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January 23, 1981
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.
1980: A GOLDEN MIRACLE AT LAKE PLACID
It was certainly the most unforgettable sports event of the decade, maybe even the century: At a time when morale in the United States was incredibly low, with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the hostage situation in Iran and the overall tenuous position of the U.S. in foreign and domestic affairs, a group of young kids skated onto the ice of the Lake Placid Arena on the afternoon of February 22, 1980, and beat the Soviets, the best ‘earn in the world, 4-3, an incredible victory which they parlayed into a gold medal two days later. Tom Murray, the Editor in Chief of THE HOCKEY NEWS, was at Lake placid for that unforgettable weekend, which he recalls in the following story, which initially appeared in the March 7, 1980 edition of…
Jets’ Smith Employs Unique Approach
WINNIPEG—Smith, as any telephone directory will confirm, is a rather common variety of name. But Mike Smith, the new associate coach of the Winnipeg Jets, when compared with his National Hockey League counterparts, is a relatively uncommon type of individual. He’s one of those advanced thinkers, the new breed of hockey tutors who is adapting to the vast changes that have taken place in the skating game. Born in Potsdam, N.Y., about 20 miles south of Cornwall, Ont., the 35-year-old bachelor, who has a doctorate in political science and Russian studies, joined the recently appointed interim coach Bill Sutherland behind the Jets’ bench in St. Louis in early December. For the time being, each of the coaches will have equal status and neither man apparently has authority over the other. How such an…
Nighthawks Need Defense Tightening
NEW HAVEN—Goaltender Steve Baker must come up with the big saves if the Nighthawks are to climb in the Southern Division standings. He started on the comeback trail with a 5-0 shutout of Adirondack early in the week, his first whitewash of the season. Coach Rod Gilbert rewarded Baker with a start the next afternoon in Maine and the ex-Ranger netminder played well in a 3-2 loss to the Mariners. However, at this writing, Baker has a losing record and a goals-against average hovering near 4.00 per game. Rookie Steve Weeks, Baker’s competitor for the New Haven goaltending duties, actually has been more consistent during the first half of the season. If Baker can rebound, the Nighthawks could be in the thick of the race for the Southern Division crown…
Howe Mending After Freak Injury
HARTFORD—The Hartford Whalers must learn of life without Mark Howe. Howe was injured in the Whalers’ 36th game, and according to father Gordie, will be out “for at least a month and maybe more.” Every team has an irreplaceable part and Howe is Hartford’s. A legitimate game-breaker, Howe had 43 points at the time of the injury and was the league’s No. 1 scoring defenseman, a shade ahead of Pittsburgh’s Randy Carlyle and Denis Potvin of the Islanders. “You don’t replace a Mark Howe,” coach Don Blackburn said. “If you had to point to one thing that made us different than other NHL expansion teams, you’d point to Mark. The way he was going, he could have made the All Star team.” “I never had any idea that the base of the net was…
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