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Yearbook 1977

The Hockey News Yearbook 1977

<div class="byline">By NORM MAC LEAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0134-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0177/10155210-1-eng-US/f0134-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0249/10155203-1-eng-US/f0134-022.jpg" title="f0134-02" width="1154" height="665"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hockey upset of the decade as Poland defeated the Soviet Union 6-4 in the 1976 World Tournament.</figcaption></div>The Czechs finally beat the Russians as did the Swedes and the Poles in the 1 9 7 6 World Tournament. The Czechs captured their first World title since 1949&mdash;and even the Soviet Union&rsquo;s victory in the 19 76 Winter Olympics was tarnished by a disallowed Czech goal in an uphill 4&mdash;3 Soviet win.With the Olympic competition having been staged in February, without Sweden, most European fans discounted the result and counted the Worlds played in April. The cheese became more binding when the Winnipeg Jets, staffed mostly with Swedish and Finnish players, captured the Avco Cup emblematic of the World Hockey Association championship. A new era of recognition for European hockey is dawning.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0334/10155196-1-eng-US/f0134-032.jpg" title="f0134-03" width="1153" height="573"></div>In North America the largest television audience of last season was the one watching the climactic clash between Russia and Czechoslovakia for the Olympic Gold Medal. The U.S.S.R. won that one by one goal, with the help of three questionable calls by Swedish referee Ake Hanquist. The world beyond the Atlantic Ocean became aware that Europe had more teams than just those inside the Russian Bear&rsquo;s borders.Jan Starsi, the Czech co-coach said &ldquo;The Referee was intimidated. We proved we are as good as the Russians. I think we are better.&rdquo;The Czechs proved their point in the World Tournament and amazingly, the Poles and Swedes also beat the Reds, causing consternation in the Soviet camp. Even the tie with the Czechs in the final game was scant consolation.&mdash;&ldquo;There is no way the Swedes and Poles should be able to compete with the Soviets and Czechs,&rdquo; said Anatoli Tarasov, the elder statesman of Russian hockey and former coach of the National team. Both those countries have lost their best players to the professionals in North America. Czechoslovakia has lost only Vaclav Nedomansky. But they still beat us.&rdquo;Konstantin Loktev and Boris Kulagin were relieved as coaches of the National Team with Boris Mayorov and Victor Tikchonov taking over. Kulagin was made a scout.The Big Four in Europe is Russia, Czechoslovakia, Finland and Sweden, but hockey is also played in West Germany, East Germany, Poland, Austria, Yugoslavia and Romania. Romania, by virtue of their work in the Olympics will move up to the ten team tournament set for Vienna between April 20 and May 9. Also competing are West Germany, Finland, Sweden, Czechsolovakia, Russia, Canada and the United States. Canada and the United States will be allowed to enter professionals, but Canada is hampered by the fact that the Stanley Cup playoffs are underway at the time of the Vienna competition.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0416/10155189-1-eng-US/f0134-042.jpg" title="f0134-04" width="1139" height="583"><figcaption class="caption-body">POLSKA-ZSRR 6:4Bramki dia Polski zdobyli: Wieslaw Jobczyk-3 (w 22, 26 i 59 min.), Mieczyslaw Jaskierski&mdash;2 (w 10 i 23 min) Rvszard Nowinski (w 14 min.)</figcaption></div>The Dominion may enter one of the teams who are eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. It is best to remember, that in Europe, Vienna is the one that counts and the recent World Cup was simply a Toronto Invitational Tournament.The Big Four all try to play skilled scientific soccer on skates, but there are differences in the game played by each. The Russians are pass masters and pass more than twice as much as do the North American teams and onethird more than the other members of the European bloc.The Czechs have materially copied the Russians, but they are innovative in different directions, especially around the net. They seem to make better use of screening techniques and tip in play than do the perfect-play Russians.The Finns are the most physically strong specimens in Europe. They like the going rough and can dish it out. In a fight a Finlander can be a very tough proposition. It is well to remember, however, that the mental attitude of the players is different than those of the macho-first American and Canadian pros. Soccer is the sport in Europe and a dangerous rough play in soccer is merely a gentle push. Therefore, none of the European teams really are rough by North American standards and they are remiss in clearing the slot in front of the net. Boris Mikhailov literally camps in front and we can imagine the fun Nedomansky, at six four and 215 pounds had when he was the Phil Esposito of the Continent. Without ever being molested, Big Ned must have had a ball.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0135-0175/10155182-1-eng-US/f0135-012.jpg" title="f0135-01" width="1605" height="1620"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rangers&rsquo; Phil Esposito chases Aleksandr Maltsev.</figcaption></div>The Swedes are swift skaters, tricky speedsters, who can handle the puck. Although they have a reputation for timidity, this is being overcome. People who were close to the scene will tell you that Ulf Sterner, the big Swedish star of the early sixties who had a try out with the New York Rangers, was a victim of not fitting in socially with his teammates in both the NHL and with Baltimore of the AHL. They didn&rsquo;t pass him the puck, and took glee when he was bumped around. Instead of protecting the skilled Sterner, they laughed at him. Ulf had never been exposed to Canadian style body checking, and it was a tough adjustment.The work of Ulf Nilsson, Anders Hedberg, Curt Larsson, Veli-Pekka Ketola, Willy Lindstrom, Mats Lindh, Thommie Bergman, Lars Eric Sjoberg and Hexi Bergman, were the primary reasons the Winnipeg Jets won the Avco Cup. With the exception of goalie Joe Daley, and Bobby Hull, almost all of the key Jets were Swedes or Finns.Thus Europe is bubbling over about hockey. The Russian Bear&rsquo;s grip has loosened, although no one underestimates the Soviet power. And Europe has seen its stars develop to the point that they were able to win a Major League championship when moved almost en masse to Winnipeg.Although the Swedes and Finns lost heavily to the pros on this side of the Ocean, they may have gained in the long run. Both countries had to go with their junior players and those players did the job in the Poland World Tournaments.The Finns revamped their team after it finished fourth in The Olympics &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

EUROPEAN REPORT

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0142-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-0318/10155462-1-eng-US/f0142-032.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0143-0161/10155455-1-eng-US/f0143-012.jpg" title="f0143-01" width="2344" height="1469"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0143-0236/10155448-1-eng-US/f0143-022.jpg" title="f0143-02" width="2414" height="1802"></div> &#9632;

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STATISTICS

Central Hockey League Statistics

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0139-0158/10155341-1-eng-US/f0139-012.jpg" title="f0139-01" width="755" height="974"><figcaption class="caption-body">Seppo Repo</figcaption></div>The Finns have never won any type of Olympic medal, but they have reason to believe that they are gaining rapidly on their arch rivals the Russians. So far, no Finn has made it really big in North America, although Veli-Pekka Ketola is a valued center on the Winnipeg second line. Pekka Rautakallio of the Phoenix Roadrunners is a good defenseman and Heikki Riihiranta holds down a blue line spot with Winnipeg.The Roadrunners are going to try an All-Finnish line this season made up of center Seppo Repo, Juhanni Tamminen on the left side and Lauri Mononen on the right. Repo played for Team Finland in the Canada Cup as did his linemates. Perhaps the Roadrunner will dress their all Finnish line with uniforms reading &ldquo;SUOMI&rdquo;.When the Finlanders lost to Team USA in the Olympics after trouncing the Americans twice by big scores in pre-Olympic play, they were bitter. And when the West Germans edged them out for the Bronze medal, they did something about it. They ripped apart the guts of their National Team and started over, mostly with juniors.When the Canada Cup rolled around the Finns had three coaches, all of them new, in one way or another. Head coach duties were handled by Seppo Liitsola with Lasse Heikkila and Carl Brewer handling the bench. That&rsquo;s right, Brewer is the former NHL All Star who played in Finland, after quitting the Maple Leafs.The physically rugged Finnlanders do not skate as well as the Swedes or Russians, but they skate plenty good. They are bigger and better in the and shoot the puck from further out than do the Russians. In this they are similar to the Swedes.The Finnish champion last year was TPS, who won for the first time in twenty campaigns. TPS has goalie Urpo Ylonen, defenseman Seppo Lindstrom, an old savvy veteran at 34, and forwards Kari Johansson and Rejjo Leppanen. Seppo Repo scored the winner in the last minute of play for TPS against the defending champion Tappara.The Finnish First Division plays 36 games. TPS, Tappara, HIFK Helsinki, Ilves Tampere, Jokerit Helsinki, Lukko Rauma, Koo-Vee Tampere, Assat Pori, Sai Paa Laapeenranta and TuTo Turku are represented.The Finns leading scorer is Jouni Rinne. Their three best goalies are Turk Broda look alike Antti Leppanen, the Fat Man of Finland, Markus Mattsson and Jorma Valtonen. Valtonen has peen playing pro in Italy.Pekka Marjamaki, at one time rated the Bobby Orr of Europe, has been dropped from the National team. At 29, he became fat and lethargic. Pekka could have been an NHLcaliber All Star but didn&rsquo;t progress playing against players he was better than.Timo Nummelin, Timo Saari, Hannu Happalainen, Taipo Flinck, Reijo Laksola, Tapani Levo, Lasse Litma. Jouni Peltonen and Pertti Valkeapaa are amongst their better rearguards.Matti Murto played in the Olympics and did well, but skipped the Canada Cup amongst the forwards. Junior forward Matti Hagman disappointed in the Olympics, but will get better. Lasse Oksanen, another Finnish pro playing in Italy, is a name to remember.Esa Peltonen, Tapani Koskinen, Harri Linnonmaa, Jorma Vehmanen, Hannu Kapanen, Matti Rautianinen and Pertti Loivulahti are other high caliber Finnlanders up front.A Finnish All Star team would line up as follows:Goal: Antti LeppaenenDefense: Pekka MarjamaekiDefense: Timo SaariCenter: Matti MurtoWing: Seppo RepoWing: Jouni RinneMost Valuable Player: Seppo RepoBest Defenseman: Pekka MarjamaekiBest Pro Prospect: Matti Hagman, Seppo Ahokainen.In a sense the Finns compete at home in something that is akin to a fast Canadian Senior League just after the War. Perhaps the old Quebec Senior League would fit their present level. It is worth noting that Jean Beliveau came out of that league&mdash;and that Finland can be a rich vein of talent.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0139-0238/10155334-1-eng-US/f0139-022.jpg" title="f0139-02" width="1613" height="1046"><figcaption class="caption-body">Matti Murto (17)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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FINLAND

<div class="byline">FLOYD SMITH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-02377/10152810-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg" title="f0050-02" width="742" height="744"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01500/10152803-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg" title="f0050-01" width="625" height="595"></div>The reason behind Buffalo&rsquo;s playoff demise in the past two seasons and the reason they will not threaten Montreal&rsquo;s Stanley Cup crown is a simple, fundamental one: inconsistent goaltending. But the. blame is misplaced when heaped on the shoulders of veteran Gerry Desjardins, for indeed the true villain is General Manager Punch Imlach. There can be little doubt.Though it was Desjardins whose frequent clumsiness was a measurable factor in the final series loss to Philadelphia two years ago and the semifinal debacle against the Islanders last April, it is Imlach who must take responsibility for not obtaining sufficient net strength for a team that otherwise has everything needed for true championship contention.The offensive power can not be questioned: Gilbert Perreault scored 44 goals and totaled 113 points&mdash;third-best in the league; linemate Rene Robert missed eight games but performed creditably with 35 goals and 52 assists while French Connection linemate Rick Martin produced 49 goals, barely missing his 50th in the final game against Boston&rsquo;s Gerry Cheevers.Add to that a 50-goal season by pugnacious Danny Gare and solid outputs by checkers Don Luce and Craig Ramsay and you&rsquo;ve got an attack that tied with Pittsburgh as the second most potent in the league.And it is tough to question the burly though sometimes cumbersome defense&mdash;especially the play of star Jim Schoenfeld who suffered through an injury-wracked season but played despite incredible pain in the playoffs when others might well have quit. Then, there&rsquo;s Jerry Korab, who turned in one of the great performances of the NHL-Russia series as the Sabres blasted the Wings. He continued to establish himself as one of the top rearguards in activity today despite a badly mashed nose which cost him five pints of blood within hours. Young Bill Hajt had a stable sophomore campaign, and lumbering Jocelyn Guevremont played well, though not as strongly as in 1974-75.But it&rsquo;s still a heady, charging defense that is among the best in the league at blocking, shots for its netminder, whoever that nay be.So that brings us, of course, to question why a stronger effort was not made to obtain goaltending capable of the big save when it is needed so badly&mdash;the final piece in the Buffalo puzzle. Off-season rumors that Atlanta&rsquo;s Phil Myre would be obtained for Robert proved unfounded, leaving Desjardins and journeyman Al Smith to protect the cage. They&rsquo;ll do a capable job, but superlative jobs win Stanley Cups.It makes you think. Gary Bromley&rsquo;s gone now, having had his fill of playing one game per season after having good training camps and earning the right to play more. Had he been given a fair shot, maybe the Sabres would have found the man they so badly need. The question that has to be answered is who Imlach and Coach Floyd Smith think they are fooling. Imlach has earned a reputation as one of hockey&rsquo;s Einsteins; Smith will never pretend to such stature.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-03189/10152796-1-eng-US/f0050-032.jpg" title="f0050-03" width="2381" height="308"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-01377/10152789-1-eng-US/f0051-012.jpg" title="f0051-01" width="911" height="694"><figcaption class="caption-body">MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-02271/10152782-1-eng-US/f0051-022.jpg" title="f0051-02" width="1678" height="2462"><figcaption class="caption-body">Center Gil Perreault makes the French Connection go.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-03196/10152775-1-eng-US/f0051-032.jpg" title="f0051-03" width="629" height="1167"><figcaption class="caption-body">Richard Martin</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-04155/10152768-1-eng-US/f0051-042.jpg" title="f0051-04" width="619" height="809"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jerry Korab</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-05113/10152761-1-eng-US/f0051-052.jpg" title="f0051-05" width="636" height="956"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rene Robert</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01383/10152754-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg" title="f0052-01" width="1038" height="1428"><figcaption class="caption-body">Defenseman Jim Schoenfeld is the Sabres&rsquo; spiritual leader</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-02248/10152747-1-eng-US/f0052-022.jpg" title="f0052-02" width="1224" height="1491"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-03175/10152740-1-eng-US/f0052-032.jpg" title="f0052-03" width="2384" height="1667"></div> &#9632;

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ADAMS DIVISION

Buffalo Sabres

<div class="byline">By CHARLIE HALPIN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-012168/10151635-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Happy Habs gather around the Stanley Cup after downing the Flyers last May.</figcaption></div>Most sports people will tell you comparisons are odious. But inevitably they crop up when you start putting the past with the present. After the Montreal Canadiens won their 19th Stanley Cup this past spring, the reaction to their near-flawless conquest bordered not on how great a hockey machine they are, but how they compared with past Montreal cup winners.The fact that the peerless Canadiens boldly put defense ahead of offense in lifting the cup from the Philadelphia Flyers didn&rsquo;t seem to matter. Or that they had won 12 of 13 playoff games in a near record performance or even that they had succeeded by charting a deliberate course to the championship&mdash;systematically putting the emphasis on fewer goals-against; the Vezina Trophy their ultimate goal. It was inevitable then that the 1975-76 champions, great as they are, would be compared to past Canadiens&rsquo; teams. As the cup historians pointed out, the &lsquo;Flying Frenchmen&rsquo; consumed much of the space in the NHL&rsquo;s Stanley Cup fact book down through the years and the Habs were in the vanguard of the first cup winning teams. They had won as early as 1915-16 and in the ensuing 60 years, they had etched their fabled name on the cup an additional 18 times to rank as the New York Yankees of the hockey world.Some, like NHL president Clarence Campbell, placed them on a plateau similar to the five-time champion Canadiens&rsquo; teams of the thriving 50&rsquo;s and the great Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; aggregation of the early fifties that. went the current Canadiens one better by cornering the cup in 8 straight games&mdash;a mark that has withstood the challenge of time.Campbell, who has seen them all in his 30 years of presiding at cup presentations, cited the Canadiens&rsquo; feat of winning 12 of 13 games as the mark of a great champion.&ldquo;Their achievement in winning 12 of their 13 games was truly fantastic,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;They have the skating speed of the old time teams and much more size, especially on defense, than the early Canadiens&rsquo; teams that won five in a row or the great Detroit team in the early fifties that won 8 straight games.&rdquo;Islanders&rsquo; Al Arbour was even more emphatic than Shero. The New York coach predicted a long run at the top for the Canadiens. &ldquo;They have a great team. Montreal will win the cup or be right in there for the next 10 years,&rdquo; observed Arbour.However, not all of the Canadiens&rsquo; present crop of stars agreed that the new cup champs were the greatest. Goaler Ken Dryden commented it was the best of the three championship teams (1971, 1973 and 1976) he performed on. But defenseman Serge Savard said he preferred the 1968 and 1969 teams that mesmerized the expansionist St. Louis Blues for two years in the cup final.The Habs of that era included Jean Beliveau, Jacques Laperriere, J.C. Tremblay, Terry Harper, Gump Worsley, Rogie Vachon, Ted Harris, Claude Provost, Henri Richard, Bobby Rousseau, John Ferguson and a fellow named Serge Savard, who was a relative newcomer to the NHL wars when the Habs won in 1967-68.Savard&rsquo;s feeling was that the Canadiens were the complete hockey club in those particular years. He said he could never forget the defensive performance put on by Provost in both cup years as he handled all the big skaters on the opposing teams by shadowing them on the ice.Still others couldn&rsquo;t overlook the championship teams of the past that brought the time-honored cup to Montreal The exciting 1956-60 Canadiens were truly a dominant force in the NHL and the fact they were the only team in history to win the cup five successive times, can be attributed to two things&mdash;the coaching prowess of Toe Blake, and an incomparable collection of hockey greats.Big names like Jacques Plante, Doug Harvey, Beliveau, Bernard Geoffrion, Dickie Moore, Henri and Maurice Richard, Jean-Guy Talbot, Tom Johnson, Ralph Backstrom, just to mention a few, made the Canadiens the scourge of the fifties.Plante and the late Terry Sawchuk were probably the greatest playoff goalers of all time and it is doubtful that any of today&rsquo;s netminders compared with the two goaling giants. Harvey was the premier NHL defenseman of that circa and a major force in Canadiens&rsquo; five straight cup wins. Richard, Moore and Geoffrion were all electrifying scorers who overshadowed the modem day sharpshooters, according to the old time hockey buffs.But in spite of a trip back through Cup history extolling the greats of the past, most everyone was extremely impressed with the 1976 Canadiens. Their all-around determination, finesse and supreme confidence in their approach to winning the Cup proved to be the right formula.After a two-year hold on the Cup, the Philadelphia Flyers, attempting to become the first team since the 1964 Toronto Leafs won the cup three times in a row, wilted before the relentless Canadiens and the outcome was really never in doubt.True, the Canadiens didn&rsquo;t overpower the Flyers over the course of the regular season but their momentum in the stretch that carried over into the playoffs, proved insurmountable for the Broad Street Bullies. The Flyers entered the Cup final a hurt hockey club and it didn&rsquo;t take long to show on the ice as the Canadiens poured it on, winning two games, including the Cup wrap-up, on Spectrum ice where the Flyers&rsquo; swagger made them neatly invincible over the past few years.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012548/10151628-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="1622" height="1031"><figcaption class="caption-body">Canadiens won the Stanley Cup for the fifth year in a row in 1960. This display can be seen in the lobby of the Forum.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021745/10151621-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1625" height="1070"><figcaption class="caption-body">Big Larry Robinson gets in the way of Bobby Clarke as Ken Dryden clears the puck.</figcaption></div>Canadiens meshed a solid, four-line offense with a compelling and highly mobile defense to take the Cup away from the Flyers. Philadelphia fans were shocked by the turnabout even though they stood collectively and gave the Montrealers a standing ovation. The Canadiens, on the other hand were elated. Habs&rsquo; team leader, Pete Mahovlich, called the win &ldquo;the best. We wanted it badly. It was super winning the way we did. Everyone deserved credit. It was a great team effort,&rdquo; said Mahovlich in an emotional post-game interview.Canadiens&rsquo; coach Scotty Bowman savored the victory. Scotty, who often doesn&rsquo;t receive the credit he so richly deserves, was convinced the turning points were not losing a playoff game at home and the fact the Canadiens were able to overpower the tired Flyers with fresh hands (he used four lines in the playoffs). But it would have been foolhardy for Bowman not to lay the credit for the cup conquest at the feet of his defense.Most hockey people who followed the playoffs were adamant it wouldn&rsquo;t have been quite that easy for the Canadiens if it hadn&rsquo;t been for the sterling defensive play of the likes of Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, Doug Jarvis, Jim Roberts, Jacques Lemaire, Pete Mahovlich and Bob Gainey.Robinson was so convincing that he was chosen the outstanding playoff performer in complete disagreement with the NHL&rsquo;s selection of record-breaking scorer Reg Leach of the Flyers as the Smythe Trophy MVP winner. Robinson, the 6&rsquo;2&rdquo;, 200-pound two-way defenseman, had his finest hour as a Canadien in the 1976 playoffs.Even die-hard old timers were hard-pressed to recall a playoff performance to compare with the three-man defense of Robinson, Savard and Lapointe, in the 13 playoff games.Bowman had outlined at training camp last September that in order to win, the Canadiens first had to reduce their goals-against output and win the Vezina Trophy.The Stanley Cup would follow was Bowman&rsquo;s prophetic observation at the time.History now shows that Bowman knew what he was talking about. The Canadiens have to rate with the great cup champions of the past and the fact that they did it by emphasizing defense, made it all the more incredible. &#9632;

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“MONTREAL’S ALL-TIME TEAMS: Were any classier than the Class of ’76?”

<div class="byline">By CHARLIE HALPIN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-012232/10151736-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg"></div>Will &lsquo;The Rifle&rsquo; replace &lsquo;The Rocket&rsquo; as hockey&rsquo;s most electrifying scorer of all time?Depending on what hockey era you belonged to, you may wonder about the Rocket. You&rsquo;ve certainly heard about the Rifle. Strangely both names are synonymous with higher goal productivity and despite the fact they performed nearly 20 years apart, they both bear a similarity to one another.For the uninformed, the Rocket was the great Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens, undoubtedly the most explosive goal scorer of the pre-expansion period of the National Hockey League. The Rifle, of course, is Reggie Leach, the sharpshooting Philadelphia Flyer who became the new scoring rage of the NHL this past season.In fact it was Leach&rsquo;s emergence as pro hockey&rsquo;s most prolific single season scorer that raised the inevitable question among the hockey elite, &ldquo;can The Rifle be compared with The Rocket?Leach blasted his way on the NHL scene the past two years with the Flyers as an exciting scorer, but the 1976-77 campaign elevated him to a class by himself when he triggered 80 goals in one season&mdash;61 in regular league competition and a record 19 in post-season Stanley Cup play.No one before him ever scored 80 goals in one big league hockey year. Not even the indomitable Rocket, who in all fairness to the Montreal super star performed at a time when 50-game seasons were becoming an innovation as compared to today&rsquo;s 80-game schedule, which the NHL established in recent years.Reggie The Rifle is the young man who quickens pulses around Philadelphia&rsquo;s Spectrum with his cannonading shot and hot scoring production. But it wasn&rsquo;t always that way for Leach.The Flyer winger is proof positive that if you don&rsquo;t succeed in one city, try another and another. Leach, a five-year NHLer, is playing with his third league team. He didn&rsquo;t make it with the Bruins in Boston or the Seals in California and for a good reason&mdash;no one was able to utilize his goal scoring talents the way Fred Shero has done in Philly.Leach and Richard have many of the same ice characteristics. Both played right wing. Both were relentless skaters and each had the unequivocal knack of putting the puck in the net.Admittedly, Leach has a long way to go to emulate the Rocket&rsquo;s goal scoring feats which were achieved in a shorter schedule and during the tough six-team concept that made the NHL a closed corporation for the greats of the Richardian era.The Rocket toiled 18 NHL years, played nearly a thousand games, scored a remarkable 544 career goals and is still listed as the greatest playoff scorer of all time with 82 lifetime goals even though he&rsquo;s been retired since 1960. Richard&rsquo;s 544 mark stood him as the king of the NHL scorers until a Saskatchewan farm boy by the name of Gordie Howe came along and eclipsed his records.Richard differs from Leach in that he was a fiery, temperamental individual who loved to score and hated to lose. He displayed a short fuse when provoked, which wasn&rsquo;t very often. NHL opponents held a profound respect for the Rocket and took few liberties with him in much the same way they treated Howe. Still Richard managed over 1,200 penalty minutes and was known throughout his playing days as a referee baiter. His displeasure for the men in the striped shirts led him to violence on more than one occasion and he ultimately received his fair share of suspensions for his boisterous conduct on the ice.If Leach has the Richard flare he hasn&rsquo;t shown it up to now. Bom of Indian parents, the slightly taller Philadelphia scoring star isn&rsquo;t given to temper bursts as such. In five NHL campaigns he logged only 202 penalty minutes in 410 NHL games, hardly comparable to the Rocket.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012432/10151729-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="1605" height="1380"><figcaption class="caption-body">Maurice Richard gets by a Toronto defender, circa 1949.</figcaption></div>Still some see the six-foot, 185-pound Leach as a throwback to the Rocket, who had the distinction of becoming the NHL&rsquo;s first 50-goal scorer and the first and only man to score 50 in 50 games. During Leach&rsquo;s epic year, he tallied 37 goals in his first 54 games, well off the Richard pace.But Leach&rsquo;s effective, breakaway speed and quick acceleration when shooting were traits &rsquo; of the Rocket. Leach&rsquo;s quick release and accuracy are the secrets to his high goal scoring production while Richard relied more on deception and strength. It wasnothing for the Rocket to muscle his way past one or two defenders before scoring. Leach prefers to wind up from the outside of the blueline and blast his way past opposing netminders. His 80 goals are testimony enough that he shoots straight.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021868/10151722-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="746" height="1034"><figcaption class="caption-body">Richard pours the bubbly after another Canadien Cup victory.</figcaption></div>It was ironic that Leach should equalize one of Richard&rsquo; long-standing playoff records during the 1976 Stanley Cup round when he scored five times in one game against Boston. The Rocket was the first to turn the turn the trick back in 1944 when he scored all five goals as Montreal beat Toronto 5-1 in a playoff game. Darryl Sittier of the Leafs also scored five goals in this year&rsquo;s cup playdowns but it didn&rsquo;t seem to have the impact of Leach&rsquo;s feat, which left the Bruins muttering to themselves and goalie Gilles Gilbert a broken manLeach himself admits that his ability to get the puck off fast has been his big weapon. &ldquo;I can release the puck as fast as anyone, I guess,&rdquo; said Leach. &ldquo;My biggest thing, I suppose, is that within 15 or 20 feet of the net I&rsquo;m deadly.&rdquo; Vezina trophy winning goalie Ken Dryden was among Leach&rsquo;s playoff victims. He gave up four to the hard-shooting Flyer winger in the cup finals. Gilbert allowed seven of Leach&rsquo;s shots to elude him in the playoffs and three during the season giving him a total of 10 he surrendered to the NHL&rsquo;s new scoring champ. Leach mixed up his delivery and scored strikes on slapshots, wristshots and even backhanders. Of his five-goal playoff flurry against Boston, his coach Fred Shero called them the five most beautiful goals he had ever seen.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031333/10151715-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="1586" height="1503"><figcaption class="caption-body">Leach is stopped in close by Toronto&rsquo;s Wayne Thomas.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-012158/10151708-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="2488" height="948"><figcaption class="caption-body">Richard&rsquo;s greatest goal gave Montreal a seventh game, 2-1 win over Boston in the 1952 playoff semi-finals while semi-conscious. He eluded every Bruin on the ice.</figcaption></div>Leach, who never knew the Rocket or ever met the former Canadiens&rsquo; great, had the opportunity to come face-to-face with Richard when the two occupied the same stage at the NHL&rsquo;s summer hockey meetings and awards presentations. Richard was there to present Bobby Clarke with the Hart Trophy as MVP and afterwards, there was time to exchange greetings with Leach. It amounted to small talk between the two, but both had nothing but praise for Leach&rsquo;s linemate, Clarke.Leach credited Clarke with helping bring him to Philadelphia and with his ultimate success with the Flyers. It seems, Clarke discovered that Leach had been disenchanted with the Seals and would welcome a trade elsewhere. Clarke, who was a junior teammate of Leach&rsquo;s at Flin Flon in the Western Canada League, suggested to Flyers&rsquo; GM Keith Allen that Leach would be a good acquisition for Philadelphia if the club could swing a deal. Allen offered the Seals two players and first draft choice in May 1974. The Seals mulled over the swap and finally made it.Leach has scored 133 times in two years of league and playoff action for the Flyers making a shrewd dealer of Allen.Now that he has conquered the scoring world what lies ahead for Leach? The 26-year-old could become the NHL&rsquo;s first 80-goal scorer in time surpassing Espo&rsquo;s 68 and 76-goal years with the Bruins. Certainly Leach, Clarke and Bill Barber, who together formed the highest scoring line in league history last season, will be aiming for even bigger things next season.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021514/10151701-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="1577" height="1123"><figcaption class="caption-body">Leach is congratulated by former teammate Johnny Bucyk after the Flyers eliminated the Bruins in last year&rsquo;s semi-finals.</figcaption></div>All three Flyer linemates feel the same about their hockey prowess. It&rsquo;s not much fun unless you Win the Stanley Cup and the Flyers didn&rsquo;t make it this past season. Leach played on his first cup winner in 1975 and reportedly derived more satisfaction out of winning the Stanley Cup than anything else in his hockey career.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03920/10151694-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="751" height="938"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Rocket holds the puck with which he scored his 400th career goal.</figcaption></div>Like all the Flyers he&rsquo;d like to experience that feeling again. If he hopes to become the modern day &lsquo;Rocket&rsquo; he&rsquo;ll have to make up for lost time in two categories&mdash;goal scoring and playing on championship teams. Richard scored 544 career goals, Leach has 166. The Rocket played on eight Stanley Cup winners and Leach one.Still being mentioned in the same breath as Richard has to be a thrill for the rangy Philadelphia scoring phenomenom. Modern day hockey fans probably don&rsquo;t remember the Rocket, but there&rsquo;s a good chance they&rsquo;ll never forget the Rifle.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012411/10151687-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="1621" height="1515"><figcaption class="caption-body">Determination was Richard&rsquo;s forte in the 1950&rsquo;s.</figcaption></div>From the time he made his first playoff appearance at age 22 until his final showing at age 39, the Rocket was a simmering fuse capable of exploding for a goal at the crucial moment.His five goal outburst against Toronto in March of 1944, was only a small portion of Richard&rsquo;s Stanley Cup heroics. There isn&rsquo;t much doubt that the Rocket is the greatest scorer in Cup history, going all the way back to the 1893 start of Stanley Cup play. The legend of the Canadiens has the figures. Besides 82 playoff goals, he has six overtime sudden death scores, three more than anyone else, and 18 game winning goals, four more than Boom Boom Geoffrion.In comparison the great Gordie Howe has 14 game winners, but never scored an overtime goal in NHL playoff competition, and had to wait until this past season&rsquo;s Avco Cup play in the WHA to get a sudden death marker. Geoffrion, a great clutch player, never scored in overtime.In 1944, when Richard got those five goals against Toronto, he was being guarded by Bob Davidson, a great checker. He set a Playoff record with 12 goals that year, which lasted until the era of three series, instead of two. In succession, Frank Mahovlich, Phil Esposito and Yvan Cournoyer broke the Rocket&rsquo;s record, until they, too, gave way to Leach&rsquo;s 19 goals. It can be said for Reggie that he tied Cournoyer&rsquo;s 15 goals in just two series, whereas it took Yvan three sets to reach that figure. Reggie&rsquo;s four goals against the Canadiens in the finals gave him the new record. Also his 15 goals in two series, did beat Richard&rsquo;s 12 of 1944.They called Mel Hill, &ldquo;Sudden Death,&rdquo; after he got three overtime goals in a 1938 series against his hated enemies the New York Rangers. Hill, playing with the Bruins, had been cut by the Rangers. Bill Cowley assisted on all three goals.Richard doubled the magic figure of three, but he never got three in one series. He did get three in a single year, two against the pennant winning Detroit Red Wings, the team which won seven straight NHL pennants and had Howe, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly, Marcel Pronovost and Goalies Harry Lumley and Terry Sawchuk.In 1951, when his center Elmer Lach was getting old, and the Canadiens had not reached the peak of their five time winners, circa 1955-60, Richard was almost the entire Montreal offense. One of these games was the third longest in Cup history and pointed up the tremendous stamina of the Rocket. On March 27, 1951, the Rocket was being guarded by Marty Pavelich, with defenseman Leo Reise constantly baiting the star, trying to goad him into cheap penalties. But in the end, Richard prevailed, by going around Reise for the winner, 3-2.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021766/10151680-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="1605" height="1509"><figcaption class="caption-body">Leach&rsquo;s success is partly attributable to linemate Bobby Clarke&hellip;</figcaption></div>This tired out Detroit and gave the less skilled Canadiens a chance to extend the next game into three overtimes, whereupon Ricard went to work, lashing a rebound past Sawchuk, after a shot by Billy Reay.At the age of 36, against the Bruins, in the finals, Richard scored four of five goals against Don Simmons, causing the Bruin netminder to comment, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a good pro, but he made me look foolish. His eyes were glittering like beacons as he came at me.&rdquo;Perhaps Richard&rsquo;s greatest goal came against the Bruins, deciding the 1952 semi-finals. Boston and Montreal had split the first six games and the winner would go into the finals. Played at the Montreal Forum, Richard was knocked cold in the first period when he was sandwiched by Leo Labine and Bill Quackenbush. His head hit Labine&rsquo;s knee. Trainer Bill Head had Dr. Gorgon Younger take six stitches. The Rocket was still groggy, his head swathed in bandages when he returned to the Canadiens&rsquo; bench late in the final period. He asked Lach what the score was and was told, &ldquo;1-1.&rdquo;Richard nodded to coach Dick Irvin and stepped on the ice. Both teams were playing a man short, with just a couple of minutes left in the game. Canadien defenseman Butch Bouchard passed to Richard at center ice, lifting the puck over Woody Dumart&rsquo;s stick. At the Boston blue line, Quackenbush and Bob Armstrong waited for Richard. The Rocket cut to the right and with one hand held off Quackenbush as he rode all the way to the goal line, apparently too far out to angle a shot at &ldquo;Sugar&rdquo; Jim Henry in the Boston net.Instead of shooting, the Rocket deked Quackenbush and headed straight towards the net from the sideboards. Armstrong came back, but too late. Maurice cut in front of Henry, deked him and scored into the far upper corner of the net.Later, in the dressing room, the sobbing Richard collapsed and had to be quieted with a hypodermic needle. He was only half conscious when he scored his game winner.&ldquo;I had a hazy idea of what to do and I did it,&rdquo; said Maurice.No matter how many goals Leach scores, there will always be The Rocket. And that will still be the case years from now when fans are comparing some future sharpshooters to the Rifle.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-012001/10151673-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="799" height="564"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021454/10151666-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="2524" height="1823"></div> &#9632;

