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.

October 2, 1981

The Hockey News October 2, 1981

<h2>NORTHERN DIVISION</h2>Fredericton ExpressMaine MarinersNew Brunswick HawksNova Scotia VoyageursSpringfield Indians<h2>SOUTHERN DIVISION</h2>Adirondack Red WingsBinghamton WhalersErie BladesHershey BearsNew Haven NighthawksRochester Americans &#9632;

IN THIS ISSUE

Starting AHL Teams

Although no one in the National Hockey League will deny&mdash;with a straight face, anyway&mdash;that the recent 8-1 rout of Team Canada by the Soviets in the Canada Cup was not embarrassing, don&rsquo;t expect any major changes in the style, approach or philosophy Canadians currently use in teaching their system. Why? Because enough changes have already been made, thanks to earlier meetings between Canada and major European powers during the &lsquo;70s.In a recent interview with the Toronto Star&rsquo;s Frank Orr, Cliff Fletcher, the general manager of the Calgary Flames who held the same position with Team Canada, discussed the challenges and problems facing Canada when participating in one of these international tournaments. Here is what Fletcher told Orr in the Star&rsquo;s Sept. 19 edition:Maybe we could have trained longer but we did a great many right things and quite a few new ones, too.The score of that game was devastating to everyone involved with Team Canada. Our team had played so well throughout the tournament and we felt we had a big chance in the final. But when the Soviets received such great goaltending from Vladislav Tretiak in the first period and we couldn&rsquo;t get the lead, it was a setback.When they went ahead, 2-1, in the second on a bad goal, the Soviets stepped up the pace and intensity of the game and we couldn&rsquo;t match them.The hard part of it all is that in the last two events when they&rsquo;ve beaten us&mdash;the &lsquo;79 Challenge Cup and the Canada Cup&mdash;we&rsquo;ve played them six times and won three of the games. Our big problem is that we&rsquo;ve lost the two that really counted.As for that loss triggering big changes in our game in the NHL or in amateur hockey in Canada, we&rsquo;ve already made big changes because of previous exposures to the Soviets, starting with the first series in &lsquo;72.Up to that point, there was almost no off-ice training done by NHL or Canadian teams. Now every team has an off-ice program and most NHL clubs have an expert in that area on their staffs. We&rsquo;ve moved to the coaching staff approach with specialists to work on the upgrading of players&rsquo; skills.In our league in the past few seasons, especially after the loss in the Challenge Cup, there&rsquo;s been a big movement to the flow-and-motion game and an emphasis on offense because the Soviets excelled with that style.In this year&rsquo;s Canada Cup, the Sbviets used many ingredients from the old style of play in the NHL, the way the game was before we picked up on the things they were doing so well. Many times, they had five men back on defense and they iced the puck often when they were under pressure, things they seldom did before.On population, sheer numbers of people, it&rsquo;s going to be very difficult for Canada and the U.S. ever to compete with the Soviets on equal footing.It&rsquo;s the same thing as Canada trying to compete with the U.S. in football, baseball or basketball. They simply have so many more people playing those games than we do that there&rsquo;s bound to be more elite athletes reaching the top of the pyramid.A Soviet official told me something that didn&rsquo;t offer much encouragement. In their Gold Puck competition in the USSR, which covers the age group from eight to 13 years, there are 3.2 million boys registered. With that many players at the bottom of the pyramid, the number who reach world-class level is much, much higher than the number Canadian hockey can produce. &#9632;

Soviet Win Won’t Change Canadian Philosophy

<div class="byline">LARRY SKINNER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01338/4409199-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="362" height="352"></div><h2>CAHA&rsquo;s National Team Concept</h2>AS CANADIANS EVERYWHERE focused their attention on the performance of our NHL superstars in the second coming of the Canada Cup one question was raised: How successful will Canada be in future international competitions?The performance of Canadian teams internationally, particularly at the amateur level, is a concern to everyone. This is obviously a concern also to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, whose responsibility it is to develop players for tomorrow&rsquo;s major events such as the Olympics and World Championships.With this concern now a priority, the CAHA, with the assistance of the Federal Government, has unveiled a new concept which is designed to better prepare Canada for future international hockey competition.The concept, known as the Program of Excellence, will focus initially on the development of national teams at the Midget and Junior levels for the purpose of providing Canada&rsquo;s best players in these age categories exposure to international competition on a more regular basis. Now more players, at younger age levels, will have this opportunity.The conducting of a National Junior Team Training Camp and a National Midget (Under 17) Development Camp in Kingston, Ont., from August 23-31 marked the initial phase of the CAHA Program of Excellence.<h2>European Style Camp</h2>THE NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM Training Camp, featuring 46 of Canada&rsquo;s top hockey players under age 20, was conducted to select and prepare a Canadian team to participate in the 1982 World Junior Championships scheduled for Minnesota, December 22 - January 4.Due to the make-up of the Camp, for the first time Canada will be represented by a truly National team involving players from University, Major Junior, Junior A and other amateur leagues across the country.Dave King of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, former winner of Coach of the Year awards in both Canadian University hockey and the Western Major Junior Hockey League, was named head Coach of Canada&rsquo;s entry in the World Junior Championships.At the Training Camp, King received assistance from Mike Keenan, coach of the Rochester Americans, and Jacques Lemaire, former Montreal Canadien star who spent the last two seasons coaching in Switzerland.Queen&rsquo;s University proved to be an ideal site for both the Midget and Junior Camp, as players were accommodated in a student residence and meals served at a campus cafeteria. All on-ice and off-ice training sessions were held in the combined Physical Education Centre and Arena complex.Patterned after similar European camps, the daily schedule consisted of morning and evening ice sessions together with dryland training and lecture sessions. Comprehensive fitness tests will also be conducted to measure each player&rsquo;s current level of fitness.Of the 46 players in attendance at the National Team Camp, 31 played with Major Junior teams last season, 10 with U.S. universities, three with Canadian universities and one each from Junior A and Junior B teams.Some of the standouts at the Junior Training Camp included goaltender Mike Moffat, defenseman Randy Velischek and forwards Mark Morrison and Jean-Marc Gaulin.Moffat, of the Kingston Canadians, was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1980, and has an excellent chance of graduating to the parent club this season. Velischek, drafted by Minnesota in 1980, has starred with Providence College the past two seasons. Morrison, a speedy center, played a big offensive role in leading the Victoria Cougars to the Western Hockey League Championship. Gaulin, drafted by Quebec in 1981, scored 90 points last season for Sorel in the Quebec Major Junior League.<h2>Identifying Midget Talent</h2>THE NATIONAL MIDGET Development Camp, which was held in conjunction with the Junior Camp, served as a prototype for future camps of this age category. Unlike the National Junior Camp, whose immediate objective is to prepare a team for this year&rsquo;s World Junior Championship, the Midget Camp was designed with more long term objectives in mind.The primary purpose of the National Midget Camp was to identify talent in the under 17 age category and expose these players to high calibre coaching.A total of 34 players from across Canada participated in the Camp. Players in attendance were selected from similar provincial talent identification camps or by their respective CAHA Development representative in each province. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec all held provincial Midget camps prior to the National Camps.Head instructors for the Midget Camp were Clare Drake of Edmonton and Barry MacKenzie of Wilcox, Saskatchewan. Drake was a member of the coaching staff-for Canada&rsquo;s 1980 Olympic Team while MacKenzie is Principal of Notre Dame College and former coach of the 1980 Air Canada Cup Champion Notre Dame Hounds. The Director of the Camp is Dave Andrews of Victoria, B.C.Next summer a larger Camp will again be conducted concentrating on identifying our best players in the under 17 age category. In addition, it is hoped that a National Midget Team will be selected from this Camp and that a series of exhibition games against European competition can be scheduled during the Christmas break.If this summer&rsquo;s National Training Camps are any indication, Canada should remain an international hockey force for years to come. &#9632;

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CANADIAN AMATEUR SCENE

<div class="byline">BY DICK BEDDOES</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-02966/4407027-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="327" height="326"></div>Dick Beddoes, a Toronto-based writer and sportscaster, is a former political columnist for the Toronto Globe and Mail and a man who has been watching hockey games for more years than he&rsquo;d care to admit. He makes his debut in THE HOCKEY NEWS as a regular columnist with the following.<h2>A Hulluva Comeback?</h2>BANG THE DRUM slowly this day, boys, because a lot of the people in the National Hockey League are saying it&rsquo;s a shame that Bobby Hull should attempt a comeback with the New York Rangers.Just like that. Hull can&rsquo;t come back at 42. Finished forever.Experts are saying that it makes a mockery of the NHL when a guy rising 43 thinks he can still play when he hasn&rsquo;t slammed a slapshot in anger for a couple of seasons.Don&rsquo;t you believe it, Clyde.Why should Hull be over that old huckleberry hill at such a tender age?Didn&rsquo;t Gordie Howe play until he was 52? And wasn&rsquo;t the worst Hartford Whaler on the last day he played.Why not hope that Hull can make the Rangers?He is the super-shooter of all the years and nuts to the best in the Soviet Union. The Rangers never owned anybody like him, which is why they have not won the Stanley Cup since 1940.And if Hull can return, he&rsquo;ll take us back to a time when we were all a whole lot younger&hellip;Hey, I saw him just the other night in Chicago, out near a cavernous old barn known as the Stadium. He parked his station wagon and there were kids out front and they all wore Black Hawk windbreakers.Robert&mdash;his Mom always called him Robert&mdash;wrote several autographs in his flowing script, asking the kids what their names were before he signed. He rumpled the hair of the nearest kid and went into the Stadium.He had scored 50 goals, and was going for 51, the first time any big-leaguer would barge through that barrier.There were 16,666 fanatics in the Stadium, but that figure was a fiction always announced by the Chicago management to deceive the fire marshal.A truer figure was 20,000 and they bawled up a storm when the Golden Jet skated out.You should have heard the racket, Clyde, when Hull fired No. 51 against the Rangers.<h2>Pure Joy Reigned</h2>A NIAGARA OF NOISE boiled out of the hollering galleries. Somebody hurled a hat onto the ice and Hull grabbed it and put it on his head. Pure joy reigned. They had to send for clean-up crews to remove the delirious debris of programs and peanuts and spilled popcorn&hellip;And, Clyde, just the week before last I saw Hull at Maple Leaf Gardens, the old Cashbox on Carlton Street in Toronto.Team Canada &lsquo;76 was in town to confront the Soviet Union, and the boos came rolling down when the Russians skated out.But when the Canadians skated out, they cheered. They cheered Clarke and Orr and Esposito, the big guys in the one game that grabs Canadians by the short hairs of our patriotism.When Hull came out, there was an ovation.They were cheering a pro whose vivid play and graceful manners with the public puts everybody in the NHL in a dress shirt.Early in the game, Hull set the spirited tone for the Canadians when he belted Valery Vasiliev with a bodycheck like roofs caving in.R. Alan Eagleson looked like he&rsquo;d die. Right there. Of absolute delight.Sure, the Canadians won that game, 3-1, and Hull played with his customary insouciance, as though he alone knows that hockey is for fun and laughter.So you&rsquo;re not telling me the truth, Clyde. Bobby Hull isn&rsquo;t finished. That is because he lives inside hockey.Bobby Hull lives in the playpen, skating forever under bright lights on big-league rinks. He lives in the steamy springtime, when the Stanley Cup is on the line.<h2>If He&rsquo;s Too Old&hellip;</h2>SEASONS VANISH FOREVER, but not Bobby Hull. If he&rsquo;s too old to play hockey, then we&rsquo;re all too old for childhood dreams.If Bobby Hull is too old, then it&rsquo;s too late for Christmas or for plucking a rose from the passing time.The poems will never get written, the music never composed, the dances never danced. It&rsquo;s goodbye for all of us.Goodbye to the red-haired girl with the bulky coat who walked with me through the snow to midnight mass in Edmonton, my girl with promise in her eyes.Goodbye to Central Park and the horse-drawn buggy rides, and carefree boat rides around Manhattan Island.Farewell to the Fraser River, in southwest British Columbia, where we caught coho salmon and, afterward, around a camp fire, made love in the flickering dark.Tell me Bobby Hull is finished and you have to tell me they expanded the NHL to a ludicrous 21 teams, or talk about moving the Bruins out of Boston, or took the Stanley Cup away from the Montreal Canadiens.If I believe these things, Clyde, I might believe the USSR beat Canada 8 to 1 in a Canada Cup final, and an obsolete actor named Ronald Reagan is going to be the next President of the United States.But I don&rsquo;t want to believe it. None of that happened. Bobby Hull is still 25, and Chicago has a game in Toronto tonight and I wish to hell Harold Ballard got him for the Maple Leafs.If Bobby Hull is old, Canada is old. The States, too. That&rsquo;s not true. It&rsquo;s not. Is it? &#9632;

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BEDCLOTHES

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01718/4409333-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">GUY LAFLEUR</figcaption></div>WILL HAPPY DAYS BE HERE AGAIN FOR MONTREAL&rsquo;S GUY LAFLEUR?THIS YEAR&rsquo;S NHLSCHEDULE: A 4-PAGEPULL-OUT CALENDARGUY LAFLEURCOMPLETE MINOR LEAGUE AND JUNIOR SCHEDULESIN THIS ISSUE:INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST COLUMNIST&hellip;DICK BEDDOES!LOSS TO SOVIETS WON&rsquo;T CHANGE CANADA&rsquo;S HOCKEY PHILOSOPHY &#9632;

Cover-01

The Hockey News $1.00 64522 THE INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2, 1981 Vol. 35, No. 1

<div class="byline">FRANK ORR&#x2019;S</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-011093/4406415-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="332" height="370"></div><h2>Potvin&rsquo;s Long Month</h2>DENIS POTVIN EMERGED from the Canada Cup experience with a bad taste, a sore groin and the sweater of the Soviet Union&rsquo;s remarkable goaltender Vladislav Tretiak.He&rsquo;ll value the sweater as a souvenir from an athlete he admires a great deal but, along with the other National Hockey League stars who comprised Team Canada &lsquo;81, he must live with the embarrassment of that 8-1 defeat in the Canada Cup&rsquo;s final game.It was wipeout city that night in the Montreal Forum, the second time in less than three years that the superb hockey team representing the USSR had inflicted a stunning defeat on the NHL&rsquo;s best. Add the third game of the &lsquo;79 Challenge Cup to the Canada Cup final and the score is 14-1 in favor of the comrades.It&rsquo;s more than mere coincidence that in both those defeats, Denis Potvin has played at something well below his enormous physical capacity. In the Challenge Cup, a shoulder injury handicapped him. In the Canada Cup, a groin injury acquired in the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs when the New York Islanders collected their second consecutive crown that hadn&rsquo;t cleared up by September made Potvin a mere shadow of his awesome best.To say that Team Canada would have won the Canada Cup if Potvin had been healthy, of course, is hopeful speculation. It is safe to say that their chances would have been much better if Potvin could have been the dominating, intimidating leader of the Islanders&rsquo; glory.Anyway, the battle was over&mdash;and lost&mdash;and Potvin patiently sat in the dressing room and discussed the fiasco, his own injury-inspired frustrations and his thoughts on the shape of the future international showdowns.&ldquo;They [the Soviets] were looking to wear us down,&rdquo; Potvin said. &ldquo;If we could have scored in the first period when we had some good chances and Tretiak was so great, we would have snapped any feeling that they are invincible. In the second period, the Soviets got into their groove, we never found ours and that was it.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a big kick in the teeth because we had accomplished so much as a team in only a month. The team had great pride and when I looked around the room before the game, I saw only winners and I felt that we&rsquo;d be able to assert our supremacy. It just didn&rsquo;t happen.&rdquo;<h2>One-Legged Defenseman</h2>THROUGH MUCH of that game, Potvin was playing on one leg. Of course, the old cliche says that he&rsquo;s better on one leg than most other players are on two but it&rsquo;s not quite true. The groin injury sidelined him for a couple of days at the start of camp and prevented his gaining top form at any time.&ldquo;I had no real power in my leg and when holes would open, I just couldn&rsquo;t get into them the way I can,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was afraid to push hard off that leg in case I did serious damage.&ldquo;In the final against the Russians, I hurt it more in the first period. The doctors taped it heavily and for the rest of the game, the leg was just sort of hanging there. The Russians had to know that I couldn&rsquo;t outskate a forechecker and break up the ice quickly.&ldquo;It was extremely frustrating to see chances to do things and not be able to do them.&rdquo;Potvin did try to initiate a sweater exchange with the Soviets, similar to a warm moment when Team Canada traded shirts with the Czechs after the &lsquo;76 Canada Cup.&ldquo;I skated over to Tretiak, he understood what I was saying but he pointed to the coaches,&rdquo; Potvin said. &ldquo;They said &lsquo;nyet&rsquo; at first, then said wait two minutes.&ldquo;I had to go to a TV interview after the game and when I was on the way out of it, the Soviets waved me into their dressing room and I traded sweaters with Tretiak.&ldquo;Tretiak has been the outstanding goalie, maybe even athlete, in international hockey for ten years. He&rsquo;s about 75 percent of their team. I have great respect for him and his sweater is a reminder of a great performer.&rdquo;<h2>A Different Format</h2>POTVIN WOULD like to meet the Soviets again but under different circumstances. He&rsquo;d like to match the Islanders against that Soviet team in a series.&ldquo;I have to question the format of the Canada Cup,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Maybe the best idea is to incorporate the Russians into the NHL playoffs and have the Stanley Cup winners play them in a best-of-seven series, either here or there, it doesn&rsquo;t matter.&ldquo;Give the Cup winners four or five days off, maybe bolster them with three or four players and have a go with the Soviets. I think a real team would have a fair shot. Yes, perhaps sending the New York Islanders against them would be the way to do it.&rdquo;Potvin feels the Soviets&rsquo; edge over the NHL All Stars and Team Canada has been consummate team play, the result of much time together, and sending an NHL team against them would reduce the handicap of a lack of time to develop it.&ldquo;Team Canada had great talent and can you imagine how devastating the team would be if we had a whole season together,&rdquo; Potvin said.&ldquo;When I think about the Islanders and how it took us maybe three years with a core of players we have to get our systems honed to a fine execution, our ease and familiarity with each to the automatic stage and everything ironed out, I realize the impossible task we tried to accomplish in five weeks.&ldquo;With the Islanders, I never have to think where John Tonelli or Ken Morrow or Gordie Lane or Bryan Trottier is going to be in any situation. I just know. With Team Canada, there was no chance to develop that &lsquo;you just know&rsquo; situation.&rdquo; &#9632;

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HOCKEY VIEWPOINT

<div class="byline">BY FRANK ORR</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011101/4406453-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">This September&rsquo;s Canada Cup gave Guy Lafleur a chance to get a jump on the 1981-82 season, the same as he did following the first Canada Cup in 1976, when he went on to have his best season ever, scoring 136 points. &bull; (Photo by Steve Babineau)</figcaption></div>Approximately a year ago, fire wiped out the guesthouse on the property of Guy Lafleur in Baie D&rsquo;Urfe, a posh suburb of Montreal.C&rsquo;est la vie! An accident!The marvelous right winger of the Montreal Canadiens, the National Hockey League&rsquo;s top star of the 1970s, Lafleur says, in retrospect, that he saw nothing ominous in the fire. Little did he know at the time that the blaze was just the start of a disastrous year.From that point on, the 1980-81 season was bad news for The Flower, so bad during the next ten months, in fact, that if he had cornered the market on birth control pills, the government would have passed legislation outlawing sex.There were seven different injuries that forced him to miss 29 games, a wee, small hours auto crash that nipped off a piece of his ear, enough rumors about his personal life to supply plots for every television soap opera and two embarrassments, one when the Canadiens were eliminated in three playoff games by the Edmonton Oilers followed by a hasty trip to Sweden to join Team Canada in the world championships, where he immediately encountered an obscure Dutch defenseman who applied a bodycheck to Lafleur that registered on the world&rsquo;s seismographs.&ldquo;It was the sort of year you definitely want to forget,&rsquo;&rsquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been able to blot it out rather well.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s why Lafleur was one NHL star who welcomed the 1981 Canada Cup international tournament. Of course, he didn&rsquo;t welcome the discouraging, crushing end to the Team Canada project, a surprising 8-1 whipping administered by the USSR national team in the tournament&rsquo;s final game.&ldquo;I wish I could figure out why that happened,&rdquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;The team had worked so hard for six weeks. We were confident going into the game. The Soviets are good but not that good in comparison to our club.&ldquo;How do you explain it? I wish I could. It hurt because the whole thing had been such a good time for me.&rdquo;Although he did miss five days of training camp with a sprained back, Lafleur was one of the very best players in the Canada Cup. He played as if the entire &lsquo;80-81 fiasco had never happened.Lafleur worked like a green rookie trying to earn a spot on the team. Once again, he was the offensive master, the most goal-dangerous player the NHL owns. And when he didn&rsquo;t have the puck, he was trying to get it, dogging it with a persistence and intensity that bordered on fanatical.But that always had been a strong point to The Flower&rsquo;s talent garden. Although he never was rated on any list of the best defensive players, few great scorers were as strong without the puck. He never relied on his mates to get it for him; he went after the puck himself.Until Gil Perreault, another star who was coming off an injury-laden season and trying to restart his career, broke his ankle in the fourth game of the Canada Cup, Lafleur played on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Perreault, a match truly made in hockey heaven.That line was a consistent offensive threat but after Perreault disappeared, Marcel Dionne, a gifted attacker, replaced him. Except for the third period of a 7-3 victory over the USSR in the concluding game of the round-robin portion of the tournament, the line didn&rsquo;t have a really fine edge.&ldquo;It was a great treat to play with Gretzky and Perreault,&rdquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;It made me wonder what the three of us might do if we were together for an entire season. Playing with them reminded me of the sort of seasons I had when 1 was on a line with Steve Shutt and Jacques Lemaire.&rdquo;Now, the shattering loss to the Soviets behind him, Lafleur approaches the Canadiens&rsquo; season with a great deal of zing. The team has been off the Stanley Cup throne for two years and Lafleur&rsquo;s three-year hold on the scoring title has been interrupted in the past two seasons by Dionne and Gretzky.And there&rsquo;s the sour, hectic &lsquo;80-81 campaign to forget, a term when Lafleur was out of the lineup nine different times with seven different injuries, a variety of hurts and ailments that included everything except maternity leave.There were rumbles in Montreal that (a) Lafleur was washed up, finished as a front-liner at 29; (b) The Flower was blooming strongly in. the dark, burning his candle at both ends, and (c) he did not exist peacefully with coach Claude Ruel.&ldquo;Of course, I heard it all, the stuff about me being 30 and looking 40, of being finished,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It bugged me a little but not too much. There&rsquo;s only one person 1 have to prove anything to and that&rsquo;s myself.&ldquo;I was not at war with Ruel but the style of hockey he wanted me to play didn&rsquo;t help. He stressed defense and I&rsquo;m not a defensive player. I&rsquo;m a player who must have the puck a great deal but Ruel kept saying &lsquo;stick to your check, get back!&rsquo; It got to me and I hesitated in going for the puck. I stopped moving and my game fell apart. That&rsquo;s when I started to lose my confidence.&rdquo;After the Oilers, a pack of brats who laughed at the Canadiens when they were doing it, shunted the Montrealers aside, Lafleur and mate Larry Robinson rushed to Sweden to join Team Canada.&ldquo;That was a mistake, a big mistake,&rdquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t help the team or myself because I had no motivation. My mind just wasn&rsquo;t there. Then that Dutch player knocked me cold. It seemed to fit right in with everything that happened to me during the season.&rdquo;Lafleur was relieved when the nightmare season was over. The past few summers had been hectic times working on his outside interests&mdash;appearances, commercials&mdash;but he cut down that load drastically in &lsquo;81.&ldquo;All I did was a couple of commercials; the rest of the time I floated, doing nothing, and it was great,&rdquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;From the time I got home from Sweden until I showed up for Team Canada&rsquo;s training camp, I thought very little about hockey.&rdquo;However, Lafleur did think about the Canada Cup. He wondered if he would be invited to camp because right wing in the NHL is loaded with big shooters.&ldquo;I was happy when I received the invition because I wanted to get a head start on a new season,&rdquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;With all the good wingers on my side, I knew I&rsquo;d have no spot guaranteed and that meant plenty of hard work.&ldquo;The best NHL season I ever had was &lsquo;76-77 after the first Canada Cup [56 goals, 136 points]. Steve Shutt scored 60 goals that year. We were a step ahead of everyone from the start and they never caught up.&rdquo;Lafleur shoots down a theory heard a few times in Montreal during the Canada Cup that his auto crash last March in which he escaped death or serious injury by a small margin inspired a change in attitude. The Flower fell asleep at the wheel and woke up with a signpost that came through the windshield beside his head, a small piece of his ear removed by it.&ldquo;The only change it made was that I drive more carefully now,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I still look at the spot every time I drive past it on the way home. But the accident didn&rsquo;t change me. It probably would have if I had been seriously injured.&rdquo;Thus, for Lafleur and the Canadiens&mdash;the parallels between them at this stage in their lives are very real&mdash;the new NHL season means a chance to revitalize some past glories. There&rsquo;s a new coach, Bob Berry, a tough, no-nonsense type of man the team needs. There&rsquo;s still plenty of talent, old and young, available. Mostly, though, there&rsquo;s Guy Damien Lafleur, 30 on Sept. 20, hungry again.&ldquo;I know I can get back to where I was but I must avoid injuries to do it,&rdquo; Lafleur said. &ldquo;Last year, in my view, was more bad luck than anything else. Maybe a year like that is inevitable in every athlete&rsquo;s career and it took me ten years to get to it.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m certain I have five good seasons left-in me. I played only 51 games last season and I had 70 points. That&rsquo;s not bad, you know.&ldquo;I was really pleased at how quickly I was able to shake off what happened last season, to forget it completely after the season ended.&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t long until I felt good physically and had a positive attitude about everything, especially hockey. Because of Team Canada, I&rsquo;ll start the season in great shape.&ldquo;A couple of times last season, the Canadiens appeared to have it going really great but something happened, injuries, a lack of effort every game, and we&rsquo;d lose it.&ldquo;This year, I want to get away to a good start and have the team do the same, then keep it going all season.&rdquo;If both The Flower and the Canadiens do it, it will be more than mere coincidence.<h2>Top All Time Scorers</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-02941/4406446-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="990" height="849"></div> &#9632;

f0003-01

Revitalized Lafleur Resumes Glory Trail

<div class="byline">BY DICK JOHNSTON</div>BUFFALO&mdash;Scotty Bowman and the rest of his Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; coaching staff were hoping one of their rookie centers would produce right at the start so they could try Gil Perreault at left wing, where he performed so spectacularly for Team Canada.Now, however. Bowman and his aides have to actually count on one of the youngsters coming through. They need him right away. Perreault will miss the first two months of the season because of the broken right ankle he suffered while playing in the Canada Cup series.Whether Gil will be a left wing or center this season is academic, until Thanksgiving or thereabouts.The Sabres need a third center for their regular lines. Veterans Derek Smith and Andre Savard are back to center two of the lines. Savard had his best season in eight National Hockey League years in 1980-81.Rob McClanahan, who played all three forward positions in dividing his time between the American League and the Sabres last season, will be given a shot at the pivot spot. He played for Team USA in the Canada Cup series.J.F. Sauve, younger brother of the Sabre goaltender, Bobby Sauve, also divided last season between the AHL and Buffalo. Despite his small stature, 5-6, J.F. impressed the coaching staff during his stint with the big club.He&rsquo;s a solid 180 pounds and when he stations himself in front of the net he isn&rsquo;t easily moved. Sauve has a nose for the puck and when he&rsquo;s on the ice, things happen. He will get a good look.There&rsquo;s also Bobby Mongrain, who was with the Sabres two years ago but spent the 1980-81 season in Rochester. Bowman and his aides seem to have the highest hopes for Randy Cun-neyworth, a 1980 underage draftee who played junior last winter.Cunneyworth is a six-footer with the reputation of being a hard-nosed player. He came up from Ottawa of the Ontario Junior League to play one game for Buffalo and he did not look at all out of place. That was in Boston Garden, not an easy place for a junior to make his NHL debut.There&rsquo;s also another possibility. Alan Haworth, who did a creditable job at right wing as a rookie last season, was a center in junior hockey.If a young right winger should show the potential to move in as a regular with veterans Danny Gare and Ric Seiling, Haworth might be moved to center.Mike Moller was twice called up from Lethbridge of the Western Junior Hockey League to fill in for injured Sabres last season and looked as though he might be ready for the NHL. He&rsquo;s got good size, at 6-0 and 190 pounds.Steve Patrick, also an underage junior, spent much of the 1980-81 campaign with the Sabres, sometimes taking a regular shift, sometimes not. Patrick is 6-4 and 204 pounds, strong in the corners and a good checker But he demonstrated little scoring ability in his brief trial.Perreault looked so good at left wing in the Canada Cup tournament&mdash;he was the leading scorer for all teams when he was hurt in Team Canada&rsquo;s fourth game&mdash;that Bowman would like to try him there with Buffalo.&ldquo;Gil can make plays from the wing, farther up the ice,&rdquo; Scotty noted. &ldquo;He won&rsquo;t have to beat five guys all the time.&rdquo; Of course. Perreault won&rsquo;t have Wayne Gretzky and Guy Lafleur as linemates but he still might be outstanding as a winger.Until his ankle heals, however, Lindy Ruff, who has played both forward and defense in his two seasons as a Sabre, probably will operate up front. Craig Ramsay and Tony McKegney are back on the left side and Gilles Hamel, hurt much of last season, will be working for a regular job there as well.The defense will probably be pretty much the same as last season&mdash;Jim Schoenfeld, Bill Hajt. Richie Dunn, John Van Boxmeer, Larry Playfair and Mike Ramsey return&mdash;and the goaltending will be taken care of by Don Edwards and Sauve. &#9632;

Sabres Counting On Youth To Fill Center Ice Void

<div class="byline">&#x2014;Don Wall</div>Welcome to the 1981-82 hockey season.As we start the season, the second under the new management of THE HOCKEY NEWS, we would like to call your attention to some further changes we are making to help bring you an even better paper and keep you soundly informed about this great game.The National Hockey League enters the season healthier and better directed than has been the case in many years. The new divisional alignment promises to infuse the excitement of real rivalries that only an unbalanced schedule can provide.The Canada Cup, though Canadian fans came away disappointed, showed us all some dynamic hockey and has whetted the appetite of North America for early action.More than ever before, change is the name of our game and we at THE HOCKEY NEWS will continue our efforts to keep this paper in tune with the times, anticipating change and bringing you the best in reporting, analysis and opinion.This season we have added new correspondents for five of the NHL teams, each man the very best in his city: John Gilbert for the North Stars, Gordon Edes for the L.A. Kings, Gary Mueller covering the St. Louis Blues, Bob Fachet the Washington Caps and Reyn Davis following the Winnipeg Jets.Dick Beddoes, famous Toronto newspaper and TV personality joins us as a regular columist. With a combination of wit and knowledge recognized across the continent, his writings should enrich us all.Bill Fleischman will be appearing every week instead of every other week, in response, as they say, to popular demand.We&rsquo;re adding a new nostalgia column, called &ldquo;Didn&rsquo;t You Used to Be&hellip;?Soon also to appear will be a new column entitled &ldquo;The Hockey News Hotseat&rdquo;. The title speaks for itself.And in the next few issues, you&rsquo;ll be reading a new column called BLUELINES; compiled by unnamed contributors and staffers, this column will be loaded with industry gossip and rumors.Our European coverage will be increased to at least one column every two issues, this again in response to the request of our readers.And last but not. least, in a few weeks we&rsquo;ll be introducing a column on the business of hockey. In this piece we&rsquo;ll cover the news of contracts, attendance, promotions, and other activities of the teams at all levels, adding to it news of what&rsquo;s happening in the field of manufacturing and sales of hockey related equipment. Finally, the column will tell us about some of hockey&rsquo;s better known former players and how they are working in various businesses both in and out of hockey.Your favorite features will continue. Stan Fischler and Frank Orr will continue to deliver their own special kinds of magic. You&rsquo;ve responded extremely well to the editorial page and the opinions which we publish under &ldquo;Some Other Views&rdquo;, and we&rsquo;ll keep going with both.We try to change and improve as the game changes and improves&mdash;we hope that you&rsquo;ll let us know how you like what we are doing and that you&rsquo;ll feel free to offer your comments, good or bad. &#9632;

