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.

July 1, 1977

The Hockey News July, 1977

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0035-17" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1717/4083282-1-eng-US/f0035-172.jpg"></div><p><b>(*-tied in voting)</b></p><p><b>Most Valuable Player&mdash;Rod Bloomfield, Binghamton.</b></p><p><b>Best Defenseman&mdash;Jim Marsh. Syracuse.</b></p><p><b>Rookie of Year&mdash;Tom Milani, Syracuse.</b></p><p><b>Goaltender&rsquo;s Award&mdash;Lynn Zimmerman, Erie.</b></p><p><b>Len Gagnon Memorial Award&mdash;John Cunniff, Maine.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-17

IN THIS ISSUE

NAHL All Star Teams

<p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he World Hockey Association, shrouded in uncertainty as to its hockey future, still held the 1977 amateur draft and came away with 90 players selected from Canadian major leagues, American colleges and some Europeans.</p><p>Teams normally draft in reverse order of the league finish but two of the WHA powers, Houston and Winnipeg, emerged with top draft picks through prior trade commitments. Houston wound up with the first and 10th picks in the draft.</p><p>The Aeros drafted defenseman Scott Campbell, six-foot-three, 205, in the first round, then followed up with the selection of center Dwight Foster, five-foot-11, 176.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01353/4082084-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="561" height="713"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DAVE MORROW&hellip; Second Round Pick</b></figcaption></div><p>Campbell, also the first round choice of the National Hockey League St. Louis Blues, played for London of the Ontario Hockey Association last season, while Foster played for Kitchener of the OHA.</p><p>&ldquo;We drafted with a couple of things in mind. First, we went after players we feel can help our club, if not right now at least sometime in the near future. Second, we went after players we thought we could sign,&rdquo; Houston coach and general manager Bill Dineen said.</p><p>&ldquo;Campbell is a big, strong kid and he&rsquo;s very mobile. He&rsquo;s also versatile. To us that&rsquo;s important. A player has to be able to do it at both ends of the ice. And that&rsquo;s why we picked Foster.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got good speed and he&rsquo;s a scrappy player. Foster is not only a good scorer, but he&rsquo;s also very aware of his defensive obligations.&rdquo;</p><p>Foster was the leading scorer in the OHA, scoring 60 goals and assisting on 83 others.</p><p>In the second round, the Aeros went after winger Dave Semenko, six-foot-four, 220, while in the third round Houston picked goaltender Glen Hanlon, six-feet, 175. Both Sememko and Hanlon played at Brandon of the Western Canada Hockey League last season under former Houston defenseman Dune McCallum.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s too early to say what kind of draft we had. If we don&rsquo;t sign any of these players, it was a bad draft. But if we can get some of them signed, I think we&rsquo;ll look back at this as being a good draft.</p><h2><b>FIRST ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Houston&mdash;SCOTT CAMPBELL, defenee, London.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;BARRY BECK, defense, New Weelmtneter.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;RON DUGUAY, center. Sudbury.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;MIKE CROMBEEN, RW, Kingston.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;DOUG WILSON, defense, Ottawa.</b></p><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;ROD LANGWAY, defense. New Hampshire.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;JERE GILLIS, LW, Sherbrooke.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;MILES ZAHARKO, defense, New Westminster.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;LUCIEN DEBLOIS, RW, Sorel.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;DWIGHT FOSTER. Kitchener.</b></p><p><b>New England&mdash;RON ARESHENKOFF, canter, Medicine Hat.</b></p><h2><b>SECOND ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;BRAD MAXWELL, defence, New Westminster.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;TOM GORENCE, RW, Minneota.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;JOHN ANDERSON, RW, Toronto.</b></p><p><b>New England&mdash;MOE ROBINSON, defence, Kingston.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;WAYNE RAMSAY, defense, Brandon.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;DOUG BERRY, center, Denver.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;DAVE MORROW, delense, Calgary.</b></p><p><b>New England&mdash;RANDY PIERCE, RW, Sudbury.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;BENOIT GOSSELIN, LW, Trols-Revleres.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;DAVE SEMENKO, LW, Brandon.</b></p><h2><b>THIRD ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;MARK JOHNSON. center-LW, Wisconsin.</b></p><p><b>New England&mdash;JOHN BABY, defense, Sudbury.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;KIM DAVIS, defense, Flin Flon.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;FLOYD LAHACHE, defense, Sherbrooke.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;COLIN AHERN, forward. Providence.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;MARK LOFTHOUSE, RW, Now Wesestmineter.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;TOM ROULSTON, center, Winnipeg.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;GLEN HANLON, goal, Brandon.</b></p><h2><b>FOURTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;NORM DUPONT, LW, Montreal Jr.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;STEVE STOYANOVICH, LW, RPI.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;NEIL LABATTE, defense, Toronto.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;DAN CLARK, defense, Kamloops.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;DALE McCOURT, center, St. Catherines.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;JEFF ALLAN, defense, Hull.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;RED LAURENCE, center, Kitchener.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;ROBERT PICARD, defense, Montreal Jr.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;REG KERR, defense, Kamloops.</b></p><h2><b>FIFTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;STEVE BAKER, goal, Union College.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;PERRY SCHNARR, RW, Denver.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;ROCKY SAGANIUK, RW, Lethbridge.</b></p><p><b>New England&mdash;BRIAN HILL, RW, Medicine Hat.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;MICHEL BOSSY, RW, Laval.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;JIM TRAINOR, defense, Harvard.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;BILL STEWART, defense, Niagara Falls.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;ALAIN COTE, LW, Chicoutimi.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;KEVIN MCCARTHY, defenee. Winnipeg.</b></p><h2><b>SIXTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;GREG TEBBUTT, defenee, Regina.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;DON MICHELETTI, LW, Minnesota.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;JULIAN BARETTA, goal. Wisconsin.</b></p><p><b>New England&mdash;JAMES KORN, defenee, Providence.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;RICK VASKO, defenee, Peterborough.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;BILL HIMMLERIGHT, LW, North Dakota.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;RIC SEILING. RW, St. Catharines.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;YVES GUILLEMETTE, goal, Shawinan.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;MARKUS MATTSON, goal, Finland.</b></p><h2><b>SEVENTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;BOB SUTER, defense, Wisconsin.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;DOUG BUTLER, defense, St. Louis.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;STEVE HOYDA, LW, Portland.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;STEVE LETZGUS, defense, Michigan.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;BRIAN DRUMM, LW, Oshawa.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;TOM BYERS, RW, Providence.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;JIM HAMILTON, RW, London.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;EDDY GODIN, RW. Ouebec.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;HERALD LUCKNER. center, Sweden.</b></p><h2><b>EIGHTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;CURT CHRISTOFFERSON, defense, Colorado.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;JACK O&rsquo;CALLAHAN, defense, Boston.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;RAY CREASY, center, New Westminster.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;BOB GOULD, RW, New Hampehlre.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;passed.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;BOB BOILEAU, center, Boston.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;WARREN HOLMES. LW, Ottawa.</b></p><p><b>Ouebec&mdash;PIERRE LAGACE, center, Quebec.</b></p><p><b>Houstbn&mdash;MATTI FORSS, forward, Finland.</b></p><h2><b>NINTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;JEAN SAVARD, center, Quebec.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;KEITH HENDRICKSON, LW, Minnesota-Duluth.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;GUY LASH, RW. Winnipeg.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;JIM HARRAR, RW, Minnesota.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;passed.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;JAMES CRAIG, goal, Boston.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;MIKE KEATING, LW, St. Catharines.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;DANIEL CHICOINE. RW, Sherbrooke.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;MIKE DWYER, LW, Niagara Falls.</b></p><h2><b>TENTH ROUND</b></h2><p><b>Birmingham&mdash;KEN LINSEMAN. forward, Kingston.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;BRUCE CROWDER, LW, Hampshire.</b></p><p><b>Edmonton&mdash;LLOYD OWEN, defense, Medicine Hat.</b></p><p><b>Calgary&mdash;MARK MILLER, forward, Michigan.</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis&mdash;passed.</b></p><p><b>Cincinnati&mdash;DAVE KELLEY, defense, Princeton.</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg&mdash;MURRAY BANNERMAN, goal, Victoria.</b></p><p><b>Quebec&mdash;ROLAND CLOUTIER, center, Trois Rivieree.</b></p><p><b>Houston&mdash;MIROSLOW SIKORA. RW, Poland.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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WHA Still Picks 90 Amateurs Despite Uncertainty

<h2><b>ATLANTA FLAMES (9)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-05511/4080554-1-eng-US/f0013-052.jpg" title="f0013-05" width="744" height="268"></div><h2><b>BOSTON BRUINS (8)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-06432/4080547-1-eng-US/f0013-062.jpg" title="f0013-06" width="746" height="242"></div><h2><b>BUFFALO SABRES (5)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-07399/4080540-1-eng-US/f0013-072.jpg" title="f0013-07" width="762" height="160"></div><h2><b>CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS (8)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-08374/4080533-1-eng-US/f0013-082.jpg" title="f0013-08" width="748" height="244"></div><h2><b>COLORADO ROCKIES (8)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-09355/4080526-1-eng-US/f0013-092.jpg" title="f0013-09" width="752" height="244"></div><h2><b>CLEVELAND BARONS (9)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-10334/4080519-1-eng-US/f0013-102.jpg" title="f0013-10" width="756" height="270"></div><h2><b>DETROIT RED WINGS (16)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-11305/4080512-1-eng-US/f0013-112.jpg" title="f0013-11" width="742" height="298"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-12267/4080505-1-eng-US/f0013-122.jpg" title="f0013-12" width="733" height="178"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES KINGS (4)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-13230/4080498-1-eng-US/f0013-132.jpg" title="f0013-13" width="751" height="135"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA NORTH STARS (8)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-14197/4080491-1-eng-US/f0013-142.jpg" title="f0013-14" width="742" height="242"></div><h2><b>MONTREAL CANADIENS (27)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-15163/4080484-1-eng-US/f0013-152.jpg" title="f0013-15" width="735" height="456"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-16121/4080477-1-eng-US/f0013-162.jpg" title="f0013-16" width="734" height="300"></div><h2><b>NEW YORK ISLANDERS (8)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-17100/4080470-1-eng-US/f0013-172.jpg" title="f0013-17" width="748" height="240"></div><h2><b>NEW YORK RANGERS (13)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-1886/4080463-1-eng-US/f0013-182.jpg" title="f0013-18" width="740" height="370"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (21)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-1969/4080456-1-eng-US/f0013-192.jpg" title="f0013-19" width="738" height="86"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2049/4080449-1-eng-US/f0013-202.jpg" title="f0013-20" width="732" height="512"></div><h2><b>PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (4)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2138/4080442-1-eng-US/f0013-212.jpg" title="f0013-21" width="750" height="138"></div><h2><b>ST. LOUIS BLUES (9)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2229/4080435-1-eng-US/f0013-222.jpg" title="f0013-22" width="746" height="270"></div><h2><b>TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (10)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2319/4080428-1-eng-US/f0013-232.jpg" title="f0013-23" width="736" height="296"></div><h2><b>VANCOUVER CANUCKS (8)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2414/4080421-1-eng-US/f0013-242.jpg" title="f0013-24" width="744" height="240"></div><h2><b>WASHINGTON CAPITALS (10)</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-2514/4080414-1-eng-US/f0013-252.jpg" title="f0013-25" width="738" height="296"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-05

How NHL Teams Dratted The Amateurs

<p>Following are the latest hockey movements during the off-season:</p><h2><b>NATIONAL LEAGUE</b></h2><p>DETROIT &mdash; <b>Dave Hanson,</b> forward, signed as a free agent after jumping New England of WHA. <b>Clark Hamilton,</b> forward, signed to pro contract from Notre Dame University.</p><p>PITTSBURGH &mdash; <b>Morris Lukowich,</b> forward, signed to NHL contract after jumping Houston of WHA.</p><p>COLORADO &mdash; <b>Colin Campbell,</b> defenseman, returned to Pittsburgh. <b>Simon Nolet,</b> forward, placed on voluntary retired list.</p><p>WASHINGTON &mdash; <b>Doug Gibson,</b> forward, picked up from Boston on waivers.</p><p>LOS ANGELES &mdash; <b>Ab DeMarco,</b> defenseman, trade to Atlanta in exchange for Randy Manery, defenseman. Frank St. Marseille and Mike Usitalo, forwards, handed outright releases.</p><h2><b>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</b></h2><p>NEW ENGLAND &mdash; <b>Dave Dryden,</b> goaler, secured from Edmonton to complete previous deal.</p><p>CINCINNATI &mdash; <b>Craig Norwich,</b> defenseman, signed from University of Wisconson. Stingers traded <b>John Hughes,</b> defenseman, to Houston to secure Norwich&rsquo;s WHA rights. Mike Liut, goaler, signed from Bowling Green University. Stingers traded Greg Carroll, forward, and <b>Bryan Maxwell,</b> defenseman, to New England to secure Liut&rsquo;s WHA rights.</p><p>CALGARY &mdash; <b>Jacques Locas,</b> forward, returned to Cincinnati.</p><h2><b>COACHING CHANGES</b></h2><p>DETROIT &mdash; <b>Bobby Kromm</b> replaced Larry Wilson. Kromms contract with Winnipeg of WHA expired. Wilson assigned to Oklahoma City of CHL As coach by Detroit.</p><p>VANCOUVER &mdash; <b>Orland Kurtenbach</b> retired as coach after originally quitting club. Jake Milford new GM replacing Phil Maloney.</p><p>LOS ANGELES &mdash; <b>George Maguire</b> named new GM replacing Jake Milford. Bob Pulford resigned as coach.</p><p>TORONTO &mdash; <b>Red Kelly</b> relieved of coaching duties.</p><p>BUFFALO &mdash; <b>Floyd Smith</b> relieved of coaching duties.</p><p>PITTSBURGH &mdash; <b>John Wilson</b> signed as coach after leaving Colorado Rockies.</p><h2><b>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</b></h2><p>INDIANAPOLIS &mdash; <b>Jacques Demers</b> named coach replacing <b>Terry Slater,</b> who was dismissed as coach and GM.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Hockey Players On The Move

<p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>J</span>ohn Ziegler has become the fourth president in the history of the National Hockey League and it appears he will have broader powers than any of his three predecessors in the 60-year span of the league.</p><p>The 43-year-old Detroit lawyer was elected by the governors of the NHL to replace 72-year-old Clarence Campbell as president and chief executive officer and indications are Ziegler will operate with more jurisdiction over the teams than Campbell was able to exert in his 31 years at the helm of the NHL.</p><p>Campbell said that Zeigler was most fortunate to be operating with broader powers and to have access to all league committees, which will certainly work in the league&rsquo;s favor.</p><p>&ldquo;We have always had a conflict in duties between the authority exhibited by the president and the chairman. With today&rsquo;s structure, that cannot happen any longer,&rdquo; commented Campbell.</p><p>Zeigler has already been subjected to all aspects of NHL litigation, team relations and negotiations with the powerful NHL Players&rsquo; Association under tough Alan Eagleson while serving as an alternate governor for the Detroit Red Wings and more recently as chairman of the board.</p><p>Will his new executive duties change his outlook? Not likely. In fact hockey observers are already finding out that Zeigler may not be quite as accessible as Campbell was. Zeigler believes in the theory that league matters should remain in the committee room.</p><p>Ziegler, who reportedly accepted a four-year contract calling for an approximate $225,000 per year, has already achieved some semblance of success with the merger of the NHL and the rival World Hockey Association. He is reported to have handled his first official function well in helping formulate the expansion of the NHL from 18 to 24 teams.</p><p>NHL insiders say they are not worried that Ziegler is an unknown individual outside of the top echelon of the league. While he has been associated with the Red Wing organization since 1959, his exposure to the outside hockey world has been limited. But again NHL people feel he will probably emerge with a higher profile than he did in past years while laboring for Detroit.</p><p>Ziegler takes over an exacting hockey role as NHL president and walking in Campbell&rsquo;s footsteps is a challenge in itself. A graduate of Michigan University&rsquo;s law school, he is a partner in a Detroit law firm. He is also a long-time associate of Detroit owner Bruce Norris and serves as vice-president of Norris&rsquo;s grain company. He is also a director of the National Investors Life Insurance Company and played some hockey as a junior and senior from 1949 to 1969.</p><p>Steeped in the workings and knowledge of the NHL operation, he is expected to assert proper authority when the occasion presents itself, a factor that swayed&rsquo; the NHL in selecting him to replace Campbell.</p><p>Ziegler says he&rsquo;s his own man and he doesn&rsquo;t expect to be bulldozed by the NHL governors or the Players&rsquo; Association and Eagleson. He also says that referring to him as Campbell&rsquo;s successor is erroneous. &ldquo;I object to being called a successor to Clarence Campbell because no one succeeds him. He is unique, has been and will be,&rdquo; said Ziegler in an obvious tribute to the man who went before him.</p><p>The elevation of Ziegler to the presidency of the league ends the long and illustrious 31-year reign of Clarence Campbell at the age of 72. He stayed three years longer in the president&rsquo;s chair than he wanted to while the NHLs selection committee delved into hockey backgrounds to find a new man.</p><p>Campbell leaves the chief executive role to assume a position of advisor while assisting Ziegler over his adjustment period. That may take up to two years and Campbell will be around to lend his expertise if Ziegler requires it. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel the pressure quite the same as I did a while back,&rdquo; said Campbell. Retirement I think, has passed me by,&rdquo; he added.</p><p>The outgoing NHL president said he expects to devote more time to a Montreal suburban hospital foundation fund, of which he is president, play a little more golf and sleep a lot more than he has in recent troubled years when the emergence of the WHA and endless Utigation sessions kept him constantly on the move around the country.</p><p>Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966, Campbell was the third NHL president following the late Frank Calder (19171943) and Red Dutton (1943-1946). His two most notable achievements as far as the NHL was concerned was the establishment of the prolific player pension plan and the expansion of the league from six teams to 12 in 1967-68.</p><p>Campbell himself in squarely in Ziegler&rsquo;s corner. &ldquo;I have been associated with Mr. Ziegler for the past 11 years and I hold him in the highest regard,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;He has the intelligence, stamina, drive and desire to provide the kind of leadership this league must have in the future.&rdquo;</p><p>The new NHL president will be inducted officialy into office Aug. 25 during the league&rsquo;s Hall of Fame dinner at Toronto and it will culminate two years of searching by the selection committee.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

New President Ziegler Given Wider Powers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-011010/4079679-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>There were a few surprises in the NHLs 1977 amateur draft including the selecting of Mark Napier, above, of the WHA Birmingham Bulls as Montreal Canadians&rsquo; first draft pick. For details see page 13.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>NHL SIGNS TOP DRAFTS</b></h2><p><b>DETROIT &mdash;</b></p><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>he NHL moved swiftly to sign its top amateur draft picks withjhe disclosure by the Detroit Red Wings that they had inked the No. 1 choice, Dale McCourt, and by the Colorado Rockies, who had No. 2 pick Barry Beck&rsquo;s name on an NHL contract just a few days after the Montreal draft was held.</b></p><p><b>Despite warnings from one unidentified WHA representative about the dangers of living in Detroit, McCourt signed with the Wings. The Indianapolis Racers also picked McCourt in the fourth round of the WHA draft. New GM Ted Lindsay of Detroit also signed defenseman Rick Vasko, a nephew of former NHLer Moose Vasko. Young Vasko was the Wings&rsquo; second pick in the 1977 draft. The Vancouver Canucks also signed the No. 4 pick, Jere Gillis of Sherbrooke.</b></p><h2><b>OILERS LAND SADLER</b></h2><p><b>EDMONTON &mdash;</b></p><p><b>The Edmonton Oilers did what the Montreal Canadiens couldn&rsquo;t do &mdash; entice Robin Sadler to sign a professional hockey contract. The Oilers announced 90 minutes before the 1977 WHA amateur draft that they had locked up Sadler with a multi-year contract.</b></p><p><b>Sadler, the No. 1 draft choice of the Canadiens in 1975, turned his back on pro hockey declaring that the pressure was too much and he wasn&rsquo;t interested in turning pro. After spending one year out of hockey and playing in Sweden last season, Sadler, a 6&rsquo;3&rdquo;, 190-poind defenseman, signed with the Oilers for 1977-78. At the same time, the Oilers revealed they had traded goaler Lou Levasseur to New England in exchange for Dave Dryden, whom the Oilers had sent to the Whalers to complete an earlier trade in which Ron Busniuk and Brett Callighen went to Edmonton in return for Mike Antonovich and Bill Butters.</b></p><h2><b>JUNIORS SUE TONELLI</b></h2><p><b>TORONTO &mdash;</b></p><p><b>In what could be a precedent-setting case, the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey Association have filed a suit against John Tonelli, the ex-Marlie who jumped the OHA as an underaged junior to sign with the Houston Aeros of the WHA.</b></p><p><b>Marlboros are claiming $154,000 from Tonelli, the WHA and Tonelli&rsquo;s agent, Gus Badall, as compensation after the player ran out on a three-year contract signed with the OHA team in September, 1975. Tonelli is claiming the contract was void on the primary ground that he was under 18 when it was executed. The outcome of the ease could have serious ramifications on amateur hockey in Canada because it will determine whether junior hockey clubs are entitled to receive compensation from young players lost to the pros, as is provided in junior contracts.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-01

DEADLINE STOPPERS

<p>TORONTO &mdash;</p><p>The coaching rumor mill continued to grind out new names as National Hockey League teams sought replacements for deposed coaches.</p><p>The hottest concerns Roger Neilson, who is allegedly the new man in the Toronto Maple Leafs&rsquo; coaching picture. The other focuses on Bob Pulford, who appears to be the No. 1 choice oon everybody&rsquo;s coaching list. Reports indicate that the Chicago Black Hawks will eventually land Pulford as their new coach.</p><p>With four NHL coaching appointments still to be made and a fifth unconfirmed, the guessing game is in full swing.</p><p>The Leafs, Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Rockies are still without coaches. The Chicago Black Hawks have a coach, Bill White, but they haven&rsquo;t made a final decision on whether they want to retain him for another year or hire someone else. The Sabres fired Floyd Smith and Bob Pulford resigned his job with the Kings. The Colorado opening developed when John Wilson left the Rockies for Detroit.</p><p>Names like Pulford, Al MacNeil and Ron Stewart are being bandied about from day to day. Neilson has never been mentioned for any other position but Toronto and with good reason. He directed the Leaf&rsquo;s farmhands last year at Dallas and owner Harold Ballard is reportedly high on Neilson&rsquo;s coaching ability.</p><p>Besides, the Leafs have had Neilson sitting in on recent team meetings that would not concern anyone other than the man behind the Leaf bench It appears the Leafs are pulling out of their Dallas operation, which they shared with Chicago last year, and will be taking Neilson with them. Such moves indicate that Neilson is looking more and more like the next Leafs coach.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02915/4079710-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="562" height="652"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROGER NEILSON&hellip;Inside Track</b></figcaption></div><p>The Buffalo coaching situation could drag on with GM Punch Imlach in no apparent hurry to sign a new man to replace Smith. If Imlach wants Pulford as his coach he may have to hurry to sign him. The Black Hawks are reportedly ready to ink Pulford as general manager and coach with Jack Davison from Dallas as assistant GM. That would mean Tommy Ivan is about to retire.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-02

Neilson Near Signing As Leafs’ Next Coach

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE HALPIN</div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t&rsquo;s all over but the shouting in the bitter world hockey confrontation between the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association but the ramifications may still be felt for years to come.</p><p>The NHL literally brought the rival WHA to its knees after three days of emotional meetings in Chicago by declaring that the two leagues had buried the hatchet and merged. The WHA likes to call it a merger. The NHL prefers to have it known as expansion.</p><p>But whatever, it amounted to the es-tablished NHL agreeing to include the accepted six best franchises in the WHA in their operation as a separate playing entity for at least the next three years. In effect, complete integration of the two leagues will not be completed before 1980.</p><p>The NHL has allowed, for a cool $2.9 million each, six WHA franchises-Cin-cinnati, Quebec, New England, Edmon-ton, Winnipeg and Houston-to join forces with them in what new NHL presi-dent John Ziegler, one of the primary architects of the merger, hopes will be a step in the right direction towards making hockey a more equitable product for the paying public.</p><p>&ldquo;All the problems of hockey today are the result of a war begun five years ago.&rdquo; said Ziegler. &ldquo;We feel this was necessary for the good of the game. Now we can get back into the full development of players. One league has a better chance,&rdquo; he added.</p><p>There&rsquo;s no question that the peace settlement was a marriage of con-venience. Both leagues were straining un-der the financial load with spiraling costs and inflated salaries. Now with a 24-team operation, the NHL has hockey back un-der its control and it would seem it can only improve conditions and even possibly get the league back in pursuit of an essential national TV network contract that has proved so lucrative to pro football, baseball and basketball in the U.S.</p><p>The NHL established the three-year waiting period to remove all vestiges of the WHA. In the meantime, the six WHA cities will play solely within themselvesin a division still to be named. However, they will be included in the 1977-78 Stanley Cup playoffs when the top four finishers will be permitted to cross over and engage the NHL teams for the Stanley Cup. This arrangement could last for the first two years according to Ziegler with the possibility of a complete realignment of the league by 1980-81.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011017/4079807-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg" title="f0003-01" width="856" height="1435"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THE OLD AND THE NEW: Incoming NHL president John Ziegler, left, will take over from retiring Clarence Campbell, who is stepping down after 31 years at the helm of the league. Ziegler, who is 43, has accepted a four-year contract to head up the NHL after serving as chairman of the board in recent years.</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02874/4079800-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="880" height="1447"></div><p>It is believed the thinking behind the three-year plan is that the weaker cities from both leagues will kill themselves off and allow the NHL to return to a more stable and compact 18 or 20-team operation.</p><p>Alan Eagreson, president of the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, said he does foresee some problem areas and he figures time will take care of them.</p><p>The acceptance of the WHA was not totally agreeable around the NHL. Some opposed the move notably Jack Kent Cooke of Los Angeles. Harold Ballard of Toronto and Boston&rsquo;s Paul Mooney also voiced their disapproval although both eventually relented and voted for the merger. Cooke remained a dissident throughout the landmark meetings.</p><p>Eagleson said that the affair has been classed as expansion rather than a merger until the legalities of labor and United States anti-trust laws are studied. By classing it as expansion, the NHL was also able to get around Cooke&rsquo;s continued refusal to make the deal unanimous.</p><p>Most hockey men were favorably impressed with the proceedings., Emile Francis of St. Louis Blues felt it was the only thing the NHL could do. &ldquo;It was the only way to go. We had to get this thing over with for the good of hockey,&rdquo; he said. Philadelphia&rsquo;s Ed Snider was pleased although he insisted he was disgusted that &ldquo;one vote (Cooke&rsquo;s) could stop 17 others. &ldquo;Bill Torrey of the Islanders said he believes that &ldquo;time heals many things. A delay could achieve attrition,&rdquo; he added.</p><p>The marriage of the two leagues was finally achieved when the players agreed to accept the owners&rsquo; right to a reserve clause. The move was aimed at killing off any opportunity of another bidding war for players&rsquo; services, particularly free agents. There will also be no more playing one league against the other in players&rsquo; demands for fat salaries and bonus signing clauses. Most certainly, the merger will allow the NHL to bring salaries back into their proper perspec-tive and guarantee the survival of professional hockey.</p><p>Even the minor leagues will benefit from the joint NHL-WHA operation. It is no secret that the minors are dieing on the vine and intervention by the major league teams in the form of subsidies and agreements will have to be made to keep the flow of development at the minor league level.</p><p>The merger is still expected to present other problems between the two leagues before everything is settled to the satisfaction of all. For example, there will have to be discussions about TV money, the awarding of existing NHL trophies, rights to drafted players and the matter of exhibition games. Most NHL teams are opposed to allowing the WHA teams to compete for the Ross, Hart, Byng, Vezina and Calder trophies. At least not until 1980 when the integration period will be completed. Apparently there will be no extra exhibition games. The Montreal Canadiens vetoed that proposal right off.</p><p>It will also be interesting to see what system will be introduced to sign amateur players drafted by both leagues. An example is the case of defenseman Scott Campbell, who was drafted No. 9 in the NHL draft by St. Louis but this past week agreed to multi-year contract with the Houston Aeros.</p><p>The whole merger idea has been completed to the satisfaction qf the NHL and it is hoped the people who will benefit most from it will be the fans. The WHA will be forced to go along with whatever legislation and moves the NHL considers necessary and there seems to be little they will be able to do about it.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0003-01

