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.

May 11, 1979

The Hockey News May 11, 1979

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-01887/3874036-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="306" height="309"><figcaption class="caption-body">RAY MIRON Colorado Rockies&rsquo; GM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-02722/3874029-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="1190" height="1649"><figcaption class="caption-body">MIKE GARTNER&hellip;Could Be A Rocky</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-03514/3874022-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="868" height="850"><figcaption class="caption-body">ROB RAMAGE&hellip;Best Defense Pick</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-04340/3874015-1-eng-US/f0005-042.jpg" title="f0005-04" width="862" height="852"><figcaption class="caption-body">CRAIG HARTSBURG&hellip;He&rsquo;ll Go High</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-05219/3874008-1-eng-US/f0005-052.jpg" title="f0005-05" width="522" height="664"><figcaption class="caption-body">PERRYTURNBULL&hellip;Top Prospect</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-06138/3874001-1-eng-US/f0005-062.jpg" title="f0005-06" width="528" height="678"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN PROPP&hellip;WHL Scoring Champ</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-0781/3873994-1-eng-US/f0005-072.jpg" title="f0005-07" width="526" height="676"><figcaption class="caption-body">MIKE FOLIGNO&hellip;OHA Scoring Champ</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

NHL General Manager Reveals His Top Six Picks For 1979 Draft

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK MOODY</div>PITTSBURGH&mdash;The Pittsburgh Penguins made left wing Jim Hamilton their top amateur draft selection in the National Hockey League&rsquo;s 1977 lottery. They took him in the second round from London of the Ontario Hockey Assocation where he scored 39 goals and added 53 assists in 65 games his last year of junior hockey.Last season, Hamilton spent most of the year in the minors, but appeared in 25 games for the Penguins and had two goals and four assists in mostly spot duty.This year, however, Hamilton was cut early in training camp.&ldquo;I was disappointed when I was cut that I wasn&rsquo;t getting that good a shot at camp,&rdquo; said the 22-year-old native of Barrie, Ont. &ldquo;After only three exhibition games I got sent down. The previous year I played all eight exhibition games and they gave me a good look over. This year 1 guess they had in mind what they wanted, and they sent me down right away.&rdquo;Hamilton scored 25 goals and 25 assists in 66 games this season with Binghamton Dusters of the American Hockey League. The Dusters are an independently owned organization, and the Penguins have had trouble getting the Binghamton coach, Joe Hardy to play their younger players. Pittsburgh sent a number of their farm hands to Grand Rapids of the Internationa! Hockey League because they were not getting a lot of ice time under Hardy, who liked to go with veterans.&ldquo;I got along well with Joe Hardy,&rdquo; said Hamilton. &ldquo;I got a lot of ice time in Binghamton and I tried to work hard. As a result, I think I&rsquo;m a much more solid hockey player than I had been at the beginning of the season.Hamilton was looking forward to helping Binghamton in the AHL playoffs, when suddenly, because of the numerous injuries, he got the call to report to the Penguins in Buffalo for the deciding game of their preliminary round playoff series with the Sabres.He scored the Penguins first two goals of the game, and they went on to beat the Sabres in overtime and advance to the quarter-finals against the Boston Bruins.&ldquo;I guess there wasn&rsquo;t that much pressure on me,&rdquo; said Hamilton who had played only two games all season for Pittsburgh. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t sure what my role would be or whether I would even play. I think I was only supposed to come up for the one game, but when I scored the two goals, I guess they decided to keep me.&rdquo;Hamilton scored another goal in the second game against the Bruins and should figure highly in the club&rsquo;s future plans.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what plans they have for me next season,&rdquo; said Hamilton. &ldquo;I really haven&rsquo;t thought that far ahead. I only think about things on a game-by-game basis. We have a number of good experienced hockey players on this team.Plus Hamilton remembers vividly his disappointment at being cut early in training camp this year.&ldquo;Everything considered&mdash;last year 1 got up for 25 and they were short on the left wing last season&mdash;there seemed to be a spot open on the left wing, and yet it wasn&rsquo;t for me.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be on my option year of my contract next season, and anything I can do in the playoffs will help both me and the team.&rdquo;Despite scoring three goals in his first three Stanley Cup playoff games, Hamilton is cautious. He doesn&rsquo;t want to be disappointed next training camp like he was at the last one.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-06384/3873939-1-eng-US/f0004-062.jpg" title="f0004-06" width="584" height="590"><figcaption class="caption-body">JIM HAMILTON&hellip;Still Cautious</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Hamilton’s Play Making Penguins Take Second Look

BOSTON&mdash;Gerry Cheevers plays his best hockey at playoff time. The veteran Boston goaler has been especially hard on the Montreal Canadiens over the the years.Cheevers is the only netminder to blank the Canadiens in a Stanley Cup game since 1971 and he is also the first since Johnny Bower to shut out the reigning cup champs twice since 1969. He did it in 1969 and 1978. Bower turned the trick in 1964 and 1967.Going back to the 1960&rsquo;s, Glenn Hall blanked Canadiens three times, twice in &lsquo;61 and once in &lsquo;62. &#9632;

Cheevers Has Been Trouble For Canadiens In Past Stanley Cup Action

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01654/3876471-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Canadiens&rsquo; super scorer Guy Lafleur is the object of intense coverage at playoff time. (Photo by Bruce Bennett)</figcaption></div>TICKET SELLOUTOILERS&rsquo; CUP BID TURNING FANS ON&mdash;Page 24HABS, PENGUINS WITHOUT DRAFTS&mdash;Page 2PLAYERS DEMAND SHORTER SEASON&mdash;Page 2CHERRY-SINDEN RIFT BREWING?&mdash;Page7PLAYOFF SWEEPNORDIQUES SURPRISED BY JETS&mdash;Page 26WISCONSIN&rsquo;S JOHNSON TOP COLLEGE PLAYER IN U.S.&mdash;Page 11SOVIETS TOO POWERFUL IN WINNING WORLD CUP&mdash;Page 28WHAT&rsquo;S WRONG WITH THE HAWKS?&mdash;Page 2 &#9632;

Cover-01

STOP LAFLEUR CHECKERS’ DILEMMA—Page 3

<h2>THE NHL&hellip;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-02874/3873704-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="614" height="682"></div><h2>THE WHA&hellip;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-03652/3873697-1-eng-US/f0002-032.jpg" title="f0002-03" width="604" height="242"></div><h2>OTHER LEAGUES&hellip;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-04447/3873690-1-eng-US/f0002-042.jpg" title="f0002-04" width="600" height="296"></div><h2>COLUMNISTS&hellip;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-05320/3873683-1-eng-US/f0002-052.jpg" title="f0002-05" width="600" height="180"></div><h2>FEATURES&hellip;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-06224/3873676-1-eng-US/f0002-062.jpg" title="f0002-06" width="608" height="292"></div> &#9632;

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Where To Find It…

Neither the Montreal Canadians nor the Pittsburgh Penguins have a first round pick in the 1979 summer amateur draft. For the Canadiens, it is a strange turn of events. One season, the Habs had as many as four first-round picks.Here&rsquo;s how the 21 NHL teams will draft this year through the first two rounds:<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-07137/3873735-1-eng-US/f0002-072.jpg" title="f0002-07" width="946" height="868"></div> &#9632;

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Habs, Penguins Without First Round Draft Picks

NEW YORK&mdash;Much to the dismay and outrage of Ranger and Islander fans throughout the metropolitan New York area, the most important series in New York hockey history is not being televised over local channels.WOR-TV (Channel 9 in New York), which carries most of the Rangers&rsquo; away games during the regular season and which televised the away game of the Ranger-Flyer series after tremendous pressure from irate callers, televised Game Two of the Ranger-Islander series last Saturday only because of a pre-arranged contract with the NHL.But all the rest of the games are being carried only by the two team&rsquo;s respective cable networks, and are thus available only to those fans who have cable themselves or who live in areas where cable is available.Since each team owns the TV rights to its home games, it is highly unlikely that they are going to surrender those rights to what will undoubtedly be the most popular&mdash;and lucrative&mdash;local sports event of the year.All is not lost, however. For those fans who want to see Game Three and Four but are unable or unwilling to pay Madison Square Garden prices ($22 per seat, up from $13.50 during the regular season) there is some consolation: For the mere pittance of $7.50 per seat, the Rangers have arranged a special closed circuit live showing of the games at the Felt Forum, the special events arena which is adjacent to the Garden.That arena seats 4,000 people, and if it&rsquo;s filled to capacity&mdash;as it most assuredly will be&mdash;the Rangers stand to make an extra $30,000 on each game&mdash;money they would have lost if the games were televised locally. The Islanders, by the way, are doing the same thing at the Nassau Coliseum&mdash;at $7 per seat&mdash;while the Isles are on the road. &#9632;

TV Blackout Enrages N.Y. Hockey Fans

<div class="byline">BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0002-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-01961/3873645-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Has Chicago goaltender Tony Esposito played his last game in a Hawks&rsquo; uniform? The veteran is a free agent now and if the Hawks don&rsquo;t sign him he could be on his way to another NHL team&mdash;possibly the Rangers. (Photo by Brice Bennett)</figcaption></div>CHICAGO&mdash;At the Stadium the other day, they celebrated the Stanley Cup playoffs the way they usually celebrate the Stanley Cup playoffs around here.The ice surface was destroyed. People holding tickets for games that will never be held dropped by in quest of refunds. Trainers below packed gear. And the guys who mop the area around the seats did it for the last time.This sort of procession used to happen every May. Then it changed to late April. Now it happens earlier than late April. Losing 16 straight playoff games indeed means having to say your&rsquo;re sorry.Suffice it to say that this was not a good season for the Black Hawks. Attendance was down, performance was down, interest was down. A series of modest promotions brought out a few extra customers, yes, but the team won 29 of 84 hockey games, and television&mdash;which was supposed to be the answer&mdash;produced sub rosa or subliminial ratings.In other words, if the Wirtzes are looking to see this team, they are doing a heck of a job of decreasing its value. Too bad. The sport deserves better, the city deserves better, the long-suffering fans deserve better.Bobby Hull? He would not be the answer if he were 20 years old, let alone double that. It might be a noble public relations gesture to bring The Golden Jet back, but that hardly would bring The Golden Era back. What everybody over on Madison Street must do now is not shirk the problem, but recognize it, then attack it. Nothing short of total effort from top to bottom will resurrect the unfortunate situation in which the franchise now finds itself.A nice place to start would be by signing Tony Esposito to a contract. The question is not whether the Hawks can afford to keep him, but whether they can afford to let him go. The answer to the latter is an unqualified no. He dearly wants to remain in Chicago; that in itself may mitigate against him making unreasonable demands. And if you&rsquo;re going to pay anybody, it might as well be a guy who is a winner who has played for a decade with all sorts of hurts behind all sorts of teams under all sorts of circumstances.If he leaves, another wedge will be driven between the hockey team and the hockey fans who are becoming fewer and angrier and most frustrated. That anger and frustration can be measured by the Glad Bag fulls of garbage that they throw these days, an insane way for the customers to vent their spleen on the procedings below. And there is another vital area of concern. If the Stadium does not alter its position of having the National Hockey League&rsquo;s worst security, then this season&rsquo;s playoff crowd of 10,000 will become next season&rsquo;s playoff crowd of 9,000. The people will stay away. Period. And who can blame them?Bob Pulford? One can make a case for letting him stay, and one can make a case for letting him go. Given the cancerous situation he inherited, it is perhaps unfair to expect a renaisance in only two years&rsquo; time. Of the Black Hawk players on hand for the recent execution by the New York Islanders, just nine were here when he came. For better or worse, that&rsquo;s turnover.Certainly, he has self-destructed by attempting to perform two fulltime jobs. If he is retained to do one, general manager, then he will have to be a better general manager than he has been. And if a new coach is hired, then he will have to be a better coach than Pulford has been.As for the prevailing promise that Pulford will return as general manager, and Eddie Johnston brought in as coach, it might be well not to Consider them carved in stone just yet. The Black Hawks have made promises before. Right Billy Reay, Jack Davison and Bobby Kromm?The players? One opinion is that, as a group, they lack talent. Another opinion is that, as a group, they lack desire. Actually, since September, they have made a strong case for a little of both. Some try and succeed some nights; others don&rsquo;t try and don&rsquo;t succeed other nights. Something is missing. Something vital.The Trade with Atlanta threw whatever continuity the team had up for grabs. Greg Fox has the best report card so far. The next goal Tom Lysiak scores for the Black Hawks will be his first, but he&rsquo;s not the problem. He&rsquo;s a superior talent.Conversely, to ascribe all the club&rsquo;s woes to the club&rsquo;s youth is ridiculous. Young players mean nothing unless they become better players. Too many Black Hawks, past and present, are unlike wine. They don&rsquo;t improve with age. That is partly their fault, partly the fault of the whole Chicago system.The club, from top to bottom, is basically not achievement oriented. Too many employees of the Chicago Black Hawks, top to bottom, make the buck then pass it, create excuses rather than create solutions, go through the motions rather than to through brick walls, and look at the clock rather than the mirror.Until the organization, and those supervising it, alter their sleepy ways, they&rsquo;ll be melting that ice earlier and earlier every season. And the Black Hawks will be performing the rites of spring thusly: &ldquo;Fore: &ldquo;What a shame.<h2>Players Divided On What Ails Team</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01668/3873638-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="1111" height="1390"><figcaption class="caption-body">The jury is still out on the Hawks&rsquo; multi-player trade with Atlanta near the end of the season. Tom Lysiak, left, has the talent but didn&rsquo;t produce any offense in his short time with the club.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02548/3873631-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="1116" height="1401"><figcaption class="caption-body">Defenseman Greg Fox, right, was the most promising of the Flames the Hawks picked up. He&rsquo;ll get a full shot at the job next season. (Photos by Bruce Bennett)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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WHAT’S AILING THE HAWKS?…

TORONTO&mdash;The National Hockey League Players Association will propose to the owners of the NHL clubs that the season be shortened.In the opinion of the NHL stars, the league season is too long and too many clubs make the playoffs.One person who is disenchanted with the long, gruelling NHL season is Rangers&rsquo; veteran Phil Esposito.&ldquo;The way things look now I guess we could be playing in August next year.&rdquo;Esposito was referring to the fact that 16 of the 21 teams that will play in the NHL next season will qualify for the playoffs.&ldquo;It will take eight months to eliminate only five teams,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;Then you begin the playoff process of getting down to one Stanley Cup winner. With 16 teams in the playoffs, this thing will be played right into June,&rdquo; he added.A shorter NHL season has been a bone of contention between the players and owners for many years and it isn&rsquo;t going to be easy to convince the NHL barons that the teams should play fewer games. They claim they need the longer schedule to pay the bills.When the two bodies convene in The Bahamas during June to work out a new collective bargaining agreement, the players expect to propose to the owners that the NHL reconsider and allow only 10 teams in the playoffs, not 16.Most NHL players, including Espo, think the owners shouldn&rsquo;t have agreed to a balanced schedule, whereby each team will play the other four times&mdash;two away and two at home&mdash;when they approved the latest expansion.&ldquo;I think the owners are just putting off the inevitable,&rdquo; added Esposito. &ldquo;And it seems to me that they should be promoting play within divisions. With divisional rivalries established, the game would grow.&ldquo;We were on the right track as it was but with this merger, and I&rsquo;m for it, we have taken a step backward with the balanced schedule.&rdquo; &#9632;

Players Seeking Shorter Season

<div class="byline">BY MIKE DENNIS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-01967/3873849-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Guy Lafleur is always in the spotlight, but seems able to come up with the extra effort needed to shine during the playoffs. (Photo by Steve Babineau)</figcaption></div>MONTREAL&mdash;During the National Hockey League&rsquo;s Stanley Cup playoffs one entire nation&mdash;Canada&mdash;and a number of hard-core centers of fans throughout several areas of the United States, get what they have been waiting 680 regular season games to see, an unmitigated assault of North American hockey at its best.The fans, the players, the media, everyone gets into the groove of Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday&mdash;Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday and it&rsquo;s easy to see how one can become addicted to hockey during its most exciting time of the year.Not only do cities get to see their heroes battling head to head with the same team for at least four games, but it gives them a chance to build up feelings of caution, respect, dislike or whatever against the opposition team as the players become more familiar with each passing game.And while the traditional best-of-seven series serves as the perfect vehicule for determining just how strong, how deep, or how weak, how thin a team really is, there is no doubt that the playoffs thrust individual players into the spotlight. There&rsquo;s always the unsung hero, someone skating in the background throughout the 80-game schedule who suddenly bursts into prominence and instant recognition when the focus of this continent&rsquo;s hockey eye is upon them.But a player such as this enters the playoffs with little or no pressure. If he is able to take advantage of the right set of circumstances he can become a hero, but if not&mdash;well, nobody noticed him that much in the first place or at least didn&rsquo;t expect great things from him.Far from one of these guys is, of course, North America&rsquo;s finest hockey player, Guy Lafleur. Everything is expected of him&mdash;all the time. He led the Montreal Canadiens in scoring for the fifth consecutive year during the regular season, and last year tied with teammate Larry Robinson as the top playoff scorer with 21 points after leading the postseason parade the previous year with 26 points.After the first two games of the semi-finals against the Boston Bruins, there was Lafleur once again, tied for the lead in points with 13, despite the fact that he had played in two less games than the other leaders, Phil Esposito and Don Maloney of the Rangers.Teams know they have got to shackle Lafleur, they usually put out their top checking lines in an effort to do so and they still haven&rsquo;t found a way to contain him.Intimidation? That won&rsquo;t work. Most of the guys big enough to attempt to physically punish Lafleur aren&rsquo;t anywhere near fast enough to keep him within their sights. Besides, he doesn&rsquo;t scare easily. He knows that he&rsquo;s going to be hit. He knows that people are going to try and provoke him, but he&rsquo;s determined that he&rsquo;ll do whatever necessary to help his team come out on top.In the playoffs, with game after game against the same opponent, one player is often singled out to try and deal with Lafleur. Contain him; hassle him; hinder him; infuriate him; just get his mind away from revving up the Canadiens&rsquo; attack.What do you do about those checkers, Guy?&ldquo;When someone is checking me very closely, I guess I look more to trying to make a play,&rdquo; said Lafleur, a suggestion borne out by the fact that he had four goals and nine assists in the Habs&rsquo; first six playoff games of 1979.&ldquo;Also I don&rsquo;t like to be ahead on a play,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;I prefer to stay back if I can because it&rsquo;s easier for the guy checking me if I&rsquo;m ahead and he&rsquo;s closing in on me. 1 like to come from behind him and go right by.&rdquo;Lafleur did&rsquo;a lot of going right by and going directly to the net in the quarter-final series against Toronto. Trying to stop Lafleur, center Jacques Lemaire and left winger Steve Shutt (until he was injured in Game Three) was the Leafian combo of Pat Boutette, Jimmy Jones and Jerry Butler. Boutette, who had a fine time in the preliminary round shutting down the Atlanta Flames&rsquo; big line, would &ldquo;shadow&rdquo; Lafleur.History will-show that all Lafleur did in the first two games of the sweep over the Leafs was to score eight points with identical one goal, three assist outputs. Boutette, by the way didn&rsquo;t play that badly, as evidenced by the remarks of Toronto coach Roger Neilson.When someone piped up and suggested to Neilson that the Leafs had better find a way to stop Lafleur, Neilson retored, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just glad we had a man on him for those games or who knows how much he might have scored.&rdquo;Of all the checkers in the league, Guy, who gives you the most problems?&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;d have to say (Don) Marcotte,&rdquo; said Lafleur, about Boston&rsquo;s fine two-way winger, who just happens to be covering him during the current playoff series. &ldquo;He checks against me pretty regularly and does a good job. He skates well, gets in the way. A lot of the other teams change their lines around a lot. If we play the Islanders, it&rsquo;s usually (Bryan) Trottier&rsquo;s line which plays against us. Who is it on the Rangers? (Ron) Duguay, most of the time I think.&rdquo;The Rangers and the Islanders, indeed had the most success against the Canadiens this year, each of them winning three of the four games between the clubs. Clark Gillies, the towering Islander captain was usually guarding Lafleur, using the line&rsquo;s puck control as the principal weapon in blunting Lafleur&rsquo;s effectiveness. John Tonelli, a rugged-Marcotte type winger was used a great deal in the latter stages of the year on the Trottier line, and could end up as the man responsible for watching Lafleur.On the Rangers, Duguay will try to use his great speed in keeping tabs on Lafleur, while Steve Vickers also displayed a previously undiscovered penchant for checking in the Rangers&rsquo; guarter-final win over Philadelphia.Lafleur, however, who has moved into a 12th-place tie with former Montreal great Dickie Moore on the all-time playoff scoring list with 110 points, and ranks fifth among active players in just his eighth playoff year, keeps showing that he can produce against even the best.It was a Lafleur pass-out from behind the net&mdash;&ldquo;I was trying to get it to (Pierre) Larouche&rdquo;&mdash;which pulled the Canadiens even in Game One of their semi-final series, tying the score at 2-2, as the puck deflected in off Boston defenseman Mike Milbury&rsquo;s stick early in the third period.There was Lafleur again, twisting out of his zone to spring Doug Risebrough loose for a 2-on-1 break with Larouche, capped by a Larouche goal to win the game. Earlier, a perfect feed to Jacques Lemaire on the first goal of the game gave Lafleur a three-point night.Trailing 2-0 in Game Two, the Canadiens capitalized on the evening&rsquo;s only power play goal when Lafleur fed Lemaire for a drive from the point which slipped into the net beneath Gerry Cheevers.Then with the Bruins applying all sorts of pressure trying to tie the game in the third period, Lafleur broke out of the Canadiens&rsquo; zone with the ever-present Marcotte in hot pursuit. Crossing the blueline as a three-colored blur, Lafleur zipped a pass onto the stick of Lemaire. A feint later, as Lemaire made the move which seemed to freeze netminder Cheevers, he returned the puck to Lafleur and The Flower doused the final Bruins&rsquo; hopes with the spontaneity of a spring shower.&ldquo;We were tight until our first goal,&rdquo; began Lafleur in a post-game analysis. &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ll play better in Boston; we&rsquo;re more loose on the road than we are here.&rdquo;That, my friends, is bad news for the people who earn their living trying to stop Guy Lafleur.<h2>They Keep Check On Lafleur&hellip;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03558/3873842-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="644" height="970"><figcaption class="caption-body">CLARK GILLIES&hellip;Islanders</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04334/3873835-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="734" height="960"><figcaption class="caption-body">RON DUGUAY&hellip;Rangers</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-05189/3873828-1-eng-US/f0003-052.jpg" title="f0003-05" width="736" height="966"><figcaption class="caption-body">PAT BOUTETTE&hellip;Maple Leafs</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-06127/3873821-1-eng-US/f0003-062.jpg" title="f0003-06" width="732" height="964"><figcaption class="caption-body">DON MARCOTTE&hellip;Bruins</figcaption></div><h2>Active Playoff Leaders</h2>(Including games of Apr. 28)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02832/3873814-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="540" height="464"></div> &#9632;

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Stopping Canadians’ Lafleur Difficult Task

<div class="byline">Ken McKenzie&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011018/3873908-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="494" height="499"></div>&bull; BOSTON BRUINS left the Montreal Forum downcast after losing the first two games of their semi-final series to the Canadiens. The Bruins played outstanding hockey in both contests but Lady Luck failed to smile upon them in both games and as a result they returned to Boston with-their back against the wall&hellip;The familiar and smaller ice surface of the Boston Garden is expected to assist the Bruins in the third and fourth games of their series&hellip;Canadiens have beaten the Bruins 13 straight games in Montreal but colorful Don Cherry, Boston coach, is not at all downhearted. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll still beat them. Don&rsquo;t think they can&rsquo;t be had. They can and we&rsquo;re going to do it,&rdquo; he enthusiastically stated&hellip;The all-New York series is all tied up after the first two games and this is shaping up into one of the best playoff series in recent years. Denis Potvin&rsquo;s overtime goal to give the Islanders a 4-3 win in the second game made him the game&rsquo;s hero but Billy Smith in the Isles&rsquo; goal performed brilliantly throughout&hellip;It marked the first playoff loss by the Rangers in six games&hellip;Winnipeg Jets had little difficulty in eliminating Quebec Nordiques in the WHA semi-finals winning four straight. The Jets meet the winners of the Edmonton-New England series for the Avco Cup&hellip;Boston did a superb job checking the Canadiens with Don Marcotte being especially brilliant, but Canadiens have the ability to turn an error by the opposition around so fast and make it work to their advantage.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-02974/3873901-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="314" height="501"><figcaption class="caption-body">Don Maloney</figcaption></div>&bull; THE ISLANDERS have never lost the first game of a playoff season. They downed the Rangers in 1975, Vancouver in &lsquo;76, Chicago in &lsquo;77, all in preliminary rounds and defeated Toronto to start off 1978, although they were upset by the Leafs in the series&hellip;Walt Marlow, one of the WHA founders, is currently working at the Hollywood Park race track&hellip;Rangers&rsquo; enthralled with the play of Don Maloney, their rookie winger and younger brother of Dave Maloney, the Ranger captain&hellip;Over 16 percent of all games played in the NHL during the regular season ended in ties, while in the WHA where they play overtime the number of tie games was decreased to eight percent, just half of what the NHL produced. Fans want to see a verdict one way or the other and that&rsquo;s why playoff hockey is so exciting when they play sudden-death overtime&hellip;The National Hockey League was a scorer&rsquo;s paradise this past season. Each club scored an average of 280 goals, which is an increase of 17 goals over the previous season&hellip;Canadiens&rsquo; Rejean Houle is expected to ink a new three-year contract shortly&hellip;NHL referee John McCauley is still being bothered with the eye injury he received in New York in a post-game assault. His refereeing days may be over&hellip;There are 55 players eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the National Hockey League&rsquo;s outstanding rookie for 1978-79. Bobby Smith of Minnesota appears to have the inside track for his coveted award&hellip;Boston Bruins have two local boys on their team in the persons of Bob Miller and Mike Milbury, while New York Rangers boast one homebrew, and that&rsquo;s the tempestuous Nick Fotiu&hellip;A total of 27 U.S. born players performed in the NHL during the 1978-79 season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-03870/3873894-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="264" height="447"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Miller</figcaption></div>&bull; IT TELLS you something about the &ldquo;parity&rdquo; of the National Hockey League when only one series out of four went past the minimum number of four games and that one only went to five games&hellip;The so-called &ldquo;parity&rdquo; is still a long way down the road&hellip;New York Rangers are picked by many hockey experts as the club to win it all this season. It was back in 1940 when the Rangers won their last Stanley Cup&hellip;Several Toronto Maple Leaf players feel this is the year the Boston Bruins can upset the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens. As you know, the Bruins lost to Canadiens in the Cup finals for the last two years&hellip;Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe, Montreal&rsquo;s three defense stars, averaged close to 40 minutes a game in the final two games of the Toronto series. Coach Scotty Bowman believes in playing his standout players a lot. Bowman, incidentally attended church the morning following Canadiens&rsquo; Saturday night 4-3&rsquo; overtime win. The minister recognized him and said: &ldquo;You should be in church after winning that game&rdquo;&hellip;Bjorn Wagnsson, a Swedish lawyer friend of Borje Salming negotiates Salming&rsquo;s contracts with Toronto and he&rsquo;s hoping to double the Toronto defenseman&rsquo;s contract for next season&hellip;New York Islanders have completed a new 30-year lease with the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale. The lease contractually obligates the Islanders to play all home games in the Coliseum for 30 years. &ldquo;This lease allows the Islanders to become stable and sound fiscally,&rdquo; stated Bill Torrey, Islanders&rsquo; general manager&hellip;Philadelphia Flyers will make several player changes before the start of next season. The former Stanley Cup winners (only expansion team to do this) showed some glaring weaknesses this past season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-04768/3873887-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="302" height="445"><figcaption class="caption-body">Guy Lapointe</figcaption></div>&bull; A RIFT between Darryl Sittler and Roger Neilson may foil Neilson&rsquo;s chances of returning as coach of the Maple Leafs next season. The falling out between the popular Toronto captain and the Leaf coach widened as the season progressed. Some blame it on Neilson&rsquo;s criticizing Sittler&rsquo;s defensive play earlier this year&hellip;Pro clubs have not sponsored junior teams in Canada since 1967 but it&rsquo;s expected to start again within the next year or two&hellip;Only three NHL clubs sent scouts to cover the World Championships in Moscow, which could be shortsightedness as there are plenty of outstanding NHL prospects on the teams representing Sweden, Finland and the United States. Barry Fraser represented the Edmonton Oilers, Hal Laycoe the New York Islanders and Jerry Melnyk the Philadelphia Flyers. Fraser is a frequent visitor to European rinks and a good judge of talent&hellip;Congrats to the Brandon Wheat Kings in placing five players on the Western Hockey League All Star team. The Wheat Kings rewrote the WHL record book this past season&hellip;Detroit Red Wings will pull out of Kansas City of the Central League and place a team in Glen&rsquo;s Falls, N.Y. in the American League next season&hellip;Kansas City people are hoping to come up with a new NHL affiliation. They are anxious to keep hockey in the city.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05630/3873880-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg" title="f0004-05" width="309" height="444"><figcaption class="caption-body">Darryl Sittler</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0004-01