A Letter From The Publisher

<div class="byline">BY JAY GREENBERG</div>PHILADELPHIA - The first time Reggie Leach scored 50 goals, he says it took the Flyers two years before they began to pay him for it. Two seasons after doing it again, he is into the option year of that contract and tired of waiting for the next adjustment.So last week Reggie pointed his loaded rifle at general manager Keith Allen and owner Ed Snider&rsquo;s head&mdash;walking away from the Flyers&rsquo; Portland, Me. training camp. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve been ----ing on me for years,&rdquo; said Reggie before boarding a flight home. &ldquo;Everytime something happens, they&rsquo;re always bitching. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re far apart. And I&rsquo;m not coming back until I have a new contract.&rdquo;Five days later, Leach was back, without a contract. But his agent Frank Milne was to meet with Flyers&rsquo; management. Leach is coming off a 34-goal, 36-assist season, but his play declined so markedly at the end of last season that coach Pat Quinn did not dress him for three playoff games. Reggie has bounced back before, but the Flyers suspect he is on the final drop of his roller-coaster career.He is still a Flyer because Rick MacLeish isn&rsquo;t. And because the team&rsquo;s management hopes it is wrong about its suspicions. With the trading of MacLeish to Hartford over the summer, the Flyers are already missing a minimum of 30 goals. Reggie is gambling they can&rsquo;t afford to miss another 30.But having recently gone to the free-agent mat with Mel Bridgman and facing a probable renegotiation with Bill Barber, the Flyers seem determined to keep their salary structure&mdash;low for such a successful team&mdash;in line. If Keith Allen, the Flyers&rsquo; general manager, can&rsquo;t soon reach an agreement with Milne, it is likely Allen will try to trade Leach.His marketability, in view of his ups and downs, his 31 years, and any further devaluation from the crayon &ldquo;For Sale&rdquo; sign the Flyers will hurriedly hang on him, is not that great. Forever looking to the future, this may be one property the Flyers probably will choose to swallow. And maybe with it whatever chance they had at challenging the Islanders for this year&rsquo;s Stanley Cup.They have kids coming&mdash;right wing Ray Allison, acquired from Hartford as part of the MacLeish deal; left wing Ilkka Sinisalo, second-year center Tim Kerr, who may now be moved to right wing, and good prospects at center in Ron Flockhart, Mark Taylor and Lindsay Carson. But it&rsquo;s a little much to expect any combination of the above to make up in one year the minimum 60 goals MacLeish and Leach would leave behind.&ldquo;Billy Barber and myself are the only ones who can score 30 or 40 goals,&rdquo; said Reggie. A full year of Ken Linseman centering for Brian Propp and Paul Holmgren may make a liar out of Leach yet, but at season&rsquo;s end he may have to be reached for comment in Hartford, Colorado or Washington.Somebody will take him. One point Reggie is making is that his salary is not prohibitive. He is entering the option year of a five-year contract, the base salary of which, by today&rsquo;s standards, is surprisingly low. It calls for about $100,000 a year. But Leach does earn an extra $1,000 for each goal he scores over 15. Two seasons ago, that was worth an extra $35,000, a healthy bonus certainly, but many hockey players who have done less make more.Yet last year&rsquo;s miserable finish hardly improves his bargaining position. When a few negotiation sessions over the summer indicated a huge gap, Reggie says Milne told him to walk.&ldquo;I had heard rumors over the summer,&rdquo; said Flyers&rsquo; coach Pat Quinn, who met with Reggie for 15 minutes before the right wing left camp. &ldquo;But when he showed up and worked so hard, I thought they were unfound. Reggie wasn&rsquo;t angry, very calm. He gave me the impression he had given this a lot of thought. What the source of his advice was would be speculation on my part.&ldquo;What will I do? I&rsquo;ll operate with the thought he might not be available, the same way I am with The Count [injured defenseman Bob Dailey]. Kerr [who played right wing with Bobby Clarke and Barber in the playoff games that Leach sat out], yes, is a possibility. But he looks so good at center, I&rsquo;d be reluctant.&rdquo;ICEBERGS&mdash;Bob Dailey, recovering from cleanup surgery in his knee and now bothered by back pain, had a talk with Pat Quinn: &ldquo;He just seemed down, like any player anxious to pursue his occupation, who couldn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; Quinn said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;ll go through another check, like Paul Holmgren when we get back to Philadelphia next week.&rdquo; Holmgren, who suffered a shoulder separation during Team USA&rsquo;s Canada Cup training, and Bill Barber, who suffered strained knee ligaments at Team Canada&rsquo;s camp, will be held out of at least the first four exhibitions&hellip;The Flyers, then, were opening the season in their usual battered state, but there was one bright note. Jimmy Watson&rsquo;s comeback from a February spinal disc fusion is now fully expected. &#9632;

Leach Stages Short Walkout

<div class="byline">BY RICHARD FRIEDMAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-011001/4406580-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">While a large contingent of Rangers headed to Europe to begin their training camp, Ron Duguay, who didn&rsquo;t have a contract, stayed home.</figcaption></div>NEW YORK&mdash;If was a bittersweet departure for the New York Rangers as they jetted off to Finland for the first two weeks of the exhibition season with only some of their loose ends tied, and an unexpectedly large number of other unravelling.On the plus side was the signing of hometown favorite Nick Fotiu to a contract that both Fotiu and his attorney, Larry Rauch, described as one that would assure Fotiu of spending the rest of his playing career as a Ranger. It was understood to be a one-year pact with various clauses for renewal.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to be back,&rdquo; said Fotiu, who rejoined the Rangers late last season from Hartford and spent most of the summer wondering where he&rsquo;d be this fall.&ldquo;People always say that when you leave New York, the fans forget you,&rdquo; continued the big left wing, who first played here from 1976 to 1979 before going off to the Whalers in the Expansion Draft. &ldquo;But with me, they never did, and 1 was happy about that; it was as if I just went away for awhile.&rdquo;<blockquote class="pullQuote">They had left under somewhat of a cloud as Ulf Nilsson was to be sidelined from four four to six weeks</blockquote>The other loose end that had haunted the team for, literally, years, was the status of goalie Doug Soetaert, who never was given a chance to prove his worth as an NHL-calibre goaltender in all his years here.Now, he&rsquo;ll supposedly have that opportunity with the Winnipeg Jets, but before he was assigned to what amounts to Siberia, Soetaert seemed destined for a team much closer to home. Both the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins had expressed a strong interest in Soetaert. But general manager Craig Patrick wasn&rsquo;t buying.&ldquo;Craig was afraid to put him his own division,&rdquo; said Rauch, who also is Soetaert&rsquo;s representative. The Pittsburgh deal fell through just a day before Soetaert was sent off to the Jets. &ldquo;Or, for that matter, anywhere where his progress could be closely monitored.&rdquo;Meanwhile, the Rangers opened training camp in a place that also did not lend itself to close scrutiny. Vierumscki, Finland, is 85 miles north of Helsinki and as free of distractions as can be. The Rangers had only a remarkably complete sports-fitness facility, and themselves, to look to for diversion. First reports had the squad very, very tired from coach Herb Brooks&rsquo; grueling workouts.To be sure, they had left under somewhat of a cloud. Ulf Nilsson was to be sidelined from four to six weeks after undergoing knee surgery, the result of a collision with Ken &ldquo;The Rat&rdquo; Linseman during Canada Cup play. And Ron Duguay stayed home after his representative, Frank Milne, and Patrick failed to come up with a new contract for the free-agent forward after meeting in Montreal on the eve of the Canada Cup semifinals.The injury to Nilsson delayed for at least a few months any chances of reuniting the line that had set the WHA on fire&mdash;Nilsson, Anders Hedberg, and Bobby Hull. And it also meant that the injury-prone Nilsson still has yet to enjoy a healthy campaign as a Ranger. Last season, he broke his left arm and missed 29 games; in 1979-80 nerve problems in his neck sidelined him for 30 games and in his first season here he broke an ankle.First reports on the rejuvenated Hull were that he showed enthusiasm in scrimmages, but both Brooks and Patrick indicated that the final decision on the veteran wing&rsquo;s status will ultimately be Hull&rsquo;s, one he himself decides if he has the physical and emotional equipment to re-enter the ice wars after a long lay-off.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s doing quite well out there and we&rsquo;re quite happy with him,&rdquo; said Brooks early in training camp. &ldquo;But Bobby&rsquo;s going to be the judge.&ldquo;Right now, our left wings are a little nervous.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Ranger Loose Ends Unravel At Start Of Training Camp

<div class="byline">BY NEIL MILBERT</div>CHICAGO&mdash;Ever resilient, Keith Magnuson still has a full head of red hair.The forecast that it would turn prematurely gray after his first season of coaching the Black Hawks turned out to be a fallacy.However, there were trying times last season when Magnuson&rsquo;s boss, general manager Bob Pulford, couldn&rsquo;t have concealed his own gray thatching with a dozen doses of Grecian Formula.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-02767/4406611-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="594" height="962"><figcaption class="caption-body">Injuries to key players like Rich Preston, above, weakened Chicago&rsquo;s attack last year.</figcaption></div>It was Pulford who stuck his neck out and hired Magnuson in the same stroke he fired Bernie Johnston.And it was Pulford who bore the brunt of the wrath of the Chicago Stadium constituency when the Hawks hit the skids in December.But Magnuson was able to temporarily revitalize the team in January. The Hawks embarked on an eightgame winning streak to equal a club record before tapering off and playing so-so the rest of the way.The 1980-81 season turned out to be one of starts and fits for Pulford, Magnuson, and Co. They saw the team fall to second place in the division and watched Calgary sweep them out of the playoffs in the opening round. But they also saw enough mitigating factors and positive developments to be able to put on happy faces for the start of training camp this month.&ldquo;We should be better,&rdquo; said Pulford on the eve of the camp&rsquo;s opening in Chicago Stadium.&ldquo;Everybody has injuries but we lost more than most. We were sixth hardest hit in the league with 205 man games. (Boston&rsquo;s 58 were the fewest and Washington&rsquo;s 347 were the most.)&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t just that we lost a lot of man-games it was the caliber of the people we lost, players like Grant Mulvey [right wing] and Rich Preston [who can play either wing]. &ldquo;Basically, we lost them for more than half a season.&rdquo; Both Preston [knee surgery in early December] and Mulvey [an operation to repair a shattered forearm in late December] rejoined the team later in the season. But neither Preston nor Mulvey was the player he had been the previous season.Another who had a disappointing season was captain Terry Ruskowski. The feisty little center assisted on 51 goals but scored just eight and the probable cause of his goal drought was a major knee operation in the summer of 1980.&ldquo;In my mind, I don&rsquo;t regard Ruskowski, Mulvey, and Preston as question marks,&rdquo; said Pulford. &ldquo;I think they will come back and play the way they did the year before.&ldquo;Balancewise, we&rsquo;re going to training camp with a very strong team. Denis Savard had a tremendous rookie year and he&rsquo;s only going to get better. Darryl Sutter [author of a team rookie record 40 goals] is going to be a major contributor even if he doesn&rsquo;t get as many goals this time.&ldquo;Reggie Kerr came into his own as a goal-scorer last year and I think he&rsquo;s going to maintain the form he showed.&ldquo;Just how strong we&rsquo;re going to be up front depends on how fast Tony Tanti develops. It&rsquo;s asking too much for a kid who has just turned 18 to step right in and become a regular in the NHL. But we have every reason to believe he&rsquo;s going to turn out to be somebody special.&rdquo;Tanti, the Hawks&rsquo; No. a draft choice, played right wing for Oshawa last season and had 81 goals and 69 assists to break Ontario League rookie records, hitherto held by Wayne Gretzky and Peter Lee.&ldquo;A lot of what I decide to do with personnel depends on how Tanti develops and how Keith uses Preston, on the right side or left side, and Glen Sharpley, at center or right wing,&rdquo; Pulford said.&ldquo;Keith also is going to give good, long looks to three of our rookie defensemen&mdash;Doug Crossman, Jerome Dupont, and Len Dawes. They&rsquo;re all over six-feet tall and they all handle the puck very well.&ldquo;When we get down to the vicinity of 28 players, those last few cuts will be very difficult.&rdquo; &#9632;

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Black Hawks Looking To Fly Higher

Although there are a lot of new writers, columnists and features in THE HOCKEY NEWS for 1981-82, we&rsquo;re not finished yet! Coming in the next couple of weeks will be two more new additions to the paper: The first will be a feature called THE HOCKEY NEWS HOTSEAT, which will focus in on that individual in the hockey world who is in the news the most during the previous week&mdash;for good or bad reasons. And the second feature, called BLUELINES, will bring you up to date on all the latest trade rumors, hockey gossip and assorted controversial potpourri. Don&rsquo;t miss either one! &#9632;

Coming Soon

<div class="byline">BY STAN FISCHLER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011183/4406666-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="307" height="368"></div><h2>Adventures in Meadowlands</h2>AS SURE AS NHL means National Hockey League you can bet your bizillion that John Ziegler&rsquo;s brotherhood will soon place a team in New Jersey&rsquo;s Meadowlands Arena.Anyone who doubts the above does not grasp the &ldquo;where-there&rsquo;s-smoke-there&rsquo;s-arson&rdquo; theory.Or, they never heard of Walter O&rsquo;Malley, who once double-crossed 7,000,000 New Yorkers and destroyed the duchy of Brooklyn by moving the baseball Dodgers to Los Angeles-by-the-sea.Even as his Brooklyn Dodgers were winning the World Series in October 1955, and doing the best business in baseball at the time, O&rsquo;Malley was plotting the orderly retreat of his troops from East to West.Nobody believed 26 years ago that the Dodgers would move. Today I can name 17,500 Ranger fans who refuse to believe that their beloved Blueshirts soon will be transplanted to the mating land of mosquitoes and crazy drivers. Believe, brothers and sisters, believe. The New Jersey Rangers will be.What I want to know is what&rsquo;s going to happen to Madison Square Garden when the Brendan Byrne Arena (Can you believe that name?) becomes the NHL&rsquo;s New Jersey outpost.Will the money-losing Garden be uprooted in favor of a highly-profitable office building, as some ouija-board operators predict?If so, The Big Apple will be minus a world class arena. Would Mayor Ed Koch let his burgh go athletically bush? Would Governor Hugh Carey allow his state to be trumped by New Jersey when Madison Square Garden&rsquo;s name easily could be altered to read the &ldquo;Hugh Carey Coliseum?&rdquo;And could the NHL maintain a major league posture without a team in Manhattan? These are tough questions.Here&rsquo;s what I think: Even though money is tight Carey should find a way to take over and run the Garden: (Why have a N.Y. State Arena Authority if you&rsquo;re not going to build or buy arenas?)I would like to believe that New York City will continue to have an NHL team even if the Rangers do skip to Jersey. (The new club could be called the New York Americans.) And I pray that the current Garden does not go the way of its predecessor, now a parking lot prairie on 50th Street and Eighth Avenue.But I am more realist than optimist. I was there when the Dodgers won the pennant in 1955. I remember what Brooklyn borough president John Cashmore said when he heard about Walter O&rsquo;Malley&rsquo;s possible travelling plans. &ldquo;The Dodgers,&rdquo; Cashmore insisted, &ldquo;must never leave Brooklyn.&rdquo;The Rangers must never leave New York.But they will.<h2>The Bible of Brooks</h2>NOTES: Herb Brooks posted a Will Grimsley (AP) column on the Rangers&rsquo; bulletin board when he moved into the Garden. It was a tribute to Dave Winfield and his positive attitude toward people and his team&hellip;He hopes the Blueshirts got the message&hellip;One of Brooks&rsquo; themes: His players must give as much value as they receive in paychecks&hellip;L.A. Kings&rsquo; GM George Macguire says fighting will never be eliminated from NHL play. &ldquo;But,&rdquo; says Maguire, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s up to the referees to give penalties for intimidation.&rdquo;&hellip;Colorado Rockies&rsquo; boss Peter Gilbert reportedly has set aside $5,000,000 for three years of losses&hellip;Question for Gilbert: Will the five mill last two years?.&hellip;At least four of Jim Craig&rsquo;s U.S. Olympic teammates want nothing to do with him. His gold has tarnished&hellip;There are three coaches outside the NHL who I&rsquo;d hire for my NHL team right now: Tommy McVie (Oklahoma City), Fred Creighton (Indianapolis) and Jack Evans (Salt Lake City)&hellip;Apart from myself, another McVie fan is Lefty McFadden, former GM in Oklahoma City and now an aircraft company exec in Dayton. &ldquo;Tom could walk into the locker room and fire up the team better than anyone I&rsquo;ve ever seen,&rdquo; says Lefty&hellip;Wayne Gretzky caught a Paul Anka concert in Montreal, then went backstage to see the singer-composer. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll write a new song,&rdquo; said Anka, &ldquo;if we could get you to sing, boy.&rdquo; To which Mister Waynederful replied: &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t sing a note.&rdquo;&hellip;Whalers&rsquo; boss Howard Baldwin says his club will be in the NHL&rsquo;s top ten &ldquo;within three years.&rdquo;&hellip;Ex-NHLer Tom Reid tells me the best player he ever played with or against was Hall of Famecenter Jean Beliveau. &ldquo;But,&rdquo; adds Reid, who is with the North Stars&rsquo; broadcasting team, &ldquo;Gretzky will be better than Beliveau. The fact that Wayne is smaller is to his advantage. He&rsquo;ll have more opportunities in tight situations than Beliveau ever did.&rdquo;&hellip;Exactly ten years ago a California lawyer named Gary Davidson laid the groundwork for the World Hockey Association, which in turn gave the NHL endless migraines and forever changed the face of the sport. Today, the 46-year-oId Davidson is based in California, thoroughly removed from hockey. He arranges financing for shopping centers and mobile home parks.P.S. ON THE CANADA CUP: The real heroes of Canada Cup &lsquo;81 are Gil Perreault and Billy Smith. They had foresight. They realized that Al Eagleson&rsquo;s tournament was not for them.They didn&rsquo;t want to play and they said so up front. That both suffered injuries during the Canada Cup compounds the stupidity of the ill-timed event.It was arranged for Canadians yet one Canadian owner, Harold Ballard, wouldn&rsquo;t even allow games in his building and another Canadian city, Quebec, virtually ignored the Canada Cup. The pre-season tourney should never be played again.An NHL season which extends from September through May is long enough for everyone. &ldquo;Trying to get players into a Stanley Cup kind of situation in September is absurd,&rdquo; says New York hockey attorney Larry Rauch.Rauch is as smart as The Montreal Forum usher who was asked why Canada Cup crowds were so stinko. &ldquo;Nearly everything they&rsquo;ve tried to do has rubbed hockey fans the wrong way,&rdquo; the man said.I hope John Ziegler gets the message: All energies should be directed at making the NHL better from September through May.The Canada Cup leaks.<h2>A Grand Hockey Man</h2>BILL JENNINGS: In the 27 years I&rsquo;ve spent writing hockey there has never been a man I got to like more than the president of the Rangers, Bill Jennings. This feeling didn&rsquo;t develop overnight. For several years we whacked either other like Punch and Judy. Then came the realization that, what the hell, we both loved the game, so why fight. We became pals.It was then that I got to know the real B. J. He was witty, honest, urbane, insightful and, most of all, a good friend. A very solid buy. &ldquo;Your trouble,&rdquo; I once told him, &ldquo;is that you don&rsquo;t have a personal press agent. Nobody in the media knows the real Bill Jennings.&rdquo;He laughed. Bill really didn&rsquo;t give a damn about personal p.r. He was not from the Steinbrenner school of antics. He oozed a quiet class. When the Islanders won the Stanley Cup in 1980 Jennings was on the phone congratulating Isles&rsquo; GM Bill Torrey minutes after the final buzzer.Jennings gave much more to hockey than most people will ever know. He was prime architect of the grand expansion in 1967 and had the most sensible plan to end the bloody NHL-WHA war early in the hostilities. Unfortunately, it was ignored.A lot of nice things could said about him. The best I can do is simply note that here was a grand hockey man and an awfully nice human being. I grieve over his passing.BASEBALL AND US: The following lessons should be learned from the baseball strike:&bull; Hockey players, whose 1980 annual gross salary average was $108,000, have no more reason to strike than Johnny Carson, The Bee Gees or David Rockefeller.&bull; Fans, who are the foundation of the game, get turned off by striking athletes. Keep turning off the fans, lads, and you won&rsquo;t have an NHL.&bull; The sour fallout left by the baseball strike has infected other sports. More than ever, the NHL must convince fans that they&rsquo;re getting their money&rsquo;s worth.&bull; Next time a hockey player thinks about a strike he should also consider&mdash;(a) How he would like carrying a lunch pail from nine-to-five; (b) How he would enjoy shifting from foot to foot on an unemployment insurance line and (c) How lucky he is to be where he is.MORE NOTES: Wisconsin hockey suffered a blow with the death of Bill Mundell, who for several decades promoted the amateur game in Eagle River&hellip;Nicky Fotiu had a reunion with Bobby Hull at the Rangers&rsquo; training camp. Fotiu and Hull had been teammates with the Hartford Whalers. Said Nicky to Bobby: &ldquo;I carried Gordie Howe for a year and now I have to carry you.&rdquo;&hellip;The battle-to-the-death between New York&rsquo;s two tabloids, the Post and Daily News, left the News loser of Round One when it folded its evening edition. The Post gives hockey lots more space than the News. If I was sports editor of the News I&rsquo;d have ace hockey writer Frank Brown match the Post NHL story for story&hellip;My gut feeling is that the Washington Caps are mistakenly rushing Bobby Carpenter into the NHL. I cannot believe that a kid out of New England high school hockey can make an instant jump to the bigs, especially since some scouts have noted that Bobby may not be able to handle the rough stuff&hellip;Ron Ryan, onetime coach of the New England Whalers, is now running the Hartford Whalers PRISM-New England cable TV operation patterned after the Flyers&rsquo; successful video setup&hellip;Sonny Werblin&rsquo;s aide-de-camp, Jack Krumpe, is likely to fill the New York vacancy on the NHL&rsquo;s Board of Governors left by Bill Jennings&rsquo; death. &#9632;

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ON THE CONTRARY

<div class="byline">BY ERIC DUHATSCHEK</div>CALGARY&mdash;In the cyclical nature of professional sport, Bob Murdoch, nearing the end of his playing career, has been asked by the Calgary Flames to help them find his replacement and then help them train his replacement.The sooner he accomplishes the latter, the sooner he will find himself out of the picture as far as playing goes.Murdoch, going into his fourth season with Flames, was made an assistant coach in the offseason and will concentrate on teaching the young defensive prospects in the organization.General manager Cliff Fletcher has never been ecstatic about his depth on defense. The first five&mdash;Phil Russell, Paul Reinhart, Brad Marsh, Pekka Rautakallio and Murdoch&mdash;give the club a competent National Hockey League blueline. However, the coaching staff never showed much confidence in what was available beyond those five.During the past year, the club went alternately to its farm team and to the juniors it had under contract for emergency help. All showed promise at a time when the team needed somone to move in right away.&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s face it,&rdquo; says assistant GM David Poile, &ldquo;We were one serious injury away from disaster on defense during the playoffs.&rdquo;Hence, Fletcher added Rick Vasko (from Detroit, to complete an earlier deal for Brad Smith), Kari Eloranta (a free agent from Finland) and Allan Maclnnis (the club&rsquo;s first-round draft choice). They&rsquo;ll join junior graduates Steve Konroyd and Tony Curtale, plus minor-leaguer Gord Wappel in the quest for the one open place on the team&rsquo;s blueline.With Murdoch&rsquo;s tutoring, the club expects that at least one of them will step in and earn an NHL job.The Flames insist it is not their intention to keep Murdoch out of the lineup by promoting him to player/coach.As team captain Marsh put it: &ldquo;In a lot of cases, when a team makes a player a coach, it&rsquo;s a sign they want to phase him out. I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s what they&rsquo;re doing here.&ldquo;The players respect Bob and I think he&rsquo;ll be a valuable addition to the coaching staff. Everyone will treat him just like another player&mdash;unless he tries to fine us for breaking curfew or something.Murdoch, who&rsquo;ll turn 35 this season, points out that he took the coaching position because it was offered, but expects to play at least one more full season.&ldquo;They approached me about coaching at the end of the year,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The job hasn&rsquo;t been defined really. I&rsquo;m sure it will evolve. But for this year anyway, I believe I can play and I want to play.&rdquo;A total of 70 players checked into Calgary as training camp opened, last week the most ever for the Flames.The number of openings on the club as a whole will depend in large part on how Ken Houston and Eric Vail have recovered from illness and injury respectively.Houston, the team&rsquo;s popular right winger, missed half of last season because of hepatitis. The disease seemed to be going away as the progressed and Houston was taken off a steady diet of pills he had been on for nearly nine months.Unfortunately, Houston is back on the medication now and whether he&rsquo;ll be ready for the start of the 1981-82 season is anybody&rsquo;s guess, Houston&rsquo;s included.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be at camp,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;As to how I&rsquo;m going to feel, we&rsquo;ll just have to wait and see. I haven&rsquo;t felt like doing a lot this summer.&rdquo;Although the Flames were instructed to follow an off-season conditioning program to get themselves into shape. Houston&rsquo;s orders were to rest.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m disappointed and discouraged, but the club was good about it last year and I expect they&rsquo;ll be good about it again this year.&rdquo;As for Vail, he suffered two serious groin injuries last year, which kept him out of the playoffs. In addition, he had his elbow operated on in the summer.IN BRIEF&mdash;The Flames offered Bill Clement, heading into his option year, a new one-year contract, but for a 25 percent pay cut. Needless to say. Clement was not too happy with the offer and may take the matter to arbitration. &#9632;

Flames’ Murdoch Helps Tutor Own Successor

<div class="byline">BY PAT CALABRIA</div>LONG ISLAND&mdash;Garry Howatt. an original Islander and (or years one of the most popular, will probably not begin the National Hockey League season as a member of the team he has served for nine seasons. Somewhat wistful&mdash;and also somewhat bitter&mdash;Howatt is eager to leave the two-time Stanley Cup champions for a team that can use him regularly on left wing.It is more than possible that Howatt could wind up in Hartford Whalers&rsquo; coach and general manager Larry Pleau confirmed his interest in Howatt, saying: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a player with a lot of character and experience. I think he could make a real contribution not only to our club, but to a lot of clubs around the league.&rdquo;Informed of, that. Howatt replied: &ldquo;Good.&rdquo;There also is the chance that Howatt could be dealt to Winnipeg, which has a need for someone with Howatt&rsquo;s fiery stvle. Jets&rsquo; general manager John Ferguson is a long-time Howatt booster, from the days when he often coached against Howatt in a boiling rivalry with the Rangers. Colorado had expressed early interest in Howatt. but interest is now said to be diminishing.Chances are, Howatt will not be traded until near the end of training camp, after coach Al Arbour and Bill Torrey have had time to assess their club. With a strong left side of Clark Gillies, John Tonelli and Bob Bourne&mdash;a free agent who nevertheless is expected to sign&mdash;Howatt&rsquo;s playing time has been decreasing steadily over the last few seasons. Howatt is anxious to play a regular shift again.&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s time for me to move on,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to go somewhere where 1 can play, you know, maybe help out a young team that could use a guy like me. Looking at my situation here. 1 think that would be best.&rdquo;Even if Howatt is not traded, he probably would be drafted in the waiver pool just before the start of the season. He will not be on the Islanders&rsquo; 18-player protected list and, therefore, could be claimed by Hartford, Winnipeg, Colorado or any NHL team. That way, the team claiming Howatt would only have to compensate the Islanders with a waiver payment and not the second-round draft choice Torrey is believed to be asking in a trade.Howatt&rsquo;s desire to leave became public during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He seemed to be playing well, but was benched midway through the quarterfinal series against Edmonton. Hector Marini was dressed instead and scored two timely goals in the series. Howatt never played again.Later. Howatt said he did not know if he would appear in the Stanley Cup parade. He did. though reluctantly. The night the Islanders beat Minnesota to clinch the Cup. Howatt brushed a teardrop from his cheek. That marked the beginning of the end of Howatt&rsquo;s career as an Islander.He was called up late in the team&rsquo;s first season. 1972-73, along with a right wing named Bobby Nystrom. Nystrom and Howatt, close friends, symbolized the energy and fire of the Islanders, just sprouting as a solid team Howatt, despite his reputation as a fighter, did score 21 goals one season. When the Islanders won their first Stanley Cup in 1980, Howatt had three playoff goals, including a decisive goal in the crucial quarterfinal series against Boston.Howatt did all that against extreme odds He was the 144th player chosen in the 1972 amateur draft with a pick generously&mdash;and pointedly&mdash;donated by the Rangers, who were welcoming their new neighbors. What the Rangers did not realize was that Howatt would in less than a year become a valued member of a young team. And that in less than three years he would be instrumental in the Islanders&rsquo; playoff upset of the Rangers in 1975.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-011051/4406721-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="602" height="906"><figcaption class="caption-body">Garry Howatt feels that the time has come for him to part company with the Islanders.</figcaption></div>But clearly. Howatt&rsquo;s time had come. The Islanders have developed an outstanding flow of talent from their minor-league clubs and from Europe. 1 ast season. Billy Carroll emerged as a remarkable penalty killer and steady center. Marini, who also could be lost in the waiver draft because of the numbers game, became a good role player. This season, Dave Cameron will make a strong run at the team as a wing and Tomas Jonsson, the Swedish defenseman. cannot be counted out either.The Islanders&rsquo; defense is. of course, very solid, but after watching Jonsson in the Canada Cup tournament. Torrey said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not saying he will make the team and I&rsquo;m not saying he won&rsquo;t. But I wouldn&rsquo;t bet against a guy with his skills making the club soon. How soon, I don&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;There could be a few other minor changes as the Islanders open their defense of the Cup. but none are expected to be significant. The defense appears set with Denis Potvin. Stefan Persson. Mike McEwen. Bob Lorimer, Dave Langevin. Ken Morrow and Gord Lane There is speed, size, depth and muscle. The depth of forward is staggering with Mike Bossy. Duane Sutter. Anders Kallur and Nystrom on the right side; Bryan Trottier, Butch Goring. Wayne Merrick and Carroll at center; and the strong left side that Howatt cannot crack.In goal. Bill Smith, who sustained a broken finger during the Canada Cup exhibition schedule, is coming off a terrific playoff, but Roland Melanson is likely to get a lot of playing time as well&mdash;perhaps as much as half the season&mdash;as the team looks to return to the two-goalie sysem it developed with Smith and the traded Glenn Resch. &#9632;

