Tulsa crew. On Nov. 28 in Dallas he scored a 7-1 decision. shutting out the Oilers until 13:26 of the second period, by which time his mates had put five goals on the scoreboard.</p><p>The 23-year-old goalie from Toronto was unbeatable in Tulsa. He made 32 saves, while his teammates were firing 42 shots at Curt Ridley, who had been the Central League&rsquo;s stingiest goaltender.</p><p>Most of the scoring came in the middle period, as Dan Hinton scored on a power play, followed by Dave Elliott and Moe L&rsquo;Abbe. Terry Smith wound up the scoring on a desperation shot with three seconds left in the game. Ridley gloved the puck, hut couldn&rsquo;t hold it.</p><p>That fourth Hawk goal gave Veisor the league leadership, as he lowered his average yield to 2.65 for 26 games, while Ridley&rsquo;s average climbed to 2.67 for 15 starts. Veisor&rsquo;s first shutout this season was a 7-0 triumph in Salt Lake. Nov. 17.</p><p>It was the Hawks&rsquo; ninth straight game without defeat, thier fourth straight victory on the road and their sixth traveling game without a loss.</p><p>An indication the Dallas club will be hard to dislodge from the lofty perch is seen in the Hawks&rsquo; amazing road record of 8-5-2. the only road record above. 500 in the league. They are 7-2-3 in their own State Fair Coliseum.</p><p>Under Bobby Kromm, now coaching the successful Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association. Dallas has been a playoff finalist the last five seasons. winning the Adams Cup in 1972 and &lsquo;74. Fashoway has inherited the most experienced club in the CHL. and that experience has helped the Hawks rise to the top.</p><p>Hawks playing their third or fourth pro seasons with Dallas were Veisor; defensemen Randy Holt. Ian McKegney and Dave Logan: forwards Smith. Elliott, L&rsquo;Abbe. Hinton. Duane Wylie. Dean Blais, Rob Palmer. Michel Archambault, Gary Donaldson and Jim Koleff. Donaldson and Koleff were sidelined by injuries, as was rookie center Greg Vaydik. the Chicago Hawks&rsquo; first pick in last summer&rsquo;s amateur draft.</p><p>Only two rookies were playing regularly for Dallas, defenseman Mike O&rsquo;Connell and center Pierre Giroux. The other first-year pro on the Hawks was Bob Volpe, who had played only 100 minutes as Veisor&rsquo;s understudy.</p><p>Holt, last season&rsquo;s CHL penalty leader, had cut down on the trips to the sin bin. while becoming the league&rsquo;s top playmaker with 24 assists. Archambault was the club&rsquo;s scoring leader, tied for fifth in the league with 28 points. Smith was tied for seventh with 27, and Holt had 26 to tie for 10th.</p><p><b>TULSA:</b> Bill Plett. 6-3. 205-pound right wing drafted by the Atlanta Flames from the St. Catharines Black Hawks, was the leading scorer among the rookies in the CHL after a third of the season, and a top candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. Plett. born in Paraguay, but a Canadian resident since he was a toddler, had 12 goals and 22 points, edging out one of his last season&rsquo;s team mates.</p><p>Dave Salvian, 5&rsquo;10&rdquo;. 170-pound left wing at St. Catharines, was drafted by the New York Islanders, and was playing for the Fort Worth Texans. He had 14 goals and 20 points.</p><p>Cam Botting, Tulsa center just returned from a brief stint with the Atlanta Flames, was No. 3 among the CHL rookie scorers, with 19 points, and teammate Rick Bowness was fourth with 17. Both were drafted by Atlanta. Botting from Niagara Falls two years ago, and Bowness from the Montreal Juniors last summer.</p><p>Other leading scorers among the CHL rookies were: Neil Lyseng. Tucson, 16 points: Paul Evans, Oklahoma City, and Brad Gassoff. Tulsa. 15: John Martin. Salt Lake. 14, and Pierre Giroux. Dallas. 13.</p><p>Lyseng was drafted by the WHA Phoenix Roadrunners from Kamloops. B.C.: Evans by the Toronto Maple Leaf&rsquo;s from Peterborough, Ont.; Gassoff&rsquo; by the Vancouver Canucks from Kamloops; Martin by the California Seals from Providence College, and Giroux by the Chicago Black Hawks from Hull, Que.</p><p>The Oilers, after scoring six goals in Salt Lake City and eight at home against Tucson (seven in the third period), came to grief against Dallas&rsquo; Mike Veisor, Dec. 13, and couldn&rsquo;t put one puck in the net. They were scheduled to play four times in five nights the week before Christ mas. with two on the road.</p><p>Center Danny Gloor, the club&rsquo;s leading scorer before he was injured. Nov. 22, was expected back in the lineup soon, giving coach Orland Kurtenbach a full complement of players for the first time since Gloor was hurt, as other injuries and callups depleted the Oiler roster.</p><p>Jim Wiley moved into a third-place tie in the CHL scoring race with 31 points, while Danny Seguin and Andy Spruce shared 10th place with 26. Gloor, owning 24. fell out of the top 10 for the first time, three weeks after he tore up a knee.</p><p><b>OKLAHOMA CITY:</b> Great goal tending and a solid defense were keeping the Blazers close to the top. Man ager-coach Ray Miron was happy the goals-against average had improved. &ldquo;We used to be fifth in the league.&rdquo; he observed. &ldquo;Now the average is 3.19. the second-best defense in the league.&rdquo; (Dallas had a stingy 2.78 average.)</p><p>&ldquo;Were cutting down on the number of silly penalties we get. too.&rdquo; Miron said. &ldquo;We can still play physical when we need to, but were not getting those stupid penalties.&rdquo;</p><p>Blazers Claire Alexander and Tom Cassidy were tied for the CHL goal leadership, with 17. and only a point apart in the point parade. Alexander, held to a lone assist for the week, had 38 points, while Cassidy, adding two goals to his collection, had 37 points. Scott Garland was tied for third in the league race with 31.