f0007-01

“REGGIE LEACH: In The Rocket’s 9k Red Glare”

<div class="byline">By BILL SHANNON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012351/10151809-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Canadiens square off with Chicago Black Hawks last February.</figcaption></div>Much has been written and said in recent months about the &lsquo;upsurge&rsquo; of violence in hockey. In reality, the only thing there has been an upsurge in has been stories about hockey violence. Almost all authorities close to the game, including its own players and students of its history state emphatically that hockey, if anything, is less violent that it was even a decade ago.In fact, what the N.H.L. did when it expanded in 1967 from a six-team circuit to a 12-team one was replace the tough, almost brutal, low-scoring games. As the average goals per game increased, the premium on each goal declined and the intensity for which each goal was fought for decreased.Over a period of roughly thirty years, it can be seen that there is a variance in the number of goals averaged per team game. During the six-team years, the 50-game schedule of 1945-46 produced 1003 goals, a total somewhat abnormally high because of the unsettled conditions following World War II, but a good place to start. Those 1002 goals meant each of the six clubs averaged 167.1 goals for a season or 3.34 per team game.Then as the quality of play steadily increased with the flow of good young players restored by the end of the military draft in Canada, the number of goals started to drop. In 1955-56, the six&mdash;team league produced 1064 goals for a 70&mdash;game schedule or 177.3 goals for each team for the year and 2.53 per team game.Another factor in those days was the frequency with which teams faced each other.The increasing number of goals and the wider margins from top to bottom in the league are relevent in that they indicate many more games of greater margin different in final score. More games decided by 7&mdash;3 scores and many less by 2&mdash;1 or 3&mdash;2.Clearly, the competitive nature of a 3&mdash;2 game is much more intense than a 7&mdash;3 one. The more intense the game, the more emotional and thus the greater potential for violence borne of aroused emotions among the players and fans.To this observer, hockey crowds are docile compared to what they were years ago and so, to a great extent, are the games.Isolated instances of outrageous violence may make heavy&mdash;ink headlines and great fodder for the hot magazine format news shows of television, but averages tend to tell a story much more logically and completely. What appears to have happened is much of the intensity which has left the ice in hockey has been transfered to the courtroom where such cases seem tragically to find their way for adjudication all too often these days. Each expansion has diluted the hockey talent on each club more and more. In 1965-66 there were six major league hockey teams in all of North America. Today, there are 30 purporting to such designation. It should be obvious that no system of talent development is capable of producing players at the same level of skill and ability for 30 teams as it is for six.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-012050/10151802-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="770" height="735"><figcaption class="caption-body">Widespread publicity has made Dave Schultz a folk-hero in Philadelphia.</figcaption></div>One of the consequence? of this dilution is that the need for a first-class fighter merely to survive is no longer present. Most of the great scorers of the 1950&rsquo;s were outstanding fighters, usually so good they didn&rsquo;t have to prove it very often. Andy Bathgate had lightning hands, Gordie Howe likewise.In order to fill a 70&mdash;game schedule against only five other clubs, each team had to be met 14, times. In today&rsquo;s condition, an 80&mdash;game schedule and an 18&mdash;team league, a team might be faced as few as four times in a season. This means that the odds for a vendetta developing are much less. If an opponent is met 14 times under constant pressure, incidental contact becomes an incident requiring retaliation. Grudges are carried over to the next meeting, magnified, and magnified again in the intensity to reach the playoffs. Riots of major proportions were not uncommon in the six&mdash;team years. They are uncommon now.It is popular in most debates of this type to quote the exceptional cases to prove a point. The tragic mauling of Marc Tardif in a W.H.A. playoff game does not inherently prove reprehensible as the incident is, that all hockey games are automatically more violent than they have ever been. Random reviews of old game films bare out a reverse contention.Returning to the expansion of the goal&mdash;scoring theory for the moment, the six&mdash;team league in its final days showed a slight upturn in scoring. In 1965&mdash;66, 1277 goals were scored in 70 games, an average of 212.8 per team and 3.04 per team game.In 1974&mdash;75, the 80&mdash;game schedule of the 18&mdash;team league in the N.H.L. produced 4932 goals, 274.0 per team on the average and 3.51 per team game. This is almost one full goal per team more than the comparable figures for 1955&mdash;56. Even more important, the spread between top and bottom is dramatically wider. In 1955-56, Montreal scored 222 goals, most in the league and Boston got the least, 147, a disparity of 75 goals in absolute numbers. In 1974&mdash;75, Montreal had 374 and Washington 181, a gap of 193.But hockey was still filled with players of less ability who survived on their fighting ability. Quality is a relative thing. While all of the players in the six&mdash;team era were probably more skillful on the average than the average of today&rsquo;s 30&mdash;odd clubs, there were still gradations of skill among the players in the six&mdash;team circuit. Men such as Lou Fontinato of the New York Rangers built their reputations on their fighting capability. Howie Young played with a couple of teams for the same reason and several others could be listed like Bill Juzda, Gus Mortson and Fernie Flaman, were tough but also talented. But in the 1950&rsquo;s, it was not uncommon for high scorers like Maurice Richard and Ted Lindsay to also lead the league in penalty minutes since fighting was a more universal activity.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-021427/10151795-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="1543" height="756"><figcaption class="caption-body">Schultz has logged almost 1400 penalty minutes in only four years.</figcaption></div>Richard, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, goal&mdash;producer in pro hockey history under the conditions in which he played was also responsible for attacks on officials and inflicted severe injury on several opponents in fights of various kinds. The most famous, of course, took place in the Boston Garden on March 13, 1955, when Richard attacked Bruin defenseman Hal Laycoe with his stick and subsequently slugged linesman Cliff Thompson. The resultant suspension by N.H.L. president Clarence Campbell produced a riot in Montreal which caused perhaps a million dollars in property damage (more by today&rsquo;s inflated standards).Such a series of occurrances today would doubtless produce a massive outcry from any self-appointed protector of the public good within reach of a microphone or a typewriter. It produced some then. But it would probably be accepted by serious hockey observers for what it is, an emotional outburst by an emotional man in an emotional situation which must be dealt with by the game&rsquo;s authorities.Campbell, then as now president of the league, stood his ground. He attended the next Canadien home game at the Montreal Forum and suffered through an attack on himself and his secretary. Both were targets of profanity, derision and thrown objects.One of the frequently misunderstood results of such events is that they have a cathartic effect. Sports serves a very specific function in this respect. It is an outlet for emotion under a more&mdash;or&mdash;less controlled environment, emotions which cannot realistically be let out in any other way in a civilized society. Those involved in sports for a livlihood understand this function even if they frequently cannot articulate it. Campbell, an outstanding attorney who served as a judge at the Nuremburg trails, certainly understands it.One of the outstanding exponents of the attack&mdash;from&mdash;without school of policing hockey, a Toronto lawyer who shall not be named here, once turned in a report concluding that &lsquo;hockey is sick&rsquo;, presumably because it engaged in some activity of which he, as a non&mdash;involved, non&mdash;participant, did not approve.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012330/10151788-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="1598" height="865"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jean Beliveau, Bob Baun, John Ferguson, and Johnny Bower (I to r) in 1964 playoff action. Closer games in the pre-expansion days meant more friction between players.</figcaption></div>Campbell responded, That assessment may be correct, but it is not what we&rsquo;re concerned about. At least, I don&rsquo;t think that is what we are concerned about. There is not more fights now. It just seems more intensified because of exposure on TV. Instant replay is the worst culprit. It has created the impression of constant fighting. They play it over and over again. The reality is, there is on the average not one major penalty (violent foul) a game.&rsquo;The most interesting part of this situation was that the press seemingly was surprised when the N.H.L. Players Associated, headed, by another successful lawyer, Alan Eagleson, agreed.&lsquo;Here we go again,&rsquo; said a statement issued by the NHLPA. &lsquo;The N.H.L. is everybody&rsquo;s favorite whipping boy. In pro hockey, a player takes certain risks. It&rsquo;s not that bad; otherwise, there would be a lot fewer players anxious to earn their living in the N.H.L.&rsquo;Sportswriters who spend much of their other time covering tennis, golf or swimming, seemed amazed that hockey players accept that condition of their lives that fighting is a normal part of what they do for a living. Athletes generally are tough mentally as well as physically and have a competitive instinct within them. These are the qualities which make them athletes in the first place. Many more of us have these instincts than exhibit them on hockey ice in the N.H.L. or W.H.A., A.H.L. or C.P.H.L. The performance of Canadian and American men under combat during World War II showed this. Not all, however, have the physical skill to become athletes. The pro athlete is different in his outlook than the schoolgirl or intellectual (and vice versa). This doesn&rsquo;t make him bad, insane, misfit or perjorative. It just makes him different. If he is willing to accept conditions of employment which others do not and is able to perform a social function thereby, there doesn&rsquo;t seem any reason to prevent him from so doing. Hardly any professional athletes believe that a match misconduct penalty is criminal act or that a hockey brawl requires the attention of the already&mdash;overcrowded courts. Most intelligent and sincere fans feel the same way.Hockey is not inherently more violent than other pro sports. There have been the same number of deaths in the N.H.L. due to game action in this century as there have been in major league baseball&mdash;one each. The ice spectacle with bodies flying around at 20 or 25 miles per hour creates a violent image, however.It is important to consider, under any conditions, the thought that those who best understand the game, be it hockey or any other sport, are the men playing it and running it. They have internal disagreements over pensions and salaries but they are drawn together for the most part by a mutual love for the game and a common respect for one another. They have the capacity and capability to deal with the problems of their game and they will be the first to recognize when these problems have gone beyond the limits of the existing rules. Rule and enforcement adjustments are constantly being made in all major team sports for just this reason. Nobody is opposed to receiving constructive suggestions from outside observers, in fact, input from any interested party is welcomed as a general rule.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-031182/10151781-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="772" height="1317"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ted Lindsay moves in on Montreal&rsquo;s Jacques Plante. Lindsay was tough, but was a great player as well.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021751/10151774-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="1643" height="874"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brawls in the 1950&rsquo;s like this one between the Rangers and Red Wings&mdash;were more dangerous. Players didn&rsquo;t always drop their sticks.</figcaption></div>However, petulant attempts at retribution when an outsider&rsquo;s suggestions are not adopted rarely serve any useful purpose. It was interesting to observe the response of the jury in the attempt to convict Dan Maloney for a fight with Brian Glennie in Toronto. The criminal charges were dismissed. Almost everyone else involved felt the criminal charges were unwarranted in the first place. If Maloney had stepped beyond the norms of his environment, he would have received peer justice. It comes in many forms, some subtle and some blatant. He was not subject to any such reactions. The jury of his true peers also found him innocent.Its high time those unfamiliar with the laws under which sports police themselves cease attempting to force their own theories of justice on men who are uninterested in them. No one who attends a hockey game is forced to do so. No one who plays the game is coerced into it. They shouldn&rsquo;t be forced to defense themselves for their choices.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-012012/10151767-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="769" height="550"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eddie Shore was the NHL&rsquo;s big brawler in the 1930s.</figcaption></div>BILL SHANNON Is the president of the newsman. Mr. Shannon was the director of director of public relations for New York&rsquo;s New York public relations firm of Bill Doll, public relations for the International Soccer Madison Square Garden home Ice for the Shannon and Co., and has had a long career League, a P.R. staffer for the New York Jets New York Rangers. He Is also the author of as a sportswriter, newspaperman and radio football club and from 1966 to 1973. several sports books. &#9632;

f0012-01

“VIOLENCE: Is hockey coping, or copping out?”

Candian and U.S. public opinion forced Clarence Campbell, the president of the NHL to change his stated position and lead rule changes which would mitigate against the employment of intimidating tactics in games. Ontario&rsquo;s attorney general Roy McMurtry led the charge, bringing Detroit&rsquo;s Dan Maloney up on criminal charges for a fistic victory, over Toronto&rsquo;s Brian Glennie. Maloney was eventually judged not guilty in a jury trial, but after the Maloney-Glennie incident, three Philadelphia Flyers, Mel Bridgman, Jimmy Watson and Don Saleski were indicted for violence in the seven game Toronto-Philadelphia quarter final.Last year, on January 4, 1975, a fight in Minnesota between the North Stars Henry Boucha and Boston&rsquo;s Dave Forbes resulted in Forbes being charged. Forbes was released following a jury trial.In the WHA, the Marc Tardif incident in which the Quebec Nordiques&rsquo; super star was brutally beaten by Calgary&rsquo;s Rick Jodzio with resultant loss of reflexes and a serious brain concussion, almost stopped the WHA playoffs. Tardif, a 71 goal scorer, may not be able to play this year. Bobby Hull, playing on a team with many Europeans who aren&rsquo;t used to heavy hitting, is on record that unless the league does something about the goon hockey, he will quit.At the NHL&rsquo;s annual meeting in Montreal, rule changes were made, which are detailed herein. Whether they will curb the violence is a question. It may be up to the referees and linesmen and it may be up to the owners&mdash;and the attitude they adopt.Despite all of this, many old time fans and hockey people feel the hurrah about violence in the seventies is overdone. The above opinion is not that of the publisher, but it is an opinion to be examined for full value. &#9632;

BILIC OUTCRY, CROWN PROSECUTOR FOI N.H.L. ACTION AGAINST GOON HOCKEY

Montreal&mdash;For the first time in League history, three player representatives were invited to attend the rules committee meeting during the NHL&rsquo;s Annual meeting.The three players&mdash;Bobby Clarke of Philadelphia, Andre Boudrias of Vancouver and Bob Gainey of Montreal&mdash;attended the session along with NHLPA Executive Director Alan Eagleson.Seventeen of the 18 NHL teams were represented, Kansas City the lone exception.The Rules Committee approved the following changes:Rule 8: Face-off Spots and Circles. There now will be a line, six inches long and two inches wide, extending out from the &ldquo;12 o&rsquo;clock&rdquo; and &ldquo;6 o&rsquo;clock positions of the spots. The cross-bar on the &ldquo;T&rdquo; is to be six feet long. (The old length was three feet). The purpose of the new markings is to ensure the players taking the face-offs put the tip of the blade of their stick on the small line and that their skates stay behind the cross-bar of the T. This should eliminate the &ldquo;cheating&rdquo; whereby the players try to gain an edge by moving their stick around the spot instead of keeping it at the bottom.Rule 34A (A new rule): &ldquo;In addition to the automatic fines and suspensions imposed under these rules, the President may, at his discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any League or playoff game and may assess additional fines and/or suspensions for any offense committed during the course of a game or any aftermath thereof by a player, trainer, manager, coach or club executive whether or not such offense has been penalized by the referee.&rdquo;Rule 54 (a)&mdash;Fisticuffs.The rule was amended to read as follows: &ldquo;A major and a Game Misconduct penalty or a major penalty, at the discretion of the referee, shall be imposed on any player who starts fisticuffs.&rdquo;And, the following note (after Rule 54 (b) was added:&ldquo;Note 1&rdquo;&mdash;It is the intent and purpose of this rule that the referee shall impose the &ldquo;major and game misconduct&rdquo; penalty in all cases when the instigator of the fight or the retaliator is the aggressor and is plainly doing so for the purpose of intimidation or punishment.The above rule change, along with the note, was approved unanimously by the Rules Committee. A proposal by the NHL Players&rsquo; Association &ldquo;that a major and game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player involved in fisticuffs&rdquo; was defeated 13-4 by the Rules Committee.Rule 63 (b)&mdash;Interference by/with spectators:The rule was changed to read as follows:&ldquo;Any player who physically interferes with the spectators shall automatically incur a game misconduct penalty and the referee shall report all such infractions to the president who shall have full power to impose such further penalty as he shall deem appropriate.&rdquo;The following rule change was passed by a 10-7 majority. However, for a rule change to become effective, it must pass by a three-quarters majority. Because it didn&rsquo;t it now goes before the Board of Governors for final approval or rejection.Rule 29&mdash;Misconduct Penalties:Add new rule 29 (f) as follows:&ldquo;In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of three Game Misconduct and/or Gross Misconduct penalties shall be suspended automatically for the next playoff game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct or gross misconduct penalty during the playoffs, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. For each suspension of a player during playoffs, his club shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).(NOTE) Any game misconduct or gross misconduct penalty for which a player has been assessed supplementary discipline in the form of game suspension(s) by the President shall not be taken into account when calculating the total number of offenses under this subsection.The automatic suspensions incurred under this subsection in respect to League games shall have no effect with respect to violations during playoff games.There were several &ldquo;housekeeping&rdquo; changes made, as usual, to the rules. The most important ones, adopted during last season, are repeated here because they do not appear in the 1975-76 rule book.Rule 45&mdash;Board-checkingAdd following rule as 45(b):&ldquo;When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in injury to the face or head of an opponent, an automatic fine of $50 shall be imposed.&rdquo;Rule 66(b)&mdash;Leaving Players&rsquo; or Penalty Benches:Add to rule 66 (b) the following underlined section:For violation of this rule a double minor penalty shall be imposed on the player of the team who was first to leave the players&rsquo; or penalty benches during the altercation. If players of both teams leave their respective benches at the same time, the first identifiable player of each team to do so shall incur a double minor penalty. A game misconduct penalty shall also be imposed on any player who is penalized under this sub-section and the club shall incur a fine of $1,000 for the first such incident, $3,000 for the second and $5,000 for the third and subsequent such incident.In reference to the above change, Rule 66 (e) also has the added clause that the penalties referred to in 66 (b) shall apply to exhibition games and that any suspensions in this rule during exhibition games shall be served during the next regular League game if required. &#9632;