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Howatt Itching For Playing Time

<div class="byline">BY FRED PIETILA</div>DENVER&mdash;It&rsquo;s not that previous owners of the Colorado Rockies didn&rsquo;t care about their franchise. It&rsquo;s just that, well, they weren&rsquo;t all that determined to make it a winner in the National Hockey League.Peter Gilbert, the cablevision magnate from Buffalo, N.Y., who purchased the Rockies just past midseason last year, has induced a number of significant moves that should help improve the struggling National Hockey League team this coming season.But even if the moves don&rsquo;t pan out and the Rockies slip, stumble and slide into oblivion as some feel they might, it won&rsquo;t be because they didn&rsquo;t try&mdash;for a change.And a late-summer incident involving Gilbert and general manager Billy MacMillan typified Gilbert&rsquo;s determination to succeed in the Mile High City.The Rockies had two players on the Team USA roster for the Canada Cup&mdash;defenseman Bill Baker and centerleft winger Bobby Miller.Gilbert had seen an early tournament game in which Baker did not play and Miller was the best U.S. player on the ice, at least according to him.The next day he called MacMillan at his Rockies&rsquo; office and was insistent upon pulling Baker from the Team USA roster if he wasn&rsquo;t playing. It was a matter of wasting Baker&rsquo;s time, according to Gilbert, who truly believed Baker should have been playing regularly.And concerning Miller, Gilbert was simply livid. Apparently the telecast Gilbert watched of the one particular game mentioned Miller on numerous occasions, but never that he played for the Colorado Rockies. That did not sit well with Gilbert.MacMillan, new coach Bert Marshall and assistant coach and assistant GM Marshall Johnston-discussed Gilbert&rsquo;s reactions the next day.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the biggest single thing when you ask about the biggest difference in the team from past years, it&rsquo;s Peter Gilbert taking over,&rdquo; Marshall said.MacMillan, who was named GM in early May, seconded that notion. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s behind us all the way and he&rsquo;s not afraid to spend money,&rdquo; MacMillan said. &ldquo;He wants to be a winner.&rdquo;The enthusiasm was evident in the Rockies&rsquo; offices. Optimism was prevalent.&ldquo;I know, myself, if I was a player on this team. 1 would be excited about coming to camp,&rdquo; said Marshall, a very positive thinker.The Rockies have at least seven new players who have excellent shots at making the team and a number of other players who didn&rsquo;t play the whole season with them last year. Can that, plus a new coach, make for a difficult start?&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there should be any trouble at all,&rdquo; said Marshall. &ldquo;Certainly, based on the economics of the investment that the team made, some of the players certainly are going to be here. I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s a major problem in assessing certain talent.&ldquo;I think probably goaltending makes the biggest difference in the team without a doubt. To start the season with Chico [Glenn Resch] and Phil [Myre], you have to look at it as a strength, in comparison to any other goaltending duo in the league.The Rockies, at least on paper, are as deep at every position as they have ever been. &ldquo;I have tremendous respect for their abilities and 1 want them all to succeed. Obviously, they all can&rsquo;t immediately, but I want them to achieve some of the things they have in the backs of their minds,&rdquo; Marshall said.Changes are taking place on an almost daily basis around the Rockies&rsquo; offices. Changes for the better.Gilbert is moving the club in a new direction, at least that seems to be the case as the season approaches. And no one is complaining.Ticket sales are as high as they have ever been with more than 4,000 season tickets having been sold by late August and enthusiasm is at a fever pilch.ROCKY RAMBLINGS&mdash;The two goalies who started last season, Al Smith and Hardy Astrom, weren&rsquo;t even invited back to training camp&hellip;Only three Rockies remain from the organization that operated in Denver the first season&mdash;goalie Bill Ole-schuk, defenseman Mike Kitchen and right winger Ron Delorme&hellip;Oleschuk will probably play in Fort Worth in the Central Hockey League again this season and NHL vets Kitchen and Delorme will be hard pressed to make the Rockies&rsquo; roster because of the influx of new talent. &#9632;

Owner Determined That Rockies Win

The International Hockey Weekly Founded in 1947Published by W.C.C. Publishing Ltd.214 King St West. Suite 314, Toronto. Ont. M5H 1K4<h2>Is Overtime Dead?</h2>AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, one of the big question marks confronting the National Hockey League was overtime&mdash;and whether it would or would not be implemented by the league during the regular season.You will recall that the NHL&rsquo;s Board of Governors approved overtime during their meetings that June and decided that it would start with the 1980-81 season. Only problem was, they forgot to inform the NHL Players Association, who later voted against the idea, killing it for that season but hinting they&rsquo;d reconsider before 1981-82 got underway.Well, the start of the season is less than two weeks away and the subject of overtime during the regular season has not only not been reconsidered&hellip;it&rsquo;s hardly been mentioned. The governors have made decisions recently regarding everything from the new Branded Equipment Program to resolving how the playoffs will be handled under the new realignment&hellip;but overtime? It seems to be a dead issue.That&rsquo;s too bad. Not only would overtime add even more excitement to what should be a much more stimulating schedule than last year&mdash;with the emphasis on rivalries&mdash;but it would also eliminate the number of tie games and give the fans&mdash;already paying exhorbitant prices for tickets&mdash;more bang for their buck. After all, what could be more exciting for a fan than to see his team go into a 10-minute sudden death overtime against a rival, one that his team will be playing eight times this season, as opposed to last year&rsquo;s four.The NHL has made several key changes in its game since last season, all of which will prove to be a boon to the game. But before they stand pat on what they have accomplished, the hope here is that the league and and Players Association can put their heads together one more time and approve overtime&mdash;hopefully in time for 1982-83.<h2>Is This The Year?</h2>EVERY YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, the word starts circulating around the NHL: This is going to be the year for the New York Rangers, the team that hasn&rsquo;t won the Stanley Cup since 1940, the team that changes coaches more often than George Steinbrenner changes managers, the team with the big payroll and the ooolala image that loses more games than it wins.But this year&mdash;may we be so bold (gulp) to suggest&mdash;there seemed to be something really, well, different about the team as it went through its training camp in the remote woods of Finland. First of all, there was the no-nonsense approach of the new coach, Herb Brooks, whose most recent triumph was to accomplish what no other NHL coach has ever been able to do&mdash;beat the Russians. Brooks did it at the Olympics in 1980 and he is using many of the same training methods and drills with the Rangers that he used with the Olympians.This isn&rsquo;t the first time that the Rangers have hired a &ldquo;glamor coach&rdquo; to lead them out of the wilderness to the Stanley Cup. Fred Shero was appointed coach in 1978 and he, too, had great ideas for changing the Rangers&rsquo; losing image.&ldquo;The first year with Shero,&rdquo; said Ranger Ron Greschner, &ldquo;everyone worked hard, then after a couple of months it dropped off.&rdquo;If the reaction to Brook&rsquo;s training camp is any indication, the chances seem pretty good that the Rangers won&rsquo;t &ldquo;drop off.&rdquo; Reports coming out of the camp described the Rangers as not being thrilled with all the skating they were, being required to do&mdash;as much as four hours a day&mdash;but readily conceding that it was most beneficial.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no loafing with this guy,&rdquo; said Nick Fotiu, another player. &ldquo;The party&rsquo;s over.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s good. It&rsquo;s about damn time. For the New York Rangers, the party should have been over a long time ago. &#9632;

The Hockey News

<div class="byline">BY EMILE FRANCIS</div>For the 1977-78 season, the National Hockey League instituted a new major award for the best defensive forward, the Frank J. Selke Award. This individual award, won for the past four seasons by Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; left winger Bob Gainey, came about as a result of a cry for recognition for players who make an outstanding contribution to a team&rsquo;s success without scoring a lot of goals and piling up a large number of points.Prior to the start of the current NHL season, the league announced its intentions to honor the league&rsquo;s outstanding goaltender with the Vezina Trophy, which actually came into existence in 1927. Over the years however, as teams began to use two and even three goaltenders, the original concept of the trophy was changed. That led to a situation this past season where three goaltenders shared the award for the Montreal Canadiens even though Michel Larocque had been traded to Toronto (his name still went on the trophy) while Denis Herron made some questionably brief appearances to qualify for the trophy with the minimum of 25 game appearances.But now the Vezina has been changed and Emile Francis, former goaltender and now president and general manager of the St. Louis Blues, had these views on the subject.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011169/4406800-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="450" height="600"></div>I&rsquo;m in favor of this change 100 percent.The Vezina Trophy, as it was constituted, was not an individual award. If you were to go back to the days when we only used one goaltender on each team, then you could say that the goaltender at that time really earned the Vezina.Even so, I&rsquo;ve always considered the Vezina Trophy as a team trophy; it&rsquo;s basically the team with the least goals-against. The best goalkeeper hasn&rsquo;t always had a chance to win the Vezina Trophy, or any major award for that matter, because unless you&rsquo;re on the best team, there&rsquo;s no way that you could win the Vezina since the award was always attributed to the goals-against record.I think that it&rsquo;s more appropriate that one player be chosen to win the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender, just as Georges Vezina, for whom the trophy was named, was an outstanding goalkeeper in his time.By the same token, there will be a trophy given for the team with the least goals allowed, which is fine. As it stands now, they don&rsquo;t give out a trophy for the team that scores the most goals, but that&rsquo;s about what they were doing in reverse. We were giving a trophy to the team which allowed the least goals, but the trophy wasn&rsquo;t really going to the team, but only to the goaltenders on the team.I feel that it&rsquo;s good for the league to go about awarding the Vezina the way they are planning. Now a goalkeeper will get the proper recognition, the same as a defenseman or the best checking forward, the leading scorer and so on.When you&rsquo;re selecting the Vezina winner, I think it should be given to the best goalkeeper or the most outstanding goalkeeper in the league. It might bring about a situation where statistics aren&rsquo;t as important as they were before. Previously, in order to win, you had to have the lowest goals-against average. Period. But this way, the player selected will be chosen like they do for the other major award winners. He&rsquo;ll simply be the most outstanding goaltender and he could be on a last-place club and still win it.Before you could have been one helluva goalkeeper and still be automatically eliminated from consideration for the trophy unless you played on a strong defensive team. Someone like Rogie Vachon in his years with the Los Angeles Kings. And yet a guy like Bunny Larocque, who finished the season with Toronto, ends up a Vezina Trophy winner and he&rsquo;s not even with the team that won it for him.I think the next step might be some consideration for a trophy for the league&rsquo;s top defensive defenseman. I&rsquo;m sure that when they&rsquo;re selecting the Norris Trophy, that somehow or other, the voters always look at the points the defenseman has scored, and that&rsquo;s about all. &#9632;

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New Vezina Will Recognize NHL’s Best Goaltender

<div class="byline">BY JOHN GILBERT</div>BLOOMINGTON - Hockey fever has always been high in Minnesota, with all the excellent college and high school hockey. But it&rsquo;s never been high for professional hockey than this autumn, as the Minnesota North Stars set out to prove they belong with the National Hockey League&rsquo;s hierarchy.The visions of sugarplums dancing through the fans&rsquo; heads are because of the Stars&rsquo; surge to the Stanley Cup finals last spring, and because of how they got there despite crippling injuries. Those visions are in no way obscured by the fact that the Stars finished only in a tie for eighth with Boston in last year&rsquo;s 80-game journey to the playoffs.Several factors have buoyed the enthusiasm:&bull; The return of Bill Nyrop, who has been rumored to be coming back to pro hockey ever since he retired from Montreal and Minnestoa acquired his rights. The only person who never said it was Nyrop himself, and he&rsquo;s said it this time.&bull; Great as they were in the Cup run last spring, the Stars were carried by players like Neal Broten, Kevin Maxwell, Brad Palmer and Dino Ciccarelli much of the way. None of those four were on the club in February, and Broten played only three regularseason games, Maxwell six. Now, with the exception of Maxwell, sidelined with back problems, they get to start from the beginning.&bull; The compelling feeling about the Stars is that they were just feeling for the fulfillment of their potential in the playoffs, and that the real North Stars emerged under that pressure. They proved they were outstanding, but they left it to prove they can be better.&bull; No fewer than a dozen playoff-hardened North Stars have yet to see their 24th birthdays. They&rsquo;ve had a lot of experience in a short time, but they can only get better with another year together.Season tickets, which once dipped down in the 4,000 neighborhood in the leanest years, are back up near 10,000 this time around.Coach Glen Sonmor, bubbly as ever, is one who will caution the rampant optimism, however. Always a realist, Sonmor is quick to point out that when people analyze their team during the undefeated time of training camp, they tend to look at every player&rsquo;s best season and assume he&rsquo;ll do at least as well or better this year.&ldquo;And we all know that can&rsquo;t be guaranteed,&rdquo; Sonmor says. &ldquo;A year ago, the one thing I was most sure of was that the Bobby Smith, Steve Payne, Al MacAdam line would be a dominant line in the NHL. As it turned out, we didn&rsquo;t start making our rush toward the playoffs until we had broken up that line.&rdquo;Payne started scoring in large quantities and MacAdam regained his full efficiency when Tim Young moved in as his center, while Smith wound up centering Dino Ciccarelli, a brash rookie who scored a record 14 playoff goals for a first-year man. Meanwhile, the best line of the playoffs was the all-rookie unit of Broten centering Palmer and Steve Christoff.With Broten and Christoff starring for Team USA in the Canada Cup, Palmer opened camp eager to be reunited with his explosive partners.Meanwhile, Mike Eaves, an often overlooked but extremely skilled twoway center, missed the playoffs because of a series of concussions that knocked him out of last season and threatened to end his career.After a lengthy rest, doctors said his head was fully healed, and he wound up as Team USA&rsquo;s leading scorer in the Canada Cup.If there is a weakness on the North Stars, beyond their penchant for serious injuries of the past two terms, it could be a lack of outright team unity&mdash;the Flyers and Islanders type of cohesiveness that is always a force behind the truly best teams.That factor was not aided when Greg Smith was traded away to Detroit. He was the top &ldquo;plus&rdquo; on the club through the entire playoffs, and he was one of the best team men&mdash;willing to do the heavy work and first on the scene in times of trouble.STAR DUST&mdash; General manager Lou Nanne traded Don Jackson and a third-round draft pick next year to Edmonton for Don Murdoch, the high-scoring winger who had a chance to sort out his life with Wichita last year. Before Murdoch could get his airline ticket to Minneapolis, however, he needed one to Detroit. Greg Smith, Murdoch and Minnesota&rsquo;s first-round pick went to the Red Wings for Detroit&rsquo;s first-round pick, the obvious intent was to get in on the Brian Bellows Sweepstakes. The Kitchener flash called the &ldquo;next Gretzky,&rdquo; is a prime draft and Nanne gambled that Detroit might finish last. If the Stars gave away too much in the deal, however. the acquisitions could ironically help the Wings enough that they&rsquo;ll finish high enough to make it a bad deal.Nanne also signed former North Star Barry Gibbs as assistant coach and defenseman for the Nashville farm, a new one in the Central League for Minnesota. He also hired former University of Minnesota and Fighting Saints star Mike Antonovich for Nashville. Another potential coup could be the signing of Craig Homola, a University of Vermont star, who was a free agent and an excellent center prospect. &#9632;

Minnesotans All Set To Reach For The Stars

<div class="byline">BY GARY MUELLER</div>ST. LOUIS&mdash;Any doubts as to the progress made by the Blues in the last few seasons had to be dispelled when training camp got under way in Regina, Sask.In years past, the Blues&rsquo; training camp consisted of a desperate search for National Hockey League caliber players. There might be an NHL-caliber winger or two, perhaps a couple of centers, a goalie and maybe even a defenseman or two. But the rest of the roster had names penciled in of players who probably belonged in the minor leagues.But that&rsquo;s no longer the case. Quality talent abounds, with the Blues&rsquo; 1981 training camp basically a one-issue camp: Who will win the job as backup goaltender behind Mike Liut?The trading of goalie Ed Staniowski to Winnipeg over the summer opened the slot of backup goaltender and set the stage for a spirited training camp battle between Rick Heinz and Paul Skidmore.&ldquo;You&rsquo;d have to think that Heinz would have the inside track,&rdquo; said Blues&rsquo; general manager Emile Francis, &ldquo;because he&rsquo;s had one more year of pro experience and he was up and played well in six games last year when Liut was hurt. But they&rsquo;ll both get a chance to battle it out in training camp and whoever looks the best in the exhibition games will be in St. Louis when the season begins.&rdquo;The emphasis on the Heinz-Skidmore battle was in a way increased by Liut&rsquo;s having played for Team Canada in the Canada Cup series immediately prior to the exhibition season.&ldquo;Normally, you&rsquo;d come into camp and want to give your No. 1 goalie a lot of work to get him ready for the season,&rdquo; said Francis, &ldquo;but in this case, I&rsquo;m sure Mike has seen all the action he&rsquo;ll need for a while. We can give him a little breather and let Heinz and Skidmore split the exhibition games. It&rsquo;ll give us an excellent chance of comparing the two of them, without having to worry about giving Mike enough playing time, too.&rdquo;Comparing the playing styles of Heinz and Skidmore reveals almost no similarities.&ldquo;They have two totally different styles of goaltending,&rdquo; said Francis, a former goalie himself. &ldquo;Heinz is smaller and relies more on his reflexes. Skidmore is more a stand-up goalie and more routine in his style. Heinz is a colorful guy, with his acrobatic style, but they&rsquo;re both excellent goalies.&rdquo;Heinz and Skidmore split the goaltending in Salt Lake City last season and led the Blues&rsquo; Central Hockey League farm team to the regularseason and playoff championships. Heinz had a 3.48 goals-against average in 36 games, with three shutouts, while Skidmore had a 3.73 average in 40 games, with one shutout.The 26-year-old Heinz joined the Blues&rsquo; organization in 1978 after a four-year career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 25-year-old Skidmore joined the Blues&rsquo; organization in 1979 after a four-year career at Boston College. The Blues drafted Skidmore after his freshman year at Boston College, on the fourth round of the 1976 draft. Heinz was not drafted, but came to the Blues&rsquo; camp in 1978 as a free agent.With Liut, who has appeared in 64 and 61 games in his first two seasons in the NHL, once again ticketed for the bulk of the work in the Blues&rsquo; nets, there was some speculation that the Heinz-Skidmore winner might really be the loser. That is, rather than have the No. 2 goalie sit on the bench and watch Liut, the winner of the Heinz-Skidmore duel might be sent back to Salt Lake City to see a lot of playing time, while the Heinz-Skidmore loser would get the backup job in St. Louis.&ldquo;We want our No. 2 goalie in St. Louis,&rdquo; said Francis. &ldquo;Provided that the performance is there, we would like to use our No. 2 man a little more than we were able to use Staniowski the last two years. Whoever is Liut&rsquo;s backup will be starting some 20 games for us, and we want the most capable goaltender for that job in St. Louis.&rdquo;Francis also indicated that he did not envision a plan that would have Heinz and Skidmore shuttling back and forth between St. Louis and Salt Lake City.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve always operated under the theory that everyone within our organization gets a shot at a job and once he&rsquo;s won it, it&rsquo;s his until he plays himself off the team,&rdquo; said Francis. &ldquo;Whoever looks better in the exhibition games will start the season in St. Louis and hopefully he&rsquo;ll play well enough to stay there. Switching the two of them back and forth wouldn&rsquo;t serve any purpose.&rdquo;BLUENOTES&mdash;With the exception of the battle for the backup goaltender&rsquo;s spot, there were very few jobs up for grabs at the Blues&rsquo; tamp. Defenseman Scott Campbell, acquired from Winnipeg in the Staniowski deal, and defenseman Rick Wilson, the Blues&rsquo; No. 1 pick in 1980, were just about the only newcomers expected to crack the Blues&rsquo; lineup, although a bevy of talented young forwards could put some pressure on the Blues&rsquo; impressive list of veteran forwards.Youngsters such as John Markell, Jim Nill, Mark Reeds, Joe Mullen, Bobby Crawford and Alain Lemieux were given an outside chance of making the roster.The Blues are expecting a large turnout for their only St. Louis exhibition game&mdash;an Oct. 3 date against the Chicago Black Hawks. The game between the current Blues and Hawks will be preceded by an Old-Timers Game between former members of the two teams. Scotty Bowman has agreed to return and coach the Blues, while Billy Reay will be behind the Chicago bench.Barclay Plager has been appointed as Red Berenson&rsquo;s assistant coach. Last season, Plager filled a role that was in effect assistant coach, but earned the title of special assignments scout. He now is officially Berenson&rsquo;s assistant.St. Louis hockey writer Gary Mueller is making his debut in THE HOCKEY NEWS with this article. &#9632;

Back-Up Spot Blues’ Closest Battle

<div class="byline">BY TONY GALLAGHER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011161/4406903-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stan Smyl is prepared to play out his option if he and the Canucks can&rsquo;t reach an agreeable figure on which to base his next contract.</figcaption></div>VANCOUVER&mdash;It isn&rsquo;t the cost of groceries or high interest rates which are weighing heavily on the mind of Stan Smyl these days. It&rsquo;s the cost of playing out one&rsquo;s option.Smyl is presently going into his option year and his agent, a north Vancouver lawyer named Ron Perrick, is negotiating a new deal with the Vancouver Canucks, his employers.And while the Canucks have appreciated his services for the three years he&rsquo;s played they&rsquo;ve come pretty cheaply. Smyl signed a three years and an option contract when he came from the New Westminister Bruins as a third round draft choice.Of course, in his second and third year with the club, he was the leading plus-minus player and in his second year led the club in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes, the one man in the league to lead his team in all three categories.But last year, Smyl, like the entire club, slipped a little in the second half of the season and his stats slowed slightly over the previous season. It was bad timing for negotiations bound to start. Now they are reaching a crucial point, and Smyl is finding out just how tough it is to dig in your heels as a National Hockey League player.With the possibility of a whole year without a contract and even more hassles to come next year, plus the problem of compensation, it&rsquo;s going to cost Smyl at least $40,000 to play out his option.On his old contract, he&rsquo;s making just over $60,000 and will this year again if he doesn&rsquo;t sign what general manager Jake Milford has offered him. Milford is talking in the neighborhood of $110,000 as a base salary for a two or three-year contract, so if Smyl doesn&rsquo;t sign it, he&rsquo;ll be losing 40 Gs right off the bat. Even if he is able to successfully negotiate a new deal next year for what&rsquo;s he&rsquo;s asking now&mdash;around $150,000&mdash;it doesn&rsquo;t take a genius to realize that it will take him nearly two years to make up what he loses this year.<blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;They have to realize that my service came pretty cheaply,&rdquo; Smyl said. &ldquo;&hellip;what they&rsquo;re offering me right now will not leave me happy.&rdquo;</blockquote>Is all this hassle worth it? Milford is trying to talk him into signing and cutting his losses, and chances are, that is what will eventually happen. But Smyl is not going to go down without some sabre rattling.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m prepared toplay it out, I really am,&rdquo; says Smyl with some reluctance. &ldquo;They have to realize that my services came pretty cheaply the last couple of seasons. I wasn&rsquo;t complaining about it and I won&rsquo;t complain about it this season. But I&rsquo;ve got to be happy with my contract. I know that and what they&rsquo;re offering me right now will not leave me happy. It&rsquo;s not that I want to be the highest paid player on the team or anything, nothing like that at all. But I&rsquo;ve got to be happy.&rdquo;Canuck captain Kevin McCarthy realized the cost of playing out the option, and ended up signing.&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t really happy with what I got,&rdquo; says McCarthy. &ldquo;But they&rsquo;ve got you. You lose so much in playing it out. Plus the problems we&rsquo;ve got with settling on compensation. We&rsquo;ve all seen what has happened with the baseball strike and nobody wants that for hockey. We&rsquo;ve almost completely ruled that out as an alternative.&rdquo;Perrick knows full well all the ins and outs, and says he&rsquo;ll start putting on the public heat if the Canucks don&rsquo;t soon improve their offer.&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t played dirty in any of this business yet, and I don&rsquo;t think the Canucks have gone as far as they will,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;But the way things are going, something&rsquo;s got to give. They&rsquo;ve got some momentum here in town with the new Czechs and new Swedes and a public hassle with a player of Stan&rsquo;s popularity might hurt.&rdquo;Indeed Smyl is a crowd favorite, and if anyone on the roster deserves a raise, it&rsquo;s Smyl. To have received performances like he&rsquo;s given out for only $60,000 is a GM&rsquo;s dream, from which Milford is now awakening.&ldquo;I must admit, my contract was bothering me a bit last year,&rdquo; says Smyl. &ldquo;I tried not to let it, but it seems to get to you subconsciously. All I know is that I&rsquo;m putting it right out of my mind this year no matter what happens. If I sign, fine. If I end up playing out my option, that&rsquo;s okay too.Perrick&rsquo;s lines like: &ldquo;There are 10 men in that front office over there, and none of them have scored a goal yet&rdquo; don&rsquo;t endear him to the club, but he says he doesn&rsquo;t have to worry about long-term goodwill towards the clubs like some of the other big name agents do.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I need the law practice as well,&rdquo; says Perrick. &ldquo;What am I going to tell Stan? &lsquo;Go on, sign. I have to make my rent payments soon!&rsquo; I can wait out the Canucks.&rdquo;Will the Steamer get his raise? Stay tuned, if you can bear it. &#9632;

f0010-01

Canucks’ Smyl Carefully Weighing His Options

<div class="byline">BILL FLEISCHMAN&#x2019;S</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-02924/4406934-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="311" height="359"></div><h2>U.S. Fans Missed Out</h2>KINDLY PERMIT a few final observations about the Canada Cup, viewed this time, alas, from afar.For the inaugural Canada Cup, in 1976, it was my pleasure to airport-hop between Montreal and Toronto to see the best hockey anyone could wish to find. Canada&rsquo;s patriotic pride and excitement made an enduring impression on me. This year, on assignment for my newspaper to cover the United States Open Tennis Championships while Jay Greenberg, our excellent hockey beat writer saw Canada&rsquo;s sights, I was forced to keep up with Canada Cup &lsquo;81 via the New York newspapers.New York, in early September, isn&rsquo;t exactly hockey heaven. The New York hockey writers tried their best, but competing with football, baseball and tennis meant their stories were often found just before the ads for the 42nd Street porno film palaces. There are no porno ads in the Times, of course, so its Canada Cup pieces were usually back near the yacht-racing results. Catching up with Jay&rsquo;s superb stories and THE HOCKEY NEWS&rsquo; detailed roundup when I returned from beautiful Flushing Meadows filled me in on the tournament, but I&rsquo;d rather have been there&mdash;or, at least, watched on television.Don&rsquo;t get me wrong&mdash;this was Canada&rsquo;s show, but I thought Canada and the U.S. were allies in hockey. To have just two tournament games televised into the U.S. was an insult to hockey fans.Hockey in September isn&rsquo;t a big draw anywhere&mdash;as Alan Eagleson sadly learned&mdash;but don&rsquo;t give me that old excuse that the average American sports fan won&rsquo;t watch good hockey when he can still tune in baseball and football. The opportunity to see Gretzky, Lafleur, Trottier and friends on the same team, plus a hustling U.S. team, would have attracted viewers. Maybe the place wasn&rsquo;t the networks, with their commitments to baseball, football and tennis. But surely one of the cable services should have plugged in more than two Canada Cup games.<h2>PRISM Offered Tourney</h2>TO ITS CREDIT, PRISM, the Philadelphia-based cable service, stepped in where others feared to tread. Regardless of its number of viewers, PRISM deserves a respectful tap of the hockey stick from customers for even offering the tournament. Television people notoriously take as many risks as a Wall Street broker, but it seems sometimes events should dictate coverage&mdash;and the ratings be damned.For those close enough to attend the games, ticket prices were considered at Broadway-show level. When Canadians aren&rsquo;t buying international hockey, even at inflation-induced prices, it&rsquo;s time to wonder if the product is worth selling.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all very disappointing,&rdquo; said Cliff Fletcher, Team Canada&rsquo;s general manager. &ldquo;It all makes it more difficult to think of staging tournaments like this in the future.&rdquo;<h2>A Decisive Thrashing</h2>IF THERE IS another Canada Cup, it won&rsquo;t be before 1984, or, to keep it away from the Olympic year, 1985. Alan Eagleson is promising another go at it, and when the Eagle promises, he usually delivers.&ldquo;If we&rsquo;d won, we probably would have pitched it,&rdquo; said the Eagle, his country&rsquo;s maple leaf glowing on his sleeve. &ldquo;Now, people are going to want another shot at them.&rsquo;Will another shot at the Soviets erase the dominance achieved in their 1979 Challenge Cup and &lsquo;81 Canada Cup conquests? We won&rsquo;t know until Canada Cup HI, but you have to wonder if Team Canada, with all its stars, can ever defeat the Soviets under the formats used in the last two showdowns.It&rsquo;s not that Team Canada lost in the final, but how it lost&mdash;by a decisive 8-1 thrashing&mdash;that still has fans frowning from Fredericton to Flin Flon. Judging a team by one goal is as foolish as judging a fine wine by one sip. Maybe, in a best-of-three, Canada would prevail. Nevertheless, there&rsquo;s no way Team Canada &lsquo;81 should be as outclassed as it was by the Soviets in the final.&ldquo;What bothers me,&rdquo; said Bob Gainey, &ldquo;is that once we fell behind, we didn&rsquo;t rise to the occasion.&rdquo;In the end, Gainey&rsquo;s point is what should worry Team Canada and Eagleson the most. &#9632;