</p><p>Both Cassidy goals were scored in a 3-1 home victory over Fort Worth. Dec. 13. After a scoreless first period. Tom lit the red lamp at 8:46 and 12:20 ofthe second. Bart Crashley spoiled Mike Palmateer&rsquo;s shutout bid at 16:58 of the middle stanza. Mike Ruest added a Blazer insurance goal early in the third.</p><p>The second straight victory at the Myriad ran the Blazers&rsquo; home streak to 12 games without a loss. &ldquo;Even when we lose, were keeping close,&rdquo; Miron pointed out. &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t been beaten badly since Oct. 22 (a 6-1 loss in Salt Lake).&rdquo;</p><p><b>FORT WORTH:</b> Licking their wounds after three straight road setbacks, the Texans of coach Terry Gray had one more road stop (in Tulsa) before they were to get a chance to play on home ice. The setback in Oklahoma City was their fourth straight road loss, and ran their record to seven straight without a victory on enemy ice. However, they had won three straight in Will Rogers Coliseum.</p><p>Pat Price and Bart Crashley gave the Texans a pair of offensive threats on the blue line, but Gray was expressing concern over the lack of defensive defensemen. Mike Kennedy had 26 points to climb into the league&rsquo;s top 10 (a tie for 10th place).</p><p>Forwards Walt Ledingham and Mike Usitalo were sidelined with injuries.</p><p><b>TUCSON:</b> Looking forward to playing at home after four winless starts on the road. Tucson Maverick ex-coach Adam Keller was unhappy about the officiating, as well as with the way his Mavs were letting down in the third period.</p><p>&ldquo;We beat ourselves in the third period.&rdquo; Adam said in reference to an 8-4 loss in Tulsa. Dec. 12 (after the Mavs hada4-l lead for two periods).&rdquo;</p><p>Denis Meloche was the CHL&rsquo;s busiest scorer for the second week in December. getting a goal and four assists in three outings. With 27 points he tied Lyle Bradley for the club scoring lead, and they shared seventh place on the league chart.</p><p>Left wing Paul Tantardini picked up only two minor penalties for the week. His league-leading penalty total of 118 minutes was being seriously challenged by Tulsa&rsquo;s Brad Gassoff, who had 116, after drawing 18 minutes in three games.</p><p>Referee Murray Harding gave the Mavericks 84 minutes in penalties, with 58 coming in the last 2:05 of the game after Tulsa had gone ahead, 5-4. The late crop of penalties included a double minor on Mike Stevens, plus a misconduct and game misconduct for forcibly protesting the calls, a game misconduct on Mike Sleep, two bench minors on Keller, a misconduct on goalie Ray Martynuik, and finally a game misconduct on the goalie.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a frustrating season, and something like this doesn&rsquo;t help,&rdquo; Keller said after that game. &ldquo;Our problem has been compounded by the fact we have been playing shorthanded, with only 15 or 16 players.&rdquo; One bright spot was center Mike Hobin, whose 28 points earned him a fifth-place tie on the CHL chart.</p><p>The Mavs had a dismal record of 121-5, with their only victory coming on the road (in Fort Worth, Oct. 28). In at least half of their games, they had held a lead but had been unable to keep it.</p><p><b>SALT LAKE:</b> Weary from living out of suitcases on tours arranged by the CHL Travel Service, Marv Edwards and his Golden Eagles were happy to be playing eight out of 10 games in the Salt Palace in the Dec. 6-Jan. 7 span. They had won three of their first four at home after getting back from the latest trip.</p><p>The Eagles had five straight games on the road. Oct. 24-Nov. 4. then three road games in three nights, Nov. 14-16, and another five-game grind. Nov. 29-Dec. 6. Small wonder they were glad to get home, even if the air travel was uncomfortable as storm swept the Rockies. They had failed to win in their last seven tries on the road. But for the next four weeks, the only traveling would be a two-game set in sunny Tucson. In their two games of the week, a 9-6 loss to Medicine Hat and a 5-5 tie with Edmonton. Newly-acquired defenseman Kelvin Melnyk (via Brandon and Lethbridge) scored in the tie game, and sophomore Dave Colborne had five points in the two games. Chris Dyer had three goals and defenseman Craig Topolnisky picked up four assists.</p><p><b>VICTORIA:</b> Super frosh, so-so sophomore, Danny Lucas, a 56-goal scorer last year, quit the Cougars in a huff over remarks coach Patty Ginnell made about his play on a post-game radio show. The trouble came after Victoria lost 4-3 to New Westminster in the first of a home-and-home series. In New West, Cougars were slammed 8-3. It turns out that center Jim Gustafon&rsquo;s consecutive-game point streak wasn&rsquo;t broken in Calgary Dec. 12. An assist for him was added after the game. However, the Bruins officially snapped it at 33 games, a great record, during the 8-3 triumph.</p><p><b>NEW WESTMINSTER:</b> Rick Shinske had a great weekend as the Bruins swept Victoria 4-3 and 8-3, getting one assist in the opener and then two goals and three assists in the finale. Mark Lofthouse hit for five points in the two games to pull into second spot on the team in points. He leads in goals with 35. Fred Berry leads Bruin point-getters with 58, one more than Shinske and Lofthouse.</p><p><b>KAMLOOPS:</b> The Chiefs were also idle during the holiday week, but spent the time prepping for a weekend jaunt to Victoria and New Westminster. The battle in New West is for top spot in the West Division.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02127/3482719-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="550" height="600"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE VEISOR&hellip;Goaling Leader</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0032-01