NHL RULE CHANGES

<div class="byline">By BILL LIBBY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-012096/10151895-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">The King is known as Little Beaver to his friends</figcaption></div>Marcel Dionne is a small, smoldering stick of dynamite. He looks like a high school football player, but at the age of 25 has been aged by five seasons of tumult. He has averaged almost 100 points a season in his short time up top, yet is considered a controversial performer who has been criticized for his supposed selfishness.Dionne is dark. He has dark eyes, which gleam like glowing coals. He has a boyish, but hard face. He has a small, but hard body. He is only 5-7 and 170 pounds, but is built like a baby bull. As a hockey player, he is spectacular. He is quick on his skates and he handles a stick skillfully.He has marvellous moves and bobs in and out of opposition defenses on offense. He is hard to hit and difficult to contain. He is elusive and animated. The puck always seems to wind up on his stick, and when he gets it, he can make a perfect pass with it or snap off a quick, hard, accurate shot with it.Beyond doubt, Dionne is one of the most accomplished and exciting players in hockey today. But for the fact that he is a center and there are a lot of outstanding centers who have played for better teams and been better publicized, Dionne would be better known.As an amateur for St Catherine&rsquo;s he was spectacular. In three seasons, he scored 154 goals in 148 games, including 62 goals in 46 games his last season. Sidelined by an injury part of that season, he still assisted on 81 goals and totalled a record 143 points.Selected second to Guy Lafleur in the draft of graduating amateurs, Marcel moved up to Detroit and set a rookie record with 77 points. In four seasons he scored 139 goals and totalled 366 points, the best first-four-year pace in NHL history.However, he was supposed to make an instant winner of the Red Wings and he did not. The Wings won only 122 games in 314 games during his stay and were buried at the bottom of the standings. He came under constant criticism, and grew restless and rebellious.Marcel walked out on the Wings a couple of times over the years, and was suspended by them a couple of times. In the dressing room one night, he attacked a writer who said the player wanted to leave the team.Announcing his intention to leave, Dionne played out his option, became a free agent, came to a five-year, $ 1.5 million agreement with the Kings, who made a deal with the Wings, sending Dan Maloney and Terry Harper to Detroit in exchange.The Kings were coming into contention and Dionne was expected to produce the offensive spark they needed. He did not. He had a good year, but not as good as expected. He has scored more than the 40 goals and 94 points he totalled in Los Angeles, though those were team records and he was voted team MVP.The team declined on offense and in the standings.He was streaky. He had stretches when he&rsquo;d score five or six goals in three or four games, and he had four three-goal games, but he also suffered through stretches when he seemed to disappear.&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t been consistent,&rdquo; he confessed. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t seem to put it together. I get hot, then cold. I have the puck, then can&rsquo;t find it.&rdquo;He never would blame anyone else, but he had little help here. The talent on the team did not include strong wingers to protect him, feed him, score off his passes.Once foes found out that stopping him often stopped his team, they roughed him regularly. He picked himself up off the ice without complaint. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s part of the game,&rdquo; he shrugged.Labelled a selfish player, he went out of his way to prove himself otherwise. He&rsquo;d make magnificent plays, but his wingers would put his perfect passes into the goalies&rsquo; pads, onto the posts, over the net, into the seats.He who could score was passing up his shots to pass to teammates who could not. &ldquo;I guess I should be shooting more,&rdquo; he admitted late in the long season. &ldquo;But you&rsquo;ve got to give the other guys their chances too.&rdquo;No one was setting him up very often.He was not a factor in the first-round of the playoffs as Rogie Vachon&rsquo;s superb goaltending frustrated Atlanta three straight.He was not a factor in the first game of the second round of the playoffs as Boston blanked L.A.After a Boston writer termed him &ldquo;Jack Kent Cooke&rsquo;s overpaid million-dollar so-called superstar, Dionne came to life in the second game.Skating spectacularly, he drove elusively in to fire two shots into the nets that tied the game and sent it into overtime, where Butch Goring won it.Back home, the Kings were trailing, 2-1, when Dionne ignited a spectacular comeback to a 6-4 triumph with a three-goal outburst. He all but did a dance to get by sticks and skates and gloves at the goal-mouth to get one in. Ohly an Orr could have matched him.Cooke was thrilled, feeling repaid for the controversial deal he made.Veteran Bob Berry remarked &ldquo;His was the greatest one-game performance I&rsquo;ve ever seen in the playoffs.&rdquo; Basking in the triumph, Dionne admitted, &ldquo;Maybe what that Boston writer wrote inspired me. I was insulted. But I&rsquo;m used to insults.&rdquo;&ldquo;You need the breaks. The puck bounced for me. I never doubted I could get goals when I had the opportunities.&rdquo;He had received ovations. Sighing, he said, &ldquo;It is nice to be a hero, but I am not being carried away by it. I have been booed, too, you know. I have no complaints with the fans, but they are fickle. I just do my job as best I can.&rdquo;He had been hardened by hard times.Boston won the series, but Dionne won a place for himself in Los Angeles. He said, &ldquo;I am happy if I have found a home. But maybe too much was expected of me here. I cannot carry a club by myself. No one can. Not even Bobby Orr. I am a good player. I hope to be great.&rdquo;:&ldquo;I am a team man,&rdquo; he smiled. &ldquo;I just hope to fit in.&rdquo;His eyes twinkled. He has an impish sense of humor. He was supposed to be belligerant, surly, sullen, but I never found him that way, not in Detroit and not in Los Angeles. I always found him a agreeable and excellent interview.He says,&rdquo; It is a bad situation in Detroit. I am gone now and I don&rsquo;t want to go into it again, but it is no secret that management has made a series of coaching changes and a lot of players have been unhappy.&rdquo;&ldquo;I was young and impulsive. I thought it was good to be honest and outspoken and I said some things I was sorry for. I lost my temper at times and sulked at other times. I was being blamed for every defeat, yet I was not playing poorly.&ldquo;It was hard for me to handle it.&rdquo;&ldquo;I had a lot of growing up to do.Who doesn&rsquo;t?&rdquo;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m more mature now. Marriage has settled me down. My wife and I have a daughter. We have a nice home. I look around me and see sunshine and green trees instead of snow and ice. Who wouldn&rsquo;t be happy here?&rdquo;Marcel and Carole, married in April of 1974, had Lisa Lee in August of 1975. They have a new home in a splendid section. They plan to live here the year round now, though he will return to his home in Drummondville, Quebec, for visits.He was not at first accepted here. Harper and Maloney were popular, especially Maloney. Fans love fighters and Maloney could fight. But Dionne is an exciting stylist to watch. Dionne has a potential which keeps you on edge, your eyes glued to him.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011792/10151888-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="749" height="1819"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dionne&rsquo;s 94 points were a mild disappointment last year.</figcaption></div>Coach Bob Pulford built the Kings into a contender with a conservative, defensive style. Coming in, Dionne admitted,&rdquo; I will have to do more on defense. But I do not think Mr. Cooke brought me in to ignore my offense.&rdquo;Cooke had to sell Pulford on Dionne. Most of the season, Dionne felt restrained. A skilled penalty-killer, he set a league record with 10 shorthanded goals gambling with Detroit, but dared no such chances with L.A. Subtract those 10 goals and Dionne did not get as many goals his last season in Detroit as his first in Los Angeles.Late in the season, the shackles came off and Dionne started to take chances. &ldquo;I have to pick my spots, but I should not waste my talent,&rsquo;&rsquo;Dionne said. &ldquo;I want to watch my man, but I&rsquo;d rather he had to spend all his time watching me. I can&rsquo;t give this team what it wants from me if I don&rsquo;t get goals.&rdquo;Asked about the system, Marcel grinned and said, &ldquo;&rsquo;What system? I have been looking for it. The system I see is the one I always see-play hockey.&rdquo;&ldquo;Pully&rsquo;s system is the same as most coaches. You check, you get the puck away from the other guys, you try to get it into the net. He is a good coach because his guys respect him and put out for him and are not divided by dissension&rsquo;&rsquo;&ldquo;We have young guys who can play and are going to get better.&ldquo;I, myself, am only approaching my potential.&rdquo;Dionne has been marked for stardom since boyhood. Growing up in his steel-town, he was one of eight children. He was skating at two on a makeshift surface in his backyard and playing competitively in regulation rinks at 8. Everyone always worried about his lack of size, but he still was considered a super prospect.He says he feels he owes stardom to the family that supported him. &ldquo;My parents bought me equipment. When they couldn&rsquo;t, my uncles did. All the time I was a boy when I needed something, no matter what the times were like, these people, these uncles and my parents, saw that I got it. When I was 131 had $55 skates. It is as if they dreamed of the NHL for me&rdquo;.&ldquo;My dreams were made for me. My Pee-Wee team went to a tournament at a winter carnival in Quebec City. I was singled out. Someone asked for my autograph. I could hardly reach the top of the boards to write my name?&ldquo;The spectators would call you over to the boards and hand you a dollar. Sometimes men would come into the dressing room and give us handfulls of money. It was crazy.&rdquo;&ldquo;I dreamed my dreams. I made the majors and for a while it was a nightmare. I did so well and got so little credit for it. I was so deeply disappointed. I am not a bad guy. I never wanted to treat people badly. But I felt unloved and unwanted.&rdquo;&ldquo;Now it is different. I feel I am wanted. I feel love. I want to repay those people who have had faith in me. I want to do well for myself and my family. I know there is only so much I can do, but whatever I can do, I will do it.&rdquo;He is an amazing athlete, a clean player who has won one Lady Byng Award and come close to another. In the Canadian version of the televised &ldquo;Superstars&rdquo; contest, he placed second with an all-around excellence that put him in the U.S. version.He is settled now, a star on his way to superstardom perhaps, an articulate and amiable young guy of great gifts who illuminates the ice with his brilliance at times, and may yet unload a bolt of lightning across his sport. &#9632;

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Marcel Dionne: THE King of Los Angeles!

<div class="byline">By HARRY KLAFF</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011971/10151947-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg"></div>Over the twelve year span from October 30, 1964 to Jan. 6, 1976, the New York Rangers were one of the most successful teams in the National Hockey League, playing at about a .600 clip. To a large extent, the team&rsquo;s success was attributed to the presence of Emile Francis in the General Manager&rsquo;s office.The Cat was also behind the bench for a vast majority of that time, as the Broadway Blueshirts dropped their long-standing tag of ragamuffins, and became a long-term contender for the Stanley Cup.But the Rangers didn&rsquo;t win the Stanley Cup under Francis, or since 1940 for that matter. And in the Big Apple, either you win all the marbles or you&rsquo;re gone. Just ask Yogi Berra, Bill Virdon, or Weeb Ewbank.If anything, Francis lasted much longer and had many more chances than his counterparts in baseball or football. He had a strong relationship with his players, most of whom had been with him over a period of years; and until the very end, he was a favorite of the fans.But why didn&rsquo;t Francis win the Stanley Cup? There are many valid reasons, but the most important of which is that in any given season, the Rangers simply weren&rsquo;t the best team in the league.It always seemed that someone would come on with a super year to edge them out of their taste of champagne. One year it would be Montreal. The next year it would be Boston, or even Chicago to knock them out along the road to the Cup.A classic example was the 1972-73 season. If there was ever a year that the Rangers were the favorites to take it all, that was it.After finally making it to the Cup finals (for the only time during the Francis regime) in 1971-72 when they lost to the Bruins, the Rangers looked on during the hectic off-season which saw Boston lose the likes of Gerry Cheevers, Derek Sanderson, and Johnny McKenzie to the brand-new W.H.A.But along came a super-season by the Montreal Canadiens (coupled with a disastrous showing by the Rangers in the semi-finals against Chicago), and the wait for the silver trophy became even longer.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011715/10151940-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="754" height="895"><figcaption class="caption-body">Leo Boivin will return to his job as chief scout for the Blues.</figcaption></div>Another underlying problem is that Emile&rsquo;s loyalty and devotion to his players might have ultimately caused his undoing. After the W.H.A. was formed back in 1972, most N.H.L. teams adopted an unofficial policy that they would not pay out exorbitant salaries as part of a bidding war, and the Rangers were no exception. At first.Consequently, it was believed that a number of the Rangers&rsquo; top performers such as Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelie, Vic Hadfield, and others were all but signed, sealed, and delivered to the Cleveland Crusaders for six&mdash;figure contracts.Loyalty on the Rangers worked both ways, and right before the players gave their okay to the W.H A., they gave Francis one more chance. The club obliged, and the era of the &lsquo;Fat Cat&rsquo; Rangers had begun.Many of Francis&rsquo; trades were also attacked in retrospect. Such top N.H.L. performers as Curt Bennett, Jim Lorentz, Syl Apps, Don Luce, and Dennis Hextall all wore Ranger blue at one time or another. But they were traded away for what was hoped to be the &lsquo;last missing link&rsquo; which would bring the title to New York.&lsquo;At the time of those trades, none of those players could play regularly with the Rangers,&rsquo; said Francis, and for the most part, he was absolutely right. The one deal which has brought the most outcry, however, is the one which saw Bennett go to the Atlanta Flames for forward&mdash;defenseman Ron Harris. In the four years that have passed, Bennett has become a top star, while Harris has seen only limited duty with the Rangers because of various injuries.Perhaps the most important cause of Francis&rsquo; downfall was the change in the management of Madison Square Garden over the past few years. When the Garden was controlled by Irving Mitchell Felt, the hockey department was run lock, stock, and puck by team President William M. Jennings, and Francis.But things began to change when Michael Burke (late of the Yankees), and a host of others came in. For the first time, hockey dealings were dictated from above, and that didn&rsquo;t please the Cat in the least.It is believed that one of the first instrusions was the decision on the part of the Rangers to obtain Derek Sanderson after he had bounced out of Boston. Since Francis was never a fan of Sanderson&rsquo;s (or vice versa), it is highly unlikely that Emile would have done this if he had the total say (It is ironic, of course, that Francis will have Derek under his wing once more in St. Louis).Then came the purge of the &lsquo;Fat Cats.&rsquo; First went Vic Hadfield and his six-figure contract to Pittsburgh. Then steady, but unspectacular Jim Neilson to California, followed by Rod Seiling to Washington (where he lasted a couple of days before his big pact was shipped northward to Toronto.Neilson and Seiling were gone in 1974-75, but the effects were delayed-, last season the Rangers started terribly with Ron Stewart at the helm. When things went from bad to worse and the heat from above descending on him like a volcano, Francis started trading like his job depended on it&mdash;and it did. High-priced Eddie Giacomin was given away for the waiver price. Gilles Villemure went to Chicago for a crippled Doug Jarrett.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021278/10151933-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="1617" height="2207"><figcaption class="caption-body">Francis as a young coach, circa 1966.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011724/10151926-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="1577" height="2313"><figcaption class="caption-body">Francis didn&rsquo;t get along with Derek Sanderson in New York. Now he has him in St. Louis.</figcaption></div>And then the clincher. The Trade which sent Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, and Joe Zanussi to Boston for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais. Everyone knows, of course, how this one turned out, in the short run at least.But the deal that turned the fans on Francis was the Giacomin move. Although the graying goaltender had been losing it over the past couple of years, he was still the darling of the balcony. When Giacomin made his first start for Detroit, it was against the Rangers at the Garden, and the crowd responded with a standing ovation that brought tears to Giacomin&rsquo;s eyes.A few days later, Francis went to an Islander game at the Nassau Coliseum, and was interviewed in the open on television. Instinctively the crowd started its deafening chants of &lsquo;Eddie! Eddie!&rsquo; (most New York fans are simply hockey fans and can root for either team), and the interview had to be stopped on numerous occasions.Although he still retained the title of Vice President, everyone knew that Francis was finished in New York after he was fired as General Manager. Shortly after they had been eliminated from the Cup Playoffs, the St. Louis Blues announced that they had signed him to the posts of Vice President and General Manager. As expected, one of Emile&rsquo;s first moves was to appoint himself coach, returning Leo Boivin to his spot as chief scout.&lsquo;It&rsquo;s not a strange situation for me,&rsquo; said Francis. &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve always put pressure on myself. &rsquo;But can Francis do in St. Louis what he couldn&rsquo;t do in New York, namely, win the Stanley Cup?The odds are he will find it even more difficult in coming close. And the main reason for that is that their are 18 teams in the league now whereas there were only six when he took over the Rangers.In looking over the relative success of the New York Islanders over the past couple of years, it is evident that they had the fortune of being terrible at the right time. By being so, they were able to pick up a horde of fine, young talent. But the Blues (and the current Rangers for that matter) are somewhere in the middle. That means that the pick of the litter in the amateur draft has already been gobbled up by the neediest.That leaves trades as the only means of bringing an instant winner to St. Louis. But Francis&rsquo; trading record has been somewhat questionable down through the years, and one must also wonder how much the Salomons are willing to spend for some new hired hands in this age of where the most important statistic on a player is his salary and not his goal production.Although the Blues have been a fairly successful franchise since birth, they have been an unstable one. No fewer than nine different individuals have paced behind the St. Louis bench, some like Lynn Patrick, Scotty Bowman, and Al Arbour on numerous occasions.With Francis in total control, the Blues are almost certain to improve on their medocrity of the past couple of years. St. Louis fans have lost that old spirit of the late 1960&rsquo;s when they greeted their team with a standing ovation everytime it hit the ice.Emile Francis can restore that spirit.Quite clearly, Francis has his work cut out for him Under his guidance, the Blues should play fairly good hockey, but whether it will be good enough to move into serious contention for the Stanley Cup remains to be seen. &#9632;

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EMILE FRANCIS: Spirit of St. Louis climbs as The Cat rebuilds from scratch

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0021-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011381/10151978-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THE ALL-NEW, BIGGER & BETTER

<div class="byline">By FRANK BROWN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011604/10152023-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="572" height="581"></div>After a disturbing and embarrassing summer of indecision and seeming indifference by management, the National Hockey League&rsquo;s players will have to do what they can to restore the public faith their office leaders have lost.NHL moguls dilly-dallied an unconscionably long time before deciding the fate of the Kansas City Scouts, leaving the new people in Denver far too little time to begin setting up an efficient front office operation. This is a team that couldn&rsquo;t sell tickets in its original home, was easily the league&rsquo;s weakest franchise last season, and by mid-August didn&rsquo;t even have a coach. Now it must make do with a thrown-together operation.It&rsquo;s anybody&rsquo;s guess what possessed the Board of Governors to think a franchise that couldn&rsquo;t make it in Kansas City would do any kind of business in Denver, where the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s franchise died of loneliness. Ironically, the governors had maintained they did not want to be faced with having to bail the Kansas City club out of financial difficulty in the middle of the 1976-77 season as they had in the season past; but with all the strikes against the struggling new team in Denver, it would be a surprise that anything positive would happen this winter. The shift achieved nothing, except to save some jobs.The future is rosier for the Cleveland Barons, who at least managed their transfer from California with a degree of professionalism and dignity. With one of the country&rsquo;s top arenas as their home and at least a temporary end to worries over what will happen in the years to come, the Barons finally have arrived as an NHL franchise.But there remains a crisis over the fans who are thoroughly fed up with all of this financial foolishness, not to mention the continual political folderol over &ldquo;violence&rdquo; in this violent sport, and-worst of all-hockey teams that absolutely can&rsquo;t play major league hockey.You want to blame somebody for that? Blame the Montreal Canadiens. As long as they steadfastly insist on stockpiling players in the minors-players that could be helping any other club in the league; as long as they interfere with proposals for intra-league drafts and the equalization (at least to some extent) of player talent, then their Stanley Cup championship will be tarnished despite the greatness of their squad. They are strangling the sport by their actions, and don&rsquo;t expect that the league&rsquo;s Committee on Parity will be worth its weight in pucks unless the Canadiens are forced to knuckle under to the unencroachable importance of giving every city a representative hockey club.To Montreal&rsquo;s credit, they restored the sagging confidence of the purists by winning the Stanley Cup in 13 games last May and-boasting virtually the same team with the addition of wing Rejean Houle-should repeat as league champs. It was the Canadiens who returned hockey to its proper level with a campaign of surpassing excellence; now it is they who must take the initiative to convince fans tired of off-ice hassles that the players still play the game for the public&rsquo;s benefit.Whether that will be accomplished or not may hinge on a number of factors, not the least of which will be the return of Bobby Orr to the game for what&mdash;it is hoped&mdash;will be his first full season in some time. Compensation to Boston by Chicago for his signing still must be decided of course, but the Black Hawks have proven themselves willing to pay the price for Orr and must take a further risk now by giving up players of stature commensurate with the star defenseman&rsquo;s ability to compete.After playing in just 10 games last season, Orr may have to familiarize himself with the rulebook-considering the league&rsquo;s half-hearted efforts to curb &ldquo;violence&rdquo; with a number of rule changes. But how seriously can these changes be taken when the governors refused to accept the players&rsquo; suggestion that fighting be banned entirely? What&rsquo;s going on here anyway?One thing the NHL has taken constructive steps to correct is the formation of their own television network under the direction of Carl Meyer. This served fans in good stead during the Russia-NHL series in 1975-76 and during the playoffs. This season, plans call for the NHL to televise a game of the week every Monday night starting in January and then pick up playoff action after regular season ends.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-021168/10152016-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="1571" height="743"></div><h2>1975-76 N.H.L. HOME & AWAY</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011375/10152009-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="1686" height="1001"></div> &#9632;

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TEAM BY TEAM ROUNDUPS

…NHL: At The Crossroads

<div class="byline">By FRANK BROWN </div><div class="byline">SCOTTY BOWMAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-021112/10152124-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="764" height="726"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011545/10152117-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="621" height="591"></div>Teams in order of predicted finish.The team that dethroned the Philadelphia Flyers may well have been among the most complete and skilled in NHL history. A strong statement, indeed, but the facts speak for themselves.It was a club that boasted the league&rsquo;s leading scorer in Guy Lafleur, the right wing who scored 56 goals-12 of them game-winners, 18 of them on the power play-not to mention the one at 14:18 of the third period that snapped a 3-3 tie and won the Cup in the final&rsquo;s fourth game.It was a club that fulfilled Coach Scotty Bowman&rsquo;s preseason wish by winning the Vezina Trophy for the 20th time in the 50 years the prize has been awarded. Ken Dryden and Bunny Larocque were largely responsible for that, though the best defense in the game today cannot be overlooked-not with rearguards like Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe and Pierre Bouchard.With protection like that, Dryden finished with a 2.03 goals-against average and eight of the club&rsquo;s 10 shutouts in the 62 games he played. Larocque picked up the odd game, and lost just once in the 20 regular season contests in which he was the netminder of decision.Indeed the only slight blemish on Dryden&rsquo;s superb season was a shaky performance against the Soviet Army team in the 3-3 tie on New Year&rsquo;s Eve. But that carries merely a bit of weight since the Canadiens won virtually everything else that matters with a true banner year.Just look at the figures: only three losses in 40 home games, and only 8 in 40 games on the road; 337 goals scored, just 174 against on the way to 58 victories, 11 losses and 11 ties.&ldquo;Most definitely the best team I&rsquo;ve ever played for,&rdquo; said center Pete Mahovlich between swigs of champagne in the Canadiens&rsquo; dressing room that happy night in Philadelphia last May 16.That was because everybody&mdash;yes EVERYBODY-did his share in leading Montreal through the proud season. Don&rsquo;t dare to think that just because the names of defensemen Don Awrey and John Van Boxmeer were left off the cherished chalice because they didn&rsquo;t play in the playoffs that they didn&rsquo;t do their share in the regular season to get the team a championship.Sure the scorers were explosive and effective-Lafleur led the league with 125 points, Mahovlich had 105, Steve Shutt had 45 goals while Yvan Cournoyer and Yvon Lambert had 32 each for a total of five players above the 30-goal mark.Sure the defense was unparalleled, dropping to block shots for their goalie, moving the puck from harm&rsquo;s reach by clearing the few rebounds the netminders surrendered. But don&rsquo;t forget also what every player said in the joyful dressing room after the Cup had been clinched: it was a team effort.&ldquo;During the regular season, the big scorers did a lot of the work,&rdquo; said Shutt. &rsquo;&rsquo;But in the playoffs, it was the people I like to call the plumbers&mdash;the ones that did all the dirty work&mdash;who carried the club. Guys like Jim Roberts, Bob Gainey, Bouchard and Doug Jarvis. They never get much recognition, but they&rsquo;re the backbone of the team.&rdquo;They&rsquo;re getting recognition here on these pages because each of them deserves it, and we&rsquo;ll probably be saying the same thing before next season after the Canadiens have copped their second Cup in a row.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03771/10152110-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="2452" height="412"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-011351/10152103-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="1030" height="729"><figcaption class="caption-body">MONTREAL FORUM</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02956/10152096-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="1673" height="2427"><figcaption class="caption-body">Guy Lafleur registered 56 goals and 69 assists en route to the Ross Trophy.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03665/10152089-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="633" height="985"><figcaption class="caption-body">Captain Yvan Cournoyer</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011558/10152082-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="633" height="1031"><figcaption class="caption-body">Peter Mahovlich</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-021120/10152075-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="587" height="945"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Gainey</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03871/10152068-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="1060" height="1230"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ken Dryden&rsquo;s off-season knee surgery is a cause of concern.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04647/10152061-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="1260" height="1555"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05497/10152054-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="2417" height="1666"></div> &#9632;

f0024-02

NORRIS DIVISION

Montreal Canadiens

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011429/10152211-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-011398/10152204-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="2712" height="3565"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-011423/10152197-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="2708" height="3601"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011282/10152190-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="2710" height="3575"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01901/10152183-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="2710" height="3565"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01650/10152176-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="2704" height="3567"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01513/10152169-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg" title="f0048-01" width="2600" height="3525"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-01357/10152162-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg" title="f0053-01" width="2728" height="3559"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01280/10152155-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="2690" height="3525"></div> &#9632;

f0027-01

N.H.L. 1975-76 Statistical Review

<div class="byline">BOB PULFORD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-021077/10152312-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="757" height="750"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011534/10152305-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="713" height="685"></div>It was good to see the Los Angeles Kings do as well as they did last season after acquiring Marcel Dionne to put some fire in the attack and some fans in the frequently-spiderwebbed seats at the Forum. But let&rsquo;s face it: the attack is still too much a powder puff and the defense is decent, but undistinguished.Put all that together and you&rsquo;ve got a good but going nowhere hockey club, unless you care to place too much emphasis on the Kings&rsquo; quarter-final playoff series with the Boston Bruins-a series that was thrilling to watch and overflowing with emotion-driven performances.But again, let&rsquo;s face it: though the club has shown itself capable of down-to-earth, hard-fought hockey in the playoffs, there&rsquo;s no reason to believe they can remain at such a level during the rigors of an 80 game season.They certainly didn&rsquo;t do it last year, winning only five more games than they lost and finishing a glamourless second behind Montreal. (EDITORS NOTE: Bear in mind, however, that the 85 points the Kings earned would have taken the title in the deathly dull Smythe Division).Dionne&rsquo;s brilliance often was wasted on too frequent passes to too many unpolished team mates, and the &ldquo;Little Beaver&rdquo; took something of a beating from opposing defensemen while the team missed pounding power of its own.Though it may be unfair to judge a team by its penalty minutes, only three Kings&rsquo; players had more than 100 for the season (Dave Hutchison with 181 in 50 games, Neil Komadoski with 165 and Bob Murdoch with 103). That will give you an idea of their abilities to intimadate.Don&rsquo;t get us wrong. We&rsquo;re not saying that goons will win Los Angeles a Stanley Cup, because it will take much more than that.&mdash;It will take an enforcer on Dionne&rsquo;s line who can step in when the team&rsquo;s only legitimate star is being threatened.&mdash;It will take better backchecking by the forwards who, though hard working and honest, often seemed left in the tracks of other, better-skating clubs.&mdash;It will take a stronger power play, as last season&rsquo;s Kings converted just 18.3 percent of their opportunities but surrendered an embarrassing 12 goals while playing with a man advantage.The club has some really good hockey players, among them goalie Rogie Vachon, digger Butch Goring and, of course, Dionne. But beyond that the material thins. Vachon was beyond belief at times against the Atlanta Flames and Boston in the playoffs, and that&rsquo;s to his credit for he got off to a crummy start in the regular season (he admitted as much). Goring never gives less than 200 percent, and it paid off in 33 goals and 40 assists.It appears left to owner Jack Kent Cooke, who obtained Dionne over the reported protest of General Manager Jake Milford, to swing more deals of this miracle variety. Let&rsquo;s not forget that Dionne cost him Dan Maloney, who is the kind of player this team needs. LA did acquire Glenn Goldup, another of the number of young players buried in Halifax by the exceedingly selfish Montreal organization. The young left wing may be just what the doctor ordered, but he can&rsquo;t be expected to lift this team off the treadmill they always seem to be on during the regular season.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03797/10152298-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="2461" height="413"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-011346/10152291-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="788" height="711"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE FORUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02925/10152284-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="1666" height="2439"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rogatien Vachon slipped a bit last year, but is still one of the N.H.L&rsquo;s top netminders</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03659/10152277-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="631" height="1055"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Berry</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04498/10152270-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg" title="f0029-04" width="619" height="780"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike Murphy</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-05415/10152263-1-eng-US/f0029-052.jpg" title="f0029-05" width="623" height="981"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Sargent</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011545/10152256-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="1084" height="1597"><figcaption class="caption-body">Butch Goring was the Kings&rsquo; sudden-death hero in the playoffs.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-021066/10152249-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="1269" height="1717"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03770/10152242-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="2478" height="1483"></div> &#9632;

f0028-02

Los Angeles Kings

<div class="byline">KEN SCHINKEL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-021029/10152406-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="721" height="744"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011520/10152399-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="684" height="644"></div>A valid telling point about the Penguins last season is that it took a goal by Syl Apps with three seconds remaining in the campaign to beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-5 and insure that the team would finish above .500 for the year.What does that tell you about a dub that had two 50-goal scorers and three 30-goal scorers? You guessed it: a serious disregard for the other half of the ice, the one they&rsquo;re supposed to defend.Well, it&rsquo;s up to Coach Ken Schinkel to rectify that situation. Schinkel was a pretty fair defensive player during his career and knows what needs to be done. It now is a matter of his convincing the Penguins, who have gained a reputation of sorts as a team which doesn&rsquo;t always heed its coaches&rsquo; instruction.Marc Boileau couldn&rsquo;t keep control last season, so management gassed him. There was talk of a row with goalie Gary Inness; there was talk of cliques in the clubhouse. That isn&rsquo;t going to win you a lot of hockey games, and it&rsquo;s a shame, because there&rsquo;s a lot of talent going to waste.Pierre Larouche and Jean Pronovost were gangbusters. Each broke the half-century mark with 53 and 52 goals, respectively, and showed improvement in their defensive play. It may have been a facade, but Larouche really seemed concerned about defense in the latter stages of the season despite the pressures of a charge for the 50-goal and 100-point plateaus. The same may be said for Pronovost, who like Larouche is getting better every year.Apps, of course, is a proven, high-caliber fellow-on and off the ice. That&rsquo;s despite the fact he went 22 games in a row without scoring and managed just six assists.And there are other solid athletes: Rick Kehoe netted 29 goals, Lowell MacDonald had 30 and Vic Hadfield also had 30. The team was among the best on power plays but among the worst in the league at killing the time effectively.But the unpardonable sin is there in black and white on the standings: the goals-against went up! From an awful 289 in 1974-75 to a ridiculous 303 last season. And, more embarrassing the high-powered offense, which produced 337 goals, fizzled completely when it counted (in the playoffs) and managed exactly three goals in as many games in the loss to Toronto.Wren Blair, the Pittsburgh major domo made a move to shore up the defense when he reacquired goalie Denis Herron from Denver, sending Michel Plasse, the regular goalie last season, defenseman Cohn Campbell and winger Simon Nolet to the new team. Both Nolet and Plasse were Kansas City originals.Schinkel hopes that Herron and former Flyer defenseman Ed Van Impe can turn things around with the help of Dave Burrows, Barry Wilkins and Ron Stackhouse. The recent acquisition of veteran Don Awrey from Montreal lends a touch of class.Things weren&rsquo;t helped much by the fact that the Penguins signed top draft choice Blair Chapman, a 71-goal scorer last season for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Canada Hockey League. It&rsquo;s all well and good that his signing puts another bullet into the Penguins&rsquo; scoring pistol; it just appears they&rsquo;d have done better to draft higher for defense.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03747/10152392-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="2423" height="439"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011346/10152385-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="790" height="725"><figcaption class="caption-body">CIVIC ARENA</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02937/10152378-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="1677" height="2454"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jean Pronovost has scored 135 goals over the past three seasons.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03722/10152371-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="633" height="1255"><figcaption class="caption-body">Don Awrey</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04589/10152364-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="649" height="1214"><figcaption class="caption-body">Denis Herron</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011545/10152357-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="1069" height="1374"><figcaption class="caption-body">Baby-faced Pierre Larouche was fifth in the N.H.L. scoring race last year.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-021082/10152350-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="1234" height="1529"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03850/10152343-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="2397" height="1628"></div> &#9632;