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HOCKEY WORLD

<div class="byline">BY REYN DAVIS</div>WINNIPEG&mdash;As many as eight new faces could be gracing the Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; lineup when their third National Hockey League season opens on Tuesday, Oct. 6.No one should be surprised.Winners of only nine games last season, the Jets could hardly sit still and remain credible in the eyes of the fans.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had too many small forwards.&rdquo; said general manager John Ferguson, happily announcing the signing of 200-pound right winger Lucien DeBlois.DeBlois, a free agent with compensation whose rights were acquired from the Colorado Rockies, is a favorite of Ferguson&rsquo;s.Four years ago, when Ferguson was general manager of the Nw York Rangers, DeBlois was his choice in the first round of the amateur draft.&ldquo;I liked him even more during the world championships last spring,&rdquo; said Ferguson. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s strong, steady and swift, and he can score goals.&rdquo;DeBlois has been put on a line with Dave Christian and Morris Lukowich. The Jets are hoping he can take advantage of Christian&rsquo;s play-making abilities and give Lukowich a measure of protection.Other newcomers who should fit into the Jets&rsquo; scheme of things are goaltenders Eddie Staniowski and Doug Soetaert. defensemen Bryan Maxwell and Tim Watters, centers Dale Hawerchuk and Thomas Steen and right winger Paul MacLean.Staniowski. Maxwell and MacLean were all acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for an injury-prone defenseman. Scott Campbell, and John Markell, a right winger from Tulsa.A series of shoulder injuries and a chronic case of asthma caused the Jets to give up on Campbell, one of their two protected players prior to the 1979 expansion draft.Staniowski. 27. had been a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. Granted, he lost his starting role to Mike Liut. But he&rsquo;s been there before.Goaltending is 80 percent of the battle,&rdquo; said Ferguson. &ldquo;It hasn&rsquo;t been our strong suit.&rdquo;Last season the Jets lost 27 games by one goal (including, of course, games in which empty-net goals were scored).Maxwell&rsquo;s penchant for hitting and his command for respect should give the Jets&rsquo; defense more substance. MacLean, who usually weighs over 200 pounds, couldn&rsquo;t crack St. Louis&rsquo; tough right side but he&rsquo;ll be as welcome as a warm day in winter in Winnipeg.The addition of Soetaert means the Jets have three potential starters in goal. The third would be incumbent Markus Mattsson.Watters, from Michigan Tech, is expected to line up beside Don Spring on the Jets&rsquo; defense. They were partners on the Canadian Olympic team, which competed at Lake Placid, N.Y.Hawerchuk, only 18, comes to the Jets with glowing credentials. A star at every level he&rsquo;s ever played, the graduate of the Cornwall Royals was named Canada&rsquo;s top junior last year and led his team to its second consecutive Memorial Cup.Though it&rsquo;s risky and dangerous, he has been compared to Wayne Gretzky. The Jets perefer to call him the first Hawerchuk rather than the next Gretzky.Steen, 21. was Sweden&rsquo;s player of the year last season. Drafted by the Jets in 1979. they feel he&rsquo;s ready to step directly into the NHL.Yet another change in the Jets&rsquo; lineup is behind the bench, where Tom Watt has succeeded Mike Smith. He comes to the Jets from the Vancouver Canucks where he worked as one of Harry Neale&rsquo;s assistants.Watt&rsquo;s reputation as an excellent coach of youngsters has Winnipeg fans excited and the Jets remarkably confident.BENCH BITS - Veteran left winger Rick Dudley reported to camp still convalescing from knee surgery performed May 6&hellip;He was expected to be of skates for 10 days&hellip;A &ldquo;hole&rdquo; in the bone below his knee was filed away, preventing his joints from locking&hellip;However, following surgery, he inadvertently over-trained, exercising the knee with weights when he should have been strictly running&hellip;Danny Geoffrion spent his summer months selling real estate in Florida&hellip;Doug Lecuyer was a member of the Alberta Willingdon Cup team that finished second in the Canadian finals&hellip;Lecuyer, a scratch golfer, set a record at Edmonton&rsquo;s tough Mayfair course with a 63 during the summer&hellip;Dave Christian and Doug Smail married American girls during the off-season&hellip;The Jets held some summer-time sessions with their pugnacious right winger, Jimmy Mann&hellip;The club wanted Mann to know how much they depend on him for a measure of respect around the league&hellip;Mann&rsquo;s hockey has been so abominable he couldn&rsquo;t stay with the big club&hellip;All they ask is that he try his hardest every shift&hellip;Thomas Steen suffered a laceration on his elbow during the Canada Cup while playing for Sweden Knowledgeable Swedes say the fastest man in their lineup was Bengt Lundholm. another free agent signed by the Jets&hellip;Once again, the Jets were able to sell more than 10,000 season tickets&hellip;Not bad. considering the kind of season the club had last year&hellip;The Jets came precariously close to losing their Tulsa franchise when it was announced that Mike Smith was returning as coach and director of hockey operations&hellip;The team was rescued by a professional bail bondsman. Mark Ebenack and his wife, Harriett, followers of the club since 1939&hellip;However, he made it clear that if Smith is back he could not expect to sell many season-tickets, a radio package or program advertising&hellip;Needless to say. the reserved Smith is not very popular in Tulsa.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011107/4406965-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="602" height="864"><figcaption class="caption-body">Winnipeg was glad to acquire winger Lucien DeBlois, reuniting him with GM John Ferguson.</figcaption></div>Winnipeg Free Press writer Reyn Davis makes his HOCKEY NEWS debut with this article. &#9632;

f0011-01

New Faces May Brighten Jets’ Lineup

<div class="byline">BY JIM MATHESON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011133/4406996-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="598" height="927"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eddie Mio was the Oilers&rsquo; No. 1 goaltender until he was injured last season.</figcaption></div>EDMONTON - As long as Wayne Gretzky earns his living here&mdash;he should be making about $500,000 a season when he renegotiates his longterm contract&mdash;the Edmonton Oilers are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.Obviously, they&rsquo;re a longshot. Natural progression suggests the Oilers shouldn&rsquo;t hope for anything more than a berth in the final four in the 81-82 season. They made it to the quarter finals last season with their shocking three-game sweep of Montreal Canadiens, and they aren&rsquo;t going backwards. Slowly, but surely, Oilers GM Glen Sather is building a supporting cast around Gretzky&mdash;the two-time NHL most valuable player.&ldquo;I think the new divisional set-up and new playoff format has to help us,&rdquo; said Sather, who knows full well that the Oilers didn&rsquo;t do themselves any favors in 79-80 when they opened up against the Philadelphia Flyers (riding high after a 35-game undefeated streak) and last season when they had to tackle Montreal and the New York Islanders.<blockquote class="pullQuote">GM Glen Sather is building a supporting cast around Gretzky</blockquote>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no Islanders or Canadiens or Flyers in the Smythe Division,&rdquo; said Sather. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d say the teams are all pretty comparable. There&rsquo;s no powerhouses.&rdquo;True, Calgary finished in the top eight after the 80-game schedule last season and Los Angeles finished fourth, but neither team is a juggernaut. &ldquo;I think we can win our division, and after that&hellip;&rdquo; Well, there&rsquo;s Minnesota and St. Louis to contend with in the Norris; again neither team is awesome.To Sather the most important thing is getting out of the gate. The last two seasons in the NHL, the Oilers have stumbled badly in October and early November, so much so that a .500 record is the only thing they can hope for. Last fall, with Bugsy Watson at the helm, they won four of their first 18 before Sather had to fire his old buddy. &ldquo;I want the team to pick up where they left off in the playoffs,&rdquo; said Sather.Judging by their sudden success last spring, there probably won&rsquo;t be any wholesale changes in personnel. Sather has two lines intact&mdash;Gretzky centering Brett Callighen (60 points in 55 games) and 21-year-old Finn Jari Kurri (75 points); and Finn Matti Hagman (53 points) between Glenn Anderson (30 goals in 55 games) and Mark Messier (63 points).While it&rsquo;s true he spent much of the summer trying to pry John Ogrodnick free from the Detroit Red Wings, Sather wasn&rsquo;t able to come up with a natural scorer on the left side of Gretzky. He was offering people like Don Murdoch, Stan Weir, Dave Lumley and maybe Eddie Mio or Doug Hicks, but the Wings weren&rsquo;t interested in parting with a 35-goal scorer. He&rsquo;s still looking, but he may wait until the intra-league draft, or maybe part with one of his surplus goalies after the exhibition season.Goal is his biggest question mark. He&rsquo;s got Yesterday&rsquo;s Hero, Andy Moog, who played all nine games of the Stanley Cup shootout with the Canadiens and Islanders; first-round draft Grant Fuhr from Victoria; and three players who were in the league last year&mdash;Ron Low, Gary Edwards and Eddie Mio. Low is coming off two broken thumbs, which limited the 31-year-old veteran to 24 games. Mio, who shattered his finger in March, was the Oilers&rsquo; No. 1 netminder until he got hurt. Edwards and Moog shared the duties in the dog-days of March, when the Oilers were chasing a playoff spot.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s our most difficult decision,&rdquo; said Sather, who knows somebody&rsquo;s ego is going to be bruised. &ldquo;The reality is there that we&rsquo;re going to have to trade or send a veteran to the minors. We don&rsquo;t have room for them all.&rdquo; Sather will probably keep three to start the season with Moog and Fuhr perhaps automatic. Sather showed great patience with defenseman Paul Coffey last fall, refusing to send the No. 1 draft back to his junior team; and he&rsquo;ll likely do the same with Fuhr. Especially considering Fuhr is reputed to be the best goal tending prospect to come along since Bernie Parent. That leaves Edwards, Mio (who just signed a twoway contract) and Low (who has a one-way) to fight it out for third spot.The defense is fairly set. It certainly wasn&rsquo;t the worst aggregation in the league last season; in fact it might have been in the top 10. Coffey, one of the last cuts of Team Canada, could turn out to be the leader. The 20-year-old stunned observers at Team Canada training camp with his heady play and offensive ability, and he&rsquo;ll likely play in all the important situations&mdash;penalty killing, powerplays. &ldquo;He can be a future superstar in this league,&rdquo; said Team Canada GM Cliff Fletcher of Calgary. &ldquo;If there&rsquo;s another Canada Cup, he could be the anchor on defense.&rdquo;Throw in captain Lee Fogolin, Garry Lariviere, Kevin Lowe and Finn Risto Siltanen and the Oilers have a fine core. Hicks, farmhand Charlie Huddy and maybe U of Michigan free agent signee John Blum will fight it out for sixth spot.The other forward combinations are up in the air. Free agent Stan Weir has come to terms on a new contract, and he conceivably could be the checking center. He&rsquo;s coming off a disastrous season (32 points) after double that in 79-80. Pat Hughes and Garry Unger are other possibles at center. One of the league&rsquo;s best checkers Dave Hunter would appear to have a leftwing spot locked up. Farmhands Walt Poddubny and Ken Berry have outside chances of making the team.&ldquo;All I want is steady progress upward,&rdquo; said Sather, who will continue to coach and handle GM duties for at least one more year. He&rsquo;ll have two assistants this season with Ted Green, a former Boston teammate, joining Billy Harris. &#9632;

f0012-01

Oilers Drilling For Division Crown

<div class="byline">BY MIKE DENNIS</div>TORONTO&mdash;&ldquo;Training camp.&rdquo; Maple Leafs&rsquo; coach Mike Nykoluk said, &ldquo;is the place to find out who can, and who really wants to, play with the big club.&rdquo;In an effort to determine which 20 players might want to fill the Blue-and-White sweaters of Toronto in the coming season, Nykokuk threw out two nearly completely different lineups in the first two exhibition games, a 2-0 loss to the Minnesota North Stars and a 3-3 come-from-behind tie against the Hartford Whalers. The only players to see action in both games were Rocky Saganiuk, Michel Larocque and Paul Marshall.Nykoluk&rsquo;s original intentions were to divide the Leafs&rsquo; training camp after the first two exhibitions into two teams&mdash;prospective Leafs and those slated for the Cincinnati Central League farm&mdash;of about 22 players each.Based on the showing in the first two of nine exhibition matches, Nykoluk decided to postpone his division of the Blue-and-White sea, at least until a couple more exhibitions had been played.One point in two games isn&rsquo;t exactly cause for celebration, even for the team that finished 16th overall in the National Hockey League standings, but it was more the way that the Leafs played, especially the new recruits seeking jobs, which had Nykoluk thinking positively.In the first game, using a lineup which included seven rookies, the Leafs allowed one soft goal, one fairly good goal and had 33 shots on the Minnesota net as they held the edge in play.The Leafs&rsquo; defense featured a blend of the old and the new. Three highly touted rookies, Jim Benning, Bob McGill and Fred Boimistruck played, and did not look out of place. During the first week of the big camp, and in the rookie camp held at St. Catharines, Ont., each of the three have drawn praise from Nykoluk at various times.The three veterans who performed in the opener were Ian Turnbull, Dave Shand and Slava Duris.Up front, the Leafs worked four newcomers into their lineup. One was Marshall, who&rsquo;s starting his third year in the pros ranks; two were second-year pros, Normand Aubin and Stewart Gavin, and the third was rookie Gary Yaremchuk, who has been continuously singled out for mention by Nykoluk.Several more defense candidates saw action in the second exhibition against the Whalers. Earning plaudits were Dave Logan, who has performed robustly behind the blueline, Greg Hotham, who has been up and down with the Leafs the last two seasons and scored the tying goal against Hartford, and Christian Thellend, a youngster out of juniors, who played in Shawinigan last season, but wasn&rsquo;t drafted. The Leafs signed him as a free agent and his play in his initial exhibition convinced Nykoluk to keep him around for a good look.Left wingers Terry Martin and Bill McCreary had the other Leaf goals to get Toronto back into the game after Hartford had jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Michel Larocque started in goal and allowed the three goals. After 30 minutes he was replaced by Vincent Tremblay, who shut down the Whalers for the rest of the way.The Leafs had home-and-home series with Quebec and Buffalo, a pair of home tilts with Montreal and a road match against Detroit to lead up to their 1981-82 opener on the road with Winnipeg. They also were to face the North Stars in Minnesota before opening at home on Oct. 10 against the Chicago Black Hawks.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011084/4407058-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="601" height="841"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rocky Saganiuk saw plenty of action in the early going; he was one of only three Leafs to play the first two games.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0013-01

Nykoluk Monitoring Leafs’ Desire

<div class="byline">BY RANDY SMITH</div>HARTFORD&mdash;Like sand through the hourglass, so go the days of the professional athlete.The end for Rick Ley, the last of the original Whalers who captured the first World Hockey Association Championship in 1972-73, came with neither a bang nor a whimper, but rather, with complete peace of mind.&ldquo;The biggest thing is that I didn&rsquo;t leave not knowing it I could still do it,&rdquo; Ley said. &ldquo;Now I know. I&rsquo;ll be able to live with myself.&rdquo;Ley, 32, served the Whalers as captain for the better part of six seasons, beginning in 1975. Prior to the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs, Ley injured his right knee in a pre-game skate at the Montreal Forum. One operation later, he seriously considered retirement, but all his options hadn&rsquo;t been exhausted. The flame inside still flickered.So, Ley underwent a second operation in March, 1981.&ldquo;If 1 didn&rsquo;t still think of myself as a player, I would never have agreed to another operation,&rdquo; Ley said at the time.After a summer of rehabilitation and conditioning, the big test took place right where Ley&rsquo;s career began in Orillia, Ont. many checks ago&mdash;in a dark and dingy practice rink.&ldquo;I knew right away,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t go to my right, only to my left. I couldn&rsquo;t even play in a Pee-Wee game.&rdquo;After 13 professional seasons. Ley had run out of ice. The party was over.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had Ricky under close supervision since April,&rdquo; said Larry Pleau, Whalers&rsquo; general manager and coach, as well as a longtime teammate of Ley&rsquo;s. &ldquo;A couple of physiotherapists watched Ricky&rsquo;s progress closely. I never really counted on him playing this year, but, of course, the hope was there. Ricky worked really hard. He was in great shape, but the knee wouldn&rsquo;t respond. It just didn&rsquo;t work out.&rdquo;Ley will serve Pleau and the Whalers as an assistant coach. His number (2) will be retired. He may grow into a head coach someday, but the memories linger.&ldquo;Sometimes you wondered when you went to a rink how you would play or how the team would play,&rdquo; Pleau said. &ldquo;But the one thing you always knew was what Ricky Ley was going to do. You knew he was always going to give 150 percent and that meant trouble for the other team. He was always ready to play.&rdquo;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of what Larry said about being ready to play,&rdquo; Ley said. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t a Potvin or an Orr or a Park. My game was to come to the rink and give it all I had. That wasn&rsquo;t hard for me because I loved the game. I might not be in the record books or the Hall of Fame, but I was a guy who gave all he had to give.&rdquo;Ley played in 788 games, including 559 with the Whalers, a club record. He scored 47 goals and had 329 assists.While he was a credit to the game, he was also a gamer with virtually unlimited credit.&ldquo;You can only give what you have,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I did that.&rdquo;Ley, who worked as an assistant under Pleau in the final 20 games of last year, expressed only one reservation about his new role.&ldquo;The hardest part is going to be when 1 get frustrated behind the bench.&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When I was a player. I could always run somebody. Now I&rsquo;ll have to stay cool and calm. I can&rsquo;t let the frustration show until I get home. Then I can kick the dog.&rdquo;WHALER SCUTTLEBUTT&mdash;Pleau and Ley welcomed the largest turnout in the Whalers&rsquo; 10-year history at training camp. No less than 68 players were invited. &ldquo;We have a big camp and that&rsquo;s good.&rdquo; Pleau said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll check out all the free agents we&rsquo;ve picked up and see exactly what we&rsquo;ve got.&rdquo; Rick MacLeish, obtained from Philadelphia, will wear No. 7, a number previously worn by Gordie Roberts, now with Minnesota. &#9632;

Retired Ley To Give His All As Whaler Assistant Coach

<div class="byline">BY CHARLIE HALPIN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011067/4407113-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">The eyes of the hockey world will be focused on the Islanders&rsquo; exciting Mike Bossy this season as he continues to strive for unprecedented scoring feats. In 1980-81, Bossy scored a record-breaking 85 goals, including playoffs. Fifty of Bossy&rsquo;s 68 regular season goals were scored by his 50th game last season (above).</figcaption></div>Just when you thought you had become accustomed to what teams belonged in which division, the National Hockey League comes along and changes it all again.It&rsquo;s all part of the new look to the NHL&rsquo;s 65th season, which commences Tuesday, Oct.6 with all four divisions realigned, an unbalanced 80-game schedule and a distinctive new playoff format for the 16 teams that make it to the Stanley Cup playdowns next spring.The three-pronged changes are the biggest single season changeover in the NHL operation since the thriving 1970&rsquo;s when expansion forced the league into moving franchises, boosting schedules and ultimately taking in the rival WHA teams.Probably the most significant change for the 21 NHL teams is the new structure of the four divisions. It is all the result of the new unbalanced schedule (40 at home and 40 away) and a desire by the league to create more divisional rivalries among its teams. Not only are clubs changing divisions, but conferences as well. Here&rsquo;s how the new alignment will look:Prince of Wales Conference: Adams Division: Boston, Buffalo, Hartford, Montreal and Quebec; Patrick Division: Islanders, Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.Clarence Campbell Conference: Norris Division: Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, St. Louis, Toronto and Winnipeg; Smythe Division: Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles and Vancouver.Taking the races by divisions, starting with the Adams, Boston, Buffalo and Quebec remain where they were last season with Hartford and Montreal moving over from the Norris to the Adams.The Patrick Division is barely unchaanged with only Calgary moving out and Pittsburgh shifting in from the Norris Division. Calgary transferred to the Smythe Division, joining Colorado, Edmonton and Vancouver. Los Angeles left the Norris Division to take a spot in the Smythe as well.The new divisional structure virtually wiped out last year&rsquo;s Norris Division. There are five new teams in the new Norris including Chicago, St. Louis and Winnipeg from the Smythe Division and Minnesota and Toronto from the Adams. Only Detroit remains intact in the Norris.Last season, the Norris and Adams Divisions made up the Wales Conference. This year, the Patrick and Adams will comprise the Wales. The Norris and Smythe divisions will be aligned with the Campbell Conference.But the new structuring of the divisions doesn&rsquo;t end there. The unbalanced schedule means that the Adams, Patrick and Smythe divisions will play eight games (four home, four away) against their respective division rivals and only three games against each of the remaining 16 teams. Those three games will be played either as two at home and one away or vice versa with the teams alternating each year on that basis. In contrast the six Norris Division teams will play seven games against their division rivals (four home, three away or vice versa, on an alternating basis each year) plus three games with the remaining 15 teams.As an example of the schedule change created by the unbalanciing, the Rangers and the Islanders will meet eight times this year as compared to four last season. The reaction to the NHL changes has been good. Many see it as a sensible move which will geographically link the teams closer to one another and should benefit the fans by creating natural city rivalries and cutting down the travel time and costs, which have helped escalate ticket prices.Harry Sinden, the GM of the Boston Bruins, was elated with the alignment. &ldquo;It is our most attractive schedule since before expansion,&rdquo; said Sinden. Emile Francis of St. Louis said, &ldquo;we are primarily happy with the newly-designed schedule because of our home dates being on Tuesday and Saturday nights, which is what we&rsquo;ve wanted for a long time.&rdquo;George Maguire, the GM of the Los Angeles Kings, saw the new schedule set-up as a means of making life more liveable for the travel-weary Kings. &ldquo;This is an excellent schedule for the Kings,&rdquo; said Maguire. &ldquo;Last year we travelled a total of 69,000 miles. In addition to cutting our costs, we will be reducing our travel time considerably and this should be a major factor in improving our position in the standings.&rdquo; Maguire added many of the Kings&rsquo; players were effected by so much travel that the team had to curtail practice time because of the fatigue of the players.Once the NHL fans get over the initial shock of teams changing divisions and conferences, they can sit back and digest the league&rsquo;s new playoff format, which will eliminate the formula of the first 16 teams with the most points being awarded playoff berths. The new system will boil down to a showdown for the Stanley Cup between the two conference winners much in the same manner as the National Football League which pits the NFC conference champion against the AFC conference champion in the Super Bowl.The 1981-82 playoff format will still comprise 16 teams with the top four in each division playing off against one another (1 vs 4, 2 vs 3). All series will be a best-of-five. The division finals will be a best-of-seven. The winners of the of the Patrick and Adams Divisions will meet for the Wales Conference final. At the same time, the Norris and Smythe finalists will play off in the Campbell Conference creating the Stanley Cup final&mdash;a best-of-seven confrontation between the two Wales and Conference survivors.The implementation of the new playoff structure and the elimination of the old points system to determine playoff rivalries puts an end to several past cup confrontations. For example the 1979-80 final between the Islanders and Philadelphia will never happen again under the new format of pitting one conference champ against the other. Neither will there be a repeat of the exciting 1977 and 1978 cup finals between the Bruins and the Canadiens with both now in the same division. The new system also dispels any chance of a New York &lsquo;subway series&rsquo; for the cup as well with the Islanders and the Rangers locked into the same division and only one team eligible to represent their conference in the cup final.The 840-game 1981-82 schedule will end April 4 and will encompass 26 weeks or 181 days. No games are scheduled for Christmas or New Year&rsquo;s days and the highlight of the year will be the staging of the annual All Star game in Washington on Monday, Feb. 9.Now that the NHL has set its new playoff format in motion, there was a little matter of determining which divisions and conferences should have the home ice advantage for the playoffs. That was promptly taken care of in a coin toss with Harold Ballard of Toronto winning the toss for the Norris against the Smythe and John Pickett winning the nod for the Patrick Division over the Adams. Who gets the home ice advantage for the cup final? Bill Torrey of the Islanders came up the winner for the Prince of Wales Conference when he won the coin toss over the Campbell Conference. Playoffs will commence April 7. &#9632;

f0015-01

Realignment, New Schedule Change NHL Look

Hockey zealots who have long complained that the present Vezina Trophy system isn&rsquo;t justifiable, can rest easy. There will be a totally new awards&rsquo; format for National Hockey League goalkeepers starting with the 1981-82 season.The NHL&rsquo;s board of governors gave approval to a plan whereby the Vezina Trophy, originated in 1926 to honor the goaltenders on the team with the lowest goals-against average, will now be awarded to the individual netminder with the lowest goals-against average. In its place, the NHL will designate a separate trophy, yet to be named, to the goalies on the team with the overall best defensive record.Last season the Montreal Canadiens won the Vezina Trophy with three separate goalies having their names engraved on the trophy. Under the new system, only one goaltender&rsquo;s name will now show on the Vezina. &#9632;

Goalies To Get New NHL Award

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-01918/4407175-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="546" height="1418"><figcaption class="caption-body">Herb Brooks will take over the helm of the New York Rangers this season&mdash;his first major coaching job since directing the U.S to the Olympic Gold Medal.</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02760/4407168-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="143" height="143"></div>STRONG POINTS: Yes, we&rsquo;ve heard it seems to be for real: There&rsquo;s a new age a comin&rsquo;. Coach Herb Brooks will institute his Canadian-European blend&mdash;and discipline&mdash;and captain Barry Beck will rise to the occasion as a team-leader. Past season&rsquo;s raw recruits have matured&mdash;Tom Laidlaw on the backline, Mike Allison up front. If 30-goal scorers Anders Hedberg and Ed Johnstone improve on their production, the Rangers will surprise some people.WEAK POINTS: Team was dealt a body-blow right down the middle by Ulf Nilsson&rsquo;s knee injury in the Canada Cup, and contractual stalemate with Ron Duguay. And of course goaltending is a question mark at the outset: can John Davidson rebound from knee surgery and from being sidelined for almost a full season?NEW FACES: A rejuvenated Bobby Hull is not exactly a new face, but to this team he will be&mdash;and a welcome one to Nilsson and Anders Hedberg. Two Finns, if they make the team, will add pizazz&mdash;Mikko Leinonen and Reijo Ruotsalainen. And let&rsquo;s not forget new coach Herb Brooks, the man who directed the 1980 US team to the Olympic gold medal.OUTLOOK: The team that took the Canadiens to the finals two years ago, and eliminated L.A. and St. Louis last spring, is a year older but facing a tougher division. Islanders will beat them out for the Patrick Division title, but the Rangers should finish ahead of the also-rebuilt Flyers. &#9632;</div>

f0016-01

Ranger Job A Challenge For Brooks

<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03608/4407262-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="143" height="143"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>BOSTON</h2>STRONG POINTS: Defense, starring Ray Bourque. But Bourque needs to show some progress from a so-so (for him) sophomore year and so does his running mate, Brad McCrimmon. And Brad Park has to get another season like the last one out of his ailing knees.WEAK POINTS: Repeat last year&rsquo;s preview on this one. Goaltending is still a question mark. Rogie Vachon did not play up to expectations. The jury is still out on Jim Craig. The Bruins also need that big shooter and there is none in sight.NEW FACES: Expect a lot of them. Barry Pederson, Tom Fergus, centermen; Doug Morrison, Bruce Crowder, wingers; Anders Brostrom, defense, the big Swede who could bump one of the regulars. Mike Moffat has a chance to back up Vachon in goal.OUTLOOK: Sagging Bruins, in the midst of radical changes in personnel and playing style, may bottom out in third year of their slump. Could finish third or fourth in Adams Division, depending on quality of Quebec&rsquo;s defense and goaltending.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04472/4407255-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="143" height="139"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>BUFFALO</h2>STRONG POINTS: Good team speed. As good a goaltending tandem as any in the NHL in Don Edwards and Bob Sauve, behind a verteran defense. Gil Perreault and Danny Gare are two of the league&rsquo;s better marksmen and other forwards play a balanced two-way game.WEAK POINTS: Sabres still lack a big, strong forward who is good in the corners and can also score. They also could use another mobile, offensive defenseman and more consistent scoring.NEW FACES: Coach Scotty Bowman needs a young center to come through at the start to replace Perreault, who will miss the first two months because of a broken ankle. J.F. Sauve or Bobby Mongrain, both up from Rochester, or first-year pro Randy Cunneyworth are the leading candidates. Right wing Mike Moller, up from junior, also might make it.OUTLOOK: With Bowman back behind the bench, after a year in the front office, Buffalo fans look for the Sabres to improve their fifth-place finish and quarter final playoff exit of last season. They should battle Montreal for the division title and finish among the top four in the league.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05363/4407248-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="157" height="138"></div><h2>CALGARY</h2>STRONG POINTS: Down the center, with Kent Nillson, the league&rsquo;s third-leading scorer, plus Guy Chouinard, who missed 30 games and still managed 80 points. Although neither Rejean Lemelin nor Pat Riggin recorded spectacular goals-against averages, the two won games for the club almost singlehandedly on at least a half-dozen occasions. Paul Reinhart, back from Team Canada, will be in mid-season form right at the start of the year, something new for him.WEAK POINTS: Flames need to stay relatively free from injuries on defense for them to move up the ladder. In the past two years, they have concentrated on rearguards in the annual entry draft, but the club cannot expect to reap the benefits for another year or two. The return to health and form of Ken Houston and Eric Vail is critical. Should either of the two be out of the lineup for extended periods of time, the club&rsquo;s offense will suffer.NEW FACES: Defenseman Rick Vasko, obtained from Detroit, possibly 1980 draft picks Denis Cyr, Steve Konroyd and Tony Curtale and European defense hopeful Kari Eloranta.OUTLOOK: The unbalanced schedule should help the Flames. Only one team in the new Smythe division&mdash;Los Angeles Kings&mdash;finished above them in the overall standings a year ago and the Flames dominated the Kings during their four regular season encounters, winning three. Depth is a question mark.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06299/4407241-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="159" height="139"></div><h2>CHICAGO</h2>STRONG POINTS: Tony Esposito failed to get a shutout last season for the first time in a 73-shutout NHL career that goes back to 1968-69 but he remains one of the game&rsquo;s finest goaltenders. Two rookies last winter center Denis Savard and left winger Daryl Sutter had outstanding seasons, compiling more impressive statistics than did Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull in their first years in the NHL. Tom Lysiak is a solid center who makes major contributions on both offense and defense.WEAK POINTS: &ldquo;From Day 1 of training camp we have to work on our special teams,&rdquo; emphasizes general manager Bob Pulford. &ldquo;Last year our penalty-killing and powerplay were brutal. They killed us.&rdquo;NEW FACES: Right wing Tony Tanti, the No. 1 draft choice who set Ontario League rookie records last winter when he had 81 goals and 69 assists; defenseman Doug Crossman, coming off an impressive season in New Brunswick; and defenseman Jerome Dupont, a first round 1980 draft choice who went back to the Toronto Marlboros.OUTLOOK: The Hawks are back in the same divisions as Minnesota and that&rsquo;s bad news. It will take major comebacks by such players as Terry Ruskowski, Rich Preston, and Grant Mulvey and/or a major effort by the rookies for the Hawks to spurt ahead of St. Louis and Minnesota.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-07273/4407234-1-eng-US/f0016-072.jpg" title="f0016-07" width="151" height="144"></div><h2>COLORADO</h2>STRONG POINTS: Goaltending should be as strong as it&rsquo;s ever been with Glenn Resch and Phil Myre available from season&rsquo;s start. Defensemen and forwards both should be improved with addition of seven players causing more competition. Desire of new owner Peter Gilbert to build a winner could be the strongest point of all.WEAK POINTS: A losing tradition. Left wing needs help as does center. Overall depth is better, but still less than most teams have.NEW FACES: Forwards Dwight Foster, Veli-Pekka Ketola, Brent Ashton, Christer Kellgren, Peter Gustavsson, Jukka Porvari and defenseman Tapio Levo and Joe Cirella. Coach Bert Marshall, assistant coach-assistant GM Marshall Johnston, GM Billy MacMillan, owner Peter Gilbert.OUTLOOK: The outlook before the first game was played was optimistic. If Marshall can make the same smooth transition to NHL coaching as MacMillan and Johnston have done with managerial duties, the team could improve dramatically. But the main concern is how fast the Rockies can jell under the coaching of Marshall. One way to go, and that&rsquo;s up.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-08253/4407227-1-eng-US/f0016-082.jpg" title="f0016-08" width="163" height="127"></div><h2>DETROIT</h2>STRONG POINTS: Two outstanding young defensemen in Reed Larson and Willie Huber, young snipers like Dale McCourt, John Ogrodnick and Mike Foligno up front. Mark Kirton adds an important dimension.WEAK POINTS: Plenty of question marks around. Goaltending is the most crucial position of all and the Wings are unsettled there with an injury-prone veteran (Giles Gilbert) and first-year pro (Corrado Micalef) the likely 1-2 combination. No balance on offense and defense remains error-prone.NEW FACES: The Wings hope to recycle some retreads. Walt McKechnie, Don Murdoch, Mark Lofthouse and Greg Smith are most notable additions since there isn&rsquo;t a No. 1 draft pick to talk about. Claude Loiselle is No. 2 pick, Micalef No. 3 but who knows about them?OUTLOOK: For a team which needed such a major overhaul the off-season moves were paltry. Wings finished 20th last season and if there is improvement, it&rsquo;s hard to locate at this point. Mostly, officials are figuring (praying?) a handful of promising young players have benefitted by another year&rsquo;s experience.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-09229/4407220-1-eng-US/f0016-092.jpg" title="f0016-09" width="141" height="142"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>EDMONTON</h2>STRONG POINTS: Wayne Gretzky, arguably the best player in the world, certainly for his age (20). Defenseman Paul Coffey, a future superstar in the words of Team Canada GM Cliff Fletcher. Two 20-year-old wingers in Glenn Anderson and Mark Messier. Anderson with 30 goals in 55 games last year and Messier with 63 points. There&rsquo;s no doubt the team can score (328 goals). They were sixth overall in NHL last season.WEAK POINTS: Goaltending is questionable, although quantity is there with kids like Grant Fuhr (No. 1 draft pick) and Andy Moog, and veterans Gary Edwards, Ron Low and Eddie Mio. Still no high-scoring left winger to complement Gretzky. Third-line center needed, behind Gretzky and Matti Hagman.NEW FACES: First-round draft Grant Fuhr, U of Michigan defenseman John Blum, farmhands Ken Berry and Walt Poddubny.OUTLOOK: Should finish first in Smythe Division.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-10207/4407213-1-eng-US/f0016-102.jpg" title="f0016-10" width="148" height="144"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>HARTFORD</h2>STRONG POINTS: Mike Rogers (210 points in two years), Blaine Stoughton (99 goals) and Mark Howe (145 points in 137 games) are legitimate front-liners. The goaltending situation, while a bit mysterious, appears sound with Greg Millen in the No. 1 spot, supported by John Garrett and Mike Veisor. Presence of Dave Keon, now in his 22nd professional season, helps immeasurably.WEAK POINTS: Loss of Pat Boutette to Pittsburgh in an arbitration case involving Millen severely weakens the left side. Only LW returnees are Mike Fidler, Jordy Douglas and Jeff Brubaker. Behind Rogers and Stoughton, there is little offensive firepower, assuming Howe stays on defense. Foes averaged 35.4 shots on goal per game a year ago, a reflection of a rather shaky blueline corps.NEW FACES: The net belongs to Millen, who played in 63 games for the Penguins last season, until he loses it. Rick MacLeish should compensate for Boutette&rsquo;s loss, as far as offensive production is concerned. Defenseman Blake Wesley and right winger Don Gillen, picked up from Philly, could crack the lineup.OUTLOOK: Larry Pleau&rsquo;s positivism promises to be tested, most likely, severely. If Boston slips badly and if Millen turns out to be the All Star the Pens painted him to be in arbitration, the Whalers might avoid the cellar in the Adams Division. Those are big ifs, however. On paper, the future is not now.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-11193/4407206-1-eng-US/f0016-112.jpg" title="f0016-11" width="213" height="127"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES</h2>STRONG POINTS: In Marcel Dionne and right wing Dave Taylor, the triple crown line is still two-thirds intact. Goaltender Mario Lessard led the NHL in wins and has experienced backup in either Jim Rutherford or Gary Bromley. Defenseman Larry Murphy will only get better.WEAK POINTS: Uncertainty at left wing, where Charlie Simmer (broken leg) and Rick Martin (knee) are recovering from serious injuries. Still looking for scorer to take burden off Dionne line, while defense appeared immobile in playoff loss to Rangers.NEW FACES: The new guy in charge, Parker MacDonald, was an assistant last season. He&rsquo;ll be assisted by Nick Beverley, the ex-defenseman. No. 1 draft choice Doug Smith may be good enough to play now but he&rsquo;d like to go back to the juniors. Here to stay, however, may be college star Steve Bozek and high-scoring junior Bernie Nicholls.OUTLOOK: Kings will be hard-pressed to improve on 99 points of last season, but still rate as favorites over Calgary in division. &#9632;