Road Record Keeps Hawks Flying High; Oilers’ Plett Leads CHL Rookie Scorers

<div class="byline">BY JACK GATECLIFF</div><p>SAULT STE. MARIE&mdash;</p><p>No one is questioning the tact that Murray (Muzz) McPherson has done a super job in his freshman season as coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.</p><p>With half the schedule completed the Greyhounds are approaching the 59-point total which was not enough to qualify them for the On-tario Hockey Association Major Junior A playoffs last spring.</p><p>However there are times, even for a much-improved team, when nothing goes right.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01161/3482757-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="258" height="412"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jim Fraser</b></figcaption></div><p>McPherson, a native of Winnipeg. can verify that statement after a weekend swing into Southern Ontario just before Christmas.</p><p>To be sure there were no gifts for the Greyhounds as they were beaten 8-6 in Peterborough by a team which is last place in the Leyden Division, then suffered their most humiliating loss of the season&mdash;16-2 in Oshawa.</p><p>&ldquo;It was just one of those things.&rdquo; said McPherson later. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no excuses. We had a bad game. Fortunately I know the kids can play better. They&rsquo;ve proven that to me. Maybe the weeklong break at Christmas will help.&rdquo;</p><p>It was a big win for Oshawa&mdash;and not just in terms of the score.</p><p>The victory moved the on-again. off-again Generals into third place, a point above the Grey hounds.</p><p>Leading coach Gus Bodnar&rsquo;s Generals were Paul Gardner and Bob Glad ney with three goals each while Glenn Kirkham and Ken Morden had a pair.</p><p>In Peterborough 24 hours earlier Gary McMonagle scored three times to pace the Petes to their win as they retained hopes of catching the Final tilth playoff position in the Leyden Division.</p><p>Two were contributed by Tony Cassolato who has been a consistent Peterborough performer.</p><p>In Peterborough Mike Kaszycki. attempting to be the &lsquo;Hounds first-ever points-scoring champion, picked up two goals but was held scoreless against the Generals as only Vince Fryia and Romano Carlucci managed to beat Greg Redquest.</p><p>After the double loss Greyhound officials said Tim Coulis had been suspended for an indefinite time.</p><p>Coulis picked up a minor, a 10-minute misconduct, a game misconduct and a match misconduct in the second period.</p><p><b>HAMILTON:</b> Fincups continued cruising towards their first-ever pennant as they downed Kingston Canadians 11-6 right in Kingston&hellip;Coach Bert Templeton has spectacular offensive team which is also tough defensively&mdash;a combination difficult to beat&hellip;Club is far ahead of any other in goals scored and also has third best goals-against record&hellip;In game with Kingston. Fincups recorded eighth straight victory but only managed a 7-6 lead at end of second period before scoring four unanswered in third&hellip;Dale McCourt continued his hunt for the points title with three goals and an assist. Mike Keating and Joe Kowal scored twice each.</p><p><b>LONDON:</b> After being close to Hamilton the first three months of the schedule the Knights have fallen on bad times and slipped well off the pace&hellip;In recent games they have been unable to win even at home, dropping a 3-2 decision to Sudbury Wolves (first place in the Leyden Division) despite early goals by reliable Vern Stenlund and Tom Rowe&hellip;Knights will make the playoffs but the pennant seems to be out of reach.</p><p><b>KITCHENER:</b> Rangers split their two games during the week losing 8-4 in Oshawa but coming back to trounce St. Catharines Black Hawks 9-4 on home ice&hellip;Kevin Street who has shown great improvement recently, produced his first three-goal night in junior A to. lead the Rangers over the Hawks and another good crowd of more than 3.000 sat in&hellip;Mark Holbrook contributed a pair&hellip;Coach Mac McLean who handled Sudbury two years ago, bringing team along well tor stretch drive.</p><p><b>ST. CATHARINES:</b> It hasn&rsquo;t been a great season for Black Hawks but team did earn a bonus from owner Hap Emms for being in fourth place before Christmas&hellip;They just made it too, defeating Windsor Spitfires 10-6 in their last game before the holiday break&hellip;Ron Wilson, former Marlboro acquired early in the season, scored three for the Hawks&hellip;Rick Szabo, picked up from Sudbury, playing well in goal&hellip;Hawks&rsquo; third goalie Kevin Walton returned to Toronto but was imme diately claimed by both Sault Ste. Marie and the Marlboros&hellip;Marlies will probably get him as they have fewer points&hellip;One of lowest crowds in club history, only 472 paid, watched Hawks defeat Oshawa 7-5 and Wilson had two goals in that game to continue his hot streak.</p><p><b>TORONTO:</b> Marlboros won and lost in space of 48 hours, beating Ottawa 67s 6-3 after losing 4-2 in Ottawa&hellip;Coach George Armstrong has team playing well enough to make playoffs but far off championship form of last season&hellip;Lynn Jorgenson and John Smrke scored Marlie goals in Ottawa and Smrke added three more at Maple Leaf Gardens&hellip;His linemates Gary Dillon and John Anderson had two and one respectively to account tor all six goals&hellip;Attendance down at Gardens with only 2.922 watching the Marlies and 67s.</p><p><b>WINDSOR:</b> Spitfires had one of their biggest scoring games in their freshman season of Major Junior A hockey but even seven goals wasn&rsquo;t enough to win&hellip;They had to settle for 7-7 tie with Sudbury Wolves which was a pretty fair performance considering Sudbury is leading the Leyden Division&hellip;Wolves were led by three goals from Randy Pierce while Scott Miller and Jack Anderson had a pair for the Spitfires&hellip;Crowds keeping up with average of more than 3.(MM) a game&hellip;In St. Catharines they were beaten 10-6 after giving up first four goals.</p><p><b>SUDBURY:</b> Like the Fincups in the Emms Division, the Wolves in the Leyden are almost certain pennant-winners&hellip;The tie in Windsor was a surprise as they usually defeat the lower clubs handily but they came right back for 3-2 decision over London thanks to rookie Dan McCarthy&rsquo;s third period goal&hellip;Hec Marini and Pierce scored the others&hellip;Club continues to attract near-capacity crowds and this should be first money-making season since they came into the league four years ago.</p><p><b>KINGSTON:</b> Canadians are having more problems now than early in schedule but still keeping above the. 500 mark in wins and losses&hellip;Their defeat by 11-6 score at home to Hamilton is an indication Canadians must toughen up to be championship contenders&hellip;This is last of three-year plan and with many players going over-age it should be the season Canadians are definite challengers&hellip;Ken Linseman scored three times in the loss to Fincups as 2,943 sat in.</p><p><b>OTTAWA:</b> The 67s are still one of the major disap|&gt;ointments of the season and their lack of consistent performances is reflected in poor attendance&hellip;Fortunately for the 67s five of the six teams qualify for the playoffs otherwise they would be almost certainly headed for an early spring&hellip;They did manage to split the two games with Toronto Marlboros. mentioned earlier, but coach Brian Kilrea still not getting steady effort from some of his older players&hellip;Jim Fraser turning in sound games in goal and Jim Roberts scoring regularly after slow start.</p><div class="sidebar"><p>OHA <b>MAJOR HOCKEY LEAGUE</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0033-01

