The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.

December 24, 1976

The Hockey News December 24, 1976

Canadiens' Guy Lafleur is a tough man to dislodge from first place in the NHL's individual scoring race.The prolific Montreal right winger leads the points race for the third straight week and he was the most productive of the league's top 10 scorers outside of Rangers' Rod Gilbert, who bagged six assists but didn't score. Lafleur counted four times and two of them were big ones for the Canadiens. He scored the only goal in the Habs' 1-0 decision over Cleveland and came back to notch the go-ahead goal in a 4-3 win over Chicago. In between he twice scored singles and added an assist to raise his season totals to 51 points, 24 goals and 27 assists.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03459/4166392-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="519" height="502"><figcaption class="caption-body">GUY LAFLEUR&hellip;Montreal Canadiens</figcaption></div>With Canadiens' enjoying a commanding 21-point lead in their division race over the L.A. Kings, the Habs can afford to open up a little more and it's paying off for the likes of Lafleur. &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

NHL'S… Player of the Week

<div class="byline">BY JIM CAUCHON</div>LONDON-Excuses weren't what Ron Watson's University of Western Ontario Mustangs were bidding for through November. It was for time. And that's why fellow OUAA West grapplers are now checking their watches. To see how much.of it they have left.A graduation-riddled squad needing games to jell together along with high-pitch football fever, which finally resulted in the school's CIAU championship. took the starch out of the club s November schedule ending at 1-3-1 and last place.Within the first week of December though, the Stangs have come together over three wins and a tie to be just a point out of the division lead occupied by Waterloo.The reasons Western was to again go for the gold are beginning to surface and numbers tell why.Rookie 18-year-old centerman Dave Nadeau, just off an awesome 220-point juvenile season, has been terrorizing of late.The Kapuskasing. Ontario, sensation used a two goal, five assist game Dec. 3, in a 9-4 win over Laurier, to take over Ontario's scoring lead with nine goals and 11 assists.Linemate Maurice Biron, an OUAA first team All Star last year, moved up to third in the West's scoring race with 5-11-16 points.Keeping the puck out of the net has been something else that has led to Western s resurgence.University of Michigan transferee Robbie Moore has guarded the Western nets to the sweet tune of holding the country's best team goals-against average with a 2.67 mark in nine games including a shutout four-point win over Windsor.University of Toronto Blues and Ryerson's Rams continue to have slim division leads over respective archrivals, number one-ranked York Yeomen and Lome Adams' Brock Badgers in the East and Central brackets.Canada's only remaining unbeaten club. Dave Chambers' Yeomen took two shaky wins from Queens 5-4 and 7-4 to stay just off the U of T pace at 4-0-1.WEST COAST: Clare Drake's second-ranked Alberta Golden Bears will not be loafing around just because the annual Christmas break has hit.Correspondent Darrel Semenuk says the Canada West leaders at 6-2-0, one-third of the way through, head for St. Louis to face the Biliikens Dec, 26 and 27 and then on to Toronto to go against the Blues and perhaps York and eighth-rated UQTR Patriotes.The others will not be taking it easy either with Saskatchewan's Huskies tackling the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Calgary's Dinosaurs venturing to Denver to play the Pioneers Dec. 29 and 30 and the University of British Columbia T-Birds, and CWUAA scoring leader Tom Blaney 6-9-15, going up against Western International League opponents Trail, &Ccedil;ranbrook and Kimberley Dec. 28, 29 and 30.MARITIMES: Like gangbusters, Jean Perron's Universite de Moncton Blue Eagles have put St. Francis Xavier's run-away-and-hide tactics into the Xmas break deep freeze, by reeling off an eight-game unbeaten string (7-0-1). And the crowning first semester glory came at the best of times. At home, in front of some 2,400 supporters, against the hated X-Men.Jean Beaulieu and Denis Fournier counted on U de M's first two shots and Jean-Guy Cote kicked out 27 of 30 St. FX efforts to share AUAA top spot with a 5-3 victory Dec. 5.St. Marys stayed right in the picture at 7-2-1 by whipping Dalhousie 3-2, UPEI 7-3 and Mt. Allison 4-2..QUEBEC: Five of the week's six Quebec Universities Athletic Association games concerned the Concordia Stingers and with the finals-disbelief.Having more trouble than expected in the 6-3 disposing of Bishop's was the key. Because after they ambushed McGill 12-1. fattening their statistics to the point where six of the league's top seven scorers wear Stinger colors, they blew a three-goal lead on home ice to Trois-Rivi&egrave;res Dec. 3 in salvaging a 4-4 tie.GREAT PLAINS: How good are G-PAC newcomers, the University of Regina Cougars under Dr. Reg Higgs?Well, if matches against the Lakehead Nor Westers and. most recently, against the Winnipeg Wesmen hold any water, playoff hopes, which were no more than that in September, could soon be reality.A triple-header sweep at home 5-3, 9-5 and 3-1 over the Wesmen elevated the previously basement-occupying Cougars into practically a second place knot with the Lakehead at 5-5-0.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01360/4166889-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="591" height="1207"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOM BLANEY&hellip; UBC Ace Top Scorer (Photo by Don Truckey)</figcaption></div><h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02262/4166882-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="616" height="2169"></div> &#9632;

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Western Mustangs Put New Kick Into Offense

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NHL SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

<div class="byline">BY RICHARD POLLAK</div>GREENSBORO-Before the 1976-77 season started. Greensboro's new GM-coach John Voss stated that no one in the Southern Hockey League was going to push his team around and everybody on his squad was going to be able to handle himself. But little did the rest of the SHL know that Voss was not just giving the local press some pre-season PR. but in fact, he went out and got himself the biggest squad in the SHL Starting with the likes of Jamie Bateman. Bim McFall, and Bruce Grieg. Voss, a former netminder himself, still didn't have a big enough club in front of his two goalers. Nick Sanza and Ernie Miller.As an ex-goalie, Voss set out to put together a club that he himself would like to have playing in front of him. Voss, however, was not satisfied until he went to the open market of available hockey talent and added defenseman Dick Spannbauer and winger Jeff Carlson.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01300/4167407-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="572" height="852"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEFF CARLSON&hellip; A Hockey Celebrity</figcaption></div>Carlson well known for his ability to handle himself now adds a new dimension of publicity to the SHL. Carlson, along with his two hockey playing brothers Jack and Steve, now are stars of the soon to be released movie about minor league hockey starring Paul Newman called &ldquo;Slapshot &ldquo;. Hampton's Dave Hanson also has a major role in the movie which was written about the Johnstown Jets. The role involves three brothers, appropriately named Hanson, and their life in minor league hockey Dave Hanson plays the third Hanson brother because Jack Carlson at the time was in Minnesota with the parent club and had to be replaced.As the season reached the halfway mark, it was nice to know that Carlson and Hanson are on their way to Hollywood to re-dub their lines for the movie.According to GM-coach Jim Cardiff of Johnstown who passed up a chance to have a key role in the movie as a coach because he would not personally read profane words into the script, the movie cost his club the NAHL championship. Players spent 10 hours a day on the set at the Johnstown arena continually redoing fight scenes and there was no time for the team to practice.Little did the players in the movie know that it really takes hours to produce even a short segment of a movie.WINSTON-SALEM: The Polar-Twins are improving in the standing since Gordie Tottle has taken over the club. Goalie Brian Cousineau, the main key to the Twins rise, has been the outstanding player the Twins have needed to shore up their defensive play. Offensively they still rely on veterans Ken Gassoff and John Campbell.HAMPTON: Goalie Bob Johnson, recently acquired from Minnesota (WHA) has left the club after only one appearance. Johnson was victorious in his first SHL start against the cross-tunnel rivals, the Tidewater Sharks. 6-3. Goalie John Kiely, who belongs to Cincinnati in the WHA, has been moved to Oklahoma City in the Central Hockey League. Now the Gulls' netminding chores will be handled by Rick Szabo and Bob Mears.CHARLOTTE: With GM-coach Pat Kelly headed for a new position as coach of the Birmingham Bulls in the WHA. the Checkers have named standout defenseman Barry Burnett as their new player-coach. Burnett has been a strad-out defenseman for the Checkers for the past few years and now will be responsible for the overall running of the hockey operation. The Checkers may be getting some additional help from members of last year's SHL championship squad. Rumored to be returning to the Checkers are right winger Bob Smulders (22-46-68), who has been playing in Europe and last year's second leading Checkers' scorer, left winger Neil Korzack, who initially retired to return to school. GillesBilodeau, who has been returned to the parent club in Birmingham, still leads the SHL in penalty minutes. Last year he accumulated over 450 penalty minutes with Beauce in the NAHL.RICHMOND: The regular mid-season meetings of the SHL board of governors was held in Richmond. Talks were led by league president Jack Riley, and the SHL has decided to continue with a 17-man roster till the end of the season.Originally a Dec. 1 deadline would limit the SHL rosters to 14 players and two net-minders. The league also discussed financial stability through the first half of the 1976-77 season and although no official statement was issued by the league, all clubs seem to be at their anticipated goals although attendance through the SHL has been disappointing. The Hampton Gulls lead the league in attendance with over 3.500 per game, while the other SHL clubs are averaging between 2.600 and 2,300. The Wildcats have climbed into second place and are playing exceptional hockey for an expansion squad. Coach Forbes Kennedy has put together an explosive offense and a veteran defense lead by Ralph MacSweyn, Willy Brossart, Keith Kokkola, Jim McCrimmon and Jim Spinners. Wayne Spooner has been moved up to the forward line for the Cats and Billy Goldthorpe has played exceptionally well at center for coach Kennedy. The Cats defeated the Hampton Gulls 9-0 in the largest scoring margin of the season.BALTIMORE: Coach Larry Wilson s continued success with youth has been the talk of the SHL. The Clippers have only been defeated once at home and that by only one goal. Center Bob Sauve has been the biggest surprise for the Clippers; the junior product from Quebec leads the club in assists and scoring on the power play. The only veterans currently on the SHL roster are RW Don Grierson and LW Dennis Giannini, who are both former AHL stars with the Clippers.TIDEWATER: The Sharks dropped their league-leading point spread to only five before travelling south to Charlotte and Greensboro, where they defeated the Checkers 4-1 and Greensboro 4-3 in over-time. Defenseman George Pesut has reported to the club from Calgary. Pesut played last season in the NHL with California. Calgary called up former WHA and Boston University product Ric Jordan as his replacement. NY Rangers'scout Ron Stewart was in attendance at the Sharks' 2-2 tie with Richmond at the Scope looking at some of his Richmond players whom the Rangers drafted this season Stewart was also looking at a number of the league-leading Sharks players. Jim Mayer and Doug Lindskog.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-04124/4167400-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="576" height="818"><figcaption class="caption-body">BARRY BURNETT &hellip; Takes Over Checkers.</figcaption></div><h2>Where SHL Teams Play</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02236/4167393-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="577" height="800"></div><h2>SHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03178/4167386-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="603" height="884"></div> &#9632;

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New Generals Give Club Size, Muscle; Burnett Named Charlotte Player-Coach

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-011032/4165462-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Winnipeg ace Anders Hedberg came up with a goal and an assist as the Jets defeated Czechoslovakia 6-5 in the first game of their WHA tour at Winnipeg.</figcaption></div><h2>JETS OVERPOWER CZECHS</h2>WINNIPEG&mdash;The Winnipeg Jets literally came up off the floor to knock off the touring Czechoslovakian National team 6-5 in the start of the Czech six-game tour of WHA cities. The Jets, trailing the Czechs 4-0 going into the third period, erupted for six goals to turn the decision around.Anders Hedberg, Dan Labraaten, Thommie Bergman, Kent Ruhnke, Mats Lindh and finally Peter Sullivan, with the eventual game winner, scored for Winnipeg in the final 20 minutes of play. The Jets were outshot 31-20 but it was Winnipeg's Joe Daley who outshone Canada Cup hero Vladimir Dzurilla in the Czechs' goal as 10,022 fans went home deliriously happy. The Czechs were scheduled to play in Edmonton Dec. 13, Calgary Dec. 15, St. Paul Dec. 17, Hartford Dec. 20 and Indianapolis Dec. 22. The Russians were to follow the Czechs starting their six-game WHA tour Jan. 1 in Indianapolis.<h2>ORR MAY TAKE CUT</h2>TORONTO&mdash;Bobby Orr may set another hockey precedent if he goes through with his personal proposal to take a salary cut if attendance doesn't improve at the home games of the Chicago Black Hawks. Orr, the ailing Hawks' defenseman who is presently sidelined for a two-week period, said he has told his financial adviser, Alan Eagleson, to review his contract for a possible pay cut.Orr, who got the word that he won't need another knee operation and will be back in action in two weeks, was cheered by the news from the medics but he wasn't too happy with the Hawks' slipping attendance which has gone from 12,000 to 10,000 average. Orr said that if he couldn't contribute to the Hawks' cause he didn't want to be a part of a financially-losing season for the club. He is on the first year of a $3 million dollar contract.<h2>NO NHL-WHA MERGER</h2>TORONTO&mdash;It is fairly safe to say that there will be no merger of the rival NHL and WHA leagues. The NHL Player's Association signed a five-year agreement forbidding any merger with the WHA and the WHA, according to its president, Bill MacFarland, isn't interested in merging with the NHL.MacFarland, who said only three of his 12 teams have pressing financial problems&mdash;Minnesota, Calgary and Phoenix&mdash;is optimistic about the future. He said ''attendance is up a bit in many cities and there's good interest in our series of games against the Soviet and Czechoslovakian teams.&rdquo; MacFarland believes the WHA's cost-cutting program has helped. He also said his league was willing to meet with NHL owners to discuss the high costs and low attendance plaguing both leagues but he added the WHA is not aiming at a merger.<h2>GILBERT HITS 1,000</h2>NEW YORK&mdash;Ranger heart throb Rod Gilbert continues to attain personal hockey milestones with the NHL club. Gilbert played in his 1,000th NHL game as a Ranger and to salute the occasion, the New York club will hold a night for him March 9.Gilbert owns or shares 22 Rangers records including most goals (392), most assists (589) and most playoff goals (34). He became the 14th player in NHL history to attain the 1,000-game plateau with the same team. Harry Howell was the only other Ranger to achieve the feat. &#9632;

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DEADLINE STOPPERS

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WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT ALL

<div class="byline">BY GARY MCCARTHY</div>MONTREAL-Scotty Bowman, coach of the Montreal Canadiens, feels it is much better to complain when you're winning than when you're losing.So, Bowman did a little complaining last'week about officiating in the National Hockey League. At the time, the Canadiens were undefeated in nine games. They later stretched that streak to 10 games by shutting out Detroit on Forum ice.The source of Bowman's concern was the fact that the Canadiens were not getting the power play chances the coach felt the team deserved.He pointed out that the Canadiens had enjoyed less than 100 power play chances after 30 games this season while several other teams, such as the Minnesota North Stars, had well over 100 chances with the man advantage.Bowman's complaints came after the Canadiens had defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4-3 in the Windy City. Bob Myers was the referee for that game.Bowman mentioned that Myers had not called quite a few penalties in the Montreal-Chicago game&mdash;penalties that he thought should have been called on both sides.Ironically enough, just a couple of days after Bowman's remarks, Myers was the referee for the Montreal-Detroit game. In that one, Myers handed out three minor penalties to the Red Wings and the Canadiens cashed in each time en route to a 5-0 victory.Steve Shutt, the National Hockey League's leading goal-scorer with 29 in the first 31 games, said he felt Myers had overlooked a lot of shots in the tight game.&ldquo;There was a lot of flagrant stuff in that Chicago game,&rdquo; said Shutt. &ldquo;Tonight (against the Red Wings), there wasn't any of that stuff. It was a clean game.&rdquo;Bowman said after the game against the Red Wings that he has nothing against one official in particular.&ldquo;Look, the guy (Myers) is going to be a National Leaguer, there's no doubt about that,&rdquo; Bowman said.Bowman said he made the remarks because he thought the Canadiens may not have been treated fairly in the early going because of their high-scoring and winning record.The Canadiens continue to take on all comers and post victories every time. Their 10-game undefeated streak did come to an end last Sunday night when they dropped a 5-2 decision to the New York Rangers on Rod Gilbert Night at Madison Square Garden.It was the start of a four-game road trip that would see the Canadiens return home only twc nights after Christmas to play the Cleveland Barons.Shutt, who started making new: because he wasn't scoring, got hi: 29th goal against the Red Wings. He had gone two games without a goalGuy Lafleur also continued his outstanding play, which is even better this year because of his tremendous back checking&mdash;a part of the game not usually associated with high-scoring star forwards.Lafleur scored a beautiful goal in a 1-0 victory over the Barons at the Forum. He did it all on second effort. scoring as he was being hauled to the ice by a defender.Lafleur also scored once against the Red Wings at the Forum. In that game, his back-checking was outstanding. On his goal, he came back to check his man, picked up the puck, passed it back to Larry Robinson and then took a pass from the big defenseman before drilling a hard slapshot past Detroit goalie Jim Rutherford.HABS NOTES: The Canadiens played the last two periods in the loss to the Rangers without the services of Robinson. He had to be helped from the ice late in the first period after being injured. The Habs missed him tremendously because his absence allowed the Rangers to roam around a little more in the Montreal end&hellip;Billy Reay is no fan of Canadiens' coach Scotty Bowman. Reay had a lot of remarks to make about the Montreal coach after the Hawks lost 4-3 to the Canadiens&hellip;Bunny Larocque was in goal for the 5-0 victory over Detroit, giving him his first shutout of the season. He only had to handle 15 shots&hellip; Y van Cournoyer was sidelined with a groin injury. He suffered the injury against Chicago and aggravated it in practice a couple of days later&hellip;Jimmy Roberts, coming off a pulled muscle in his stomach, filled in for Cournoyer&hellip; Jacques Lamaire was placed at center between Shutt and Lafleur while Pete Mahovlich, struggling somewhat through the first 30 games, was moved to center between Yvon Lambert and Rejean Houle &#9632;

Habs' Power Play Chances Bring Words From Bowman

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011039/4165562-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dennis Sobchuk has finally exploded into the superstar category the Cincinnati Stingers had expected when they signed him to a long-term contract three years ago. Sobchuk admits he learned how to face up to the pressures by watching teammate Rick Dudley, below, handle himself as the Cincinnati team captain.</figcaption></div><h2>Special To The Hockey News</h2>CINCINNATI&mdash;When the Cincinnati Stingers signed Dennis Sobchuk to a multi-year pact in the spring of 1973, the front office promised the Cincinnati fans a superstar. Now, just two and a half years later, Dennis is delivering.At 22 years old, some people may say that the above statement is a little premature, and yet, consider the facts. During Sobchuk's rookie season in the WHA. he played for the Phoenix Roadrunners on loan to them from Cincinnati because the expansion Stingers were not slated to begin play until the '75-76 season. He finished the year with 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 total points. Most of these points were accumulated after Christmas because, according to Dennis, &ldquo;I had always been a slow starter, even in my early junior days.&rdquo;Last year, finally playing for the team that had signed him over two years ago, Sobchuk again started slowly and although he finished the year with a 'hat trick' on the second-to-last day of the season and then grabbed two more goals in the Stingers' final regular season game, he wound up with 32 goals again, but his assist total dropped from 45 to 40. Considering the fact that he had only nine goals on Jan. 10, one could again point to a slow start, but Dennis refuses to accept that reasoning as a crutch anymore.&ldquo;In my eyes, had a bad season, period,&rdquo; recalls Sobby. &ldquo;This past summer did a lot of soul-searching and decided that this year is going to be different.&ldquo;They always say that in your sophomore year you have a natural tendency to let down a bit, and maybe that was the case with me to a certain extent, but there were other factors, too.&ldquo;There were pressures that really wasn't able to shoulder properly last year, pressures that came with being highly touted throughout my junior career and also finally coming into Cincinnati after knowing what people were expecting of me. For the past two years a lot of things built up inside and just couldn't handle it. Near the end of the year, began to notice how well 'Duds' (referring to team captain Rick Dudley) was able to cope, and that helped me quite a bit.&ldquo;During the summer months looked at myself and decided that I'm not going to go into the season with that pace yourself attitude that had in the past. Sure, you can say that you are just a slow starter and leave it at that, but getting right down to it, it's really all in your head. If you think that you are a slow starter, then chances are pretty good that you will get off slowly.&ldquo;This year I'm taking one game at a time, and each shift on the ice try to give it all have.&rdquo;To date, Dennis has given it all he has. In his first 25 games of the season, he has 33 scoring points, made up of 13 goals and 20 assists, good for a 13th place tie in the overall WHA scoring race with Winnipeg's Willy Lindstrom and Stinger teammate Blaine Stoughton. Included in his stats are one game-winning goal, two shorthanded goals and three power play scores. He is also a plus-three player.Dennis won't forget the goal he scored for the Stingers the night of Oct. 26 against the New England Whalers. It was a shorthanded effort and turned out to be the only goal of the game as Cincinnati won 1-0 in Hartford.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02894/4165555-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="1188" height="902"><figcaption class="caption-body">TERRY SLATER&hellip; Handling Youngest WHA Team</figcaption></div>That is very impressive, but you can add to that the fact that it was the last game of an eight-game road swing that encompassed seven cities in 20 days, and it makes you raise your eyebrows a little more. You see, the Stingers are the youngest team ever in major league sports (average age of just 22.7) and after playing seven games on the road &ldquo;a lot of teams would have just gone out there and gone throught the motions, because they would be anxious to get back home,&rdquo; according to head coach Terry Slater. &ldquo;But these guys are different,&rdquo; continued Slater. &ldquo;Last year our road record was terrible. told my players that we had to go back to win the game with the Whalers, which we did, thanks to Dennis' goal and some excellent defense and goaltending.Dennis also sparkled on Oct. 30 in front of over 10,000 fans at Riverfront Coliseum as he tied a team record by accumulating six points (two goals and four assists) as the Stingers shellacked Sobchuk's former teammates, the Phoenix Roadrunners, by a score of 9-3.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03605/4165548-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="566" height="1356"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photo by Steve Babineau)</figcaption></div>Grabbing points is one thing, but this year Dennis has done much more. He mans the left point in all Stinger power plays, and he also is one of the forwards on shorthanded situations.After the first month of the young season, Dennis was picked by the Cincinnati area sports media as &ldquo;the player of the month&rdquo; and he received a beautiful pewter mug with his October statistics engraved on it for his efforts. In a style that has become typical of Dennis this year, he accepted the award at center ice on Nov. 3 graciously by telling the fans that all 18 players on the Stinger roster should have been given one.He said the same thing three nights later when he received the Stingers' Booster Club award as the month so most valuable player.If Dennis continues his current pace in point getting and inspired hockey on the ice, he's a cinch to be a first team All Star candidate at mid-season, an honor that has eluded both him and his slow starts in the first two years of his major league career.&ldquo;Personally, yes that is a goal of mine,&rdquo; confessed Sobchuk &ldquo;But the most important thing is to make the playoffs. We missed them last year and going home early is no fun at all. All year you strive to make them and we came so close. think that in the long run it has helped the team, because we realize that a game in early November is just as important as one in late March. The off season additions of guys like Richie Leduc, Blaine Stoughton, and Dennis Abgrall helps a lot.&ldquo;Two months ago the predictions for our team were that we'd have a tough time finishing in third place in our division, but think they're changing their minds about us now. They guys are really close knit and everybody gets along with everyone both on and off the ice. That goes a long way.&ldquo;We have such a young team (average age of just 22.7) that it must be tough at times for Terry (coach Slater). But he's been just great to all of us; he treats us all as individuals and think that is the way it has to be,&rdquo; he said.Off the ice, Dennis, along with teammate brother Gene (currently out with a fractured right arm but due back in the lineup Jan. 1), are very active in the fight for multiple sclerosis. They have made television commercials for MS on top of numerous appearances to aid the cause here in Cincinnati. The reason? Pretty simple. Their mother in Lang, Saskatchewan has had the disease since they both were infants.&ldquo;She is a very courageous person, and we hold an awful lot of respect and admiration for her,&rdquo; smiled Dennis. &ldquo;She has never complained one bit, and she has instilled an optimism in us through her actions. When were on the ice, we skate a little faster and try a little harder, because we know she can't. &#9632;

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DENNIS SOBCHUK DELIVERS FOR STINGERS