f0016-05

NATIONAL HOCKEY

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-01810/4407307-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="540" height="619"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-02679/4407300-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="537" height="604"><figcaption class="caption-body">Among the six new coaches who will be behind NHL benches this season are Bert Marshall, top, and Tom Watt, below. Marshall will guide the Colorado Rockies while Watt moves from assistant coach at Vancouver to direct the Winnipeg Jets.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03518/4407293-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="154" height="150"></div>STRONG POINTS: Offense, defense, goaltending, the bench, the coaching staff, the general manager, you name it, the Islanders have it all. There are no holes in this team. Anywhere. Start with Bryan Trottier, one of the best centers in the league, prolific scoring Mike Bossy, solid defenders in Denis Potvin, Dave Langevin, Stefan Persson and goalie Billy Smith and some outstanding forward depth from Clark Gillies, Butch Goring, Bob Nystrom, Bob Bourne, and John Tonelli et al and that seems enough. In fact it&rsquo;s plenty.WEAK POINTS: The Islanders don&rsquo;t seem to have any. If anything, injuries might be a factor, particularly in the case of Potvin, who has been attempting to shake a bad groin injury for the past six months. Playing in the Canada Cup seemed only to aggravate it more.NEW FACES: Roland Melanson likely will get a large chunk of the goalkeeping chores as coach Al Arbour looks to restore the two-goalie system. Swedish defenseman Tomas Jonsson could make a run at making the team, but likely will be farmed out for seasoning.OUTLOOK: A hat trick for the Stanley Cup champions? A good bet, but it won&rsquo;t be easy. Remember the tough schedule and then remember all that talent. For this team, the only place is first place. &#9632;

f0017-01

Champion Islanders Have It All

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04391/4407401-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="170" height="114"></div><h2>MONTREAL</h2>STRONG POINTS: A defense led by Larry Robinson, Rod Langway and Brian Engblom. If Guy Lapointe can continue to show the form he exhibited in training camp, it would add even further strength. Gaston Gingras, who suffered from a bout of under-confidence last season, has come into camp stronger mentally and physically.WEAK POINTS: The Canadiens lack muscle up front, although if feisty newcomer Mark Hunter makes the team, part of that problem will be alleviated. The Canadiens are rapidly becoming an old team and must make changes. Left wing is a definite weak point with not much behind Steve Shutt and Bob Gainey.NEW FACES: The aforementioned Hunter has the best chance of any of the rookies to make the club. Second-year pro Dan Daoust may take a job as fourth-line center.OUTLOOK: If this team is to go anywhere, they have to get far better efforts from Guy Lafleur and Pierre Larouche than was the case last season and hope that Napier, Shutt and sophomore Doug Wickenheiser make solid contributions. If the goaltending is better, the Canadiens could finish first in their division. If not, third.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05303/4407394-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="155" height="135"></div><h2>MINNESOTA</h2>STRONG POINTS: Speed, youthful enthusiasm, an agile and mobile &ldquo;noname&rdquo; defense led by player-voted MVP Curt Giles, and the brilliant goaltending tandem of Gilles Meloche and Don Beaupre should carry the NorthStars. Neal Broten and Kevin Maxwell, who starred in the surge to the Stanley Cup finals last spring, join an already solid center corps manned by Bobby Smith, Tim Young, Mike Eaves and Mike Polich.WEAK POINTS: The Stars need to prove that their playoff intensity can carry for 80 games, that they&rsquo;ll no longer be meek on the road, and that they can avoid injuries. Led the NHL last season in man-games lost to injury with 322. Center Young (broken ankle from softball) and defenseman Gary Sargent (recovering from spinal fusion) opened camp being declared out until November.NEW FACES: The brightest new face is that of unretiring defenseman Bill Nyrop, who was serious about coming back as this was written. First-round draft Ron Meighan on defense and Team Sweden winger Anders Hakansson will get long looks.OUTLOOK: Thanks to the new NHL divisional alignment, which seems to bear the unmistakable hand of shrewd general manager Lou Nanne, the North Stars would seem to need to beat out only St. Louis to win the Norris.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06254/4407387-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="171" height="118"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2>STRONG POINTS: Center, even with the trading of Rick MacLeish. Defense, if Bob Dailey and Jimmy Watson are healthy.WEAK POINTS: The defense, if Dailey and Watson aren&rsquo;t healthy. The Flyers could also use some more scoring depth on the wings.NEW FACES: Finnish left winger Ilkka Sinisalo, right winger Ray Allison, acquired in the MacLeish deal with Hartford, look like they&rsquo;ll crack the starting lineup. There&rsquo;s also the possibility of several good center prospects (Ron Flockhart, Mark Taylor, Lindsay Carson) joining the team.OUTLOOK: If healthy and some of their kids come through, the Flyers could finish a strong second to the Islanders. If not, the club might slip to be a weak third.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-07223/4407380-1-eng-US/f0017-072.jpg" title="f0017-07" width="159" height="151"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH</h2>STRONG POINTS: Defense led by Norris Trophy winner Randy Carlyle and youngsters like Randy Boyd, Marc Chorney and Tony Feltrin, who may cost veterans a job or two. Lady Byng Trophy winner Rick Kehoe, a 55-goal scorer last season, heads the right wing corps that also includes Peter Lee (30 goals) and George Ferguson (25).WEAK POINTS: With the departure of Greg Millen, the goal tending is in the hands of Michel Dion, signed as a free agent from Winnipeg, and Nick Ricci with 13 games of NHL experience. Look for club to acquire another netminder.NEW FACES: Forwards Pat Boutette and Kevin McClelland awarded as compensation from Hartford for Millen, left wing Paul Mulvey from Washington for Capitals&rsquo; signing of Orest Kindrachuk, Dion, Boyd, Chorney, Feltrin and center Mike Bullard, No. 1 draft choice last year.OUTLOOK: The Penguins will have their work cut out for them in the tough Patrick Division. If they can cut down on their goals against, they should finish third in the Patrick behind the Islanders and the Flyers.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-08189/4407373-1-eng-US/f0017-082.jpg" title="f0017-08" width="140" height="140"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>QUEBEC</h2>STRONG POINTS: Offense is the name of the game for the Nordiques with 52-goal scorer Jacques Richard and the prolific Stastnys. As 10th best scoring team, Nordiques have power. If Dan Bouchard comes through in goal as he did to get them into playoffs last spring, team could improve in standings.WEAK POINTS: Defense must be improved. Nordiques gave up more goals than they scored in 1980-81. Injured players like Real Cloutier and Marc Tardif have to contribute, providing they&rsquo;ve shaken the injury jinx for team to advance.NEW FACES: A third Stastny, Marian, will join brothers to form all-Czech line. Rookie goalie Clint Malarchuk may make it as backup to Bouchard and newcomers Michel Bolduc and Christian Tanguay will be given a long, hard look.OUTLOOK: Nordiques will have to put out to better last year&rsquo;s fourth place finish now that they have Montreal, Buffalo and Boston to contend with.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-09169/4407366-1-eng-US/f0017-092.jpg" title="f0017-09" width="142" height="142"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS</h2>STRONG POINTS: Goaltending, goal scoring and coaching. Mike Liut, after only two seasons in the NHL, already has established himself as one of the league&rsquo;s top goalies. Talented forwards such as Bernie Federko, Wayne Babych, Perry Turnbull, Jorgen Pettersson and Brian Sutter give St. Louis as explosive an attack as there is in the NHL.WEAK POINTS: Defense is lacking a premier, take-charge player, although there are hopes that either Scott Campbell or Rick Wilson might fill that role. Campbell, the Blues&rsquo; No. 1 draft pick in 1977, signed with the WHA and finally has made it to St. Louis, by way of a trade with Winnipeg.NEW FACES: Defensemen Campbell and Wilson are key new faces, with a new backup goalie also needed because Ed Staniowski has been traded to Winnipeg. Rick Heinz and Paul Skidmore, whose goaltending led Salt Lake to the Central Hockey League title, will battle for the backup job.OUTLOOK: Just like the old days of the all-expansion West Division, the Blues and Minnesota North Stars should see their rivalry heat up with a spirited battle for first place in the revamped Norris Division.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-10156/4407359-1-eng-US/f0017-102.jpg" title="f0017-10" width="169" height="165"></div><h2>TORONTO</h2>STRONG POINTS: Center and right wing where most of the team&rsquo;s scoring power lies. Darryl Sittler and Bill Derlago give the team strength up the middle while Don Luce, Laurie Boschman and Bruce Boudreau can take care of the checking. On the right side, two of the Leafs&rsquo; biggest assets are rugged Rick Vaive and Wilf Paiement, a couple of blue-chippers.WEAK POINTS: Defense and goal tending. Each of these positions has quality performers in Borje Salming and Ian Turnbull, as well as Michel Larocque, although some question whether he is capable of being a starting goal tender. The Leafs gave up 45 more goals than they scored last year and they will have to rely on rookies to lower that figure this year.NEW FACES: Could be several on defense with No. 1 draft pick Jim Benni ng expected to make it unless he has an exceptionally poor training camp. Defensive defenseman Bob McGill, a 1980 draftee, could win a regular berth, while veterans Dave Logan, Bob Manno and Kim Clackson will fight, literally, for a job. Up front, Gary Yaremchuk could stick at the center spot.OUTLOOK: The Leafs got a break from realignment, winding up in a division with Detroit and Winnipeg, the clubs they must finish ahead of to make the playoffs. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean the Leafs will be better. They haven&rsquo;t made enought changes to progress much in the standings.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-11137/4407352-1-eng-US/f0017-112.jpg" title="f0017-11" width="119" height="116"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>VANCOUVER</h2>STRONG POINTS: Center should improve greatly this year if new Czechoslovak Ivan Hlinka doesn&rsquo;t treat this new job in Vancouver like retirement. With Thomas Gradin, Per-Olav Brasar, Gerry Minor and Lars Molin all available, it won&rsquo;t be such a depth problem. Defense will also have more depth, and an injury like one suffered by Lars Lindgren last year need not bring the club to its knees.WEAK POINTS: Right wing could be a problem with Molin and Brasar having to fill in should anything happen to either Jerry Butler, Stan Smyl or Blair MacDonald. Also goal is in doubt. Can Glenn Hanlon recover from all his hurts, can Richard Brodeur have another year like last?NEW FACES: Jiri Bubla and Anders Eldebrink are expected to crack the defense while Hlinka and Molin will probably play up front.OUTLOOK: After Los Angeles, the Smythe division could bea real traffic jam, with the Canucks having the ability to finish second, but more likely third.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-12126/4407345-1-eng-US/f0017-122.jpg" title="f0017-12" width="194" height="103"></div><h2>WASHINGTON</h2>STRONG POINTS: For the first time, there is genuine competition for most positions, with particular depth at center and in the nets. Dennis Maruk, 50 goals, and Mike Gartner, 48, are proven NHL scorers. The defensive combination of Rick Green and Paul MacKinnon is solid. Team has good attitude.WEAK POINTS: Power play was atrocious a year ago and no competent left point man has surfaced. Defense produced fewest points of any NHL club, a glaring deficiency in view of trend toward five-man offensive combinations.NEW FACES: Bobby Carpenter has impressed his new teammates in precamp workouts and should stay with the Capitals. Kindrachuk provides leadership and experience.OUTLOOK: Club will be in league&rsquo;s top 16 but with new playoff format it is likely to be on the outside for the eighth straight year. If the injury jinx stays away, the Capitals are capable of beating out the Rangers and/or Pittsburgh.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-13106/4407338-1-eng-US/f0017-132.jpg" title="f0017-13" width="140" height="139"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>WINNIPEG</h2>STRONG POINTS: The Jets can skate with any team in the league. Where they go is another matter. Speed burners such as Morris Lukowich, Doug Smail, Willy Lindstrom and Dave Christian are joined by junior star Dale Hawerchuk and swift Swede Thomas Steen.WEAK POINTS: Shy in experience, the Jets tend to depend too much on their youngsters. They lack leadership. Middle-age players are weak. Grinding, hard-nosed forwards are few and far between. Defense is also suspect.NEW FACES: Many. Two experienced goaltenders in Eddie Staniowski and Doug Soetaert, a pair of rugged right wingers in Lucien DeBlois and Paul MacLean, plus Hawerchuk and Steen, two young, bright faces.OUTLOOK: Twenty-year-old defensemen Dave Babych and Moe Mantha should be appreciably better with a year under their belts. Lukowich and Christian have DeBlois to ride shotgun for them. Hawerchuk&rsquo;s leadership tendencies are urgently needed. Coach Tom Watt&rsquo;s penchant for getting the most out of youngsters causes a glimmer of hope. &#9632;

f0017-04

LEAGUE PREVIEW ‘81

<h2>BOSTON</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04337/4407659-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="542" height="87"></div><h2>BUFFALO</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05239/4407652-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg" title="f0018-05" width="546" height="85"></div><h2>CALGARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-06193/4407645-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="542" height="58"></div><h2>CHICAGO</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-07166/4407638-1-eng-US/f0018-072.jpg" title="f0018-07" width="545" height="58"></div><h2>COLORADO</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-08141/4407631-1-eng-US/f0018-082.jpg" title="f0018-08" width="544" height="58"></div><h2>DETROIT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-09122/4407624-1-eng-US/f0018-092.jpg" title="f0018-09" width="547" height="60"></div><h2>EDMONTON</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-10109/4407617-1-eng-US/f0018-102.jpg" title="f0018-10" width="540" height="59"></div><h2>HARTFORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-11105/4407610-1-eng-US/f0018-112.jpg" title="f0018-11" width="543" height="83"></div><h2>LOS ANGELES</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1296/4407603-1-eng-US/f0018-122.jpg" title="f0018-12" width="542" height="86"></div><h2>MINNESOTA</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1381/4407596-1-eng-US/f0018-132.jpg" title="f0018-13" width="544" height="114"></div><h2>MONTREAL</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1475/4407589-1-eng-US/f0018-142.jpg" title="f0018-14" width="553" height="37"></div><h2>N.Y. ISLANDERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1570/4407582-1-eng-US/f0018-152.jpg" title="f0018-15" width="550" height="58"></div><h2>N.Y. RANGERS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1666/4407575-1-eng-US/f0018-162.jpg" title="f0018-16" width="553" height="32"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1754/4407568-1-eng-US/f0018-172.jpg" title="f0018-17" width="556" height="94"></div><h2>PHILADELPHIA</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1850/4407561-1-eng-US/f0018-182.jpg" title="f0018-18" width="551" height="93"></div><h2>PITTSBURGH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-1946/4407554-1-eng-US/f0018-192.jpg" title="f0018-19" width="547" height="60"></div><h2>QUEBEC</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-2047/4407547-1-eng-US/f0018-202.jpg" title="f0018-20" width="547" height="63"></div><h2>ST. LOUIS</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-2145/4407540-1-eng-US/f0018-212.jpg" title="f0018-21" width="544" height="34"></div><h2>TORONTO</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-2242/4407533-1-eng-US/f0018-222.jpg" title="f0018-22" width="544" height="34"></div><h2>VANCOUVER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-2340/4407526-1-eng-US/f0018-232.jpg" title="f0018-23" width="547" height="145"></div><h2>WASHINGTON</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-2439/4407519-1-eng-US/f0018-242.jpg" title="f0018-24" width="550" height="110"></div><h2>WINNIPEG</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-2539/4407512-1-eng-US/f0018-252.jpg" title="f0018-25" width="550" height="112"></div> &#9632;

f0018-04

Starting Times For NHL Games

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-02660/4407481-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03486/4407474-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="2374" height="1559"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-01792/4407467-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="2346" height="1546"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02631/4407460-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="2337" height="1537"></div><h2>1981-82 NHL SCHEDULE</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01515/4407453-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="2369" height="1282"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02405/4407446-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="2364" height="1538"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03328/4407439-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="2360" height="446"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-01828/4407432-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="706" height="1384"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wayne Gretzky of Edmonton will be starting his third NHL year and already he has 106 goals and 250 scoring points to his credit.</figcaption></div><h2>Schedule Abbreviations</h2>BOS.&mdash;BostonBUF.&mdash;BuffaloCAL.&mdash;CalgaryCHI.&mdash;ChicagoCOL.&mdash;ColoradoDET.&mdash;DetroitEDM.&mdash;EdmontonHAR.&mdash;HartfordL.A.&mdash;Los AngelesMIN.&mdash;MinnesotaMTL.&mdash;MontrealNYI&mdash;RangersPHA.&mdash;PhiladelphiaPIT.&mdash;PittsburghQUE.&mdash;QuebecST.L.&mdash;St. LouisTOR.&mdash;TorontoVAN.&mdash;VancouverWAS.&mdash;WashingtonWPG.&mdash;Winnipeg &#9632;

f0018-02

We Accomodate The NHL Teams…

OCTOBER10&mdash;Chi-Tor17&mdash;Tor-Que24&mdash;NYR-Tor31&mdash;Wpg-TorNOVEMBER7&mdash;Det-Mtl14&mdash;Pha-Tor21&mdash;Bos-Tor28&mdash;Buf-TorDECEMBER5&mdash;Was-Tor12&mdash;Mtl-Tor19&mdash;Tor-Wpg26&mdash;Det-TorJANUARY2&mdash;Min-Tor9&mdash;LA-Tor16&mdash;Edm-Tor23&mdash;Cal-Mtl30&mdash;Que-TorFEBRUARY6&mdash;Tor-Edm9&mdash;All Star game13&mdash;Chi-Tor20&mdash;StL-Tor27&mdash;Tor-MtlMARCH6&mdash;Tor-Edm13&mdash;Wpg-Tor20&mdash;Tor-Wpg27&mdash;Det-TorAPRIL3&mdash;Was-Tor*The complete HNIC National television schedule will be published in a forthcoming issue. &#9632;

Hockey Night TV Schedule For Ontario

<div class="byline">BY CHUCK MOODY</div>PITTSBURGH&mdash;Penguin general manager Baz Bastien hopes his club can pick up where they left off last season when the playoff series against St. Louis created an enthusiasm for hockey never before seen in Pittsburgh.&ldquo;We finished off the season pretty good last year with St. Louis,&rdquo; said Bastien referring to the Penguins&rsquo; double-overtime playoff loss to the Blues, a game most observers have labeled the most exciting in the team&rsquo;s 14-year National Hockey League history. &ldquo;The big thing going into this season is to cut down on the goals-against.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been saying this for two years now and we&rsquo;ve got to get some kind of a system where we&rsquo;re going to cut down on giving up goals. It seems that we have to score nearly five goals to win a hockey game and you can&rsquo;t play it that way in this league.&rdquo;Bastien is not worried about the club&rsquo;s goal-scoring ability and says he will leave the system of cutting down the goals-against to coach Eddie Johnston.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got the kind of people who can put the puck in the net, there&rsquo;s no doubt about that with the goal scoring we had last year,&rdquo; Bastien said. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s not what you get but what you leave.&ldquo;A system has got to prove that you can stop the other team from scoring but it&rsquo;s pretty much up to EJ to get some kind of a system. Backchecking is a big part of the game and the club that backchecks the most is going to win most of the games.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01624/4407714-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="600" height="837"><figcaption class="caption-body">Big left winger Paul Mulvey joined Pittsburgh as compensation for Orest Kindrachuk.</figcaption></div>The Penguins may sport a number of new faces this season because of draft choices or deals, but the biggest question mark will be in goal. Last season&rsquo;s No. 1 goaltender, Greg Millen, played out his contract and signed as a free agent with Hartford.&ldquo;I hate to see Millen go because he was a good kid and a good team man, but I think we were well compensated for him and are strong in the nets,&rdquo; Bastien said. &ldquo;1 think we have people who are going to do the job just as well.&rdquo;Pittsburgh received forwards Pat Boutette and Kevin McClelland from the Whalers as league-awarded compensation for signing Millen. His departure leaves the goaltending in the hands of Michel Dion, who was signed during the summer from Winnipeg, Nick Ricci, and newly signed Paul Harrison.&ldquo;Dion had some great years with Quebec and he kept them right in there,&rdquo; Bastien said. &ldquo;I think he can come in here and do the job. He likes the city and he knows a lot of the players. It&rsquo;s a big chance for him.&ldquo;EJ&rsquo;s high on him. EJ wanted to get him in last year but at the time, I didn&rsquo;t think I could give up what they [Quebec] were asking. I was very fortunate. He was a free agent without compensation and I just waited until the right time.&rdquo;Ricci, who split last season between the Penguins and their Binghamton farm club, was pencilled in as the backup until a deal just prior to training camp, which brought in Paul Harrison from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations.Harrison, 26, played one period in the playoffs for the Leafs after spending most of the year with Dallas in the Central League. There he fashioned a league-leading 2.70 goals-against average in 37 games.Under the new NHL alignment the Penguins will play in the Patrick Division this season.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt about it, we&rsquo;re in a tough division,&rdquo; Bastien admits. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve always played well against the New York teams and Washington. The only team that had our number was Philly. We&rsquo;ve played some good games against them but we seldom came out on the right side of the ledger.&ldquo;The division is going to be great for the fans. They&rsquo;re going to see them four times here and maybe four times on the tube so they&rsquo;re going to be acquainted with players from the other clubs. It&rsquo;s going to create a helluva good rivalry.&rdquo;Bastien, who was named NHL Executive of the Year by THE HOCKEY NEWS two seasons ago, is optimistic his wheeling and dealings are finally coming to fruitition.&ldquo;I think the personnel is here and naturally it&rsquo;s up to our coaches to get it out of them,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Since the DeBartolos [team owner Edward J. DeBartolo] took over we&rsquo;ve changed nearly everybody around. They had a lot of duds here when they took over, and we&rsquo;ve made it a respectable franchise and I think we&rsquo;re on our way.&rdquo;PENGUIN TRACKS&mdash;The Penguins received left wing Paul Mulvey and &ldquo;future considerations&rdquo; from Washington for the Capitals&rsquo; signing of free-agent center Orest Kindrachuk. Mulvey, 23, may be the big left wing Johnston has been seeking at 6-4, 225 pounds&hellip;Bastien signed veteran left wing Gary Rissling and draft choices Bob Geale, Steve Gatzos and Rod Buskas. &#9632;

f0020-01

Penguins Plan To Use Playoffs As Springboard

<h2>PRINCE OF WALES CONFERENCE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03340/4407752-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="935" height="265"></div><h2>CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04229/4407745-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="922" height="302"></div> &#9632;

f0020-03

New NHL Alignment

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02442/4407783-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg"></div>Anders Hedberg of the New York Rangers is ready for another NHL season and he&rsquo;s had plenty of practice honing his scoring eye after performing in the 1981 Canada Cup with Team Sweden.The 5-11,175-pound right winger was Sweden&rsquo;s leading point-getter and goal scorer in the Canada Cup tournament. He counted four times in five games in the Swedes&rsquo; futile effort to win a playoff berth. In addition Hedberg won three team game MVP awards.Hedberg and the Rangers went off to Europe to compete in a Swedish tournament with Washington where he continued his torrid scoring pace. In the Rangers&rsquo; 5-1 win over Djurgardens, Hedberg scored once and his overall September performance has earned him recognition as THE HOCKEY NEWS&rsquo; first NHL Player of the week for 1981-82. &#9632;

f0020-02

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0021-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01467/4407814-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg"></div>Take advantage of this unique, money-saving opportunity right now, so you won&rsquo;t miss out on THE HOCKEY NEWS&rsquo; coverage of the start of the new season.Since 1947, THE HOCKEY NEWS has been the only weekly publication that has covered all levels of the game&mdash;from the minors, colleges, amateurs, European and international teams all the way to the 21 clubs in the National Hockey League. We uncover the &ldquo;behind-the-scenes&rdquo; happenings too, giving our readers the most comprehensive, in-depth reportage of the world&rsquo;s fastest and most exciting sport!With a top-notch team of columnists, reporters and statisticians, &ldquo;The Bible of Hockey&rdquo; keeps you up to date on all of the games trades, opinions, promotions, controversies, wins, losses, goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes. And we&rsquo;ve been doing it 37 times a year for almost 35 years. &#9632;

f0021-01

Here’s your season’s ticket to hockey’s best action!