McPherson’s Greyhounds Much Improved But Nothing Goes Right On South Trip

<h2><b>ONTARIO MAJOR LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Fri. Jan. 2)</b></p><h3><b>Emms Division</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02121/3482830-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="591" height="179"></div><h3><b>Leyden Division</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0388/3482823-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="586" height="182"></div><h2><b>WESTERN CANADA LEAGUE</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Sat. Dec. 27)</b></p><h3><b>EASTERN DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0472/3482816-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="582" height="187"></div><h3><b>WESTERN DIVISION</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0561/3482809-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="590" height="192"></div><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Sat. Dec. 20</b></p><p>New Westminster 4 at Victorio 3, Edmonton 7 at Brandon 5</p><p><b>Sun. Dec. 21</b></p><p>Victorio 3 at New Westminster 8; Medicine Hat 9 at Calgary 6: Edmonton 3 at Brandon 6; Saskatoon 6 at Regina 2.</p><p><b>Fri. Dec. 26</b></p><p>Edmonton 5 at Calgary 5; Saskatoon 2 at Regina 3; Winnipeg 3 at Brandon 6; Medicine Hat 4 at Lethbridge 4</p><h2><b>WESTERN INTERNATIONAL</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Thu. Dec. 25)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0648/3482802-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="595" height="161"></div><h2><b>SOUTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Sat. Jan. 3)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0741/3482795-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="601" height="181"></div><h2><b>ONTARIO PROVINCIAL JUNIOR</b></h2><p><b>(Standings on Sat. Jan. 3)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0835/3482788-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="589" height="337"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0033-02

<p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Soldin U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</p><p>HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Soldin 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/f0034-0396/3482868-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="594" height="406"></div><h3>GOALING RECORD&rsquo;S</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0470/3482861-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="592" height="537"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-03

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY MORLEY HOWE</div><p class="dropcap"><span>N</span>o one can convince the Sioux City Musketeers that playing on the road is detrimental to a team&rsquo;s progress. The Musketeers have a 15-11-1 record this season as they lead the Southern Division of the United States Hockey League and the ironic part of it is the weary Sioux has played 18 of its first 27 games away from home.</p><p>Coach John Saville&rsquo;s travelling Musketeers held their first place margin over Milwaukee by winning three out of their four road games last week as they defeated Marquette. Centra) Wisconsin and Mil-waukee.</p><p>The best individual performance of the USHL week was turned in by Rick Kramp of Central Wisconsin who figured in six of the Flyers&rsquo; 11 goals scored last week. Kramp&rsquo;s sudden-death overtime period goal at 9:14 gave Central Wisconsin a 76 victory over Sioux City and moved Flyers up into third place.</p><p>It isn&rsquo;t very often a coach quits when he&rsquo;s on top but Joe Kiss left the Northern Division leading Traverse City Bays as general manager and coach. Kiss cited personal reasons for resigning. The Bays will name a new GM and coach in the near future.</p><h2><b>LEADING SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0551/3482937-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="530" height="779"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-05