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie's</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011090/4165614-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="443" height="449"></div>NICK FOTIU is fast becoming the most popular member of the New York Rangers. The native New Yorker hasn't forgotten the days as a kid when he used to watch the Rangers play from the balcony seats. A puck never reached those seats, so now, Fotiu, at the end of each pre-game warm-up, throws a puck into each end of the balcony. The kids and the fans love it. Keith Magnuson, (Chicago's tough-luck defenseman, has lost 18 pounds since getting a broken jaw wired up&hellip;When Bobby Orr is sidelined, which is often, the Black Hawks are many times down to four defensemen. Phil Esposito has to be one of the most superstitious guys in hockey. He has decorated the walls of the New York Rangers' dressing room with lucky charms of all descriptions. Most of these were sent to him by fans, and occasionally he slips one or two into his glove before stepping onto the ice&hellip;NHL referee Ron Wicks is back on the job following the accident that almost cost him his eyesight. He's wearing a helmet and mask&hellip;When Keith Allen, general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, was asked if he'd be interested in restless Rick Chartraw of the Montreal Canadiens, he answered: I've been in this job eight years and I'm still waiting to make my first deal with Sam Pollock. All we've ever exchanged is Christmas cards&hellip;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021045/4165607-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="311" height="475"><figcaption class="caption-body">Nick Foiu</figcaption></div>INDIANAPOLIS RACERS are on their most successful winning streak in the team's history. The Racers have played to seven home crowds of 10,000 or more people&hellip; Indianapolis has a home crowd average of 9.564 compared to 9.547 for Cincinnati. 9.0202 for Quebec and 8,641 for New England Winnipeg Jets are the top drawer on the road among WHA clubs. The Jets have averaged 9,421 in games away from home. Seven times they've played before 10,000 plus crowds on the road. Quebec Nordiques are the second best draw on the road averaging 8,460&hellip; Walt Marlow, the very professional publicity director of Indianapolis, tells us that Quebec drew 13.035 fans into the Market Square Arena the last time they played in Indianapolis&hellip; Toronto Leafs are the third highest scoring team in the NHL trailing only Montreal and Boston&hellip; Guy Lafleur could very well win his second consecutive NHL scoring title. The Montreal star figures a player is at his peak between the ages of 26 and 30. Guy is 25&hellip;Southern Nevada University plans to build a new arena and ice plant shortly and place a team in one of the U.S. college circuits&hellip;Nice to see Pat Kelly appointed coach of the Birmingham Bulls. Pat served his time in the minor leagues learning his trade and he's well qualified for a major league coaching position&hellip;Certain Pittsburgh players telling friends that the club isn't in good shape and that Ken Schinkel isn't getting the most out of the talent on hand&hellip;Were waiting to hear the real story why Wren Blair was ousted as president and general manager of the Penguins&hellip;Close to half of every dollar taken in at the NHL box offices this year goes out in player salaries. No wonder the teams are going through such a financial crisis. With the average salary close to $90.000, it is almost impossible to run a successful operation and until the salaries of the overpaid players comes down the NHL is in serious trouble.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03940/4165600-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="308" height="499"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pat Kelly</figcaption></div>THE INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY League is in the midst of another one of its successful seasons. This minor league is rated one of the most stable professional leagues active today. Close distances between cities, keen rivalries and razor-sharp competition is what makes this an ideal setup The average trip for each of the nine clubs is 176 miles. The teams travel by bus and are back at home, the same night following out of town games&hellip;The WHA hopes to play more games against European -- teams in the future&hellip;Scotty Morrison. NHL referee-in-chief. advises us that there have been 20 percent fewer penalties in the league this year because of rule changes&hellip;Philadelphia's Jimmy Watson has decided to grow a beard&hellip;The Brad Parks and the Danny McDonalds are both awaiting a visit from the stork&hellip;WCAU, the all-news CBS affiliate in Philadelphia, announced it won't be carrying the Flyers' games next season&hellip;Bob Smart of Toronto is still playing hockey at 69. He plays almost every Saturday night throughout the winter in a non-contact recreational league where the players range in age between 16 and the late 40s&hellip; Gary Sargent, defenseman with the Los Angeles Kings, is the most improved player on the club. A copy of THE HOCKEY NEWS 1977 Yearbook makes a great Christmas gift for every hockey fan, and speaking of Christmas we would like to wish all of our readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04838/4165593-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="304" height="477"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Sargent</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05699/4165645-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg"></div><h2>Hockey Ad Lib Is Must Reading</h2>I have been reading THE HOCKEY NEWS for the past 10 years. The paper carries many delightful accounts of the game and its stars. There has been one contributing writer for your paper whom consider a star in his own right. I am referring to Bill Libby, whose &ldquo;Hockey Ad Lib&rdquo; articles are my favorite reading.Statistics and game descriptions are fine reading but enjoy those articles which offer mini-biographies of players, where the inner self of a person is revealed to show what makes each hockey player tick.Mr. Libby has a knack of putting these sketches into marvelous reading. Some of my favorite articles include the portrayal of Derek Sanderson, the misinterpreted person. and Bobby Hull, the magnetic rink filler.Why couldn't Mr. Libby's stories be collected into a book? It would make an excellent addition to a sports library.HOWARD A. DYER, Albert County, N.B.<h2>Pressure On Habs Truly Incredible</h2>In the Dec. 3 &ldquo;Fan Forum.&rdquo; John Cunningham of Brampton, Ont., said that too much pressure is being put on the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup. That may be true, but the pressure being put on the Montreal Canadiens to repeat as league champions is unbelievable.Should Guy Lafleur not score 50 goals, Ken Dryden not post a goals-against average around the 2.00 mark, and the Habs not win the Stanley Cup, the year would be a disappointment even if they led the league in total points.Even with this great pressure, the Habs still lead the league in every conceivable category, including goals for, goals against and total points, not to mention the Mahovlich, Shutt, Lafleur line.Under great pressure, the Canadiens are still doing what they were expected to do. They are far and away the best team in the NHL. They add color to a league rapidly diminishing because of expansion.DANNY FRAJMAN, Montreal<h2>Rules Were Made To Subdue Flyers</h2>Referring to Debby Weaver's letter in THE HOCKEY NEWS, Dec. 10 issue, agree with her completely.When the Flyers came along as the only exciting team in hockey in years and started to wake up the rest of the league, the powers that be seem to have decided that the only way to beat them was to make rules to stop them.With the help of the Toronto law enforcements, these rule makers now have hockey back where it was five years ago, when a bunch of overpaid, overrated so-called superstars could control the game and loaf along with ho-hum hockey.We are seeing the results, Arenas half full, no television coverage to speak of, etc. I am assuming that most people feel as I do. It's not worth the effort to go to an arena and when we do see a game on television, we can turn it off after about 10 minutes of the first period.I have seen only one exciting game this year. Philadelphia and the Islanders. The Flyers put enough pressure on New York to wake them up and we had one exciting hockey game.GEORGE NICHOLS, Massena, N.Y.<h2>Canucks Can Blame Poor Management</h2>I'm getting fed up with the Vancouver Canucks' poor management.Example: What ever happened to Paulin Bordeleau, Gregg Boddy, Tracy Pratt and Ken Lockett?They all left the team and what did Vancouver get for their releases? Nobody, not even a penny.I believe it is high time for a switch in the coaching job this year.LAURENCE PYATTE, Scanterbury, Man.<h2>Cup Means Much More Than Trophies, Records</h2>I think the only point that Kathy Bernhart proved in her letter (Fan Forum. Nov. 26) is that she knows how to contradict herself.She says that most people should stop writing about what happened in the Cup finals last season and start writing about the present.Why then mention the Hart and Smythe Trophies and the various records that the Flyers broke last season? That's all in the past, right?I think any knowledgeable hockey fan or player will agree that the Stanley Cup means more than all the other trophies combined and that records hardly mean anything today, because they are being broken many times during the season due to expansion.Records, when they are broken, will be erased from the record book. A Stanley Cup victory will stay in the record book forever.Even though the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup way back in May, no other team can win it again until May, 1977&mdash;that is if they can beat the Stanley Cup champions.NILES PILAT, Baltimore, Md.<h2>Encourage Players To Wear Helmets</h2>This letter is in regard to Eldon Strawford's letter which appeared in the Nov. 19 issue of THE HOCKEY NEWS.I cannot understand Mr. Strawford's ignorance in publicizing his distaste for helmets on hockey players.Although do not believe in making helmets mandatory in any professional hockey league, do think players should be encouraged to wear them.BARRY STEWART Calgary, Alta. &#9632;

f0004-05

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01942/4165700-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOM BLADON&hellip; Belongs In NHL. (Photo By Steve Babineau)</figcaption></div>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;Tom Bladon's nickname with the Flyers is &ldquo;Sparky.&rdquo; Considering the young defenseman's ups and downs, maybe he should be nicknamed &ldquo;Otis,&rdquo; after the elevator company.When Bladon is right, there are few NHL rearguards who are more effective offensively. When his self confidence is purring like a contented kitten, he is a dependable defenseman.However, when Bladon's game is off, he can be jittery handling the puck. Defensively, he occasionally appears absolutely dumbstruck. With Don Saleski he has been a quick target of the Spectrum's boobird minority. The critical customers sometimes act eager for Bladon on Saleski to commit an error.Early last season, Bladon was booed most every time he touched the puck. Later, it was discovered that the Edmonton native was taking conflicting medication that left him feeling drowsy. By season's end, he had scored 37 points, including a club-record 14 goals for a defenseman.As the Flyers swung into their pre-Christmas schedule. Bladon was one of the assist leaders among NHL defensemen. His shot from the right point is usually low and accurate, just where coach Fred Shero wants it. Shero could care less if his defensemen ever score a goal. If they're collecting plenty of assists, Shero is pleased.Talk with Bladon about his progress and the fifth-year NHLer, who was part of the lucrative 1972 amateur draft that brought the Flyers Bill Barber, Jimmy Watson and Alan MacAdams (now with Cleveland), will give you the expected &ldquo;I'm never satisfied&rdquo; reply.Mention that the biggest complaint about him is that he should be more assertive and he'll calmly answer, &ldquo;I feel like belong in the league. It's basically true that don't get too excited or too down. I've had a few of those nights where nothing goes right and they're no fun.&ldquo;The thing is, every mistake a defenseman makes is magnified. If we make a mistake, the guy is in. If a forward makes a mistake, the guy still has 150 feet to go to put the puck in.&rdquo;The Bladon-Joe Watson blueline partnership hasn't made many mistakes this season. At 33, Watson is playing the best hockey of his respected career. Bladon, who won't be 24 until Dec. 29, has also been generally effective both ways, although he still suffers through defensive lapses that make critics wince.Maybe people are forgetting that Bladon is still relatively young. Maybe he is just beginning to polish his defensive skills. Defensemen traditionally mature later than forwards, but, for someone of his six-foot-one, 195-pound size, the Flyers would like to see him play more aggressively.Whenever Bladon's short-comings are discussed, Barry Ashbee, the defensemen's defender, cautions that people shouldn't expect too much from the Flyers' quiet man.&ldquo;You have to realize that Tommy isn't going to be another Bobby Orr,&rdquo; said the Flyers' assistant coach. &ldquo;He's a good, solid defenseman, well respected around the league, but he won't be another Orr.&rdquo;Jimmy Watson and Andre (Moose) Dupont are the Flyers' most noticeable defensemen. IfFred Shero and Ashbee are content with Bladon's performance, maybe the rest of us should &ldquo;be, too. &#9632;

f0005-01

When Flyers' Bladon Right He's A Reliable Rearguard

<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>PHILADELPHIA - Wayne Stephenson, goaler, returned to active roster after signing contract.ATLANTA - Bill Flett, forward, sold outright to Edmonton of WHA, for cash.CHICAGO &mdash; Dave Logan, defenseman, and Duane Wylie, forward, recalled from Dallas of CHL. Kirk Bowman, forward, recalled from Flint of IHL. Dale Talion, defenseman. Stan Mikita and Jim Harrison, forwards, all placed on disabled list.CLEVELAND &mdash; Riek Shinske, Jim Moxey and Bob Girard, forwards, recalled from Salt Lake of CHL. Shinske returned to Salt Lake along with Charlie Simmer, forward.BOSTON &mdash; Joe Zanussi, defenseman, recalled from Rochester of AHL. Jim Pettie, goaler, returned to Rochester.LOS ANGELES - Bob Berry, forward, recalled from Fort Worth of CHL. Lorne Stamler, forward, sent to Fort Worth as replacement.MINNESOTA &mdash; Paul Harrison, goaler, and Blake Dunlop, forward, recalled from New Haven and later returned to AHL club. Jim Roberts, forward, recalled from New Haven.COLORADO &mdash; Phil Roberto, forward, sent to Rhode Island of AHL on loan.PITTSBURGH &mdash; Mario Faubert, defenseman, recalled from Hershey of AHL. Vic Hadfield, forward, returned to disabled list.ST. LOUIS - Rick Smith, defenseman, Brian Ogilvie and Dave Hrechkosy, forwards, sent to Kansas City of CHL.WASHINGTON - Paul Nicholson, forward, recalled from Dayton of IHL as replacement for Bob Sirois, forward, who is on disabled list with broken thumb. Mike Lampman, forward, placed on disabled list.<h2>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</h2>EDMONTON - Tim Sheehy, forward, traded to Birmingham in exchange for Gavin Kirk and Tom Simpson, forwards.QUEBEC &mdash; Michel Dubois, forward, recalled from Maine of NAHL.SAN DIEGO &mdash; Tim O'Connell and Pete McNamee, forwards, recalled from Charlotte of SHL.NEW ENGLAND &mdash; Cap Raeder, goaler, recalled from Rhode Island of AHL. Bruce Landon, goaler, sent to Rhode Island as replacement. Brett Callighen, forward, recalled from Rhode Island.MINNESOTA - Bob Johnson, goaler. assigned to Hampton of SHL.CALGARY &mdash; Ric Jordan, defenseman, recalled from Tidewater of SHL. George Pesut, defenseman. sent to Tidewater as replacement.CINCINNATI - John Kiely, goaler, recalled from Hampton and reassigned to Oklahoma City of CHL on loan.INDIANAPOLIS - Randy Burchell, goaler, recalled from Mohawk Valley of NAHL.PHOENIX &mdash; Mike Sleep, forward, returned to Oklahoma City of CHL. Danny Mandryk, forward, recalled from Oklahoma City and reassigned to Charlotte of SHL.<h2>AMERICAN LEAGUE</h2>NEW HAVEN &mdash; Larry Huras, defenseman. secured from N.Y. Rangers on loan. &#9632;

Hockey Players On The Move…

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011121/4165755-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">DAVE MALONEY&hellip; Brought Along By Fergy (Photo By Bruno Bennett)</figcaption></div>NEW YORK&mdash;Count us among the skeptics when the New York Rangers hired John Ferguson as their rookie general manager-coach last January. After all, Ferguson had never coached or run the front office of anything more important than a lacrosse team. His drive and fiery spirit had lifted him to the heights with the Montreal Canadiens, when his skating ability was something less than the norm on Les Habitants. But he got the job done.With the Rangers, &ldquo;Ferguson has turned it around,&rdquo; says Don Cherry, the Boston Bruins' coach. &ldquo;They have an interesting young team, one which should make the playoffs.&rdquo;Red Kelly, whose Toronto Maple Leafs fought the Rangers to a 5-5 tie in a seesaw battle on Dec. 5, noted, &ldquo;These Rangers work harder than any remember in recent years.&rdquo;The tie preserved the Rangers' eight-game unbeaten string (5-0-3), all with John &ldquo;Double Zero&rdquo; Davidson in goal, and enabled Fergy to comment, &ldquo;It's nice to know we have a team that can come back when it gets behind.&rdquo;Ken Hodge tipped Ron Greschner's shot at 16:51 of the final to earn the deadlock. Rod Gilbert had a goal, his 392nd career tally, and an assist. His goal placed him 12th in the NHL career lists, one ahead of former teammate Dean Prentice and one behind former Ranger Boom Boom Geoffrion.&ldquo;Hockey is fun again,&rdquo; said Rod. &ldquo;It took time, but we have the lines down now, and the people know what they have to do. We are coming back on defense better, although we still have to work on things like five goals against. think Fergy will get to that this week. It was frustrating losing all those home games early in the season, but guess we had to go through that.&rdquo;Gilbert is playing with Wayne Dillon and Steve Vickers. At times Dillon has been benched by Ferguson, until he gets the idea that &ldquo;He has to forecheck.&rdquo;The number one line is functioning with Phil Esposito at center. Bill Goldsworthy on the left side and Ken Hodge on the right. Goldsworthy scored his first goal as a Ranger against his former Minnesota teammates in an 11-4 romp over the North Stars Dec. 4, and he got two more against Toronto.&ldquo;It's nice to play with a team which has the ability to win every game it plays,&rdquo; said Goldsworthy. &ldquo;By that mean, we have a chance to win against every team in the NHL. It just wasn't that way in Minnesota. We have some young talents, some middle talent and some older talent, but this team has talent.&rdquo;Gilbert's assessment of the Rangers potential is high, tremendously high.&ldquo;This team has the most potential of any team have played on.&rdquo; said Rod. That covers a lot of ground.Most of it goes back to Ferguson's gutsy decision to go with the rookies and younger players and dump the non-producing veterans. He opened with seven new faces. Don Murdoch. Dave Farrish and Mike McEwen were pure rookies. Kenny Hodge was reclaimed from Boston, where he hadn't played regularly. Goalie Gilles Gratton was a technical rookie, after WHA experience and minimal NHL play. Others such as Mark Heaslip, Nick Fotiu and Dan Newman were extras.At present. Murdoch is the scoring sensation of the NHL and the leader in the fight for rookie of the year, while playing with Walt Tkaczuk and Greg Polis. Farrish is taking a regular turn on defense, and getting better all the time. McEwen plays the point on the power play, handles the puck with skill&mdash;and would be a regular on defense except for the development of Dave Maloney&mdash;another Ferguson reclamation project.Hodge has helped make the Rangers power play the best in the NHL, with 30 goals in 108 attempts, at press time. Gratton started well, fell off and is sitting while John Davidson remains hot. Newman was sent to New Haven, Heaslip and Fotiu are extras, with Nick's spirit being a club intangible. He showed his character when he didn't dress for a game against Pittsburgh. Oct. 30, in the Civic Center. He simply went upstairs and watched the game with the 100-odd members of the Rangers Fan Club who had made the trip.Howie Sicherman, past president of the RFC said, &ldquo;Nick led the cheering and explained some of the strategy.&rdquo;This rah-rah stuff has been accompanied by a lot of brains on Ferguson's part. He has employed an old buddy, Jean-Guy Talbot, the former Montreal defenseman and coach with St. Louis of the NHL, and Denver in both the WHA and CHL, as assistant coach. When the Blueshirts had lost seven in a row at home, Talbot went behind the bench for a big win over Chicago at MSG. In a key four-pointer, versus Atlanta, in Georgia, Ferguson had the flu, so Jean-Guy stepped in and got a tie. &#9632;

f0006-01

Ranger's Ferguson Proves Point As Young Club Turns It Around

<div class="byline">BY JACK MCCARTHY</div>BOSTON&mdash;Don Cherry has built his overall hockey philosophy on defense, and to date, it has paid off for him and the Bruins. That, however, is overall. The rumors persist that the Bruins may be making a trade any second for a defensive defenseman.More about Cherry's ideas later, but right now the rumors are flying regarding the trade of a winger for defensemen such as Bob Dailey. Dennis Kearns. Harold Snepsts or Larry Carriere of Vancouver; Neil Kamadoski of Los Angeles, with old friends Don Awrey and Ed Van Impe of Pittsburgh other possibilities. The latter are large in the salary department, however, and Van Impe is 36. Stay tuned.Back to Cherry's system, which he says, quite practically, does not work unless the players work at it. Says the HOCKEY NEWS 1975-76 coach of the year, &ldquo;My system is defense. My specialty is defense. Everybody plays within his limitations for me. don't want centers standing around the blueline. They are the third defensemen for me. And if they make mistakes, and that goes for anybody, they hear about it right now&mdash;then, not the next day.&rdquo;Regarding goalkeepers, Cherry says, &ldquo;I leave the goaltenders alone. don't want to inhibit them. They know more about goaltending than do&hellip;&rdquo;Many hockey players have been influenced by Bobby Orr, and after he came up with his flashing, whirling, rushing style, many defensemen tried to copy him. There are not many Orrs, of course, and he had half the NHL defensemen up ice. Not with Cherry, however. He wants his men back minding the store, except for an occasional sortie. Brad Park did a lot of rushing once, but he slowly has been passing the puck out of the zone more and more.So Cherry says, &ldquo;Hockey is a lot like billiards and pool. It's not so much what you make, but what you leave&hellip;&rdquo; In other words, lads, tighten up&hellip;BOSTON BEANS: Jim Pettie. 23-year-old goaler, was called up from Rochester of the AHL to back up Gilles Gilbert while Gerry Cheevers attended the funeral of his father, Joe. in St. Catharines&hellip;Cherry threw Pettie into the barrel against the Black Hawks in Chicago, and he came away a, winner 5-3.. It was his first NHL game, and when Cheevers returned, Pettie went back to Rochester.Pettie, who had picked up the nickname &ldquo;Seaweed&rdquo;, at the Bruins' training camp, because of a wild hairdo, said, &ldquo;I was sick almost all of the time after the coach told me was going to play against the Hawks. didn't think I'd play, and here was, thrown into a game with and against guys used to collect as hockey cards.Said Cherry, &ldquo;Pettie is a terrific kid, and he did a great job for us. All of the guys really wanted him to win that game.&rdquo;Dallas Smith, veteran defenseman, picked up a broken nose in that Chicago game, and was held overnight in the hospital for observation. He was hit by former teammate Jim Harrison's stick.Tom Rowe, a 20-year-old out of Lynn, Massachusetts, about 12 miles from Boston Garden, scored his first NHL goal, against the Bruins, while playing for the Washington Caps in a 5-5 tie in the Garden. He was the Caps' third draft choice last spring. The - goal beat Cheevers and came on Rowe's first NHL shift, with his mother, relatives and friends in the stands. He was called up from Springfield of the AHL the morning of the game. Said he, &ldquo;Yes, was a Bruins fan for as long as could remember.&rdquo; He played three seasons at London, Ont., as a junior under Bill Long. Rowe had scored for Springfield the previous night to help that club snap a six-game losing streak.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-011000/4165786-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="586" height="711"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRAD PARK&hellip; Rushing Less</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0007-01

Bruins' System Is Spelled Defense

<div class="byline">-BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011112/4165824-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="419" height="472"></div><h2>Happy Holidays&hellip;</h2>A YEAR AGO AT Christmas-time. Dick Redmond tore the lateral cartilage in his right knee. He played six weeks with it, in pain, but it became so bad he went to the sidelines and sat out six weeks. Well, he didn't sit them out. He's not that sort. Youngish. enthusiastic, he served as stick-boy for the Black Hawks at times so he could travel with the team. watched him working one night in the Chicago dressing room and couldn't believe it. This is one of the stars of this sport. An offensive defenseman. he is one of the best all-around players around. He checks, II skates and shoots terrifically well. But he is a fine II fellow, without ego, not given to pretense. He laugh-II ed about his dressing-room duties, doing them.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021001/4165817-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="829" height="1166"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Redmond of the Chicago Black Hawks doesn't complain because he figures he's been relatively injury-free during his seven years as a pro hockey player.</figcaption></div>This Christmas-time, others do them for him. He is doing for his team what he does best. He totalled 31 goals and assisted on 85 the two seasons prior to that last curtailed campaign and he could do as well on the comeback trail this season, his eighth as a pro, seventh in the majors, and fifth in Chicago. Holding up a scarred hand, the handsome, curly-haired character commented, &ldquo;The only serious injury had before the knee was when someone skated across my hand a few years ago. I've been lucky, so can't complain.&rdquo;As he stripped off his sweaty uniform following that night's triumph in Los Angeles, a ragged, red welt showed on his upper chest. That was where Dave &ldquo;The Hatchet&rdquo; Hutchison had hit him from behind with his stick, stunning him briefly. &ldquo;I didn't do anything about it because didn't know who had done it or how it had happened,&rdquo; Dick said. ''Now know, and because it was Hutch it had to be deliberate. He's getting a reputation which will hurt him. won't let him get away with it again, and no one is going to let him get away with anything. This game is tough enough when you play it clean,&rdquo; he concluded.***IF THIS IS A happier holiday for Richard John Redmond than the last one, it is a sad one for his brother, Mickey, a two-time 50-goal scorer for Detroit, who has retired from what would have been his tenth big-time season with a bad back that led to leg ailments that have not come around. He will be 29 in two days after Christmas, has a wife, one child, another on the way, and an uncertain future. &ldquo;It is a loss not only to Mickey, himself, but to the sport,&rdquo; Dick sighs sadly. &ldquo;He was too good to go so soon, but he is finished. He's had to fight for the money that was coming to him, but he may need it. He wants a job in his sport, but so far none has developed in Detroit or elsewhere. He was down for a while, but his spirits are picking up and he has hopes.&rdquo;Their dad, Eddie, used to be a minor league defenseman, who played with Jean Beliveau on the Quebec Aces and for Wren Blair on the Whitby Dunlops. Dick was born about two years after Mickey and they grew up playing the game around Kirkland Lake. &ldquo;We had long winters and lots of ice there,&rdquo; the younger Redmond recalls. &ldquo;Indoors we used to practice shooting pucks at cardboard boxes in our basement. Later, Dad built a couple of big wooden goals and we put one in the basement, the other in the backyard, and never stopped shooting. Mickey says he could shoot before he could play. We both became good shooters, but Mickey became the best. A lot of top players came out of that lake area&mdash;Ralph Backstrom, Dickie Duff, the three Plager brothers, the two Hillman brothers, the two Redmond brothers. It's been our life and it's too bad one of us is out of it all of a sudden.&rdquo;* * *LIFE GOES ON, of course. Dick and his wife Debbie have two children, Richard Shawn, born in May of 1974, and Matthew Michael, born in November, &ldquo;He's our Christmas gift to each other this year and we couldn't get a better one,&rdquo; the proud papa beamed. &ldquo;With him here and his father healthy, it has to be a better holiday than the last one. watched the first one being born and it was one of the most fantastic feelings of my like. He's a dynamite Irishman, into everything, and a delight to his dad. Sadly, was with the team in New York when the second one came, so couldn't see it. played a good game for him, then flew home to see him. He's going to be great, too.&rdquo;Dick and Debbie are an active young couple. They have a house in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge and a summer cottage on a lake in Canada's Peter-borough area. Dick drives a four-wheel off-road car, swims, skis, golfs, takes pictures, makes with magic and card tricks, and makes music. He even picks up sticks when he can't play. He says, &ldquo;I'm a good guitarist and bad panist. I'm fascinated by color photography. I'm fascinated by all the things there are to do in life.&ldquo;I love hockey, still have fun in the game, and am paid well to play it, but when leave the arena, leave the game behind me, look for the other things in life, and wish could do everything. Here, Mickey's career has been cut short. Mine could have been, too. Bill White and his wife took care of my wife when she had to go to the hospital because he's home hurt with an injury that could cut his career down. have a friend about my age who just spent 10 hours on an operating table being cut for cancer, Life is too short to let anything get away from you. Do it now, while you can,&rdquo; concludes Dick Red-g mond, just 27, and living with everything in him. &#9632;