PASSING THE PUCK

<div class="byline">BY FRED PIETILA</div>DENVER&mdash;The Colorado Rockies plan to explore and examine all possibilities before deciding how to best use their No. 1 selection in the June amateur free agent draft.The Rockies, of course, have the No. 1 choice of all 21 teams by virtue of their horrendous 15-53-12 record this past season.The late-season acquisition of defenseman Trevor Johansen from Toronto in the Paul Gardner trade and the accommodation, by the National Hockey League, of four World Hockey Association teams leaves the Rockies in a little better position.Colorado acquired Johansen and center Don Ashby from Toronto for the high-scoring Gardner just before the NHL trading deadline March 13. At the time of the trade, Rockies&rsquo; general manager Ray Miron said that Johansen was the key as far as Colorado was concerned.And then, the accommodation of the four WHA teams should prevent the bidding wars which have raged the last seven years for young junior talent.&ldquo;Going into the amateur draft this year we&rsquo;re not in a position where we have to take a defenseman.&rdquo; Miron stated. &ldquo;Two of the top players (eligible for the draft) are defensemen, We&rsquo;re going to look at every option available. We may trade our draft and we may not. Most teams want defensemen and Ron Ramage and Craig Hartsburg are good defensemen.&rdquo;Ramage and Hartsburg are two of Birmingham&rsquo;s 1978 underage players and will be eligible for the NHL draft this summer. Both are considered to go within the top seven selections and the powerful Ramage is expected to be the first player chosen.&ldquo;Everyone&rsquo;s looking for defensemen,&rdquo; Miron continued. &ldquo;If we didn&rsquo;t have Johansen, we&rsquo;d have to take Ramage.&rdquo; The Rockies might, anyway. The thought of pairing the right-handed Ramage with the left-handed Barry Beck brings smiles to the faces of Miron and tean president Armand Pohan.Reportedly, there are about six or seven outstanding draft prospects, but they are all apparently about the same caliber&mdash;none as superior to the rest as Bobby Smith was last summer or Dale McCourt was the year before.Comparing this year&rsquo;s draft eligibles to last year&rsquo;s, Miron agreed there was no one who stood out from the rest as much as Smith and Ryan Walter did. &ldquo;It was that way last year. But they&rsquo;re all about the same this year. There are six, seven or eight good hockey players.&rdquo;The top six, according to Miron, are the two Birmingham defensemen, Cincinnati Stingers&rsquo; right winger Mike Gartner and junior forwards Perry Turnbull, Brian Pro-pp and Mike Foligno.The accommodation with the four WHA teams also eases Miron&rsquo;s conscience since the Rockies came very close to losing their 1978 No. 1 draftee, Mike Gillis, to Edmonton. The Rockies did, in fact, lose a 1977 draft, Doug Berry, to Edmonton simply because of financial considerations.&ldquo;Before, you always had to worry, particularly because of the WHA,&rdquo; Miron related. &ldquo;We almost lost Gillis at the last second last year. Now we don&rsquo;t have to worry about it.&rdquo;Trade possibilities loom, too. &ldquo;Look at Montreal,&rdquo; Miron said. &ldquo;They need a defenseman and they might want Ramage and the way they could be sure of getting him would be to trade with us. We&rsquo;re not going to say one way or another. And we&rsquo;re not going to commit ourselves until 10 minutes before the draft.&rdquo;While the Rockies are finally enjoying the luxury of having the No. 1 choice in the entire draft, they can ill afford to make a mistake with that prized selection&mdash;be it through the draft or a trade. As it stood at the end of the season, the Rockies didn&rsquo;t have their next draft choice until the first pick of the fourth round.They traded their second-round 1979 pick and their third 1978 choice to Philadelphia last summer for the Flyers&rsquo; No. 2 1978 choice which turned out to be Merlin Malinowski.But late this season they traded that third-round 1979 choice back to Philadelphia for Don Saleski. The Flyers were seeking Randy Pierce, a promising right winger in return, but settled for a third-round choice.The Rockies&rsquo; original third-round 1979 choice was traded to Montreal, along with cash, for defenseman John Van Boxmeer back in November of 1976.So, the Rockies to have the No. 1 choice overall, and the corresponding bargaining power. But they had better not make a mistake with it.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-0855/3874067-1-eng-US/f0005-082.jpg" title="f0005-08" width="584" height="1054"><figcaption class="caption-body">TREVOR JOHANSEN&hellip;Key In Trade</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0005-08

Rockies Likely To Draft Top Scoring Forward

<div class="byline">&#x2014;BY BOB VERDI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011050/3874105-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="354" height="478"></div>Even though he didn&rsquo;t officiate in the Challenge Cup series, NHL referee John McCauley came out of it the worse for wear. He was sucker punched by an in-rate fan and months later he tells columnist Bob Verdi that the eye injury he suffered causes him concern about his future.<h2>Mistaken Identity?</h2>WESLEY McCAULEY, age 7, had a question for his father, John, age 34.&ldquo;Daddy,&rdquo; the youngster asked, &ldquo;When I become a player in the National Hockey League, will you still be refereeing?&rdquo;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s possible,&rdquo; replied pops.&ldquo;If it happens, will you call a penalty on me?&rdquo;&ldquo;If I do,&rdquo; the man answered, &ldquo;it&rsquo;ll have to be a real good one.&rdquo;John McCauley is a good one, and if his and his boy&rsquo;s wishes are fulfilled, then the sport will be better for it, and we can all forget what happened at that restaurant near Madison Square Garden last February, the night that the NHL All Stars lost the Challenge Cup to the Soviet Union.&ldquo;A few of us were just sitting there,&rdquo; McCauley recalled. &ldquo;Three other linesmen&mdash;Matt Pavelich, Ron Finn, and Leon Stickle&mdash;and myself. Some guy got into a discussion with &lsquo;Stick&rsquo; about the series. He was a Canadian, supposedly, and real upset that we had lost. He said he hated the Russians.&rdquo;Before McCauley knew what hit him, this nebbish, who still remains at large, hit him first. Once on the chin, once around the left eye. McCauley finally got the guy pinned on the floor, but being a man of the stripes, he elected to stop the fighting right there, rather than let it persist.&ldquo;I might have done differently,&rdquo; allows McCauley now, &ldquo;if I&rsquo;d have known what was going to happen.&rdquo;What happened is that, two days later, before he was to resume his regular season whistling with a game at Toronto, McCauley&rsquo;s vision went haywire. And to this day, it&rsquo;s haywire. And he doesn&rsquo;t know, and doctors don&rsquo;t know, when it&rsquo;s going to cease being haywire. If ever.<h2>Suffers Double Vision</h2>&ldquo;I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING thinking maybe it&rsquo;ll be OK&hellip;and every morning it&rsquo;s the same,&rdquo; said McCauley. &ldquo;The specialists who I&rsquo;ve seen say that it should heal itself, that there&rsquo;s still some swelling around the eye which is probably causing the problem, which is double vision.&ldquo;I already had one operation to repair the orbital bone around the eye. They had to do that before the tissue grew back. But I may need another operation to see if they can correct what&rsquo;s wrong. I have 20-20 visision in each eye, it&rsquo;s just that they aren&rsquo;t working together.&rdquo;So, when McCauley looks at one of you, he sees two of you, side by side. And when he reads with his new prism glasses, the book or newspaper has to be six inches from his nose. And when he drives the car, the road sign doesn&rsquo;t say anything worthwhile until it&rsquo;s 15 or 20 feet away.This is no way of life for a man who has been refereeing since he was 22 and had reached the peak of his profession. Year after year, his peers and the players would say that John McCauley was either the best in the business or right there close. Now, there is no guarantee whatsoever that he&rsquo;ll be able to referee ever again.&ldquo;Restless, year,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve made three people happy&mdash;my three kids&mdash;because now daddy&rsquo;s home every day. But it&rsquo;s hard on my wife Irene, and hard on me. Heck, now&rsquo;s the most exciting time of the year, the playoffs, and I&rsquo;m sitting around watching the games on TV.<h2>More Surgery Coming</h2>&ldquo;THE DOCTORS SAY they&rsquo;d like to operate again but not before September. They like to wait as long as possible, hoping that it will heal, because they don&rsquo;t like to cut around the eye if at all possible.&ldquo;Me, I think I&rsquo;d like to move it up to July if they&rsquo;re going to do it. You only have so many years you can referee, you know, and if I wait until September, that means I won&rsquo;t be ready until well into next season..if it works.&ldquo;I figure 1&rsquo;11 work real hard to get myself into shape by July, because after 1 get cut, I&rsquo;ll have to be on my back for a while and will have to stay away from any contact. Meanwhile, I&rsquo;m trying to keep busy.&rdquo;McCauley is president of the NHL officials&rsquo; association. They, too, are negotiating for a contract, but unlike the baseball umpires, they work while they negotiate.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll do OK before it&rsquo;s all over,&rdquo; McCauley promised. &ldquo;We are less hard-line, more soft sell than the umpires. We feel that our game has some problems, that unfortunately, the unskilled players can be as effective as the skilled. We don&rsquo;t need the officials to walk out on us.&rdquo;McCauley still doesn&rsquo;t know why he was whacked. Maybe the idiot mistook him for Andy Van Hellemond, who officiated Game Three of the Challenge Cup and had absolutely zero to do with the NHL&rsquo;s 6-0 loss.&ldquo;I guess 1 wish they&rsquo;d find the guy and make him pay for what he did in some way,&rdquo; McCauley reasoned. &ldquo;Although, you look around, and there are lots more unfortunate people than me. Lots more.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-02808/3874098-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="826" height="870"><figcaption class="caption-body">Referee John McCauley says the worst part about his idleness is the fact he&rsquo;s missing out working the best part of the hockey season&mdash;the Stanley Cup playoffs.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0006-01

Ref McCauley Wonders If Punch Finished Him

<div class="byline">BY DONALD BERNS</div>ST. LOUIS&mdash;Brian Sutter has to pinch himself as a reminder of reality when he thinks about his 41-goal season.Sutter&rsquo;s 41 goals were the most by any left wing in the National Hockey League this past season. As linemate Bernie Federko says: &ldquo;We know now that Brian can score goals.&rdquo;Sutter, who scored nine goals in 197778, has proved his prowess to everyone, but he remains amazed by his accomplishments.&ldquo;I never ever dreamed about 40 goals in a season,&rdquo; Sutter said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s even embarrassing to talk about it.&rdquo;Sutter was among the last to realize the past season was becoming very special for him.&ldquo;I figured 1 would get about 10 goals,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;because I was playing on a line with two big scorers, Bernie and Wayne Babych.&rdquo;After the third game of the season Sutter remarked that maybe some year in the NHL we would score 20 goals. But he already had six goals in the three games, and others were beginning to realize Sutter&rsquo;s stick was gaining immediate respect.&ldquo;I was lucky I got 41, Sutter says.Only one other player has scored more in the 12-year history of the St. Louis Blues. Chuck Lefley scored 43 in 1975-76. Garry Unger also had 41 in 1972-73.Sutter is a nervous fellow who is more nervous when he is in the spotlight. He would have preferred a more outstanding season for the Blues and a less outstanding season for himself.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d enjoy scoring 15 goals if we were in the playoffs,&rdquo; Sutter said. &ldquo;There is no consolation for not making the playoffs; in fact, it&rsquo;s pretty embarrassing. That&rsquo;s two straight years out of the playoffs for me, and if I have my way, it won&rsquo;t be three.&rdquo;Sutter could quit scoring goals and still earn his full paycheck from the Blues. He is an excellent checker and generally does a good job or irritating opponents.He set two team records this season, and neither was connected with his scoring. Sutter is a good fighter who wins quick decisions and he drew 23 major penalties this season to break the previous team record of 16 by the late Bob Gassoff in the 1975-76 season. And Sutter had a total of 165 penalty minutes to set a team record for a left wing. He broke his own record of 123 last year. The previous record holder was Ace Bailey with 113.Coach Barclay Plager said: &ldquo;Sutter is the kind of hard-working player who can be an inspiration to all of his teammates whether he&rsquo;s scoring or not. When he&rsquo;s scoring, it&rsquo;s just that much better for us.&rdquo;Early this past season Sutter described his job as going into the corners and getting the puck for Federko and Babych. But Sutter had more goals than either of his two talented linemates.Sutter and Federko have been in the NHL the same length of time, but Sutter says that in their first full season a year ago he sometimes would be scared when he had the puck in front of the net and would look for Federko. Sutter credits many of his goal-scoring opportunities this past season to Federko&rsquo;s wizardry with the puck.And Federko is equally appreciative of Sutter&rsquo;s play.&ldquo;I played against him in Junior A when I was with Saskatoon and he was with Lethbridge,&rdquo; Federko said. &ldquo;Even though he was on the other side, 1 had to admire him. He was the best captain in the league. He&rsquo;d do anything he could to beat you and he never stopped working. That&rsquo;s the same way he plays now.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03566/3874136-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="576" height="1315"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN SUTTER&hellip;Beyond His Dreams</figcaption></div>When NHL scouts looked at Sutter in junior hockey, many of them questioned whether his choppy skating style could generate any speed in the big league.But St. Louis general manager Emile Francis said: &ldquo;We liked the way he worked so hard. He&rsquo;s a fiery competitor and a tough cookie. No one pushes him around.&rdquo;The Blues made Sutter their second pick behind Federko in 1976, and now others have come to believe in Sutter.&ldquo;Other teams know how valuable Brian is,&rdquo; Francis said. &ldquo;Whenever anyone calls and wants to talk trade, his name is one of the first ones to come up. But we appreciate his value, too.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0006-03

Sutter Confesses 40-Goal Season Embarrassed Him

<div class="byline">BY TOM HENSHAW</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-01937/3874167-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">DON CHERRY&hellip;Puts Emphasis On Winning</figcaption></div>BOSTON&mdash;His Boston Bruins had just gone two-up on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the quarter-final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs but Don Cherry sounded discouraged.&ldquo;Right now,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it doesn&rsquo;t look too promising that I&rsquo;m going to be back here next year. It&rsquo;s just too bad. I think the people like me here and I like them.&rdquo;Cherry&rsquo;s contract problems with the Bruins, a hot item at midtseason, were sort of pushed onto the back burner by mutual agreement as the team fought to shake a half season-long slump in time for the playoffs.It has been said that money is at the root of the problem. The figures that have been tossed around in print are $100,000 and $80,000. Cherry wants the first. The Bruins have offered the second. It could be.But every now and then something bubbles to the surface that indicates it&rsquo;s more than just money, that there is a deep personal and philosophical rift between Cherry and general manager Harry Sinden.For instance, a few moments after the Bruins outchecked the Penguins 4-3 to win the second game of their series, Cherry was holding forth in the Boston Garden interview room on his concept of playoff hockey.&ldquo;Let me tell you something,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s tough playing a team like that. It&rsquo;s like going out to fight a guy in the ring and all he does is faint and back up. It&rsquo;s tough putting on a show. That&rsquo;s the way they beat Buffalo.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you, there&rsquo;s no way that I&rsquo;m opening up and putting on the Ice Follies for people and then when the game&rsquo;s over they come to me and they say, &lsquo;That was a helluva game. Too bad you lost.&rsquo;&ldquo;I went through all that my first year here when Bobby and Phil and all them guys were here. We used to go on the road and open up and we&rsquo;d get beat 5-4, 5-3 and after the game people would say, &lsquo;Best game we saw here all year.&rsquo; Thanks a lot!&ldquo;This is playoff hockey. We&rsquo;re grabbing our wings same as they are and if they want to grind it out we can grind it out better than anybody. 1 gotta admit it&rsquo;s not exciting hockey but the main thing is I&rsquo;m getting paid to win hockey games, not put on the Ice Follies.&rdquo;Meanwhile, Sinden, who had not listened in on Cherry&rsquo;s little lecture, was sitting in Gerry Cheevers&rsquo; seat in the Bruins&rsquo; dressing room delivering up a few comments of his own. Perhaps the game attendance, 12,146, some 2,500 short of capacity, was in the back of his mind.&ldquo;It was not your classic playoff game by any stretch of the imagination,&rdquo; he was saying. &ldquo;They tried to lull us to sleep and we accepted the challenge.&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t operate too well as a conservative club. We&rsquo;re better as a swashbuckling team. We were even on the defensive during the national anthem tonight. It looked like we were afraid the bombs were really going to burst in the air.&rdquo;Sinden, of course, was the Bruins&rsquo; coach when they buckled more than a few swashes in the early part of the free wheeling Bobby Orr-Phil Esposito era when they filled Boston Garden to capacity every game for four years in a row and won two Stanley Cups.Although he was not specifically answering the general manager, Cherry spoke of the attendance the very next day.&ldquo;I think 12,000 is pretty good,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We bombed them out the first game; the game is on telvision; and we still get 12,000 people. If we didn&rsquo;t televise home games you&rsquo;d never be able to buy a ticket. I think that&rsquo;s a credit to the fans.&rdquo;That served as a launching pad for a discussion of Cherry&rsquo;s future in Boston.&ldquo;The last five years,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;have been the best of my life and right now it doesn&rsquo;t look too promising that I&rsquo;m going to be back here next year. When I&hellip;if I do leave here, I&rsquo;ll have nothing but fond memories.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not talking at all about the contract. We agreed that we were going to leave it until after the season. But it doesn&rsquo;t look good. We&rsquo;re not building any additions on the house, let me put it that way.&ldquo;But 1 never think about it. I&rsquo;ve had a lot of disappointments in my life and, if this happens, 1 can live with another one. It&rsquo;s just too bad. I think the people like me here and I like them.&rdquo;WHAT&rsquo;S BRUIN: It takes the Stanley Cup playoffs to shake Peter McNab out of the late season doldrums. Scoreless in his last 10 regular season games, he had three goals in the first three games as Bruins eliminated Pittsburgh four straight. &#9632;

f0007-01

Cherry, Sinden Disagree On How Team Should Play

<div class="byline">&#x2014;BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011040/3874205-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="421" height="468"></div><h2>The Spear Carrier&hellip;</h2>THE FIRST GOAL of the present playoffs obtained by a New York Islander was sneaked in by an unlikely scene-stealer, Wayne-Merrick. The Islanders are a team of stars&mdash;the field general, Denis Potvin; the playmaker, Bryan Trottier; the goal-getter, Mike Bossy; the hit-man, Clark Gillies. But any successful production needs a srong supporting cast. Wayne Merrick is one of the spearcarriers on New York&rsquo;s star-studded roster. Once in a while, Wayne gets in a sneak punch, but usually it is one of the others who wields the weapons that deal the death blows to the foes.Actually, the way Al Arbour coaches this club, everyone who plays plays an important part. If you can score 50 or 60 goals or 100 or 120 points you don&rsquo;t have to check a whole lot. Don&rsquo;t let anyone kid you about that. But if not, Al expects you to check. He likes his players to play defense as well as offense, to pass as well as shoot, to play for the team more than for themselves. He can&rsquo;t control the publicity pulled down, and earned, by the Bossy&rsquo;s, Trottiers, and Potvins, but he can try to attract attention to the lesser lights who usually slip through the shadows unnoticed.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-02935/3874198-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="824" height="733"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wayne Merrick&rsquo;s value to the Islanders this season cannot be measured in his goal production says coach Al Arbour. To be successful, Arbour says a team needs players like Merrick. They never complain about the super stars and they do the dirty work that has to be done. In Arbour&rsquo;s book, they are invaluable. (Photo by Bruce Bennett)</figcaption></div>The playoffs notwithstanding, it is a great source of pride to the coach and manager Bill Torrey that the Islanders have made a meteoric rise and this season surpassed mighty Montreal and had the finest regular-season record in hockey. Arbour observes, &ldquo;You do not do that without every player on the roster contributing, not rust the ones in the spotlight.&rdquo; Torrey adds, &ldquo;Players like Wayne Merrick have a job to do and do it without complaint. They do a lot of the dirty work. If they didn&rsquo;t do it, we wouldn&rsquo;t win the way we do. If they were envious of the guys in the spotlight, team morale could be shot. All top teams have a lot of Wayne Merricks on their side.&rdquo;THE SIX-FOOT-ONE&rsquo; 195-pound Merrick was obtained by Torrey because Bill felt the team needed a big center and he has filled that role well. He is a swift skater and determined defender who keys the club&rsquo;s checking line, usually lining up against the other team&rsquo;s highest-scoring unit. Wayne is a good shooter who usually scores 20 to 30 goals a year. He scored 10 in half-a-season for the Islanders last season and 20 in a full season this season. But he looks for the pass first and makes a good pass to either side. And he looks to double back on defense before he dives in on offense. He is strictly a conservative type.He wasn&rsquo;t supposed to be this sort of player when he scored 39 goals his final season as an amateur at Ottawa and was a first-round draftchoice of St. Louis the summer of 1972. He scored only 10 goals in 50 games his first NHL season with the Blues, but advanced to 20 his second and 28 his third. Traded to California early in his fourth season, he still totalled 32 goals for the campaign. When the club moved to Cleveland the following season, he fell off to 18. And he was falling farther and farther before he was dealt to the Islanders last season, where even his fast finish left him with only 12 for the season.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve changed my style of play,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t hard. &ldquo;I could see 1 wasn&rsquo;t going to be the sort of scorer people expected me to be, anyway. 1 think of myself primarily as a playmaking, checking center. I don&rsquo;t have a bad shot and 1 should shoot more, but I&rsquo;m content if a pass I make pays off in a goal by one of my wingers. Our line isn&rsquo;t expected to score a lot, anyway. We have high-scoring lines on this team. Al wants us to work on the other team&rsquo;s high-scoring line. If we clean up in our end and wind up winning, 2-1, it doesn&rsquo;t matter if our line didn&rsquo;t get a goal. Winning is what matters. It really is. 1 got fed up playing for losers. 1 was losing interest. Here my interest is high. I have a job to do and I do it. I concentrate on defense. I don&rsquo;t need a lot of glory. I enjoy playing the game.&rdquo;WAYNE IS A VERY BRIGHT young man of 27. He was born Leonard Wayne Merrick to Leonard and Jean Merrick in April of 1952 in Sarnia, Ontario. He has two sisters Anne, a banker, and Lynn, a nurse. His dad played baseball and other sports besides hockey but helped Wayne a lot with his hockey. A maintenance foreman at a rubber plant, pop now takes care of a 100-acre farm Wayne has in Sarnia. A good-looking guy, Wayne married in June of 1975 and he and his pretty wife Carol had their first child, a son, Andrew Moore, in March of 1978. They live in season in a house they have purchased in the East Northbrook suburbs of the Island, but return summers to their Sarnia farm. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not something Carol loves, but she puts up with it,&rdquo; Wayne says. &ldquo;I love it. I like the life. I&rsquo;ve attended the University of Western Ontario and hope to finish so 1 can coach or teach later, but I take courses every summer irrmechanical things that I can put to use on the farm.&rdquo;Wayne was traded to the Islanders for Jean Potvin and Jean Paul Parise. The Islanders&rsquo; star, Denis Potvin, hated to see his brother dealt away, but he had played with Wayne at Ottawa and was the first Islander to approach Wayne, stick out his hand, and welcome him when he joined the team. Denis says, &ldquo;It hurt, but Wayne couldn&rsquo;t help it, and I guess they figured he&rsquo;d help us. He has.&rdquo;Arbour, who had coached Wayne at St. Louis, says, &ldquo;It was a hard deal to make, but it brought us something we needed,&rdquo; Torrey, who made it, says, &ldquo;I took heat for it, but it turned out to be a good - deal. Players like Wayne often are of value in ways that don&rsquo;t show in the statistics.&rdquo;Wayne smiles and says, &ldquo;1 don&rsquo;t study the statistics.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0008-01

Hockey Ad Lib

<div class="byline">BY PAT THOMPSON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-03788/3874236-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILL NYROP&hellip;Will He Be A North Star? (Photo by Bruce Bennett)</figcaption></div>BLOOMINGTON&mdash;For a team that did not make the first round of the playoffs, the front office of the Minnesota North Stars certainly is a busy crew.Wouldn&rsquo;t this be the best time to catch their collective breaths with a Florida vacation before gearing up for the draft and planning for the 1979-80 season?Apparently not. The Stars are well into the planning stages now. Headed by general manager Lou Nanne, chief scout Harry Howell and coach Glen Sonmor the Stars management have fanned, out across the continent in garding talent, pro and amateur.The Stars, the past season, finished with 68 points, 12 points out of the playoffs. Yet their increase of 23 points over last season made them the most improved team in the NHL (five more than the plus 18 of the New York Rangers.That is enough, as Nanne pointed out in one of his stopovers to exchange suitcases.&ldquo;We were happy that we were able to increase our total that much,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but we know plenty of hard work lies ahead. The top six teams this year had point totals that ranged from 116 to 90. To reach that level we need to improve 22 more points, almost as much as we did this season.&rdquo;To reach that level, additional talent is sought, and some of it will come from the draft. The Stars own the sixth and 10th picks in the first round, and that is one reason the amateur ranks are being so closely scrutinized.By picking in those positions, the Stars might not get a Bobby Smith, but they might uncover a gem like Steve Payne, the 19th player chosen last summer. Payne&rsquo;s 23 goals ranked him No. 4 in goal scoring of players drafter in 1978&mdash;the three ahead of him were the first, second and third selections.There is talk that under-age players will once again be included in the NHL draft in June, and Nanne is heartily in favor.&ldquo;If the measure goes through,&rdquo; said Nanne, &ldquo;the effect would give us three first round draft choices.&rdquo;The Minnesota GM is also considering a multi-player trade or two that would bring another first rounder into the Stars&rsquo; camp before the meetings in Montreal. &ldquo;One player is not going to turn a franchise around, but two or three experienced players might make a difference,&rdquo; is his negotiating point.Minnesota also seems unwilling to part with a No. 1 choice to sign defenseman Bill Nyrop, who retired from the Canadiens before the start of last season. Montreal agreed to let Nanne negotiate for the Minnesota-born Nyrop, but wants one of Minnesota&rsquo;s two picks in the first round. &ldquo;The Canadiens do not have a pick in the first round this year and they&rsquo;re pressing me to deal or they&rsquo;ll trade him to somebody else,&rdquo; said Nanne. It&rsquo;s unlikely that Nyrop, if he does come out of retirement, will play any place except Minnesota.All deals, of course, cannot be made until the conclusion of the Stanley Cup. Until that, the Stars are foregoing vacations to do their homework.STAR DUST: Nanne still feels he made the right deal in sending Dennis Maruk to Washington, where the little center scored 90 points. &ldquo;Dennis is a fine player but he wouldn&rsquo;t have scored 90 points with our team,&rdquo; said Nanne. &ldquo;That trade is only half completed.&rdquo; The Stars got one of their first round picks in the deal&hellip;Nanne did have one second thought about the past season. &ldquo;Bobby Smith is our best hockey player and the biggest mistake I&rsquo;ve made since becoming general manager was in not signing Bobby for longer than a four-year contract. He&rsquo;s going to cost us a lot of money when his contract comes up.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0008-03

North Stars May End Up With Three First Round Drafts

<div class="byline">BY BILL FLEISCHMAN</div>PHILADELPHIA&mdash;When Keith Allen begins his annual post-season talent hunt, one position he can ignore is center. With Bobby Clarke, Mel Bridgman and Ken Linseman as regulars, Rick MacLeish roaming between center and left wing, and Blake Dunlop available, the Flyers are solid down the middle.If someone could disguise himself as the deliveryman arriving with Allen&rsquo;s latest supply of Maalox, he&rsquo;ll overhear the Flyers&rsquo; general manager speaking softly to other GMs and saying, &ldquo;Well, Ray, we could use a little help on left wing. And I know you don&rsquo;t have any spare goaltenders, but if you hear of any, let me know, eh?&rdquo;As the Flyers sputtered against the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup quarter-finals, Alien admitted he is willing to tie a few veterans and minor-league prospects in a package similar to the deal he made last year with Pittsburgh. For Orest Kindrachuk, Ross Lonsberry and Tom Bladon, the Flyers obtained the Penguins&rsquo; top draft choice, who turned out to be Behn Wilson. Allen, and almost everyone else who has seen Wilson take a regular shift on defense this season, puts him in the same quality-rookie class as Bobby Smith, Ryan Walter and Wayne Babych.If Allen finds a willing GM among the top half dozen drafting teams he&rsquo;ll likely include a Moose Dupont or Rick LaPointe or Dennis Ververgaert in the deal. Allen may even extend his &ldquo;generosity&rdquo; to include MacLeish, if a talented but younger scorer is Philadelphia-bound in a trade.MacLeish is a player of magnificent offensive skills. When he&rsquo;s &ldquo;on&rdquo; he is one of hockey&rsquo;s most dangerous scoring threats. However, the 29-year-old twotime playoff scoring leader fluctuates wildly between &ldquo;on&rdquo; and &ldquo;off.&rdquo; Latest example: through his first six playoff games this spring, he had exactly one assist. Which is one reason the Flyers were scrambling and lost out against John Davidson and the spirited Rangers.Dupont, also 29, is still a valuable defenseman, an old-fashioned team-oriented player who will do anything to win&mdash;like sticking his face in front of Stan Jonathan&rsquo;s fists when few other Flyers were willing. However, Dupont made enough defensive mistakes this season to top his quota and Allen would likely part with him, using the general manager&rsquo;s motto &ldquo;They all gotta go sometime.&rdquo;LaPointe is only 23, but his consistent games are scattered among many outdings littered with errors that someone with his ability shouldn&rsquo;t make. Ververgaert arrived in Philadelphia in mid-season with Flyers&rsquo; management counting on 30 goals. Ververgaert finished with only 18, and wasn&rsquo;t dressing for playoff games with the Rangers until game four.Ververgaert, 26, was kicked upstairs to the press box by Reggie Leach&rsquo;s comeback, Paul Holmgren&rsquo;s steadiness, Tom Gorence&rsquo;s speed, and Dunlop&rsquo;s versatility. It also appeared that Ververgaert had left his skating mobility in Vancouver. Allen and coach Pat Quinn may want to let Ververgaert start a season in Philadelphia, but if the right offer surfaces it&rsquo;s unlikely Allen would hesitate in telling Ververgaert, &ldquo;Sorry, Dennis, but you were just passing through.&rdquo;The Flyers&rsquo; goaltending crisis is worth a separate analysis, but it was obvious in the Rangers&rsquo; series that the Flyers don&rsquo;t have a &ldquo;stopper,&rdquo; someone the players know can consistently make the big saves in important games.With Bernie Parent&rsquo;s career in jeopardy, the Flyers were relying on Wayne Stephenson and rookie Robbie Moore, the five-foot-five bundle of confidence who rescued the club in the preliminaryround series with Vancouver.Whispers around the Flyers&rsquo; dressing room had Tony Esposito anxious to sign with Philadelphia if Chicago doesn&rsquo;t sign him. Although he is 36, Esposito is the type of veteran who could carry the Flyers through the transition period of working in a young goalie.Allen wouldn&rsquo;t comment on Esposito, but the Flyers would be worried about the compensation required if they signed Esposito. Whether there is a compensation clause in Esposito&rsquo;s Chicago contract is another angle to the mystery.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011005/3874267-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="564" height="1098"><figcaption class="caption-body">DENNIS VERVERGAERT&hellip;Passing Through?</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0009-01