<div class="byline">BY BOB FACHET</div>LANDOVER&mdash;It was a morning scrimmage during the Washington Capitals&rsquo; two-week voluntary prelude to formal training camp and a defenseman, underestimating rookie Bobby Carpenter&rsquo;s speed, missed Carpenter with a half-hearted check and took himself into the boards instead.Most of the Capitals&rsquo; brain trust, watching from the stands in accordance with Players Association guidelines, was pleased with Carpenter, in whom Washington has invested so much hope and money. One. however, took the opposite view.&ldquo;He should have cranked him. There&rsquo;s no way you can let a guy by that way,&rdquo; grumbled Yvon Labre, the Capitals&rsquo; newest assistant coach and a defenseman who cranked quite a few opposing forwards before a deteriorating knee forced him to seek another level of hockey participation.It figures to be a difficult year for Labre, manning the press-box walkie-talkie at home games and passing on observed deficiencies of his former teammates. He will also condition injured players while the team is traveling, pre-scout future opponents after an initial training period and perform public-relations duties. It&rsquo;s a nice job and Labre is thankful to get it, but he would rather be playing.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been used to playing so long, I really don&rsquo;t know what this is all about,&rdquo; Labre said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what to expect. But I&rsquo;m willing to learn. I&rsquo;m happy to stay with the organization. Who would have thought seven years ago that I&rsquo;d still be around today?&rdquo;Few would have expected any members of that awful 8-67-5 inaugural club of 1974-75 to survive for long in the NHL, but Labre hung on through hard work, determination and a refusal to quit, no matter how one-sided the odds. In the early years of the Capitals, it often seemed that Labre was taking on whole teams by himself. Perhaps that was one reason he rarely won a fight, but he could never be accused of avoiding one.Virtually every one of his seven playing campaigns here, Labre went to camp facing an uphill fight for a spot on the roster. Each year he would insist he would make it, and each year he would.&ldquo;In my head I would have loved to go to training camp again,&rdquo; Labre said. &ldquo;But physically I&rsquo;m not ready. This time I would have had to fool myself; before, I was fooling everybody else.&rdquo;Labre fooled them for the last time after an unusual ceremony at Capital Centre on Nov. 22, 1980. It was the Capitals&rsquo; 500th game and owner Abe Pollin surprised Labre, who was on the injured list, by presenting him with his No. 7 jersey and announcing that no other Capital would ever wear it. Cynics claimed Labre wouldn&rsquo;t wear it again, either, but he battled back into the lineup and it took a devastating check by Buffalo&rsquo;s Steve Patrick to finally end his playing career on Feb. 14.&ldquo;I felt something go right then and ever since I&rsquo;ve had nothing but soreness and weakness around the joint,&rdquo; Labre said. &ldquo;After the season, the knee was examined and some parts were missing. One ligament had completely disintegrated. To make the knee right I would have needed major surgery. They would have had to rebuild the whole knee and I would have been out a year.&rdquo;After seven years of conquering the improbable, Labre surrendered to the impossible and joined his jersey in retirement.Labre&rsquo;s first assignment was to join Roger Crozier, Bryan Murray and Ron Ullyot in conducting camp at Hershey for the 45 players who did not make the trip to Sweden and Finland.The 25 lucky international travelers left Washington on Sept. 14, instead of reporting to Hershey. Carpenter was among them and it seemed likely that he would start the season with Washington, after making a favorable impression in the voluntary drills.One veteran&rsquo;s assessment of Carpenter: &ldquo;Bobby Carpenter really looks good out there. He does everything well. They&rsquo;ve made a good choice. The only thing the first couple of years might be the strength factor. But he&rsquo;ll build himself up.&rdquo;Surprisingly, the speaker was one of Carpenter&rsquo;s competitors for a berth at center, a position that became even more overloaded with the signing of free agent Orest Kindrachuk. The Capitals, fearful of losing Bob Kelly if the issue reached arbitration, agreed to send left wing Paul Mulvey to Pittsburgh as compensation. Mulvey, despite the deal, skated with the Capitals until it was time tp report to the Penguins&rsquo; camp.Right wing Mike Gartner agreed to a long-term contract, believed to be worth $1 million over five years. Kelly and winger Bengt Gustafsson also signed new pacts, but center Dennis Maruk was still negotiating and prepared to play out his option if he was not accorded payment relative to his 50-goal status.Bob Fachet, long-time Washington hockey writer, is making his debut in THE HOCKEY NEWS with this story.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01485/4407845-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="602" height="866"><figcaption class="caption-body">Yvon Labre decided to retire rather than face major surgery and a year of rehabilitation.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0023-01

Labre Joins Sweater In Retirement

<h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01503/4407946-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="618" height="1476"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02395/4407939-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="618" height="1500"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03273/4407932-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="596" height="318"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04175/4407925-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="598" height="1428"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-05135/4407918-1-eng-US/f0024-052.jpg" title="f0024-05" width="610" height="400"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-06115/4407911-1-eng-US/f0024-062.jpg" title="f0024-06" width="610" height="1284"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0798/4407904-1-eng-US/f0024-072.jpg" title="f0024-07" width="592" height="750"></div><h2>FEBRURARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0892/4407897-1-eng-US/f0024-082.jpg" title="f0024-08" width="600" height="1874"></div><h2>MARCH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-0985/4407890-1-eng-US/f0024-092.jpg" title="f0024-09" width="581" height="145"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1078/4407883-1-eng-US/f0024-102.jpg" title="f0024-10" width="605" height="1865"></div><h2>APRIL</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1176/4407876-1-eng-US/f0024-112.jpg" title="f0024-11" width="593" height="384"></div> &#9632;

f0024-01

American Hockey League

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-12" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1268/4408001-1-eng-US/f0024-122.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0024-12

AHL Starting Times

<h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1357/4408158-1-eng-US/f0024-132.jpg" title="f0024-13" width="598" height="452"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1448/4408151-1-eng-US/f0024-142.jpg" title="f0024-14" width="608" height="522"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1543/4408144-1-eng-US/f0024-152.jpg" title="f0024-15" width="588" height="448"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1640/4408137-1-eng-US/f0024-162.jpg" title="f0024-16" width="584" height="516"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-1736/4408130-1-eng-US/f0024-172.jpg" title="f0024-17" width="594" height="476"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1345/4408123-1-eng-US/f0025-132.jpg" title="f0025-13" width="580" height="888"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1442/4408116-1-eng-US/f0025-142.jpg" title="f0025-14" width="568" height="552"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1537/4408109-1-eng-US/f0025-152.jpg" title="f0025-15" width="572" height="292"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1632/4408102-1-eng-US/f0025-162.jpg" title="f0025-16" width="580" height="296"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1727/4408095-1-eng-US/f0025-172.jpg" title="f0025-17" width="568" height="292"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1823/4408088-1-eng-US/f0025-182.jpg" title="f0025-18" width="574" height="556"></div><h2>FEBRUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1918/4408081-1-eng-US/f0025-192.jpg" title="f0025-19" width="578" height="252"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-12107/4408074-1-eng-US/f0026-122.jpg" title="f0026-12" width="590" height="582"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-13104/4408067-1-eng-US/f0026-132.jpg" title="f0026-13" width="576" height="376"></div><h2>MARCH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1495/4408060-1-eng-US/f0026-142.jpg" title="f0026-14" width="584" height="256"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1587/4408053-1-eng-US/f0026-152.jpg" title="f0026-15" width="588" height="728"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1678/4408046-1-eng-US/f0026-162.jpg" title="f0026-16" width="552" height="444"></div><h2>APRIL</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-1772/4408039-1-eng-US/f0026-172.jpg" title="f0026-17" width="554" height="254"></div><h2>IHL Starting Times</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-2015/4408032-1-eng-US/f0025-202.jpg" title="f0025-20" width="1204" height="476"></div><h2>Starting IHL Teams</h2>Flint GeneralsFort Wayne KometsKalamazoo K-WingsMilwaukee Admirals Muskegon MohawksSaginaw GearsToledo Goaldiggers &#9632;

f0024-13

International Hockey League

<h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01438/4408259-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="592" height="1077"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02323/4408252-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="584" height="1296"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03220/4408245-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="554" height="245"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-04158/4408238-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="585" height="1285"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-05134/4408231-1-eng-US/f0025-052.jpg" title="f0025-05" width="558" height="123"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-06111/4408224-1-eng-US/f0025-062.jpg" title="f0025-06" width="577" height="1397"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-07104/4408217-1-eng-US/f0025-072.jpg" title="f0025-07" width="579" height="298"></div><h2>FEBRUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0894/4408210-1-eng-US/f0025-082.jpg" title="f0025-08" width="567" height="1466"></div><h2>MARCH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-0985/4408203-1-eng-US/f0025-092.jpg" title="f0025-09" width="573" height="415"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1068/4408196-1-eng-US/f0025-102.jpg" title="f0025-10" width="598" height="1315"></div><h2>APRIL</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1160/4408189-1-eng-US/f0025-112.jpg" title="f0025-11" width="596" height="316"></div> &#9632;

f0025-01

Central Hockey League

<h2>NORTH DIVISION</h2>Cincinnati TigersIndianapolis CheckersNashville South StarsSalt Lake Golden Eagles<h2>SOUTH DIVISION</h2>Dallas Black HawksFort Worth TexansOklahoma City StarsTulsa OilersWichita Wind &#9632;

Starting CHL Teams

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-12" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1251/4408314-1-eng-US/f0025-122.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0025-12

CHL Starting Times

<h2>SEPTEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-01451/4408415-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="571" height="555"></div><h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02351/4408408-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="604" height="2131"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03300/4408401-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="586" height="172"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04237/4408394-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="590" height="2183"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05197/4408387-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="571" height="582"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06164/4408380-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="602" height="1563"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07147/4408373-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="583" height="1147"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-08134/4408366-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="616" height="1508"></div><h2>FEBRUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-09126/4408359-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="612" height="1166"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-10120/4408352-1-eng-US/f0026-102.jpg" title="f0026-10" width="584" height="1066"></div><h2>MARCH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-11116/4408345-1-eng-US/f0026-112.jpg" title="f0026-11" width="576" height="1016"></div> &#9632;

f0026-01

Ontario Hockey League

LEYDEN DIVISIONToronto MarlborosPeterborough PetesOshawa GeneralsKingston CanadiansOttawa 67sBelleville BullsCornwall RoyalsEMMS DIVISIONS.S Marie GreyhoundsSudbury WolvesKitchener RangersBrantford AlexandersLondon KnightsWindsor SpitfiresNiagara Falls Flyers &#9632;

Starting OHL Teams

<div class="byline">BY RANDY SCHULTZ</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-01431/4408470-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Roger Crozier in action with the Detroit Red Wings, his first NHL team. His desire to be best never wavered.</figcaption></div>This column is the first of many THE HOCKEY NEWS hopes to run this season, bringing our readers up to date on the whereabouts and thoughts of many of the stars of the National Hockey League in the 1950s, &lsquo;60s and &lsquo;70s. If there are any players you&rsquo;re interested in reading about, write Randy Schultz c/o THE HOCKEY NEWS; we&rsquo;ll see that he gets the message. And in the meantime, we hope that you enjoy the column every other week in the paper.As a goaltender in the National Hockey League for 14 seasons (1963-77), Roger Crozier was always working to be the best at his position.Crozier is remembered for his flipping and flopping, darting and diving and uncanny ability to make one miracle save after another. His style resembled that of another goalie great of that era, Glenn Hall. Had it not been for a pancreas ailment, Roger could have played several more years.Crozier, who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, never gave up on the idea of being the best despite winning both the Calder Memorial and Conn Smythe trophies, being named to the NHL&rsquo;s First Team All Stars and playing for two Stanley Cup finalist teams.Even though Crozier retired as a player after the 1976-77 season, his desire to be the best never wavered. Today he brings that desire to his new line of work as the assistant general manager for the Capitals.&ldquo;There have been some ex-players who really botched up executive positions when they were given the chance to fill them,&rdquo; said Crozier from his office in Washington. &ldquo;Because of them, those of us ex-players who would like the chance to fill an executive position are looked upon with doubt. I think each person should be judge individually, not with the past history of others.With the Capitals, Crozier has been given a fair chance. &ldquo;Max McNab [Caps&rsquo; general manager] gave me the chance following my retirement,&rdquo; said the Bracebridge, Ont., native. &ldquo;All he told me was that I would have to earn my spurs. So I&rsquo;ve given myself so many years to prove myself, hoping to eventually become a general manager.&rdquo;Crozier&rsquo;s aspiration to become a hockey executive goes back to his playing days in Buffalo with former Sabres GM and coach, George &ldquo;Punch&rdquo; Imlach.&ldquo;Punch and I used to sit and talk a great deal about his duties and what it took to be a good GM,&rdquo; said Crozier, who was traded to Buffalo in 1970 for their first round pick in the expansion draft, Tom Webster. &ldquo;I watched Punch operate the Buffalo franchise, promising to build a good strong one and relying on key players (of which Crozier was one).&ldquo;He taught me not to stand still. You have to keep turning players over until you get the right combination. I also learned that if opportunity knocks, open the doer. You have to take chances. And he did.&rdquo;Ironically, the student (Crozier) had a chance to work with the master (Imlach) last summer when the Caps traded defenseman Robert Picard to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Mike Palmateer.&ldquo;It seemed a little strange to be on the other side of the fence with Punch,&rdquo; remarked the 39-year-old former goalie. &ldquo;But we had what he wanted and he had what we wanted. And despite what some people have said about Punch, he&rsquo;s nobody&rsquo;s fool. He&rsquo;s honest and fair.&rdquo;Despite his philosophy of always looking ahead, the 5-8 Crozier has many fine memories of his playing career.&ldquo;My biggest thrill came in my first two years in Detroit,&rdquo; recalled Crozier. &ldquo;It came from the players I met while playing, like Andy Bathgate, Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Norm Ullman and all the others. These were guys I had heard about and had idolized. I was in real good company.&ldquo;Of course, I&rsquo;ll never forget my first game for Buffalo at home. We were shut out by the Canadiens, 3-0, and I don&rsquo;t think the puck was out of our end that much during the game. It seemed like I had to keep making save after save. That puck was fired at me a lot that game.&rdquo;Today Crozier sees the Capitals&rsquo; franchise as one with a strong foundation. &ldquo;I believe in a good front office and in having good people at the top,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I am. in part, responsible for hiring many of the people on top in our organization like coach Gary Green, Jack Button [director of player recruitment], Jim Loria [special assistant in the hockey dept.] and our minor league coach, Bryan Murray.With people like this, our team will do well. We fell short last year, only because of inexperience. This year I know we&rsquo;ll make the playoffs. Add to that the fact that we are hosting the All-Star game and this city will go crazy with enthusiasm.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0027-01

Hockey’s Most Exciting Goalie?

<h2>NATIONAL LEAGUE</h2>BOSTON&mdash;Jim Craig, G, placed on injury list for month with broken finger. Bruce Crowder, RW, signed as free agent from Philadelphia. Jean Ratelle, C, retired as player.BUFFALO&mdash;Dave Gorman, RW, signed as free agent from Montreal. Don Keller, LW, signed as free agent from Calgary of WHL. Dean Turner, D, signed as free agent from Colorado. Jimmy Jones, C, retired as player.CALGARY&mdash;Kari Eloranta, D, signed to NHL contract from Swedish First Division. Kari Jalonen, C, signed from Finnish National Team but won&rsquo;t report until 1982-83. Rick Vasko, D, secured from Detroit as compensation for earlier trade. Keith Knight, C, Carl Mokosak, LW, and Grant Rezanoff, C, signed as free agent juniors. Hardy Astrom, G, signed as free agent from Colorado.CHICAGO&mdash;Tony Tanti, RW, 1st draft pick in 1981, signed to NHL contract.COLORADO&mdash;Christer Kel-Igren, RW, and Peter Gustavsson, LW, signed to multi-year contracts from Swedish Hockey League. Tapio Levo, D, Veli-Pekka Ketola, C, and Jukka Porvari, RW, all signed from Finnish National team. Dwight Foster, C, signed as free agent from Boston in exchange for Rockies&rsquo; 2nd round draft pick in 1982 and the option of exchanging 1st round picks, also in 1982. Al Smith, G, and Bill McKenzie, G, both released as free agents.DETROIT- Corrado Micalef, G, 2nd draft pick in 1981, signed to NHL contract. Gilles Gilbert, G, resigned as free agent. Walt McKechnie, C, signed as free agent from Colorado without compensation. Al Jensen, G, traded to Washington in exchange for Mark Lofthouse, RW.EDMONTON&mdash;Don Murdoch, RW, traded to Minnesota in exchange for Don Jackson, D, and 3rd round draft choice in 1982. Murdoch later traded to Detroit with Greg Smith, D, and Minnesota&rsquo;s 1st round draft pick in 1982 in exchange for Detroit&rsquo;s 1st round draft choice in 1982. John Blum, D. signed to NHL contract from Michigan University.HARTFORD&mdash;Greg Millen, G, signed as free agent from Pittsburgh. Whalers sent Pat Boutette, C, and Kevin McClelland, RW, a 1980 4th draft pick, to Penguins as compensation. Fred Arthur, D, and Ray Allison, RW, traded to Philadelphia in exchange for Rick MacLeish, C, Blake Wesley, D, and Don Gillen, RW. Whalers also received Philly&rsquo;s 2nd round draft pick in 1982 and agreed to exchange 1st and 3rd round draft choices with Flyers, also in 1982. Paul Fricker, G, 9th draft pick in 1980, signed to NHL contract from Michigan University. Jeff Pyle, C, from Northern Michigan, Randy McGregor, RW, and Vince Magnan, LW, signed as free agents. Mario Cerri, C, from Ottawa 67s, and Jeff Brownschidle, D, from Notre Dame, signed as free agents. Chuck Luksa, D, Ron Plumb, D, Bernie Johnston, C, Jean Savard, C, and Bill Bennett, RW, all released as free agents.LOS ANGELES&mdash;Steve Bozek, C, 5th draft pick in 1980 from Northern Michigan, Bernie Nicholls, C, 6th draft pick in 1980 from Kingston of OHL, and Daryl Evans, LW, 11th draft pick in 1980 from Niagara Falls of OHL, all signed to NHL contracts. Dean Jenkins, RW, from Lowell University, and Brock Treadway, RW, from Cornell, signed as free agents. Larry Goodenough, D, signed as free agent from Saginaw of IHL. Gary Bromley, G, secured from Vancouver as compensation for earlier trade. Alex Tidey, RW, Barry Gibbs, D, and Kevin Schamehorn, RW, all released as free agents without compensation. Don Luce, C, traded to Toronto in exchange for Bob Gladney, D, and 6th round draft pick in 1982 and cash. Bobby Sheehan, C, signed as free agent from Colorado. Rick Hampton, D, and Doug Harvey, C, released as free agents. Jay MacFarlane, D. 6th round draft pick in 1979, traded to Edmonton in return for Oilers&rsquo; 5th round draft choice in 1983. Jim Armstrong, LW, 11th draft pick in 1978 from Clarkson, Alan Graves, LW, from Seattle, a 5th round draft in 1980, and Mark Morris, D, from Colgate, signed to contracts.MINNESOTA&mdash;Jali Wahlstein, Kari Kanervo and Ari Vuori, all signed from Finnish Hockey league. Robbie Moore, G, signed as free agent from Philadelphia. Bill Nyrop, D, signed to multi-year contract after two-year retirement. Dan Chicoine, RW, traded to Quebec in exchange for Nelson Burton, LW. Anders Hakansson, RW, signed from Stockholm AIK team. Ron Meighan, D, 1st draft pick in 1981, from Niagara Falls of OHL, signed to contract.MONTREAL&mdash;Mark Hunter. RW. 1st draft pick in 1981, from Brantford of OHL and Gilbert Delorme, 2nd draft pick in 1981, from Chicoutimi of QHL, signed to NHL contracts. John Goodwin, C, signed as free agent junior from Sault Ste. Marie of OHL. Serge Savard, D. retired as player. Joe Contini, C, Bruce Gill, D, George Goulakos, LW, and Alain Grenier, RW, all released after tryouts. Greg Moffett, G, and Paul Conway, D, assigned to Nova Scotia of AHL. Danny Burrows, G, 13th draft pick in 1981 from Belleville, assigned to Concordia University to further his schooling.N.Y. ISLANDERS&mdash;Tomas Jonsson, D, 2nd draft pick in 1979. signed to NHL contract from Swedish National Team. Rob Holland. G, signed as free agent from Pittsburgh and assigned to Indianapolis of CHL. Jean Potvin, D, retired as player.N.Y. RANGERS- Doug Soetaert, G, traded to Winnipeg for future considerations. Bobby Hull, LW, accepted training camp invitation as free agent. Josh Guevremont, D, retired as player. Wayne Thomas, G, retired to become goaling coach. Reijo Ruotsalainen, D, and Mikko Leinonen, C, signed to NHL contracts from Finnish National Team.PHILADELPHIA&mdash;Ken Strong, LW, 4th draft pick in 1981 from Peterborough of OHL, and Gil Hudon, G, 10th draft pick in 1981 from Prince Albert, returned to junior teams. John Wensink, LW, signed as free agent from Quebec.PITTSBURGH&mdash;Michel Dion, G. signed as free agent from Winnipeg. Dave Burrows, D, Nick Libett, LW. and Errol Thompson, LW, retired as players. Bob Geale, C, 6th draft pick in 1980 from Portland of WHL, Steve Gatzos, RW, 1st draft pick in 1981 from S.S. Marie of OHL, and Rod Buskas, D, 5th draft pick in 1981 from Medicine Hat of WHL, all signed to NHL contracts.QUEBEC&mdash;Marian Stastny, RW, signed to NHL contract after defecting from Czechoslovakia. Ron Grahame, G, and Greg Tebbutt, D, released as free agents. Randy Moller, D, 1st draft pick from Lethbridge of WHL, signed to NHL contract.ST. LOUIS&mdash;Ed Staniowski, G, Brian Maxwell, D, and Paul MacLean, RW, traded to Winnipeg in exchange for Scott Campbell, D, and John Markell, LW. Blues signed four 1980 draft picks, Jim Pavese, D, from Kitchener of OHL. Alain Lemieux, C, 4th pick from Chicoutimi of QHL, Perry Anderson, LW, 5th pick from Kingston of OHL, and John Smyth, D, 9th pick from Calgary of WHL. Hartland Monahan, RW, released as free agent. Jean Savard, C, signed as free agent from Hartford.TORONTO&mdash;Jim Benning, D, 1st draft pick in 1981 from Portland of WHL, and Ernie Godden, C, 3rd draft pick from Windsor of OHL, signed to NHL contracts. Bob Parent, G, Reg Thomas, LW, and Martin Maglay, G, from Czechoslovakia, signed as free agents to NHL contracts. Leafs picked up Bob Manno, D, and Dave Logan, D, from Vancouver, Kim Clackson, D, from Quebec, and Rick Blight, R W. from Vancouver, as free agents. Bob Stephenson, LW, released. Fred Perlini, C, 8th draft pick in 1980, returned to Toronto of OHL.VANCOUVER&mdash;Ivan Hlinka, C, and Jin Bubla, D. signed as free agents from Czechoslovakian Hockey League. Canucks traded Brent Ashton, LW, and a 4th round draft pick in 1982 to Winnipeg for Hlinka&rsquo;s NHL rights. Jets in turn traded Ashton, and a 3rd round draft pick in 1982 to Colorado for free agent Lucien DeBlois, RW. The Rockies as the third party transferred NHL rights of Bubla to Vancouver to complete three-way deal. Bob Schmautz, C. released. Anders Eldebrink D, and Lars Molin. C, signed to NHL contracts from Swedish Hockey League. Harold Phillipoff, LW, Rick Blight. RW, and Bob Manno, D, all released as free agents.WASHINGTON&mdash;Bob Carpenter. C, 1st draft pick in 1981 from Danvers, MA., High School, signed to NHL contract. Rolf Edberg, C, quit team to play and scout in Sweden. Orest Kindrachuk, C, signed as free agent from Pittsburgh. Caps sent Paul Mulvey, LW, and future considerations to Pittsburgh as compensation. Yvon Labre, D. retired as player. Roland Stoltz, RW, signed from Skelleftea of Swedish League. Timo Blomqvist. D, signed to NHL contract from Helsinki, Finland. Tony Camazzola, D, 9th draft pick in 1980 from Brandon of WHL, signed to NHL contract. Bob Sirois, RW, rejoined team from Lausanne, Switzerland. Ray McKay, D, Claude Noel, C, Archie Henderson, RW, and Don Micheletti, LW, released as free agents.WINNIPEG&mdash;Tim Watters, D, 6th draft pick in 1979 from Michigan Tech, and Dale Hawerchuk, C, 1st draft pick in 1981 from Cornwall of QHL, signed to NHL contracts. Pete Sullivan, C, released as free agent to play in Europe. Glenn Hicks, LW, signed as free agent from Detroit. Lyle Moffet, LW, and Jude Drouin. C. retired as players. Ross Cory, D, Al Cameron, D, Bill Davis, D, Tim Dunlop, D, Dave Hoyda, LW, and Gerry Rioux, RW. all released as free agents. Bengt Lundholm. LW, signed to NHL contract from Swedish National Team. &#9632;

PLAYER TRANSACTIONS

<div class="byline">BY GLENN COLE</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01417/4408525-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="598" height="1054"><figcaption class="caption-body">Doug Wickenheiser feels more comfortable at the Candiens&rsquo; camp this year and hopes for regular duty.</figcaption></div>MONTREAL&mdash;Doug Wickenheiser did his best this summer to forget last winter.The 20-year-old center, a much-heralded No. 1 draft pick in June. 1980. put away the thoughts of sitting on the bench in Philadelphia in October while an ex-Regina teammate Glen Sorensen was recalled from the Voyageurs to dress in his place. Memories of the prolonged designated-sitter role, nights in western Canada when his parents came in from Regina to see him play only to sit with him in the stands are faded, unhappy memories.&lsquo;&lsquo;No amount of reminiscing or worrying was going to change it,&rdquo; Wickenheiser said &lsquo;&lsquo;I just let it go, it was over with. If people wanted to ask me questions about it, I&rsquo;d answer.&rdquo;Coach Bob Berry has indicated that Wickenheiser, who had seven goals and eight assists in 39 games, will get a serious shot at one of the center spots this season.Sophomore Keith Action, veteran Piere Larouche, rookie Dan Daoust and Wickenheiser were the only centers who impressed in the training camp and in Wickenheiser&rsquo;s case, there was some inconsistency.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m disappointed about not scoring,&rdquo; Wickenheiser admitted. &lsquo;&lsquo;I&rsquo;m not going to start worrying about not getting goals in training camp. That doesn&rsquo;t make too much sense.&lsquo;&lsquo;I feel more a part of things here. I&rsquo;m more comfortable. I&rsquo;m not worried about what they&rsquo;re thinking. If I make a mistake&hellip;I just try to go out and not make it again.&rdquo;There were times last season when the soft-spoken Wickenheiser let his frustration get the best of him. While he seldom showed emotion&mdash;he never smiles after scoring goals&mdash;Wickenheiser did display fits of anger by smashing sticks over crossbars and goal posts.&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re down like that, it doesn&rsquo;t do you any good,&rdquo; Wickenheiser explained. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got to try not to get that way this year. It&rsquo;s hard to say there was one low point. There were times I thought I should be playing but I can&rsquo;t remember exact times now.&rdquo;Wickenheiser even got into a little tussle with now-departed trainer Pierre Meilleur before a practice, ripping two of Meilleur&rsquo;s tee shirts.&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t even remember if I was playing at the time or not,&rdquo; Wickenheiser laughed. &ldquo;We were arguing about something and I got a little angry. I ripped his shirt and he went and put on another one and said &lsquo;here rip this one.&rsquo; I said &lsquo;okay&rsquo; and I ripped it too. That was about it.&ldquo;I was expecting to come back after practice and find my pants cut or something. He didn&rsquo;t do anything and we laughed about it afterwards.&rdquo;Wickenheiser hopes all that is behind him now. There&rsquo;s a new coach, a revised policy regarding young players and a challenge for the Canadiens to re-establish themselvesas Stanley Cup contenders after their hasty exit last spring at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to play on a regular line,&rdquo; Wickenheiser said. &ldquo;Everyone wants to play 40 minutes, but all I can expect is a regular line. That&rsquo;s all I&rsquo;m hoping for.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t ever want to have a year like last year,&rdquo; Wickenheiser concluded. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t have a year last year.&rdquo;IN PASSING&mdash;Mark Napier and his wife Jan are the proud parents of their first child, a seven-pound, 14-ounce boy, Matthew. Napier, a 35-goal man last season, has decided to play out his option. The Canadiens released former Colorado Rockies&rsquo; center Joe Contini, defenseman Bruce Gill, left winger George Goulakas and right winger Alain Grenier. Goaltender Greg Moffett from the University of New Hampshire and defenseman Paul Conway, who were injured in camp, were instructed to report to the Nova Scotia Voyageurs while 18-year-old netminder Danny Burrows, the youngest player in camp, will report to Concordia University&hellip;Claude Ruel&rsquo;s new title is director of special assignments, the same title assistant coach Jacques Laperriere had last year. Among Ruel&rsquo;s duties are a few trips to Nova Scotia to check up on progress there. Team USA&rsquo;s Rod Langway and Team Canada&rsquo;s Brian Engblom, Larry Robinson, Guy Lafleur and Bob Gainey were all given a week off after the Canada Cup. Langway showed up the second day of training camp while Engblom and Gainey were on hand the night the Canadiens opened their pre-season schedule with a 4-3 loss to Chicago. &#9632;

f0028-01

Wickenheiser Looks Forward To Fresh Start

<div class="byline">BY TOM HENSHAW</div>BOSTON&mdash;Mike Moffat, 19 years old and fresh out of Cambridge (Ont., not Mass.) by way of the Kingston Canadians, turned the question over in his mind gravely.&ldquo;If I can stick to my fundamentals and not beat myself, I could be all right,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If they beat me and I get sent home, fine, but I sure don&rsquo;t want to go home and have a year to think about how I beat myself.&rdquo;Moffat, a Boston Bruins&rsquo; eighth round draft choice two years ago, is conceded a good chance of cracking the ranks of the Bruins&rsquo; top three goaltenders, Rogie Vachon, Jim Craig and Marco Baron.&ldquo;He stands a very good chance of making it this year,&rdquo; said Jim Morrison, the former Bruins&rsquo; defenseman who coached him at Kingston. &ldquo;Looking at the Bruins&rsquo; situation in goal, 1 wouldn&rsquo;t think they&rsquo;re satisfied.&rdquo;Indeed, the Bruins are not satisfied with the goaltending they received last season and there is an opening for Moffat, who has one more year of junior eligibility remaining.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s in the battle with Craig and Baron,&rdquo; says general manager Harry Sinden, conceding the top spot to the veteran Vachon.Therefore, as a legitimate contender for a spot on the big club, Moffat was drawing more media attention than usual at the Bruins&rsquo; early September rookie and tryout camp at Town Line Twin Rinks in suburban Danvers.He has been a goalie since the first time he drew on hockey skates.&ldquo;When I was real young I went down to the arena to watch my friend play,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I had never seen a hockey game before in my life.&ldquo;After the game all these little kids came flying off the bench and threw their equipment all over the place and they piled on their goaltender.&ldquo;I looked at that and I said, &lsquo;Gee, I wish I was that goalie.&rsquo; That started it. I haven&rsquo;t looked back.&rdquo;He had, he says, a thoroughly undistinguished career in minor hockey in Cambridge, right up through the midget level.&ldquo;I was never really on a good team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t play in any big tournaments. If you want to get noticed by the major junior teams you have to play on a championship team or a fairly competitive one.&ldquo;Cambridge is more known for its figure skaters than its hockey players. Toller Cranston was originally from Cambridge. They have the Cambridge Figure Skating Club. I guess maybe that&rsquo;s our excuse.&rdquo;The best game Moffat ever played in goal was a six-overtime marathon in a midget tournament in Hamilton, Ont. It came at exactly the right time. It was the turning point in his career.&ldquo;We lost the game to a team from Mississauga,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The guy that scored the winning goal was Dave Morrison. That&rsquo;s Jim Morrison&rsquo;s son. Later I ran into him at a hockey school and he talked his father into giving me an invitation to try out for Kingston.&rdquo;He not only made the Canadians two years ago but last year he won the Hap Holmes Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League&rsquo;s best goalie with a 3.68 average in 57 games. Morrison, who played for the Bruins back in the 1950s, has been the biggest influence on his play.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never really had any instruction in goaltending,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve learned it mostly by trial and error. In minor hockey I was always on my own. But Jimmy Morrison understands goaltending more than any other coach who never played the position.&ldquo;I admired Don Beaupre when he played for Sudbury. I was always trying to learn the butterfly. 1 was never very good at it but I worked on it all summer so that when I reported to Kingston it was working well.&ldquo;But Jimmy Morrison really stressed standing up and squaring off to the shooters. So I had to go back to learning how to stand up. I&rsquo;m still very much learning both styles but at least I have the options.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an advantage to have both moves. The butterfly is a big help on low shots or if you&rsquo;re screened or there&rsquo;s a scramble or you&rsquo;re being pushed around. You can go down in the butterfly and your pads will take away most of what&rsquo;s down on the ice.&rdquo;Moffat&rsquo;s father is a general surgeon in Cambridge and his mother was a nurse until she decided to stay home and raise the six little Moffats, four boys and two girls.&ldquo;School was always very important in our family,&rdquo; said Mike. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m in the middle of graduating from Grade 13. When I started junior I said I&rsquo;m going to be here for three years so 1 did my Grade 12 in one year and my grade 13 in two years.&ldquo;I always wanted to give hockey my best effort so that when it comes time to make a decision I&rsquo;ll have put everything 1 have into hockey and when hockey&rsquo;s over I&rsquo;ll go back to school.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02307/4408556-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="572" height="924"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike Moffat was the leading goalie in the Ontario Hockey League with a 3.68 average in 57 games.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0028-02