f0032-02

Pittsburgh Penguins

<div class="byline">ALEX DELVECCHIO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02987/10152507-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="724" height="725"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011446/10152500-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="923" height="473"></div>It seems unfortunate that the: biggest victory in Detroit&rsquo;s sorry season came not on the ice but in the law courts last June. But when powerful left wing Dan Maloney was found guiltless in the alleged assault on Toronto defenseman Brian Glennie last winter, it was a triumph that meant two points for hockey&rsquo;s right to police itself without interference from publicity-seeking politicians.Sadly, it was one of the few things worth noting about the Wings&rsquo; shameful year in 1975-76. The team&rsquo;s top scorer, Walt McKechnie, produced just 82 points on 26 goals and 56 assists and their best goals-against average was Eddie Giacomin&rsquo;s 3.40 in 29 games (though it should be noted that Jim Rutherford had four shutouts behind an often porous defense).Still, there are a few pleasant things to think about for the campaign ahead, though by no means are they sufficient to inspire hope for a playoff berth in one of the league&rsquo;s more volatile divisions.There is comeback hope for Mickey Redmond and Danny Grant, both of whom have had 50-goal seasons in the past but were reduced to mere memories by serious surgery and long periods of recuperation last year.There is hope that youngsters like Michel Bergeron (32 goals), can lead the forward corps to scoring levels above last year&rsquo;s disappointment. There just wasn&rsquo;t enough firepower, though there is a fair amount of potential.Dennis Polonich, a center-wing; left wing Mike Bloom; left wing Bill Lochead and defenseman Rick Lapointe can accept the challenge of pulling the club out of the doldrums-If they get a little help from the guys who have been around for a while.One of those guys is &ldquo;Cyclone&rdquo; Maloney, as the players like to call him. Easily the most valuable player on the Wings last season, Maloney was second on the team in scoring with 27-39&mdash;66, but more important was the king of &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t mess with my teammates&rdquo; kind of figure lacking on many teams. Except Maloney isn&rsquo;t just a policeman; much like the Rangers&rsquo; Steve Vickers, he&rsquo;s an enforcer with talent.It became clear that though the Wings were hard pressed to hold their own while the game were in progress, they could easily hold their own when the going got physical. Polonich collected 302 penalty minutes, Maloney 205, Bryan Watson 322.That&rsquo;s swell, if you want to win the heavyweight title. But players get awfully tired killing that many penalties and it might be wiser to concentrate energies towards winning games than fighting. You won&rsquo;t hear any complaints from owner Bruce Norris, though.&ldquo;This year, we&rsquo;ve become a physical team and that&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve looked for for a long time,&rdquo; he said after the campaign had closed.Maybe, at this time next year, he&rsquo;ll be able to say, &ldquo;This year we&rsquo;ve become a competitive team. ..&rdquo; It will be a long, uphill battle to consistency.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03815/10152493-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="2415" height="456"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-011282/10152486-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="1036" height="719"><figcaption class="caption-body">OLYMPIA STADIUM</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02909/10152479-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="1668" height="2419"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Red Wings are looking for a big comeback by Danny Grant.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03731/10152472-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="629" height="1066"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dan Maloney</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04627/10152465-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="623" height="860"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eddie Giacomin</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-05566/10152458-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="626" height="1013"><figcaption class="caption-body">Walt McKachnie</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011402/10152451-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="1071" height="1369"><figcaption class="caption-body">Goaltender Jim Rutherford.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02977/10152444-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="1237" height="1480"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03787/10152437-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="2418" height="1650"></div> &#9632;

f0036-02

Detroit Red Wings

<div class="byline">TOMMY MC VIE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02659/10152608-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="716" height="786"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01999/10152601-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="891" height="485"></div>Enough harsh words about the Washington Capitals, even though they have won exactly 19 pf their first 160 regular season games. There are times when a little pat on the back can do some good.Washington is getting ours for the continued and concerted interest they are taking in their community and in building a relationship with the people who buy tickets. There are teams in the NHL which make it seem they&rsquo;re doing the fans a favor by letting them come to the arena, but it&rsquo;s not that way with the Capitals.It isn&rsquo;t often, for instance, that you&rsquo;ll see a player offering to make free off-season appearances for any group that&rsquo;s interested in having him.It isn&rsquo;t often you&rsquo;ll see a player take the shirt off his back and sell it for a $25 contribution to the American Cancer Society; it isn&rsquo;t often you&rsquo;ll see a hockey player appearing at a bloodmobile, giving free autographed hockey sticks to anyone who&rsquo;ll donate the gift of life.Unless, of course, you live in the Capitals&rsquo; area. Because Washington right wing Hartland Monahan did each of those things last season. And he enjoyed it.Now sure, it&rsquo;s something a losing team has to do to win people over. But you didn&rsquo;t see the New York Rangers doing it last year, did you? Or the Detroit Red Wings? It makes people feel cared about; the team knew it wasn&rsquo;t going anywhere, but they didn&rsquo;t give up on the fans and vice versa.It&rsquo;s not going to be a whole lot different this year, either, even though the Capitals can claim (if nothing else) the hockey championship of Japan. They beat the Kansas City-Denver Scouts in three of the four games played in Japan last May while everybody in North America was watching preliminary round Stanley Cup action. But that, of course, is exhibition stuff and the Caps right now are more concerned about a goals-against mark that reached 394 last season.It wasn&rsquo;t really the goalies&rsquo; fault. Ron Low and Bernie Wolfe had outstanding seasons but still finished up with goals-against averages that looked like football scores. Wolfe recalled a Saturday afternoon shellacking by Montreal when the Canadiens defensemen were lining up 20 feet inside the blue line for faceoffs so they could get their shots off faster.The reason for that, of course, is they had nothing to be afraid of. Washington&rsquo;s offense managed a puny 224 goals (still, not the worst in the league) and with a defense like the Capitals&rsquo;, there was no reason to do differently.Rookie Nelson Pyatt was even a bigger surprise, leading the team with 26 goals&mdash;one more than Tony White.The defense might be bolstered this year by the signing of defenseman Rick Green, the league&rsquo;s first amateur draft choice last summer. The 6-foot-3. 210-nound Green might fill the void that was left when the promise of Greg Joly went unfulfilled due to injuries. Green, who played his junior hockey for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey Association, was rated by Central Scouting as a defensive defenseman-something the Caps need desperately. He accounted for 13 goals and 47 assists in the 60-game junior schedule, and it&rsquo;s hoped his point shot will help boost the offensive attack and power playThere are still the bitter memories of a 25-game winless streak the Caps broke with a rousing victory over the Rangers (who, by the way, are the only NHL team that hasn&rsquo;t won a game yet at the Capital Centre). In 48 days, the Caps were outscored 121-50.There is hope that this season, with a hard-working crew that includes Harvey &ldquo;Too Tall&rdquo; Bennett, WHA refugee Mike Lampman, team-leading scorer Gerry Meehan and others, that things will improve to the extent that people will stop laughing and start taking notice of a team that&rsquo;s making an effort to improve itself despite a marked lack of high quality players.And it will be interesting to see, on the day Washington does get some respect, whether all those promotions, all those free appearances and all those gimmick nights at Capital Centre will continue to give the fans the treatment they deserve. Our bet is that they will.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03512/10152594-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="2368" height="175"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01874/10152587-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg" title="f0041-01" width="772" height="731"><figcaption class="caption-body">CAPITAL CENTRE</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02584/10152580-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="1685" height="2381"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ron Low was overworked once again in the Washington cage last year.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03476/10152573-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="623" height="1077"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hartland Monahan</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-04407/10152566-1-eng-US/f0041-042.jpg" title="f0041-04" width="629" height="827"><figcaption class="caption-body">Greg Joly</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-05368/10152559-1-eng-US/f0041-052.jpg" title="f0041-05" width="614" height="1037"><figcaption class="caption-body">Nelson Pyatt</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01930/10152552-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="1022" height="1309"><figcaption class="caption-body">Veteran Gerry Meehan came to Washington from Atlanta last year.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02612/10152545-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="1208" height="1434"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-03482/10152538-1-eng-US/f0042-032.jpg" title="f0042-03" width="2353" height="1722"></div> &#9632;

f0040-02

Washington Capitals

<div class="byline">By FRANK BROWN </div><div class="byline">DON CHERRY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02534/10152709-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="732" height="711"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01810/10152702-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg" title="f0044-01" width="662" height="638"></div>Teams in order of predicted finish.There are enough newcomers&mdash;or relative newcomers&mdash;in the Boston lineup to make the Bruins think about having place cards put in the dressing room so that everyone will know who everyone else is. But this club is as strong as they come in the middle&mdash;a critical area for power on any team.Start at goal. Gerry Cheevers, despite his advancing years (he&rsquo;s 35), is proven and proficient in net as his 2.73 goals-against average will attest. Experience and a willingness to take a risk to challenge the shooters are two of his strongest points.And standing by to share the duty is Gilles Gilbert, a flamboyant but imposing figure between the pipes.Then move up the center slot to Jean Ratelle, coming off the best season of his life; pesty Gregg Sheppard, who collected 31 goals, and young bull Pete McNab, who is expected by Boston management to truly come into his own and show the talent his potential has predicted since he entered the league.They don&rsquo;t come much stronger than that, and&mdash;backed by Coach Don Cherry&rsquo;s defense-oriented strategy&mdash;there is little doubt that the fans visiting the newly-refurbished Boston Garden will have a product of which they can be proud.One major factor for that is defenseman Brad Park, who shook off the shackles of a mentally torturous stay in New York to play the way he really can. His arrival last November made it clear Bobby Orr, despite his unquestioned greatness, could be moved if the situation presented itself, as it did over the summer.There&rsquo;s no question Park would have given the Islanders&rsquo; Denis Potvin a run for his money in the Norris Trophy balloting had he been able to avoid the knee troubles which have been bothersome in the past. Still, in 56 games, he managed 18 goals and 41 assists and provided the cohesion for a defenseman that also got a top season from venerable Dallas Smith, pleasantly surprising play from Joe Zanussi (the throw-in by the Rangers in the deal that brought Ratelle and Park to Boston for Carol Vadnais and Phil Esposito).Zanussi would not be the last Ranger to migrate northward, nor would the shocking deal that involved him be the last of the eyebrow raisers between clubs that once were vicious antagonists. For not long after the season ended young right wing Rick Middleton would arrive in exchange for Ken Hodge, who was spotted in action by Cherry during the season and whose play was a bit spotty as a result.So, in a matter of months, Boston acquired Park, Ratelle, Zanussi, Middleton and McNab, who became a Bruin during an exchange of free agents with Buffalo (which got promising pivot Andre Savard). But these new faces, combined with the imposing nucleus of Boston properties from the past, will help Boston continue as the Adams Division front-runners.After all, the carryovers include fiery right wing Terry O&rsquo;Reilly; ageless left wing Johnny Bucyk, who though well into his 40s signed for yet another season; brash Wayne Cashman and veteran Bobby Schmautz, who, though often made the plaything of the gallery sitters in the Garden, still possesses scoring potency.Under the leadership of Park and the gentle Ratelle, bolstered by the acquisition of whoever they get from Chicago in compensation for Orr, and guided by Cherry&rsquo;s touch, Boston will repeat as Adams champs and may even make a more serious charge at the Stanley Cup.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-03406/10152695-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="2389" height="408"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01713/10152688-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg" title="f0045-01" width="1155" height="647"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOSTON GARDEN</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02485/10152681-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="1676" height="2494"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jean Ratelie enjoyed his best season ever in 1975-76.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03409/10152674-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="631" height="953"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Bucyk</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04347/10152667-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="619" height="834"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gregg Sheppard</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-05297/10152660-1-eng-US/f0045-052.jpg" title="f0045-05" width="634" height="1196"><figcaption class="caption-body">Peter McNab</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01723/10152653-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="1044" height="1461"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Bruin defense was bolstered by the return of Gerry Cheevers from the W.H.A.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02484/10152646-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="1220" height="1465"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-03332/10152639-1-eng-US/f0046-032.jpg" title="f0046-03" width="2367" height="1628"></div> &#9632;

f0044-02

Boston Bruins

<div class="byline">RED KELLY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-02224/10152911-1-eng-US/f0054-022.jpg" title="f0054-02" width="692" height="823"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01371/10152904-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg" title="f0054-01" width="631" height="648"></div>This may well be the team to watch in the 1976-77 season. The club that battled the then-defending champion Flyers through seven games in the cup quarter-finals can&rsquo;t be considered a fluke. And because of its relative youth, a season of experience could prove sufficient for the Leafs to challenge Buffalo for the second spot in the division.Of course, rosy words often have been written about the Leafs in preseason, only to have hopes dashed by mediocre play when greatness had been predicted. But there really seems to be a different outlook this time, thanks in part to stellar work by goaltender Wayne Thomas, spectacular and consistent efforts by center Darryl Sittier, and power scoring by Lanny McDonald (37 goals) and Errol Thompson (43 goals).The key for this club, it appears, is more discipline in its play. That&rsquo;s up to Coach Red Kelly to provide. There won&rsquo;t be any need to actually carry a whip behind the bench, as he did during a game in New York two years ago, nor will there be any foolishness about Pyramid Power carrying the club to new heights of excellence. It all will depend on hard work and sacrifice (possibly the first sports cliche ever thought of) to carry the Leafs forward.The trading of a first-round draft choice to Montreal for Thomas is easily the best investment the Toronto front office has made in this decade, for the 28-year-old&mdash;frustrated by so much inactivity with the Canadiens-proved what he can do by fashioning two shutouts in his first season of regular play (64 games). There&rsquo;ll be more of the same for the man in the blue-and-white mask this season behind a defense that surrendered just three more goals (240) than did Boston in the division.The vital cog in the defensive machine is Swedish star Borje Salming, who continues to impress though his scoring statistics (16-41-57) could use some improvement. If Salming can be convinced he should carry the puck more, that may happen.The blueline corps fades to the background a bit behind Salming, though Ian Turnbull was only a point behind his Swedish mate in scoring and Bob Neely, Jim McKenny, Rod Seiling, and Brian Glennie are conscientious, if not spectacular.Toronto would prefer to leave the fireworks to Sittier, anyway. The first 100-point scorer in the club&rsquo;s history did one-tenth of his season&rsquo;s scoring work in that historic Saturday night game against the Bruins when he netted six shots against Rookie Dave Reece and added four assists for involvement in 10 of his team&rsquo;s 11 goals. His goal scoring has improved in each of the last three seasons (29, 38 and 41), and he seems assured of a 50-goal campaign this time around.He&rsquo;ll be left alone, that&rsquo;s for certain, if Dave &ldquo;Tiger&rdquo; Williams is around to police the area. Collecting penalties by the bushel basket (and who can forget the quarter-final game when he hit Philadelphia&rsquo;s Dave Schultz on the cheek), Williams still found time for 21 goals.Despite the optimistic outlook, there still must be a shade of caution. This is not a club marked by balanced scoring. The trio of Sittier, McDonald and Thompson produced 121 goals&mdash;better than a third of the entire team&rsquo;s scoring-and injuries to any of the three could ruin everything.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-03150/10152897-1-eng-US/f0054-032.jpg" title="f0054-03" width="2340" height="411"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01328/10152890-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg" title="f0055-01" width="925" height="863"><figcaption class="caption-body">MAPLE LEAF GARDENS</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-02213/10152883-1-eng-US/f0055-022.jpg" title="f0055-02" width="1667" height="2288"><figcaption class="caption-body">Defenseman Borje Sal mi ng was a second-team All-Star last season.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-03157/10152876-1-eng-US/f0055-032.jpg" title="f0055-03" width="606" height="1213"><figcaption class="caption-body">Darryl Sittier</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-04116/10152869-1-eng-US/f0055-042.jpg" title="f0055-04" width="624" height="868"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tiger Williams</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-0580/10152862-1-eng-US/f0055-052.jpg" title="f0055-05" width="614" height="851"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rod Seiling</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-01302/10152855-1-eng-US/f0056-012.jpg" title="f0056-01" width="1042" height="1540"><figcaption class="caption-body">Obtaining Wayne Thomas from Montreal was one of the best moves the Leafs have made in recent years.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-02198/10152848-1-eng-US/f0056-022.jpg" title="f0056-02" width="1262" height="1580"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-03125/10152841-1-eng-US/f0056-032.jpg" title="f0056-03" width="2420" height="1534"></div> &#9632;

f0054-02

Toronto Maple Leafs

<div class="byline">JACK EVANS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-02205/10153012-1-eng-US/f0058-022.jpg" title="f0058-02" width="723" height="732"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-01304/10153005-1-eng-US/f0058-012.jpg" title="f0058-01" width="687" height="660"></div>There is cause for rejoicing in Cleveland, not only by fans who did not seem to care for the World Hockey Association&rsquo;s product but by players who finally know&mdash;after years of indecision and concern&mdash;exactly where they will play and stay for the seasons to come. Now it is up to the athletes to continue the upswing that showed last season and make the playoffs for the first time in seven years.The talent is there, young, fresh and unawed by the strongest foe. Goaltending is a forte, with Gilles Meloche and Gary Simmons expected to halve the work as they did last year.But far more important than the netminding strength is the fact that the massive, endless, wearying load of travel the team had to endure no longer will trouble them. Having moved close to the geographical center of the United States, their mileage may be cut by as much as half; and any coach will tell you that&rsquo;s worth 10 to 15 points a season.Well, with those 10 to 15 points, Cleveland definitely is playoff material. Freshman center Dennis Maruk earned his share of votes in the Rookie of the Year balloting after a 30-goal first season and can be expected to lead the offense towards bigger and better things in 1976-77. Left wing Al Mac Adam also reached the 30-goal plateau, tallying 32 while early-season acquisition Wayne Merrick (stolen from the St. Louis Blues) finished with 32 after playing on a line with veteran Gary Sabourin and rookie Bob Girard.There is room for seasoning on defense, though it will be good to have veteran Jim Neilson back there to direct things after playing just 26 games before tearing ligaments in his knee. Joining &ldquo;The Chief&rsquo; are Rick Hampton (another youngster with a future), Len Frig, Bob Murdoch and Bob Stewart.That seasoning may well be combined with some added muscle, if off-season hopes are to come true. That, too, will be significant. &ldquo;When the other team knows it&rsquo;s going to run into some solid hitting,&rdquo; says Stewart, &ldquo;they just don&rsquo;t come at you with the same enthusiasm.&ldquo;There are always some players on the other club who try to intimidate your less physical players. But a lot of them are just talkers who think they can bully some of the rookies. I know about that because I do it myself now and then.&rdquo;Stewart&rsquo;s feelings are backed up emphatically by Coach Jack Evans, who has turned the team around from a slipshod, careless crew to a club of the future.&ldquo;We need more muscle. We simply have to be more physical,&rdquo; says Evans. Some new strength would make sure that peanut-sized Cleveland forwards like Maruk don&rsquo;t get pushed around as much as last season. Swedish draft choice Bjorn Johansson may fill the trill though imports from that country so far have shown a somewhat discouraging propensity for gentlemanly play.There also should be some beefing up of the scoring attack, which was incapable of scoring goals on the road, it seems. Last year&rsquo;s Seals managed just 114 goals while winning only 11 times in 40 tries on foreign ice.But that brings us back to the more than 70,000 miles the team had to do as California and won&rsquo;t have to face as Cleveland. In one of the best arenas around, with fewer hassles to confront and with talented youngsters like Dave Gardner and Ralph Klassen, the newly-relocated franchise may celebrate its liberation from doubt and debt by returning to prominence among post-1967 franchises.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-03121/10152998-1-eng-US/f0058-032.jpg" title="f0058-03" width="2400" height="413"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-01243/10152991-1-eng-US/f0059-012.jpg" title="f0059-01" width="825" height="594"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE COLISEUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-02160/10152984-1-eng-US/f0059-022.jpg" title="f0059-02" width="1648" height="2355"><figcaption class="caption-body">&rsquo;Peanut&rsquo; Dennis Maruk hammered home 30 goals in his rookie season.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-03118/10152977-1-eng-US/f0059-032.jpg" title="f0059-03" width="617" height="1049"><figcaption class="caption-body">Al MacAdam</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0495/10152970-1-eng-US/f0059-042.jpg" title="f0059-04" width="608" height="873"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wayne Merrick</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0562/10152963-1-eng-US/f0059-052.jpg" title="f0059-05" width="613" height="1039"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Neilson</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-01252/10152956-1-eng-US/f0060-012.jpg" title="f0060-01" width="1046" height="1527"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Simmons will split the goaltending with Gilles Meloche.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-02157/10152949-1-eng-US/f0060-022.jpg" title="f0060-02" width="1252" height="1716"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-03111/10152942-1-eng-US/f0060-032.jpg" title="f0060-03" width="2458" height="1331"></div> &#9632;

f0058-02

Cleveland Barons

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0061-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-01226/10153050-1-eng-US/f0061-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-01206/10153043-1-eng-US/f0065-012.jpg" title="f0065-01" width="2668" height="3545"></div> &#9632;

f0061-01

1975-76 N.H.L. Playoff Statistics

<div class="byline">By NORM MAC LEAN </div><div class="byline">AL ARBOUR</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-02140/10153151-1-eng-US/f0062-022.jpg" title="f0062-02" width="715" height="719"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-01248/10153144-1-eng-US/f0062-012.jpg" title="f0062-01" width="732" height="659"></div>Teams in order of predicted finish.The New York Islanders were the only team to interrupt Montreal&rsquo;s unbeaten march to the Stanley Cup, managing one win in a five game semi-final series. On that basis, and the talent and youth of their personnel, the Isles are hereby designated to unseat the Flyers in the Patrick Division.There is pressure on the young five year team, which so suddenly became numero uno in New York, pressure to win the Stanley Cup, which the Rangers have failed to bring to Gotham since 1950. The fans are still solidly behind coach Al Arbour and his charges, but goalie Chico Resch admitted he felt the &ldquo;had to win&rdquo; feeling in the playoffs last Spring.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s something you can feel. Everyone expects us to do well and we want to do well. We can almost taste it,&rdquo; said Resch.Statistically Resch is the best goalie in the NHL and with Billy Smith forms a capable combination. Arbour refuses to rank either as tops, claiming, &ldquo;we have two number one goalies.&rdquo;Smith won the Buffalo series last Spring, after Resch faltered, just as Chico was the man of the hour in 1975.The tough Islander defense is led by Denis Potvin, the Norris Trophy winner in the absence of Bobby Orr. It is bulwarked by steady Bert Marshall, unsung Gary Hart and mechanical Dave Lewis. A spare part, on defense, is Jean Potvin, who also worked the point on the power play and was used on a fourth line to the tune of 17 goals and 55 assists for 72 points. He was third to little brother Denis, with 98 points and rookie whiz Bryan Trottier, who had 95.Trottier captured the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year and made a solid offensive threat of the line he centers for Billy Harris and Clark Gillies. The huge Gillies, called &ldquo;Jethro&rdquo; by the players, is a peace maker when aroused. He popped 34 goals, the most on the team&mdash;and at 22, can only get better.Other talented people include veteran forwards Jude Drouin and J.P. Parise, who along with captain Ed Westfall form the Veteran Line. Westfall slipped a bit in the season, but when he broke his foot in the playoffs, his true value showed. He played hurt in the Buffalo series and the Isles won. He had to quit part of the way through the Montreal series&mdash;and the Isles lost.Andre St. Laurent, Bob Nystrom, who matured and improved greatly, and gritty scrapper Garry Howatt form the third line. There are those who say that when Howatt can&rsquo;t play regular, the Islanders will win the Cup, but the toy tiger keeps plugging away and exploded for 21 goals after a slow start.The Islanders still rate behind Montreal and Boston in any rating of NHL teams. They handle the Canadiens fairly well in regular season play, can&rsquo;t beat Boston and give the Flyers real trouble. Their playoff win over Buffalo, previously a jinx team, showed New York&rsquo;s Flyer type defensive system could throttle a high powered attack.The fledgling team has had great success in introducing a new player of high caliber every one of its four seasons. Billy Harris came first, then Denis Potvin, then Gillies and last year Trottier. Right now they are about two players away from challenging the Canadiens. Whether they get those players is a real challenge for Bill Torrey, the masterful Mr. Bowtie, who is the Islanders general manager. The hope is that Alex McKendry, their number one draft, a right wing from Sudbury, can step in and play regular.The Isles have the guns, the talent, the desire and the conditioning to outlast Philadelphia and win the Patrick. It gets rougher in the playoffs, as Bryan Trottier found out last year. Close checking and all that, but New York is still a Cup contender, not a pretender.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0388/10153137-1-eng-US/f0062-032.jpg" title="f0062-03" width="2417" height="249"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-01190/10153130-1-eng-US/f0063-012.jpg" title="f0063-01" width="1020" height="707"><figcaption class="caption-body">NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-02123/10153123-1-eng-US/f0063-022.jpg" title="f0063-02" width="1733" height="2414"><figcaption class="caption-body">Denis Potvin captured the Norris Trophy last year, succeeding Bobby Orr.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0382/10153116-1-eng-US/f0063-032.jpg" title="f0063-03" width="625" height="1051"><figcaption class="caption-body">Glenn Resch</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0456/10153109-1-eng-US/f0063-042.jpg" title="f0063-04" width="635" height="804"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill Smith</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0535/10153102-1-eng-US/f0063-052.jpg" title="f0063-05" width="644" height="1077"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Nystrom</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-01204/10153095-1-eng-US/f0064-012.jpg" title="f0064-01" width="1045" height="1289"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bryan Trottier won the Calder Trophy at age 19.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-02123/10153088-1-eng-US/f0064-022.jpg" title="f0064-02" width="1231" height="1325"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-0368/10153081-1-eng-US/f0064-032.jpg" title="f0064-03" width="2398" height="1823"></div> &#9632;

f0062-02

PATRICK DIVISION

New York Islanders

<div class="byline">FRED SHERO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-02126/10153252-1-eng-US/f0066-022.jpg" title="f0066-02" width="732" height="718"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-01206/10153245-1-eng-US/f0066-012.jpg" title="f0066-01" width="856" height="494"></div>The Flyers took their four straight defeats at the hands, of the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup finals with good spirit, but underneath they were upset. Their belief that their system was the one which would always prevail was severely shaken. After two straight Stanley Cups and a Divisional crown, Philadelphia opens the 1976-77 season with numerous question marks.Can Bernie Parent bounce back in goal, or is he through as a top notch stopper, a goalie who never lets a losing streak get past two games? Parent&rsquo;s unavailability for the Canada Cup games indicates less than a willingness to work.If Parent doesn&rsquo;t make it, can Wayne Stephenson do the job again? He handled it perfectly in the regular season and did well in the playoffs, but the Flyers of 1974 and 1975 won because Parent was super. And where does Gary Inness fit into the picture? Are the skids being greased for Stephenson?Freddie Shero is still the Guru of the coaching fraternity, but Scotty Bowman did outmuscle the worn down Flyers in the Finals. Will Bobby Clarke come back from his knee problem of the 1976 playoffs? A subpar Clarke would be a disaster in Philadelphia. The Clarke, Butch Barber, Reggie Leach shootout starts with the captain.Leach&rsquo;s 61 goals, Barber&rsquo;s 112 points and Clarke&rsquo;s 119 points and Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP were earned honors. They will be repeated via the work ethic made famous by the Flyers, but Bobby&rsquo;s knee must come around.The injury to Rick MacLeish cost the Flyers more than did Parent&rsquo;s problems. Mel Bridgman did a good job in the regular season, but MacLeish had led playoff scorers two seasons in a row&mdash;and Bridgman wasn&rsquo;t up to that. MacLeish also is having problems skating&mdash;and may not come all the way back by October. This would mean the Clarke-Barber-Leach line would be broken up with Barber becoming a center.Orest Kindrachuk became hockey&rsquo;s Big O, with a great season and proved his point that he was an NHL star. Kindrachuk got 26 goals and 49 assists. With Don Saleski he was the most improved Flyer.Ross Lonsberry and Gary Dornhoefer are veteran parts who may be wearing out.The Flyers built their team with draft picks, including Clarke and Bridgman. So don&rsquo;t underrate Mark Suzor, a Kingston defenseman. Still Suzor may not be the succor needed to replace Ed Van Impe, who was traded to Pittsburgh in March.Clearly tough guy Jack Mcllhargy was being worked on by the Canadiens and Bruins in the playoffs&mdash;and was on the ice too often when the other guys scored. In retrospect Van Impe was missed, although the chance to get the youthful Inness to put the heat on Parent, was too much for general manager Keith Allen to turn down.The rest of the Flyers&rsquo; defense is still the same. Slow Joe Watson, quicker, but injury prone Jimmy Watson, underrated Andre Dupont who gets the clutch goal and point men Larry Goodenough and Tom Bladon. Are they goodenough? Yes, and no. They will do fine on the Patrick Division, but they don&rsquo;t rate with the Canadiens super guysThe final worry for Shero is how much will the change in the rules on violence affect Philadelphia&rsquo;s arch proponents of intimidation, the Flyers. Is Dave Schultz out of business? Probably not, as he uses his fists and not his stick, but he is only fringe in ability.In all, the Flyers are tough, resourceful and could win the Patrick Division and the Stanley Cup once more. But they won&rsquo;t, relinquishing first to the up and coining Islanders in a tough struggle.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0350/10153238-1-eng-US/f0066-032.jpg" title="f0066-03" width="2427" height="403"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-01144/10153231-1-eng-US/f0067-012.jpg" title="f0067-01" width="983" height="709"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE SPECTRUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0284/10153224-1-eng-US/f0067-022.jpg" title="f0067-02" width="1632" height="2585"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Clarke has won the Hart Trophy two years in a row.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0361/10153217-1-eng-US/f0067-032.jpg" title="f0067-03" width="650" height="1175"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill Barber</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0437/10153210-1-eng-US/f0067-042.jpg" title="f0067-04" width="603" height="817"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rick MacLeish</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0525/10153203-1-eng-US/f0067-052.jpg" title="f0067-05" width="531" height="1063"><figcaption class="caption-body">Orest Kindrachuk</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-01156/10153196-1-eng-US/f0068-012.jpg" title="f0068-01" width="1081" height="1328"><figcaption class="caption-body">Can Bernie Parent come back from his injury-plagued season of 1975-76?</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0281/10153189-1-eng-US/f0068-022.jpg" title="f0068-02" width="1260" height="1450"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0350/10153182-1-eng-US/f0068-032.jpg" title="f0068-03" width="2444" height="1791"></div> &#9632;

f0066-02

Philadelphia Flyers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0069-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0069-01134/10153311-1-eng-US/f0069-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0073-01125/10153304-1-eng-US/f0073-012.jpg" title="f0073-01" width="2688" height="3585"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0077-01117/10153297-1-eng-US/f0077-012.jpg" title="f0077-01" width="2463" height="1271"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0077-0266/10153290-1-eng-US/f0077-022.jpg" title="f0077-02" width="1160" height="1375"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Clarke receives Hart Trophy from Maurice Richard. Clarke finished at plus 83, best in the N.H.L.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0077-0345/10153283-1-eng-US/f0077-032.jpg" title="f0077-03" width="1163" height="1377"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil Esposito of Rangers was a big disappointment at minus 39.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0069-01