Veterans’ Heads Likely To Roll As Flyers Undertake Talent Hunt

PHILADELPHIA&mdash;The NHL&rsquo;s most underrated player is Rick Middleton. The most overrated? Toronto&rsquo;s Dan Maloney.Who says so? The Philadelphia Flyers, in a poll conducted by the Philadelphia Journal hockey writer Jim DeStefano.Other results of the poll included an All Star team of goalie Ken Dryden, defensemen Larry Robinson and Denis Potvin, center Bryan Trottier, left wing Clark Gillies, and right wing Guy Lafleur. The Flyers think Brian Sutter of St. Louis is the league&rsquo;s most improved player and John McCauley is the best referee. &#9632;

Flyers Speak Out In Poll By Press

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011027/3874322-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"></div>Write to:FAN FORUM, The Hockey News, 1434 St. Catherine St., W., Montreal, Canada H3G 1R7<h2>Some Recognition For Vadnais, Please!!</h2>The 1978-79 NHL season is coming to an end and very soon the so-called &ldquo;hockey experts&rdquo; will choose this seasons All Stars. The chances are less than likely they will consider someone who has had as much to do with the success of the Rangers this season as anyone. That player is Carol Vadnais.For too long this season, Vads has been conpletely ignored. He has received none of the tremendous amount of credit he deserves for the Rangers&rsquo; good fortunes this season. On a team that is noted for its lack of defense, Vads has been nothing less than an All Star. His style is not flashy. He has not scored as many goals as his teammates on defense&mdash;Mike McEwen, Dave Maloney and Ron Greschner. What Carol Vadnais does is provide leadership and stability to the young Ranger defense. He has doubtless been one of the Rangers&rsquo; steadiest players, despite playing hurt for a time. He has turned the constant Garden boos of last season into cheers.Our hats are off to Carol Vadnais. This season nobody&rsquo;s done it better.BRIAN SELIGSON, DAVE BORSACK, Flushing, N.Y.<h2>Coach Displayed Unsportsmanlike Conduct</h2>In the Stanley Cup quarter-final series between the Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins a display of unsportsman-like conduct was shown, not by the players of either team, but by a coach.At the end of the third game of the series which was in Pittsburgh, Boston coach Don Cherry went off the ice waving his hands in the air signifying Boston is No. 1. This was only part of his display.At the end of the fourth game of the series also played in Pittsburgh, Boston won the game and the series. In the honor and tradition of hockey the players shook hands, but not coach Don Cherry, he went off the ice shaking his hands high in the air again proclaiming Boston No. 1. He didn&rsquo;t shake hands with any of the Penguins players or coach John Wilson.I feel the actions of Don Cherry will only hurt the quality and tradition of NHL Stanley Cup play. Possibly, Don Cherry felt he couldn&rsquo;t lower himself to shake hands with the loser of the series. But I wonder how Don Cherry will feel if nobody shakes his hand when his team is on the losing side of the scoreboard.DALE PORTER, Pittsburgh, Pa.<h2>Tiger Setting Bad Example</h2>Dave William&rsquo;s attempted attack on referee Bob Myers following Larry Robinson&rsquo;s series winning overtime goal was a totally unprofessional and childish act, perpetrated by an individual not fit to stand as an example for young hockey players.It can only be hoped that Mr. Williams will instill in his children a more responsible attitude.GREG WOOD, Victoria, B.C.<h2>Didn&rsquo;t Sutter Score More Goals?</h2>Excuse me, Bill Fleischman, but wasn&rsquo;t Brian Sutter of the St. Louis Blues, the NHL&rsquo;s highest scoring left winger this season with 41 goals and not Ron Sedlbauer of Vancouver as was written in your April 27 column?I think it&rsquo;s about time people start respecting &ldquo;Sudsy&rsquo;s&rdquo; goal-scoring ability and not just his able manner of defending himself and teammates with fisticuffs.No offense intended for. Bernie Federko or Wayne Babych, both future Blues&rsquo; stars for years, but Sutter is the Blues&rsquo; MVP and the most improved player in the National Hockey League.TED COHEN, St. Louis, Mo.<h2>Hockey Thoughts From England</h2>I recently led a party of 15 English hockey nuts on a trip to see six games in seven nights. The Ranger&mdash;St. Louis game, in which Fotiu and Durbano &lsquo;entertained&rsquo; us was our first game and had us all wondering why we had bothered to travel 3,000 miles to see much a disgusting exhibition. I agree with Messrs. Daly and Lukasiewic that fighting has a place in hockey, but not the sort of extravagances displayed by those two. The game would be well rid of them and their like.Could I comment on the line-up for next season following expansion? If the plan is for each team to play each other twice at home and twice away, why not have one league and let the teams that score most points qualify for the playoffs. What is the need for any sort of divisional system?And why stop at 16 teams in the playoffs? Why not let them all join in and extend the season into mid-June? The top team against the 16th in a five-game preliminary round series does not excalty stir the blood and with the players apparently anxious to reduce the length of the season, it seems an odd move to make.NORMAN de MESQUITA, London. England<h2>LETTER OF THE WEEK</h2><h3>If Soccer, Why Not Hockey</h3>If a neophyte league like the NASL can sell their &ldquo;baby&rdquo; sport of soccer to a major U.S. television network, then there is absolutely no excuse for the NHL to be blacked out off national TV.As the Stanley Cup finals approach, the phantom NHL-TV network games are not being picked up in the Bay Area. So, while millions of Americans will be watching the World Series. Super Bowl, NBA championship, and now the NASL&rsquo;s Soccer Bowl; the NHL&rsquo;s showcase event&mdash;the Stanley Cup finals&mdash;are being shown on a handful of stations.CARLTON LEE, San Francisco, CA.<h2>Agrees That Sittier Is MVP</h2>I agree with Jeff Norton about Darryl Sittler being MVP. Since the Leafs are down in the overall standings, the players seem to get very little recognition. Even BJ Salming is overlooked most of the time. Darryl Sittler may not have scored 50 or 60 goals this season, but he is still a leader on and off the ice.I had the privilege of meeting him last year, he is every bit as nice as everyone says that he is. He stayed and talked to me instead of rushing off to the dressing room. 1 walked away having even more respect for him than I had before.Darryl&rsquo;s record of 10 points in one game is yet to be equaled. Darryl has taken more shots on the net than any other Maple Leaf player this year, which just shows that when Darryl is on the ice, he controls the play. To me Darryl is No. 1, and always will be.DEBBIE POTTER, Toronto, Ont.<h2>Give Rockies Time To Flourish</h2>We, the hockey fans of Colorado, are getting sick and tired of reading in every hockey publication every week another letter from some misinformed person wanting to fold our team &ldquo;for the best interests of all concerned.&rdquo; All concerned, that is, except for us here in Denver.Where, I ask, would the NHL be if the Philadelphia Flyers, whose first three seasons in the league were no better than the Rockies&rsquo; first three, were folded or merged with another team just because someone a thousand miles away, who doesn&rsquo;t even know the situation. came up with some bright idea to &ldquo;save the team from itself?&rdquo; How can a team be expected to build a following and sell tickets when every bit of information you read about them is so negative?Armand Pohan, the team president, has assured us the Rockies will stay, and 1 am looking forward to next season, when the veterans like Nick Beverley, Rey Comeau, Gary Croteau and Don Saleski lead the youngsters like Barry Beck, Trevor Johansen, Merlin Malinowski, Wilf Paiement and Jack Valiquette into their rightful position among the league&rsquo;s elite. The talent is here, but it will take time. Rome and the Montreal Canadiens weren&rsquo;t built in a day, or even three years.BRIAN WEIDLER, Thornton, CO.<h2>Habs Could Lose Four Regulars</h2>This June coaches and general managers of respective NHL teams will have to sit down and pick out the top 17 players who&rsquo;s rights they own. For most teams this will be a hard chore and for some such as Vancouver and Colorado extremely easy.The Montreal Canadiens have a real problem on their hands. For them 20 players isn&rsquo;t even enough to protect. They&rsquo;ll probably lose the maximum four players permitted to be taken from any of the teams, but which four? The list could go on and on.The various players the Canadiens presumably won&rsquo;t protect are of the likes of Pierre Larouche, Gilles Lupien. Yvon Cournoyer, Rich Chartraw, Rod Langway and Cam Connor. And of course there&rsquo;s the players who are on the roster of the Nova Scotia Voyageurs from which Norman Dupont is the only player likely to be protected by the Habs. There you have Dan Newman, Dave Lumley, Jerry Byers and former leaf Brad Selwood. There&rsquo;s also the case of Bill Nyrop if the Canadiens don&rsquo;t trade him before the draft, he&rsquo;ll be up for grabs too.MIKE FREDERICKS, Cote St. Luc, Que.<h2>Flames Fold Come Playoff Time</h2>Why do you suppose the Atlanta Flames pull the same trick to themselves and their fans each and every season? They boast a team that ranks among the best in the NHL in point standings year after year, however, come playoff time they all but surrender to their opponents.This time it was the Toronto Maple Leafs&mdash;a team of high standards, especially in the playoffs. The Flames were defeated outright, however, they did not play the same brand of hockey that gained them 90 points through the 80 game regular season schedule.The Flames&rsquo; post-season caliber of play would be rated as horrendous by most with a pathetic 1-12 record in their short seven-year existence. When the preliminaries are done, and the Stanley Cup is in sight, &ldquo;Atlanta&rsquo;s winningest team&rdquo; seems to resemble the baseball Braves at their very worstJERRY McQUAY, Charlotte, NC<h2>Supports View NHL Is Afraid</h2>I thank David Ashby for his letter in the April 27 issue of THE HOCKEY NEWS. It&rsquo;s about time WHA fans wake up and show the world that the WHA is no minor league but a professional hockey league as good as the NHL. After all, if you go see an NHL game than a WHA game you will be able to see the difference.I have gone to see the Canadiens very often and the Nordiques, too. There is hardly any difference, both can skate pretty good, they can all check and make great plays. Too bad WHA are losing all their players.Let&rsquo;s face it, the NHL is afraidSTEPHANE LAROCHELLE, Quebec, Que. &#9632;

f0010-01

FAN FORUM

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE HALPIN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02831/3874353-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg"></div>MONTREAL&mdash;With little help from the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Kings, the National Hockey League regular season attendance wound up showing a deficit.Both the Rockies and Kings were well below last season&rsquo;s box office figures and the result left the NHL with 76,371 less fans at games this season compared to 1977-78.In the fourth and final survey of attendance figures by THE HOCKEY NEWS covering the 40 home games of each of the 17 NHL clubs, a total of 8,800,572 fans turned out to watch the league&rsquo;s teams perform on home ice. It represented a drop from last year&rsquo;s 8,876,064 total.Nine of the NHL&rsquo;s 17 teams finished with crowd deficits but none were as whopping as Colorado and L.A. The Rockies reportedly were 112,879 off last year&rsquo;s figure while the Kings were down 74,338 at the gate.Other teams with a minus at the box office included St. Louis, 31,677, Washington 24,150, Chicago 19,187, Vancouver 18,055, the Islanders 15,579 and the Rangers 6,680.On the bright side, five other NHL teams experienced a sizeable increase in their home attendance. Minnesota North Stars led the way with a plus 83,159 despite missing the playoffs. Detroit, also out of the post-season round, was 40,386 ahead of last season. Atlanta reported 39,022 more fans watched the Flames play, Pittsburgh was up 36,330 and Boston had an increase of 23,831 fans. Buffalo and Philadelphia, perennial NHL sellouts, had the same attendance figures as last season, which was another plus for the NHL.The Rangers again finished as the league&rsquo;s box office champions with a total of 691,087 fans, just slightly better than Philadelphia with 683,080.In the final team breakdown, six teams reported higher attendance, two were even with last year and nine were behind their 1977-78 marks.<h2>Attendance figures compiled by THE HOCKEY NEWS: &#9632;</h2>

f0010-02

Rockies, Kings Put NHL’s Attendance In Arrears By 76,371

<div class="byline">BY TOM BURKE</div>BOSTON&mdash;George Crowe of Dartmouth College was selected as 1979 coach of the year in the first annual college post season poll conducted by THE HOCKEY NEWS. Mark Johnston, the stellar University of Wisconsin centerman, was chosen as player of the year.Johnson&rsquo;s closest rival in the poll was Ralph Cox, sharpshooting right winger who led the University of New Hampshire to the ECAC Division One playoff championship. Coaches who were mentioned prominently along with Crowe were John Gasparini of North Dakota, Charlie Holt of New Hampshire, and Lefty Smith of Notre Dame.While everybody has known what Johnson can do since he stepped onto the Dane County Coliseum ice in the 1976-77 season, Dartmouth&rsquo;s Crowe still had to convince college hockey fans around the nation that he and his team were for real when his fourth season at Hanover began back in October.The convincing didn&rsquo;t take long, as Dartmouth roared off to a 11-2-1 start, survived a 1-4 slump and rebounded to take second honors in the ECAC playoffs and third place at the NCAA Tournament in Detroit. The Green&rsquo;s 1978-79 record ended up 19-9-2, by far the most successful season since 1948-49, when Dartmouth was 18-6 and finished second in the NCAA&rsquo;s.Since taking over, the 41-year-old Crowe has piloted Dartmouth to an overall record of 58-47-4. A native of Rethesay, New Brusnwick, Crowe became Varsity coach in 1975-76 and proceeded to win New England coach of the year selection. A graduate of Springfield College and a former junior and senior hockey player himself, he has made a big impact on hockey at Dartmouth and it showed on the ice this season.Still very few pre-season polls had picked Dartmouth in the top eight, following their 11-15 campaign of the previous year. But all the ingredients for a successful season were present. Seniors and juniors dominated the roster. A positive attitude swirled around the White Mountains and captivated players and fans. Crowe&rsquo;s first two years had been good, at 16-11 and 12-12-2, especially for a team that had enjoyed but three winning seasons and two playoff berths since 1965. Crowe&rsquo;s arrival in Hanover had coincided with the opening of Rupert Thompson Arena, another sign that Dartmouth was ready to rejoin the East&rsquo;s college hockey powers.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-01984/3874391-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="522" height="788"><figcaption class="caption-body">GEORGE CROWE&hellip;Convinced People</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t understand why nobody thought we&rsquo;d have a good team this year,&rdquo; said Crowe in mid-season. &ldquo;After all, we were right up there with the leaders until last February when we lost nine of our last 11 games, and we have almost everybody back.&rdquo;Still, among those returnees were only four scorers of 10 goals or more. Clearly, Dartmouth needed punch, and plenty of it. But by the time the ice had melted this year, just six had tallied in double figures with only junior Ross Brownridge attaining the 20 goal plateau.So how did the Big Green do it? Just by basic hustle and good, clean, opportunistic hockey which features the darndest forechecking you ever saw. All five skaters take part, with defensemen crashing down the boards and venturing behind the enemy net, and centers dropping back only occasionally, it seems, to cover. Somehow, the system works. Under Crowe, Dartmouth abandoned traditional patterns of play, stressed skating and conditioning, and came up with the Cinderella campaign in college hockey for 1978-79.The finest moment? Undoubtedly the 5-3 ECAC semi-final win over heavily favored Boston University, the defending ECAA titlist. After the Terriers had battled back with a three goal second period to tie the contest, Brownridge and Steve Higgins tallied early in the third frame and sophomore goalie Bobby Gaudet held off the stunned Bostonians the rest of the way.But if it was an extraordinary season for Dartmount, it was just another year for Johnson, coached by his father, Madison&rsquo;s Badger Bob. Wisconsin went 25-13-3 overall and made it into a third place tie in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. All the younger Johnson, a diminutive five-foot-nine, 170 pounder, did was to amass 28 goals and 41 assists for 69 points in league competition to finish runnerup to Colorado College&rsquo;s Dave Delich.Last year, Mark garnered a league total of 70 to tie his teammate, Mike Eaves, for the scoring crown. In both campaigns he was named an All American. For his three years as a varsity player, in both league and non-league games, Mark has tallied 80, 86, and 90 points respectively. That leaves him with a career total of 256 points, well beyond anybody but Eaves, whose all-time Wisconsin standard of 267 will certainly fall if Mark plays another season in Badgerland.That, however, he may not do. Barring serious injury, Johnson is a shoo-in for a berth on the Olympic squad in 1979-80. He made the trip to Moscow for the World Tournament after the recently completed college season. The National Hockey League may beckon him thereafter, making him forego his senior campaign at Madison. Despite his slight stature, Johnson is considered an outstanding pro prospect and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who drafted him in 1977 are willing to wait.It&rsquo;s an understatement to say that Mark has speed. Both the end to end rush and the close-in jockeying for position usually find him a step ahead of the checkers, of whom he saw plenty this year in the absence of Eaves, who also played center. You have to look all the way down the Wisconsin roster to 12th place on the final scoring summary to find another pivotman. And don&rsquo;t think that the enemies throughout the rugged WCHA didn&rsquo;t use all manner of tactics, legal and otherwise, to slow Johnson down.Still, five hat tricks, including a four-goal game against Michigan, came off his stick. Mark was, of course, the main man on the power play, gunning away from his favorite spot atop the faceoff circle. But lest we get the impression that he&rsquo;s all goal scorer, he actually managed more assists (49) than goals (41). Linemates Les Grauer and Scott Lecy tallied 29 and 25 goals, respectively, bearing out another plus on Johnson&rsquo;s resume as he heads towards the pros. He&rsquo;s always been known to use his wingers well.It was indeed another great year for college hockey, and THE HOCKEY NEWS is proud to salute the season&rsquo;s top achievers, George Crowe and Mark Johnson.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-02839/3874384-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="1112" height="1901"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARK JOHNSON&hellip;He&rsquo;s Done It All</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0011-01

Wisconsin’s Johnson Named College Player Of The Year; Dartmouth’s Crowe Top Coach

<div class="byline">Bill Fleischman&#x2019;s</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011001/3874422-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="348" height="483"></div><h2>Rangers Silence Doubters</h2>THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS are times that test the souls of hockey men. The main event. The NHL&rsquo;s 80-game regular season is just an eight-round tune-up.During the regular season the New York Rangers went from their greasy-spoon status of recent years to first class. The Rangers won their first three of four from Montreal, beat Boston in their last two confrontations, and defeated the Islanders three consecutive times, Still, before the Rangers&rsquo; preliminary round series with Los Angeles there were doubts. The Rangers had won only two of their final 12 regular season games. Goaltender John Davidson was just returning from an injury that had sidelined him for 18 games. This, clearly, didn&rsquo;t resemble a team serious about a run at the Stanley Cup.After the Kings bowed in two straight, scoring only a goal in each loss, some of us &ldquo;experts&rdquo; should have noticed the capacity for a charge to at least the semi-finals. But, knowing the Rangers&rsquo; reputation for inconsistency, most people thought Philadelphia would dispose of the Rangers in the quarter-finals. The consensus was, Davidson can&rsquo;t continue playing that well, and New York&rsquo;s defense will be rattled by Philadelphia&rsquo;s forecheckers, and&mdash;ah, the Rangers will find a way to lose.After the Rangers coughed up a two-goal, first-period lead in the quarter-final opener and lost in overtime, the snickers were heard. Even when the Rangers drove the Flyers into the Delaware River with a 7-1 victory in Game Two, few thought a trend had developed. Then, following 5-1 and 6-0 humiliations of the Flyers in New York, most skeptics had grown into believers.<h2>Will Remain Cup Contender</h2>REGARDLESS OF THE series outcome everyone knew that next season, and for many seasons afterward, the Rangers will be serious Stanley Cup contenders. Why? They have Davidson, who was the single biggest influence against the goalie-desperate Flyers.&ldquo;I was with JD in St. Louis,&rdquo; said winger Pierre Plante, and this is the best I&rsquo;ve ever seen him play. He&rsquo;s been unbelievable.&rdquo;Other reasons for the Rangers&rsquo; success were summarized by Eddie Johnstone, who, like Plante, has given the club solid depth.&ldquo;JD has been hot, the defense has been playing great and our forwards have been putting the puck in the net,&rdquo; said Johnstone. &ldquo;The game&rsquo;s easy when you play that way.&rdquo;The Flyers knew Dave Maloney and Carol Vadnais are quality defensemen, but the blueline efficiency of youngsters such as Mike McEwen and Mario Marois impressed everyone. Ron Greschner is one of hockey&rsquo;s best offensive defensemen, but his defensive history against Philadelphia was a Don Knotts immitation. In the playoffs, however, even Greschner was moving the puck out of the New York zone. Not long ago, when then-GM John Ferguson said the Rangers had the nucleus of the best defense in hockey, chuckles reverberated from Boston to Vancouver. Not many chuckles are heard now.<h2>Became Devoted Disciples</h2>WHICH BRINGS US to the current GM, Fred Shero. Finding Shero and top lieutenant Mike Nykoluk coaching against the team they helped guide to consecutive Stanley Cups is a fantasy that even Woody Allen wouldn&rsquo;t touch. But there they were, calmly in charge of the Rangers&rsquo; destiny and drawing rave reviews from their players.&ldquo;Mr. Shero and Mr. Nykoluk have put us in the driver&rsquo;s seat,&rdquo; said Don Murdoch. &ldquo;Not once this season have we played to a team. They play to team.&rdquo;In one season Shero and Nykoluk have achieved the respectful obedience they once had in Philadelphia, where players would charge head-first through brick walls without hesitating. Until the final years in Philly, the Flyers believed that whatever Shero said would work. Now the Rangers are devoted disciples of Rev. Shero and his mystical fog.&ldquo;Playing under this management is like playing in a mid-summer game,&rdquo; said Davidson. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no pressure. If this was last year or the year before, we&rsquo;d all be down to about 110 pounds and not sleeping nights.&rdquo;The Rangers&rsquo; resurgence has included the career revivals of Davidson, Shero and a young-at-heart 37-year-old named Phil Esposito. Esposito&rsquo;s early years in New York, following The Trade from Boston, were miserable. He couldn&rsquo;t please the New York fans and was in continuing disputes with the press. But this year Esposito has been a man enjoying hockey&mdash;and life&mdash;again.Now, Esposito and all the Rangers would like to stay as long as they can. &#9632;

f0012-01

HOCKEY WORLD

<div class="byline">BY NORM MacLEAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02845/3874453-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILLY SMITH&hellip;Guarding His Territorial Claims (Photo by Bruce Bennett)</figcaption></div>LONG ISLAND&mdash;Denis Potvin&rsquo;s somewhat lucky sudden-death goal kept the New York Islanders alive in their Stanley Cup quarter-final series with their crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers, when his shot deflected off Ranger Carol Vadnais past goaltender John Davidson.What the National Hockey League&rsquo;s Challenge Cup Series had been unable to do in February&mdash;attract large quantities of influential New York media types&mdash;the Long Island Railroad series between the Isles and Broadway Blueshirts may have accomplished. Fan and media interest was at the highest level in the history of hockey in New York with the pressure increasing all the time.&ldquo;Most of that pressure is on us,&rdquo; admitted Potvin. &ldquo;We have to win or our season is a failure. The Rangers are happy to be here and their season already is a success.&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t move the puck easily enough in the first two games (Rangers 4 Islanders 1; Islanders 4 Rangers 3 OT). It seemed all my passes were being blocked by waving Ranger sticks. Suddenly we got lucky.&ldquo;My 14th pass attempt was blocked but the puck came right back to me. My shot hit Vadnais and went by J.D.,&rdquo; wearily finished the Islander All Star.&ldquo;When it struck Vadnais, it changed direction and speed,&rdquo; said Davidson. &ldquo;But we got the split we needed.&rdquo;Barely, Denis, barely. The Rangers won five of the six regulation time periods. The Islanders won the third period of Game Two and then the overtime&mdash;just enough for the split.Bryan Trottier admitted as much saying, &ldquo;We got things moving in the third period (of Game Two). We have to progress if we are going to win this thing. The Rangers came in with such overwhelming confidence and they were playing so well it was darn difficult to take it away from them.&rdquo;Wayne Merrick, who scored the key first goal in game two for the Isles, tying the score, agreed, saying &ldquo;We aren&rsquo;t playing like we did in the regular season. In the playoffs you are only as good as your last game, your last shift. We are not getting more than one shot at a time&mdash;and Davidson (there&rsquo;s the man&rsquo;s name again) makes the big save all the time. We need to do a better job at getting the rebounds. That&rsquo;s the only way to win this things.&rdquo;The Rangers shut down Mike Bossy in Game One, with no shots on goal and limited the scoring marvel to three in game two.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very hard,&rdquo; admitted Mike. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not getting good shots on the net, but give them credit, it&rsquo;s because they aren&rsquo;t letting me.Coach Al Arbour agreed the Rangers were for real, but insisted, &ldquo;We aren&rsquo;t surprised. We knew they would check real well. In the third period of the second game we finally got a little flow going. Before that it was uphill as we tried to lug the puck. You can pass the puck faster than carry it. It&rsquo;s tight squeeze playoff Hockey; &ldquo;In Game One, Arbour stuck with Trottier, John Tonelli, and Bossy, his late season first line. But in the second game, for the most part, he went back to Le Grande Trio, inserting Clark Gillies instead of Tonelli on the left side. They totalled 10 shots, with Gillies having four, and Trottier and Bossy three each. In Game One, the line had been limited to just four shots, three by Trottier (including a goal) and one by Tonelli.A mini feud was developing between goalie Billy Smith and the Rangers Pat Hickey.Smith high sticked the Rangers&rsquo; Ron Duguay in the second game (Chico Resch worked the first encounter), and also took on Mario Marois and Hickey.&ldquo;The referees don&rsquo;t call Hickey when he skates through the crease and impedes my progress. They say they will, but a defenseman gets in there too&mdash;and both of them get penalties. I take charge and force the officials to keep my crease clear even if I draw the odd penalty,&rdquo; said Smith.With the series even, it behooves the Islanders to take charge, play as they did in the regular season. They are in tough with a Fred Shero disciplined team, somewhat like his old Flyers, but one that has skating speed to burn.&ldquo;The reason they are frustrated,&rdquo; said Hickey, &ldquo;is simple. We have the puck more often than they do. Shero&rsquo;s offensive system is in now. We come back and check, but when we get the puck away we go.&rdquo;If the Islanders want to win, they must beat the Rangers to the puck and play the body more&mdash;or else it will be a Rangers challenge in the finals. Prediction: Islanders in seven. &#9632;

f0012-02

Isles Respond In Time To Salvage Home Series

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-01983/3874505-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photo by Bernie Moser)</figcaption></div><h2>Top Flyer Defender</h2>Big Bob Dailey of the Philadelphia Flyers enjoyed an outstanding hockey season and was chosen winner of the Barry Ashbee Memorial Trophy as the best rearguard on the NHL team. Here&rsquo;s Dailey receiving the annual award from Danny Ashbee, son of the former NHL defense star of the Flyers who died in 1976.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-02820/3874498-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="1215" height="1418"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photo by Ian MacAlpine)</figcaption></div><h2>What Happened?</h2>Jacques Plante, the one-time goaling great of the NHL who is presently the goaling coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, is quizzed by an interviewer after the Flyers&rsquo; netminding blew sky high in their quarter-final playoff with the Rangers. Plante may have his ideas of what went wrong but it came too late as the Flyers were eliminated.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-03620/3874491-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="1199" height="1447"></div><h2>Best Of The Yanks</h2>Tom Rowe of the Washington Caps receives a plaque from eight-year-old Sean Burke after the 22-year-old Lynn, Mass., native was honored for setting a new NHL record for most goals by an American born player in one season. Rowe scored 31 times. Applauding at left is Massachusetts Congressman Nicholas Mavourles.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04435/3874484-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="1830" height="1534"></div><h2>Playing The Name Game</h2>Washington publicity director Pierce Gardner couldn&rsquo;t resist the urge to do something he had been thinking about all season. The Caps&rsquo; amiable press chief decided to do a little public relations on his own behalf as he brought Randy Pierce, left, and Paul Gardner, of the Colorado Rockies together to form his name just before Gardner was traded off to Toronto. Nice going Pierce! &#9632;

f0014-01

HOCKEY PEOPLE

WASHINGTON&mdash;&ldquo;The talent&rsquo;s here. If we can get nineteen guys thinking team, we&rsquo;ll take off. I think everybody is very, very optimistic.&rdquo;The speaker is Gary Inness, the first .500 goalie in Capitals&rsquo; history (14-14-8) and one of the pivotal reasons that Washington was one of the four NHL teams to register double digit improvement this past season.A congenial, articulate man who wants someday to try his hand at coaching, Inness has college degrees in history and physical education. But it doesn&rsquo;t take a Rhodes scholar to figure the arithmetic.Washington jumped 15 points over their 1978-79 performance, which ranked them with the North Stars (up 23), the Rangers (up 18) and the Penguins (up 17) as the league&rsquo;s most improved quartet.In a year when some powerhouses slipped a bit (Boston off 13 points, Philadelphia off 10 and Montreal down 14), that trend has to be encouraging.&ldquo;I think the one thing that came out of this season was the feeling that Washington is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NHL,&rdquo; continued Inness. &ldquo;We beat some of the best this past year, including the Islanders. Sure we only beat them once, (6-4 in the last week of the season) but once leads to twice, and that&rsquo;s how you get the thing snowballing.&rdquo;&ldquo;What it&rsquo;s going to take to continue the rise is for every player to sit down and ask himself &lsquo;what do I have to do to make this team win&hellip;&rsquo;?&rdquo;Two of the architects of the upward swing, coach Danny Belisle and general manager Max McNab, recognize that there is much work to be done before they&rsquo;ll have a blue-ribbon contender.&ldquo;There were a lot of positive things that I saw overall,&rdquo; noted Belisle whose poise in the first year pressure cooker won him high marks all around. &ldquo;Just the same we&rsquo;re not about to go around pounding our chests over what we&rsquo;ve accomplished because we didn&rsquo;t make it to the playoffs and that&rsquo;s where we want to be.&rdquo;&ldquo;It was difficult for me to set goals this past season, because I was unsure of what I had at first or what I was up against. Now, with a year under my felt, I&rsquo;m totally confident and convinced we&rsquo;ll be in the playoffs.&rdquo;For much of the season, Belisle was forced to play musical chairs with his roster, as 41 players suited up during the 80-game campaign. A changeover to a younger lineup accounted for some of this activity, but Belisle was receiving a steady stream of reinforcements from the astute McNab.In fact, at times, it seemed like the Capitals were enrolled in their own version of the &ldquo;Player of the Month&rdquo; club, as each page of the calendar introduced another new face.In October, it was Dennis Maruk who rode into town. He proceeded to turn the Center upside down with a 90 point season&mdash;the best ever by a Capital.November was a rare &ldquo;off&rdquo; month, and then Inness arrived in December and proceeded to turn in 40 fabulous days of netminding before leveling off slightly in the closing months.Ex-Ranger Greg Polis was January&rsquo;s delivery, and he averaged a point-per-game in his 18 matches (12-6-18) before breaking a leg in Vancouver. February&rsquo;s Valentine was veteran center Dennis Hextall and March saw defenseman Pierre Bouchard report and right wing Chuck Arnason flown in from Tulsa.All this for the total cost to the franchise of one of McNab&rsquo;s two first round picks this summer (for Maruk) and $100 to the Rangers for Polis.Only the early season acquisition of Michel Bergeron (for a second rounder) didn&rsquo;t pan out.&ldquo;We got some proven point-per-game men now,&rdquo; said McNab after the season. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t any fluke that our total goal production went from 195 last year to 273, a gain of 78 goals. You need to score at least 250-270 goals a year to win in this league. When we&rsquo;re healthy, I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ll fall below 250 again.&rdquo;&ldquo;We know what we still have to do. We must kill penalties better and score more often on the power play,&rdquo; he concluded.Subtracting out our power play goals for and against, one gets McNab&rsquo;s point. At even strength, the Capitals were scoring 2.70 goals per game, and allowing only 3.18&mdash;a difference of less than half a goal a game.&ldquo;As to the upcoming draft, I think everybody takes the best athlete available when their turn comes around,&rdquo; said McNab.&ldquo;Although, this year, for the first time, we can look at certain positions and say &lsquo;that position is in capable hands.&rsquo;&rdquo;One of those positions would likely be center, where Maruk, Charron, Ryan Walter (who played wing most of the year) Dennis Hextall and Swedish ace Rolf Edberg are all available.One enormous boost that will be felt in the locker room and on the ice is the addition of Pierre Bouchard on defense, whose presence will help stabilize a defense whose premier members (Robert Picard and Rick Green) are still under 23 years old.Observers in this area believe the Capitals are very interested in acquiring a strong two-way forward. Some of those that fit that bill in the draft are Portland&rsquo;s Perry Turnbull, Birmingham&rsquo;s Rick Vaive and Cincinnati&rsquo;s Mike Gartner.CAP NOTES: Ryan Walter scored four goals for Team Canada and also received a 15-stitch cut on his right ear&hellip;Center Guy Charron was knocked out of the tournament with a knee injury the seriousness of which has yet to be determined&hellip;Also toiling for Team Canada were Green, Picard and Maruk.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-01947/3874536-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="588" height="910"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY INNESS&hellip;Beat The Best</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0015-01