The USHL Scene

<div class="byline">BY BUD GALLMEIER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01175/3482906-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="562" height="610"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARIO LESSARD&hellip;Three Shutouts</b></figcaption></div><p>FORT WAYNE&mdash;</p><p>Over 6,000 fans turned out at the Memorial Coliseum New Year&rsquo;s Eve to take a look at hockey Russian style. And they weren&rsquo;t disappointed.</p><p>The Spartak team of the Masters League in Moscow put on a dazzling display of skating, shooting and passing to defeat the Komets in a wellplayed exhibition, 7-4. The crowd of 6,030 was the largest of the season in the IHL to date.</p><p>Despite arriving just three hours before game time, the Russians awed the crowd with their precision, polish and seemingly effortless performance. Members of the Komets were as much impressed by the Russian performance as were the fans.</p><p>&ldquo;One-on-one they are unbeatable,&rdquo; said veteran Terry Pembroke. &ldquo;They are super on fundamentals. And they react very quickly to your style of play.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;You may think they have their head down, but they don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said goalie Robbie Irons who was the victim of a four-goal blitz in just 91 seconds during the second period when the Russians broke a 2-2 tie and skatted into a 6-2 lead. &ldquo;And they look one way and shoot another.&rdquo;</p><p>Coach Ralph Keller was impressed with the Russians&rsquo; strong fundamentals but was also pleased with his club&rsquo;s performance. &ldquo;Except for that brief spurt in the second period I thought we played very well. We moved the puck pretty well and our passing was pretty sharp also,&rdquo; Ralph commented.</p><p>The Komets actually outplayed the Russians in the first and third periods&mdash;on the scoreboard at any rate. Goals by D&rsquo;Arcy Keating and Dave Norris gave the Komets a 2-1 lead after the first period. Dan O&rsquo;Driscoll and Sid Veysey scored in the final period while the Russians were shut out by Komet rookie goalie Brad Shelstad.</p><p>But in the middle period, the Russians showed the enthusiastic crowd all their tricks. They scored six goals, the first at 3:31 of the period to tie the score at 2-2. And after killing a penalty (the Russians controlled the puck almost during the entire two minutes) they put the offense in high gear. The first of the four-goal explosion came at 11:07. The other three followed at 11:53, 12:20 and 12:38. The Russians completed their scoring with the seventh goal at 14:51.</p><p>Most significant phase of the Russian game was their revolving at tack during which wingers and centers circle much in the same manner as the weave of a basketball team&mdash;most notably Indiana&rsquo;s top-ranked Hoosiers. The wingers and centers rotate constantly which really confuses the defense.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really hard to keep up with your wingers,&rdquo; said Komet Terry McDougall. &ldquo;They are crossing over all the time. It really makes it hard to cover them.&rdquo;</p><p>Also unique to the Russian style is the fact the wingers shoot from the &ldquo;wrong side.&rdquo; That is, left wingers shoot from the right side and right wingers from the left. &ldquo;This makes it tough on the defense, too, said the Komets&rsquo; Terry Bucyk. &ldquo;The wrong side shooting enables the Russians to protect the puck from the defense when they cut across in front of the net.&rdquo;</p><p>The Russian appearance in Fort Wayne followed an 8-4 victory over the U.S. Olympic team on the night before at Madison, Wis. Five games with American League teams will complete the Spartak tour.</p><p>Prior to taking on the Russians, the Komets gained some ground in the South Division race. Taking advantage of a slump by second-place Toledo, the Komets pulled to within four points of the Goaldiggers featured by a 5-2 trouncing of the Diggers at the Coliseum, the Komets&rsquo; first win this season over the defending Turner Cup champions. The Komets also picked up an important win on the road&mdash;only their third of the season. But Keller believes his young skaters are ready for the second phase of the season.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can put the offense and defense together, we&rsquo;ll make a run at the title. I think playing the Russians helped. We played well. That performance must add confidence. And with a young team that is vital.&rdquo;</p><p>The Komets apparently have given, up on goalie Shelstad. They purchased Garth Malarchuk from Saginaw and he responded by beating Kalamazoo in his first start.</p><p><b>DAYTON:</b> The Gems lost a few things over the holidays, not the least of which was manager-coach Tommy McVie. McVie was given the head coaching job of the Washington Caps in the National League and high-scoring Steve Self took over as playercoach. The Gems also saw an end to their 15-game home winning streak (if you don&rsquo;t count a forfeit inflicted by commissioner Bill Beagan for use of an ineligible player) when North Division leader Saginaw skated off with a 3-2 victory in Hara Arena.