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.

April 13, 1979

The Hockey News April 13, 1979

<div class="byline">&#x2014;KNACK</div><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p>Scoring champion Mike Foligno made quite a sweep of the Ontario Major Junior League awards this season.</p><p>The outstanding six-foot-two, 192-pound Sudbury Wolves&rsquo; right winger won the Red Tilson Award as the most valuable player, the Eddie Powers Trophy as scoring champion and Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the highest-scoring right winger. He was also a near unanimous choice as the first-team All Star right winger.</p><p>&ldquo;He had a real good finish,&rdquo; says Sudbury coach Andy Laing, praising his veteran captain. &ldquo;He finished up very strong.</p><p>&ldquo;That kid has been like an assistant coach to me. I counted on him a lot and he&rsquo;s been a big help on and off the ice. The big thing about him is he never gets down on himself.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s really counting on being drafted very, very high. He&rsquo;s certainly deserved it. From my books, he&rsquo;s rated No. 2 and I know from talking to all the scouts that he&rsquo;s rated No. 1 among the players still in junior.&rdquo;</p><p>Foligno is definitely the best professional prospect in the league. He had 65 goals and 150 points and beat Oshawa Generals&rsquo; Tom McCarthy for the scoring title in the last few weeks of the season.</p><p>Foligno is an excellent skater, shooter and passer and, as Laing indicates, he also has exceptional leadership qualities.</p><p>Peterborough Petes&rsquo; outstanding Greg Theberge was a runaway choice as winner of the Max Kaminsky Trophy as best defenseman. John Goodwin of Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds edged Wolves&rsquo; goalie Don Beaupre for the Emms Family Trophy as rookie of the year, Petes&rsquo; Gary Green won the Matt Leyden Trophy as coach of the year, Ottawa 67s&rsquo; Sean Simpson won the William Hanley Trophy as most gentlemanly player (with Foligno a close second), Nick Ricci and Glen Ernst of Niagara Falls Flyers shared the Dave Pinkney Trophy by conbining for the lowest goals against average among goalies arid Ricci added the Dinty Moore Trophy as the rookie goalie with the lowest average.</p><p>Green, Theberge and McCarthy were among those, besides Foligno, on the first All Star team. Following are the All Star teams, with votes in brackets:</p><p><b>FIRST TEAM:</b> Coach, Green (46); goal, Ken Ellacott, Peterborough (40); defense, Theberge (53), Jan Wells, Kingston (28); center, Gary Dillon, Toronto (32); right wing, Foligno (50); left wing, McCarthy (46).</p><p><b>SECOND TEAM:</b> Coach, Bert Templeton, Niagara Falls (38); goal, Roland Melanson, Windsor (25); defense, Ed Hospodar, Ottawa (14); Steve Marengere, Ottawa (17); center, Bill Carroll, London (20); right wing, Yvan Joly, Ottawa (12); left wing, Tim Trimper, Peterborough (26).</p><p><b>THIRD TEAM:</b> Coach, Laing (18); goal, Ricci (18); defense, Paul Coffey, Soo (11), John Gibson, Niagara Falls (15); center, Simpson (18); right wing, Brian Gualazzi (12); left wing, Doug Sulliman.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

IN THIS ISSUE

Sudbury’s Star Foligno Sweeps OMJHL Awards

<h2>Tue. Mar. 27 NEW ENGLAND 1, BIRMINGHAM 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01327/3879574-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="620" height="545"></div><h2>Wed. Mar. 28 CINCINNATI 3, WINNIPEG 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02269/3879567-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="651" height="743"></div><h2>EDMONTON 0, QUEBEC 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03229/3879560-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="611" height="574"></div><h2>Fri. Mar. 30 QUEBEC 2, WINNIPEG 0</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04176/3879553-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="610" height="471"></div><h2>EDMONTON 3, NEW ENGLAND 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05141/3879546-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="597" height="528"></div><h2>CINCINNATI 3, BIRMINGHAM 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06111/3879539-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="607" height="654"></div><h2>Sat. Mar. 31 CINCINNATI 3, BIRMINGHAM 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07100/3879532-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="655" height="781"></div><h2>Sun. Apr. 1 WINNIPEG 7, QUEBEC 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0890/3879525-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="610" height="759"></div><h2>EDMONTON 5, NEW ENGLAND 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0984/3879518-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="648" height="684"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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WORLD HOCKEY ASSN. SUMMARIES

<p><b>Special To The Hockey News</b></p><p>CINCINNATI&mdash;</p><p>Cincinnati Stingers&rsquo; defenseman Craig Norwich is enjoying his best year as a professional, ranking second on the team in assists and sixth in scoring, but he isn&rsquo;t overly concerned with scoring goals.</p><p>&ldquo;As a kid in high school, I was always big on assists.&rdquo; said Norwich, now in his second full year with the Stingers. &ldquo;I could beat some guys on a play and that was always the ideal goal for me.</p><p>&ldquo;You like to score goals and it really gives you a big lift. But it&rsquo;s nice to give somebody else the puck and let them put it in the net.</p><p>&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s more satisfying for me to get an assist. I never really consider myself a goal scorer. I would say my forte was playmaking. That&rsquo;s a winger&rsquo;s job&mdash;scoring goals.&rdquo;</p><p>Through 72 games, Norwich had scored six goals but, more importantly, he had registered 43 assists, a figure exceeded by only nine players in the league.</p><p>He has accumulated the majority of his assists on power play goals, for he is an integral part of the Stingers&rsquo; offense on the power play, on which he plays the point.</p><p>Norwich picked up two assists on power play goals in a 5-5 tie game against Winnipeg in late January in a game which saw the Stingers rally from a 5-2 deficit to tie the game. He had four assists in that game and he can&rsquo;t remember having done that before.</p><p>The Stinger defenseman talked about the Cincinnati power play.</p><p>&ldquo;On the power play, there&rsquo;s a different blend of players,&rdquo; said Norwich, &ldquo;skaters who can really fly, like Peter (Marsh) and Mike (Gartner) and then the diggers like Reggie (Thomas) and Jamie (Hislop). You need the shooters.</p><p>&ldquo;Myself, I&rsquo;m more of a passer on the power play, but all you&rsquo;re trying to do is get a good shot. If you move the puck effectively, that will help set up a shot.&rdquo;</p><p>Norwich is one of the best puck handlers on the team and the reason is simple&mdash;he played the center position since he was a youngster until his coach at the University of Wisconsin converted him to defense.</p><p>He made the transition smoothly and has been one of the Stingers&rsquo; mainstays on defense this season.</p><p>Because he is adept at moving and handling the puck, Norwich was used by coach Floyd Smith at center early in the season when Bill Gilligan was injured, a move which Norwich liked.</p><p>&ldquo;That was really a treat,&rdquo; said Norwich. &ldquo;That really gave me a lift. I Worked extremely hard, a lot of times too hard, but I really enjoyed it.&rdquo;</p><p>At five-foot-11 and 175-pounds, Norwich is one of the smaller defensemen in the league, but that doesn&rsquo;t prevent him from doing his job, albeit in a different manner than bigger blueliners.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s definitely some assets 1 have to offer,&rdquo; explained Norwich. &ldquo;1 have some weaknesses and I&rsquo;m always working on them. I know if another guy&rsquo;s 230 pounds, I can&rsquo;t push him out of the way.</p><p>&ldquo;I have to use my head. I&rsquo;ll use my stick and hit his stick. I&rsquo;ll try and outfox him most of the time.&rdquo;</p><p>The former University of Wisconsin All American does exactly that, frequently giving a head fake when clearing the puck out of his own zone, then using his quick hands when he is on defense.</p><p>He is considered one of the best rushing defensemen in the league and is an offensive-minded defenseman who is equally at ease shooting the puck and setting up a play as he is playing the blueline.</p><p>Norwich, though, is not one to set goals for himself.</p><p>&ldquo;I really don&rsquo;t like to think along those lines,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I like to play the best I can and improve. I rate myself in comparison to other players and hope I keep moving up in my own judgement.&rdquo;</p><p>Craig Norwich has been moving up this season, and not just in the scoring race.</p><p><b>BEE-LINE:</b> Robbie Ftorek has exceeded 100 points for the fourth straight year, making him only the fifth player in league history to do that&hellip;Ftorek is now sixth among WHA&rsquo;s all-time career scoring leaders&hellip;The Stingers have shattered the team record of power play goals, 62, and had 69 in 72 games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01292/3879722-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="593" height="616"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GRAIG NORWICH&hellip;Converted Center</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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Norwich’s Speed Plus For Stingers

<h2>Sun. Mar. 25 COLORADO 0, CHICAGO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01388/3879211-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="637" height="527"></div><h2>Mon. Mar. 26 BUFFALO 4, ST. LOUIS 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02297/3879204-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="621" height="569"></div><h2>Tue. Mar. 27 PHILADELPHIA 4, RANGERS 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03249/3879197-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="605" height="610"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH 5, MINNESOTA 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04195/3879190-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="614" height="651"></div><h2>DETROIT 2, VANCOUVER 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05158/3879183-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="626" height="603"></div><h2>CHICAGO 1, COLORADO 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-06124/3879176-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="620" height="512"></div><h2>MONTREAL 6, ATLANTA 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-07111/3879169-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="630" height="626"></div><h2>Wed. Mar 28 RANGERS 1, PITTSBURGH 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-08100/3879162-1-eng-US/f0022-082.jpg" title="f0022-08" width="612" height="630"></div><h2>WASHINGTON 2, TORONTO 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-0992/3879155-1-eng-US/f0022-092.jpg" title="f0022-09" width="610" height="688"></div><h2>DETROIT 1, LOS ANGELES 8</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1081/3879148-1-eng-US/f0022-102.jpg" title="f0022-10" width="600" height="632"></div><h2>BOSTON 2. BUFFALO 9</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1176/3879141-1-eng-US/f0022-112.jpg" title="f0022-11" width="608" height="632"></div><h2>Thu. Mar. 29 ISLANDERS 1, CHICAGO 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1271/3879134-1-eng-US/f0022-122.jpg" title="f0022-12" width="632" height="578"></div><h2>VANCOUVER 0, PHILADELPHIA 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1364/3879127-1-eng-US/f0022-132.jpg" title="f0022-13" width="612" height="524"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS 2, MONTREAL 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1456/3879120-1-eng-US/f0022-142.jpg" title="f0022-14" width="605" height="575"></div><h2>MINNESOTA 4, BOSTON 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1554/3879113-1-eng-US/f0022-152.jpg" title="f0022-15" width="632" height="689"></div><h2>Fri. Mar. 30 LOS ANGELES 3, ATLANTA 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1647/3879106-1-eng-US/f0022-162.jpg" title="f0022-16" width="622" height="634"></div><h2>Sat. Mar. 31 BUFFALO 0, ISLANDERS 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01364/3879099-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="640" height="581"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA 4, ST. LOUIS 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02281/3879092-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="644" height="632"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH 3, MONTREAL 5</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03213/3879085-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="626" height="604"></div><h2>BOSTON 4, WASHINGTON 1</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04167/3879078-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="610" height="663"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES 5, DETROIT 4</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05140/3879071-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="608" height="634"></div><h2>VANCOUVER 2, COLORADO 0</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-06124/3879064-1-eng-US/f0023-062.jpg" title="f0023-06" width="662" height="536"></div><h2>MINNESOTA 2, TORONTO 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-07109/3879057-1-eng-US/f0023-072.jpg" title="f0023-07" width="626" height="686"></div><h2>Sun. Apr. 1 RANGERS 3, PHILADELPHIA 7</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0894/3879050-1-eng-US/f0023-082.jpg" title="f0023-08" width="611" height="802"></div><h2>ISLANDERS 4, WASHINGTON 6</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-0979/3879043-1-eng-US/f0023-092.jpg" title="f0023-09" width="622" height="686"></div><h2>TORONTO 6, BUFFALO 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-1068/3879036-1-eng-US/f0023-102.jpg" title="f0023-10" width="599" height="691"></div><h2>ATLANTA 7, PITTSBURGH 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-1155/3879029-1-eng-US/f0023-112.jpg" title="f0023-11" width="614" height="606"></div><h2>MONTREAL 3, BOSTON 3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02184/3879022-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="605" height="593"></div><h2>MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT3</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03137/3879015-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="620" height="490"></div><h2>VANCOUVER 2, CHICAGO 2</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0493/3879008-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="608" height="543"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS 5, COLORADO 9</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-0566/3879001-1-eng-US/f0038-052.jpg" title="f0038-05" width="605" height="770"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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NATIONAL LEAGUE SUMMARIES

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01655/3880803-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Robert Shaver)</span></figcaption></div><p>&mdash;Page 2</p><p><b><u>FANS&rsquo; All STARS</u> CANADIENS, ISLANDERS TOP PICKS</b></p><p>&mdash;Page 3</p><p><b>FOSTER GIVES BRUINS LIFT WITH SCORING</b></p><p>&mdash;Page 15</p><p><b>ISLANDER HOT LINE LEADS PLUS MINUS</b></p><p>&mdash;Page 10</p><p><b><u>PLAYOFF BATTIE</u> CINCINNATI, BIRMINGHAM GOING TO WIRE</b></p><p>&mdash;Page 24</p><p><b>RANGERS PLUMMET AFTER GOOD SEASON</b></p><p>&mdash;Page 13</p><p><b>NEW HAMPSHIRE STAR ECAC&rsquo;S BEST PLAYER</b></p><p>&mdash;age 29<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Cover-01

NHL EXPANSION SPELLS END OF WHA

<p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>Here are other highlights of the new NHL-WHA pact:</p><p>&bull; An NHL requirement states that all league arenas must seat at least 13,500. Quebec and Winnipeg are already making plans to increase their capacity to 15,000 seats. Present seating for the new NHL rinks are Quebec 10,012, Winnipeg 10,151, New England 10,507 and Edmonton 15,248.</p><p>&bull; Each of the four clubs will supply a letter of credit proving they have $1.5 million in operating capital for the 1979-80 season.</p><p>&bull; The four clubs will put up a multi million dollar protection bond covering the NHL from any liability or lawsuit that comes about because of expansion.</p><p>&bull; The three Canadian WHA cities will not receive any television revenue from Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts for five years. However, they will be allowed to sell their games regionally.</p><p>&bull; The WHA clubs will not vote on future expansions of the NHL until 1981 but revenues they gain as their share from any expansion up until then will be deducted from the $1.375-million in outstanding entry fees they will pay over the next five years.</p><p>&bull; The four WHA clubs can protect those players they have under contract of the 45 not on NHL protected lists and can draft players not on NHL protected lists from the rosters of Birmingham and Cincinnati.</p><p>&bull; The four WHA expansion franchises will conduct a draft of the players left off NHL protected lists, paying $125,000 for the first player they select. Each additional player the WHA clubs select will cost either $125,000 or the WHA club can fill with a player not on an NHL protected list.</p><p>&bull; No NHL club can lose more than four players in the expansion draft.</p><p>&bull; The WHA will draft 18th to 21st overall in the amateur draft.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

WHA Seating Must Increase

<div class="byline">BY TOM MURRAY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01962/3877873-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>John Ziegler, left, president of the NHL, appears to have convinced himself the expansion of the NHL to take in the four best WHA teams is a good thing. Ziegler is all smiles as he and WHA president Howard Baldwin share the podium during history-making announcement that the long, bitter seven-year hostilities between the two leagues is a thing of the past. The new 21-team NHL will take shape for the 1979-80 season.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Ap Photo)</span></figcaption></div><p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>Seven years after Gary Davidson and Dennis Murphy started the World Hockey Association with 12 franchises at a cost of $25,000 each&hellip;Seven years after the rise and fall of almost 30 teams (remember the Golden Blades and the Fighting Saints?)&hellip;Seven years and millions of dollars in salaries and legal fees later, The War Between The Leagues is finally over.</p><p>By a vote of 14-3, the National Hockey League approved a plan for expansion which will take effect at the beginning of the 1979-80 season, when the NHL will absorb the WHA&rsquo;s four strongest franchises, the Quebec Nordiques,. New England Whalers, Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers&mdash;and become a 21-team league with no major competition.</p><p>It is very important to note here that expansion, and NOT merger, is the key word for what has transpired between the two leagues.</p><p>&ldquo;We are not merging,&rdquo; NHL president John Ziegler emphatically told a large media gathering at New York City&rsquo;s Warwick Hotel. &ldquo;We are not adopting any WHA rules. The NHL is merely moving ahead and expanding.&rdquo;</p><p>That settled, here are some more details concerning the arrangement between the two leagues:</p><p>&bull; For the privilege of joining the NHL, each one of the WHA teams has to pay a sum of $6 million.</p><p>&bull; The NHL divisions will be realigned as follows:</p><p><b>Adams:</b> Boston, Buffalo, Minnesota, Toronto, Quebec City.</p><p><b>Norris:</b> Detroit, Los Angeles, Montreal, New England, Pittsburgh.</p><p><b>Patrick:</b> Atlanta, Islanders, Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington.</p><p><b>Smythe:</b> Chicago, Colorado, Edmonton, St. Louis, Vancouver, Winnipeg.</p><p>&bull; For at least the 1979-80 season, the league will play a balanced schedule of 80 games per team, with each team playing only two home and two away games with every other team. This means that the Rangers, for instance, will play the Islanders as many times at Madison Square Garden as they do the New England Whalers or the St. Louis Blues.</p><p>&bull; The remaining two WHA teams, the Cincinnati Stingers and Birmingham Bulls, will be dissolved. Their owners will receive $3.5 million and $2.85 million respectively from the four survivors, and their players whose rights do not already belong to NHL clubs will be placed in a talent pool from which all 21 teams will be able to draw.</p><p>&bull; The present playoff format&mdash;in which 12 of the 17 teams in the league qualify will be altered so that the number of eligible teams will be increased to 16. That means that the same number of teams&mdash;five&mdash;that don&rsquo;t qualify this year won&rsquo;t qualify next year. Next season the four divisional champions will qualify, as will 12 wild card teams. All 16 teams will then participate in the preliminary round (there will be no byes for divisional champs, as there are this year), which will be increased from its current best-of-three games to best-of-five.</p><p>&bull; Each one of the incoming WHA teams will be allowed to protect only four players&mdash;two goalies and two skaters. All of the rest of those players who are not protected will-be made available to the 17 NHL teams. So will any WHA player who is not on that four man protected list and whose rights are held by NHL teams.</p><p>Now this may sound like the WHA teams are getting a raw deal, but there is a catch which softens this blow somewhat. Here&rsquo;s how it works: Each NHL team will be allowed to protect 15 skaters and two goalies. So if an NHL team decides that it wants to draft a WHA player, it is going to have to make room for him by bumping one of its established players off the roster. Not only that, but in acquiring the WHA player, the NHL teams must assume that player&rsquo;s contract and may not trade or send the player to the minors for two years.</p><p>Translated, what this means is that the NHL teams have to be damn sure that the player they&rsquo;re drafting is going to make their team. So if the Quebec Nordiques for instance, don&rsquo;t protect Richie Leduc, and the Boston Bruins, who own Leduc&rsquo;s NHL rights, decide to pick him up&hellip;the Bruins will have to make one of their players (their 16th man) available for Quebec. On the other hand, if say the Montreal Canadiens drafted rookie Danny Geoffrion of Quebec, whom they selected in the amateur draft last summer, the Canadiens could place him on their roster without sacrificing a spot since the NHL doesn&rsquo;t have to protect first year pros, but the Canadiens would have to keep Geoffrion on their big league roster for two years or face losing him back to the Nordiques for $100.</p><p>&bull; The WHA teams will pick players as follows: After each one of the NHL teams protects its 15 skaters and two goalies, the remaining players will go into a general talent pool. At that point a random drawing will be held to determine which one of the WHA teams gets to pick first from this pool. The four teams will then draft players in order, and at a cost of $125,000 per player until each WHA team is stocked with 15 skaters and two goalies. No NHL team can lose more than one goalie without its consent, and no more than four players in all. After losing their-second and third players, the NHL teams can protect another player.</p><p>A lot more legal gymnastics will take place between now and the time the first puck is dropped next October, but the framework has been set and the process is in motion.</p><p>All that remains is for the WHA to fulfill its committments as far as meeting payments is concerned ($18.4 million is due on May 1) and for the NHL Players Association to give its stamp of approval to the expansion. The PA can avoid its collective bargaining agreement with the NHL if they interpret the arrangement with the WHA to be a merger, which is why Ziegler was so adamant about calling the arrangement an expansion.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve met with Alan Eagleson (the executive director of the PA)&rdquo;, Ziegler said, &ldquo;and we will negotiate in good faith and for the good of the sport. I have great faith in our relationship with the Players Association.&rdquo;</p><p>That faith, combined with hours of more haggling and millions of more dollars in payoffs and legal fees, should produce a united, one league sport by sometime this summer. And for the first time in seven long, bitter, expensive years, the NHL won&rsquo;t have to worry about the other kid on the block.</p><p>Where are you now, Gary Davidson?<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0002-01

NHL Approves Expansion To 21 Teams As Costly 7-Year War With WHA Ends

f0003-03

How Fans Picked Them

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE HALPIN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01968/3877970-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB SMITH&hellip;Rookie of the Year</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Robert Shaver)</span></figcaption></div><h2>THE FANS&rsquo; PICKS</h2><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>When you know who the best are, there&rsquo;s no hesitation in selecting the best.</p><p>This little bit of philosophy could well be applied to the 1978-79 National Hockey League All Star teams selected by the readers of THE HOCKEY NEWS.</p><p>The voting was considerably onesided this season indicating the fans knew who they wanted and went out and picked them.</p><p>Results of the 32nd annual poll conducted by THE HOCKEY NEWS among the fans, showed conclusively that members of the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders were the big fan favorites. Each team placed three players on the first All Star team while the Islanders put two men on team two and the Canadiens one, giving the two NHL powers a total of nine of the 12 All Star positions.</p><p>It was a situation that could hardly be classed as unexpected. Both the Islanders and Canadiens have been the dominant forces in the NHL race and most hockey people are convinced they will be the ultimate two playoff survivors who will battle for the Stanley Cup come mid May.</p><p>In the heaviest voting recorded in the annual poll, the fans picked Islander center Bryan Trottier as the most valuable player this season and also selected him as the first-team All Star center ahead of Marcel Dionne of Los Angeles Kings, who has had some kind of a scoring year.</p><p>The Canadiens put three men&mdash;goaler Ken Dryden, defenseman Larry Robinson and right winger Guy Lafleur on the first team. The Islanders named were Trottier, his left wing linemate Clark Gillies, and defenseman Denis Potvin, who led all defensemen in the voting.</p><p>The Islanders also proved the popular choice of the fan selectors for the second team. Goaler Chico Resch was picked along with scoring sensation Mike Bossy at right wing.</p><p>Others on the second team included Borje Salming of Toronto and Washington&rsquo;s Robert Picard on defense, Dionne at center, and Steve Shutt of Montreal at left wing.</p><p>In the individual player voting, Trottier was chosen MVP over Lafleur in one of the few close voting situations while Bob Smith, the great young center of the Minnesota North Stars, was selected as the NHL&rsquo;s rookie of the year. Smith attracted the biggest rookie vote to get the nod over Ryan Walter of Washington and Wayne Babych of St. Louis, the only other two rookies who received serious consideration in the balloting.</p><p>This year&rsquo;s fan All Star teams bore a striking resemblance to the 1977-78 HOCKEY NEWS squads. Five of the six players chosen this year were repeaters from last season&rsquo;s teams. Only Salming, who was on the first team in 1978, failed to repeat this-year. Dryden, Potvin, Trottier, Lafleur and Gillis were all voted back this season. Bossy and Shutt also were on team two in &rsquo;78. Resch, Picard and Dionne are new to the All Star teams this year.</p><p>Voting for most positions tended to be conclusive. Trottier was a near unanimous first team selection while Dionne had to fight off Atlanta&rsquo;s Guy Chouinard for the second-team berth. Lafleur received little or no opposition from Bossy for the rightwing spot while Bossy was an almost unanimous choice for team two. Gillies, too, was an easy winner over Shutt at left wing in the voting?</p><p>In the balloting for goaler and defense, neither Dryden nor Potvin and Robinson were hard pressed for All Star recognition. Dryden and Resch were well ahead in the goaling voting. On defense, Salming and Picard were the second-team choices but players like Rangers&rsquo; Ron Greschner and Barry Beck of Colorado were close in pursuit.</p><p>Trottier&rsquo;s narrow victory over Lafleur in the MVP voting is a pretty good indication of how the two will probably battle for Hart Trophy rights this season, an honor that has been reserved strictly for Lafleur the past three years. Most hockey fans were only concerned with the two when marking their ballots and gave the edge to the diminutive Islander center, who appears headed for his first NHL individual scoring title this season.</p><p>The naming of the 21-year-old Smith as the NHL&rsquo;s best rookie performer this season was a true manifestation to the youngster&rsquo;s great hockey talents. Chosen No. 1 in the NHL&rsquo;s amateur draft last summer, the rangy Minnesota center managed to recover from a slow freshman year start to come on as the top scoring rookie player in the league. His fairly convincing victory over Babych and Walter in THE HOCKEY NEWS poll pretty well assures the former Ottawa 67s scoring star of serious consideration for the NHL&rsquo;s Calder Trophy rookie award.</p><p>Hockey fans who participated in THE HOCKEY NEWS poll this year again were requested to cftoose both&mdash;NHL and WHA All Star teams. Their WHA teams will be published in the April 27 issue of THE HOCKEY NEWS. So watch for them.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02833/3877963-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="1142" height="1291"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRYAN TROTTIER&hellip;Most Valuable Player</b></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04335/3877956-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="526" height="774"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KEN DRYDEN&hellip;Top Goaler</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-05190/3877949-1-eng-US/f0003-052.jpg" title="f0003-05" width="526" height="768"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DENIS POTVIN&hellip;1st Team Defense</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-06128/3877942-1-eng-US/f0003-062.jpg" title="f0003-06" width="526" height="762"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARRY ROBINSON&hellip;1st Team Defense</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-0784/3877935-1-eng-US/f0003-072.jpg" title="f0003-07" width="532" height="768"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GUYLAFLEUR&hellip;No. 1 Right Wing</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-0856/3877928-1-eng-US/f0003-082.jpg" title="f0003-08" width="528" height="766"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CLARK GILLIES&hellip;No. 1 Left Wing</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0003-01

