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March 15, 1991
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.
OWNERSHIP FOES WEAVE TANGLED WEB
MAPLE LEAFS “Even the lawyers are confused,” said one lawyer involved in the legal wrangling now going on over the fight for control of Maple Leaf Gardens. It’s a tangled web that has been spun with former owner Harold Ballard’s eldest son, Bill, in a power struggle with Steve Stavro, one of the three co-executors of the Ballard estate which was charged with running the empire after Ballard’s death last year. Gardens’ president Don Giffin is still in charge, but just barely. Stavro won a court battle March 2 in which he won the right to have Giffin stripped of his powers as president within 60 days. And Ballard was successful in having Giffin removed as director of Harold E. Ballard Ltd., the holding company which controls the Gardens. “It (the…
ON THE PROWL
He is an all-America candidate, a Hobey Baker Award contender, owner of an undergraduate degree in political science and an aspiring lawyer, but Brad Werenka’s foremost role at the moment is as an historian. As a fifth-year senior defenseman, he is the only member of the Northern Michigan Wildcats who has first-hand experience with one of the greatest college hockey teams ever. Werenka was a freshman in 1986-87 when North Dakota set a National Collegiate Athletic Association record with 40 victories. Led by center Tony Hrkac, the eventual Hobey Baker Award winner, and goaltender Ed Belfour, the Fighting Sioux swept to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season and playoff titles as well as the school’s fifth national crown. “Awesome,” Werenka recalled of the Fighting Sioux team. “Just awesome.” North Dakota compiled a 29-6-0 record…
MAROIS’ OFFENSE HIS BEST DEFENSE
Being called a “frog” by teammates is only part of what francophone players must endure in the NHL. Unfortunately, for many Quebec-born players, they also come to the pros wearing the label of being onedimensional. French-speaking players have long had a reputation as being gifted scorers, but not two-way players. Bernie Geoffrion, Rod Gilbert, Henri Richard, Rene Robert, Gilbert Perreault, Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer, Jean Ratelie all had the same rap. Like most players his age, Daniel Marois grew up in Quebec worshipping the ice Guy Lafleur skated on and patterned his game after the legendary Canadien. And the fact he made goal-scoring his priority was never questioned. “When I was growing up, all I ever thought about was scoring goals,” said Marois, Toronto’s gifted young right winger who played his junior hockey in the…
HALLER MAKING NOISE ON THE BLUE LINE
Kevin Haller was recalled from Rochester (American League) because Doug Bodger is hurt, because the Buffalo Sabres have been struggling at defense and because they are under tremendous pressure to succeed. He was also told to enjoy his stay. “They told me not to feel any pressure, but obviously it’s there,” the 20-year-old defenseman said. “I’d like to think if I can do something while I’m here, that this time I can stick.” It was a welcome back trip for the rookie. Haller showed well in training camp, but when the two teams broke for the start of the season, it was U.S. Olympian Greg Brown who stayed with Buffalo and Haller, the Sabres’ first pick in the 1989 entry draft, who joined the AHL’s Americans. Now, in the stretch drive of the regular…