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June 1, 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.
New Teams Came Up Short Against Old Line NHL Clubs
TORONTO—Two of the National Hockey League’s four expansion teams reached the Stanley Cup playoffs this season but had the new clubs been more productive against the established teams they might have all made it to the post-season round. A look back at the 1979-80 season reveals that none of the four new teams was completely able to master the old clubs. In fact the disparity between the two was pretty conclusive. The new teams met the old clubs a total of 272 times, won only 78, tied another 46 and lost 148 games. They were outscored 1,009 to 894 and while they performed better at home than on the road, they still came off second best and did little to help NHL parity. The new teams—Hartford, Edmonton, Quebec and Winnipeg—collected a total…
Conditioning Program A Must For Pro Athletes
“Hockey is still in the dark ages when it comes to conditioning as far as professional athletes go. Hockey and baseball have got to be the worst. “ Who says so? Bill Gvoich, director of the Sports and Fitness Academy in Stoney Creek, Ont. and for the past four years the fitness consultant of the Detroit Red Wings—and he has the facts to prove it. According to Gvoich, National Hockey League players generally have poor endurance, their flexibility is poor by elite athletes’ standards and their muscular strength in their upper body is not at the level it should be. And even hockey players’ leg power, which is mistakenly taken for granted because of all the skating they do, is not as proficient as it should be. “There’s a tremendous need for a good…
Oilers’ Operation Now Under Sather’s Control
EDMONTON—The Oilers stopped playing hockey games in mid-April, but they found a new game in mid-May to keep things interesting. They played musical chairs. General manager Larry Gordon shuffled off to Wichita to become owner of the Oilers’ farm club in the Central League. Coach Glen Sather became coach-GM and president of the club, assuming a similar portfolio to that of Buffalo’s Scotty Bowman. Assistant coach Dave Dryden, who quit the Oilers as a goalie last December, moved down from his perch in the press box to a spot closer to ice-level. Behind the bench. Director of player personnel Bruce MacGregor switched and became assistant GM in charge of the day-to-day operations of the office. Throw in the fact that veteran radio broadcaster Bill Tuele replaced former Canadian Press writer John Short as PR man for…
Eastern Colleges Feature Size, Speed
BOSTON—College hockey has always been one of North America’s fastest and most exciting spectator sports in its own right. But not until the 1970’s did professional people seriously regard the college game as an excellent breeding ground for players who could make the jump to the pro ranks. With the draft nearly upon us, the pro scouts’ briefcases and file folders are bursting with information on eligible skaters. Very often, the most promising prospects aren’t the highest scorers or the most valuable players on their respective school teams. But all of them have size, speed and good hockey sense which will make the professional teams willing to gamble on their adaptability to National Hockey League play. Here, in alphabetical order, are ten Eastern draftables for the 1980 picking who ought to go…
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