Canadians, Islanders Dominate ‘One-Sided’ All Star Balloting

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011019/3878060-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="500" height="504"></div><p>&bull; <b>ALL OF</b> the playoff teams in the National Hockey League have now been determined and except for the final unraveling of the overall points standings, there were few surprises or upsets. The New York Islanders&rsquo; challenge to Montreal tor the top team in the league was met and withstood by a late Canadiens&rsquo; surge, while the Minnesota North Stars couldn&rsquo;t keep pace with Toronto and missed out on the playoffs&hellip;One battle that went to the end of the regular schedule was for the home ice advantage among some of the teams in the preliminary round. Pittsburgh was the final team with a chance for home ice, needing to surpass either But-falo (who they trailed by four points) or Atlanta, who was five points ahead, in the final three games of the season&hellip;Oddities among 50-goal scorers: Guy Lafleur, who became only the second NHL player to record five consecutive 50-goal seasons, scored his 50th this year against Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Denis Herron. It&rsquo;s the third time in five years that Lafleur scored No. 50 against Herron, twice while he goaled for the Kansas City Scouts&hellip;Phil Esposito, the first player to crack the 50-mark five successive times, scored goal No. 50 on his birthday (Feb. 20) on three of those occasions&hellip;Toronto&rsquo;s Lanny McDonald was the second player to score back-to-back hat tricks in the NHL this season. Detroit&rsquo;s Vaclav Nedomansky was the other player to do so, while Real Cloutier of Quebec Nordiques ac-complished the feat in the WHA. Cloutier, in fact, scored 10 goals in a four-game span earlier this year&hellip;Guy Chouinard needed only one goal in his final four games to become the 22nd 50-goal scorer in NHL history.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02975/3878053-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="287" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Denis Herron</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>CONTRARY TO</b> public belief, that&rsquo;s not a bad hockey team that will represent Canada in the world hockey championships in Moscow in midApril. Comprised of NHL players whose teams missed the playoffs&mdash;that&rsquo;s Detroit, Washington, St. Louis, Colorado and Minnesota&mdash;ossible players include: goalers&mdash;Jim Rutherford (Detroit), Ed Staniowski (St. Louis); defense&mdash;Greg Smith, Brad Maxwell (Minnesota), Barry Beck (Colorado), Robert Picard, Rick Green (Washington); left wings&mdash;Brian Sutter (St. Louis), Ryan Walter (Washington). Paul Woods (Detroit), Steve Payne (Minnesota): centers&mdash;Dennis Maruk, Guy Charron (Washington), Bob Smith, Glen Sharpley (Minnesota), Dale McCourt (Detroit), Bernie Federko (St. Louis); right wings&mdash;Wayne Babych (St. Louis), Wilf Paiement (Colorado), Al MacAdam (Minnesota)&hellip;These players have not been confirmed but would make a young and strong-skating alignment&hellip;Gary Davidson, the founder of the World Hockey Association is said to be doing well selling real estate in Newport Beach, Calif&hellip;IHL correspondent Bud Gallmeier reports that veteran forward Dennis Desrosiers of Saginaw has retired rather than accept a trade to Muskegon. During his IHL career, Desrosiers scored 273 goals and played seven seasons for Saginaw.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03871/3878046-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="300" height="450"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dennis Desrosiers</b></figcaption></div><p>&#9650; <b>FORMER NHL</b> star Camille Henny is making a rapid recovery following a stint in a New York hospital and is anxious to secure a position in the broadcasting field or other sports-related work in the near future. Henry scored 279 NHL goals with the Rangers, Black Hawks and St. Louis Blues&hellip;The annual Boston Bruins&rsquo; Gallery Gods dinner-dance held March 20 raised over $1,000 for the local heart fund. Gallery Gods&rsquo; president Roger Naples turned the check over to Johnny Bucyk at the dinner which was attended by coach Don Cherry, several of the Bruins and their wiyes. Bruins&rsquo; rookie Al Secord even had his mother present&hellip;A youngster playing in the Philadelphia-area InterCounty Scholastic Hockey League is catching the eye of numerous college scouts. He&rsquo;s Scott Chamness, a five-foot-11, 170-pound junior at Archbishop Carroll High who led the league with 89 goals and 45 assists in only 17 games. Chamness still has a year to play in the league&hellip;Three National Hockey League players expected to be added to Sweden&rsquo;s national team for the world championships at the end of this month are Detroit&rsquo;s Dan Labraaten and Rolf Edberg and Leif Svensson, both from the Washington Capitals&hellip;Heading into the final few weeks of the World Hockey Association, New England Whalers were the only team to have a break-even record on the road. In their first 36 out of town games the Whalers were at .500 with a dozen wins, the same number of losses and nine ties.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04769/3878039-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="297" height="450"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Camille Henry</b></figcaption></div><p>&bull; <b>A NICE COMMENT</b> came from Philadelphia&rsquo;s Bobby Clarke recently about his long-time adversary, Chicago&rsquo;s Stan Mikita. &ldquo;He (Mikita) is a helluva hockey player. He plays the same style 1 do. He whacks away at.you, too. We just sort of return favors to each other. But he is smart&mdash;very, very smart. If you look at the record books, he&rsquo;s probably one of the best players in the history of the league over the years. And he just seems to keep going and going.&rdquo;&hellip;A man on the rise is Boston&rsquo;s Rick Middleton, who&rsquo;s been slowed by injuries of late but still has surpassed his personal best of 60 points by 26 thus far. He has at least a point in 12 of his last 14 games and 29 points in a 20-game stretch&hellip;Quebec Nordiques&rsquo; coach Jacques Demers was in the news again recently. Faced with an alarming shortage of players just before game time, Demers suited up to give the Nordiques the necessary number to play the game. No, he didn&rsquo;t see any action&hellip;Washington Capitals&rsquo; property Pierre Bouchard showed that his five month retirement from hockey didn&rsquo;t dull his wit when he quipped: &ldquo;I started thinking that 1 can always go back to the restaurant business when I&rsquo;m 60. You see a lot of restaurant owners at 60 but not many hockey players, except Gordie Howe.&rdquo;&hellip;Goaltenders Rogie Vachon and Gary Smith made comebacks on the same night after sitting out for a few weeks. Vachon was bombed in the Detroit nets by his former team the Kings, 8-1. Smith was the winning goaler in Winnipegs&rsquo; 6-3 decision against Cincinnati.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05631/3878032-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg" title="f0004-05" width="295" height="447"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pierre Bouchard</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div><p>DETROIT&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>R</span>ogie Vachon is still a Red Wing and, according to general manager Ted Lindsay, he will be for some time to come after the veteran goaltender cleared $2,500.00 waivers and remained the property of the Red Wings.</p><p>Vachon has handled the very difficult episode with a great deal of class. It would have been easy for him to say he&rsquo;s fed up with Detroit and wants to leave. Everybody would understand. That&rsquo;s not his position at all.</p><p>&ldquo;Right now. I&rsquo;d like to prove I still can play here,&rdquo; Vachon said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d love to finish by career here. I don&rsquo;t want to move. We like it here.&rdquo;</p><p>Vachon said he was shocked when Lindsay told him he was being placed on waivers.</p><p>&ldquo;If things go bad and they no longer need your services, try to trade a guy,&rdquo; Vachon said. &ldquo;If a guy doesn&rsquo;t fit in your plans, I would realize they don&rsquo;t want me anymore. It&rsquo;s understandable because things went bad with the team and I played bad.</p><p>&ldquo;But putting me on waivers, that was rough. The last thing I was thinking was going on waivers.&rdquo;</p><p>Clearly, Lindsay was glad to retain the veteran goaltender.</p><p>&ldquo;My only sorrow is that, and this is my fault, because I would not divulge my reasons (for putting Vachon on waivers), people started guessing at what those reason were and that was un fair to Vachon,&rdquo; Lindsay said.</p><p>&ldquo;I have no intention of buying out his contract. Rogie will remain with the Red Wings. Knowing the kind of competitor he is, I know he can come back.&rdquo;</p><p>Others agreed, including Larry Rauch, Vachon&rsquo;s agent.</p><p>&ldquo;Rogie recognizes what I hold him in its own way, this is another challenge,&rdquo; Rauch said. &ldquo;I honestly think he will be in Detroit for four more years and he&rsquo;ll play well.</p><p>&ldquo;Obviously, it was not totally pected that he cleared waivers. We knew his contract would be an impediment.</p><p>&ldquo;We know teams that thought long and hard on it (claiming Vachon). And I&rsquo;m sure a lot of teams will try to trade for him in the future. But this passing waivers was not unexpected. &rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Lindsay said several clubs inquired about Vachon and asked whether the Wings would be willing to pick up a part of his five-year contract if they were to claim him.</p><p>&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t interested in anything like that.&rdquo; Lindsay said.</p><p>&ldquo;It was very embarrassing,&rdquo; Vachon said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the right word. You never expect it, and when it does happen&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s easy to blast people, especially, since they&rsquo;re all on you. I don&rsquo;t see a reason for that.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re just going to finish the season and see,&rdquo; Vachon said of the future. &lsquo;&lsquo;1 don&rsquo;t even know what their plans are&hellip;The reaction of everybody, the players, the coach&mdash;if they still have confidence in me, I&rsquo;m going to try to come back and prove that it was just a bad year.&rdquo;</p><p>Rogie said coach Bobby Kromm &ldquo;has been really good.&rdquo; About his relationship with Lindsay, he added:</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been tough on him, too. He didn&rsquo;t think it (the waiver) was coming out. When it did, he was very upset because he knew what I was going to go through. He&rsquo;s been calling and apologizing for how it was done.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-06385/3878091-1-eng-US/f0004-062.jpg" title="f0004-06" width="492" height="768"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROGIEVACHON&hellip;Facing Challenge</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0004-06

Vachon Anxious To Prove Worth In Wings’ Jersey

<p><b>VOLUME 32, NUMBER 28 APRIL 13,1979</b></p><p><b>Kenneth W. McKenzie</b><br>&nbsp;<i>President</i></p><p><b>Charlie Halpin Editorial</b><br>&nbsp;<i>Director</i></p><p><b>Tom Murray</b><br>&nbsp;<i>Assistant Publisher</i></p><p><b>Mike Dennis</b><br>&nbsp;<i>Assistant Editor</i></p><p><b>Peter Emerson</b><br>&nbsp;<i>Vice-President Sales</i></p><p><b>Suita 600, 55 University Ave.,</b></p><p><b>Toronto, Ont M5J 2H7,</b></p><p><b>Telephone: (416) 361-0116</b></p><p><b>Advertising Representatives:</b></p><p><b>Montreal</b></p><p>Mary McCutcheon</p><p>1434 St. Catherine Street West, Suite 217 Montreal, Can. &bull; H3G1R7 (514) 866-4841</p><p><b>New York:</b></p><p>Tom Murray</p><p>850 Third Ave.</p><p>New York, N.Y. 10022 &bull; (212)593-2100</p><p><b>Chicago:</b></p><p>Hooper. Jones & Associates</p><p>3322 W. Peterson Avenue</p><p>Chicago, III. 60659 &bull; (312)478-5544</p><p>THE HOCKEY NEWS, (ISSN 0018-3016). is published weekly except monthly June through September by W.C.C. Publishing Co., Ltd., 1434 St. Catherine Street West, Montreal. Canada H3G1R7. Phone (514) 8664841. In U.S. c/o W.C.C. Publishing Corp., 850 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022. Phone (212) 593-2100.</p><p>YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $13.95 in Canada, $14.95 in the U.S.A, and $19.25 in Foreign Countries. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. 10001 and at additional mailing Offices. SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO 1434 ST. CATHERINE STREET WEST, SUITE 217, MONTREAL, CANADA H3G 1R7. Second Class mail Registration No. 1327. All inquiries pertaining to subscriptions should be addressed to Subscription Dept., The Hockey News, 1434 St. Catherine St. W., Montreal, Canada H3G 1R7, Printed in Canada.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

The Hockey News OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLY FOUNDED 1947

<div class="byline">BY MIKE DENNIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01888/3878146-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="560" height="826"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ROD LANGWAY&hellip;More Physical</b></figcaption></div><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>What a difference a week makes.</p><p>That was the feeling surrounding the Montreal Forum after a 5-2 victory by the Canadiens over the St. Louis Blues coupled with a 6-1 loss in Chicago by the New York Islanders gave the Canadiens a two-point lead in the overall National Hockey League standings. Just one week previous, the Canadiens had lost a 5-3 verdict to the Islanders and had fallen four points off the pace in the race for NHL supremacy. Then followed consecutive victories over Washington, the Rangers, Atlanta, and St. Louis and suddenly the Habs were on top of the heap once more.</p><p>For first-year NHL defenseman Rod Langway, a more appropriate rallying cry might have been&mdash;&lsquo;What a difference five weeks make.&rsquo; That was the length of time Langway served in Halifax,. Nova Scotia of the American League before being called up when Larry Robinson was bothered with water on the knee.</p><p>Suffering from a malady sometimes known as &ldquo;rookie fever,&rdquo; Langway was assigned to Novy just before the break in the schedule for the Challenge Cup series and told that the remedy for him was going to be &ldquo;ice, ice and more ice.&rdquo;</p><p>While in the minors, Langway killed penalties, played on the power play and started playing a more physical type of game, something which has been evident in his play with the Canadiens since his return.</p><p>&ldquo;I was told to go out and play the body,&rdquo; Langway said, &ldquo;and I think the team as a whole has been and that&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;re playing better. You&rsquo;re hitting and moving the puck and the games seem to go faster.</p><p>&ldquo;At the beginning of the season I played well for about the first 15 games,&rdquo; explained 21-year-old Langway, the youngest player on the team, &ldquo;then 1 hit a bad stretch and after that was only getting three or four shifts a game.</p><p>&ldquo;When I was sent down, they just said &lsquo;Go and get some ice time,&rsquo; so 1 did but I thought I&rsquo;d be down for the rest Of the season.&rdquo;</p><p>His new defense partner as the Canadiens have gone to three defensive pairings is Guy Lapointe who says: &ldquo;I think it (the minors) helped him. He doesn&rsquo;t look as nervous now, his confidence is up and he is doing the job.</p><p>&ldquo;Give him time,&rdquo; Lapointe added, &ldquo;and he&rsquo;ll show that he can carry the puck as well as anybody we have. And he&rsquo;s got a heavy shot, too.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just trying to play a complete type of game,&rdquo; said Langway, who came out of the University of New Hampshire (he&rsquo;s from Melrose, Mass.) to play a year in the World Hockey Association with the Birmingham Bulls, along with Canadiens&rsquo; right winger Mark Napier. &ldquo;No goals in the net, that&rsquo;s the big thing. Any points I get are a bonus, although we have the freedom to go with the puck if you get the room on the ice.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased with the way everything has worked out this year especially with playing regularly. Scotty (Bowman) has shown confidence in using me and if I can keep playing like 1 am, things will be fine.</p><p>In the game against Atlanta, Langway had his finest offensive match in the NHL with a goal and two assists. &ldquo;But it wasn&rsquo;t my best all-around game,&rdquo; he offered. &ldquo;We had some problems getting out of our end in the second period and I&rsquo;ve played better defensively, but we won. That&rsquo;s the most important thing.&rdquo;</p><p>Another important aspect for Langway or any player has to be ice time.</p><p>&ldquo;Lots of ice, that&rsquo;s the big thing,&rdquo; said Langway, &ldquo;you need it to stay in top shape and keep your timing. That&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;m doing now and I&rsquo;m looking forward to competing for the Stanley Cup.&rdquo;</p><p>Guy Lapointe also had a word or two on the latter subject: &ldquo;The more guys we get ready (for the playoffs), the better we&rsquo;re going to be. And believe me, we&rsquo;re going to have to be good for the playoffs this year. It&rsquo;s going to be tough.&rdquo;</p><p><b>FORUM REBOUNDS:</b> Bowman went with the hot hand and played Bunny Larocque in five straight games, the longest Ken Dryden has been on the bench as a back-up since he came to the club in the spring of 1971. Said Bowman: &ldquo;The team has played tighter hockey (more defensive) with Bunny in goal.&rdquo; Habs won all five&hellip;Mario Jremblay hit the 30-goal mark for the first time, following Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt to that plateau this season. Also close are Pierre Mondou (28 goals) and Yvon Lambert (26 goals)&hellip;Rejean Houle has a torn muscle in his stomach and may not be cleared for duty until the playoffs&hellip;Langway scored a goal at 14:35 of the third period to give Canadiens a tie in Boston Garden. Rod&rsquo;s father was there to witness the key tally.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0005-01

Ice Time In Minors Helps La ng way Become Confident With Canadiens

<p>Following are the latest player movements in hockey:</p><h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p>ATLANTA&mdash;<b>Bob Suter,</b> D, assigned to Tulsa of CHL on amateur tryout.</p><p>BOSTON&mdash;<b>Al Secord,</b> LW, and <b>Dwight Foster,</b> RW, recalled from Rochester of AHL.</p><p>BUFFALO&mdash;<b>Bill Stewart,</b> D, returned to lineup from injury list.</p><p>CO. LORADO&mdash;<b>Barry Beck,</b> D, returned to lineup from injury list.</p><p>DETROIT&mdash;<b>Bill Hogaboam.</b> C, placed on disabled list. Nick Libett, LW, returned to lineup from injury list.</p><p>L. ANGELES&mdash;Glenn Goldup, RW, returned to lineup from injury list.</p><p>MINNESOTA&mdash;ete LoPresti, G, recalled from Oklahoma City of CHL. <b>Jim Roberts, RW,</b> returned to Oklahoma City. <b>John Rockwell, G, John Harrington,</b> RW, and <b>Warren Young, RW,</b> assigned to Oklahoma City on amateur trial.</p><p>N.Y. ISLANDERS&mdash;<b>Andre LePage,</b> G, Dave Salvian, LW, and Neil Hawrilyw, RW, recalled from Fort Worth of CHL and reassigned to Fort Wayne of IHL.</p><p>N.Y.RANGERS&mdash;<b>John Davidson,</b> G, and Ron Greschner, D, returned to lineup from injury list.</p><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;<b>Russ Anderson,</b> D, placed on disabled list. Mike Meeker, RW, recalled from Binghamton of AHL.</p><p>ST LOUIS&mdash;<b>Terry Richardson,</b> G, recalled from Salt Lake of CHL.</p><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;<b>Ron Lalonde,</b> C, and <b>Mark Lofthouse,</b> RW, recalled from Hershey of AHL. Doug Paley, RW, returned to Hershey.</p><h2>WORLD HOCKEY ASSN.</h2><p>EDMONTON&mdash;<b>Claire Alexander,</b> D, assigned to Dallas of CHL. <b>Doug Berry,</b> C, recalled from Dallas.</p><p>WINNIPEG&mdash;<b>Lars-Erik Sjoberg,</b> D, returned to lineup for first time this season after being out all year with Achilles tendon injury. <b>Dick Gosselin, RW,</b> signed to WHA contract after playing in Swiss hockey league.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Hockey Players On The Move

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>Is he or isn&rsquo;t he? That&rsquo;s what a lot of people would like to know.</p><p>The center of their attentions is Canadiens&rsquo; coach Scotty Bowman who has been rumored on his way out of Montreal after he was bypassed this summer for the general manager&rsquo;s job.</p><p>The Montreal Star revealed on Saturday, March 24 that Bowman was heading to Michigan State University for an interview with athletic director Dr. Joseph Kearney about the head coaching job there. It has been no secret that Bowman is interested in eventually gelling into the college coaching ranks, with Notre Dame University often mentioned, and now Michigan State, ninth place finishers with a 12-20 record in the Western Collegiate Athletic Association.</p><p>However, Bowman won&rsquo;t be going anywhere for awhile, particularly not to Michigan State as Bowling Green coach Ron Mason has been confirmed as the new coach there, succeeding Amo Bessone, who retired after 28 years.</p><p>Bowman&rsquo;s name is still being bandied about in National Hockey League circles, (hough, beyond the coaching level. There&rsquo;s Vancouver, who offered him a job a couple of years ago, where there&rsquo;s a vacancy In the team president&rsquo;s job, or St. Louis, where he once held down both the coaching and general manager&rsquo;s positions.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-02723/3878201-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="524" height="886"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SCOTTY BOWMAN&hellip;Leaving Montreal?</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0005-02

Rumors Still Swirling About Bowman’s Future

<div class="byline">&#x2014;BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011051/3878232-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="354" height="479"></div><h2>Tale Of Two Cities</h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>T TOOK A LOT</b> of nerve for the Black Hawks to trade Phil Russell, Ivan Boldirev and Darcy Rota. Hockey fans in Chicago figure that the South at last has gotten even with the North for the Civil War.</p><p>But it also took a lot of nerve for the Atlanta Flames to trade the most popular player in their history, Tom Lysiak, plus four young sequoia trees when so much emphasis is being placed on size and age. Hockey fans in Atlanta figure that Al Capone, wherever he is, must have arranged another big deal for Chicago</p><p>And that tale of two cities tells all about the remarkable eight player swap promulgated just before the National Hockey League deadline. Its magnitude was so great, its variables so many, and the reasons behind it so intriguing that the jury will remain hung for some time.</p><p>Consider what happened. The Black Hawks, who need firepower parted with their leading scorer, their most offensive defenseman for the last seven years, plus their most productive left wing since Bobby Hull. Furthermore, this team so wanting for identity parted with three of its most identifiable players.</p><p>Meanwhile the Flames, who were looking for defense, traded three defensemen. And the Flames, who had become a contender for big things by building with big people, traded big people. And the Flames, who receive lukewarm support with an exciting and winning club in a city where hockey is not indigenous, expended not only their golden boy, Lysiak, but three other youngsters&mdash;Harold Phillipoff, Pat Ribble and Greg Fox&mdash;who were just starting to develop a following.</p><h2>Timing Is Intriguing</h2><p><b>THE MOST INTRIGUING</b> aspect might have been the timing. The Flames, apparently content to construct slowly and surely an elite club, traded five young players for three slightly more ex perienced players with the obvious intent of expediting their journey to a bigger and better playoff payoff.</p><p>And the Hawks, whose declining numbers in the standings, the stands and on TV, would indicate that the present is at least as portant as the future, turned around and acquired two or three players who might not blossom for two or three years.</p><p>When athletes of star quality are moved, one must examine the motivation behind moving them.</p><p>Lysiak explained that he wasn&rsquo;t getting along with coach Fred Creighton. General manager Cliff Fletcher obviated a problem by trading Lysiak. It wasn&rsquo;t that serious yet, but the possibility of in creased tension, combined with the availability of a blue chip center man to replace Lysiak, turned the trick.</p><p>Russell, in the correct situation and clear frame of mind, should be an All Star this year, next year, any year. And with the proper chemistry on his line, Boldirev will fill the net for the Flames. He&rsquo;s a superior offensive artist.</p><p>But by dealing them, the Black Hawks said just what the Flames said about Lysiak&mdash;that perhaps they had gone just as far as they felt they could go in the standings with the involved parties.</p><h2>Russell Wasn&rsquo;t Relaxed</h2><p><b>RUSSELL DID NOT RELAX</b> in Chicago, for reasons beyond the ice. Yet he was vitally important to the Black Hawks, and if he becomes the player he might in Atlanta, the Hawks must forever be spanked&mdash;not only for dealing him, but for failing to harness his talents and channel them properly. Likewise, Boldirev felt a certain restraint of trade in Chicago. In Atlanta, they gave him the puck and said go. They might wind up with another Phil Esposito.</p><p>Of course, the surest vindication for the Hawks will be if Lysiak and company play well, in which case Bob Pulford&rsquo;s hindsight will negate everybody else&rsquo;s hindsight. And then it will be Fletcher&rsquo;s turn to explain why he traded away all those assets just because they weren&rsquo;t quite ripe.</p><p>In any case, it is not likely that either club was robbed. Lysiak, who doesn&rsquo;t want to be the leader the Hawks want him to be, might balance out with Boldirev, Phillipoff might hit the other guy as often as Rota hits the other net, and the three new Hawk defensemen will have three chances of equalling one Russell.</p><p>At first, it appeared that Chicago gave too much. But a year from now, that opinion might not be worth the paper it&rsquo;s written on. That&rsquo;s up to the players, all eight of them.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-01

HOCKEY TALK

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02809/3878263-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOBBY CLARKE&hellip;Offers Honest Answers</b></figcaption></div><p>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;</p><p>Need an opinion on a hockey-related subject? Bobby Clarke is your man.</p><p>Don&rsquo;t get the idea Clarke stands at his locker in the Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; dressing room and shouts, &ldquo;Hey, today I want to talk about merger.&rdquo; That&rsquo;s not the man&rsquo;s style. After years as one of his sport&rsquo;s most prominent players, Clarke prefers to blend into the Flyers&rsquo; scene. But ask the Flyers&rsquo; respected captain a question and you&rsquo;ll receive a thoughtful opinion.</p><p>&ldquo;I always try to answer questions honestly, and that gets you in trouble,&rdquo; Clarke said.</p><p>The most important subject in hockey now is the National Hockey League&rsquo;s &ldquo;expansion&rdquo; into Quebec City, Winnipeg, Edmonton and New England. Outside league offices and courtrooms, this most significant development since the NHL&rsquo;s original expansion is known as merger. And what does Clarke, who has served as forceful president of the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, think about merger?</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no question it&rsquo;s good for hockey,&rdquo; said the man who, at the mature age of 29, prefers to be called Bob. &ldquo;It offers stability&mdash;we won&rsquo;t be competing among our own sport anymore. And it&rsquo;s good for international competition, which seems to be important to the future of hockey.&rdquo;</p><p>Although he is one of hockey&rsquo;s highest-paid players (his fans will tell you he isn&rsquo;t paid enough), Clarke appreciates the financial position of NHL owners.</p><p>&ldquo;I think merger will also help with the draft,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Teams won&rsquo;t have to pay exorbitant amounts and, in some cases, end up getting burned. That&rsquo;s why some teams are in financial trouble.&rdquo;</p><p>Clarke has earned every penny Ed Snider has paid him and has no desire to leave Philadelphia. But the three-time Hart Trophy winner realizes many players aren&rsquo;t as fortunate as he is, which explains why the Players Association is taking a stubborn stand on the merger.</p><p>&ldquo;We want to see what the owners work out&mdash;it&rsquo;s part of our collective bargaining agreement,&rdquo; Clarke said. &ldquo;In the past, if a player wasn&rsquo;t happy in the National Hockey League he could jump to the World Hockey. There haven&rsquo;t been too many, but we had that negotiating power.&rdquo;</p><p>Players have also had the negotiating power of becoming free agents. Like most red-blooded Canadian-Americans, Clarke favors free enterprise. But he opposes the free-agent concept.</p><p>&ldquo;A team like the Rangers seems to have so much money to spend, while a team like Colorado is losing money. If the Rangers wanted to, they could take all of Colorado&rsquo;s best players. That doesn&rsquo;t seem to make any sense for the good of the sport.</p><p>&ldquo;The last seven years we (Flyers) have always been right near the top. We&rsquo;ve got the best organization in hockey from the top on down. Let&rsquo;s face it: if the Rangers hadn&rsquo;t bought Nilsson, Hedberg and Shero this year, do you think they&rsquo;d be where they are?</p><p>&ldquo;Nobody else in the league went out in the free-agent market. We kept our team on top with good drafting and trades and hard work, not by someone coming in and opening the vault. I certainly don&rsquo;t blame the Rangers&mdash;if they have the money that&rsquo;s their prerogative. It just seems to me that there would be less satisfaction in winning that way, when a team is bought rather than built.&rdquo;</p><p>Clarke was overlooking Detroit&rsquo;s signing of Rogie Vachon when he zeroed in on the Rangers big-bucks free-agent dabbling. The Red Wings wish they could overlook Vachon&rsquo;s $1.9 million contract after what&rsquo;s happened to one of hockey&rsquo;s nicest people. But that&rsquo;s the chance a team takes when it rolls the dice for a free agent.</p><p>Clarke has criticized the NHL&rsquo;s leadership when the occasion demanded. Except for the blundering involved in arranging for CBS to toss the league a bone by televising a portion of a Challenge Cup game with the Soviets and offering a Buffalo-St. Louis thriller as its final Monday night attraction (against the Michigan State-lndiana State basketball championship), there hasn&rsquo;t been much lately for critics to froth over.</p><p>&ldquo;As players we have to be concerned with what the league does,&rdquo; said Clarke. &ldquo;But we don&rsquo;t have any control or authority. One thing I&rsquo;ve noticed&mdash;and it&rsquo;s probably a minor thing&mdash;is Minnesota has advertising on its boards. What if one brand of beer is advertised there and, say, the Islanders come in and are sponsored by another beer? That seems like a bad situation to me. If one team sells advertising like that, all the teams should do it.&rdquo;</p><p>Clarke has offered a unique solution to hockey&rsquo;s violence, one that may send NHL general managers reaching for the nearest aspirin jug.</p><p>&ldquo;If guys are brought in to fight and, protecting their teammates, they do it, why should they be fined? They&rsquo;re only doing what the team wants. If guys who can&rsquo;t play are in the league, maybe it&rsquo;s the general managers who should be fined.&rdquo;</p><p>Compared to other professional sports, hockey has had a relatively comfortable relationship between players and owners.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ve been successful because we got the message across that we were willing to work with the owners,&rdquo; Clarke said. &ldquo;Unfortunately, some of the owners don&rsquo;t seem to want to help each other out. We have some great owners in the league, but there are some that are just concerned with their own teams.&rdquo;</p><p>With those candid opinions on file, Clarke was asked about his own career. Most observers believe he&rsquo;ll only play another two or three seasons. Is he worried about retiring before the Flyers are serious Stanley Cup contenders again?</p><p>&ldquo;Yes, I just hope 1 can still help when we&rsquo;re in the position to win another Cup. We&rsquo;re not far away&mdash;we&rsquo;ve really come a long way in the last month and a half.&rdquo;</p><p>Bob Clarke has come a long way from Flin Flon, Manitoba. It&rsquo;s been the NHL&rsquo;s pleasure having him aboard. The longer he stays, the better hockey will be.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-02

Outspoken Flyer Clarke Feels Merger Good Deal For Players And Owners

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div><p>TORONTO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he heady binge, inspired by the bizarre firing (for two days) and rehiring of coach Roger Neilson, a five-game unbeaten streak, is only a distant memory for the Toronto Maple Leafs now.</p><p>That burst, which locked up a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Leafs, was followed by the Leafs&rsquo; reverting to the ordinary play which has been the dominant feature of their work for much of the *78-79 National Hockey League. They won only once and tied one in seven games and if the Minnesota North Stars had been able to generate a hot streak, the Leafs would have been in danger of missing the Stanley Cup tournament.</p><p>Of course, the team&rsquo;s detractors are hesitant to write off the Leafs totally. In the 1977-78 season, the Leafs were dreadful in the stretch, securing only eight points from their concluding 12 games. Then they did a turn-around in the playoffs, ousting the Los Angeles Kings and New York Islander&rsquo;s to advance to semi-finals for the first time since 1967.</p><p>&ldquo;The Leafs are a club I&rsquo;d prefer to avoid in the playoffs,&rdquo; a rival coach said. &ldquo;They have a great goalie in Mike Palmateer, who&rsquo;s capable of winning a playoff series almost by himself, a team which can check strongly and play tough and if their four or five big guys are cooking, they can be a tough team.&rdquo;</p><p>The Leafs big problem was scoring goals. The club owns the fourth best defensive mark in the NHL with the amazing Palmateer a large factor in that. Their attack produces sufficient if not large, amounts of chances but they have a blacksmith&rsquo;s touch around the net.</p><p>Neilson hopes that two late-season additions, center Paul Gardner, acquired from Colorado Rockies in a trade, and winger Rocky Saganiuk, who was leading the American League in goals when he was promoted in early March, will supply some small amount of remedy to a sick attack.</p><p>Saganiuk scored a goal and two assists in his first game and while he played strongly, was unable to repeat that performance. Gardner scored two goals in five games with the Leafs but has been bothered by injuries, especially a sore back which kept him out of a couple of games.</p><p>&ldquo;Rocky has given us a lift with his pep and drive and I&rsquo;m certain the goals will come for him,&rdquo; Neilson said. &ldquo;Gardner is a proven scorer but it will take him a little time to fit into our system of play and get to know his wingers.&rdquo;</p><p>At the start of the season, Neilson figured the Leafs would be a contender for a divisional pennant if they could score 300 goals and surrender 200 or less. He&rsquo;s slightly off on all figures. The Leafs will be fortunate to finish the season at the .500 level and Neilson will be 50 goals out on both his hopes.</p><p>But then it appears likely that no NHL club will have a goals against average of below 2.50 per game and only two will be under 3.00, a category which had seven clubs in it last season.</p><p>Although the Leafs failed to reach his defensive goals, Neilson has been pleased with the club&rsquo;s defensive play.</p><p>&ldquo;We have played strongly defensively and that&rsquo;s why we feel we can make some noise in the playoffs,&rdquo; Neilson said. &ldquo;Usually playoff games are low scoring. But we do need to generate some more offense. We&rsquo;ve been getting the chances but have had trouble finishing them off.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01938/3878294-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="568" height="602"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PAUL GARDNER&hellip;He Can Help</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0007-01