NHL Puts End To Five-Year War With WHA Taking In Six Franchises Through Merger

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03587/4079838-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>NEW BEEKEEPER: The Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA will have a new man behind the bench this season in the person of Jacques Demers, shown at left with Cincinnati&rsquo;s executive vice-president Bill DeWitt Jr. DeWitt announced that the Stingers had signed Demers to a one-year contract.</b></figcaption></div><p>BIRMINGHAM&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>B</span>irmingham Bulls&rsquo; owner John Bassett is infuriated that every story he reads about the proposed NHL-WHA merger excludes his WHA team. The rest of the WHA teams may be dead but Bassett says Birmingham is very much alive.</p><p>The Bulls&rsquo; owner said he will apply for an NHL franchise along with the rest of the accepted WHA teams. He said if money and ticket sales can get him into the NHL, he is going to make it. The Bulls are busily lining up capital and pushing ticket sales in order to apply for an NHL franchise.</p><p>Meanwhile, the WHA as such is dead and its move to merge with the NHL was seen as the only recourse the league had to insure its survival.</p><p>With the six best franchises moving on to join the NHL in a 24-team leeague, the WHA founded five years ago by Gary Davidson, has succumbed leaving three cities without professional hockey next season. Cincinnati Stingers, Houston Aeros, Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers and Edmonton Oilers will continue to operate. Indianapolis Racers, Calgary Cowboys and San Diego Mariners are gone and will receive indemnification money to ease their demise.</p><p>WHA president Bill MacFarland had no comment to make when it was all over. He and most of his WHA cohorts were hoping that the league could maintain its existence but most admitted there wasnt much else the WHA could do. It was clearly in financial straits as evidenced by the Indianapolis franchise which could not meet its post-season June 15 payroll of $100,000.</p><p>The chances of Calgary and Indianapolis returning to pro hockey in the forseable future remains a possibility as present NHL-WHA franchises capitulate but it is believed not likely unless more suitable rinks are found.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0003-03

Bassett Bristles At Bulls’ NHL Exclusion—Wants In

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011068/4079890-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="433" height="460"></div><p>&bull; <b>THIS YEAR&rsquo;S NHL</b> annual meeting will be remembered as the one in which more hockey people were looking for jobs than ever before. Every time you turned around you&rsquo;d bump into a manager, coach, publicist or hockey announcer seeking an affiliation of some kind&hellip; Vancouver Canucks&rsquo; resigning of Orland Kurtenbach to a one-year contract as coach was a surprise. He was being mentioned as a possible replacement for the late Barry Ashbee with Philadelphia&hellip;Eddie Wiseman, a 10-year NHL veteran and star of the 1941 Stanley Cup finals, died recently in Red Deer, Alta&hellip;Four of eight Minnesota North Stars&rsquo; rookies scoied more than 20 goals last season which was a league record&hellip;The new NHL president should make an effort immediately to stop owners like Harold Ballard of Toronto and Ed Snider of Philadelphia from insulting each other in the public prints. The actions of these two strong minded owners during recent months doesn&rsquo;t do a thing to enhance hockey&rsquo;s image in the eyes of the public&hellip;New York Rangers are trying to unload Phil Esposito to any NHL team that can offer them something worthwhile in return, but so far no one seems interested&hellip;Coach Al Arbour of the improving New York Islanders feels his club could end up on top if they could score 380 goals and allow only 200 or so. The Islanders scored 288 goals and allowed only 193 last year&hellip;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021023/4079883-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="295" height="499"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bob Murdoch</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>A PLAYER SWAP</b> between Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins is in the offing which would send Tommy Williams and Dave Hutchison to Pittsburgh in return for Ron Stackhouse and Ron Schock&hellip;Willi Plett, winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHLs best rookie, was born in Paraguay, South America. He left that country when he was three&hellip;Punch Imlach says he&rsquo;s in no hurry to hire a replacement for Floyd Smith as coach of the Buffalo Sabres. He said he might wait until just before training camp opens&hellip;Two outstanding play-by-play announcers currently on the sidelines are Don Earle and Ron Oakes&hellip; Earle has been broadcasting NHL hockey for 10 years, first with Boston and later with Philadelphia. He was also a co-founder with Boston&rsquo;s Bob Wilson of the NHL Broadcasters Association&hellip; Oakes spent seven years with San Diego Gulls during their greatest days in the old Western Hockey League. He also did home games of the LA Kings&hellip;Sam Pollock of the Canadiens has been working very closely with the Flyers&rsquo; Ed Snider in trying to bring about the NHL-WHA merger&hellip;New York Rangers hope to land Bob Murdoch of the Cleveland Barons to play with his brother Don next season. Bob is a free agent and the Rangers are reported ready to go all out to land him&hellip;There&rsquo;s talk the NHL may change their method of allocating minor officials in the playoffs in future years. A number of complaints about the work of some of the goal judges, official scorers etc. were heard last spring and it is hoped that these criticisms will be stopped in future years&hellip;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03918/4079876-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="298" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Terry Crisp</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>TERRY CRISP</b> is the new assistant coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. He replaces Mike Nykoluk who has been named to the new post of player development co-ordinator. Keith Allen and Fred Shero retain their position as general manager and coach of the Flyers&hellip;Bill Friday, veteran WHA referee, has retired as an official but would like to stay around as a supervisor of officials&hellip;Florent Potvin has been rehired as chief scout of the Cincinnati Stingers&hellip;Simon Nolet, veteran right winger of the Colorado Rockies, is retiring. He plans to work for a brewery in Quebec City&hellip;Vancouver Canucks highly elated at landing Jere Gillis in the draft. Gillis was a 55-goal scorer with Sherbrooke Beavers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. He stands six feet, three, weighs over 200 pounds, is a native of Bend, Ore. and he&rsquo;s rated one of the best pro prospects around today&hellip;Veteran NHL publicist Joe Vargo has returned to the East where he hopes to become attached to a new team. Vargo said he has pulled up stakes in Denver and has left the Colorado Rockies as their director of public relations&hellip;The hockey world mourned the passing of Alex Barilko recently at the age of 52. A former pro hockey linesman and scout for the Rangers and St. Louis Blues, he was also the brother of one-time Leaf defenseman Bill Barilko, who was tragically lost on a post-Stanley Cup plane flight into Northern Ontario in 1951&hellip;The late Shel Fullerton, former contributor to THE HOCKEY NEWS was known around Cleveland as the complete newspaperman. He was always well organized, highly productive and totally professional.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04816/4079869-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="295" height="499"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Shel Fullerton</b></figcaption></div><p><b>The Hockey News</b></p><p><b>OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLY</b></p><p>Founded October 1st. 1947</p><p><b>Vol. 30 NO. 35 JULY 1977</b></p><p><b>Published weekly except monthly June through September by W.C.C. Publishing Ltd.. 1434 St. Catherine Street West. Montreal. Canada H3G 1R7 U.S c/o WC.C Publishing 150 6. 58th Street. New York. N.Y. 10022.</b></p><p><b>Kenneth W. McKenzie</b></p><p><b>President and Publisher</b></p><p><b>Don Wall</b></p><p><b>Associate Publisher</b></p><p><b>Charlie Halpin</b></p><p><b>Fditnrinl Director</b></p><p><b>Keith Lawton</b></p><p><b>Administration Mgr.</b></p><p><b>Canadian Advertising Director: Graham Campbell, 11 Lotus Court, Toronto, Ont. M2H 1J6. Telephone: (416) 492-9191</b></p><p><b>U.S. Advertising Representatives:</b></p><p><b>NEW YORK:</b> Tom Lomberson, National Soles Director, ISO East 58lh Street, Hew York, N.Y. 10022. Telephone (212I 593-2100.</p><p>CHICAGO: Hooper Jones & Associates, 3322 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, III. 60659. Telephone (312) 478-5544.</p><p>NEW ENGLAND Steve Ganak Ail Reos. Stotler Office Blda., Boston. Mass. 021160. Telephone (617) 542-6913.</p><p><b>YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $11.95 in Canada $12.95 in the U.S.A, and $17.25 in Foreign Countries.</b> Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. 10001 and at additional mailing offices <b>SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO 1434 ST. CATHERINE STREET WEST, SUITE 217, MONTREAL, CANADA H3G 1R7.</b> Second Class mail Registration No 1327 <b>All inquiries pertaining to subscriptions should be addressed to Subscription Dept, The Hockey News, 1434 St. Catherine St. W. Montreal, Canada H3G 1R7. Printed in Canada.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0004-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05677/4079921-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg"></div><h2><b>Whalers&rsquo; Arena Too Small For NHL</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f the NHL Board of Governors allows the New England Whalers to join the NHL, it will prove to me the owners know absolutely nothing about business. How do they expect the Whalers to make it in the NHL when their 10,700-seat building is far too small for the club to break even financially? The WHA team averages less than 9.000 per game and has lost millions.</p><p>All the talk about expanding the Hartford Civic Center is preposterous. The building already is an expensive white elephant that can&rsquo;t cover its operating expenses. The taxpayers of Hartford are obviously paying for the building yet few can afford to attend a hockey game there.</p><p><b>JIM LEAHY, Milford, Ct.</b></p><h2><b>Original NHL Six In One division</b></h2><p>I think having the original six teams in one division would be the best thing to happen to NHL hockey in these expansion days.</p><p>Why not? There would be excellent balance with Montreal and Boston fighting it out for first place, New York and Toronto for third and fourth and Chicago and Detroit holding up the bottom.</p><p>The same goes for the other proposed six-team divisions. The original six expansion teams would be in one division, with the remaining six in the third division.</p><p>These divisions would promote natural rivalries, such as Islanders vs. Atlanta, Philadelphia vs. St. Louis and Rangers vs. Boston.</p><p><b>JAMES R. HOGAN, Rockville Centre, N.Y.</b></p><h2><b>Clarke&rsquo;s Language Shouldn&rsquo;t Be Condemned</b></h2><p>I am writing in response to a letter in your May 20 edition where a Miss Jogielski condemned Bobby Clarke for his bad language on television.</p><p>Well, as any hockey player knows, when you&rsquo;re in the heat a playoff game emotions are very high and it&rsquo;s common for this kind of language.</p><p>Personally, I think it was wrong for the C.B.C. to have a microphone in the players&rsquo; box.</p><p><b>GERRY HANLEY. Vancouver, B.C.</b></p><h2><b>Louisville Media Ignores Hockey</b></h2><p>Let&rsquo;s hope that if Louisville succeeds in getting a franchise in the International League one day, local media coverage will improve.</p><p>Radio and television stations ignore hockey altogether, be it NHL, WHA. or the Louisville Blades of the Mid-America League.</p><p>The Blades finished just one game out of first place, but thanks to the local press, most people in this town didn&rsquo;t even know they existed.</p><p>The only attention the papers give to the pros is to print NHL and WHA team standings 10 pages inside the sports section and buried under ads.</p><p><b>TOM WILKINS, Louisville, Ky.</b></p><h2><b>&ldquo;Slap Shot&rdquo; Shows Hockey As It Is</b></h2><p>After having seen the movie &ldquo;Slap Shot&rdquo; twice, I would have to say that it reminded me of several scenes that I have witnessed at Western Canada Hockey League games during the past few year.</p><p>In fact, some of the movie&rsquo;s fight scenes seemed tame compared to those which the New Westminster Bruins have been involved in.</p><p>We have several players, past and present, who could have starred in the movie from experience gained in the WCHL.</p><p>Although the WCHL is quieting down, many incidents in the league prove that &ldquo;Slap Shot&rdquo; is a movie which shows hockey as it&rsquo;s often played.</p><p><b>RICHARD DOERKSEN, Hepburn, Sask.</b></p><h2><b>Stiffer Penalties For Bellicosity</b></h2><p>Unless hockey cleans up its act, the only fans it will have left will be those from the wrestling forum.</p><p>One way to get back to the entertaining style of hockey is to get rid of the goons and punish those teams whose principal weapon is intimidation.</p><p>The solution:</p><p>1.The player receiving the highest total penalty minutes each season is given a lifetime suspension.</p><p>2.The team receiving the highest penalty totals for a season loses its first round draft pick. The second highest loses its second round pick and so on.</p><p>3.Penalty minutes for roughing, fighting, spearing, high sticking and boarding be doubled.</p><p><b>TER HAMER, Yellowknife, N.W.T.</b></p><h2><b>Seattle Should Have Been Given The Seals</b></h2><p>Although I&rsquo;m disappointed to see any hockey franchise with problems, the Cleveland situation could have been avoided if the then California Golden Seals had been shifted to Seattle.</p><p>With its past history of successful hockey support from the fans and its current support of football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, Seattle is the best sports city without major league hockey.</p><p>I agree that a NHL-WHA merger is needed, and feel that a four-division, six team format would give hockey a solid foundation. Eliminate the weak NHL and WHA teams, move a franchise to Seattle, and initiate more games played within geographically located divisions.</p><p>Not only would travel expenses be cut, but a Western Division of Los Angeles, Vancouver, Colorado, Seattle, and two survivors (from San Diego, Phoenix, Edmonton, and Calgary) would renew old rivalries of the defunct Western Hockey League.</p><p><b>RIC ROSA, Kent, Wash.</b></p><h2><b>Gilbert Deserved Better Treatment</b></h2><p>I&rsquo;m a Bruin fan and although I&rsquo;m disappointed my team didn&rsquo;t play better in the finals, I hope everyone remembers the terrific season they had.</p><p>Hardly anyone thought the Bruins would win the Adams Division and even fewer gave them a chance to make the finals, but they did both.</p><p>My only complaint is the way goalie Gilles Gilbert was unfairly treated.</p><p>They shouldnt have pushed him to the background while treating Gerry Cheevers as some kind of savior.</p><p>I feel both goalies should have seen playoff action.</p><p><b>EILEEN CRESSMAN, Norristown, Pa.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0004-05

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">BY ALAN TRUEX</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01926/4079952-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HOT FLAME: Forward Willi Plett of the Atlanta Flames, left, holds plaque and Calder Trophy after being named the NHL&rsquo;s rookie of the year. Making presentation to Plett is former Calder winner Gus Bodnar. Plett became second Atlanta player to win award in three years. Eric Vail did it in 1975 with the Flames.</b></figcaption></div><p>ATLANTA&mdash;</p><p>For the second time in three seasons, the Atlanta Flames have a Calder Trophy winner.</p><p>Willi Plett, a widely-ignored fifthround draft choice in 1975, was named rookie of the year, just as another Flame, Eric Vail, was two years ago.</p><p>In five seasons, the Flames have had not only the two Calder winners, but in 1974 they had Denis Potvin&rsquo;s runner-up, Tom Lysiak.</p><p>Flames general manager Cliff Fletcher now feels justified in boasting that the young talent on his roster is &ldquo;as good as anybody&rsquo;s.&rdquo;</p><p>He believes he had not only the league&rsquo;s top rookie forward last year, but also the No. 1 rookie defenseman. in Dave Shand, and perhaps even the No. 2, in Richard Mulhern.</p><p>Considering Plett, Shand, Mulhern. Guy Chouinard and Bobby Simpson. Fletcher said, &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t seen a better group of rookies on any team in the NHL.&rdquo;</p><p>Clearly the most dominating of the team&rsquo;s rookies was Plett, a six-foot-three, 210-pound right wing who scored 33 goals and 56 points despite spending 123 minutes in the penalty box.</p><p>He not only led the Flames in goalscoring, he also led them in fighting, as he beat up some of the sport&rsquo;s strongest players, including Detroits Dan Maloney.</p><p>Plett is probably correct in suggesting. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I was rookie of the year because of my stats. The style I play helped me more than statistics.&rdquo;</p><p>Plett&rsquo;s style consisted of pushing, boxing, grappling and&mdash;more than anything else&mdash;just standing and lurking. Unbudgeable in the slot, he scored most of his goals from close range, flicking pucks into the comers of the nets.</p><p>&ldquo;He does have a tremendous asset,&rdquo; Fletcher said, &ldquo;and that is his ability to shoot the puck in traffic and get it away quickly.&rdquo;</p><p>To win the Calder, Plett had to overcome a training-camp performance that was so undistinguished he was assigned to Tulsa to begin last season. When he scored eight goals in 14 games, the Flames promoted him to the NHL.</p><p>Though he began scoring goals regularly his first week in the National League, he was not regarded as a Calder candidate until the New York Rangers&rsquo; Don Murdoch was injured and ruled out of action with two months left in the season.</p><p>When the Flames and Rangers met in a late-season battle for playoff rights, Murdoch, who scored 32 goals and 56 points in 59 games, was injured, while Plett was an overwhelming presence in the two-game series.</p><p>&ldquo;What might have clinched it for Willi,&rdquo; Fletcher said, &ldquo;was that weekend series against the Rangers, in March, when he scored a goal in Atlanta and three in New York.&rdquo;</p><p>The impressive clutch performance earned Plett acclaim as player of the week and probably won over much of the hockey press.</p><p>In balloting by the Professional Hockey Writers, Plett outpolled second-place finisher Murdoch 182121.</p><p>The Flames&rsquo; rookie was not terribly surprised by the outcome. &ldquo;I really didn&rsquo;t know exactly what my chances were percentage-wise,&rdquo; Plett said, &ldquo;but I thought they were pretty good.</p><p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want to start thinking about it while the season was going on, but after the season was over, once in awhile I&rsquo;d think, wouldn&rsquo;t it be nice to win it.&rdquo;</p><p>Plett dutifully credited his linemates, Lysiak and Vail, for much of his success. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I would have got 33 goals if it weren&rsquo;t for Tom and Eric,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>The Lysiak-Plett-Vailline, one of the league&rsquo;s biggest and most explosive, was nicknamed the Downtown Connectors, but now it may have to be renamed the Calder Connection.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0005-01

Plett Pays Off Flames Winning Calder Award

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011099/4079990-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="561" height="645"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BILL GOLDSWORTHY&hellip; Future In Doubt</b></figcaption></div><p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>After John Ferguson, the New York Rangers&rsquo; general manager-coach had drafted Lucien DeBlois, a hard shooting 205-pound right wing from Sorel in the Quebec Major Junior League, he noted, &ldquo;DeBlois&rsquo; presence will put additional pressure on my established right wingers.&rdquo;</p><p>Since Rod Gilbert, Ken Hodge, Bill Goldsworthy and Don Murdoch all patrol the right side, the selection of the 20-year-old, five-foot-ll-Inch 56-goal man from Quebec Province was surprising.</p><p>&ldquo;We went for the best athlete available&mdash;and we could have picked Michel Bossy, whom the Islanders took later. Bossy&rsquo;s a little light in the checking department, and took only 12 minutes in penalties. Along with our second pick, center Ron Duguay from Sudbury we ed up 415 pounds. Duguay is six three and 210.&rdquo;</p><p>Ferguson indicated that DeBlois, Duguay and third choice Mike Keating, a left wing from St. Catharines, would be signed to contracts and given full shots at the Rangers parent club next fall.</p><p>&ldquo;DeBlois is a tough guy and both he and Duguay can play in the NHL, if things work out,&rdquo; emphasized Ferguson, who is continuing his youth oriented thinking.</p><p>Ferguson admitted that &ldquo;any Ranger is available in the right trade.&rdquo; He named Phil Esposito, Carol Vadnais, Hodge, Goldsworthy and Gilbert as having been offered around, but noted, &ldquo;They are untouchable because in many cases their salaries are too much for the other teams to carry.&rdquo;</p><p>With DeBlois in the right wing sweepstakes, Goldsworthy will either play a utility role or move elsewhere if Ferguson can find a taker Bill draws $150,000 per annum and his 12-15-27 log last year indicates, at 33, he isn&rsquo;t worth it.</p><p>Gilbert, a folk hero in New York, still is 36, and slowed down after a fast start through December 12, his 1,000th game, last year. He finished with 27-48-75 but was 15-32-47 through Dec. 12.</p><p>Hodge floated like a butterfly most of the season and was unimpressive. So, too, was Vadnais, who complained most of the year that he was the victim of the Rangers youthful defense. Esposito, still a star, cannot dominate with his current supporting cast. Most likely he will remain, but other changes are imminent once the NHL decides which teams are going to answer the bell next year.</p><p>Keating&rsquo;s selection was a surprise, but Ferguson, backed by chief scout Tom Savage, noted, &ldquo;Keating could be a sleeper. He&rsquo;s a good checker.&rdquo;</p><p>The Rangers urgent need for another goalie showed through in the drafting of Union College&rsquo;s Steve Baker.</p><p>&ldquo;Ned Harkness, the former Detroit GM, told us that Baker was the best goalie in U.S. college hockey,&rdquo; revealed Ferguson. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s big, six-foot-three and 200 pounds and has a great glove hand.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;We have to face it that John Davidson is probably injury prone,&rdquo; said the Ranger GM. &ldquo;And Gilles Gratton would have to be far and away the best goalie in camp to have a chance. We will try to develop Baker so that eventually he can join the goalie competition.&rdquo;</p><p>The fifth pick was New York&rsquo;s only defenseman, Mario Marois, from Quebec in the QMJHL. He&rsquo;s smallish, five-foot-11 and 170 pounds, but is a scrapper who totalled 249 PIM. Left winger Benoit Gosselin of Three Rivers will also get a chance in camp.</p><p>The rest of New Yorks selections were college futures with the exception of center Bobby Sullivan of Chicoutimi.</p><p>&ldquo;Sullivan is big, maybe too big,&rdquo; said Ferguson. &ldquo;He weighs 220 pounds. I am going to turn him over to Dr. Ed Enos and put him on our weight program. We&rsquo;ll see how he is when he comes to camp.&rdquo;</p><p>Amongst the college players Boston University&rsquo;s John Bethel, a Montreal native, is tabbed as a future. He plays left wing and will work full time next year on the Boston University power play with Manhattan product and N.Y. Metropolitan Hockey Association graduate Joe Mullen.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02845/4079983-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1180" height="1492"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PETE STEMKOWSKI&hellip;No New Contract</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Bruce Bennett)</span></figcaption></div><p>All in all the draft clearly shows that Ferguson has just started. He must worry about Murdoch&rsquo;s ankle and hope that the rookie of the year runnerup completely recovers from his second operation He starts skating in mid-July.</p><p>The Rangers as presently constituted still need to deal for a goalie, and perhaps a defenseman, they also need a left winger to feed Esposito and whoever plays right wing with Phil. It should be an interesting summer for Ranger fans, a fretful one for many of the players, and a moment of truth for Ferguson.</p><p><b>ICE CHIPS:</b> Pete Stemkowski is a free agent and John Ferguson isn&rsquo;t planning to offer him another contract&hellip;Greg Polis is also unsigned with his fate undecided&hellip;MSG is installing a brand new message board which will keep fans informed on almost a play-by-play basis next season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-01

