tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17919296120141710922024-03-12T22:34:28.198-07:00Encyclopedia of the North American Hockey League (1973-1977)The Encyclopedia of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) that existed from 1973-74 to 1976-77. The NAHL was spawned by the death of the Eastern Hockey League and is the inspiration for the 1977 classic cult movie 'Slapshot'.Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-70915257862789530102017-01-09T11:15:00.000-08:002018-03-24T06:49:00.387-07:00Gary Kurt: All-Star Goalie For The Syracuse Blazers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9vBgmq12Cdha6JpDkJSx7bIwUPpNOQr3wBsocQ98jqIhnXCgLwS7c-B1dXumJOXkw35ZSc9wKSUULpig-oddP14n50TR1jTEdx8jqCXFrhPGgHE73qV6J2H1k-T_QEgk_ejvZ5FiYbI/s1600/1972-73+o-pee-chee+306+gary+kurt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="gary kurt new york raiders o-pee-chee hockey card" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9vBgmq12Cdha6JpDkJSx7bIwUPpNOQr3wBsocQ98jqIhnXCgLwS7c-B1dXumJOXkw35ZSc9wKSUULpig-oddP14n50TR1jTEdx8jqCXFrhPGgHE73qV6J2H1k-T_QEgk_ejvZ5FiYbI/s320/1972-73+o-pee-chee+306+gary+kurt.JPG" title="gary kurt new york raiders" width="229" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt played in the North American
Hockey League for just the league's inaugural 1973-74 season. He lost
to Bobby Orr and the Oshawa Generals in the 1965-66 OHL finals. He
won the Harry Hap Holmes Memorial Award in the 1970-71 AHL for the
lowest goals against. He played a short time in the NHL and a longer
time in the World Hockey Association. Gary Kurt's was a not well
known but fairly successful career in hockey.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
Gary Kurt – NAHL</h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt played 24 games between the
pipes for the Syracuse Blazers in 1973-74. His 2.94 goals against
average and two shutouts earned him First Team All-Star honours.
However, Gary did not play for Syracuse in the NAHL post season.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Syracuse finished first overall and
were crowned playoff champions with a win over the Long Island
Cougars in the finals. The Blazers playoff goaltending was split
between Russ Gillow (9 games) and Ted Ouimet (six games).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kurt ended up that 1973-74 season with
30 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the nomadic
New York Golden Blades, aka Jersey Knights.</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt – Junior and Minor Pro</h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt played four years of major
junior hockey with the Kitchener Rangers between 1963-64 and 1966-67.
In 1965-66, he played in just nine regular season games for the
Rangers and the team finished seventh in the eight team league.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When it came to the 1965-66 playoffs,
Kurt was in net for all 17 post season games for Kitchener. The
Rangers upset the third place <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfleTfZqpa4">Niagara Falls</a> Flyers in the
quarter-finals and upset the sixth place Toronto Marlboros in the
semi-finals. When it came to the final series, Bobby Orr and the
Oshawa Generals proved too much. Kitchener was led by Walt Tkaczuk,
Tim Ecclestone and Don Luce.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
From 1967-68 to 1971-72, Kurt played in
the Central Hockey League and AHL. In 1970-71 with the Cleveland
Barons of the American Hockey League, Gary posted a 2.76 GAA and a
shutout over 42 games. He earned the Harry Holmes Memorial Award as
the goalie for the team with the least goals against.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/parker-macdonald-rookie-card/">Parker MacDonald</a> and John Muckler split
head coaching duties for the Barons that year. Along with the top
goalie honours, Gary Kurt was named a Second Team All-Star goalie.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt – Major League</h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt made his way to the National
Hockey League in 1971-72 after his standout season in the AHL. He
would play his only 16 games in the league that year, all with the
California Golden Seals. Backing up Gilles Meloche, Kurt recorded a
decent 2.94 goals against average, along with two shutouts.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kurt played in the World Hockey
Association between 1972-73 and 1976-77 with the New York Raiders/New
York Golden Blades/Jersey Knights and the Phoenix Roadrunners. He was
picked up by the Phoenix Roadrunners at the 1974 WHA Expansion Draft
and didn't go all the way to San Diego with the once again relocated
Knights franchise.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Over his WHA career, Kurt played in 176
games and recorded a 4.17 GAA with three shutouts. His best season
came in 1974-75 when he appeared in 47 games for the Roadrunners.
With Jack Norris backing him up, Gary put up a 3.29 GAA and two of
his three career shutouts.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gary Kurt - Hockey Cards</h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1971-72-o-pee-chee-181-gary-kurt.html">1971-72 O-Pee-Chee</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1972-73-o-pee-chee-306-gary-kurt.html">1972-73 O-Pee-Chee</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-9766718213988589942017-01-01T20:46:00.000-08:002017-01-01T20:46:00.834-08:00Ray Adduono: Syracuse Blazers Star and Softest Hands in the EHL<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-9_a_NiHnVyKteUIOMRC5SexewxB1y9xrDkbZRFSz1NhGSGNKyt3xwM9JwY0R-VQwU57wjn5QZwo4HI2zq3pGuQdgyme4Jdh74O0UBRGcnuImQS6_hr0NddT1vkfjxPlM_tSw5o65cU/s1600/ray+adduono.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="ray adduono san diego mariners world hockey association" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-9_a_NiHnVyKteUIOMRC5SexewxB1y9xrDkbZRFSz1NhGSGNKyt3xwM9JwY0R-VQwU57wjn5QZwo4HI2zq3pGuQdgyme4Jdh74O0UBRGcnuImQS6_hr0NddT1vkfjxPlM_tSw5o65cU/s320/ray+adduono.jpg" title="ray adduono san diego mariners wha" width="227" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">His time in the North
American Hockey League wasn't long. But, that was the case for most
of the great players that passed through the league. Ray Adduono had
simply dominated the EHL from 1967-68 to 1972-73. His offensive
numbers looked like something out of the 1970's QMJHL or from the
back of Wayne Gretzky hockey card.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Adduono appeared in just
20 regular season games with the Syracuse Blazers in 1973-74. He went
on to dominate in the playoffs, leading the team in scoring and
helping the Blazers to a Lockhart Cup championship.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono – NAHL</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Over his 20 regular season
games with the Syracuse Blazers in 1973-74, Ray scored seven and
assisted on 20 for 27 points. These were tame numbers compared with
what Adduono had put up over the past half decade. He had also played
40 games for the Macon Whoopees that year in the Southern Hockey
League.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Blazers finished first
overall in that first season of the North American Hockey League. The
team then marched to the finals where they swept the Long Island
Cougars for the title. Over 15 playoff games, Ray Adduono scored
eight and assisted on 20 for 28 points, just short of two points per
game.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His performance was enough
to get him a full time job in the World Hockey Association for the
following season and Adduono never returned to the NAHL.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The 1973-74 Syracuse
Blazers were coached by Ron Ingram. Adduono's career would often see
Ingram standing behind him on the bench. Ron coached the EHL Blazers
in 1971-72 and 1972-73. He then coached Ray with the WHA's San Diego
Mariners in 1975-76 and 1976-77. They were also together for Ray's
short stint with the Indianapolis Racers in 1977-78. For an encore,
the two teamed up with the San Diego Hawks in the PHL for 1978-79.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono – Junior</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Adduono played five years
of junior hockey in the TBJHL (Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League) from
1962-63 to 1966-67. His first three years were with the Port Arthur
North Stars and the final two were with the Port Arthur Marrs.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In 1962-63, Ray was TBJHL
rookie of the year. The following year, he was named a First Team
All-Star and honoured as the league's most valuable player. Over the
five years, he scored 131 and assisted on 169 for 300 points in just
138 regular season games.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono – Minor Pro</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono played for the
Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League from 1967-68 to
1972-73, with exception of the 1968-69 season. That year, he split
between the Amarillo Wranglers of the CHL and the Hershey Bears of
the AHL.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In his rookie season,
1967-68, Ray finished second in the league with 101 assists and
second with 146 points. Despite the offensive contributions, Syracuse
finished last overall in the 12 team league.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He returned to the Blazers
in 1969-70 and led the league with 92 assists and 134 points over 74
games. Adduono won the scoring title for the for the first of three
times, earning the John Carlin Trophy. Syracuse was improved,
reaching the post season but falling in the opening round.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The following year, the
numbers were down with Ray scoring 31 and assisting on 70 for 101
points but playing just 63 games. He still finished third in the EHL
for assists and tied for ninth in the overall scoring race. The team
was coaching by hockey semi-legend Phil Watson.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">1971-72 saw Addono explode
offensively, mostly as a playmaker. Ray assisted on an amazing 122
goals and scored 43 himself for 165 points over 75 games. His goal
total tied him for seventh but he led the league in assists by 52
over second place and won the scoring title with 36 more points than
the next challenger. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse finished first in
the Northern Division in 1971-72 and reached the finals before losing
to the Charlotte Checkers. Ray added 28 points in 17 playoff games.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Goal scoring took on a
bigger role in 1972-73 with Adduono scoring 54, the fifth most in the
EHL. He assisted on 116 for a total of 170 points, the most in the
league by a 38 point margin. Ray was honoured also as the league's
most valuable player. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In 1972-73, Syracuse
finished first overall with 63 wins and 130 points over 76 games. The
won the championship, beating the Roanoke Valley Rebels in the
finals. Over six games in the series, the Blazers outscored Roanoke
Valley 51 to 18. Adduono put up nine goals along with 26 assists for
35 playoff points in just 14 games.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono returned to
the minors for 1978-79, playing with the San Diego Hawks of the PHL.