Playoffs Goal Of Next Year’s Caps

<div class="byline">BY RUSS WHITE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-02778/3874567-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="580" height="1249"><figcaption class="caption-body">GUY CHARRON&hellip;Knee Injury</figcaption></div>WASHINGTON&mdash;The Capitals were anxious to have center Guy Charron return from Moscow and be examined by the team physician after word from the world championships that he had injured a knee.Max McNab, Washington general manager, first heard of Charron&rsquo;s injury from a news dispatch.That first report was that surgery was going to be necessary.McNab placed hurry-up calls to Moscow but was not able to learn any more about Charron&rsquo;s status for a couple of days. When he did get a report, McNab was relieved. The injury, he was told, was not serious.Charron was to return with the Team Canada squad at the conclusion of the tournament.Ryan Walter, Caps&rsquo; rookie standout, took 15 stitches to repair an ear injury in the same tournament but played immediately. He scored one of Canada&rsquo;s goals in the 9-2 loss to the Soviets.Rick Green, Robert Picard and Dennis Maruk also represented the Caps on Team Canada.&ldquo;We are proud to have our players on the Canadian team,&rdquo; McNab said, &ldquo;but at the same time we do have concern about what might happen to them. Charron injured his knee a couple of years ago in the same competition. Fortunately, he came back and didn&rsquo;t miss a game. He was out all of training camp, though, one year.&ldquo;The players have the best of medical attention but in hockey there is the risk of injury anytime anyone suits up,&rdquo; McNab said. What McNab would prefer is that the Caps take that risk by participating in Stanley Cup hockey.Charron, for one, has never played a Stanley Cup playoff game, and lists this as his No. 1 goal in hockey. He feels a player comes more alive at playoff time and that is why&mdash;if he couldn&rsquo;t play for the Caps in post-season play&mdash;he accepted a bid to be with Team Canada.Charron, who served the Caps as team captain the past year, had a 70-point season. He was voted the Capital Fan Club&rsquo;s favorite player.Coach Danny Belisle credits Charron with helping soothe the ill feelings that may have existed when management canned coach Tom McVie and brought in Belisle.&ldquo;It was a pretty unpleasant situation and Danny had to weather a lot of pettiness.&rdquo; McNab said.&ldquo;Everything that was ever written or said about McVie included the word popular,&rdquo; a Caps&rsquo; official said. &ldquo;He wasn&rsquo;t just coach Tom McVie, he was popular coach Tom McVie.&rdquo;Charron called for frequent team meetings to help the players get the mind on business and it paid off finally in a 24-victory season and Washington&rsquo;s highest point total ever&mdash;68.No one on the team seemed to dedicate himself to the team&rsquo;s wellbeing than Charron. Thus, McNab was understandably unnerved as he awaited the final word on Charron&rsquo;s injury in Moscow. &#9632;

f0015-02

Caps Proud But Worried About World Cup Members

<div class="byline">BY MIKE DENNIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01788/3874643-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="510" height="674"></div>MONTREAL&mdash;&ldquo;If Bob Gainey didn&rsquo;t have to do all the things he does for us, like killing penalties and checking their top players,&rdquo; began Montreal coach Scotty Bowman in the Canadiens&rsquo; dressing room following their second home-ice victory over the Boston Bruins for a 2-0 semi-final series lead, &ldquo;&hellip;he&rsquo;s improved his shot; his confidence is up; if he were on the power play you&rsquo;d be looking at a 30 to 40-goal scorer for sure.&rdquo;Bowman had ample reason to praise the talents of Gainey, who was named third star of the game, the result of which shifted the pressure to the shoulders of the Bruins who returned to Boston Garden facing a must-win situation.It was a blast by Gainey in the midst of a second period uprising which tied the game for the Canadiens after they had trailed 2-0 earlier in the stanza. It followed a Jacques Lemaire goal by just 30 seconds and less than a minute later, Mario Tremblay tipped in a Lemaire pass putting Canadiens into a 3-2 lead after they were two goals behind just 1:24 before.Canadiens rode the momentum into the third period, adding a pair of goals by Guy Lafleur and Rick Chartraw (Gainey drew an assist on the second score) for a 5-2 win and a two games to none lead in a series that just as easily might have been 2-0 in Boston&rsquo;s favor.The first two games of the series were marked with close-checking, grind &lsquo;em down hockey, the kind of physical, yet clean mode of play that has long been Gainey&rsquo;s trade-mark. Little wonder then that Gainey played such an important role in the Canadiens&rsquo; fortunes in the first two encounters.Gainey was in on the opening goal of the series, playing on a line with Lemaire and Lafleur when be made a pass to Lafleur who spotted the unguarded Lemaire outside the crease for an easy score.After the Bruins tied the score in the second period on Jean Ratelie&rsquo;s power play goal and then went ahead on a goal by Don Marcotte, the Canadiens received a gift goal when a Lafleur pass deflected off defenseman Mike Milbury into the Boston net. A Pierre Larouche goal off a 2-on-1 break with Doug Risebrough then put Canadiens ahead to stay.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02676/3874636-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="574" height="882"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOB GAINEY&hellip;Can Score, Too</figcaption></div>But in the final minute of the game, after Bruin Wayne Cashman had failed to control a bouncing puck to the left of the Canadiens&rsquo; goal, out of the corner came Gainey, headmanning the puck to Larry Robinson, who in turn got it to Doug Jarvis who scored into an empty net. Final score: Montreal 4, Boston 2.In Game Two, the first period was scoreless with Gainey enjoying the best opportunity of the opening 20 minutes when he directed a Lafleur pass just wide of the net on a rush conducted at speeds which few humans would believe possible.Gainey&rsquo;s second chance came with his club trailing 2-1 after Rick Middleton and Peter McNab had scored for Boston and Lemaire had connected off a 4-3 manpower advantage for Canadiens. Both teams were a man short when Gainey stepped over the blueline and drove a 40-footer past Gerry Cheevers for the tying score. That brought the teams even on the scoreboard, but from then on the game belonged only to the Canadiens.Tremblay scored the Canadiens&rsquo; third goal of the period with just 55 seconds left on the clock and the Bruins were unable to mount any sort of offensive in the third period, outside of the flurry just before Lafleur scored on a 2-on-1 break with Lemaire for a 4-2 Canadiens&rsquo; lead. &#9632;

f0016-01

Checker Gainey Propelled Habs To 2-Game Lead

<div class="byline">BY TOM MURRAY</div>NEW YORK&mdash;Now, let&rsquo;s see. When we last left the Rangers, they were on the verge of playing their fifth game against the Philadelphia Flyers in the quarter-finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The semifinal &ldquo;fantasy series&rdquo; against the New York Islanders was just one big victory away, but most people were too busy pinching themselves in disbelief after watching the Rangers dismantle the Flyers to even dream about an IslanderRanger showdown.Well, pinch no more all you folks out there. The Ranger-Islander confrontation is for real; so real, in fact, that as we go to press, the series is knotted at one game apiece.After decimating the Flyers, 8-3 in the fifth game of their series (for the gory details on that five-game massacre, see sidebar) the Rangers barrelled into the Coliseum and, undaunted by the Islanders&rsquo; impressive home record and quarter-final sweep of the Chicago Black Hawks, picked up their game right where they left it two nights before in Philly.From the opening faceoff until the final buzzer, the Rangers played one of their best games ever&mdash;skating, hitting and forechecking beautifully, and moving the puck out of their zone with almost as much ease as they thwarted the rushes of the Islanders.The only blemish came with just over nine minutes to play in the opening period, when Bryan Trottier blasted a drive past Ranger goalie John David-son&rsquo;s left side.But from that point on, the game was the Rangers&rsquo; entirely. Don Murdoch tied the score with his fifth goal of the playoffs with just five minutes to go in the first period when his blistering slap shot ticked off the blade of defenseman Dave Lewis&rsquo; stick, nicked goalie Chico Resch&rsquo;s arm, and hit the top of the net. Three minutes later Eddie Johnstone, whose play has been magnificent since the L.A. series, slammed in a rebound after outmuscling and out hustling Denis Potvin&mdash;three inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than Johnstone. The Rangers were up, 2-1, and they never looked back for the rest of the evening.The second period was a masterpiece. How else can you describe a 20-minute span during which the Islanders managed only three shots on goal&mdash;one around every six minutes&mdash;and the Rangers scored twice?First, Ron Duguay blasted a shot past Resch&rsquo;s glove side that Chico could only wave at. And then Bobby Sheehan&mdash;another Ranger whose play has been sensational ever since being called up early in the Philly series&mdash;slipped one by Chico after Pierre Plante, yet another unheralded hero, fought off both Potvin and Dave Lewis behind the net and passed the puck out in front to Sheehan.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03540/3874605-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="574" height="644"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY SHEEHAN</figcaption></div>The third period was a mere formality as the Islanders, unable to master any kind of an attack, listened to a chorus of boos and jeers coming from what sounded like 14,995 closet Ranger fans, who did everything from encourage Davidson with yells of &ldquo;J.D J.D J.D&rdquo; to screaming &ldquo;Choke, Choke, Choke.&rdquo;When the final buzzer sounded, the Rangers had won the game, 4-1, assured themselves of at least a split of the first two games on the road, and skated off the ice ecstatic but fully aware that such a performance would be virtually impossible to duplicate.GAME 2: Another incredible game&mdash;but for a different reason than Game 1. On that night, the scrappy underdog had pummeled the favorite into submission, dominating and surprising the champion with the swiftness and abruptness of its attack. In Game 2, the two combatants stood at the center of the ring&mdash;Rockey against Mohammad Ali&mdash;and belted each other with their best punches, trading goals until the final buzzer sounded and the score was knotted at 3-3. Sudden death overtime would decide the outcome. But first, some details on the initial 60 minutes.Walter Tkaczuk got things going for the Rangers early in the first period, when he scored his fourth goal of the playoffs. The rest of the session was dominated by a slew of penalties to both teams, a trend which continued until early in the second period, when Wayne Merrick broke the ice for the Islanders.But Bobby Sheehan again came through for the Rangers only moments later when he found himself with the puck on his stick and no one within 15 feet of him and Islander goalie Billy Smith. Sheehan blasted the puck through Smith&rsquo;s pads and the Rangers had the lead once again a lead they would hold for the remainder of the period.The turning point of the game, if there had to be one, came early in the third period, when Sheehan&mdash;by far the fastest skater on either team&mdash;intercepted an errant Islander pass in the Ranger zone and skated in along on Smith, faked the goaltender to his knees, and tried to backhand the puck by him. Smith was too quick, however, as he slid over to his left and kicked the puck harmlessly aside.&ldquo;If Bobby had scored,&rdquo; Phil Esposito would say later, &ldquo;I think we would have won the game right there. That would have made the score 3-1, and there&rsquo;s no way the Islanders would have scored three goals on us in the third period.&rdquo;&ldquo;I should have shot the puck,&rdquo; Sheehan said, shaking his head in the locker room after the game was over. &ldquo;Smith was backing up and I had a lot of room to shoot. You gotta shoot the puck when you have an opening.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04423/3874598-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="582" height="1109"><figcaption class="caption-body">WALT TKACZUK&hellip;Sparked Rangers</figcaption></div>But Sheehan didn&rsquo;t shoot, and the magnificent save by Smith&mdash;one of many he made after going through his usual stick-swinging antics&mdash;seemed to give the Isles new life.That new life manifested itself at the 5:13 mark, when defenseman Bob Lorimer&rsquo;s shot from the point found its way past Davidson to tie the score at 2-2. And only four minutes after that Bobby Nystrom, parked in front of the Ranger net, slipped a beautiful feed from Wayne Merrick past Davidson. The Islanders were up, 3-2, and the momentum of the game seemed to be shifting in their favor.But the Rangers, just as they had for most of the season, seemed to thrive when the chips are stacked against them. And with less than five minutes left in regulation, Phil Esposito picked up a loose puck from a scramble in front of the Islander net and fired it past a sprawling Smith.That pressure goal set up one of the most exciting sudden death overtime period in quite some time. Granted, it didn&rsquo;t last that long&mdash;only 8:02&mdash;but the players on both teams totally abandonned the close, tight-checking style that is normally typical of sudden death and instead rushed up and down the ice, firing shots at Davidson and Smith, both of whom refused to falter.Then, after eight minutes and two seconds of incredible, heart-pounding excitement, Denis Potvin took a pass from Mike Kaszycki and lined up a shot from the point. As soon as he saw that Potvin was going to shoot, Ranger defenseman Carol Vadnais dropped to block the shot. As he went down, the blade of his stick went up&mdash;and partially deflected Potvin&rsquo;s shot as it whizzed by. Davidson, who had already committed himself was unable to recover in time to stop the puck from skidding under his legs and into the net.Round Two went to the Islanders. But hang on tight, fans. This is one fight that looks like it&rsquo;s going to go the distance.BLUE CHIPS: Except for Bryan Trottier&rsquo;s goal early in the first game, the Rangers totally shut out the Trottier-Bossy-Gillies line in the first two games of total non entity, having no shots in the first game and being held to three in the second. Trottier has only five points in six playoff games so far this year&hellip;Rangers have also stopped the Isles power play cold: Isles had three power play chances in first game and seven in the second and came up with zip against a Ranger penalty-killing unit that was only the NHL&rsquo;s 13th best during the regular season&hellip;Espo&rsquo;s goal in second game was his 55th in 112 playoff games&hellip;Fred Shero, after being told that Bossy had been held to no shots in the first game: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not my fault.&rdquo;&hellip;Mike Nykoluk, Ranger Assistant coach, feels that the Rangers are succeeding against the Islanders because &ldquo;our guys are fresher.&rdquo; Nykoluk contends that the Isles aren&rsquo;t using their manpower &ldquo;efficiently&rdquo; and thus are giving up the puck easier because of fatigue&hellip;Most of the opinions expressed in the New York papers are that Isles were lucky, very lucky, to escape with a win in second game. Consensus is that they were outplayed, badly, by the Rangers in both games. With 13 points apiece, Phil Esposito and Don Maloney are the leading scorers of the playoffs&hellip;Esposito started the current playoff campaign in 11th place on the NHL&rsquo;s all-time Stanley Cup points list. With the 13 points he has so far, he has already passed Boom Boom Geoffrion and Frank Mahovlich and, with 124 points, is rapidly closing in on the Canadiens&rsquo; Yvan Cournoyer (127) and Henri Richard, plus Bobby Hull, both of who had 129 points and are tied for fourth place on the list&hellip;With the exception of the last game of the regular season against the Islanders, Mike McEwen has scored at least one point in every game he has played against the Isles this year&mdash;including the two semifinal games. &#9632;

f0016-03

Upstart Rangers Rocking Favored Islanders

<h2>SERIES &lsquo;H&rsquo;</h2><h3>Tue. Apr. 24 RANGERS 8, PHILADELPHIA 3</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01680/3874716-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="618" height="786"></div><h2>SERIES &lsquo;I&rsquo;</h2><h3>Thu. Apr. 26 RANGERS 4, ISLANDERS 1</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02587/3874709-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="604" height="682"></div><h3>Sat. Apr. 28 RANGERS 3, ISLANDERS 4</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04363/3874702-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="632" height="818"></div><h2>SERIES &lsquo;J&rsquo;</h2><h3>Thu. Apr. 26 BOSTON 2, MONTREAL 4</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05285/3874695-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="606" height="600"></div><h3>Sat. Apr. 28 BOSTON 2. MONTREAL 5</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06237/3874688-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="616" height="634"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03473/3874681-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="454" height="532"><figcaption class="caption-body">DENIS POTVIN</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-07206/3874674-1-eng-US/f0017-072.jpg" title="f0017-07" width="1807" height="827"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brad Park, left, and Dick Redmond, show concern as Bruins face hard comeback to topple Canadians after losing first two games of series.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0017-01

STANLEY CUP SUMMARIES

NEW YORK&mdash;It was, to say the very least, one helluva week for the New York Rangers.In defeating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one, thus earning the right to meet the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup semi finals, here&rsquo;s what the Rangers did:&bull; They outscored the Flyers, 28 goals to eight (2-3, 7-1, 5-1, 6-0, 83), breaking the NHL playoff record for total goals by a team in a five-game series. The Montreal Canadiens held the old record of 2&rsquo;4 goals, which they scored in the 1956 semifinals and the 1978 quarter-finals. The 28 goals were also the most goals the Rangers have ever scored, in any series, in their history.&bull; They held the Flyers scoreless for 168 minutes and 59 seconds (from 1:38 of the first period of the third game to 10:37 of the third period of the fifth game), the longest drought ever suffered by the Flyers in their playoff history, and the longest playoff shutout streak ever by the Rangers.&bull; They established two NHL records by scoring five shorthanded goals in one series and in four games in succession. The five shorthanded goals broke the mark set by the Boston Bruins against, ironically enough, the Rangers in the 1958 playoffs.&bull; Rangers also established a record for most goals in a period by two teams, nine, as they contributed six, and the Flyers three goals, during the third period of the fifth game. &#9632;

Rangers’ Wonderful Week Sprinkled With Records

<h2>PRELIMINARY ROUND SERIES &lsquo;A&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-08173/3874841-1-eng-US/f0017-082.jpg" title="f0017-08" width="611" height="119"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tue. Apr. 10Vancouver 3 at Philadelphia 2Thu. Apr. 12Philadelphia 6 at Vancouver 4Sat. Apr. 14Vancouver 2 at Philadelphia 7<h2>SERIES &lsquo;B&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-09155/3874834-1-eng-US/f0017-092.jpg" title="f0017-09" width="608" height="137"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tue. Apr. 10Los Angeles 1 at Rangers 7Thu. Apr. 12Rangers 2 at Los Angeles 1<h2>SERIES &lsquo;C&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-10143/3874827-1-eng-US/f0017-102.jpg" title="f0017-10" width="596" height="125"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tue. Apr. 10Toronto 2 at Atlanta 1Thu. Apr. 12Atlanta 4 at Toronto 7<h2>SERIES &lsquo;D&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-11125/3874820-1-eng-US/f0017-112.jpg" title="f0017-11" width="623" height="131"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tue. Apr. 10Pittsburgh 4 at Buffalo 3Thu. Apr. 12Buffalo 3 at Pittsburgh 1Sat. Apr. 14Pittsburgh 4 at Buffalo 3<h2>QUARTER-FINAL ROUND SERIES &lsquo;E&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-12114/3874813-1-eng-US/f0017-122.jpg" title="f0017-12" width="612" height="104"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Mon. Apr. 16Chicago 2 at Islanders 6Wed. Apr. 18Chicago 0 at Islanders 1Fri. Apr. 20Islanders 4 at Chicago 0Sun. Apr. 22Islanders 3 at Chicago 1<h2>SERIES &lsquo;F&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1395/3874806-1-eng-US/f0017-132.jpg" title="f0017-13" width="599" height="99"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Mon. Apr. 16Toronto 2 at Montreal 5Wed. Apr. 18Toronto 1 at Montreal 5Sat. Apr. 21Montreal 4 at Toronto 3Sun. Apr. 22Montreal 5 at Toronto 4<h2>SERIES &lsquo;G&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1483/3874799-1-eng-US/f0017-142.jpg" title="f0017-14" width="600" height="130"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Mon. Apr. 16Pittsburgh 2 at Boston 6Wed. Apr. 18Pittsburgh 3 at Boston 4Sat. Apr. 21Boston 2 at Pittsburgh 1Sun. Apr. 22Boston 4 at Pittsburgh 1<h2>SERIES &lsquo;H&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1567/3874792-1-eng-US/f0017-152.jpg" title="f0017-15" width="603" height="128"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Mon. Apr. 16Rangers 2 at Philadelphia 3Wed Apr. 18Rangers 7 at Philadelphia 1Fri. Apr. 20Philadelphia 1 at Rangers 5Sun. Apr. 22Philadelphia 0 at Rangers 6Tue. Apr. 24Rangers 8 at Philadelphia 3<h2>SEMI-FINAL ROUND SERIES &lsquo;I&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1664/3874785-1-eng-US/f0017-162.jpg" title="f0017-16" width="600" height="126"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Thu. Apr. 26Rangers 4 at Islanders 1Sat. Apr. 28Rangers 3 at Islanders 4<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Islanders at RangersThu. May. 3Islanders at RangersSat. May. 5Rangers at IslandersTue. May. 8Islanders at RangersThu. May. 10Rangers at Islanders<h2>SERIES &lsquo;J&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1755/3874778-1-eng-US/f0017-172.jpg" title="f0017-17" width="624" height="120"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Thu. Apr. 26Boston 2 at Montreal 4Sat. Apr. 28Boston 2 at Montreal 5<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Montreal at BostonThu. May. 3Montreal at BostonSat. May. 5Boston at MontrealTue. May. 8Montreal at BostonThu. May. 10Boston at Montreal<h2>PLAYOFF SCORING LEADERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-1847/3874771-1-eng-US/f0017-182.jpg" title="f0017-18" width="604" height="1943"></div> &#9632;

f0017-08

Stanley Cup Scoreboard

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01697/3874879-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">RICK MARTIN&hellip;Won Three-Star Award</figcaption></div>LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaBUFFALO&mdash;This year the Buffalo Sabres made their fastest exit ever from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yet, those connected with the club feel that the Sabres were playing some of their best hockey in four years late in the season and during the playoffs.The Sabres added to their reputation as playoff patsies by losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the preliminary round. For the last three previous years, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals.This year they played aggressively, they didn&rsquo;t get pushed around, they skated, they came from behind and they got the hockey fans of Buffalo cheering again.Yet, 1978-79 goes into the record books as Buffalo&rsquo;s worst playoff showing ever.The Sabres had some tough times in the preliminary round&mdash;they had to come from behind to win the last two games, both in overtime, against the St. Louis Blues in 1976&mdash;but they never had been KO&rsquo;d in that round since the present system of playoffs were instituted.This year they lost the first game at home to the Penguins, 4-3, then beat the Penguins in Pittsburgh, 3-1, before losing the finals at home, 4-3, in overtime.The quick exit had fans wondering who would be running the Sabres next season.Coach Billy Inglis and John Andersen, who was directing things as general manager, although his title is director of player personnel, turned the team around after taking over when general manager Punch Irnlach and coach Marcel Pronovost were fired Dec. 4.The Sabres had one of the top records in the National Hockey League from the All Star game break on. They won all four games on a late western trip for the first time they ever had won four on a road trip.Yet, they won only one of their last five games, once they had second place in the Adams Division clinched, and they won one of three playoff games.Seymoure H. Knox III said in a postseason interview that he had not made up his mind on what would be done about the hockey operation next season but that he felt that Andersen and Inglis had done an excellent job.&ldquo;John and Billy have done a great job and we have told them that,&rdquo; said Knox. &ldquo;We all felt the team was playing well enough to go further in the playoffs. But the season ended so soon, we haven&rsquo;t gone into what we will do in the future.&ldquo;We have a lot of options open. We will explore them, deliberate and make a decision. We feel we are under no pressure of a deadline.&rdquo;Asked if he didn&rsquo;t think it would be necessary to have the GM question settled by the league meetings in June, Knox replied, &ldquo;Not necessarily.&rdquo;The club president, who has seen his club fail to fulfill the promise it showed when it reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1976, said he is not discouraged.&ldquo;Disappointed, yes; discouraged, no,&rdquo; he stated. &ldquo;We laid a good groundwork since Dec. 4. I am very encouraged for the future. I think the team has come together.&ldquo;The players I talked to at the team banquet seemed to be very enthusiastic about next season. It never has been like that since 1975. Usually they are downhearted after the playoffs. But not this year.&rdquo;Danny Gare, team captain, said he felt much better about the club than he had a year before, when he stated, after the final playoff game, that changes had to be made to keep the Sabres from going downhill.&ldquo;There were good signs this year,&rdquo; said Gare. &ldquo;We played together as a team more than we did in the past. We had three good lines that could score. Some kids came long to help.&ldquo;But,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;there still is something missing. There has to be. I don&rsquo;t know what it is.&rdquo;ICE CHIPS: Rick Martin, who led the club in goals with 32&mdash;far under his top season of 52 but still pretty good after an atrocious start&mdash;won the Star of Stars Award for the three star voting at home games. Goalie Bob Sauve got the most improved player award.Ric Seiling won the Charley Barton Silver Stick Award as &ldquo;the player who best exemplified dedication and love of the sport.&rdquo;Shortly after the Sabres bowed out of the playoffs, it was announced by the Rochester Americans of the American League that they will have a full working agreement with the Sabres next season. The Amerks had been working with the Boston Bruins and the Sabres had been providing players, along with the Washington Capitals, to the Hershey Bears.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02558/3874872-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="576" height="612"><figcaption class="caption-body">RIC SEILING&hellip;Most Dedicated</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0018-01

Sabres Not Unhappy With Season But Admit Something’s Missing

Jacques Lemaire has been quietly doing his job with the Montreal Canadiens for more than a decade. So quietly, in fact, that few people knew that after just six games of this year&rsquo;s playoffs that Lemaire has passed the legendary Maurice (Rocket) Richard for seventh place on the all-time playoff scoring list with 128 points.And at the rate he&rsquo;s going, Lemaire will undoubtedly stand in fourth place before the current playoffs conclude. In six games, Lemaire is the leading goal-scorer with six goals and his six assists, place him just one point out of the playoff point lead.Lemaire registered four goals and four assists against Toronto in the quarter-finals and opened the Canadiens&rsquo; scoring in their first two semi-final contests.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03418/3874910-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="552" height="692"><figcaption class="caption-body">JACQUES LEMAIRE&hellip;Montreal Canadiens</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0018-03