Rangers Continual Youth Swing Puts Veterans’ Jobs In Jeopardy

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><p>The annual National Hockey League meetings came and went and the Buffalo Sabres, like the league itself, did not change at all.</p><p>No trades were made, although there was much talk of same, and no coach was named.</p><p>General Manager Punch Imlach said he might not name Floyd Smith&rsquo;s successor until August. &ldquo;After all,&rdquo; said Punch,&rdquo;the coach&rsquo;s work doesn&rsquo;t begin until training camp, does it?&rdquo;</p><p>Coaches who work most of the summer might question that. But, at any rate, the Sabres still were coachless after Punch and company returned from Montreal to set up things for the amateur draft.</p><p>&ldquo;John Anderson and his men prepared us for the draft.&rdquo; Imlach pointed out. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s up to the coach to do something with what they get.&rdquo;</p><p>It was speculated that the reason that Imlach hadn&rsquo;t named a coach was that he was waiting for the contracts of people he was interested in to run out with their current teams.</p><p>These might include Bob Pulford of the Los Angeles Kings and Ron Stewart, director of personnel for the New York Rangers and a former Ranger coach.</p><p>There weren&rsquo;t many trade rumors at the annual meetings but the ones that did circulate nearly all had Buffalo involved.</p><p>The two principal ones had the Sabres trading with Philadelphia and with Pitt-sburgh. Neither made much sense from the Buffalo point of view.</p><p>Rick Martin and Jim Schoenfeld to Philadelphia for Bill Barber and Tom Bladon? Not very likely, unless Imlach has lost his touch.</p><p>Rick Martin and Rene Robert to Pitt-sburgh for Pierre Larouche and Jean Pronovost? Not much more likely.</p><p>The fact that Rick Martin was mention-ed in each was interesting. Here&rsquo;s a guy who has averaged 45 goals a season (that&rsquo;s right, 45) for six NHL years. He has been an All Star for the last four years, first team for two and second team for two.</p><p>Even if &lsquo;Rico&rsquo; was in Imlach&rsquo;s doghouse-which doesn`t seem to be the case, unless it&rsquo;s very well hidden-the wily old GM isn&rsquo;t going to trade him un-less he gets an All Star in return.</p><p>When Martin was honored at a Sabre luncheon after receiving the car he won as the outstanding player in the 1977 NHL</p><p>All Star game, he told the press he knew the Sabres planned some changes, and maybe one of them would involve him, but he hoped to play in Buffalo for a long time and help the Sabres win the Stanley Cup.</p><p>&rsquo;Rico&rsquo; married a Buffalo girl and bought a town house in the Buffalo sub-urbs.</p><p>Imlach did say that only one player &ldquo;couldn&rsquo;t be moved.&rdquo; That would, of course, be Gil Perreault, who signed a new contract with the Sabres after the season ended.</p><p>Others mentioned in rumored trades were Terry Martin, Craig Ramsay, Jerry Korab and Robert. Teams mentioned as interested in acquiring one or more of these Sabres were Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Toronto.</p><p>Imlach did spend quite a bit of time at the meetings huddling with Baz Bastien, so a deal with Pittsburgh could be in the offing.</p><p><b>ICE CHIPS:</b> Goalie Gerry Desjardins, who suffered an injury to his right eye in a game against the Boston Bruins Feb. 10, was scheduled to undergo an operation in Buffalo Right winger Jim Lorentz received the 1977 Charlie Conacher Memorial Trophy, presented annually to an NHL player for his humane and social service contributions. Lorentz has been active for three years in the muscular dystrophy campaign. This year he was chairman of the Western New York door-to-door march against MD and marched the entire route. For the second year he ran a celebrity gold tournament to raise funds to fight the dreaded illness.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01981/4080045-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="557" height="721"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RICK MARTIN&hellip;In Imlach&rsquo;s Doghouse?</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0007-01

Sabres Ponder Two Coaching Choices

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Hockey Hall of Fames membership list has increased by five following the selections of players Alex Delvecchio and the late Tim Horton and builders Harold Ballard. Joe Cattarinich and John &ldquo;Bunny&rdquo; Ahearne.</p><p>There are now 215 members in the Hall of Fame, of which 152 players, 55 builders and eight referees.</p><p>Delvecchio was a member of the Detroit Red Wings for 23 years, scoring 456 goals and 825 assists.</p><p>Many of those goals came as a part of the famed Production Line with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.</p><p>On completing his playing career, Delvecchio became coach and general manager of the Wings before being relieved of his duties last season.</p><p>Tim Horton was selected to the All Star team six times in 22 years before being killed in an automobile accident in 1974.</p><p>The five-foot-10, 180-pound defenseman, known for his extradordinary strength, starred with Toronto for almost 19 years before moving on to the New York Rangers. Pittsburgh and Buffalo, whom he was playing for at the time of his death.</p><p>It seemed only fitting his final game ended with his selection as one of the three stars at Toronto&rsquo;s Maple Leaf Gardens.</p><p>Ballard, the hard-fisted owner of the Maple Leafs, has been associated with the Gardens for many decades. He and his father were first involved in the family skate business before he went on to join forces jvith Stafford Smythe and John Bassett Sr., as operators of the Leafs. When Smythe died in 1972, Ballard bought out the latter&rsquo;s shares and became the principal owner of the NHL club and the Gardens. Since then his teams have won three Stanley Cups.</p><p>Today he is an outspoken NHL owner who has much to say against the league joining forces with the rival WHA. But he is also well known for his contributions to such organizations as the Ontario Society for Crippled Children and the Charlie Conacher Research Fund and is a past winner of the Timmy Award for service to Ontario&rsquo;s disabled kids.</p><p>Ahearne was head of the International Ice Hockey Federation for more than two decades and was successful in building European Hockey to the point where it&rsquo;s competitive with the NHL.</p><p>Cattarinch was an early owner and builder of the Montreal Canadiens as well as a goalie with the Habs in 1910. Under his management, the Canadiens flourished winning the Stanley Cup on three occasions. He died at the age of 57 from a heart attack.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Delvecchio, Horton Among Five Named To Hall of Fame

<div class="byline">-BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011090/4080107-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="412" height="465"></div><h2><b><i>The Rookie Surprise</i></b></h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span>ILLI PLETT&rsquo;S PARENTS</b> have German and Russian backgrounds, he was born in Paraguay, reared in Canada, and plays hockey in the United States, Georgia to be specific. &ldquo;I really don&rsquo;t know what lam,&rdquo; admits the youngster without a trace of a southern accent.</p><p>He confesses confusion. He admits he doesn&rsquo;t have it straight, but as he has the story his father and mother moved from Russia to Germany and caught a boat bound for Paraguay when World War II drove them out. One of seven children, Willi was born in the South American country in June of 1955.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02981/4080100-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="813" height="1392"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Rugged Willi Plett admits his life has been somewhat confused with his family constantly on the move, but now that he&rsquo;s won the NHL rookie award, the Flames&rsquo; agressive winger knows what&rsquo;s ahead</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Bruce Bennett)</span></figcaption></div><p>Relatives sponsored the family&rsquo;s move to the St. Catharines area of Canada and they landed in Niagara on the Lake.</p><p>Willi says, &ldquo;My two oldest sisters were born in Russia, one in Germany, one in Canada. My two older brothers were born, like me, in Paraguay.</p><p>&ldquo;There was always a lot of German spoken at home and I also speak German, but I&rsquo;ve never been to Germany. All I knew growing up was Canada. We did not have an easy life. We did not have a lot of money. My dad worked as a bricklayer and he worked hard to care for our big family. We got by in a two-bedroom house before we got a bigger place when the last baby was born.&rdquo;</p><p>Having skyrocketed to stardom this past season at Atlanta. Willi is on the verge of making big money as a hockey player for himself and his wife of 18 months, Robin. He was the surprise of the season and admits he was the most surprised person of all. He took a curious route to the top in his sport and says, &ldquo;I still can&rsquo;t believe it.&rdquo;</p><p>He didn&rsquo;t start skating until he was six and didn&rsquo;t join a hockey league until he was 12. &ldquo;Once I got into it, I was crazy about it. I&rsquo;d play four, five hours in a row. All outdoor rinks and I didn&rsquo;t care how cold it got&rdquo;</p><p>But he lacked the finesse of lads who grew up playing the game. And, although a big boy, he lacked aggressiveness. His junior coach at St. Catharines, Hap Emms, demoted him to the second tier team because of Willi&rsquo;s lack of aggressiveness.</p><p>&ldquo;After that, I hit anyone who came close to me,&rdquo; points out Plett. Barging around the ice, he picked up 22 goals his last season as an amateur, but the league was low and the scouts were lukewarm. Atlanta picked him up in the fifth and last round of the Summer of &lsquo;75 draft, the 80th player picked.</p><p>They sent him to Tulsa for a 10-game trial and he did well enough to get a contract. He was called up at Christmas time and got into four games but got blanked. &ldquo;I knew I wasn&rsquo;t ready, I was scared, and I didn&rsquo;t know what to do,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I was happy to get back to Tulsa, where my coach took care of me.&rdquo;</p><p><b>THAT COACH WAS</b> Orland Kurtenbach, who was built like Willi, had his sort of handicaps as a player, and could show him how to overcome them. Willi wound up with 30-goals and 50 points in 73 regularseason games and five goals and nine points in nine post-season contests.</p><p>One of the last cuts from the Flames in training camp this past season, Willi was brought back up in November, a month into the campaign and immediately knocked down lethal Larry Robinson of Montreal on his first shift and scored five goals in his first seven games.</p><p>Still, he lacks confidence. A splendid lacrosse player who gave up the game because he was afraid of hurting himself in it, he says &ldquo;If my first year in the majors is a fluke and my hockey career fizzles out I&rsquo;ll go back to lacrosse and my 15 grand a year.&rdquo;</p><p>All this first season in the majors as he fought his way toward a fifty grand contract, he kept saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m hot, but I have to cool down. This can&rsquo;t last.&rdquo; But it did and he did a lot of damage to foes with his rough, forceful performance.</p><p>A slow skater and poor puckhandler, the six-foot-three, 210-pound blond rammed rivals regularly, forcing fights, most of which he won by clean knockdowns, including one over hockey&rsquo;s finest fighter, Danny Maloney. &ldquo;I happened to land a lucky punch, im not looking for a rematch,&rdquo; laughed Willi. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t look for fights. I&rsquo;ll never take a cheap shot at anyone. But the kind of player I am, I have to play aggressive, and I won&rsquo;t back down.&rdquo;</p><p><b>HE GETS A LOT</b> of penalties, but coach Fred Creighton comments, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll accept his penalty minutes as long as he remains aggressive. He could backcheck better, but he forechecks fiercely and creates scoring opportunities for us. He gets a lot of garbage goals because he gets good position in front of the net, can&rsquo;t be budged, and bangs in a lot of loose pucks.&rdquo;</p><p>Although Don Murdoch had 16 goals before Plett even came up, Murdoch slowed down, then was hurt, and wound up with only 32, while Willi wound up leading all rookies with 33 in only 69 games. When a criticized, but clever campaign conducted by Jiggs McDonald to capture for Plett the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year looked like it might pay off, Plett confessed, &ldquo;I want it and if they offer it to me, I won&rsquo;t give it back.&rdquo;</p><p>When they gave it to him recently, he said he&rsquo;d keep it.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY PAT THOMPSON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03831/4080138-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ERNIE HICKE&hellip; Among The Unsigned</b></figcaption></div><p>BLOOMINGTON&mdash;</p><p>There were a couple of days last winter when the Minnesota North Stars were wondering if Ted Harris was still their coach.</p><p>Harris did not attend practice, those being run by assistant Andre Beaulieu.</p><p>Speculation began mounting, but there was no official announcement. And when the North Stars went out for their next game, Harris was still coach, a position he kept through the season and one he will hold again for the 1977-78 campaign. Seems he just wanted to take a couple of days off to regroup.</p><p>The North Stars signed Harris and Beaulieu to new contracts in May, the apparent rewards for guiding a young team into the Stanley Cup playoffs&mdash;Minnesota&rsquo;s first post-season entry in four years:</p><p>&ldquo;It has not been an easy job for Ted the last two years,&rdquo; said Jack Gordon, the general manager. &ldquo;He came into the organization at the point of transition, at a time when we were starting the major rebuilding.</p><p>&ldquo;He showed patience and did a good job. Without having any previous schooling in coaching, Ted had to go through the learning process right along with his young players. He&rsquo;s done it and I think he&rsquo;s a better man for it. I&rsquo;m sure that first year was the toughest he ever spent in hockey.&rdquo;</p><p>The 40-year-old Harris retired from the NHL playing ranks after 15 seasons to sign on as coach of the budding North Stars the 1975-76 season. He ended his active career with five Stanley Cup championship rings to his credit.</p><p>But the North Stars, rebuilding entirely, suffered their worst year in history, 20-53-7, and ended 25 points out of playoff consideration.</p><p>After another slow start in &lsquo;76-77, Minnesota&rsquo;s rookie-dominated Stars jelled the last half of the 80-game schedule. They not only squeezed into the playoffs, but they claimed second place in the Smythe Division.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy to get the chance to work with these young fellows again,&rdquo; said Harris.</p><p>There was a time, then, that Harris might have thought his job was at stake during the past season.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll admit that I felt the team had to make the playoffs to keep my job,&rdquo; said Harris. &ldquo;There were times early last season when the club was struggling to get organized. I wondered what the front office was thinking&hellip;if they were thinking about replacing me.</p><p>&ldquo;I think now that I was probably putting too much pressure on myself. This new contract is a vote of confidence for me.&rdquo;</p><p>Terms of the contract were not disclosed but it was believed to be the same length as the last agreement, two years.</p><p>The 34-year-old Beaulieu, a native of Quebec, was a successful high school and junior coach in Minnesota before he joined the Stars as Harris&rsquo; chief aide two years ago.</p><p>&ldquo;Ted and Andre have made a fine team together and I&rsquo;m happy we are able to come back with the same type of teamwork in the coaching area,&rdquo; said GM Gordon.</p><p><b>STAR DUST:</b> Gordon&rsquo;s next order of business was the amateur draft, the signings of those draftees and negotiations with the team&rsquo;s unsigned veterans, including defensemen Jerry Engele and Nick Beverley, forwards Ernie Hicke and Bill Fairbairn and goalie Gary Smith&hellip;The Stars may not try to sign Smith to a new contract&mdash;John Mariucci, chief college scout, and defenseman Lou Nanne returned from the world tournament in Austria the best of friends after scuffling during one game&hellip;The two even made a television commercial together&hellip;</p><p>Center Glen Sharpley has been acquitted of assault charges in Ontario stemming from a fight during a game in his last junior season in 1975-76&hellip;Twice during last season, Sharpley had to leave the team to give testimony in the trial held at Cornwall, Ont&hellip; Mariucci was one of the new members selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-03

Harris Sees Contract As Vote Of Confidence

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011052/4080169-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOBBY KROMM&hellip;Agreement Honored</b></figcaption></div><p>DETROIT&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>ny doubts that Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; general manager Ted Lindsay walks softly and carries a big stick were dispelled when he demoted coach Larry Wilson after the NHLs annual meetings and replaced him with former Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; mentor Bobby Kromm.</p><p>Ironically, one of Wilson&rsquo;s last acts in his capacity with the Red Wings was to draft his own son, Randy Wilson from Providence College, in the seventh round of the amateur draft. The Wings No. 1 choice was high-scoring Dale McCourt of St. Catharines Fincups.</p><p>Lindsay acknowledged that in hiring Kromm he was merely honoring an agreement made with Kromm by the Red Wings when Alex Delvecchio was general manager.</p><p>&ldquo;I said when I took over that I wanted to keep Larry in his position as coach,&rdquo; Lindsay admitted, &ldquo;but Bobby had a prior agreement with the organization.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson is not left completely out in the cold, however.</p><p>&ldquo;We are establishing our own farm club in Oklahoma City.&rdquo; Lindsay informed, &ldquo;and Larry has agreed to go down there and coach. We need consistency and a single system in the organization.&rdquo;</p><p>Kromm coached Winnipeg for two years after starting out in the Chicago Black Hawks system. The Jets won the Avco Cup in Kromm&rsquo;s rookie season and lost to Quebec Nordiques in the seventh game of last spring&rsquo;s finals.&lsquo;</p><p>&ldquo;As you know, Detroit was very interested in me coming here last year,&rdquo; Kromm explained, &ldquo;but I still had a year to go on my contract with Winnipeg. This is a whole new challenge for me. We realize that we are not going to turn the corner in a year or two.&rdquo;</p><p>One man who should help Kromm turn the comer is McCourt, who scored 60 goals and 89 assists in his final junior season. The five-foot-10, 180-pound center is a nephew of former Toronto Maple Leafs captain George Armstrong. Detroit made McCourt the NHLs No. 1 choice overall.</p><p>Another famous-name nephew was the Red Wings&rsquo; second pick. He is Rick Vasko, a six-foot, 180-pound defenseman from Peterborough, also of the Ontario Major loop. Vasko&rsquo;s, uncle is former Chicago Black Hawks star Elmer (Moose) Vasko. Young Vasko went in the third round as No. 37 overall. The Wings had already dealt away their second-round selection.</p><p>Selected in the fourth round was John Hilworth. a right defenseman from Medicine Hat. Jim Korn, an American-born centerman from Providence College was fifth and Jim Baxter, a goaltender from Union College, was sixth.</p><p>The Wings now have an abundance of defensemen and Lindsay is confident he can find enough to form a respectable NHL defense. The holdovers are Jean Hamel. Terry Harper, Al Cameron, Greg Joly, Terry Murray and Rick Wilson. Young Reed Larson joined the club late last season and John Taft, All America defenseman for NCAA champion Wisconsin, signed a pro contract at season&rsquo;s end.</p><p>Lindsay also expects to take a long look at Larry Giroux, who captained the Kansas City Blues to the Central Hockey League championship, and Jim Nahrgang, who split last season with Detroit and Kansas City. And Vasko can&rsquo;t be overlooked either.</p><p>There you have 11 defensemen. Cameron is the best and most promising, Joly and Vasko have untapped potential, while Larson and Taft have potential but need pro experience. The rest are borderline situations. They may stay, or they may be gone before the season starts.</p><p>There is a glaring weakness at center, one which Wilson couldn&rsquo;t overcome after he took the reins last season. The Wings are eager to latch on to Robbie Ftorek, the WHA&rsquo;s most valuable player, but at the moment that is an uncertain proposition.</p><p>Among the holdovers at center are Walt McKechnie. Dennis Hextail, J.P. Leblanc and Fred Williams, last year&rsquo;s No. 1 selection in the amateur draft. McKechnie is the best of the group. Hextali lost his effectiveness late last season while Leblanc and Williams never did show much. Williams, as a top choice, is a great disappointment. McCourt should fit in well here.</p><p>Right wing is weak, with Dennis Polonich having the best season of any on the team in 1976-77. Bill Lochead and Michel Bergeron were disappointments while Dave Kelly failed to impress after coming over from Philadelphia.</p><p>Left wing is the strongest position, although Dan Maloney and Danny Grant must bounce back from injuries. Nick Libett is a solid veteran and Bob Ritchie and Steve Coates showed good signs after joining the club.</p><p>Clarke Hamilton, a six-foot-four, 220-pound left winger from the University of Notre Dame, signed a contract and will try for a spot. He was rated higher on the collegiate level than his former teammate, Alex Pirus, who made a successful transition from college to pro hockey (with Minnesota North Stars) last season.</p><p>Lindsay and Kromm are content with their goalies, Jimmy Rutherford and Eddie Giacomin, who are solid performers.</p><p>It all boils down to this: Lindsay is looking for talent at every position, and he&rsquo;s looking at all levels, not leaving a stone unturned. He will trade anybody, and everybody, if he feels it will improve the team. If there is an untouchable, it&rsquo;s Maloney, whom Lindsay expects to be the heart of this club.</p><p>One thing is certain. The players who are best in training camp will open the NHL season with Detroit. That wasnt the case last year, when the hard-working though under-talented players were overlooked in training camp in favor of the bigger name players. This year, the players who work will get the jobs.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-01

Kromm Hopes McCourt Can Lead Wings Revival

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011077/4080207-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"></div><h2><b>Let&rsquo;s Get Together</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HE STATEMENT SOUNDED</b> a little like a cattle rancher saying he should be more friendly with the sheep farmers but Scotty Bowman, the coach of the Montreal Canadiens, figures it would be a good idea if coaches and referees were a little chummier.</p><p>Bowman is a man who often has landed hard on officials in the past but during the Canadien-New York Islander playoff series, Scotty talked like he wanted to bury the hatchet&mdash;and not in some referee&rsquo;s head.</p><p>Bowman first had some strong words of criticism for the calibre of officiatine durine the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;If I were associated in the NHL with officiating and the supervision of officials in these playoffs, I&rsquo;d be embarrassed about it,&rdquo; Bowman said.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s been no standard ot officiating and the calibre has been a long way below what it was during the season. This is our big showcase and the officiating should be the best.</p><p>&ldquo;Referees who were good during the season just suddenly haven&rsquo;t become poor for no reason. It has to be the instructions they&rsquo;re working under in the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s been no standard to the refereeing at all. It had nothing to do with our performance. Maybe I&rsquo;d think differently about the lack of penalties for fouls against us if our power play were better. But our power play has been non-functional on the chances we do get&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02873/4080200-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="501" height="621"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SCOTTY BOWMAN</b></figcaption></div><p>Bowman said he found it strange that top referee Bruce Hood and Ron Wicks weren&rsquo;t assigned to more games involving the Canadiens.</p><p>&ldquo;Hood and Wicks were rated by the supervisors of officials as the best referees yet neither of them worked once in our first playoff games,&rdquo; Bowman added.</p><p>&ldquo;We were the best team in the regular season and it was a little unusual that we didn&rsquo;t merit one of the top referees.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>Small Chat Now And Then</b></h2><p><b>BOWMAN FEELS THAT</b> the managers, coaches and the supervisors of officials should be staging some discussions during the playoffs. He claims it&rsquo;s an adversary arrangement now.</p><p>&ldquo;In baseball, the umpires and managers meet before every game to go over the ground rules,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Why couldn&rsquo;t hockey do something like that?</p><p>&ldquo;The coaches or managers of the two teams in a series and one of the supervisors could have a pre-game meeting and the supervisors could tell us a few things about areas of concern and maybe hear a few things from us.</p><p>&ldquo;It wouldn&rsquo;t be a beef-airing time but more of an information exchange which would help everyone. It also might improve the calibre of show we&rsquo;d be staging for the fans.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>Areas Of Improvement</b></h2><p><b>IF THE TEAMS KNEW</b> what the officials were looking for then they could eliminate those problems, according to Bowman.</p><p>&ldquo;The supervisor could tell us that thered been too much hooking or interference and the referees were going to be watching for it,&rdquo; he added.</p><p>&ldquo;Or they could say there was too much freezing of the puck by the goalies and they planned to call more penalties for it.</p><p>&ldquo;Or they could tell us that there were too many delays in switching lines to get the right match-ups on the ice and they wanted things to speed up.</p><p>&ldquo;The game is degrading itself by this lack of communication.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

FRANK ORR SAYS

<div class="byline">BY HARRY KLAFF</div><p>LONG ISLAND&mdash;</p><p>Just one year ago, Denis Potvin was on top of the world. At age 23, he was the Norris Trophy winner, unseating Bobby Orr after the latter had captured the hardware eight years in a row, and became duly recognized as the premier rearguard in the game.</p><p>But then everything seemed to unwind for him, even before the 1976-77 campaign got under way. By the middle of the season, everyone was asking, &ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong with Potvin?&rdquo; and it was conceded that the engraving of his name on the Norris would be solely a one-year phenomenon.</p><p>Ironically, Denis&rsquo; problems emerge out of something that should have produced his finest hour, namely, the Canada Cup series which took place before the start of last season. Its staging was a public relations coup, as millions of viewers around the hockey world stayed tune to see what was billed as the greatest show of all time.</p><p>Potvin was exceptional throughout the tournament, proving to the entire country that he was indeed worthy of his honors. The only problem was that Bobby Orr, making a triumphant, albeit brief comeback, was just as good, and perhaps a bit better.</p><p>When Denis remarked on the situation in his usual frank manner to millions of Canadian readers sometime later, he was greeted with disdain with the comments generally accepted as &ldquo;sour grapes.&rdquo;</p><p>Once the initial reaction had blown over, Potvin found it difficult to even settle down in his role as the on-ice leader of the New York Islanders. His own teammates began looking at him as somewhat of a spoiled brat rather than the one man who has the most power to lead them to the Stanley Cup. They began criticizing his sophisticated lifestyle of attending the theatre, the ballet, and other Manhattan posh spots.</p><p>&ldquo;What does he think, he&rsquo;s the only one on the team that likes to go to the theatre?&rdquo; commented one player.</p><p>Peace was finally restored to the Islander camp after a closed-door meeting in mid-season, and Potvin and the Isles settled back to the task of trying to catch the Philadelphia Flyers in the Patrick Division race. But peace couldn&rsquo;t roll back the clock. The intra-mural conflict had already taken its toll, and that&rsquo;s why Denis wasn&rsquo;t having nearly the year that he did in &lsquo;75-&rsquo;76.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-03642/4080238-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="573" height="1397"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DENIS POTVIN&hellip;Six Goals In Playoffs</b></figcaption></div><p>Or at least that&rsquo;s what the out-of-town media said.</p><p>Denis Potvin didn&rsquo;t win the Norris Trophy this year, but it certainly wasn&rsquo;t because he had a bad year. Any defenseman who picks up 25 goals and 55 assists could hardly be said to have had a mediocre campaign. And if anything, he was better defensively this season than he has been at any time in the past.</p><p>The only difference was that in &lsquo;75-&rsquo;76, Denis put together an incredible season. Last year was simply very, very good.</p><p>Another reason Potvin didn&rsquo;t repeat as the Norris winner and found himself on the second All Star team rather than the first was that he was overshadowed statistically by the exploits of Larry Robinson, Borje Salming, Ian Turnbull, and Guy Lapointe. In the eyes of the numbers experts, he was clearly down the list, even though few people realize that with a late-season rush, he beat out all but Robinson in the point parade.</p><p>When the playoffs got under way. Denis was the usual factor in helping the Isles reach the semi-finals for the third year in a row. He scored six goals in 12 games, one fewer than Billy Harris, the club leader with seven.</p><p>But when it came down to the end, the Islanders didn&rsquo;t win the Stanley Cup. That&rsquo;s the bitter disappointment for Potvin to swallow. He knows that however hard he worked, he and his teammates will have to put out that much more next time. And it doesn&rsquo;t matter in the least how the effort affects his point total or All Star candidacy.</p><p>In other developments, Islander fans got a brief scare in early June when it was revealed that Islanders owner. Roy Boe, was contemplating moving his basketball Nets from the Nassau Coliseum to a proposed arena in the Jersey Meadowlands next to Giants Stadium. Hockey fans immediately began to wonder if this meant them, too, but the matter was quickly clarified.</p><p>The Nets&rsquo; lease with the Coliseum expired last season, and has been renewed for this coming year. The Isles, on the other hand, signed a 20-year agreement with the county when they were bom in 1972. And at the turnstiles, the Islanders are packing them in whereas thousands of Net fans attend games disguised as empty seats.</p><p>Besides, Jersey Islanders? No way.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-03