He finished tied for second with 61 assists and placed fourth with 75
points.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono – WHA</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Between 1973-74 and
1977-78, Ray Adduono played in 221 regular season World Hockey
Association games with the San Diego Mariners, Minnesota Fighting
Saints and Indianapolis Racers. Over that time, he scored 45 and
assisted on 152 for 197 points. In 28 playoff games, he added 30
points.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In 1974-75 with the
Mariners, Ray finished ninth in the WHA with 59 assists. The Harry
Howell coached San Diego squad finished fourth in the 14 team league.
In the playoffs, the Mariners lost in the semi-finals, swept by the
Houston Aeros.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The following year,
1975-76, Ray placed tenth in the league with 67 assists. Ron Ingram
was now coaching the team and the Mariners had a mediocre regular
season with 78 points in 80 games. They lost again in the playoffs to
the Houston Aeros, this time in the quarter-finals.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On September 1, 1976,
Adduono was traded to the Minnesota Fighting Saints with Bob Wall for
Gerry Pinder and Paul Shmyr. He returned to San Diego during the
1976-77 season after the Fighting Saints folded 42 games into the
campaign. He finished out 1976-77 with the Mariners and played just
eight more WHA games in 1977-78 with the Indianapolis Racers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ray Adduono Career Stats</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="8" frame="VOID" rules="NONE">
<colgroup><col width="61"></col><col width="168"></col><col width="46"></col><col width="32"></col><col width="32"></col><col width="32"></col><col width="32"></col><col width="32"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17" width="61"><span style="font-size: small;">Season</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="168"><span style="font-size: small;">Team</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="46"><span style="font-size: small;">Lge</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="32"><span style="font-size: small;">GP</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="32"><span style="font-size: small;">G</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="32"><span style="font-size: small;">A</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="32"><span style="font-size: small;">Pts</span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="32"><span style="font-size: small;">PIM</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1967-68</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">EHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">72</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">45</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">101</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">146</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">43</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1967-68</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Oklahoma City Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">CPHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1968-69</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Amarillo Wranglers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">CHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">59</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">16</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">41</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">57</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">41</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1968-69</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Hershey Bears</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">AHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">12</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">3</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1969-70</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">EHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">74</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">42</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">92</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">134</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">55</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1970-71</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">EHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">62</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">31</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">70</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">101</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">50</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1971-72</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">EHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">75</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">43</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">122</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">165</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">133</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1972-73</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">EHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">76</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">54</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">116</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">170</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">138</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1973-74</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse Blazers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">NAHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">20</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">7</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">20</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">27</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">10</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1973-74</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Macon Whoopees</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">SHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">40</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">14</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">38</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">52</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">95</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1973-74</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Cleveland Crusaders</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">WHA</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1974-75</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">San Diego Mariners</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">WHA</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">78</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">15</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">59</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">74</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">23</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1975-76</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">San Diego Mariners</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">WHA</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">80</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">23</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">67</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">90</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">22</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1976-77</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Minnesota Fighting Saints</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">WHA</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">40</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">4</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">19</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">23</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">17</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1976-77</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">San Diego Mariners</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">WHA</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">13</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">5</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">7</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">5</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1977-78</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">Indianapolis Racers</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">WHA</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">8</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">3</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><span style="font-size: small;">1978-79</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">San Diego Hawks</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: small;">PHL</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">56</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">14</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">61</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">75</span></td>
<td align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: small;">73</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-33495848945693702172015-04-23T07:02:00.001-07:002019-10-14T10:21:03.981-07:00Joe Szura of the Cape Codders<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9a8mPGwVcgISKN42yCXSoe2oQgMJapGZuoRKpczLgyk7hjMCugJeOxceotsYiy-LSf5olJftTQLCJD2q0pufytB463eYe7pxhIgD3FPVu-LC0F048P54qAsRMN2F4Kdd4oQBGSy_wT9Q/s1600/1972-73+o-pee-chee+313+joe+szura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="joe szura 1972-73 o-pee-chee wha los angeles sharks" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9a8mPGwVcgISKN42yCXSoe2oQgMJapGZuoRKpczLgyk7hjMCugJeOxceotsYiy-LSf5olJftTQLCJD2q0pufytB463eYe7pxhIgD3FPVu-LC0F048P54qAsRMN2F4Kdd4oQBGSy_wT9Q/s1600/1972-73+o-pee-chee+313+joe+szura.jpg" title="joe szura los angeles sharks" width="227" /></a></div>
Joe Szura played just 14 total games in
the NAHL. His NHL career consisted of 97 games with the <a href="http://hockeyhistoryhub.blogspot.ca/2015/04/california-golden-seals-stars.html" target="_blank">Oakland Seals</a>. Doesn't seem worthy of an article, huh? But, this guy did have
some noteworthy success in the American Hockey League and I believe
Szura's is an interesting story.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Joe Szura – NAHL</h4>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Joe played ten regular season games for
the Cape Codders during the 1974-75 NAHL season. It was his last
year in pro hockey and he contributed with three goals and two
assists. The Codders finished fifth in the eight team league, 12
points behind the fourth place <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/4_Retired_Numbers_of_the_Johnstown_Chiefs" target="_blank">Johnstown Jets</a>.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the playoffs, the Codders lost in
the opening round to the Jets, three games to one. Szura played in
all four games, adding an assist. Done. That is the extent of Joe
Szura's career in the North American Hockey League.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here's a tidbit for those not familiar
with the Codders. They played out of the Cape Cod Coliseum in South
Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The venue opened in 1972 and seated 7,200
for hockey. Just 12 years later, in 1984, the arena was closed and
converted to warehouse space.
