It’s Not Going To Be Easy For Defending Champions

FOR MOST OF us who are hockey fans, there is always a feeling of excitement mixed with curiosity at the start of a National Hockey League season. But this year, there have been so many off-season developments that the curiosity is even greater than usual. In a few months, we’ll have the answers to most of these questions, but in the meantime, they’re the source of a good many discussions. How will Jacques Demers do in Detroit? Although there are some unethical aspects to Demers becoming coach of the Detroit Red Wings, he’s a fine man and superb coach. The Red Wings have gallantly resisted the attempts of a series of coaches, players, and executives who promised to improve their sorry state. But Demers may just be the saviour they’ve sought for…

NATIONAL LEAGUE PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE

Anderson Ouietlv Showing The Right Moves

BUFFALO—Quietly, in fact very quietly, Shawn Anderson is making his presence felt at the Buffalo Sabres’ training camp. It’s not that Anderson, the Sabres’ first pick in the 1986 entry draft and the ’ fifth player taken overall, isn’t a talker. It’s just that Anderson, and the Sabres for that matter, have taken a low-key? aproach. So far, at least, it worked to everyone’s advantage. Anderson, the 6-foot-1. 190-pound native of Montreal, didn’t score a goal during his first rush down the ice as Phil Housley did in his first camp. In fact, through four scrimmages, he didn’t have a goal. He did, however, have a point in each scrimmage and that was good enough to match Housley for the early lead among Sabres’ defensemen in camp. He’d also shown an ability to…

Caps Hopeful Corriveau Will Be Marksman

LANDOVER—A year ago, Kevin Hatcher jumped from the Ontario League to the Washington Capitals and capably filled a big hole on the right side of the defense. This season Yvon Corriveau seems likely to make a similar move. After a week of training camp, Corriveau had shown enough to be considered seriously for a prominent role at left wing, the Capitals’ weakest position. Corriveau, Washington’s No. I draft pick in 1985, has been handled in much the same manner as Hatcher, a first-rounder in 1984. Corriveau was sent back to the Toronto Marlboros last year, joined the Capitals in late March and was inserted into some key playoff games. Corriveau has responded in positive fashion to each step. He collected 54 goals for the Marlboros, nine more than the combined total of all…