Failure To Win Cup Still Haunts Potvin

<div class="byline">BY TOM HENSHAW</div><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span> forgotten man has projected himself back into the Boston Bruins&rsquo; muddled defense picture. The big question now is whether he wants to stay.</p><p>Four years ago, Al Sims was a rookie, a third-round draft choice (47th overall) out of Cornwall in the QMJHL who confounded the odds by earning a regular spot on defense with Bobby Orr.</p><p>One year later, for reasons no one has been able to fully fathom, his star was on the wane. He stopped developing. He went from regular to semi-regular to the bench on a team where defense was an afterthought, if it was thought of at all.</p><p>For the past two years, Sims has been mostly at Rochester, surfacing only long enough to meet an emergency on the Boston blueline. The Bruins were unhappy with Al Sims. Al Sims was unhappy with the Bruins. Harsh words were exchanged.</p><p>Then, in the third game of the Stanley Cup final against Montreal, the real emergency came. Mike Milbury was suspended. Doug Halward and Darryl Edestrand were on coach Don Cherry&rsquo;s least wanted list. The Bruins were down to three defensemen.</p><p>The call went out for Sims. He hadn&rsquo;t played a game in two and a half weeks, not since Rochester was eliminated by Nova Scotia in the AHL finals. To the surprise of everyone, fans and management alike, he responded with his best game in years. He did it again two nights later.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought Sims was our best man on the ice,&rdquo; said Cherry, who, on occasion, is given to flights of enthusiasm like that. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a great coach, eh? He&rsquo;s been in Rochester all year. Best man on the ice tonight as far as I&rsquo;m concerned. Either side.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011031/4080269-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="565" height="1165"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>AL SIMS&hellip;Best Game In Years</b></figcaption></div><p>Managing director Harry Sinden was slightly less enthusiastic but hopeful just the same.</p><p>&ldquo;Al did play well in those two games,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But he has played a lot of games for us. you know. We don&rsquo;t assess people on their performances in a couple of games although it did give us new hope.</p><p>&ldquo;At one time we thought Al Sims would play many years in this league as a steady defenseman. Maybe he can but I&rsquo;m not sure. We don&rsquo;t know what</p><p>happened to him. We have a couple of ideas but they&rsquo;re personal between the player and ourselves.&rdquo;</p><p>Needless to say, the 24-year-old Sims was pleased with his brief comeback.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice to be able to come back-and play on national TV and have harry and Don compliment me on my game,&rdquo; he told the Boston hockey writers, who had to be introduced to him all over again after his sojourn in Rochester, where he was a second team AHL All Star.</p><p>&ldquo;I was disappointed when they sent me down. It was the first time I had ever been sent down right from training camp. I thought I had a fairly good camp, too.</p><p>&ldquo;Harry gave me his reasons and he&rsquo;s the boss. He watches the hockey games and if you aren&rsquo;t doing what he wants you to do&hellip;well, that&rsquo;s life, I guess.</p><p>&ldquo;I was bitter when I first went down to Rochester. I guess I was being a little bit of a baby, too. You know, pouting. I said some things in the paper at the start of the year that I shouldn&rsquo;t have said. Maybe that had something to do with my staying there all year.</p><p>&ldquo;Don showed a lot of confidence in me. I think what I need as a hockey player more than anything else is confidence because I know I lost it up here a couple of years ago. Tonight I had my confidence from Rochester and Don just kept it going.&rdquo;</p><p>But, restored confidence or not. it&rsquo;s not certain that Al Sims will be back in a Bruins uniform next year. At this writing, he&rsquo;s a free agent, presumably entertaining offers from WHA and NHL (with compensation to the Bruins) teams. Sinden, who has been through it before, plays it with a coolness he may not feel.</p><p>&ldquo;We have the right of first refusal on any contract he might choose to sign,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That means we could match the offer. Will we offer him a contract? Probably.&rdquo;</p><p>Latest rumors around Boston had Sims talking terms with the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA.</p><p>The loss of a rejuvenated Sims would be a blow to the Bruins. They are down to four defensemen in whom they have implicit trust&mdash;Brad Park, Rick Smith, Gary Doak and Milbury. They went through the playoffs with essentially those four.</p><p>Edestrand passed through waivers and was sent down to Rochester midway through last season. Doug Halward, now a two-year pro, has never really impressed Cherry, who likes his defensemen robust and aggressive.</p><p>Dallas Smith, who quit the Bruins early in March, will never play for Boston again. He too is a free agent, without compensation.</p><p>&ldquo;We had an option on Dallas&rsquo; contract,&rdquo; said Sinden. &ldquo;We had a right to renew it on the same terms and conditions. If we didn&rsquo;t choose to renew it, then he was a free agent. We chose not to renew it.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

Bruins Hope Sims’ Cup Play No Fluke

<p><b>Following are the complete voting results for each of the four individual NHL regular-season awards:</b></p><h2><b>HART TROPHY</b></h2><p><b>Guy Lafleur, 177; Bobby Clarke, 83; Rogation Vachon, 45; Borje Salming, 40; Larry Robinson, 28; Marcel Dionne, 28; Gilbert Perreault, 26; Jean Ratelie, 16; Darryl Sittier, 8; Denis Potvin. 8; Ken Dryden, 6; Gerry Cheevers,5; Bryan Trottier, 3 Rick MacLeish, 3; Wilf Paiement, 3; Stve Shutt, 2; Butch Goring. 1; Glenn Resch, 1; Tim Young, 1; Rod Seiling, 1; Serge Savard, 1.</b></p><h2><b>BYNG TROPHY</b></h2><p><b>Marcel Dionne, 137; Jean Ratelle,88; Guy Lafleur, 69 Butch Goring, 51; Borje Salming, 25; Guy Charron, 15; Peter McNab, 14; Jean Pronovost. 11; Jacques Lemaire, 11; Gilbert Perreault, 8, Rod Gilbert, 7; Dennis Maruk, 5; Bryan Trottier. 5 Craig Ramsay, 5; Yvan Cournoyer, 5; Red Berenson, 5; Ed Westfall, 4; Steve Shutt. 3; John Bucyk, 3; Bob MacMillan. 3 Don Luce, 3; Bill Fairbairn, 3, Gerry Meehan, 1; Rod Seiling, I Walt McKechnie, 1; Inge Hammarstrom, 1; Gregg Sheppard, 1; Sy Apps, 1.</b></p><h2><b>NORRIS TROPHY</b></h2><p><b>Larry Robinson, 186; Borje Salming, 157; Denis Potvin, 58; Guy Lapointe, 32; Serge Savard, 29; Brad Park, 19; Jim Scoenfeld, 3; Gary Sargent, 1; Ian Turnbull, 1.</b></p><h2><b>CALDER TROPHY</b></h2><p><b>Willi Plett, 182; Don Murdoch, 121; Roland Eriksson, 65; Glen Sharpley, 46; Mike Palmateer, 43; Paul Gardner, 21; Stan Jonathan, 3; Don Edwards. 2; Bill Nyrop, 1; Greg Smith, 1; Richard Mulhern, 1.</b></p><h2><b>ALL STARS</b></h2><p><b>Following are the complete voting results for the NHL All Star teams:</b></p><p><b>Goaler&mdash;Ken Dryden, 194; Rogatien Vachon, 164; Glenn Resch, 101; Dune Wilson, 7; Gerry Cheevers, 6; Bernard Parent, 6; Tony Esposito, 5; Mike Palmateer, 1; Gilles Meloche, 1; Bill Smith, 1 point.</b></p><p><b>Defense&mdash;Larry Robinson, 254; Borje Salming, 217; Denis Potvin. 144; Guy Lapointe. 133; Serge Savard, 87; Brad Park, 75; Ian Turnbull, 22; Gary Sargent, 10; Jim Schoenfeld, 7; Jimmy Watson, 5; Joe Watson, 4; Bob Stewart, 3; Andre Dupont, 3; Tom Bladon, 2; Dennis Kearns, 2; Phil Russell, 1; Jerry Korab, 1; Dave Burrows, 1; Ron Greshner, 1 point.</b></p><p><b>Centre&mdash;Marcel Dionne; 150, Gilbert Perreault, 139; Bobby Clarke, 80; Rick MacLeish, 54; Darryl Sittier, 32; Jean Ratelie, 19; Tim Young. 6; Jacques Lemaire, 5; Guy Charron, 1 point.</b></p><p><b>Right Wing&mdash;Guy Lafleur, 270; Lanny McDonald, 121; Marcel Dionne, 35; Wilf Paiement, 30; Jean Pronovost, 13; Rod Gilbert. 6; Bob Nystrom, 5; Rene Robert, 4; Gary Dornhoefer. 1; Willi Plett, 1 point.</b></p><p><b>Left Wing&mdash;Steve Shutt; 270, Richard Martin, 107; Eric Vail, 38; Tom Williams, 27; Clark Gillies. 26; Bill Barber, 5; Craig Ramsay, 4, Bob Gainey, 2; Guy Charron, 2; Ross Lonsberry, 2; Mel Bridgman, 1: Wayne Cashman. 1; Bob MacMillan, 1 point.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

How Voters Picked NHL ‘77 Awards

<div class="byline">BY DAN DONOVAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011051/4080331-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MR. CLEAN: Center Marcel Dionne is presented with the Lady Byng Trophy by former winner Sid Smith, right, during recent NHL summer meetings. Dionne won the award for the first time with 12 penalty minutes in 80 games. He also capped the best year of his career with 53 goals and 122 points, second only to Montreal&rsquo;s Guy Lafleur in the scoring race.</b></figcaption></div><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>N</span>ew Pittsburgh coach Johnny Wilson says he &lsquo;Likes the challenge the Penguins have to offer,&rdquo; and, indeed, it is a considerable challenge.</p><p>The Penguins have long been considered a talented but uninspired team, and present Wilson with a tough problem to handle.</p><p>&ldquo;I know I will be surrounded by rich talent, and 1 think this team needs to be motivated,&rdquo; Wilson said shortly after signing a three-year contract. &ldquo;They need direction in the locker room, and they need leaders on the ice.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson would not name who he thought would take the leadership role, preferring not to name names until he became more familiar with the team.</p><p>&ldquo;It wouldn&rsquo;t be fair for me to comment on the team now,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;I know the personnel, but from a distance. Wait until I get to training camp and roll up my sleeves. Then I can measure them UP&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson said he will go into training camp with no preconceived notions of who should make the Penguin team. And he let it be known that all forward lines are wide open.</p><p>&ldquo;What you did in the past means nothing.&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;Everybody should be fighting for a position on an annual basis.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson, the first non-holdover Penguin coach in training camp since Red Kelly took over in 1969, fulfills the tough image the Penguins were searching for.</p><p>&ldquo;Johnny Wilson was the man we were looking for right from the start,&rdquo; said Penguin chairman of the board Al Savill.</p><p>He is highly respected by players and coaches. He has earned his spurs coaching in the minors and has shown he can take any kind of team and make it a hustling, aggressive team. His recent showing with Team Canada proved without a dubt he is a student of the game and knows how to get the most out of his players.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson admitted the three-year contract as much as the challenge drew him to Pittsburgh. A much-travelled coach who had a succession of teams fold under him in the World Hockey Association, he wanted one stable place to work towards a championship.</p><p>&ldquo;So much is said today about a coach having to do with the success of a team, that you put pressure on yourself,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;If you are only living on a one-year contract, you are just compounding that pressure.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson talked to several teams during the early days of June; and the Rockies actively sought his return.</p><p>In Pittsburgh, his chief reclamation project will be center Pierre Larouche, who sulked through the last month of the regular season, and then played spectacularly for Team Canada in the World Hockey Tournament.</p><p>&ldquo;I had the pleasure of coaching Pierre Larouche in Vienna,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;He played well. Once he got some direction, he helped us a great deal. It seems to me he has been having some growing pains.&rdquo;</p><p>Savill blasted the Penguins as lackadaisical after last season and is determined to change a few faces in the lineup. He promised reporters one or two trades before training camp begins at Rostraver, Pa., and is known to be actively seeking Buffalo&rsquo;s Craig Ramsay.</p><p>Baz Bastien, recently elevated from assistant general manager to general manager, said he had serious trade talks with three teams&mdash;Buffalo, Los Angeles and Vancouver.</p><p>After a long debate, the Penguins finally decided to give a contract to left wing Bob Kelly, who they felt wasn&rsquo;t aggressive enough last season. But they declined to give one to veteran defenseman Don Awrey. whose fate was probably sealed when Colorado returned Colin Campbell to the Penguins.</p><p>The Penguins are hot on the tail of left wing Morris Lukowich, who had a good season with Houston of the World Hockey Association. The Penguins agreed on a contract with Lukowich&rsquo;s agent, but were waiting for him to get an official release from the WHA before signing him.</p><p>Lukowich, who claims the Aeros broke his contract with a late paycheck, was a third round 1976 draft choice.</p><p>The Penguins also offered a contract to free agent defenseman Tom Price, and signed Wayne Bianchin for next season. Vic Hadfield, who underwent surgery last season, will probably get some sort of conditional contract based on how many games he can play next season.</p><p>The Penguins will most likely invite two players from Savill&rsquo;s Columbus Owls of the International Hockey League to training camp. Center Tom Cassidy and right wing Steve Lyon will both get a shot.</p><p>The Penguins signed a working agreement with the Rhode Island Reds of the American Hockey League, ending a five-year agreement with the Hershey Bears.</p><p>The Bears preferred to pick up the Washington Capitals after the Penguins had only three players in Hershey most of last season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02890/4080324-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="561" height="1085"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN WILSON&hellip;Likes The Challenge</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0012-01

Pens’ New Coach Wilson Says Team Needs To Be Motivated

f0013-26

Top 18 Picks By Teams

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIEHALPIN</div><p>MONTREAL &mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t was supposed to be the year the National Hockey League was to cut back on spending in the amateur draft. So what happens? The 18 NHL teams threw the economy out the window and promptly spent $185,000 to pick 85 of the best amateur hockey players in the world.</p><p>With the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers drafting 27 and 21 players respectively, the NHL pulled off its heaviest amateur grab-bag in years surpassing last year&rsquo;s low of 135. In fact it turned out to be the second most productive draft in league history. In 1975. the NHL outdid itself and plucked 217 amateurs for a record.</p><p>While the Canadiens and Flyers did-the most damage in the 1977 telephone draft among NHL clubs, it was the Canadiens, Rangers and Toronto Leafs who appeared to have enriched their hockey stock most with some solid drafting.</p><p>Each of the three teams had two first-round picks and Montreal surprised by drafting Mark Napier of the Birmingham Bulls of the rival WHA. Napier won&rsquo;t be eligible for the NHL until next season when his WHA contract runs out but general manager Sam Pollock, pointing out that Napier was the best man available when the Canadiens&rsquo; first draft pick came up, wisely selected Napier, a 60-goal scorer with Birmingham last season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011010/4080383-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="565" height="889"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DALE McCOURT&hellip;Top Draft Pick</b></figcaption></div><p>The Canadiens also grabbed off Normand Dupont of Montreal. The Rangers, picking three times in the first 26 selections. took highly-regarded right winger Lucien Deblois of Sorel, Ron Duguay of Sudbury and Mike Keating of St.Catharines, all potential performers in the NHL next season. Toronto, with no less than four picks in the first two rounds, wound up with three OHA stars. John Anderson and Trevor Johansen of Toronto Marlboros, Bob Gladney of Oshawa and high-scoring Rocky Saganiuk of Lethbridge.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02824/4080376-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="564" height="877"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JERE GILLIS&hellip;Chosen Fourth</b></figcaption></div><p>The Canadiens, who always come away from the draft with their pockets full, ran true to form in grabbing 27 amateurs. They astounded the other clubs by selecting seven goalkeepers. They also chose Moe Robinson of Kingston Canadians, brother of their star defenseman Larry Robinson. The younger Robinson was a 49th pick. Larry was chosen 20th in 1971.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03708/4080369-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="569" height="865"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DOUG WILSON&hellip;No. 1 With Hawks</b></figcaption></div><p>While the Habs took 27, the Flyers 21 and Detroit Red Wings 16. incredidiy the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins were throttled by the disappearing process of giving away their draft picks over the years in trades Both clubs had only four picks. The Kings first pick came on the 84th choice.</p><p>In the overall drafting of the 185 players, American and Canadian college teams came to the forefront as they yielded 51 performers to the NHL clubs. A total of 49 surfaced from U.S. college teams, which also had to rank as a surprise since most pro scouts felt the American hockey crop was the leaniest in years. It didn&rsquo;t stop the NHL from picking even though the bulk of the collegians came in the later rounds The first college player chosen was 35th and by that time the Ontario Hockey Association had provided 16 top draft choices, the Western Canada League 11 and the Quebec Major League seven. In the final rundown, the pros took 49 U.S. college players, two Canadian. 43 from the WCHL, 40 each from the OHA and QMHL, five Europeans, three from the Midwest Junior Hockey League in Minnesota and three WHl players &mdash; Napier, defenseman Gord Roberts of New England and John Tonelli of Houston Aeros.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-04625/4080362-1-eng-US/f0013-042.jpg" title="f0013-04" width="565" height="873"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SCOTT CAMPBELL&hellip;Much In Demand</b></figcaption></div><p>The top draft choices pretty well went as expected. Center Dale McCourt was No. 1 and headed to Detroit. Colorado took defenseman Barry Beck as No. 2 and defenseman Robert Picard of Montreal, who was sought by every team in the country, was chosen third by Washington. Jere Gillis, who was predicted as the fourth pick in the pre-draft prognosticating, went as predicted to Vancouver Canucks.</p><p>Defenseman Scott Campbell of London, who was the 9th pick in the first round by St. Louis, was also the No. 1 choice in the WHA draft by Houston and it is expected there will be a struggle between both clubs to get his name on a professional contract. Each team has expressed an interest in signing him</p><p>First round pick Doug Wilson of Ottawa 67&rsquo;s was chosen by Chicago Black Hawks and could conceivably be playing against his brother next year in the NHL. Murray Wilson of Canadiens is Doug&rsquo;s older brother. Another possible brother confrontation could involve Rod Seiling of St. Louis and his brother, Ric, a right winger who was chosen 14th by Buffalo. Rick Vasko, a defenseman from Peter-boriugh and a nephew of former NHLer Moose Vasko, was Detroit&rsquo;s second draft pick. The Wings also chose Randy Wilson from Providence College. Hes the son of deposed Detroit coach Larry Wilson.</p><p>Two of the NHL teams. Philadelphia and the Rangers, drafted heavily in order to stock minor league clubs next season. The Flyers will put an entire team into Portland in the AHL and Rangers will solely sponsor the New Haven Nighthawks, also in the AHL. Canadiens selected 10 of the final 18 draft choices, four of which were American college players. Canadiens drafted the most U.S. college players, 11. while Detroit took seven. Rangers and Philadelphia six each.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0013-01

Canadiens. Rangers, Leafs Cash In On Amateurs

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-011032/4080616-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB GASSOFF&hellip;Killed On Highway</b></figcaption></div><p>ST. LOUIS&mdash;</p><p>With the death of Bob Gassoff the National Hockey League has lost one of its most aggressive and colorful performers.</p><p>Gassoff was far from being an anonymous defenseman in the NHL. He made his presence known in every game, and fans throughout the league were aware of him and his style of play.</p><p>The fans liked him or hated him. He stirred deep emotions. There were arguments about whether he was good for hockey or bad for hockey, and not every player gets that kind of attention.</p><p>Many recognized that Gassoff was working very hard on improving his game. He had made great strides in improving his skating, his stickhandling and his defensive skills</p><p>Gassoff was a sports cliche in that he was warlike on the ice but peaceful off the ice. His rage on the ice and his softspoken manner off the ice were both genuine. On occasions when he slammed the penalty-box door, or demolished an unfortunate opponent with his fists, or challenged an entire bench to drop the gloves or stalked off the ice after being ejected, those who later encountered Gassoff in the dressing room would find a subdued individual who was more likely to be joking about the incident rather than complaining.</p><p>After one game in which Gassoff fought and beat a player wearing a helmet, Gassoff was soaking his cut right hand. He muttered something about helmets, then quipped, &lsquo;Heck. I&rsquo;d fight Muhammad Ali if I could wear a helmet.&rdquo;</p><p>Perhaps Gassoff&rsquo;s greatest goal in life was to have a large family. He and his wife of one year, Diane, had purchased an old, seven-bedroom house that needed extensive work, and Bob was doing much of the work himself. He was trying to finish a portion of the work before the arrival of the young couple&rsquo;s first child this</p><p>summer. Gassoff did not live to see the child.</p><p>The circumstances of Gassoff&rsquo;s death were very routine&mdash;he became one number of the death toll on the Memorial Day holiday weekend.</p><p>Garry and Beverley Unger invited a number of Blues&rsquo; players and other friends to a barbecue on their farm near Gray Summit, Mo., on the Sunday of the holiday weekend. The Gassoffs were among the guests.</p><p>A couple of hours before sunset several of the men, including Gassoff and teammate Bruce Affleck, took a ride on trail bikes. On a winding blacktop road near the neighboring town of Villa Ridge, Mo., Gassoff&rsquo;s bike collided head on with a car driven by Douglas Klekamp of Villa Ridge, who was not injured. Gassoff was killed in the impact. He was only 24.</p><p>Emile Francis, coach and general manager of the Blues, summarized the thoughts of many when he said of Gassoff, &ldquo;He was as strong as an ox. so indestructible. It&rsquo;s just unbelievable that this could happen to him.&rdquo;</p><p>Gassoff always appeared to be indestructible. If he were hit by a hockey stick, you expected the stick to break, not Gassoff. He was a man of iron.</p><p>But strong men also bleed and die. Gassoff was looking forward to a bright career in the NHL and a happy family life for years to come.</p><p>In the 24 years of his life Gassoff accomplished as much as he could. He used his mind and body to further his career and provide security for his family.</p><p>Perhaps the name of Gassoff will continue in the NHL with one of Bob&rsquo;s brothers. Brad Gassoff played part of last season with the Vancouver Canucks and part of the season with Tulsa in the Central Hockey League. Ken Gassoff was in the Southern League, which went out of business, and later played for the Blues farm club in Kansas City.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

Death Of Gassoff To Deprive Blues I Of Colorful Player

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02855/4080647-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RANDY MANERY&hellip;Kings Can Afford Him</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Bruce; Bennett)</span></figcaption></div><p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>For some reason the inevitable seemed to surprise people. Those close to the Kings could see all season there was going to be a change in leadership. The leaders themselves, manager Jake Milford and coach Bob Pulford, all but admitted as much as the season ran on and their contracts ran out. Yet when the predicted came to pass, the media reacted as though shocked.</p><p>After meeting with owner Jack Kent Cooke late in May, the resignations of Milford and Pulford were announced on consecutive days. If not, the contracts would not have been renewed. Milford held two offers at season&rsquo;s end and swiftly accepted the manager&rsquo;s job in Vancouver. He wanted Pully as his coach, but Pully declined. George Maguire had moved up from assistant to manager with the Kings.</p><p>Cooke came in for considerable criticism from members of the media, but some pertinent points were overlooked. The club has been headed in the wrong direction. Its record has declined each of the last two seasons. Pulford admitted he was not bearing down as before and had lost some of his interest and enthusiasm last season. A fresh approach was needed.</p><p>It never has been a secret Cooke manages his teams. His managers do detail work. Both are sound hockey men. but Milford was no more manager than Maguire will be. Milford made trades Cooke cancelled. Cooke made trades without telling Maguire, who could not cancel them. Milford admitted, &ldquo;Cooke apparently lost confidence in me.&rdquo;</p><p>Milford said the final straw came in May when Cooke and Maguire made a deal with Atlanta without consulting him. Living in Las Vegas now. Cooke&rsquo;s consultations by telephone for many months have been with Maguire, rather than Milford or Pulford.</p><p>But the deal for the defensemen was a good one. bringing Randy Manery here for Ab DeMarco because Cooke was willing to assume a high salary Atlanta cannot afford.</p><p>Trouble between Cooke and the Milford-Pulford duo began two years ago when Dan Maloney and Terry Harper were sent to Detroit for Marcel Dionne. But this, too, was a good deal. Maloney has been missed, but cannot be compared to Dionne.</p><p>Cooke may be justified if he feels the defensive hockey preached by Pulford could be too conservative. Pulford cannot be faulted as a players&rsquo; coach, but he can be as a game coach.</p><p>Cooke may not be justified in having traded his top draft choices over the years for experienced players. Pulford feels this was only one of their disagreements</p><p>&ldquo;We had differences of philosophy,&rdquo; pointed out Pulford. &ldquo;We had to head different directions.&rdquo;</p><p>Both Milford and Pulford expressed gratitude to Cooke for giving them their chances.</p><p>Milford managed in the minors for 25 years, but it was Cooke who moved him into the majors, and, after four years in the front office, two and a half as manager, Jake established himself at the age of 60 as a man other teams sought. He could have continued with the Kings as Director of Player Personnel.</p><p>Pulford played in the majors for 16 seasons, but it was Cooke who made him a coach, and, after five seasons in which he turned a loser into a winner, he established himself at 41 as a leader a lot of clubs were interested in.</p><p>Losing them, the Kings lose some of the stability they had sought so long. And neither really wanted to leave the L.A. area with their families. But maybe the moves will be best for all concerned.</p><p><b>KINGS&rsquo; THINGS:</b> After improving the team record from 18-42-8 to 31-36-11, 3333-12 and 42-17-21 his first three seasons, Pulford&rsquo;s marks moved down to 38-33-9 and 34-31-15 the last two, and the team had to finish fast to finish with more wins than losses the last season. There was a breakdown in communications between him and Cooke. Milford dreaded having to relay Cooke&rsquo;s comments to the coach from game to game.</p><p>Maguire scouted the minors for 16 seasons before Cooke brought him into a major league front office this season. He made the most of the team&rsquo;s low draft choices over the years, picking up players like Butch Goring, Vic Venasky, Don Kozak, Dave Hutchison, and Neil Komadoski from late rounds. He follows Larry Regan and Milford as the team&rsquo;s third manager. The new coach will be the seventh in 10 years.</p><p>Manery, out of Ontario, is 28 and a six-foot, 180-pounder. After failing to make Detroit his first three seasons as a pro, he went to Atlanta in the draft when the Flames entered the NHL in 1972. He is a fair scorer who had 30 goals, 142 assists, and 172 points in his five seasons as a Flame. He is not a hitter, but a fair skater and passer who moves the puck out of his own end well. The Kings need this, as well as another right-handed defender, which he is.</p><p>Marcel Dionne made the official first All Star team at center, Rogie Vachon the second in goal. Dionne deservedly won his second Byng Trophy with 122 points and only 12 minutes in penalties, but finished undeservedly low in the MVP poll of writers. Vachon was third behind Guy Lafleur and Bobby Clarke, but ahead of Ken Dryden who beat him out of first All Star honors. Dionne was a close second to Lafleur in the unofficial MVP poll of players, who may be the best judges.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-02