</div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Joe Szura – Junior and Minor Pro</h4>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Szura played his junior hockey with the
Fort Williams Canadiens from 1956-57 to 1958-59. He followed that up
with nearly nine full seasons in the minors before playing his first
game in the National Hockey League, playing for teams in the EPHL and
AHL.
</div>
<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He was a Calder Cup champion in 1963-64
with the Cleveland Barons. The <a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/fred-glover-rookie-card/" target="_blank">Fred Glover</a> coached team was
lacklustre during the regular season, finishing third in the four
team Western Division. Joe had a great year offensively with 23 goals
and 44 assists for 67 points over 72 games.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was in the Calder Cup playoffs in
1963-64 where Szura exploded to lead the Barons to one of the
greatest playoff runs in hockey history. Over nine games, he scored
13 goals and assisted on six more for 19 points – numbers not
normally seen in the defensive minded AHL. The Barons did the
impossible and went undefeated through their three rounds. In the
first, they knocked off the Rochester Americans in two games. In the
semi-finals, they swept the Hershey Bears in three. In the finals,
the swept the <a href="http://hockeyhistoryhub.blogspot.com/2014/03/quebec-aces-1967-68-ahl.html" target="_blank">Quebec Aces</a> in four for the championship.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Two years later with the Barons,
1965-66, Joe had the best offensive season of his pro career. He
scored 46 goals and assisted on 30 for 76 points. He finished third
in the league in goal scoring, one behind co-leaders <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/alain-caron-other-boom-boom.html" target="_blank">Alain Caron</a> of
the Buffalo Bisons and Dick Gamble of the Rochester Americans. He was
named a First Team All-Star but couldn't produce in the playoffs.
Over 12 games, he scored just one goal and totalled just five points.
Cleveland reached the Calder Cup finals but fell to Rochester.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Szura returned to the AHL after his
very short career in the NHL to play three more years from 1969-70 to
1971-72. In the first year, played with the Reds in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeLryoXfar8">Providence, Rhode Island</a>, his 46
assists tied for seventh in the AHL.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 1970-71, Joe led the Reds
offensively in the regular season and playoffs. His 53 assists were
good for second in the AHL and his 74 points tied him for fifth.
Providence finished first in the Eastern Division and reached the
Calder Cup finals before losing to the Springfield Kings.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In his final year in the American
Hockey League, 1971-72, Joe played for the Baltimore Clippers. He
finished fifth in goal scoring with 38 and ninth in the race for the
<a href="http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/resources/john-b-sollenberger-trophy/" target="_blank">John B. Sollenberger Trophy</a> with 76 points. Joe helped the Clippers
to the Calder Cup finals before losing out to the Nova Scotia
Voyageurs.</div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Joe Szura – Major League Hockey</h4>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A3ONWC6OIW1W29-PghUX-YtwEG4pmB8Ia-4DLsqRpPvncSCciOz2kfZVbOshrH89zDga7VPR9iLzXep5rNlzjV0Rz3Qf-wWDGgJ8aUvOwtCE5PONPl-vcLiYKAEFLmO4KUpHjE9F0CA/s1600/1968-69+o-pee-chee+175+joe+szura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="joe szura 1968-69 o-pee-chee rookie card oakland seals" border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A3ONWC6OIW1W29-PghUX-YtwEG4pmB8Ia-4DLsqRpPvncSCciOz2kfZVbOshrH89zDga7VPR9iLzXep5rNlzjV0Rz3Qf-wWDGgJ8aUvOwtCE5PONPl-vcLiYKAEFLmO4KUpHjE9F0CA/s1600/1968-69+o-pee-chee+175+joe+szura.jpg" title="joe szura oakland seals" width="320" /></a></div>
The career minor leaguer was saved by
NHL expansion. The Oakland Seals took him in the ninth round of the
1967 NHL Expansion Draft, 53<sup>rd</sup> overall. At the time, he
was property of the Montreal Canadiens. In Oakland's first season,
Joe played just 20 games.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 1968-69, Szura played 70 regular
season games for the Seals. Once again, he had Fred Glover guiding
him as head coach. Oakland qualified for the post season for the
first time and faced off against the Los Angeles Kings in the opening
round. Szura played all seven games for the Seals with the team
coming up short. Oakland held a 3-2 lead in the series at one point
and outscored the Kings 25-23 over the seven games.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When the World Hockey Association came
along, Joe jumped at the chance to play in the big leagues again. In
1972-73, the WHA's inaugural season, he played for the Los Angeles
Sharks. In 1973-74, he played alongside the Howe family with the
Houston Aeros. In all, he appeared in 115 regular season WHA games,
scoring 21 and assisting on 39. He played 12 playoff games for the
Aeros but didn't register a point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="8" frame="VOID" rules="NONE">
<colgroup><col width="70"></col><col width="150"></col><col width="42"></col><col width="28"></col><col width="25"></col><col width="25"></col><col width="26"></col><col width="28"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17" width="55">Season</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="137">Team</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="42">Lge</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="28">GP</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="25">G</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="25">A</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="26">Pts</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="28">PIM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1960-61</td>
<td align="LEFT">Montreal-Hull/Ottawa</td>
<td align="LEFT">EPHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="65">65</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="10">10</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="24">24</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="34">34</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="20">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1961-62</td>
<td align="LEFT">North Bay Trappers</td>
<td align="LEFT">EPHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="68">68</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="27">27</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="35">35</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="62">62</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="24">24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1962-63</td>
<td align="LEFT">Cleveland Barons</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="72">72</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="15">15</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="29">29</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="44">44</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="20">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1963-64</td>
<td align="LEFT">Cleveland Barons</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="72">72</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="23">23</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="44">44</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="67">67</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="33">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1964-65</td>
<td align="LEFT">Cleveland Barons</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="67">67</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="32">32</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="30">30</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="62">62</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="26">26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1965-66</td>
<td align="LEFT">Cleveland Barons</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="72">72</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="46">46</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="30">30</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="76">76</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="22">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1966-67</td>
<td align="LEFT">Cleveland Barons</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="68">68</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="27">27</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="42">42</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="69">69</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="32">32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1967-68</td>
<td align="LEFT">Buffalo Bisons</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="43">43</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="13">13</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="22">22</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="35">35</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="16">16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1967-68</td>
<td align="LEFT">Oakland Seals</td>
<td align="LEFT">NHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="20">20</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="1">1</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="3">3</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="4">4</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="10">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1968-69</td>
<td align="LEFT">Oakland Seals</td>
<td align="LEFT">NHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="70">70</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="9">9</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="12">12</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="21">21</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="20">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1969-70</td>
<td align="LEFT">Providence Reds</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="72">72</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="21">21</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="46">46</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="67">67</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="23">23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1970-71</td>
<td align="LEFT">Providence Reds</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="70">70</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="21">21</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="53">53</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="74">74</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="39">39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1971-72</td>
<td align="LEFT">Baltimore Clippers</td>
<td align="LEFT">AHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="72">72</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="38">38</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="38">38</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="76">76</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="20">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1972-73</td>
<td align="LEFT">Los Angeles Sharks</td>
<td align="LEFT">WHA</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="73">73</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="13">13</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="32">32</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="45">45</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="25">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1973-74</td>
<td align="LEFT">Houston Aeros</td>