</p><p>Injuries also plagued the Gems of late. Among the wounded are Rick Bragnalo, out with an injured shoulder; and Bill Riley, an injured left foot. Despite the adversity, the Gems continue to skate ahead of the pack in the South. And Self picked the right team as victim of his first victory as playercoach&mdash;the second-place Goaldiggers. The Gems whipped Toledo, 7-3, to boost their first-place margin to a comfortable eight points.</p><p><b>TOLEDO:</b> The recent Toledo nose-dive, five losses in six games, has Ted Garvin in a dealing mood. Defensive help was obtained from two sources&mdash;the Kalamazoo Wings and from the North American League. Garvin got Henry Lehvonen from the Wings in a three-for-one deal, sending goalie Tony Piroski, forward Reggie Malinoski and defenseman Jim Mit-chell to the Wings.</p><p>From the North American League, Garvin picked up defensemen Rick Fraser and Gerry Methe and winger Brian McKenzie. Methe was voted the North American Hockey League&rsquo;s top defenseman last season. He played in the IHL earlier in Fort Wayne.</p><p>Garvin may have opened a can of worms with his raid of the NAHL, however. The IHL, according to commissioner Bill Beagan, does not permit players who are affiliated with World Hockey Association clubs to play in the IHL. McKenzie and Fraser are both the property of Indianapolis of the WHA. Garvin says a check of IHL minutes does not confirm Beagan&rsquo;s statement and plans to play the players any way.</p><p><b>COLUMBUS:</b> The Owls have suddenly turned things around and have been on a hot streak over the last six games. During the stretch, the Owls have won four lost one and ties one. Included in the string was a 1-0 victory at Toledo, a 4-1 thumping of the Diggers at home and a 9-6 slugfest with northern power Port Huron.</p><p>The surge has boosted the Owl record to 10-23-4, just one point behind Kalamazoo with whom the Owls are fighting for the final playoff berth.</p><p>Steady goaltending by Billy Yeo combined with a more consistent offense has triggered the Owl spurt. The winning streak is reflecting favorably at the gate also. The 4-1 thumping of Toledo was watched by an enthusiastic crowd of 3,012.</p><p><b>SAGINAW:</b> The Gears are threat-ening to pull away in the North Division race. Pre-season favorites by most IHL observers, the Gears have been playing like champions lately. Key road victories at Dayton and Muskegon triggered a five-game undefeated streak which has opened a four-point gap between the Gears and second-place Port Huron. The victory at Mus-kegon boosted the Gears&rsquo; undefeated string against the Mohawks to eight streaching back to three victories in last season&rsquo;s playoffs.</p><p>Mario Lessard has beefed up the Gear defense with three shutouts and has reduced his goals-against average to a 2.85 figure. Dennis Desrosiers continues to lead the offense with 20 goals but Paul Evans, Jim Johnston and Dave Eestner have 15 each and Stu Irving 14.</p><p>The Gears made room for the return of injured goalie Harvey Stewart with the sale of Malarchuk to Fort Wayne. Additional offensive help could come from Terry Ewasiuk from Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old youngster was the Penguins&rsquo; seventh draft choice in 1973. He played two seasons with Hershey in the American League where he scored 24 goals.</p><p><b>PORT HURON:</b> The Flags continue to boast the best home record in the league (15-1-1) but have lost ground to Saginaw with road losses at Flint and Columbus. Port Huron also has the best record among North teams in competition with the South&mdash;9-7.</p><p><b>FLINT:</b> A rather light holiday schedule ended with an unbeaten string of four games. The Generals launched the spurt with a 4-4 tie at Kalamazoo, held off a strong rally by Port Huron for a 6-4 verdict, played a 3-3 tie with the Flags in Port Huron and then dumped South Division leader Dayton, 4-2. The spurt cut Port Huron&rsquo;s lead over the third-place Generals to a single point.</p><p>Kirk Bowman continues his scoring spurt to lead the IHL in both goals (24) and total points (55). Rookie Bill Kes-tell has been released from the hospital after knee surgery but will be out of action at least until March 1.</p><p><b>MUSKEGON:</b> Despite their current position in the North Division race&mdash;fourth&mdash;the Mohawks are looking forward to the 1976 portion of the IHL trophy hunt with considerable confidence. And for good reason. Gary Ford has snapped out of his scoring slump and now leads the Hawks with 29 points. Over the last 13 games, Ford has scored three goals and assisted on 17 others. Ernie Moser also has been adding punch to the Mohawk at tack and has picked up at least one point in each of the last 11 games.</p><p><b>KALAMAZOO:</b> Bob Lemiex is hopeful the three players picked up from Toledo as well as the loan of Bob Watson from Fort Wayne will put some life into his lifeless Wings. The three Toledo players are Malinoski, Mitchell and Piroski. Getting Malinoski is bound to be a plus as the three-year IHL veteran has also played his best against the Wings. Watson has offensive punch as reflected by an earlier three-goal hat trick scored for Fort Wayne. Shortly after his three-goal performance, Watson suffered an eye injury and when he returned he had trouble working his way back into the Fort Wayne lineup.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02125/3482899-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="563" height="470"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TED GARVIN&hellip;Raiding NAHL</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-01