Pulford, Milford Out As Kings Get New Look

<p><b>MONTREAL CANADIENS Stanley Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>QUEBEC NORDIQUES Avco Trophy Champs</b></p><p><b>NOVA SCOTIA VOYAGEURS Calder Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>KANSAS CITY BLUES Adams Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>SAGINAW</b></p><p><b>GEARS</b></p><p><b>Turner Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>SYRACUSE BLAZERS Lockhart Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>BRANTFORD ALEXANDERS Allan Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>N. WESTMINSTER BRUINS</b></p><p><b>Memorial Cup Champs</b></p><p><b>GRAND RAPIDS BLADES USHL Champions</b></p><p><b>WISCONSIN</b></p><p><b>BADGERS</b></p><p><b>NCAA Champions</b></p><p><b>TORONTO</b></p><p><b>UNIV. BLUES</b></p><p><b>CIAU Champions</b></p><h2><b>WHERE TO FIND STATISTICS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01992/4080678-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="525" height="397"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0015-01

The Hockey News

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02795/4080709-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>he Montreal Canadiens were the undisputed champions of the National Hockey League again this past season. Just as they did last year, the Habs dominated the league schedule and won a record 20th Stanley Cup this season in just 14 playoff games. Here are the NHL champions First row, from the left, KEN DRYDEN, CLAUDE RUEL, director of player development, SCOTTY BOWMAN, PETER BRONFMAN, chairman of the board, SAM POLLOCK, vice-president and general manager, YVAN COURNOYER, JACQUES COURTOIS, president, EDWARD BRONFMAN, director, JEAN BELIVEAU, vice-president, FLOYD CURRY, Asst. General Manager, and MICHEL LAROCQUE. Second row, EDDIE PALCHAK, trainer, STEVE SHUTT, GUY LAFLEUR, JACQUES LEMAIRE, DOUG JARVIS, JIM ROBERTS, BOB GAINEY, REJEAN HOULE and PIERRE MEILLEUR asst, trainer. Third row, MARIO TREMBLAY, DOUG RISEBROUGH, YVON LAMBERT, GUY LAPOINTE, BILL NYROP and MURRAY WILSON. Fourth row, RICK CHARTRAW, SERGE SAVARD, PETE MAHOVLICH, PIERRE BOUCHARD and LARRY ROBINSON.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0015-02

Stanley Cup Champs—MONTREAL CANADIENS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03620/4080740-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>he Quebec Nordiques won the WHA&rsquo;s All-Canadian shootout for the Avco Trophy to climax a highly successful year in which they led the Eastern Division race and then beat out Winnipeg Jets for the playoff championship, which was a first in the club&rsquo;s WHA existence. Here are the champion Nordiques, front row, from the left, CLAUDE LANGLOIS, trainer, RICHARD BRODEUR, JEAN-CLAUDE TREMBLAY, MARC BOILEAU, coach, JIM DOREY, JOHN ACRES, president, MARC TARDIF, MAURICE FILION, general manager, SERGE BERNIER, SERGE AUBRY and RENE LACASSE, chief trainer. Middle row, BOB FITCHNER, PIERRE GUITE, ED HUMPHREYS, CHARLES CONSTANTIN, NORMAND DUBE, STEVE SUTHERLAND, CURT BRACKENBURY, WALLY WEIR and GARY LARIVIERE. Back row, MICHEL DUBOIS, CHRIS BORDELEAU, PAULIN BORDELEAU, FRANCOIS LACOMBE, PAUL BAXTER, REAL CLOUTIER, JEAN BERNIER and ANDRE BOUDRIAS.NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0015-03

Avco Trophy Champs—QUEBEC NORDIQUES

<p><b>(Final Standings For 1976-77 Season)</b></p><h2><b>PRINCE OF WALES CONFERENCE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-16117/4080991-1-eng-US/f0016-162.jpg" title="f0016-16" width="580" height="392"></div><h2><b>Home Record</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-17109/4080984-1-eng-US/f0016-172.jpg" title="f0016-17" width="576" height="788"></div><h2><b>CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-18102/4080977-1-eng-US/f0016-182.jpg" title="f0016-18" width="572" height="388"></div><h2><b>Away Record</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-1995/4080970-1-eng-US/f0016-192.jpg" title="f0016-19" width="574" height="788"></div><h2><b>TEAM PENALTIES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-2076/4080963-1-eng-US/f0016-202.jpg" title="f0016-20" width="578" height="670"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0016-16

HOW RACES FINISHED

<h2><b>TOP 25 SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01838/4080932-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="589" height="709"></div><h2><b>TOP 10 ROOKIES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02708/4080925-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="583" height="463"></div><h2><b>TOP 10 BAD MEN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03566/4080918-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="583" height="301"></div><h2><b>ATLANTA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04443/4080911-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="565" height="667"></div><h2><b>BOSTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05337/4080904-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="568" height="799"></div><h2><b>BUFFALO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06274/4080897-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="564" height="732"></div><h2><b>CHICAGO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-07248/4080890-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="558" height="860"></div><h2><b>CLEVELAND</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-08228/4080883-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="562" height="1022"></div><h2><b>COLORADO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-09205/4080876-1-eng-US/f0016-092.jpg" title="f0016-09" width="558" height="568"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-10183/4080869-1-eng-US/f0016-102.jpg" title="f0016-10" width="568" height="328"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-11169/4080862-1-eng-US/f0016-112.jpg" title="f0016-11" width="1177" height="1384"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Canadians&rsquo; Steve Shutt led all scorers with 60 goals.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>DETROIT</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-12152/4080855-1-eng-US/f0016-122.jpg" title="f0016-12" width="565" height="1102"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-13138/4080848-1-eng-US/f0016-132.jpg" title="f0016-13" width="579" height="763"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-14131/4080841-1-eng-US/f0016-142.jpg" title="f0016-14" width="601" height="838"></div><h2><b>MONTREAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-15121/4080834-1-eng-US/f0016-152.jpg" title="f0016-15" width="595" height="595"></div><h2><b>ISLANDERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01714/4080827-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="601" height="677"></div><h2><b>RANGERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02580/4080820-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="592" height="830"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03444/4080813-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="594" height="910"></div><h2><b>PITTSBURGH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04374/4080806-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="594" height="818"></div><h2><b>ST. LOUIS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05309/4080799-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="590" height="264"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06238/4080792-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="594" height="598"></div><h2><b>TORONTO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-07208/4080785-1-eng-US/f0019-072.jpg" title="f0019-07" width="594" height="830"></div><h2><b>VANCOUVER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-08191/4080778-1-eng-US/f0019-082.jpg" title="f0019-08" width="592" height="1064"></div><h2><b>WASHINGTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-09166/4080771-1-eng-US/f0019-092.jpg" title="f0019-09" width="592" height="1038"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0016-01

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

<h2><b>PLAYOFF STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01729/4081225-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="586" height="331"></div><h3><b>HOME RECORD</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02618/4081218-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="583" height="355"></div><h3><b>ROAD RECORD</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03489/4081211-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="578" height="330"></div><p><b>Preliminary Round</b></p><h2><b>SERIES &lsquo;A&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04375/4081204-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="572" height="98"></div><p><b>(Islanders win best-of-three series 2-0)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. April 5</b></p><p><b>Chicago 2 at Islanders 5</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 7</b></p><p><b>Chicago 1 at Islanders 2</b></p><p><b>SERIES &lsquo;B&rsquo;</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05294/4081197-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="570" height="86"></div><p><b>(Buffalo wins best-of-three series 2-0)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. April 5</b></p><p><b>Minnesota 2 at Buffalo 4</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 7</b></p><p><b>Buffalo 7 at Minnesota 1</b></p><h2><b>SERIES &lsquo;C&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06246/4081190-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="574" height="86"></div><p><b>(Los Angeles wins best-of-three series 2-1)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. April 5</b></p><p><b>Atlanta 2 at Los Angeles 5</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 7</b></p><p><b>Los Angeles 2 at Atlanta 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>Atlanta 2 at Los Angeles 4</b></p><h2><b>SERIES &rsquo;D&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-07215/4081183-1-eng-US/f0017-072.jpg" title="f0017-07" width="570" height="86"></div><p><b>Toronto wins best-ot-three series 2-1)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. April 5</b></p><p><b>Toronto 4 at Pittsburgh 2 Thu. April 7</b></p><p><b>Pittsburgh 6 at Toronto 4 Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>Toronto 5 at Pittsburgh 2</b></p><p><b>Quarter-Finals</b></p><h2><b>SERIES &rsquo;E&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-08181/4081176-1-eng-US/f0017-082.jpg" title="f0017-08" width="578" height="86"></div><p><b>(Montreal wine best-of-seven seriee 4-0).</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Mon. April 11</b></p><p><b>St. Louis 2 at Montreal 7</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 13</b></p><p><b>St Louie 0 at Montreal 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 1</b></p><p><b>Montreal 5 at St.Louis 1</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 17</b></p><p><b>Montreal 4 at St. Louis 1</b></p><h2><b>SERIES &lsquo;F&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-09162/4081169-1-eng-US/f0017-092.jpg" title="f0017-09" width="578" height="84"></div><p><b>(Philadelphia wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Mon. April 11</b></p><p><b>Toronto 3 st Philadelphia 2</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 13</b></p><p><b>Toronto 4 at Philadelphia 1</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 15</b></p><p><b>Philadelphia 4 at Toronto 3</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 17 Philadelphia at Toronto 5</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 19</b></p><p><b>Toronto 0 at Philadelphia 2</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 21</b></p><p><b>Philadelphia 4 at Toronto 3</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-10149/4081162-1-eng-US/f0017-102.jpg" title="f0017-10" width="1796" height="1213"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>VICTORY SWIG: Canadiens&rsquo; interim captain Serge Savard couldn&rsquo;t resist drinking from the Stanley Cup after Montreal nailed down a record 20th cup win this past season. It took Savard and the Canadiens 14 games to win hockey&rsquo;s major playoff award.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Steve Babineau)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>SERIES &lsquo;G&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-11130/4081155-1-eng-US/f0017-112.jpg" title="f0017-11" width="582" height="86"></div><p><b>(Islanders win best-of-seven series 4-0)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Mon. April 11</b></p><p><b>Buffalo 2 at Islanders 4</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 13</b></p><p><b>Buffalo 2 at Islanders 4</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 15</b></p><p><b>Islanders 4 at Buffalo 3</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 17</b></p><p><b>Islanders 4 at Buffalo 3</b></p><p><b>SERIES &lsquo;H&rsquo;</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-12119/4081148-1-eng-US/f0017-122.jpg" title="f0017-12" width="578" height="86"></div><p><b>(Boston wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Mon. April 11</b></p><p><b>Los Angeles 3 at Boston 8 Wed. April 13</b></p><p><b>Los Angeles 2 at Boston 6</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 15 Boston 7 at Los Angeles 6</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 17</b></p><p><b>Boston 4 at Los Angeles 7</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 19</b></p><p><b>Los Angeles 3 at Boston 1</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 21</b></p><p><b>Boston 4 at Los Angeles 3</b></p><p><b>Semi-Finals</b></p><p><b>SERIES &lsquo;T&rsquo;</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1399/4081141-1-eng-US/f0017-132.jpg" title="f0017-13" width="580" height="86"></div><p><b>(Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Sat. April 23</b></p><p><b>Islanders 3 at Montreal 4 Tue. April 26</b></p><p><b>Islanders 0 at Montreal 3 Thu. April 28</b></p><p><b>Montreal 3 at Islanders 5</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 30</b></p><p><b>Montreal 4 at Islanders 0</b></p><p><b>Tue. May 3</b></p><p><b>Islanders 4 at Montreal 3</b></p><p><b>Thu. May 5</b></p><p><b>Montreal 2 at Islanders 1</b></p><h2><b>SERIES &lsquo;J&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1487/4081134-1-eng-US/f0017-142.jpg" title="f0017-14" width="572" height="86"></div><p><b>(Boston wins best-of-seven series 4-0)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Sun. April 24</b></p><p><b>Boston 4 at Philadelphia 3</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 26</b></p><p><b>Boston 5 at Philadelphia 4</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 28</b></p><p><b>Philadelphia 1 at Boston 2</b></p><p><b>Sun. May 1</b></p><p><b>Philadelphia 0 at Boston 3</b></p><h2><b>FINALS SERIES &lsquo;K&rsquo;</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1571/4081127-1-eng-US/f0017-152.jpg" title="f0017-15" width="580" height="84"></div><p><b>(Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4-0)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Sat. May 7</b></p><p><b>Boston 3 at Montreal 7</b></p><p><b>Tue. May 10</b></p><p><b>Boston 0 at Montreal 3</b></p><p><b>Thu. May 12</b></p><p><b>Montreal 4 at Boston 2</b></p><p><b>Sat. May 14</b></p><p><b>Montreal 2 at Boston 1</b></p><p><b>Montreal 2 at Boston 1</b></p><p><b>TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1668/4081120-1-eng-US/f0017-162.jpg" title="f0017-16" width="582" height="482"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>MONTREAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1759/4081113-1-eng-US/f0017-172.jpg" title="f0017-17" width="582" height="618"></div><h2><b>BOSTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1851/4081106-1-eng-US/f0017-182.jpg" title="f0017-18" width="580" height="646"></div><h2><b>ISLANDERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1942/4081099-1-eng-US/f0017-192.jpg" title="f0017-19" width="582" height="596"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-2030/4081092-1-eng-US/f0017-202.jpg" title="f0017-20" width="578" height="562"></div><h2><b>TORONTO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-2119/4081085-1-eng-US/f0017-212.jpg" title="f0017-21" width="584" height="624"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-2217/4081078-1-eng-US/f0017-222.jpg" title="f0017-22" width="588" height="596"></div><h2><b>BUFFALO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-2316/4081071-1-eng-US/f0017-232.jpg" title="f0017-23" width="586" height="594"></div><h2><b>ST.LOUIS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-2412/4081064-1-eng-US/f0017-242.jpg" title="f0017-24" width="582" height="620"></div><h2><b>ATLANTA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-2512/4081057-1-eng-US/f0017-252.jpg" title="f0017-25" width="580" height="590"></div><h2><b>PITTSBURGH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03316/4081050-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="582" height="514"></div><h2><b>CHICAGO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04218/4081043-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="582" height="518"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-05128/4081036-1-eng-US/f0020-052.jpg" title="f0020-05" width="576" height="162"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-06101/4081029-1-eng-US/f0020-062.jpg" title="f0020-06" width="578" height="386"></div><h2><b>PLAYOFF GOALING</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0792/4081022-1-eng-US/f0020-072.jpg" title="f0020-07" width="550" height="1044"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0017-01

Canadiens Won 12 Of 14 On Way To Cup

<div class="byline">BY LARRY BORTSTEIN</div><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</b></p><p><b>HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</b></p><p><b>HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>DENVER&mdash;</p><p>Colorado Rockies, who surprisingly lost their coach, Johnny Wilson, to Pittsburgh Penguins, feel his replacement will be &ldquo;someone as good as, and maybe better than&rdquo; the popular mentor who guided the Mile High City sextet in their first National Hockey League campaign.</p><p>In revealing the club already had talked with one experienced pro coach after Wilson announced in Montreal on June 9 he was taking the Pittsburgh job, Rockies&rsquo; president Munson Campbell said: &ldquo;We expect to have the job filled by Aug. 1. There are lots of qualified people out there, and we&rsquo;ll talk to several before we make a decision.</p><p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t feel obligated to hire someone just because he&rsquo;s already coached in this league,&rdquo; Campbell added. &ldquo;We ll explore some of the top people in the American League, the Central League, and the World Hockey Association. There are some top people in all those leagues we&rsquo;d have to consider.</p><p>Wilson was popular with both the Colorado media and most of the Rockies&rsquo; players. His low-key, unhysterical approach was one of the features that made the 47-year-old former coach of Los Angeles, Detroit and Michigan. Baltimore and Cleveland (WHA), a favorite among his players. Many of them constantly praised him for the way he ran his practices&mdash;with different drills each day or each session, rather than the monotonous regimentation which many other coaches believe in.</p><p>Jack Vickers, owner of the Rockies, held a press conference June 10 to discuss the loss of Wilson and several other matters affecting the Rockies, including reports which had been circulating here that the team was &ldquo;financially unstable.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;You can ask Harold Ballard (the Leafs&rsquo; owner) if you think I&rsquo;m financially unstable,&rdquo; Vickers told a gathering of writers, photographers, and radio and television reports. &ldquo;Harold made a remark in Montreal that was misquoted and taken out of context. The next day he apologized. But the wire services picked up some of those remarks, and built up stories that made it seem we were having financial difficulties.</p><p>&ldquo;We have discussed with Denver city officials about making improvements in the building, such as fixing the glass behind the penalty boxes and improving the lighting,&rdquo; Vickers continued. &ldquo;But we&rsquo;re not unstable. We don&rsquo;t owe as much money as a lot of other teams do. I have one obligation, and that is a longterm note to the NHL. It&rsquo;s pretty small compared to most of the others, and I&rsquo;m not worried about it.&rdquo;</p><p>In their first year in Denver, the Rockies lost a reported $2.7 million, but Vickers said there should be no doubt about his financial staying power. &ldquo;I started out in the marketing business here from scratch,&rdquo; said the 57-year-old former Kansan, &ldquo;and now I&rsquo;m the No. 1 marketer in the area. As far as any financial instability of this franchise is concerned, forget it.&rdquo;</p><p>At his press conference here, Vickers was seated at a table with Campbell and Bud Palmer, the Rockies&rsquo; vice-president of public relations. General manager Ray Miron was still in Montreal. Vickers said that Wilson had indicated shortly after returning from Vienna, where he coached Team Canada at the world championships, that &ldquo;three or four other clubs were interested in him. Los Angeles was one. But two things made Johnny decide on Pittsburgh. It was close to his home in Detroit where he plans to retire some day and the Penguins gave him more money than we were prepared to, and gave him a three-year contract, which is against our club policy.&rdquo;</p><p>Campbell said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re happy for Johnny. He got everything he wanted. But we&rsquo;ll find someone as good as or better than Johnny to be our next coach.&rdquo;</p><p>ICE PEBBLES: Monte Miron, 24-year-old son of the Rockies&rsquo; GM, will compete for a spot on the team at its training camp in September. The former minor leaguer who also has played in Sweden and South Africa, is coming off knee surgery.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Rockies’ Chief Undaunted By Loss Of Coach Wilson

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;</p><p>To the surprise of some, the Flyers made a defenseman their first choice in the amateur draft.</p><p>Why was Kevin McCarthy&rsquo;s selection a surprises Well, when a team already has Jimmy and Joe Watson, Bob Dailey, Andre Dupont, Tom Bladon and Rick Lapointe, its rearguard corps can&rsquo;t be considered too shabby. And waiting in the wings is Mark Suzor, Flyers&rsquo; No. 1 draft pick last year.</p><p>&ldquo;McCarthy was the best player available at that stage&mdash;we never thought he&rsquo;d still be there,&rdquo; explained Philadelphia GM Keith Allen.</p><p>No one is suspicious of McCarthy&rsquo;s talent. The five-foot-11, 184-pound defenseman led the Western Canada League in assists last season with 105. His 22-105-127 point total for the Winnipeg Monarchs was fourth overall in the WCHL. Two years ago, McCarthy compiled 33-88-121 total for Winnipeg.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a great skater and puck handler,&rdquo; said Allen. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s sttong and has an exceptional attitude&mdash;he&rsquo;s a winner. We wanted to improve our speed and toughness in this year&rsquo;s draft, but we also wanted winners. Not that we don&rsquo;t have them, but it&rsquo;s important to keep them coming along.&rdquo;</p><p>The Flyers&rsquo; second choice, right winger Tom Gorence from the University of Minnesota, isnt expected to qualify as fast as McCarthy for a Flyers&rsquo; uniform. But Philadelphia&rsquo;s scouts are impressed with Gorence&rsquo;s offensive ability (18-19-37 in 29 games) and speed.</p><p>Dave Hoyda, described by some scouts as the toughest player in junior hockey this season, was the Flyers&rsquo; third selection. Hoyda is a six-foot, 210-pound left winger who had 16-26-42 scoring figures for Portland of the WCHL. Of primary interest to the Flyers was Hoyda&rsquo;s 220 penalty minutes.</p><p>Hoyda, obviously, would fill the role vacated by Dave Schultz and Jack Mcllhargey. McCarthy, meanwhile, is scheduled for regular duty. If he&rsquo;s as good as the Flyers think, there could be more to that Philadelphia&mdash;Buffalo trade than was originally thought.</p><p>As a right-handed shot, McCarthy could replace Tom Bladon, who would move on to Buffalo with Bill Barber for Richard Martin and Jim Schoenfeld.</p><p>McCarthy, Winnipeg&rsquo;s captain, has evidently already moved ahead of Suzor.</p><p>&ldquo;We think McCarthy is a much better player than Suzor right now,&rdquo; said Allen. &ldquo;He can do more things. We think he&rsquo;ll be an exciting player.&rdquo;</p><p>Allen admits McCarthy needs work defensively, a complaint the defenseman&rsquo;s heard for years.</p><p>&ldquo;The fact that I&rsquo;m supposed to be all offense has been overplayed a little, I think,&rdquo; said McCarthy. &ldquo;I can play defense, well enough for the NHL I think, but on my team I had to do a lot offensively.&rdquo;</p><p>McCarthy was listed as the 13th best player available in this year&rsquo;s draft, according to the Flyers&rsquo; scouts.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01746/4081280-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="573" height="1060"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>kevin McCarthy&hellip;Raps Overplayed</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I thought I&rsquo;d go a little higher,&rdquo; McCarthy admitted. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;m happy the way it&rsquo;s turned out. What an organization to be going to.&rdquo;</p><p>FLYERS FOLLOWERS: Rick MacLeish was reported recovering nicely from his neck injury suffered in a postseason auto accident. Fred Shero said he expected MacLeish at the Philadelphia coach&rsquo;s hockey school in South Jersey.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-01

Flyers’ Surprise Choice McCarthy Overloads Defense

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0019-10" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-10147/4081325-1-eng-US/f0019-102.jpg"></div><h2><b>TOP 10 GOALING LEADERS</b></h2><h2><b>TOP 10 WINNING GOALERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-11132/4081318-1-eng-US/f0019-112.jpg" title="f0019-11" width="1093" height="421"></div><h2><b>COMPLETE GOALKEEPING RECORDS FOR ALL NHL TEAMS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-12124/4081311-1-eng-US/f0019-122.jpg" title="f0019-12" width="1129" height="2770"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0019-10

Looking At NHL Goalers

<div class="byline">BY RON WEBER</div><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>Y</span>ears ago the National Hockey League meetings were vibrant affairs. The clan gathered to talk over old times, lay the basis for trades, pass along to the media how every team would be improved in the coming season and bestow awards.</p><p>Not that important work wasn&rsquo;t done. There were rule changes made for both the players and the governors and there were drafts. The NHL selected amateurs and minor leaguers&mdash;and even from each other. Plus, the minors got a few picks from the big boys.</p><p>The face of the summer meetings has changed. Few would argue for the better. The drafts, which were painted as significant at least, are gone. Oh. the amateur grab-bag was very much alive, but moved to a different week and done mainly over that impersonal contrivance, the telephone, with Montreal merely the place where the wires come together.</p><p>This is not to say the 60th annual confab, centered around the days of June 7-9, weren&rsquo;t important. They were so important they were somber. So weighty was the subject matter, beginning with the very survival of from one to four &lsquo; franchises.</p><p>Add deliberations over merger or absorbtion of an alien league and the choosing of a new Moses (commissioner) and it&rsquo;s easy to see why the frowns tended to outnumber the smiles at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.</p><p>it would have been foolishly optimistic to even hope things could be wrapped up to everyone&rsquo;s satisfaction. Or even wrapped up at all. Indeed, final action on a merger and a new leader were left for future days.</p><p>But the number of NHL franchises did stay at 18. And in this age of uncertainty, that&rsquo;s something.</p><p>Perhaps the least uncertain of the new franchises is Washington. Despite being a bit south of true hockeyland, the icemen of Abe Pollin and Peter O&rsquo;Malley seem set on a true course toward success.</p><p>With an extremely able general manager whose capacity for work is matched by a sharp, driving coach, the win column is bound to get fatter. Combine this with a fandom that multiplied itself at the fastest rate in the league and you can see why rose is the color of the glasses around Capital Centre.</p><p>But to truly prosper GM Max McNab knows the league&mdash;and the sport itself&mdash;must be healthy.</p><p>Were steps taken in that direction in Montreal?</p><p>McNab: &ldquo;It was a very positive step that saw the Cleveland situation solidified. It was the first time in my 16 years of these meetings that there wasn&rsquo;t a player traded. But the amateur draft had always gone first, plus the Cleveland thing was in the background. Clubs just didn&rsquo;t know the makeup of their roster like other years.</p><p>&ldquo;There weren&rsquo;t many rule or roster procedure changes. The only one we (the Caps) pushed was for permitting a player to follow the puck over the red line and legally pick up a two-line pass. Every league that has tried it (IHL, international play overseas) has kept it. We have another meeting in August and I&rsquo;m hopeful it will be adopted.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-13105/4081356-1-eng-US/f0019-132.jpg" title="f0019-13" width="562" height="628"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DOUG GIBSON&hellip;Joins Capitals</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;As for the rosters, it&rsquo;s generally accepted the best 360 players should be in the National Hockey League. How soon to take them from the over-stocked teams and give them a chance elsewhere is the question. (A wait of) Three years might be a little long.&rdquo;</p><p>McNab admitted the new free agent status and option years complicate things. He believes men in his position need more time, to evaluate their needs and surpluses. Indeed, the league is toying with the idea of forever abolishing the mtra-league draft and having several training camp roster limits, decreasing the team size in stages, a la the National Football League.</p><p>ICE CAPS: As May turned into June the Caps made strides in three directions. They picked up center Doug Gibson on waivers from the Boston chain, surprised they could come up with the two-time AHL MVP so easily&mdash;and cheaply. Gibson had asked to be traded from Boston O&rsquo;Malley firmed up a five year deal with WDCA-TV to televise at least 15 games per season&hellip;Last, but not least, they switched their top farm affiliation from Springfield to Hershey, the Green Bay of hockey, historically the most stable franchise in all the minor leagues.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0019-13