<td align="LEFT">WHA</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="42">42</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="8">8</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="7">7</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="15">15</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="4">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1974-75</td>
<td align="LEFT">Cape Codders</td>
<td align="LEFT">NAHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="10">10</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="3">3</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="2">2</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="5">5</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="0">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><br /></td>
<td align="LEFT">NHL Totals</td>
<td align="LEFT"><br /></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="90">90</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="10">10</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="15">15</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="25">25</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="30">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17"><br /></td>
<td align="LEFT">WHA Totals</td>
<td align="LEFT"><br /></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="115">115</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="21">21</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="39">39</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="60">60</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="29">29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-85913326824338822012015-03-18T20:45:00.000-07:002015-03-18T20:45:15.479-07:00Garry Peters: Head Coach 1974-75 Syracuse Blazers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKOAttvlMLw7vmT0zOKQcxKBW042Ya60_T-PSrw-2-CcTRrF8FMkeDvXQhi-YbwQI3eSC0F8fgJ-EzWoHXg8HMbPzpuKvSbKDYD1kpzOGd9d0slxyBCbi9jice7kLXaBZLvV7-7TXr24/s1600/1965-66+topps+28+garry+peters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="garry peters new york rangers 1965-66 topps hockey cards" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKOAttvlMLw7vmT0zOKQcxKBW042Ya60_T-PSrw-2-CcTRrF8FMkeDvXQhi-YbwQI3eSC0F8fgJ-EzWoHXg8HMbPzpuKvSbKDYD1kpzOGd9d0slxyBCbi9jice7kLXaBZLvV7-7TXr24/s1600/1965-66+topps+28+garry+peters.jpg" height="320" title="garry peters 1965-66 topps hockey card" width="225" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Garry Peters had the scoring touch in
junior with the Regina Pats and had some minor league glory, as well,
in the CPHL and AHL. When it came to his respectable 311 games in the
National Hockey League, he was anything but an offensive threat.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Peters found his way into NAHL history,
taking the head coaching job for the <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html">Syracuse
Blazers</a> in 1974-75, the year after his final year of pro hockey
as a player. It would be his only year as a head coach in pro hockey.</div>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Garry Peters – NAHL</h4>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As mentioned, Garry was head coach of
the Syracuse Blazers in 1974-75. Peters came into the season with no
coaching experience, having retired after playing the previous season
in the WHA. The Blazers were first overall in the eight team league
during the regular season, finishing 12 points ahead of the second
place Philadelphia Firebirds.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2014/09/bob-jones.html">Bob
Jones</a> led Syracuse offensively, his 76 assists and 114 points
leading the entire NAHL. Gary Sittler from the Blazers led the
league with 262 penalty minutes. In the Lockhart Cup playoffs,
Syracuse had a bye through the first round and came up against the
Johnstown Jets in the semi-finals. The series was tight with the Jets
coming out on top 4-3. Each team scored 26 goals over the seven games
and the Blazers at one time held a 3-2 series lead.</div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Garry Peters – Junior / Minor Pro</h4>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Peters spent four years with the Regina
Pats of the SJHL from 1959-60 to 1962-63. He was team captain for his
final two campaigns. Over his junior career, Garry scored 127 and
assisted on 160 for 287 points over 200 regular season games.</div>
<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In his second year, 1960-61, the Pats
swept the Estevan Bruins in four games to capture the SJHL
championship. Regina then fell to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the
Abbott Cup semi-finals.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following year, Peters led the SJHL
with 69 assists and 114 points over 56 games. He was selected as the
First Team All-Star Centre. The Pats reached the finals again but
this time fell to the Moose Jaw Canucks in seven games.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His final year in Regina saw him
selected as a First Team All-Star again. The Pats lost to the Estevan
Bruins in the semi-finals. Peters then joined the Bruins for the
Abbott Cup playoffs but Estevan fell in six to the Edmonton Oil Kings
in the semi-finals. That year, he saw his first pro action, appearing
in four regular season and one playoff game in the EPHL with the
Hull-Ottawa Canadiens.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Peters joined the Omaha Knights in
1963-64 for his first full year of pro hockey. He was named CPHL
Rookie Of The Year, scoring 32 and assisting on 49 for 81 points over
72 games. Garry tied for fifth in goal scoring, tied for sixth in
assists and placed fifth for points in the league. <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/alain-caron-other-boom-boom.html">Alain
Caron</a> of the St. Louis Braves ripped apart the CPHL with 77 goals
that year.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Teamed with future NHLers Barclay
Plager, Claude Larose, Noel Picard and Ernie Wakely, Peters and the
Knights finished first overall and won the playoff championship over
the St. Paul Rangers. St. Paul managed one win but were outscored by
Omaha 28-8 on the series.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 1966-67, Garry returned to the CPHL
with the Houston Apollos, a farm team of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MSRkJEMwYg">Montreal
Canadiens</a>. In 50 games, he contributed 52 points. The team was
heavy in future NHLers and even a few future members of the Hockey
Hall of Fame. Regular teammates included <a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/andre-boudrias-rookie-card/">Andre
Boudrias</a>, Danny Grant, Jacques Lemaire, Serge Savard and Rogie
Vachon. Pat Quinn, Carol Vadnais and Mickey Redmond played sparingly
with the team.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His one last go in the minors was
1971-72 with the Boston Braves of the American Hockey League. Over 58
games, Peters scored 39 and assisted on 34 for 73 points. He was
named a First Team All-Star and was honoured with the Les Cunningham
Award as MVP. Garry's 39 goals placed him fourth in the AHL. On that
farm team of the Boston Bruins were up and comers <a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/terry-oreilly-rookie-card/">Terry
O'Reilly</a> and Dan Bouchard.</div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Garry Peters – Major League</h4>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Peters played 311 regular season games
in the National Hockey League between 1964-65 and 1971-72 with the
Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston
Bruins. He played sparingly with the Habs and was traded in June,
1965, along with <a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/cesare-maniago-rookie-card/">Cesare
Maniago</a>, to the New York Rangers for Gord Labossiere, Noel Price,
Earl Ingarfield and Dave McComb. He would end up back in Montreal a
year later.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft, the
Philadelphia Flyers took Garry in the tenth round, 57<sup>th</sup>
overall. It was with the Flyers that he saw the bulk of his NHL
action. In 1972, Peters again took part in an NHL Expansion Draft,
this time going eleventh overall to the New York Islanders. He would
never play for New York.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Garry's time with the Boston Bruins was
limited. He played just two regular season games for the club in
1971-72. He also dressed for one playoff game for the Bruins. Boston
won the Stanley Cup championship that season, beating out the New
York Rangers in the finals.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the World Hockey Association, Peters
appeared in 57 regular season games over the 1972-73 and 1973-74
seasons. In the first year, he played 23 games for the New York
Raiders. The following year, he appeared in 34 games for the New York
Golden Blades.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-18129192725464811142014-12-31T21:09:00.000-08:002015-06-03T06:06:55.340-07:00Henry Taylor: NAHL Rookie of the Year in 1975-76<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLpbGqUpDMaZIycb59ySh7co01JHLCA8uSHKoqidf5-qY2hxFj0aQXJ9Ow5Lz0Y8En4tvcmjxhqYVbZLK6EXDUII1ayOpaWIHYjXn68hYMPIZJw0xvr_CqNX1eMTYI0FL-sJoqxLIvHc/s1600/henry+taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="henry taylor johnstown jets nahl" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLpbGqUpDMaZIycb59ySh7co01JHLCA8uSHKoqidf5-qY2hxFj0aQXJ9Ow5Lz0Y8En4tvcmjxhqYVbZLK6EXDUII1ayOpaWIHYjXn68hYMPIZJw0xvr_CqNX1eMTYI0FL-sJoqxLIvHc/s1600/henry+taylor.jpg" title="henry taylor johnstown jets" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After scoring just 12 goals in 102 regular season games over
two years as a junior with the Edmonton Oil Kings, Henry Taylor became a pro
sniper with the Johnstown Jets in his rookie NAHL season. The U.S. born player
from Oakland, California was a deep draft pick by the Minnesota Fighting Saints
of the WHA and was undrafted to the NHL. His pro career was successful but
fleeting, not lasting a full decade.</span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Henry Taylor – NAHL</h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taylor played two years in the North American Hockey League,
1975-76 and 1976-77. Both years were spent with the Johnstown Jets. His rookie
year was exceptional. His numbers dropped in his sophomore season but it was
still a respectable year on a depleted Johnstown team.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over 69 regular season games in 1975-76, Henry scored 50 and
assisted on 43 for 93 points. He led the Jets in goals and points and was named
NAHL Rookie of the Year. Overall in the league, he tied for sixth in goal scoring
with Robbie Neale. Neale split his season between the Cape Codders and Erie
Blades. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Jets places first in the five team West Division and
second overall in the ten team league. Johnstown reached the Lockhart Cup semi-finals
before falling to the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/philadelphia-firebirds.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Philadelphia
Firebirds</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in five games. Game five was an offensive affair with the
Firebirds winning 14-10.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his second season with the Jets, Taylor scored 42 and
assisted on 25 for 67 points over 73 regular season games. He led the team in
goal scoring and tied for sixth for the league in that department with </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/mike-zuke.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Mike Zuke</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> of
the Mohawk Valley Comets. Johnstown finished seventh of eighth in the NAHL,
ahead of just the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Beauce Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
Beauce played just 30 games before folding midseason. The Jets reached the post
season but were swept in the opening round by the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/11/maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Maine