Russians Dazzle 6,000 Fort Wayne Fans; Gems Name Self Coach To Replace McVie

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE PENTON</div><p>REGINA&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>hrough this, the most trying season of Bob Turner&rsquo;s tenure as coach of Regina Pats, the ex-defensive star of the Montreal Canadiens has kept his humor intact.</p><p>Some say Bob Turner is humorless; that the last time he cracked a smile is when the Pats rode to the Memorial Cup championship on the backs of the likes of Dennis Sobchuk, Clark Gillies, Greg Joly and Ed Staniowski back in the spring (more like early summer!) of 1974.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01163/3482968-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="259" height="421"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dan Lucas</b></figcaption></div><p>One thing is nearly definite: the smiles have been few and far between for Turner since the beginning of the 1975-76 Western Canada Hockey League season.</p><p>If he could afford it. Turner would likely-pull his hair out.</p><p>The situation in Regina is far from lost. That&rsquo;s what has made this season so trust rating for the Pats. On the average. they&rsquo;re scoring four goals a game and allowing five. Rarely are they blitzed. They just aren&rsquo;t winning.</p><p>Oh. they&rsquo;ve won nine games this year, in 32 tries. Good for last place in the East (make that Least) Division. Still, they remain but three points behind Flin Flon, occupants of fifth place, and are just five points out of third spot.</p><p>Just prior to the Christmas holidays, owner Del Wilson took a look at the league schedule and it spoiled his festive mood. It called for Regina to face runaway division-leading Saskatoon Blades four games in a row&mdash;two in each team&rsquo;s building.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we should light candles&rdquo;, said Wilson to Leader-Post reporter Dale Eisler. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t expect to have a Memorial Cup winner every year&hellip;we&rsquo;re realistic. But when you have people you know can play better than they have, then there has to be reason for concern&rdquo;</p><p>Making their boss look soothsayerlike. the Pats went out and lost the first two games to the Blades. After the first defeat, in Saskatoon. Turner took over the monologue.</p><p>&ldquo;Is it against the law to hit a guy out there?&rdquo; he wisecracked in his own very special wisecracking (snarling) way.</p><p>&ldquo;We have three or four defensemen with permanents (hair). They play like they&rsquo;re more worried about getting their hair messed. Look, if those guys want to play a game where there is no body contact, where you don&rsquo;t have to get physically involved, where you don&rsquo;t expect to get marked up. they can come and see me in my office tomorrow.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell them about curling!&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson pointed to the team veterans in laying the blame for the dismal showing of the Pats so far. &ldquo;What we lack is leadership&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s up to people like (Drew) Callander. (Rob) Tudor. (Jon) Hammond and (Mike) Wirachowsky to pull more than their share of the weight.&rdquo;</p><p>Then he took a dig at their pride. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen every team in this league and I know were as good as anybody else&hellip;that&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s so hard to take&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;You would think that our players would see the same thing and take some pride in themselves. I always say that if you&rsquo;re not going to put out. then don&rsquo;t bother putting on your uniform. It&rsquo;s a waste of time.</p><p>Perhaps the speech worked. In the third game of the Blades&rsquo; series, Callander, the team&rsquo;s leading scorer with 25. scored two power-play goals for a 32 Regina win It was Boxing Day.</p><p>Maybe the Pats got some pride for Christmas.</p><p>The WCHL&rsquo;s All-Star game, involving the best from the Eastern and Western Divisions, goes Jan. 15 in Lethbridge&rsquo;s Sportsplex.</p><p>Since the Hockey News deadline doesn&rsquo;t permit the All-Stars rames to be published prior to game time, here&rsquo;s an observer&rsquo;s prediction of the top six players from each division.</p><p><b>WEST:</b> Goal&mdash;Mark Earp (Kam loops): Defense&mdash;Barry Beck (New Westminster), Reg Kerr (Kamloops): Center&mdash;Jim Gustafson (Victoria); Left wing&mdash;Morris Lukowich (Medicine Hat); Right Wing&mdash;Don Murdoch (Medicine Hat).</p><p><b>EAST:</b> Goal&mdash;Glen Hanlon (Brandon); Defense&mdash;Kevin McCarthy (Winnipeg): Doug Gillespie (Leth-bridge): Center Bernie Federko (Saskatoon): Left Wing&mdash;Mark Da-vidson (Flin Flon); Right wing Blair Chapman (Saskatoon).</p><p><b>SASKATOON:</b> The Blades reached the half-way point in the schedule by losing 3-2 to Regina, after posting a 6-2 victory over the Pats five days earlier. Linemates Bernie Feder ko and Blair Chapman are one-two in the scoring race, and center Fred Williams. a five-year veteran and a future solid draft choice of someone&rsquo;s, has had a spot in the top 10 all season.</p><p><b>FLIN FLON:</b> The Bombers were idle Christmas week, but dreaded the thought of a two-game series at home against Saskatoon without leading scorer Richmond Gosslin. suspended forthe brawl with Brandon Dec. 16.</p><p><b>WINNIPEG:</b> Clubs only start of the week was a 6-3 loss in Brandon, but things were looking up. Coach George Dorman said injured center Gord Blumenschein would be back around the middle of January and that goalie Lome Molleken is expected to return about a week later.</p><p><b>BRANDON:</b> Wheat Kings won two of three, all at home, as defenseman Wayne Ramsey scored his first three goals of the season&mdash;with a broken bone in his right hand. Unheralded Murray Thomson was hot. getting eight points in the three games. Four of those points came in a 7-5 loss to Edmonton. Gord Kaluzniak had the clinching two goals the following night, a 6-3 win over the Oil Kings, while teammate Dale McMullin rifled in his third hat trick of the year. Danny Bonar turned playmaker, getting five assists, but not as much ice time as he&rsquo;d like.</p><p><b>MEDICINE HAT:</b> Trailing Calgary 1-0 after the first period, Tigers exploded for eight goals in the second period and won 9-6 as center Greg Carroll, having a spectacular season, scored three and assisted on four others. Linemates Morris Lukowich (three goals) and Don Murdoch (one, and three assists) also frolicked. Murdoch upped his goal total to 42 Boxing Day in a 4-4 tie with Lethbridge.</p><p><b>LETHBRIDGE:</b> Broncos only game of the week was the 4-4 deadlock with Medicine Hat and a Boxing Day crowd of 4,455 turned out for the thriller. Rookie Steve Tambellini leads the team in goals with 22 while Brian Sutter and Willie Desjardins follow with 20 apiece.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> Oil Kings won twice in a row on the road for the first time this season, dumping Brandon 7-5 after beating Winnipeg the night before. Doug Lecuyer and Ken Burdon scored twice each against Brandon. The following night, Edmonton was burned on the power play (taking seven of nine minors) and lost 6-3 to Brandon. But two goals in the last two minutes on Boxing Day gave them a 5-5 tie with the Centennials in Calgary. Tony Currie led the way in that one with three points.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-01

