Gretzky Says Playoff Format ‘Not Sensible’

EDMONTON—It’s time for the NHL to emerge from the Dark Ages. That’s the opinion of Wayne Gretzky. “Some times the league hurts itself. Instead of making the game better, they make it worse,” said Gretzky, referring to the NHL’s playoff format that will eliminate two of its top four teams prior to the midway point of the Stanley Cup tournament. “It’s just not sensible,” he said. Gretzky’s major beef stems from the Adams and Smythe Divisions that embrace the Calgary Flames (101 points), Montreal Canadiens (98), his own Edmonton Oilers (92) and the Boston Bruins (92). Two of the big four will be eliminated in divisional play, while a have-not such as the 50-point Toronto Maple Leafs or Minnesota North Stars might still be around. It’s highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened. “I understand…

IHL Expansion To Erie Remains Unsettled

The prospect of heavy travel bills has given owners of the International League’s proposed Erie, Pa., franchise second thoughts about applying for membership. New franchises Sacramento and Phoenix—about 2,400 and 1,700 miles from Erie, respectively—were approved in principle at a league meeting in February. At the same meeting, a proposal by the Erie group, led by Steve Stroul, was tabled by the IHL. “Erie is going to hang tough,” said IHL commissioner Bud Poile,”and I understand the American Hockey League is really romancing them. But they’re going to wait until the IHL makes some sort of decision.” The IHL’s board of governors will convene in Kalamazoo, Mich., April 14, for what Poile termed,”a very important meeting for the league, relative to expansion plans.” Poile said he hopes the league will be able to finalize…

The Hocken News SCOREBOARD

Fecteau Effective

The Drummondville Voltigeurs (35-314) finished only two points ahead of the Victoriaville Tigres (33-31-6) in the Dilio Division. But two games of their division semi-final playoff series seemed to prove that regularseason records can be very deceiving. The Volts appeared superior to the Tigres in taking a 2-0 series lead. The Tigres led 4-2 midway through the first game but wilted and ultimately lost 5-4 in overtime. Drummondville took an easy 5-0 victory in game two. Drummondville’s Alain Charland scored to win the first game three minutes into the third 20-minute overtime period, ending the longest game in Quebec League history. The game started at 7:30 p.m. and didn’t end until 12:45 a.m. One of the keys to the series was the inability of Victoriaville center Reginald Savage (68-54122 in 68 games) to break free…