Nordiques</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Henry Taylor – Hockey Career</h4>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taylor played two years in the WCHL with the Edmonton Oil
Kings in 1972-73 and 1973-74. Over those two years, he played 102 regular
season games and scored just 12 goals. The Minnesota Fighting Saints drafted
Henry in the 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> round of the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft, 173<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>
overall after a year of junior in the state of Minnesota.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After his two years in the NAHL, Henry continued on in the
world of minor pro until the 1982-83 season, appearing in the IHL, CHL, EHL and
Switzerland’s National League B.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the Jets, Taylor spent two years with the Grand Rapids
Owls in the IHL. In his first season, he led the Owls with 36 goals. In
1978-79, the numbers were outstanding with 47 goals and 36 assists for 83
points over 80 games. He led the team in goals and finished tied for fourth in
the IHL with Tom Ross of the Kalamazoo Wings. Not ever high on the helpers,
Henry placed third in the IHL for assists. He was second in points behind just
Terry McDougall of the Fort Wayne Komets.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Owls placed first overall in the nine team IHL. Grand
Rapids then reached the Turner Cup finals where they fell to the Kalamazoo
Wings in seven games.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1979-80, Henry had a somewhat slow start with the
Oklahoma City Stars of the CHL with eight points in 12 games. He then switched
to the Baltimore Clippers of the EHL and the numbers took off. Over 64 regular
season games, he scored 49 and assisted on 34 for 83 points. He finished third
in the league for goals and seventh for points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1980-81, the numbers dropped considerably. For the
1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons, Taylor moved to Europe to play for Olten in
Switzerland’s NLB before retiring from the game.</span><o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="8" frame="VOID" rules="NONE">
<colgroup><col width="53"></col><col width="169"></col><col width="50"></col><col width="30"></col><col width="30"></col><col width="31"></col><col width="28"></col><col width="30"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="18" width="53">Season</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="169">Team</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="50">Lge</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="30">GP</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="30">G</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="31">A</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="28">Pts</td>
<td align="LEFT" width="30">PIM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1972-73</td>
<td align="LEFT">Edmonton Oil Kings</td>
<td align="LEFT">WCHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="35">35</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="8">8</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="11">11</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="19">19</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="17">17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1973-74</td>
<td align="LEFT">Edmonton Oil Kings</td>
<td align="LEFT">WCHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="67">67</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="4">4</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="5">5</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="9">9</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="56">56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="18">1974-75</td>
<td align="LEFT">St. Paul Vulcans</td>
<td align="LEFT">MidJHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="56">56</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="50">50</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="57">57</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="107">107</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="118">118</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="18"><b>1975-76</b></td>
<td align="LEFT"><b>Johnstown Jets</b></td>
<td align="LEFT"><b>NAHL</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="69"><b>69</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="50"><b>50</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="43"><b>43</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="93"><b>93</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="33"><b>33</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="18"><b>1976-77</b></td>
<td align="LEFT"><b>Johnstown Jets</b></td>
<td align="LEFT"><b>NAHL</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="73"><b>73</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="42"><b>42</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="25"><b>25</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="67"><b>67</b></td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="15"><b>15</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1977-78</td>
<td align="LEFT">Dayton/Grand Rapids Owls</td>
<td align="LEFT">IHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="79">79</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="36">36</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="34">34</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="70">70</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="47">47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1978-79</td>
<td align="LEFT">Grand Rapids Owls</td>
<td align="LEFT">IHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="80">80</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="47">47</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="36">36</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="83">83</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="47">47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1979-80</td>
<td align="LEFT">Oklahoma City Stars</td>
<td align="LEFT">CHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="12">12</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="2">2</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="6">6</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="8">8</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="0">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1979-80</td>
<td align="LEFT">Baltimore Clippers</td>
<td align="LEFT">EHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="64">64</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="49">49</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="34">34</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="83">83</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="105">105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1980-81</td>
<td align="LEFT">Oklahoma City Stars</td>
<td align="LEFT">CHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="57">57</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="10">10</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="12">12</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="22">22</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="11">11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="17">1980-81</td>
<td align="LEFT">Baltimore Clippers</td>
<td align="LEFT">EHL</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="11">11</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="7">7</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="3">3</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="10">10</td>
<td align="RIGHT" sdnum="4105;" sdval="17">17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-57970814055968932872014-12-15T15:58:00.000-08:002014-12-15T15:58:13.886-08:00The 4 PIM Champs In NAHL History<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The NAHL existed for just four years from 1973-74 to
1976-77. The league was the inspiration for the movie ‘Slapshot’, starring Paul
Newman. It seems fitting that we look at the penalty minute champs over those
four years. Each year brought a different PIM leader. Surprisingly, these four
guys contributed with offense, as well.</span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Nick Fotiu – Cape Cod Cubs</h4>
<br />
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<a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/nick-fotiu.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Nick Fotiu</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
led the NAHL in PIM in the league’s inaugural season. Over 72 regular season
games with the Cape Cod Cubs, the future NHLer totalled 371 minutes in the sin
bin. Suspensions were not readily handed out in the olden days, allowing Nick
to play in nearly all of his team’s 74 games.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His PIM total was 55 more than second place Dave Ferguson of
the Syracuse Blazers. Nick added 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points. In the
Lockhart Cup playoffs, Fotiu continued his sinful ways with 80 penalty minutes
over 13 games. However, he was also nearly a point per game with eleven on four
goals and seven assists.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fotiu moved on to a fairly lengthy National Hockey League
career. Nick played 646 regular season games in the NHL between 1976-77 and
1988-89 with the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames,
Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. Over that time, he contributed 137
points and sat 1,362 penalty minutes. Over 38 Stanley Cup playoff game, Fotiu
added four assists and 67 PIM.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick also played in the World Hockey Association. He
appeared with the New England Whalers during the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons.</span></div>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gary Sittler – Syracuse Blazers</h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With 109 minutes less than Nick Fotiu the year before, Gary Sittler
led the NAHL in 1974-75 with 262 penalty minutes over 71 games with the
Syracuse Blazers. His lead was just 12 minutes over second place Jeff Carlson
of the Johnstown Jets. Gary added nine goals and 37 assists for a respectable
46 points. In the playoffs, he added four more assists over seven games while
sitting 14 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler, Gary also
played his junior hockey with the London Knights. Sittler played for Syracuse
in three of the four NAHL seasons, excluding 1975-76. His major league action
was limited to five games with the WHA’s Michigan Stags in 1974-75.</span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gilles Bilodeau – Beauce Jaros</h4>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1975-76, </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/gilles-bilodeau-nahl-single-season-pim.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Gilles
Bilodeau</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> set the eternal league record with 451 PIM over just 58 games with
the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Beauce
Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. His margin of victory was a remarkable 140 minutes more than second
place </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/09/dave-hanson.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Dave Hanson</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
of the Johnstown Jets. No superstar, Gilles did help out offensively with 25
points on eight goals and 17 assists. In his five playoff games, he assisted on
one and sat 46 minutes.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bilodeau’s lack of regular season games was due to the fact
he played 14 games in the World Hockey Association with the Toronto Toros.