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03849/4165855-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOB PLAGER&hellip; Comeback More Difficult</figcaption></div>ST. LOUIS&mdash;Bob Plager, the only member of the St. Louis Blues who has been with the team since its first game more than nine years ago, is being led to the players' exit door.Plager. the bruising, bashing defenseman always willing to give his best for the team, is 33 years old and the Blues' oldest defenseman. He has punched, hip-checked and laughed his way through a nine-year career in the National Hockey League, but that career may be in its last year.Plager's skating cannot be said to be slower now, because he never has been fast. His game has been savvy and guts and determination, and those qualities have given him a notable NHL career.There have been other times over the past several seasons when the future has been somewhat gloomy for Plager, and on those previous occasions he has bounced back. Many times the Blues have turned to him in need of his talents.But now a comeback to regular duty is more difficult than ever, Plager will be 34 in less than three months, and the Blues are overstocked with defensemen.After playing only four games in more than the first month of the season Plager went to the Blues' Kansas City farm club for some regular work. He returned within two weeks but has played irregularly.Emile Francis, coach and general manager of the Blues, is not very responsive to questions about Plager's status. Francis says he will continue to keep seven defensemen and dress five or six of them.&ldquo;Emile doesn't tell me anything.&rdquo; said Plager. &ldquo;He just says he knows what can do; he wants to see what the other defensemen can do.&rdquo;Plager retains confidence in his own abilities and believes the Blues could improve by putting him back into the regular lineup.&ldquo;The games have been dead this year because no one is hitting anybody,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The other teams are coming right up the center of the &Iacute; ice because they know they don't have to worry about getting hit.&rdquo;Over the years Plager has been a favorite of the crowds at the St. Louis Arena. He is one of those pugnacious players loved by hometown fans and despised by the partisans in other cities.But this year the St. Louis fans have not been unanimous in praise of Plager. Some booing has been heard, and on a couple of occasions there has been an impromptu noise-level contest between those who boo and those who cheer. There are two schools of thought&mdash;the Bobby-Plager-is-still-one-of-the-best school of thought and the Bobby-used-to-be good-but-should-have-retired-last-year school of thought.Trading Plager is not the likely course of action for the Blues. Plager has been very closely identified with the Blues over the years and probably will finish his career in the St. Louis organization.Barclay Plager, two years older than his brother, was also a mainstay of the Blues and finished his player career with the team last season. This season he is working for the Blues' organization as coach at Kansas City.The NHL careers of both Plagers simply are victims of the changing of generations. &#9632;

f0008-03

Blues' Bob Plager Generation Victim

<div class="byline">BY BILL HEUFELDER</div>PITTSBURGH&mdash;Unexpectedly, Denis Herron returned to the lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who produced a result that was equally surprising.Coming off an embarrassing 6-4 loss to the Washington Caps two nights earlier, the Penguins, in front of Herron, stopped the New York Islanders, 4-2, in the midst of a progressively tough road trip that ended in Montreal.Herron, out since the Pittsburgh opener with a broken arm, scrambled back into the nets when Dune Wilson, who had served admirably as a workhorse substitute, suffered a muscle pull.The Penguins had planned to dispatch Herron to Hershey for the final stage of recovery, but Wilson's injury brought him to Long Island in a harry. He responded by blocking 37 shots and, in all likelihood, forcing an abandonment of the plan to give him a brief stay in the minors.Wilson, acquired from the New York Rangers after Herron was forced to the sideline; appeared in 20 games, including a stretch of 13 straight that ended with Herron's encouraging return.Overall, Wilson, despite having to play himself into shape after a long period of idleness, posted a goals-against average of 2.85, but owned a 2.23 average during the 13-game string.He posted two shutouts and stopped a pair of penalty shots, by the Rangers' Bill Goldsworthy and Alain Daigle of the Chicago Black Hawks. He also held four teams to one goal during a stint that earned him a job with the Penguins for the duration of the campaign.The Penguins, once nine points behind second-place Los Angeles in the Norris Division, cut the margin to one point with Herron's impressive performance as the Kings floundered through 13 games without a victory.While Wilson regained his goaltending skills, coach Ken Schinkel was beset with a situation that led to a kid line that has worked effectively. When Pierre Larouche dropped out, first with a brief suspension by the club, then a broken thumb. Schinkel filled the center slot with Greg Malone, a second-round draft choice last spring.Malone teamed with the Penguins' top draft pick. Blair Chapman, and left winger Wayne Bianchin, who has triggered 10 goals, or two less than he managed in his rookie season three years ago.Based on his early performance, Bianchin, determined to return to the National Hockey League after breaking his neck in a surfing accident, would be a strong challenger for the Masterton trophy, which teammate Lowell MacDonald won in 1973. &#9632;

Herron Returns To Backstop Victory

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div>LOS ANGELES&mdash;Rogatien Vachon has gone from the heights to the depths in three months that must now seem like three years to him. He was the hero of Team Canada's Canada Cup triumph prior to this season and one third into the current campaign, some make him the goat for the troubles of his regular-season team, the Los Angeles Kings.The Kings had won four of their previous five games and were four, games above.500 the first week in November. They had tied four, but had not won any of their previous 13 games by the first week in December and had fallen four games below.500.It was hard to top their 7-1 loss in Vancouver, but perhaps their poorest performance came in Colorado where they blew a 6-3 lead and settled for a 6-6 tie. However, a better indication of their futility came in their best performances of this slump, against the best team in hockey, Montreal, when within one week they blew a 3-3 tie with 11 seconds to play at home and a 3-2 lead with 40 seconds to play away from home.Following his first shutout of the season, against Cleveland, Vachon surrendered 23 goals in his next five outings,. 17 in his last three. Maybe the best goaler in the game, Vachon gave in to his frustration by rapping his teammates for the first time in his six seasons with the Kings. &ldquo;We aren't playing good defense. We're getting caught out of position. We're giving them breakaways and I'm at the mercy of players coming in on me alone,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;I can stop half, maybe more of the breakaways, but can't stop them all. We have a game under control and we get careless and we let the other guys get back in the game. They get wound up and go wild. We haven't played 60 minutes of hockey in a game all season. It's a nightmare. I've tried everything, but by now don't know what I'm doing out there. keep waiting for the roof to cave in. We all are and it's no way to play winning games.&rdquo;&ldquo;We've lost our confidence,&rdquo; conceded captain Mike Murphy.Vachon is worn out. In good days, he says he wants to play all the games. In bad days, he can see he can't even if he won't admit it. The way the schedules are these days, it is too much for any man in the nets. A pre-season injury sidelined second-stringer Gary Edwards until well into this season, and when he did return he was so rusty and played so poorly, coach Bob Pulford hesitated to use him.Edwards lost 7-1, 5-4, and 5-4 before he tied in Montreal, 3-3. The game in Montreal was only his fourth start in the season's 28 games, but he has been getting better. Although tied in the last minute, he kept the Kings in the game. The Kings were outshot, 43-20, and were not as good as the tie might suggest. The underrated Edwards has saved the Kings in several slumps in his six seasons with them and he appears ready to do so again, but right now the King goalers are at the mercy of their mates.They are not blameless. Vachon has played better and Edwards has not played at his best, but the defense in front of them has been inconsistent. No one is hitting. The forwards are not forechecking. The defensemen are not breaking up rushes. They can't keep up with their foes, who go right by them and go in alone on goal.Everyone is wondering why, but the answer seems obvious. Now that the careful defensive players like Terry Harper, Dan Maloney, and Bob Nevin have departed, the Kings no longer have the players to play Pully's careful defensive style of play. When they throw the puck in the other end, it is like throwing it away because they do not have the forecheckers to chase it down.They went from 185 goals allowed to 265 last season and at their recent pace will top that this season.Their top players, like Marcel Dionne, Butch Goring and Gary Sargent, are skaters who fit a wide-open free style sort of play when they fall behind, open up, and start to scramble, they are winless streak of Pully's five-season King coaching career and he is confronted with the need to make adjustments.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011073/4165886-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="576" height="949"><figcaption class="caption-body">ROGIE VACHON &hellip; Worn Out</figcaption></div>Pully has been changing lines from period to period and game to game. There is pressure on him. Many are in panic. But this is a better team than it has played, and with perserverance it will pull out of its tailspin. In the weeks before this story reaches the readers, will be surprised if the club has not started to win again. What appeared at first to be the best King club ever really is far from the worst.KINGS THINGS: The team was well into its slump before it ran into a rash of injuries, but these have handicapped any comeback. Bob Murdoch broke two bones in his left foot on Nov. 27 and was not expected back until late December. Mike Murphy and Neil Komadoski pulled groin muscles the next night and were sidelined. Then Lome Stamler was injured. &#9632;

f0009-01

Kings' Vachon Rides Roller-Coaster

<div class="byline">&#x2014; BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011099/4165941-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="342" height="489"></div><h2>Kromm Among The Absent</h2>IF YOU FIND it ironic that Bobby Hull. Phil Esposito. Dan &Iacute; Maloney, Dave Burrows, Paul Shymr. Gilles Meloche, Pat Stapleton; Ralph Backstrom. Ken Hodge and others have found success \ elsewhere after the Chicago Black Hawks found them dispensable; were not through.At a time that the Black Hawks are now looking for a coach. Bobby Kromm, coach of the Winnipeg Jets, is wearing a championship ring only because the Black Hawks never gave him a ring. Hmmm.&ldquo;Well, it is a little unusual that the Black Hawks let players like that getaway, but it's funny about finding a place in hockey,&rdquo; said Kromm.&ldquo;The spot may be there, but the spot may not be. Circumstances.&rdquo;Circumstances beyond his control, and certainly beyond his comrehension, wrested Bobby Kromm from the Black Hawk family, too. For years he had the Indian head all but tattooed on his chest, a loyal employee who existed happily on the tacit promise that someday, somehow he would be heir apparent to Billy Reay.For eight seasons, come hell, high water, or rapes by the WHA he won with Chicago's Dallas affiliate in the Central Hockey League.&ldquo;And would always hear from (Chicago general manager) Tommy Ivan, a man respect tremendously, that we've got plans for you. Bobby&hellip;we'll be making changes up here soon,&rdquo; recalled Kromm. &ldquo;I believe Tommy was sincere, too. He's a fine man.&ldquo;So is Billy Reay. It's just that never got the same kind of warm feeling from him that got from Tommy. guess Billy is the reason for what happened.&rdquo;* * *<h2>Promises Don't Buy Groceries</h2>WHAT HAPPENED IS that Kromm decided promises don't buy groceries. So he scotched that misplayed loyalty and signed a two-year contract to coach the Jets, a club given a 50-50 chance of making the playoffs last year.They did slightly better. They finished first in the WHA's toughest division, won 12 of 13 playoff games, and destroyed incumbent champion Houston in four straight during the finals. Suffice it to say, Les Black Hawks by that time had long since begun spring.&ldquo;I respect Billy, but guess he just didn't care for me as a coach,&rdquo; said Kromm. &ldquo;Maybe he thought was a threat to his job, but don't see how he could have felt that. If they had made a move when they said they were all those years, and whenever they do make the move, you know what's going to happen.&ldquo;Tommy will retire, Billy will become GM. and they'll have a new coach. So how could have been a threat to Billy? Anyway. don't think he wants to coach anymore.&ldquo;But, hey, Billy is entitled to think what he wants. Tommy would always encourage me, but I'll never forget one thing that Billy said to me about three years ago when the rumors were really going strong about him moving up.&ldquo;He talked to me at a hotel room in Montreal during summer meetings and said, 'Bobby, know what you're reading in the papers about how you're going to be the next Chicago coach, but remember. B when become GM, want to name my own man.'&ldquo;Hell, he's entitled to that privilege, and obviously wasn't his man. I'd like to know why, but I'll never, never ask anything like that. He H never talked to me like, 'Bobby, you know someday we I'll be working together.'&ldquo;In fact, we talked very little about our talent. Tommy would always call Dallas. But Billy would only call when we needed to bring someone up. And when recommended one guy, he always seemed to go the other way and pick somebody else.&rdquo;***<h2>Finally Looked Elsewhere</h2>OFFERS FROM SEVERAL NHL and WHA teams bounced off Kromm every season, but he was always thinking Chicago. Chicago, Until.&ldquo;In June of 1975, Rudy Pilous got a hold of me and made me a hell of an offer with the Jets,&rdquo; said Kromm. &ldquo;Couldn't turn it down. had to go. The money was too good. When we won the WHA championship last spring, Tommy called me on the phone to give me congratulations. We talked about 45 minutes. A hell of a man Tommy.&ldquo;In fact, the whole organization is tops, and that includes Billy Reay. once bought a coach plane ticket and they ripped it up on me. You fly first class when you work for the Black Hawks. Same with our minor league club. We traveled better than anybody when was in Dallas.&rdquo;&ldquo;I'm not bitter now. I'm happy. paid my dues and my time came. Fred Shero was in the minors 15 years before he got his shot. got what wanted, and thank the Black Hawks.&rdquo;Thanks them very, very much indeed. &#9632;

f0010-01

HOCKEY TALK

<div class="byline">BY HARRY KLAFF</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02887/4165972-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHICO RESCH&hellip; Not Part Of Switch (Photo by Bruce Bennett)</figcaption></div>LONG ISLAND-The only problem with coaching a first place team is that when you lose a game or two, people start to get a little panicky. That's the problem faced by the Islanders' Al Arbour as his team sweated through a stretch in late November which saw them drop four of five.But the crushing blow was the neck injury suffered by Norris Trophy winner Denis Potvin on Nov. 30th. Potvin suffered a sprain when he collided with the Leafs' Lanny McDonald, and first indications were that the star defenseman would miss &ldquo;several games.&rdquo;And trying to end a losing streak without Potvin is like trying to paint the Great Wall of China with a toothbrush.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re making mistakes, lots of mistakes,&rdquo; offered Arbour. &ldquo;Were playing the same way we were at the very beginning of the season. The only difference is that then we were getting away with the mistakes and now we're not.&ldquo;There might be some changes coming up,&rdquo; he concluded, indicating the club's long-standing lines might be broken up.The biggest disappointment to the club thus far had been lack of production of the Long Island Lightning Company, namely Clark Gillies. Bryan Trottier, and Billy Harris. So mid-way through a 3-1 (more one-sided than the score sounded) defeat at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, Arbour broke up last year's meal ticket by moving Gillies to the left wing alongside Bob Bourne and Bob Nystrom, and putting veteran J.P. Parise with Trots and Harris.The new units produced a bit of a revival, but not nearly enough to pull the game out of the fire. And when Arbour promised more changes for the next game at Pittsburgh, many players wondered openly just what would happen next.But instead of implimenting more shifts. Arbour put his old lines back together for a reunion, which led the Isles past the Penguins. 3-1..Arbour has also been changing his defensive alignments, thanks to the marked improvement of rookie Pat Price. Price, of course, was the former WHA bonus boy who thought that &ldquo;defense&rdquo; was something that rested on Perry Mason.But Pat has learned the Islander system, and has played extremely well of late. Consequently, Arbour had been going more with three pairs of regular defensemen until the Potvin injury.Price had been teamed with old-pro Bert Marshall, while Bert's old partner, Dave Lewis with Denis Potvin. That put Gerry Hart with Jean fe Potvin as the third duo. with the latter taking occasional shifts a right wing on a fourth line, usually with Bill MacMillan and Lome Henning.One place Arbour has not fiddled with much is in goal, where Glenn Resch appeared to be clearly in the number one spot, despite the losing streak.After appearing in four straight games, culminating with a 5-1 defeat against Montreal, Resch relinquished the chore to Bill Smith for the Detroit game. But Smitty was weak, and after yielding two (of three) bad goals he was yanked by Arbour as the sometimes uncouth Coliseum crowd chanted, &ldquo;Chico, Chico.&rdquo;&ldquo;Smitty had absolutely nothing to do with what went on tonight,&rdquo; emphasized an upset Arbour after the game. &ldquo;It's not a reflection on him.&rdquo;But it's doubtful if he could convince the paying customers of that notion. For the past year-and-a-half. the bubbling, gregarious Resch has been the darling of the gallery. Smith, a more quiet, reserved, but mindfully, talented personality is the afterthought.Incredibly, the Detroit game was only Smith's third start of the year on Coliseum ice. His first appearance was in a 4-4 tie against Cleveland where some weeks later he beat Minnesota 5-2.The rest of his appearances have been on the road, where he hasn't had one bad game. He's more relaxed on enemy ice where he has only the opposition to contend with, without the vociferous few who inhabit the Coliseum and claim they are Islander fans.A losing streak is tough on any team, and especially though on a goaltender. At times like that, the home crowd should be the greatest comfort, not the worst enemy.ISLAND SOUNDS. Garry Howatt's injured knee took longer to heal than expected. Left winger Walt Ledingham was called up to replace him. and took a regular turn&hellip;Dave Lewis, who went all last season without a goal, picked up number two against Philadelphia on Nov. 28&hellip;Eddie Westfall ended a o-for-18 slump with a goal against the Flyers in a losing cause&hellip;Andre St. Laurent, a natural center, is seeing more action of late on the wings&hellip;Islander tickets still remain a hot item. The club is limiting window sales to four to a customer. &#9632;

f0010-02

Arbour Does Juggling Act To Pull Isles Over Slump

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011051/4166003-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">MICHEL DUMAS&hellip; Doesn't Get Rattled</figcaption></div>CHICAGO-It is a job as thankless as being Billy Reay's hairdresser, Howard Hughes' public relations director, or the Georgia campaign manager for Gerald Ford.It is being backup goalie to Tony Esposito on the Chicago Black Hawks.Ladies and gentlemen, meet Claude Rains&hellip;er, rather Michel Dumas.''Sooner or later, knew he had to give me the call,&rdquo; Dumas was saying one day early in December. &ldquo;I was just hoping that when the time came. would respond.&rdquo;The call came Dec. 4 in Toronto, and Dumas answered well. After not starting for the last 119 Chicago Black Hawk regular season and playoff games, the friendly Frenchman played against the Maple Leafs and was surprisingly tidy in a 2-2 tie.Surely, it did not look good for Dumas when Lanny McDonald beat him at the 32-second mark. and the picture grew muddier in the 10th minute when McDonald scored again for a 2-0 Toronto cushion.&ldquo;But he showed a lot in that instance,&rdquo; said coach Billy Reay. who uses reserve goalkeepers about like Scrooge uses mistletoe. &ldquo;He isn't the type of guy who gets rattled. Not when you tell him he's going to play, and not when he goes a long while without playing.&ldquo;He's been very loyal here. Mike has. Everybody wants to play, and he's so different. Against the Leafs, he got a chance and he proved that he might be able to be the kind of person we want. A fellow who can go in there every once in a while and play a good game for us.&ldquo;I had to give him a start sooner or later. We were in a situation where our goalkeeper (Esposito) was playing well, and still giving up five goals a game. That doesn't say much for our defense, does it?&ldquo;Well, that type of thing isn't easy on Tony, because he bleeds for the team. thought it was time to give the other guy a shot. He earned it. and Tony earned the rest.&rdquo;Esposito, the iron masked man. had started all 25 Hawk contests to that point and had been relieved in just two by Dumas, who mopped up in losses at Philadelphia and Montreal for a total of 61 minutes work.Once upon a time, it appeared that Gilles Villemure was able to be Esposito's shadow and perhaps even play up to 25 games per winter. But the Villemure project, for one reason or another, has not panned out and the veteran doesn t even make road trips anymore, doesn't suit up for home games, doesn't know what the hell is going on.Dumas bumped him from the dubious distinction as Chicago's No. 2 man in training camp, and since then has remained quiet if not restless.&ldquo;Wasn't-going to say anything, but wanted to play,&rdquo; said Dumas. &ldquo;It's tough to stay sharp when your not playing. My legs were a little shaky after the game in Toronto. It would be nice if could get in there once a week maybe, but Billy's the boss.&rdquo;Dumas spent four seasons in Dallas with the Hawks' Central League affiliate and lost a previous training camp duel with Mike Veisor to become Esposito's confrere.Frustrated. Dumas signed with the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association, but never joined the club. The Hawks made a late pitch for him and got him back after paying to Cincinnati the signing bonus (about $75,000) issued Dumas.Only the man upstairs and Billy Reay know whether Dumas will play more frequently this season, but it probably would be a good idea. Just because Esposito plays hurt, plays with headaches and plays when tired, doesn't mean he doesn't need a rest. Even though he never asks for one.HAWK TALK: Stan Mikita returned to the Black Hawk lineup in that Toronto game and had an immediate effect, assisting on both Chicago goals&hellip;Esposito and Lou Angotti, a former Hawk, will conduct a Christmas hockey school in sub-urban Chicago Dec. 20 to Dec. 24. Angotti, who is in the car leasing business, doubles as color man on Black Hawk radio broadcasts. Early reviews of his work were excellent&hellip;Los Angeles Kings coach Bob Pulford on reports that he's headed for Chicago: Tm not even thinking about next year. My only concern is this year with the Kings&rdquo; His attorney, Alan Eagleson. says, &ldquo;Bob's contract is up after this season, and all can say is that a lot of people want him.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0011-01

Being Esposito's Backup Becomes Thankless Job

<div class="byline">Bill Fleischman's</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011073/4166034-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="292" height="462"></div><h2>North Stars Declined</h2>JACK GORDON WAS coaching the Minnesota North Stars when the rot began.&ldquo;You could see it creeping in,&rdquo; the congenial Gordon said in his office at the attractive Met Center. &ldquo;The players we were drafting just weren't that capable. And the year we played Philadelphia in the quarter-finals (1973), you could see a number of individuals, because of their age, just couldn't do things they had done in the past.'That 1973 playoff series with Philadelphia was the first sign the Flyers were a Stanley Cup contender (they would win the first of two consecutive championships the next year). Prior to meeting the North Stars, however, many Philadelphia observers weren't even sure the Flyers could beat the North Stars. It was the North Stars who had the playoff experience, including a semi-final appearance against Montreal s in 1971.With Doug Favel in the nets, the Flyers beat Minnesota in six s games and then stunned Montreal, on Rick MacLeish s overtime goal, in their semi-final opener. The Canadiens swept the next four close games, but the Flyers were on their way. The North Stars, meanwhile, were headed in the other direction, through no fault of Gordon's.Now known as the &ldquo;No Stars,&rdquo; they have missed the past three playoffs.&ldquo;The fans have been good,&rdquo; Gordon insists. &ldquo;But let's face it: we've gone through a pretty lengthy period here. We have to start showing results soon. The fans want to see consistent hockey.&rdquo;<h2>Sacrificed Draft Choices</h2>THE FANS SAW entertaining hockey early in the North Stars existence when then-GM Wren Blair, under orders from management to ice an instant contender, worshipped at the knees of Montreal's Sam Pollock. While stocking experienced players, the North Stars were \ making people such as Rod Norrish, Jerry Byers, Blake Dunlop and Johnny Rogers their high draft choices.&ldquo;They wanted playoff hockey club here fairly quickly and Wren had to get the players,&rdquo; said Gordon, who eventually abandoned; coaching when it affected his health. &ldquo;Wren got the players, but he had to give up draft choices and we got to be the team with the oldest average age in the league. It's hindsight now, but it's obvious the newer clubs that have done well are the ones that kept their draft choices&mdash;Philadelphia, Buffalo and the Islanders.&rdquo;The good news for Minnesota fans is the North Stars' latest plunge into the amateur draft has produced encouraging results.Doug Hicks, Pete LoPresti and Roland Eriksson were selected in the 1974 draft, along with Richard Nantais who hasn't earned regular status yet. In 1975, the North Stars lost top choice Bryan Maxwell to Cincinnati of the WHA, but Alex Pirus and Steve Jensen are with them and goalie Paul Harrison is having an outstanding season with New Haven in the AHL.Center Glenn Sharpley, Minnesota's first '76 draft selection, is one of the NHL's leading rookie scorers. Winger Jim Roberts, the club's No. 2 pick, is regarded as a sure-shot once he fully recovers from a broken thumb at New Haven.And then there is Tim Young. The six-foot-two, 180-pound center was the Los Angeles Kings' top draft pick in '75. When he couldn't reach contract agreement with the Kings, he was traded to Minnesota. Young scored 51 points in 63 games for the North Stars as a rookie. This season he has been among the NHL's top 10 scorers and isn't shy about admitting he wants to be the league's best center.<h2>Rebuilding Plan Underway</h2>&ldquo;PLAYERS LIKE YOUNG, Sharpley and Eriksson can definitely play in the league,&rdquo; said Gordon. &ldquo;They're the ones we'll have to build on.&rdquo;For a change, the North Stars are also building with home-grown players such as LoPresti, Jensen, Dean Talafous and Tom Younghans. During the Blair regime, Minnesota natives, specifically defenseman Bill Nyrop now with Montreal, were virtually ignored.&ldquo;A statement made (by Blair) at a banquet here, that Canadians were better players than Americans, was taken out of context,&rdquo; insists Gordon. &ldquo;Montreal could take guys like Nyrop and Mike Polich because, when you get a lot of draft choices, you can take chances. When they've got four in the first round and you only have one, you've got to be right. Our organization doesn't care where the players come from, as long as they can help us.&rdquo;People around the NHL are rooting for the North Stars to make it. Nice people such as Jack Gordon, Walter Bush, and publicist Dick Dillman deserve a winner. So do the North Stars' fans. &#9632;

f0012-01

HOCKEY WORLD

<div class="byline">BY PAT THOMPSON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02910/4166065-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">STEVE JENSEN&hellip; Not His Year</figcaption></div>BLOOMINGTON&mdash;Steve Jensen, rookie left winger for the Minnesota North Stars, encountered the sophomore jinx a year early.You remember Steve. He's the same six-foot-two. 190-pound. forward who broke in with the North Stars for the final 19 games of the 1975-76 season after starring for the U.S. Olympic team last winter.There was even talk, at least in Minnesota circles, that Jensen might even be worthy of consideration for the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL this season, especially since he had scored seven goals and six assists in his 19-game t ial last winter with the North Stars and had a nice head start by performing for Team USA in the Canada Cup.However, such consideration was quickly forgotten when his own teammates, No. 1 draft choice Glen Sharpley and Swedish signee Roland Eriksson, took off with much better scoring figures the first two months.Sharpley, without drawing regular duty on the power play, now ranks as the team's top Calder candidate with 12 goals in his first 24 games and a solid effort at both ends of the rink.Jensen did not get his first goal until the eighth game of the season, the tying tally against Colorado Oct. 22. and did not post No. 2 until nine games later against the New York Islanders.The big blonde winger remained aggressive on every shift, but the puck just wouldn't plop in for him. In addition, he came out on the losing end of fights with Paul Holmgren of the Flyers and Bob Nystrom of the Islanders.Frustration reached its peak in the final weekend series in November when Jensen put 10 shots on net in games against the Washington Caps and New York Rangers.Top that off with the fact that Jensen missed the team's flight to New York when he encountered car trouble on way to the airport, and had to battle other Thanksgiving weekend travelers for a seat on a later plane.&ldquo;To say things are not breaking my way would be a major under-statement,&rdquo; he moaned. &ldquo;I missed the warmup for the Ranger game but was glad to get to the Garden at all. We had to circle New York because of fog and the way things have been going for me, thought sure we would have to go to another airport.&rdquo;Jensen, of course, played, and he was still a regular when the Philadelphia Flyers visited Minnesota to open the December portion of the schedule.The former Michigan Tech college standout was all smiles after that contest. It was his goal that gave the North Stars a 2-2 tie in support of Gary Smith's 39-save goaltending.But that goal even came in Jensen's typical fashion for this season. He was on the bench when II the North Stars were having trouble getting a power play attack going and appeared headed to another close loss.&ldquo;The funny thing is that wasn't even supposed to be on the ice,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But Ernie Hicke came back to the bench for a line change. No one went over the boards, so off went.&rdquo;He arrived in the slot in time to bat in a rebound, despite being knocked down as he pulled the trigger.&ldquo;You can't believe how happy am about that goal,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Maybe this will get me going.&rdquo;Left wing has not exactly been a bright spot lately for the North Stars. First. Jensen and Hicke slumped badly and then Pierre Jarry,*the team's No. 2 scorer, underwent knee surgery for torn ligaments and will be lost for another month or so. &#9632;

