KUDELSKI SHARES THE SPOTLIGHT WITH GRETZKY

Three games into the Los Angeles Kings’ 1989-90 season, Bob Kudelski, arelativey unknown right winger, drew nearly is much attention as Wayne Gretzky, i center of some renown. While Gretzky was zeroing in on jordie Howe’s all-time scoring record of 1,850 points—a pair of goals ind four assists in the first three games Gave the Great One 1,843—Kudelski was quickly establishing himself as a legitimate offensive threat. A 25-year-old out of Yale who collected exactly one goal in his first 40 NHL games, Kudelski scored the Kings’ first goal of the season in a 4-2 opening-night win over Toronto Oct. 5, then added two more off Gretzky set-ups Oct. 8 in a 5-0 victory over Detroit. An injury to Mike Krushelnyski, who suffered a hairline fracture of his left wrist against the Maple…

DID YOU KNOW…

…New York Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch holds his high school record for throwing the most strikeouts (19) in a game. Leetch broke the Avon Old Farms (Conn.) High School record of 18, set by Juan Nieves, now a starting pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers. Leetch’sout pitch was a blistering 90-mile-per-hour fastball.…

ELSTON

SOVIET INVASION CONTINUES AS NHL PREPARES FOR SUPER SERIES ’89-90

The largest-ever Soviet tour of the NHL begins Dec. 4, when Khimik Voskresensk travels to Los Angeles to play the Kings in the first game of Super Series ’89-90. The series, which runs until Jan. 9, 1990, will feature four Soviet Elite League teams playing a total of 21 games, one against each NHL team. Soviet Wings, Dynamo Moscow and Central Red Army will also be involved in the tour, the eighth by Soviet teams in NHL cities. Dynamo Moscow is scheduled to meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens Dec. 31, but the game may be moved to Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. Leafs’ owner Harold Ballard voiced his opposition to the tour and has a policy of not allowing Soviets to play in the Gardens. “Copps is aware of the…