NHL’s Plus-Minus Figures For 1975-76

<div class="byline">FRED CREIGHTON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-0277/10153412-1-eng-US/f0070-022.jpg" title="f0070-02" width="756" height="722"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-01137/10153405-1-eng-US/f0070-012.jpg" title="f0070-01" width="704" height="587"></div>Making the playoffs was the holy grail in Dixie last year and coach Fred Creighton&rsquo;s men did just that, before being defensed to death by the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1, and 1-0, in a quickie best of three.Although the Flames don&rsquo;t compare with the Islanders/their expansion cousins of 1972-73, they have made steady progress, without the peaks and valleys usually suffered by expansion teams. Even the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres had droughts in the first four years of their history.Year Five finds the Flames looking for more attack. Curt Bennett and Tom Lysiak carried the team last year with help from Eric Vail, after Vail recovered from early season shoulder problems. Bennett got 34 goals and 65 points, and when assigned to check Phil Esposito, quipped, &ldquo;My stats are better than Phil&rsquo;s. He&rsquo;s guarding me.&rdquo;Bennett also delivered the fistic coup-de-grace to the New York Rangers&rsquo; Dave Maloney in the game which ended the Rangers bid to overtake Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. He is a respected, tough American-raised young man who is providing the leadership a young team needs.So, too, is Lysiak, who plays the point on the power play and was 31-51-82. Vail, coming off a 39 goal season in 1974-75, for which he was awarded the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, was hurt in camp and didn&rsquo;t play much until December. He got 16 goals and 47 points, but was coming in the late stages.Bill Clement joined up in mid-season, after a tenure with Washington to whom the champion Flyers had banished him. Clement was an invaluable two way player, finishing third in the scoring list with 54 points. After that it was Hilliard Graves and Claude St. Sauveur who notched 48. The Saint, with a $100,000 contract, was returned to Calgary of the WHA.The Flames scored 262 goals, the exact number as the Rangers, whom they will once more fight for the final Patrick playoff spot. Atlanta allowed 237 goals, 96 less than the Rangers and therein lies the difference between the two teams. The Dixie dandies have the most unsung goaling tandem in the NHL. Many figure that Dan Bouchard and Phil Myre are better than Chico Resch and Billy Smith, given the right circumstances. The Resch-Smith duo was second in the goals against, the Atlantans fifth.An offseason injury which saw rugged Pat Quinn break his leg in two places won&rsquo;t help the blueline crew, but most feel that Creighton will patch before a leak springs. Barry Gibbs and Randy Manery, the point men, are the best, with Ed Kea, a made hockey player, and Larry Carriere, a young man still learning his trade. Carriere more than justified the trade in which general manager Cliff Fletcher sent prospective star Jacques Richard to Buffalo.Atlanta cannot realistically challenge the Islanders or Philadelphia. They should retain their spot in the Patrick playoffs, but only if their defense remains stingy and the goals-for gets a bit better.Creighton&rsquo;s men are tough on the road, 16-19-5, but not much better at home, 19-14-7, which is a mystery. Apparently Atlanta isn&rsquo;t the oasis that a city like Los Angeles is as far as lulling a visiting team into a short vacation.Fletcher signed Dave Shand, a defenseman, who was his number one draft, after playing with Peterborough of the OHA. Shand has a chance to make the squad.It is drafts that have given the Islanders their edge over Atlanta. Lysiak and Vail were good picks, but Richard went poorly in an alien non-French land. Even Vail was only a number two pick in 1973.The Flames are about three good players away from the level of the Islanders. But those three players must be on the level of Bryan Trottier or Rick Martin, or perhaps Denis Potvin. This makes Fletcher&rsquo;s task onerous, as Atlanta finishes in the middle of the pack-and gets middle of the pack draft selections.Atlanta is never easy, but they rate only as a good bet to make the playoffs, and a better one to get wiped out immediately.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-0344/10153398-1-eng-US/f0070-032.jpg" title="f0070-03" width="2453" height="248"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-01133/10153391-1-eng-US/f0071-012.jpg" title="f0071-01" width="735" height="702"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE OMNI</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0274/10153384-1-eng-US/f0071-022.jpg" title="f0071-02" width="1655" height="2402"><figcaption class="caption-body">Curt Bennett is Atlanta&rsquo;s on-ice leader.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0346/10153377-1-eng-US/f0071-032.jpg" title="f0071-03" width="615" height="989"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eric Vail</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0428/10153370-1-eng-US/f0071-042.jpg" title="f0071-04" width="614" height="849"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dan Bouchard</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0521/10153363-1-eng-US/f0071-052.jpg" title="f0071-05" width="609" height="1094"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pat Quinn</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-01132/10153356-1-eng-US/f0072-012.jpg" title="f0072-01" width="1081" height="1326"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom Lysiak is the closest thing the Flames have to a superstar.,/cap&gt;</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0268/10153349-1-eng-US/f0072-022.jpg" title="f0072-02" width="1269" height="1445"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0342/10153342-1-eng-US/f0072-032.jpg" title="f0072-03" width="2459" height="1762"></div> &#9632;

f0070-02

Atlanta Flames

<div class="byline">JOHN FERGUSON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-0262/10153513-1-eng-US/f0074-022.jpg" title="f0074-02" width="741" height="753"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-01127/10153506-1-eng-US/f0074-012.jpg" title="f0074-01" width="731" height="684"></div>The Rangers problem is simple. Shore up the incredibly porous defense and do it quickly, or finish out of the playoffs once more. With goalie John Davidson as their main man, New York surrendered 333 goals, the most in their history, and better only than Kansas City and Washington.General Manager&mdash;coach John Ferguson, who picked up the arduous task of sifting through the Ranger ruins left by the Emile Francis regime, has indicated he wants more spirit, physical conditioning and team character. He swapped right wing Rick Middleton to Boston for Ken Hodge, who will be installed with his old partner, Phil Esposito, on the Rangers first line.Ferguson cast around and signed talented, but temperamental goalie Gilles Gratton, as competition for Davidson. In fairness to the mammoth J.D., his support was almost non-existent. Only Carol Vadnais, obtained in the controversial trade which sent Jean Ratelle and Brad Park to Boston for Espo and Vadnais, had a good season on the blue line. And he was a minus 17. No Ranger regular was a plus, unless you count Ratelie&rsquo;s early season plus 2. Esposito was a minus 39.Vadnais&rsquo; defense partners include oft-traded Gilles Marotte. Youthful Ron Greschner, veteran Doug Jarrett and youngsters of the Lawrence Sacharuk, John Bednarski, Dave Maloney mold. Greschner was a victim of the sophomore jinx last year. He can get better. Sacharuk is a great offensive player, but defense is not his thing. Bednarksi is tough, but lacks real talent, and Maloney is a young man who will have to learn under fire.On the forward line the question remains who will be the left wing with Esposito and Hodge. Most likely it will be Steve Vickers, although most experts feel that a Wayne Cashman type comer man, who could get the puck to the big center in the slot, is the real answer.A comeback from enigmatic center Walt Tkaczuk is mandatory. A former top flight star, Tkaczuk registered 8 goals and 28 assists and had clearly lost his confidence. At a salary of $175,000 per, he is virtually untradable. His partner, right wing Billy Fairbairn, had a bad year with 13-15-28. He is under fire and may lose his job.Vickers and Rod Gilbert are Ranger pluses. Vickers got his annual 30 goals, with Gilbert leading the team with 36. Esposito scored 35. Gilbert is unhappy over Esposito having been awarded the team captaincy by Francis at the time of the Trade. But he still nuts out and breaks his back for his team&mdash;the New York Rangers, for whom he has played since 1960-61.A major question is Wayne Dillon, whom the Rangers pay about $200,000 per year. A World Hockey Association whiz, Dillon didn&rsquo;t check up to NHL standards and played only part time. He did nicely in the point parade, with 21-24-45, but never was a regular. He might play with Gilbert and any number of left wing candidates, including Greg Polis, or Pat Hickey.Don Murdoch, the Rangers&rsquo; number one draft choice, is a right wing, so he joins the sweepstakes with Gilbert, Fairbairn, Hodge and Billy Collins at that spot.Jean Guy Talbot and Ron Stewart will assist Ferguson. Talbot has coaching experience with St. Louis and Denver of the WHA. He and Ferguson are former Montreal Canadiens buddies. Despite the feeling of the Rangers brass that all New York needs is a push from a tough minded coach, the reality is that the Rangers are hurting on defense and in goal.They need all the pieces to fall into place in order to make a challenge for the playoffs.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-0332/10153499-1-eng-US/f0074-032.jpg" title="f0074-03" width="2422" height="417"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-01106/10153492-1-eng-US/f0075-012.jpg" title="f0075-01" width="924" height="745"><figcaption class="caption-body">MADISON SQUARE GARDEN</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0264/10153485-1-eng-US/f0075-022.jpg" title="f0075-02" width="1593" height="2334"><figcaption class="caption-body">A comeback by Walter Tkaczuk is fundamental to the Rangers&rsquo; improvement.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0340/10153478-1-eng-US/f0075-032.jpg" title="f0075-03" width="591" height="1027"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rod Gilbert</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0424/10153471-1-eng-US/f0075-042.jpg" title="f0075-04" width="607" height="907"><figcaption class="caption-body">John Davidson</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0518/10153464-1-eng-US/f0075-052.jpg" title="f0075-05" width="568" height="996"><figcaption class="caption-body">Steve Vickers</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-01118/10153457-1-eng-US/f0076-012.jpg" title="f0076-01" width="1044" height="1225"><figcaption class="caption-body">Former Bruin Ken Hodge will be a welcome addition on Broadway</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0261/10153450-1-eng-US/f0076-022.jpg" title="f0076-02" width="1234" height="1351"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0342/10153443-1-eng-US/f0076-032.jpg" title="f0076-03" width="2403" height="1852"></div> &#9632;

f0074-02

New York Rangers

<div class="byline">By NORM MAC LEAN </div><div class="byline">BILLY REAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-0252/10153614-1-eng-US/f0078-022.jpg" title="f0078-02" width="735" height="731"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-01113/10153607-1-eng-US/f0078-012.jpg" title="f0078-01" width="655" height="635"></div>Teams in order of predicted finish.The Black Hawks gambled $3 million on Bobby Orr in an effort to revive a wheezing franchise. It may seem hard to say that a team which finished first in its division is slipping, but the Chicagos have been the beneficiaries of amazing good fortune in picking the right place to list their wins and losses since the NHL &ldquo;convinced&rdquo; Tommy Ivan, their cagy general manager to leave the established East and join the expansion West in 1969-70.Since then, they have won a divisional title every year except two, but their team has dramatically fallen from genuine contender status to pretender. And the sophisticated citizenry of Chicagoland appeared about 3,000 less in number at home games in 1975-76.It all traces back to the day Robert Marvin Hull signed with the WHA and thus created that league in time for the 1972-73 season. In 1970-71 Chicago played a tough seven game Cup final with Montreal. Even without Hull they reached the finals in 1973, but it has been downhill since then, despite the hard work and effort of veteran star Stan Mikita and professionals of the caliber of goaler Tony Esposito and Pit Martin.If Orr can make it on his gimpy 6ft-operated upon knees, the Hawks will still have to compensate the Boston Bruins.The Hawks eked out the Smythe Division title with a 32-30 record plus tied games, and a goals-for, which Showed seven less goals than they allowed. Chicago was nicked for 261 tallies and scored 254.Mikita, Dennis Hull and Cliff Koroll make up the nucleus of one line, with Martin and Ivan Boldirev working with the other trios. Dale Tall on, who made a great comeback from a bad hip suffered in 1974, could switch to center, with Orr available.More likely he, Bill White, youthful Phil Russell and forward-defenseman Dick Redmond will rotate on the blue line. If Orr makes it, a combination of Orr and White would be hard to beat. Tallon and Russell make for interesting thoughts. The Hawks lack the big scorer, with only Martin&rsquo;s 32 goals reaching the 30 goal plateau. Bobby Hull used to be good for forty to fifty and his brother, Dennis, for about thirty to forty. Both Vancouver and St. Louis, Chicago&rsquo;s main rivals, scored more goals.Tony Esposito bounced back from a poor 1974-75 season, but is now 33, and suspect on long shots. Gilles Villemure, the super sub, obtained from the Rangers, will see more action.Billy Reay, the dean of NHL coaches, returns once more-Actually, Reay is canny, and more combative than he appears. He is a survivor&mdash;who has kept mediocre teams alive.It is possible that Ivan&rsquo;s signing of Orr and his involvement with Team USA in the Canada Cup is a last hurrah. In which case Reay may step up as general manager&mdash;and Bobby Kromm, long overlooked in the CHL might come back to Chicago from Winnipeg in the WHA.Rumors that Bobby Hull will return to the NHL abound, but Chicago insiders feel that the Arthur Wirtz family would not let Bobby play for Chicago. Too much water passed under the bridge when Hull left. He must wonder why Wirtz couldn&rsquo;t have given him some of that money being spent on Orr. If they had done so, the Hawks would still be selling out and there might be no World Hockey Association.Meanwhile, it is up to Bobby one leg to do his thing. Reay&rsquo;s thing should be enough for the Smythe title, but then it gets tougher in the playoffs. That&rsquo;s where Orr takes over, if his knees let him.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-0329/10153600-1-eng-US/f0078-032.jpg" title="f0078-03" width="2395" height="411"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-01100/10153593-1-eng-US/f0079-012.jpg" title="f0079-01" width="852" height="579"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHICAGO STADIUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0253/10153586-1-eng-US/f0079-022.jpg" title="f0079-02" width="1660" height="2378"><figcaption class="caption-body">Defenseman Bill White (2) and new teammate, Bobby Orr.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0334/10153579-1-eng-US/f0079-032.jpg" title="f0079-03" width="580" height="806"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ivan Boldirev</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0417/10153572-1-eng-US/f0079-042.jpg" title="f0079-04" width="613" height="738"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dick Redmond</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0510/10153565-1-eng-US/f0079-052.jpg" title="f0079-05" width="601" height="757"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil Russell</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-01101/10153558-1-eng-US/f0080-012.jpg" title="f0080-01" width="1047" height="1557"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stan Mikita</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-0252/10153551-1-eng-US/f0080-022.jpg" title="f0080-02" width="1213" height="1646"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-0330/10153544-1-eng-US/f0080-032.jpg" title="f0080-03" width="2378" height="1516"></div> &#9632;

f0078-02

SMYTHE DIVISION

Chicago Black Hawks

<div class="byline">With VINCE DE MARCO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0081-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0081-01109/10153673-1-eng-US/f0081-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0187/10153666-1-eng-US/f0085-012.jpg" title="f0085-01" width="1140" height="1543"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0250/10153659-1-eng-US/f0085-022.jpg" title="f0085-02" width="1164" height="1555"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0333/10153652-1-eng-US/f0085-032.jpg" title="f0085-03" width="1148" height="1468"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0419/10153645-1-eng-US/f0085-042.jpg" title="f0085-04" width="1150" height="1460"></div> &#9632;

f0081-01

“COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF NHL”

<div class="byline">PHIL MALONEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0250/10153774-1-eng-US/f0082-022.jpg" title="f0082-02" width="719" height="744"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0198/10153767-1-eng-US/f0082-012.jpg" title="f0082-01" width="693" height="472"></div>The Vancouver Canucks were 1970-71 expansionists with the Buffalo Sabres-- just as the Atlanta Flames joined up with the New York Islanders in 1972-73. The club suffered a fitful start in the early years, but is now making rapid strides under General Manager-Coach Phil Maloney.As it turned out, both the Canucks and the Sabres went under to the younger Islanders in the playoffs-but despite the two-game sweep, the Isles were severely tested by Vancouver. The scores didn&rsquo;t tell the story, as the 5-3 and 3-1 finals were struggles.Maloney shored up his goalkeeping over the summer when he traded problem child Gary Smith to Minnesota for veteran Cesare Maniago. This is a definite plus for Vancouver in that Smith probably would have jumped to the W.H.A. anyway, and Maniago has shown that he still has some life left in his old limbs.Former Ranger farmhand Curt Ridley should be the back-up, with Ken Lockett number three. Ridley played in both playoff losses after sparkling in the stretch with six wins and two ties in eight games.Maloney went with him hoping he had another Ken Dryden on his hands. In 1970-71, Dryden played six games for Montreal in the regular season at the end, and then stepped in for twenty straight playoff tussles on the way to the Cup.The team from British Columbia didn&rsquo;t retain its Smythe Division title, losing out to the Hawks, but most believe Vancouver was better in 1975-76. They broke even, winning 32, losing 31, scoring 271 goals and allowing 272, while gaining 81 points in an 80 game schedule. The defense needs more consistency and the attack more punch.That punch was added late in the season when Mike Walton, &ldquo;Shakey&rdquo; to Boston Bruin followers, jumped back to the NHL, after the demise of the Minnesota Fighting Saints. Walton, a top notch scorer and playmaker, has clauses in his contract that make it mandatory he mind his knitting. He was a plus to Vancouver in March and in the playoffs. Walton is being challenged, with his hockey career at the crossroads. He can be a big man in the Northwest.In ten games in the regular season, Walton hit for eight goals and eight assists for 16 points. He can be the big gun Vancouver has always lacked.Maloney insured his attack by signing Dennis Ververgaert and Don Lever, after getting John Gould to sign last year. Gould had been close to Cincinnati of the WHA last summer. Ververgaert led Vancouver with 37-34-71, and Lever checked in with 25-40-65. Unsung Chris Oddliefson second best faceoff man in the NHL behind Bobby Clarke, checked in with 62, and Gould had 59. Walton should top them all, if he plays his game.Rookie Rick Blight was just that at times to the opposition and should add to his 56 points. Tiny Bobby Lalonde, the smallest NHL player, is a sparkplug who ignites rallies. When Walton signed, Lalonde held his job as the third line center with former Vancouver star Andre Boudrias being benched. Boudrias is on the block, simply because the Canucks have built up to a point where he can&rsquo;t make the team. The development of youthful wingers Ron Sedlbauer and Gerry O&rsquo;Flaherty helped, as did the utility work of old-pro Garry Monahan.The defense is led by another unheard-of type, Dennis Kearns, who got 51 points from the blue line. Big Bobby Dailey got 39, and kept the other guys honest, along with bumper Harold Snepsts. Mike Robitaille has matured into a solid blue liner, Tracy Pratt is on the trading block.The Canucks chances of catching the Hawks for the Smythe title will lie in the battle between the two ex-Bruins, Orr and Walton. If On can&rsquo;t make it and Mike does, Vancouver could edge out Chicago.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0328/10153760-1-eng-US/f0082-032.jpg" title="f0082-03" width="2377" height="311"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0188/10153753-1-eng-US/f0083-012.jpg" title="f0083-01" width="735" height="701"><figcaption class="caption-body">PACIFIC COLISEUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0253/10153746-1-eng-US/f0083-022.jpg" title="f0083-02" width="1608" height="2469"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dennis Ververgaert led the Canucks in scoring last year with 37 goals and 71 points.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0338/10153739-1-eng-US/f0083-032.jpg" title="f0083-03" width="615" height="1059"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chris Oddleifson</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0419/10153732-1-eng-US/f0083-042.jpg" title="f0083-04" width="608" height="834"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Lalonde</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0516/10153725-1-eng-US/f0083-052.jpg" title="f0083-05" width="612" height="1037"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dennis Kearns</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-0191/10153718-1-eng-US/f0084-012.jpg" title="f0084-01" width="1035" height="1260"><figcaption class="caption-body">Curt Rid lev starts the season as Vancouver&rsquo;s number one goaltender</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-0244/10153711-1-eng-US/f0084-022.jpg" title="f0084-02" width="1239" height="1344"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-0328/10153704-1-eng-US/f0084-032.jpg" title="f0084-03" width="2403" height="1842"></div> &#9632;

f0082-02

Vancouver Canucks

<div class="byline">EMILE FRANCIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-0248/10153875-1-eng-US/f0086-022.jpg" title="f0086-02" width="718" height="725"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-0195/10153868-1-eng-US/f0086-012.jpg" title="f0086-01" width="841" height="670"></div>If Emile Francis could have brought Jean Ratelle and Brad Park with him to St. Louis, the Blues would be in great shape. However, The Cat did bring with him the second winningest mark in regular season NHL history as he takes charge of the St. Louis operation, with the title of Vice President&mdash;General Manager&mdash;Coach.He wanted to coach, and in fact, insisted on it, after being contacted as general manager material. It will be interesting to see if Sid Solomon III leaves Francis alone when the Blues have a dry spell. Scotty Bowman couldn&rsquo;t get along with Sid, and neither could Lou Angotti, Jean Guy Talbot, Garry Young, and a host of others. Francis had his advance man, Denis Ball in the Mound City for a year and a half, ahead of his unexpected mid-season departure from the Rangers.The sacking of Leo Boivin, who did a great job after taking over from Young in mid season in 1975-76, didn&rsquo;t sit well in St. Louis. It will add to the pressure facing the Cat. But Francis always thrived on pressure-and he still wants to coach a Cup winner.The Blues are far from that, but they have a main ingredient in second-year goaler Ed Staniowski, who starred for St. Louis in a tough three game series with Buffalo, allowing only seven goals. Two of the games were in Buffalo.With Eddie Johnston as the backup, the Blues chaotic goaling situation of recent years has stablized. Yves Belanger is in the wings, and happily, for the Blues, Gilles Gratton and his problems are long gone.The Blues finished third in the Smythe Division and realistically are in about the same slot. They scored 269 goals and allowed 290, finishing 8 games under .500. The defense must get better. That&rsquo;s where Messrs. Staniowski and Johnston come in, but it&rsquo;s also up to ace penalty-killers Chuck Lefley and Derek Sanderson and the entire defense.That defense was spiritually shaken last year when Boivin stripped the captaincy from Barclay Plager. The Placer freres, Bob and Barclay, have run the Blues dressing room from the first season-and they were beating on super-star prospect Bob Hess. Hess is the man who can get the puck out and who can make the Blues power play go in the future, if he develops according to plan. He is only 21, and will be in his third season in the NHL.Bruce Affleck is another young defender, in his sophomore season, who holds the Blues&rsquo; future in his hands. The addition of the veteran Rick Smith, former Bruin and Seal from the defunct Minnesota Fighting Saints helped the Blues and enabled Boivin to make the move on the Plagers.On the attack, Lefley outpointed Garry Unger, 85 points to 83, and outscored him with 43 goals to 39. Sanderson checked in third with 67 points. After that, it fell off with third center Bob MacMillan notching 52, and former Western Division super star Red Berenson with 47. With Unger solid, Sanderson still a young veteran, but the other centers somewhat shaky, Francis drafted Bernie Federko from Saskatoon of the WCHL. He&rsquo;ll get a long look, but the Cat usually sticks with his vets when he is in a must-win situation. Larry Patey, also in the center act, hopes to escape from the shadow of a bad trade in which Wayne Merrick went to the Seals.Make no mistake that Francis is on the spot. His reputation was damaged by the ending of the New York fiasco. Despite a piece of the action at St. Louis in the form of stock, Francis must get the Blues off well and into the playoffs. Maybe former Rangers Ted Irvine and Jerry Butler will pull more weight this year for their old boss. It is to be hoped that the Cat leaves Turk Sanderson alone. They didn&rsquo;t hit it off well in New York, and Francis traded him. That would be a big mistake, if repeated.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-0328/10153861-1-eng-US/f0086-032.jpg" title="f0086-03" width="2366" height="410"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0183/10153854-1-eng-US/f0087-012.jpg" title="f0087-01" width="1035" height="690"><figcaption class="caption-body">ST. LOUIS ARENA,</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0242/10153847-1-eng-US/f0087-022.jpg" title="f0087-02" width="1657" height="2425"><figcaption class="caption-body">Garry Unger is the N.H.L.&rsquo;s all-time iron-man.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0331/10153840-1-eng-US/f0087-032.jpg" title="f0087-03" width="619" height="1110"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chuck. Lefley</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0414/10153833-1-eng-US/f0087-042.jpg" title="f0087-04" width="591" height="761"><figcaption class="caption-body">Red Berenson</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0511/10153826-1-eng-US/f0087-052.jpg" title="f0087-05" width="614" height="1147"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bob Hess</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-01100/10153819-1-eng-US/f0088-012.jpg" title="f0088-01" width="1053" height="1353"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ed Staniowski is perhaps the league&rsquo;s top goaltender</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-0243/10153812-1-eng-US/f0088-022.jpg" title="f0088-02" width="1254" height="1409"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-0326/10153805-1-eng-US/f0088-032.jpg" title="f0088-03" width="2460" height="1782"></div> &#9632;