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Stars "Sophomore" Jensen Suffering Jinx Year Early

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div>DETROIT-It's time to take a look at the Detroit Red Wings, now that they have completed the toughest part of their 1976-77 schedule.The Wings posted a.375 winning percentage for their first 24 games, 21 of them against playoff teams. Not impressive, unless you look at the circumstances.Three of those games were against Philadelphia, three against the New York Islanders and a slew of others against top teams like Boston and Buffalo.&ldquo;We knew it was going to be a tough stretch,&rdquo; general manager Alex Delvecchio said. &ldquo;We've been playing all these playoff teams.&rdquo;While Detroit's record hardly is breathtaking, where it matters most is in the standings. That's much more comforting to the Wings, since neither Los Angeles nor Pittsburgh, the teams Detroit must catch, is scaring anybody off. After 24 games, or nearly one-third of the schedule, the Wings were only three points out of a playoff spot, and considering whom they had to play, that's not too bad.The most encouraging aspect of the Red Wing performance is that they aren't getting blown out of as many games, certainly not like last season or the one before that. Only once&mdash;against the Islanders&mdash;did they get walloped on the road but they also beat the tough Islanders twice, once in Detroit and once in New York.&ldquo;How many clubs are going to do that (beat the Islanders twice) this season?&rdquo; Delvecchio asked. &ldquo;We've got at least four points from them that the other teams can't expect to get.&rdquo;The Wings have only one game each left against the Islanders and Flyers, both in Detroit.The Wings had a crucial six-game, 18-day road trip at the start of December, after which they return home for the easiest segment of their schedule.In one stretch, the Wings play Cleveland, Colorado, Washington. Minnesota, Washington. Cleveland, Colorado, St. Louis and Colorado. Detroit should make up valuable ground in that span.They should, and that's the part that sends a chill through Delvecchio. The Wings have a nasty habit of letting down against clubs of that calibre. They've been doing it for years, and this season has been no different.&ldquo;I hope we don't have to worry about a letdown,&rdquo; Delvecchio said. &ldquo;The players are starting to realize now they can make the playoffs this year and that should be an advantage.&ldquo;When we come home from this trip, our home games are musts. We can't have any more stinkers at home, like we've had.&rdquo;The biggest shortcoming this season has been offensive. The club simply is not scoring very many goals and there doesn't seem to be a solution available.&ldquo;Another 10 goals would have made a helluva big difference,&rdquo; Delvecchio said. &ldquo;I'm going to talk it over with Billy (coach Billy Dea). We'll try to get some goals out of that J.P. LeBlanc, Mike Bloom, Buster Harvey group (the No. 3 line).&ldquo;It's pretty tough to do something about it. The only way is to make a few changes. We've got to get more balance. If need be, we'll break up the No. 1 line (Dan Maloney, Walt McKechnie and Dennis Polonich, the club's three top scorers). We can't afford to have all our eggs in one basket.&rdquo;The Wings got good and bad news on two injured players. Defenseman Jean Hamel, who has been a standout this season, missed a few games with a bruised shoulder but was expected back soon.However, Danny Grant's knee injury is more serious than first thought and it's unlikely he'll be back in action until &agrave;lmost the first of the new year. The Wings certainly could use Grant's firepower.MOTOR CITY SHORTS: In 12 games, the McKechnie line produced 37 points&mdash;McKechnie seven goals, eight assists, Maloney six and six, Polonich two and eight&mdash;and they had a wealth of other scoring chances. In one game. Polonich had 11 shots on net and the unit combined for 21 of Detroit's 38 shots&hellip;Dennis Hextail is closing in on 400 career points&hellip;Maloney played his 100th game as a Red Wing since coming over from Los Angeles.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011031/4166096-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="566" height="1194"><figcaption class="caption-body">DENNIS POLONICH &hellip;Busy Shooter</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Wings Eyeing Playoffs Following Tough Start

TORONTO-lan Turnbull is a defenseman who has had to play in the shadow of some players who achieved much more recognition in a shorter space of time. But, the time may have come for him to start sticking out a little more than he has in the past.When Turnbull wound up his junior hockey career with the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior loop, he worked with Denis Potvin, easily the most publicized player in junior hockey at the time. Today, Potvin is considered the leader of the New York Islanders.Turnbull has graduated to the National Hockey League as well and he has found himself playing along side Borje Salming, who is rated by many to be among one of the top hockey players in the world.However. Turnbull appears as though this will be his season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The young defenseman turned just 23 three days before Christmas and even the mighty Salming is having trouble overshadowing Turnbull.Turnbull has played with authority and power in most cases this season and his play has contributed a great deal to Toronto's modest success so far.He has upgraded his defensive skills significantly but both he and Salming are modern-day defensemen who participate freely in offensive attacks.&ldquo;Borje and don't plan much any more,&rdquo; says Turnbull. &ldquo;In fact, we don't even talk about it very often, but each of us just knows what the other guy is going to do in most situations. Of course, Salming shows a new trick or two every game, but we have that feel for each other's moves.Turnbull hides the fact well that 'he has spent most of his hockey life playing in the shadows of two great: performers.&ldquo;How many players have a chance to play with guys who are as great as Potvin and Salming?&rdquo; he asks.Toronto coach Red Kelly is more than happy with their efforts this season and he wouldn't trade them for any other defense pair in the NHL right now.&ldquo;No, wouldn't when consider their age (Salming is just 25) and ability,&rdquo; said Kelly, a one-time defense great with Detroit before he was converted to center after being traded to the Maple Leafs.&ldquo;Turnbull is playing much better defensively this season,&rdquo; Kelly continued. &ldquo;He did have that, well, almost an impulse to take off with the puck.&rdquo; &#9632;

Turnbull Upgrades Defensive Skills

<div class="byline">BY ALAN TRUEX</div>ATLANTA-Although the Atlanta Flames lost only two games in November, they continued to draw crowds of under 10,000. and speculation became more prominent that the club would fold or disband, possibly even before the current season is complete.Sports Illustrated reported the Flames need $3 million just to survive the 1976-77 season.Tom Cousins, principal owner of the franchise, claimed, &ldquo;The $3 million figure is untrue.&rdquo; He said the correct sum would be considerably less than that, and some club officials said $1 million was closer to the truth.Cousins insisted, &ldquo;There is no discussion under way about moving the team anywhere.&rdquo;But he did not rule out the possibility.He said that if the team &ldquo;does not draw enough fan support to get to the break-even level, the alternative is that we have to consider moving to a market where that support is evident &ldquo;And he calculates the break-even level of fan support to be an average game attendance of 13,000.Cousins says the Flames in four seasons have never had a break-even season. &ldquo;The club has been under financial strain almost from the first year.&rdquo;He believes the franchise &ldquo;would be safe if we get 13,000 for the rest of the year. We still wouldn't break even, because we've gone a quarter of the year averaging 10.000.&rdquo;If the Flames fail, there is some question where the club could go and draw crowds as large as the too-small ones they draw here. The hockey market appears saturated, and club president Cliff Fletcher said, &ldquo;It's not a question of moving, it's a question of folding up.&rdquo;Yet Cousins said, &ldquo;It would make no sense that the club would fold up. There are too many other cities that want NHL franchises. It's not a matter of going out of business. Every city that has a WHA team wants an NHL team.&rdquo;The Flames' financial crisis surprises many people, since the attendance figures are not that far below the National Hockey League average.But unlike most teams, the Flames make nothing off their local television and radio contracts.The team's owners, Cousins and seven other stockholders, invested in the franchise without realizing the NHL-WHA war would escalate players' salaries some 500 per cent.Cousins referred to one NHL team which had a players' payroll of $560.-000 in 1972. &ldquo;Today, the payroll of that team is $2.8 million.&rdquo;Sources within the organization claim the team s owners have lost more than $5 million within the five-year period of operation.The NHL has tried to ease the financial burden by postponing the Flames' payments for the original franchise rights..The team cost $6.5 million, of which only about half has been paid. The Flames' payment to the league for last year was deferred until next September.Cousins sees little opportunity for further reduction of expenses. Over a three-year period, the team has made extensive cutbacks in personnel, both playing and nonplaying.&ldquo;There's been a fair amount of belt-tightening,&rdquo; Cousins says. &ldquo;The club is operating about as efficiently as one can operate.&rdquo;Cousins indicated the franchise may be able to draw new owners in Atlanta. &ldquo;I can't say we've been out trying to dig up more owners. But it's quite possible there are people willing to invest in it.&rdquo; He admitted, however, there are none &ldquo;that know of.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-011054/4166127-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="567" height="640"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHN GOULD&hellip; Newest Flame</figcaption></div>Repeatedly. Cousins emphasized the Flames have not reached a state of desperation, that they have not actively sought new ownership, that they have not considered moving, and that they have not asked the NHL for financial aid.For now, he says he will wait and see how the attendance goes.So far, even though the Flames are playing the most aggressive and entertaining hockey of their history, attendance has shown no upward trend. That magic number of 13,000, the break-even figure, is not now in sight.FLAME NOTES: Bill Clement missed three weeks with a fractured bone in his left foot, and he was missed, particularly on penalty killing. After he left the lineup. Flames' penalty-killing efficiency dropped from fifth in the league, to 11th.Flames moved to bolster their persistent weakness, right wing, by acquiring John Gould from Vancouver. &#9632;

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Flames' Owner Ponders Alternatives To Keep NHL Franchise In Atlanta

<div class="byline">BY RON WEBER</div>WASHINGTON-Let the record show that at three o'clock on the afternoon of Nov. 30. 1976 the first Capital was revealed to be an ex-Capital.Greg Joly, signed amid fanfares two and a half years ago, had been traded from Washington to Detroit, even-up for Bryan Watson, a journeyman defenseman in the late stages of his career.Those paying attention had to know that Joly, the once-bright jewel in the Capital collection, had become tarnished long before his time. Indeed, Greg was down in the minors and far from setting the American Hockey League on fire. But. a 34-year-old defenseman? &ldquo;Is that all?&rdquo; D.C. followers asked.General manager Max McNab was prepared for that reaction from some quarters. On the face of it, the deal was less attractive than his moves which obtained Guy Charron and Gerry Meehan, Max's previous sojurns to the bargain counter with his basement club.But some of the smart money is on the Caps to come out ahead, at least for the next couple of years. There's no question that the Red Wings got the player with the greater potential and longevity.Also, as McNab points out, &ldquo;Every trade has to be made on an evaluation of your own situation. Greg Joly is a heckuva kid. But an average game by Greg&mdash;in our present circumstances&mdash;was not acceptable.&rdquo;When Joly couldn't accept or adjust to coach Tom McVie's prescribed defensive style he was shipped out to Springfield, where his first score of games produced no goals and six assists. Greg hadn't endeared himself to McNab and McVie when his fitness tests in training camp indicated something less than 100 per cent dedication to a summer exercise program.An avowed plan to convert Joly to center ice, where his passion for puck-lugging over checking would work out better, was aborted. Presumably, Springfield coach John Hanna preferred or needed him back on the blueline.As soon as Detroit GM Alex Delvecchio got on the horn to Greg, the 22-year-old flew to Vancouver, skated a regular shift and killed penalties to help beat the Canucks, 5-2. Predictably, he was excited about the turn of events. &ldquo;Oh yeah, great for me. was satisfied with my play.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011012/4166182-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="535" height="605"><figcaption class="caption-body">GREY JOLY&hellip;.Tarnished Gem</figcaption></div>Were you in Springfield? &ldquo;No, not really. The team wasn't doing so good.&rdquo; Joly thought the Caps were trying to trade him, but was surprised nevertheless.Before he could be swapped, club prexy Peter O'Malley had to pull off a rare coup&mdash;get a unanimous decision from the NHL board of governors. And two weeks before&mdash;in Key Largo. Florida&mdash;he got it, all-around acquiesence in permitting Joly to be traded.You see, three years ago, to protect the expansion teams from themselves, and draft-choice grabbers like Sam Pollock, the NHL had put a rule into effect that barred the Caps and Scouts from trading their first-round picks in their first draft for a period of three years. The time wouldn't be up until next June.The reconstituted Scouts now in Denver asked for a similar pardon for their first pick, Wilf Paiement, but were denied&mdash;testimony, perhaps, to O'Malley's powers of political persuasion (he's active in Maryland politics). Let us hope Pete did not cite an inability of the Capitals to continue to pay off on Joly's fat five-year contract.The big money, the long freeze on Joly's transfer and the diminution of his promise in the past two seasons paved the way for the Red Wings to make an unchallenged offer. Perhaps they had a scout in the stands that spring night in 1974 when a fantastic performance by Greg keyed the Regina Pats march to the Memorial Cup and earned Joly the MVP award. Certainly that evening convinced Milt Schmidt and Red Sullivan to select him for Washington.Since then there have been more downs than ups. But now Joly's enthusiasm is renewed. Asked if he were looking forward to playing in Detroit, he responded, &ldquo;Yes sir. sure am.&rdquo;Meanwhile, the Caps head into the Christmas season without Joly, but with Watson, the 14-year NHLer who plays bigger than he looks&mdash;and nastier. He arrived needing one minor penalty to up his all-time record total to 1,920 minutes, an exact equivalent of 32 games in the penalty box.McNab explained. &ldquo;We didn't feel we had the experience back there (on defense). The right kind of veterans help young guys. In our estimation Watson's that kind. Our veteran nucleus is very solid: Gerry Meehan, out there every day showing how it's done, plus Guy Charron, Yvon Labre and now Bryan.&ldquo;It's very important to have these kind since we have the youngest team in the league. The wrong kind could set us back.&rdquo; Max admitted trying to obtain Watson earlier and feels he has at least a couple of good years left, citing his wiry strength.ICE CAPS: The trade with the Wings was the fourth between the two clubs, high for division bed-fellows. Blair Stewart, Jack Lynch and Nelson Pyatt came to Washington in earlier deals&hellip;The Caps might have to plead guiltv to being camera-shy. While moving toward general respecta lility. they have only one win and one tie to show for their first 28 games on Washington television. &#9632;

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Trading For Today, Capitals Dump Joly To Acquire Watson

<div class="byline">BY RICH PASSAN</div>CLEVELAND&mdash;The word was out at the beginning of the 1976-77 National Hockey League season.Look out for the Cleveland Barons&hellip;the most improved team in the league last season&hellip;have the guns to make it interesting in the Adams Division this season&hellip;can skate with the best&hellip;potentially a dangerous offensive team.Let us look at the record after 25 games. If Bill McCreary and Jack Evans have gotten this far, it's best to stop right here. The general manager and coach, respectively, don't need to be reminded of the following figures.The Barons have won only six of those first 25 games, scoring just 66 goals in the process. They had had an unbeaten streak of seven games, which included four ties; a five-game losing streak that followed a very good start, and a winless skein of eight games at this writing.Statistical stories usually make very boring reading. But his one points out why the Barons, who were supposed to challenge for a Stanley Cup playoff spot, are struggling.With the exception of Dennis Maruk. the Clevelanders don't know how to put the puck in the net with any frequency. The little center iceman scored 13 goals through those first 25 games, representing 20% of the Cleveland attack.After Maruk, forget it.Wayne Merrick and Al MacAdam, 30-goal scorers a year ago, are going to have to go like Steve Shutt to match that total this season. Merrick has sniped for just five goals and MacAdam, who has missed half a dozen open nets, has a paltry six.Bob Murdoch, who is the right winger on the 3M Line with Maruk and MacAdam, is stuck on five goals after scoring 22 in his rookie NHL campaign last season. Gary Sabourin, a perennial 20-plus scorer, also has six lamplighters.Jim Pappin, who used to score 30 goals a season with the Chicago Black Hawks without even trying, has just two in 20 games. And Ralph Klassen, who epitomizes the Barons' offensive frustration, has only one goal.Klassen, the swiftest of the Barons, has had at least 12 breakaways this season with that speed and quickness. But something happens between the time he gets the puck and the time he shoots.The enemy is not afraid to take penalties against the Barons. Their power play is&hellip;well, it won't remind you of the Czechs or Russians.In their first 112 opportunities, they have clicked just 17 times. That's 15% of the time and you don't win many hockey games with that kind of a power play percentage.The only thing the Barons are doing well is skating. But that has not been sufficient enough to overcome the mistakes that usually wind up behind goaltenders Gary Simmons and Gilles Meloche.These two are laboring under unbelievable pressure. Their team-mates have scored more than three goals in just four of the first 25 games. Three were victories and the other a tie.It's not a pretty story. In fact, it's one that has raised some eyebrows around the NHL. Those eyebrows belong to those who expected the Barons to be a factor this season.BARONS' BITS: McCreary and Evans don't believe their men are this bad, but aren't going to sit on their hands waiting for an explosion that may never come. By the time you read this, McCreary may have pulled off a big trade to shake things up&hellip;Bad knees has reached epidemic proportions with the Barons. Last season, defenseman Jim Neilson, Len Frig and Bob Stewart underwent knee surgery: This season, bad knees have sidelined, at one time or another, rookie defenseman Bjorn Johansson, center Dave Gardner, Sabourin and rookie left winger Mike Fidler&hellip;Bob Girard and Jim Moxey. sent out to Salt Lake City of the Central League because of limited production, have been recalled after the injuries to Fidler and Sabourin. Rick Shinke had been called up earlier to replace Gardner. &#9632;

Barons Sag Offensively As Scoring Talent Thin

MONTREAL&mdash;While most observers in recent weeks have been marveling at the exploits of the high-flying Montreal Canadiens, the Atlanta Flames have quietly been collecting points at an equal rate.Over the last 15 games Atlanta has matched Montreal by earning 23 of a possible 30 points. During that stretch, Flames have won nine games, tied five and lost just one (a narrow 6-5 decision at Philadelphia. Nov. 21). They are currently undefeated in their last eight games which is two short of their club record 10-game unbeaten streak of 1974-75.They have gone 10 games without a loss at home; their record is 13 set last season. Only Philadelphia (29 points) and Montreal (28 points) have better home records this season than the Flames who have earned 28 of their 37 points at the OmniWhile Atlanta remains third in the Patrick Division, it is only four points behind first-place N.Y. Islanders and one point behind Philadelphia. It has been difficult for any team in that division to outdistance any other member in the past month because they all have had 600 records or better over that period. Flyers have gained 22 of their last 30 possible points. Islanders 19, and fourth-place N.Y Rangers 18.After the same number of games a year ago. Flames were again third but were 14 points behind first-place Philadelphia with a record of 14 wins. 13 losses and three ties.***Much of Atlanta's success can be attributed to consistent goaltending. Phil Myre and Daniel Bouchard, the only two goalies Flames have used since entering the NHL in 1972-73, have a combined goals-against average of 2 83 (85 goals against in 30 games), fourth-best in the league. Myre has three shutouts to share the league lead in that department while Bouchard has one. Three of their total four shutouts have come during their last 15 games and. oddly enough, all on the road.Continuing the accent on defense, while Flames have the third-wors, power-play record in the NHL. only six clubs have a better penalty-killing performance. Also. Atlanta shares the league lead in shorthand goals (seven) with Islanders.Their leading scorer is 1974-75 Calder Trophy-winner. Eric Vail, who has 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points. He is 19th in the scoring race Tom Lysiak has 29 points followed by rookie defenseman Richard Mulhern with 22* * *Meanwhile, Guy Lafleur of Montreal continues to lead the scoring parade with 51 points on 24 goals and 27 assists.He is currently two points ahead of his pace of last season when he won the championship with 125 points. Ranger veteran Rod Gilbert has moved into second position from fourth a week ago and has 47 points including the lead in assists with 32.Gilbert, who played his 1.000th NHL game Sunday&mdash;a 5-2 Ranger victory over Canadiens at New York&mdash;needs only 16 more points to reach 1,000. &#9632;

NHL WEEK …In Review

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0017-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02637/4166299-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TERRY MARTIN&hellip; Getting Key Goals</figcaption></div>BUFFALO-The 1975 amateur draft is beginning to pay off for the Buffalo Sabres.Last season the Sabres received very little production from their draft but three second-year pros are contributing now.Ken Breitenbach, second choice in 1975, a defenseman from the St. Catharines Junior Black Hawks, has been with the club since the beginning of the season. The six-foot-one, 190-pounder from nearby Welland, Ont., is the sixth defenseman now that Jim Schoenfeld has returned to action after a lengthy layoff because of illness but Ken has seen plenty of action and appears to have a definite role in the Sabres' future.Terry Martin and Gary McAdams, a pair of wingers who were the third and fourth choices, suddenly have begun to get on the ice during games and look as though they could become regulars.McAdam, also from the St. Catharines Hawks, plays mostly on the right side, although he's a left-hand shot. He has been with the Sabres from the start of the season, but didn't see more than spot duty until mid-November. Last season Gary divided his time between the Sabres and Hershey in the American League, where he had 27 points in 24 games.Martin, who came from the London Knights, started the season in Hershey, but was called up when Danny Gare was sidelined by his back problem. In a game against the Rangers in New York, both Gare and Fred Stanfield were out and coach Floyd Smith had broken up the French Connection. Terry found himself on a line with his namesake, Rick (nd relation) and Gil Perreault.He scored a goal in a 6-2 Buffalo win. Two games later, in Vancouver, he scored another in a 3-2 Sabre victory. But then he went back to the bench for a few games while Smitty experimented with his forwards.Came an important game in Boston, between the top two teams in the Adams Division, and both Terry Martin and McAdam were members of regular lines. McAdam had played regularly the game before, against Detroit, with Don Luce and Craig Ramsay, and scored his first goal of the season, besides assisting on one by Ramsay.Gary stayed with Luce and Ramsay but Smitty came up with two new combinations for the Boston game. Terry Martin played left wing on a line with Andre Savard and Rene Robert, while Gil Perreault played with Rick Martin on his left and Jim Lorentz or Stanfield on his right.The Sabres scored a big win. 6-2. to gain two points on the leading Bruins. Terry Martin scored two goals as his line had three for the night. Andre Savard got the other and had two assists.McAdam had one assist as his line scored twice. Perreault got the other Buffalo goal on a breakaway.Afterward, Terry said he didn't know whether he would even dress for the game. He had been on the ice for only two shifts the game before and not at all the games before that. Besides, he was feeling sort of queasy, as though he was coming down with the flu.&ldquo;I didn't say anything to the coach about not feeling well,'' the rookie mentioned, &ldquo;because wanted to dress. knew we brought one extra forward on the trip and thought it might be me.&rdquo;<h2>NHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01751/4166292-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="600" height="1044"></div> &#9632;

f0017-02

Sabres' Draft Choices Paying Off

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02619/4166330-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="584" height="2790"></div> &#9632;