Lack Of Offense Worries Neilson

<p><b>Special To The Hockey News</b></p><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>They rolled back the calendars a few years when Les Anciens Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leaf Oldtimers met at the Montreal Forum on a recent Sunday to show how hockey used to be played.</p><p>Summoning their infrequently called upon reserves of adrenalin, and digging deep into their resevoirs of pride, the former NHL greats, some of them more than a decade removed from the game, offered 15,665 spectators an entertaining and impressive afternoon of play with the proceeds turned over to the various charities of the Knights of Pythias.</p><p>So impressed was Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; vice president and general manager John Ferguson who scored two goals to lead the Canadiens to a 5-2 victory, that he went so far as to offer one of his former teammates, Henri Richard, a contract to complete the season with the Jets.</p><p>Said Ferguson, &ldquo;Henri&rsquo;s a gritty playoff performer. Sunday he was skating like he had been playing all along&hellip;In all seriousness I offered Henri a contract, after watching him Sunday I&rsquo;m thoroughly convinced he could help our club through the stretch drive and into the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Richard, who retired in 1975 after 20 years with the Canadiens, declined the contract offer, saying that he had been away from the game for too long.</p><p>He would have had a hard time convincing those in attendance, though&rsquo; who thrilled to watch him scamper all over the ice at an untouchable pace.</p><p>Not only did the game stir the memories, leading to a lengthy standing ovation for Canadiens&rsquo; Le Gros Bill, Jean Beliveau, who still carried his playing weight of 205 on his six-foot-three frame, but it also bordered on the slapstick thanks to the antics of referee Red Storey, Leafs&rsquo; Ivan Irwin and Eddie Shack (who scored a goal for Toronto) and Carl Brewer, who doffed his wig to reveal a clean-shaven head.</p><p>Other goalscorers in the game were Claude Laforge, Jean-Guy Gendron and Phil Goyette for the Canadiens, and Ike Hildebrand for the Leafs.</p><p>The lineups for each team were as follows: Canadiens&mdash;Grant McNicholl, Lome (Gump) Worsley, Michel Perreault, Laforge, Gendron, Jean Gauthier, Claude Provost, Bobby Rousseau, Richard, Jean-Guy Talbot, Ken Mosdell, Dollard St. Laurent, Goyette, Gilles Marotte, Andre Pronovost, Albert Langlois, Beliveau, Ferguson, Fleming Mackell, Billy Hicke, Claude Larose, Leon Rochefort, and Claude Lussier.</p><p>The Leafs were represented by: Wayne Moulton, Hugh Bolton, Irwin, Bob Robertson, Murray Henderson, Wally Staniowski, Pete Conacher, Norm Ullman, Hildebrand, Keith McCreary, Aggie Kukulowicz, Brian McFarlane, George Armstrong, Harry Pidhirny, Bob Wall, Andre Boudrias, Mike Pelyk, Andy Bathgate, Shack, Sid Smith, Dick Duff, Johnny Bower and Frank Mahovlich.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011041/3878339-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="942" height="950"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Former Leaf great Carl Brewer, left, had his wig swiped off his shaved head by teammate Ivan Irwin to start the Oldtimer hockey game hijinks.</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02936/3878332-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="942" height="946"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Irwin gets a watering job with the help of Wally Stanowski at right and Sid Smith, left, much to the delight of the 15,665 fans at the Montreal Forum.</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03789/3878325-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="944" height="948"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Referee Red Storey tells Irwin he won&rsquo;t &lsquo;tolerate&rsquo; any more of his pranks on the ice while linesman Maurice &lsquo;Rocket&rsquo; Richard watches in center.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photos by Ian MacAlpine)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0008-01

Richard Says No To Ferguson’s Offer

<div class="byline">BY AL SMITH</div><p>ATLANTA&mdash;</p><p>Headed down the stretch of the 197879 season, Atlanta Flames&rsquo; officials were worried.</p><p>And they had reason for concern.</p><p>Even though the Flames had more talent than anytime in their history and had accumulated more points through 74 games than ever before, there were some question marks.</p><p>All season long the Flames had been concerned with their goals against record, but this was overcome by setting a team record in goals scored and when they needed the big save in a game Dan Bouchard was there to give it to them.</p><p>But after four bad starts in goal, general manager Cliff Fletcher and coach Fred Creighton were worried. The concern reached almost panic proportions in the Flames&rsquo; March 27 game against the Montreal Canadiens.</p><p>The Canadiens&rsquo; first four shots of the game found the net and none would have been particularly good saves if Bouchard had made them.</p><p>With only 5:37 gone in the game, Bouchard found himself on the bench in favor of backup goalie Reggie Lemelin.</p><p>Still, Creighton said Bouchard had in no way been relegated to No. 2 goalie. &ldquo;Danny Bouchard has played a lot more good games than bad for the Atlanta Flames,&rdquo; Creighton said. &ldquo;I just hope he can find himself soon.&rdquo;</p><p>Bouchard&rsquo;s bad spell came only six games away from the start of the playoffs and spoiled what had been his best year in the National Hockey League prior to that. But many felt he had been overworked and the effects of playing in 61 games was beginning to show.</p><p>Yet, before his bad spell, the 28-year-old Val D&rsquo;Or native had broken his own team record with 31 victories which also led the NHL. And his goals against average was a commendable 3.17.</p><p>And no one knows any better the need for a hot goalie going into the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;That two-out-of-three series is like a crap game,&rdquo; Bouchard said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just like throwing the dice. You run into a hot goalie and it&rsquo;s all over. I don&rsquo;t believe it&rsquo;s fair.</p><p>&ldquo;The two-out-of-three is a fluke.&rdquo;</p><p>Fluke or no fluke, dice game or not, the Atlanta Flames hope Bouchard can find himself before the playoffs.</p><div class="sidebar"><p><b>Bill Libby&rsquo;s Hockey Ad Lib column will be missing for a few weeks during his illness. It will be resumed upon his return.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

Flames’ Bouchard Back On Hot Seat

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><p>LONG ISLAND&mdash;</p><p>It wasn&rsquo;t St. Valentine&rsquo;s Day, even though the fans in the Chicago Stadium loved every minute of it. But the Black Hawks&rsquo; 6-1 massacre of the New York Islanders March 29 may have doomed the Islanders&rsquo; bid to finish atop the NHL in regular season points.</p><p>Singe defeating Montreal 5-3 in the big showdown at the Forum, the Islanders have been lackluster, twice playing ties with Pittsburgh and being blown out by Chicago.</p><p>The abrupt turn around in their fortunes is typical of the inconsistent pattern of the Islanders. This was supposed to be an article on the advanced coaching techniques of Al Arbour. Instead, it must, necessarily, report the team&rsquo;s failure with the money on the line.</p><p>&ldquo;We were brutal,&rdquo; said 61-goal scorer Mike Bossy. &ldquo;We played terribly. I guess it was a matter of combining all the bad things that we could have done and putting them into one game.&rdquo;</p><p>That &ldquo;one terrible game&rdquo; and the ties with Pittsburgh eroded the four point lead that the Isles had over the Canadiens, leaving Montreal two points ahead. And Montreal had more wins, and a softer schedule, which means that much of the Islanders&rsquo; hard work may have, once more, gone down the drain.</p><p>&ldquo;Chicago took everything away from us,&rdquo; said Arbour. &ldquo;We gave them everything they wanted. We were slow getting into their zone, we let them get the puck and we let them come out easily.&rdquo;</p><p>Arbour held a 10-minute meeting with the team immediately after the game&mdash;and that was followed by a closed door 30-minute session amongst the players. It was the first time this season that the Isles had gone three games straight without a win.,</p><p>&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t that we didn&rsquo;t try, but Chicago clutched and grabbed and we let them get away with it,&rdquo; said Billy Harris.</p><p>Arbour was furious as he had every right to be.</p><p>He said, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s puzzling, considering the importance of this game, why something like this happened. If they don&rsquo;t want it bad enough there&rsquo;s not a hell of a lot I can do. The way things went you would have thought the Black Hawks were fighting for first place.&rdquo;</p><p>New York was shut out for the first two periods&mdash;with only Bossy&rsquo;s tip in preventing them from absorbing what would have been their first shutout of the season.</p><p>The Islanders will have to content themselves with second place overall and the knowledge that if they reach the finals against Les Habitants they will have to play four games in the Forum. Bryan Trottier figures to hold on and win the scoring title and Bossy will set a new standard for goals for a right wing when he gets his next goal.</p><p>&ldquo;Those are individual things,&rdquo; said Trottier. &ldquo;The team finishing first was the only thing that mattered.&rdquo;</p><p>Somehow, it didn&rsquo;t matter enough&mdash;and the team that won the first 71 games didn&rsquo;t win the last nine. Reports out of Montreal have Scotty Bowman back into things such as discipline of his players and taking officials to task when they blow calls. That, apparently, has gotten Montreal back on the track&mdash;in time to derail the Islanders.</p><p>&ldquo;If we had won our games there was nothing they could have done about it,&rdquo; said Arbour. &ldquo;We got ahead of them and didn&rsquo;t want it enough to hold it.&rdquo;</p><p>Arbour attempted to create a balance by keeping John Tonelli with Trottier and Bossy even after Clark Gillies returned from his bout with the chicken pox. But, seemingly, as the BTG Line goes so goes the Islanders. It says here that Gillies will go back on the first line even before the playoffs start.</p><p>&ldquo;I like interchangeability,&rdquo; said Al. &ldquo;Tonelli did a super job for us while Gillies was out and I saw no reason to move him right away.&rdquo;</p><p>As the Islanders approach the playoffs, the players must, once more, take stock. They could win the Stanley Cup&mdash;and if form means anything, they should reach the finals along with the Canadiens. But, they could get upset again, along the way as they did last spring in a seven-game quarter-final loss to Toronto.</p><p>&ldquo;You work all year for the playoffs and you try to plan ahead so that you are ready when they come,&rdquo; said Bossy. &ldquo;But, obviously, you have to live day by day. I had a terrific season last year and another great one this year. But none of that counts in the playoffs. We definitely have something to prove.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011006/3878394-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="586" height="798"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN TONELLI&hellip;On Big Line</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-01

Isles Falter With Chips On Line Leaving First Place To Montreal

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK MOODY</div><p>PITTSBURGH&mdash;</p><p>Colin Campbell&rsquo;s role as a defenseman on this year&rsquo;s Pittsburgh Penguin club has undergone many changes.</p><p>The 26-year-old native of London, Ont., started the season as the odd man out. He viewed many of the season&rsquo;s opening games from a seat at the end of the bench, taking only an occasional shift. In a few instances, he watched the games from the press box. Things have changed for Campbell, however, as the season drew to an end.</p><p>&ldquo;There was seven defensemen on the team at the start of the year,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t have a good year last year. It was a matter of proving myself over again to the management. It&rsquo;s that way all the time. I&rsquo;m sure they had doubts about me.</p><p>&ldquo;They acquired a lot of new faces. I don&rsquo;t know what their idea was, but I guess they were trying to put in a new look. 1 thought I played well every chance I got this year, but it took more than one good game to play well.&rdquo;</p><p>Campbell was a third round amateur draft choice in 1973 by Pittsburgh from Peterborough. He chose to play a year in the World Hockey Association with Vancouver, however, and came to the Penguins in 1974. He led the club in penalty minutes in 1974-75 with 172, and finished second on the team in the plus-minus category.</p><p>&ldquo;Ever since that year I&rsquo;ve been struggling,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I deserved to be in the situation of odd man out when Wren Blair came here.&rdquo;</p><p>Blair was president of the Penguins for two seasons, and during the 1976-77 season, he sent Campbell to Colorado for one year as part of the compensation for the signing of free-agent goaltender Denis Herron.</p><p>&ldquo;If there&rsquo;s been any problem the last couple of years, it&rsquo;s that I&rsquo;ve had a lack of confidence. If there&rsquo;s a major problem with players in my situation, it&rsquo;s lacking confidence in themselves. You miss a game, or if you&rsquo;re the sixth guy, all of a sudden you start questioning your own ability.&rdquo;</p><p>Campbell returned to the Penguins last season, and played in 55 games, scoring one goal and nine assists, while picking up 103 penalty minutes. Through his first 54 games this season, Campbell had two goals and 16 assists, and led the team in penalty minutes with 111.</p><p>&ldquo;This year I think I&rsquo;ve played consistently all year long,&rdquo; said the man with the obvious nickname of &ldquo;Soupy.&rdquo; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never had a really bad game. I think that&rsquo;s the key to why I&rsquo;m playing more.&rdquo;</p><p>With the trade of Dave Schultz to Buffalo, Campbell and fellow defenseman Russ Anderson have become the two &ldquo;enforcers&rdquo; on the Penguins.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Campbell Fits Into Penguins’ New Look

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011028/3878449-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"></div><p><b>Write to:</b></p><p><b>FAN FORUM,</b><br><b>The Hockey News,</b><br><b>1434 St. Catherine St., W.,</b><br><b>Montreal, Canada H3G 1R7</b></p><h2>Wrong Player Cited In Swap Talk</h2><p>I am writing in disagreement with the letter by Steve Whalen in the March 2 issue of THE HOCKEY NEWS. Mr. Whalen stated that Pittsburgh got the better end of the deal in the recent trade involving Gary McAdam and Dave Schultz. One of his reasons was that &lsquo;McAdam had averaged 20 goals over the past few seasons.&rsquo;</p><p>This statement is grossly inaccurate. McAdam has only been in the NHL two and a half seasons and has never once scored 20 goals in a single campaign. McAdam has averaged only 11 goals a season and it is obvious that Mr. Whalen has Gary McAdam confused with Al MacAdam (Minnesota.)</p><p>Schultz, on the other hand, has averaged nearly 14 goals a season and once hit the 20 goal mark in 1973-74 with Philadelphia. Contrary to Mr. Whalen, the Sabres don&rsquo;t &lsquo;need a steady offense.&rsquo; What the Sabres do need is a little muscle&mdash;hence the acquisition of Schultz.</p><p><b>JAY HAGER,</b><br><b>Kenmore, N.Y.</b></p><h2>Shero Lucky Espo Wasn&rsquo;t Traded</h2><p>Give Phil Esposito the credit he&rsquo; deserves. 1 can&rsquo;t believe Fred Shero of the Rangers was going to trade Espo for Jim Harrison of the Hawks. Despite his age Espo is still in the Top 20 scorers of the league and already has a 40-goal season. Some of the younger players in the league are lucky to have 30-goal seasons, yet Espo is still doing it.</p><p>Shero would look pretty dumb right now if Harrison was skating with the Rangers. Esposito is still one of the best.</p><p><b>MARK HANSEN,</b><br><b>Vancouver, B.C.</b></p><h2>Fighting Has Legitimate Place</h2><p>We would like to take issue with some of the comments by Bill Fleischman in his column of March 16. In that column, Fleischman went over the old arguments that &ldquo;goons are killing hockey.&rdquo; We totally disagree. Fights liven up hockey games. In fact, the Durbano-Fotiu conflict which Fleischman mentioned was the one exciting part of an otherwise thoroughly dull contest.</p><p>We would be the first to admit that players such as Fotiu, Durbano, (Dave) Schultz and (Dave) Hoyda would not be in the NHL except for their fighting ability, but we feel that there is a legitimate place on each team for a so-called &ldquo;goon.&rdquo; The sooner that Fleischman and other writers realize that rough stuff is an integral part of the game the better off hockey will be.</p><p><b>JOE DALY and</b><br><b>MARK LUKASIEWIC,</b><br><b>New York, N.Y.</b></p><h2>Bruins&rsquo; Mooney Not Helping Hockey</h2><p>It is incredible to believe that a selfish, self-centered man like Paul Mooney of the Boston Bruins can threaten the NHL-WHA merger proceedings. Because the Bruins covet Mark Howe so much, their greed might not only destroy the hockey merger, but maybe all of professional hockey.</p><p>The NHL must not succumb to such underhandedness. Maybe the NHL governors should vote to run the league next year without Paul Mooney and his Bruins.</p><p><b>BRUCE GORDON,</b><br><b>Glastonbury, Conn.</b></p><h2>More Thanks For Isles&rsquo; Westfall</h2><p>On behalf of the 500 members of the Bob Nystrom-Garry Howatt Fan Club, I want to thank you very much for the seven years of dedicated service to our team. You have been an inspiration to everyone concerned with hockey, and it has been a pleasure to know you.</p><p>We wish you the best of luck, and every possible success in your new job. We know that you will handle it, as you have done with everything in your hockey career, with expertise and good judgement.</p><p>Thanks again, Eddie.</p><p><b>Dr BERTRAM M. BAUM, Pres.</b><br><b>Bob Nystrom-Garry Howatt</b><br><b>Fan Club</b><br><b>Woodmere, N.Y.</b></p><h2>Merger Might Make Canucks Better</h2><p>Being a Canuck fan for the nine long years they&rsquo;ve represented Vancouver in the NHL, I think it&rsquo;s time the management looked to spend some money to stop the diminishing number of tickets sold at the Pacific Coliseum.</p><p>I&rsquo;m sure someone has thought of my idea before but no one has written about it and it&rsquo;s to do exactly what the Minnesota North Stars and Cleveland Barons did and combine two weak teams into one competitive team.</p><p>Everyone knows the Colorado Rockies&rsquo; franchise is losing money and that Vancouver is a super hockey town, so why not merge the two teams to form a future superior team. A team with Glen Hanlon, Barry Beck, Wilf Paiement, Ron Sedlbauer and Billy Derlago can&rsquo;t go wrong.</p><p><b>LLOYD WATT,</b><br><b>Vancouver, B.C.</b></p><h2>HOCKEY NEWS Salutes &lsquo;Little Guys&rsquo;</h2><p>How very gratifying it was to pick up a copy of THE HOCKEY NEWS and find in it a picture and a few lines about a nephew of mine. I refer to Craig Riechmuth, a former Flin Flon Bomber who now plays with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the W1HL.</p><p>It is only natural hockey publications such as THE HOCKEY NEWS feature stories and picutres on the super stars in the professional leagues. Actually, we hockey fans would not have it any other way. Somehow, the players of the semi-pro ranks get lost in the shuffle until they make either the NHL or the WHA if they do.</p><p>I would therefore like to compliment your paper for providing as fair a balance of coverage of all leagues and their players as is possible. I buy the paper to follow my big league team favorites and the super stars I think a little more super than the others. But I still feel the little guy should not be overlooked. In many cases, through no fault of their own, they have not or may not ever achieve big league stardom. Yet they are still continuing to do what they like to do best&mdash;lay hockey. By so doing they are holding on to their dreams and delighting fans, not to mention making their families very proud of them.</p><p><b>JANETALMAS,</b><br><b>Birch River, Man.</b></p><h2>Realignment Can&rsquo;t Satisfy Every Fan</h2><p>I have heard enough from the &ldquo;know it all fans&rdquo; who are constantly complaining about the organization of the league. They are never satisfied. Although I live in Philadelphia and the Flyers are in a highly competitive division, I cannot see a realignment that would satisfy all fans.</p><p>What if the league were realigned to suit the fans? In a few years some strong teams can weaken and some weak teams can be strengthened and then everyone would be screaming again.</p><p>I say leave it as it is, maybe someday a Smythe Division team will win the cup.</p><p><b>DAWN RIEBER,</b><br><b>Philadelphia, PA.</b></p><h2>Super Swede? Persson, Of Course</h2><p>I laugh everytime I read or hear about the &ldquo;Superswedes&rdquo; in New York.</p><p>There is only one &ldquo;Superswede&rdquo; in New York and he is Stefan Persson of the New York Islanders, of course. The other two shouldn&rsquo;t be mentioned in the same conversation.</p><p><b>RICK BOOTH,</b><br><b>Woodbridge, Conn.</b></p><div class="sidebar"><p>LETTER OF THE WEEK</p></div><h2>League Should Join Blues, Rockies</h2><p>The merger of a poor Cleveland Barons team, with a few good players, with a Minnesota North Star organization in similar circumstances certainly was a most progressive move as the progress made by the Minnesota team this year, and the bright prospects for the future, would attest. The excess players were traded away for draft choices to insure the future years. The league was to benefit also, no longer did they have the weight of two bad teams around their neck, they had one respectfully decent organization. They also gained another first round draft choice for other teams.</p><p>Similar results could be attained by the merger of the Colorado Rockies with the St. Louis Blues, affecting the elimination of the Denver franchise.</p><p>The Blues have solid ownership in the Ralston Purina Corp., who are interested in not only maintaining the franchise, but in the improvement of the team. The organization has top flight leadership in Emile Francis, and he has a quite able staff. The team is young, eager, and beginning to be pleasing to the fans of St. Louis, who again will fill the Checkerdome when we are competitive with the league. This competitive status could well be attained as a result of the merger, which seems to be a sensible solution for everyone concerned.</p><p><b>JOHN SMITH,</b><br><b>Florissant, Mo.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

FAN FROUM

<p><b>Special To The Hockey News</b></p><p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p>New York Islanders&rsquo; high-scoring line of Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies and Bryan Trottier each placed among the National Hockey League&rsquo;s top seven in plus-minus calculations after the 60-game mark.</p><p>Trottier led the way with a difference of 19.8, while Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman Dave Hut-chison was second with an 18.8 mark. Dave Taylor of Los Angeles Kings was third with 15.7 followed by Pittsburgh Penguin defenseman Ron Stackhouse with 15.5.and Montreal Canadien center Pierre Mondou was fifth with 15.1. Gillies was sixth with 14.4 and Bossy seventh with 13.6.</p><p>Trottier, fifth at the mid-way mark of the season in plus-minus statistics, was on ice for 48.2 percent of Islanders&rsquo; 215 even-strength goals during their first 60 games. He was on ice for 28.4 percent of the 116 even strength goals scored-aginst Islanders. The difference in the two percentages determines the player&rsquo;s &ldquo;plus&rdquo; or &ldquo;minus&rdquo; figure.</p><p>There were only four defensemen among the NHL&rsquo;s top 16, compared to seven rearguards at the midway point. Hutchison was sixth at that time and Stackhouse second. Borje Salming of Leafs and sophomore Robert Picard of Washington were the other defensemen to remain among the top 16 at the three-quarter point.</p><p>Another high-scoring line represented among the top players was St. Louis Blues&rsquo; trio of Brian Sutter (10th with 11.4), Bernie Federko (12th with 11.0) and rookie Wayne Babych (tied for 15th with 10.8). Marcel Dionne and Taylor of Los Angeles ranked third and ninth respectively.</p><p>Only four players remained among the plus-minus leaders all season&mdash;Dionne, Taylor, Federko and Rick Middleton of Boston Bruins, who was the leader at the halfway mark.</p><p>Stefan Persson of Islanders and Guy Chouinard of Atlanta Flames each were on ice for all but two of their team&rsquo;s power-play goals after 60 games. Persson was on ice for 57 of Islanders&rsquo; 59 goals while Chouinard was on ice for 37 of Flames&rsquo; 39 power-play goals. Federko of St. Louis was on ice for 39 of Blues&rsquo; 42 goals.</p><p>Denis Potvin continued to spearhead Islanders&rsquo; power-play scoring. He extended his perfect record on the power-play this season by being on ice for all 10 goals scored during the 14 games he played in the third-quarter. He missed six games due to a shoulder injury. He was on ice for the 43 power-play goals Islanders scored in games in which he played this season. In fact, Potvin has been on ice for 341 of the 352 power-play goals Islanders have scored in games he has played since joining the team as the top choice in the 1973 Amateur Draft.</p><p>The plus-minus figure is determined by establishing the percentage of his team&rsquo;s goals, for and against, for which a player is on the ice with both teams even. If he is on the ice for a higher percentage of goals by his team, he has a plus; if for a higher percentage against his team, he has a minus.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02832/3878487-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="530" height="1114"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRYAN TROTTIER&hellip;Best Plus Player</b></figcaption></div><h2>Plus-Minus Leaders</h2><p><b>Following are leaders, based on at least 40 games played during the 60-aame period:</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-03631/3878480-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="1138" height="726"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0010-02

Islander Line Among ‘Top 7’ In Plus-Minus

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01985/3878518-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARRY PLAYFAIR&hellip;Will Remain In Buffalo</b></figcaption></div><p>BUFFALO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>J</span>ocelyn Guevremont, a Sabre for three full seasons and parts of two others, was gone but Buffalo coach Billy Inglis still had more defensemen than he could use in any one game. The first-year coach said, however, he was glad to have an over-supply and he would use them all down the stretch to the playoffs.</p><p>After Guevremont was traded to the New York Rangers, Inglis still had four veteran backliners&mdash;Jim Schoenfeld, Jerry Korab, Bill Hajt and Lee Fogolin&mdash;lus a second-year pro who is a National Hockey League rookie, Bill Stewart, plus three young defensemen called up from Hershey of the American League in late February, Mike Boland, Ken Breitenbach and Larry Playfair.</p><p>&ldquo;The three young defensemen from Hershey did so well when the veterans were hurt,&rdquo; said Inglis, &ldquo;that they deserve to stay with us. They will stay up for the balance of the regular season.&rdquo;</p><p>At one time, Schoenfeld, Guevremont, Hajt and Stewart all were hurt. Boland, Breitenbach and Playfair moved in and played regular shifts.</p><p>While they were in the lineup, the Sabres won nearly all their games.</p><p>When Schony and Stewart returned to action, Boland and Breitenbach stayed in the regular rotation and Playfair saw considerable action.</p><p>When Hajt was ready again, it took him a few games to get back to where he was dressing for games.</p><p>On a four-game western trip, Inglis took all eight of his backliners. He was playing three sets and rotating the personnel. Schoenfeld and Korab were, of course, playing regular shifts in every game, plus killing penalties and performing on the power play.</p><p>Inglis said he would rotate the other six in and out of the lineup.</p><p>&ldquo;The young defensemen were moving the puck out of our end fast and clearing the front of the net,&rdquo; said the coach. &ldquo;Now, most of the time, all of the defensemen are doing that. When they do, and we play as a five-man unit on the ice, we are playing very good hockey.&rdquo;</p><p>Another thing that helped the Sabres through a stretch when they lost only two of 14 games&mdash;both to Philadelphia&mdash;was the jelling of a potentially high-scoring line Inglis put together some time before that stretch.</p><p>The line might be called French Connection II. It had Andre Savard centering for Rick Martin and Rene Robert.</p><p>It took a while for the line to click. For some time it was getting the shots on goal but wasn&rsquo;t putting them in. Then Martin and Robert got the range again and Savard, besides setting them up, put in a few, himself.</p><p>During that 14-game streak, Rick Martin scored nine goals and had four assists; 13 points. Robert scored eight goals and assisted on seven; 15 points. Savard had 11 assists and two goals; 13 points.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Don Luce-Craig Ramsay-Ric Seiling line was continuing its scoring, along with fine defensive play, and the line with Gil Perreault centering for Rick Dudley and Danny Gare was beginning to score.</p><p>Inglis usually used four lines in a game. He would have Jacques Richard centering for Dave Schultz and Terry Martin, when he dressed only five defensemen, or, more frequently, would sit out one of these three forwards and have either Perreault or Robert double shift and center for the other two.</p><p>On the western trip Inglis took all 22 of his able-bodied players. Only Derek Smith, who had a broken jaw wired together and had to take his meals through a straw, stayed behind.</p><p>&ldquo;We are a team,&rdquo; said Inglis. &ldquo;Everybody contributes, whether he plays in all the games or not. Everyone has to be ready to step in and do a job. Therefore, we need everybody on the trip. Everybody will play at some time or other.&rdquo;</p><p>He also started using backup goaltender Bob Sauve more frequently and Sauve responded with some fine netminding. Perhaps his best work came in a 5-3 loss in Philadelphia. The entire Buffalo team, except for Sauve, seemed to come up flat in that game. The stocky netminder made 36 saves and a good many of them were from point-blank range.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

Young Sabre Defense Trio Earning Places In Lineup

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011002/3878549-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="356" height="481"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bill Fleischman&rsquo;s</b></figcaption></div><h2>A Toast To Merger</h2><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>OR THOSE OF US</b> who have favored merger for years, let&rsquo;s hoist a mug or two to the beer drinkers of Canada. It is these fine citizens who moved mountains (a.k.a. stubborn NHL franchises in Montreal and Vancouver) to change their positions and vote for &ldquo;expanding&rdquo; into Winnipeg, Quebec City, Edmonton and New England.</p><p>Just a few weeks before the NHL voted again, the newspaper headlines had read &ldquo;Merger is Dead.&rdquo; Then the good people of Winnipeg decided to boycott Molson&rsquo;s beer. This was the supreme sacrifice for many, but their thinking was: if they won&rsquo;t let us in their league, we won&rsquo;t drink the product that earns millions for owners of the NHL&rsquo;s strongest franchise&mdash;Montreal.</p><p>When the alarming boycott news reached the corporate offices of Molson&rsquo;s, the reaction went something like this:</p><p>Jacques: &ldquo;Uh, gentlemen, perhaps we&rsquo;d better reconsider our vote.&rdquo;</p><p>Irving: &ldquo;Good thinking. I&rsquo;ll call John Ziegler and &lsquo;suggest&rsquo; he convene a Board of Governors meeting.&rdquo;</p><p>Ziegler obeyed, the governors swarmed into the O&rsquo;Hare Hilton, and in less than three hours accepting the four WHA teams was approved. Isn&rsquo;t it fascinating how fast people can move when it&rsquo;s important to their wallets?</p><h2>NHL Shifting Gears</h2><p><b>ANYWAY, PERHAPS PEOPLE</b> who never stood merger watch at the lonely O&rsquo;Hare Hilton outpost can&rsquo;t appreciate the swiftness of the latest decision. As one who almost went stir crazy two years ago, I can say that the governors&rsquo; prompt action is enough to make us believe the NHL is ready to shift out of second gear and begin catching up with other professional sports.</p><p>The legal details were complicated and important, but this merger should have been achieved years ago. Then the movers and thinkers in hockey who, sadly, form a group small enough to fit into an O&rsquo;Hare Hilton elevator, could have moved ahead with strengthening the sport in North America.</p><p>The Boston Bruins&rsquo; anti-merger stand was admirable in the sense that Paul Mooney and Harry Sinden held firmly against the majority.</p><p>&ldquo;I think that the Bruins are one of the few teams in the whole damn league that have taken a stand on principle in this matter,&rdquo; Sinden told the Boston Globe before the recent approval. &ldquo;We have nothing to lose with a merger. We stand to make a lot of money if there is one. We have based our stand on the principle that hockey can only support a certain number of players. In our opinion, in order to maintain a major-league skill level, we cannot exceed the number of teams the player supply will support.&rdquo;</p><p>Good point, but unless I have miss-read my copy of Sam Pollock&rsquo;s &ldquo;Guide to Good Hockey,&rdquo; a merger will eliminate many of the people who have been masquerading as major-league hockey players. These semi-skilled players will still have a place to play, but it will be in the minor leagues.</p><h2>Develop Junior Players</h2><p><b>MERGER SHOULD ALSO</b> permit NHL clubs to lend more support to developing junior players. For years, the emphasis in junior hockey has been on winning rather than polishing fundamental skills. As a result, players have filtered into NHL and WHA training camps embarrassingly short on passing and checking ability. Once they&rsquo;re at the major league level, there isn&rsquo;t time to teach such important skills. And, until the recent wave of teaching coaches such as Al Arbour, Fred Shero, Don Cherry, Roger Neilson, and Harry Neale, there weren&rsquo;t many coaches outside the Scotty Bowman-Claude Ruel clinic in Montreal and Bob Pulford who were capable of worthwhile instruction.</p><p>The attitude of young players wasn&rsquo;t the best, either. Knowing their jobs were secure they resisted advice. Terry Crisp experienced this deplorable attitude in Philadelphia and Stan Mikita has seen it in Chicago.</p><p>&ldquo;The younger players aren&rsquo;t as willing to take constructive criticism any more, or instruction,&rdquo; said the Black Hawks&rsquo; venerable leader. &ldquo;When I was an assistant coach here two years ago, I went to help one of our guys during practice and he told me to buzz off.&rdquo;</p><p>One advantage of the overdue merger should be the disappearance of such myopic players. Thank you, people of Winnipeg. Inkeeper, another Molson&rsquo;s, please.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

