Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
December 31, 1982
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.
Brand New Stadium Awaiting Team, But Several Factors Won’t Allow It
SPRINGFIELD—It’s called the Worcester Centrum. It’s a sparkling new 10,000-seat building in a central Massachusetts city that sits just 53 miles from Springfield and 94 miles from New Haven. In an economically-minded league such as the American Hockey League, where geography is the front office’s favorite subject, Worcester is a natural. “As far as we are concerned, we’d love to have Worcester,” said league vice president Gordie Anziano. “But no NHL team nor any individual group has come to us.” There are reasons why. The Centrum is owned by the Spectator Company, the same group that owns the Philadelphia Spectrum, the Flyers and the Maine Mariners. In today’s cost-conscious market, stadium concessions are a prime consideration for occupying a building. Spectator owns the concessions. Then, there is the problem with 10,000 seats. No AHL…
Laskoski Kings’ No. Netminder
LOS ANGELES—There no longer is even a smidgen of doubt. Rookie Gary Laskoski has replaced five-year veteran Mario Lessard as the Kings’ main man in goal. “Yes,” coach Don Perry responded without hesitation when asked if the kid without a contract just two months ago had indeed taken the one-time all-star’s job away from him. “I think he’s played extremely well, we all do,” Perry said. “We just feel we have to go with our best goaltender and Gary is that. There’s no leeway at all in this (Smythe) division and we have to play our best if we’re going to stay in the race. “As long as he continues to play well, he’s it.” Apparently, Laskoski won’t have to play well every night. The evening before Perry made his announcement, Laskoski gave up…
Acquiring Bouchard, Hehir Pays Off For South Stars
NASHVILLE—The South Stars may have been struggling at the beginning of the season, but two recent acquisitions have brought instant respectability to the city of the Grand Old Opry. After occupying the basement of the ACHL since the beginning of the season, the South Stars signed Alain Bouchard and traded for Bob Hehir and the moves paid instant dividends for coach Nelson LeClair. The South Stars traded Brian In-grom and Mark Salvucci to Hampton for Hehir. Hehir has been one of the top scorers this year and his talent shone as he came off a five-game suspension and led his new club to two straight triumphs over Erie. It was the first time this season that Nashville had won back-to-back games. Hehir scored 25 points in 14 games for Hampton and added on…
Francis Moves To Pressbox For Better View Of Blues
ST. LOUIS—Because Emile Francis remains convinced that the players he has assembled on the roster of the St. Louis Blues are quality players, he removed himself as coach of the team for three games. “I’m still convinced that the players we have here right now are good enough to get the job done and I’ve told them that I still have confidence in them,” said Francis as he turned the coaching chores over to Barclay Plager. “In fact, that’s why we’re trying this. If I didn’t have confidence in these players, I’d have made some trades long ago. But until I’m convinced that these players aren’t good enough, I want to be sure we’ve tried everything possible.” Even if it means replacing himself as coach. Although Plager was to be behind the bench for…
Made possible with the support of