f0018-02

Looking At NHL Goalers

<div class="byline">BY TONY GALLAGHER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01768/4166361-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="570" height="521"><figcaption class="caption-body">LARRY CARRIERE&hellip; Provides Help</figcaption></div>VANCOUVER&mdash;The way Phil Maloney described the Vancouver Canucks' latest trade, it was a matter of body language.Larry Carriere and Hilliard Graves are the bodies coming to Vancouver in exchange for John Gould, and regardless of how the deal turns down the twisting road of history, it can be seen as nothing other than a desperation move to shake up the most pathetic club in the NHL.The deal, which Maloney said, brought the Canucks' two players who can play on the club in exchange for one who can play, was made in the wake of the club's most fearful performance of the season, and quite possibly in the team s seven-year history.It was a 5-2 loss at home to the Detroit Red Wings which really may have forced Maloney into dealing away a man who had just had two 30-goal plus seasons with his club despite the fact that only two other clubs in the league have scored fewer goals.Trade talks have been brewing in Vancouver for as long as three weeks, and it would appear that Maloney went straight from the ice to the telephone to make the deal with Atlanta's Cliff Fletcher.It was that type of a hockey game. Maloney was as disconsolate as he has been all season as his club fell to 18th place in a league of 18.When asked afterwards whether he was confident going into the game with Detroit. Maloney responded. &ldquo;I don't feel confident playing anyone with this group.&rdquo;Clearly, the Fox as he is known in Vancouver, had to make a move in order to shake up the rest of th&eacute; players, even if it was a trade he might later regret.And considering his track record in trades, Maloney has been somewhat of a genius in the field, frequently besting the other general managers with only one or two bad ones behind him.&ldquo;John Gould may be asking why me', but other NHL teams have scouts looking at us all the time,&rdquo; said Maloney. &ldquo;They are not stupid. They know the guys they don't want. It reaches the point where you have to give up someone to get someone. think we obtained two guys who can play for us, and gave up one. It's as simple as that.&rdquo; Ironically, it was Gould who took exception in one game last year to an attempted check on his body by Graves, who is known for his rump check, one which has put such players as John Grisdale, Garry Monahan and Jim Neilson on the sidelines for a total of about six months lost playing time.Now Gould goes to Atlanta to bring a fellow to Vancouver whom at one time was not too popular with his new teammates.But Maloney needed some help on defense&mdash;hence Carriere&mdash;and desperately needs someone to do some back checking in an attempt to keep the goals against average resonable.He is realistic. He is aware that the trade is not enough to get the club back into the Smythe Division thick of things, but he knows if he doesn't get the club moving soon, he'll be the one doing the moving.He has got to do something about the attitude on the club, an attitude which is not yet suicidal, but one which could lead to the players losing respect for themselves.&ldquo;I don't want guys who go through life thinking it's a bowl of cherries whether they win, lose or tie. want guys who care about losing.&rdquo;Closer to the point, he wants players who care about winning.&ldquo;Both guys we're getting were regulars on a club with a winning record.&rdquo; says Maloney. &ldquo;So let's hope they'll bring a winning attitude with them.&rdquo;Clearly, if the club doesn't pull out of it's nosedive, which has seen them gain only one win in their last 11 games, they might not make the playoffs, something unthinkable in such a town as Vancouver where the newspapers use the name Colorado Rockies to mock the Division, the league, and the quality of hockey in general.The worst part about the loss from the club's point of view was the fact that 3,000 fans stayed home. No wonder president Bill Hughes, the club's member of the board of governors, is so concerned with the lack of parity.It was Hughes, who just before the Detroit game, was interviewed in Vancouver and said that parity should be the league's number one concern and not international play.&ldquo;Every team should have a 50-50 chance of making the playoffs at the beginning of the season,&rdquo; said Hughes, speaking as though there was a quick instant formula to Utopia. &ldquo;Also, clubs shouldn't be allowed to trade off their draft choices, although it's easy to see why they do.&rdquo;Hughes is obviously expressing the outrage that every GM must feel when he sees Montreal's Sam Pollock holding a player three years in the minors, then trading him off for another draft choice. &#9632;

f0018-01

Maloney Acquires Carriere, Graves In Desparate Shakeup Of Canucks

<div class="byline">BY LARRY BORTSTEIN</div>DENVER-When Paul Gardner, their first-round draft choice out of the junior ranks, failed to make the Colorado Rockies' opening-day roster this fall, he didn't rant, he didn't rave, nor did he shout or pout. To be sure, he wasn't thrilled at being sent to Rhode Island in the American League, but he accepted the demotion with poise and professionalism.Paul was brought back up by the Rockies on Nov. 13, and since that &ldquo;time he's become one of the hottest young stars in the National Hockey League. In his first nine games he scored six goals and posted seven assists, including five goals in his first five games, and the Rockies went 3-4-2 during that span.Hardly overwhelming, but a major improvement over their very shaky 4-11-1 beginning and, suddenly, as November turned into December and the first snows of winter descended upon the Mile High City, the Rockies found themselves in third place in the Smythe Division.This might be the most severe indictment anyone could make about the Smythe Division, but let the purists argue that point, says Rockie coach Johnny Wilson. 'Third place will be just fine with me if that's where we end up,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;That's a playoff position.&rdquo;If the Rockies should end up making the post-season portion of the campaign, Gardner undoubtedly will be one of the major reasons for the Rockies' turnaround from lacklustre lethargy and low-scoring offense to respectability and a rafter of goals.Recently, with Paul centering for Barry Dean and Wilf Paiement, the Rockies scored 16 goals in a period of three games, including a 6-6 tie at home with Los Angeles. The six goals against the Kings matched Colorado's output in five previous home outings before that time&mdash;four one-goal games and another when the Rockies barraged enemy nets with two goals.&ldquo;It was kind of embarrassing not making the team at the beginning of L the season,&rdquo; Gardner admits. &ldquo;I was the first-round draft choice and this was only a first-year team. But decided would go down to Rhode Island and make the most of my chances and get back up here as soon as could.&rdquo;In Rhode Island, where he played 15 games for the Reds, Paul scored 10 goals and four assists before he was recalled by the Rockies. In his NHL debut he scored a goal against the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum to help the Rockies to a surprising 3-3 tie, and followed up with two goals against the Bruins in Boston. Paul played five games on the road &mdash; and scored five goals&mdash;before seeing home ice action for the first time, but he has quickly become one of the favorites of the Colorado fans.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01736/4166437-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="581" height="889"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02593/4166430-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="570" height="882"><figcaption class="caption-body">Paul Gardner is following a family tradition by playing in the National Hockey League. His father, Cal, left, used to play for Chicago and Boston. Older brother Dave, right, now is with the Cleveland Barons.</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Playing for Johnny Muckier was a great experience,&rdquo; recalls the 20-year-old centerman, of this tenure in the AHL. &ldquo;He kept after me and Mike (Kitchen, the young defenseman who also was recently recalled by the Rockies), and he really helped us both get back here. He worked with us and really have a great respect for him.&rdquo;Gardner and Kitchen have been rooming together at a local motel since being recalled, and the two young men really have hit it off well together.Paul scored 69 goals and 75 assists for the Oshawa Generals a season ago, so putting the puck in the net is something with which he has great familiarity. He expects to remain familiar with the practice. Expressing a sentiment that often is made by minor leaguers after reaching the majors in all sports, Gardner says, &ldquo;It's easier to play up here than in the minors. A lot easier. Everybody on your line knows where to go. You give a guy the puck and you break into a hole in the minors and you won't get the puck back. Here, the other guys look for you and if they see you breaking, they'll get the puck back to you.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03448/4166423-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="567" height="886"><figcaption class="caption-body">PAUL GARDNER&hellip; Easier In NHL.</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Also,&rdquo; Paul goes on, &ldquo;in the minors the guys don't take the time to get to know each other. Here, was accepted right away and all the guys came over to say hello and introduce themselves to me. guess the problem in the minors is that everybody's competing with everybody else to get up here or to. the New England Whalers. The Rhode Island club worked with them, too. The guys are tighter, not as relaxed as they are up here.&rdquo;Wilson, who has more to smile about these days, gets positively giddy about Gardner's early play. &ldquo;He moves the puck well, he makes the play,&rdquo; exults the Rockies' benct: boss. &ldquo;All our centers are starting tc do those things. figure the arrival of new faces here is having some influence on the veterans. There's more enthusiasm than there was before.&rdquo;Wilson thinks Gardner made an excellent adjustment to his brief stay in the minors. &ldquo;I've seen a lot of guys go to training camps as first draft choices and great junior records.&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;and they don't make the team and have to go to the minors. They lose confidence in themselves and never do make it back to the NHL or, if they do, they're never the same player that had all that potential. I'd say I've seen more guys in that category who flopped than those who made it. Besides, as far as Paul is concerned, he had a pulled groin muscle part of the time in camp and couldn't go all out. We knew he'd be back up. He's a heckuva player and a heckuva kid.&rdquo;Despife his late start in the league. Gardner could yet be a factor in the Calder Trophy rookie race, generally conceded in the early going to be between Don Murdoch of the Rangers. Mike Palmateer of the Maple Leafs, and Glen Sharpley of the North Stars. Does Paul consider himself a Calder candidate?&ldquo;I don't worry about that,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I just want to play regular all year. think if we work hard, we have a chance to do pretty well. This is the kind of team wanted to be with, a young team with a chance to start something from the beginning.&rdquo;Paul is the younger brother&mdash;by three and a half years&mdash;of Cleveland center Dave Gardner. Their dad, Cal Gardner, played with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1952-53. The Barons came in to Denver to meet the Rockies on Dec. 1. but the expected first NHL meeting of the Gardner boys never took place, as Dave was sidelined with strained knee ligaments.But Dave did accompany the Barons here, and upon seeing his little brother on the ice for the first time, remarked, &ldquo;Gee, didn't realize he was that big already.&rdquo;Paul il only five-foot-11 and 187 pounds, but he looks mighty big to the Rockies right now, too. &#9632;

f0019-01

Paul Gardner Follows Family To NHL

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01570/4166482-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01419/4166475-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="1856" height="2106"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02276/4166468-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="1201" height="1742"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Philadelphia Flyers are rolling again. Their 7-4 win over Toronto extended their unbeaten streak to 11. Two players who played key roles in routing Leafs were Don Saleski, top, and Orest Kindrachuk (26). Each scored twice in Spectrum game. (Photo by Bernie Moser)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0020-01

National National League Summaries

The Cincinnati Stingers are making a determined bid to regain the WHA's team scoring lead and if they keep up performance like their 8-0 drubbing of Phoenix and 6-2 rout of Houston they're sure to make it.The Stingers, who rank third with 132 goals, went on a scoring binge last week as they racked up 15 goals in three starts and the man who helped lead the way was former NHLer Blaine Stoughton, who produced a four-point game in the easy win against Phoenix.Stoughton hit the 20-goal mark scoring twice and he helped set up two others in the same game. When the Stingers thumped Houston, Stoughton chipped in with a goal giving him a five-point week and a good reason why the young Stingers are becoming a force in the WHA's East Division race again this season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05184/4166565-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="534" height="512"><figcaption class="caption-body">BLAINE STOUGHTON&hellip;Cincinnati Stingers</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0022-05

WHA'S… Player of the Week

<div class="byline">BY GEORGE BILYCH</div>EDMONTON&mdash;It still hadn't snowed in Edmonton the first week of December but Bep Guidolin simply refuses to let the grass grow under his feet.The man who guides the destinies of the Oilers has been averaging a deal a week in his attempts to give Edmonton a playoff contender. It's become apparent there are no sacred cows amongst his personnel.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01455/4166534-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="565" height="1285"><figcaption class="caption-body">TIM SHEEHY&hellip; Wasn't Staying (Photo by Stove Babineau)</figcaption></div>In his most recent role as wheeler-dealer, Bep unloaded his leading goal scorer, Tim Sheehy, to the Birmingham Bulls for Gavin Kirk and Tom (Shotgun) Simpson.Sheehy, a 28-year-old U.S.-born right winger, has averaged more than 30 goals throughout his four-year WHA career. His 15 goals during the first two months of the current schedule easily topped the scoring totals of the defense-minded Oilers, but it's hardly been a secret that Guidolin has been offering Tim's services around the league since training camp. He was close to making a deal with Winnipeg until the Jets finally decided they wanted no part of Sheehy's reported $120,000 contract.While Guidolin has been looking for avenues to unload Sheehy, the feeling was mutual. Just two days before he was dealt to the Bulls, Sheehy was quoted as saying that &ldquo;under no circumstances&rdquo; did he want to spend another year with the Oilers after his current contract expires at the end of this season.&ldquo;Tim just hadn't been pleasing me.&rdquo; said Guidolin. &ldquo;regardless of how many goals he was scoring.&rdquo;Edmonton Journal columnist Terry Jones, in rating the Oilers' personnel, gave Sheehy a D plus (far below average). His comment was &ldquo;Middle-of-the-road goal scorer on a GOOD WHA team. Flunking desperately in such classes as intestinal fortitude, corners, checking, inspiration and perspiration.&rdquo;Simpson almost became a member of the Oilers a month earlier, he being the Birmingham part of the trade offered Edmonton for Barry Long. Long's attorney, however, pointed out successfully that his contract had been violated and he jumped to Winnipeg instead.Simpson and Kirk figure to give the Oilers considerable offensive stability. A 25-year-old center. Kirk hasn't missed a game in the WHA. Though not a strong skater. Kirk's value lies in his playmaking and his success in the face-off circle. He was the center for Frank Mahovlich and Mark Napier most of last year in Toronto before being traded to Calgary where he helped carry the Cowboys to the Canadian Division finals.Simpson, a 24-year-old right winger, enjoyed a 52-goal season with the Toronto Toros a couple of years back. He had fired seven with the Bulls this season.CALGARY: Even Danny Lawson's 200th WHA career goal failed to spark any enthusiasm amongst the Calgary Cowboys. The Cowboys suffered through another seven-game winless streak (their second this season) before snapping out of it with a 6-0 whipping of the Phoenix Roadrunners. By that time they had already settled in behind Edmonton in the Western Division basement.Inability to do anything right on the road has been the Cowboys' downfall. While they own a respectable 9-3 won-lost log at home they've only won one and tied two of 14 starts on the road.Lawson hit for his 200th goal in the course of a 6-4 loss to Cincinnati Dec. 3. One of only four players to have not missed a single WHA scheduled game, Lawson's goal total is topped only by the 235 of Bobby Hull.As the Cowboys road slump deepened, coach Joe Crozier indicated his patience had reached the end of the line.&ldquo;Looks like I'm faced with the problems of building a hockey club once again,&rdquo; said The Crow after a disheartening 2-1 loss in Indianapolis. &ldquo;I'm afraid I'm going to have to start right from scratch. haven't got one now.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03292/4166527-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="565" height="552"><figcaption class="caption-body">GAVIN KIRK&hellip; Traded Again</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04223/4166520-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="558" height="591"><figcaption class="caption-body">DANNY LAWSON&hellip; 200th WHA Goal</figcaption></div>Crozier stated that the only untouchable on his roster was goalie Smokey McLeod who has scintillated in posting a 2.92 average with two shutouts, in the first two months. While he admits he has initiated trade talks with at least a couple of clubs, it doesn't appear he's meeting with any success.WINNIPEG: The return of Bobby Hull to the Winnipeg lineup, didn't make the Jets instant winners but it certainly didn't hurt the scoring exploits of his Swedish linemates&mdash;Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson.In five games since his return, Hull has scored nine points, eight of them assists. His presence helped Hedberg vault into the lead in the individual scoring race while Nilsson holds down third place with Marc Tardif.While he admits his shot is still just 20 per cent of what it used to be. Hull fired a goal and contributed four assists in the course of an 8-2 whipping of the San Diego Mariners in a game in which the Division lead was on the line.<h2>WHA leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02357/4166513-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="599" height="1143"></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

Guidolin Deals Off Disgruntled Top Scorer

<div class="byline">BY GREG NOBLE</div>INDIANAPOLIS&mdash;Racers' fans claimed it was a miracle. Edmonton led 2-0 in the third period, but the Racers scored five times in the last 17 minutes for a spectacular 5-3 triumph that moved them within one point of Eastern Division leader Quebec.&ldquo;We showed a lot of courage and pride.&rdquo; Demers said. &ldquo;You've got to give credit to a group of guys who want to win and play good hockey.&ldquo;These guys don't know when to quit,&rdquo; he praised. &ldquo;When they're down they work hard to get to the top, and when they're at the top they work hard to stay there.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01431/4166603-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="596" height="774"><figcaption class="caption-body">NORM LAPOINTE &hellip; Steady In Goal</figcaption></div>They never worked harder than in the final period against Edmonton. After the Oilers took a 2-0 lead. Hugh Harris scored, then Blair MacDonald made it 2-2 at 11:31.A goal by Michel Parizeau at 17:28 put the Racers ahead, but Doug Barrie tied the game again at 18:29. With the crowd of 10,722 at Market Square Arena going bananas. Rosaire Paiement got the game-winner at 18:45. MacDonald scored later into an empty net.Harris became the first Racer to ever crack the top 10 in scoring in the WHA. with 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points. And the Racers moved into the lead in attendance with an average crowd of 9,564.CINCINNATI: The Stingers finally snapped out of a three-week long scoring slump.Dennis Sobchuk's two goals in a 7-2 victory over Houston matched his entire goal production for the month of November&mdash;12 games.And Dennis Abgrall, Jacques Locas and Ron Plumb snapped out of their offensive unconsciousness in a 6-4 decision nine games. Locas had been scoreless for six games, and Plumb picked up his first of the season.Rookie goaltender Norm Lapointe was the key figure in the victory over Houston. &ldquo;Lapointe was very sharp,&rdquo; Houston coach Bill Dineen said. &ldquo;We had five or six scoring chances in the first seven minutes and we didn't get any.&rdquo;Plumb, although he only had two goals, was the top scoring defenseman in the league with 24 points. Richie Leduc, centering for two rookies, Abgrall and Peter Marsh, was the club's leading scorer with 14 goals and 23 assists. Rick Dudley. Blaine Stoughton and Claude Larose continued to play well.BIRMINGHAM: When Gilles Leger stepped down as coach, he indicated he wanted time to pursue trades that might make the Bulls a winning club.He acted immediately, trading two of the team's original players, forwards Tom Simpson and Gavin Kirk, to Edmonton for right winger Tim Sheehy, who was the Oilers' leading scorer.&ldquo;We had to give up two players to get Sheehy,&rdquo; coach Pat Kelly said. &ldquo;but he's a proven 30-goal scorer with good size and good skating ability.&rdquo; Since Sheehy had 15 goals less than halfway through the season, Kelly expressed hope he might even get 40.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02326/4166596-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="1203" height="1641"><figcaption class="caption-body">HUGH HARRIS&hellip; First Racer To Crack Top 10.</figcaption></div>Kelly's first victory as coach of the Bulls was a 3-1 decision over Cincinnati. The last-place Bulls had lost their first two games under the veteran minor league coach. &ldquo;It feels super, great, anything you want to call it,&rdquo; he said.Kelly had stressed defense to the Bulls, so he was delighted that they held the high-powered Stingers to one goal. &ldquo;The key was picking up their third man coming back. All our wingers did a good job helping the defensemen,&rdquo; he said. Vaclav Nedomansky, Jeff Jacques and Mark Napier scored for the Bulls. John Garrett made 33 saves.However, the Bulls slipped back 12 games under.500 after losing to Edmonton 4-3. &#9632;

f0023-01

Demers Lauds Racers' Show Of Courage, Pride

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01445/4166641-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="957" height="779"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02353/4166634-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="2437" height="3115"></div> &#9632;

f0024-01

WHA SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

Indianapolis Racers have added two more wins to their now three-week-long surge to their now tion in the WHA's Eastern Division. By beating Calgary 2-1 and Edmonton 5-3 in their only games of the week, Racers extended their recent record to 10 wins in their last 11 games. Racers have been fuelled by the positive individual performances of Michel Dion and Hugh Harris. 15 Dion leads WHA goalies in winning percentage at.773 with an 8-2-1 record. Harris, aided by linemates Michel Parizeau and Blair MacDonald, not only is Indy's top scorer with 40 points, but also leads the league in plus-minus percentage at 27 percent. Harris' four shorthanded goals also lead the league.Anders Hedberg, locked in a weekly see-saw battle with Real Cloutier for the WHA scoring lead, has reassumed the top spot and in doing so has set a new league record. Hedberg has 27 goals and 26 assists in 28 games. His 50th point of the season came on a goal against Minnesota on Dec. 3 in what was.Jets' 26th game of the season, setting a n&eacute;w standard for 50-point production by breaking linemate Bobby Hull's old one of 27 games. He has scored goals in five consecutive games, and has 10 power &Iacute; play goals this season, a WHA-&Iacute; leading figure.Hedberg has been helped to his record by the reuniting of the Hull-Nilsson-Hedberg line. The three leading point scorers of the week in the WHA were Nilsson 5 with nine points, followed by his two linemates with eight each.Danny Lawson, the first 50-goal scorer in WHA history, has reached a personal milestone with his '200th career goal. The Calgary I right winger joins none other than Bobby Hull as the only 200 goal scorers in WHA history. Lawson's landmark goal was scored at 17:12 of period three, Calgary at Cincinnati. Dec. 3.* * *Keh Broderick and Wayne Rutledge combined efforts for one of the rarest feats in WHA s hockey, a double shutout, when s Edmonton visited Houston Dec. 3. It was only the third scoreless game ever played in the WHA, where the double shutout encompasses 70 minutes of scoreless action, including the 10-minute overtime. 'The adage that teams who successfully handle power play I and penalty killing situations do I well in the standings, has held I true in the WHA in 1976-77. Houston, five points out of first place with four games in hand, leads all WHA teams in both power plays and penalty killing. s Aeros have scored on 30. percent of their power plays (22/73). &#9632;

WHA WEEK … In Review

QUEBEC CITY&mdash;The Quebec Nordiques are keeping ahead in the tight Eastern Division race by playing consistent hockey as they continued to be the World Hockey Association's No. 1 winning club with 19 victories in 31 starts.Granted the Nordiques have played more games than the pursuing Cincinnati Stingers and Indianapolis Racers but the Flying 'Frenchmen are winning those games in hand on the Stingers and Racers, who have fallen five points off the pace.The Nordiques concluded another productive week winning three of their four starts to take the overall WHA lead in points and wins away from the Winnipeg Jets, who top the Western Division with 18 victories in 31 games. The Canadians skated to a 5-4 decision against Phoenix, downed Houston 4-1 and took New England 5-1 after losing a week-opening 4-2 game to Edmonton's revamped Oilers.The Nordiques' explosive offense continued to fire bullets at rival WHA goalers as they picked up 16 goals to push their team goal scoring total to 141, just four behind the leading Winnipeg Jets, who have shot 145 goals in the same number of games as the Nordiques.Real Cloutier, who had a another hat trick. Serge Bernier, Marc Tardif, the Bordeleaus, Chris and Paulin, and a new face, Jean Bernier. shared the scoring spotlight for the Nordiques this past week. Cloutier was still the No. 2 point man with 53, three behing Winnipeg's Anders Hedberg. He continued to raise his goal count as he hit 24. Serge Bernier remained in the top five with 43 points.MINNESOTA: The Fighting Saints gained momentum in their battle to ward off the New England Whalers in the fight for fourth place in the East but both teams were still losing ground to Quebec. Cincinnati and Indianapolis for the upper position in the divisional race.The Saints beat the Whalers 4-2 in St. Paul and took Calgary 4-1 also at home but they couldn't stand prosperity and lost 4-2 to San Diego, a team that rarely wins on the road this season.The Saints' big line of Dave Keon, Mike Antonovich and John McKenzie continued to be the club's bread-and-butter unit. McKenzie scored twice in one game and Antonovich fired the game winning goal to knock off the Whalers. McKenzie's pair sunk the Calgary Cowboys. Goalers Mike Curran and Lou Levasseur were still effectively alternating in the Saints' goal.NEW ENGLAND: The Whalers came up with a.500 week on the ice winning two at home against San Diego and Houston but blew both road starts in St. Paul against Minnesota and lost convincingly in Quebec.Rookie George Lyle and his linemate. Mike Rogers, were clicking with more consistency. Lyle shot the game-winning goal against San Diego with the help of Rogers and then the former Edmonton Oil King scored two earlier goals for the Whalers. Rogers was beginning to find the range after a slow start with New England. Despite their 2-2 week, the Whalers were still fifth in the six-team Eastern Division.In a player movement, the Whalers recalled Cap Raeder from Rhode Island to back up No. 1 goaler Christer Abrahamsson while sending Bruce Landon to the AHL club as Raeder s replacement.<h2>Looking At WHA Goalers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01382/4166703-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="595" height="1287"></div><h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02278/4166696-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="1236" height="1553"></div> &#9632;

f0025-01

Nordiques Remain Winningest Hockey Team

<div class="byline">JOHN ARNOLDS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03193/4166734-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg"></div>ACROSSFormer NHL defensemanEx-Ranger rearguard6. A Flyer forward answers to this.7.21st and 3rd letters of the alphabet.8. Plays defense for Winnipeg.12. One of the Dallas Black Hawks (init)13. One of the Rochester Americans.15. An Aero veteran answers to this. v16. Detroit once sponsored a teai in London, England with this nickname(s)17. First name of one of the Rangers.18. One of the Whalers21. Distress signal.23. One of the Leafs.24. Type of tree.25. Former Ranger power play specialist.DOWN1. Pictured player.2. A 2-minute penalty is assessed if a player is caught doing this.3. A Buffalo left winger.5. Number worn by Jean Potvin8. A Colorado rookie.9. Nickname of 26 across.10. A Cleveland defenseman.1 11. Wears No. 10 for L.A.12. Former Montreal All Star.14. One of the Canucks, (init)15. A Detroit forward.19. A Vancouver center (init)20. 20th, 25th and 8th letters of the alphabet22. Required for a canoe.SOLUTION IN DEC. 31 ISSUE LAST WEEK'S ANSWERSACROSS1. BROMLEY.8. LOSE.9. HULL11. AT.13. GAL.14. DAVIDSON.17. ADD.18. S.G.19. NEIL.21. ELLE.22. GLEN.24. A.O.25. NEVIN.27. HIS.28. M.A.30. G.A.31. T.R.32. UNGER.DOWN1. BLADON.2. ROTA.3. O.S.4. ME.5. E.H.6. YUGOSLAVIA.7. ILL.10. LANGLOIS.12. ODD.15. VAIL.16. IDLE.20. E.G.23. N.N.26. EHMAN.29. ORR.30. G.U.31. T.E. &#9632;

f0025-03

HOCKEY CROSSWORD

'HOUSTON&mdash;Ken Broderick blocked 31 shots as the Edmonton Oilers shutout the Houston Aeros, but it didn't spoil Houston's home-ice unbeaten streak.Wayne Rutledge turned aside 24 Edmonton shots in the third scoreless tie in World Hockey Association history.The shutout was the second of the season for Rutledge, sixth of his WHA career and reduced his league leading goals against average to 2.19.Broderick's was his second shutout in his first WHA season.The game, which leaves the Aeros 9-0-5 at home and departing on a four-game road trip, was the first for the Aeros in a week and coach Bill Dineen was happy about the layoff.&ldquo;Long layoffs usually hurt because the timing suffers, but we can use the time off to heal some of our bumps and bruises,&rdquo; said Dineen. &ldquo;There's nothing we can do about getting Schella and Lukowich back right now, but think we'll have Hinse back for this weekend and our road trip. That will certainly help.&rdquo;John Schella is out another five weeks with torn ligaments in his thumb and Hinse came out of the same game with a strained knee. Three days later, rookie Morris Lukowich received a hairline fracture of the ankle and is out for at least three more weeks.With defenseman Larry Hale returning to Vancouver, B.C., for his father's funeral, Dineen called Mike Federko and Ron Hansis Up from Oklahoma City for one game.&ldquo;Federko did a good job,&rdquo; said Dineen. &ldquo;He played his position well, especially considering it was his first major league game. think he has a chance to develop into a solid major league defenseman.&rdquo;For two seasons, the Aeros enjoyed good health, losing just 55 player-games to injuries.They also won the Avco World Trophy both of those seasons.Last season, when they lost the finals to Winnipeg, they lost 73 player games to injury.&ldquo;Injuries are part of the game,&rdquo; allowed Dineen. &ldquo;I just wish they wouldn't come all at once. We have good depth, though, both on the major league roster and in the farm system. We'll just have to use that depth for a while.&rdquo; &#9632;