Moffat Bruins’ Backup Contender

<div class="byline">BY FRANK FONTAINE</div>QUEBEC&mdash;Dan Bouchard still has not signed a contract with the Nordiques, and has not reported to their training camp.What seemed like your usual holdout story, the kind that makes headlines when there&rsquo;s nothing else to write about, has turned into a very serious situation. Bouchard is still home in Atlanta, and has already missed the first week of training. Moreover, the relationship between the 3.0-year-old goalie and the team management, seems to have taken a turn for the worse as a result of public statements made by both parties. Basically, Bouchard says he knows what he&rsquo;s worth and he&rsquo;s going to stay home until he gets it. On the other hand, Nordiques&rsquo; GM Maurice Filion says that while Bouchard is unquestionably a key man for the Nordiques, the team must respect its salary scale.Bouchard has some strong arguments in his favor. Until he arrived with the Nordiques about midway through last season, the team was involved in an uninteresting contest with Winnipeg for the right to have first pick in the Entry Draft. Yet, by the time the final game had been played, the Nordiques had become one of the most exciting teams in hockey and had reached 11th place. Bouchard had changed the course of events. And anyone who follows hockey knows he was no flash in the pan. The man has been one of the outstanding backstoppers in the game, for many seasons. He feels that if he&rsquo;s ever going to get the jackpot, now&rsquo;s the time, since he&rsquo;s a free agent.Unfortunately, the Nordiques have decided to stop handing out jackpots, as they did in the WHA and in their first year of operation in the NHL. They feel ticket prices are as high as the public can bear and that to maintain their ticket scale, they must maintain the salary scale they have set for themselves.But what about other teams? If Bouchard is so good why hasn&rsquo;t he been hired by some other club? He is a free agent, isn&rsquo;t he? Fact is, very few teams have negotiated with his agent, Jerry Kapstein. The reasons: His demands and the compensation clause. (His alleged reputation as a tough guy to get along with, has nothing to do with it. If it was ever true, it certainly was never evident with the Nordiques. And anyway, all goalies are a bit&hellip;different.)According to well informed sources. Bouchard went on the market asking for a five-year contract worth $275,000 annually, plus a $370,000 bonus upon signing said contract. All in U.S. funds. Translated into Canadian funds that works out to the equivalent of around $450,000 annually, (bonus included.) So you can understand the Nordiques&rsquo; point of view! A point of view evidently shared by other NHL teams.Of course, what scares the other teams even more perhaps, is the price they would have to pay in compensation to the Nordiques. The more Bouchard would get from another team, the more he would bring to the Nordiques&hellip;who would also have no problem proving to a mediator just how valuable Bouchard was to them. At one point, the Boston Bruins, who once owned Bouchard, were interested in him. But they backed off when they were informed about his demands&hellip;and those of the Nordiques. Well actually the Bruins never did find out precisely what the Nordiques wanted from them as compensation. The line went dead after just two words. Raymond Bourque.So what have the Nordiques offered Bouchard? A two-year contract worth half a million dollars&hellip;Canadian dollars, that is.What if the Nordiques win this war of nerves? How will Bouchard approach his work if he feels he didn&rsquo;t get what he deserved? &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always done my best in the past. Always. I&rsquo;m an honest man. If we can come to some agreement, I&rsquo;ll give my best.&rdquo; he was quoted as saying&hellip;from his home in the sunny southern city of Atlanta, Georgia&hellip;where hockey was once played.NORDIQUES NOTES - Michel Plasse and Clint Malarchuck, a rookie, played in the Nordiques nets for their first exhibition, a 5 to 4 loss to the Minnesota North Stars&hellip;The Nordiques had another holdout besides Bouchard. Jacques Richard missed the first week of training camp. He too was a free agent. Richard signed a three-year contract reportedly worth about $200,000 a year. Unlike Bouchard, Richard scrupulously abstained from taking his case to the public. Furthermore, he took part in the Nordiques&rsquo; off-ice training camp, which preceded the start of the official training camp. And when he wasn&rsquo;t allowed to skate with them, being without a contract to protect him and the team in case of injury, he worked out on his own, in a suburban arena&hellip;Marian Stastny will need plenty of ice time before he can regain the form which made him a great international player&hellip;Top draft choice Randy Moller has been drawing good notices because of his rugged play&hellip;But the most talked about defenseman so far. is Dave Pichette, a second-year man who added 20 pounds of muscle during the summer, to bring his 6-4 frame to 210 pounds. The young giant has responded well to coach Michel Bergeron&rsquo;s request that he make greater use of his body&hellip;(against opposing players, naturally.) &#9632;

Bouchard, Nordiques Far Apart In Salary Talks

<div class="byline">BY PATRICK LYON</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSMONCTON&mdash;The Hawks became the final team in the American hockey League to name their coach when the announced that Orval Tessier would guide the team behind the bench this season.Tessier is hoping to work the same magic he performed as the coach of the Kitchener Rangers a year ago when he guided that club to a superb season and the finals of the Memorial Cup against the Cornwall Royals. The new Hawks mentor replaced Doug Carpenter, who moved to Cincinnati.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited about the new position,&rdquo; said Tessier, who will be making his pro coaching debut after 11 years in junior hockey. &ldquo;I like to have a fast club with good skaters, players who are aggressive and have a lot of &lsquo;self-discipline.&rdquo;Tessier figures that the big difference between coaching the pros and juniors is that the pro players may need more motivation than the younger players. &ldquo;I think the big thing may be in adjusting to having two types of players on one team&mdash;the older players combining with the youngsters,&rdquo; said the Hawks mentor.Tessier didn&rsquo;t take long to get right into his work as he visited the camps of both the Chicago Black Hawks and Toronto Maple Leafs.ADIRONDACK&mdash;26 players from the parent Detroit Red Wings are expected to be vying for jobs with last year&rsquo;s Calder Cup champions.New coach Doug McKay was set to greet Peter Mahovlich for another season as well as Bill Hogaboam and Dave Hanson.The Red Wings stopped their season ticket sales at 4,000 and should continue as the number one club in paid attendance for another season.HERSHEY&mdash;General manager Frank Mathers feels that as many as ten players could return from last year&rsquo;s team which gained the semifinal round of the Calder Cup.More than 50 rookies were trying to win positions with the Washington Capitals and Hershey Bears and Mathers reported that many of them showed good potential. The Bears are looking to sign players such as Dan Clark and Mike Haworth.Mathers felt the Capitals and Bears would be strong in goal with the likes of Rollie Boutin, Dave Parro and Al Jensen. Two of those goaltenders could end up in Hershey.ROCHESTER&mdash;The Americans held camp with the Buffalo Sabres in Lake Placid with 66 players including 37 forwards, 23 defensemen and six goalies.Rob McClanahan, Bob Mongrain, J.F. Sauve and Randy Cunneyworth were battling for center positions with the Sabres and depending on who makes the Buffalo roster, Rochester should gain two of the players.Rick Knickle, who won 33 games with Erie in the EHL a year ago, is dueling Jari Paavola of Finland for the back-up goaltender spot in Rochester. Jacques Cloutier should be the American&rsquo;s top netminder again this season.Two players who formerly played for Finland, Kai Suikkanen and Kari Suoraniemi. played well in training camp along with free agents Dave Gorman, Mal Davis and Dean Turner.Veteran John Bednarski, an All Star selection four times, reported 15 pounds lighter and is looking forward to a banner season.American coach Mike Keenan served as one of five observers at the Canada Cup as the Rochester mentor watched the Czech team during the tourney. Keenan also helped in the selection of the Canadian National Team.Three players from last year including Bob Hess, Paul Crowley and Jim Jones are looking at new hockey horizons. Hess is seeking a job with the parent club in Buffalo, Crowley was in the Hartford Whalers camp and Jones is the new Toronto Marlies coach.NOVA SCOTIA&mdash;The Voyageurs geared up their season ticket drive, which resulted in a 20 percent boost over a year ago.New coach John Brophy was extremely pleased with the prospects he looked at in the Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; training camp.Radio station CHFX will be doing all of the away games of the Voyageurs with John Bowen handling the mike.SPRINGFIELD&mdash;The Indians were able to boast of the largest program in the history of the franchise with 56 pages thanks to corporate help the club received. The affiliation with the New York Rangers has meant a lot to the community and because of that, season ticket sales have increased dramatically over last year.New Springfield coach Tom Webster figures to benefit with the dual training concept of the Rangers and Indians. While Herb Brooks and Craig Patrick were in Europe with a contingent of top players, 30 others remained in camp at Rye, N.Y., with Webster calling the shots. Webster will have much more time to be with many of the players he will have on his team compared to the shorter times other AHL coaches will receive.Ron Plumb, who captained the Indians a year ago, was in camp with the Rangers as a free agent trying to earn a contract.Former Springfield coach John Wilson will be doing some scouting for the Boston Bruins on weekends.ERIE&mdash;The Blades shared their facilities at the Erie County Fieldhouse for the week with the parent Pittsburgh Penguins as Erie readied itself for its maiden season in the AHL.The Penguins and Blades benefitted from the experience of former NHL great Bobby Orr, who observed team workouts for three days while talking to players and making observations for Penguins&rsquo; coach Eddie Johnston and Blade coach Lou Angotti.Angotti had made a very favorable impression on the people in Erie in the short time he has been the Blades coach.The Blades won three straight EHL championships with their orange and black uniforms, but traded them in for the gold and black of the Penguins.BINGHAMTON&mdash;The Whalers were doing their best to advance local junior hockey by giving all of their proceeds from their home exhibitions to the Southern Tier Hockey Association.Jay Palladino and Ken Holland, who say limited action with Binghamton last season, were very impressive in training camp.FREDERICTON - The keen competition in the camp of the Quebec Nordiques was expected to carry right down to the camp of the first-year Express.Twenty of 61 performers in the Nordiques camp came right out of junior hockey so it is obvious the emphasis in both camps will be on youth.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01368/4408611-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="606" height="946"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hershey would like to regain their 1980 AHL title with help from players like Mike Haworth.</figcaption></div>NEW HAVEN&mdash;The Nighthawks are excited about their new parent club, the Los Angeles Kings, and both teams were making regular season plans at their Victoria, B.C. training camp.The West Haven Youth Hockey Association benefitted from a Nighthawks exhibition contest as New Haven prepared for their tenth anniversary in the AHL.MAINE&mdash;For the second straight year the Mariners played a pre-season game in Augusta, ME., against the New Haven Nighthawks. Mariners&rsquo; president Ed Anderson was pleased to bring AHL action back to central Maine. &#9632;

f0029-01

Tessier Expects To Make Hawks Fly; Bears Count On Returning Nucleus

<div class="byline">BY TOM LOBAUGH</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSTULSA&mdash;In September most Central Hockey League news comes out of distant training camps, not from the home office.But that wasn&rsquo;t the case of the Tulsa Oilers, who came perilously close to dropping out of the league, but were saved by a new ownership in a hectic-three-day Labor Day weekend.Club president Scott Simpson and acting general manager Bobby Gilbert on a Friday announced a press conference for the following Tuesday morning. When pressed, they admitted it ws for the purpose of announcing Tulsa&rsquo;s withdrawal from the CHL, since the club was in debt and lacked working capital to begin the new seasonThe city-owned Assembly Center had taken back the dates reserved for the Oilers&rsquo; schedule, since the club had not posted a required $250,000 performance bond.That&rsquo;s where Mark Ebenhack, veteran bail bondsman and longtime referee in junior and collegiate hockey, stepped in. With the aid of Jeff Nix, local attorney who has been a concert promoter and ballroom operator, enough other investors were found to buy out the former owners and form a limited partnership to insure the Oilers&rsquo; continuance.The Tuesday press conference, which had been scheduled as a wake, became a festive occasion, instead.Ebenhack and Nix became cogeneral managers, as Gilbert relinquished the duties he had reassumed in July. One of the first things the new Oiler bosses did was to drive to Winnipeg to confer With John Ferguson, general manager of the parent Jets about future plans for Tulsa.Mike Smith, who coached the Oilers for a season and a half before moving up to Winnipeg as associate coach last December, was reassigned as Tulsa coach.The Oilers were without a trainer, as Billy Harwell resigned to enter private business in Tulsa. Harwell had trained the club for five of the past six seasons. He also resigned as trainer for the Tulsa Roughnecks in the North American Soccer League.FORT WORTH - Andy Laing, coach of the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario League for the past four seasons, was announced as the new coach for the Fort Worth Texans by the parent Colorado Rockies.The former goaltender, although one of six new coaches in the nine-team CHL, is the only one with no previous pro coaching experience.CINCINNATI - After a 10-day rookie camp at St. Catharines, Ont., the young prospects for the new Cincinnati Tigers moved to Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to begin working out with the veterans on the parent Toronto club.Tiger coach Doug Carpenter still hadn&rsquo;t been assigned any players. But the Leafs had acquired right wing Rick Blight, defenseman Bob Manno and Dave Logan, all of whom played for the Dallas Black Hawks last year. They were considered strong possibilities for the Cincy club.NASHVILLE - South Stars coach Gene Ubriaco was expecting to get center Mike Antonovich and goalie Lindsay Middlebrook, both of whom played for Tulsa in the CHL last season, when the parent Minnesota North Stars began cutting their camp roster.Antonovich, former World Hockey Association standout, didn&rsquo;t join the Oilers until December, but had 28 goals and 60 points in 60 regularseason games for Tulsa.INDIANAPOLIS - The Checkers announced the signing of left wing Kevin Devine, last season&rsquo;s captain, and 220-pound left wing Frank Beaton, who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the CHL until that club folded in February.New coach Fred Creighton said the 26-year-old Devine and the 28-year-old Beaton &ldquo;fit into my plans to have a more aggressive Checker team this year.&rdquo;The Checkers also announced the hiring of Rick Heliste in a sales-promotions capacity, and Don Niederkorn as trainer. Heliste was broadcaster and public relations director for the ill-fated Houston Apollos last season (until their January collapse).Niederkorn was trainer for the Birmingham Bulls (who also folded). He succeeds Craig Smith, who has joined the Colorado Rockies in the NHL.DALLAS&mdash; While awaiting player assignments from the parent Vancouver Canucks at their Duncan, B.C. training camp, coach Danny Belisle is hoping for another team as strong as his 1980-81 Black Hawks.Belisle&rsquo;s first Dallas team won the Emory Jones Cup as regular-season champions by 22 points over second-place Salt Lake within a 56-16-7 record. But the Hawks were ambushed by surprising Wichita in the playoff semifinals.SALT LAKE&mdash;Goalkeepers Paul Skidmore and Rick Heinz were staging a lively battle to win the No. 2 netminding job for the parent St. Louis Blues (behind Mike Liut), with the loser of that battle apparently headed for Salt Lake.Eagle coach Jack Evans was impressed with rookie left wing Alain Lemieux from Chicoutimi, Que., who was a possibility for Salt Lake. Lemieux has counted 307 points in his last two junior seasons, including 67 goals and 165 points last winter.OKLAHOMA CITY - New coach Tommy McVie was still awaiting assignment of players in the Calgary Flames&rsquo; training camp.OC general manager Gary Hail and vice president Steve Michael brought an entourage of media representatives to the camp in Calgary.WICHITA - The Wind&rsquo;s general manager Larry Gordon was doing a rushing business after announcing his October 3 pre-season exhibition game with Tulsa would be free to the public.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m hoping we can entice enough people in here for the free game that we&rsquo;ll have a lot of new fans when the season opens,&rdquo; Larry said.Meanwhile, coach John Muckier was in the camp of the parent Edmonton Oilers, but still did not have any players assigned specifically to Wichita for the coming season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01411/4408642-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="606" height="1070"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sharpshooting center Mike Antonovich may be headed to Nashville to aid Gene Ubriaco&rsquo;s Stars.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0030-01

Last-Minute Sale Rescues Tulsa

<div class="byline">BY BUD GALLMEIER</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSWINDSOR&mdash;The International Hockey League board of governors were thinking more like coaches at their recent meeting. Yielding to yearly pressure for expanded rosters, the board voted to expand the roster from 16 to 17 players. That&rsquo;s not as large as some coaches want them to be, but it&rsquo;s a move in the right direction.In another move, the league adopted an overtime period in the event of ties. The IHL has played overtimes in the past but not in recent seasons. The format is somewhat different than in the past: Instead of a 10-minute sudden death overtime, the teams will play just a five-minute period. At the conclusion of regulation time each team will be awarded one point. Should one of the teams score before the overtime period expires, it will receive an additional point. The loser would keep the single point.The decision to play the shorter overtime was probably based on the history of overtime games in the past. It was usually the rule that if the tie wasn&rsquo;t broken in the first five minutes&mdash;give or take a minute or two&mdash;the teams would start playing for the tie. Defense was featured and few chances were taken to produce a score. The theory behind that strategy was that one point is better than none.The new format will bring a change in overtime strategy, in the opinion of new Fort Wayne coach Ron Ullyot. &ldquo;I think you&rsquo;ll see five minutes of intensive offense. Teams won&rsquo;t be playing for the tie as much as under the 10-minute option,&rdquo; Ullyot commented.&ldquo;I know I used to play for the tie after about five minutes. But with a five-minute overtime, I think most coaches will go out for the win more. It should make a better game for the fans. I know 1 would rather see teams play more aggressively if I was a fan. But under the 10-minute overtime limit, it seemed like the better strategy was to play more conservatively after the first five minutes or so. In addition, the players would tire because they&rsquo;ve already played 60 minutes of hockey.&rdquo;Ullyot likes the idea of overtime, however. &ldquo;From a fans&rsquo; standpoint, especially,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And there is a lot of excitement to an overtime game. Every shot on the net is the potential winner. It&rsquo;s hard on coaches, but the fans like it. It&rsquo;s great if the home team wins in overtime. I know. I&rsquo;ve experienced that.&rdquo;Ullyot and his rival coaches will be leaving soon to visit the National Hockey League training camps on a talent hunt. Or at least a talent look. Training camps for IHL teams open on Sept. 30 and exhibition games follow shortly afterwards for some teams. Ullyot, for example, will have but two days to whip his squad into shape. The Komets are launching a home- and-home exhibition series with the Indianapolis Checkers of the Central League this season. The two teams will play in Fort Wayne on Oct. 3 and at Indianapolis on Oct. 4. In addition to expanding the roster and voting to adopt the five-minute overtime period, the IHL board also conducted its amateur draft.The seven-team league will play an 82-game schedule this season, which was expected to be finalized before training camps opened. The playoff format will be decided later.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01377/4408673-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="607" height="1045"><figcaption class="caption-body">Milwaukee will certainly benefit if they receive the leadership of defenseman Dwight Schofield.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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IHL Board Votes To Expand Rosters; Five-Minute Overtime Plan Adopted

MILWAUKEE&mdash;A heavy concentration of home games in the last five weeks of the season is in store for the Admirals as the International Hockey League Club announced its schedule for the 1981-82 season.The Admirals, who will open the season at home against the Muskegon Mohawks at 7:30 Saturday night. Oct. 10, at the Milwaukee Arena, will play 13 of their last 19 games in the Arena between March 3 and April 4. Weekend dates for the Admirals, though, are spread even thinner throughout this year&rsquo;s 82-game schedule than in previous years. The Admirals have two Sundays, two Fridays and eight Saturdays.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just happy we have a schedule now,&rdquo; said general manager-coach Phil Wittliff. &ldquo;Now we can get under Way and fulfill the task of bringing quality hockey to Milwaukee.&rdquo;The schedule was delayed by the reentry of the Toledo Goaldiggers into the IHL. The &lsquo;Diggers ceased operations at the end of the 1980-81 season and found new ownership in Virgil Gladieaux and former IHL commissioner Bill Beagan. &#9632;

Admirals Should Sail Through Stretch Run

LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSFITCHBURG&mdash;The Atlantic Coast Hockey League, which was in doubt some weeks ago with possibly only five starting franchises, has now grown to seven for the 1981-82 season.The ACHL, formerly the Eastern Hockey League, was reborn over the off-season with five cities&mdash;Baltimore, Winston-Salem, Salem, Cape Cod and Mohawk Valley&mdash;ready to play again. Johnstown was to be the sixth city but declined, leaving the ACHL with five teams.To assure the new league of a good start, two cities were added. Fitchburg, MA., and Schenectady, NY, have since come into the fold to raise the league&rsquo;s starting field to seven.The newest league entries were announced at a joint press conference held in Fitchburg. The team will be known as the Fitchburg Trappers and will play at the Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg with a seating capacity of 1,800 but with room for 1,000 standees.Bob Critelli is the operating force behind the two teams. He said he will organize both franchises with the help of local ownership. Critelli, who said there will be no conflict of interest on his part, is one of a four-man triumvirate that will direct the Fitchburg team. Others are James Curtin of Utica, NY, Ron Critelli, also of Utica, and Dr. M. Richer of Denver, Co.The new ACHL will play a 68-game schedule, 34 at home and 34 away. Play is expected to begin Nov. 1. Training camps will start in early October.Critelli said players for the new teams will come from American college graduates and some Canadian Junior &lsquo;A&rsquo; players as well. Possible coaching candidate for the new Trappers is Jean-Guy Gagnon, who coached Fitchburg&rsquo;s top junior team last season.Details of the Schenectady operation will be worked out in a few weeks Critelli said.Meanwhile, hockey people in West Yarmouth were warming up to the return of minor hockey to Cape Cod. New team owners Fraser Gleeson said he is proceeding with plans to have the team operate out of the South Yarmouth rink where the as yet unnamed club will play.Gleeson says he is fully confident that he will succeed in Cape Cod, where pro hockey has already failed three previous times. &ldquo;Cape Cod is a heck of an area,&rdquo; said Gleeson. &ldquo;There are a lot of good people down here who, if shown the right way to run a club, will come out and support a minor league team.&rdquo;Gleeson has already made some good administrative moves for the new team. He has hired former New York Ranger product Jim Troy as his coach. Troy was assistant coach with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL last year. Other local people to join Troy and Gleeson are Paul Stewart and Mark Bousquet, both former minor league players. Stewart will be the team&rsquo;s public relations director while Bousquet will be the club&rsquo;s marketing director.Gleeson has already arranged an informal affiliation with the Boston Bruins, who will provide many of the players from their rookie training camp.New league president Victor Ehre of Utica, N.Y., said the inclusion of Fitchburg and Schenectady gives the ACHL the boost it has been seeking to get off the ground. Affiliations with NHL teams are already forming to guarantee good, young players. Ehre said the ACHL will become a development league. The Minnesota North Stars will send some of their young candidates to Baltimore while Salem will work with St. Louis, Calgary and the New York Islanders. Utica is seeking to work with Hartford and the Winston-Salem Firebirds hope to announce a hookup with the New York Rangers.The Mohawk Valley Stars will be coached and managed by Billy Horton. The one-time minor league star said the idea of the new league is to curtail expenses and still function. &ldquo;We want to keep this a solid league and hold budgets under control. We also want to keep a limitation on the number of pros who will play in our league,&rdquo; said Horton.Salem owner Bob Payne said that former Colorado Rockies&rsquo; coach Pat Kelly will be back for his second year with the Raiders. Baltimore and Salem are the only returning teams from last year&rsquo;s disbanded EHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01389/4408728-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="600" height="994"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Troy will coach the Cape Cod team in its return to minor league hockey this season.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Fitchburg, Schenectady Swell ACHL To Seven

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSPETERBOROUGH&mdash;The seat that the Peterborough Petes&rsquo; coach and manager Dave Dryden occupies is much the same as those under every other coach in the Ontario Hockey League.The only difference is, Dryden&rsquo;s might be just a touch hotter.On the second year of a two-year contract, Dryden the former National Hockey League and World Hockey Association goaltender&mdash;faces the task of putting the once mighty Petes back on the winning track.During the late 1970&rsquo;s the fans of Peterborough became comfortably accustomed to cheering for a winner. Three trips to the Memorial Cup (once a winner in 1979) in three seasons &lsquo;helped spoil the Petes&rsquo; patrons and possibly caused them to forget that Junior A hockey is one of the world&rsquo;s most unpredictable animals. Teams can be terrible one season and great the next. Examples aren&rsquo;t hard to find such as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who finished the 1979-80 season last in the Leyden Division with a 22-45-1 record and rebounded the next season to finish first at 47-19-2.It is that type of reversal the Petes are hoping to pull off this season.Two years ago under coach Mike Keenan, Peterborough finished atop the OHL standings with a 47-20-1 season, won 16 straight playoff games land eventually lost in the Memorial Cup final to the Cornwall Royals.Last season, Dryden&rsquo;s first behind the bench, the Petes dipped to 29-36-3 and were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs. Some blamed the team&rsquo;s slide towards the bottom of the standings on Dryden&rsquo;s inexperience. Others, like Petes&rsquo; assistant manager Dick Todd, felt it was in the cards.&ldquo;For three straight years we were in the Memorial Cup and playing hockey right into May,&rdquo; said Todd. &ldquo;We never got a chance to do the type of scouting we would have liked to do or talk to the kids. Also, when you finish at the top of the league for three years and are picking last in the draft, it&rsquo;s got to catch up to you.&rdquo;In that respect, the Petes had little to worry about last season. They had plenty of time to scout midget hockey players, lots of time to interview the prospective drafts and owned fourth selection in the draft.While only time will tell, it appears the Petes did have a good draft.First and third rounders Steve Yzerman and Bruce Shoebottom, are both promising midgets with four years of junior eligibility remaining while second rounder Dave Reid, is a big, lumbering left winger who shows tremendous potential. Fourth pick Bob Errey played with the Petes in the playoffs last season and this year will be switched from center to left wing. He scored four goals in the Petes&rsquo; first exhibition game this season.In the fifth round the Petes took goalie Chris Jackson from Kingston and center Steve Short from the Burlington Cougars. Short has been compared to Oshawa Generals&rsquo; pesky Mitch Lamoureux and looks better with every outing.The real question mark with the Petes this season (it&rsquo;s the same with almost every team) is who will be back from professional camps and who won&rsquo;t?Both Tom Fergus&rsquo; (Boston Bruins) and Dave Morrison (L.A. Kings) stand a better than average chance of making the NHL this season which would throw a giant wrench into the machinery of the team.Should things go wrong, all eyes will be on Dryden.&ldquo;The pressure 1 feel is pressure 1 put on myself,&rdquo; said Dryden. &ldquo;Not fan pressure.&rdquo;&ldquo;I know they want a good team and I&rsquo;m going to make damn sure they get a good team. I must admit I felt restricted in a way last year stepping into a winning tradition but this season. I feel a lot more comfortable.&rdquo;AROUND THE LEAGUE - If Dryden is sitting on the league&rsquo;s hottest seat, Niagara Falls Flyers&rsquo; coach Paul Gauthier can&rsquo;t be far behind. The Flyers have re-hired former coach and manager Bert Templeton as team general manager and vice president after his two year hiatus with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs. With Templeton back in the fold, you can bet that one slip by Gauthier and ol&rsquo; Bramalea Bert will be back behind the bench&hellip;The Oshawa Generals will be one of the top teams in the league this season if they can control their circus act. The most penalized team in the league last season, the Generals started the exhibition season off on much the same foot. In their opening 10-1 loss to Niagara Falls, there were 701 minutes in penalties signalled&hellip;The Generals&rsquo; second round pick from a year ago, John Hutchings, will miss his rookie campaign after he was run over by a tractor. Hutchings looked good at the start of this year&rsquo;s training camp but separated his shoulder and is on the injured list again&hellip;Defending Memorial Cup champions Cornwall Royals got off to a slow start, losing their first exhibition game 13-2 to Hull of the OMJHL but rebounded with an 8-3 win over Hull and then tied the Belleville Bulls 10-10&hellip;Can the Kitchener Rangers repeat their Cinderella season of a year ago? They&rsquo;re off to a good start with 13-4 and 8-6 wins over the Flyers and Brantford respectively.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01357/4408759-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="601" height="907"><figcaption class="caption-body">Fred Perlini of the Marlboros was among the first of the juniors to return from NHL camps. Perlini was trying out with the Leafs.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0033-01

