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May 12, 1978
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.
Team Canada Keeps Hopes High After Crushing U.S. At Prague
PRAGUE— After a somewhat sluggish start in which they were upset by Finland, Team Canada came back to renew their hopes for a possible finish in the ‘top four’ at the 1978 World hockey tournament by winning two straight games — including a 7-2 rout of the surprising Team U.S.A, squad that battled the Soviet Union for two periods in their early tourney meeting. Team Canada coach Harry Howell, dejected after his team lost 6-4 to Finland in their first tournament appearance, said he was encouraged by the 6-2 win over East Germany and their one-sided romp past the Americans. “This is the way we played in the exhibition games,” said Howell, referring to Team Canada’s tight defensive display in wins over Sweden and Czechoslovakia in three warmup games for the Prague tournament. Howell…
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Bulls’ Beaton Lands In Jail BIRMINGHAM— Frank Beaton, one of the pugnacious Birmingham Bulls, last week languished in a Cincinnati jail for five days as the result of being found guilty of punching a service station attendant who had spilled gasoline on his shiny new automobile. Beaton, who collected 279 penalty minutes this season and numerous fines and suspensions while performing with the WHA Bulls, was told by a Cincinnati judge that he would suspend all but five days of his 160-days sentence. Beaton was also ordered to pay a fine of $250 for his attack on the gas station employee that occured back in 1976 while he was a member of the Cincinnati Stingers. Beaton played in only 56 of his team’s 80 games this season and most of the missed time…
Whalers Reduce Travel By Capping Oilers
HARTFORD— Disposing of the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the first round of the Avco Cup playoffs, the New England Whalers were forced to await the outcome of the Houston vs Quebec series before lining up their next opponent. After taking the first two games in their home rink, the Whalers’ ideas of a sweep were rudely interrupted by Smokey McLeod. The Edmonton goaltender shut out the Whalers in Game Three. New England fired a lot of rubber in Smokey’s direction’but only 19 shots were on net and the Oilers netminder handled them flawlessly for a 2-0 victory. In the fourth game, however, the Whalers had additional motivation. With the series standing 2-1 in their favor the Whalers had to win that fourth game or face another trip back to Edmonton for…
Unbelievable Texans Were Minutes From Defeat
FORT WORTH— “It’s hard to believe. We were just two-and-a-half minutes from having our season end. And here we are, two games up in the finals.” Player-coach Billy MacMillan looked back on a week which saw his Fort Worth Texans win all four starts. And, instead of packing their trailers to go back to Canada, as most experts expected them to be doing, the Texans had won two straight in the Adams Cup finals against their chief rivals, the Dallas Black Hawks. “The series isn’t over yet,” MacMillan cautioned. “We won the first two games at home, but Dallas is always tough in their own rink. Still, we’re playing very well. And our checking line of Garth MacGuigan, Alex McKendry and Yvon Vautour is doing a really great job against their big line…