Scoreless Tie Keeps Houston Unbeaten At Home

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0026-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01395/4166789-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0026-01

World Hockey Association Summaries

HARTFORD-The names of the players who will comprise the Soviet national team which will tour eight World Hockey Association cities in December and January have been released by the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation in Moscow.As promised, all of the top Soviet stars familiar to North American fans will be appearing. International super stars like Tretiak, Kharlamov, Mikhailov, Yakushev, Shadrin, Petrov, and several more, many of whom did not play in Canada Cup '76, will be in the lineup when the Soviets open their tour on Dec. 27 at Hartford against the New England Whalers.Coaching the Soviets once again will be Boris Kulagin, the famed disciple of the 'godfather' of Soviet hockey. Anatoli Tarasov. Kulagin, long time coach of the Soviet Nationals, did not accompany the Soviet team to the Canada Cup tournament. At the time there was much speculation that Kulagin might have fallen from prominence in the always mysterious Soviet hockey picture.Kulagin is a stern taskmaster who first became known to most North American hockey fans with expressionless commandeering of the Soviet bench during the Team Canada series of 1972. Kulagin's icy stare also quickly became known to reporters.Now Kulagin is coming back, as are the players with whom he won a string of world championships.&ldquo;We had been promised the strongest Soviet team ever to appear in North America, and, according to the roster which we have received today, that is exactly what our fans will be seeing,&rdquo; exulted Ben Hatskin, chairman of the board of the WHA.The complete Soviet roster dispatched to the WHA offices in Toronto includes:Goaltenders: Vladislav Tretiak, Aleksandr Sidelnikov.Defensemen: Sergei Babinov, Alexandr Bilialetdinov, Aleksandr Gusev, Victor Khatulev, Vladimir Krikunov, Yuri Liapkin, Vladimir Lutchenko, Vasiliy Pervukhin, Gennadi Tsygankov, Valeri Vassilyev.Forwards: Boris Aleksandrov, Vyacheslav Anisin, Helmut Balderis, Aleksandr Golikov, Sergei Kapustin, Valeri Kharlamov, Aleksandr Maltsev, Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov, Petr Prirodin, Vladimir Repniov, Vladimir Shadrin, Victor Shalimov, Vladimir Vikulov, Aleksandr Yakushev, Victor Zhlutkov.Of the 28 players who will make up the Soviet team, 17 were members of the national team which defeated Team Canada four games to one with three ties in 1974. Left wing Yakushev, often billed as Europe's counter-part to Bobby Hull, was the star of that series, scoring six goals.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01374/4166820-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="535" height="741"><figcaption class="caption-body">VALERY KHARLAMOV</figcaption></div>Also returning to Canada and the United States will be left wing Kharlamov, who first blossomed as a player of international stature against Team Canada '72. Only last season Kharlamov led his Central Red Army team with four goals during their four game tour of the National Hockey League. Last summer, however, Kharlamov was severely injured in an automobile accident. This season s Soviet tour will serve as the first test of his readiness to return to top level international competition.That the Soviets have selected so strong a team for the WHA series is to erase any embarrassment resulting from their poor showing in the Canada Cup, and to prepare for the world championship tournament of 1977 to be held in Vienna in late April, according to Andre Starovoitnov, secretary general of the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation.The Soviets can expect to face a bevy of their former European hockey rivals when they land in the WHA cities. Such products of the European system as Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nilsson, Dan Labraaten, Thommie Bergman. Mats Lindh, Willy Lindstrom, the Abrahamsson brothers, Crister and Tommy, Veli Pekka Ketola, Hexi Riihiranta, Curt Larsson, and others will be opposing the visitors from Russia. The Soviets will undoubtedly pay special attention to Hedberg, the WHA's leading scorer who is enjoying his best season ever since coming over from Sweden.The complete schedule of the Soviet tour of the World Hockey Association cities:Mon. Dec. 27 at HartfordTue. Dec. 28 at CincinnatiThu. Dec. 30 at HoustonSat. Jan. 1 at IndianapolisMon. Jan. 3 at San DiegoWed. Jan. 5 at EdmontonThu. Jan. 6 at WinnipegSat. Jan. 8 at Quebec City &#9632;

f0027-01

Soviets Sending Strongest Team For Tour of WHA

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div>. PHOENIX&mdash;Phoenix Roadrunners' coach and general manager Al Rollins is aware that his defense, which averages just over six-foot-one-half-inch in height and a few ounces under 200 pounds in weight, is among the biggest in the World Hockey Association.Like the crocagator, that's what makes him so dad blamed mad. They've shown a great reluctance for body contact.&ldquo;The defense is playing the puck instead of the man,&rdquo; charges Rollins. &ldquo;This is our trouble.&rdquo;The Roadrunners had just returned from a road trip on which they blew leads in Edmonton and San Diego for losses.&ldquo;We should have won all three games,&rdquo; said Rollins. &ldquo;We led in all three, yet we only won the one we weren't expected to win.&rdquo;The brilliant work in goal of rookie Clay Hebenton kept the score, if not the play close.The Roadrunners were outshot 37-20 at Edmonton but went to over-time to lose, 3-2 on a power play breakaway by Norm Ullman.They were outshot 37-19 at San Diego and blew a 3-1 two period lead into a 4-3 loss, dropping them to fourth, lifting San Diego to second in the Western Division.The one they weren't expected to win was at Winnipeg. They had already stopped the defending World Hockey Association champions in both previous meetings, one in Phoenix, one in Winnipeg.&ldquo;It was Bobby's return but it was Robbie's night,&rdquo; chortled Rollins after that one.Robbie Ftorek scored two goals and three assists and the Roadrunners took a 5-3 victory to spoil Bobby Hull's return to the lineup after a pre-season wrist injury.Yet, Ftorek had to share the limelight with Hebenton and defenseman Pekka Rautakallio.Hebenton made 24 saves against the high-scoring Jets over the last two periods.Rautakallio scored two goals which were noteworthy in several ways and played what Rollins called &ldquo;probably his best game of the year.&rdquo;The pair of goals are the first two of the season for the Finnish defenseman. who had 11 last season, were the first by a Phoenix defenseman in 19 games and only the fourth and fifth of the season.They both came on the power play after the Roadrunners had netted just two such goals in the previous 12 games.Two nights later, at Edmonton, Jerry Rollins became the second Roadrunner defenseman ever to score twice in one game. They were his first of the season and since his second came in the final minute to tie the score and call the overtime, were again noteworthy.The Roadrunners were gambling with an empty net and six attackers and it was only the third time in 23 attempts over two-and-a-quarter seasons they had made it pay off. But it was the second time in four games.They had scored on the six-skater gamble to earn a come-from-behind 3-3 tie with Calgary in Phoenix.Rollins was particularly anguised over the loss in Edmonton, the Oilers fourth consecutive overtime victory and the Roadrunners' fourth winless overtime (two ties).Serge Beaudoin had gone off with his second penalty of the overtime period but the Runners maintain the big defenseman never even made contact with Bryan Campbell, let alone commit the assault which referee Bob Kolari ruled was roughing.Hebenton has started 12 straight games, breaking the club record set at this season's outset by veteran Gary Kurt.Rollins had intended to get Kurt back into a rotation at Edmonton, but said, &ldquo;the kid's playing so good, can't take him out.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02282/4166851-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="575" height="915"><figcaption class="caption-body">PEKKA RAUTAKALLIO&hellip; His Best Night</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0027-02

Roadrunners Not Hitting Laments Coach Rollins

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div>SAN DIEGO&mdash;The San Diego Mariners remained unbeaten in all 10 home starts this season, overcoming a 3-1 deficit for a 4-3 victory over Phoenix.The Mariners, 8-0-2 to tie the team's home-ice unbeaten record were propelled alone into second place, one point behind World Hockey Association Western Division leader, Winnipeg, one point ahead of Houston and two up on Phoenix in the tick-tight race.They're going to have to get their act together on the road, however, if they're going to maintain their position.Their next six games are on the road, where they have a 5-10-0 record, but there is an advantage even to that. When they return to San Diego, they will have played 21 of their 31 games on the road.They should definitely make hay with 15 of the next 21 at home.The Mariners were shutout 2-0 by Ken Broderick at Edmonton and laced by the Jets 8-2 as Anders Hedberg triggered four goals and Bobby Hull served notice he was back with a goal and four assists in his second game since a pre-season wrist injury.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03201/4166920-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="585" height="766"><figcaption class="caption-body">WAYNE RIVERS</figcaption></div>The Mariners' injury list continued to grow with wingers John French and Wayne Rivers both sidelined with shoulder hurts. Defenseman Brent Hughes is also nursing a sprained back.Rookie wingers Tony Cassolato and Tim O'Connell were recalled from Charlotte of the Southern League and Cassolato responded with the winning goal over Phoenix. Cassolato had a goal in two earlier games with the Mariners.Ernie Wakely's 2-0 victory at Calgary was the Mariner veteran's 13th career shutout, making him the shutout leader among active WHA goaltenders. The departed (to the National League) Gerry Cheevers, had 14.Despite the eight-goal barrage at Winnipeg by his former teammates, Wakely maintains a 2.73 goals against average, third in the WHA.The Mariners have designated their Dec. 16 game with Edmonton as &ldquo;Kip Hayes Night&rdquo; and will donate $1 of each ticket sold to offset the costs of the injured high school player's hospital expenses. The 17-year-old defensive lineman suffered a displaced neck disc and spinal cord damage and his breathing is being induced by a respirator.&ldquo;The players all wanted to do something because we're all athletes and things like this can happen to any of us,&rdquo; said Mariner team captain Andre Lacroix. &ldquo;I hope the fans get behind us and sell out the arena. &ldquo;&ldquo;Andre approached me with the idea and was all for it,&rdquo; said vice-president and general manager Ballard Smith. &ldquo;I know the medical costs rise tremendously each day and we're glad we can help.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0028-03

Mariners Flying At Home But Road Record Pathetic

HERSHEY&mdash;Three of the American Hockey League's six teams showed a substantial increase at the gate according to the figures released by the AHL offices here last week. Hershey, the AHL's perennial leader at the box office and a top contender on the ice as well, moved back into its accustomed spot on top. The Bears showed an increase of more than 600 persons per game in their six home games during the month of November. Specifically the Bears average increase went from 3,916 in October when they staged only four home games to 4,558 in the six games in November. Incidently the Bears' record in the standings also showed a marked increase.The New Haven Nighthawks, bolstered by the largest crowd of the season. 7,585 versus Nova Scotia on Friday, Dec. 3 (and this figure is not included in the November totals) showed the largest increase with 1,132 more fans per game in November. The Hawks, who have established themselves as serious contenders on the ice. moved into second place in the standings and in the box office race as they saw their average go from a poor 3,079 in October to a very comfortable 4.211 in November, and if you throw in the recotd 7,585 crowd on Dec. 3 and another 4,975 on the 5th the Hawks hold the lead moving into the 10th week of play in the 1976-77 season.Rhode Island also showed an increase during November. The Reds averaged 3,- 514 in five games in October and 3.847 in November. The Reds' average was only a few short of Rochester who showed a slight decrease during November largely due to a few mid-week dates that don't attract the usual fans. Rochester's average of 3,900 in November was 181 fans below their October figures, but the 3,900 figure was still good enough for third place in the box office struggle. Oddly enough the Amerks are also resting in third place in the standings.Springfield, struggling on the ice. is also having problems at the box office. The Indians, who have shown a marked increase over attendance last season, still fell off their October pace by almost 700 fans per game.Nova Scotia also slipped off their October pace by some 58 fans per game. This was mainly due to the poor attendance in the games played outside of the Halifax Forum although the Vees' attendance at home' isn't all that great either.HERSHEY: The Bears have moved out to a five point edge over Springfield. The Bears started off last week in fine style as they held the Vees to a 3-3 deadlock in Nova Scotia and it was the Vees who were forced to tie it up in the late stage of that game. The Bears then proceeded to fly into Springfield and hand the Indians their sixth straight set-back. Maybe the success was too much to handle as the Bears fell to the Vees in Hershey the night after, but then came right back with a big road win in Rhode Island the following night. Bob Sauve, on loan from Buffalo, registered his first two wins. Derek Smith with 25 points and Billy Inglis with 22 continue to lead the Bears' offensive charge.NEW HAVEN: The Nighthawks first place express was momentarily derailed last week when they dropped a 5-1 decision in Springfield, but for the most part the Hawks are still proceeding on a colisi&oacute;n course with the Vees for that coveted top spot. The Vees and Hawks battled to a 3-3 deadlock in New Haven on Friday night and came back strong against the Indians for a 6-2 verdict on Sunday. Meanwhile the Vees fell to the very hot Rochester Americans thus the Hawks remained only two points out of first place.The Hawks have four players among the top 10 and seven in the leading 20 in scoring. Jerry Byers and Tom Colley are the leading Nighthawks with 29 points apiece and tied for fourth place. Paul Harrison continues to lead the league with his 2.31 average.NOVA SCOTIA: The Vees, despite poor attendance at home, continue to be the best draw on the road and the best team in the standings as well. Piere Mondou moved into the top 10 scoring last week. The Montreal-owned center scored eight points during the week and hiked his total to 27 points. That is one short of team leader Rod Schutt, who has been among the top 10 since the beginning of the season. Eddie Walsh, who is now sharing the goaltending duties with his award winning partner Dave Elenbaas. is the third leading goaler with his 3.20 average.RHODE ISLAND: The Reds received some more bad news last week when their hard-hitting defenseman Ken Murray suffered a broken bone in his foot during the game against Rochester.Estimates on how long Murray will be out of the lineup, range from 10 days to 10 weeks.On the plus side of the register Dave Hynes, recently moved out of Hartford to Providence has been a big help. Hynes, who last year teamed with Doug Gibson and Gordie Clark in Rochester to form one of highest scoring lines in the AHL for many a season, has scored at least one goal in his last five games.ROCHESTER: Gibson and Clark continue to be the league's one-two punch in scoring, but the spotlight last week fell on AHL rookie goaler Jim Pettie. Pettie, who toiled in the nets at Dayton last season, was called upon by the Boston Bruins last week and was given the starting nod in Chicago. Pettie responded with a brilliant performance helping the Bruins to a victory in the Windy City in a game that marked the first appearance of Bobby Orr in a Chicago uniform against his old mates. Meanwhile back in Rochester player-coach Duane Rupp, used the same psychology as Boston coach Don Cherry when he started young Gary Carr in the nets for the Amerks' game against the Reds Friday in Providence. And believe it or not Rupp got the same results from the young net-minder called up from Columbus, a winning performance.Pettie returned to Rochester Sunday and recorded his seventh victory, a 5-3 win over the Vees. His 3.12 average is second only to Harrison in New Haven.SPRINGFIELD: Lynn, Mass., native Tom Rowe was called up by the Washington Capitals for their Sunday night encounter with the Bruins in Boston and Rowe played a key role for the Caps in their deadlock with the Bruins that night. Rowe, who has been an outstanding rookie with the Indians, scored the Caps first goal and made good use of his ample ice-time with the parent Caps. Andre Peloffy maintained his goal scoring lead as he picked up a single goal last week and hiked his total to 19, one better than Gibson in Rochester.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02281/4166958-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="593" height="851"><figcaption class="caption-body">DAVE HYNES&hellip; On Scoring Spree</figcaption></div><h2>AHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01354/4166951-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="586" height="1596"></div> &#9632;

f0030-02

Three Teams Show Gate Increase; Hershey Pulling Away From Indians

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03209/4166989-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0030-03

Minor League Scoreboard

<div class="byline">BY TOM BURKE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0031-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02248/4167027-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOURNEY MVP: Clarkson College athletic director William Fiesinger congratulates Dave Taylor of Clarkson as be presents most valuable player trophy to Clarkson's co-captain after final game of Thanksgiving Hockey Festival at Potsdam, N.Y. Taylor was hot with three goals and six assists to lead Clarkson to tourney victory over New Hampshire, St. Lawrence and Ottawa U.</figcaption></div>PROVIDENCE&mdash;Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. And if the crown is fashioned of paper, it's all the heavier.Brown University's hockey team has been crowned ECAC Division One champion ever since they've begun polling for the 1976-77 season Trouble is. the championship is only a predicted one. and Bruin coach Dick Toomey would rather reserve the praise for later, after the season has been played on sheets of ice rather than sheets of paper.The highly touted Browns lost their season opener. 7-5 to a well-regarded Boston College sextet in Brown s Meehan Auditorium. As he contemplated the statistics. Toomey pleaded with reporters.&ldquo;Don't be too complimentary. Please. Let us earn it. &ldquo;The game saw a 3-1 Brown lead evaporate into a 6-3 Boston College bulge after a five-goal second period by the Eagles. The Bruins drew to within one but could get no closer as an empty-net goal by BC's Joe Fernaid cemented the decision in the final minute.But despite the initial loss, few felt that many teams in the seventeen-member loop have the guns to challenge Brown over the long haul. Indeed. 1976-77 marks the first season that any team loomed such a strong choice, even over Toomey's alma mater. Boston University. The Terriers whomped their 1970 graduate's team. 9-2 and 9-4 last year, but personnel losses have reduced BU to a contending position for a playoff berth somewhere astern of Brown and Clarkson.Brown lost only five other games all last year, including ironically an opening defeat by Boston College, after which the Bruins won six straight. With no critical losses to graduation, the only problem would seem to be a possibility of complacency. Toomey doesn't agree, nor does he think that it will be harder for Brown to win since every team will be sky high for the favorites.&ldquo;No. think everyone should be laying for every opponent if they play in this league. 'Toomey stated emphatically. &ldquo;Being favorite doesn't mean much. We've just got to play 60 minutes of hockey, and BC just destroyed us in the second period tonight.&rdquo; said quite a bit in the dressing room after that period,&rdquo; he added.Those he was addressing included such luminaries as Bill Gilligan, the All-American center, and Kevin McCabe, the all-New England goalie. Seniors both, they represented Brown on the all-ECAC squad in 1975-76.Seldom is a five-man skating unit on the ice without at least one senior to provide leadership. Teaming with Gilligan on the first wave are senior Wayne Lucky and junior Skip Stovern, who netted two goals in the opener. Mike Flanagan and Bob McIntosh complement of-injured but talented Mark Wenda on the second line, while senior Bill Lukewich pivots another trio between Pat Flanagan and Jim Lawson.The &ldquo;inexperienced&rdquo; line consists of sophs Dave Roberts and Jim Bennett, each of whom played the full season last year, and frosh Rick Scully.Toomey did not rotate through all four lines consistently in the first game, but plans to do so for the season. He must find a way to maximize the ice time of Gilligan and Macintosh, scorers of 79 and 66 points respectively, a season ago. Both play up front on the power play along with Stovern. while Bennett moves to the backline in tandem with stellar juniordefenseman Tim Bothwell.Bothwell, a rugged resident of Burlington, Ont., broke in with a splash last year as did sophomore Mike Mastrullo. Their rapid development in the defensive area did much to boost Brown to their 23-7 record. With scoring punch assured, Toomey only needed to find some backliners last year. Once these two emerged to plug the area in front of McCabe, Toomey's job became much easier.Only a couple of long shot miscues involving defensemen caused Brown to lose a berth in the NCAA finals last March. The Bruins appeared to have the game well in hand in the third period, only to have one of the defenders trip and allow a Michigan Tech player unobstructed access to McCabe. Tech tied the game up last and won in overtime on a similar slip.Brown fans, having seen a long tradition of fine, hard-hitting defensemen, needn't worry about such thousand-to-one chances, however. Not only are Bothwell and Mastrullo capable, but each pairs with an experienced mate. Sophomore Ken Shepherd and senior Jim Lundquist round out the top two defense pairings.Then of course there's McCabe, a young man who's perhaps best remembered for his 55-save performance against BU in the ECAC quarterfinals as a sophomore. A native of North Providence, McCabe posted a 3.97 goals-against average last season, and seems to play better when the pressure is greater.&ldquo;We have a few more players we didn't dress tonight,&rdquo; related Toomey. &ldquo;We only brought four of them in this year.&rdquo;Asked again about his favorite's role, and about the other teams in the East, he paused a moment and then replied.&ldquo;It's going to take until mid-January to sort out this league, the way things have started off. think this game you saw tonight is typical of the kind of hockey well be having around the East all season.&rdquo;<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03193/4167020-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="604" height="1804"></div> &#9632;

f0031-02

Brown Choice Despite Opening Loss To Surprising Boston College Team

<div class="byline">BY BILL BROPHY</div>MADISON-When the experts talked aboui Wisconsin before the Western Collegiate Hockey Association season, they talkec about veterans and familiar names The; spoke of people like All-Americar defenseman Craig Norwich and tw returnees from the United States Olym pic team-defenseman John Taft anc winger Steve Alley. title this year, ' said one coach, &ldquo;there ought to be an investigation.&rdquo;Despite the fact that the Badgers aren't leading the league with one-third of the schedule complete&mdash;they trail surprising North Dakota by two points&mdash;there's nc reason to start the probe yet since most coaches still pick Wisconsin as the team to beat.But someone might want to take a look at two new faces on the Badgers scene&mdash;Mark Johnson and Julian Baretta. They are as responsible for Wisconsin's 9-3 league record as Norwich. Taft. Alley et al.For instance, Baretta, a sophomore who played sparingly behind Mike Dibble last year, has emerged as the league s leading goalie. After stopping 26 shots in a 4-3 overtime victory over defending national champion Minnesota Dec. 3, the Badgers' Dr. J has a sparkling 2.46 goals against average and the team has a 5-1 record with him in the nets.And then there's other new kid on the block&mdash;Johnson.His is a familiar name to Wisconsin hockey followers and with good reason Mark is the son of Badger Bob Johnson, the UW coach. And he has daddy smiling a lot this year with 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points, marking him as a prime candidate for freshman of the year honors with North Dakota's Dave Colborne, Rick Zaparniuk and Erwen Martens and University of Minnesota-Duluth's Dan Lempe.Johnson, a member of the Badgers' power play which has scored on 44 per cent of its chances, had three goals in the sweep over Minnesota. Those included the game winner with-2:08 left in over-time on Dec. 3 and one goal in the 7-2 victory the next night.If you're wondering about the rest of the Badgers' cast of regulars, rest assured they too are having big years. Norwich leads the team with 27 points on four. goals and 23 assists. Mike Eaves (nine goals) and Taft (six goals) are right behind with 25 and 23 points respectively And Alley is behind Johnson with 10 goals. 10 assists for 20 points. Dibble is finding he doesn't mind sharing the load in goal. He has a 4-2 record with a 4.77 goals-against.WCHA NOTES: Minnesota has been besieged by an unbelievable rash of injuries. When they met the Badgers, the Gophers were without their top three defensemen&mdash;Reed Larson. Bill Baker and Joe Micheletti. Team captain, forward Tom Vannelli, also missed considerable action early in the year with an eye injury.Despite their 4-6-2 record after the double loss to UW. Gopher coach Herb Brooks remained optimistic. &ldquo;I'll guarantee you that by mid-March, well be as good as any hockey club in the U.S There's three months left in the season.&rdquo; he said.Notre Dame swept Colorado College in two games and is starting to make a move to the first division of the WCHA. Brian Walsh of the Irish took over the league's scoring lead with 11 goals and 24 points.And troubles continue for UM-Duluth. Not only did they lose twice to Michigan at Ann Arbor, their fourth and fifth straight losses for the WCHA cellar-dwellers. a power failure during Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Wolverines delayed play for one hour and 48 minutes&hellip;Kip Mauer of Michigan had five goals in that series.<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01327/4167058-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="631" height="2063"></div> &#9632;