f0086-02

St. Louis Blues

<div class="byline">TED HARRIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-0247/10153976-1-eng-US/f0090-022.jpg" title="f0090-02" width="676" height="740"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-0194/10153969-1-eng-US/f0090-012.jpg" title="f0090-01" width="775" height="681"></div>Once more in a dogfight with the W.H.A. for fan support, the North Stars desperately need to put together some kind of representative squad. Minnesota progressed last year under coach Ted Harris, but has a way to go.They made a dramatic change at the top when they promoted Walter Bush Jr., to Chairman of the Board and elected Gordon Ritz as their new president. Bush had been the only president in the history of the Norstars.Bush had even cut his own salary last year, when the WHA team and a poor North Star squad cut heavily into the gate. New coach Ted Harris got things organized in the second half of the season, but Minnesota still scored only 195 goals and had 303 scored against them. They were 33 games under .500.No Minnesota player reached the thirty goal level, with their leading point makers, Bill Hogaboam and Tim Young both having 51 points. Bill Goldsworthy, a gunner of repute, who once got 48 goals, had half that amount. Young and Dean Talafous each had 18 goals, with Hogaboam&rsquo;s 28 leading the way.Late in the season Minnesota signed Steve Jensen, a tough wing from the 1976 U.S. Olympic squad. Jensen did a good job, with his toughness in the corners showing the way for his teammates. He can play it rough, also, and did scrap his way to 7 goals and 6 assists in 19 games.The North Stars signed two other young men, who are their hope for a future. Number one draft, and third overall in the NHL selections, was 5-11, 1901b.centerGlenSharpley, who scored 60 goals and 74 assists for Hull in the Quebec Major Junior League. The other was Swedish star Roland Ericksson, a six foot three inch center who caught the North Stars eyes when he starred at the World Tournament in Poland last April.Minnesota is still trying to sign their number one draft of a year ago, defenseman Bryan Maxwell, now owned by the cross-town rival St. Paul W.H.A. sextet. Maxwell played with Cleveland last year.One new face in the Minnesota lineup will be goaltender Gary Smith, late of the Vancouver Canucks. Smith was obtained in August for veteran Cesare Maniago, who had been a North Star since day one of the franchise. Both goaltenders had fallen in disfavor with their respective managements, and a chance of scenery might help.Young Peter LoPresti will be the other man in the pipes. Pete worked 34 games for the North Stars in 1975-76, and represented the United States in the World Tournament in September. His goals-against average stood at 4.13 with a poor defensive team last year, but that must drop significantly if he is to make it in the N.H.L.General Manager Jack Gordon has accomplished his objective in clearing out high priced fat cat stars, who were signed to multiyear pacts by his predecessors Wren Blair. But, in so doing, Gordon most likely reduced the ability quotient on the squad. J. P. Parise and Jude Drouin of the Islanders are better than Ernie Hicke and Craig Cameron, even though Hicke had a good year with 23 goals and 42 points. Most likely, Parise and Drouin would have continued to play lethargically in Minnesota, whereas they have turned on in the magical Islander situation.In a like manner, Barry Gibbs is a better defenseman than any currently wearing the North Stars colors. Gibbs might be the best on Atlanta. He is superior to Dwight Bialowas, Dennis O&rsquo;Brien, Fred Barrett, Tom Reid, and Doug Hicks. But that is the price a team sometimes pays when it starts over.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-0325/10153962-1-eng-US/f0090-032.jpg" title="f0090-03" width="2371" height="414"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0177/10153955-1-eng-US/f0091-012.jpg" title="f0091-01" width="974" height="703"><figcaption class="caption-body">MET CENTER</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0242/10153948-1-eng-US/f0091-022.jpg" title="f0091-02" width="1647" height="2434"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pete LoPresti&rsquo;s development is a key to the North Stars&rsquo; future.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0330/10153941-1-eng-US/f0091-032.jpg" title="f0091-03" width="612" height="839"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary Smith</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0413/10153934-1-eng-US/f0091-042.jpg" title="f0091-04" width="610" height="1145"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dean Talafous</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-059/10153927-1-eng-US/f0091-052.jpg" title="f0091-05" width="610" height="892"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tim Young</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0196/10153920-1-eng-US/f0092-012.jpg" title="f0092-01" width="1069" height="1289"><figcaption class="caption-body">U.S. Olympic Star Steve Jensen scored 7 N.H.L. goals after joining the North Stars.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0247/10153913-1-eng-US/f0092-022.jpg" title="f0092-02" width="1257" height="1498"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0328/10153906-1-eng-US/f0092-032.jpg" title="f0092-03" width="2446" height="1724"></div> &#9632;

f0090-02

Minnesota North Stars

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0093-0183/10154035-1-eng-US/f0093-012.jpg" title="f0093-01" width="950" height="703"><figcaption class="caption-body">MC NICHOLS SPORTS ARENA</figcaption></div>John &ldquo;Bud&rdquo; Palmer was a winner when he played with the New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball Association. He was the first network telecaster of NHL games, along with Fred Cusick. He served as the official greeter for Mayor John V. Lindsey in New York and he has successfully served as television commentator for pro hockey, basketball, golf and such diverse events as the horse show, dog show and ice follies.Now a resident of Vail, Colorado, the six foot four inch Palmer has taken on his toughest assignment. He is the front man for a group which purchased the Kansas City Scouts and moved them to the Mile High city.For a time it looked like the Scouts last game ever would have been played in Japan, on tour with the Washington Capitals in April. But Palmer rescued the franchise, and even though it meant that the NHL had been forced to move a second franchise, it still preserved the league&rsquo;s record of never folding a team since the original 1967-68 expansion.Palmer is taking over a club which was in total collapse in the second half of 1975-76. After Bep Guidolin resigned in mid-season, Eddie Bush took over. The team fell apart, winding up with only 12 wins and 36 points. Even though Washington totalled 11 wins and 32 points, the Capitals were improving at the end and proved it by winning the series in Japan.Wilf Paiement is the Rockies&rsquo; hope for the future. This young man can only get better, but the pressure for him to come through now will increase in the Mile High city. In 57 games Wilf got 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points. The leading scorer was tiny center Guy Charron, a mini Bobby Clarke, who logged 71 points.Colorado traded its goalie, Denis Herron, back to the Pittsburgh Penguins, even though he had a creditable 4.03 goals against last year. They received Michel Plasse, an original Scout, Simon Nolet, another original in both Philadelphia and Kansas City and defenseman Colin Campbell.It&rsquo;s the defense that needs help more than anything else. Kansas City surrendered 351 goals, which was surpassed only by the Caps&rsquo;394. That figure must be reduced by 100 if Colorado is to start the climb up the rocky mountain towards the .500 mark, under G.M. Ray Miron.The defense needs a transfusion, with ancient Gary Bergman over the hill. Steve Durbano has violent moments, but is really not that good a defender. Dennis Patterson is a fringe major leaguer, at best.Up front, Colorado inherits bodies who seemingly have made a career of hanging on with expansion and cellar clubs. Craig Patrick is a fair hockey player, who made the NHL via the California Seals. Chuck Arnason, who can rifle the puck, has bounced from Montreal to Atlanta, to Pittsburgh and then Kansas City. Dave Hudson was an original Islander. Phil Roberto, late of Montreal, St. Louis and Detroit is hampered by repeated injuries. Denis Dupere was an original Washington Capital&mdash;and so it goes.Palmer must put together, with Munson Campbell&rsquo;s help, a front office staff and an entire coaching and scouting crew. With the number of hockey people out of jobs, this isn&rsquo;t too tough, but it will leave the Colorado team somewhat behind in preparation for the new season.This observer believes that if anybody could do the job in Colorado it might be Palmer. The city was mentally prepared for the NHL, when the former owner of the minor league Denver Spurs, Ivan Mullenix, suddenly switched to the WHA. Last season, at Christmas time, with the Denver WHA team still in town, there were bumper stickers from the year before which read &ldquo;NHL in 1975-76.&rdquo;The problem is capital. In Kansas City, the owners headed by Edward Thompson, were woefully under financed. If they had enough money to last five years and lose about $3 million, the Kansas City franchise would have made it. The same thing may be the story in the Rockies.<h2>PAST RECORD</h2><h3>KANSAS CITY</h3><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0093-0246/10154028-1-eng-US/f0093-022.jpg" title="f0093-02" width="2439" height="185"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-0188/10154021-1-eng-US/f0094-012.jpg" title="f0094-01" width="1052" height="1622"><figcaption class="caption-body">Guy Charron never stops hustling.</figcaption></div><h2>DEPTH CHART</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-0235/10154014-1-eng-US/f0094-022.jpg" title="f0094-02" width="1245" height="1705"></div><h2>ROSTER</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-0322/10154007-1-eng-US/f0094-032.jpg" title="f0094-03" width="2396" height="1352"></div> &#9632;

f0093-01

Colorado Rockies

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0095-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0095-0183/10154073-1-eng-US/f0095-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0095-0239/10154066-1-eng-US/f0095-022.jpg" title="f0095-02" width="2486" height="607"></div><h2>CHRISTIAN</h2>Hockey sticks made by Hockey PlayersYou can count on the experience that goes into every Christian Bros, hockey stick. Hockey players have a special feel for the right balance and handling in a stick, and it shows in the top-quality sticks that only Christian Bros, produces. Hockey sticks made by hockey players, for hockey players. The best. &#9632;

f0095-01

1975-76 GOALIE STATISTICS

<div class="byline">By BARRY WILNER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-0199/10154111-1-eng-US/f0096-012.jpg" title="f0096-01" width="733" height="700"></div>In its fifth year of existence, the World Hockey Association heads south, with the Birmingham Bulls breaking the barrier for the W.H.A. deep in Dixie.The five-year plan of co-existence with the National Hockey League has not worked for the WHA. Every team except Winnipeg and Quebec in the league lost money in 1975-76, and the prospects for profit this season are very dim. The league still suffers from a minor league image, despite the presence of several genuine superstars in its ranks, and is plagued by empty seats and bad press coverage. It drew 4,123,121 last year, a mini increase from the 4,095,911 of 1974-75.There is even talk that Bobby Hull, who is to the WHA what Julius (Dr. J) Erving was to the ABA and Joe Namath was to the old American Football League, will announce his retirement. If &rsquo;Hull goes, so does the WHA.The loop also is troubled by the fiasco of last year&rsquo;s violent playoff series between the Quebec Nordiques and the Calgary Cowboys. Quebec, possibly the second best team in the WHA, was mauled, brutalized and beaten by the Cowboys in the opening round of the Avco World Trophy playoffs. It&rsquo;s star, Marc Tardif, was mugged by a Calgary nonentity named Rick Jodzio. Those incidents unfortunately received more attention in the media than Winnipeg&rsquo;s sweep to the championship. It is a sad commentary on the state of the league that brawling and possibly illegal tactics take precedence over the excellent performance of the WHA&rsquo;s top team. In mid-season, Denver-Ottawa and Minnesota gave up the ghost. Toronto&rsquo;s Toros have become the Birmingham Bulls. Florida at first claimed the Cleveland Crusaders, but later the Crusaders switched to St. Paul. The San Diego Mariners franchise was saved when hamburger king Ray Kroc, owner of the Padres, purchased the team.The gallant Mariners played 13 weeks without pay and even beat arch rival Phoenix in their opening playoff series.The look of the WHA is somewhat different for 1976-77. The Canadian Division, which stirred interest among fans in the Dominion and was, perhaps, the league&rsquo;s biggest asset, is gone. There will be a 12 team setup, with two divisions (East and West), as opposed to the three-division, 14-squad makeup last year. To cut costs and eliminate rooms, the player limit has been cut from 20 to 18.The WHA also adopted the international rule dividing the third period into ten minute halves, in order to prevent the home team from having any advantage one end of the rink might give it. This includes situations where in the penalty box is closer to one end of the rink and others in house situations inherent in older rinks.&ldquo;We feel we have eliminated the weaker cities and strengthened ourselves immeasurably,&rdquo; says one WHA official. &ldquo;It is time for us to look to the future, and that is why we chose to move into the south.&rdquo;The decision to once more challenge the NHL head on in Minnesota makes more sense than the projected Florida adventure. With the North Stars icing a weak squad, the Fighting Saints will have a good shot at retaining the patronage built up in former years.The new divisional alignment, With probable order of finish, is as follows:<h2>EASTERN DIVISION</h2>1. New England Whalers2. Cincinnati Stingers3. Quebec Nordiques4. Indianapolis Racers5. Minnesota Fighting Saints6. Birmingham Bulls<h2>WESTERN DIVISION</h2>1. Winnipeg Jets (If Hull plays)2. Houston Aeros (If Howe plays)3. Calgary Cowboys4. Phoenix Roadrunners5. San Diego Mariners6. Edmonton Oilers<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-0246/10154104-1-eng-US/f0096-022.jpg" title="f0096-02" width="2401" height="911"></div> &#9632;

f0096-01

… WHA: Merging or submerging?

<div class="byline">HARRY NEALE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0258/10154198-1-eng-US/f0097-022.jpg" title="f0097-02" width="726" height="735"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0195/10154191-1-eng-US/f0097-012.jpg" title="f0097-01" width="709" height="671"></div>The New England Whalers are the class of the East, as well as its most solid franchise. Their main competition in the New England area is, of course, the Bruins, with whom the Whalers have no intention of competing. That is why they are based in Hartford, with a large, impressive arena and, with the decline of American League (AHL) hockey, a chance for greater attendance figures.New England is the payroll town of the East, drawing 372,334 with a 9,308 average in a 10,507 capacity building.Coach Harry Neale, who took over New England last March and promptly led them to a seven-game semi-final against a superior Houston team before being eliminated, is back at the helm. Although they might not finish in the top two in the Western sector, the Whalers will romp in the East.Goaltending, while not a particular strength for New England, is the team&rsquo;s biggest asset in comparison to the rest of the division. Cap Raeder former New Hampshire All-American, was. a revelation in the playoffs after both regular season backstops, Christer Abrahamsson and Bruce Landon, were injured. One of the three, most likely Landon, will be used as trade bait in an effort to obtain a big scorer.On defense the Whalers boast Tommy Abrahamsson, Rick Ley and Brad Seiwood, as good a trio of blue liners as any in the WHA. Veteran Doug Roberts lends a helping hand on defense as well.The Whalers need to add some offensive punch in order to solidify their top ranking in the East. On hand are Larry Pleau, Mike Rogers, Rosaire Paiement, Ralph Backstrom and Tom Webster, who has the potential to tear up the league. (Unfortunately, for New England, Webster is more interested in tearing up his contractual ties with the Whalers and heading back to the NHL). New England also obtained Wayne Connelly from Florida in an effort to bolster the goal-scoring. They lost winger Fred O&rsquo;Donnell and center Bob McManama.Nick Fotiu, the Whalers&rsquo; main man with the fists, has jumped to the NHL Rangers so, in a league rampant with &ldquo;goons,&rdquo; ready to take anyone on at the drop of a puck, the Whalers may be in for some heavy intimidating. They have added scrappy Dan Bolduc, a native American, who can&rsquo;t fight as good as Fotiu, but may become as popular.Coach Neale had his problems with players in the past-including a fistfight with one&mdash;but he is a man who believes in systemized hockey and you know what that did for the Philadelphia Flyers.&ldquo;I think we showed in the playoffs what we&rsquo;re capable of,&rdquo; Neale notes. &ldquo;This year, 1 don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ll be losers in the semifinals.&rdquo;Unless the Whalers offense perks up, the New Englanders would seem to be headed for the same fate in 1976-77.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0335/10154184-1-eng-US/f0097-032.jpg" title="f0097-03" width="1166" height="835"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0411/10154177-1-eng-US/f0097-042.jpg" title="f0097-04" width="1147" height="726"><figcaption class="caption-body">Larry Pleau with Winnipeg&rsquo;s Bobby Hull</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-01113/10154170-1-eng-US/f0098-012.jpg" title="f0098-01" width="895" height="663"><figcaption class="caption-body">HARTFORD CIVIC CENTER</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-0254/10154163-1-eng-US/f0098-022.jpg" title="f0098-02" width="1589" height="2472"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom Webster&rsquo;s bad back didn&rsquo;t prevent him from scoring 33 goals.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>NEW ENGLAND</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-Edmonton *10-Winnipeg *16-Quebec19-Houston *22-Houston23-Cincinnati26-Cincinnati29-Phoenix30-Birmingham<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>5-Edmonton *7-Calgary *9-Winnipeg *11-Minnesota *12-Phoenix *16-Birmingham *17-Birmingham19-Winnipeg20-Minnesota23-Indianapolis *25-Birmingham *27-Minnesota28-Indianapolis30-Quebec *<h4>DECEMBER</h4>1-Calgary3-Que bee4-Winnipeg7-Minnesota *8-Houston11-San Diego12-Quebec *14-Quebec *17-Indianapolis18-Birmingham21-Houston *23-San Diego *26-Minnesota28-Minnesota *30-Cincinnati *<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-San Diego5-Cincinnati7-Quebec8-Phoenix9-Quebec *11-Cincinnati *13-Indianapolis *14-Edmonton16-Minnesota20-Quebec23-Cincinnati25-Cincinnati *27-San Diego *28-Phoenix *30-Indianapolis *<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Birmingham *6-Minnesota10-Winnipeg12-Indianapolis13-Cincinnati *15-Houston *17-Phoenix18-Birmingham20-Calgary *22-Edmonton "25-Calgary *27-Winnipeg *<h4>MARCH</h4>2-San Diego4-Houston6-Quebec11-Birmingham *13-Minnesota *18-Calgary20-Calgary23-Minnesota *24-Edmonton26-Indianapolis27-Edmonton29-San Diego *31-Phoenix *<h4>APRIL</h4>2-Indianapolis *5-Quebec ** Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0099-0176/10154156-1-eng-US/f0099-012.jpg" title="f0099-01" width="1096" height="964"><figcaption class="caption-body">Old pro Ralph Backstrom will be answering the bell for his 18th pro season.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0099-0235/10154149-1-eng-US/f0099-022.jpg" title="f0099-02" width="1255" height="972"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0099-0328/10154142-1-eng-US/f0099-032.jpg" title="f0099-03" width="2498" height="2178"></div> &#9632;

f0097-02

EAST DIVISION

New England Whalers

<div class="byline">TERRY SLATER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-0242/10154285-1-eng-US/f0100-022.jpg" title="f0100-02" width="690" height="744"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-0186/10154278-1-eng-US/f0100-012.jpg" title="f0100-01" width="702" height="702"></div>The Stingers, under the guidance of Terry Slater, just missed the playoffs in their first year. Some feel he should have done better. Their second season will be more rewarding.The Stingers had but one man in the Top 25 in WHA scoring last year but they potted 285 goals, the most in the East. They are a well-balanced team, led by winger Rick Dudley, a versatile two-way bruiser with a fine touch around the net and a bruising way in the corners.Dudley is supported by the likes of Claude Larose, Jacques Locas and Dennis Sobchuk, all solid all-around performers. Cincinnati, the only WHA team to crack the NHL monopoly on top juniors, signed forward Peter Marsh, who logged 75 goals and 156 points for Sherbrooke.Cincinnati is in need of defensive help too. Serge Aubrey and Paul Hoganson shared most of the duties last season but there are rumours that the Stingers will have an entirely new face in goal in the upcoming campaign. (Would you believe Gary Smith?)The backline is anchored down by Mike Pelyk but needs shoring up. The Stingers gave up the most goals in their division (340) last year, but much of that can be attributed to expansion baby blues. Another worry is the summer knee surgery which Locas underwent.Cincinnati is a city used to success with playoff squads like the Reds in baseball and the Bengals in football. The Stingers, who have the whole area to themselves in the winter since there is no basketball on the pro level in Cincy, can expect to prosper at the gate if they are successful on the ice. Cincinnatians will support a winner.Cincinnati fans came out 7,741 strong in the first season, not bad, for a total paid of 309,630.The Stingers completed some minor transactions during the summer, sending center Bryan Campbell to Indianapolis, and Gene Sobchuk, brother of Dennis, to Florida. They reclaimed Sobchuk when Florida became St. Paul.Slater hopes that Mike Pelyk, Ron Plumb, and John Hughes, who racked up 204 P.I.M., will form the nucleus of a consistent defense.It will be up to Slater to get his charges to play two-way hockey more often.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t expect us to have much trouble making the playoffs,&rdquo; offers Slater. &ldquo;Last year was a good experience for the guys and they&rsquo;ll benefit from it this year.&rdquo;They should benefit enough to pass Quebec and finish runner up to New England in the East.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-0324/10154271-1-eng-US/f0100-032.jpg" title="f0100-03" width="1178" height="950"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-049/10154264-1-eng-US/f0100-042.jpg" title="f0100-04" width="1133" height="883"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dennis Sobchuk scored 72 points in his rookie year.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0101-0179/10154257-1-eng-US/f0101-012.jpg" title="f0101-01" width="901" height="658"><figcaption class="caption-body">RIVERFRONT COLISEUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0101-0246/10154250-1-eng-US/f0101-022.jpg" title="f0101-02" width="1565" height="2450"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rick Dudley turned in 43 goals for the Stingers last year.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>CINCINNATI</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>7-Minnesota8-Phoenix*9-San Diego*14-Birmingham*15-Indianapolis*17-Quebec*19-Minnesota*19-New England*23-New England*29-San Diego30-Phoenix<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>3-Indianapolis4-Indianapolis*6-Winnipeg10-Edmonton13-Indianapolis16-Indianapolis*19-Edmonton*21-Winnipeg*23-Minnesota*24-Indianapolis27-Birmingham30-Birmingham*<h4>DECEMBER</h4>3-Calgary5-Houston8-San Diego10-Houston12-Phoenix15-Minnesota17-Winnipeg*18-Minnesota*22-Birmingham23-Houston*26-Calgary*27-Edmonton*30-New England<h4>JANUARY</h4>5-New England*7-Birmingham8-San Diego11-New England13-San Diego*14-Phoenix*16-Winnipeg*20-Phoenix*23-New England*25-New England29-Quebec*<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>2-Birmingham5-Minnesota6-Quebec*9-Indianapolis11-Winnipeg12-Minnesota*13-New England15-Edmonton*16-Calgary*18-Calgary*19-Quebec20-Phoenix22-Birmingham*25-Quebec26-Winnipeg<h4>MARCH</h4>5-Indianapolis6-Houston9-Edmonton11-Houston*12-Calgary13-Birmingham15-Birmingham*16-Calgary18-Minnesota22-Indianapolis*23-Quebec25-Edmonton26-Quebec*29-Birmingham*30-Indianapolis*<h4>APRIL</h4>1-Houston*2-San Diego*6-Quebec*AWAY<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0182/10154243-1-eng-US/f0102-012.jpg" title="f0102-01" width="1054" height="819"><figcaption class="caption-body">Defenseman John Hughes drew 204 penalty minutes last year.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0238/10154236-1-eng-US/f0102-022.jpg" title="f0102-02" width="1208" height="967"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0326/10154229-1-eng-US/f0102-032.jpg" title="f0102-03" width="2406" height="2373"></div> &#9632;

f0100-02

Cincinnati Stingers

<div class="byline">MARC BOILEAU</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-0237/10154372-1-eng-US/f0103-022.jpg" title="f0103-02" width="740" height="823"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-0175/10154365-1-eng-US/f0103-012.jpg" title="f0103-01" width="720" height="689"></div>The Quebec Nordiques need no bolstering of their lamp-lighting statistics. They are, however, in dire need of some morale-boosting.The heart of Les Nordiques was tom out by the bloody Calgary series and the hospitalization of Tardif, hockey&rsquo;s&rsquo; top scorer in 1975-76 (71-77-148). In addition, the ever useful Rejean Houle has returned to the Montreal Canadiens. And Jean Guy Gendron has been replaced behind the bench by Marc Boileau, who was hired to improve the team defensively.Tardif&rsquo;s condition is questionable. Without him the Nordiques will be hard pressed to finish third in the East. With him, they can be expected to challenge Cincinnati for the runnerup spot behind New England. With Tardif and Houle they had developed into a mini Montreal type aggregation of flying Frenchmen.Although the offense undoubtedly will suffer if Tardif is absent, the Nordiques still can rely on Real &ldquo;Buddy&rdquo; Cloutier for at least one more season. The MVP of the WHA All-Star Game last winter, Cloutier is the brightest young star in the league. By 1977-78, he may be the brightest young star in the NHL for he is coveted by a dozen teams, especially Les Habitants. Usually, when Montreal sets its sights on a high-flying Frenchman, he winds up in the tricolour. Cloutier logged 60 goals and 54 assists.Other Nordiques attackmen include Chris Bordeleau, Serge Bernier and defenseman J.C. Tremblay, who totalled 89 points last year from his blue line post. Both Bordeleau and Bernier topped the 100 mark.Tremblay will have to concentrate more on defense this year, however, for the Nordiques to be triumphant. Dale Hoganson, the team&rsquo;s best defenseman, is gone, traded to Birmingham. Boileau will have to find help for J.C. from among a second-rate bunch.In goal will be Richard Brodeur, whose 3.82 goals against won&rsquo;t impress very many opponents. Brodeur is not a steady netminder, given to moments of indecision and prone to costly mistakes that result in goals. So are his defense men, so keeping the puck out of the cage will be a real problem. Quebec allowed 316 goals last year, far higher than Winnipeg&rsquo;s Canadian division-winning 245 last year. It was the Nordiques&rsquo; super attack with 371 goals, which enabled Quebec to finish a scant two points back of Winnipeg.&ldquo;All of the players, including the stars, are going to tow the line,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I demand a lot of work from everyone. I start a regular day in the season with 15 minutes of hard skating, followed by 50 push ups before practice begins.The Nordiques&rsquo; proud followers totalled 395,383, the top gate in the WHA, with the average being 9,850. Quebec fans dream of the NHL, but Montreal would never let them in.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-0327/10154358-1-eng-US/f0103-032.jpg" title="f0103-03" width="1193" height="876"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-046/10154351-1-eng-US/f0103-042.jpg" title="f0103-04" width="1171" height="760"><figcaption class="caption-body">Goaltender Richard Brodeur was blamed for the Nordiques&rsquo; playoff loss.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-0185/10154344-1-eng-US/f0104-012.jpg" title="f0104-01" width="1123" height="651"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE COLISEE</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-0247/10154337-1-eng-US/f0104-022.jpg" title="f0104-02" width="1610" height="2437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Marc Tardif (8) sends in a shot on Toronto&rsquo;s Jim Shaw.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>QUEBEC</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>9-Calgary10-Birmingham12-San Diego16-New England *17-Cincinnati19-Birmingham *21-Calgary *23-Houston26-Phoenix29-Indianapolis *30-Minnesota<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Phoenix6-Birmingham9-Birmingham13-Minnesota16-Winnipeg *18-Minnesota *19-Calgary *21-Edmonton *23-Winnipeg25-Indianapolis *26-Minnesota *27-Indianapolis30-New England<h4>DECEMBER</h4>3-New England *5-Winnipeg7-Edmonton9-Phoenix *11-Indianapolis12-New England14-New England17-Houston *19-San Diego *21-Birmingham *22-Minnesota *26-Winnipeg *28-Edmonton *30-Calgary *<h4>JANUARY</h4>4-San Diego7-New England *8-Houston9-New England11-Edmonton15-Minnesota19-Birmingham *20-New England *22-Calgary25-Indianapolis29-Cincinnati<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Minnesota6-Cincinnati8-Winnipeg11-Indianapolis *12-Houston *16-San Diego *18-Minnesota *19-Cincinnati *22-Indianapolis24-Birmingham *25-Cincinnati *26-Birmingham<h4>MARCH</h4>1-Edmonton *2-Winnipeg *5-San Diego6-New England *8-Phoenix12-Edmonton15-Houston *17-Phoenix *19-Calgary22-Houston23-Cincinnati *24-Indianapolis *26-Cincinnati27-Minnesota30-Minnesota *<h4>APRIL</h4>2-Phoenix *3-San Diego *5-New England6-Cincinnati ** Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0177/10154330-1-eng-US/f0105-012.jpg" title="f0105-01" width="1044" height="1065"><figcaption class="caption-body">Serge Bernier</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0245/10154323-1-eng-US/f0105-022.jpg" title="f0105-02" width="1231" height="992"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0332/10154316-1-eng-US/f0105-032.jpg" title="f0105-03" width="2399" height="2164"></div> &#9632;