NHL’s…Player of the week

<h2>Cooper On The Move</h2>TORONTO&mdash;Two of the great trade names in the hockey equipment industry, Cooper and Winnwell are getting together.Jack Cooper, chairman and president of Cooper Canada Limited, and Harry B. Kennedy Jr., of Winnwell Limited of Toronto, announce that Cooper Canada proposes to acquire all of the common and preferred stock of Winnwell in a share exchange transaction.Winnwell, makers of knitted and sewn athletic clothing, as well as sporting goods, will operate as a Division of Cooper Canada with certain operations being integrated within the Cooper organization. The Winnwell sales representatives will continue to serve their customers in Canada, the United States and Europe.<h2>Volvo-Lange Pact</h2>ROCKLEIGH&mdash;Volvo of America Corporation, Rockleigh, N.J. and Lange Inc., Mississauga, Canada have announced the signing of a long-term agreement which makes Volvo the exclusive distributor of Lange skates and accessories in the United States. Marketing of the Lange equipment will be handled by Volvo&rsquo;s recreational products division which was formed in 1974 to market the Jofa hockey line in this country.Jerry Depot, general manager of the recreational products division, described the addition of the Lange line as &ldquo;a natural supplement&rdquo; to the Jofa products. He predicted that the new distribution agreement &ldquo;will greatly enhance the overall penetration of both Jofa hockey equipment and Lange skates.&rdquo;&ldquo;Jofa&rsquo;s success has been established through a strong dealer network and essential service support in the field,&rdquo; Depot explained. &ldquo;We intend to utilize these proven marketing tools to promote Lange&rsquo;s impressive 1979 model lineup.&rdquo; He added that the Division has an experienced 20-member hockey equipment sales force.Lange, the pioneers of the revolutionary plastic skate, have revised and improved their line for 1979.Two models are new this year. The advanced TNT uses sophisticated materials to provide the serious skater with good mobility in a tough, highly responsive skate.The Sprint makes Lange technology available to the economy-minded skater.Both new models have an injection-molded polyurethane shell with a new shock-dissipating foam liner and are available in adult and junior sizes.Last year&rsquo;s Elite model has been substantially upgraded for 1979. It is made with an injection-molded polyurethane shell, rugged armored toe cap, deluxe foam liner with form fitting tongue and &ldquo;L&rdquo; shaped pads at the ankle for secure fit and comfort.A selection of plastic (Zytel) blades will be available for all models.Lange will produce its skate line this year at a newly revamped 40,000 sq. ft. facility in St. Jerome, Quebec, near Montreal. &#9632;

Hockey Trade News…

ATLANTA&mdash;It appears likely that Atlanta Flames&rsquo; general manager Cliff Fletcher will take a different approach on June 13 in Montreal when the Flames select the 12th player of the amateur draft.That&rsquo;s because the Flames have been leaning heavily towards defensemen in the early portions of the last four drafts, but have now apparently turned towards experience among rearguards, and have traded away many of their highly touted draftees.Last year&rsquo;s number one draft choice, Brad Marsh, a defenseman, showed the type of defensive play and toughness that the Flames want in their future, so they&rsquo;ll expect a great deal of him next year, along with 1976 top choice Dave Shand.But the Flames also dealt away 1975 first pick Richard Mulhern to Los Angeles in exchange for the experience of Bob Murdoch, acquired veteran Rod Seiling from St. Louis and then pulled The Trade which saw them send two defensemen, 1977&rsquo;s top choice, Miles Zaharko and Greg Fox, a late-round 1974 acquisition, plus forwards Tom Lysiak and Harold Phillipoff to Chicago for defenseman Phil Russell, who the Flames hope will become a team leader, and forwards Ivan Boldirew and Darcy Rota.Phillipoff was the Flames&rsquo; second choice in 1976 but the Flames decided to add to their already potent attack with Rota instead of waiting to see if Phillipoff would pan out.Of course the Flames&rsquo; didn&rsquo;t exactly ignore the forwards when it came time for drafting, nabbing Lysiak as their very first draft choice, 50-goal scorer Guy Chouinard as their top pick in 1974 and Don (Red) Laurence, who completed his rookie season a year late by finishing among the top 20 first-year players after taking most of last season to recover from a leg broken during his junior days. Laurence, who led the Ontario Junior League in scoring at the time of his injury, was the Flames&rsquo; second selection in 1977. &#9632;

Atlanta Likely To Alter Policy

<div class="byline">BY BILL LIBBY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01514/3874996-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">DAVE TAYLOR&hellip;Met The Challenge (Photo by Steve Babineau)</figcaption></div>LOS ANGELES&mdash;Before the start of this season, 1 predicted Marcel Dionne would score 50 goals and 120 points and have his greatest season, sophomore Dave Taylor would score 40 goals and 80 points, and, led by them, the Kings would set a team scoring record. But that they might give up more goals than they got.All predictions came true.Dionne set team and personal highs with 59 goals, 71 assists, and 130 points, Taylor tallied 43 goals, 48 assists, and 91 points, and with the help of Butch Goring&rsquo;s 36 goals, 51 assists, and 87 points, the Kings totalled 292 goals to top their prior record of 271 set two years ago.However, they gave up 286 goals. Add in a 2-8 deficit in the post-season playoffs and the Kings actually did finish giving up as many goals as they got, 294-294. Clearly, the defense needs stiffening.The offense is promising. A mere .500 club at 34-34-12, the Kings ranked only 10th among the 17 teams in the league. But on offense, they ranked sixth. And Dionne ranked second to Mike Bossy in goals and to Bryan Trottier in points. Marvellous Marcel beat out the great Guy Lafleur in both. In fact, he led all scorers in the league in the second half of the season with 69 points.Marcel also set team records by scoring goals in seven straight games and points in 14 straight, by scoring 19 power-play goals, and by scoring five game-tying goals. He tied a team record by scoring seven-game winning goals.All his totals also were records for a King center.His linemate, the 23-year-old Taylor, set team records for right wings with his goals, assists, and points.Their linemate, the 24-year-old Charlie Simmer, didn&rsquo;t set any records, but scored 21 goals and assisted on 27 for 48 points, fourth high on the team, in only 38 games.The six-foot-three, 195-pound Simmer and the six-foot, 185-pound Taylor provided the short, but sturdy Dionne powerful flanks.Taylor is the farthest thing from a goon, but as he soared to stardom a lot of goons chose to challenge him. He battled back and wound up third high on the team in penalty minutes with 124.Taylor&rsquo;s maturity was no surprise, but Simmer&rsquo;s was. The recall at midseason of the vastly underrated fifth-year pro solidified the first line and gave Dionne a solid line for the first time.Dionne, Goring, and Syl Apps, the team&rsquo;s three regular centers, were the only three players to play all 80 games. The once often-injured Goring, in fact, now has not missed a game since the first game of the season three seasons back and has played a team record 239 in a row and 667 in his career.Butch also lifted his lifetime team record totals to 255 goals, 336 assists, and 591 points.Although he missed 16 games with injuries, Goring&rsquo;s long-time linemate, right-wing Mike Murphy, finished fifth in team scoring with 16 goals, 29 assists, and 45 points, first season in four for Mike with less than 25 goals, 35 assists, and 60 points.The captain now becomes a free agent. He wants to come back. If he does not, it will hurt because he is a good all-around player. If he does, it assures the club a solid second line.Glenn Goldup, left-winger on the line, did not have a great season, seventh on the tea, with 15 goals, 22 assists, and 37 points, but when he hits the corners he is a capable player.The team does need to develop offensive depth. The only other forward to make meaningful contributions offensively was swift-skating left-winger Steve Jensen, who surprised with 23 goals and deserves assignment to a set line.Swifter-skating Murray Wilson who had injury and personal problems, missed 22 games, still had to be deemed disappointing with only 11 goals. Little-used wingers Tommy Williams and Danny Grant had 10 goals each in 44 and 35 games, respectively.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02374/3874989-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="592" height="926"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHARLIE SIMMER&hellip;He Was A Surprise</figcaption></div>Hard-hitting Bert Wilson, most penalized forward at 138 minutes, and hard-working Mark Heaslip had only nine and four goals.The skilled Apps, who only a few years ago used to score 25 to 30 goals every year, scored just seven. Perennial reserve Vic Venasky flung in four.Contributions from the defense corps were led by Randy Manery with eight goals and Rob Palmer with a rearguard team record 41 assists.Led by the Dionne line, the Kings were sixth in the league with a 23.9 percent power-play efficiency and had a team-record 76 power-play goals. &#9632;

f0020-01

Kings’Offense Looks Promising For Future

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div>DETROIT&mdash;Vaclav Nedomansky, the Red Wings&rsquo; leading goal (38) and point (73) scorer, is a free agent&mdash;no strings attached. The team which signs him is not obligated to compensate Detroit.To be sure, the Wings want him to stay.And Nedomansky?&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really glad to be here,&rdquo; Big Ned said after finishing a highly-productive National Hockey League season. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d prefer, if possible, to stay with the team.&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t really discussed it with my agent (Alan Eagleson). I&rsquo;ve talked to Ted (Lindsay). He sent a letter saying they&rsquo;d like to sign me. I hope there are no problems. I&rsquo;d like to stay, if the time (length of the contract) and money are right.&rdquo;Nedomansky, 35, a world class player from Czechoslovakia, was selected the Wings&rsquo; most valuable player this season by the Detroit chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers&rsquo; Association. Offensively, he was the club&rsquo;s most dangerous player and, Lindsay and coach Bobby Kromm insist, he could be even more productive.Nedomansky agrees.&ldquo;I think I could score more goals,&rdquo;Ned said. &ldquo;My first half of the season was slow. The second half was much better.&ldquo;I filled in with my friends here, on the ice and off. That is the main reason (for his success). If somebody&rsquo;s happy, it&rsquo;s easy to play well and do well.&ldquo;I am pleased with the goals, but I would be happier if we were reaching the playoffs, like last year. But I think we have shown that we are capable of playing with the best.&ldquo;The things that went wrong (during the season), I think we can find out what they were and be ready for next season.&rdquo;But only if free agents like Nedomansky and Reed Larson stay.Then there&rsquo;s the case of another veteran, defenseman Terry Harper.Harper, 39, is a veteran of 17 NHL seasons with Montreal, Los Angeles and Detroit. He experienced a bittersweet season. He was demoted to the minor leagues six weeks into the season. When the Red Wings hit the skids, he was summoned to steady a young, inexperienced and shaky defense. He did the job.But what now?&ldquo;This is the last year on my contract,&rdquo; Harper said. &ldquo;What am I going to do? That&rsquo;s a helluva good question.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know. I&rsquo;d like to play. I definitely think I can. I&rsquo;m not having any trouble.&ldquo;Nobody&rsquo;s said anything to me. Ted hasn&rsquo;t said anything much about it. Nobody&rsquo;s said much since I got back, really. My second choice, if they don&rsquo;t want me here, could be to go somewhere else and play. I think I still can.&rdquo;But with the Wings committed to a youth movement, Harper is vulnerable. No doubt he can still be an asset, however.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03301/3875027-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="534" height="672"><figcaption class="caption-body">VACLAV NEDOMANSKY&hellip;Wants To Stay</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0020-03

Wings’ Big Ned Now Free Agent

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01387/3875072-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="574" height="856"><figcaption class="caption-body">BORJE SALMING&hellip;Third Cup</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02296/3875065-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="570" height="1251"><figcaption class="caption-body">GLEN HANLON&hellip;Rookie Winner</figcaption></div>MONTREAL&mdash;Familiar patterns held forth across Canada when it came time for the winners of the Molson Cup competition in the cities of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.Guy Lafleur&mdash;to no one&rsquo;s surprise&mdash;won in Monteal for the fifth consecutive year; Borje Salming captured honors in Toronto, marking the sixth successive year that either he or Darryl Sittler has won in that city and in Vancouver, rookie Glen Hanlon, who was sidelined for the latter portion of the regular season, kept the silverware in the goaltending fraternity as has been the custom on the west coast.Lafleur, hailed as the National Hockey League&rsquo;s best player, pulled away from the field early by winning four of the five season segments. Each segment was worth $1,000 to the winner with a similar amount donated to a charity or sports organization of the player&rsquo;s choosing. Segment runner-up received $500, while overall winners received a replica of the Molson Cup.Five points were awarded to a player for his selection as one of the three stars in each contest. In case of ties, the player with the most first star ratings was given precedence.In Lafleur&rsquo;s case, there was never a need for a tie-breaker. He finished the contest with 125 points to outdistance Bob Gainey who earned runner-up status with 65 points. Bunny Larocque and Mario Tremblay were third in the overall points, each with 55.Pierre Mondou was the only player other than Lafleur to win a segment.Borje Salming put his name on the Toronto Molson Cup for the third time, matching captain Darryl Sittler&rsquo;s output, after waging a close battle with goaltender Mike Palmateer.A winner in the first year of the Toronto competition, 1973-74, Salming also won in 1976-77 before Sittler achieved his third set of honors a year ago.Salming held a 10-point lead over Palmateer and Lanny McDonald entering the fifth (March-April) segment, and edged Palmateer with 40 points to 35 in the final round of the competition, to win overall honors 110 to 95.Goaltenders have been the dominant performers on the Canucks&rsquo; Molson Cup scene and this year proved no exception as Glen Hanlon held off a fast-charging Thomas Gradin for top honors, 60 to 50 points.Last year, goalers Cesare Maniago and Curt Ridley finished in a tie for the overall championship, but Maniago was declared winner, for the second time, on the basis of more first star ratings.Vancouver captain Don Lever, who finished in a third place tie overall, along with Harold Snepsts and Gary Bromley, was the winner of the final segment with an impressive 25 points. Goaler Bromley and netminder Dunc Wilson, who was called in to replace Hanlon, were the runnerup each with 20 points, while Gradin collected 15 points to pull within 10 of Hanlon overall.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03248/3875058-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="1192" height="1202"><figcaption class="caption-body">GUY LAFLEUR&hellip;Added To His Collection</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

Few Surprises In Molson Cup Race

<div class="byline">BY TONY GALLAGHER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0023-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01363/3875103-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">RICK BLIGHT&hellip;Redeemed Himself In Stretch</figcaption></div>VANCOUVER&mdash;The Vancouver hockey fan stands in awe of the strategy employed by Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; general manager Keith Allen.It was his Flyers who edged out the Vancoucer Canucks in the first round playoffs the National Hockey League has employed for the last time. If one might recall, it was the Canucks obvious inability to do anything with their numerous power play opportunities that eventually finished them, or at least prevented them from filling in the Flyers in the pivotal second game.But Allen, a cagy fellow, obviously thought about this possibility earlier in the season. Knowing that the Canucks badly needed someone to play the point on their power play, he traded them Kevin McCarthy, whom he knew was injured and couldn&rsquo;t play. With McCarthy on the shelf, Flyers were able to take any penalties necessary to assure themselves victory in the second game at the Pacific Coliseum.Seriously, it is ironic that McCarthy was the very player who could have put the Canucks&rsquo; power play in order with his passing ability at the point, but because he was unable to play after coming west for Dennis Ververgaert, the Canucks were left with a different collection of players on their power play unit all season.Coach Harry Neale would also liked to have had first round draft choice Bill Derlago on the unit as well, but that is all sour grapes now.The power play was a distressing display all season, mainly because the team had so many injuries that Neale didn&rsquo;t know who was going to show up much less who was to be on in manadvantage situations.Even as late in the season as the playoffs, Neale, answering a radio reporter&rsquo;s question, said: &ldquo;Oh, I don&rsquo;t really know who is going to be on the power play, it depends on the game situation. I know 1&rsquo;11 put someone out there. I know the power play has not been what I would have liked all season. We just don&rsquo;t seem to be able to provide any threat from the point and unless they respect you from back there they (opposition teams) can make it awfully tough on you by bringing their box out.&rdquo;The Canucks made it tough on themselves all season, in that regard, They at no time during the year had a set unit. The only people one would be sure to see on the power play were Ron Sedlbauer and usually Stan Smyl, with whomever was walking playing the right point. That point, where McCarthy seems most comfortable, was a sore spot all season, and when Allen stiffed Canucks&rsquo; GM Jake Milford, it left a hole the team was hoping to fill.Milford is still waiting John Ziegler&rsquo;s non-decision on the case, though he is still happy with the trade that also saw right winger Drew Callander become Canucks property.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve asked that Philadelphia be responsible for Kevin&rsquo;s salary from the time of the trade,&rdquo; said Milford. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re still happy with the trade. There is no way we wanted to go back on it. But I think there should be some compensation.&rdquo;The pity of the situation was that Canucks actually killed penalties fairly well, having the third best percentage among teams in the league, with a host of players doing the work, mostly Don Lever and Jere Gillis.The man who played the right point on last year&rsquo;s power play and who ended up with 25 goals over the season in the process, Rick Blight, had a miserable year all around.He was hurt in training camp, asked to be traded during the season, and then finally returned to play some of the best hockey he&rsquo;s ever played in a Vancouver uniform in the playoffs even though he didn&rsquo;t score. The only problem was that during his trials and tribulations, he was unavailable for the right point.Canucks kept Blight on their Dallas list, and he had planned to go to the Texas town in an attempt to help the Black Hawks take the Central League championship. But x-rays taken just before he was to depart revealed a fracture in his hand, meaning he was through for the season. Still, with all the difficulties, Blight proved down the stretch with his efforts that he may well be a quality player in the future. &#9632;

f0023-01

Power Play Sore ‘Point’ In Canucks9 Battle Plan

LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaEDMONTON&mdash;It was a night for records as 11,102 fans watched Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association begin their trek toward what players and fans hope will be victory in the last Avco Cup playoff competition. The Oilers&rsquo; 6-2 triumph over New England Whalers left Edmonton in front of their opposition in the best-of-seven semi-final, but it did several other things, as well:&bull; &mdash; It put the Oilers ahead in a playoff series for the first time in their history;&bull; &mdash; It was the first time the Oilers opened a playoff series at home;&bull; &mdash; It provided partial revenge for New England&rsquo;s four-games-to-one elimination of the Oilers in last spring&rsquo;s playoff;&bull; &mdash; It game Edmonton a franchise total of only four victories against 16 losses.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01375/3875155-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="576" height="838"><figcaption class="caption-body">BLAIR MacDONALD&hellip;Fired Hat Trick</figcaption></div>The Oilers endured a 10-day layoff after wrapping up the regular-season title, then got off&mdash;as expected&mdash;to a slow start against New England. Veteran Gordie Howe opened the scoring late in the first period on a power play amid press box speculation, the Edmonton playoff jinx somehow would perpetuate itself.However, Blair MacDonald struck for three goals and Steve Carlson, Dennis Sobchuk and Stan Weir one each and the Oilers cruised home easily. Perhaps the most contented Oiler was veteran defenseman Al Hamilton, who joined the original franchise when the WHA was formed and has waited all these many years to play on a winner.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s great,&rdquo; said the enthusiastic Hamilton, once one of Canada&rsquo;s most brilliant junior prospects. &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t won anything here since junior (when the Hamilton-led Oil Kings defeated Oshawa Generals in the Memorial Cup final) but it has been worth waiting for.&rdquo;The system introduced by coach Glen Sather, which relies upon defensive steadiness to set the stage of offensive chances, fits perfectly with the capabilities of Hamilton. Paul Shmyr, Joe Micheletti and Risto Siltanan&mdash;all equally comfortable carrying the puck and defending their own end. Dave Langevin and John Hughes are basically defensive specialists, whose muscle makes them valuable against smaller teams such as the Whalers.The work of the defensemen and the generosity of goaltender Dave Dryden meant much to an Edmonton charity last week. The $4,000 won by Dryden as top WHA goaltender was given to Glenrose Hospital.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a team award.&rdquo; said Dryden. &ldquo;Everybody agreed to it.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04159/3875148-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="582" height="1018"><figcaption class="caption-body">DAVE DRYDEN&hellip;Passed Up Bonus</figcaption></div><h2>The WHA Scoreboard</h2>(Final Standings)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02295/3875141-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="616" height="270"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03208/3875134-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="612" height="1006"></div> &#9632;

f0024-01

Oilers Set Sights On Avco Cup After Jumping Whalers At Home

EDMONTON&mdash;Western hockey fans who have been clamoring for the National Hockey League for the past few years responded when the Edmonton Oilers put their first NHL season tickets on sale at the Coliseum.Within hours, nearly 14,000 season tickets for the Oilers entry into the NHL next season were gobbled up when the club put them on sale to the public.With a seating capacity of 15,232. the Oilers are retaining 1,200 tickets for sale on the day of games. The team had 7,000 season subscribers for WHA games and ran the figure to 14,000 when the Oilers were one of four WHA teams accepted into the NHL for the 1979-80 season. &#9632;

Oilers Sell Out Tickets

Winnipeg Jets had a number of standout players in their four-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques in the World Hockey Association playoffs, but none bigger than Willy Lindstrom, their speedy right winger from Grums, Sweden.As the Jets rolled up 30 goals in 6-3, 9-2, 9-5 and 6-2 triumphs, Lindstrom led the way with six goals and four assists. He scored at least one goal in each game and saved his biggest outburst for the final game of the series when he contributed two goals and two assists.With the score tied at 1-1 entering the second period. Lindstrom put the Jets in front for good with his fifth playoff goal just 37 seconds into the second period. He then assisted on the next two Jets&rsquo; goals and closed out the Winnipeg scoring with a third period goal. Lindstrom had 62 points during the regular season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-05124/3875210-1-eng-US/f0024-052.jpg" title="f0024-05" width="504" height="658"><figcaption class="caption-body">WILLY LINDSTROM&mdash;Winnipeg Jets</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0024-05

WHA’S—Player of the Week

<div class="byline">BY WAYNE WARRINER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01318/3875255-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARC TARDIF&hellip;Picking Up Momentum</figcaption></div>HARTFORD&mdash;The New England Whalers headed West for the start of the World Hockey gassociation&rsquo;s semi-finals in the Avco Trophy playoffs and while they needed three games to put out the lights for the pesky Cincinnati Stingers, there was optimism throughout the team that they could do it against the tough Edmonton Oilers&mdash;if they all played their game.Whaler coach Don Blackburn took advantage of the fact New England was destined for a fourth place finish behind Winnipeg Jets to rest some of his weary stars in the last week of the schedule.It appeared to pay off as the Whalers beat out the Stingers 2-1 in the best-of-three preliminary series and the rested skaters&mdash;Dave Keon, John McKenzie and Mark Howe&mdash;reciprocated in the Cincinnati series.Mark Howe scored twice with Keon&rsquo;s help in game one which the Whalers won 5-3 at home. Then McKenzie connected for one of the two goals in the deciding game which the Whalers captured 2-1. Blain Stoughton proved to be the enforcer as he stuck it to his old Cincinnati teammates by tallying the winning goal. In between the Stingers won 63 to prolong the series to three games.Blackburn was confident the Whalers would come up with a good team effort, which is what he figured they needed to turn back the Edmonton tide. The best-of-seven series began on Edmonton ice and was to swing back to Springfield for games three and four. The winner would win the right to advance to the Avco playoff finals for the championship against the survivor of the Winnipeg-Quebec series.Going down the stretch Blackburn juggled his lines and defense combinations while inserting in the lineup some of those who had not been getting much ice time. Stoughton, seeing duty for the first time in a number of games, wasted no time showing his appreciation. Before the game was a minute old he had ripped one by Quebec goalie Jim Corsi.Gordie Howe, who had been working himself back into shape after returning from injury, notched a power play goal. It was his 19th of the year and gave him the opportunity to go for the cherished number 20. Later in the game he had several good chances but Corsi repelled them all&mdash;and the legendary hockey hero fell short of the 20-goal mark for the first time since 1949.John Garrett was spectacular in the Whalers&rsquo; net holding the Nordiques to two goals to preserve the tie, until Ron Plumb took a nifty pass from Stoughton and whipped in the winner with less than two minutes remaining. The win extended the lop-sided edge New England held over Quebec in the season series and sent them home on a winning note to face Cincinnati in the playoff &lsquo;qualifying round.&rsquo;Stoughton&rsquo;s fine play in Quebec prompted Blackburn to keep him in the lineup. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a goal scorer and he has experience. In the playoffs you can use all the experience you can get,&rdquo; said Blackie. The move worked as Blaine was credited with one of the Whaler goals in the 5-3 victory.Forty-eight hours later, however, the Whalers went into their Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act again. For two periods they were horrendous and the Stingers took advantage, bursting to a 5-0 lead. Robbie Ftorek&rsquo;s hat trick and Jamie Hislop&rsquo;s four assists led the way for the Stingers.After a goal on a nice effort by Mike Rogers late in the second stanza, the Whalers seemed to wake up. Al Smith took over the netminding chores in the third period and made some sparkling saves while, at the end, the Whalers offense came alive to pressure Stinger goalie Mike Liut.Gordie Howe, who hadn&rsquo;t seen much ice time in the earlier periods, seemed to inspire his younger mates as he came up with a nice second-effort goal. After Mike Antonovich followed a few seconds later with a pretty move to beat Liut, the complexion of the game completely turned around. The Whalers stormed the Stingers zone rapping cross bar and post but finally Bill Gilligan put Cincy out of reach.The comeback, however, was most encouraging and the consensus was that it would lead to success in the upcoming semi-final series.QUEBEC: Real Cloutier led the WHA in its final season with a total of 129 points for the year. In the end, however, it was most disappointing for the 22-year told phenom. With Bobby Hull&rsquo;s record of 77 goals well within reach, and 80 goals in 80 games a distinct possibility, &lsquo;Buddy&rsquo; was sidelined with a back problem. He ended the season with 75 goals in 77 games. Toward the end he perhaps should have been sitting out, but he gave it a whirl before being forced to head for the dressing room.In the Nords&rsquo; final regular season game, the young right winger skated a full shift, once again trying to equal or better the record. Although assisting on a power play goal it was obvious that Cloutier was struggling. Fortunately, the Nords had a full week&rsquo;s rest before their opening playoff tilt against Winnipeg. The series shaped up as a good match&mdash;each team had won six games against the other and they had tied two.After starting the season rather slowly, captain marc Tardif piled up points in the latter stages of the campaign to end up with 41 goals and 55 assists in 74 games. Despite a lengthy battle with injuries center Serge Bernier ended with 82 points (in only 65 games). Centerman Rich Leduc aided the Nordiques&rsquo; attack after he came over from the Indianapolis Racers. He collected a total of 35 goals and 41 assists for a very respectable season. The goaltending tandem of Richard Brodeur and Jim Corsi, with an aggregate GAA of 3.28, was second only to Edmonton&rsquo;s Dave Dryden.BIRMINGHAM: Major league hockey has left Birmingham&mdash;at least temporarily. The good nucleus of fans who supported the Bulls will apparently be rewarded, however, with a minor league franchise. Of the two groups exploring the possibility of locating a Central League franchise in the city, one is certain to be successful. Another former WHA city (Cincinnati) apparently has a good chance of landing a franchise in the CHL too&mdash;so a rivalry can be continued.Bulls&rsquo; coach John Brophy made some rather poignant remarks following his team&rsquo;s final WHA game. Said Brophy, &ldquo;Those players are the best bunch of individuals I&rsquo;ve ever met&mdash;every one of them. They played their guts out for me and it&rsquo;s something 1&rsquo;11 never forget&hellip;&rdquo;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a sin this team cannot stay together. With the foundation of young talent and what we could add to it along the way, this team could be a dominating force in hockey within three years in any league. The foundation here is as good as the Montreal Canadiens, and I don&rsquo;t say that without a great deal of thought.&rdquo;&ldquo;It would be a pleasure to coach this team through the years. There are players here who will be superstars for 10 to 15 years in the National league, but having them for a year is an experience I&rsquo;ll never forget&hellip;&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02233/3875248-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="581" height="785"><figcaption class="caption-body">BLAINE STOUGHTON&hellip;Hot In Playoffs</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03159/3875241-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="585" height="694"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHN BROPHY&hellip;Praise For Bulls</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0025-01