f0031-01

Experts Like Wisconsin To Take Overall WCHA

<div class="byline">BY BILL ADLER</div>DALLAS-Two Central Hockey League general' managers and one coach awakened one December morning to discover that their purses were short some funds. Some heavy Christmas shopping, perhaps. However, in this situation such was not the case. All three found themselves rocked by fines from the CHL office.League president Bud Poile levied a series of fines in the league's attempt to preserve the best interests of the highly-rated developmental hockey league.Feeling the weight of the fines were general manager-coach Murray Davison, Oklahoma City Blazers ($250), coach John Choyce, Fort Worth Texans ($250) and general manager Bobby Gilbert, Tulsa Oilers ($500).Both Davison and Choyce received their fines for the abusive actions and language directed at the officials following recent Central Hockey League games. According to the CHL office these coaches were somewhat indiscreet in their comments and actions following closely-contested games.Gilbert, president and general manager of the defending CHL champions, was assessed the heaviest fine of all for remarks that were attributed to him in a news release that were detrimental to the welfare of the Central Hockey League and to the game of hockey.Poile, serving his first season as CHL president, regretted the necessity of this action but he concluded by stating: &ldquo;I do appreciate that everyone is entitled to their opinions but we do have a set of principles that must be adhered to.&rdquo;While on the subject of fines. Salt Lake City forward Gary Holt became the first CHL player to be assessed an automatic one-game suspension for drawing three game-gross misconduct penalties. Holt was assessed his third game misconduct in the Golden Eagles, 5-3 loss in Dallas on Dec. 5. Under the new rule this season, Holt sat out the next Golden Eagle game (Dec. 8 in Kansas City) and the Salt Lake City management will be fined $500.FORT WORTH: The Texans have finally begun to play the style of hockey that their coach John Choyce believed that they were capable of playing. With a sweep of last week's action, the Texans have now won five of their last six games.Rookie Mike Kasycki tied the single game high for points (five), when the rookie from St. Catharines tallied three goals and two assists to pace the Texans' 6-3 win over Tulsa on Dec. 2.Two nights later, defenseman Neil Nicholson established a new single game high for the 76-77 season in assists when the veteran defenseman recorded four in the Texans' hard-fougth 504 victory over the Dallas Black Hawks. Goalie Bill Hughes, in net for all three victories for the Texans, pulled a shot by Hawk forward Bruce Boudreau out of the net with only four seconds left in the game to preserve the margin of victory.Rookie sensation of 75-76 Dave Salvian who produced 38 goals in his first season has regained the scoring touch for the Texans. After a slow start, Salvian tallied five goals in the three games last week to run his season total to 12.DALLAS: Perhaps one player can make a big difference in the play of a team. If you don't think so, ask coach Roger Neilson. Last week saw the return to action of rookie forward Alain Belanger and the Hawks won three of four games.Belanger, who injuried his knee in the second game of the season, tallied a pair of goals in the Hawks' 5-3 win over Salt Lake City on Dec. 5. In the four games Belanger also collected 47 minutes in penalties and his tough aggressive play might be the ingredient that the Hawks have been seeking all season.Center Bruce Boudreau has begun to supply the offensive punch to the Hawk attack. This former WHA performer tallied three goals and five assists in the four games to take over the team leadership in scoring with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists).Rookie Gary McFadyen tallied his first professional goal, scoring twice in the Hawks' 8-1 win over Oklahoma City on Dec. 1. Two nights later McFadyen broke a 2-2 third period tie to lead the Hawks to a come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Blazers.Defenseman Mike O'Connell and Randy Holt remained sidelined; O'Connell seems ready for duty in the near future but no date has been set yet for the return of Holt, who is recovering from torn ligaments in his knee.KANSAS CITY: St. Louis pulled up Brian Sutter and Brian Ogilvie while Detroit recalled their prize young skater Bill Lochead. Despite all these moves the Blues keep rolling up those impressive victories.Goalie Doug Grant registered the first CHL shutout in six weeks closing out the month of November with a 3-0 win over Tulsa. All three Blues goals came in the opening 20 minutes, two by Lochead (who left for Detroit immediately after the game) and one by another Red Wing hopeful Don Martineau.Dec. 4 in Kansas City it was Yves Belanger's turn in net and this former NHLer defeated Oklahoma City 7-3. Mike Korney scored twice while assisting on two other goals to pace the Blues scoring.Bernie Federko continues to rank as the CHL's top scorer with 33 points while his 14 goals puts him only one behind the league-leader, Jan Popiel. Oklahoma City. Center Doug Palazzari leads his teammate Federko in the assist column 21-19. The Blues talented goaltending tandem of Belanger and Grant now rank 1-2 with 2.83 and 3.21 goals-against averages respectively.OKLAHOMA CITY: Coach Murray Davison still seeks that defensive magic that will enable his Blazers to fight off the opposition more strongly. The Blazers, scoring at almost four goals a game, have, however, been allowing five goals per game. Not a healthy sign to say the least.Mike Sleep, the outstanding young right winger, has returned from Phoenix and John Kiely has joined the Blazers from Cincinnati to fill the goaltending void when Roger Swanson went under the knife.Offensively, Steve West continues to be the number one star in the absence of the injured Jan Popiel. West notched two goals and three assists in four games to move into second place among CHL scorers with 29 points, four off lead.SALT LAKE CITY: The personnel keeps changing but the Golden Eagles keep playing good sound hockey giving all indications that they will be heard from before the season ends.After four outstanding games by Jim Moxey and Bob Girard both have returned to Cleveland. The Barons have also recalled their promising young center Rick Shinske, the former New West-minster star (WCHL).The Golden Eagles extended their winning streak to four games with a 6-5 victory in Tulsa on Dec. 3. Angie Moretto scored on the power play at the 17:40 mark of the final period to snap a 5-5 tie and give the Golden Eagles a tough 6-5 decision.However, the streak ended the next evening as the Oilers rallied from a 5-3 third period deficit with four goals in the final period. Lyle Bradley, Ken Kuzyk and Tom Price got the Golden Eagles off to a fast start, all scoring in the first ten minutes of the game but goalie Ray Martyniuk was unable to withstand the late charge of the Oilers.The next night, the Golden Eagles jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in Dallas on first period goals by Moretto and Frank Spring but once again they failed to maintain the lead, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Black Hawks.TULSA: The Oilers continue to battle the opposition with only thirteen healthy skaters but the quantity has never affected the quality of the team's performance.Suffering three consecutive losses for the first time this season, the Oilers snanoed this mini-slumn with a four-goal third period rally to defeat Salt Lake City 7-5 on Dec. 4. Trailing 5-3 entering the final 20 minutes of play, Cam Botting closed the gap to one goal early in the period. Rookie Syd Veysey knotted the count at the 9:21 mark while Dan Gloor scored the game winner fifty-two seconds later. Pat Ribble capped the comeback with the final goal of the game.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03176/4167103-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="571" height="605"><figcaption class="caption-body">NEIL NICHOLSON&hellip; Four-Assist Game</figcaption></div>On the previous evening, the Oilers used second period goals by Larry Romanchych, Alain Langlais, Ralph Stewart and Botting to take a 5-4 lead into the final 20 minutes against Salt Lake City but goalie Michel Belhumeur failed to hold the margin and the Oilers dropped a 6-5 decision to Salt Lake.Gloor with 25 points (fourth) and Romanchych 24 points (fifth) rank in the top five scorers. Two of the top penalty-minute leaders wear Oiler green. Pat Ribble (second) with 82 minutes and Rick Hodgson (fifth) has 68 penalty minutes.<h2>Where CHL Teams Play</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01334/4167096-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="589" height="879"></div><h2>CHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02256/4167089-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="615" height="947"></div> &#9632;

f0032-03

Two G Ms, One Coach Heavily Fined; Rookie Kasycki Ties Point Record

<div class="byline">BY RALPH BRIDGLAND</div>SUDBURY&mdash;If you don't have anything good to write about, don t bother to write anything.That appears to sum up the Sudbury Wolves' attitude towards reporters from the Sudbury Star who are assigned to follow the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior &ldquo;A&rdquo; team.Bob Burke, majority shareholder of the Wolves, was distrubed by what he termed the negative way in which the newspaper has reported the team's goings-on during and after games.So. the Wolves have banned Sudbury Star sports reporters from talking with team players and officials.Coach Jerry Toppazzini. the Wolves' players and team executives will not speak to Star reporters, who will not be allowed to accompany the club to out-of-town games.Another team official said any player or executive breaking the ban could receive a heavy fine.Star sports editor Chuck Kruse said his reporters will get their information from players and officials of the Wolves' opponents.The announcement of the ban makes one wonder if Burke s next proclamation will be that the first spectator who boos the Wolves during a home game will be banned from the arena.Meanwhile, the Wolves recorded three straight victories to move into a second place tie with Ottawa and Peterborough, just two points back of Leyden Division-leading Kingston.John Baby's second goal of the game with about a minute left in the game gave the Wolves a 5-4 win over the Canadians in Kingston.John Walker, Ron Duguay, Baby and Hec Marini scored two goals apiece as the Wolves crushed Kitchener 11-3 in Sudbury.Wes Jarvis' hat trick paced the Wolves to a 9-2 win over Ottawa, again on home ice.The Wolves are beginning to reach the form expected of them before the season and it appears only a matter of time before they take over top spot in the division.KINGSTON: The Canadians managed to hang on to slim lead atop Leyden Division by winning one of two outings&hellip;Mike Crombeen, playing in his first game since Oct. 19 after suffering torn ankle ligaments. Mike Simurda. Tom Bailey and Glen McClelland scored a goal apiece in 4-2 home ice win over Toronto&hellip;Ken Linesman scored twice in 5-4 loss to Sudbury in Kingston.OTTAWA: '67s watched Peterborough and Sudbury catch up to them as they lost two straight&hellip;At Brantford. Tim Higgins.with two. Bob Smith. Dave MacQueen and John Wilson scored in 9-5 loss to Toronto&hellip;Jeff Geiger and Tom McDonnell scored for 67s in 9-2 loss in Sudbury.PETERBOROUGH: Petes won two of three games to keep up with '67s and Wolves. Keith Acton scored three times to lead Petes to 5-4 home ice win over Sault Ste. Marie&hellip;Ron Mason. Mark Kirton and Brian Drumm scored two goals apiece to lead Petes to 10-4 win over Oshawa in Peterborough. Lone loss was in London by 5-1 count as Gary McMonagle scored the Petes' only goal in the third period.SAULT STE. MARIE: Greyhounds managed just a tie in four games&hellip;Tony Cuomo scored twice and Brian Gustafson and Craig Hartsburg once each in 4-4 home ice tie with Niagara Falls&hellip;Dan Cormier. Tim Coulis. Ted Nolan and Hartsburg scored in 5-4 defeat in Peter-borough&hellip;Gord Lorimer scored two goals 12 seconds apart in 6-3 loss to kitchener in Sault Ste. Marie&hellip;Art Rutland and Lorimer scored in 11-2 setback in Oshawa&hellip;Greyhounds find themselves 12 points out of second place and 15 points ahead of last-place Oshawa.OSHAWA: The Generals hadn't scored seven goals in a game through their first 24 games but they came up with seven in the first period en route to their second win of the season, 11-2 over Sault Ste. Marie in Oshawa&hellip;Joe Campagnola scored four times and Les Campbell and Stelio Zupancich twice each to lead the Generals&hellip; Oshawa's Don Hawkes and Sault Ste. Marie's Tim Coulis battled in front of the Oshawa bench with 4:03 left in the game and set off a bench-clearing brawl which resulted in four game misconducts. four majors and 10 minor penalties. The game was held up for half an hour after referee Ed Leeds ordered the Greyhounds to their dressing room while the game officials, representatives of the OHA and the two coaches held a meeting. During the melee police entered the ice to retain order with the help of the two coaches&hellip;Following that win the Generals returned to their losing ways dropping three straight road games. 6-3 in St. Catharines. 10-4 in Peterborough and 11-5 in Kitchener.LONDON: Knights retained one-point lead on St. Catharines atop Emms Division by winning only game of week..Dino Ciccarelli and Larry Riggin scored two goals apiece and Scott Campbell added one as the Knights defeated Peter-borough 5-1 in London&hellip;The Knights have the third-best goals-for total in the league (171) and own the top goals-against mark (2.90).ST. CATHARINES: Fincups also won their lone game of the week to remain one point behind London&hellip;The Fincups. however, have three games in hand on the Knights&hellip;Dennis Houle with two goals and Joe Contini. Danny Shearer. Mike Keating and Mike Boyd with one each scored in 6-3 home ice win over Oshawa&hellip;The Fincups have scored the most goals in the league (183) and have the second-best goals-allowed total (93).KITCHENER: Rangers moved four points ahead of fourth-place Toronto with two wins in three games. Barry Duench scored twice to lead Rangers to 6-3 win in Sault Ste. Marie&hellip;Captain Dwight Foster scored five goals and added an assist as Rangers dumped Oshawa 11-5 in Kitchener.. Red Laurence. Doug Sulliman and Foster scored in 11-3 setback in Sudbury.TORONTO: Marlboros won one of two games to fall four points behind the Rangers&hellip;The Marlies have three games in hand on Kitchener, however&hellip;Gary Dillon. Pat Morrison and Dan McCafferty scored two goals apiece to lead Marlboros to 9-5 win over Ottawa in Brantford&hellip;Lynn Jorgenson and McCafferty scored in 4-2 loss to Canadians in Kingston.WINDSOR: Spitfires moved four points in front of last-place Niagara Falls by winning only game of week. 9-4 in Windsor over the Flyers&hellip;George Kotsopoulos and Terry Porter scored two goals apiece to lead the Spitfires&hellip;A total of 168 minutes in penalties was called in the game, including a match penalty to Bob Phillips of the Flyers and game misconducts to Peter Luksa and Pat Goreham of Windsor and Brent Armstrong and Barry Callahan of Niagara Falls.NIAGARA FALLS: Flyers managed a tie in two games and are now four points behind fifth-place Windsor, which has two games in hand on the Flyers&hellip;Bill Stewart scored with 2:56 left in the game to give the Flyers a 4-4 tie in Sault Ste. Marie. Kevin Osmars, Stewart. Stan Adams and Mike Gartner scored in 9-4 loss in Windsor.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02224/4167148-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="641" height="593"><figcaption class="caption-body">TONY CUOMO&hellip; Bags Two Goals.</figcaption></div><h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01301/4167141-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="597" height="716"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03169/4167134-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="636" height="1756"></div> &#9632;

f0033-02

Sudbury Gives Press Cold Shoulder; Canadians Hanging Onto First Place

TRAVERSE CITY-In an attempt to get the team moving out of last place in the Northern Division of the United States Hockey League, the Traverse City Bays announced the appointment of former National Hockey Leaguer Dean Prentice as general manager and coachPrentice takes over the reins of the last-place Bays from GM Elgin McCann and coach Pete Slater, neither of whom were able to movp the Bays in their first 14 outings.Team president Dr. Arnold Sarya announced the signing of the 44-year-old Prentice, who retired from the NHL after a 21-year career. Prentice, who played 1.378 games for six different NHL teams and finished his career with a total of 391 goals, recently coached the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHLUSHL commissioner Morley Howe announced that one of Traverse City s players. Ray Tonelli. is currently suspended indefinitely for his conduct in a Dec. 5 league game. Howe said he would investigate Tonelli's actions and will announce his decision on the matter shortly.GREEN BAY: Bobcats have now won nine straight including give on road. Veteran defense corps playing ' well in front of unbeaten rookie goaltender Dave Legree (6-0) Forward John Preville. recently obtained from Traverse City, leading Cats' offense.GRAND RAPIDS: Blades sport impressive six wins, one loss mark on home ice. Drew season s high as 3.120 fans were on hand to watch 6-3 victory over Milwaukee.SIOUX CITY: Third year forward Dave Davies of the Musketeers sur-passed all-time USHL record for most consecutive games played. Davies now has 107. breaking old mark of 105. established by Dave Evoy of Sault Canadiens in 1970-71-72.MILWAUKEE: Goalie J.M. Pomminville registered the season's first shutout to date, turning aside 36 Sioux City drives in 7-0 admiral win at home.WATERLOO: Black Hawks snapped six-game losing streak posting two one-goal victories over Traverse City to move within three points of Milwaukee in Southern Division. &#9632;

Traverse City Hands Prentice Dual Ice Role

<div class="byline">BY BUD GALLMEIER</div>FLINT&mdash;The Generals have done a complete flip-flop and have become one-half of a two-team challenge to Kalamazoo tor first place in the North Division. Following one of the club's most dismal slumps in history, magnified by an almost non-existent offense, the Generals have turned things around completely offensively and defensively. The end result is a five-game winning str&eacute;ak.The surge has pushed the Generals from last into a tie for second with the rampaging Saginaw Gears. The Generals and Gears are just two points behind front-skating Kalamazoo.Featuring the Flint hot streak were back-to-back shutouts by goalie Rick St. Croix, one on the road. The Generals blanked Port Huron on the road on Saturday night and bounced back to rip Muskegon at home on Sunday. 10-0. Last season Flint had just one shutout.The five-game streak has seen the Generals' offense explode for 39 goals. Prior to the streak, Flint was ninth in scoring. They are now third.Balance has also been a key to Flint's success. All 14 players have assisted on at least one of the 39 goals, scored by 10 different players.Mike Clarke has been the biggest producer, scoring six goals and picking up eight assists over the five-game haul. Ted Bulley.has six goals and seven assists. Jeff McDill has five goals and three assists, Clyde Simon has gone 5-4, Jim Koelff 4-5. Jim Johnston 4-2 and Bob Hoffmeyer 2-5.Defenseman John Bellio and Doug Towler have been credited with nine and six assists, respectively.The two shutouts lowered St. Croix's goals-against average to 2.99. He now has a string of 126:19 shutout minutes.SAGINAW: The Gears were just a stride behind Flint during the week's activity and have now gone four games without a loss. Only a 2-2 tie with Muskegon blocked an otherwise perfect four-game challenge.Included in the undefeated string was a 6-1 romp at Toledo. Home victories over Port Huron and Fort Wayne were welcome additions also.In beating Fort Wayne. 3-2. the Gears' first goal bounced off the stick of Dan O'Driscoll, just recently obtained from the Komets in a trade for Dave Faulkner. It was an early birthday present for the slender O'Driscoll, who scored 33 goals as a rookie last season for Fort Wayne.&ldquo;I was glad to beat them, especially.&rdquo; said O'Driscoll, who celebrated his 24 th birthday the following day. O'Driscoll, who played mostly right wing in Fort Wayne, is being used at center. &ldquo;I was a little nervous. But the guys made it real easy for me. They made me feel like fit in right away even though haven't played center for two years.&rdquo;Gear defenseman Gordie Malinoski reached a personal milestone in the 2-2 tie at Muskegon. By drawing three minor penalties and a game misconduct he became the new &ldquo;Mr. Bad&rdquo; of the IHL. Malinoski now has 2.164 minutes in the &ldquo;sin bin&rdquo; during his nine-year career. The previous record holder was Muskegon's Lynn Margarit with 2.148 minutes in eight years. Margarit has retired.KALAMAZOO: The K-Wings managed to stay on top of the North despite a 500 performance. They won a pair and dropped a like number. Most painful was a 5-3 decision to Flint which snapped the K-Wings undefeated record at home. And it happened in front of the largest crowd in the Wings' young history, 5.457.In two previous visits to Kalamazoo this season. Flint had limped home following 8-2 and 10-3 defeats. Wing coach Bob Lemieux found little consolation in a post-game remark by one sympathizer. &ldquo;No one expected you to go 39-0 at home.&rdquo; Lemieux countered with. &ldquo;When played at Muskegon we were 34-1 at home. And the lone loss came in overtime.&rdquo;Maybe the most significant result for the Wings was a 6-1 loss at Dayton, marking the first meeting of the season between the two division leaders. The defeat came on the third game in four nights and Lemieux conceded his club was a little tired.MUSKEGON: Following an impressive. 8-1 conquest of South Division leader Dayton, the Mohawks went into an offensive shell. They managed just two goals in salvaging a 2-2 tie with Saginaw at home and then ran into the red-hot Flint Generals on the road and took a 10-0 licking.Garth MacGuigan featured the 8-1 romp over Dayton, scoring a pair of goals. The two-goal effort raised the rookie's goal production to 18 in 21 games.PORT HURON: The troubles continue to mount for Bobby McCammon and his Flags. A recent slump continued with four straight losses and the Flags have dropped to the bottom of the division The Flags, who were challenging for the lead just a short time ago. are now six points out of first place. And the distance could grow if the Flags don't regroup soon.During the recent slump, the Flags have scored but seven goals. They suffered a 3-0 loss to Flint&mdash;at home. And they managed just one goal in a subsequent road trip to Kalamazoo, losing 3-1.DAYTON: Dayton's winning streak came to an end with a thud in Muskegon. 8-1. But despite the loss, the Gems continue to dominate the South. The Gems are the only club in the South, one of only two in either division, skating over.500. Dayton has gone 12-8-0 thus far and holds a three-point edge over Toledo and Columbus, tied for second.TOLEDO: Coach-manager Ted Garvin hasn't been very pleased with the recent performance of the Goaldiggers. Following a three-game losing streak.Garvin put six of his players on the trading block No results thus far. however But the move must have put a little fear into the troops, as they rebounded with a 5-0 shutout of Columbus to end the losing streak. It was the first shutout of the season for the Diggers and the first for goalie Pierre Chagnon at home in his two-and-a-half years with Toledo.COLUMBUS: Home ice continues to be a jinx for the Owls, who ironically have the best road record in the league. A full house Thanksgiving night saw the Owls drop a 4-1 decision to the Kalamazoo K-Wings. the Owls' fourth at home this season. The attendance was 5.736. Columbus has won just four times at home and has played four ties.Following the home loss, the Owls whipped Port Huron on the road. 5-0. boosting their road record to 5-2-1.FORT WAYNE: The Komets got an early dividend from Dave Faulkner, obtained from Saginaw in a trade for Dan O'Driscoll. Faulkner scored a goal as the Komets beat Columbus. 6-4. &ldquo;I think he'll help us. It looks as if we have three solid lines now,&rdquo; said coach Ralph Keller.Faulkner, who played most of last season on loan to Port Huron from Saginaw, also was happy about the trade. I just couldn't play his (Saginaw coach Don Perry's system &ldquo;.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03193/4167217-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="579" height="597"><figcaption class="caption-body">GORD MALINOSKI&hellip; Dubious Milestone</figcaption></div><h2>IHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02264/4167210-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="618" height="1150"></div><h2>Where IHL Teams Play</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01329/4167203-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="561" height="774"></div> &#9632;

f0034-03

Generals Closing In On Kalamazoo; Gears' Malinoski IHL's New 'Mr. Bad'

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE PENTON</div>FLIN FLON&mdash;Mickey Keating is obliterating that old phrase of Leo Durocher's about nice guys finishing last. Keating is one of the most plesant Western Canada Hockey League coaches, and in his second season as coach of Flin Flon Bombers, he's about to make that old saying worth not much more than a broken hockey stick.In this case, it's Nice Guys Finish Third, because that's where the 1976-77 edition of the Bombers is destined to wind up.Third place in a four-team division doesn't sound all that glamorous, but for the Bombers, it will be a vast improvement. Last year, they finished sixth in the six-team Eastern Division and this year, in the newly-aligned three-divisional set-up, a third-place finish means a playoff berth.And really, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy than Mickey Keating.Keating's patchwork-quilt of a hockey team has just five victories in 27 games, but because the hapless Regina Pats are in the same Eastern Division, a playoff berth is practically secured. And here it is only Christmas.The Bombers have played six games against Regina, winning four and tying two. They lead the Pats by six points, and have a 20-game home-stand, covering. more than two months, approaching. And the Pats? Well, they're gaining quickly on the dubious record set by the 1971-72 Vancouver Nats (now Kamloops Chiefs), who went 26 games without a victory. Pats are now at 21 straight and looking more and more like a record-breaking team every day. If you get the drift.'I've taken hand-me-downs from nearly every team in the league.&rdquo; said Keating recently. &ldquo;I'm not proud These are kids who have been rejected&hellip;unwanted kids who want to play. And if they show a willingness to play, I've always got a spot on my team for them.&rdquo;The Bombers aren't without their individual standouts. Center Kim Davis, a high-scoring rookie last year while playing with offensive-minded Rich Gosselin and Mark Davidson, is now the team's undisputed star. In 27 games. Davis. 19, has 23 goals and 45 points, good for 10th place in the scoring race.&ldquo;He's got 101 moves,&rdquo; says Keating. &ldquo;The only problem he has at times is frustration. But he has a fast release from the slot. That's where he gets his goals.&rdquo;A right-winger last season, Keating switched Davis to center in an effort to improve his concentration. &ldquo;He did a bit too much daydreaming on the wing,&rdquo; Keating says. &ldquo;Now, at center, he's digging all the time, always hounding the puck.&ldquo;He's carrying my club.&rdquo;The Bombers are using 10 players who started their junior careers with other WCHL clubs.Goalie Ralph Bradbury, defensemen Tom Mitri and Al Aime and forwards Ray Neufeld, Glenn Hicks and Jordy Douglas were all once property of Brandon Wheat Kings, the league's hottest team at the present.Defensemen Cliff Klump and Dale Baumgartner and winger Dwayne Endicott all came to Bomberland via Winnipeg and forward Earl Switzer was released by Calgary.WINNIPEG: The Monarchs, once the Central Division leaders, have fallen into the basement, thanks to three consecutive losses, two at home. The worst was an 11-4 thrashing at the hands of Brandon, which led 7-0 after 18 minutes of play. Monarchs were tied with Medicine Hat for third place, but lost 7-2 to the Tigers to fall two points back.BRANDON: The week began with a roar (an 11-4 Wheat King win in Winnipeg) but ended in a whimper (a struggling 3-3 tie at home against Medicine Hat). In between was a 6-2 win over Flin Flon but coach Dune McCallum was thankful for the unbeaten week. Ray Allison, 17, scored his first WCHL hat trick in the win over Flin Flon. Team captain Murray Thomson had a team record-tying five assists against Winnipeg.REGINA: Pats were out-scored 46-8 in five road losses as they streaked towards the record for futility&mdash;26 games without a win. Presently, their streak is at 21 games. The most humilating loss was a 15-1 lambasting vs. Portland, which out-shot Regina 77-18. Coach Bob Turner promised wholesale changes (as many as five regulars, he said) when the team returned from their nine-game western horror.SASKATOON: Rookie Dan Erickson's second WCHL goal was a big one, coming at 18:03 of the third period to give the Blades a comeback 4-3 triumph over visiting Winnipeg. Blades trailed 3-1 after two periods. Elsewhere, Blades lost 6-3 in Medicine Hat and doubled touring Flin Flon 4-2 as Theran Welsh, playing his first WCHL game, was named first star.MEDICINE HAT: Rookie Merlin Malinowski lived up to some glowing pre-season reports with a goal and six assists as the Tigers got hot and moved out of the Central Division cellar. A win at home over Saskatoon (6-3) set the stage for a 3-3 tie against the powerful Wheat Kings in Brandon and a 7-2 thrashing of Winnipeg in a battle for third place.LETHBRIDGE: Rod Guimont, recently acquired from Victoria, scored twice in a 6-2 Bronco victory over Medicine Hat, increasing the team s lead in the Central Division. But their four-game winning streak was snapped in Calgary, as the Cents rebounded from an unsuccessful road trip with five third-period goals and a 7-5 win.CALGARY: The Centennials dropped four games below the.500 mark with six straight losses against Western Division teams. The killer was an 8-3 loss to Kamloops, where Calgary led 3-1 at one point in the second period. The streak came to an end at home, though, with a 7-5 win over Lethbridge, as the Cents hung on to second place against the fast-charging Medicine Hat Tigers.NEW WESTMINSTER: Regina proved to be easy pickings for the Bruins, whose eight losses this season are the third-best in the league in that category. Using five Tier II players and putting big defenseman Barry Beck at center for a few shifts to get him skating more, coach Ernie McLean watched his team beat the Pats 8-1 and 7-2. Randy Betty had four goals in the two games, with Stanley Smyl and John Paul Kelly each scoring three. Goalie Blaine Peterson was called up to Vancouver Canucks to act as backup when Cesare Maniago was injured.KAMLOOPS: Suspended coach lyan Prediger was quoted by a Saskatoon radio station as saying the Chiefs could wind up in Edmonton by Christmas, or next year at the latest. On the ice. Kamloops was hot. winning three in a row and stretching their streak to six games without a loss. Over-aged forward Allan Young had eight points in the three victories, two over Calgary and one vs. Portland. Clint Eccles hit the 20-goal mark. Ryan Walter assumed second spot in the WCHL scoring race and defenseman Dwayne Lowdermilk had three assists in a 5-2 win over the Winter Hawks.PORTLAND: At the five-minute mark of the game. Wayne Babych was scoreless. By the six-minute mark, he had a hat trick, and the 18-year-old winger finished with four goals as the Hawks trampled Regina 15-1, unleashing a 77-shot barrage. Babych's three goals came within 25 seconds, one second slower than the record, held by Jim Harrison, now with Chicago Black Hawks. Three other players&mdash;George Buat, Tony Currie and Dale Yakiwchuk&mdash;all had hat tricks.VICTORIA: All 17 skaters figured in the scoring as Cougars took their licks at the Pats, winning 11-2. No player had more than three points. Defenseman George Phillipoff scored his first goal of the year in the victory.<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01310/4167248-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="609" height="1218"></div> &#9632;