1975-76 was his first year of pro hockey and his only year in the NAHL. Gilles
was a product of the Sorel Eperviers, a QMJHL team he played for in 1974-75.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gilles played 143 games in the WHA with the Toros,
Birmingham Bulls and Quebec Nordiques. He even got a cup of coffee in the NHL,
appearing in nine games with the Nordiques during the 1979-80 season.</span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Rick Dorman – Erie Blades/Johnstown Jets</h4>
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<a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2014/01/rick-dorman.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Rick Dorman</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
was the final PIM leader in NAHL history and also the leader with the lowest
total. Over 61 games, Dorman sat just 238 penalty minutes, just six more that
second place Paul Stewart of the Binghamton Dusters. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his first year of pro hockey after a junior career in the
WCHL where he played for the Flin Flon Bombers and Winnipeg Clubs, Rick put up
great offensive numbers, as well, with 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points.
In the Lockhart Cup playoffs, he added four assists and 48 PIM over nine games.
Dorman went on to play minor pro until the 1984-85 season in the IHL and AHL.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-52655765283939233752014-09-09T20:34:00.001-07:002014-09-09T20:34:57.027-07:00Bob Jones: NAHL Scoring Leader 1974-75<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bob Jones was a fringe player in the world of professional
hockey that found great success over his two years spent in the NAHL. Jones
played 1974-75 with the Syracuse Blazers and 1975-76 with the Mohawk Valley
Comets. In both seasons, he surpassed the 100 point plateau, leading the league
in assists and points while a member of the Blazers. </span></div>
<h3>
Bob Jones – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1974-75, Jones played 67 regular season games for the
powerhouse </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. He scored 38 goals and assisted on 76 for 114 points. Bob tied for
sixth in goal scoring while leading the NAHL in assists and points. Syracuse
finished first overall in the eight team league with a 12 point cushion between
themselves and second place. Yet, the Blazers fell in the semi-finals to the
fourth seed Johnstown Jets.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year with the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/09/brian-conacher.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Mohawk
Valley Comets</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Jones scored 39 and assisted on 70 for 109 points over 69
regular season games. The league was much more offensive and he placed just
sixth for assists and ninth for points. The Comets placed third in the five
team East Division and lost in the first round to the Syracuse Blazers.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bob Jones – Junior</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jones spent four years in the OHA Junior A from 1962-63 to
1965-66. All four years were spent with the same organization but the Guelph
Royals became the Kitchener Rangers after the first year. In 1964-65, his 39
goals placed him tenth in the league. Over his OHA career, he totalled 171
points over 209 regular season games.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1965-66, Kitchener finished seventh in the nine team
league with just 41 points over 48 regular season games. Yet, after knocking
off the </span><a href="http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/niagara-falls-flyers/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Niagara
Falls Flyers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in the opening round and the Toronto Marlboros in the
semi-finals, the Rangers earned a berth in the Robertson Cup finals against
Bobby Orr and the Oshawa Generals. Oshawa came out ahead, four games to one.
Over 19 playoff games, Jones scored 11 and assisted on 14 for 25 points.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bob Jones – Minor Pro</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From 1966-67 to 1971-72, Bob spent most of his time in the
minors, either in the CPHL, WHL and AHL. In 1969-70, he was part of the magical
Buffalo Bisons AHL club that exited the league on a high. With the Sabres
entering the National Hockey League for the 1970-71 season, it was known that
1969-70 was the last year for the Bisons. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The </span><a href="http://hockeyhistoryhub.blogspot.com/2014/02/fred-shero-trivia.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Fred
Shero</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> coached Bisons reached the Calder Cup finals and swept the
Springfield Kings in four for the championship. Bob led the team with ten
assists and 15 points over 14 playoff games. During the regular season, he
scored 25 and assisted on 37 for 62 points over 71 games.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bob Jones – Major League</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His NHL experience was limited to just two games, played
with the New York Rangers in 1968-69. However, Jones played 161 games in the
World Hockey Association between 1972-73 and 1975-76. Bob wore a number of
jerseys in the WHA, starting with the Los Angeles Sharks and moving on to the
New York Raiders / New York Golden Blades / Jersey Knights mess. He also
appeared with the Michigan Stags and Indianapolis Racers.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-6847072373503708482014-04-12T21:39:00.000-07:002014-04-12T21:39:18.445-07:00Rejean Giroux: Maine Nordiques and Beauce Jaros<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hockey career of Rejean Giroux was compact with just
eight years from his first year in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts to his
final year in the NAHL with the Beauce Jaros. However, Giroux made the best of
it, especially with the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL in 1973-74.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Rejean Giroux – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1973-74, Giroux played 68 games for the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/11/maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Maine
Nordiques</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, scoring 64 goals and assisting on 58 for 122 points. He led the
Nordiques in goals and points while finishing fourth on the team for assists behind
</span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/09/paul-larose-of-maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Paul
Larose</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Michel Rouleau and Michel Archambault. His 64 goals placed him
second in the league, three behind Luc Simard of the Cape Cod Cubs. Giroux was
ninth in assists and just one point behind Simard for the overall lead in
points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maine placed second overall but went 1-7 in the opening
round round-robin playoff. Over the eight playoff games, Rejean scored three
goals and assisted on four. Giroux also played 12 games for the Quebec
Nordiques in the World Hockey Association that year.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1976-77, he returned to the NAHL to play for the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Beauce Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
Over 13 games, he scored six and assisted on four. The Jaros folded 30 games
into the season and Giroux didn’t catch on with another team.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Rejean Giroux – QMJHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For three years from 1969-70 to 1971-72, Giroux played in
the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts. In his first year, he scored 38 and assisted
on 43 for 81 points over 55 regular season games. His 175 penalty minutes
placed him seventh in the league. Rejean was fourth on the team in scoring
behind Guy Lafleur, Jacques Richard and Andre Savard. Lafleur had 103 goals and
170 points that year.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quebec finished first overall and took the President’s Cup
championship by sweeping the St. Jerome Alouettes in the finals. Giroux scored
16 and totalled 29 points over 15 playoff games, third on the team behind
Lafleur’s 43 points and Paul Larose’s 30. The Remparts lost in the Memorial Cup
semi-finals to the Montreal Junior Canadiens.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Giroux took a step back in his second year with the Remparts
with 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points over 50 regular season games. He was
fifth on the team in points with Lafleur once again leading the way, this time