Summer Meetings Yawner For Caps

f0020-01

NHL All Star Teams

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02397/4081387-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>The Canadiens continued to clean up in the post-season awards&rsquo; voting. They added the Norris and Hart to their trophy collection that already included the Vezina and Ross trophies. Left to right, Michel Larocque, Larry Robinson, Ken Dryden and Guy Lafleur pose with their respective awards at NHLs summer meetings. Vezina is shown in front of Larocque, the Norris in front of Robinson, the Stanley Cup In front of Dryden and the Smythe and Hart in front of Lafleur.</b></figcaption></div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>Guy Lafleur struck it rich this season in more ways than one.</p><p>The explosive Montreal right winger pocketed a record $27,500 in bonus money as the result of his fantastic National Hockey League season. Winning the Hart, Smythe and Ross trophies, being a member of a Stanley Cup winner and named to the first All Star team, swelled Lafleur&rsquo;s monetary total to the most ever earned by an individual player in award money from the NHL.</p><p>Lafleur, the 1976-77 NHL scoring champion, enhanced his hockey stock by winning the Hart Trophy as the league&rsquo;s most valuable player. The award is considered the elite of National Hockey League honors and it is fitting that the selectors chose the Canadiens&rsquo; ace, who helped propel Montreal to its 20th Stanley Cup victory this season.</p><p>Other winners of NHL individual awards, voted for by members of the Professional Hockey Writers&rsquo; Association in the 18 NHL cities, were Larry Robinson, Montreal, the James Norris Trophy as the best all-around defenseman; Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings, the Lady Byng Trophy as the player best combining gentlemanly play and a high standard of playing ability; and Willi Plett, Atlanta Flames, the Calder Trophy as the outstanding rookie of the year.</p><p>Lafleur, who also won the Ross Trophy as the individual points-scoring champion and the Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, thus becomes only the third player in NHL history to win as many as three individual awards in one season.</p><p>Bobby Orr won four awards in 1969-70, the most by any player in history. That season Orr won the Ross, Hart, Norris and Smythe Trophies. In 1971-72, he won the Hart, Norris and Smythe trophies. Stan Mikita of Chicago won the Hart, Ross and Lady Byng trophies in 1966-67 and again in 1967-68.</p><p>By being named recipient of the Hart Trophy, Lafleur boosted his award money to $27,500 for the regular season and playoffs. As his share for Canadiens&rsquo; Stanley Cup championship, he received $15,000. He added another $5,000 because Montreal won the Prince of Wales Trophy as that conference&rsquo;s champions.</p><p>His individual award money totals $7,500&mdash;$2,000 for the Ross Trophy; $1,500 each for the Hart and Smythe trophies; $2,000 as the first All Star team right winger.and $500 as a member of the winning team in last January&rsquo;s All Star game.</p><p>Finishing as runner-up in MVP voting was the winner of the award the two previous seasons, Bobby Clarke of Philadelphia Flyers. Lafleur polled 177 points in the voting&mdash;based on five points for a first-place choice, three for a second and one for a third&mdash;compared to Clarke&rsquo;s 83 points. Los Angeles goaltender Rogatien Vachon was third with 45. Clarke won $750 as runner-up in the voting.</p><p>Voting for the Norris was the closest of any of the awards. Robinson, named earlier to the first All Star team, edged Swedish-born Borje Salming of Toronto by 29 points. Robinson collected 186 points. Salming, the other first All Star team defenseman, 157. Denis Potvin of Islanders, the 1975-76 winner, was third with 58 points.</p><p>Robinson was one of the anchormen on Canadiens&rsquo; airtight defense corps during the regular season and led all NHL defensemen in scoring with 85 points, including 19 goals. It is the first time the 26-year-old Robinson has won an NHL award.</p><p>Robinson received $1,500 as Norris Trophy winner, thus boosting his awardmoney total for the season to $24,000.</p><p>Dionne&rsquo;s winning of the Lady Byng Trophy marks the first time a Los Angeles player has won an individual award but it is the second time in three seasons that Dionne has won the award. He was the recipient in 1974-75 while with Detroit Red Wings.</p><p>Dionne, who had only 12 minutes in penalties in Kings&rsquo; 80 games, was one of only three players to pass the 50-goal mark this season. He finished with 53 and 122 points. The 25-year-old native of Drummondville, Que., has 582 points in 469 regular-season games but only 109 penalty minutes.</p><p>Dionne polled 137 points in the voting while Ratelle received 88 and third-place finisher, Lafleur, had 69. Total award money for Dionne in 1976-77 from the NHL was $10,500.</p><p>Plett, the leading goal-scorer among rookies in 1976-77 with 33, becomes the second Atlanta Flame to win the Calder Trophy in three seasons. Eric Vail was the winner in 1974-75. Plett, born June 7, 1955, in Paraguay, South America, was Atlanta&rsquo;s fourth choice and 80th over all in the 1975 amateur draft. He played most of the 1975-76 season with Tulsa in the Central Hockey League, getting a four-game trial with the Flames. This season, he was Atlanta&rsquo;s third-leading pointman with 56 points.</p><p>Runner-up to Plett in the voting was New York Rangers&rsquo; Don Murdoch, who missed 21 games because of an injury but still scored 32 goals and 56 points in 59 games for the Rangers. Plett received 182 points compared to Murdoch&rsquo;s 121. Roland Eriksson of Minnesota North Stars was third with 65.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0020-02

Habs’ Lafleur Adds Hart To Trophy Haul

<div class="byline">BY TONY GALLAGHER</div><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;</p><p>As had been anticipated by all in Vancouver, Phil Maloney was relieved of his duties as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.</p><p>His replacement was a bit of a surprise.</p><p>Jake Milford, a man nudging 61 years of age, has been selected by Canucks president Bill Hughes to lead Vancouver out of the hockey wilderness. He&rsquo;ll need on large size compass, and that will take the form of Orland Kurtenbach, back for his second stint as coach.</p><p>Humors had been circulating around Vancouver Maloney would be replaced ever since the team failed to make the playoffs despite being in the weak Smythe Division.</p><p>When Hughes called the press conference, everyone in Vancouver felt it would answer all the questions. Instead it just paved the way for more speculation on who Milford would be able to land in the way of a coach.</p><p>The coaching sweepstakes reached absurd conditions the week of the NHL meetings in Montreal in the first week of June as the list of possible coaches nearly reached double figures.</p><p>Milford made it clear upon his selection that he wanted and preferred Bob Pulford as his man. He had enjoyed a good working relationship with him in Los Angeles and he wanted it to continue in another city, says Jack Kent Cooke.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01397/4081449-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="582" height="714"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JAKE MILFORD&hellip;Keep Draft Choices</b></figcaption></div><p>But the rumors began circulating Pulford wanted a dual portfolio of coach and GM and the Chicago Black Hawks were prepared to offer him such a post. With Pulford supposedly out of the running, a litany of candidates came up.</p><p>Of course there was Kurtenbach who said he was still interested in coaching the team. Three weeks before Kurtenbach severed his relations with the Canucks when Hughes and then Maloney were, for obvious reasons, unable to offer him a contract. He cleaned out his desk and asked his agent to start making enquiries elsewhere. Kurtenbach was finally selected over many candidates.</p><p>The name of Bobby Kromm came up. Kromm said he was interested in coming to Vancouver just before the WHA playoffs ended, but added nobody from Vancouver had talked to him.</p><p>When the Barons looked as though they were history during the meetings, Jack Evans was a shoo-in for the job. That was before Milford found out Johnny Wilson&rsquo;s contract in Colorado was running out. Then Wilson was a certainty for the job, all, of course, assuming Pulford still wanted the Hawk job.</p><p>Floyd Smith&rsquo;s name naturally came up along with the ubiquitous Al MacNeil, but nothing had been resolved by the end of the NHL meetings.</p><p>Milford, in being introduced to the Vancouver press, said he was going to &ldquo;work his butt off to bring Vancouver a winner.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s the best franchise in the NHL right now,&rdquo; said Milford. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s got some great fans and it&rsquo;s an area dying for a winner and I just want to get on with the work to bring one here.&rdquo;</p><p>Maloney, meanwhile, said he wasnt too pleased with the way things were handled by Hughes, who didn&rsquo;t slip the notice under Maloney&rsquo;s door, but came pretty close to equalling the way Billy Reay was fired in Chicago.</p><p>Hughes gave Maloney written notice that his company would no longer have the contract to provide the Canucks with management and Greg Douglas enterprises would no longer supply the Canucks with assistant GM services or PR services.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought they could have said something a little earlier, not just coming to me 40 minutes before an announcement,&rdquo; said Maloney.</p><p>Hughes says he felt Maloney should have hired a coach at the beginning of last season and not in November.</p><p>&ldquo;We felt that the decision Phil made in November should have been made last July,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;We felt that wanting to hire Orland Kurtenbach just after the season was a most inopportune time. We want to split for all time the job of general manager and coach in this organization.&rdquo;</p><p>Milford, meanwhile, briefly outlined his formula for getting a winner into Vancouver, and that meant specifically hanging onto the team&rsquo;s draft choices.</p><p>&ldquo;No I don&rsquo;t believe in trading draft choices. I think it&rsquo;s pretty hard to build a strong club by the trade route, I think there were a few players on the Vancouver club last year who didn&rsquo;t play up to their potential and that is a situation that a good coach can rectify.&rdquo;</p><p>Take it away, Orland !<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-01

Canucks’ New GM Milford Names Kurtenbach Coach

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p>it was like old times for Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1977 amateur draft.</p><p>Back in the days of the six-team National Hockey League, the prime source of playing talent for the Leafs was the Toronto Marlboros junior team. Even though direct sponsorship of junior clubs ended in 1967. Maple Leaf owner Harold Ballard continued to sponsor the Marlie team.</p><p>Ballard also gritted his teeth when top talent from Marlies was taken by other NHL clubs. Probably no other junior team has produced as many good professionals in the past half dozen years&mdash;Steve Shutt, Bill Harris, Bob Dailey, Mark and Marty Howe, Mark Napier, Steve Vickers, Tom Edur, John Hughes and Dennis Owchar are just a few of them.</p><p>This year in the draft, the Leafs went back a decade when they claimed two Marlies&mdash;right winger John Anderson and detenseman Trevor Johansen&mdash;in the first round of the amateur draft.</p><p>The Leafs also claimed Marlie forward Lynn Jorgenson in the eighth round as part of their 10-player draft package.</p><p>&ldquo;It was good to be able to draft from the Marlies because we know what they can do,&rdquo; Ballard said. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t have to pay for them, either, which is a switch. It&rsquo;s good to be getting something out of the junior operation because Marlies , probably cost me $250,000 to operate last season.&rdquo;</p><p>Other than the fact that we had a really good evaluation on the two boys because they did play here and George.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01435/4081480-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="569" height="1093"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TREVOR JOHANSEN&hellip; First Round Pick</b></figcaption></div><p>Armstrong (Marlie coach) is part of our scouting staff,&rdquo; said Leaf general manager Jim Gregory, &ldquo;we drafted Anderson and Johansen because they were the best players available when our turn came up.&rdquo;</p><p>There&rsquo;s little doubt that the Leafs would have claimed Napier, the ex-Marlie who jumped to the World Hockey Association when he was 18 and scored 103 goals in two seasons for Birmingham Bulls, formerly Toronto Toros, if he had been available. However, Montreal Canadiens, drafting immediately before the Leafs with a pick acquired from Atlanta Flames, made Napier the No. 10 selection.</p><p>Using their own pick, No. 11, Leafs took Anderson, who scored 57 junior goals last season, then used the 12th selection, secured two years ago from Pittsburgh Penguins in the Rick Kehoe deal, to take Johansen.</p><p>Armstrong is high on both boys as NHL prospects.</p><p>&ldquo;Anderson skates as fast as anyone alive,&rdquo; the Chief said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not a great natural goal scorer but he gets them through hard work. Johansen is a chunky kid (five-foot-nine, 200 pounds) but he&rsquo;s tough and a great hustler.&rdquo;</p><p>The Leafs, at the time this was written, still hadn&rsquo;t sorted out their coaching situation. Red Kelly, who had the job for four years, has been bed-ridden since the end of the playoffs with neck problems and was given his walking papers. But no replacement was immediately named.</p><p>Kelly sustained the injury late in the season when he collided with Leaf winger Lanny McDonald in practice. Something snapped in his high back and neck area and Kelly is taking traction treatment in an effort to avoid a fusion operation.</p><p>Leading candidates for Kelly&rsquo;s old job include Armstrong, who has won two national junior titles in four years with Marlies. and Roger Neilson, who handled Dallas Black Hawks in the Central League last season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-01

Leafs Revert To Marlles As Prime Talent Source

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0022-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02338/4081511-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB PULFORD&hellip; Wigwam Chances 50-50</b></figcaption></div><p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p>Bobby Orr probably will take a meaningful front office position with Chicago Black Hawks next season.</p><p>Bob Pulford wants to coach in Chicago, and he probably will&mdash;if the situation is right.</p><p>If the situation is not right for Pulford, and he does not come, then Orr might decide not to become involved, too.</p><p>These cogent points&mdash;and others&mdash;were gleaned recently from R. Alan Eagleson, executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association who gave time to discuss one of his favorite topics, hockey in Chicago.</p><p>Q&mdash;Al, you represent a half-dozen Hawk players, plus their current coach, Bill White, plus the man who may be the next coach, Bob Pulford. What&rsquo;s going on in the teepee?</p><p>A&mdash;I honestly don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t think they know. But they better know soon, if they want Bob Pulford.</p><p>Q&mdash;Where does Pulford want to wind up?</p><p>A&mdash;I think Chicago, even though it appears that the only job open to him there might be the coaching job. I think Tommy Ivan wants to leave the general manager&rsquo;s job there and become just an advisor. But I think that Jack Davison may become general manager. And he&rsquo;s only 48. so Pulford is not likely to move up.</p><p>Q&mdash;Wouldn&rsquo;t that hurt Chicago&rsquo;s chances of getting Pulford?</p><p>A&mdash;Well, Bob may decide that for now. he just wants to coach. It could be that Bob could come in as coach, with Jack as assistant GM and Tommy as GM. Then, when Pulford is ready, and if Jack is agreeable. Bob could leap over Jack to become GM. But nothing like that has been discussed.</p><p>Q&mdash;What are Pulford&rsquo;s chances of being here next year?</p><p>A&mdash;Probably only about 50-50 right now. I think the Black Hawks also are considering Jack Evans and Al MacNeil as coach. I think Pulford would be perfect as coach, though, because of the relationship with him and Bobby Orr and me.</p><p>Q&mdash;What part would Orr play in all this?</p><p>A&mdash;Well, he has to reach a decision soon, too. Does he want to think in terms of management or does he want to think like a player? He can&rsquo;t do both. There is a fork in the road and he has to decide on a direction. He can&rsquo;t be part of the players and still be part of management.</p><p>Q&mdash;Explain.</p><p>A&mdash;Well, you can&rsquo;t be around the guys one minute, then the next minute be taking part in decisions about hiring and firing the same guys. It doesn&rsquo;t work, and he has to realize it.</p><p>Q&mdash;Are you saying that he shouldn&rsquo;t think in terms of playing?</p><p>A&mdash;Well, his chances of playing next year are only one in 100 after his latest operation. He could get into management next year and then, if he&rsquo;s ready to play in a year or two, return to being an active player.</p><p>Gordie Howe stayed out five years. Of course, knowing Bobby, he&rsquo;ll say he isn&rsquo;t going to play next year, then by Christmas he&rsquo;ll be skating again&hellip;and by New Year&rsquo;s, he&rsquo;ll be hurting again.</p><p>Q&mdash;What role in management do you foresee for Orr?</p><p>A&mdash;I&rsquo;d like to see him get into the business end. learn the other side of hockey like the profits and losses. I think if he gets too involved in the day-in. day-out operation of the club, that it will drive him crazy because he wants so much to play. That&rsquo;s why I think it would be a mistake for him to coach.</p><p>Q&mdash;What about a title?</p><p>A&mdash;Oh, I don&rsquo;t know. Executive assistant to Bill Wirtz, or assistant general manager, or assistant to the assistant general manager. I don&rsquo;t know.</p><p>Q&mdash;Under what conditions would Orr become management?</p><p>A&mdash;Well, I think he would not work from people so far removed from him in attitude that it would create friction. He knows Bob Pulford. Bob Pulford knows him. That&rsquo;s why the two of them could work together where others might not. I don&rsquo;t think Bobby would come right in and have an awful lot of power right away. He would start almost as an office boy learning the ropes. But he has a hell of a mind for hockey, and he&rsquo;s got to help that situation if the situation is right.</p><p>Q&mdash;If the situation is right?</p><p>A&mdash;Yes, I thought at one time they knew what they were doing in Chicago, but now I don&rsquo;t know If they don&rsquo;t hurry they could lose Pulford and they could lose Orr.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-02

Hawks Pondering Pulford As Pilot, Orr Future Hangs

<div class="byline">BY GREG NOBLE</div><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S and Canada</p><p>CINCINNATI&mdash;</p><p>The Cincinnati Stingers have finally landed the man they have been seeking for some time as their new head coach. He&rsquo;s Jacques Demers, a 32-year-old virtual newcomer to the coaching game but one who has already won respect and confidence in a few short years.</p><p>Demers is with the Stingers as coach because it doesn&rsquo;t look too encouraging that the Indianapolis Racers, Demers&rsquo; old team, will be around for next season unless they discover an &lsquo;angel&rsquo; to bail them out of their financial doldrums.</p><p>Stingers&rsquo; executive vice-president Bill DeWitt Jr., announced the appointment of Demers, who signed a one-year contract to replace Terry Slater, whose contract ran out with Cincinnati and was not renewed.</p><p>For the past two seasons Demers had been behind the bench for the Racers, serving in a dual capacity as coach and director of player personnel.</p><p>Although he had one year left on his existing contract in Indianapolis, DeWitt requested and received permission from the Racers&rsquo; general manager, Brian Conacher to talk with Jacques concerning the coaching position in Cincinnati. After being offered the job, Demers receivedpermission from the Racers to leave Indianapolis and join the Stingers.</p><p>&ldquo;Jacques has been our number one choice all along,&rdquo; commented DeWitt upon the announcement, &ldquo;and it was a question of going through the right channels to obtain his services.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;We feel that his accomplishments over the last three years as coach with both the Chicago Cougars and Indianapolis provide no doubt that he is one of the best coaches in all of major league hockey. He certainly has done the most with the least.&rdquo;</p><p>Most recently, Demers has been in the hockey spotlight for the tremendous job that he did with the Racers over the past two years. In the 1975-76 campaign, he guided Indianapolis to the Eastern Division crown of the WHA in what was termed the most exciting race ever in pro hockey. With a little more than one month to go in the regular season, the Racers appeared destined for a last place finish in the tight Eastern struggle. However, under the guidance of the Montreal native behind the bench, the inspired Racers compiled the finest record in the league over the last month to vault into first place.</p><p>This past season the Racers surrendered the divisional championship to the powerful Quebec Nordiques andfinished third in the East, a mere three points behind second place Cincinnati. Demers and the Racers continued their two-year dominance over Cincinnati by engineering an incredible four-game sweep over the powerful Stingers.</p><p>In twenty-five games over two years, (including the playoffs) Demers led the Racers to 18 wins and only seven losses.</p><p>Prior to his two years with the Racers Demers had been in the now defunct Chicago Cougars organization, serving as their chief scout from September to December in 1972, prior to being named director of player personnel in December of that year. He assumed the dual capacity of director of player personnel and bench coach for the 73-74 season, a season that saw him lead a relatively obscure team to the Avco Cup finals against the Houston Aeros.</p><p>Tam very excited about the prospects for Cincinnati in the upcoming season,&rdquo; commented Demers.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve said for two years that I considered the Stingers one of the finest hockey organizations around and I firmly believe in this statement. I am also very excited about the abundance of talent that has been put together here. Now it ismy job to get the most out of this talent.&rdquo;</p><p>The Stingers announced they signed Bowling Green University goaltender Mike Liut to a two-year contract after acquiring his rights from the New England Whalers in exchange for center Greg Carroll and defenseman Bryan Maxwell.</p><p>&ldquo;Our reports indicate that Liut may be the best goaltender in college hockey since Ken Dryden,&rdquo; DeWitt said. Liut, a second-team All-America choice, had an 18-4-0 record and a 2.72 goals against average last season.</p><p>The Calgary Cowboys returned center Jacques Locas to the Stingers.</p><p>The Indianapolis Racers, on thin ice financially since joining the World Hockey Association three years ago, faced another serious crisis when club president Harold Ducote resigned and a bank took over the teams scant assets.</p><p>Racers general manager Brian Conacher said the bank wouldn&rsquo;t assume operating control of the team or its outstanding liabilities. He said team management would appeal to the fans in an attempt to keep the franchise alive.</p><p>According to Conacher, Ducote resigned because of the pressure of other business commitments. Ducote became president of a new general partnership last October in an effort to save the franchise.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02309/4081542-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="569" height="1424"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JACQUES DEMERS&hellip; One-Year Pact</b></figcaption></div><p>Conacher revealed that the Racers lost more than $750,000 last season despite the fact they led the WHA in attendance. Bank officials said the Racers&rsquo; outstanding obligations totalled &ldquo;a lot&rdquo; of money but no figures were available.</p><p>&ldquo;The franchise got into a financial bind because it was not properly capitalized from day one,&rdquo; said Conacher. &ldquo;My personal opinion is that hockey is viable here.</p><p>&ldquo;Our job is to invest in hockey in Indianapolis,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We want a merger (with the NHL) but not until next year. We want a commitment to that effect.&rdquo;</p><p>Conacher said the WHA should operate with eight or 10 teams this season. &ldquo;If we operate next year with the option of going into the NHL, it will lead to something,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It will give us a chance to tidy up three years of obligations.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0023-02

Stingers Reach Out For Demers As Indy Walks Financial Tightrope

<p>BIRMINGHAM&mdash;</p><p>John Bassett doesn&rsquo;t mind stirring up a beehive if he can get a taste of honey.</p><p>As owner of a team in the World Football League, Bassett caused all kinds of commotion when he enticed Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield and Jim Kiick to break up with the Miami Dolphins.</p><p>Later, he stirred up the hockey lords when he signed underage junior Mark Napier to a contract with the Toronto Toros.</p><p>And last month, the irrepressible owner of the Birmingham Bulls caused another flap in the hockey world by signing 18-year-old Ken Linseman, the Kingston, Ont., star, to a pro contract. The signing broke a two-year gentlemen&rsquo;s agreement among WHA and NHL owners that had seemingly eliminated underage signings, and made some hockey officials indignant.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01409/4081573-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="561" height="545"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KEN LINSEMAN&hellip; Touches Off Storm</b></figcaption></div><p>The WHA, in fact, provides a stiff penalty for signing an underage player and Bassett said he expected to be fined. But he explained the way the battle has been going between the WHA and the NHL for top young players, it was a move he had to make.</p><p>&ldquo;The record on signing draft choices in the WHA has not been very good the last couple of years,&rdquo; he noted, &ldquo;and one way to get good hockey players is to sign them before the NHL does it.&rdquo;</p><p>Bassett said other teams have been signing underage players but let them complete their junior eligibility. Then the team picks that player in the draft.</p><p>But Linseman will join the Bulls this fall. A rugged forward, he was the fifth leading scorer in the Ontario league last season and collected over 200 minutes in penalties. &ldquo;My people say he&rsquo;s another Bobby Clarke,&rdquo; Bassett said.</p><p>The Bulls also signed University of Wisconsin and U.S. Olympic star Steve Alley. The six-foot 185-pound left winger from Anoka, Minn., scored 32 goals and 31 assists in 45 games for Wisconsin last season. His goal in overtime against Michigan gave the Badgers the NCAA championship.</p><p>Alley, an aggressive player and relentless checker, should fit nicely in coach Pat Kelly&rsquo;s system. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s got good size. We need forwards who will hit and put people into the boards.&rdquo; said Kelly. &ldquo;Alley&rsquo;s not afraid to stand in front of the net and take his lumps.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0023-01

Bassett Stirs Hockey Lords By Signing Underage Junior

<h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS 1976-77 SEASON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1266/4081803-1-eng-US/f0024-122.jpg" title="f0024-12" width="589" height="222"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1355/4081796-1-eng-US/f0024-132.jpg" title="f0024-13" width="586" height="223"></div><p><b>(*-Diabanded Operation*)</b></p><h2><b>EASTERN DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1446/4081789-1-eng-US/f0024-142.jpg" title="f0024-14" width="580" height="223"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1541/4081782-1-eng-US/f0024-152.jpg" title="f0024-15" width="586" height="223"></div><h2><b>WESTERN DIVISION</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1638/4081775-1-eng-US/f0024-162.jpg" title="f0024-16" width="583" height="220"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1734/4081768-1-eng-US/f0024-172.jpg" title="f0024-17" width="586" height="223"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-12