HOCKEY WORLD

<div class="byline">BY PAT THOMPSON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02846/3878580-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>STEVE PAYNE&hellip;Displays Leadership Qualities, Too</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Steve Babineau)</span></figcaption></div><p>BLOOMINGTON&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>G</span>len Sonmor, coach of the Minnesota North Stars, held a short-course math lesson the other day when the &ldquo;other rookie&rdquo; scored his first National Hockey League hat trick.</p><p>The &ldquo;other rookie&rdquo; is Steve Payne, who is left winger on the same line with star freshman Bobby Smith.</p><p>&ldquo;Let me show you something,&rdquo; Sonmor was saying. &ldquo;Steve Payne is really coming on, especially when you consider that he did not score his first goal until the team had played 26 games.</p><p>&ldquo;In the 44 games Payne has played since then, he has scored 19 goals. You project that over a full season and you have a 33-goal scorer. Not bad for a rookie.&rdquo;</p><p>Sonmor did not need to go into long division to make a point. From start to finish, the 20-year-oM Payne made remarkable improvement.</p><p>Payne started the season with the North Stars, but a slow start saw him headed to Oklahoma City two weeks into the season. He was back up a couple of weeks later, and has played regularly since.</p><p>&ldquo;Going to Okie helped me regain my confidence,&rdquo; said Payne, a six-foot-two, 205-pound winger who played on the same line with No. 1 draft choice Smith in Ottawa last season it) the OHA. &ldquo;It took some time before I felt confortable out there. The important thing is that Glen showed confidence in me&hellip;that he was relying on me, I didn&rsquo;t want to let him down because of that.&rdquo;</p><p>The North Stars felt Payne would come around after his bumpy start. That was evident when they made him their first choice in the second round of the draft last june, the 19th amateur player selected.</p><p>Payne played in 52 games his final year of junior with the 67s, missing 16 games with a broken bone in his right hand. But in those 52 games, he scored 57 goals and 37 assists. He was voted the most under-rated player in the OHA and rated one of the best defensive forwards in junior hockey.</p><p>&ldquo;Several general managers have told me that Steve has turned into the sleeper of the 1978 draft,&rdquo; said Stars&rsquo; GM Lou Nanne. &ldquo;We were worried he might not be around when our turn came up to draft starting out the second round. Fortunately, he was still available. He has been playing just great the last few weeks.&rdquo;</p><p>Payne, besides picking up his scoring pace, has shown other qualities. The North Stars will be getting leadership from him in the coming seasons, as well.</p><p>An example of this attitude came to the fore in late November when Payne was asked to make an appearance at a press luncheon. The players usually are not asked to speak, but are available for press and broadcast interviews. Just before the meeting adjourned, Payne asked to say a few words.</p><p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t give up on this team,&rdquo; Payne said at a time when the team was in the midst of an eight-game losing streak. &ldquo;We have the talent and determination to come back from this and give you some exciting moments before the season is over.&rdquo;</p><p>The team proceeded to put together its best December in history with nine victories.</p><p>Payne did his best to keep the Stars&rsquo; playoff hopes alive in late March after the team hit a late-season snag. His first career hat trick, in a 7-3 romp over the Flyers, kept alive Minnesota&rsquo;s hopes of an 11th hour run at a playoff spot. It came two weeks after he scored two goals 10 seconds apart in a 5-1 victory over the Red Wings.</p><p><b>STAR DUST:</b> In the game against the Flyers, Mike Fidler scored his first NHL hat trick&hellip;When Gary Edwards pulled a hamstring muscle in a 5-3 loss to the Islanders, goalie Pete LoPresti was recalled from Oklahoma City&hellip;Kent Andersson ended a 30-game layoff due to a broken left arm against Colorado with 10 games left in the season&hellip;Jack Carlson remained out of action with a back injury.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-02

Payne’s Strong Second Half Elatinq North Stars’Brass

<div class="byline">BY TOM MURRAY</div><p>NEW YORK&mdash;</p><p>The Ranger balloon hassprunga leak.</p><p>At the time of the year, just prior to the playoffs, when words like &ldquo;momentum&rdquo; and &ldquo;hungry&rdquo; and &ldquo;desire&rdquo; start becoming associated with teams&hellip;the Rangers are displaying none of these qualities as the end of the regular season rapidly approaches and the New Yorkers plummet inexorably toward their good old familiar spot&mdash;the cellar of the Patrick Division.</p><p>It&rsquo;s a damn shame, too, because their dreadful nightmare of an ending is going to put a real damper on what has been an overall sensational year for the Rangers. Unfortunately, however, people are going to remember the team&rsquo;s last 10 games a helluva lot better than they are their first 70.</p><p>Up until this writing, six of those last 10 games have already been played and with just two exceptions&mdash;the comeback tie against Washington on March 20 and the 1-0 loss to Montreal on March 25&mdash;the Rangers have been plumb awful. Here are the gory details:</p><p>&bull; <b>March 27, Philadelphia:</b> The Rangers entered this crucial home contest holding a slim, one-point lead over their Patrick Division rivals, whom they had once led by as many as eight points not long ago. It was the same old story: A win would put them three upon the Flyers, a loss would put them in third place, a tie would do them no good at all.</p><p>The fact that the Rangers tied this game is bad enough. What&rsquo;s worse, however, is the way that they did it-which was to sprint to a 4-0 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the second period and then stand around and watch as the Flyers made it 4-1 at the end of two periods, and 4-2 with just over five minutes to play in the game.</p><p>It&rsquo;s a cliche, sure, but it really did look like the rink was tilted for those last five minutes, as the Flyers peppered Ranger goalie Wayne Thomas with shot after shot after shot. Two of them, by Reggie Leach and then by Mel Bridgman, finally went in and the Flyers had their tie&mdash;their third against the Rangers in the three games these teams played at Madison Square Garden this season. For all of you masochists out there who&rsquo;d like your memories refreshed, you will recall that the. Flyers erased a 3-0 Ranger lead in the season&rsquo;s opener and a 5-2 Ranger lead on January 21, the last time the two teams met at the Garden.</p><p>&bull; <b>March 28. Pittsburgh:</b> The Penguins, undefeated in nine games and red hot, cut through the floundering Rangers like (another cliche here) a knife through butter. When the final buzzer sounded, the Pens had a 7-1 victory, a 10-game unbeaten streak, and a berth in the playoffs.</p><p>The Rangers, on the other hand, were disorganized, seemingly uninspired, and on their way to third place in the Patricka position that was solidified one night later, when the Flyers defeated Van-couver.</p><p>&ldquo;There was no excuse for what we did here tonight,&rdquo; said a seething Dave Maloney. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll get together before our game against the Flyers to talk things over.&rdquo;</p><p>&bull; <b>April 1, Philadelphia:</b> The temptation to make an April Fools&rsquo; joke here is a strong one, but by the time April Fools Day rolled around, the Rangers&rsquo; situation was beyond the joking stages: The night before, while New York was idle, the Flyers had picked up two more points by beating St. Louis, 4-2. Their lead over the Rangers for second place had been increased to three points. Once again, the Rangers found themselves in a familiar position&mdash;a New York win would reduce the Flyers&rsquo; lead to one point; a Flyer win would increase the margin to an almost insurmountable five points.</p><p>As it turned out, the only good thing about what ended up as a 7-3 Ranger loss was the return of John Davidson in goal for the New Yorkers. Playing two periods alter missing 18 games with a sciatic nerve condition in his leg, J.D.&rsquo;s performance seemed to solve one of the Rangers&rsquo; main problems&mdash;who will be in goal for them in the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought Davidson played well, very well,&rdquo; Fred Shero told reporters after watching the big guy surrender six goals in the first two periods. &ldquo;John&rsquo;s the kind of guy you want to be in goal Tor you. He&rsquo;s a good guy, a good leader with a lot of good qualities. We&rsquo;ve got to get him ready for the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>So there you have it, the man finally said it. The handwriting that&rsquo;s been on the wall for Messrs. Soetaert and Thomas was finally confirmed by Shero: Sink or Swim, the Rangers are going with J.D. in the playoffs and will undoubtedly play him in the last three games of the season-against the Flames twice and the Islanders&mdash;to prepare him for the task.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re at a critical stage,&rdquo; said John Davidson after the Philadelphia debacle. &ldquo;Now we&rsquo;ll see what we&rsquo;re made of.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-01963/3878611-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="590" height="790"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOHN DAVIDSON&hellip;Will Carry Load</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-01

Rangers’ Poor Finish Spoils Year

<div class="byline">BY TONY GALLAGHER</div><p>VANCOUVER&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>V</span>ancouver Canucks have been losing hockey players at a rate of one per game for the last six games and the bug became contagious. They also lost their president.</p><p>Bill Hughes, the president of the hockey club for the past five years, resigned without a successor being named or without making the slightest comment.</p><p>Speculation has it that general manager Jake Milford will step up to the presidency and out of the general manager&rsquo;s rat race, leaving yet another hole in the GM chair with the team.</p><p>It was leaked out that Milford had been offered a new two-year contract to manage the club during the All Star break in New York, but that lead was more like a release considering the few people who could have known about such an agreement.</p><p>Hughes was not present, nor was there any sort of news conference to announce his departure or hiring of a replacement, but it was well known that he had wanted out of the position for nearly a year.</p><p>The timing of the departure certainly left much to be desired. He, the governor for Canucks, resigned just three days before the March 22 merger meeting in Chicago.</p><p>The foul timing of the resignation led to speculation that there had been a rift between Hughes and Chairman of the Board Frank Griffiths. In light of the fact nobody was around to confirm or deny such speculation, the rumors have become quite popular.</p><p>Earlier, Hughes had said that he had wanted to stay on as president of the club until he could see that there had been a significant improvement in the team, and that they could see light at the end of the tunnel.</p><p>Right now, the only light they can see at the end of such a cavern would be the headlight of an oncoming freight train.</p><p>The team is subject to rashes of injuries because of their travel problems, and given the lack of depth on the team, injuries mean long embarrassing slumps, something they have just pulled out of temporarily. Coach Harry Neale has been trying to get some consistency from the club, but such is a lot to ask when there is seemingly at least one player injured in every game.</p><p>The latest in the long string came to right winger Rick Blight and defenseman Lars Lindgren.</p><p>Blight, just having returned from a tour of duty in Dallas after his &lsquo;play me or trade me&rsquo; scenario, was apparently looking quite good and getting some scoring opportunities. But he only played a game and a half before suffering a badly bruised shoulder when he crashed into the boards in Denver.</p><p>The next game, Lindgren, who has been playing all year with a series of minor ailments, suffered a separated shoulder late in the third period against the Atlanta Flames, and he may be gone for the remainder of the season. If he gets back before then, it would be a bonus. His loss means Canucks are without one of their more acceptable defenders, furthering the pressure on goalkeepers Gary Bromley and Dune Wilson.</p><p>Making the playoffs creates an ambivalent situation for Neale however. He wants to make them, but only if his team is playing well. To be playing poorly and back into the second season is not so enticing.</p><p>&ldquo;The playoffs then would become just another negative experience for us if we&rsquo;re not playing well,&rdquo; says Neale.</p><p>The worst news in Canucks camp came this week about their two ex-Wheaties, Bill Derlago and Glen Hanlon.</p><p>Derlago, the team&rsquo;s No. 1 draft choice last year, is extremely unlikely to be back before the end of the year and the same holds true for Hanlon. Doctors examined their injured knees and advised the club that they should not return to action this season, even though both want to.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-02803/3878663-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="583" height="738"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARS LINDGREN&hellip;Latest Casualty</b></figcaption></div><h2>Great Islander Calls It Quits</h2><p>Islanders&rsquo; captain Clark Gillies, left, takes over microphone to pay tribute to retiring Eddie Westfall, center, during recent press conference at which the NHL club announced that the 38-year-old Westfall would retire as an active player at the end of the season and assume a public relations role with the club. Islander coach Al Arbour smiles approvingly at right. Westfall played over 1,200 NHL games in his career.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01984/3878656-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="3065" height="1373"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(Photos by Bruce Bennett)</span></figcaption></div><h2>Hockey Memento</h2><p>To commemorate his retirement from the NHL after 17 seasons, Islanders&rsquo; GM Bill Torrey, right, presents special plaque to Ed Westfall during on ice ceremonies at Nassau County Coliseum in tribute to his many years with the Islanders during which time he served as team captain.</p><h2>Call Him Chairman Joe</h2><p>Joe Noris, veteran center of the San Diego Hawks of the Pacific Hockey League, poses with five-year-old Catherine Stamper of Tierresanta, Calif., after being named honorary sports chairman of the 1979 Easter Seals campaign for San Diego county. Catherine is the Easter Seals campaign poster child who dropped the puck at a recent San Diego game to launch the &rsquo;79 campaign.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02821/3878649-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="1188" height="1496"></div><h2>The Good Guys Bears</h2><p>Members of the Moricetown Canyon Bears, a 19-member all native junior team from the Smithers, B.C., area, are shown before boarding a CP Air plane for a seven-game exhibition tour of Holland and Belgium. The boys, who ranged in age from 15 to 21, raised $13,000 to finance their tour. The team was coached by Jack Cook, a former senior and minor pro hockey player.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03621/3878642-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="1807" height="1559"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-02

Even President Not Secure From Canuck Maladies

<div class="byline">BY TOM HENSHAW</div><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p>There is nothing that turns Don Cherry off on a hockey player faster than a helmet.</p><p>Only three members of the Boston Bruins wear them&mdash;Mike Milbury, Gary Doak and Al Sims, all defensemen, and Doak was just about ordered to put one on before he killed himself with a reckless move.</p><p>Yet just the other day Cherry went to struggling young Dwight Foster and suggested that he put a helmet on and the kid from Kitchener responded with five goals in four games, as many as he scored in 47 previous games over two seasons.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought it might help the kid,&rdquo; said Cherry. &ldquo;He wore one all through junior and it was worth a try.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t really tell me to put it on,&rdquo; said Foster. &ldquo;He just asked me if I wanted to try it. 1 did and 1&rsquo;11 probably wear it for the rest of the year and see how things go.&rdquo;</p><p>In spite of reproving glances from the coach, Foster wore a helmet all last year, which amounted to only 14 games since he missed almost all his rookie season with a knee injury.</p><p>&ldquo;At the start of this training camp there was no helmet on my seat when I went into the dressing room for the first time,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>&ldquo;I knew that the coach thinks some people are better suited to wearing helmets than others and when I didn&rsquo;t see one there I thought I might as well give it a try, much to the dismay of my family.</p><p>&ldquo;When Don came to me and suggested that I put it back on I just went into the back room and got one. I don&rsquo;t think it really made any difference in the way I played.&rdquo;</p><p>A lot of people thought it did since the first night under the plastic top Foster had two goals and an assist, his first multi-point night as a Bruin, in a nationally televised 4-3 victory over Toronto Maple Leafs.</p><p>&ldquo;Subconsciously,&rdquo; said Foster, &ldquo;it might add a little bit more to my game. I don&rsquo;t think it makes, me play any rougher. Maybe I&rsquo;ll go into the corners a little bit faster. Maybe.</p><p>&ldquo;What made more of a difference was the feeling that I was going to take a regular shift.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s no secret that the Bruins have been disappointed in Foster, who was their first round draft choice, 16th overall, in the 1977 amateur draft after he led the OHA in scoring in Kitchener.</p><p>He started the 1977-78 season with Boston, dropped out for knee surgery and came back with Rochester. This season he has been up and down between Bruins and Americans like a yoyo.</p><p>&ldquo;This is the fourth time this season I&rsquo;ve been back up with the Bruins,&rdquo; said Foster after his big game against the Leafs. &ldquo;But I really think it&rsquo;s been a good experience for me.</p><p>&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s something everybody should go through to make them appreciate just how great it is to be up with the Bruins.</p><p>&ldquo;It got discouraging at times, sure, but going down there meant that 1 had a chance to play and ice time is the only way you&rsquo;re going to improve.</p><p>&ldquo;I had the confidence in myself to feel that if I went down there and worked hard there would be somebody watching me and if there was an injury on the Bruins I&rsquo;d be back up.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got friends I played junior with who have packed it in already because they felt they were in a rut down there in the AHL and they were never going to get out. But I wanted to go down so 1 could play.&rdquo;</p><p>Foster, who played most of his brief Bruins&rsquo; career at right wing since the team had a plethora of centermen, found his new lease on hockey life playing between Wayne Cashman and Stan Jonathan. He likes it better in the middle.</p><p>&ldquo;I played center when I was younger,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but I went to right wing at Kitchener. Then Red Laurence broke his leg and I played center most of my last junior year.</p><p>&ldquo;Either one is fine but I like to make plays and 1 like to have the puck so center is the place to play.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a big difference between center and wing in the Bruins&rsquo; style. If you switch around you have to really concentrate when you&rsquo;re playing wing so that you&rsquo;re not roaming all over the ice like you do at center.&rdquo;</p><p><b>WHAT&rsquo;S BRUIN:</b> Trades have come back to haunt the Bruins of late&hellip;First Andy Savard scored the winning goal in a 2-1 Buffalo victory Jan. 20&hellip;Then Phil Esposito got four goals in a 7-4 Ranger win March 15&hellip;And Gregg Sheppard fired the game-winner in a 3-1 Pittsburgh decision March 22, the Penguins&rsquo; first win in Boston Garden since Jan. 18, 1968.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01948/3878694-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="848" height="874"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DWIGHT FOSTER&hellip;Only Difference Subconscious</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0015-01

Foster Tips His Helmet To Cherry’s Suggestion

f0016-01

NHL POINT SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

<div class="byline">BY FRED PIETILA</div><p>DENVER&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Colorado Rockies joined an elite group of National Hockey League teams when they lost to the Minnesota North Stars 3-1 March 24. The loss was the Rockies&rsquo; 50th of the season, far and away more than any other team.</p><p>The Rockies thus became only the ninth team since the 1967 expansion to lose as many as 50 games in a single season. And the way they were going, they could well add seven more to that total (their final seven games).</p><p>The March 24 loss officially and mathematically eliminated the luckless team from any possible playoff consideration, although no one really had given them much of a chance during a horrendous slump in which they produced a 2-20-1 record.</p><p>Colorado&rsquo;s main problem was lack of goal-scoring and giving up goals in rapid-fire succession. During that incredible 23-game stretch, the Rockies allowed 107 goals and scored just 45.</p><p>Against the North Stars, who had never previously won in Denver in eight games, the Rockies were credited with 35 shots on Minnesota goalie Peter LoPresti, who was playing his fourth game of the season. LoPresti was a favorite here during his two years at the University of Denver.</p><p>And the 35-shot effort had coach Aldo Guidolin convinced the Rockies had played with great intensity. Maybe they had. But they once again checked the physical part of their game in the dressing room and simply refused to hit.</p><p>Wilf Paiement, who along with Mike Christie and John Van Boxmeer, has been one of the more consistent Rockies during the terrible season, says that it&rsquo;s a lack of strength and aggression that&rsquo;s hurting the team.</p><p>And a lack of offense.</p><p>The Rockies have been getting good chances. The trouble is, when they get them, they&rsquo;re not capitalizing. In a 3-2 loss to Buffalo, they managed only 19 shots on goal and missed the net on about a dozen others from point-blank range.</p><p>The next day Guidolin had the Rockies shooting at the goalies&rsquo; pads in practice and quipped, &ldquo;I made &lsquo;em shoot the puck and had &lsquo;em hit the goaltender in the pads and had another guy out about 10 feet from the net picking up the rebounds. It&rsquo;s amazing how many missed the net. They&rsquo;re concen-trating on corners. It&rsquo;s just overall. Everybody&rsquo;s not hitting the net.&rdquo;</p><p>Call the Rockies: &ldquo;The Gang That Couldn&rsquo;t Shoot Straight.&rdquo;</p><p>Jack Valiquette, the Rockies&rsquo; leading scorer for much of the season, was one of the players mired in a goal-scoring slump. When he limped off the ice with a bruised instep during the Minnesota game, he hadn&rsquo;t scored a goal in 17 games.</p><p>And all that after a tremendous start in which he scored 20 goals in his first 44 games. His totals through 69 games were 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points. After 44 games, he had 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points.</p><p>&ldquo;Well, I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; Valiquette said of his slump. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re just not coming, the goals. I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;m shooting like 1 was. I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s from not working. Maybe we&rsquo;re trying to make the perfect play with too much passing.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been thinking a little bit about it. It&rsquo;s good to think about it in that I&rsquo;m concerned. I don&rsquo;t know how long it&rsquo;s been since I scored. But it&rsquo;s not good to think about it so that you&rsquo;re pressing,&rdquo; Valiquette said.</p><p>Valiquette&rsquo;s drought typifies the Rockies of late.</p><p>&ldquo;We should shoot more than we do. What did we have against Buffalo, 19? We need more shots on net than that. Particularly myself. When I&rsquo;m in the slot, instead of blasting, I&rsquo;m passing or even looking for someone to pass to. Once you look or hesitate, you&rsquo;ve lost that second when maybe the goaltender was out of position, &ldquo;he said.</p><p>&ldquo;You should just go ahead and shoot. But when things are pressing, you want to make a good play. Right now the only guy who&rsquo;s scoring is Wilf and that&rsquo;s good. But we need more than just one guy scoring. Like here, I&rsquo;m trying to think, what was I doing before that I&rsquo;m not doing now.&rdquo;</p><p>After their 73rd game of a dismal season, &ldquo;The Gang That Couldn&rsquo;t Shoot Straight&rdquo; had scored three or more goals in just 18 games and the team&rsquo;s record in those 18 games was 123-3 which represented all but two of their victories.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01681/3878763-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="584" height="882"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JACK VALIQUETTE&hellip;Horrendous Slump</b></figcaption></div><h2>NHL Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02588/3878756-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="610" height="888"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0017-01

Colorado Shooters Can’t Hit Net; Rockies First Squad Eliminated

<p>MONTREAL&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>enter Marcel Dionne of Los Angeles Kings holds a three point lead in the second half scoring race as the National Hockey League heads into the final week of its regular season schedule.</p><p>Dionne, who is tied with Guy Lafleur of Montreal Canadiens for second place in the over-all scoring parade, has 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points in the second half of the schedule. That gives him a three point lead over Mike Bossy of New York Islanders and the NHL&rsquo;s leading pointman, Bryan Trottier, also of Islanders.</p><p>Dionne has at least one point in 31 of his 36 games in the second half and has been held pointless 14 times in 76 games this season. Only three times this season has Dionne gone two games without a point.</p><p>Trottier, who holds a six-point lead over Dionne and Lafleur in the scoring race, has been held pointless 12 times this season and only once has he gone two games without a point. In the second half, he has points in 29 of his 36 games, scoring 14 goals and adding 42 assists for 56 points. Bossy, the NHL&rsquo;s leading goal-scorer with 63, has been held pointless five times in the second half, scoring 28 goals and adding 28 assists in the 31 games he has had at least one point.</p><p>Lafleur, whose chances of posting a fourth consecutive scoring title seem dim, has been held pointless 12 times this season, including seven times in the second half. Only once this season has Lafleur gone two games without a point, and the last times he went more than two games were his third, fourth and fifth games of the 1977-78 season. Lafleur has scored 22 goals and 33 assists for 55 points in the second half.</p><p>The winner of the secdnd half scoring race wins $500 while the runner-up collects $250. Trottier won the first-half while Lafleur was runner-up. The over all winner of the Art Ross Trophy receives $1,000 and the runner-up $500.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NHL WEEK…In Review

<div class="byline">BY RUSS WHITE</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS 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/f0018-01698/3878825-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="580" height="1018"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB SIROIS&hellip;Absence Hurts</b></figcaption></div><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;</p><p>Any thoughts the Washington Capitals entertained about tying or going ahead of their record 24-victory season two years ago, were destroyed with a slew of crippling injuries in recent weeks.</p><p>Greg Polis was lost with a knee problem and within a week or two was joined on the sidelines by Tom Rowe and Bob Sirois. Rowe is a 31-goal scorer, Sirois a 29 goaler.</p><p>&ldquo;No team, especially the Capitals can lose 60 goals and not feel it, said general manager Max McNab.</p><p>Sirois underwent knee surgery on March 30 as the Caps were mired in a nine-game winless streak, their worst skid of the season.</p><p>The crunch could be felt the most during the off-season when the team began to sell season tickets. Owner Abe Pollin promised all season ticket holders a 20 percent refund if they were not satisfied with the club this year and most fans were going to take the refund.</p><p>It has been suggested that Pollin offer a 50 percent refund next year if he wanted to increase sales.</p><p>&ldquo;It is too bad that most people will only look at the bottom line,&rdquo; said coach Danny Belisle of the Caps. &ldquo;We had come on so well in January and things were looking up until the wave in injuries.</p><p>&ldquo;In a way we could be grateful,&rdquo; Belisle said, &ldquo;that we didn&rsquo;t have all these injuries earlier. We had been quite fortunate up until now.&rdquo;</p><p>Robert Picard is completing a tremendous second year in the NHL. The Caps&rsquo; big defenseman scored his 20th goal in a 6-2 loss at Toronto. Denis Potvin of the Islanders is the only defenseman to score more goals this year than Picard.</p><p>Rookie Ryan Walter&rsquo;s 50 points are a club record, one more than Nellie Pyatt recorded. Center Dennis Maruk&rsquo;s 83 points are also a club record, one more than Guy Charron had recorded.</p><p>For awhile it looked as though the Caps would finish so that they would not draft until No. 5 in this year&rsquo;s amateur pool but the poor finish could give Washington the No. 3 pick. Detroit has slipped past Washington and Vancouver was only a point or two away.</p><p>In each of their years in the NHL, the Caps have had one of the first three choices or the chance to draft that early. Ex-general manager Milt Schmidt traded away the No. 1 choice over-all one year.</p><p>McNab was listening to offers for draft choices once again after seeing how well Baz Bastien has fared in this market with the much-improved Pittsburgh Penguins.</p><p>There is Also talk that McNab would trade Rick Green, a former No. 1 draft choice. Green has a minus 40 plus-minus figure and has been the target of the boo-birds at Capital Center. Other teams are very interested in Green and McNab may be able to deal.</p><p>Such a deal could be a big mistake, however, as Green is a far better player than his plus-minus rating might indicate. He has to be the best minus 40 player in the league, a victim of some shoddy play by his teammates.</p><h2>Top 20 Rookie Scorers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02559/3878818-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="632" height="784"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-01

Injuries Defuse Capitals’ Attack Prompting Worst Slump Of Season

<p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>anny McDonald of the Toronto Maple Leafs needed six goals in his final six games for his third consecutive 40-goal season, but he did even better than that.</p><p>McDonald produced seven goals in the first three of those games, including back-to-back hat tricks as the Leafs enjoyed a perfect week. He had a goal in a 6-2 decision over the Washington Capitals and then three more as the Leafs handled Minnesota 6-2 as well.</p><p>That left McDonald poised at 38 goals for the season and 199 lifetime and he wasted little time reaching his milestones. At 6:04 of the first period against Buffalo he notched his 200th NHL goal and then he added goals in each of the final two periods to reach 41 on the season, along with 41 assists for 13th place in the scoring race.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03419/3878856-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="533" height="695"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LANNY MCDONALD&hellip;Toronto Maple Leafs</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-03