Whalers Take Bite Out Of Stingers As Rested Stars Pick UP Offense

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04175/3875415-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="620" height="144"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03228/3875422-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="117" height="346"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>Quarter-Finals SERIES &lsquo;A&rsquo;</h2><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sat. Apr. 21Cincinnati 3 at New England 5Sun. Apr. 22New England 3 at Cincinnati 6Tue. Apr. 24Cincinnati 1 at New England 2<h2>Semi-Finals SERIES &lsquo;B&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05140/3875408-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="618" height="154"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Thu. Apr. 26New England 2 at Edmonton 6Fri. Apr. 27New England 5 at Edmonton 9Sun. Apr. 29Edmonton 1 at New England 4<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Edmonton at New EnglandThu. May. 3New England at EdmontonSat. May. 5Edmonton at New EnglandMon. May. 7New England at Edmonton<h2>SERIES &lsquo;C&rsquo;</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06110/3875401-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="606" height="152"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Mon. Apr. 23Winnipeg 6 at Quebec 3Wed. Apr. 25Winnipeg 9 at Quebec 2Fri. Apr. 27Quebec 5 at Winnipeg 9Sun. Apr. 29Quebec 2 at Winnipeg 6<h3>PLAYOFF SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0799/3875394-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="604" height="780"></div><h2>SERIES &lsquo;A&rsquo;</h2><h3>Sat. Apr. 21 CINCINNATI 3, NEW ENGLAND 5</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0889/3875387-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="616" height="684"></div><h3>Sun. Apr. 22 NEW ENGLAND 3, CINCINNATI 6</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-0983/3875380-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="603" height="731"></div><h3>Tue. Apr. 24 CINCINNATI 1, NEW ENGLAND 2</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1079/3875373-1-eng-US/f0026-102.jpg" title="f0026-10" width="618" height="554"></div><h2>SERIES &lsquo;B&rsquo;</h2><h3>Mon. Apr. 23 WINNIPEG 6, QUEBEC 3</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1175/3875366-1-eng-US/f0026-112.jpg" title="f0026-11" width="610" height="722"></div><h3>Wed. Apr. 25 WINNIPEG 9, QUEBEC 2</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1268/3875359-1-eng-US/f0026-122.jpg" title="f0026-12" width="616" height="826"></div><h3>Fri. Apr. 27 QUEBEC 5, WINNIPEG 9</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1367/3875352-1-eng-US/f0026-132.jpg" title="f0026-13" width="618" height="856"></div><h3>Sun. Apr. 29 QUEBEC 2, WINNIPEG 6</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1460/3875345-1-eng-US/f0026-142.jpg" title="f0026-14" width="618" height="662"></div><h2>SERIES &lsquo;C&rsquo;</h2><h3>Thu. Apr. 26 NEW ENGLAND 2, EDMONTON 6</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1554/3875338-1-eng-US/f0026-152.jpg" title="f0026-15" width="604" height="694"></div><h3>Fri. Apr. 27 NEW ENGLAND 4, EDMONTON 9</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1646/3875331-1-eng-US/f0026-162.jpg" title="f0026-16" width="606" height="820"></div><h3>Sun. Apr. 29 EDMONTON 1, NEW ENGLAND 4</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1742/3875324-1-eng-US/f0026-172.jpg" title="f0026-17" width="612" height="610"></div> &#9632;

f0026-04

AVCO TROPHY SCOREBOARD

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01326/3875293-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="565" height="510"><figcaption class="caption-body">STEVE WEST&hellip;Came Through</figcaption></div>WINNIPEG&mdash;The Quebec Nordiques, who were the scourge of World Hockey Association netminders all season long, folded their tents and capitulated to the WinnipegJets in the semi-final round of the Avco Trophy playdowns.The Jets, who were the WHA&rsquo;s second best offensive team this season with 307 goals, continued their assault into the playoffs and bombed the Nordiques 30-12 in a four-game sweep of their best-of-seven semi-final series.The demise of the Nordiques hadn&rsquo;t exactly been unexpected since the team was ravaged by injuries, but the onesidedness of their elimination had to raise a few eyebrows. The Nordiques were never in the series from the start.The Jets gave an indication of things to come early in the series when they won the first two games on Quebec ice while outclassing the Nordiques 6-3 and 9-2. The Easterners never recovered when the series swung west and went down to 9-5 and 6-2 losses. The Quebec defense and goaling, which had been one of the club&rsquo;s stronger points in the closing weeks of the schedule, literally collapsed before the Winnipeg onslaught.Oddly it wasn&rsquo;t the Jets&rsquo; super scorers who led the way in the 30-goal rout of the Nordiques. Such top scorers as Kent Nilsson and Morris Lukowich were not the most productive in the short series. It was the Willy Lindstroms, Rich Prestons and the Steve Wests who did the most damage in the abbreviated series.Lindstrom, only a 26-goal sniper over the regular 80-game schedule, scored six times. Preston, who hit for 28 during the year, had five goals, and West, who divided his time between the American League and the Jets, came up with two goals and three assists.Peter Sullivan and Lukowich each contributed four goals as the Jets mounted their hottest offense of the season. Even such scoring unknowns as Paul MacKinnon, Paul Terbenche, Roland Eriksson, Bobby Guindon, Glenn Hicks and Lyle Moffat got in on the act.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02268/3875286-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="570" height="826"><figcaption class="caption-body">RICH PRESTON&hellip;Five Series Goals</figcaption></div>The Nordiques were spent going into the playoffs. Their all-out drive down the home stretch to grab off second place ahead of Winnipeg, appeared to take its toll. Real Cloutier, their 75-goal scoring champion, was not effective after suffering a back injury in the final two weeks of the season. He was limited to two goals in the four games. Such veterans as J.C. Tremblay and Serge Bernier did not dress because of injuries.Quebec coach Jacques Demers tried desperately to rouse his players in the series and when both regular netminders, Richard Brodeur and Jim Corsi, failed to stem the Jets&rsquo; attack, he tossed seldom used Louis Levasseur into the breach. The move only backfired as the Jets won 9-5. It was that kind of a series for the Nordiques. They weren&rsquo;t a healthy hockey club and the Jets&rsquo; super conditioning was too much for them.Winnipeg coach Tommy McVie credited the team&rsquo;s conditioning program, which featured stops and starts, as the overriding factor in the series. &ldquo;They had nothing left and we were as strong at the finish as we were at the start of the series,&rdquo; said McVie.The only bright spot on the Nordiques was the spectacular six-goal scoring performance turned in by veteran Marc Tardif. But Tardif received little help from his teammates and the four-game sweep became inevitable as the series went on.The victory pushed the Jets into the Avco Trophy final against the survivor of the Edmonton-New England series. The Oilers won the first two games of the round at home but dropped the third in Springfield. &#9632;

f0026-01

Jets Surprise Of WHA Playoffs Sweeping Nordiques From Scene

CINCINNATI&mdash;The Cincinnati Stingers&rsquo; existence in the World Hockey Association ended at 9:55 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24.For it was precisely at that moment that the game between the Stingers and New England Whalers ended in Springfield, Mass., with the Whalers winning, 2-1, capturing the best of three quarter-final series, advancing to the semi-finals of the WHA playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers and ending the four year existence of the Stingers in the WHA.The Cincinnati dressing room was quiet after the game. Stinger players sat on benches, some still in uniform, minutes after the game had ended. Some of the players had red eyes and others wiped away tears.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very empty feeling,&rdquo; said Stingers&rsquo; right winger Jamie Hislop, who scored Cincinnati&rsquo;s lone goal and who had been the Stingers&rsquo; top scorer in the three games with two goals and four assists.&ldquo;But we have nothing to be ashamed of. It was a super game&hellip;a total effort by both teams. We just didn&rsquo;t get the goals.&rdquo;Hislop, who had played on the Stingers&rsquo; first playoff team against Indianapolis two years ago, said the most difficult part of losing was &ldquo;saying goodbye to all the guys. This team is the closest I&rsquo;ve ever played on.&rdquo;Stingers&rsquo; coach Floyd Smith was calm.&ldquo;We gave it our best shot,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It just wasn&rsquo;t quite enough. I&rsquo;m sorry to see things end after all the effort.&rdquo;Smith, himself a veteran of numerous playoffs as a coach and player, especially praised the team&rsquo;s defense.&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t blame the defense,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We held them (the Whalers) to two goals in their building. We had the chances but we just couldn&rsquo;t get the goals.&ldquo;I thought both goaltenders played excellent hockey, stopping shots and clearing the puck.&rdquo;Cincinnati had scored first as it had in each game of the series, taking a 1-0 lead at 5:16 of the first period when Hislop scored a power play goal. It was his second goal of the series and sixth point.However, the Whalers, never absent from the WHA playoffs in their seven-year history, knotted the score four minutes and 10 seconds later when John McKenzie deflected in a Gordie Howe shot on the power play and the period ended 1-1.Cincinnati outshot New England, 107, in the period and played a tough, close-checking game. The Stingers got another power play opportunity late in the period but could not convert as Whaler goalie Al Smith made some fine saves.The second period was a standoff with both teams testing the goalies and skating end to end but with 17 seconds left on the clock, the Whalers were to take the lead for good.Defenseman Gordie Roberts carried the puck past defenseman Bryan Watson, who slipped and fell. Roberts sped into the Cincinnati zone, held the puck and then fed winger Blaine Stoughton, himself a former Stinger, and he ripped a shot past Liut for a 2-1 lead.Cincinnati came out hard in the third period but again failed to score. Bill Gilligan was all along in front of Smith but could not control the puck.Late in the period, Peter Marsh rifled a shot that deflected off Byron Shutt&rsquo;s skate but the puck hit the post. With less than a minute to go, Liut was pulled for a sixth attacker but the Stingers were frustrated and could not find the net.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01306/3875460-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="905" height="1286"><figcaption class="caption-body">ROBBIE FTOREK&hellip;523 Career Points</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02242/3875453-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="879" height="1284"><figcaption class="caption-body">JAMIE HISLOP&hellip;Hot Man In Playoffs</figcaption></div>Ironically, Cincinnati&rsquo;s Liut and New England&rsquo;s Smith both stopped 32 shots, although the Whalers held a 34-33 edge in shots.&ldquo;It was a great game,&rdquo; said Liut. &ldquo;What can you say? We played the best we could. We certainly aren&rsquo;t disgraced.&rdquo;The Cincinnati goaltender, who had set a Stinger record for most wins by a goalie, 23, said he was still stunned and &ldquo;probably won&rsquo;t really know how I feel for a couple of days. Maybe there&rsquo;s a little relief that it&rsquo;s over. We played three tough games.&rdquo;Smith said the game developed as he had expected.&ldquo;We figured on a close game,&rdquo; said the veteran coach, who might coach in the National Hockey League next year. &ldquo;We had hoped to get in front early but we just couldn&rsquo;t get another goal. The Whalers&rsquo; experience showed because they didn&rsquo;t let down and didn&rsquo;t get rattled.&rdquo;New England coach Don Blackburn had special praise for Smith.&ldquo;My hat&rsquo;s off to Floyd Smith,&rdquo; said Blackburn. &ldquo;He took a team with a lack of experience and battled all the way. The Stingers didn&rsquo;t fall apart and made very few mistakes on the ice. That&rsquo;s a direct reflection on the coach.&rdquo;The Whalers&rsquo; victory was just two days after Cincinnati had knotted the series at one game apiece, taking a 6-3 win behind a record-tying performance by Jamie Hislop.Hislop, who had his best year with 70 points, tied two WHA playoff records in the Stingers&rsquo; first win in WHA playoff competition.We had three assists in the first period, when Cincinnati took a 3-0 lead, tying the record for most assists in a single period in a playoff game. One of the three others with whom he shares the record is linemate Robbie Ftorek.Hislop also tied the record for the most assists in a game, four, a record he now shares with 16 others.The crowd for the game April 22 at Riverfront Coliseum was small, 5,131, but what it lacked in size it compensated in enthusiasm and noise.When the Stingers appeared on the ice for the National Anthem, the team was greeted with a rousing, standing ovation, prompting captain Robbie Ftorek to remark later that &ldquo;it really gave me goosebumps. I think the crowd accounted for a couple of goals.&rdquo;Cincinnati had little trouble in disposing of New England in the second game, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. However, the Whalers made it close, whittling the lead to 5-3 late in the game. But, Dave Forges fed Bill Gilligan with a beautiful pass at 17:47 and he sent it home to dispell any doubts as to who would win the game.That second playoff game, which snapped a Cincinnati string of five consecutive playoff losses, including four straight to Indianapolis in 1977, would be the last WHA game played at Riverfront Coliseum but Cincinnati Stinger fans were treated to a victory at home, something they would long remember.Meanwhile, Stinger executives were pursuing getting a Minor league franchise for the Coliseum and all indications point toward the Central Hockey League. A decision is expected soon.BEE-LINE: Robbie Ftorek ended his WHA career as the sixth leading scorer in league history with 523 points. His 116 points marked the second year he was over 100 points as a Stinger, which is a team record&hellip;Reggie Thomas&rsquo; 71 points, on 32 goals and 39 assists, was a career high, as was Hislop&rsquo;s 70 points, on 30 goals and 40 assists&hellip;Mike Gartner&rsquo;s 52 points tied the Stinger record for most points in a rookie season&hellip;Peter Marsh&rsquo;s 23 power play goals led the league&hellip;The Stingers&rsquo; 81 power play goals also led the league. &#9632;

f0027-01

Playoff Ouster ‘Empty Feeling’ In Finale

(Final Standings)<h2>GROUP A</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02212/3875550-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="599" height="138"></div><h2>GROUP B</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03157/3875543-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="605" height="116"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sat. April 14Czechoslovakia 5, Finland 0Canada 6, United States 3Sweden 7, West Germany 3Soviets 7, Poland 0Sun. April 15United States 1, Finland 1Soviets 3, West Germany 2Sweden 6, Poland 5Czechoslovakia 4, Canada 1Tue. April 17Canada 5, Finland 4West Germany 3, Poland 3Czechoslovakia 2, United States 2Soviets 9, Sweden 3Tue. Apr. 17Canada 5, Finland 4Czechoslovakia 2, United States 2Soviet Union 9, Sweden 3West Germany 3, Poland 2Wed. Apr. 18United States 5, Poland 5Finland 5, West Germany 2Thu. Apr. 19Soviet Union 5, Canada 2Sweden 3, Czechoslovakia 3Fri. Apr. 20West Germany 6, United States 3Finland 4, Poland 3Sat. Apr. 21Sweden 5, Canada 2Soviet Union 11, Czechoslovakia 1Sun. Apr. 22United States 6, Finland 2West Germany 8, Poland 1Mon. Apr. 23Czechoslovakia 10, Canada 6Soviet Union 11, Sweden 3Tue. Apr. 24United States 5, Poland 1Finland 7, West Germany 3Wed. Apr. 25Czechoslovakia 6, Sweden 3Soviet Union 9, Canada 2Thu. Apr. 26Finland 4, Poland 2West Germany 5, United States 2Fri. Apr. 27Canada 6, Sweden 3Soviet Union 6, Czechoslovakia 1<h3>Mon. Apr. 23 CZECHS 10, CANADA 6</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04125/3875536-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="625" height="687"></div><h3>Wed. Apr. 25 SOVIETS 9, CANADA 2</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05107/3875529-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="608" height="607"></div><h3>Fri. Apr. 28 CANADA 6, SWEDEN 3</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0690/3875522-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="602" height="525"></div> &#9632;

f0028-02

World Cup Scoreboard

MOSCOW&mdash;It someone had even suggested a National Hockey League referee would get to officiate a game in a Moscow rink during the World Cup championships, they would have probably been banished to Siberia.But it actually happened this year and the precedent setter was referee Gregg Madill who was assigned to handle the Soviet Union-Czechoslovakian game.The appearance by the Canadian, a member of the National Hockey League&rsquo;s staff, was the first time in world championship history that a match in the Group A medal race has been officiated by a professional North American referee.His presence signalled a breakthrough in the officiating of top matches by a referee from one of the countries in the final playoffs.It was also a win for the Canadians who have for many years insisted that referees from countries not playing for a medal were unable to cope with the play of the top teams.The innovation did not please the Czechs, however. Madill twice put two of their players in the penalty box at the same time in the first period and the Soviet Union scored twice during the game with the manpower advantage.The Soviets ended up winning the game by an overwhelming 11-1 score.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-0780/3875581-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="530" height="693"><figcaption class="caption-body">GREGG MADILL&hellip;Set Precedent</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0028-07

Madill First Referee From NHL In Cup Play

MOSCOW&mdash;Few people get their blood pressure up when the expected happens. Take the 1979 World Cup championships for example. Everyone knew the Soviet Union would run away and hide on the rest of the teams and they did exactly that.But not everyone was convinced that Canda couldn&rsquo;t bring home at least a bronze medal&mdash;third place&mdash;in the eight-country tournament. But the Canadians were unexpectedly below par in the event and ended up in last place well out of the medal picture.For the record, the Soviets swept through with the first undefeated performance in four years at the world tournament as they devoured the Czechoslovakian National team 6-1 for their sixth straight win in the Group A category. Canada ended 1-5 and looked pretty inept doing it.The Canadiens salvaged a victory on the final day of the competition when they did what they do best&mdash;using the body&mdash;to overpower Sweden 6-3 with Minnesota North Stars&rsquo; brilliant rookie Bob Smith contributing two goals to down the Swedes.None of the other four world hockey powers even gave the Soviets a scare in the two-week long action. The Soviets wound up with the most goals scored, 51, the least against, 12. They licked the Czechs 11-1, the Swedes 11-3 and Canada 9-2 to put the frosting on the cake in the last week.Czechoslovakia ended second to take the silver with a 3-2-1 record. Sweden was third with a 1-4-1 mark to win the bronze and Canada trailed. One additional win would have assured the NHLers a medal but it wasn&rsquo;t to be and they went home empty handed.Finland headed the Group B competition with a 4-1-1 mark followed by West Germany, which was 3-2-1, and the United States finished third with a 2-2-2 record. Poland did not win a game in six starts and was dropped from the Championship round for 1980.The Soviets won the title before 12,000 at Luzkniki Stadium clinching their second straight world cup.The Canadians scored only 20 times in the six games compared to 51 by the Soviets. Minnesota&rsquo;s Bob Smith was one of the team&rsquo;s bright lights and along with his North Star teammates, Steve Payne and Gary MacAdam, carried Team Canada&rsquo;s offense. Smith led the Canadians with five goals and shared the team points lead with MacAdam, both with eight.Still the performance in the Moscow tournament had an obvious disappointing effect on some of the Canadians, notably MacAdam.&ldquo;I think under the circumstances we played the best we could,&rdquo; he said in the dressing room. &ldquo;But going back home this year will be a lot better than the first time 1 was in Europe.He was referring to the 1977 championships in Vienna when a few ugly incidents earned the Canadians the nickname Team Ugly.MacAdam admitted it might be negative thinking, but he felt from the outset that Team Canada&rsquo;s chances of beating the Soviet Union were slim.&ldquo;I felt we would never beat the Russians here,&rdquo; said MacAdam. &ldquo;But I did feel we&rsquo;d have a chance with the Czechs and I just knew we could take the Swedes.&rdquo;Team Canada played with only 19 players dressed for the final tournament game. Guy Charron was knocked out two games from the end when he reinjured a left knee that has been bothering him since a similar injury took him out of the 1977 Vienna championships.Defensive teammates Brad Maxwell and Greg Smith, both from the Minnesota North Stars, were unable to play. Maxwell was out with a recurring shoulder injury and Smith with knee problems.One member of Canada&rsquo;s team thinks he has a solution for future appearances and possible success in the world tournament.Marcel Dionne, the Los Angeles Kings&rsquo; 50-goal scorer this season, was another obviously dejected member of the vanquished Canadian team. He has some definite ideas how Canada should go about future world tournaments.Dionne&rsquo;s plan is to form a Team Canada each September from young players out of junior hockey who would be under contract to NHL clubs but would be committed to the national team for the whole season.There would be permanent qualified coaches, a training camp of their own, exhibition games in the NHL and Europe, and participation in all major international tournaments leading up to the world championships.&ldquo;And here&rsquo;s what the playoff would be,&rdquo; Dionne says. &ldquo;Those kids would be a helluva a lot better after a season like that then if they&rsquo;d spent a year in the minors or even the NHL. They would develop basic skills the NHL just doesn&rsquo;t provide now. And at the same time, Canada would have a team that would be a real contender for the world title. You could always add reinforcements when you needed them.&rdquo;Dionne terms the decline of basic skills in the NHL a crime. &ldquo;There are kids here&mdash;I wouldn&rsquo;t name them,&rdquo; he said in Moscow, &ldquo;Who don&rsquo;t even shoot the puck property. There are defensemen who can&rsquo;t execute a simple turn to wheel back into the corner. It&rsquo;s not their fault. They&rsquo;ve never been taught. I&rsquo;ve been in the NHL eight years and when I go up against the Russians and Czechs, I realize there are things I&rsquo;ve never learned.&rdquo;The Kings&rsquo; scoring ace puts a large part of the blame on the fact that people connected with the NHL are &ldquo;so damned conceited. We still can&rsquo;t get over the belief that we&rsquo;re the best in hockey, that we&rsquo;re up here and everybody else is away down there. Well, we aren&rsquo;t, dammit. And we&rsquo;ve got to do something about it before we&rsquo;re out of the picture completely.&rdquo;Dionne says the good part about the whole thing is that it would help Canada internationally and also improve the product on the home front.&ldquo;You see,&rdquo; he added, perhaps a little naively, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m taking it for granted the NHL does want to put on a better show and that goon hockey is going out of style at last.&rdquo;Of the youngsters who made up Team Canada this year, Dionne said: &ldquo;I guarantee you every one of these kids will be a much better player because of his experience over here. So just think of the benefits for a rookie who could have a whole season of international competition.&rdquo;None of this would be necessary, he noted, &ldquo;if there was decent coaching in junior hockey back home. But from what I&rsquo;ve seen, there can&rsquo;t be many junior coaches who are teaching their players what they need to know.&rdquo;Finally, a challenge. &ldquo;I think management in the NHL generally is very bad,&rdquo; Dionne said. &ldquo;But if they can&rsquo;t see the merit of what I&rsquo;m suggesting, then they&rsquo;re even worse than I suspected.&rdquo;Dionne feels the rest is up to the NHL, Alan Eagleson and the rest of the Team Canada officials who are responsible for sending teams to Europe each year with the same obvious result.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01291/3875491-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="575" height="422"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOB SMITH&hellip;Two-Goal Windup</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0028-01

Unbeaten Soviets Still No.1 In World Hockey

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div>TORONTO&mdash;For the second consecutive year, the Toronto Maple Leafs&rsquo; season ended with a four-game elimination by Montreal Canadiens.This season, though, there was a difference. The ouster came in the quarterfinals, not in the semis as a year ago. The Leafs did manage to push Canadiens a little, extending them to overtime in games three and four in Toronto. And in both matches the winning goal left a slightly off taste in Leafian mouths.In game three, a superbly played, exciting match, the clubs went into the second overtime period before Canadiens&rsquo; Cam Connor ended the match on a fluke goal. Connor, seldom used during the game, lost control of the puck in front of the Leaf net and it slid under goalie Mike Palmateer.The Canadiens led game four, 4-0, at one point, then in a gutsy comeback the Leafs rallied to tie the score and force overtime. When Leafs&rsquo; Tiger Williams earned a penalty, one that the Leafs figured was ridiculously cheap, for high-sticking Larry Robinson, it was Robinson who produced the winner.Williams stormed out of the penalty box and tried to get at referee Bob Myers. He was tackled by teammate Dan Maloney and Robinson even helped restrain Williams.Thus, an unsatisfactory season ended unsatisfactorily for the Leafs, who finished only one game above .500 over the 80-game schedule. They did manage to sweep Atlanta Flames impressively in the preliminary round but they failed to duplicate their 1978 feat&mdash;an upset of New York Islanders in the quarter-final.Immediately, the speculation started in Toronto about the future of coach Roger Neilson and what changes Leaf president Harold Ballard planned for the team&rsquo;s front office.Ballard said he planned to take two or three weeks to evaluate and assess the season&rsquo;s performance before making and decisions. However, all indications were that the Leafs would not offer Neilson a new contract when his two-year deal expires June 1.After all, Ballard did fire Neilson in that two-day March farce, then rehired him when no replacement could be found. The Leaf owner has knocked his coach in public this season, especially Neilson&rsquo;s widely publicized devotion to videotape analysis of his team&rsquo;s work and his workouts, which feature more drills than scrimmages.That hardly creates the expectation that Ballard will give Neilson a vote of confidence or a new contract.Neilson said that he would like to return to the Leaf post.&ldquo;I want to continue coaching in the NHL and I&rsquo;d like to stay with the Leafs,&rdquo; Neilson said. &ldquo;I like the character of the players we have and think this can be a winning team.&rdquo;Neilson, who tried to construct a tight-checking defensive team, feels the Leafs have the young players who can give the club sufficient attack to be a contender.Rocky Saganiuk, John Anderson and Paul Gardner can all be good scorers for us,&rdquo; Neilson said.. &ldquo;We improved defensively this season (fourth-best in the NHL) and if we can add a little bit to our attack, we&rsquo;ll have a good balance.&rdquo;Rumbles persist in Toronto that Punch Imlach, the Leaf general manager-coach in the 1960s when the club won four Cups, will be rejoining the team in a newly created post&mdash;director of hockey operations.Ballard didn&rsquo;t deny or confirm the rumors.There&rsquo;s also been speculation about the future of general manager Jim Gregory. But it appears that Gregory will continue in that post even if Imlach is hired. They worked together in the Leaf organization during Imlach&rsquo;s previous employment there.LEAF NOTES: Two operations were required to repair the damage to the arm of Leaf goalie Mike Palmateer in the third game of the series against the Canadiens. In overtime in that game, he sprawled to make a save on Canadiens&rsquo; Mark Napier and Napier&rsquo;s skate severely bruised the forearm. The buildup of blood in the muscle &ldquo;envelope&rdquo; threatened to cause permanent damage to the muscle and the surgery was required first to relieve the pressure and then to sew up the cut&hellip;The price will be high when Leafs try to sign their two best players this season&mdash;Palmateer and defenseman Borje Salming&mdash;to new contracts, Salming, who made $170,000 this season, will be asking for close to $300,000 per term. Palmateer, who earned $75,000, wants $200,000.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01251/3875612-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="503" height="527"><figcaption class="caption-body">DAVE WILLIAMS&hellip;Physically Restrained</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0029-01

Neilson Certain He Wants To Stay

<div class="byline">BY JIM LEAHY</div>LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaNEW HAVEN&mdash;It now appears that class will prevail in the American Hockey League&rsquo;s 197879 Calder Cup championship playoffs.The two teams picked from the outset to be there to decide the cup&mdash;Maine Mariners and New Haven Nighthawks&mdash;are expected to lock horns for the league&rsquo;s playoff title.New Haven assured itself of a spot in the Calder Cup finals by disposing of Binghamton Dusters 4-1 in their best-of-seven Southern Division final series. The Mariners, who were the class of the Northern Division, had the Nova Scotia Voyageurs over a barrell with a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven divisions final with two of the next three games&mdash;should the series go all the way&mdash;on Maine&rsquo;s home ice.Even if they didn&rsquo;t make it against the strong Mariners, the Voyageurs were giving it the old college try in their set-to with the Mariners.Despite finishing the regular season in third place in the North with a mediocre 39-37-4 record, the Vees had been expected to give the second place New Brunswick Hawks a run for their money in the first round of the playoffs. New Brunswick was a slight favorite, on the strength of their home ice advantage and superior goaltending. During the regular season series, Nova Scotia had a slight edge, posting an 8-7-1 record against the Hawks. The Voyageurs didn&rsquo;t disappoint.The exciting playoff round went right down to the last game in Moncton where the Vees skated to a 4-2 win and eliminated the Hawks in their own backyard. Prior to the Voyageur win in New Brunswick, it had strictly been a home ice battle. The Hawks won 5-4 in the opening game at Moncton but Nova Scotia came back in Halifax to win by the same score in the Metro Center. Two nights later back up in Moncton, the Hawks posted another one-goal victory, this time by a 4-3 margin.Needing only one more win to clinch the best of five series, the Hawks skated onto the Metro Center ice in Halifax looking for the wrap-up, instead they were blasted 7-1. Just 48 hours later, Nova Scotia ended the first season of AHL action in New Brunswick with a brilliant 4-2 victory.Round two of the Northern Division playoff series had Nova Scotia against Maine. The Vees faced an uphill fight against the Mariners, having won only four of the 12 regular season contests with the Mariners.BINGHAMTON: How can a team that lost it&rsquo;s best players, not have the home ice advantage and play against a very physical team have a chance to win? The Hershey Bears are asking themselves all of these questionas as they headed home for the summer.Hershey finished the regular campaign like a contending hockey team and ended up in second place, some nine points ahead of the Dusters. They had the home ice advantage, are one of the roughest teams in the AHL and lost few of their starters to the NHL prior to the start of the playoffs. Not only did the Bears look awesome on paper, but they had lost only once in 11 regular season games played between the two clubs.The Bears opened the playoffs with a 4-3 win at the Sports Arena, but dropped three in a row to the Dusters and were bounced from post-season play. Duster goaltender Ken Holland was brilliant in the nets, allowing just eight goals in the four games. Rob Garner and Richard Grenier were the Duster scoring leaders, with Grenier&rsquo;s hat trick in the final fame was enough to send the Bears home for good.Binghamton met New Haven in the Southern Division championship round. Game one in New Haven turned out to be a victory for the Nighthawks as they cruised to a 4-2 win. Duster center Norm Dube had both of the Binghamton goals. The series moved to Binghamton for game two and this time the Dusters came up with a victory. First period goals by Mike Marson, Grenier and Fred Ahern coupled with some inspired defensive work by the Duster forwards, gave the home club a 3-2 win. Due to the unavailability of ice in New Haven, game two was played in Binghamton despite the protest of Nighthawk GM&mdash;coach Parker MacDonald. Normally, the first two games are played on the home ice of the divisional champion. But the Hawks were too good the rest of the way and won the series in six games one a 15-1 pounding of the Dusters.NEW BRUNSWICK: Their first season in the league abruptly came to an end the night of Apr. 19. Right on their home ice, the Moncton Coliseum, archrival Nova Scotia took game five of the quarter-final Calder Cup series. For the New Brunswick Hawks, who had a great first year in the AHL, their season had come to an end.The Hawks lost several of their best players during the season due to NHL callups, but for a short time, the Hawks actually led the tough Northern Division. They ended up in second place, some 22 points in back of Maine. Their record of 41-29-10 was third best in the league.After scrappy Rocky Saganiuk was called up to Toronto, Kirk Bowman took over the team scoring lead. Bowman finished the season with 82 points in 80 games, the third best mark in the AHL. Saganiuk tied Maine&rsquo;s Wayne Schaab for the most game winning goals. Each had seven during the regular season.SYRACUSE: The AHL board of governors gave their formal approval to the transfer of the Philadelphia Firebirds to Syracuse for the 1979-80 campaign. The new Syracuse Firebirds will be the fourth AHL team to operate in their upstate New York city. In 193640 the Stars were in town, the Warriors skated between 1951-54 and the Eagles spent the 1974-75 season in Syracuse.HERSHEY: The season is all over in Hershey. No, it wasn&rsquo;t the radiation that sunk the Bears, it was a hot Binghamton Duster team. After winning the opening game of the series 4-3 in Hershey, the Bears proceeded to lose three in a row and were eliminated from Calder Cup contention.There is always next year to look forward to. Bear fans will see one big change next season, the Buffalo Sabres have pulled out and the Washington Capitals will supply all of the Bears next year. Dual sponsorships have seldom worked in the AHL and the loss of Buffalo may be the best thing that has happened to the club in recent years.NEW HAVEN: AHL president lifted his suspension of Parker MacDonald but fined the Nighthawk mentor $750 for his part in a scuffle with a linesman in Hershey. MacDonald not only has to worry about the lossof his money, but he is even more concerned about the loss of center Bobby Sheehan who was called up by the parent NY Rangers. Several weeks earlier the Rangers had taken Don Maloney, who is now tearing up the NHL.The Nighthawks got back into action against Binghamton in a best-of-seven affair and won out in six games. Power play goals by Mike McDougal and Tim Bothwell, coupled with solo tallies by Bud Stefanski and Jeff McDill gave New Haven a 4-2 win in the first game. Binghamton came back to win game two on their home ice by a 3-2 margin, then the roof fell in. The Hawks won games three, four and six.All Nighthawk playoff games will be carried on the first ever &ldquo;Nighthawk Hockey Network&rdquo; Radio stations WNHC in New Haven, WQQW in Waterbury and WNAB in Bridgeport will carry the action.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01287/3875643-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="574" height="742"><figcaption class="caption-body">KIRK BOWMAN</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0030-01

Maine-New Haven Final Likelihood For AHL’s Calder Cup ‘Showdown’