Smiles Few For Pats’ Coach Turner; Oil Kings Enjoy Most Road Success

<div class="byline">BY GARY CLARK</div><p>LOUISVILLE SLU6GER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Steet, Wallocaburj, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>LOUISVILLE SLU6GER HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD. Arnold Steet, Wallocaburj, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01143/3483006-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="551" height="759"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARRY KISH&hellip;Joins Dusters</b></figcaption></div><p>SOUTH YARMOUTH&mdash;</p><p>It is tough for any hockey league to suffer through a franchise failure. It is doubly difficult when the bell tolls for what should be one of that league&rsquo;s strongest franchises.</p><p>It is even more so when the league had taken great pride in being the only one in minor league hockey not to have lost a franchise over the last three years.</p><p>Thus it was with unbounded relief that the North American Hockey League greeted the rebirth of the Cape Codders just 72 hours after their announced demise.</p><p>The folding of the Codders had been uncomfortably paradoxical in the first place. It was the first time in memory that a winning club had ever folded in mid-season. The Cape Cod team had a record of 17-13-3 on the day of their premature death and had spent a major portion of the season in first place in the NAHL&rsquo;s East Division.</p><p>What is more they were an entertaining club with high powered forward lines led by Robbie Neale, Ron Snell, Yvan Bouillon, et al. The Codders struck one of the most potent offenses in the league.</p><p>The franchise had every mark of being as strong off the ice as the team was on it. It benefitted from approximately 1,400 season ticket subscribers. Average home at tendance over the first half of the season was well over 2,500 per game, the third ranking total in a league where at tendance usually rises sharply after Jan. 1.</p><p>Was Cape Cod to be the first portent of the death of minor league hockey? Had the expenses of the pro sport risen to a degree that even so successful clubs could not remain solvent?</p><p>Hardly as the rebirth of the Codders proved. In the first place the bulk of the Codders&rsquo; problems, and of the solutions which eventually saved them, related directly to the team&rsquo;s relationship with the bankrupt Cape Cod Coliseum and not to the hockey business itself.</p><p>To explain briefly: the Coliseum and the Cape Cod hockey club were two entirely separate corporations but had common ownership. As the Coliseum was failing the ownership was charging itself what was by NAHL standards an exorbitant rent. There was no transfer of funds but the old rent was listed as an asset of the Coliseum.</p><p>Trouble arose when the Coliseum filed for bankruptcy and was put into the hands of a court appointed receiver. The Cape Codders suddenly owed back rent of over $100,000 to a third party. Moreover, the receiver continued to charge the Codders rent at the same rate that he inherited.</p><p>The team suddenly had very real liabilities that it could not cope with since the ownership&rsquo;s resources had been completely depleted by the failing Coliseum.</p><p>Here&rsquo;s a panorama of the events of the week during which the team folded and then sprang back into existence:</p><p>On Friday, Dec. 26 the depleted Codders first ran into problems but were able to meet their payroll. Throughout the weekend a movement led by Jack Coff, Codders&rsquo; accountant, sought new ownership for the team.</p><p>At a public meeting on Monday evening Goff sought investments of $75,000. Less than $20,000 was raised. The team was considered dead and stories to that effect were published. However, on Tuesday morning commissioner Jack Timmins, who had been at the Cape throughout the crisis, received a phone call from members of the board of directors of the Bass River Savings Bank indicating they would try to put an ownership together. At a meeting later that morning that effort failed as well.</p><p>Timmins flew back to league headquarters where a revised league schedule was drafted and a dispersal draft of the Cape players was arranged for and moves to dissolve the franchise were begun.</p><p>On Wednesday just as the dispersal draft was to begin, a suggestion was made that one last try be made to salvage the team. This time renegotiating the lease with the receiver and negotiating the rent of the rink were critical.</p><p>The NAHL extended to Goff a deadline of 3 p.m. Friday to solve the building problem and in turn raise enough money to guarantee all expenses could be met for the rest of the year.</p><p>After 72 hours a new group, using Goff as the catalyst, was able to satisfy every equirement of the league. The group was able to post the required escrow bond and performance bond totaling $35,000 and was able to guarantee the payroll for the remainder of the season.</p><p>The reorganized Codders were readmitted by a unanimous vote of the governors.</p><p>Unfortunately during the time the team was dead it had lost both its coach and its working agreement with the New England Whalers of the WHA to the Binghamton Dusters. Larry Kish, the Codders&rsquo; coach & GM, left to sign with the Dusters to replace fired Binghamton coach Wayne Clairmont. With him went the assignment of Whaler farmhands Cap Raeder, Marty Gatemen and John Danby.</p><p>John Cunniff has been named as the Codders&rsquo; new player-coach. Reg Krezanski has been appointed assistant coach. Both were active players and first team NAHL All Stars in 1974-75. Ten of the 12 free agent Codders remained in the fold as the team regrouped. The only defectors were Gerry Methe, and Ron Snell, who went to the Ro-chester Americans of the AHL. Codders are hoping to get both players back. Methe reportedly was headed for Toledo of the IHL.</p><p>The Whalers came through by returning center Steve Richardson with the consent of Mohawk Valley, where he had been reassigned.</p><p>Rumored to be coming back is former Cape Cod coach, captain and All Star defenseman Mike DeMarco. The Codders are also dickering with Mike Hyndman, former WHA player, who played with Cape Cod last year. Already on hand is Terry Flaman, who was signed as a free agent.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02102/3482999-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="564" height="534"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN CUNNIFF&hellip;New Cape Coach</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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January 16, 1976

Patrick Insistent Guiding Blues Temporary

WHA SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

HOCKEY CROSSWORD