<p><b>TOP 25 SCORERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01423/4081737-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="585" height="701"></div><p>TOP 10 ROOKIES</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02333/4081730-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="583" height="301"></div><p><b>TOP 10 BAD MEN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03237/4081723-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="583" height="274"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>BIRMINGHAM</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04169/4081716-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="586" height="1210"></div><p><b>CALGARY</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-05132/4081709-1-eng-US/f0024-052.jpg" title="f0024-05" width="580" height="490"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-06113/4081702-1-eng-US/f0024-062.jpg" title="f0024-06" width="583" height="943"></div><p><b>CINCINNATI</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0796/4081695-1-eng-US/f0024-072.jpg" title="f0024-07" width="589" height="799"></div><p><b>EDMONTON</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0890/4081688-1-eng-US/f0024-082.jpg" title="f0024-08" width="586" height="193"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0983/4081681-1-eng-US/f0024-092.jpg" title="f0024-09" width="592" height="1315"></div><p><b>HOUSTON</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1076/4081674-1-eng-US/f0024-102.jpg" title="f0024-10" width="589" height="697"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1174/4081667-1-eng-US/f0024-112.jpg" title="f0024-11" width="595" height="145"></div><p><b>INDIANAPOLIS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1932/4081660-1-eng-US/f0024-192.jpg" title="f0024-19" width="595" height="1069"></div><p><b>MINNESOTA</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-2031/4081653-1-eng-US/f0024-202.jpg" title="f0024-20" width="592" height="646"></div><p><b>NEW ENGLAND</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-2128/4081646-1-eng-US/f0024-212.jpg" title="f0024-21" width="589" height="115"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-2226/4081639-1-eng-US/f0024-222.jpg" title="f0024-22" width="586" height="1078"></div><p><b>PHOENIX</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-2326/4081632-1-eng-US/f0024-232.jpg" title="f0024-23" width="586" height="829"></div><p><b>QUEBEC</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01373/4081625-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="589" height="813"></div><p><b>SAN DIEGO</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02299/4081618-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="589" height="881"></div><p><b>WINNIPEG</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03256/4081611-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="593" height="869"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1832/4081604-1-eng-US/f0024-182.jpg" title="f0024-18" width="1180" height="1576"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>REAL CLOUTIER&hellip; Scoring Champ With 141 Points</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-01

WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

<p><b>Finals</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01360/4081946-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="595" height="76"></div><p><b>(Quebec wins best-of-seven series 4-3)</b></p><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Wed. May 11</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg 2 at Quebec 1</b></p><p><b>Sun. May 15</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg 1 at Quebec 6</b></p><p><b>Wed. May 18</b></p><p><b>Quebec 1 at Winnipeg 6</b></p><p><b>Fri. May 20</b></p><p><b>Quebec 4 at Winnipeg 2</b></p><p><b>Sun. May 22</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg 3 at Quebec 8</b></p><p><b>Tue. May 24</b></p><p><b>Quebec 3 at Winnipeg 12</b></p><p><b>Thu. May 26 Winnipeg 2 at Quebec 8</b></p><h2><b>EASTERN DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>Semi-Finals</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02261/4081939-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="588" height="90"></div><p><b>(Quebec wins best-of-seven series 4-11)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>New England 2 at Quebec 5</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 12</b></p><p><b>New England 3 at Quebec 7</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 14</b></p><p><b>Quebec 4 at New England 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 18</b></p><p><b>Quebec 4 at New England 6</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 19</b></p><p><b>New England 0 at Quebec 3</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03181/4081932-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="586" height="82"></div><p><b>(Indianapolis wins best-of-seven series 4-0)</b></p><h3><b>Finals</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-04133/4081925-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="586" height="82"></div><p><b>(Quebec wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Sat. April 23</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis 1 at Quebec 3</b></p><p><b>Mon. April 25</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis 3 at Quebec 8</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 28</b></p><p><b>Quebec 6 at Indianapolis 5</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 30</b></p><p><b>Quebec 0 at Indianapolis 2</b></p><p><b>Mon. May 2</b></p><p><b>Indianapolis 3 at Quebec 8</b></p><h2><b>WESTERN DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>Semi-Finals</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-05113/4081918-1-eng-US/f0025-052.jpg" title="f0025-05" width="580" height="88"></div><p><b>(Winnipeg wins bost-of-sovon series 4-3)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0693/4081911-1-eng-US/f0025-062.jpg" title="f0025-06" width="577" height="88"></div><p><b>(Houston wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 15</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Wed. April 13</b></p><p><b>Edmonton 3 at Houston 4</b></p><p><b>Edmonton 2 at Houston 6</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 17</b></p><p><b>Houston 2 at Edmonton 7</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 20</b></p><p><b>Houston 4 at Edmonton 1</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 22</b></p><p><b>Edmonton 3 at Houston 4</b></p><h3><b>Finals</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0786/4081904-1-eng-US/f0025-072.jpg" title="f0025-07" width="578" height="88"></div><p><b>(Winnipeg wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Tue. April 26</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg 4 at Houston 3</b></p><p><b>Thu. April 28</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg 2 at Houston 7 Sat. April 30</b></p><p><b>Houston 3 at Winnipeg 4</b></p><p><b>Sun. May 1</b></p><p><b>Houston 4 at Winnipeg 6</b></p><p><b>Tue. May 3</b></p><p><b>Winnipeg 2 at Houston 3 Thu. May 5</b></p><p><b>Houston 3 at Winnipeg 6</b></p><p><b>TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0877/4081897-1-eng-US/f0025-082.jpg" title="f0025-08" width="582" height="616"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>QUEBEC</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0969/4081890-1-eng-US/f0025-092.jpg" title="f0025-09" width="586" height="616"></div><h2><b>WINNIPEG</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1052/4081883-1-eng-US/f0025-102.jpg" title="f0025-10" width="584" height="568"></div><h2><b>HOUSTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1144/4081876-1-eng-US/f0025-112.jpg" title="f0025-11" width="580" height="596"></div><h2><b>INDIANAPOLIS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1235/4081869-1-eng-US/f0025-122.jpg" title="f0025-12" width="580" height="590"></div><h2><b>NEW ENGLAND</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1330/4081862-1-eng-US/f0025-132.jpg" title="f0025-13" width="582" height="646"></div><h2><b>CINCINNATI</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1427/4081855-1-eng-US/f0025-142.jpg" title="f0025-14" width="582" height="568"></div><h2><b>SAN DIEGO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1522/4081848-1-eng-US/f0025-152.jpg" title="f0025-15" width="580" height="618"></div><h2><b>EDMONTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1618/4081841-1-eng-US/f0025-162.jpg" title="f0025-16" width="580" height="618"></div><p><b>PLAYOFF GOALING RECORDS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1714/4081834-1-eng-US/f0025-172.jpg" title="f0025-17" width="544" height="776"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0025-01

WHA’s Playoff Statistics

<p>HARTFORD&mdash;</p><p>Jack Kelley has returned to the New England Whalers.</p><p>Kelley, Whalers&rsquo; first coach and general manager, will be known as director of hockey operations, taking over the post from Ron Ryan, the team&rsquo;s GM for the last 18 months.</p><p>Kelley and Ryan will collaborate in the running of the club&rsquo;s operations.</p><p>Kelley left the Whalers in 1975 to assume the role of coach for Colby College&rsquo;s hockey team in Waterville, Me.</p><p>&ldquo;I would like to stress the fact that this move is an addition to our team and not a subtraction,&rdquo; said managing general partner Howard Baldwin. &ldquo;I feel that the reunion of the Kelley-Ryan combination which brought us a championship in our first year in the WHA will be a tremendous asset to our hockey operation.</p><p>&ldquo;Jack Kelley&rsquo;s record in the game of hockey speaks for itself. He had a very successful career in college hockey and with the Whalers prior to moving back to Colby College. We&rsquo;re fortunate to have a man with Jack&rsquo;s hockey background and knowledge back in our organization.&rdquo;</p><p>Kelley began his career with the Whalers in the 1972-73 season, the first year of the WHA&rsquo;s existence. New England won the East Division title and then went on to win the first Avco Cup title, taking 12 of 15 playoff games, including a five-game decision over Winnipeg in the finals.</p><p>After that season, Kelley was named WHA coach of the year.</p><p>The Whalers won the East Division title in 1973-74 and 1974-75 with Ryan behind the bench and Kelley serving as general manager. Kelley also picked up the coaching reins at the end of the 197475 season when he replaced the ailing Ryan for the last few games of the season and for the playoffs.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1810/4081977-1-eng-US/f0025-182.jpg" title="f0025-18" width="545" height="937"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JACK KELLEY&hellip;Returns to WHA</b></figcaption></div><p>Kelley began the 1975-76 season in the dual coach-GM role, but resigned from the club on Dec. 26, 1975 to return to Colby College where he coached from 1955 to 1962. At that time, Ryan was named general manager of the team and Don Blackburn the head coach. Blackburn was subsequently replaced by Harry Neale.</p><p>Baldwin said he hopes the Whalers can put it all together next season with the return of Kelley and the acquisition of the Howe family, Gordie, Mark and Marty.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-18

Whalers Placing Club’s Future In Kelley’s Hands

<div class="byline">BY DOUG MCCONNELL</div><p>HOUSTON&mdash;</p><p>The departure of the Howe family reduced Houston Aeros&rsquo; payroll greatly but the Aeros&rsquo; financial problems are far from being solved.</p><p>The Aeros have been negotiating in an attempt to purchase an interest in the Arena Operating, Co., which runs the Summit where the Aeros&rsquo; home games are played.</p><p>The purchase would give the Aeros operating capital.</p><p>Even with Bobby Hull and the Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; star-studded lineup, the Aeros could not sell out the Summit during the playoffs and their regular season attendance was down drastically.</p><p>Some blamed the growing lack of interest on all the &ldquo;bad press&rdquo; surrounding the Howe family&rsquo;s discontent and ultimate departure for Hartford and the New England Whalers.</p><p>It has also been rumored that the Aeros will ask current players to renegotiate contracts downward to help get finances under control.</p><p>The team averted one crisis during the season when the players agreed to defer part of their salaries to help keep the team afloat.</p><p>Bill Dineen, who has been the only coach the Aeros have ever known, said the loss of the Howes was expected but still hard to accept.</p><p>&ldquo;We pretty much expected this all along,&rdquo; said Dineen. &ldquo;We made the move to bring John Hughes here figuring the Howes would be leaving. He definitely can help us defensively although he&rsquo;s not as good offensively as either Mark or Marty.&rdquo;</p><p>Hughes, a five-foot-11, 200-pound defenseman had not lived up to expectations during two years in Cincinnati after an outstanding rookie season with Phoenix Roadrunners.</p><p>Meanwhile, Robbie Ftorek was surprised when he became the first American-born player to win a major hockey league most valuable player award.</p><p>He edged Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; Anders Hedberg by a single point, 168-167 for the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s MVP honors and he did it with a last place team as his coach Al Rollins did in capturing the Hart Trophy in the National Hockey League as goaltender for Chicago Black Hawks back in 1954.</p><p>The Boston-born blond dynamo set a record for U.S.-born players with his 117 points. He scored 113 last season to set the record.</p><p>Ftorek&rsquo;s 146 goals are also a record for U.S.-born players.</p><p>Neither Ftorek&rsquo;s coach, Rollins, of the now defunct Phoenix Roadrunners, nor any of his teammates doubted Robbie&rsquo;s right to the MVP award.</p><p>&ldquo;No other club would be hurt as much by the loss of one player. The other teams have top players who have been out of the lineup but they kept on winning.</p><p>&ldquo;Almost every game we won, Robbie played an important part in it.&rdquo;</p><p>Among those congratulating Ftorek at the awards ceremony in New York where Gordie Howe (by telephone from Hartford where it had just been announced he, his sons Mark and Marty and his wife Colleen, had agreed to a long term deal with the New England Whalers) and WHA president Bill MacFarland.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07120/4082008-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="589" height="737"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROBBIE FTOREK&hellip; First U.S. MVP</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;You have shown that you do not have to be a 220-pound, six-foot-five monster to be an All Star,&rdquo; Ftorek was told by Howe, after whom the MVP trophy is named.</p><p>&ldquo;Your victory should be an inspiration to Americans that there is an opportunity in hockey for them,&rdquo; Howe said.</p><p>MacFarland, former president of the Roadrunners, told Ftorek he thought he was just &ldquo;being a good general manager,&rdquo; when he wrote large bonus clauses into Robbie&rsquo;s contract for winning an MVP award and making the first All Star team.</p><p>They were, said MacFarland. just window dressing on a $30,000 contract which along with the chance to play regularly, lured Ftorek from Detroit Red Wings.</p><p>When Ftorek&rsquo;s contract was rewritten after his first season, giving him some $62,550 (still a bargain) last season, the bonus clauses were included.</p><p>Reportedly, the MVP and All Star awards were worth $10,000 apiece in bonus money to Ftorek. besides the $4,000 and $2,500 checks from the league.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-07

Howes’ Departure Blow To Aeros

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0026-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04201/4082053-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg"></div><h2><b>TOP 10 GOALING LEADERS</b></h2><h2><b>TOP 10 WINNING GOALERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05164/4082046-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="1090" height="466"></div><h2><b>COMPLETE GOALING RECORDS FOR WHA TEAMS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06132/4082039-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="1105" height="1933"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0026-04

Looking At WHA Goalers

<p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold In U.S. and Canada</p><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold In U.S. and Canada</p><p>SPRINGFIELD&mdash;</p><p>The American Hockey League will start the 1977-78 season with eight teams and it appears the circuit will have a complete major league team affiliation for the new campaign.</p><p>Six of the eight AHL clubs are already aligned with NHL teams and four of the agreements are new. The New York Rangers, striving to establish their own farm club system of player development, will take over the New Haven Nighthawks operation under Parker MacDonald and will send their excess NHL talent exclusively to the Hawks. Ranger GM John Ferguson huddled with New Haven officials and said he was looking forward to establishing a farm club system with New Haven.</p><p>The Hershey Bears, who divided their minor league agreement during the past few seasons with Pittsburgh and Buffalo have dropped their affiliation with the NHL Penguins and struck up a new arrangement with Washington Capitals The Bears will have both Buffalo and Washington supplying them with players next season.</p><p>The Rhode Island Reds have become associated with the Pittsburgh Penguins and will work a three-team system between the NHL team and the Columbus Owls of the International Hockey League. General manager and coach Ross Brooks said he is hoping the Pittsburgh alignment will help restore hockey interest in Providence.</p><p>The new Portland team will be totally operated by the Philadelphia Flyers and the Hampton Gulls, the other new AHL entry, will eontinue its three-year agreement with Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA. Brophy said he is still hopeful of securing player help from an NHL team before training camp in September.</p><p>While Rochester Americans and Nova Scotia Voyageurs will continue their affiliations with Boston and Montreal respectively, the plight of Springfield is still not known. The Indians, who worked with Washington and Philadelphia last season, have terminated their agreement and are hoping to become attached to the Los Angeles Kings. General manager and coach Gary Dineen said he is hopeful of working out a deal with the Kings for the new season.</p><p>The AHL will function as a two-division league next season with four teams&mdash;Rochester, Hampton, New Haven and Hershey&mdash;in the South and Nova Scotia, Springfield, Rhode Island and Portland in the North.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02247/4082115-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="545" height="657"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PARKER MacDONALD</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0028-02

Five AHL Teams Get Affiliations

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01339/4082146-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>he Wisconsin Badgers won the NCAA championship this past season after dominating the Western Collegiate Hockey Association prior to going to Detroit where they cleaned up on the Eastern Conference representatives. Here are the champion Badgers, front row, from the left, GRANT STANDBROOK, asst, coach, DAVE LUNDEEN, DAVE HERBST, BRAD JOHNSON, CRAIG NORWICH, JULIAN BARETTA, DAVE McNAB, MIKE DIBBLE, MURRAY JOHNSON, GEORGE GWOZDECKY, TOM ULSETH, MARK CAPOUCH and BOB JOHNSON, head coach. Middle row, JIM REED, manager, BILL HOWARD, asst, coach, STEVE GANSKE, MIKE MEEKER, JOHN SUTER, TOM LUNDEEN, JOHN TAFT, CLARK KAVOLINAS, BRAD MULLENS, JOHN GREGORY, IAN PERRIN, LEE SKILLE, STEVE ALLEY, DICK PERKINS, asst, coach, DENNIS HELWIG, trainer. Back row, HERB FALCONER, manager, GARY WEITZ, asst, coach, RON GRIFFIN, BRIAN DEVLIN, TIM PHIPPEN, JIM SCHEID, MARK JOHNSON, LES GRAUER, MIKE EAVES, BOB SUTER, ROD ROMANCHUK, NORM MclNTOSH, Dr. WILLIAM CLANCY, team physician, BRYANT KIRK, asst, trainer.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

U.S. College Champs—Wisconsin Badgers

<h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01296/4082254-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="595" height="187"></div><h2><b>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02236/4082247-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="586" height="900"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h3><b>HERSHEY</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03153/4082240-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="598" height="694"></div><h3><b>NEW HAVEN</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04112/4082233-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg" title="f0029-04" width="592" height="853"></div><h3><b>NOVA SCOTIA</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-05100/4082226-1-eng-US/f0029-052.jpg" title="f0029-05" width="595" height="613"></div><h3><b>ROCHESTER</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0679/4082219-1-eng-US/f0029-062.jpg" title="f0029-06" width="592" height="775"></div><h3><b>RHODE ISLAND</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0762/4082212-1-eng-US/f0029-072.jpg" title="f0029-07" width="601" height="1216"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0949/4082205-1-eng-US/f0029-092.jpg" title="f0029-09" width="544" height="661"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ANDRE PELOFFY&hellip; Scoring Champ</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>SPRINGFIELD</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1042/4082198-1-eng-US/f0029-102.jpg" title="f0029-10" width="598" height="1090"></div><h3><b>PLAYERS WITH TWO TEAMS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1137/4082191-1-eng-US/f0029-112.jpg" title="f0029-11" width="595" height="559"></div><h3><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1233/4082184-1-eng-US/f0029-122.jpg" title="f0029-12" width="592" height="559"></div><h3><b>GOALERS WITH TWO TEAMS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1327/4082177-1-eng-US/f0029-132.jpg" title="f0029-13" width="592" height="451"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0029-01

American Hockey League Statistics

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0029-08" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-0854/4082285-1-eng-US/f0029-082.jpg"></div><p><b>Most Valuable Player&mdash;Doug Gibson, Rochester.</b></p><p><b>Best Defenseman&mdash;Brian Engblom, Nova Scotia.</b></p><p><b>Rookie of Year&mdash;Rod Schutt, Nova Scotia.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-08

AHL All Star Teams

<p><b>FINALS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1424/4082372-1-eng-US/f0029-142.jpg" title="f0029-14" width="544" height="91"></div><p><b>(Nova Scotia wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Mon. April 18</b></p><p><b>Rochester 4 at Nova Scotia 3</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 20</b></p><p><b>Rochester 1 at Nova Scotia 5</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 22</b></p><p><b>Nova Scotia 2 at Rochester 3</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 24</b></p><p><b>Nova Scotia 5 at Rochester 3</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 27</b></p><p><b>Rochester 1 at Nova Scotia 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 30</b></p><p><b>Nova Scotia 4 at Rochester 3</b></p><p><b>SEMI-FINALS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1520/4082365-1-eng-US/f0029-152.jpg" title="f0029-15" width="535" height="88"></div><p><b>(Nova Scotia wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><h3><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h3><p><b>Sun. April 3</b></p><p><b>Hershey 4 at Nova Scotia 7</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 5</b></p><p><b>Hershey 6 at Nova Scotia 2</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 6</b></p><p><b>Nova Scotia 1 at Hershey 0</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>Nova Scotia 4 at Hershey 5</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 10</b></p><p><b>Hershey 0 at Nova Scotia 5</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 12</b></p><p><b>Nova Scotia 2 at Hershey 1</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1618/4082358-1-eng-US/f0029-162.jpg" title="f0029-16" width="541" height="82"></div><p><b>(Rochester wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><p><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 2</b></p><p><b>Rochester 1 at New Haven 2</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 3</b></p><p><b>Nea Haven 2 at Rochester 1</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 6</b></p><p><b>Rochester 5 at New Haven 2</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 8</b></p><p><b>New Haven 3 at Rochester 6</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>Rochester 6 at New Haven 4</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 10</b></p><p><b>New Haven 4 at Rochester 5</b></p><p><b>TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1716/4082351-1-eng-US/f0029-172.jpg" title="f0029-17" width="529" height="637"></div><p><b>PLAYOFF SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>NOVA SCOTIA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1816/4082344-1-eng-US/f0029-182.jpg" title="f0029-18" width="544" height="511"></div><h2><b>ROCHESTER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-1911/4082337-1-eng-US/f0029-192.jpg" title="f0029-19" width="544" height="586"></div><h2><b>HERSHEY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-209/4082330-1-eng-US/f0029-202.jpg" title="f0029-20" width="550" height="460"></div><h2><b>NEW HAVEN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-219/4082323-1-eng-US/f0029-212.jpg" title="f0029-21" width="541" height="454"></div><p><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-229/4082316-1-eng-US/f0029-222.jpg" title="f0029-22" width="547" height="196"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0029-14

Calder Cup Picture

<p><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01334/4082497-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="589" height="196"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02265/4082490-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="589" height="677"></div><h2><b>DALLAS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03198/4082483-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="593" height="920"></div><h2><b>TULSA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-04136/4082476-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="592" height="924"></div><h2><b>FORT WORTH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0591/4082469-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="596" height="1077"></div><h2><b>KANSAS CITY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0668/4082462-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="593" height="1056"></div><h2><b>OKLAHOMA CITY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0753/4082455-1-eng-US/f0030-072.jpg" title="f0030-07" width="589" height="941"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0938/4082448-1-eng-US/f0030-092.jpg" title="f0030-09" width="581" height="364"></div><h2><b>SALT LAKE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1030/4082441-1-eng-US/f0030-102.jpg" title="f0030-10" width="593" height="969"></div><p><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1124/4082434-1-eng-US/f0030-112.jpg" title="f0030-11" width="585" height="757"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0030-01

Central Hockey League Statistics

<div class="byline">BY BILL ADLER</div><p>DALLAS&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>E</span>merging from the longest sequence of meetings in the 14-year history of the league, the Central Hockey League is now ready to begin work on the schedule for the 1977-78 season which lies over the horizon.</p><p>The important news from the recent Central Hockey League meetings held in Montreal in conjunction with the National Hockey League meetings was the announcement that six CHL cities would start the upcoming season. The six have solid commitments for their operation with Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City and Tulsa returning to the CHL fold from previous seasons while the newest entry will be Phoenix.</p><p>The Roadrunners will be making their initial appearance in the CHL after a most successful Western Hockey League history but a somewhat less than spectacular World Hockey Association existence for the past three years. Following the &lsquo;76-&rsquo;77 season the Roadrunners closed their WHA operation in the face of some large financial deficits. At that time a young businessman from the Phoenix area, Mike Leonard, purchased the name and the remainder of the assests from the owners. Leonard has put together a very strong organization in Phoenix and he is looking forward to a successful relationship for the city of Phoenix with the Central League.</p><p>In announcing this alignment, the defending champion Kansas City Blues are noticeably missing. Despite a very successful hockey team, the management of the parent St. Louis Blues have been unable to locate any &ldquo;local&rdquo; money interests in Kansas City in order to share the operation costs of a major league hockey club and for this reason a move from Kansas City has been necessitated.</p><p>The one major roadblock that remains to be completed in the very near future is the alignment of the parent clubs in the league. At the time of this writing, the CHL was unable to announce the NHL-CHL affiliations for the new season due to the present uncertainties in the National Hockey League, especially in light of the continued expansion talks that began to grow and grow during the recent NHL meetings in Montreal. Speculation is that some form of NHL-WHA amalgamation will take place at some time. If such is true then there might be more National League teams which could mean that there would be more teams available for Central League affiliations.</p><p>If expansion in the NHL becomes a reality, then the CHL might be able to look to expansion for the &lsquo;77-&rsquo;78 season themselves. Heading the list of cities wishing to locate in the Central League is San Diego under the leadership of Peter Graham. San Diego, like the CHL&rsquo;s newest entry Phoenix, has experienced a great deal of success in the old Western League but did not continue this success in the WHA.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0846/4082403-1-eng-US/f0030-082.jpg" title="f0030-08" width="565" height="741"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BUD POILE&hellip;Getting Stronger</b></figcaption></div><p>Of the current CHL cities, the one operation that seems locked together is in Tulsa. Three years ago Atlanta general manager Cliff Fletcher put together a strong operation with the Vancouver Canucks which produced a championship in their initial year and the two clubs will continue their strong alliance. With longtime CHL supporter Jake Milford having only recently moved into the general manager position with the Canucks from a similar post in Los Angeles, the Canucks and the Flames will keep their base of operation together in Tulsa.</p><p>The other NHL clubs that will be calling the CHL their home this season include Chicago, Toronto, New York Islanders, Cleveland, St. Louis. Detroit, Minnesota and Colorado.</p><p>One NHL club that will be looking toward a single team operation in the CHL will be the Detroit Red Wings. Under new general manager Ted Lindsay. the Wings are preparing to develop their young talent at Oklahoma City in quest of a quick return to their glory days. If the confidence and ability of the former NHL great Lindsay is any indication of success, then the Red Wings will be heard from in the very near future.</p><p>The schedule, itself, will be the same as last year&mdash;228 games with each CHL club playing 76 games.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-08

CHL Ready With Six-Team Format As Phoenix Replaces Kansas City

<h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01308/4082633-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="590" height="114"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02234/4082626-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="580" height="112"></div><h2><b>FINAL LEADING SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03183/4082619-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="592" height="302"></div><h2><b>PLAYOFF RESULTS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-04143/4082612-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="576" height="84"></div><p><b>(Grand Rapids wins six-point series 7-5)</b></p><h2><b>Semi-Finals</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-05126/4082605-1-eng-US/f0031-052.jpg" title="f0031-05" width="570" height="92"></div><p><b>(Grand Raoids wins best-of-five series 3-2)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0699/4082598-1-eng-US/f0031-062.jpg" title="f0031-06" width="580" height="88"></div><p><b>(Milwaukee wins best-of-five series 2-0 with two ties)</b></p><h2><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></h2><h2><b>GRAND RAPIDS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0786/4082591-1-eng-US/f0031-072.jpg" title="f0031-07" width="590" height="650"></div><h2><b>GREEN BAY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0877/4082584-1-eng-US/f0031-082.jpg" title="f0031-08" width="590" height="702"></div><h2><b>MILWAUKEE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0963/4082577-1-eng-US/f0031-092.jpg" title="f0031-09" width="594" height="890"></div><h2><b>WATERLOO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1143/4082570-1-eng-US/f0031-112.jpg" title="f0031-11" width="598" height="868"></div><h2><b>SIOUX CITY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1225/4082563-1-eng-US/f0031-122.jpg" title="f0031-12" width="589" height="544"></div><h2><b>TRAVERSE CITY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1322/4082556-1-eng-US/f0031-132.jpg" title="f0031-13" width="589" height="568"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1419/4082549-1-eng-US/f0031-142.jpg" title="f0031-14" width="595" height="469"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1518/4082542-1-eng-US/f0031-152.jpg" title="f0031-15" width="586" height="88"></div><p><b>FINAL GOALING RECORDS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1616/4082535-1-eng-US/f0031-162.jpg" title="f0031-16" width="586" height="352"></div><p><b>PLAYED 10 GAMES OR LESS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1715/4082528-1-eng-US/f0031-172.jpg" title="f0031-17" width="592" height="436"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0031-01