NHL’s…Player of the Week

<div class="byline">BY DON MERRY</div><p>LOS ANGELES&mdash;</p><p>When the pundits of the press were invited at the outset of the 1978-79 National Hockey League season to list their predicted order of finishes in each division, the Kings didn&rsquo;t get much support. Only sympathy, and very little of that.</p><p>Concensus was the Kings would finish fourth in the five-team field known as the Norris Division and if the Washington Capitals displayed even the remotest kind of improvement, the seers forcast the Kings could just as easily wind up fifth. It was as simple as 1-2-3 or (Rogie) Vachon-(Dave) Hutchison-(Gary) Sargent, the three free agents who fled Los Angeles for more lucrative settings.</p><p>Well, the Kings didn&rsquo;t live up to their billing and fall on their derrieres, as they say in Montreal. They didn&rsquo;t exactly burn up the league, either, but when roll call was sounded for the playoffs the Kings answered, &ldquo;here.&rdquo;</p><p>Explanations, please.</p><p>Marcel Dionne is the logical place to start. We had the kind of numbers in one season that some guys would be proud to call careers. Dave Taylor, Dionne&rsquo;s linemate, emerged as a solid two-way player and prolific scorer. Rookie goaltender Mario Lessard exceeded everybody&rsquo;s expectations, except possibly, his own. Butch Goring kept scoring. The defense, an Achilles heel in the past, stiffened up.</p><p>And Bob Berry was the new man behind the bench.</p><p>&ldquo;I think he deserves to be coach of the year.&rdquo; said Jack Kent Cooke, the man who owns the Kings and a good deal more.</p><p>Such sentiment might draw howls of protest for supporters of the Islanders&rsquo; Al Arbour, the Rangers&rsquo; Fred Shero and the Flames&rsquo; Fred Creighton, but the fact remains Berry&rsquo;s presence has had a profound effect on the Kings.</p><p>&ldquo;This was a dead team and he revived it,&rdquo; said captain Mike Murphy.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re just more of a team with Bob around,&rdquo; said Goring. &ldquo;The attitude is so much better.&rdquo;</p><p>Cooke played a hunch last spring and hired Berry, who spent seven seasons as a player with the Kings and earned the nickname &ldquo;Crease&rdquo; for the position he took up in front the rival goaltender and from where he scored numerous goals on deflections. When Cooke made his decision. Berry&rsquo;s coaching experience had consisted of 16 games at Springfield late last year. And if Cooke was skeptical, the contract he offered Berry wasn&rsquo;t. It was for five years.</p><p>He has learned the art of coaching from minute to minute, from game to game while on the firing line. He has displayed an ability to relate to his players and to also get his message across. He is not hesitant to bark an order or run a curfew check. Similarly, he also lavishes praise on his players when the moment dictates. Often he will accept the blame for a defeat and credit his players for a victory.</p><p>&ldquo;He makes you want to put out,&rdquo; said Dionne.</p><p>Another reason bor Berry&rsquo;s success might be the fact that his coaching philosophy and demeanor, to a large degree, resemble those of Bob Pulford, who coached the Kings for five seasons before migrating to Chicago two years ago.</p><p>&ldquo;He was the kind of guy who would influence anybody. Berry said of Pulford. &ldquo;He was sincere and dedicated and I guess to a certain extent I&rsquo;m a lot like him.&rdquo;</p><p>Berry is as intense as a coach as he was as a player when he relied more on perseverance and durability than sheer talent. He expects effort and agonizes when he doesn&rsquo;t get it. His practices are tough and well organized.</p><p>And he has adapted quickly to his new challenge.</p><p>&ldquo;There is pressure on you mentally,&rdquo; Berry said. &ldquo;You get frustrated, excited, disappointed. You are rewarded with happiness after a good game but you also have to give with the losses, even if one of your players scores five goals.</p><p>But do I like it? You bet your life. It&rsquo;s a difficult and demanding job and sometimes you have to do things that aren&rsquo;t too popular. But it can be tremendously rewarding.</p><p>&ldquo;I particularly remember a 5-4 win over Montreal around the middle of the season when Steve Jensen scored the winning goal with just a minute left. There were no words to describe how I felt. It was like I was a member of the team again.&rdquo;</p><p>Making the playoffs was kind of nice, too.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01669/3878894-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="531" height="894"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE MURPHY&hellip;Back From Dead</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02549/3878887-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="537" height="863"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB BERRY&hellip;Firing Line Education</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0019-01

Berry Credited With Reviving Team Attitude

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01515/3878939-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WAYNE BABYCH,. Bounced Back From Broken Ankle</b></figcaption></div><p>ST. LOUIS&mdash;</p><p>Wayne Babych is trying to become the sixth rookie in the history of the National Hockey League to average better than a point a game.</p><p>Babych, a right wing, has been scoring at that pace all season, and the accomplishment would put him into an elite group. Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, the two New York Islanders who won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year two years apart, were the last two rookies to average more than a point a game. The other three who claim the distinction are Rick Martin of the Buffalo Sabres in 1971-72, Gus Bodnar of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1943-44 and Bill Mosienko of the Chicago Black Hawks in 1941-42.</p><p>Babych has smashed all of the St. Louis Blues&rsquo; rookie scoring records. He broke Mike Murphy&rsquo;s record of goals by a St. Louis rookie when he scored his 21st of the season Jan. 6 in the same game in which his ankle was broken. After missing 13 games he came back and in his third game broke Murphy&rsquo;s record for points with 44 for the season,&rsquo; On March 7, Babych broke Bob Hess&rsquo; rookie assist record with his 31st of the season on a goal by Larry Patey after his regular center, Bernie Federko, pulled a muscle in the game against the Islanders.</p><p>Babych has an excellent chance of winning the Calder Trophy and he very much would like to have it. His teammates also are hoping Babych wins the award.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s proven himself offensively and defensively,&rsquo;&rsquo; Federko said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a good passer and a good shooter.&rdquo;</p><p>The Calder Trophy for Babych would be the first NHL trophy for St. Louis since Phil Goyette won the Lady Byrig Trophy in 1970. Goyette&rsquo;s award was the third trophy for St. Louis in three years as the Blues went to the Stanley Cup finals their first three years in the league. The first season Glenn Hall won the Con Smythe Trophy for his work in the 18 games of the playoffs, and the following season Hall and Jacques Plante won the Vezina Trophy.</p><p>Babych&rsquo;s main competitor for the Calder Trophy apparently is Bobby Smith of the Minnesota North Stars, and the rivalry is intense between the two players.</p><p>&ldquo;He plays a different style than I do,&rdquo; Babych said of Smith. &ldquo;He plays an offensive game, but we can both put the puck in the net.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s better in some aspects of the game, and I&rsquo;m better in some aspects,&rdquo; Babych added. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not as aggressive as I am. If I play better than he does, I&rsquo;ll win the rookie award; but I don&rsquo;t want it if I don&rsquo;t deserve it.&rdquo;</p><p>In recent weeks Babych has tried to restrain himself when talking about his competition with Smith. But Babych&rsquo;s teammates remain as outspoken as Babych would like to be.</p><p>&ldquo;Bobby Smith is a good hockey player, but Wayne is better,&rdquo; Federko said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen how hard Babs has worked this season.&rdquo;</p><p>Brian Sutter, who appears to be headed for a season tally of better than 40 goals, calculates Babych would have surpassed him in goals if not for the games missed because of the broken ankle.</p><p>&ldquo;Wayne makes things go for himself,&rdquo; Sutter said. &ldquo;After his injury he needed only about a half-dozen games to catch up.</p><p>&ldquo;Babych and Smith are completely different types of players,&rdquo; Sutter added. &ldquo;Babych is a robust guy who hits in the corners. Smith sets up plays and carries the puck a lot. On our line Bernie does that.&rdquo;</p><p>In the last head-to-head meeting between Babych and Smith this season&mdash;an 8-2 win by the Blues&mdash;Babych had two goals, and Smith had one assist. Smith made a good centering pass for Al MacAdam&rsquo;s 20th goal of the season. Babych grabbed a puck that squirted from the corner and skated into the slot to score an unassisted goal and later he scored on a back-handed shot from about 15 feet.</p><h2>Looking At NHLGoalers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02375/3878932-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="622" height="2115"></div><h2>Team Penalties</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03302/3878925-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="612" height="662"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0020-01

Blues’ Ace Rookie Babych Eyes Point-A-Game Record

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><p>CHICAGO&mdash;</p><p>He is, according to the weekly National Hockey League statistics, one of the best at getting tough when the tough get going.</p><p>Ted Bulley, left wing, Black Hawks.</p><p>Six game-winning goals. Three gametying goals. Only a thimble full of players, such as people like Guy Lafleur and Marcel Dionne, are going better.</p><p>And those players play with teams that win more games and score more goals. How does the Baron of the Big Goal for Chicago explain it?</p><p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Bulley, who despite injury, has topped last year&rsquo;s rookie haul of 23 pucks already.&rdquo; I guess it&rsquo;s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, that&rsquo;s all.&rdquo;</p><p>There are a lot of things that are hard to explain about Bulley&rsquo;s course, but rest assured of one thing&mdash;he came in from the cold, through the back door, and when he got here, there were no parades.</p><p>Just three seasons ago, he was lying in bed one afternoon preparing to play a game for his team, the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League. The telephone rang and it was an emergency of sorts.</p><p>&ldquo;It was the coach of Flint saying that I had been called up,&rdquo; Bulley recalled. &ldquo;I thought to myself, &lsquo;Great, when do 1 report to Dallas. After all&rsquo; it was automatic, 1 thought. That&rsquo;s the only place I&rsquo;d been called up to before.</p><p>&ldquo;But no, he says it&rsquo;s Chicago that wanted me. The Chicago Black Hawks. Gulp. I thought it was a hoax, a joke. Then he explained that Darcy Rota was hurt, and Dennis Hull was hurt and they were really short on left wing. I couldn&rsquo;t believe it. I was all alone in the room at the time&hellip;my roommate was gone. I kept looking around for someone to tell.&rdquo;</p><p>He decided that he wasn&rsquo;t ready. Black Hawk coach Billy Reay, agreeing whole heartedly, decided likewise, and within a week, it was back to the buses for a minor league job which paid Bulley slightly upwards of $6,000. Very slightly.</p><p>&ldquo;One thing 1 learned here was that I had a long way to go,&rdquo; related Bulley. &ldquo;After that brief stay here, two games, I worked harder than I ever have.&rdquo;</p><p>Bulley, immediately thereafter, was more or less consigned to Dallas, which is where he assumed he might stay. But lots of things have changed in Chicago and Bulley&rsquo;s attorney, Larry Kelly of Ottawa, figured that it was worth a stamp to write a Dear Bob letter to the Stadium.</p><p>&ldquo;He just asked if I could get a tryout in training camp,&rdquo; said Bulley. &ldquo;And the letter back said OK. I guess Bob Pulford figured he was new to the situation and that he might as well have a look.&rdquo;</p><p>The look was well worth it. Bulley, the classic walk-on, the Hawks&rsquo; seventh draft choice in 1975, the 115th player picked in the entire amateur market, was the second leading goal scorer for Chicago last year. Only Ivan Boldirev had more. And before Boldirev was traded to Atlanta a couple weeks ago, they were two thirds of a not bad at all line.</p><p>&ldquo;I guess I&rsquo;m kind of proud of how I got here,&rdquo; allowed Bulley. &ldquo;Lots of-players who were drafted ahead of me haven&rsquo;t made it. I had to work hard to get where I got.</p><p>&ldquo;When I went to camp last year, I sort of had the feeling that I could make it. I took a few runs at guys and players like Phil Russell and Keith Magnuson, I think, gained a little respect for me and that made me feel better.</p><p>&ldquo;When I first came up, I was really shy. I was afraid to-say anything to anybody. And my first year, I didn&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;d score 20 goals. Now, I feel with a full season, that I could score 30 up here.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s funny. I never worked harder than last summer because even though I had a decent first season, I never felt I had it made. I&rsquo;m like a lot of guys on this team. My contract is coming up.</p><p>&ldquo;Most of the talk is about Tony (Esposito) and his contract. And it should be. He&rsquo;s unbelievable. But it makes you wonder. If a big guy like him is having trouble agreeing to terms, what about a guy like me? Makes you think.&rdquo;</p><p>If Bulley remains the Baron of the Big Goal, he should have no problem.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01355/3878970-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="560" height="1184"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TED BULLEY&hellip;Came From Nowhere</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Bruce Bennett)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0021-01

Baron Of The Big Goal For Hawks, Bulley Ranks As Clutch Chicagoan

<h2>APRIL</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2336/3879242-1-eng-US/f0022-232.jpg" title="f0022-23" width="614" height="771"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-23

Where NHL Teams Play

<p><b>(Standings on Mon. April 2)</b></p><h2>NORRIS DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1743/3879294-1-eng-US/f0022-172.jpg" title="f0022-17" width="606" height="166"></div><h2>ADAMS DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1842/3879287-1-eng-US/f0022-182.jpg" title="f0022-18" width="603" height="142"></div><h2>PATRICK DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-1942/3879280-1-eng-US/f0022-192.jpg" title="f0022-19" width="596" height="139"></div><h2>SMYTHE DIVISION</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2041/3879273-1-eng-US/f0022-202.jpg" title="f0022-20" width="605" height="137"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><p><b>Mon. Mar. 26</b></p><p>Buffalo 4 at St. Louis 2</p><p><b>Tue. Mar. 27</b></p><p>Philadelphia 4 at N.Y. Rangers 4</p><p>Montreal 6 at Atlanta 4</p><p>Pittsburgh 5 at Minnesota 1</p><p>Detroit 2 at Vancouver 5</p><p>Chicago 1 at Colorado 1</p><p><b>Wed. Mar. 28</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers 1 at Pittsburgh 7</p><p>Washington 2 at Toronto 6</p><p>Detroit 1 at Los Angeles 8</p><p>Boston 2 at Buffalo 9</p><p><b>Thu. Mar. 29</b></p><p>N.Y. Islanders 1 at Chicago 6</p><p>Vancouver 0 at Philadelphia 5</p><p>St. Louis 2 at Montreal 5.</p><p>Minnesota 4 at Boston 7</p><p><b>Fri. Mar. 30</b></p><p>Los Angeles 3 at Atlanta 5</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Buffalo 0 at N.Y. Islanders 2</p><p>Philadelphia 4 at St. Louis 2</p><p>Pittsburgh 3 at Montreal 5</p><p>Boston 4 at Washington 1</p><p>Los Angeles 5 at Detroit 4</p><p>Vancouver 2 at Colorado 0</p><p>Minnesota 2 at Toronto 6</p><p><b>Sun. Apr. 1</b></p><p>N.Y. Rangers 3 at Philadelphia 7</p><p>N.Y. Islanders 4 at Washington 6</p><p>Atlanta 7 at Pittsburgh 2</p><p>Montreal 3 at Boston 3</p><p>Minnesota 1 at Detroit 3</p><p>Vancouver 2 at Chicago 2</p><p>St. Louis 5 at Colorado 9</p><p>Toronto 6 at Buffalo 3<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-17

The NHL Scoreboard

<h2>OVERALL POINTS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2141/3879332-1-eng-US/f0022-212.jpg" title="f0022-21" width="607" height="604"></div><h2>WILD CARD RACE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-2235/3879325-1-eng-US/f0022-222.jpg" title="f0022-22" width="593" height="319"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-21

Overall, Wild Card Playoff Picture

<p>&hellip;This Week</p><p>ATLANTA: Houston 18. Chouinard 46.47.48,49, Vail 31.32,33. Clement 12, Plett 22. Rota IS.16.17.18. Lalonde 23. Boldirev 33.</p><p>BOSTON: O&rsquo;Reilly 22.23,24. O&rsquo;Brien 2. Ratelle 26,27, Cashman 25,26, Foster 9.10, Marcotte 18.19, Jonathan 5.6, Park 7. Smith 6.</p><p>BUFFALO: Fogolin 3/R. Martin 26,27.28. Dudley 5, Ramsay 25. Savard 18. Luce 25.26. Schultz 6. Perreault 25.26.</p><p>CHICAGO: Murray 18. Marks 21. Mulvey 16,17.18. Bullet 24. Bordeleau 14. O&rsquo;Connell 3.</p><p>COLORADO Comeau 8. Delorme 17.18.19. Pierce 17,18. Saleski 13. Beverley 2. Malinowski 5. Ashby 1.</p><p>DETROIT: Woods 14. St. Laurent 16,17. Leblanc 2, McCourt 27. Libett 15. Labraaten 19. Thompson 22,23. Nedomansky 37.</p><p>LOS ANGELES: Murphy 14,15, Jensen 22.23, Dionne 53.54,55.56, B. Wilson 9. Taylor 42. Apps 7, Goldup 15. Goring 32.33. Simmer 15, M. Wilson 10.</p><p>MINNESOTA: Young 24. Polich 6. Fidler 22, Zanussi 13.14, Brad Maxwell 9. Barrett I. Manerv 16.</p><p>MONTREAL: Lemaire 20,21. Shutt 33,34.35, Napier 10,11, l.angway 2.3, Lafleur 48.49.50. Gainey 19. Mondou 27.28. Lapointe 13, Tremblay 29,30, Risebrough 9.</p><p>ISLANDERS: Bossy 61,62,63. Nystrom 16. Bourne 28. Gillies 33. Kaszycki 16.</p><p>RANGERS: McEwen 18.19. Murdoch IS. DeBlois 10. Hedberg 31,32. Hickey 30.31.</p><p>PHILADELPHIA: Barber 31.32.33. Watson 7.8, Leach 31.32,33. Bridgman 21.22,23.24, Dailey 8.9, Wilson 13. Holmgren 16,17,18. MacLeish 26. LaPointe 3.</p><p>PITTSBURGH: Bladon 4. Cossette 6. Slackhouse 10. Kindrachuk 18. Carlyle 12,13, Sheppard 13,14, McAdam 11. Malone 31,32,33. Ferguson 19,20. Lee 32. Kehoe 25,26.</p><p>St. LOUIS: Zuke 8.9, Federko 31. Babvch 27. Hammarstrom 10,11. Giroux 4, Sutter 39, Patey 13.</p><p>TORONTO: McDonald 35,36,37,38,39,40,41. Jones 9. Gardner 26,27,28,29, Turnbull 11.12. Anderson 12. Saganiuk 2,3, Salming 17.</p><p>VANCOUVER: Kozak 2. Fraser 15,16. Lever 22. Smyl 14, Goodenough 3. Tudor 4, Martin 14. Manno 5.</p><p>WASHINGTON: Picard 20.21. Edberg 10,11, Lofthouse 12. Maruk 30. Labre 1, Charron 26.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NHL’s Scorers

f0023-12

NHL Team Rosters

<p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f it&rsquo;s not Real Cloutier, then it&rsquo;s liable to be Morris Lukowich when it comes time for the Player of the Week honors. This week, it&rsquo;s Lukowich as he became the second player to reach the 60-goal mark in the world Hockey Association.</p><p>Lukowich, who scored 67 goals in two seasons with Houston before joining the Jets at the start of this season, will have a pretty good chance at equalling his two-season output in this campaign alone.</p><p>The 22-year-old former Medicine Hat junior racked up a pair of two-goal games in victories over Cincinnati (6-3) and Quebec (7 remaining on the schedule. Lukowich has also had five hat tricks this year.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03209/3879456-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="509" height="794"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MORRIS LUKOWICH&hellip;Winnipeg Jets</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-03

WHA’S…Player of the Week

<div class="byline">BY WAYNE WARRINER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01376/3879425-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WARREN MILLER&hellip;Overtime Goal Sank Ex-Mates</b> <span class="photo-credit">(Photo by Steve Babineau)</span></figcaption></div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>QUEBEC CITY&mdash;</p><p>A look at the World Hockey Association standings showed that the Quebec Nordiques carried a four-point lead over the New England Whalers into a critical two-game home-and-home matchup. It was do or die time for the Whalers as they tried to overtake the Nordiques before mounting an attack on the league-leading Edmonton Oilers.</p><p>At Le Colisee in Quebec City, the first encounter turned out to be a see-saw battle that went to overtime before being decided. Thirteen goals were scored, yet neither team was able to open up more than a one-goal edge.</p><p>Quebec&rsquo;s Real Cloutier notched three goals (for fourth hat trick in 10 games), and each goal was a big one. First, a shorthanded tally to put the Nordiques ahead in the second period. After the Whalers had regained the lead, Cloutier pumped in the tying goal. With less than two minutes left in regulation the Whalers were in the lead again&mdash;but along came Cloutier for an unassisted effort to force the game into overtime.</p><p>In the end, though, the Quebec fans left Le Colisee disappointed as former Nordique Warren Miller drilled home the winner for New England off a nice pass from rookie Jordy Douglas.</p><p>For the Whalers it was the sixth road game in a row without a loss. Three days later the two teams were back in the New England rink where the Whalers had been having a horrendous time of late&mdash;having lost five in a row before the home fans.</p><p>This time Larry Pleau and rookie Jim Warner got the Whalers off to a 2-0 lead in the first stanza. Goalie John Garrett was brilliant in repelling several good opportunities by the Nordiques. Early in the second period, however, Real Cloutier earned the applause of Whaler fans after he was sent in by Richie Leduc. The speedy winger deked Garrett beautifully and flicked a backhander to the top shelf. It was goal number 70 for the scoring phenom.</p><p>Veteran Dave Keon assured a New England victory as he answered with a pair of goals. But Cloutier was not finished. Grabbing a loose puck at the red line, he dashed toward Garrett on a breakaway. This time Garrett came out to stymie the red hot scorer. That clutch stop may have saved the day for the Whalers as the final score was 5-3. The win put the Whalers in a flat-footed tie for second place with the Nordiques, and what&rsquo;s more, it seemed to break the mesmerism of home-ice difficulties for the Whalers.</p><p>The Nordiques were happy to bid adieu to the Whalers and headed for Cincinnati in an attempt to get back on the winning track. Although the Stingers outshot the visiting Quebecers 38 to 21, it was the Nordiques who won the game, 5-2.</p><p>Cloutier extended his scoring streak by notching goal number 71 in his team&rsquo;s 69th game of the year. The man had a point string extending over 19 games&mdash;25 goals and 15 assists. But when the Birmingham Bulls came in for a visit the next night, the streak ended.</p><p>It was Marc Tardif who picked up the slack with a goal and an assist as the Nords squeaked by the Bulls. Paul Baxter&rsquo;s breakaway goal with just, under three minutes remaining broke a 2-2 tie for the important win.</p><p>Coach Jacques Demers had moved Tardif to center when Serge Bernier was sidelined with a knee injury. Bernier was expected to be out for three weeks or more.</p><p>In New England, the Whalers&rsquo; power play was enhanced considerably with the return of Gordie Howe. Whalers have again moved Mark Howe back to defense where he seems to be getting more ice time and more opportunities. Mike Antonovich returned from a two-week stint with the farm team in Springfield showing a return to the former play Whaler fans were accustomed to seeing.</p><p><b>BIRMINGHAM:</b> The Bulls were in a battle for the final spot in the WHA playoff format. There seemed to be little question that the Bulls would be scrapping with Cincinnati&rsquo;s Stingers right down to the wire. In back-to-back encounters, the two teams split, each winning at home. It was 18-year-old Michel Goulet&rsquo;s 25th goal of the season that proved to be the winner at Birmingham&rsquo;s Civic Center. A couple of nights earlier, however, the Stingers had prevailed back in Cincy. So the battle went on.</p><p>After the home win (a 2-Taffair), the Bulls caught a plane for New England where they were to face a rejuvenated Whaler team. Coach John Brophy was confident. &ldquo;We skate well against this team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;As a matter of fact, if we&rsquo;re skating we can beat anybody in the league,&rdquo; continued the coach.</p><p>When the game began it appeared the young Bulls hadn&rsquo;t brought their legs along. The Whalers jumped to&rsquo; a two-goal lead after one period. But in the second stanza it was all Birmingham as Rick Adduono scored on a three-on-one break, and John C. Stewart potted a pair&mdash;his 19th and 20th of the campaign&mdash;to vault the Bulls into the lead.</p><p>In the third period Louis Sleigher celebrated his return to the lineup after being sidelined with a shoulder separation. The early season sensation rifled in his 25th of the season on an unassisted effort. The rookie&rsquo;s goal was all the Bulls needed. Gordie Howe&rsquo;s super effort late in the game only served to make the last few minutes more exciting. Final score, 4-3.</p><p>With the season drawing to a close, and merger in the offing, Bulls&rsquo; coach John Brophy became a little melancholy as he mused, &ldquo;I&rsquo;d certainly like to have the opportunity to have this team for another two or three years.&rdquo;</p><h2>WHA Leaders</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02296/3879418-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="609" height="926"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-01

Whalers Give Quebec Tough Time; Bulls Remain In Playoff Running

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03160/3879487-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg"></div><p>EDMONTON&mdash;</p><p>The Edmonton Oilers are still the box office leaders in the World Hockey Association.</p><p>After 30 of their 40 home games in the Coliseum, the Oilers have drawn 318,566 fans, a plus of 26,675 over their 1977-78 attendance mark for the same number of games.</p><p>While Edmonton, Cincinnati with a plus 25,734 and Quebec with a plus 9,749, are all running ahead of last year&rsquo;s home game figures, the WHA still showed a crowd defecit of 81,864 for the first 30 games of each of the six teams in figures compiled by THE HOCKEY NEWS. Still the minus figure represented a gain from the league&rsquo;s 20-game home mark, indicating attendance at WHA games had increased in recent weeks.</p><p>New England, playing in their temporary smaller home rink at Springfield, was 67,242 behind last year, Birmingham was operating with 66,060 less fans and Winnipeg was down 10,720 after 30 home games.</p><p>Following are the attendance figures gathered by THE HOCKEY NEWS:<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-03

Edmonton Still Leading WHA Attendance Race

<h2>APRIL</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1080/3879605-1-eng-US/f0026-102.jpg" title="f0026-10" width="659" height="583"></div><p><b>(End of Schedule)</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-10

Where WHA Teams Play

<p><b>(Standings on Tue. April 3)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1176/3879636-1-eng-US/f0026-112.jpg" title="f0026-11" width="596" height="192"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><p><b>Tue. Mar. 27</b></p><p>New England 1 at Birmingham 3</p><p><b>Wed. Mar. 28</b></p><p>Cincinnati 3 at Winnipeg 6</p><p><b>Fri. Mar. 30</b></p><p>Quebec 2 at Winnipeg 0</p><p>Edmonton 3 at New England 1</p><p>Cincinnati 3 at Birmingham 2</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Cincinnati 3 at Birmingham 6</p><p><b>Sun. Apr. 1</b></p><p>Edmonton 5 at New England 3</p><p>Winnipeg 7 at Quebec 3<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-11

The WHA Scoreboard

<p><b>&hellip;This Week</b></p><p><b>BIRMINGHAM:</b> Henderson 24. Slewart 23. Alley 15. Stephenson 16.17, Vaive 23,24. Cassolalo 9.</p><p><b>CINCINNATI:</b> Florek 36,37, Gilligan 17, Marsh 38,39, Gartner 26,27, Thomas 31, Hislop 26.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> Flett 21,22. Hunter 6, Callighen 24. Sobchuk 25, Weir 24, MacDonald 32. Siltanen 3.</p><p><b>NEW ENGLAND:</b> Rogers 26,27, Mark Howe 39. McKenzie 15.</p><p><b>QUEBEC:</b> Cote 11. Cloutier 72.73.74. Leduc 31, Fitchner8, Geoffrion 12. Baxter 10.</p><p><b>WINNIPEG:</b> Lindstrom 21,22,23, Lukowich 58,59.60,61, Long 4, Preston 24,25. Guindon 8, Sullivan 40, Terbenche 3.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

WHA’s Scorers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01307/3879691-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LARS-ERIK SJOBERG&hellip;Best Player In Practice</b></figcaption></div><p><b>Special To The Hockey News</b></p><p>WINNIPEG&mdash;</p><p>The Winnipeg Jets are a determined hockey club. Three weeks ago, they were struggling to hang onto fourth place in the World Hockey Association standings. Now they have their eyes on third place and with crucial back-to-back games to be played against Quebec, second place is not out of the question.</p><p>Avenging a 7-4 loss to the Oilers, the Jets went into the Edmonton Coliseum and ground out a key 6-4 win over the WHA leaders. Sparked by Morris Lukowich&rsquo;s fourth hat trick of the season, Winnipeg fought its way back from 2-0, 3-0, and 4-2 deficits to emerge with a hard-earned two points. Coach Tom McVie likened the match to a Chinese firedrill as both teams played it wide open.</p><p>Getting only his second start since joining the Jets at the end of January, goaltender Gary Smith backboned the Jets&rsquo; win. &ldquo;Smitty played a strong game,&rdquo; said Jets&rsquo; assistant coach, Bill Sutherland. &ldquo;He was very steady.&rdquo;</p><p>For Smith, it was his first win of the year after going 0-11-1 with the Indianapolis Racers and losing his one previous start in a Jets&rsquo; uniform. The victory was obviously a confidence builder for the veteran goalie as five nights later he checked usually explosive Cincinnati Stingers and helped the Jets to a 6-3 win.</p><p>Three times during the first 40 minutes, Smith robbed Robbie Ftorek on 1 on 1 situations. As the game&rsquo;s first star, the 35-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario, turned aside 30 Stinger shots and lifted the Jets to their sixth win in their last eight games&rsquo;.</p><p>Most observers agree that the Jets are playing a much sounder game of hockey in the past few weeks. The only weakness has been an inconsistency in moving the puck out of their own end. However, Jets&rsquo; coach, Tom McVie thinks he has at least a partial cure to the problem. The remedy isn&rsquo;t bottled or packaged. It&rsquo;s enveloped in the five-foor-eight, 179-pound frame of last year&rsquo;s WHA outstanding defenseman award winner. They call him &ldquo;The General or &ldquo;Shoe.&rdquo; Call him what you like, but Jet fans are ecstatic over McVie&rsquo;s announcement that captain Lars-Erik Sjoberg will return to the Jets&rsquo; line-up in time for the weekend series with Les Nordiques.</p><p>Sjoberg has not seen action since Sept. 24 (the Jets first exhibition contest of the year) when he was sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s no secret that we are having difficulty in our own end of the rink,&rdquo; the Jets&rsquo; coach said. &ldquo;I am anxious for Shoe to get back, because there is no doubt that he can help us out in this part of our game. He will definitely add some consistency.&rdquo;</p><p>Since coming over to the Jets from Sweden five years ago, Sjoberg has earned himself the reputation of being one of the smartest defensemen in the league.</p><p>A former Swedish national team member, Sjoberg is ready for his return. Sportswriters in Winnipeg have agreed that for the last two weeks, Sjoberg has been the sharpest player on the ice in the Jets&rsquo; practices. &ldquo;I was just waiting for both doctors to give the okay,&rdquo; said a smiling Sjoberg. &ldquo;I feel great and 1 am ready to go.&rdquo;</p><p>Certainly Sjoberg will be a steadying influence on McVie&rsquo;s rear guard. His presence alone is going to make the Jets a tough team to beat.as they make the turn for the home stretch.</p><p><b>JET STREAMS:</b> Peter Sullivan had a nine-game point streak going into the weekend series with Quebec&hellip;Assistant captain, Bill Lesuk has at least one point in each of his last eight outings&hellip;Rich Gosselin, a native of St. Malo, Manitoba, has been signed to a contract covering the balance of the 1978-79 season. Gosselin has spent the last three years playing in Switzerland where last season he was the first division&rsquo;s leading scorer&hellip;Niagara Falls Flyer defenseman John Gibson who is with the Jets on a tryout basis picked up his first professional point on the game winning goal in Edmonton&hellip;The Jets&rsquo; organization has put their weight behind the Canadian Cancer drive by promising to donate part of their gate proceeds from the Jets-Birmingham game to be held on April 11.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-01