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Bombers Destined For Third Place; Regina Losing Slump Stands At 21

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE JAWORSKI</div>NORTH TONAWANDA&mdash;The North American Hockey League laid down the law. and the players aren't laying down their gloves so often.As a result of stiff measures to prevent violence which threatened to make the NAHL a modern-day Eastern League, the NAHL is basking in far less physical abuse through the first 63 games this season.In that span as compared to a similar stretch in the 1975-76 season, consider the following:Total penalty minutes decreased from 2,984 to 1.831. and the major contributors came in the major penalty area. Minor penalties decreased from 722 to 633; majors decreased from 152 to 65; 10-minute misconducts dropped from 61 to 16; game misconducts fell from 15 to 8; and, match misconducts fell from two to none. Consequently, bench-emptying brawls threatened to become a rare species and hockey players once again could play hockey and not have to fight their way through the NAHL.'Pretty dramatic statistics.&rdquo; says NAHL Commissioner Jack Timmins. But why? Why has there been a 39 per cent decrease in total penalty minutes in the first 63 games this season compared to last?There are several reasons.First. Timmins said each team has been instructed to let each player pay his own fines. In the past, teams usually picked up the tab for the circus acts performed during games, but there's a $500 fine awaiting them if they do now.Second, the league has instructed that each player who receives a suspension shall serve it without pay. Hand-in-hand with that go the following fines and banishments:With a second 10-minute misconduct during the season there's a $50 fine, a third carries $75 and a fourth immediate suspension. A first offense game misconduct carries a one-game suspension, a second $75 and two games, and a third. $100 and indefinite suspension.Third, there's the 125 and 150-penalty minute plateaus. When a player hits 125. he'll have his case reviewed by Timmins. When he hits 150. he's automatically suspended and must meet with the commissioner. It's noteworthy that through the first 63 games, or more than one-fifth of the way through the 296-game league schedule, there are only five players over 50 minutes in PIMs, led by Phiiadelphia defenseman-captain Dean Boylan with 70. How many other leagues can boast that?Fourth. Timmins said the league has rid itself on a number of &ldquo;undesirables.'' It's noteworthy that Gilles Bilodeau, who set a league mark with 451 minutes in penalties, is no longer in the league along with a few of the other tougher customers.Fifth, the league's refs have been properly calling the aggressor rule (a stiffer penalty to the aggressor in a fight), and haven't been taking any lip what-soever by tacking on a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.Lastly, the mandatory wearing of helmets has had a subtle effect on the brawling&mdash;the swing-and-ouch rule.If you exclude minor penalties, there was a 61 per cent decrease in all major and misconduct penalties from the 1975-76 season to the 1976-77 season through the first 63 games.BEAUCE: A team spokesman said the Jaros have paid their $3,500 fine for missing two games and have been reinstated. The Jaros broke a seven-game winless streak by beating Mohawk Valley. 6-1. on home ice. The Jaros tied one game in that bleak streak. 3-3. against Maine, but followed with two humiliating losses on successive nights. Thanksgiving night in Binghamton, the Dusters carved the Jaros, 9-3, while the pre-Thanksgiving feast for Syracuse was 11-4 For some games, the Jaros were only dressing 11 skaters. In the win over the Comets. Beauce only had two defensemen. Claude Houde and Ron Pronchuck. so forward Jim Troy was converted.MOHAWK VALLEY: Goalie Randy Burchell was recalled by Indianapolis and defenseman Bob Yaciuk was put on waivers, claimed by Beauce, then bought back. The Comets had a three-game winning streak end in Maine 11-7 before the 6-1 comedown in Beauce the following afternoon. In the seven-come-11 loss. Mike Zuke and Brian Coates had hat tricks.MAINE: In that 11-goal binge. Gary Coalter tied a league record with six assists, while NAHL vet Paul Larose had four goals. Left wing-center Joe Fortunato was signed and picked up two goals and two assists in his first two games. He had 33 points in 49 games last season with the defunct Cope Codders and Erie. Quebec assigned tough Paul Baxter, who last season led the relocated Cleveland Crusaders in PIMs. The Nordiques lost their sixth straight on the road. 6-3, in Erie before returning home for that big 11-goal game against MV. It was early in November when the Nordiques were ending a road trip by going from Erie to home to meet Mohawk That time. Nov. 6. the Comets took a 7-3 win after the Blades had edged Maine the night before. 5-4.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02223/4167293-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="575" height="584"><figcaption class="caption-body">PAUL LAROSE &hellip; Four-Goal Splurge</figcaption></div>ERIE: Dissatisfied with the sub-500 performance of a team with a lot of &ldquo;paper talent,&rdquo; coach Nick Polano did plenty of wheeling and dealing. After losing the fourth outing in five tries to sink to 8-11. Polano shipped forwards Bob Whitlock and Les Burges to Johnstown along with money and future considerations for the NAHL rights to Steve Carlson, who's playing with Minnesota of the WHA. Whitlock had seven goals and seven assists in 14 games. Burgess was 0-1. The Blades also acquired right wing Rick Dorman as a free agent from Johnstown and signed Dave Syrvet, who was let go by Birmingham. Dorman had 346 penalty minutes with Winnipeg of the WCJHL. and &ldquo;in the tradition of Larry Mavety and Bill Plager with the Erie Blades,&rdquo; said director of operations Robin Roberts. Jr.,&mdash;Dorman scored in his first game in the first period.JOHNSTOWN: Besides acquiring Whitlock and Burgess, the Jets have SHL defectors Jean Landry and Rick Low and center Jim Minor was picked up on waivers from Maine. Landry, who came from Tidewater, had four goals in his first four games and gave the Jets some needed offense and someone who could get the puck out of their own zone.SYRACUSE: Terry West and Tim Sanche were sidelined by tender knees as the winning streak reached seven. Perhaps the only reason the Blazers are lagging behind the Binghampton Dusters is because they had played four fewer games by the end of week six. Jim Cowell got his 19th goal of the season and Tom Milani his 20th. just 15 seconds apart against Johnstown to remain unbeaten at home. 4-3. Including a three-game winning streak at the end of last season, they've won 11 straight in the Onqndaga County War Memorial.BINGHAMTON: The Dusters also have an unbeaten streak of their own at home. It reached 13 with the Thanksgiving night trouncing of Beauce. 9-3. That also includes three games from the 1975-76 season. After beating Beauce. they lost in Utica. 6-4, Yaciuk netting the 4-4 tiebreaker in the third period in one of the best games of the season according to Duster business manager Paul Brown.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03165/4167286-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="576" height="598"><figcaption class="caption-body">MIKE ZUKE&hellip; Nets Hat Trick</figcaption></div>PHILADELPHIA: The third-place Firebirds haven't been able to mount a substantial winning streak, yet remain within shouting distance of league-leader Broome. The NHL line continues to pace the team in scoring. Gord Brooks, Bob Collyard and Randy Osburn the 1-2-3 in team scoring. One of the charter members of the Birds. Michel Plante, scored his 200th point as a Firebird in the 6-3 win over Johnstown.<h2>NAHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01290/4167279-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="592" height="1659"></div> &#9632;

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New Rules Show Dramatic Drop In Penalties

<div class="byline">BY MIKE LYNCH</div>KIMBERLEY&mdash;The champagne will have to stay on ice a bit longer in Kimberley and in Trail they're putting away the black crepe paperWith the third month of the Western International League schedule getting started, it no longer appears that Kimberley is going to wrap up the championship by Christmas.In Trail, the Smoke Eaters' chances for at least a playoff berth in the British Columbia series aren't as dead as they appeared for several weeks.The Dynamiters, with a new attitude and improved defense under defenseman Murray Flegel, their playing coach, reeled off a 15-2 record including 13 straight victories.Kimberley won seven on the road and seven games by one goal. However, the Dynamiters have lost three straight for a more credible 15-5 record. They still hold a substantial league lead, of course.Two of Kimberley's defeats have come on home ice, to Trail and Nelson, the clubs currently battling to avoid fifth and last place.In October and November the Smoke Eaters struggled through successive four-game losing streaks Their record is less than impressive at 7-12-1 but recent performances have been strong.After nipping Kimberley 4-3 in overtime. Trail thrashed the same club 6-1 at home and then lost 7-6 in Spokane after trailing 6-1 going into the third period.Trail shares a spot with Nelson at 15 points, although Nelson had a slightly better record at 7-11-1. Nelson continues to play competitive hockey and even while losing earns respect. The best recent example is a 1-0 loss in Cranbrook to stout goaltending by veteran standout Leo Karchie.That, by the way. was the first goaltending shutout of the season. In his next start Karchie turned in another good performance. 32 stops in a 4-2 victory in Spokane. Hugh Christiaens got the lone goal in the Nelson victory and veteran Gerry Goyer a pair in the win over Spokane.Cranbrook built a 10-9 record to start into December while Spokane struggled to 9-11. Cranbrook won the league championship last season and Spokane the Allan Cup, but both clubs have struggled for consistency this season..Cranbrook appears stronger offensively now with the addition of center Dan Spring, sidelined earlier while awaiting for settlement of a World Association contract. He's flanked by veteran Billy Martin and young Chris Becker.Goyer is centering high-scoring Jim Miller and Barry Marcheschuk Another addition in Cranbrook is returning defender Jerry Klinkhammer. Miller led the league in goal-scoring with 17 in most recent WIHL stats. &#9632;

The WIHL Scene

<div class="byline">BY GARY MCCARTHY</div>HULL-Scotty Bowman, coach of the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens, and his counterpart in Philadelphia. Fred Shero. have compiled lineups over the years that have created a &ldquo;system&rdquo; in hockey.Similar &ldquo;systems'' are extremely rare in junior hockey. Players don't stick long enough to be able to employ a system Some players are moody and can't be counted on to always provide the necessary ingredients to make a system function the way it was designed.However. Marcel Pronovost. the one-time National Hockey League defense star with Detroit and Toronto, has, in his own way. designed a method for the team he now coaches, the Hull Olympics of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.And. it's not a question of long, complicated theories of our national sport. It's very plain, and very simple&mdash;one that all his players can understand without difficulty.&ldquo;I don't have a system in the true sense of the word,&rdquo; says Pronovost. who has his club knocking on the door to first place in the Robert LeBel Division of the QMJHL.&ldquo;All I'm doing is teaching the basics of hockey.&rdquo; continues Pronovost. &ldquo;You've got to understand that these are junior players. If they move the puck out of their own zone well, it becomes much easier to finish a play well in the other end.&ldquo;It s simply a game of actions and reactions. It s obvious that you can examine all kinds of theories, but hockey is a simple game.&rdquo; the Olympics coach said.&ldquo;You have to execute a play much quicker than your opponent can react. Whether you're playing five, or four, or three, hockey remains a positional game based on the intelligence of the players who create their own opportunities&ldquo;There are some who try to complicate all of that. But it's not as hard as you think. It's a very simple game.&rdquo;Pronovost s thinking must be working. After 32 games this season, the Olympics, who started off slowly, have grabbed hold of third place in their division.The team has won 14, lost 12 and tied six for 34 points, one less than Cornwall and four behind the division-leading Sherbrooke Beavers.Pronovost has been able to guide the team no in the standings despite the fact that he still doesn't have a single player among the league s top 20 in the individual scoring race.SHERBROOKE: The Beavers hold down first place in the LeBel Division, but they are going to have to work hard to hang on. The club has lost the services of Maritimer Rick Vaive for about two weeks. Vaive. in his first year with the Beavers, suffered a slight separation of the right shoulder during a 2-1 Beavers' victory over Cornwall last Sunday. The Beavers already have Daniel Chicoine with a similar injury. Ray Carter continues to lead the team in points with 67. He has 47 goals and 20 assists.CORNWALL: The Royals continue to struggle but are still holding onto second place in the division standings&mdash;three points behind the Beavers. The Royals had a great chance to close to within one point of the Beavers when they took on Sherbrooke in the Ontario city. However, the Beavers came away with a 2-1 win thanks to a stellar netminding performance by Richard Sevigny.HULL: The Olympics picked up three of a possible four points in a back-to-back weekend against the Laval Nationals last week. The Olympics won 3-1 at home and settled for a 5-5 tie in Laval on Jean Latourelle's goal midway through the final period. Coach Marcel Pronovost was furious after the tie, claiming that the scoreboard clock at the Laval Sports Center was inaccurate and that the teams had played a 25-minute first period. Laval scored twice in the initial period.MONTREAL: Roger Bedard hasn't been able to really turn the Juniors around since taking over as coach of the club a few weeks ago. The Juniors have dropped off to fourth place with 30 points, despite the fact that they defeatedChicoutimi last weekend. Normand Dupont continues to lead the team scoring with 68 points on 33 goals and 35 assists.LAVAL: The Nationals, not even able to gain a split of a weekend series against Hull, are threatening to drop out of contention in the LeBel Division race. The Nationals have won 10 and tied seven in 33 games this year and have fallen three points behind the Juniors.QUEBEC: The Remparts are still in first place in the Frank Dilio Division of the QMJHL with 43 points. The Remparts had been expected to increase their lead, but they were upset by the lowly Chicoutimi Sagueneens last weekend. Jean Savard of the Remparts is still the leading point-getter in the league with 88. He has 47 goals and 41 assists. Savard scored one of the three Quebec goals in the 5-3 loss to the Sagueneens.TROIS-RI VIERES: The Draveurs managed to gain some ground on the Remparts by outlasting Sorel 8-6 last Sunday in a marathom scoring battle. Richard Dalpe, who started off the season at a torrid pace, is still hanging onto third place in the scoring race with 28 goals and 46 assists for 74 points. However, that's 14 points behind Savard's league-leading pace.CHICOUTIMI: The Sagueneens. after dropping a 6-4 decision to Montreal, pulled a big surprise with their 5-3 victory over the Remparts. The Sagueneens scored five times in the first period and then hung on for the victory. Sylvain Locas still is second in the league s individual scoring race with 80 points. He has 30 goals and a league-leading 50 assists.SHAWINIGAN: The Dynamos handed the Remparts a 4-3 loss last week for only their sixth victory of the season. The Dynamos have Jost 19 and tied seven in their first 32 games of the year<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02182/4167355-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="578" height="696"><figcaption class="caption-body">RICK VAIVE &hellip; Injures Shoulder</figcaption></div>SOREL: The Black Hawks were floundering terribly and have the most miserable record in the league with only six wins in 31 starts. There are rumors going around Sorel that Rodrigue Lemoyne, the coach of the club, may be walking on thin ice. The club expects to make an announcement within the next few days<h2>HOW THEY STAND</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01253/4167348-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="612" height="1306"></div> &#9632;

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Hockey Simple Game Says Pronovost; Sherbrooke's Vaive Out For Two Weeks

<div class="byline">-By Bill Hilts</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01279/4167438-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="353" height="423"></div><h2>U.S. National Team</h2>I Marshall Johnston has been named coach of the U.S. S Junior Team which competes in the IIHF world champ&iacute; pionship junior tourney to be held in Prague, Czechoslovakia Dec. 23 to Jan. 2. Johnston is assistant to Murray Armstrong, head coach at Denver University and was coach of the NHL California Golden Seals one season. He played his college hockey at Denver and pro with the Cleveland Barons in the AHL&hellip;As we previously noted, the S highly respected and successful coach of the Austin Mavericks in the Midwest Junior League, Lou Vairo, has been named assistant coach&hellip;Art Berglund has been named team manager. The veteran of many hockey games is S assistant manager of the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs. Colorado and formerly managed several U.S. National and Olympic squads&hellip;The U.S. team will be comprised of junior players up to 20 years of age, as of Dec. 5 31, 1976. They will fly to Czechoslovakia on Dec. 17 for a pair of exhibition games&hellip;they will play West Germany on Dec. 23&hellip;Other teams include host Czechoslovakia, USSR, &iacute; Canada, Finland. Poland and Sweden.<h2>N.Y. Metro League</h2>The Suffolk Royals dropped their first decision of the s season with a 6-2 loss to defending NY Metropolitan League champs. NY Americans. Amerks' new coach Richard Kenna predicted that his team could stop the Royals' eight game unbeaten streak. Defenseman Glen Ahrens opened the game with an unassisted goal at the 1:05 mark of the first 'i period. Suffolk's Frank DeMayo turned in a solid performanee in net, but his Amerk counterpart, Pat Glennon was spectacular, stopping 45 of Suffolk's 47 shots. The Americans tied the score in the first period on a goal by Bob s Schunke and re-tied it in the second on a power play marker S by Andy Yaciuk after Artie Kempner had put the Royals ahead. Schunke added another counter in the second period and scored the hat trick in third after Richie Kenna, on the power play, and Yaciuk, shorthanded, posted scores for the Amerks&hellip;Winger Enn Kunnapas of the New Hyde Park Arrows, the Met league's leading scorer, registered a double hat trick at Skateland, shooting six goals and collecting three assists, as the Arrows downed Oyster Bay, with returning head coach Sam Muskin, 14-2. New Hyde Park was rebounding from a 15-5 loss to the onrushing Bergen/Rockland Rangers. Rangers' &ldquo;Scout Line&rdquo; of Bill Riley, Army Hockey coach Jack Riley's son, Kevin Behan and Matt Gillis were outstanding in that game accounting for nearly half of the Ranger tallies.<h2>Midwest League</h2>Lou Vairo coach of the Austin Mavericks in the Midwest junior league, tells us he traded right wing Dave Madson and defenseman Neal Holmstrom to the Hennepin Nordiques in return for defenseman Tom Hughes. The trade should benefit both teams and players involved. Mavericks got beat 5-3 in Bloomington and Vairo says Ted Hampson is doing a fine job with the Jr. Stars. Scott Kolquist has played in two games in goal for Mavs and only allowed two goals against. Bobby Crawford is Mavs' leading scorer. Vairo notes with pleasure that crowds are increasing and junior hockey in Midwest is on the upswing in every respect&hellip;Jim Wilbur of the St. Paul Vulcans sends word that just three hat tricks have been recorded in the MJHL this season and his team has two of them. Tony Gelacie was moved from center to left wing five games ago and since that time has averaged two points a game. The first night Gelacie skated at the new slot he posted a hat trick. Another Vulcan, Terry Bonk, has the team's other hat trick. Kelly O'Neill, the Vulcan's rookie 16-year-old netminder from Mound, Minnesota made his first start this past week and posted a 7-5 win over Hennepin.<h2>Great Lakes League</h2>In &ldquo;A&rdquo; Division play. The Wayne club has changed its name back to the &ldquo;Chiefs", had two goals in just one minute in the final period to best the Cleveland Barons 6-3. Six different players scored for Wayne and Rudy Varvari turned back 33 shots for the Chiefs&hellip;For the second time this season the Chiefs tied the Paddock Pools Saints 3-3. The goal-getters for the Saints were Jack McKinch, Doug Rose and Tom Byrne, while Doug Simonetti, Al Michalic and Mark Jackson scored for Wayne. The Saints streak of having scored in every period played this year was stopped as they were shut out in the final period&hellip;The Detroit Jr. Wings got two goals from Dave Gandini which included the s game-winner as they beat Fraser 5-4 Jeff Toombs had two goals in a losing cause for the Highlanders&hellip;In a game which featured a total of 98 shots. 50 credited to the Saints and 48 to the Fraser squad, the Highlanders banned the Saints their first loss of the season 8-7. The Saints went ahead in the third period 7-6 only to see Fraser come back with two goals at the 17:06 mark by Mike Johnson and at the 19:07 mark by Bob Voakes. Doug Ross had two goals for the Saints. Tom Wilson the GM of the Detroit Jr Wings has been selected the GM of Team Michigan which is comprised of the All Stars of the Great Lakes Jr Hockey League. Team Michigan will play the Russians on Jan. 7. 1977 at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit. This event is sponsored by the Olympia Stadium and the Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club. As of this writing no coach has been selected by Tom. A committee will be selected by the league to pick the All Stars who will be competing in the game. &ldquo;B&rdquo; division&hellip;In a game which featured a penalty shot by Dean Crowder on the Waterford goalie, Flint came up a winner by the score of 8-7. The penalty shot was stopped by Greg Supina, but Flint came up with two goals after this shot in the final period to edge the Lakers. Tim Depp the captain for Flint scored two goals and three assists. The Waterford offense was led by Frank Mairona who made it five goals in two games as he had a pair in this one Flint was also led by their goalie Tom Doxtater who stopped 51 of the 58 shots fired at him&hellip;The Lansing Dukes won their second game in a row by beating Berkley 8-5. For the second game in a row Chris Szyzlunski had four goals to lead the Dukes to their victory. The eight goal splurge now makes Chris the leading goal getter in the &ldquo;B&rdquo; circuit. Brian Carr&oacute;n and Tim Miller had two goals apiece for the Dukes also. A.J. Baker had two Berkley goals.<h2>New England League</h2>Coach Bob Sylvia's streaking South Shore Braves extended their unbeaten streak through eight games (7-0-1) with two more victories but they couldn't shake the Tyngsboro Huskies as both clubs vaulted into a tie for second place in the New England Jr. League. The Braves snapped a 2-2 tie with three unanswered goals in the final period to turn back Great Bay Vikings 5-2. Dave Raymond came up with 30 saves for South Shore, while Charlie Ryan and Dick Hammell each had a goal and an assist. Carl Anania scored his 10th goal for the Vikings. South Shore then rolled over the Tri-Valley Squires 10-1 as Ryan fired in three goals and handed out three assists. Hammell also netted three goals for the Braves while Jim Stewart continued his superb goaltending with 32 saves, John Sullivan registered 49 saves for the Squires&hellip;Tyngsboro also won twice to stay in a dead heat with the Braves. Chip Betten-court fired in three goals and assisted on the other two as the Huskies downed Great Bay 5-1 Jim Donovan and Stew Holt each had a goal and three assists, and Ticky Kulis recorded 24 saves. Anania scored the lone goal for the Vikes. The Huskies then topped the Springfield Olympics 4-1 2 behind two goals by Jerry Fortier and a 28 save performanee by Jim Browder. The Fitchburg Wallopers stretched their bulge in the NEJHL to eight points with a pair of victories. The Wallopers trimmed Springfield 5-3 for the 100th NEJHL victory against just 46 losses and 13 ties, the first club to achieve that milestone. The victory was also the 10th straight on home ice&mdash;eight of them this year&mdash;dating back to March 12th for Fitchburg. Tom O'Neil tallied his 19th and 20th goals to pace the Wallopers and &Iacute; Don Leger blocked 29 shots. Paul O'Melia and Dean Lornbardi each had a goal and assist for the Olympics&hellip;In a record-setting performance. Fitchburg shut out Tri-Valley 7-0. It was the fourth whitewash in just 16 games for the Wallopers to set a new NEJHL record, and for Jim Mastalerz, the league's top goalie who turned away all 22 shots, it was his third shutout in just nine games to establish another mark. Mastalerz has a sparkling 1.73 GA average &gt; and a stunning.941 save percentage to go along with his 7-1-1 record. Mickey Rego, the NEJHL's leading scorer (17-21-38) popped in two goals for Fitchburg.<h2>New Brunswick League</h2>The five team New Brunswick Jr. League is enjoying keen competition, according to Howie MacKenzie, with the high-flying Red Wings of Frederiction leading the pack with 10 points This club has been playing some real solid hockey says MacKenzie. Captain George Des Roches of the Cape Pele Fishermen is the leading scorer in the league with 19 points on 12 goals and seven assists Keith Allaby of Fredericton is close with three goals and 15 assists for 18 points; Bobby Le Blanc, Cape Pele-16 points; Charlie Bird and Tony Grant, Fredericton-14 points each; Donald Chaission, U de M Jayvees-13 points. Dave Bradley of &Iacute; Fredericton leads the puck stoppers with a glossy 3.00 GA average. &#9632;

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December 24, 1976

NHL'S… Player of the Week

Western Mustangs Put New Kick Into Offense

NHL SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

New Generals Give Club Size, Muscle; Burnett Named Charlotte Player-Coach