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May 3, 1985
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.
Where Have The Great Goalies Gone?
Where are you Jacques Plante now that Pelle Lindbergh needs you? Come back Johnny Bower and tell Tom Barrasso how it’s done. Won’t somebody—the ghost of Georges Vezina, perhaps—come forth and guide the 1985-model goaltender to greatness? If there is one certainty about the more than 40 gainfully employed National Hockey League goaltenders it is that, with one exception, none have found the microchip of immortality. “We don’t have Terry Sawchuks, Glenn Halls and Turk Brodas,” says St. Louis Blues’ general manager Ron Caron. “Those guys maintained a level of greatness for years and years. It’s not that way anymore.” Not only is it not that way, but a league-wide poll of NHL experts on various levels fails to produce any definitive “best goalie in the league,” although four names regularly emerge. Pelle Lindbergh, Tom Barrasso,…
Long Fingers Fatigue As The Jets’ Biggest Enemy
WINNIPEG JETS WINNIPEG—Apologizing for his team’s dismal beginning in the Smythe Division final, Barry Long blamed mental and physical fatigue from the Calgary-Winnipeg playoff for the Jets’ listless play and two opening losses. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I still think we can beat the Edmonton Oilers in this series. But the truth is, we are not fully recovered from our rough series with the Flames.” An abhorence of the Jets to become involved in any manner left the team easy pickings for the rampaging Oilers, led by the penetrating rushes of Paul Coffey, the circus goaltending of Grant Fuhr and the dynamics of Wayne Gretzky. Deprived of their star, the Jets lacked the verve and gusto of the team that compiled 96 points in the regular schedule. Dearly missed was Dale Hawerchuk—who was…
Coach Unloads On Devils’ Popgun Offense
NEW JERSEY DEVILS EAST RUTHERFORD—At the outset, Doug Carpenter knew what the No. I problem would be in his first season behind the New Jersey Devils’ bench. He had no one that could be penciled in as a 40-goal scorer and very few players with the potential to reach the 30- or 35-goal plateau. When the season quietly expired on April 7. Carpenter’s worst fears were realized. Not one Devil even cracked the 25-goal mark. Paul Gagne’s 24 goals were two more than any of his teammates. “One of our problems,” said Carpenter, “was that a few players didn’t live up to their goal-scoring expectations. Look at the scores of our losses and you can see exactly where the problem was.” To put it simply, the problem was a popgun offense. Carpenter was hoping…
JUNIOR PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
ONTARIO LEAGUE The Soo Greyhounds continue to-roar along in the OHL playoffs and top scorer Wayne Groulx is still providing the momentum. Groulx, a 1983 draft pick of the Quebec Nordiques, picked up 10 scoring points, seven of them goals, in the first four games of the Emms Divison finals against Hamilton to get the nod as the OHL Player of the Week. WESTERN LEAGUE The Kamloops Blazers were the class of the WHL’s Western Division this season and they did it by thinking offense, even defensemen such as Rob Brown. The high-scoring Kamloops rearguard came up with eight scoring points in three playoffs games against New Westminster to win WHL Player-of-the-Week honors. QUEBEC LEAGUE The Chicoutimi Sagueneens are making a strong bid to win the QMJHL’s championship and center Stephane Richer is playing a leading role. Richer,…
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