Jets Turning Sound Play Into Climb In Standings

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02213/3879760-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg"></div><h2>Looking At WHA Goalers</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03158/3879753-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="1253" height="804"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0028-02

WHA’S POINT SCORING AND PENALTY STATISTICS

<p><b>Special To The Hockey News</b></p><p>BOSTON&mdash;</p><p>University of New Hampshire Wildcats went all the way to the ECAC Division 1 championship this season and much of the credit for their brilliant showing was shared by Ralph Cox, the team&rsquo;s top scorer who ended up sweeping individual honors in the league&rsquo;s All Star and individual awards.</p><p>Cox, who was the division&rsquo;s leading scorer while setting career scoring records for both UNH and New England, was selected as the ECAC&rsquo;s player of the year and was also chosen one of its three All Star forwards. Cox scored eight goals in a three-game stretch this season for UNH.</p><p>ECAC Commissioner Robert Whitelaw announced that Cox, a senior from Braintree, Mass., was the leading votegetter in the year-end poll to name the division&rsquo;s top performers.</p><p>UNH placed one player, Cox, on the first team, and two on the second team. Boston University put two players on the first team and Providence College landed two second team players. Cornell had one player on each team.</p><p>The first All Star team included four members from last year&rsquo;s team. Cox, Joe Mullen of Boston College, Lance Nethery of Cornell and Jack O&rsquo;Callaghan of BU.</p><p>The first team included Jim Craig of Boston Univ, in goal, Lou Cote of Vermont and O&rsquo;Callaghan on defense, with Cox, Mullen and Nethery named the three forwards.</p><p>On the second team, New Hampshire team captain Bob Gould, who was considered to be the best all-round player on the Wildcats this season, was the top choice among the selectors.</p><p>Named to team two were goaler Greg Moffett of New Hampshire, who won the award as the most valuable player in the recent ECAC Division 1 championship tournament. Jim Korn of Providence and Mike Mastrullo of Brown were the defensemen. The forwards included Gould, Brock Tredway of Cornell and Colin Ahern of Providence.</p><p>One of the impressive first team picks was Cote, the solid young Vermont defenseman who was the only junior to make either ECAC team. The sensational Catamount blueliner, who hails from Montreal, was also expected to be named an All-American off his brilliant play this year.</p><p>Cote, who holds UVM records for most points (31) and most assists (26) by a freshman defenseman, broke John Glynne&rsquo;s career scoring record of 29 goals when he scored twice in Vermont&rsquo;s final league game of the season. Cote finished the year with 39 points raising his three-year career totals to 110 points, 15th on the all-time UVM scoring list.</p><p>The ECAC also announced that Bill Whelton of Boston University so impressed the league coaches that they chose the Charlestown, Mass., native as the loop&rsquo;s rookie of the year. BU is expecting big things from Whelton next season in their bid to regain ECAC supremacy.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01252/3879805-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="578" height="746"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RALPH COX&hellip;Best In East</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02204/3879798-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="572" height="744"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BILL WHELTON&hellip;Rookie Of Year</b></figcaption></div><h2>ECAC All Star Teams</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03136/3879791-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="1136" height="560"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0029-01

UNH’s Cox Named Player Of Year; Four Repeaters On ECAC AllStars

<div class="byline">BY DICK CHRISTMAN</div><p>SAN DIEGO&mdash;</p><p>United States International University in San Diego has one of the upcoming college ice hockey programs in the country.</p><p>Yes, you read that right. It&rsquo;s not a typographical error.</p><p>Impossible?</p><p>To many people it is. The San Diego area has never been known for its ice hockey. In fact, west of the Rockies college hockey has been less than impressive.</p><p>So how can a school in sunny California with an enrollment of just 4,000 become a hockey power?</p><p>&ldquo;Hockey,&rdquo; explains Maynard Howe, Jr., the school&rsquo;s coach, &ldquo;is our president&rsquo;s favorite sport.&rdquo;</p><p>Dr. William Rust, the school&rsquo;s president, is indeed a hockey enthusiast. He&rsquo;s also a perfectionist. When he does something he likes to do it right.</p><p>Next year the Westerners will compete on the NCAA Division I level as an independent. The school is giving full-ride NCAA scholarships in the sport and presently Howe is looking for some graduate assistants to aid him.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt that we&rsquo;re emphasizing hockey here,&rdquo; said Howe. &ldquo;Our goal is to play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. That&rsquo;s the type of player I&rsquo;m looking for. One that can step right in and play on that level.&rdquo;</p><p>Next year the Westerners will play the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Bowling Green, Colgate, Denver, Air Force, the Finnish National team and the Swedish National team.</p><p>The past season USIU competed as a club team. The Westerners started out as a member of a 14-team league composed of Southern California schools. But when they opened the season with 23-1 and 182 romps over UCLA and UC Irvine, respectively, teams began dropping them from their schedule.</p><p>The Westerners&rsquo; climaxed a 19-6-1 season by winning the championship recently in the Big Eight Invitational in Kansas City.</p><p>The groundwork of the program was laid two and a half years ago when Howe, a clinical psychology graduate, moved from Maine to California.</p><p>He enrolled in USIU&rsquo;s doctoral program and when word got out that Rust loved hockey, the former University of Maine coach approached the University president.</p><p>Howe, 31, was eager to get back into hockey. He began playing the game as a six-year-old in St. Paul, Minn.</p><p>He was a defenseman in college at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Upon graduating he had a tryout with the Rochester Amerks of the American Hockey League. The team asked him to play a year in the International League but Howe, who had played football on the club level in college, opted for a tryout with the Boston Patriots of the old American Football League.</p><p>His professional aspirations came to a screeching halt when he suffered a jammed spine, a brain concussion, a fractured spine and a ruptured spleen in an automobile accident while at the Patriot training camp.</p><p>His playing days over, Howe got into coaching hockey, first on the semi-pro level and then at a high school in Portland, Maine. After winning a state high school title, Howe became coach at the University of Maine.</p><p>Maine won the NAIA District V championships under Howe and in his third year at the school he was NAlA&rsquo;s hockey coach of the year.</p><p>Then he took Horace Greeley&rsquo;s advice and headed west.</p><p>&ldquo;I needed a change,&rdquo; noted Howe.</p><p>He never expected to wind up coaching hockey at USIU but now that he&rsquo;s started he doesn&rsquo;t want to stop until he&rsquo;s reached the top.</p><p>&ldquo;I like to say we&rsquo;re the best collegiate hockey team west of the Rockies,&rdquo; said Howe. &ldquo;And I seriously believe we are. I would soon like to be saying we&rsquo;re the best west of the Mississippi and eventually west of the Atlantic. But we&rsquo;ll have to take that one step at a time.</p><p>&ldquo;Our present goal is to be competitive on the Division I level next season. Our long range goal, of course, is to contend for the national championship.&rdquo;</p><p>To accomplish that Howe needs some talent. He was surprised when he found some players of Division 1 caliber right in his own backyard, so to speak.</p><p>The majority of Howe&rsquo;s team this past season was made up of players from Los Angeles, who played for the Los Angeles Junior Kings, a group of 19-year-olds who became the first Californians to win a national hockey title on any level.</p><p>&ldquo;When we went back to the national tournament,&rdquo; recalled Tom Durkin, the Westerners&rsquo; leading scorer this past season, &ldquo;the players from the other teams laughed. When the tournament was all over they didn&rsquo;t laugh any longer.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I was truly surprised to find as good a talent out here as there is,&rdquo; said Howe. &ldquo;The No. 1 key to putting together a good team is to be able to recognize the kind of player you feel you can work with and wants to learn.</p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want a player who&rsquo;s set in his ways. The second thing is to design strategy that fits the team rather than designing a team to fit a particular strategy.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

San Diego Collegians Set Ambitious Goals

<div class="byline">BY JIM LEAHY</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>NEW BRUNSWICK&mdash;</p><p>Coach Eddie Johnston&rsquo;s Hawks gave it a great try but the Maine Mariners have all but won their second straight Northern Division title. If the Hawks hadn&rsquo;t lost several key players due to injuries and callups, it might have been quite a race. At any rate, the new American Hockey League franchise proved to be a great addition to the league, drawing huge crowds in Moncton and providing Nova Scotia with a natural rival.</p><p>During the week, New Brunswick was in action three times, earning an even split in the contests. They edged Maine 4-3 in overtime in Moncton and then hit the road for two games. A visit to the Hersheypark Arena ended up in an 8-4 loss to the improving Bears and a trip to New Haven resulted in a 5-5 tie. New Brunswick actually led 4-1 over New Haven, and had a 5-4 lead with 2:15 to go before the Southern Division champions came up with their fifth goal.</p><p>Three new players were added to the lineup just before rosters were frozen. Left wingers Lome Stamler (Toronto) and Ron Wilson (Toronto), also defensemen Miles Zaharko (Chicago) were assigned to the AHL club by their parent organizations. Ron Wilson played with Toronto and the CHL Dallas Black Hawks last season and is a former college All American out of Providence College.</p><p>Now that flashy Rocky Saganiuk is up with the Maple Leafs, center Kirk Bowman has taken over the team scoring lead. Bowman has 24 goals and 44 assists in 70 games. He also split last season between Chicago and Dallas.</p><p><b>NEW HAVEN:</b> The Nighthawks have clinched their first ever divisional title and they did it by defeating Philadelphia 5-4 on the road. At a postgame champagne party, most of the team members were looking forward to the upcoming Calder Cup and a probable showdown with the Maine Mariners. Last year the Mariners and Nighthawks met in the championship series with Maine skating away with the Calder Cup.</p><p>A local cable TV station will televise the April 8 Hershey-New Haven game to some 30,000 homes in the New Haven area. CCTV general manager James Harrington said that, &ldquo;The Nighthawks provide top caliber entertainment and are our own local pro team.&rdquo; Nick Nickson, the &ldquo;Voice of the Nighthawks&rdquo; will simulcast the games on radio and for the tape-delayed TV presentation. The Nighthawks and CCTV hope to televise several games next season and may do some of the Calder Cup playoffs this year.</p><p>New Haven played three of four contests on the road during the week. They swept a pair in Philadelphia 4-3 and 5-4, tied New Brunswick 5-5 at home before 4,701 and lost 6-2 in Maine. Despite losing to Maine, Nighthawk goaltender Steve Baker continues to be hot. During the last 14 games he has posted an 11-21 mark.</p><p><b>NOVA SCOTIA:</b> The Vees have gone into a late-season slump which may prove to be fatal in their attempt to stay in playoff contention. A big 4-3 loss in Springfield drew the Indians to within two points of Nova Scotia. and the Tribe had four games in hand to boot. For some unexplained reason the Voyageurs have now dropped five of their last six, and unless Springfield has a collapse, Nova Scotia will fail to make the playoffs despite having a better record than four of the teams in the Southern Division.</p><p>Defensemen Jean Lemieux and Brad Selwood are with the Vees, and star left winger Norm Dupont is off the injured list, but the Vees were only able to win one game during the week.</p><p><b>HERSHEY:</b> A four-point lead over third place Binghamton has given the Bears some breathing room. Hershey was in action twice during the week, beating New Brunswick 8-4 and losing to Rochester 5-3. Earlier in the week, the Bears received an unexpected bonus when AHL president Jack Butterfield ruled that the Maine Mariners used an ineligible player in their 6-3 win over Hershey. As a result of his ruling, the Bears were awarded the first win by forfeit in the history of the AHL.</p><p>The Clear Day Roster (those eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs), shows goaltenders Rollie Boutin, Bernie Wolfe and Randy Ireland set to play for the Bears. Wolfe had been assigned to Hershey, however he is injured and may not be ready to compete in the playoffs. In three games with the Bears last season, Wolfe was undefeated and had a fine 1.33 GAA. If he is able to play, Hershey could be stronger then expected in postseason play.</p><p><b>SPRINGFIELD:</b> The Indians worked hard in practice all week for their key game with Nova Scotia and it paid off as they skated to a 4-3 win over the Voyageurs and moved within two points of third place and a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Under coach Pete Stemkowski, the Tribe has a fine 22-165 record, and are 13-9-2 at the Coliseum and 9-&rsquo;7-3 on foreign ice.</p><p>The three new players, Gary MacGregor, Mike Antonovich and John French were blending into the lineup and have given the club added strength during their playoff drive. Antonovich, though, was recalled by the New England Whalers who later also summoned George Lyle. Rookie goaltender Lome Molleken is doing a great job, and along with center Dan Bonar, are candidates for AHL Rookie of the Year honors.</p><p>Whether or not the Indians reach the playoffs will depend on what happens during the last few games of the season. Seven of their remaining 10 games are against Northern Division foes and the team will have to reach back for something extra in order to make it.</p><p><b>BINGHAMTON:</b> Left wingers Pierre Guite and Wes George came down from the WHA Edmonton Oilers recently and center Rob Garner is off the injured list, but is this enough help to overtake Hershey and gain the all-important home ice advantage in the playoffs? Only time will tell, but the Dusters have gone into a slump of late and at this writing only lead hard-driving Rochester by five points.</p><p>The Dusters have lost four of their last six. During the week, it was two losses in three games. They split a home and home series with Rochester but lost 6-2 in Philadelphia to the last place Firebirds.</p><p>Even though Richard Grenier and Mike Meeker are having great seasons, the Dusters may be on the outside looking in when the playoffs start unless they are able to come up with a few key victories this week.</p><p><b>MAINE:</b> A 12-point lead over New Brunswick with seven games to play means that the Mariners most likely will once again be the Northern Division champions and get a bye in the first round of the playoffs. After losing 4-3 to New Brunswick and 3-2 to Nova Scotia, the Mariners bounced back to delight a crowd of 6,323 at the Civic Center by defeating the New Haven Nighthawks 6-2 in a battle between the two best teams in the AHL.</p><p>The Mariners-Nighthawks game was also a contest between two clubs that are fighting for the honor of scoring the most goals and allowing the fewest in the AHL. At this writing, New Haven has scored 14 more goals but the Mariners have allowed seven fewer.</p><p><b>ROCHESTER:</b> Tom Songin scored his 20th goal of the season to give Rochester a 5-4 win over New Haven before 4,081 at the War Memorial and the Amerks could have enough steam left to make the playoffs. They defeated Binghamton and Hershey later in the week and are now only five points behind the third place Dusters with seven games to play.</p><p><b>PHILADELPHIA:</b> Even though the Firebirds are hot and have won five of their last eight, only a complete collapse by Rochester will prevent the Firebirds from finishing in the Southern Division cellar.</p><p>The &lsquo;Birds split four games during the week. They lost twice to New Haven at home before crowds of a little more than 1,000 people, and defeated Nova Scotia and Binghamton.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01288/3879867-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="565" height="975"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KIRK BOWMAN&hellip;Hawks&rsquo; Top Scorer</b></figcaption></div><h2>Where AHL Teams Play</h2><h3>APRIL</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02227/3879860-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="601" height="443"></div><p><b>(End of Schedule)</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-01

Maine Nears Second Division Title; Slumping Vees Face Playoff Ouster

<div class="byline">BY JIM LEAHY</div><p>BUFFALO&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HE HOCKEY NEWS has learned from reliable sources that the Buffalo Sabres will pull their American League players out of Hershey next season. In addition, there is a good chance that Buffalo will reactivate their AHL fran-chise and place a team in the 16,433-seat Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium for the 1979-80 season. The new AHL club would be a natural rival for the Rochester Americans.</p><p>Fred Shero coached the last Buffalo entry during the 1969-70 season when his Bisons went on to win the Calder Cup. Quite possibly, the Western Division of the AHL next year will have: Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, Hershey and Adirondack. The Eastern Division will probably have New Haven, Springfield, Maine, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.</p><p>Meanwhile the AHL rule book cost the Maine Mariners a win recently. For the first time in the 42-year history of the AHL, a team had to forfeit a game because they used an ineligible player. The rule is simple: a NHL club may not lend a player to two AHL clubs, and, if he is sent to a second club, he may not go back to his original AHL team. Simple-right? It&rsquo;s as clear as mud until you think about it or hire a Philadelphia lawyer. But didn&rsquo;t this involve Philadelphia lawyers?</p><p>Here&rsquo;s what happened. Goaltender Rick St. Croix, who is owned by the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL was assigned to the AHL Maine Mariners. He was brought up to the NHL when the Flyers&rsquo; goaltender Bernie Parent was injured. While he was in Philadelphia about to be sent back to the Mariners, allegedly, the Flyers lent him to the AHL Philadelphia Firebirds since the Firebirds didn&rsquo;t have a goaltender and St. Croix was in town. He played one game for the Philadelphia Firebirds and was immediately sent back to the Maine Mariners where he led them to a 6-3 win over the Hershey Bears. Hershey protested, and the AHL front office upheld their protest and awarded the win to the Bears.</p><p>St. Croix&rsquo;s strange (and illegal) journey took him from Maine to the Philadelphia-Flyers to the AHL Philadelphia Firebirds and back to Maine. He&rsquo;s now back with the Firebirds. The Hershey Bears apparently have a few Philadelphia lawyers of their own and their persistence gave them two points in the AHL race.</p><p>Pierre Roy of Springfield joined the list of record breakers in the AHL this season when he picked up 31minutes in penalties increasing his overall total to 395. This is the new all-time high for a player in a single season. Dave Schultz held the old mark of 392 set in 76 games during the 1971-72 season&hellip;Maine set the all-time record for penalty minutes by a team in a single season when they surpassed the old mark of 1999 held by Nova Scotia a week ago. The Mariners currently have 2128 minutes.</p><p>Philadelphia was eliminated from the playoffs when they lost to Binghamton. The Firebirds can at best get 65 points and the current third place team, Binghamton, already has 67 points&hellip;New Haven clinched first place on March 21&hellip;Five of the eight teams in the league last season have eclipsed their old PIM marks and Philadelphia needs only 15 minutes to set a new team mark. Nova Scotia currently in third place can&rsquo;t reach first and can only tie with New Brunswick for second, while Springfield, in fourth place still has a shot at second or third place due to the four games in hand they have over Nova Scotia and the two over New Brunswick.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01264/3879898-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="569" height="766"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RICK ST. CROIX&hellip;Ineligible Player</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0031-01

Buffalo May Put AHL Team On Ice Next Season

<h2>BINGHAMTON</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02212/3879985-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="599" height="576"></div><h2>HERSHEY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03169/3879978-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="598" height="602"></div><h2>MAINE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-04132/3879971-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="600" height="605"></div><h2>NEW BRUNSWICK</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-05117/3879964-1-eng-US/f0031-052.jpg" title="f0031-05" width="593" height="605"></div><h2>NEW HAVEN</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0692/3879957-1-eng-US/f0031-062.jpg" title="f0031-06" width="599" height="583"></div><h2>NOVA SCOTIA</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0779/3879950-1-eng-US/f0031-072.jpg" title="f0031-07" width="596" height="596"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0870/3879943-1-eng-US/f0031-082.jpg" title="f0031-08" width="609" height="602"></div><h2>ROCHESTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-0957/3879936-1-eng-US/f0031-092.jpg" title="f0031-09" width="591" height="632"></div><h2>SPRINGFIELD</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1045/3879929-1-eng-US/f0031-102.jpg" title="f0031-10" width="602" height="628"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0031-02

AHL’s Team Scoring

<div class="byline">BY JIMMY BRYAN</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>TULSA&mdash;</p><p>Woe piled upon woe, and the Oilers set a Central Hockey League record they didn&rsquo;t want to set, as John Choyce&rsquo;s men suffered their 12th loss in a row.</p><p>Twice it appeared the ugly streak was coming to an end. At home against Oklahoma City the Oilers had a two-goal lead with seven minutes left in the third period, but they lost in overtime, 4-3. In Kansas City the Oilers had a two-goal lead before the game was 12 minutes old, but they dropped a 7-6 decision in spite of scoring three unanswered goals in the last period.</p><p>Earlier in the week the Tulsans had lost a 7-3 home game against Fort Worth. And a Friday home date with KC was &ldquo;snowed out&rdquo;&mdash;the snow was in Missouri, not Oklahoma, and the Red Wings&rsquo; plane was unable to take off for Tulsa.</p><p>As a result of the fruitless week, the 1978-79 Oilers became Tulsa&rsquo;s worst club in 15 years of Central League competition, and wiped off the CHL record books the 11-game losing string compiled by the Tucson Mavericks in 1975-76. The Oilers had played 16 games without winning, the loss skein broken only by a tie in Fort Worth, Feb. 24. They were threatening the CHL record of 18 winless outings, compiled by the Kansas City Blues in 1971-72.</p><p>The overtime loss to archrival Oke City was Tulsa&rsquo;s seventh straight setback in its own rink. That tied a CHL record first achieved by the Omaha Knights in 1967-68, and later matched by the Oklahoma City Blazers in both 1975-76 and *76-77, and by the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, also in 1976-77.</p><p>No false hopes were raised for Oiler fans in the game with Fort Worth. The Texans were out in front, 4-0, before Tulsa&rsquo;s Jim Wiley scored on a breakaway in the second period. Paul Messier and Jim MacRae scored later for the Oilers.</p><p>After the unscheduled holiday Friday, when the Red Wings failed to show up (the game was rescheduled for the following Tuesday), the Oilers looked at their sharpest for two periods against the OC Stars. MacRae, Guy Lash and Jean Bernier all scored in the second period for a 3-1 advantage, in spite of surrendering a shorthanded goal to the Stars.</p><p>But the Oilers simply weren&rsquo;t in it in the third period, as the Stars outshot them, 23-2. Even so, thanks to some brilliant goaltending by Tim Bernhardt, the Tulsans held off the visitors for 13 minutes. But Jim McKenny&rsquo;s second goal of the night at 13:10, and Tom Cassidy&rsquo;s power play goal at 14:07 tied the game, and Kelly Greenbank won it after 3:14 of overtime.</p><p>It was Oklahoma City&rsquo;s eighth victory in 10 appearances at the Tulsa Assembly Center this season. The Stars wound up with a 14-5-1 advantage in the turnpike series, the most lopsided edge either team has enjoyed in 12 seasons of intrastate rivalry. (Each city has won the Turnpike Trophy six times.)</p><p><b>DALLAS:</b> John Muckler&rsquo;s red-hot Black Hawks tied the CHL record by posting their 11th straight victory, a 5-3 decision in Fort Worth which tied the Texas turnpike series. The streak was snapped by a 6-2 loss in Salt Lake, but the Hawks came back to beat the Eagles, 4-2, the next night.</p><p>The split in the Salt Palace all but dimmed Dallas&rsquo; hopes of overtaking the first-place Eagles in the regular season (six points behind with five games left). But it left the league&rsquo;s two top teams all even at 6,-6-2 for the season.</p><p>The win in Fort Worth enabled the Hawks to match the record string of 11 victories posted by the Omaha Knights in the inaugural season of 1963-64. The 1975-76 Tulsa Oilers put together 15 straight victories, but five of those were in the playoffs.</p><p>Dallas blew a three-goal lead against Fort Worth&mdash;goals by Ron Carter in the first period, Drew Callender and Jim Mayer at the start of the second&mdash;but won it on Steve Hazlett&rsquo;s goal early in the third, with Mayer adding his second goal for insurance. That gave the Hawks six straight victories over their archrivals. The series was tied, 9-9, with two games remaining. It was&rsquo; Dallas&rsquo; fifth straight victory on the road.</p><p>Steve Clippingdale&rsquo;s league-record 20-game point streak came to an end in the first Salt Lake game, when his neck was twisted in a fight. Carter accounted for both Dallas goals in the losing effort.</p><p><b>SALT LAKE:</b> Taking two of three games for the week, Jack Evans&rsquo; Golden Eagles had a six-point first-place margin, and were within three victories of clinching first place. The Big Birds handled Oklahoma City (7-2) before splitting with Dallas (6-2 and 24), all at home.</p><p>Rick Shinske and Floyd Thomson, blanked the previous week, collected five and four points, respectively. Shinske, with 77 points, was second in the league scoring, but had the CHL lead in assists, with 59. Thomson was the No. 3 scorer with 70 points. Goalies Terry Richardson (2.60 average) and Doug Grant (2.92) were still tops in the league.</p><p>Left wing Gary Holt played in his 350th Eagle game, putting him second on Salt Lake&rsquo;s all-time list, behind Lyle Bradley&rsquo;s 500. The Saturday game with Dallas was telecast, and favorable comments hinted at more telecasts to come. The Sunday game was the first afternoon game in Salt Palace hockey history, and drew a creditable turnout of 4,200. The only other Sunday hockey game played at the Palace (at night) was 10 years earlier and drew less than 2,000.</p><p>Gordie McTavish had two goals in the victory over Oklahoma City. After he scored in the opening period, Brian Ogilvie and Bruce Affleck joined Gordie in middle-period scoring, and Doug Palazzari, Rick Bowness and Thomson completed the rout in the third.</p><p><b>FORT WORTH:</b> Ed Pizunski&rsquo;s hat trick highlighted a 7-3 home romp for the Texans over Tulsa. They suffered a 5-3 home setback against Dallas, and a 4-3 loss in Kansas City, but Goran Hogosta&rsquo;s second shutout of the season, 2-0 in Oklahoma City kept Fort Worth only a point out of fourth place, with six games left.</p><p>Club scoring leader Charlie Skjodt had 60 points for 10th place among the league scorers. Alex McKendry picked up 30 penalty-minutes (20 against Dallas), and took over the league lead on 202 minutes.</p><p>Pizunski had a goal in the first period against Tulsa, and two more in the second (one shorthanded). Skjodt also scored in the second, followed by Garth MacGuigan, and Ralph Stewart tallied in the third. Hogosta lost his shutout bid midway of the second period.</p><p>Steve Tambellini in the first period, and McKendry in the second, gave Hogosta all the cushion he needed at Oklahoma City. The Swedish-born goalie turned back 33 shots, including 14 in the final period, when the Stars dominated the play. Hogosta&rsquo;s earlier shutout this season was a 9-0 romp at home against Dallas, Feb. 10.</p><p><b>KANSAS CITY:</b> Rookie right wing Mal Davis from the University of Alberta started the week by getting both KC goals in a 5-2 home loss to Oklahoma City. He ended the week with three goals at home in a 7-6 victory over Tulsa. That gave Mal 41 goals, breaking a club record Gary Verneruzzo had set with 38 in 1968-69.</p><p>The Wings had also won at home, 4-3 over Fort Worth. Their only road game of the week was postponed when the KC airport was closed by blizzard conditions Friday afternoon, and they couldn&rsquo;t get a bus driver for the trip to Tulsa.</p><p>Davis&rsquo; five goals gave him 63 points, ninth on the CHL scoring chart. Steve Short had to settle for three minor penalties for the week, and lost the league lead in that department, with 188 minutes. The Wings were almost mathematically locked into third place, 10 points behind second-place Dallas and eight in front of fourth-place Oklahoma City.</p><p>Roland Cloutier got two goals in the victory over Fort Worth, with others by Jim Maladrewicz and Sylvain Locas.</p><p>The Wings had six power play goals in the back-to-back victories, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.</p><p><b>OKLAHOMA CITY:</b> Ted Hampson&rsquo;s Stars broke even in four starts, and managed to stay a point ahead of Fort Worth in the grim fight for the fourth and final playoff position, although the Texans had a game in hand.</p><p>They won in Kansas City (5-2), lost in Salt Lake (2-7), rallied to win in overtime (4-3) at Tulsa, but came home to suffer a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Fort Worth. It was the Stars&rsquo; first shutout loss of the season.</p><p>John Baby had two power goals in the second period at Kansas City, giving him 18 goals for the season, tops among CHL defensemen. Rick Jodzio and Don Jackson scored in the first, and Jim Roberts had a shorthanded goal in the third.</p><p>Mike Eaves and Peter Shier had the OC goals in the loss at Salt Lake and Eaves had six assists to go with his one goal for the week, and stayed three points ahead in the league scoring race.</p><p>Right wing Alex Pirus, wearing a special shoulder harness, played in the Tulsa game, his first in three weeks. Goalie Pete LoPresti was summoned by the Minnesota North Stars, who sent back left wing Roberts. Two amateur right wingers went back to school, John Harrington to Minnesota-Duluth and Warren Young to Michigan Tech. To back up Jim Warden in the nets, John Rockwell was brought in for a pro trial from Michigan Tech, and he played the last 11 minutes at Salt Lake.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01268/3880016-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="578" height="950"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ED PIZUNSKI&hellip;Sparked Texans</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0032-01