Strong Midget Drafting By Petes Should Make Dryden’s Job Easier

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0033-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02262/4408790-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg"></div>After each one of the games of the recently concluded Canada Cup tournament, Labatt&rsquo;s Brewery presented an Inuit carving to the player from each of the two teams who was judged to be the outstanding performer in the game. Here is a complete list of all the winners: &#9632;

f0033-02

Canada Cup Award Winners

<h2>SEPTEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02317/4408922-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="588" height="280"></div><h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03230/4408915-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="596" height="2174"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04146/4408908-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="546" height="62"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05105/4408901-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="596" height="2154"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0679/4408894-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="572" height="386"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0770/4408887-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="594" height="1566"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0863/4408880-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="590" height="980"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-0953/4408873-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="580" height="1400"></div><h2>FEBRUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-1051/4408866-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="580" height="1200"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-1146/4408859-1-eng-US/f0034-112.jpg" title="f0034-11" width="572" height="856"></div><h2>MARCH</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-1244/4408852-1-eng-US/f0034-122.jpg" title="f0034-12" width="582" height="1776"></div> &#9632;

f0034-02

Western Hockey League Schedule

<div class="byline">BY GREGG DRINNAN</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSWINNIPEG&mdash;&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t market a phantom organization,&rdquo; said Pat Laughlin, the marketing director of the Western Hockey League&rsquo;s Winnipeg Warriors.With that in mind, Laughlin has gone about making the Warriors a high-profile organization.In what amounted to a stroke of genius, Laughlin wrote and produced a radio ad campaign that features the likes of Don Cherry, Morris Lukowich and Wayne Gretzky.And the results have been quite evident in season ticket sale. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve tripled our season ticket sales,&rdquo; Laughlin told Scott Taylor of the Winnipeg Free Press. A season ago, the then-expansionist Warriors sold just 425 season ducats. &ldquo;We still have three corporate sponsors left to commit,&rdquo; said Laughlin, &ldquo;and that could mean 500 more tickets.&rdquo;Laughlin and the Warriors&rsquo; front office, which is headed by rookie general manager Tom Thompson, has also set up a picnic-type pep rally the night of the club&rsquo;s opening game. And the MC will be none other than Burton Cummings, who is also slated to sing the national anthem on opening night.At the same time, the Warriors&rsquo; program received a boost when Darren Boyko, a 17-year-old center, announced that he was joining the club.It had been speculated that Boyko, who played with the St. Boniface Saints last season and won the Manitoba Junior League scoring title with 114 points, would head south to a U.S. college.Boyko has won a scoring crown every winter since he turned 11 and it was rather fitting that he scored the first goal in the first scrimmage of training camp.The Warriors also acquired two 18-year-old right wingers in Jeff Lawson from Brandon and Magel Fournier from the Kamloops Junior Oilers.Meanwhile, Richard Doerksen, the WHL statistician for the past few seasons, is now the executive assistant to league president Ed Chynoweth.Doerksen was a statistician for three years with the WHL and became referee-in-chief midway through last season. As well, Chynoweth annouced the appointments of Saskatoon&rsquo;s Harv Hildebrandt and Al Paradice of Vancouver as supervisors of officials.BILLINGS&mdash; General manager and coach Les Calder will go it alone this season having lost assistant coach Joe Arling, who joined the Kamloops junior Oilers as director of player personnel.BRANDON&mdash; In a swap of right wingers, the Wheat Kings acquired 20-year-old Andy Ristau from Winnipeg in exchange for Jeff Lawson. Ristau, 6-3, 220 pounds had 31 goals, 67 points and 192 penalty minutes for Winnipeg last season, while Lawson had eight goals and 13 assists for Brandon. The Wheat Kings opened the pre-season with a 6-2 victory over the Pats in Regina as right winger Brad Wells scored twice. Then, in a tour of northern Manitoba, the Wheat Kings dumped Thompson Kings&rsquo; Miners 8-4 as center Kelly Glowa scored four times; the Flin Flon Bombers, 5-4 and the Snow Lake Spartans, 14-3, with rookie Darren Schmidt getting three goals.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01387/4408821-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="608" height="746"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill Ansell, who topped 100 points last year, moved to Kamloops as an overage player.</figcaption></div>CALGARY&mdash; The Wranglers added a goaltender to their roster when Mike Craig moved over from the University of Calgary Dinosaurs. This allowed the Wranglers to deal Cam Sebastian, last season&rsquo;s backup and forward Greg Dicke to Medicine Hat for center Rob Hamill and a player to be named later.LETHBRIDGE&mdash;The Broncos, searching for a goaltender, picked up 17-year-old Ken Wrettet from Brandon in exchange for Darren Steer, also 17, and defenseman Glen Barre, 16. None of the trio has any WHL experience.MEDICINE HAT&mdash;The Tigers acquired the rights to 20-year-old Brian Varga, the defending scoring champion from the Regina Pats, for 17-year-old Kurt Wickenheiser. If Varga, who signed a tryout contract with the NHL&rsquo;s St. Louis Blues after his 160-point season, plays with the Tigers, the Pats will also receive future considerations. In an exhibition tilt, the Tigers&rsquo; Chris St. Cyr and Roger Krchnak each had two goals in a 7-2 win over Lethbridge.REGINA&mdash;Seventeen-year-old Kurt Wickenheiser, whom the Pats picked up in exchange for the rights to Brian Varga, is the younger brother of Doug Wickenheiser, who had a fine career with the Pats in the WHL before being selected No. 1 overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1980 draft. Jock Callander, who was second to Varga, in last year&rsquo;s scoring derby, also signed a tryout contract with St. Louis after not being selected in the 1981 NHL draft. Meanwhile, the Pats acquired Wally Schreiber, a 19-year-old right winger from Portland, in return for a player to be named in 1982. Schreiber had 39 goals and 41 assists with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders of the Saskatchewan Junior League last season. The Pats downed Saskatoon 4-2 in an exhibition match as rookie center Dale Derkatch had three goals.SASKATOON&mdash;The Blades acquired 18-year-old Todd Strueby, one of the league&rsquo;s top left wingers, from the Regina Pats in return for 17-year-old Lyndon Byers, a rookie right winger. Dave Duchsherer and Brent Maronis had two goals as the Blades scored a 9-4 pre-season win over Regina.KAMLOOPS&mdash; The Junior Oilers picked up two 19-year-olds from the Brandon Wheat Kings in left winger Kelly Carson and right winger Eric Samuelson. Last season, Carson totalled six goals, 16 assists and 248 penalty minutes while Samuelson, who played just seven games, had one goal and two assists. Joe Arling, an assistant coach in Billings the past couple of seasons, joined the Junior Oilers as director of player personnel, while Harvey Roy signed on as general manager. The coach, of course, is Lyle Moffat. Kamloops also acquired the rights to overage forward Bill Ansell, who had 102 points for Regina last season.SEATTLE&mdash; The Breakers, under coach Jack Sangster and director of player personnel Jack Goertzen, held camp at Lake Cowichan, B.C. along with their B.C. junior affiliate, the Kelowna Buckaroos.SPOKANE&mdash; The Flyers held a three-day rookie camp in Edmonton and coach Ron Harris invited 18 players to return to the main camp in Spokane. Mike Miller, formerly the play-to-play man of the International League&rsquo;s Toledo Goaldiggers, will perform the same task for the Flyers. &#9632;

f0034-01

Marketing Warriors Wise Decision

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0035-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01366/4408953-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg"></div>RINK EQUIPMENTPERSONALSFAN CLUBSOPPORTUNITIESPOSITIONS WANTEDPLAYER EQUIPMENT<h2>POSITIONS WANTED</h2>AVAILABLE: Radio station sports&rsquo; director desires position as PBP announcer. Willing to assume PR duties for minor league or junior team. Will relocate. Contact The Hockey News, Box 35,214 King Street West, Suite 314, Toronto, Ont., M5H 1 K4.<h2>OPPORTUNITIES</h2>WANTED: We are interested in playing tournaments in North Eastern U.S.A. Recreational team, age 25-30 years. Contact D Ross, (514) 879-1090.HOCKEY PLAYERS WANTED: The Grand Rapids, Ml. entry in the Continental Hockey League is looking for players. Call Jack or Norm at (616) 949-9451.TOURNAMENTS: Major Atoms, Peewees. Bantams&mdash;Nov. 26, 27, 28, 29, North Bay, Ontario. Deadline Oct. 15. For information, call (705) 472-7997, or write: AAA Tournament, Box 1501, North Bay, Ont., P1A3P5.JUNIOR HOCKEY TEAMS WANTED: Fifth annual CAN/AM Invitational Junior hockey tournament, Leamington, Ontario, Dec. 26-30,1981. Openings available for teams in this prestigious international hockey tournament. Open to all OHA Jr C teams and Jr. teams from other provinces and the United States For further information contact: Bob Johnson 154 Erie St. North, Leamington, Ont., Canada, (519)326-5749PLAYERS WANTED: The Kimberley Dynamiters, member of the Western International Hockey League, Canada&rsquo;s oldest and finest, are looking for hockey players. If you would like an opportunity to relocate (at our expense), to live within two miles of one of Canada&rsquo;s finest ski areas, to be guaranteed employment and a chance to play hockey in a nice arena in the Bavarian City of the Rockies, please send full resume to Bob James, President Kimberley Dynamiters, 856 Rotary Drive, Kimberley, B C. V1A 1E5 (CANADIAN CITIZENS ONLY).<h2>PERSONALS</h2>FOR SALE: Sporting News issues, 1969, 1978-81. Ask for price list. Please send SASE to: Dave Richard, 5800 Laurent Drive, Apt. 329C, Parma, OH. 44129.MR. GOALIE: Synthetic screen attaches to goal opening. Provides targets to shoot at, gives rebounds, acts like goaltender!! Great for practices. Send $39.95 to: J.C. Martin Co., Box 3384, Pittsburgh, PA. 15219.ATTENTION NHL FANS&rsquo; Analyze your favorite NHL team&rsquo;s progress during the 1981-82 season. The new &lsquo;&lsquo;NHL Analysis Form&rdquo; is now available. It contains a four week sample of last season, forms necessary to chart all teams for 25 weeks, and complete instructions. Send $10.00 to: Massplan Distributors. Dept. HN Box 1439, Edmonton, Alta., T5J 2N5.TEAM/LEAGUE PATCHES: Send sample of artwork for price quote. Order early for season. International Patches, 7209 Doncaster Street, Springfield, VA. 22150.FAN CLUB: Is now being formed for Bryan Trottier. For more information, contact: Mark Saccomagno, 132-18 Pople Avenue, Flushing, New York, NY 11355.FAN CLUB: The Anders Kallur Fan Club is accepting members for the 1981-82 season. For more information, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Anders Kallur Fan Club, P.O. Box 492, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. TODAY!!WANTED: Looking for teams interested in playing on a home and home basis with the University of Alabama in Huntsville collegiate hockey program. Many dates open in November, December, January, and February. We are prepared to help defer expenses of trip for a two-game weekend series. Please contact Joe Ritch, P.O. Drawer 527, Huntsville, AL, 35804 or call (205) 533-5030.WANTED: Pictures of New York Ranger players from 1973 to present. Also want pictures of yearbooks of how defunct Rhode Island Reds from 1970 to 1977. Posed or action pictures. Please inclose price lists. Write to: Maryann Lancia, 217 Bretton Woods Dr, Cranston, Rl 02920.WANTED: Decals of defunct pro teams from: NHL, NASL, NBA, WFL, MLB. Send your list to: Blaine Bond, Gold River, Lun., Co., N.S., B0J 1K0.ATTENTION: Former and present WHA, NHL players and trainers, equipment managers, etc. If you have any jerseys I&rsquo;d like to buy or trade for them. Drop me a line, it will be worth your time. Russell Vincent, Box 490344, College Park, GA., 30349WANTED: Hockey pen pal. I love NHL history, trivia; I follow the Bruins. Please write: Michaela Charron, 56 Wilder Ave., Hoosick Falls, NY. 12090.ATTENTION: If you have the potential to play senior hockey, then we need you We are an established club with professional coaching. We are located in Northern Ontario, close to an urban centre which has a university and a community college. We will seek to find employment for successful applicants. Send a complete resume to: &ldquo;CRUSADERS&rdquo;, 4519 Centennial Road, Hanmer, Ontario, POM 1Y0.ATTENTION RANGER FANS: Be sure to pick up your copy of From The Blue Seat &ldquo;The voice of New York Ranger fans&rdquo; at every home game.SPORTS COLLECTION: Start your very own. Great for all ages. Learn how to get black and white-color photos of your favorite athletes, team souvenirs, media guides, sports magazines, etc. Collectors paying top money for collections. Send $5.00 for booklet to: Empire Sports, North York Sheridan Mall, 1700 Wilson Avenue, Suite 201, Downsview, Ont. M3L 1B2.WOMEN&rsquo;S COLLEGE ICE HOCKEY NEWSLETTER: 20 issues per year $10.00 (U.S.) everything on U.S. and Canadian women&rsquo;s hockey and then some Send cheque or money order to: WCIHA, Circulation department, 5 Warwick Road, Belmont. MA. 02178.BUY NOW: At wholesale prices and save $$$. Micron M1 with clear Tuuk (sizes 3&frac12;, 4 only) $39.99&hellip;Change your steel blades over to clear Tuuk $39.99. Micron M1 with conventional steel blades size 3&frac12; and 4 only) $9.99&hellip;We ship anywhere via UPS. Reliable Hockey Service, 73 Bloomfield Street, Springfield. MA. 01108, or call (413) 736-6188<h2>RINK EQUIPMENT</h2>GAME PLAYER IN HOCKEY JERSEY AUCTION:Paul Shmyr, Minn. &lsquo;81Orest Kindrachuk, Pitt. &lsquo;80Tiger Williams, Leafs, &lsquo;79 Steve Carlson, Fighting Saints, &lsquo;76Wayne Dillon, Bulls, &lsquo;79Pat Hughes, Pitts., &lsquo;80Tony Currie, St. Louis, &lsquo;81Barry Beck, Rockies, &lsquo;79Greg Smith, Minn. &lsquo;81Ian Turnbull, Leafs. &lsquo;81Bobby Lalonde, Boston, &lsquo;80Dave Inkpen, Indy Racers, &lsquo;78Pierre Lacroix, Quebec, &lsquo;81Harold Snepsts, Van. &lsquo;79Jim Corsi, N.S. &lsquo;81Write for list: Richard Curry, 14 Five Oaks, Saginaw. Ml 48603.WANTED: WHA authentic game worn jerseys. Also, WHA programs, media guides, pictures. Send list of items and prices to: Jeff Humphries, 6780 Friars Road, #257, San Diego, CA 92108<h2>EQUIPMENT</h2>SKATE SALE: Bauer Supreme (sizes 6, 6&frac12;, 7, 7&frac12;, 9&frac12;) price $99.00. Bauer Special Pro: (sizes 6 6&frac12;, 7). price $60.00. Bauer Jnr. Black Panther (sizes 1-5&frac12;) $45.00. Micron M1 (size 3&frac12; 4) $39.00. All the above with clear Tuuk blades. Micron M1 (size 3&frac12; and 4) with steel blades. $9.99. We ship anywhere. Contact Reliable Hockey Service, 73 Bloomfield Street, Springfield, MA. 01108. Telephone (413) 736-6188.WHAT&rsquo;S YOUR MESSAGE?Just use the handy word-counter at the right, and be sure to indicate the date(s) you want your ad to appear. Then,Clip and mail to:The Hockey News Classified214 King St. West, Suite 314Toronto, Ont. M5H 1K4 &#9632;

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CLASSIFIED

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01345/4409012-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photo by Gary Fine)</figcaption></div><h2>New Kid On The Hill</h2>Rookie Bobby Carpenter proudly shows off his No. 10 jersey after signing three-year NHL contract with the Washington Capitals. The highly-touted 18-year-old Massachusetts high school phenom is the new hope on Capital Hill for a playoff berth.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02257/4409005-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="1818" height="1570"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photo by Al Anshan)</figcaption></div><h2>Greats Of The Past</h2>It was induction time around the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame once again and the inductees included one referee and three of the game&rsquo;s hockey-playing greats. Shown at the Toronto ceremoney from the left, are referee John Ashley, defenseman Allan Stanley, left winger Frank Mahovlich and left winger John Bucyk. Ashley spent more than 10 years as a top NHL referee. Between them, Stanley, Mahovlish and Bucyk played a total of 62 seasons and performed in 3,965 games.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03190/4408998-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="1480" height="1590"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photo by Holman-Burkottz Photography)</figcaption></div><h2>A Helping Hand</h2>The Toledo Goaldiggers&rsquo; future in hockey was in exteme doubt for the 1981-82 season until Bill Beagan came along and rescued the IHL team from oblivion. One of Beagan&rsquo;s first acts was to line up a solid NHL woking agreement for the rejuvenated Goaldiggers. John Mariucci, left, assistant GM of the Minnesota North Stars, and Jim Devellano, center, also assistant GM of the New York Islanders, were on hand to greet coach Bill Inglis, right, at a press conference announcing the two NHL teams had agreed to an affiliation to help Toledo. Diggers will also work with Philadelphia<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-04121/4408991-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="714" height="1614"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-0586/4408984-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="838" height="1614"><figcaption class="caption-body">(Photos by Howard Barger)</figcaption></div><h2>Wings Fly On Diamond</h2>The Detroit Red Wings were also rans in the NHL race last season but on the baseball field they&rsquo;re No. 1. Dale McCourt, left, the captain of the Red Wings, waits his turn at bat during off-season Molson&rsquo;s tournament at Niagara Falls, Ont., after helping spark Detroit to tourney title. Wings beat Toronto Maple Leafs 9-2 in final despite pitching arm of centerman Laurie Boschman, shown serving up a pitch at right. &#9632;

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HOCKEY PEOPLE

<div class="byline">BY HERB ZURKOWSKY</div>LOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSLOUISVILLE HOCKEY STICKSMONTREAL&mdash;The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League sports a new look this season.Missing the Memorial Cup champion Cornwall Royals&mdash;off to the Ontario Hockey League&mdash;the league will place all nine teams in one division. The season has been reduced by eight games to 64, although eight teams still qualify for the playoffs. However, this season, the eight will play a round-robin preliminary playoff series, with each team meeting the other twice.There&rsquo;s also a new president&mdash;Jean Rougeau, replacing Marcel Robert; a new team&mdash;the Granby Bisons, replacing the Sorel Black Hawks, which were to play in Verdun until Rod Lemoyne found only small change in his pockets; only 17 players can dress per team, and all players will wear visors instead of the protective cages instituted last season.Here&rsquo;s a thumbnail sketch of the nine teams in the order THE HOCKEY NEWS figures they&rsquo;ll finish come next March.1. SHERBROOKE BEAVERS &ndash; Although the Beavers have lost sensational goalie Corrado Micalef to Detroit, plus forwards Robbie MacKenzie and Dennis Martin to graduation, they appear to be the strongest side.Added to the lineup is defenseman Doug Baran in the dispersal draft from Sorel, and center John Chabot, acquired from Hull for Tim Cranston and Rousell MacKenzie.Returning are a pack of high-scoring forwards led by Sean McKenna, Gerard Gallant and Alain Michon, plus 20-year-old rearguard Claude Michon, Paul Boutilier (drafted by the Islanders) and Gord Donnelly (chosen by St. Louis). Denis Auclair will tend goal.2. CHICOUTIMI SAGUENEENS &ndash; The Sags are without goalie Yvan Charbonneau, defenseman Michel Bolduc and right wing Robert Millette.Defensemen Gilbert Delorme (Montreal) and Armel Parisee (Boston), plus forwards Luc Dufour, Normand Leveille and Luc Girard (all Boston) should return, giving the team a well-rounded attack. The Sags drafted Richard Gagne from Sorel.Guy Chartrand, who dazzled Trois-Rivieres in a losing cause in last season&rsquo;s semifinals, will start in goal, backed up by rookie Stephane Fortin.3. TROIS-RIVIERES DRAVEURS &ndash; The Draveurs will sorely miss goalie Denis Groulx, defenseman Alain Vigneault and 166-point man Alain Lemieux, but acquired goalie Michel Dufour from Granby and have defenseman Pierre Sevigny returning as a 20-year-old. R&egrave;mi Gagne comes from Sorel.Normand Lefrancois, Claude Verret, Sevigny and Christian Tanguay still give the Draveurs plenty of scoring punch, plus Sylvain Landry, Mario Paradis and Richard Vinet remain on the blueline.4 HULL OLYMPICS &ndash; Although goalie Daniel Sanscartier failed to report to camp, the Olympics have Daniel Turgeon, formerly with Chicoutimi and Laval.Gone is defenseman Robert Turcotte and possibly right wing Jean Poulin, although the latter could return as a 20-year-old should he fail to cut it in Los Angeles.With Poulin, Jean-Marc Gaulin (Nordiques) from Sorel, Cranston, Jean Gauthier and Jacques Berthiaume, plus Jean Marc Gavlin, Robbie MacKenzie, Steve Fletcher and Alan Bremner on defense, Hull should prove to be a formidable foe.5 SHAW1NIGAN CATARACTS &ndash; Although the Cats are missing a number from last year&rsquo;s squad&mdash;goalie Steve Penney; defensemen Patrick Dodier and Christian Thellend; forwards Sylvain Boutet, Andre Daigle and Denis Tremblay&mdash;they could be the darkhorse team. The demonstrative Ron Racette always gets the most out of his charges, plus the Cats will ice a squad comprising 13 players weighing at least 185 pounds.Danny Campbell comes over from Sorel, while Michel Cote could return up front as a 20-year-old should he be dropped by the Nordiques. He&rsquo;ll complement high scorers Guy Fournier (Jets) and Pierre Rioux.But the Sags will sorely miss center Normand Lacombe, their top midget draft pick, who accepted an American scholarship.6. LAVAL VOISINS &ndash; The Voisins could certainly use defenseman Marc Prevost, plus forwards Alain Grenier, Serge Amyot and Paul De Villers.But the team still has forwards Michel Lacasse, Yves Courteau, last season&rsquo;s top midget pick, Jean-Marc Lanthier (Vancouver) from Sorel, plus Mario Lemieux, this year&rsquo;s top midget.Defenseman Marc-Andre Cabana returns as a 20-year-old, while 19-year-old Michel Morissette will be between the pipes. But from thereon, the Voisins are all 18-, 17- and 16-year-olds, which augers well for the team&rsquo;s future.7. MONTREAL JUNIORS &ndash; Last season the Juniors were strong offensively and abysmal on defense. This year it will be the reverse.Gone are Denis Cyr, Constant Priondolo and Francois Lecomte (almost 150 goals). However returning defensemen include Bill Campbell, Taras Zytynsky (Flyers), 20-year-old Robert Dore, Michel Doyon, Joe Bertucci and Jarmo Vuorinen, plus goalie Jeff Barratt.Montreal took David Charbonneau from Sorel and acquired Denis Daze from Chicoutimi.8. QUEBEC REMPARTS &ndash; New coach Normand Meunier was a top instructor in the university ranks with the Trois-Rivieres Patriots, but not even his genius can help the floundering Remparts.The team has lost nine players, the most serious of which are goalie Guillaume Abbatiello, defenseman Scott Fraser and forward Dan Rioux (53 goals).Center Jacques Chouinard returns as a 20-year-old. Roberto Romano will be in the nets and the team drafted Andre Chartrain from Sorel.The team has always flourished defensively and big things will be expected from Michel Therrien, Roger Cote, Marc Bertrand and Guy Bouchard.9. GRANBY BISONS &ndash; Pity this expansion outfit which not only lost nine players in the dispersal draft, but were forced to trade the disgruntled Dufour, and are missing defenseman Daniel Naud (Sabres), forward Brent Baxter and top midget selection Bobby Dollas, another rearguard and all holdouts.The Bisons acquired goalie Guy Durmont and center Pierre Champigny, both 17, from the Draveurs, plus a first-round draft choice in 1982.Remaining are only two offensive stars&mdash;Marc Brisebois (Nordiques) and Jacques Sylvestre (Islanders).By Christmas, new coach Gaston Drapeau, fired by the Remparts following last season&rsquo;s playoffs, will probably wish he had remained out of hockey.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01303/4409043-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="601" height="961"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Hull Olympics appear to be on the rise, thanks to the addition of players like Jean-Marc Gaulin.</figcaption></div><div class="sidebar">Coming Soon! THE HOCKEY NEWS Hotseat and Bluelines Columns &#9632;</div>

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Sherbrooke Early QMJHL Favorites

<h2>SEPTEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02208/4409137-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="546" height="352"></div><h2>OCTOBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03150/4409130-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="588" height="1066"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04119/4409123-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="556" height="363"></div><h2>NOVEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0598/4409116-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="565" height="1089"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0678/4409109-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="555" height="416"></div><h2>DECEMBER</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0760/4409102-1-eng-US/f0037-072.jpg" title="f0037-07" width="560" height="988"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0853/4409095-1-eng-US/f0037-082.jpg" title="f0037-08" width="565" height="216"></div><h2>JANUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-0944/4409088-1-eng-US/f0037-092.jpg" title="f0037-09" width="559" height="1192"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1038/4409081-1-eng-US/f0037-102.jpg" title="f0037-10" width="556" height="318"></div><h2>FEBRUARY</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1127/4409074-1-eng-US/f0037-112.jpg" title="f0037-11" width="573" height="1102"></div> &#9632;

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Quebec Major Hockey League Schedule

<div class="byline">BY GORDON EDES</div>LOS ANGELES - In Hollywood, where they pay attention to such things, Marcel Dionne automatically receives top billing. The marque always reads: Marcel Dionne and the Kings.Small wonder, then, that the Kings&rsquo; center was distressed during the Canada Cup, where he not only was shunted to the background but nearly written out of the script.Dionne, the NHL&rsquo;s second-leading scorer and a second-team All Star last season, did not dress for Team Canada&rsquo;s 4-3 win over Sweden. He was replaced by Ken Linseman of the Flyers. Coach Scotty Bowman said he made the move &ldquo;to keep his options open.&rdquo;Dionne thought differently. He figured he would be scratched for the rest of the series. &ldquo;It was a move he [Bowman] was thinking of for a long time,&rdquo; said Dionne, the only Team Canada member who played for his country in the &lsquo;72 series against Russia.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s funny, but I felt like a lot of guys who come into camp and aren&rsquo;t sure of a job. It was funny for me to feel it. I wish I could have relaxed, but 1 was uptight the whole time.&rdquo;Though Bowman said he was satisfied with Dionne&rsquo;s play, apparently there were doubts that at age 30, Dionne possessed the quickness to keep up with the Gretzkys and Trottiers, not to mention the Russians. There also was the matter of his past experience with Bowman, who sat him out of the Challenge Cup final against the Russians two years ago. Even in the 1976 Canada Cup, when Dionne assisted on Darryl Sittler&rsquo;s winning goal, &ldquo;I played in every game but I was a question mark.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if it&rsquo;s abuse or not, but I&rsquo;ve always been too short or too small for 10 years,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And now too heavy.&rdquo;He refused, however, to rap Bowman. &ldquo;I never said a word [two years ago],&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I respect the guy. I don&rsquo;t want to make a big thing out of it.&rdquo;Other players, however, didn&rsquo;t let it pass unnoticed. &ldquo;For Marcel, it&rsquo;s an atrocious period in his life,&rdquo; Denis Potvin told reporter Claude Larochelle. &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t want to talk about it because of his team spirit, but he&rsquo;s really ill at ease.&ldquo;Look, it&rsquo;s the worst thing that can happen to a star player in a tournament like this. He can be embarrassed, humiliated in public.&rdquo;But that was before Gilbert Perreault fractured his ankle in the Sweden game and Dionne was reinstated, as a left wing playing with Gretzky and Guy Lafleur.Fifty-eight seconds into the next game, against the Russians, and on his first shift, Dionne set up Gretzky for a goal. He later scored himself in the 7-3 win and added another goal in the semifinal win over Team USA. That gave him four goals for the tournament; only Mike Bossy and Gretzky scored more.He refused, however, to talk to the press afterward. &ldquo;I think a lot of writers were happy [when he was benched], those who said I was not a pressure player and so on,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;But as long as the Kings want me, that&rsquo;s all I care about.&rdquo;Obviously, the Kings, coming off a season in which they set a club record for victories (43), still do.Gordon Edes, a hockey writer for the Los Angeles Times, starts his coverage of the Kings in THE HOCKEY NEWS with this story.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01360/4409168-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="598" height="865"><figcaption class="caption-body">Marcel Dionne was brought back into the lineup after Gilbert Perreault fractured his ankle.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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Dionne Uptight During Cup Series

GAMES COMPLETEDHelsinki IFK 4, Rangers 1Chicago 4. Montreal 3Gothenberg 7, Washington 4Rangers 5, Djurgardens 1Montreal 4. Buffalo 2Boston 4, Philadelphia 4Minnesota 2, Toronto 0Stockholm AIK 6, Washington 1Winnipeg 3. Vancouver 1Calgary 6. St. Louis 6Colorado 4. Los Angeles 2Edmonton 3, Detroit 3Philadelphia 3. Boston 2Minnesota 5. Quebec 4Toronto 3, Hartford 3Chicago 9, Islanders 2St Louis 5. Calgary 4Buffalo 5, Boston 2Edmonton 8. Minnesota 5Quebec 3, Pittsburgh 1Rangers 4, Washington 1 &#9632;

Exhibition Scoreboard

ESPN&rsquo;s 1981-82 schedule of approximately 30 games with selected NHL teams opens on Wednesday, Oct. 7, when the Washington Capitals visit the Buffalo Sabres in the seasonopener for both clubs. The announcement was made by Scotty Connal; executive vice-president production and programming for the total sports network.The game, to be telecast live to ESPN&rsquo;s national cable audience of almost 12 million homes at 8:00 p.m. EDT, should mark the professional debut of Bobby Carpenter, &ldquo;the Can&rsquo;t Miss Kid&rdquo; from Peabody. MA., who became the highest American-born player ever chosen in the NHL draft when the Caps made him their first choice (third overall) last June.The Boston Bruins meet the newlook Colorado Rockies, live from Denver at 9:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 16. The third contest in October finds the Toronto Maple Leafs meeting the Sabres in Buffalo on Oct. 23. &#9632;

ESPN TV Ready For NHL Opener

<div class="byline">BY VARTAN KUPELIAN</div>DETROIT&mdash;Red Wings officials are already talking about a 20 percent improvement in personnel and, even at that, there are plenty of jobs to be won in training camp.&ldquo;This camp is going to be very, very competitive,&rdquo; said coach Wayne Maxner. &ldquo;There are a number of spots open. I&rsquo;d be surprised if there aren&rsquo;t seven or eight changes from the group that started for this team last season.&rdquo;Maxner is in his first training camp as a National Hockey League coach. He replaced Ted Lindsay as the Detroit coach last Nov. 24. The Wings went on to finish 20th among the 21 NHL teams. As far as Maxner is concerned, everybody and everything starts fresh with this training camp.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to prejudge anyone,&rdquo; he said.Maxner has divided his training camp roster into four squads and they&rsquo;ll play a round-robin tournament, with the &ldquo;champion&rdquo; earning a team dinner, compliments of the hockey club.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s one of the reasons we&rsquo;re using the four-squad format,&rdquo; Maxner said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll find out who can fit in and play and who can&rsquo;t. I was encouraged by what I saw the first day of camp. A lot of kids come to play and put out good effort. Everyone was in excellent shape.&rdquo;Despite the Wings&rsquo; troubles there is optimism that good things can happen, that the ill fortunes of the past decade can be turned around. After all, if there&rsquo;s no optimism in September, what&rsquo;s left? So the Wings are working with renewed enthusiasm and that pleases Maxner.Maxner is also confident that there&rsquo;s more depth than before and he&rsquo;s in the process of implementing a system.&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to be disciplined and have a game plan,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the old theory: You make the other team beat you. Don&rsquo;t beat yourself.&ldquo;If a guy is giving his best effort and gets beat for a goal, you can live with that. But you can&rsquo;t live with blunders.&rdquo;Blunder, that&rsquo;s a word that has plagued the Wings in recent years.Incidentally, the &ldquo;tournament&rdquo; got under way in robust fashion. The fullscale scrimmages featured hard skating and heavy hitting.&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t beat game conditions,&rdquo; Maxner said, &ldquo;and this is the best way to find out who wants to play. That first game was really something.&rdquo;The Mark Kirtons defeated the Paul Woods 4-3 with Kirton, Gary McAdam, Don Murdoch and Don Werbeniuk scoring for the winners.In the second game, the Dale McCourts trounced the Walt McKechnies 6-3. McCourt and John Ogrodnick each scored twice for the winners. Mike Foligno, Wayne Crawford and Earl Ingarfield scored for the McKechnies.You may have noticed that the four captains are centermen and that looms as an enormously important position for the Wings. They simply have to improve the play there. McCourt and Kirton are the top two.McKechnie, signed as a free agent from Colorado, is back for a second tour of duty in Detroit and is being counted on to provide experience and savvy. Woods is&hellip;well, he&rsquo;s Paul Woods. He never stops working and that makes up for whatever shortcomings he might have. He&rsquo;s played both center and left wing in his career with the Wings and now he&rsquo;s getting another look at center after spending most of the past two seasons on the left side of the checking line.The Wings are absolutely counting on Kirton to play as well as he did once he arrived from Toronto in the Jimmy Rutherford deal. He scored 18 goals and added 13 assists in 50 games with Detroit and projected over a full season, that should be good for 25-to-28 goals. If he doesn&rsquo;t live up to those expectations, the Wings will suffer the consequences. &#9632;

Competitive Camp Pleases Red Wings

<div class="image-hero"><img title="C0004-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-01141/4409302-1-eng-US/c0004-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health.</figcaption></div>TORONTO - The NHL will open its 65th season of operation on Oct. 6 with six new coaches.Two of the new men for 1981-82 are really now new but merely people who have changed positions. Bob Berry moved from the Los Angeles Kings to the Montreal Canadiens replacing Claude Ruel. Scotty Bowman, the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, has returned to coaching as a replacement for Roger Neilson, who was hired by Vancouver as an assistant coach.The other four new NHL coaches include Parker MacDonald at Los Angeles as a replacement for Berry; Bert Marshall makes his NHL debut at Colorado as a successor to Billy MacMillan, who stepped up to the role of GM; Herb Brooks, the successful Olympic hockey coach, replaces Craig Patrick with the Rangers. Patrick is still the GM; and finally, Tom Watt is the new coach at Winnipeg.There have been several new assistant coaches named. Nick Polano is at Buffalo, Jean Ratelle at Boston, Ted Green at Edmonton, Nick Beverley at L.A., Rick Ley at Hartford, Walter Tkaczuk with the Rangers, Lou Angotti at Pittsburgh, Barclay Plager at St. Louis, Yvon Labre at Washington, Bob Murdoch at Calgary and Montreal&rsquo;s Jacques Lapperierre. &#9632;

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October 2, 1981

Starting AHL Teams

Soviet Win Won’t Change Canadian Philosophy

CANADIAN AMATEUR SCENE

BEDCLOTHES