f0103-02

Quebec Nordiques

<div class="byline">JACQUES DEMERS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0237/10154459-1-eng-US/f0106-022.jpg" title="f0106-02" width="722" height="735"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0181/10154452-1-eng-US/f0106-012.jpg" title="f0106-01" width="870" height="606"></div>Indianapolis won the Eastern (or losers) Division in 1975-76 despite a 35-39-6 record. Such prominence will not be enjoyed again this season.Pat Stapleton, the core of the Racers&rsquo; defense, has retired. When Whitey left the Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL, a team with far more talent than the Racers possess, it took the Hawks years to recover&mdash;in fact, many feel that they have yet to recover from his loss on the backline.Stapleton was the leader of this team and still one of hockey&rsquo;s best defensemen. The 44 points he scored last season is the last thing Indianapolis will miss. It was Whitey Stapleton, more than anyone, who was responsible for the team&rsquo;s first-place finish and league-leading goals-against average. The Racers allowed only 247 goals against.That average, 2.96, will not be repeated. The two rookies who helped Indianapolis to that lofty defensive position, Michel Dion and Jim Park, will suffer most from Stapleton&rsquo;s retirement. The Racers used four goalies last year, but veteran Andy Brown, he of the maskless face, probably won&rsquo;t make the team and Leif Holmquist will serve as backup for the two youngsters.Park probably will get the first shot at starting, but coach Jacques Demers believes in splitting up netminding chores, so Dion and Holmquist will see some action.Darryl Maggs and Ken Block remain as solid backliners but they will need help in order to keep the goals-against down. They may get it from the goaltenders but some new faces on defense would help. Maggs is rumored as thinking of jumping back to the N.H.L.Offensively, Indianapolis has Davey Keon, still a roadrunner at 36. He will try to spur an attack that ranked last in the WHA last season. The Racers scored only 245 goals last year. Keon will need help from Renald Leclerc, Mike Parrizeau, Hugh Harris, Al Karlander and the recently acquired Bryan Campbell.Demers used more than 40 skaters last season in an attempt to make the playoffs. Winding up on top of the eastern sector was gravy for the Racers, but they can&rsquo;t expect that situation again.Indianapolis will need a successful team to draw well, just as will Cincinnati. But the Racers must contend with NBA basketball for the first-time and the Pacers will be gathering much of the entertainment money in the Indiana capital.If the Racers fail on the ice, they will fail at the gate as many of the 8,778 average attendants from 1975-76 switch to watching NBA roundball.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0330/10154445-1-eng-US/f0106-032.jpg" title="f0106-03" width="1192" height="1060"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0416/10154438-1-eng-US/f0106-042.jpg" title="f0106-04" width="1149" height="886"><figcaption class="caption-body">Davey Keon</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0107-0172/10154431-1-eng-US/f0107-012.jpg" title="f0107-01" width="768" height="715"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARKET SQUARE ARENA</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0107-0238/10154424-1-eng-US/f0107-022.jpg" title="f0107-02" width="1676" height="2475"><figcaption class="caption-body">Leif Holmquist makes the save as Bob Woytowich (5) clears the crease.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>INDIANAPOLIS</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>9-Minnesota10-Minnesota *15-Cincinnati17-Edmonton *19-Winnipeg *21-San Diego *23-Birmingham27-San Diego29-Quebec<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>3-Cincinnati *4-Cincinnati7-San Diego *9-Houston *10-Phoenix *13-Cincinnati *16-Cincinnati19-Birmingham20-Winnipeg23-New England24-Cincinnati *25-Quebec27-Quebec *28-New England *<h4>DECEMBER</h4>2-Calgary4-Edmonton7-Birmingham *10-San Diego11-Quebec *12-Houston16-Minnesota17-New England *19-Birmingham26-San Diego *28-Phoenix *30-Houston *<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-Phoenix4-Winnipeg *7-Winnipeg *8-Calgary *9-Edmonton *11-Calgary *13-New England14-Minnesota *15-Edmonton21-Calgary23-Birmingham *25-Quebec *28-Minnesota29-Minnesota *30-New England<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>2-Minnesota5-Birmingham8-Houston9-Cincinnati *11-Quebec12-New England *13-Winnipeg15-Minnesota *19-Phoenix20-Birmingham *22-Quebec *25-Edmonton *27-Calgary *<h4>MARCH</h4>4-San Diego5-Cincinnati *6-Phoeilx10-Edmonton12-Birmingham13-Houston *15-Calgary17-Birmingham *18-Winnipeg20-Houston22-Cincinnati24-Quebec26-New England *27-Birmingham *30-Cincinnati<h4>APRIL</h4>2-New England6-Phoenix ** Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0188/10154417-1-eng-US/f0108-012.jpg" title="f0108-01" width="1086" height="989"><figcaption class="caption-body">The loss of defenseman Pat Stapleton will hurt the Racers&rsquo; chances.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0242/10154410-1-eng-US/f0108-022.jpg" title="f0108-02" width="1210" height="1013"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0326/10154403-1-eng-US/f0108-032.jpg" title="f0108-03" width="2439" height="2186"></div> &#9632;

f0106-02

Indianapolis Racers

<div class="byline">JOHNNY WILSON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0247/10154546-1-eng-US/f0109-022.jpg" title="f0109-02" width="728" height="730"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0178/10154539-1-eng-US/f0109-012.jpg" title="f0109-01" width="671" height="615"></div>The final solution to the Cleveland problem was to transfer the Crusade.to the St. Paul Civic Center wherein the cudgels between the WHA and NHL could once more be drawn. Many in the WHA feel the new St. Paul sextet nee Crusaders, are a better team than the established North Stars. Most of the old Fighting Saints buffs felt the same way.Coach Johnny Wilson is still working with the Nick Miletti-owned team. And Glen Sonmor, the Fighting Saints&rsquo; general manager, will be back at his old stand on his home turf. That makes for a good front office team.Minnesota is suspect because of the loss of goalie Gerry Cheevers last year, while the team was still in Cleveland, and because of the release granted to Paul Shmyr, an all star defenseman, who wants back into the NHL.Whether Bob Johnson, Cam Newton, and Bob Whidden can do the job Cheevers did is problematical. No one will take the place of Shmyr, although flashy Tom Edur is one of the better young defensemen in the WHA. Ray McKay is the other veteran with ability, upon whom Wilson will depend. Spare parts Paul Baxter, Ray Clearwater, Randy Legge and Pat Westrum are just that. Bryan Maxwell, in his second year, may blossom.The Cleveland attack notched only 273 goals last year, the most in the weak East, but their defense allowed 279&mdash;and it had Cheevers for half that time. Still, the situation in Cleveland was dispiriting with general manager Jack Vivian in conflict with his players, and the players fearing a mid-season drop out. At one time the Crusaders even wore black arm bands in protest over a trip their owner had taken to Kansas City to check that area out.In a new hockey oriented clime, with a modem building, the St. Paul organization may be able to pick up the sparks left by the Fighting Saints. They possess quality players in centers Ron Ward and Jim Harrison, along with a potential star in young Gary MacGregor, who fell afoul of the sophomore jinx last year. Gerry Pinder does a workmanlike job on the wing, and so does Danny Gruen and Garry Jarrett.Sonmor swapped aging winger and point man Wayne Connelly to New England for winger Fred O&rsquo;Donnell and center Bob McManama. He hopes that Al McDonough, who can put the puck in the net, bounces back from a poor 1975-76 effort.Minnesota might surprise, but they need to shore up their goaltending and defense to move up. And their scorers must work at peak potential in order to avoid Cleveland&rsquo;s long time problem, not enough goals.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0330/10154532-1-eng-US/f0109-032.jpg" title="f0109-03" width="1202" height="958"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0413/10154525-1-eng-US/f0109-042.jpg" title="f0109-04" width="1173" height="823"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ron Ward</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-0182/10154518-1-eng-US/f0110-012.jpg" title="f0110-01" width="775" height="748"><figcaption class="caption-body">CIVIC CENTER</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-0247/10154511-1-eng-US/f0110-022.jpg" title="f0110-02" width="1579" height="2342"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jim Harrison will be one of Minnesota&rsquo;s top scoring threats.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>MINNESOTA</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>7-Cincinnati *9-Indianapolis *10-Indianapolis14-Phoenix *15-San Diego17-Birmingham19-Cincinnati22-Calgary22-San Diego28-Houston *30-Quebec *<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Calgary *3-Edmonton *5-Winnipeg *7-Phoenix11-New England13-Quebec *18-Quebec20-New England *21-Calgary23-Cincinnati26-Quebec27-New England *28-Birmingham *<h4>DECEMBER</h4>3-Winnipeg5-Edmonton7-New England8-Calgary *10-Calgary12-San Diego15-Cincinnati *16-Indianapolis *18-Cincinnati22-Quebec26-New England *28-New England30-Birmingham *<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-Birmingham7-Houston8-Edmonton12-Birmingham14-Indianapolis15-Quebec *16-New England *21-Houston *22-San Diego *26-Phoenix28-Indianapolis *29-Indianapolis30-Birmingham *<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Quebec *2-Indianapolis *5-Cincinnati *6-New England *10-Houston12-Cincinnati15-Indianapolis18-Quebec20-Houston24-San Diego *25-Phoenix *27-Edmonton *<h4>MARCH</h4>1-Calgary *3-Edmonton *4-Winnipeg *6-Winnipeg8-Houston *9-Birmingham *11-Winnipeg *13-New England15-Edmonton18-Cincinnati *19-Phoenix *20-San Diego *23-New England26-Phoenix27-Quebec *30-Quebec<h4>APRIL</h4>3-Birmingham6-Winnipeg*Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0111-0180/10154504-1-eng-US/f0111-012.jpg" title="f0111-01" width="1067" height="910"><figcaption class="caption-body">Defenseman Paul Shmyr is reported to be interested in jumping back to the N.H.L.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0111-0238/10154497-1-eng-US/f0111-022.jpg" title="f0111-02" width="1243" height="946"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0111-0327/10154490-1-eng-US/f0111-032.jpg" title="f0111-03" width="2469" height="2260"></div> &#9632;

f0109-02

Minnesota Fighting Saints

<div class="byline">GILLES LEGER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0241/10154633-1-eng-US/f0112-022.jpg" title="f0112-02" width="641" height="695"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0190/10154626-1-eng-US/f0112-012.jpg" title="f0112-01" width="703" height="724"></div>The division&rsquo;s southerly tier&mdash;both geographically and in the standings&mdash;will be manned by Birmingham.The Bulls, late of Toronto, have Paul Henderson, Frank Mahovlich Vaclav Nedomansky and WHA rookie-of-the-year Mark Napier.It is a sad situation to consider the plight of Mahovlich and Henderson. Frank, the Big M, for years was second only to Bobby Hull among hockey&rsquo;s left wingers. He was a proud Stanley Cup winner in both Toronto and Montreal and once teamed with Gordie Howe, when both men were in their primes as superstars, to form one of the most potent lines in NHL history.Mahovlich left the NHL as its fourth highest scorer. He scored 533 NHL goals. He now seems destined to close out an otherwise illustrious career in that hotbed of hockey Birmingham.Henderson is in a somewhat similar position. The hero of an entire nation when he starred for Team Canada in 1972 against the Soviet Union&rsquo;s national team, Paul left the NHL for the Toronto Toros. He is all but forgotten now and one must wonder how many Alabamans know who he is. He scored the winning goal in three straight games against Russia.Nor can Napier or Nedomansky be happy with Birmingham. Dissension may be rampant among the Bulls this year. Big Ned had 98 points, and can&rsquo;t be replaced. Whether Gilles Leger, the general manager-coach can keep control is questionable.Even with the above offensive threats, the Bulls are destined for the lower runs of the East. They have, to put it simply, no defense. They scored 335 goals, but lost more 8-7 games than and team in hockey.In Toronto, the Toros allowed 398 goals, the worst number in major league hockey. Only Jim Dorey can be considered of professional calibre on the blue line corps and there are rumors he wants out.The team used six goaltenders last season. Ex-Fighting Saint John Garrett is by far the best of the lot, but he may yearn for the Minnesota winters after being left out in the cold by the Bulls&rsquo; alleged defense. His backup figures to be Mario Vien or Dave Tataryn.With all of these problems inherent in moving to new and unexplored territory, Birmingham owner John Bassett expects heavy community interest will make the Bulls successful. Considering the failure of the WFL in Birmingham, a lively football city, one must wonder about the chances of hockey there.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0320/10154619-1-eng-US/f0112-032.jpg" title="f0112-03" width="1227" height="978"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0410/10154612-1-eng-US/f0112-042.jpg" title="f0112-04" width="1199" height="879"><figcaption class="caption-body">Vaclav Nedomansky</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0113-0175/10154605-1-eng-US/f0113-012.jpg" title="f0113-01" width="1119" height="722"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEFFERSON COUNTY CIVIC CENTER</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0113-0244/10154598-1-eng-US/f0113-022.jpg" title="f0113-02" width="1639" height="2462"><figcaption class="caption-body">Young Mark Napier is one of the coming stars of the W.H.A.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>BIRMINGHAM</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-Houston10-Quebec *12-Calgary14-Cincinnati16-Houston *17-Minnesota *19-Quebec21-Houston23-Indianapolis *24-Winnipeg *26-Calgary *28-Edmonton30-New England *<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-SanDiego4-Phoenix6-Quebec *9-Quebec *11-San Diego13-Edmonton16-New England17-New England *19-Indianapolis *21-San Diego23-Calgary25-New England27-Cincinnati *28-Minnesota30-Cincinnati<h4>DECEMBER</h4>2-Edmonton7-Indianapolis10-Winnipeg *12-Edmonton *15-Phoenix *18-New England *19-Indianapolis *21-Quebec22-Cincinnati *26-Houston30-Minnesota<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-Minnesota *4-Phoenix6-San Diego *7-Cincinnati *9-Winnipeg *12-Minnesota *14-Houston *19-Quebec23-Indianapolis27-Winnipeg30-Minnesota<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-New England2-Cincinnati *4-Houston *5-Indianapolis *9-Phoenix *12-San Diego *15-Phoenix18-New England *20-Indianapolis22-Cincinnati24-Quebec26-Quebec *<h4>MARCH</h4>3-Calgary *6-Edmonton *9-Minnesota11-New England12-Indianapolis *13-Cincinnati *15-Cincinnati17-Indianapolis20-Winnipeg23-Calgary26-Phoenix *27-San Diego *27-Indianapolis29-Cincinnati<h4>APRIL</h4>2-Winnipeg3-Minnesota *5-Calgary *6-Edmonton **Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0184/10154591-1-eng-US/f0114-012.jpg" title="f0114-01" width="1058" height="964"><figcaption class="caption-body">Goaltender John Garrett.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0238/10154584-1-eng-US/f0114-022.jpg" title="f0114-02" width="1259" height="943"></div><h2>1975-76 W.H.A. Statistical Review</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0325/10154577-1-eng-US/f0114-032.jpg" title="f0114-03" width="2494" height="2336"></div> &#9632;

f0112-02

Birmingham Bulls

<div class="byline">BOBBY KROMM</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0240/10154720-1-eng-US/f0115-022.jpg" title="f0115-02" width="719" height="720"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0173/10154713-1-eng-US/f0115-012.jpg" title="f0115-01" width="664" height="643"></div>The West belongs to Winnipeg, IF. That is a very big IF, because Bobby Hull may not return to play another season with the Jets. Hull is disappointed with the development of the WHA on all levels, especially in the image area, where he thinks violence has taken over.With Hull in uniform, the Jets will lap the field. They finished with 106 points last year, the same total as Houston and only two more than Quebec. This season it won&rsquo;t be that close.Joining Hull up front to form one of hockey&rsquo;s most foremost lines are Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg. Nilsson was fourth in league scoring in 1975-76 with 38-76-114. Hedberg was seventh with 50-55-105, while Hull was runner-up to Tardif with 53-70-123. Pete Sullivan got 71 points, Veli-Pekka Ketola 68, Willy Lindstrom 59, and Mike Ford, a defenseman, 56.Defensively, the Jets will miss Larry Hornung, a steady sort who moved the puck and kept the slot free of pesky opponents. Ted Green and Larry Hillman are over-the-hill&mdash;they&rsquo;ve been so ever since they left the NHL&mdash;but Mike Ford, Hexi Riihiranta, Thommie Bergman and Lars Erik Sjoberg can handle the defensive chores. Ford is a good point man.Maskless Joe Daley has been the Jets intrepid goal-stopper since their inception in the WHA. He returns to guard the cords along with Curt Larsson, a duo that was second in goals-allowed for last season. It is reasonable to assume the Jets&rsquo; tandem will top the league&rsquo;s goaltenders this year.But anything the Jets do is dependent on Hull. If Bobby wants to play again, Nilsson and Hedberg have a top gunner&hellip;if he quits, or goes back to the NHL, Winnipeg and the WHA are in trouble.Many observers, including this one, feel that the WHA is on its last legs. Once Hull and Gordie Howe retire, the league will lose whatever charm it has. The Golden Jet gambled on the new loop back in 1972, but it has fallen far short of his expectations.Winnipeg isn&rsquo;t exactly the hub of the media, and Hull&rsquo;s accomplishments, especially his 77 goal binge in 1974-75, have been overlooked. They drew 347,838 averaging 8,696 per game.Bobby was instrumental in adding the European look to professional, hockey and the Jets roster is loaded with talented Scandinavians like Hedberg, Nilsson, Bergman and Sjoberg. They expect newcomer Dan Labretten of Leksand in Sweden to join the starry Swedes.Many experts overlook the work of Coach Bobby Kromm, long in the Chicago Black Hawks system, Kromm won in 1975-76 with the same players Hull couldn&rsquo;t win with in the past.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0328/10154706-1-eng-US/f0115-032.jpg" title="f0115-03" width="1188" height="928"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0414/10154699-1-eng-US/f0115-042.jpg" title="f0115-04" width="1177" height="818"><figcaption class="caption-body">Veli-Pekka Ketola</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-0184/10154692-1-eng-US/f0116-012.jpg" title="f0116-01" width="890" height="681"><figcaption class="caption-body">WINNIPEG ARENA</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-0247/10154685-1-eng-US/f0116-022.jpg" title="f0116-02" width="1611" height="2457"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Hull (left) celebrates with Anders Hedberg.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>WINNIPEG</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-Calgary10-New England15-Edmonton*16-Phoenix*17-San Diego*19-Indianapolis22-Phoenix24-Birmingham29-Edmonton31-San Diego<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Houston5-Minnesota6-Cincinnati*7-Edmonton9-New England11-Calgary*14-Calgary*16-Quebec19-New England*20-Indianapolis*21-Cincinnati23-Quebec*26-Houston*28-Phoenix30-San Diego<h4>DECEMBER</h4>3-Minnesota*4-New England*5-Quebec*7-Phoenix10-Birmingham12-Calgary*17-Cincinnati18-Calgary*19-Edmonton*26-Quebec28-Houston*30-San Diego*<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-Houston4-Indianapolis7-Indianapolis9-Birmingham11-Phoenix14-Calgary*16-Cincinnati23-Calgary25-Houston*27-Brimingham*29-San Diego*30-Phoenix*<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Edmonton*5-San Diego6-Calgary8-Quebec*10-New England*11-Cincinnati*13-Indianapolis*15-Calgary18-Edmonton*20-Edmonton22-Houston23-Phoenix*26-Cincinnati*27-New England<h4>MARCH</h4>2-Quebec4-Minnesota5-Phoenix*6-Minnesota*8-San Diego11-Minnesota13-Edmonton17-Edmonton*18-Indianapolis*20-Birmingham*22-Edmonton27-Houston*29-Houston31-San Diego*<h4>APRIL</h4>2-Birmingham*3-Calgary6-Minnesota**Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0173/10154678-1-eng-US/f0117-012.jpg" title="f0117-01" width="1076" height="1470"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ulf Nilsson</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0245/10154671-1-eng-US/f0117-022.jpg" title="f0117-02" width="1249" height="1479"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0330/10154664-1-eng-US/f0117-032.jpg" title="f0117-03" width="2478" height="1773"></div> &#9632;

f0115-02

WEST DIVISION

Winnipeg Jets

<div class="byline">BILL DINEEN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0236/10154807-1-eng-US/f0118-022.jpg" title="f0118-02" width="736" height="740"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0179/10154800-1-eng-US/f0118-012.jpg" title="f0118-01" width="985" height="687"></div>If Hull decides to forego the ice wars, Houston will challenge for the top spot. With Gordie Howe in uniform, that is. (If both Howe and Hull retire, the battle in the West will be wide open, with Calgary and Phoenix having a chance.)Howe managed 102 points in his 47th year, placing him 10th among league scorers and first in the hearts of geriatrics everywhere. With youngsters Don Larway, Rich Preston and Mark and Marty Howe around, the Aeros are a threat for the top spot in the West. Larry Lund, Andre Hinse and Frank Hughes form the go-go line with Preston and Terry Ruskowski joining Mark and Gordie on Houston&rsquo;s No. 1 line. Marty Howe and Hughes had 76 points with Lund and Hinse getting 73 each.The goaltending unit is solid with Ron Grahame and Wayne Rutledge. The defense, basically made up of journeymen, is solid. The names on the backline are Marty Howe, John Schella, Larry Hale and Poul Popiel. This group allowed 263 goals against, third lowest in the WHA.Aeros original Gord Labossiere was lost in the intra-league draft to Quebec, but he should not be missed.&ldquo;I hated to lose him,&rdquo; admitted Houston coach-general manager Bill Dineen. &ldquo;He has been with the team since the start and has done so much to contribute to our success. I hated to leave him unprotected but we had to go with Larway and Preston.&rdquo;And one old player. Although he had himself placed on the league&rsquo;s voluntary retirement list, Aeros President Howe doesn&rsquo;t expect to man a desk chair all season. Instead, he&rsquo;ll look to take up a spot on the Houston ice.&ldquo;I think I had a pretty good year and now I have to decide whether I can be of more help in the front office or on the ice,&rdquo; says Howe. &ldquo;Right now there are still factors to be considered. I want to be absolutely certain before I make any announcements.&rdquo;Until he has actually sat out a large number of games, nobody will believe the great Gordie has retired.Coleen Howe, the brains of the Howe menage has fallen out with the Houston top brass. This may affect the role Gordie would play as president&mdash;and make him an active player once more. It&rsquo;s what he knows best. If Howe quits, the 9,180 average attendance will dip. That&rsquo;s up from 6,801 in 1974-75.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0321/10154793-1-eng-US/f0118-032.jpg" title="f0118-03" width="1201" height="1052"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0412/10154786-1-eng-US/f0118-042.jpg" title="f0118-04" width="1154" height="966"><figcaption class="caption-body">Frank Hughes</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0119-0170/10154779-1-eng-US/f0119-012.jpg" title="f0119-01" width="1127" height="772"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE SUMMIT</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0119-0239/10154772-1-eng-US/f0119-022.jpg" title="f0119-02" width="1678" height="2285"><figcaption class="caption-body">Goaltender Ron Grahame sprawls as former Fighting Saint Mike Walton goes over the top.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>HOUSTON</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-Birmingham *9-Phoenix13-Calgary16-Birmingham19-New England21-Birmingham *22-New England *23-Quebec *26-Edmonton28-Minnesota3O-Calgary *31-Edmonton *<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Winnipeg *5-Phoenix6-San Diego *9-Indianapolis12-San Diego16-Calgary19-San Diego *20-Phoenix *23-Edmonton26-Winnipeg<h4>DECEMBER</h4>3-Edmonton5-Cincinnati *8-New England *1O-Cincinnati *12-Indianapolis *14-Phoenix17-Quebec18-San Diego *19-Phoenix *21-New England23-Cincinnati26-Birmingham *28-Winnipeg30-Indianapolis<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-Winnipeg *4-Edmonton *5-Calgary *7-Minnesota *8-Quebec *11-SanDiego12-Phoenix *14-Birmingham16-Edmonton21-Minnesota23-San Diego25-Winnipeg28-Edmonton *29-Calgary *<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Calgary3-Phoenix *4-Birmingham8-Indianapolis *10-Minnesota *12-Quebec15-New England18-San Diego20-Minnesota *22-Winnipeg *23-Calgary *26-San Diego *27-Phoenix *<h4>MARCH</h4>1-Phoenix4-New England *6-Cincinnati *8-Minnesota11-Cincinnati13-Indianapolis15-Quebec18-Phoenix20-Indianapolis *22-Quebec *25-Calgary27-Winnipeg29-Winnipeg *30-Emonton *<h4>APRIL</h4>1-Cincinnati5-San Diego6-San Diego ** Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0180/10154765-1-eng-US/f0120-012.jpg" title="f0120-01" width="1078" height="1268"><figcaption class="caption-body">If Gordie retires, can Marty (3) and Mark (4) Howe carry the load?</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0246/10154758-1-eng-US/f0120-022.jpg" title="f0120-02" width="1241" height="1573"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0329/10154751-1-eng-US/f0120-032.jpg" title="f0120-03" width="2456" height="1671"></div> &#9632;

f0118-02

Houston Aeros

<div class="byline">JOE CROZIER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0249/10154894-1-eng-US/f0121-022.jpg" title="f0121-02" width="732" height="787"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0175/10154887-1-eng-US/f0121-012.jpg" title="f0121-01" width="787" height="703"></div>Few people would be distressed if Joe Crozier was fired by the Calgary Cowboys. Crozier&rsquo;s mob can maul all they want in the playoffs, as they did to the Nordiques and Tardif, but the reactions against them will always be loud.The Cowboys are the most hated team in the league, perhaps in all of hockey. It may be cruel to wish ill of a team but many observers feel it would bode well for hockey if the Cowboys suffer in attendance and are ridiculed by their contemporaries for their style of play.Which is a shame because Calgary boasts, some fine players in its ranks. Danny Lawson is a genuine scoring star (44-52-96 last year) with a booming slapper. Ron Chipperfield (42 goals and 83 points) and Gavin Kirk are solid performers, and had workers, like George Morrison, Rick Sentes, Don Tannahill and Butch Deadmarsh always help.The addition of former Buffalo Sabres goalie Gary Bromley to the Corrall could mean big things. With Bromley having directed the Sabres to a Divisional title two years ago and Don McLeod having an Avco win under his belt at Houston, Joe Crozier could be building a surprise in the West.McLeod played 63 games, with the Cowboys goals against being in seventh in the loop.Harry Howell, 45 year old gray horse who might play again, steadied Crozier&rsquo;s club down when he joined up in mid-season. Francois Lacombe, Chris Evans, John Miszuk and vet Duane Rupp are underrated.The incident in which Rick Jodzio mauled Marc Tardif is still in court. Jodzio is only a fringe player, who wouldn&rsquo;t be missed. If the Tardif-Jodzio incident had occurred in the NHL, the furor would have been greater.Still Crozier &ldquo;made&rdquo; pro hockey in Calgary with a style of close checking not normally associated with the WHA Playing in a tiny building they averaged 4,948.If Howe and Hull quit and Phoenix has a goalie problem, Calgary could move up.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0334/10154880-1-eng-US/f0121-032.jpg" title="f0121-03" width="1162" height="1155"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0423/10154873-1-eng-US/f0121-042.jpg" title="f0121-04" width="1132" height="991"><figcaption class="caption-body">Claude St. Sauveur was returned to the Cowboys by Atlanta of the N.H.L.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0122-0179/10154866-1-eng-US/f0122-012.jpg" title="f0122-01" width="1073" height="646"><figcaption class="caption-body">STAMPEDE CORRAL</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0122-0244/10154859-1-eng-US/f0122-022.jpg" title="f0122-02" width="1767" height="2547"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rick Sentes challenges Edmonton&rsquo;s Tim Sheehy for position.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>CALGARY</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-Winnipeg *9-Quebec *12-Birmingham13-Houston *16-San Diego *21-Quebec22-Minnesota *24-San Diego26-Birmingham30-Houston<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Minnesota4-Edmonton7-New England11-Winnipeg14-Winnipeg16-Houston *18-Phoenix *19-Quebec21-Minnesota *23-Birmingham24-Phoenix *27-SanDiego<h4>DECEMBER</h4>1-New England2-Indianapolis *3-Cincinnati *5-Phoenix8-Minnesota10-Minnesota *12-Winnipeg18-Winnipeg21-Edmonton *23-Edmonton26-Cincinnati30-Quebec<h4>JANUARY</h4>1-Edmonton5-Houston7-Edmonton *8-Indianapolis11-Indianapolis14-Winnipeg15-SanDiego *16-Phoenix *21-Indianapolis *22-Quebec *23-Winnipeg *25-Phoenix29-Houston30-Edmonton *<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Houston *2-SanDiego *5-Phoenix *6-Winnipeg *11-Edmonton13-Edmonton *15-Winnipeg *16-Cincinnati18-Cincinnati20-New England23-Houston25-New England27-Indianapolis<h4>MARCH</h4>1-Minnesota3-Birmingham6-SanDiego9-SanDiego12-Cincinnati *15-Indianapolis *16-Cincinnati *18-New England *19-Quebec *20-New England *22-Birmingham *24-San Diego *25-Houston *27-Phoenix29-Phoenix<h4>APRIL</h4>1-Edmonton *2-Edmonton3-Winnipeg *5-Birmingham* Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0123-0169/10154852-1-eng-US/f0123-012.jpg" title="f0123-01" width="1021" height="946"><figcaption class="caption-body">Danny Lawson is the Cowboys&rsquo; big scorer.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0123-0237/10154845-1-eng-US/f0123-022.jpg" title="f0123-02" width="1202" height="948"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0123-0326/10154838-1-eng-US/f0123-032.jpg" title="f0123-03" width="2384" height="2159"></div> &#9632;