<div class="byline">&#x2014;LEAHY</div>PORTLAND&mdash;The parent Philadelphia Flyers must have used a crystal ball when they purchased an AHL franchise and placed their team in Portland, Maine. What had been the exclusive territory of Boston Bruin fans was being invaded by the sometimes&mdash;hated Philadelphia Flyers. Could this bold experiment work? You bet it did.In their first season the Maine Mariners won the Northern Division title and skated away with the Calder Cup. No team in the history of the league had done that in their rookie season. This year the Mariners may be well on their way towards publicating that amazing feat. They won the Northern Division again and led the AHL in attendance, attracting 207,184 to their beautiful Cumberland County Civic Center.Their exciting style of play, excellent promotions and a winning hockey team lured the hockey fans away from the Bruins on TV and the lobsters that are so abundant in the area. It&rsquo;s quite a trick to pry the local fans out on a cold winter&rsquo;s night, but the Mariners had a record of 28-6-6 on their home ice which had a lot to do with the fan support they received. &#9632;

Mariners Still No.1 Drawing 207,184 Fans

<div class="byline">BY PATRICK LYON</div>ERIE&mdash;Just when it appeared the Hampton Aces were ready to put in their order for champagne to celebrate as the North Eastern Hockey League&rsquo;s first champions, the Erie Blades demonstrated why they were the class of the regular season with a dramatic comeback that was utterly sensational.It isn&rsquo;t often a team can fall behind 31 in a championship series and roar back to win three straight. Well Nick Polano&rsquo;s Blades did it and as the result they are the first holders of the John Mitchell Cup as NEHL titleholders. For Polano, it capped a brilliant season in which he directed Erie to both league and playoff championships&mdash;a feat every hockey coach strives to achieve but often falls short.After splitting the first two games in Erie, the Aces went back to the Hampton Coliseum full of confidence and came away with two narrow wins that put them into a seemingly safe 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series,But the Blades had different ideas of how the series was going to end and went out and did something about it. They started their comeback at home winning 4-1. Then they followed up with the game they felt was the turning point of the series&mdash;the crucial sixth game. The Blades went into Hampton and upset the Aces 5-3 to force the showdown seventh game on Erie ice.The Blades have been a prolific home ice team this season at the Erie County Fieldhouse under Polano and they didn&rsquo;t disappoint as they proceeded to capture the deciding game 4-3 on a pair of goals by Brad Rhiness, the NEHL regular season scoring champion, and the game winner by defenseman-forward Val James, his second of the series.Looking back on the series:Friday the 13th proved unlucky for the Blades in game three with the Aces holding off their foes for a 4-3 win. Hampton dominated first period play and the Blades couldn&rsquo;t bounce back from a three goal barrage in the first 7:36 of the game. 24 seconds into the fray, John Sheriday connected on a deflection past goaltender Carey Walker and at 2:15 Brian Coates ripped a slap shot into the nets for a 2-0 lead. Erie let a golden opportunity go by when they couldn&rsquo;t take advantage on a power play on Greg McPhee&rsquo;s penalty, but Hampton did take advantage, high scoring Coates doing the honors on a shorthanded tally.As much as Hampton controlled things in the opening season, the Blades had things their way in the second period, winger Paul Sheard getting the rally going with a goal at 1:23. Erie&rsquo;s leading scorer in the playoffs, Dennis Abgrall, knocked home a rebound on a power play which got the Blades closer, but the Aces managed to hang on for the win Lome Rombough&rsquo;s third period breakaway goal proving to be the difference.Aces&rsquo; goaltender Jim Bales, who had been extra sharp in all of his playoff appearances, was locked in an extraordinary duel with counterpart Walker in game four with Bales and the Aces eventually coming out on top 2-0. Bales, shutout was the first ever in an NEHL playoff game.It was another strong showing for Erie despite the setback and their hard luck could be evidenced as they outshot the Aces 12-2 in the third period, both of the Aces shots on goal going for scores, the second into an empty net.Dave Hynek broke a 0-0 tie that went to the 12:21 mark of the third period before he stole the puck in the neutral zone and lashed a 30-footer over Walker&rsquo;s shoulder. Coates picked up the games final goal as the last seconds ticked off the clock with Walker on the bench in place of the extra attacker.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01263/3875719-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="578" height="554"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRAD RHINESS&hellip;Hot In Playoffs</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02211/3875712-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="416" height="559"><figcaption class="caption-body">VAL JAMES&hellip;Bagged Series Winner</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03168/3875705-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="392" height="562"><figcaption class="caption-body">PIERRE LAGACE&hellip;Last Minute Help</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-04131/3875698-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="569" height="554"><figcaption class="caption-body">NICK POLANO&hellip;Completed Sweep</figcaption></div>Erie winger Paul Mancini suffered a cut over his eye when he was accidently struck by Hynek&rsquo;s stick and the Blades had a power play for over three minutes late in the game, but couldn&rsquo;t gain the tie. Walker was at his best with 27 saves, but Bales was just a little bit better as Erie couldn&rsquo;t penetrate his fortress with 35 attempts.With their backs to the wall Erie rallied with a pair of supurb efforts that evened the series. Playing with only 14 players due to injuries, the Blades got a lift when the Quebec Nordiques of the World Hockey Association returned center Pierre Lagace to the club.Playing before a crowd of close to 4,000 the Blades dominated from start to finish in their 4-1 victory including a wide 42-16 advantage in the shots on goal department. Erie stymied the Hampton attack with a strong checking game and solid defense from Daniel Poulin, Floyd Lahache. Dick Layo and Dave Dornseif. So good was the. Blades&rsquo; play in their own zone that they held the Aces to just six shots in the first two periods.With his usual strong showing, Sheard assisted Mancini on Erie&rsquo;s initial score, but the Aces stormed right back with the talented line of Jim Misener-Coates and Billows doing the work. Coming out of the penalty box, Misener tied the game as he got a perfect pass from Coates, raced down the ice behind the Erie defense and put home a breakaway.James received credit for the game winning goal, Ron Hansis and Brad Rhiness also adding to Erie&rsquo;s final total.&ldquo;I thought we played with a lot of intensity and very much as a cohesive unit with everyone playing together,&rdquo; said-Polano. Of Sheard, the number one star in game five Polano said, &ldquo;He plays with a lot of intensity all of the time, he&rsquo;s the captain of our club and he knows he has to show some leadership out there. He plays like to wants to win and it sort of rubs off on the other fellows.&rdquo;Once again Bales was a demon in the nets rejecting 38 shots with some acrobatic saves that netted him second star honors. Hampton coach Muzz MacPherson was confident that the Aces could wrap things up back in the Virginia city in game six, but the Blades forced game seven with their 5-3 win.Despite being outshot by a 46-25 margin, Erie got a stellar performance from Walker in the nets and some luck from their coach who wore his lucky sport coat which he has donned on 13 occasions during the season each time the Blades coming away a victor.The two teams battled to a 1-1 standoff after the first period, but Erie got untracked in the middle session and took the lead as Mancini scored for the third straight game and Abgrall helped set up Rhiness for a 3-1 cushion.Legace assisted James to make it 4-1, Misener&rsquo;s 20-foot bullet cutting the deficit to 4-2. Lagace then iced the victory when he pilferred a pass in front of Bales and backhanded it home for the Blades. A goal by Billows with just 23 seconds left proved too late. &#9632;

f0031-01

Erie Comeback Ends Hampton’s Title Bid

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div>LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaDALLAS&mdash;The incredible Dallas Black Hawks swept two games from the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in the Salt Palace and headed back to Dallas, anxious to wrap up the Adams Cup final series with a four-game sweep.&ldquo;The boys are really playing great hockey, and they&rsquo;re high as kites,&rdquo; said happy coach John Muckier, as the Hawks flew back from Utah.&ldquo;Talk about being ready for a series, the guys were really ready for this one. Ahead of the first game of the series Friday, we had an 11:15 a.m. workout, and everybody was there by 9:30. The game didn&rsquo;t start until 7:30 p.m., but the whole team was in the dressing room by 4:30.&rdquo;The 5-2 (Friday) and 5-3 (Monday) victories in Salt Lake followed a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Red Wings in the playoff semi-finals, and gave Dallas 22 victories in its last 24 starts, counting the torrid finish of the regular schedule. And this was a team that had a 5-12-1 record at the start of the season, and didn&rsquo;t reach the .500 mark until Jan. 31, the 43rd game of a scheduled 76.Curt Ridley was tremendous in the nets, as the Hawks were outshot in both games at Salt Lake, 31-27 and 36-33. And Dallas&rsquo; opportunistic skaters were making their own scoring opportunities, cashing in on steals&mdash;or give-always, depending on which way you were rooting.It was a different scoring hero each night, although the offense was balanced. Gerry Minor, who came up from Fort Wayne in the International League for a professional trial during a January personnel shortage (and won a contract by scoring better than a point a game), had two goals to pace the Friday victory.Drew Callendar had the first two Dallas goals in the Monday victory. After being stung for a goal six seconds into the game, the Hawks wrapped it up by scoring five times in the opening period.With the prospects of playing the next two games in the best-of-seven final series in their own Fair Park Coliseum, the Hawks were confident of bringing the Cup to Dallas for the fourth time in 12 seasons of CHL membership.While Dallas fans were talking about a sweep of the finals (it would be only the fourth time in the CHL&rsquo;s 16-year history), Salt Lake fans were sobered by the fact no team has ever won the Adams Cup after losing the first two games of the finals.Eagle coach Jack Evans admitted his disappointment. &ldquo;Dallas has a great team, with three forward lines that can score on you. You&rsquo;ve got to give them credit. But we&rsquo;re simply not playing as well as we have. We&rsquo;re giving up the kind of goals we didn&rsquo;t give up during the regular season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01267/3875750-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="584" height="908"><figcaption class="caption-body">CURT RIDLEY&hellip;Super In Goal</figcaption></div>&ldquo;We were making bad passes in both games. I don&rsquo;t understand it. Our guys have enough experience, they should be able to play under pressure.&rdquo;Minor opened the scoring at 10:37 of the first period on Friday with a slapshot from just inside the blueline. Salt Lake went ahead in the middle period on two goals from Floyd Thomson. He scored out of a scramble at 5:56, and on a power play slapshot from the left circle at 11:46.Dallas&rsquo; Jim Mayer tied it again at 16:20 of the second, deflecting Doug Hicks&rsquo; slapper. Minor got the winning goal at 2:28 of the third on a three-on-one break. Ron Carter added a backhand goal at 6:21, and Tom Roulston slid a 105-foot shot into an empty net with 39 seconds left.The Eagles&rsquo; 1 eague-leading goaltender, Terry Richardson, suffered the loss, making 22 saves to 29 for Ridley. Evans lifted Richardson, with 57 seconds to play, hoping to wake up the impotent Salt Lake offense.Rick Bowness got the Eagles off on the right foot Monday night. He set a franchise record by scoring in six seconds (only one short of the league record) from a three-on-one break.But that only seemed to stir up the Hawks. Callender stole the puck to score at 5:37, then counted again at 8:43, deflecting Greg Hubick&rsquo;s shot. Just 25 seconds later, Hicks counted from the right circle, then Mayer and Dave Gardner had unassisted goals after intercepting Eagle passes at 12:17 and 19:56, respectively, to make it 5-1 after a period.Salt Lake got two power play goafs to narrow the deficit in the second period, with downess scoring from a scramble at 4:32, and Gordie McTavish from the left circle at 8:28. But the Hawks killed off a four-minute shorthanded spell, starting late in the second period.Doug Grant replaced Richardson in the Eagle nets for the last two periods, and blanked the Hawks for 40 minutes. But Salt Lake couldn&rsquo;t beat Ridley in the third, in spite of lifting Grant with 1:30 left in favor of an extra attacker. Ridley made 33 saves, Richardson 10, and Grant 26.The Friday contest drew 8,284 in the Palace, and the Monday game 7,467. &#9632;

f0032-01

Dallas Surprises Salt Lake In CHL Cup Final

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02201/3875795-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="556" height="650"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEFF BANDURA&hellip;Most Improved</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03141/3875788-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="548" height="646"><figcaption class="caption-body">GREG HUBICK&hellip;Best Defenseman</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0487/3875781-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="556" height="646"><figcaption class="caption-body">FLOYDTHOMSON&hellip;CHL&rsquo;s Iron Man</figcaption></div>DALLAS&mdash;Jeff Bandura of the Dallas Black Hawks has been named to receive the Bob Gassoff Award, given annually to the most improved defenseman in the Central Hockey League, by vote of the coaches.The 22-year-old blueliner is a native of White Rock, B.C., and was the Vancouver Canucks&rsquo; second choice in the 1977 amateur draft, picked off the roster of the Portland Winter Hawks. He spent his rookie season with the Tulsa Oilers in the CHL.Veteran Kansas City goaltender Ron Low was voted the Tommy Ivan Award as the CHL&rsquo;s most valuable player for the 1978-79 campaign. The 28-year-old Low did most of the Red Wings&rsquo; netminding, appearing in 63 of their 76 games, with an average yield of 3.86. Earlier he was named to the CHL first All Star team.Greg Hubick of the Dallas Black Hawks was voted the league&rsquo;s most valuable defenseman, and Floyd Thomson of the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles received the Iron Man Award. Thomson was one of only seven players in the CHL who played all 76 games in the regular season.Mike Eaves, center for the Oklahoma City Stars earlier was named to receive the Ken McKenzie Trophy as the league&rsquo;s rookie of the year. &#9632;

f0032-02

Hawks’ Bandura Gets Gassoff Award

<h2>NHL TEAMS</h2>1&mdash;Montreal2&mdash;Chicago3&mdash;Boston4&mdash;Rangers5&mdash;Detroit6&mdash;Toronto7&mdash;Philadelphia8&mdash;Los Angeles9&mdash;St. Louis10&mdash;Minnesota11&mdash;Pittsburgh12&mdash;Islanders13&mdash;Vancouver14&mdash;Buffalo15&mdash;Atlanta16&mdash;Washington17&mdash;Colorado<h2>WHA TEAMS</h2>18&mdash;New England19&mdash;Quebec20&mdash;Winnipeg22&mdash;Edmonton23&mdash;Cincinnati24&mdash;Birmingham<h2>OTHER AFFILIATIONS</h2>25&mdash;Quebec (WHA). Cincinnati (WHA. Birmingham (WHA) & Pittsburgh (NHL)26&mdash;Buffalo (NHL) & Washington (NHL)27&mdash;Toronto (NHL) & Chicago (NHL)28&mdash;Montreal (NHU & Atlanta (NHL)29&mdash;New England (WHA), Edmonton (WHA), Winnipeg (WHA) & Los Angeles (NHL)31 Atlanta (NHL), Rangers (NHL) & Minnesota (NHL)32-Vancouver (NHL), Los Angeles (NHL) & Edmonton (WHA).34&mdash;St. Louis (NHL) & Washington (NHL)35&mdash;Los Angeles (NHL) & Toronto (NHL)36&mdash;Minnesota (NHL) & Chicago (NHL)37&mdash;Colorado (NHL) & Atlanta (NHL)38&mdash;Vancouver (NHL) & Islanders (NHL)39&mdash;Pittsburgh (NHL) & Boston (NHL)40&mdash;Philadelphia (NHL) & Buffalo (NHL)41&mdash;Minnesota (NHL) & St. Louis (NHL)42&mdash;Independent operation43&mdash;Philadelphia (NHL) & St. Louis (NHL) &#9632;

Who They’re Affiliated With…

<h2>AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01238/3875980-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="599" height="116"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sun. Apr. 22Nova Scotia 2 at Maine 7Tue. Apr. 24Nova Scotia 1 at Maine 4Fri. Apr. 27Maine 5 at Nova Scotia 7Sat. Apr. 28Maine 5 at Nova Scotia 2<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Mon. Apr. 30Nova Scotia at MaineWed. May. 2Maine at Nova ScotiaFri. May. 4Nova Scotia at Maine<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02183/3875973-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="600" height="111"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Thu. Apr. 19Binghamton 2 at New Haven 4Fri. Apr. 20New Haven 2 at Binghamton 3Mon. Apr. 23Binghamton 1 at New Haven 15Wed. Apr. 25New Haven 6 at Binghamton 1Fri. Apr. 27Binghamton 4 at New Haven 3Sun. Apr. 29New Haven 7 at Binghamton 3<h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03138/3875966-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="608" height="115"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Apr. 11Nova Scotia 4 at New Brunswick 5Thu. Apr. 12New Brunswick 4 at Nova Scotia 5Sat. Apr. 14Nova Scotia 3 at New Brunswick 4Tue. Apr. 17New Brunswick 1 at Nova Scotia 7Thu. Apr. 19Nova Scotia 4 at New Brunswick 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04111/3875959-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="608" height="110"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Apr. 11Binghamton 3 at Hershey 4Thu. Apr. 12Hershey 0 at Binghamton 3Sat. Apr. 14Binghamton 6 at Hershey 2Tue. Apr. 17Hershey 2 at Binghamton 5<h3>LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0587/3875952-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="611" height="438"></div><h2>(Final Standings)</h2><h3>NORTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0668/3875945-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="605" height="136"></div><h3>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0759/3875938-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="606" height="167"></div><h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0851/3875931-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="608" height="379"></div><h2>CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES FINALS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-0942/3875924-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="596" height="123"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 20Dallas 5 at Salt Lake 2Mon. Apr. 23Dallas 5 at Salt Lake 3Fri. Apr. 27Salt Lake 7 at Dallas 3Sat. Apr. 28Salt Lake 2 at Dallas 6<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Dallas at Salt LakeFri. May. 4Salt Lake at DallasSat. May. 5Dallas at Salt LakeSemi-Finals<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1038/3875917-1-eng-US/f0033-102.jpg" title="f0033-10" width="604" height="113"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 6Kansas City 1 at Dallas 2Sat. Apr. 7Kansas City 3 at Dallas 6Thu. Apr. 12Dallas 5 at Kansas City 4Sat. Apr. 14Dallas 3 at Kansas City 0<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1137/3875910-1-eng-US/f0033-112.jpg" title="f0033-11" width="598" height="113"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 6Fort Worth 1 at Salt Lake 4Sat. Apr. 7Forth Worth 2 at Salt Lake 3Wed. Apr. 11Salt Lake 2 at Forth Worth 4Fri. Apr. 13Salt Lake 4 at Forth Worth 3Sat. Apr. 14Salt Lake 5 at Forth Worth 2<h3>LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1236/3875903-1-eng-US/f0033-122.jpg" title="f0033-12" width="603" height="380"></div><h2>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1325/3875896-1-eng-US/f0033-132.jpg" title="f0033-13" width="602" height="114"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sat. Apr. 28Fort Wayne 6 at Grand Rapids 8Sun. Apr. 29Grand Rapids 4 at Fort Wayne 5<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Fort Wayne at Grand RapidsWed. May. 2Grand Rapids at Fort WayneFri. May. 4Fort Wayne at Grand RapidsSat. May. 5Grand Rapids at Fort WayneMon. May. 7Fort Wayne at Grand Rapids<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1422/3875889-1-eng-US/f0033-142.jpg" title="f0033-14" width="599" height="110"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sat. Apr. 28Flint 4 at Kalamazoo 6Sun. Apr. 29Kalamazoo 5 at Flint 4<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Flint at KalamazooWed. May. 3Kalamazoo at FlintFri. May. 5Flint at KalamazooSat. May. 6Kalamazoo at FlintTue. May. 8Flint at Kalamazoo<h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1518/3875882-1-eng-US/f0033-152.jpg" title="f0033-15" width="605" height="119"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 13Flint 3 at Port Huron 5Sat. Apr. 14Port Huron 3 at Flint 4Sun. Apr. 15Flint 0 at Port Huron 8Fri. Apr. 20Port Huron 4 at Flint 6Sat. Apr&hellip;21Flint 6 at Port Huron 4Sun. Apr. 22Port Huron 5 at Flint 3Wed. Apr. 25Flint 7 at Port Huron 4<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1613/3875875-1-eng-US/f0033-162.jpg" title="f0033-16" width="616" height="122"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Apr. 11Milwaukee 4 at Grand Rapids 2Thu. Apr. 12Grand Rapids 3 at Milwaukee 0(Game thrown out on Milwaukee protest)Sat. Apr. 14Milwaukee 3 at Grand Rapids 6Wed. Apr. 18Grand Rapids 3 at Milwaukee 2Fri. Apr. 20Milwaukee 6 at Grand Rapids 3Sat. Apr. 21Grand Rapids 4 at Milwaukee 6Tue. Apr. 24Milwaukee 3 at Grand Rapids 9Wed. Apr. 25Milwaukee 1 at Grand Rapids 5<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1713/3875868-1-eng-US/f0033-172.jpg" title="f0033-17" width="608" height="116"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 13Saginaw 2 at Kamalazoo 4Sat. Apr. 14Kalamazoo 5 at Saginaw 3Tue. Apr. 17Saginaw 3 at Kalamazoo 7Wed. Apr. 18Kalamazoo 5 at Saginaw 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-1811/3875861-1-eng-US/f0033-182.jpg" title="f0033-18" width="616" height="122"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Apr. 11Toledo 2 at Fort Wayne 4Fri. Apr. 13Fort Wayne 3 at Toledo 1Sat. Apr. 14Toledo 3 at Fort Wayne 4Tue. Apr. 17Fort Wayne 7 at Toledo 8Wed. Apr. 18Toledo 5 at Fort Wayne 4Fri. Apr. 20Fort Wayne 7 at Toledo 2<h3>LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-199/3875854-1-eng-US/f0033-192.jpg" title="f0033-19" width="592" height="280"></div><h2>NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES FINALS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-209/3875847-1-eng-US/f0033-202.jpg" title="f0033-20" width="610" height="124"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tue. Apr. 10Hampton 4 at Erie 5Wed. Apr. 11Hampton 6 at Erie 5Fri. Apr. 13Erie 3 at Hampton 4Sat. Apr. 14Erie 0 at Hampton 2Wed. Apr. 18Hampton 1 at Erie 4Thu. Apr. 19Erie 5 at Hampton 3Sat. Apr. 21Hampton 3 at Erie 4<h3>Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-218/3875840-1-eng-US/f0033-212.jpg" title="f0033-21" width="614" height="118"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Wed. Mar. 28Cape Cod 6 at Hampton 1Thu. Mar. 29Cape Cod 1 at Hampton 4Sat. Mar. 31Hampton 5 at Cape Cod 1Sun. Apr. 1Hampton 5 at Cape Cod 2Tue. Apr. 3Hampton 8 at Cape Cod 1<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-227/3875833-1-eng-US/f0033-222.jpg" title="f0033-22" width="616" height="114"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Mar. 30Utica 2 at Erie 7Sat. Mar. 31Utica 4 at Erie 1Wed. Apr. 4Erie 5 at Utica 2Sat. Apr. 7Erie 5 at Utica 4Sun. Apr. 8Utica 1 at Erie 8<h3>FINAL SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04102/3875826-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="596" height="412"></div> &#9632;

f0033-01

Looking At The Minor League Scoreboard

LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaFLINT&mdash;Not many hockey skeptics gave the Flint Generals a snowball&rsquo;s chance in summer to survive the International Hockey League&rsquo;s Turner Cup playoffs.No one gave the pesky Generals any hope of defeating the first-place Port Huron Flags&mdash;except of course, the Generals themselves.Flint became the giant killers of the 1HL playoffs when they won the seventh and deciding game of their best-of-seven Turner Cup series and they did it the hard way&mdash;on Port Huron ice.After dropping two of the first three games to the youthful Flags, the Generals began a comeback that culminated in their winning three of the next four games to snatch the series away from the favored Flags. It was the biggest upset of the 1979 playdowns and placed the Generals in the tough position of facing the North Division runners-up, the Kalamazoo K-Wings in the league semi-finals.While the Generals were bursting the Port Huron bubble, and the K-Wings were disposing of Saginaw Gears in four straight to set up one semi-final, the South Division winning Grand Rapids Owls came from behind to eliminate Milwaukee Admirals 4-3 in their quarter-final series while Fort Wayne bounced the Toledo Goaldiggers 4-2 in the other series. Now Grand Rapids and Fort Wayne are locked in a best-of-seven playoff for the right to challenge the winner of the Flint-Kalamazoo series for the Turner Cup.Getting to the semi-finals wasn&rsquo;t easy for the Flint Generals.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01259/3876042-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="582" height="630"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARC BOILEAU</figcaption></div>Flint trailed 2-1 in their series with Port Huron and received bad news. They had two injured defensemen. Paul Clarke was out for this series with a bad charley horse while it was discovered Kim Spencer will be lost for the playoffs with a slipped disc which will require surgery. Coming into the fourth game, coach Marc Boileau inserted former General, Mike St. Cyr into the lineup as an injury replacement and he performed admirably as Flint won 6-4 to even the series at two wins apiece.Then back in Port Huron, controversy surrounding graduating junior defenseman, Real Paiement being used as an injury replacement for Flint, left Boileau with two choices&mdash;use Paiement and forfeit the game or go with three defensemen and play two men short. With no choice after being notified seven minutes before faceoff, a teary-eyed Boileau informed his squad who then went out and responded with a dramatic 6-4 win and a 3-2 lead in the series.On home-ice again, Flint&rsquo;s chance to win the first best-of-seven series in the club&rsquo;s 10-year history was thwarted by a 5-3 Port Huron win. Paiement was given clearance to play and was a big asset for the weary Generals.The Kalamazoo Wings became the first team to qualify for a semi-final berth.The K-Wings continued their extraordinary success against the Saginaw Gears to down them in four straight games. During the regular season Kalamazoo had their best series record against the Gears by defeating them eight times. The Wings only suffered one loss in the 14 games that they played against Saginaw, including playoff hockey, (12-1-1).&ldquo;We entered the series having won eight regular season games and we knew that Saginaw was due for a win somewhere along the line so we didn&rsquo;t take the series for granted. The guys were ready to play hockey and Saginaw wasn&rsquo;t, it&rsquo;s really as simple as that,&rdquo; commented coach Bill Purcell.Wings&rsquo; captain Randy Mohns has helped the Wings considerably during the playoffs. Mohns has the winning attitude needed to go all the way and commented: &ldquo;This is really what it all comes right down to, playoff hockey. We play 80 games a year plus exhibitions in the hopes that we&rsquo;ll make it all the way, and after that 4-0 series with Saginaw we&rsquo;ve taken our first step. It&rsquo;s certainly not the money that is the motivation, but simply youth and the desire to win, to become a champion.&rdquo;It&rsquo;s been said in hockey that on a losing hockey club it&rsquo;s hard to judge the talents of a goaltender. But, the Muskegon news media obviously felt differently as St. Louis University graduate Brian O&rsquo;Connell was voted the first recipient of the Jerry P. DeLise Memorial &ldquo;Rookie of the Year&rdquo; award. The honor, named after the man who brought IHL hockey to Muskegon, was presented when the Mohawks honored five players for their contributions on awards day, prior to the finale against the Toledo Goaldiggers.The 24-year-old O&rsquo;Connell, a native of St. Mary&rsquo;s, Ontario, tasted success in one-third of his games with a 10-win, 26-loss, three-tie record overall. His 5.63 goals-against average may not be impressive, but his potential still is. The Atlanta Flames draftee will get another shot in the Flames&rsquo; camp next fall, but Gerry Moore would welcome him back with open arms. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s going to be a better goaltender next year with the experience he gained this season,&rdquo; says the Mohawks&rsquo; mentor. And Moore showed complete confidence in O&rsquo;Connell late in the season when he dealt rookie Tim Thomlison to Saginaw and went mainly with Brian when the team played its best hockey of the campaign.Also honored was the Mohawks&rsquo; leading sniper Bill Hamilton as the club&rsquo;s most valuable player. Before a late season knee injury, the second-year IHL centerman scored 45 goals and 46 assists in 76 games. &ldquo;Hammy&rdquo; also scored five shorthanded markers, two shy of the league record. Rookie Erie Switzer, who at the turn of the new year had one goal to his credit, then finished with 11, was the unanimous choice for the most improved player award as voted by his teammates. Rookie Rod Guimont also made quite an impact in his first season. The right winger was voted as the most popular Mohawk by the fans. Veteran center Jim Johnston received accolades as the Mohawks&rsquo; leading point scorer. Last season&rsquo;s scoring champ scored 61 points in 36 games as a Mohawk, finishing the season with eight points fewer than last season, 110.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02204/3876035-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="576" height="1148"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN O&rsquo;CONNELL&hellip;Wins DeLise Award</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0034-01

Flint Bursts Port Huron Bubble; Wings, Owls, Komets Hunt Title

SAGINAW&mdash;Jon Fontas of the Saginaw Gears has been named winner of the Ken McKenzie Trophy awarded annually to the No. 1 United States-born rookie in the International Hockey League.Born in Arlington, Mass., the 24-year-old center scored 36 goals and assisted on 45 for 81 points, missing only one of his team&rsquo;s 80 games over the 1978-79 IHL schedule.After playing four years at Lexington High School in Arlington, Fontas moved into the United States collegiate ranks at the University of New Hampshire. Under coach Charlie Holt, the five-foot-10, 170-pound forward saw action in 106 games scoring 72 goals and drawing 102 assists for 174 points through four campaigns before joining the Gears last fall.Bob Ferriter and Tom Mullen of the Grand Rapids Owls and Bruce Horsch of the Flint Generals followed Fontas in the voting conducted by the general managers of the nine IHL clubs.Toledo Goaldiggers&rsquo; Mike Eruzione was the recipient of the McKenzie award in 1978, the first year it was placed in competition.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03156/3876073-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="524" height="750"><figcaption class="caption-body">JON FONTAS&hellip;Durable Performer</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0034-03

