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September 5, 1986
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.
Timing Of Espo Hiring Makes No Sense
What kind of jokes are these? PHIL ESPOSITO NAMED RANGER GM IN MID-SUMMER: These Gulf & Westerners, who run the Rangers, must have been kidding. You’ve got to be kidding when you know you’re going to be firing your GM (Craig Patrick) and let the lame duck hang around when Espo could have been doing the draft his way. Now that’s not dumb, that’s absurd. If Madison Square Garden was going to hire Esposito, the time to do it was before the draft. They didn’t even have to make a long-distance call to Phil; he was right there in New York waiting for the job. The other part of the joke may be the odd couple—Esposito and Ted Sator—now behind the Blueshirts. The GM and coach think along the same wavelengths as Boy…
Finally, Progress Is Made Towards Modifying Draft
IF THERE IS one problem that has plagued all levels of hockey in recent years, it has been the 18-year-old draft. The National Hockey League didn’t like it; the NHL Players’ Association didn’t like it; and the fans didn’t like it. The operators of junior leagues went further still. They loathed it. There was general agreement that the 18-year-old draft pushed some players into the NHL before their skills merited such a promotion. Other players, who were drafted but returned to junior hockey, lost much of their incentive, thereby damaging the quality of the junior product. In short, the 18-year-old draft was extremely damaging to the leagues upon which the NHL relies for talent. Like so many of the afflictions—which contradict the wishes of the majority today—the 18-year-old draft can be traced to…
Wheat Kings Left Dangling In Western Wind
BRANDON—The future of the Brandon Wheat Kings may be cloudy but Jim Foubister believes his fate is crystal clear. Foubister, general manager of the Western League club, said his neck will be on the line whether the struggling franchise remains in the Manitoba city or is moved elsewhere. The Wheat Kings sent up the smoke signals in June by putting the Eastern Division club up for sale. The community-owned team is looking to secure additional funding or new ownership to keep the club in Brandon even though a proposal to purchase and relocate the team in Lethbridge has been put forth. “You have to look at the history of franchises and it hasn’t been policy in the league to keep the general manager around when there’s a change in ownership,” said Foubister, who…
Goaltender Pleads Guilty To Charges
HOUSTON—The North beat the West 5-4 to win the gold medal at the U.S. National Olympic Festival. But two circumstances overshadowed that singular result—one infinitely more serious than the other. First, the Olympic Festival was intended to be less a triumph of teams than individuals since its primary purpose was to provide the Amateur Hockey Association of the U.S. a chance to evaluate the best American Olympic hopefuls. Dividing the players into regional teams is just an effort to set up a viable, four-team system. There were players from Vermont, Michigan, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Minnesota on Team South. And those aren’t exactly Confederate states, y’all. This camp was for the talent scouts at AHAUS, especially Dave Peterson’s Olympic coaching staff and general manager Art Berglund. And second, one goaltender might have taken himself out…
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