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February 29, 1980
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.
Roller-Coaster Rangers Lacking Intensity
NEW YORK—The New York Rangers staggered into the homestretch of the season singing an all-too-familiar refrain. The name of the song: why can’t we put together three good periods of hockey? Plagued by inconsistent play and crippled by injuries to key players, the Rangers began a stretch that would see them at home for six of nine games with a 6-4 loss to the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, February 17. “We played the same as we’ve played for the last month,” said the Rangers’ big defenseman, Barry Beck, who has been sidelined with a hyperextended elbow since the end of January. “We play a good period and then a bad period. We’ll have to straighten out, we’re making too many mental mistakes on the ice.” Rangers entered the third period…
Rockies. DeBlois Due For Breaks
DENVER—Lucien DeBlois figures the Colorado Rockies need a few breaks and time. Don Cherry figures Lucien DeBlois needs a little more confidence and that’s all. Both DeBlois, who was acquired from the New York Rangers as part of the five-player trade which sent big defenseman Barry Beck to Manhattan, and the Rockies have showed great promise at times this season. But for the most part, frustration has surpassed gratification. “We could do better,” DeBlois, a strong right winger says. “But if you compare last year to this year, we’re one win away from last year’s record (that was in mid-February). The league is stronger this year with the WHA teams coming in and other teams all seem improved. With the Rockies, we have young defensemen. But it takes awhile. “Grapes (coach Don Cherry) can’t…
HOCKEY AD LIB
Luck Of The Puck EARLIER THIS SEASON, John Bealey, one of the minor officials at the Los Angeles Forum, was showing off a puck from that night’s hockey game. He displayed it as proudly as if it was his new-born baby. Noting that it had nicks in it, we could not understand what made it special. Pointing out that this one puck had been used throughout the entire game, Bealey observed that in about 20 years of hockey games he never before had been at one where the puck did not once sail out of the playing area. Nor, we admitted, had we. Thus, this was a souvenir of rare proportions. I have a friend in New York, Paul Gardella, who has been going to Ranger games since the early 1940s and…
Fear Of Missing Playoffs Prompts Wings’ Coaching Switch To Cardiff
LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS JOHNSTOWN—Marty Read became the second coach in three weeks to be relieved of his duties when the Johnstown Red Wings turned to veteran Jim Cardiff to get the Flood City crew into the Eastern Hockey League playoffs. Read joined former Hampton Aces coach Muzz MacPherson on the fired coaches’ list. Johnstown general manager Al Blade made the announcement and revealed it was a tough move to make. “This was not an overnight decision to release Marty,” commented Blade. “It’s never been easy to let anyone go, but we (Blade and Detroit Red Wings general manager Ted Lindsay) both feel we had better talent than what was shown on the ice this season.” At the time of his dismissal, the first-year coach had guided Johnstown to an 18-25 record, placing…
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