United States Hockey League Statistics

<p><b>FINALS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1814/4082720-1-eng-US/f0031-182.jpg" title="f0031-18" width="520" height="88"></div><p><b>(Kansas City wine beat-of-aeven series 4-0)</b></p><h2><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></h2><p><b>Fri April 22</b></p><p><b>Tulsa 1 at Kansas City 4</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 23</b></p><p><b>Tulsa 0 at Kansas City 3</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 24</b></p><p><b>Kansas City 4 at Tulsa 3</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 26</b></p><p><b>Kansas City 5 at Tulsa 4</b></p><p><b>SEMI-FINALS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1911/4082713-1-eng-US/f0031-192.jpg" title="f0031-19" width="529" height="85"></div><p><b>(Kansas City wins best-of-seven series 4-2)</b></p><p><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 8</b></p><p><b>Kansas City 1 at Fort Worth 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>Kansas City 3 at Forth Worth 4</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 12</b></p><p><b>Fort Worth 3 at Kansas City 4</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 15</b></p><p><b>Forth Worth 0 at Kansas City 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 16</b></p><p><b>Fort Worth 2 at Kansas City 4</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 19</b></p><p><b>Kansas City 4 at Fort Worth 3</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-2011/4082706-1-eng-US/f0031-202.jpg" title="f0031-20" width="532" height="88"></div><p><b>(Tulaa wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></p><p><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 8</b></p><p><b>Tulsa 2 at Dallas 3</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 9</b></p><p><b>Tulsa 4 at Dallas 1</b></p><p><b>Wed. April 13</b></p><p><b>Dallas 1 at Tulsa 3</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 15</b></p><p><b>Dallas 2 at Tulsa 5</b></p><p><b>Sat April 16</b></p><p><b>Tulsa 4 at Dallas 3</b></p><p><b>TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-219/4082699-1-eng-US/f0031-212.jpg" title="f0031-21" width="532" height="325"></div><p><b>PLAYOFF SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>KANSAS CITY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-229/4082692-1-eng-US/f0031-222.jpg" title="f0031-22" width="529" height="520"></div><h2><b>TULSA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-238/4082685-1-eng-US/f0031-232.jpg" title="f0031-23" width="532" height="199"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-247/4082678-1-eng-US/f0031-242.jpg" title="f0031-24" width="529" height="268"></div><h2><b>DALLAS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-257/4082671-1-eng-US/f0031-252.jpg" title="f0031-25" width="529" height="547"></div><h2><b>FORT WORTH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-266/4082664-1-eng-US/f0031-262.jpg" title="f0031-26" width="535" height="541"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0031-18

Adams Cup Playoff Picture

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0031-10" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1051/4082751-1-eng-US/f0031-102.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>he Grand Rapids Blades struck it rich in their first year in the United States Hockey League. They not only led the overall league race, but they won the playoff championship as well. Here are the Blades from the left, first row, MARTY DESMARAIS, SAM CLEGG, JOE ZALOKAR, manager, YVON POULIOT, RICK KRAMP and RALPH SHEFFERLY, trainer. Middle row, RAY TESSIER, CLAUDE DUMAS, MAURICE SYLVESTRE, DARRYL RICE and GARY FORD. Back row, GUY RACINE, ANDY JANICEK, DEAN SIGLER, MIKE LEGGE, GREG MacPHERSON, DAN LEMIEUX, DAVE WHITE, STEVE PRUSKY and NELSON LECLAIR, coach. Missing from photo are Ernie Moser, Rick Loe, Gary Wood, Brian Cousineau and trainer Dave Marcotte.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-10

USHL Champs—Grand Rapids Blades

<div class="byline">BY BUD GALLMEIER</div><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</b></p><p><b>HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street, Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER</b></p><p><b>HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01312/4082782-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="561" height="601"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>&hellip;First Coaching Casualty RALPH KELLER</b></figcaption></div><p>FORT WAYNE&mdash;</p><p>Two of the nine International Hockey League franchises which had been listed as &ldquo;doubtful&rdquo; for the 1977-78 season, are definitely still members of the family.</p><p>Any questions about the future of the Port Huron and Fort Wayne franchises have been answered. Both will be in again&mdash;for Fort Wayne it will be its 26th consecutive season.</p><p>The Komets, who announced shortly after the first of the year there was a possibility &ldquo;we may not operate next season&rdquo; announced they would continue during the press conference. &ldquo;And we hope to be around for 25 more years.&rdquo; The statement was issued by the three owners of the club, president Ramon Perry, general manager Ken Ullyot and business manager Colin Listen.</p><p>Port Huron was &ldquo;saved&rdquo; by former owner John Wismer who agreed to absorb some of the financial burden to &ldquo;keep hockey in Port Huron.&rdquo; The loss for Port Huron had been estimated at approximately $100,000.</p><p>There are still two clubs which may not be around when the new season dawns. The most likely casualty is Dayton, which lost a reported $100,000 this year on top of a similar loss the season before&mdash;and with a championship club.</p><p>Pat Rupp, a former Dayton goalie, reportedly has come up with the money to keep the franchise alive (250,000) but hit a snag when he learned Dayton had lost its working agreement with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Washington, because it was uncertain of the Dayton future, was wooed and won by Port Huron.</p><p>Several league spokesmen look upon the loss of the Washington agreement as a &ldquo;minor problem.&rdquo; The reason: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not as if Dayton was an expansion team. They have a sound nucleus. They might need a few replacements, but not many.&rdquo;</p><p>It was the opinion of the same people that an agreement with a National Hockey League club could be worked out.</p><p>The other trouble spot is Columbus. It appears their home rink&mdash;the State Fairgrounds&mdash;will be unavailable to the Owls for the last month of the 1977-78 season. Also, it is reported the building wants to double the rent. Owner Al Savill was hoping to resolve the problems and was to make a decision soon on what his plans will be.</p><p>The first announced coaching casualty was Ralph Keller of Fort Wayne, who led the Komets to the finals of the South Division playoffs before losihg to Toledo in five games. Two of the losses came in overtime struggles.</p><p>General manager Ken Ullyot, in making the announcement, said &ldquo;It came down to Ralph&rsquo;s business interests in Hershey and the fact I felt we had to make a change.&rdquo;</p><p>Ullyot said he has been in contact with three or four candidates, all of whom have coaching experience. One&rsquo;s coaching In the IHL.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-01

Future of Dayton Gems Still Up In Air

<h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02238/4082848-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="571" height="352"></div><h2><b>FINAL SCORING RECORDS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03165/4082841-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="586" height="703"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-04101/4082834-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="583" height="1105"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0561/4082827-1-eng-US/f0032-052.jpg" title="f0032-05" width="584" height="2173"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0643/4082820-1-eng-US/f0032-062.jpg" title="f0032-06" width="597" height="2160"></div><h2><b>FINAL GOALING RECORDS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0732/4082813-1-eng-US/f0032-072.jpg" title="f0032-07" width="589" height="829"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0032-02

International Hockey League Statistics

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>P</span>erhaps in the next couple of months, you may be interested in moving into a region of British Columbia that has a great level of competition in the Pacific Northwest Hockey League.</b></p><p><b>That&rsquo;s Prince Rupert, home of the Atom Motor Kings. Last season for the first time, the Kings moved into the Coy Cup playdowns and were also league and playoff champs.</b></p><p><b>There&rsquo;s no pay, but we will assist in securing a job and accommodation.</b></p><p><b>If you are a senior &lsquo;A&rsquo; calibre hockey player with an itchy skate&hellip; why not make your move?</b></p><p><b>Pass along a resume of your previous experience and pertinent details. Recommendations from previous coaches are requested.</b></p><p><b>Move your reply to: Bill Staats, Secretary, Prince Rupert Atom Motor Kings, Box 503, Prince Rupert, B.C.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

THE KINGS ARE ON THE MOVE TOO

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE PENTON</div><p>BILLINGS&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f the Billings Bighorns make as big a splash on the ice this Western Canada Hockey League season as the Montana fans are fussing over their newest hockey team, they can&rsquo;t miss being a winner.</p><p>Bob Strumm, a former Hockey News&rsquo; correspondent from Western Canada while he was a newspaper reporter in Saskatoon, has been officially installed as the Bighorns&rsquo; general-manager and Day One in Billings was like a dream come true.</p><p>&ldquo;It was the best day of my life&mdash;the first day here,&rdquo; said Strumm after recalling the events of the day the team announced plans to locate in the Montana city.</p><p>The Bighorns are the former Calgary Centennials, who skipped Alberta when meagre crowds in the 1976-77 season made owner Dick Koentges&rsquo; ledger sheet turn red.</p><p>Although his first day in Billings was &ldquo;the best day&rdquo; of his life, Strumm said it will take a back seat to the first time this fall that he takes his boys into Saskatoon, his home town.</p><p>Strumm. who for one year was league president Ed Chynoweth&rsquo;s executive assistant, feels that if the enthusiasm in Billings stays on a level of the first few days, the team will be a huge success at the gate.</p><p>&ldquo;If we re competitive, I think we can average 3,000 fans at least,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>The team will play in the Yellowstone Metra, an 8.600-seat. two-level rink.</p><p>&ldquo;The media down here has been fantastic,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They took to us right off the bat. The papers and TV guys are saying that our calibre of hockey is equivalent to Triple A baseball.</p><p>Strumm said that on the first day after the announcement of the team setting up shop in Billings, there were three phone calls for season tickets before 9 a.m.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been the best experience of my life,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I went downtown the day after it was announced, and people were walking up to me saying I saw you on TV&hellip;when can we get tickets?&rdquo;</p><p>The 29-year-old Strumm, youngest GM in the 12-team circuit, said he had eight appointments on that first day to meet prospective businessmen in town interested in supporting the Bighorns. When I was finished with those eight, I had made 13 others during the day. I was further behind at 5 o&rsquo;clock than 1 was at 8 in the morning.&rdquo;</p><p>But if the Bighorns are going to go over in a big way, Strumm knows he has to hustle.</p><p>Hustle, though, is his middle name. And when it comes to hockey, no one has to urge him to quick-step-it.</p><p>Not only is the Billings&rsquo; media warming to the junior hockey club, they might be going overboard with the possibility that all 72 league games may be broadcast over radio, and a handful of road contests may be televised back to Billings.</p><p>After two weeks of letting all of Montana know that the Bighorns had arrived in town, Strumm announced that he had signed a coach and an assistant coach-GM.</p><p>The man behind the bench will be Dave King, 28, who served as assistant to Saskatoon Blades&rsquo; coach Jackie McLeod during the latter portion of the 1976-77 season. King had been rumored to be in line to succeed McLeod as Blades boss, because McLeod is said to be considering retirement.</p><p>The assistant to both Strumm and King will be 25-year-old Joe Arling. All three are natives of Saskatoon, which should help to set up an immediate rivalry between the Bighorns and the Blades.</p><p>There is only one other full-time assistant coach in the WCHL and that is Doug Sauter in New Westminster, who helps Ernie McLean with the Bruins</p><p>If the assistant-coach idea is the reason for the Bruins&rsquo; recent successes (three consecutive WCHL championships and one Memorial Cup), then Strumm could be on the right track to give a U.S. team its first-ever Canadian junior hockey championship.</p><p>In Seattle, meanwhile, owner Ephram Steinke of the former Kamloops Chiefs, who moved to the Washington city this summer, didn&rsquo;t follow through with what had been a hot rumor and name his team the Slews. He settled instead for the Seattle Breakers, and they will be the third U.S. - based team in the WCHL.</p><p>Portland Winter Hawks, who moved from Edmonton one season back, were the first United States team in the WCHL.</p><p>In which divisions the three American clubs will be aligned is anyone&rsquo;s guess. The WCHL&rsquo;s annual meeting, scheduled for June 16-18 in Calgary, was postponed until July, but no reason was given.</p><p>One thought is that Winnipeg Monarchs are in the shaky position once again of not knowing positively in what state or province they&rsquo;ll be skating this season.</p><p>The thinking continued that if Winnipeg Jets are admitted into the NHL this summer, the junior Monarchs would catch the first stage out of Winnipeg. If the World Hockey Association Jets were not part of any merger plans and ceased to be a professional franchise, the Monarchs would stay and reap the benefits of being the only team in town.</p><p><b>WCHL NOTES:</b> Bob Briscoe has had the title of Victoria Cougars&rsquo; general manager added to his name. Briscoe, another former newspaperman and HOCKEY NEWS correspondent for the WCHL, had been previously named director of player personnel. There was still no word on whether Andy Hebenton would accept the job as Cougars&rsquo; coach&hellip;With the transferring of Calgary and Kamloops to Billings and Seattle respectively, there is serious consideration being given to changing the WCHL&rsquo;s name to the Western Major Hockey League, unceremoniously dropping the reference to Canada.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1916/4082903-1-eng-US/f0033-192.jpg" title="f0033-19" width="579" height="920"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DOUG LECUYER&hellip;Could Be Traded</b></figcaption></div><p>Doug Lecuyer, who quit Calgary Centennials (now Billings) on the advice of Ed Chynoweth with about a month to go in the 1976-77 season after numerous disciplinary problems will probably be traded before the start of next season. Lecuyer, entering his fifth and final season of WCHL play, likely won&rsquo;t be invited by Strumm down to Billings. Speculation was that Portland&rsquo;s Brian Shaw, who has visions of a powerhouse this coming year (and with good reason), would like Lecuyer back to add to his already-explosive lineup. Shaw swapped Lecuyer to Calgary early in the &lsquo;76-77 campaign for big Perry Turnbull, who has two years of junior eligibility remaining, and Dave Morrow, who graduated this spring&hellip;The Winter Hawks have the entire forward line of Brent Peterson, Wayne Babych and Paul Mulvey returning this year and with a host of other talented returnees, should be regarded as one of the definite threats for the WCHL crown this year. Brandon Wheat Kings, with the top three league scorers from last year coming back (Bill Derlago, Ray Allison and Brian Propp), plus All Star defenseman Brad McCrimmon, should also contend.</p><p>New Westminster Bruins&rsquo; coach Ernie McLean has hinted he may retire from coaching juniors and would jump at the chance to nail down a job in the pro ranks. If he does leave the WCHL, the league would be a quieter, but less interesting place&hellip;With just one regular defenseman, Brian Young, returning from the Memorial Cup championship Bruins, McLean has said Dave Orleski and Carl Van Harrewyn, rookie wingers in &lsquo;76-77, would likely drop back to the blueline for the coming year&hellip; Bruins received good news from team doctors when they learned that 17-year-old John Paul Kelly should be able to continue his hockey career after a summer of convalescing from eye surgery. Kelly, who rifled in 35 goals before a freak March accident in a Bruin practice forced him out for the year, underwent surgery for a detached retina.</p><p><b>WCHLs Final Statistics On P. 37</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-19

Billings Team Given Welcome Following Shift From Calgary

<p><b>FINAL</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01280/4083053-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="527" height="82"></div><p><b>(Saginaw wins best-of-seven aeries 4-3)</b></p><p><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></p><p><b>Fri. April 29</b></p><p><b>Toledo 5 at Saginaw 6</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 30</b></p><p><b>Saginaw 2 at Toledo 5</b></p><p><b>Sun. May 1</b></p><p><b>Toledo 2 at Saginaw 8</b></p><p><b>Tue. May 3</b></p><p><b>Saginaw 2 at Toledo 4</b></p><p><b>Fri. May 6</b></p><p><b>Toledo 1 at Saginaw 12</b></p><p><b>Tue. May 10</b></p><p><b>Saginaw 2 at Toledo 4</b></p><p><b>wed. May 11</b></p><p><b>Toledo 0 at Saginaw 5</b></p><p><b>SEMI-FINALS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02212/4083046-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="532" height="90"></div><p><b>(Saginaw wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></p><p><b>GAMES COMPLETED</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 16</b></p><p><b>Saginaw 2 at Kalamazoo 1</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 17</b></p><p><b>Kalamazoo 8 at Saginaw 4</b></p><p><b>Tue. April 19</b></p><p><b>Kalamazoo 3 at Saginaw 5</b></p><p><b>Sat. April 23</b></p><p><b>Saginaw 3 at Kalamazoo 2</b></p><p><b>Sun. April 24</b></p><p><b>Kalamazoo 6 at Saginaw 7</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03159/4083039-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="528" height="90"></div><p><b>(Toledo wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></p><p><b>QUARTER-FINALS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04126/4083032-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="528" height="90"></div><p><b>(Saginaw wins best-of-seven series 4-3)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-05102/4083025-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="534" height="90"></div><p><b>(Toledo wins best-of-seven series 4-3)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0682/4083018-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="532" height="90"></div><p><b>(Kalamazoo wins best-of-seven series 4-1)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0772/4083011-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="530" height="90"></div><p><b>(Fort Wayne wins best-of-sevan series 4-0)</b></p><p><b>TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0862/4083004-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="536" height="434"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>COLUMBUS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0953/4082997-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="544" height="469"></div><h2><b>DAYTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1048/4082990-1-eng-US/f0033-102.jpg" title="f0033-10" width="535" height="463"></div><h2><b>FLINT</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1146/4082983-1-eng-US/f0033-112.jpg" title="f0033-11" width="538" height="463"></div><h2><b>FORT WAYNE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1245/4082976-1-eng-US/f0033-122.jpg" title="f0033-12" width="535" height="460"></div><h2><b>KALAMAZOO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1334/4082969-1-eng-US/f0033-132.jpg" title="f0033-13" width="535" height="196"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1431/4082962-1-eng-US/f0033-142.jpg" title="f0033-14" width="544" height="277"></div><h2><b>MUSKEGON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1526/4082955-1-eng-US/f0033-152.jpg" title="f0033-15" width="538" height="493"></div><h2><b>SAGINAW</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1621/4082948-1-eng-US/f0033-162.jpg" title="f0033-16" width="541" height="490"></div><h2><b>TOLEDO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1721/4082941-1-eng-US/f0033-172.jpg" title="f0033-17" width="538" height="496"></div><h2><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1818/4082934-1-eng-US/f0033-182.jpg" title="f0033-18" width="547" height="403"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0033-01

Turner Cup Statistics

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE JAWORSKI</div><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by</p><p>HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S and Canada</p><p><b>LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HOCKEY STICKS</b></p><p>Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;</p><p>The Philadelphia Firebirds have landed the premier coach of the North American Hockey League, Dan Belisle to replace Gregg Pilling for the upcoming season.</p><p>Though Firebirds&rsquo; president George Pizek would not confirm the new appointment. the 40-year-old Belisle said he was in Philadelphia on June 10 to talk with team vice-president Frank Keenan.</p><p>Belisle&mdash;NAHL coach of the year the last two seasons&mdash;is the team&rsquo;s second coach since it joined the league as an expansion franchise in 1974-75.</p><p>It could be the only coaching change as the five-year-old league prepares for another season.</p><p>Commissioner Jack Timmins said he wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if only six teams begin the 1977-78 season, the lowest number ever compared to the largest in 1975-76 when 10 went to the post and nine finished.</p><p>Belisle&rsquo;s expected appointment means an end to the stormy tenure of controversial and colorful Pilling who received many hand slaps from the NAHL in the form of fines and suspensions. However, sources indicated it was not his several brushes with the league that doomed him in Philadelphia.</p><p>Belisle, a native of South Porcupine, Ont., went shopping for a new job after a contract hassle with the financially-plagued Blazers following the early-April Lockhart Cup championship. Belisle said paychecks stopped coming. His contract ran through August and he says he has filed a $7,000 suit for breach of contract.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have a little stronger footing in time,&rdquo; said Belisle referring to his new job and the Firebirds association with the Philadelphia Flyers. You can bet while in Philadelphia, Belisle&rsquo;s work will be carefully watched by Flyer general manager Keith Allen.</p><p>For a while, Belisle&rsquo;s name came up as a &ldquo;possible&rdquo; for the coaching job with the Flyers new AHL farm team in Portland, Me.</p><p>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t be disappointed these days when you get a job in hockey,&rdquo; said Belisle referring to the dwindling pro opportunities available.</p><p>Belisle, a minor leaguer for approximately 15 years, played extensively in the WHL, most notably with the San Francisco Seals and Vancouver Canucks. A right winger, he also did time in the AHL. CHL as well as the NHL. In the 1960-61 season, &ldquo;I made a cup of coffee stop&rdquo; with the New York Rangers, playing in four games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01307/4083084-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="540" height="849"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DANNY BELISLE&hellip; Tired Of Hassles</b></figcaption></div><p>Belisle coached the old Des Moines Oak Leafs to the IHL&rsquo;s Turner Cup his second season there, 1973-74, before that team folded.</p><p>Wherever the 33-year-old Pilling goes, he takes a glittering coaching record.</p><p>In his three years in the NAHL, Firebird teams compiled a 123-93-6 record, finishing second in 1974-75, second in the West Division in 1975-76 and fourth last season, the 38-33-3 record the worst in the successful history of the franchise which flourished under Pilling.</p><p>In 1975-76, the two-year-old Firebirds upset the potent and menacing league champion Beauce Jaros in six games to win the Lockhart Cup. the 5-2 clinching win before 9,227 in the Civic Center.</p><p>Prior to the Firebirds&rsquo; first season in the NAHL, Pilling had two first place finishes with Roanoke Valley, in 1972-73 winning the Southern Division of the old EHL before losing to Syracuse. The following season, RV won the old SHL&rsquo;s first playoff championship.</p><p>Pilling played eight years, and unlike Belisle never made it to the NHL. He spent two seasons (1966-68) under Fred Shero when he coached the AHL Buffalo Bisons.</p><p>The Lockhart Cup, however, travelled from Philadelphia to Syracuse last season. Belisle won his second straight Coach of the Year honor for building a regular season and playoff champion from a team that nobody thought was that good on paper.</p><p>But Belisle&rsquo;s trademark was everpresent with the &lsquo;76-77 Blazers - hustle and never quit.</p><p>Ironically, Belisle&rsquo;s first year in Syracuse matched Pilling&rsquo;s last, 38-33-3. That year the Blazers finished second in the East and were beaten four straight by the invaders from St. Georges de Beauce, Que., now of course folded from the league.</p><p>As far as the other teams in the league go, the Broome Dusters are set for the upcoming season with Larry Kish returning. Maine has J.C. Gravel back after taking the team to the playoff finals last April; and Erie&rsquo;s Nick Polano is back as coach. As well as assuming the role of general manager.</p><p>That makes four teams solidly set with question marks surrounding the three other teams which finished last season, Syracuse, Johnstown and Mohawk Valley - all still on the selling block.</p><p>Ian Anderson is part of a group interested in Mohawk Valley, but if the franchise returns, he said he will not return to the coaching duties he assumed midway through last season.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ll probably end up with six teams,&rdquo; said Timmins. &ldquo;I think Johnstown is as good as it ever was. I think there&rsquo;s an excellent chance it&rsquo;ll go.&rdquo;</p><p>As for the league meetings, it&rsquo;s expected the NAHL will adopt some form of rule which will make it mandatory for each team to carry a certain amount of overage juniors. Timmins also said the rule which Pilling opposed vehemently will most likely be abolished.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-01

Firebirds Land Belisle In Coaching Shuffle

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02247/4083115-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>U</span>niversity of Toronto Blues were only ranked ninth in the country this past season but it didn&rsquo;t stop them from winning the Canadian intercollegiate hockey championship for the second straight year. The Blues did ft by knocking off top-seeded University of Alberta in the sudden&mdash;death CIAU final. Here are the winning Blues from the left, front row, MARK LOGAN, DOUG HERRIDGE, DOUG CAINES, ROCCI PAGNELLO, RON HARRIS, LARRY HOPKINS, JIM SNETSINGER, FRANK DAVIS and KEN McKENZIE. Middle row, TOM WATT, coach, LARRY WAGNER, AL MILNES, PAUL SAWYER, DON CAMERON, MARK SULLIVAN, WALT JARZABEK, DAN D&rsquo;ALVISE, HOWIE RINGHAM, trainer, GORD DAVIES, asst, coach. Back row, NICK PANTALEO, statistician, JOHN RICHMOND, manager, SCOTT DENSEM, DAVE ROOKE, LANCE GATTONI, ALEX JEANS, BOB ADORANTI, WARREN ANDERSON, and MIKE GISBORNE, trainer.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-02

Canadian College Chamos—Toronto Blues

<p><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01294/4083251-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="586" height="238"></div><p><b>(&lsquo;Suspended Operations)</b></p><p><b>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02241/4083244-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="580" height="556"></div><p><b>FINAL SCORING BY TEAMS</b></p><h2><b>BINGHAMTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03177/4083237-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="592" height="660"></div><h2><b>ERIE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04144/4083230-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="589" height="907"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-05111/4083223-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="592" height="121"></div><h2><b>JOHNSTOWN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0692/4083216-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="592" height="1081"></div><h2><b>MAINE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0783/4083209-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="589" height="1024"></div><h2><b>MOHAWK VALLEY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0865/4083202-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="592" height="250"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0961/4083195-1-eng-US/f0035-092.jpg" title="f0035-09" width="592" height="742"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1052/4083188-1-eng-US/f0035-102.jpg" title="f0035-10" width="589" height="691"></div><h2><b>SYRACUSE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1147/4083181-1-eng-US/f0035-112.jpg" title="f0035-11" width="589" height="661"></div><h2><b>BEAUCE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1238/4083174-1-eng-US/f0035-122.jpg" title="f0035-12" width="595" height="736"></div><p><b>PLAYERS WITH TWO TEAMS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1333/4083167-1-eng-US/f0035-132.jpg" title="f0035-13" width="589" height="715"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1428/4083160-1-eng-US/f0035-142.jpg" title="f0035-14" width="598" height="1792"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1524/4083153-1-eng-US/f0035-152.jpg" title="f0035-15" width="595" height="640"></div><h2><b>GOALING RECORDS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1622/4083146-1-eng-US/f0035-162.jpg" title="f0035-16" width="592" height="1102"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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July 1, 1977

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