with a record 130 goals and 209 points. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Remparts once again finished first overall in the QMJHL,
this time 32 points better than the second place Shawinigan Bruins. Quebec and
Shawinigan met in the President’s Cup finals and the Remparts won the series in
five games. The team then beat out the Edmonton Oil Kings for the Memorial Cup
championship.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1971-72, Guy Lafleur was gone and it was up to Jacques
Richard and Rejean to lead the team. Giroux scored 58 goals and assisted on 51
for 109 points, second on the team in each category to Richard. His 58 goals
were also second in the QMJHL behind his teammate while he tied for eighth in
points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quebec finished third overall and once again reached the
President’s Cup finals. This time, the Remparts fell to the Cornwall Royals in
six games. Giroux scored 16 and assisted on 15 for 31 points over 15 playoff
games.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Rejean Giroux – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Chicago Blackhawks selected Giroux in the fifth round of
the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, 77<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> overall. He never played in the
National Hockey League but did appear in 59 games in the WHA with the Quebec
Nordiques in 1972-73 and 12 more with the club in 1973-74.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1974-75 and 1975-76, Rejean played for the Dallas Black
Hawks of the Central Hockey League. In his first year, he was fourth on the
team with 60 points over 68 games. His 27 goals were the second best on the
Black Hawks. Dallas reached the finals before falling to the Salt Lake Golden
Eagles in seven games. The Black Hawks outscored their opponents 28-24 on the
series with games 1, 2 and 7 decided in overtime.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Alexandre Giroux</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejean’s son has enjoyed maybe a bit more success in the
world of pro hockey. Alexandre also spent three years in the QMJHL, from
1998-99 to 2000-01 with the Hull Olympiques and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the American Hockey League, the younger Giroux led the
league in goals scored in consecutive seasons, 2008-09 and 2009-10, earning him
the Willie Marshall Award for his efforts. He scored 60 goals the first year
and 50 the next, playing for the Hershey Bears in both seasons. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The veteran of 48 NHL games between 2005-06 and 2011-12 with
the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue
Jackets has signed an extension in Switzerland’s National League A. 2014-15
will be his second year with Ambri-Piotta in the NLA.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-7335914408557721092014-04-07T20:40:00.000-07:002014-04-07T20:40:03.794-07:00Larry Gould: All-Time NAHL Buffalo Norsemen Scoring Leader<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtLt3trVhK4kE71FFqZkkoh5XEMZs3PmBmO4PiEFNY6Ii87mvb3PH7EDts-sC1IDygu1L67QJzAObJyN5qYKR45-YoONpqRSww0DfQBWeIYonXMwxwVBpTXKNQzCHqSspjcj-lKvdy2g/s1600/larry+gould.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="larry gould buffalo norsemen nahl" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtLt3trVhK4kE71FFqZkkoh5XEMZs3PmBmO4PiEFNY6Ii87mvb3PH7EDts-sC1IDygu1L67QJzAObJyN5qYKR45-YoONpqRSww0DfQBWeIYonXMwxwVBpTXKNQzCHqSspjcj-lKvdy2g/s1600/larry+gould.jpg" title="larry gould buffalo norsemen nahl" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Larry Gould played just one season in the NAHL. It was his
fourth year of pro hockey and his was playing with the Buffalo Norsemen. Gould
made the most of his one season with 100 points over 71 games. He brought with
him to Buffalo a tiny bit of National Hockey League experience. He went on to
be a prolific scorer in the IHL for several years.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Larry Gould – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gould played for the Buffalo Norsemen for the 1975-76
season. It was the only season the franchise played in the North American
Hockey League. Larry’s 32 goals were good for second on the team, four behind
player/head coach </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/guy-trottier-coach-and-star-of-buffalo.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Guy
Trottier</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. His 68 assists and 100 points led the Norsemen. His 68 assists
also placed him eighth in the NAHL.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Larry Gould – Junior</h3>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Larry played three years of junior hockey in the Ontario
Hockey Association from 1969-70 to 1971-72. His first two years were spent with
the Hamilton Red Wings. The team was full of future NHLers like </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/rick-kehoe-rookie-card/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Rick
Kehoe</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Pat Hickey, Jim Schoenfeld, Bob Neely and Mike Veisor. Yet, the Red
Wings were not successful in the playoffs. That Hamilton franchise is the
present day Erie Otters.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His final year in the OHA was spent with the Niagara Falls
Flyers. Once again, there were numerous future NHL players including Don Lever,
Jim Schoenfeld, Wilf Paiement and Eric Vail. Yet, the Flyers were ousted in the
first round of the Robertson Cup playoffs. That version of the </span><a href="http://gts68.hubpages.com/hub/Hockey-Trivia-The-Original-Niagara-Falls-Flyers-of-the-OHA"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Niagara
Falls Flyers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is now the </span><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/3_Sudbury_Wolves_to_Reach_100_Points_in_1975-76"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Sudbury
Wolves</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Larry Gould – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gould went undrafted but played pro hockey from 1972-73 to
1981-82 in the IHL, NHL, WHL, CHL and NAHL. His two games with the Vancouver
Canucks came during the 1973-74 season.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his rookie pro year, Larry played for the Des Moines
Capitols of the IHL. Over 73 regular season games, he scored 30 goals and
assisted on 54 for 84 points. He tied for ninth in the league for assists.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After his stint in the NAHL, his scoring numbers continued
to rise. In 1976-77 with the Port Huron Flags of the IHL, Gould scored 35 and
assisted on 71 for 106 points. He was the bright spot on a team that finished
dead last in the nine team league. Larry led the IHL in assists and was fifth
for points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year, he scored 36 and assisted on 69 for 105
points over 80 games with Port Huron. Gould placed second in the IHL for
assists and third for points. The Flags improved to fourth in the North
Division and sixth in the nine team league. In the playoffs, Larry scored 12
and assisted on 12 for 24 points over 17 games. Port Huron reached the finals
before falling in seven to the Toledo Goaldiggers.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1980-81 and still with Port Huron, Gould placed sixth in
the IHL with 63 assists and placed tied for tenth with 93 points. The following
year, his last in pro hockey, Larry totalled 33 goals and 60 assists for 93
points. However, the IHL had moved on to a more offensive game and Gould was
left out of the top ten in all three categories. He played 15 games with the
Muskegon Mohawks and 59 with the Flint Generals. The two were the sixth and
seventh place teams in the seven team league.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-17905375785726608872014-04-03T12:36:00.000-07:002014-04-03T12:36:25.959-07:00Jim Stanfield: Short NAHL Stay With Buffalo Norsemen In 1975-76<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5RMIB8XP5npu-Lt4U9bYYKXf1ttq-r02CGKHQ8-JVSEEJmdPv0oa7j-IhXC9h-uP1DejrKntjVAIKwe1IrdnkbmeULanL2XdkKlcmr1nkbkyVBs3b2PvhCo1xcRZXfTZGiKuxraM3Kk/s1600/jim+stanfield.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="jim stanfield buffalo norsemen nahl" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5RMIB8XP5npu-Lt4U9bYYKXf1ttq-r02CGKHQ8-JVSEEJmdPv0oa7j-IhXC9h-uP1DejrKntjVAIKwe1IrdnkbmeULanL2XdkKlcmr1nkbkyVBs3b2PvhCo1xcRZXfTZGiKuxraM3Kk/s1600/jim+stanfield.png" title="jim stanfield buffalo norsemen nahl" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jim Stanfield was one of three brothers that all played
junior hockey with the St. Catherines Blackhawks in the Ontario Hockey
Association and all played in the National Hockey League for at least one game.