Skidding Oilers At Luck’s Bottom; Split Eases Eagles’ Title Worries

<h2>AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue. April 3)</b></p><h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01239/3880145-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="608" height="141"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02184/3880138-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="616" height="170"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><p><b>Wed. Mar. 28</b></p><p>New Brunswick 3 at Hershey 4</p><p>Springfield 3 at Maine 4</p><p><b>Fri. Mar. 30</b></p><p>Philadelphia 2 at Binghamton 3</p><p>New Haven 2 at Nova Scotia 5</p><p>New Brunswick 6 at Rochester 3</p><p>Maine 5 at Springfield 4</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Philadelphia at Hershey Ppd.</p><p>New Brunswick 1 at Maine 1</p><p>Binghamton 1 at Springfield 4</p><p><b>Sun. Apr. 1</b></p><p>Hershey 6 at Binghamton 5</p><p>New Haven 5 at New Brunswick 5</p><p>Springfield 3 at Nova Scotia 5</p><p>Philadelphia 6 at Rochester 4</p><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03139/3880131-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="617" height="615"></div><h3>GOALING RECORDS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04112/3880124-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="605" height="651"></div><h2>CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Mon. April 2)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0588/3880117-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="617" height="197"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Tue. Mar. 27</b></p><p>Kansas City 5 at Tulsa 6</p><p><b>Thu. Mar. 29</b></p><p>Tulsa 0 at Dallas 5</p><p>Salt Lake 5 at Fort Worth 0</p><p><b>Fri. Mar. 30</b></p><p>Kansas City 2 at Fort Worth 4</p><p>Dalias 4 at Okla. City 5</p><p>Salt Lake 6 at Tulsa 0</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Kansas City 5 at Dallas 8</p><p>Salt Lake 3 at Okla. City 2</p><p>Fort Worth 3 at Tulsa 1</p><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0669/3880110-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="603" height="309"></div><h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Tue. April 3)</b></p><h3>NORTH DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0760/3880103-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="611" height="165"></div><h3>SOUTH DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0852/3880096-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="602" height="138"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Tue. Mar. 27</b></p><p>Grand Rapids 6 at Milwaukee 0</p><p><b>Wed. Mar. 28</b></p><p>Muskegon 7 at Fort Wayne 8</p><p>Flint 6 at Toledo 8</p><p><b>Thu. Mar. 29</b></p><p>Toledo 3 at Milwaukee 3</p><p><b>Fri. Mar. 30</b></p><p>Flint 7 at Saginaw 4</p><p>Muskegon 4 at Kalamazoo 4</p><p>Fort Wayne 5 at Milwaukee 5</p><p>Port Huron 3 at Grand Rapids 4</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Grand Rapids 3 at Fort Wayne 3</p><p>Muskegon 2 at Port Huron 10</p><p>Toledo 6 at Flint 4</p><p>Kalamazoo 5 at Saginaw 0</p><p><b>Sun. Apr. 1</b></p><p>Saginaw 3 at Fort Wayne 5</p><p>Port Huron 8 at Flint 3</p><p>Kalamazoo 4 at Toledo 5</p><p>Milwaukee 2 at Grand Rapids 5</p><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0943/3880089-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="594" height="435"></div><h2>PACIFIC HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standing on Wed. March 28)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1039/3880082-1-eng-US/f0033-102.jpg" title="f0033-10" width="599" height="142"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Tue. Mar. 20</b></p><p>Spokane 3 at Tucson 1</p><p><b>Thu. Mar. 22</b></p><p>Spokane 3 at Phoenix 2</p><p><b>Fri. Mar. 23</b></p><p>Phoenix 8 at Tucson 4</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 24</b></p><p>San Diego 6 at Spokane 2</p><p><b>Sun. Mar. 25</b></p><p>San Diego 2 at Spokane 4</p><h3>LEADING SCORES</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1138/3880075-1-eng-US/f0033-112.jpg" title="f0033-11" width="616" height="310"></div><h2>NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Final Standings)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1237/3880068-1-eng-US/f0033-122.jpg" title="f0033-12" width="621" height="168"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1326/3880061-1-eng-US/f0033-132.jpg" title="f0033-13" width="603" height="307"></div><h2>PLAYOFF GAMES</h2><h3>Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1423/3880054-1-eng-US/f0033-142.jpg" title="f0033-14" width="608" height="121"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Fri. Mar. 30</b></p><p>Utica 2 at Erie 7</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Utica 4 at Erie 1</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1519/3880047-1-eng-US/f0033-152.jpg" title="f0033-15" width="602" height="116"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p><b>Wed. Mar. 28</b></p><p>Cape Cod 6 at Hampton 1</p><p><b>Thu. Mar. 29</b></p><p>Cape Cod 1 at Hampton 4</p><p><b>Sat. Mar. 31</b></p><p>Hampton 5 at Cape Cod 1</p><p><b>Sun. Apr. 1</b></p><p>Hampton 5 at Cape Cod 2</p><h3>GAMES TO COME</h3><p><b>Tue. Apr. 3</b></p><p>Cape Cod at Hampton</p><p><b>Wed. Apr. 4</b></p><p>Hampton at Cape Cod</p><p><b>Sat. Apr. 7</b></p><p>Cape Cod at Hampton<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-01

Looking At The Minor League Scoreboard

<h2>NHL TEAMS</h2><p>1&mdash;Montreal</p><p>2&mdash;Chicago</p><p>3&mdash;Boston</p><p>4&mdash;Rangers</p><p>5&mdash;Detroit</p><p>6&mdash;Toronto</p><p>7&mdash;Philadelphia</p><p>8&mdash;Los Angeles</p><p>9&mdash;St. Louis</p><p>10&mdash;Minnesota</p><p>11&mdash;Pittsburgh</p><p>12&mdash;Islanders</p><p>13&mdash;Vancouver</p><p>14&mdash;Buffalo</p><p>15&mdash;Atlanta</p><p>16&mdash;Washington</p><p>17&mdash;Colorado</p><h2>WHA TEAMS</h2><p>18&mdash;NewEngland</p><p>19&mdash;Quebec</p><p>20&mdash;Winnipeg</p><p>22&mdash;Edmonton</p><p>23&mdash;Cincinnati</p><p>24&mdash;Birmingham</p><h2>OTHER AFFILIATIONS</h2><p>25&mdash;Quebec (WHA), Cincinnati (WHA, Pinangham (WHA) & Pittsburgh (NHL)</p><p>26&mdash;Buffalo (NHL) & Washington (NHL)</p><p>27&mdash;Toronto (NHL) & Chicago (NHL)</p><p>28&mdash;Montreal (NHL) & Atlanta (NHL)</p><p>29&mdash;New England (WHA), Edmonton (WHA), Winnipeg (WHA) & Los Angeles (NHL)</p><p>31&mdash;Atlanta (NHL), Rangers (NHL) & Mic nesota (NHL)</p><p>32&mdash;Vancouver (NHL), Los Angeles (NHL) & Edmonton (WHA).</p><p>34&mdash;St. LouisfNHL) & Washington (NHL)</p><p>35&mdash;Los Angeles (NHL) & Toronto(NHL)</p><p>36&mdash;Minnesota (NHL) & Chicago(NHL)</p><p>37&mdash;Colorado (NHL) & Atlanta (NHL)</p><p>38&mdash;Vancouver (NHL) & Islanders (NHL)</p><p>39&mdash;Pittsburgh (NHL) & Boston(NHL)</p><p>40&mdash;Philadelphia (NHL) & Buffalo (NHL)</p><p>41&mdash;Minnesota (NHL) & St. Louis (NHL)</p><p>42&mdash;Independent operation</p><p>43&mdash;Philadelphia (NHL) & St. Louis (NHL)<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Who They’re Affiliated With…

<h2>DALLAS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1614/3880235-1-eng-US/f0033-162.jpg" title="f0033-16" width="603" height="584"></div><h2>KANSAS CITY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1714/3880228-1-eng-US/f0033-172.jpg" title="f0033-17" width="599" height="582"></div><h2>SALT LAKE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1812/3880221-1-eng-US/f0033-182.jpg" title="f0033-18" width="605" height="531"></div><h2>FORT WORTH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1910/3880214-1-eng-US/f0033-192.jpg" title="f0033-19" width="608" height="533"></div><h2>OKLAHOMA CITY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-2010/3880207-1-eng-US/f0033-202.jpg" title="f0033-20" width="617" height="619"></div><h2>TULSA</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-219/3880200-1-eng-US/f0033-212.jpg" title="f0033-21" width="604" height="563"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0033-16

CHL’s Team Scoring

<div class="byline">BY BUD GALLMEIER</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg. Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>PORT HURON&mdash;</p><p>The Port Huron Flags&rsquo; hopes of standing off the challenge of Kalamazoo for the North Division title of the International Hockey League received a critical&mdash;if not killing&mdash;blow when sensational rookie Wes Jarvis broke his hand in an altercation with Fort Wayne&rsquo;s Kevin McCloskey in a game at Fort Wayne.</p><p>The Flags lost the game, 7-4, but the loss of Jarvis was the major casualty as Jarvis is the Flags&rsquo; leading scorer and represented the only real challenge for Fort Wayne&rsquo;s Terry McDougall in the race for the International Hockey League scoring championship.</p><p>In 70 games, Jarvis has scored 44 goals and has been credited with 64 assists for 108 points. He was one of the main reasons the Flags went on a 12-game undefeated streak following the All Star game which put them at the head of the class. He&rsquo;ll be out for the balance of the season&mdash;at least. There&rsquo;s hope he&rsquo;ll be in uniform for the playoffs but what inactivity will do to his skills remains to be seen.</p><p>The incident with McCloskey started because &ldquo;McCloskey was mouthing off at Murphy (Steve) so 1 moved in,&rdquo; related Jarvis. &ldquo;I grabbed his uniform and didn&rsquo;t feel anything during the fight. But when I got in the penalty box, it started to puff up on me.&rdquo;</p><p>The loss of Jarvis will force the Flags to play with just 15 players for the stretch run. Under IHL rules, a team may not replace a player until it is two men short once the March 15 deadline has been reached.</p><p>&ldquo;Seven of our final 10 games are on the road which makes things tough, too,&rdquo; said coach Ron Ullyot. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be very hard work for us to maintain first place over Kalamazoo.&rdquo;</p><p><b>KALAMAZOO:</b> The K-Wings slipped to within one point of Port Huron in the snug North Division race with a .500 week. The K-Wings now have 81 points&mdash;ort Huron 82. And the K-Wings have a game in hand.</p><p>The victories came over Saginaw, 5-3, and Milwaukee, 4-0. Losses were to Fort Wayne, 6-5, at home and at Muskegon, 4-3.</p><p>Al Jensen posted the shutout to reduce his goals against average to 3.06, tops in the league.</p><p>Tom Ross had four assists in the Sunday shutout win over Milwaukee, establishing a new club record with 98 points. The previous record was 97, held by Mike Wanchuk.</p><p><b>SAGINAW:</b> Coach Don Perry has suffered through a frustrating season with the Gears but maybe things will turn the other way now. At least he hopes so.</p><p>The Gears ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win at Port Huron. The week had started with one of the most frustrating losses of the season at home&mdash;to Milwaukee. The Admirals blanked the Gears, 1-0, with Bob Froses, on loan to Milwaukee from the Gears, doing the job.</p><p><b>FLINT:</b> Playing the league-leading Grand Rapids Owls brings out the best in the Generals. Coach Marc Boileau hopes it&rsquo;s a good sign that Flint might become a factor in the post-season playoffs.</p><p>The Generals returned home from a two-game road trip to spank the Owls, 5-1, for their third victory in the last four meetings with the top team in the league. The Generals had lost to the Owls, 4-3, on Friday. Boileau said, &ldquo;We should have won that one, too.&rdquo;</p><p><b>MUSKEGON:</b> Being eliminated from the playoffs hasn&rsquo;t brought about a loss of intensity among the Mohawks. They continue to play their best hockey of the season&mdash;a good omen for next year perhaps?</p><p>The Mohawks skated at a .500 clip, winning two games at home while dropping a pair on the road. The losses on the road were one-goal affairs&mdash;5-4 at Milwaukee and 5-4 at Toledo. The Mohawks avenged one road defeat, taking the second game of a two-game series in Milwaukee, 6-3. At home, the Mohawks nipped Kalamazoo, 4-3. Former K-Winger Greg Neeld got the winning goal in the game against Kalamazoo which brought out a crowd of 3,200.</p><p><b>GRAND RAPIDS:</b> General managercoach Moe Bartoli says the &ldquo;Worst is over. We&rsquo;re in good shape.&rdquo;</p><p>The fiery boss of the Owls was referring to the return to action soon of John Flesch and Dean Magee, who each drew 10-game suspensions in a ruckus with Referee Todd Larson in a game with Saginaw several weeks ago. The Owls lost captain Rick Dorman for the balance of the season&mdash;and playoffs. But Flesch and Magee will be available for the stretch run.</p><p>While the Owls skated without the three suspended players they managed to maintain a safe lead over runner-up Fort Wayne. The Owls were 2-1 during the week, winning over Flint, 4-3, and Toledo, 3-2, at home while losing at Flint, 5-1.</p><p><b>FORT WAYNE:</b> The Komets managed to skate stride for stride with Grand Rapids in the South, ending a losing streak on the road with a 6 5 win at Kalamazoo. The Komets dropped a 4 3 decision at Milwaukee but bounced back to stop Port Huron at home, 7 4.</p><p><b>TOLEDO:</b> The Diggers had a pretty fruitful week, picking up five points in a four-game grind which included a pair of road games. The lone loss was a 3-2 decision at Grand Rapids in a game which saw Toledo outshoot the Owls, 14-5, in the final period but come up empty handed.</p><p>The week started with an 8-2 romp over Flint at home and the Diggers managed a point with a 5-5 tie at Port Huron. The week concluded with a 5-4 win over hapless Muskegon at home&mdash;a game which saw the Diggers almost blow a 5-2 lead.</p><p><b>MILWAUKEE:</b> The Admirals put together a three-game winning streak, starting with a 1-0 win on the road at Saginaw. Back-to-back home triumphs over Muskegon, 5-4, and Fort Wayne, 4-3, followed before the Admirals were blanked at Kalamazoo, 4-0.</p><p>Muskegon spoiled the subsequent homecoming with a 6-3 win.</p><h2>Where IHL Teams Play</h2><h3>APRIL</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01260/3880266-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="573" height="451"></div><p><b>(End of Schedule)</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-01

Flag Hopes Flutter With Loss Of Ace Jarvis

<h2>FLINT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02205/3880353-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="600" height="495"></div><h2>FORT WAYNE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03157/3880346-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="618" height="441"></div><h2>GRAND RAPIDS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04103/3880339-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="622" height="478"></div><h2>KALAMAZOO</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0565/3880332-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="608" height="483"></div><h2>MILWAUKEE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0642/3880325-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="615" height="471"></div><h2>MUSKEGON</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0736/3880318-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="602" height="479"></div><h2>PORT HURON</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0831/3880311-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="604" height="497"></div><h2>SAGINAW</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0921/3880304-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="618" height="487"></div><h2>TOLEDO</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-1019/3880297-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="620" height="470"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0034-02

IHL’s Team Scoring Records

<div class="byline">BY PATRICK LYON</div><p>ERIE&mdash;</p><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Erie Blades and Utica Mohawks made the biggest news in the North Eastern Hockey League, the Blades clinching the regular season championship, while the Mohawks surged from fifth place and passed the Johnstown Wings to gain the fourth and final playoff position.</p><p>Faced with the prospect of missing the playoffs, Utica was put in a must win situation as they sat three points behind the Wings with just four games left. Mohawks coach Larry Mickey may have been a bit leery of going on the road for the team&rsquo;s last two games of the season since his club showed no better than a 7-26 record away from the friendly confines of the Mohawk Valley.</p><p>The Mohawks then got their act together and whipped the Freedoms in consecutive games at home to push themselves one point over Johnstown and take to the road for their final pair of games knowing they had already qualified for the playoffs.</p><p>Utica may have some trouble in the post-season parade as they must take on the powerful Blades in a best-of-seven series with Erie owning the home ice advantage. Hampton and Cape Cod will tangle in the other best of seven affair with the winners getting together in another best of seven set to decide the winner of the John Mitchell Cup, named in honor of the owner of the Johnstown franchise.</p><p>The Blades wrapped up the regular season title and were personally responsible for keeping Johnstown out of the playoffs with three victories over the Wings in Johnstown&rsquo;s last three games. A 3-1 conquest of Johnstown clinched the title for Erie on the road and the Blades then proceeded to hand the Wings 3-2 and 4-3 defeats. Erie ended a perfect 4-0 week with a 6-2 dumping of the Aces.</p><p>At press time, Stan Gulutzan of the Blades held the goal scoring leadership with 51 goals and an assist against the Aces gave him 100 points for the season, the second Blade forward to reach that plateau. Linemate Brad Rhiness still has hopes of passing Cape Cod&rsquo;s John Cunniff in the scoring race and will have two more games to catch Cunniff&rsquo;s 118 total. Rhiness has 112 points.</p><p><b>UTICA:</b> Ed Smith aided the Mohawks in their playoff drive with a hat trick in a 10-5 drubbing of the freedoms, his second hat trick this year against Cape Cod and fourth on the season. Mike Hartman backed him with two goals.</p><p>In their 8-5 playoff clinching win over Cap Cod, Glenn Tomalty tallied a pair against his former teammates, Utica&rsquo;s high scoring forward Cam McGregor adding two goals.</p><p>Bruce Guthrie and Bob Beattie each accumulated three points in a 7-5 loss to Cape Cod, the Mohawks also coming up a 5-3 loser to Hampton.</p><p>Bob Ferguson was given the Bunn Memorial Trophy in being named Most Valuable Player by his teammates. Guthrie was selected as rookie of the year, Ken Yackel tabbed as most improved, Doug McGay was the recipient of the Ralph Allinger Award for best sportsmanship. Beattie was honored by some loyal fans and Andy Whitby was saluted for his outstanding contributions to hockey in the Mohawk Valley.</p><p><b>CAPE COD</b> Injuries crept up on the Freedoms in the next-to-last week of the regular season, but player-coach John Cunniff should have everyone back at full strength to begin the playoffs. Cunniff was forced to wear a face mask when he sustained a broken nose and a cut over his eye. Tim Morrill, Duke Walsh and Bobby Blood were nursing&rsquo; minor injuries and the threesome was expected to see limited playing time in Cape Cod&rsquo;s final game.</p><p>The Freedoms increased their unbeaten streak to five games with a 4-2 win over Hampton and a 7-5 comeback triumph against the Mohawks, but then proceeded to drop two straight to Utica 10-5 and 8-5. Dennis Sholes keyed the 75 victory with a hat trick, while productive Paul Barrett connected for three in the 10-5 setback.</p><p>Jim Stewart, an All Star college goaltender at Holy Cross who had been working out with the team for a month, game which was to be played in Richmond. Stewart&rsquo;s playing will give some rest to regular shot stoppers Cap Raeder and Mark Evans.</p><p><b>JOHNSTOWN:</b> The Wings lost their chance to gain a playoff spot when they dropped their final three games of the season to the Blades. Dick Roberge&rsquo;s club dropped tight 3-1 and 3-2 games at the War Memorial Auditorium and then came up short in a narrow one goal loss in Erie, 4-3. In each of the three games the Wings outshot the Blades, but couldn&rsquo;t crack the goaltending tandem of Carey Walker and David Johns. The Wings had 34 more shots in the two games played in Johnstown.</p><p><b>HAMPTON:</b> Larry Billows and Brian Coates became the first two members of the Aces to go over the 100-point mark. Billows is third in the league in scoring with 103 points, Coates topping off a fine season with an even 100 points. A linemate of Billows and Coates, Jim Misener, is looking forward to being the third member of the Aces to eclipse 100 points in their last three games with the high scoring winger owning 95 points.</p><p>Attendance continues strong at the Hampton Coliseum where the Aces lost a pair of contests&mdash;a 4-2 setback to Cape Cod and a 6-2 decision to Erie, Dave Hynek ripped home two goals ip a 5-3 whipping of Utica.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01250/3880384-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="490" height="678"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRAD RHINESS&hellip;In Points Race</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0035-01

Perfect Week Hands Blades Title

<h2><i>EUROPEAN CLUBS ARE LOOKING FOR YOU</i></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>M</span>any hockey players would like to play professional hockey in Europe but have difficulty in finding out where positions are open. In addition, European coaches are very reluctant to choose a player, pay his travel expenses and offer him a contract on the basis of a letter from that player without first seeing him play. CAN/AM can save you a lot of time and money by running a European Tryout Camp in Guelph, Ontario in June.</p><h2>CALIBRE OF PLAYER REQUIRED</h2><p>European Coaches and Scouts are looking for all types of players. Because of the many different division levels in Europe, there is a need for College, Senior, Junior A, and even Junior B players as well as the Pros. The scouts and coaches will be at this Tryout Camp looking for players.</p><h2>FACTS ABOUT EUROPEAN HOCKEY</h2><p>1. MOST EUROPEAN TEAMS ARE ALLOWED UP TO TWO IMPORTS;</p><p>2. IF YOU CAN GET DUAL CITIZENSHIP PAPERS OF THE COUNTRY IN QUESTION, THEN YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED AN IMPORT and the chances of making the club are even better.</p><p>CAN YOU GET CITIZENSHIP?</p><p>Yes, a) If your parents were still citizens of the European country in question at the time of your birth,</p><p>OR b) If you were born in that country but are no longer a citizen of it.</p><p>3. PLAYING PRO HOCKEY IN EUROPE CAN MEAN A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE, HIGH PAY AND A SPRINGBOARD TO NORTH AMERICAN PRO HOCKEY.</p><p>SEND YOUR APPLICATION AND RESUME NOW</p><p>LOCATION: Guelph, Ontario, Canada</p><p>DATES: June 17-21</p><p>MINIMUM AGE: 18 years as of June 1</p><p>REGISTRATION FEE: $95.00</p><p>RESUME: Required with application fee, to include stats & previous teams.</p><p>DEADLINE: Decisions as to acceptance to Try Out Camp will be made May 21.</p><p>ACCOMODATION: Available on the University of Guelph campus upon request at a nominal fee.</p><p>EQUIPMENT: Must be supplied by the player.</p><p>Includes 3 one-hour practices and 4 complete (3 period stop time) games with pro officials. The practice time will include team practices and individual fundamental skill testing. Coaches will be assigned to each team for practices and games.</p><p>SEND CHECK AND RESUME TO:</p><p>CAN/AM HOCKEY GROUP</p><p>BOX 634</p><p>GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA N1H 6L4</p><p>(519) 824-3515</p><p><b>Or write or call the above for further information and brochure. All monies will be refunded for those not accepted into the Try Out Camp.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02210/3880415-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="460" height="569"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0035-02

HOCKEY PLAYERS

<h2>ONTARIO MAJOR LEAGUE</h2><p><b>PLAYOFF GAMES</b></p><h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02171/3880617-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="617" height="114"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Sudbury 7, Oshawa 4</p><p>Oshawa 7, Sudbury 4</p><p>Sudbury 5, Oshawa 3</p><p>Sudbury 7, Oshawa 4</p><p>Sudbury 4, Oshawa 2</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03125/3880610-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="610" height="114"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>London 5, Windsor 2</p><p>Windsor 5, London 2</p><p>London 6, Windsor 5</p><p>London 5, Windsor 4</p><p>London 3, Windsor 3</p><p>Windsor 5, London 4</p><p>London 3, Windsor 3</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0480/3880603-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="615" height="110"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Peterborough 4, Kingston 2</p><p>Kingston 6, Peterborough 5</p><p>Peterborough 3, Kingston 1</p><p>Kingston 2, Peterborough 1</p><p>Peterborough 4, Kingston 2</p><p>Peterborough 5, Kingston 5</p><p>Peterborough 7, Kingston 1</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0549/3880596-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="617" height="107"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Kitchener 1. Niagara Falls 0</p><p>Niagara Falls 5, Kitchener 3</p><p>Niagara Falls 9, Kitchener 4</p><p>Kitchener 5, Niagara Falls 3</p><p>Niagara Falls 10, Kitchener 2</p><h2>QUEBEC MAJOR LEAGUE</h2><p><b>PLAYOFF GAMES</b></p><h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0633/3880589-1-eng-US/f0036-062.jpg" title="f0036-06" width="604" height="114"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Trois-Rivieres 7, Shawinigan 3</p><p>Trois-Rivieres 4, Shawinigan 2</p><p>Trois-Rivieres 8, Shawinigan 5</p><p>Trois Rivieres 8, Shawinigan 2</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0729/3880582-1-eng-US/f0036-072.jpg" title="f0036-07" width="594" height="109"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Montreal 5, Quebec 3</p><p>Quebec 5, Montreal 3</p><p>Montreal 4, Quebec 3</p><p>Quebec 7, Montreal 6</p><p>Montreal 8, Quebec 3</p><p>Montreal 5, Quebec 3</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0824/3880575-1-eng-US/f0036-082.jpg" title="f0036-08" width="606" height="112"></div><h2>GAMES COMPLETED</h2><p>Sherbrooke 8, Chicoutimi 2</p><p>Sherbrooke 4, Chicoutimi 2</p><p>Sherbrooke 9, Chicoutimi 5</p><p>Sherbrooke 5, Chicoutimi 3</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0921/3880568-1-eng-US/f0036-092.jpg" title="f0036-09" width="615" height="110"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3><p>Cornwall 8, Verdun 5</p><p>Cornwall 7, Verdun 2</p><p>Verdun 10, Cornwall 8</p><p>Verdun 2, Cornwall 0</p><p>Verdun 3, Cornwall 1</p><h2>WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Final Standings)</b></p><h3>WEST DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-1019/3880561-1-eng-US/f0036-102.jpg" title="f0036-10" width="597" height="136"></div><h3>CENTRAL DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-1117/3880554-1-eng-US/f0036-112.jpg" title="f0036-11" width="594" height="135"></div><h3>EAST DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-1216/3880547-1-eng-US/f0036-122.jpg" title="f0036-12" width="593" height="144"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-1313/3880540-1-eng-US/f0036-132.jpg" title="f0036-13" width="598" height="540"></div><h2>GREAT LAKES JUNIOR</h2><p><b>(Final Standings)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-1410/3880533-1-eng-US/f0036-142.jpg" title="f0036-14" width="596" height="193"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-1510/3880526-1-eng-US/f0036-152.jpg" title="f0036-15" width="596" height="602"></div><h2>N.Y.&mdash;ENN LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Final Standings)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-169/3880519-1-eng-US/f0036-162.jpg" title="f0036-16" width="601" height="223"></div><h3>Final Scoring Leaders</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-177/3880512-1-eng-US/f0036-172.jpg" title="f0036-17" width="608" height="296"></div><h3>Final Goaling Leaders</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-187/3880505-1-eng-US/f0036-182.jpg" title="f0036-18" width="603" height="165"></div><h2>NEW ENGLAND JUNIOR</h2><p><b>(Final Standings)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-196/3880498-1-eng-US/f0036-192.jpg" title="f0036-19" width="608" height="150"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-205/3880491-1-eng-US/f0036-202.jpg" title="f0036-20" width="605" height="304"></div><h2>N.Y. METRO LEAGUE</h2><p><b>(Standings on Thu. March 22)</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-214/3880484-1-eng-US/f0036-212.jpg" title="f0036-21" width="600" height="146"></div><h3>LEADING SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-223/3880477-1-eng-US/f0036-222.jpg" title="f0036-22" width="603" height="383"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0036-02