Fontas Top American, Wins McKenzie Award

<h2>ONTARIO MAJOR LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01249/3876223-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="610" height="113"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Tue. Apr. 24Niagara Falls 0 at Peterborough 3Wed. Apr. 25Peterborough 0 at Niagara Falls 5Thu. Apr. 26Niagara Falls 6 at Peterborough 4Sat. Apr. 28Peterborough 1 at Niagara Falls 3Sun. Apr. 29Niagara Falla 2 at Peterborough 4<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Peterborough at Niagara FallsWed. May. 2Niagara Falls at PeterboroughThu. May. 3Peterborough at Niagara Falls<h3>Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02209/3876216-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="602" height="138"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Peterborough 6, Sudbury 5Peterborough 5, Sudbury 3Sudbury 5, Peterborough 2Peterborough 6, Sudbury 3Peterborough 6, Sudbury 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03156/3876209-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="606" height="176"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Niagara Falls 9, Windsor 2Windsor 6, London 6London 6, Windsor 3Niagara Falls 3, London 2Windsor 4, Niagara Falls 3Windsor 5, London 4Windsor 5, London 4Niagara Falls 4, Windsor 1Niagara Falls 7, London 4Windsor 5, London 1Niagara FAIIs 4, London 1<h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04125/3876202-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="611" height="533"></div><h2>WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0595/3876195-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="614" height="114"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 27Portland 4 at Brandon 2Sat. Apr. 28Portland 1 at Brandon 3Sun. Apr. 29Portland 5 at Brandon 6<h3>GAMES TO COME</h3>Tue. May. 1Brandon at PortlandWed. May. 2Brandon at PortlandThu. May. 3Brandon at PortlandSat. May. 5Portland at Brandon<h3>Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0677/3876188-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="605" height="173"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Brandon 6, Lethbridge 1Portland 10, Brandon 0Portland 7, Lethbridge 3Mon. Apr. 23Portland 5 at Lethbridge 4Tue. Apr. 24Lethbridge 3 at Brandon 13Wed. Apr. 25Portland 4 at Brandon 5<h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0768/3876181-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="609" height="119"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Portland 2, Victoria 1Portland 6, Victoria 3Victoria 4, Portland 2Portland 4, Victoria 3Victoria 6, Portland 4Victoria 7, Portland 2Portland 7, Victoria 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0850/3876174-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="606" height="121"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Lethbridge 9, Calgary 7Lethbridge 7, Calgary 6Calgary 6, Lethbridge 2Calgary 4, Lethbridge 2Lethbridge 8, Calgary 3Calgary 7, Lethbridge 3Lethbridge 5, Calgary 2<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-0947/3876167-1-eng-US/f0035-092.jpg" title="f0035-09" width="616" height="121"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Brandon 9, Saskatoon 1Brandon 5, Saskatoon 2Brandon 7, Saskatoon 5Brandon 6, Saskatoon 4<h2>Preliminary Round-Robin</h2><h3>EASTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1039/3876160-1-eng-US/f0035-102.jpg" title="f0035-10" width="607" height="191"></div><h3>CENTRAL DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1135/3876153-1-eng-US/f0035-112.jpg" title="f0035-11" width="608" height="182"></div><h3>WESTERN DIVISION</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1228/3876146-1-eng-US/f0035-122.jpg" title="f0035-12" width="610" height="198"></div><h3>PLAYOFF SCORING LEADERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1324/3876139-1-eng-US/f0035-132.jpg" title="f0035-13" width="613" height="806"></div><h2>QUEBEC MAJOR LEAGUE</h2><h3>PLAYOFF GAMES Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1422/3876132-1-eng-US/f0035-142.jpg" title="f0035-14" width="606" height="116"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Fri. Apr. 20Sherbrooke 1 at Trois-Rivieres 2Sun. Apr. 22Trois-Rivieres 7 at Sherbrooke 2Wed. Apr. 25Sherbrooke 3 at Trois-Rivieres 6Fri. Apr. 27Trois-Rividres 6 at Sherbrooke 4<h3>Semi-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1519/3876125-1-eng-US/f0035-152.jpg" title="f0035-15" width="600" height="116"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Sherbrooke 6, Verdun 4Sherbrooke 11, Verdun 3Sherbrooke 8, Verdun 5Sherbrooke 9, Verdun 3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1618/3876118-1-eng-US/f0035-162.jpg" title="f0035-16" width="606" height="129"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Trois-Rivieres 5, Montreal 3Montreal 4, Trois-Rivieres 3Trois-Rivieres 10, Montreal 5Trois-Rivieres 3, Montreal 1Trois-Rivieres 7, Montreal 1<h3>Quarter-Finals</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1715/3876111-1-eng-US/f0035-172.jpg" title="f0035-17" width="612" height="438"></div><h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Trois-Rivieres 7, Shawinigan 3Trois-Rivieres 4, Shawinigan 2Trois-Rivieres 8, Shawinigan 5Trois Rivieres 8, Shawinigan 2<h3>GAMES COMPLETED</h3>Montreal 5, Quebec 3Quebec 5, Montreal 3Montreal 4, Quebec 3Quebec 7; Montreal 6Montreal 8, Quebec 3Montreal 5, Quebec 3<h3>Final Scoring Leaders</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-1814/3876104-1-eng-US/f0035-182.jpg" title="f0035-18" width="607" height="303"></div> &#9632;

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The Amateur Scoreboard

<div class="byline">BY MARTY KNACK</div>LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaPETERBOROUGH&mdash;Peterborough Petes had a second &lsquo;holiday&rsquo; break before resuming their quest for a second consecutive Ontario Major Junior League championship.Petes had nine days off before beginning their Leyden Division semi-final with Kingston Canadians, then had another 12-day breather while the Emms Division sorted out its championship with a round-robin series between Niagara Falls Flyers, Windsor Spitfires and London Knights after a controversy-filled division semi-final between Windsor and London.Peterborough finally started an eightpoint league final with the Flyers after Niagara finished with a 5-1-0 record in the Emms round-robin. Windsor was second in the round-robin with a 3-3-1 record and London was third at 1-5-1.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had enough of this travelling around and watching everybody else play,&rdquo; said Petes&rsquo; youthful general manager-coach Gary Green. &ldquo;Certainly the decision was going to affect us, because it gave us a 12-day layoff, but I think the decision was fair to everybody.&rdquo;Green was talking about the roundrobin, which was created after Windsor protested the seventh game of its series with Knights and a series of appeals followed, causing ill feeling in both London and Windsor and leaving Flyers caught in the middle.&ldquo;We had four days off, right after we won the division championship,&rdquo; said Green, who allowed his players to scatter for a brief vacation before reassembling in Peterborough. &ldquo;We had a good little break away from it. We had a nine-day break before the playoffs started, too.&rdquo;Peterborough and Niagara Falls were evenly matched during the regular schedule, at least after the Flyers won the first meeting 8-3 in Niagara Falls Oct. 6.&ldquo;All you have to do is take a look at the last three games between us at the end of the season,&rdquo; said Green. &ldquo;They won one 5-4, we won one 5-4, then we tied one, after overtime.&ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got the same kind of balance as us. In fact, they had 10 20-goal scorers and we only had eight. We&rsquo;re the same types of teams, which means we&rsquo;re &lsquo;up against a cement wall type of thing.&rdquo;Keith Crowder and Tim Trimper have been Petes&rsquo; playoff leaders, but other players like Chris Halyk have also contributed a lot to their division semi-final win over Kingston and five-game division final victory over Sudbury Wolves.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been getting the balance that we&rsquo;ve been getting all season long,&rdquo; said Green. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been going with four lines and five defensemen.&rdquo;Halyk scored two goals and goalie Ken Ellacott recorded the shutout as Petes opened the league final with a 3-0 win over Niagara Falls. Carmen Cirella was the other Peterborough scorer as the teams started a series that will cram eight games into 10 days, if it goes the limit.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s had an exceptional playoff,&rdquo; said Green, talking about Crowder, the big right winger who started the season with Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s providing a lot of leadership. All of the last-year players are showing their leadership qualities.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s scored 12 goals in our 12 playoff games (before the Flyer game) and he missed two games with an injury. He&rsquo;s been showing in the last two months what his abilities are. He heard a lot of catcalls at first, after coming back from the WHA.&rdquo;Trimper had 62 goals and 108 points during the regular schedule but has become a playmaker in the playoffs.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a Don Cherry-type of winger,&rdquo; said Green. &ldquo;He digs in the corners.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s good along the boards, he&rsquo;s strong and he plays with a lot of intensity. Like anything else, the guys that put the most into it get the most out of it.&rdquo;Trimper had just three goals, but more than 20 points with his big collection of assists.NIAGARA FALLS: Steve Ludzik scored two goals, Dominic Miele was. credited with two assists and goalie Nick Ricci made 24 saves as Niagara Falls beat Windsor 4-1, then the Flyers defeated London 7-4 in London and 4-1 in Niagara Falls to end the round-robin early. Ludzik had a goal and three assists, Stan Adams scored three goals and Steve Larmer chipped in with three assists in the 7-4 victory, then Ludzik and John Kirk led the way with a goal and two assists each in the series clincher, in which Ricci had to make just 18 stops. Ludzik has been the team&rsquo;s playoff leader, with seven goals and 21 points, Larmer had eight goals and 18 points, Adams nine goals and 17 points and defenseman Mark Renaud five goals and 16 points, including the one game Flyers had with Spitfires to open an eight-point division final that was later ruled an exhibition.WINDSOR: Defenseman Daryl Holmquist had a goal and two assists and right winger Don Roach scored twice as Spitfires ended their roundrobin activity with a 5-1 win over London. George Kotsopoulos chipped in with two assists and goalie Roland Melanson was outstanding with a 33-save performance. Right winger Blair Barnes was the team&rsquo;s playoff leader, with 13 goals and 24 points in 17 games, including the 10 that were ruled exhibitions. Kotsopoulos had five goals and 21 points, center Brent Jarrett had four goals and 18 points, right winger Mark Hamway contributed seven goals and 16 points and left winger J.P. Leroux had five goals and 14 points.LONDON: Dino Ciccarelli and linemate Wayne Thompson were Knights leaders in the 7-4 loss to Niagara. Right winger Ciccarelli scored three goals and assisted on the other one by Thompson and Thompson, the center, set up all of Ciccarelli&rsquo;s goals. Thompson finished with eight goals and 20 points to lead Knights in their 16 playoff games. Left winger Jim Matthews contributed three goals and 16 points, right winger Dean Hopkins had 10 goals and 13 points, right winger Jim Egerton seven goals and 13 points and Ciccarelli five goals and 13 points.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01226/3876254-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="540" height="522"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHRIS HALYK&hellip;Led First Win</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Well-Rested Petes Itching To Play Face Mirror-lmage Flyers In Final

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02170/3876285-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Don Funk of Saskatoon shows off some of the 1,650 pucks that make up his collection of the little black rubber discs that are so vital to hockey. Funk started picking them up in 1973 when he was a referee. (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix Photo)</figcaption></div>SASKATOON&mdash;Hockey fans who grab pucks at games often run the risk of injury. But most of them think it&rsquo;s all worthwhile to get a souvenir.Don Funk of Saskatoon collects pucks, too, but he does it for a hobby. At last count he had 1,650 of them on the walls of him rumpus room.Puck collecting is unique and Funk is probably the best at it in the hockey world. He started it all when he was a referee in the Western Hockey League. He became so interested in those little black &lsquo;biscuits&rsquo;, as he calls them, that he managed to pick up 1,650 over the years.Funk&rsquo;s collection spans several continents and half a decade of hockey history ranging from the Victoria Maple Leafs to one bearing the insignia of a Japanese hockey club.Funk has made collecting a sport and began in 1973 when he was a regular referee in the then WCHL. He used to pick up odd monogrammed pucks and found that pucks were coming to him from his graduating junior players and scouts. He has made a coffee table, clocks and bookends with inlaid pucks.Funk says puck collecting is fascinating and he would be interested in hearing from collectors and anyone interested in selling an old decal puck. He can be reached at 1814, 8th Street East, Saskatoon, Sask. S7H, 0T6. &#9632;

f0036-02

Unique Puck Collector, Funk No. 1 With 1,650

<div class="byline">BY NORM COWLEY</div>LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaBRANDON&mdash;Dunc McCallum says &ldquo;if a game wasn&rsquo;t thrown last year, we might have won the Memorial Cup.&rdquo;He is referring, of course, to the final game in the Eastern Division&rsquo;s three-team quadruple round-robin series last year in which Regina Pats had to&mdash;and did&mdash;defeat Flin Flon Bombers by six goals in order to eliminate Brandon Wheat Kings from further action in the 1977-78 Western Hockey League playoffs.But McCallum, who coaches the Wheat Kings, also realizes that if his club had taken the preliminary round more seriously, they would not have been in that situation. That&rsquo;s why he stressed to his players this year how important every game was.And it appears the Wheaties have taken everything he&rsquo;s said to heart.After 13 playoff games, the club&mdash;which lost only five times in 72 regularseason starts&mdash;ran off a string of 11 straight victories to set a new WHL playoff record. Brandon had shared the old mark of seven with New Westminster Bruins.In doing so, Brandon eliminated Edmonton Oil Kings and Saskatoon Blades from the playoffs and opened the WHL&rsquo;s three-team double round-robin semi-final with a 6-1 victory over Lethbridge Broncos.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got too many guys who want to win this year for that (elimination) to happen again,&rdquo; said McCallum after Brandon&rsquo;s first playoff game, a 4-0 victory over Edmonton. &ldquo;The guys want to play. Last year we didn&rsquo;t take the round-robin seriously and got ourselves in trouble. This year we&rsquo;re taking it one game at a time.&rdquo;Leading the way for the Wheaties is 19-year-old right winger Ray Allison, with 14 goals and 27 points in 13 games. The other two-thirds of Brandon&rsquo;s Big Three are also within the top ten in playoff scoring&mdash;Laurie Boschman ranking fourth with eight goals and 26 points and Brian Propp eighth with six goals and 22 points.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01199/3876323-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="575" height="891"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRANT KIESSIG&hellip;Two-Goal Blast</figcaption></div>The Wheat Kings polished off the Blades in the best-of-seven Eastern Division finals in straight games, winning the last two at Saskatoon where they had but one win in their previous four appearances. Boschman and Allison each netted a pair of goals in the 7-5 third-game victory, while Brant Kiessig scored two goals and Allison contributed a goal and three assists in the 6-4 series-clinching win. In the first game of the three-team double roundrobin semi-final, Allison scored three goals and Boschman drew three assists to lead the way in a 6-1 verdict at Lethbridge.SASKATOON: Three &ldquo;exhibition&rdquo; games with Brandon at the end of the division&rsquo;s three-team round-robin preliminaries eroded the Blades&rsquo; momentum, and as a result Saskatoon lost the final 4-0. Brent Ashton scored four times in the last two contests to finish with 14 goals and four assists in 11 games. Saskatoon made a valiant come-back attempt in the fourth game with four second-period goals after Brandon had opened a 5-0 first-period lead but the rally fell short.LETHBRIDGE: After earning their first divisional title since moving from Swift Current five years ago, the Broncos came up empty-handed in the first game of the WHL&rsquo;s three-team double round-robin semi-final as they lost 6-1 to Brandon before 4,461 hometown fans. Earlier, the Central Division playoff with Calgary had turned out to be a &ldquo;homer&rdquo; series, with Lethbridge winning the seventh and deciding game 5-2 in front of 5,507 spectators. Other scores were Wranglers 6-2 and 4-2 at Calgary. Broncos 8-3 at Lethbridge, and Wranglers 7-3 at Calgary. Doug Morrison continued to lead the playoff scoring parade with 18 goals and 30 points in 16 games while Gord Williams moved up to a tie for third place with 12 goals and 14 assists.CALGARY: Kelly Kisio fired five goals and added as many assists to boost his totals to 12 goals and 28 points as he sparked the Wranglers in the last half of the divisions&rsquo;s final. Cal Ellerby, a 19-year-old rearguard, scored his first WHL goal and it turned out to be the winner in the third game while Brad Purpur scored on a penalty shot in the fourth contests.PORTLAND: The Winter Hawks were forced to play the full seven games by a stubborn crew of Victoria Cougars before qualifying for the semifinal. After dropping a 4-2 decision at Victoria, Portland returned home to win 4-3 with two unanswered goals in third period. But only Al Szott, with two goals, was able to score more than once in the next two outings&mdash;a 6-4 loss at home and a 7-2 defeat at Victoria. Winter Hawks left little doubt in the seventh game, as Jim Dobson fired three goals, Tim Tookey added four assist and Perry Turnbull, who missed two games with a sprained ankle, chipped in a goal and an assist in a 7-2 rout before a crowd of 5,522.VICTORIA: Two outstanding individual performances (six goals, five-assists by Geordie Robertson and three goals, seven assists by Gary Lupul) helped the Cougars push Portland to the limit. Robertson finished the playoffs with 15 goals and 25 points in 14 games while Lupul wound up with 10 goals and 24 points in 15 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02154/3876316-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="566" height="615"><figcaption class="caption-body">RAY ALLISON&hellip;Leads Kings</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Brandon Sets WHL Playoff Record In Bid To Erase 1978 ‘Nightmare’

<div class="byline">BY DANNY YOUNG</div>LOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaLOUISVILLEHOCKEY STICKSMade in Canada by HILLERICH & BRADSBY, LTD Arnold Street. Wallaceburg, Ontario Sold in U.S. and CanadaTROIS RIVIERES&mdash;The Sherbrooke Beavers found out what they already knew in the first two games of the Quebec Major Junior League playoff finals. That is, when the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs are at the top of their game, they&rsquo;re pretty tough to beat.The series began at the Trois-Rivieres Coliseum with a classic opener which was one of the most exciting contests in recent memory.The action of the first period was extremely intense ad exciting. Both goaltenders were called upon to make several difficult stops as both teams were applying considerable pressure. Sherbrooke&rsquo;s Serge Boisvert scored the only goal of that period.The Draveurs came out storming in the second period, firing 18 shots at the Sherbrooke net. To the dismay of the hometown fans, not one of those went in. Sherbrooke&rsquo;s goalie Yvan Charbonneau made several miraculous saves to keep the Beavers alive and still on top 10.If the Draveurs felt discouraged at this point, they had a right to be. Coach Michel Bergeron told his players to play the same way in the third as they did in the second (during his in-between periods chat). &ldquo;He told us to keep going like we were,&rdquo; said center Jean Francois Sauve. &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t think Charbonneau would last forever.&rdquo;He didn&rsquo;t.Eight minutes into the third period, defenseman Michel Leblanc scored on a soft shot that trickled into the net. Then a minute and 36 seconds later, Robert Mongrain put in a 35-foot bullet to give the Draveurs a 2-1 lead. Naturally, the SRO partisan crowd went wild.In the final 10 minutes, Sherbrooke had two power plays but they couldn&rsquo;t capitalize. Penalty killing specialist Pierre Tasse teamed up with the Draveurs&rsquo; solid back line to limit the Beavers&rsquo; scoring chances. When they did get a shot on net, goalie Jacques Cloutier was there to make the save, and the Draveurs won it 2-1.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never seen a game like that in junior,&rdquo; said Bergeron. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a bunch of pros. They never quit. Pierre (Tasse) killed those last two penalties and he hadn&rsquo;t played in the game before that. That guy has heart.&rdquo;Sherbrooke coach Ghislain Delage, as much as he hates to lose, also praised the performance of the combatanta in this game.&ldquo;It was a great game for both teams,&rdquo; said Delage. &ldquo;We played well in the first period but slacked down a-little in the second. In the third, we pressed and pressed but we couldn&rsquo;t score.&rdquo;Sherbrooke&rsquo;s star winger Louis Begin commented: &ldquo;There was pressure in that game all the time. You&rsquo;re always afraid of making mistakes.&rdquo;&ldquo;In the second period, we stopped forechecking and backchecking,&rdquo; added Begin. &ldquo;They were getting to the puck faster and we weren&rsquo;t interfering.&rdquo;In game number two at Sherbrooke&rsquo;s Sports Palace, the Draveurs quickly forced the Beavers to abandon a tight checking style by taking a 3-0 first period advantage on two goals by Ernest Boutin and a single by Bernard Gallant.The Beavers came close with 3-1 and 4-2 deficits, but the Draveurs&rsquo; defensive corps held off the Sherbrooke attack. Tasse scored two goals and Sauve and Gallant each scored in the third period for a 7-3 Draveurs win.Trois-Rivieres&rsquo; All Star defensemen Norman Rocheford, Pierre Lacroix, and Leblanc kept control of the game, and Mario Tardif, though not an All Star, emerged with a superb defensive effort as well.&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk to me about three defensemen,&rdquo; says Draveurs&rsquo; coach Bergeron. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got four good ones. Tardif has confidence and he&rsquo;s playing exceptionally well.&rdquo;The Draveurs used just the four defensemen throughout the two games. Though they showed signs of tiring, they did hold the Beavers to the combined total of four goals.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve played all year with four defensemen, so now it&rsquo;s easy for me,&rdquo; says Tardif. &ldquo;They have some tough players though. With a guy like Begin who&rsquo;s fast and strong, I try to play it safe. So far, it&rsquo;s worked out well, &ldquo;&ldquo;But the series isn&rsquo;t over yet,&rdquo; continues Tardif. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like Sherbrooke to lose. They could come back.&rdquo;As Bergeron aptly concludes: &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a good team, they&rsquo;ve got a good team, so everybody gets a great final.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01234/3876361-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="587" height="719"><figcaption class="caption-body">JACQUES CLOUTIER&hellip;Solid In Goal</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02183/3876354-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="578" height="720"><figcaption class="caption-body">MICHEL LEBLANC&hellip;Scored In Opener</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0038-01

Powerful Draveurs Breeze Through To Carry QMHL Memorial Cup Hopes

Sun. May. 6Ontario vs QuebecMon. May. 7Quebec vs WHL(Games to be played on home ice of Quebec winner)Tue. May. 8WHL vs OntarioWed. May. 9Quebec vs Ontario(Games to be played in Sherbrooke)Thu. May. 10WHL vs QuebecFri. May. 11Ontario vs WHL(Games to be played at Verdun Auditorium)Sun. May. 13Final at Montreal Forum &#9632;

Ontario, Quebec To Open Cup Play

<div class="byline">&#x2014;By Bill Hilts</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01215/3876416-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="354" height="421"></div><h2>N.Y. Metro League</h2>The Oyster Bay Gulls and N.Y. Jr. Rangers are tied at a game apiece of the best-of-five Keegan Cup playoff series by virtue of two of the most exciting Metropolitan N.Y. Jr. Hockey Association games played this season. Rangers took the opener with a stunning 7-6 road win. Billy Nichols scored two of his three goals early in the first period to give Gulls 2-0 lead. N.Y. came back and tied game 5-5 late in final period. Ryan Boyd made it 6-5 with his second goal of game for Rangers, with just 3:20 left. Tom lerna then tied things for Gulls with 1:20 remaining, before Eugene Senk slipped a breakaway shot through Brian Benstock&rsquo; legs for the winner. Brian Mullen and Bobby Amore also had two goals for Rangers while Gary Stone, Dave Drew and Steve Hamlin aided Nichols&rsquo; outstanding effort&hellip;The teams met at Coney Island for game two and this time it was N.Y. which grabbed that illfated 2-0 lead. Senk and Mullen beat Benstock, who was subbing for Kevin Kiendle, who was out with hand injury suffered in opener. Gary Stone and Nichols tied things before Boyd put the Rangers ahead 3-2 after first period. Kiendle returned to action under heavy N.Y. pressure in second period and shut the door&mdash;tight! Dave Drew pulled the Gulls even at 18:06 of second period and with 1:27 remaining in regulation time, Alan Barth put home the winner for Oyster Bay on passes from Gary Millner and Nichols and the series was tied&hellip;Kiendle, the league&rsquo;s top goalie during regular season, was outstanding. Gary Weicker played both games in goal of Rangers.<h2>New England League</h2>The best-of-seven final playoff series is set for the New England Jr. Hockey League as round one was completed, pitting NEJHL regular season champs South Shore against an inspired Springfield Olympic Squad.The Olympics a .500 hockey team through the regular season, dethroned defending Wallace Cup Champion Fitchburg as Ralph Angeli lit the red light only 12 seconds into the first overtime period to gain a 4-3 victory and a Chance to face the Braves in the final round. Springfield had rebounded from a 2 to 1 deficit in games to pull the upset in the best-of-five series&hellip;South Shore had little trouble with Tyngsboro Huskies in their best-of-five playoff series, sweeping in three straight games. The third game proved why the Braves were regular season champs as they routed the Huskies 15-1. Sharpest shooters in the 70-shot Brave attack were Dan Maul (4 goals), Brian Bertoni (3 goals) and John Andrews (2 goals).<h2>United States League</h2>After wrapping up both the Central Conference and United States League championships, the Waterloo Blackhawks have completed their finest season as 1978-79 playoff champions. The Hawks defeated a stubborn Sioux City squad three games to one in the best of five series to claim the title. The Musketeers jumped off to a short-lived 1-0 lead in the series with a 6-5 win in the first game of the championship round, but Waterloo turned the tables and came back with wins of 5-4 (in overtime), 61 and 7-3&hellip;Waterloo, gaining a bye in the first round, sat back and watched conference rivals Green Bay and Sioux City defeat the first and second place teams of the Midwest Conference. Third place Sioux City defeated the first place Austin Mavericks three games to one, while the second place Bobcats defeated Midwest Conference runnerups, the Bloomington Jr. Stars, three games to none in their best of five series&hellip;Anoka/Hennepin and St. Paul also played a two-game, total-goal series for the right to play Waterloo and the Vulcans were the eventual winners, 11-8&hellip;Second round action saw Waterloo sweep a best-of-seven series with St. Paul, four games to none, and Sioux City win their best of five series, three games to one, to set the stage for the championship round. Waterloo finished 45-13-0 on the year.<h2>N.Y. - Penn League</h2>The Binghamton Barons and Syracuse Stars, first and second in the regular season in the New York-Pennsylvania Major Jr. Hockey League, will meet in the sixth Empire Cup Championship series, to determine the playoff champ for the 1978-79 season&hellip;Stars ousted defending Empire Cup champs Rochester Monarchs, four games to one, in a surprisingly high-scoring series. Syracuse scored 45 goals in the five games, while Rochester tallied 24. The final game, a 10-2 Stars win, was the lowest scoring of the series)The Barons, runaway regular season champs, took five games to get by the scrappy Buffalo Jr. Sabres, who captured the series opener in Binghamton, but couldn&rsquo;t find the win column thereafter.There were some curious similarities between the two semi-final series. The sole victories by Rochester and Buffalo came on their opponents ice, where visiting teams had had little success this year. The home ice records of the Stars (17-2-6) and Barons (24-1-0) gave no clue that they would drop a home playoff game, but each suffered a one goal loss at home. Each series featured one overtime game, captured by the visiting team by the identical scores of 7-6.Syracuse defenseman Joe Indivero emerged as the leading scorer of the semi-finals, with four goals and 15 assists, for 19 points. Roger Clarke and Jay Wall, also of the Stars, finished second and third, followed by Binghamton trio of Peter Shaughnessy, Steve Salvucci and Scott Press. Wall, Press and Rochester&rsquo;s Bob Stuewe had the only hat tricks and overtime winners were notched by John O&rsquo;Neil of the Stars and Les Richen of Buffalo. Goaltenders Carl Miedaner of Syracuse and Binghamton&rsquo;s Scott Card posted the best goals-against-averages, thus far in playoff action with 3.30 and 3.99 respectively-<h2>Great Lakes League</h2>&ldquo;A&rdquo; Division: The Great Lakes Jr. Hockey League post-season playoffs produced only a few surprises. Allen Park Paddock Pool Saints, the regular season GLJHL champs, took Wayne Chiefs in three games in the finals. The Chiefs reached the championship series by defeating Detroit Jr. Wings three straight, 5-3, 9-7, 7-4. Saints, opening at Fraser Hockeyland, took game one by a 6-3 margin. In series second game at Wayne, Chiefs trailed until 19:59 of final stanza, when Steve Slasor tallied, to knot the score and an overtime period ensued. At 5:51 into the-extra period, Kirt Bjork, already with an early third period goal, scored to give Saints a two games to none advantage in best-of-five series. It was back to Fraser where Paddock, with a 9-6 win, wrapped up League championship, the State Title, and a trip to U.S. National Playoffs in Fitchburg, Mass&hellip;Saints&rsquo; centerman Bjork, led in playoff statistics with 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points in seven games&hellip;Wayne Chiefs played only six games in entire playoffs. Cleveland Jr. Barons declined to play in quarter-finals which advanced the club directly to the semi&rsquo;s with Detroit. From there it was three straight over Jr. Wings and three straight losses to Saints&hellip;Redford Royals were paired in opening action with Fraser where two of the three contests went into overtime. The Highlanders scored both the sudden death goals and went on to win game three to advance to semi&rsquo;s against Saints&hellip;Paddock blasted 23 shots into Fraser nets to gain a 2-0 game advantage. In third game, however, facing elimination, and just 27 seconds into sudden death overtime, Highlander center Kurt Urch won a crucial corner faceoff, setting up Mike Dill for a perfect shot high in the corner which beat Saints&rsquo; goelie Mike Osaer.<h2>Central League</h2>Tim Allen public relations director for the Central Jr. Hockey League, sends word of their successful fund raising campaign, worked in conjunction with the Chicago Metropolitan Chapters of the March of Dimes on presenting the Second Annual League All Star Game. The contest, played between the league champion Elmhurst Huskies and a league All Star squad, resulted in a 6-6 tie and raised over $1,500.00 for the March of Dimes. The Huskies represent the CJHL in the AHAUS Jr. &ldquo;B&rdquo; National Championships this month.<h2>American League</h2>After skating away to the American Major Jr. Hockey League Championship, the Assabet Valley Tomahawks have undertaken their second major hurdle on their way to the 1978-79 playoffs by defeating the MassConn Twins 8-6 in the first game of the best-of-five final round. Their first hurdle came when they outscored a stubborn Framingham team and won their best-of-three series, two games to one. MassConn gained the rights of playing the finals by sweeping their best-of-three series in two games against Western Mass&hellip;In game one of the finals, Ed Collazzo paced the Tomahawks with two goals and one assist and Mark Johansen added one goal and two assists. MassConn&rsquo;s Bill Ferguson added a goal and two assists in a losing effort. &#9632;

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May 11, 1979

NHL General Manager Reveals His Top Six Picks For 1979 Draft

Hamilton’s Play Making Penguins Take Second Look

Cheevers Has Been Trouble For Canadiens In Past Stanley Cup Action

STOP LAFLEUR CHECKERS’ DILEMMA—Page 3