f0121-02

Calgary Cowboys

<div class="byline">AL ROLLINS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0243/10154981-1-eng-US/f0124-022.jpg" title="f0124-02" width="712" height="743"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0184/10154974-1-eng-US/f0124-012.jpg" title="f0124-01" width="772" height="668"></div>Phoenix could have challenged for the division title had they kept Sandy Hucul, the WHA&rsquo;s best coach, behind the bench. Instead, a personality and economy conflict resulted in the firing of Hucul, with Al Rollins taking over as General-Manager-coach.Basically a team of nobodies, the Roadrunners are one of the more exciting outfits in the league. They are led by American Robbie Ftorek, Fjins Pekka Rautakallio and Lauri Mononen, and Del Hall, John Gray, Ron Huston and Jim Niekamp. Who, you say?Well, didn&rsquo;t the NBA say who when the Pjioenix Suns&rsquo; lineup was introduced, only to see the Suns wind up in the finals. It would be good advice to stay wary of the Roadrunners, whose main weakness is in goal, where Jack Norris&rsquo; retirement has left it up to Gary Kurt to do the job in 76-77. Phoenix may &ldquo;beep-beep&rdquo; its way to great heights.The Roadrunner players are a special breed. They purchased more than 500 season tickets this past summer to keep the franchise fairly solvent. The cost was approximately $110,000. The average attendance was 6,464, down from 7,443 of 1974-75.Rollins is putting together an all Finnish line of Seppo Repo, Lauri Monenen and Juhani Tamminen, who was purchased from Cleveland. With defenseman Rautakallio notching 50 points in 1975-76, Finland is very important to the Roadrunners.Phoenix trained in Finland, with Rollins hoping to find a goalie to share the load with Kurt.The Runners are proud of Ftorek, who hustled his way to 113 points&rsquo; Hall had 91, Gray 80, Huston 33 and Jim Boyd 57.The defense is led by Rautakallio, with Niekamp, Gary Lariviere, Al McLeod and Serge Beaudoin.&ldquo;I thought players weren&rsquo;t supposed to care about such things,&rdquo; offered Rollins. &ldquo;Well, our players care.&ldquo;The city has been good to us and so have the people,&rsquo;&rdquo;says defenseman Niekamp. &ldquo;We just want to be a part of the city. It&rsquo;s not as if we just play here and leave at the end of the season&ldquo;When you get older and start raising a family,&rdquo; adds Niekamp, &ldquo;you can really appreciate a place like Phoenix We just want to do something to make hockey go here.&rdquo;If the Runners apply their talents to the ice game as well as they have to the community, then Phoenix fans will enjoy the upcoming hockey campaign.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0328/10154967-1-eng-US/f0124-032.jpg" title="f0124-03" width="1197" height="1019"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0416/10154960-1-eng-US/f0124-042.jpg" title="f0124-04" width="1078" height="891"><figcaption class="caption-body">Juhani Tamminen is part of an all-Finish line, with Seppo Repo and Lauri Monenen.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0125-0171/10154953-1-eng-US/f0125-012.jpg" title="f0125-01" width="762" height="717"><figcaption class="caption-body">MEMORIAL COLISEUM</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0125-0245/10154946-1-eng-US/f0125-022.jpg" title="f0125-02" width="1640" height="2437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Robbie Ftorek was the W.H.A/s fifth-leading scorer last year.</figcaption></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>PHOENIX</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-Cincinnati9-Houston *14-Minnesota16-Winnipeg19-Edmonton *22-Winnipeg *24-Edmonton *26-Quebec *29-New England30-Cincinnati *<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Quebec *4-Birmingham *5-Houston *7-Minnesota *10-Indianapolis12-New England14-San Diego16-Edmonton18-Calgary20-Houston24-Calgary26-Edmonton28-Winnipeg *30-Edmonton *<h4>DECEMBER</h4>2-San Diego *4-San Diego5-Calgary *7-Winnipeg *9-Quebec12-Cincinnati *14-Houston *15-Birmingham17-Edmonton19-Houston22-San Diego28-Indianapolis<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-Indianapolis *4-Birmingham *8-New England *11-Winnipeg *12-Houston14-Cincinnati16-Calgary20-Cincinnati22-Edmonton23-Edmonton *25-Calgary *26-Minnesota *28-New England30-Winnipeg<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-San Diego *3-Houston5-Calgary9-Birmingham11-San Diego13-San Diego *15-Birmingham *17-New England *19-Indianapolis *20-Cincinnati *23-Winnipeg25-Minnesota27-Houston<h4>MARCH</h4>1-Houston *5-Winnipeg6-Indianapolis *8-Quebec *12-San Diego *15-San Diego *17-Quebec18-Houston *19-Minnesota23-Birmingham25-San Diego26-Minnesota *27-Calgary *29-Calgary *31-New England<h4>APRIL</h4>2-Quebec6-Indianapolis* Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0177/10154939-1-eng-US/f0126-012.jpg" title="f0126-01" width="1049" height="1399"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0232/10154932-1-eng-US/f0126-022.jpg" title="f0126-02" width="1218" height="1518"><figcaption class="caption-body">Roadrunner defenseman Garry Lariviere rides Stinger ace Rick Dudley to the ice.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0320/10154925-1-eng-US/f0126-032.jpg" title="f0126-03" width="2386" height="1758"></div> &#9632;

f0124-02

Phoenix Roadrunners

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0171/10155040-1-eng-US/f0127-012.jpg" title="f0127-01" width="745" height="780"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0242/10155033-1-eng-US/f0127-022.jpg" title="f0127-02" width="800" height="607"><figcaption class="caption-body">SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ARENA</figcaption></div>The saga of the San Diego Mariners in surviving for thirteen weeks without pay after Joseph Schwartz defaulted when unable to meet the payroll is a shining example of the other side of the coin. The gallant Mariner players played the month of March and on into the playoffs without a pay day, upset arch rival Phoenix in the playoffs and carried Houston to a tough six games before bowing out in 1975-76.They were counted out of the WHA four different times during the summer, but finally, when none of the players had sold their services elsewhere, Ray Kroc, the hamburger king and owner of the baseball Padres stepped in and saved hockey in San Diego.Mr. Franchise is Andre Lacroix, who once centered the French Line of the Philadelphia Flyers. Slick Andre tallied 29 goals and added 72 assists for 102 points. Lacroix played much of the time with Wayne Rivers and John French. Rivers dropped off with only 1 9-2 5-44 and general manager-coach Ron Ingram hopes he bounces back to the 54 goals and 54 assists he notched in 1 974-75.The tough Mariners also boast center Ray Adduono, who has proved he isn&rsquo;t too small. Adduono got 90 points, his linemates Norm Ferguson 74 and Gene Peacosh 70. Joe Noris, an American, playing up front after starting his career as a defenseman, got 68 points, with second-team all-star defenseman Kevin Morrison firing from the point for 65.With Ernie Wakely in goal, the defense has veterans of the genre of Mike McMahon, Bob Wall, Bob Falkenberg, Brent Hughes and Jim Hargreaves.Last season, the Mariners were very tough at home, but pushovers on the road. They finished two games under .500, scored 303 goals&mdash;second highest in the West Division, but allowed 290, as the boys played wide-open for the most part.With Phoenix trusting former New York Raider Gary Kurt as their number one goalie, the Californians might move up. Wakely can do the job, if given protection. Morrison is a tough offensive defenseman and Lacroix is a shifty piece of machinery. There is not much to choose between Phoenix, Calgary and San Diego. Even Houston fits into this picture if Gordie Howe quits or plays ineffectively. The Mariners could surprise and survive quite nicely in the WHA West.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0333/10155026-1-eng-US/f0127-032.jpg" title="f0127-03" width="1184" height="848"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0419/10155019-1-eng-US/f0127-042.jpg" title="f0127-04" width="1145" height="837"></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>SAN DIEGO</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>9-Cincinnati12-Quebec *15-Minnesota *16-Calgary17-Winnipeg21-Indianapolis24-Calgary *26-Minnesota *27-Indianpolis *29-Cincinnati *31-Winnipeg *<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>2-Birmingham *6-Houston7-Indianapolis11-Birmingham *12-Houston *14-Phoenix *17-Edmonton19-Houston21-Birmingham *24-Edmonton27-Calgary *28-Edmonton *30-Winnipeg *<h4>DECEMBER</h4>2-Phoenix4-Phoenix *8-Cincinnati *10-Indianapolis *11-New England *12-Minnesota *14-Edmonton *16-Edmonton18-Houston19-Quebec22-Phoenix *23-New England26-Indianapolis30-Winnipeg<h4>JANUARY</h4>2-New England *4-Quebec *6-Birmingham8-Cincinnati *11-Houston *13-Cinclnnati15-Calgary20-Edmonton22-Minnesota23-Houston *27-New England29-Winnipeg<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Phoenix2-Calgary4-Winnipeg *6-Edmonton *8-Edmonton *11-Phoenix *12-8irmingham13-Phoenix16-Quebec18-Houston *24-Minnesota26-Houston<h4>MARCH</h4>2-New England *4-Indianapolis *5-Quebec *6-Calgary *8-Winnipeg *9-Calgary *12-Phoenix15-Phoenix20-Minnesota24-Calgary25-Phoenix *26-Birmingham29-New England31-Winnipeg<h4>APRIL</h4>2-Cincinnati3-Quebec5-Houston *6-Houston* Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0128-0181/10155012-1-eng-US/f0128-012.jpg" title="f0128-01" width="2398" height="2016"></div> &#9632;

f0127-01

San Diego Mariners

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0173/10155113-1-eng-US/f0129-012.jpg" title="f0129-01" width="754" height="714"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0250/10155106-1-eng-US/f0129-022.jpg" title="f0129-02" width="1088" height="772"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE COLISEUM</figcaption></div>The only thing certain about the Edmonton situation is that Bill Hunter, the owner-general manager-coach, is no longer in the picture. He was fired by the Board of Directors, who were unhappy with his fourth-annual return to the Edmonton bench last year. He had returned to the Oilers&rsquo; more times than the Emile Francis nonsense in New York.The Oilers almost didn&rsquo;t operate and only the intervention of Ben Hatskin enabled them to continue on an old lease at the Edmonton Coliseum.Goalies Dave Dryden and Chris Worthy are talented, but have been caught in a bad situation.Barry Long, Al Hamilton, Paul Hurley and Ted McAneeley form the Blue Line crew. Hornung, from Winnipeg, is a key in any chance al improvement.Up front Norm Ullman, the ancient ex-Red Wing and Maple Leaf is the big star. Wayne Carleton and Tim Sheehy both ex-Whalers are expected to help the goals for column.Hunter, a non stop worker, claims to have lost $2 million on the Oilers. It was his doing which created reality to Gary Davidson&rsquo;s original idea for the WHA. And it was his efforts which built the $15 million Edmonton Coliseum &rsquo;The Oilers went with veteran home brews from the start and have beer burned Attendance dropped from a 10,722 average in 1974-75 to 7,931 last year.Big Alan Hamilton, a defense star with the junior Oil Kings has been unspectacular back home. Bruce MacGregor, a former Red Wing and Ranger got just 21 points in 63 games. Rusty Patenaude surprised with 72 points, but Edmonton must get more goals than the 268 they notched in 1975-76, and allow fewer than the 345 they surrendered. The goals for was the worst in the Canadian Division and the goals against second worst.Oiler stockholders feel a youth movement is needed, but the economic squeeze seems to prevent this.The success of the Calgary Cowboys, a prairie rival is hurting Edmonton at the gate. The acquisition of Carleton gives the team a super star, by WHA standards, but one very hard to handle.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0338/10155099-1-eng-US/f0129-032.jpg" title="f0129-03" width="1168" height="1101"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0422/10155092-1-eng-US/f0129-042.jpg" title="f0129-04" width="1235" height="1104"></div><h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>EDMONTON</h3><h4>OCTOBER</h4>8-New England15-Winnipeg17-Indianapolis19-Phoenix24-Phoenix26-Houston28-Birmingham29-Winnipeg31-Houston<h4>NOVEMBER</h4>3-Minnesota4-Calgary *5-Edmonton7-Winnipeg10-Cincinnati13-Birmingham16-Phoenix *17-San Diego19-Cincinnati21-Quebec23-Houston *24-San Diego26-Phoenix *28-San Diego30-Phoenix<h4>DECEMBER</h4>2-Birmingham *3-Houston *4-Indianapolis *5-Minnesota *7-Quebec *12-Birmingham14-San Diego16-San Diego *17-Phoenix *19-Winnipeg21-Calgary23-Calgary *27-Cincinnati28-Quebec<h4>JANUARY</h4>1-Calgary *4-Houston7-Calgary8-Minnesota *9-Indianapolis11-Quebec *14-New England *15-Indianapolis *16-Houston *20-San Diego *22-Phoenix *23-Phoenix28-Houston30-Calgary<h4>FEBRUARY</h4>1-Winnipeg6-San Diego8-San Diego11-Calgary *13-Calgary15-Cincinnati18-Winnipeg20-Winnipeg *22-New England25-Indianapolis27-Minnesota<h4>MARCH</h4>1-Quebec3-Minnesota6-Birmingham9-Cincinnati *10-Indianapolis *12-Quebec *13-Winnipeg *15-Minnesota *17-Winnipeg22-Winnipeg *24-New England *25-Cincinnati *27-New England *30-Houston<h4>APRIL</h4>1-Calgary2-Calgary *6-Birmingham* Away<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-0175/10155085-1-eng-US/f0130-012.jpg" title="f0130-01" width="2236" height="2021"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0131-0172/10155078-1-eng-US/f0131-012.jpg" title="f0131-01" width="2455" height="2321"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0131-0246/10155071-1-eng-US/f0131-022.jpg" title="f0131-02" width="2441" height="1042"></div> &#9632;

f0129-01

Edmonton Oilers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0132-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0132-0174/10155151-1-eng-US/f0132-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0133-0175/10155144-1-eng-US/f0133-012.jpg" title="f0133-01" width="2700" height="3585"></div> &#9632;

f0132-01

1975-1976 W.H.A. Playoff Statistics

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0136-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0136-0181/10155241-1-eng-US/f0136-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak</figcaption></div>The biggest surprise in Russia wasn&rsquo;t the partial decline of the National team but the fact that Central Red Army or the Soviet Wings didn&rsquo;t win the Soviet first division title. That honor went to Spartak, the third team which toured in North America but had to lend its better players to the Red Army and the Wings when they played against the National Hockey League.When Messrs. Aleksander Yakushev, Vladimir Shadrin and Yuri Liapkin got home to Moscow they reversed the usual order of things.Besides the above three other Soviet First division teams are Himik Voskresensk, Dynamo Riga, Dynamo Moscow, Traktor, Tsheljabinsk, Torpedo Gorki, SKA &rsquo; Leningrad and Kristall Sorotov. The Army&rsquo;s Russian nom de plume is ZSKA Moscow, the Wings are Krylja Sovjetov Moscow and Spartak is Spartak Moscow. Shades of the Giants, Dodgers and Yankees all in one city.Actually, the entire Soviet first division is centered around the Soviet capital. Each team plays 36 games in the regular schedule. The teams are sport clubs, which select their players for training as early as seven years of age. The Russian dry land training techniques have become familiar because of trips to North America, and because of the general fame of Olga Korbut, the world class gymnast.The Soviet game is skating, with the most superior physical conditioning in the world. They pass more than any other country, or team and practice long and hard for perfect plays which will free one man in front, with an open net. They are the New York Rangers of the Frank Boucher era, and then some.Anatoli Tarasov was the man who made the Russians the world power they are. Since entering the 1952 Olympics for the first time, the COCP has captured four Olympic titles and eleven world championships. They were upset by the United States only Gold Medal in 1960, but have done so well that Canada, the motherland of the ice sport, hasn&rsquo;t won in the Olympics since 1952 and finally dropped its entry because most of its good players had turned professional.The Russians are actually subsidized pros, especially trained to play for the team. Except for Vladislav Tretiak, whose great performance against the Montreal Canadiens on New Year&rsquo;s eve last year will never be forgotten, the Russians may be a bit behind the NHL in the technique of playing goal.They are also behind in playing the body, not because of physical weakness, but because of mental approach and a different skating style. The North American pro skates more upward than does the Russian who is bent in a different skating style. There is more hip movement in the Russian technique. The Canadian turns faster, the Russian skates faster, the Russian last longer and has more left in the third period.Whether the Reds can come back from the disaster of Poland remains to be seen. Valery Kharlamov has a smashed up ankle and missed the Canada Cup play. Anatoli Gusev, the great defenseman got old, and simply was dropped, but not really replaced. Vladimir Petrov, who led the Soviet First Division scoring two seasons back, has been dropped for lack of interest.Still the Russians have great firepower and would be serious contenders for the NHL Stanley Cup, along with the Czechs if they played in the NHL. They would rate with Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia and the New York Islanders.The Reds best line is that of Boris Mikhailov, Valery Kharlamov and Aleksander Maltsev.A Soviet All-Star team would line up as follows:Goal: Vladislav Tretiak, ZSKADefense: Valeri Vasilev, M. DynamoDefense: Vladimir Lutcheno, ZSKACenter: Aleksandr Maltsev, SpartakWing: Aleksandr Yakushev, SpartakWing: Boris Mikhailov, ZSKAMost Valuable Player: Valeri Kharlamov, ZSKA (injured)Runnerup: Vladislav Trekiak, ZSKABest Defenseman: Valeri Vasilev, M. DynamoBest Pro Prospect: Serge Kapustin, Krylja SovjetovIt must be noted than no Soviet player has ever defected, so the mention of Kapustin is pure fancy at this point. &#9632;

f0136-01

RUSSIA

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0137-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0137-0173/10155272-1-eng-US/f0137-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Czech defenseman Oldrich Machac</figcaption></div>The Czech First Division title was won by SONP Kladno. Other teams are Tesla Pardubice, Dukla Jihlava, CHZ Litinov, Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Praque, Motor C. Budejovice, ZKL Brno, Skoda Plzen, VSZ Kosice, Tj VZKG Ostrava and Tj Gottwaldov. They are unpronounceable, but the Czechs can play good solid positional hockey.Maurice Richard and Stan Mikita, who was born in Sokolce, Czechoslovakia,, are heroes in Prague. What coaches Jan Starsi and Karel Gut accomplished in winning the World title in 1976. is shown by thirteen straight Russian World and Olympic wins. The Czechs had last won the World title in amateur play in 1949, in a tournament conducted in Prague. Russia didn&rsquo;t enter the Olympics until 1952, so even that far away win was hollow.Many say that Jiri Holocek, the 34 year old Sparta Praque veteran is the best goalie in the world, better than Russia&rsquo;s Vladislav Tretiak or Montreal&rsquo;s Ken Dryden. He is a gymnast, who handles long shots better than Tretiak and is surer than Dryden. Whether he could do this under the strain of an 80 game NHL type schedule with travel, as opposed to tournament play, is a question.&ldquo;Holocek is the best,&rdquo; says Bobby Hull, the Winnipeg Jets star. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think anyone really compares.&rdquo;In the World Tournament, six of the top ten scorers were Czech with speedy Vladimir Martinec leading the way. He fired 57 shots in ten games, and got 9 goals and 11 assists. Jiri Novak had 16 points, including 9 goals. He is a Czech version of Camille Henry, albeit a stronger and bigger version, as a tip in expert, and skilled artisan in front.Milan Novy, who seems to log 40 minutes a game, killing penalties, playing the power play and taking faceoffs from his center post, also got nine goals and totaled 15 points. A never stop skater, Novy is the Bobby Clarke of Europe, although his backhanded faceoff style is said to be out of date by NHL experts.Nineteen year Peter Stasny and 31 year old Jiri Holik each managed 12 points in the Worlds, as Stasny showed that the Czechs also have junior talent. Holik is another expert in front of the net.In the main the Czechs do not pass as much as the Russians and shoot a bit more.On defense 32 year old team captain Frantisek Pospisil is a solid player who could easily star in the NHL So could Oldrich Machac of Brno, a&rsquo; seasonal rival of Pospisil, who plays for Kladno. Machac hits as does Jiri Bubla, a rugged phusical speciman.Kladno has Pospisil, Frantisek Kaberle, Novy and Edouard Novak. Novy and Novak usually play together with Josef Augusta. Martinec teamed with Stasny and Jiri Novak in the Olympics and the Worlds.A Czech all star first team would line up as follows:Goal: Jiri Holocek, Sparta PraqueDefense: Fran Pospisil, KladnoDefense: Oldrich Machac, BRNOCenter: Milan Novy, KladnoWing: Jiri Holik, DuklaWing: Vladmir Martinec, Pardubice.Most Valuable Player: Jiri Holocek, goalie, Sparta Praque.Runnerup: Milan Novy, Kladno.Best Defenseman: Fran Pospisil, Kladno.Best Pro Prospect: Ivan Hlinka, Litvinov.The Czechs play a pro oriented style game, with up and down positional play, strong individual skaters and their National Team possesses a bevy of strong defensemen and physically tough wings. &#9632;

f0137-01

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0138-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-0172/10155303-1-eng-US/f0138-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Swedish goaltender Goran Hogosta is challenging Tretiak and Holocek for top European honors.</figcaption></div>Sweden has a top flight star in both the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association. Borje Salming, the Toronto defenseman is the highest paid Maple Leaf in history. Ulf Nilsson makes the plays for Bobby Hull and Anders Hedberg for the Winnipeg Jets. But it was the work of goalie Goran Hogasta who enabled &ldquo;Tre Konor&rdquo; to outplay the Soviets in the World tourney.In the Canada Cup the Swedes brought back many of their former stars from the NHL and WHA, although they insisted on excluding the Abrahamsson brothers, goalie Christer and defenseman Thommy. In the World play it was 22 year old Roland Ericksson who led the Swedes in scoring with 15 points. Mats Waldin, a defenseman, outplayed many big name stars and was named the outstanding blue liner in the tournament. Dan Labretten of Leksand played well and is signed with Winnipeg for 1976&mdash;77. So did Hans Jax who got 11 points.Brynas IF won the Swedish title in 1975-76 finally ending a jinx that had seen Leksand win the 1974-75 championship in sudden death overtime. The Abrahamssons come from Leksand, with Salming and Inge Hammarstrom coming from Brynas IF.In addition to Brynas IF and Leksand, the Swedish First Division has teams representing Skelleftea AIK Timra IK, MoDo AIK, Faijestads BK, V. Frolunda IF, AIK, Sodertalje SK, Djurgardens IF, IF Bjorkloven, Mora IK, Orebro IK, Tinsryds AIR, Vasteras IK, Tinsryds A IF, Vasteras IK and IF Karlskoga &mdash; Bofors.Tumba Johansson was the original Swedish hockey hero of the 1950s, with Sterner taking over in the early sixties. Sweden has never won an Olympic Gold Medal, but they have three World titles, in 1953, 1957 and 1962. That was the last year the Soviet Union failed to win the World competition until 1975&mdash;76.The Swedes tend to shoot from further out than do the Russians and Czechs and they literally fly on their blades. They have matured in regard to physical play and no longer can be considered pushovers in this respect.Arne Stromberg, the former coach of the Swedish National team is still a big name in Sweden. Hans Lindberg, (31 year old former Brynas star is the new coach.) Lindberg did pick five Winnipeg Jets (Hedberg, Nilsson, Lindstrom, Eric-Sjoberg, Bergman) plus Juha Widing of Los Angeles, Borje Salming and Hammastrom, when he picked Team Sweden for the Canada Cup play.But the Swedish Nationals future lays with Hogasta, Waltin, Stig Salming, Borje&rsquo;s kid brother, goalie William Lofquist, Bjorn Johansson, Mats Ahlberg, Hans Jax, Jan-Olov Svensson, Lars Eric Esbjoras, Lars Eric Ericksson, Thomas Gradin, Dan Soderstrom, Dan Labretten and Lars Gunnar Lundberg. The Cleveland Barons drafted and signed Johansson, a defenseman as their number one pick.The Swedish first division plays a thirty game schedule. Last year Morris and Darwin Mott played for Vastra Frolunda and they have signed again for 1976&mdash;77. With a surplus of minor pro players in the United States and Canada some reverse lend lease may be worked out. Sweden usually is the first place a Canadian player likes to think about when he desires to play in Europe. Morris Mott is a former California Seal.With Hogasta having outpointed Tretiak in the World tournament, Sweden is proud of its goalie situation. Curt Larsson is the backup to Joe Daley with Winnipeg, and Leif Holmquist is number two or three, with the Indianapolis Racers.It must be remembered that the Swedes have graduated more players to the pros than any other European country. Still, their kids beat the Russians in the Poland World tournament in April of 1976. Of concern to the Swedish authorities is the continual raids of the WHA on its players.Not all the WHA teams have bothered to pay the signing fees. This is the reason for the Abrahamsson furor. Winnipeg has paid its fees. Without the payment of the monies the Swedish junior and minor program would dry up. Therefore, the professional leagues in North America hold the future of pro style hockey in Sweden in their hands. &#9632;

f0138-01

SWEDEN

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0140-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0140-0167/10155372-1-eng-US/f0140-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lodzki klub Sportowy</figcaption></div>When West Germany edged out the United States and Finland for the Bronze medal and third place in the 1976 Olympics it marked the first ever medal for that country. It was almost a personal triumph for center Erich Kuenhackel, a native Czech, but a naturalized German.Keunhackel, on the Pittsburgh list, is six foot six inch, 200 pounder of slender build, but can fly on his skates. He has great lateral movement. The question, as far as pro play in North America is whether he could stand the traffic in front of the net.Other German players of ability are Kuenhackel&rsquo;s playing partner Alois Schloder, defenseman Ignaz Berndaner and forward Funk Lorenz.Romania captured the &ldquo;B&rdquo; competition in the Olympics and will get a shot in the 1977 Vienna World Tournament as a result. Doru Tureanu and Eduard Pana are the best Romanian forwards, with Marian Pisaru and Marian Costea not too far behind. Romania&rsquo;s two goalies are Netedu Valerian and Morar Vasile.Austria, Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Bulgaria also competed at the *&lsquo;B&rdquo; level, something the United States is familiar with. Team USA had to beat Yugoslavia to qualify for the A level at the Olympics. And team USA has been forced to compete at the B level in the past, always winning when playing at the secondary grade.Franc Zbontar is the best player on Yugoslavia, along with Edvard Hafner. Zbontar is a Lou Angotti look alike. Roman Smolej also shows promise.The Austrians boast Franz, Voves and the Swiss have the high scoring line of Anton Neininger, Nando Mathieu and Rolf Tschiemer. Norm Beaudin of the Winnipeg Jets will play and coach in Switzerland this season. In the past, stars such as Andy Bathgate have spent a season in Switzerland.Switzerland has an eight team first division playing a 28 game schedule. Teams are located in Bern, Chaux&mdash;de&mdash;Fonds, Langnau, Kloten, Villars, Ambri&mdash;Piotta, Sierrc and Geneve&mdash;Servette.West Germany&rsquo;s first Division plays 36 games. Franchises are located in Dusseldorf, Berliner SC, Krefelder EV, EV Landshut, EV Fussen. VFL Bud Nauheim, EC Koln, SC Riessersee, EC Bad Toll, ESV Kaufhueren.Many of the American Olympic players have played in West Germany from time to time, Steve Sertich, who played on the USA&rsquo;s top line spent two years in Germany.Poland&rsquo;s biggest moment in hockey came when their National Team defeated Russia 6-4, after losing 16-1 in the Olympics. The Poles play lethargically at times, but go like gangbusters when they sense a victory. The play a 36 game First Division schedule with clubs representing Podhale Nowy Targ, Balldon Katowice. GKS Katowice, Naprzod Janow, Polania, Polonia Bydgoszcz, T.K.S Lodz, Legia Varsova, Zagleble, Sosnowiec, Pomorzanian Torun and Unia Oswiecim Their top Une is Lcsz.ck Tokarz, Stefan (&rsquo;howaniec and Josef BatkiewiczThe Poles seemingly play a sleeper role They have beaten Team USA In World competition, when that didn&rsquo;t seem possible, and their win over Russia made national heroes of the amateur Polish players &#9632;

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GERMANY-POLAND-YUGOSLAVIA

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0141-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0141-0157/10155417-1-eng-US/f0141-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-0160/10155410-1-eng-US/f0142-012.jpg" title="f0142-01" width="2304" height="410"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-0233/10155403-1-eng-US/f0142-022.jpg" title="f0142-02" width="2407" height="2242"></div> &#9632;

f0141-01

American Hockey League Statistics

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0144-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-0163/10155493-1-eng-US/f0144-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0144-01

1975-76 Statistics

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0144-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-0236/10155524-1-eng-US/f0144-022.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0144-02

North American League

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0145-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0145-0153/10155555-1-eng-US/f0145-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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Yearbook 1977

EUROPEAN REPORT

Central Hockey League Statistics

FINLAND

Buffalo Sabres