The Amateur Scoreboard

<div class="byline">BY MARTY KNACK</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS 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/f0036-01227/3880446-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="518" height="668"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE FOLIGNO&hellip;Multiple Honors</b></figcaption></div><p>SUDBURY&mdash;</p><p>Bob Lekun has picked the right time to excel.</p><p>The five-foot-eleven and one-half, 185-pound Sudbury Wolves&rsquo; left winger has emerged as a leading offensive threat in the Ontario Major Junior League playoffs after a so-so regular schedule in his draft year.</p><p>Coach Andy Laing can&rsquo;t say enough about the contributions of Lekun and a checking line of Norm Stefan, Mike Allison and Frank Perkins that he put together for a Leyden Division semifinal with Oshawa Generals.</p><p>Lekun was a pleasant surprise with his performance and the checkers slowed the line of second leading scorer Tom McCarthy, Bob Crawford and Steve Peters to a crawl as the Wolves became the first team to qualify for a division final, eliminating Oshawa 8-2 in an eight-point series after losing five of eight games to the Generals in their season series, including five of the first six.</p><p>&ldquo;A guy that has really come on towards the end of the season is Lekun,&rdquo; says Laing. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s probably the best man in the league in the corners.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s really digging in the corners&hellip;he owns the corners and the area behind the net. I&rsquo;m pretty sure if he keeps going the way he is and we go a long way in the playoffs, his stock in the draft will go way up.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s starting to draw some attention. He&rsquo;s gaining some attention he deserves. If he gets with the right coach and the right team, he should be a helluva pro.&rdquo;</p><p>Lekun, who had only 19 goalsand 72 points during the regular season and was just fifth on the team in scoring, had three assists as the Wolves took a 42 series lead with a 5-3 win at home, then chipped in with a goal and three assists when the Wolves won 7-4 in Oshawa before returning home to wrap up the series with a 4-2 decision.</p><p>Goalie Don Beaupre was also superb in the third game, with a 30-save performance, and high-scoring right winger Dave MacQueen added a goal and two assists in the rough fourth game, when 158 minutes in penalties were assessed and four players from each team were dealt game misconducts.</p><p>&ldquo;The team is really putting it together right now,&rdquo; says Laing. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve lost only one of our last 12 games.</p><p>&ldquo;We changed our style a bit. We&rsquo;re not playing so wide open&mdash;Oshawa was the only team we couldn&rsquo;t play wide open against, maybe because they&rsquo;re a lot like us.&rdquo;</p><p>The Wolves were the highest-scoring team in the league during the regular schedule, with the Generals second, and it probably appeared on a lot of nights that neither had much regard for playing defensively. But Laing decided to use rookie Allison with two veteran wingers to play defensively against Oshawa.</p><p>&ldquo;We tried to contain their big line and seemed to be able to do that,&rdquo; says Laing. &ldquo;Perkins, particularly, has done an outstanding job against McCarthy, who had only one goal.&rdquo;</p><p>McCarthy was hit with a stick in the third game and suffered an eye injury, which certainly hurt Oshawa&rsquo;s hopes.</p><p>Dale Hunter and MacQueen scored in the last 10 minutes of the fifth game to break a 2-2 tie and give Wolves the series. Hunter finished with two goals and an assist and Lekun collected another goal and assist in that game, in which just 10 minor and one major penalty were assessed, and Beaupre came through with another sharp performance with 35 saves.</p><p>Laing explained the chippy play in the series by saying &lsquo;fit&rsquo;s probably just the pressure, because neither team played like that during the season. It simply started and kept going.&rdquo;</p><p><b>OSHAWA:</b> Defenseman Charlie Huddy led the Generals in the third and fourth games with a goal and assist in the 5-3 loss and goal and two assists in the 7-4 defeat. Peter Horachek and Crawford had their goals in the final game and goalie Georges Gagnon returned to the lineup with a 33-save performance in his last game of major junior eligibility.</p><p><b>PETERBOROUGH:</b> Carmen Cirella had a goal and assist and Dave Beckon was credited with two assists in a 4-2 win over Kingston as the Petes opened their series right. The Leyden Division leaders then lost 6-5 in Kingston, with defenseman Greg Theberge scoring once and earning two assists and Chris Halyk shooting two goals, before rebounding for a 3-1 win at home when the line of right winger Keith Crowder, left winger Tim Trimper and Halyk combined for two goals and six points, with Crowder scoring both goals. The Petes then lost 2-1 in Kingston despite a 33-save effort by goalie Ken Ellacott as the Canadians squared the eight-point division semifinal at 4-4.</p><p><b>KINGSTON:</b> Brad Clements scored his third and fourth playoff goals and also had an assist in the 6-5 win and goalie Rick Wamsley, a playoff replacement for the injured Avelino Gomez Jr., was outstanding in the 2-1 victory, making 28 stops. Bernie Nichols shot the winning goal with a minute and 44 seconds left in the 2-1 game and set up the other goal by Perry Anderson.</p><p><b>NIAGARA FALLS:</b> The Flyers lost 1-0 at home in the opening game of their Emms Division semi-final with Kitchener Rangers, then won 5-3 in Kitchener and 9-4 at home in a fight-filled third game in Niagara Falls. Steve Larmer shot three goals, including two in the third period, in the 5-3 victory and center Stan Adams had two goals and two assists, defenseman Bill Root two goals and one assist and Daryl Evans two goals in the 9-4 game.</p><p><b>KITCHENER:</b> Rookie center Russ Adam had a goal in each game as the Rangers fell behind 4-2 in the eight-point series. Adam had the only goal in the opening game, when goalie Dave Jennings made 43 saves for the shutout, and had a goal and assist in the third game, when Rob Motz led Kitchener with two goals.</p><p><b>LONDON:</b> The line of right winger Jim Egerton, center Frank Nigro and left winger Basil McRae broke out for five goals and 12 points to lead the Knights to a 6-5 win over Windsor Spitfires in the third game of their Emms semi-final, Joe Paterson scored with two minutes and 47 seconds left to give the Knights a 5-4 decision inthe fourth game and Egerton&rsquo;s goal with 3:10 to play sent London into a 7-3 lead in the eight-point series as he created a 3-3 tie in the fifth game.</p><p><b>WINDSOR:</b> Mark Hamway and J.P. Leroux had a goal and two assists each and George Kotsopoulos scored twice in the 6-5 loss in London. Kotsopoulos was in on every score with a goal and three assists in the 5-4 defeat in Windsor and goalie Roland Melanson was superb with 44 saves as Spitfires staved off elimination with the tie. Blair Barnes had a goal and assist to lead the way of-fensively in the tie.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0036-01

Unheralded Lekun Scoring Threat As Wolves Reach Division Finals

<div class="byline">BY NORM COWLEY</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>SASKATOON&mdash;</p><p>The Western Hockey League&rsquo;s weak Eastern Division was a joke as Brandon Wheat Kings laughed their way to a record-breaking year.</p><p>But there&rsquo;s a saying that he who laughs last, laughs best; and the powerful Wheat Kings&mdash;who won 56 and tied eight of their first 67 games&mdash;have been doing all the guffawing.</p><p>Until recently.</p><p>Saskatoon Blades, the best of the rest in a four-team division that can&rsquo;t even boast a second team over .500, surprised the Wheaties 7-6 before a packed house of 4,112 at Saskatoon, then returned to Brandon&rsquo;s backyard to steal a 6-4 victory in a game called in the third period because of a bench-clearing brawl.</p><p>The pair of wins were Saskatoon&rsquo;s&rsquo; first over Brandon this year and gave the Blades a 2-11-3 record against the Wheat Kings. Brandon lost its other two games to Edmonton and Portland.</p><p>Including a 1-1 tie the Blades previously managed, Saskatoon is unbeaten in its last three outings against Brandon and has put together a six-game undefeated streak with the* playoffs just around the corner.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a good time for the playoffs to come, because we&rsquo;ve arrived,&rdquo; said Joe Arling, Saskatoon&rsquo;s assistant coach.</p><p>Blades welcomed the return of their top two snipers&mdash;Ken Federko (separated shoulder) and Brent Ashton (broken bone in his foot)&mdash;for the last gwo games with the Wheaties. Federko fired four goals and Ashton two.</p><p>Combined with Bill MacNaught, Dan Erickson and Pat Conacher, who was obtained from Billings in mid-January when Federko was injured, the Blades have a potent attack featuring five veteran forwards who&rsquo;ve each scored at least 90 points to go along with a steady defense headed by Kevin Tendler.</p><p>Also, Saskatoon no longer backs down from aggressive opponents, as was evident in the bench-clearing incident.</p><p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re not going to run us out of the building,&rdquo; stated Arling. &ldquo;Brandon is the best team in the league, but only if they play hockey. If they play like this in the playoffs, the penalties will kill them.&rdquo; Saskatoon scored nine power play goals in their two wins over Brandon.</p><p>Wheaties also pulled a similar stunt in their last game at Edmonton, with goaltender Scott Olson instigating a brawl after the final buzzer to draw an almost identical comment from Oil Kings&rsquo; coach Norm Ferguson.</p><p>Oil Kings, who went to the final day of the season before clinching the third berth in the division&rsquo;s double roundrobin playoff, had just finished giving Brandon a run for its money in 6-4 and 6-5 losses.</p><p>Could it be that the noose of the Wheat Kings playoff jinx is once again settling about their collective throats?</p><p><b>BRANDON:</b> Brian Propp, who scored four points in the 6-4 win over Edmonton to become the first player to ever score 500 points in his junior career, also picked up two assists in the 6-4 loss to Saskatoon to set a WHL record for most points (188) in a season&mdash;breaking Bernie Federko&rsquo;s record by one. Laurie Boschman scored at least a point in each game to extend his points-scoring streak to 20 games. Missing defensemen Mike Perovich (broken arm) and Brad McCrimmon (bad shoulder), Brandon&rsquo;s 16-game undefeated string was snapped in the 7-6 loss at Saskatoon but at the same time the Wheat Kings broke the old league standard of 463 goals in a season.</p><p><b>SASKATOON:</b> Ashton, Erickson and Blake Stephen each fired a pair of goals to pace the Blades in the 7-6 triumph over Brandon while Federko was the key man as Blades scored three unanswered goals in the 6-4 victory.</p><p><b>EDMONTON:</b> Needing a win to qualify for the playoffs, the Oil Kings came up short by dropping 6-4 arid 6-5 games to Brandon before being humiliated 5-3 at home by Regina. Ray Neufeld collected two points against Brandon to reach the 100-point mark while Steve Blue netted five goals to give him 46 for the year. Oil Kings lost seven straight games before ending season with a win to eliminate Regina.</p><p><b>REGINA:</b> The Pats completed their six-games-in-six-days spree with 5-2 and 7-3 losses at Billings (setting a league record for goals-allowed, 469, in the second game) but kept their faint playoff hopes alive until the last with a 5-3 victory at Edmonton, to move within one point of the Oil Kings, when Doug Wickenheiser scored two goals.</p><p><b>BILLINGS:</b> Don Nachbaur scored his 40th goal in the first game, then added three more in the second as Billings swept Regina 5-2 and 7-3 to clinch first place in the Central Division. Gord Stafford became the first Bighorn to reach the 100-point mark in a 6-2 loss at home to Calgary.</p><p><b>LETHBRIDGE:</b> Duane Sutter scored three goals in an impressive 7-6 victory at New Westminster, but the Broncos didn&rsquo;t fare as well in their other games at the West Coast. Gord Williams netted a pair in a 7-3 defeat at Victoria while Dave Snopek&rsquo;s six-game-goalscoring streak ended in a 9-2 loss at Seattle. The third line of Ralph An-dreesen, Kevin Ginnell and Larry Doyle accounted for five goals in a 7-7 tie at home with Calgary.</p><p><b>CALGARY:</b> The Wranglers had trouble in a fight-filled game (344 penalty minutes, including 30 majors) at Medicine Hat, losing 7-3, but bounced back the next night to trounce Billings 62 when Kelly Kisio scored three times. Two goals in the last three minutes earned Calgary a 7-7 tie at Lethbridge.</p><p><b>MEDICINE HAT:</b> Two goals by Darren Halasz helped the Tigers build a 5-0 lead in the first period of their 7-3 victory over Calgary. But the Tigers&rsquo; three-game winning streak came to a sudden halt with a 13-2 loss at Portland.</p><p><b>PORTLAND:</b> Perry Turnbull smashed Tony Currie&rsquo;s club record of 73 goals by scoring three times in a 13-2 rout of Medicine Hat. Joel Elliott chipped in with four goals as the Winter Hawks kept their unbeaten streak alive after 12 games. Earlier in the week, rookie Darrell May missed getting his first WHL shutout when New Westminster scored on a power play in a 6-1 loss. The two games drew almost 10,000 fans at Portland&rsquo;s Memorial Coliseum. The Winter Hawks also posted a 4-1 victory at New Westminster in another game that concluded with a brawl.</p><p><b>VICTORIA:</b> The Cougars split four games, losing twice to Seattle (6-3 and 76), but still managed to clinch second place in the Western Division when New West went winless in four tries. Highlights included Brent Denat scoring two goals 50 seconds apart in his first WHL game as Victoria trimmed Lethbridge 7-3. Gary Lupul getting his 100th point and Bob Jansch firing three goals in a 5-3 decision over New West.</p><p><b>NEW WESTMINSTER:</b> Scott MacLeod scored three goals in a surprising 7-6 loss at home to Lethbridge, then added a pair of assists in a 5-3 defeat at Victoria to go over the 100-point mark. Kent Reardon saved the Bruins from a shutout with a powerplay goal in a 6-1 loss at Portland while John Ogrodnick accounted for the lone Bruins marker in a 4-1 home-ice loss to Portland.</p><p><b>SEATTLE:</b> The Breakers went on a win spree after ending a six-game winless skein with a 6-3 doubling of Victoria. Errol Rausse scored two goals for his 300th career point in the Victoria game, then added his 62nd goal of the season to tie his own club record in the 9-2 drubbing of Lethbridge (when Breakers scored three goals within 34 seconds in the first period.) Len Dies had three goals and an assist to lead a 76 come-from-behind victory at Victoria.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01200/3880679-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="521" height="662"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PERRY TURNBULL&hellip;Breaks Club Mark</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02155/3880672-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="579" height="755"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BOB JANSCH&hellip;Cougar Hat Trick</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0037-01

Saskatoon Sweep Serves Wheaties Warning

<div class="byline">BY DANNY YOUNG</div><p>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS Made in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY. LTD Arnold Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and Canada</p><p>CORNWALL&mdash;</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re performing at our best at the best time,&rdquo; says Cornwall Royals&rsquo; captain Bob Crawford. Sure, all teams are supposed to peak at playoff time. It&rsquo;s just that nobody expected the Royals to peak as high as they are.</p><p>Opposing a tough Verdun Black Hawk team in the quarter-finals, the Royals have put the entire Quebec league in shock by taking a two games to one lead.</p><p>The series opened at the Verdun Auditorium, and the Royals blasted the Hawks 8-5. Brian Fontaine fired a hat trick to spark the effort, and Mike Corrigan.added two goals. Goaltending was also a key facter. Ron Scott thwarted the Verdun attack with several key stops, one of which was on a Jacques Aube penalty shot.</p><p>Shifting to the Cornwall Municipal Center for game number two, Crawford picked up a hat trick as the Royals skated to a 7-2 win. Evidently, the first game was no fluke. The sixth place Royals were outskating, outchecking, and outplaying the third place Hawks.</p><p>Returning home and trailing two-games-to-none, Verdun GM Rod Lemoyne made a startling move. He put himself behind the bench, replacing his successful rookie coach Pete Bisson.</p><p>&ldquo;I tried to change our luck,&rdquo; said Lemoyne. &ldquo;If it could change the minds of the players, 1 thought it might help. Pete handled the team before the game and in between periods. 1 think there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with working together like that.&rdquo;</p><p>The Royals came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to take a 3-2 first period lead. In the second period, Verdun&rsquo;s Steve Kasper scored twice, and teammate Normand Aubin notched his third of the game to give the Hawks a 6-4 advantage.</p><p>But once again, the game see-sawed Cornwall&rsquo;s way. Goals by Rod Willard, Fontaine, Crawford (the second), and Darren Galley (his second) gave the Royals an 8-6 third period lead. The Royals were 16 minutes and 10 seconds away from taking a three game lead.</p><p>That was enough time, however, for the Hawks to come back. Verdun scored four unanswered goals, the last one into an open net, to win it 10-8.</p><p>The loss was a heartbreaker for coach Doug Carpenter and the Royals, particularly in view of two disputed calls. On one Verdun goal, the puck was trickling along the goal line before goalie Scott pulled it back. The referee and goal judge called it a goal. Later in the game, a Cornwall player batted the puck in the net, but the referee ruled that his stick was above the shoulder.</p><p>Pertaining to Cornwall&rsquo;s fine playoff performance to date, Verdun&rsquo;s Lemoyne said: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s such a surprise. They have a good team, and they finished the season well. Now, they&rsquo;re as good as we are and maybe better. When you have players like Crawford and (Dave) Ezard, you&rsquo;re gonna be tough to beat.&rdquo;</p><p>Ezard is Cornwall&rsquo;s defensive leader, and an offensive terror at the point. Selected as the league&rsquo;s outstanding defensive player for the month of March, Exard tallied a spectacular 36 goals and 50 assists during the regular season.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve worked hard and we&rsquo;re in condition,&rdquo; says Ezard. &ldquo;The pressure is hard on the rookies because this is their first time in the playoffs. I&rsquo;m surprised they&rsquo;re doing so well.&rdquo;</p><p><b>TROIS-RIVIERES:</b> The Draveurs swept their quarter final series with Shawinigan four-games-to-none. Shawinigan gave them a tough battle in the third game, but the Draveurs responded with three third period goals to triumph 4-2. They took the series in Shawinigan with an 8-5 win as Jean Francois Sauve and Michel Normand scored two goals each.</p><p><b>SHERBROOKE:</b> After being acquitted of assault charges related to a fight last year, winger Jimmy Mann is at the top of his game and has led the Beavers to a three games to none lead over Chicoutimi in their quarter final series. Mann had three goals and two assists in an 8-2 win. Returning home, Serge Boisvert and Dennis Martin each bagged a pair in their third playoff win, a 4-2 decision over Chicoutimi.</p><p><b>QUEBEC:</b> The Quebec-Montreal series is tied at two games apiece. Neither club has lost at home. In Quebec, the Remparts won their first game 5-3. Back in Montreal, Denis Cyr scored twice for a 4-3 Montreal win.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01235/3880710-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="578" height="485"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DAVE EZARD&hellip;Cornwall Cornerstone</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0038-01

Royals Proving Tough For Verdun; Draveurs Advance, Beavers Close

<p><b>Special To The Hockey News</b></p><p>PHOENIX&mdash;</p><p>The Pacific Hockey League entered the last week of the regular season with the top three teams still jockeying for playoff position.</p><p>With two wins in three starts last week, league-leading Phoenix had the inside track on the regular season cham-pionship. But San Diego could overtake the Roadrunners with a sweep of a home-and-home between the two clubs and by winning weekend home games against Spokane and Tucson.</p><p>Should the Hawks slip, Spokane could move into second&mdash;and gain the important home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs&mdash;by winning its final games at San Diego and Phoenix.</p><p>A split with the Hawks would give Phoenix the regular season title via the PHL&rsquo;s winning percentage formula. The PHL adopted winning percentage at mid-season when a schedule reshuffling left teams with differing numbers of games. Phoenix is the only club playing a full 60-game schedule.</p><p>Ironically, Phoenix, San Diego and Spokane have played each other to a near stand-off this year.</p><p>The Roadrunners are 7-7-2 against San Diego thus far, each club having a one-win edge on their home ice. Phoenix is 8-7 versus Spokane while San Diego has an 8-6 edge on the Flyers after a weekend split in Washington between the clubs.</p><p>Phoenix&rsquo; edge comes from its series against Tucson. The Roadrunners are 14-4 in 18 games against the Rustlers, good for 28 points at a .778 winning percentage. San Diego is 11-3 against Tucson, for 22 points at a .786 winning percentage. Spokane has met Tucson 14 times, owns a 10-4 edge at a .714 winning percentage. San Diego has one game remaining with Tucson.</p><p>Around the league, the Roadrunners had a banner week while winning two of three starts. The week actually started in PHL commissioner Ken Broderick&rsquo;s office. Broderick upheld a Roadrunner appeal of a scoring decision that gave Don Borgeson a PHL-record seven-point game. Borgeson had been credited with two goals and four assists in Phoenix&rsquo; 9-5 win over Tucson Mar. 15. But the Roadrunners felt he should also get credit for an assist on a Wendell Bennett power-play goal that deflected off the stick of a Tucson player enroute to the net. The scorer had ruled that since the puck had touched a Tucson player, there were no assists. &ldquo;After checking with scorers in the NHL and WHA, I determined that, yes, as assist can be awarded on such a play.&rdquo;</p><p>After losing a home game to Spokane, 3-2, the Roadrunners twice beat Tucson, 8-4 and 7-4, in a pair of unusual games. In the first, the Roadrunners scored three power play goals on a single five-minute penalty, then added two short-handed goals. Tucson also scored a short-handed goal, the first on the Roadrunners in 56 games this season. Phoenix finished the game with four power play goals and two short-handed goals: the Rustlers with two power play goals and their shorthanded effort. The next night, the Roadrunners set a PHL record by scoring just seven seconds into the game. Terry McDonald won the draw and dropped the puck to Bob Liddington, who passed the puck to Dan Gloor, who broke in alone on goal. McDonald and Michel Cormier both had three goals and three assists during the week while Borgeson continued his hot play with two goals and five assists.</p><p><b>SAN DIEGO:</b> The news was mostly off the ice, and bad. Center Mike Bloom, the Hawks&rsquo; No. 5 scorer with 25 goals and 27 assists in 52 games (he started the week ranked No. 13 in the PHL) was lost to the club for the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his right knee. And rugged forward Bill Goldthorpe broke his nose in the first game at Spokane. The Hawks were using winger Don Burgess as the third center&mdash;he scored his first goal in 12 games since breaking his thumb&mdash;and defensemen Owen Lloyd and Jerry Rollins to fill shifts on the wing. Kevin Devine scored his 35th and 36th goals to pace San Diego&rsquo;s 6-2 win over Spokane. Joe Noris became the first PHL player to reach the 100-point plateau with three assists. He now has 102 points. Clay Hebenton played both games in Spokane and lowered his goals against average to a league-low 2.95.</p><p><b>SPOKANE:</b> Won three of four starts to challenge for second in the standings. Brian DiBiasio scored a goal and two assists and Jim Stuart had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win at Tucson. Stuart repeated his game, DiBiasio had two assists and George Buat a goal and an assist as the Flyers beat the Roadrunners, 3-2. Frank Turnbull was in net for both games for Spokane. The Flyers rebounded from a 6-2 loss to San Diego to win 4-2 behind DiBiasio&rsquo;s two goals and Ron Lefebvre&rsquo;s goaltending.</p><p>With four goals and four assists in four games, DiBiasio jumped from 10th to sixth in the PHL scoring race to win the league&rsquo;s &ldquo;Player of the Week&rdquo; honors.</p><p>The center had game winning goals in two of the Flyers&rsquo; three wins during the week while jumping from third to first in Spokane&rsquo;s team scoring derby.</p><p><b>TUCSON:</b> Jim Montgomery continued his hot streak, getting three goals (including a shorthanded and a power play goal in the first Phoenix game) to give him 15 in 19 games since joining the Rustlers. Tom Simpson had a goal and four assists while No. 2 PHL scorer Frank Hughes had two assists. Peter McNamee became the first PHL defenseman ever to reach 50 points with a goal and two assists&mdash;upping his total to seven goals and 43 assists.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01216/3880741-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="581" height="781"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRIAN DiBIASIO&hellip;Player Of Week</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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Three-Team Race For PHL’s Title Hits Final Week

<div class="byline">&#x2014;By Bill Hilts</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02159/3880772-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="365" height="421"></div><h2>Metropolitan Association</h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Oyster Bay Gulls, riding high on an 11-game winning streak, need only one point to clinch the Metropolitan Jr. Hockey Association title and will draw a first round bye in this year&rsquo;s MJHA playoff in doing so. With a record of 26-7-3, the Gulls hold a nine-point edge over the New York Jr. Rangers (22-11-2) and an 18-point edge over New Hyde Park (17-17-3). Greater New York in the fourth position with only four points has elected to sit out the playoffs for this year due to player personnel problems.</p><p>The MJHA scoring honors are still up for grabs with Oyster Bay defenseman Bill Nichols holding a two point edge with a league leading 48 assists and 76 points&hellip;The second, third and fourth spots are held by the high scoring Jr. Ranger line of Brian Mullen (37-37-74), Ryan Boyd (45-28-73) who currently leads the league in goals and Bob Amore (21-47-68)&hellip;New Hyde&rsquo;s Randy Alessi is fifth with 30 goals and 66 pts&hellip;Oyster Bay&rsquo;s Dave Drew (33-25-58) who is currently seventh, has played in only 18 games, half as many as Nichols, and leads the league in power play goals with 13&hellip;Oyster Bay possesses the top goalie in Kevin Kiendle who holds the best record (17-3-2) and best GAA (2.93), outdistancing New Hyde&rsquo;s Bob Bussi (4.29) and teammate Brian Benstock (4.57) for top netminding honors.</p><h2>New England League</h2><p>The South Shore Braves have finally clinched first place with a record of 27-7-4 as they moved five points ahead of the Fitchburg Wallopers in New England Jr. Hockey League action. In third is Springfield with 37&hellip;Lee Blossom of Fitchburg increased his scoring lead with four goals against the Tyngsboro Huskies and three goals against the Springfield Olympics as he raised his league leading goal total to 58 and overall points total to 110&hellip;Brave Brian Bertoni, who leads the league in assists with 67, is second with 100 points while teammate Paul Milan is third with a 50-41-91 point output&hellip;Huskie Bill Helton is fourth with 69 points&hellip;Springfield&rsquo;s Steve Palazzi scored four goals and added two assists in a 6-6 tie with Fitchburg&hellip;Braves&rsquo; goalie Scott Arnold moved into the GAA lead when his 3.00 average became eligible due to playing time, overtaking Olympic Chris Trinceri&rsquo;s 3.71 GAA, and South Shore&rsquo;s Ron Bereszniewicz&rsquo;s 4.89.</p><h2>Great Lakes League</h2><p>In the final stretch run of the Great Lakes Jr. Hockey League the Wayne Chiefs have shown that they intend to be the team to beat in the post-season playoffs. Two crucial victories last week, taking the league champion Paddock Pool Saints and the Detroit Jr. Wings, vaulted the Chiefs into third place&mdash;a spot they had not held since Nov. 2, 1978. Eight different players beat the Saints&rsquo; goaltender as Wayne upended the league leaders. Dean Chaffy&rsquo;s goal at 12:26 of the final stanza, on a power play, was the deciding tally&hellip;Against second place Detroit, Jim Davenport&rsquo;s unassisted effort early in the third period proved to be the winner as the Chiefs skated to a 3-2 final over the Jr. Wings. Frank Loconsole, sixth in the league scoring race, notched both Detroit goals&hellip;Down in Cleveland, the two game series was split between the Jr. Barons and the visiting Redford Royals. Redford took the opener 10-7 as 178 minutes in penalties were assessed. A total of five players, plus Cleveland coach Bill Binnie were issued game misconducts and ejected from the contest&hellip;The Barons dressed just 13 players to take the second game on a 6-4 final. Doug Hauser, recorded four goals, including three on power plays, to lead the Clevelander&rsquo;s atthck&hellip;Detroit Jr. Wings also dropped an important 7-4 decision to the Fraser Highlanders. Frank Maiorana notched the three goal hat trick while the J Wings&rsquo; Loconsole scored two. Goalie Doug Jakubik faced 50 Detroit shots&hellip;Saint Steve Murphy (53-62-115) is presently on top of the GLJHL scorers holding a two point edge over Highlander Mike Johnson, who is the assist leader with 72&hellip;Fraser&rsquo;s Maiorana is third with a 45-64-109 total and the Saints Kirt Bjork, who leads the league in goals with 54, is fourth at 104 points-tied with Jr. Baron Doug Hauser&hellip;Wayne&rsquo;s Dave Tardich continues to lead goaltenders with a 3.91 GAA&hellip;In second place is Saints&rsquo; goalie Steve Falcone (4.79), followed by Jr. Wing Karl Kortier (4.93).</p><h2>N.Y.-Penn League</h2><p>The only thing finalized in New York-Penn Major Jr. action is the fact that the Binghamton Barons have clinched first place and the Niagara Falls Mangs Sharks, winless for the last 21 games are out of the playoffs for the first time since their initiation into the league in 1974. The Syracuse Stars hold onto second place by two points over Rochester in third and four over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in fourth. The Monarchs of Rochester can still clinch second and the Jr. Sabres have a chance for third as the teams fight for who gets paired with the Barons for the Empire Cup playoffs, only three games away&hellip;A back injury to Scott Press of Binghamton has enabled teammate Steve Salvucci to capture the league lead in scoring 133 points to 124. Salvucci leads in goals with 78, while Press and Peter Shaughnessy, the third party of the Barons&rsquo; highest scoring New York-Penn history, lead the league in assists with 70&hellip;Goalie Scott Card of Binghamton continues to enjoy a slim lead (3.93-4.03) over Stars&rsquo; netminder Carl Miedaner for the league goals-against leadership&hellip;Defenseman Roger Clarke of Syracuse scored all three goals in a 3-0 blanking of Niagara Falls&hellip;Goalie Scott Tinkham recorded his first shutout while turning back 17 Shark shots.</p><h2>British Columbia League</h2><p>The Bellingham Blazers have opened up a five-point gap for overall league leadership in the British Columbia Jr. &ldquo;A&rdquo; Hockey League and continue to lead the Coastal Division with a 51-10-1 record&hellip;Completing the Coastal Div.: Nanaimo-69 points, Abbotsford-60, Chilliwack-59, Langley-48 and Delta-12.</p><p>In the Interior Division, the Merritt Centennials hold a 24-point edge over the second place Kamloops Rockets with a record of 49-13&hellip;Following the Rockets: Vernon-65 points, Kelowna-58, Revelstoke-50 and Penticton-48.</p><p>Vernon&rsquo;s Terry Lowe continues to set the pace for B.C. league scorers with 154 points and a league-leading 91 assists&hellip;Bellingham&rsquo;s Don Fraser is second with 142 points&hellip;Abbotsford&rsquo;s Anthony McMurchy, who leads the leage in goals with 72, is third with 138 points&hellip;Merritt&rsquo;s Rob Polmantuin is top netminder with a 2.55 GAA and a 45-10 record, outdistancing Chilliwack&rsquo;s Doug Hodges&rsquo; average of 4.23 and Revelstoke&rsquo;s Lawrence Dyck&rsquo;s 4.30.</p><h2>Central League</h2><p>The Elmhurst Huskies continue to lead the Central Jr. Hockey League with a record of 18-6-1, five points over the second place Ft. Wayne Komets and 10 over the third place North West Nordics. The Chicago Saints are in fourth with 24 points&hellip;Chicago&rsquo;s Mike Mihalik&rsquo;s 23-3659 total leads all CJHL scorers by seven points&hellip;Mihalik leads in goals and is tied for the assist lead with second place scorer Brian Thomson of Ft. Wayne at 36&hellip;Ft. Wayne&rsquo;s Scott Jones (47) and Dan Lobacz (46) are third and fourth&hellip;Nordic defenseman Tom Everding, who is currently tied with Tom Salkhead of Ft. Wayne and Mick Murphy of Elmhurst at 44 points, was named the player of the month in the CJHL&hellip;Goaltending GAA honors go to Elmhurst&rsquo;s Tim Schievers with a 3.55 average, while teammate Jeff King has recorded the most wins with his 12-3 record.</p><h2>American League</h2><p>Assabet Valley Tomahawks continue to hold wide lead in American Major Jr. Hockey League action, with 63 points on a 30-2-3 record. Closest contender is Mass Conn Twins with 49, followed by Framingham Pics with 33&hellip;A pair of Assabet Valley skaters have run off with in-dividual scoring race lead&mdash;Ed Collazzo with 135 points (67-68) and Bob McKenzie with 125 points including league-high 74 goals. Top ten scoring leaders are rounded out by Bill Ferguson of Mass Conn, 103, Harvey Welsh of Tomahawks, 91, Ron Duchesne of Mass Conn, 82, Carl Quinton of Tomahawks, 71, Jim Flynn of Pics, 69, Frank Zanetti of Mass Conn, 67, Scott Buffum of Mass Conn. 57, and Mark McClure of Mass Conn, 51.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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April 13, 1979

Sudbury’s Star Foligno Sweeps OMJHL Awards

WORLD HOCKEY ASSN. SUMMARIES

Norwich’s Speed Plus For Stingers

NATIONAL LEAGUE SUMMARIES