Stanfield played in the NAHL towards the end of his pro hockey career with the
Buffalo Norsemen during the team’s only year in the league.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Jim Stanfield – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stanfield played for the Buffalo Norsemen for part of the
1975-76 North American Hockey League season. He appeared in 27 regular season games,
scoring ten goals and assisting on 19 for 29 points with the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/guy-trottier-coach-and-star-of-buffalo.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Guy
Trottier</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> coached team. He also appeared in four Lockhart Cup playoff games,
adding two points. Stanfield started the season in the WIHL, playing 33 games
for the Spokane Flyers. Over his 33 games, he scored 33 goals.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=1600781152&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Norsemen finished the 1975-76 NAHL regular season fourth
in the five team West Division and seventh overall in the ten team league.
Buffalo lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Johnstown Jets.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Jim Stanfield – Junior Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jim played three years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey
Association from 1964-65 to 1966-67. His first two years were spent with the
St. Catherines Blackhawks. Stanfield’s final year was with the London Nationals
in that franchise’s second year of existence. Jim finished second on the
Nationals with 32 goals, six behind team leader </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/garry-unger/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Garry Unger</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
Turk Broda was in his first of two years as head coach of the team.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Jim Stanfield – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stanfield played pro hockey from 1967-68 to 1976-77. He
appeared on teams in the CHL, NHL, AHL, WHL, WIHL and NAHL. Jim played in seven
regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1971-72,
all with the Los Angeles Kings.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1968-69, he was part of Central Hockey League
championship team with the Dallas Black Hawks. Dallas met the Oklahoma City
Blazers in the finals and won the best of four series in five games.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year, Stanfield joined the Springfield Kings
in the American Hockey League for the final 18 games of the regular season. He
started the year playing 55 games with Dallas. In the Calder Cup playoffs, Jim
led Springfield with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points over 14 games.
The Kings reached the Calder Cup finals before being swept by the Buffalo
Bisons.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1974-75, Jim scored 45 goals and assisted on 57 for 102
points over 47 games with the Spokane Flyers of the WIHL. He was second in the
league in goals, tied for third for assists and led the league in points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jim’s brother </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/fred-stanfield-rookie-card/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Fred
Stanfield</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> played 914 regular season games in the NHL between 1964-65 and
1977-78 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars and
Buffalo Sabres. Brother Jack Stanfield played one Stanley Cup playoff game with
the Blackhawks in 1965-66. All played junior hockey for the St. Catherines
Black Hawks.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-91887789762292834192014-03-11T14:44:00.000-07:002014-03-11T14:44:17.341-07:00Louis Levasseur: The Real Life Denis Lemieux<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQAiGHC7alq8czyto2S2jPWk8qVETBylGf2P_WJXAGgRSWGW5ZZIkuIdXEeg1hV9C7iPH7JaHkKAjbb-W9k4WboXoeZrTlewoytpKgWbTXSfSZLOUafbdQCC0ZYune2sU2n3TESESsu8/s1600/louis+levasseur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="louis levasseur" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQAiGHC7alq8czyto2S2jPWk8qVETBylGf2P_WJXAGgRSWGW5ZZIkuIdXEeg1hV9C7iPH7JaHkKAjbb-W9k4WboXoeZrTlewoytpKgWbTXSfSZLOUafbdQCC0ZYune2sU2n3TESESsu8/s1600/louis+levasseur.jpg" height="296" title="louis levasseur" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He’s the inspiration for the character of Denis Lemieux in
the 1977 movie Slap Shot and the goalie that led the Johnstown Jets to a
Lockhart Cup championship in 1974-75. Louis Levasseur played his first full pro
season in the NAHL and went on to appear in the World Hockey Association.
Levasseur even played one game in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Louis Levasseur – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Louis played goal for the Johnstown Jets for two seasons,
1974-75 and 1975-76. In his first year, he played in 26 regular season games,
posting a 3.15 goals against average and one shutout. He also appeared in one
game with the Springfield Indians in the American Hockey League.</span></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/dick-roberge-gretzky-of-ehl.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Dick
Roberge</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> coached Jets has a roster populated by the three Carlson brothers, </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/09/dave-hanson.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Dave Hanson</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and Ned Dowd. Along with Levasseur, it was the basis for the story behind the
Slap Shot movie. Johnstown placed fourth out of eight teams during the NAHL
regular season. In the Lockhart Cup playoffs, the Jets swept the Binghamton
Dusters in the finals for the championship. Levasseur played 12 games in the
playoffs for Johnstown.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1975-76, Louis played 30 games for the Jets, posting a
3.04 GAA and one shutout. He also accumulated a whopping 41 penalty minutes
over his 30 games. Levasseur was a callup to the Minnesota Fighting Saints of
the WHA and appeared in four games. The Jets were not as successful as the year
before despite having players like </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/bruce-boudreau.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Bruce
Boudreau</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Galen Head and </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/paul-holmgren-humble-beginnings-in-nahl.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Paul
Holmgren</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> on the roster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like many of his teammates, Levasseur is credited for the 1977 Slap Shot movie. The Jets players played as 'doubles' for the hockey action scenes.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Louis Levasseur – Pro Career</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Levasseur saw his first pro action way back in 1968-69,
appearing in two games for the Nashville Dixie Flyers of the EHL. Over those
two games, he allowed seven goals for a 3.50 GAA. He wouldn’t play pro again
until 1972-73 when he played in four games for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central
Hockey League. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1974-75 was his first full pro season. Louis played in the
WHA between 1975-76 and 1978-79 with the Fighting Saints, Edmonton Oilers, New
England Whalers and Quebec Nordiques. In 1977-78, he played 12 playoff games
for the Whalers with the team losing in the Avco World Trophy finals to the
Winnipeg Jets. He had backed up veteran Al Smith most of the season.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As mentioned, Levasseur played in one NHL games, with the
Minnesota North Stars in 1979-80. That one game was less than stellar with
Louis allowing seven goals. His pro career ended after playing for the Oklahoma
City Stars of the CHL in 1980-81.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Levasseur was involved in some interesting trades during his
WHA career. In January, 1977, Louis, along with Mike Antonovich, Bill Butters,
Dave Keon, Jack Carlson, Steve Carlson and </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/john-mckenzie-rookie-card/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">John
McKenzie</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> were traded to the Edmonton Oilers for cash after the Fightning
Saints ceased operations. In September of the same year, Louis was traded to
New England from Edmonton for Brett Callighen and Dave Dryden.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-78280455530825623962014-03-03T08:18:00.003-08:002014-03-03T08:18:33.762-08:00Lorne Rombough: Long Island Cougars 1973-74<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu9gqSi4vIO5En63dF_ortliYb7zaLTrjFaFV7l3sPwto7Jd43tdpa5DyKhU5RBWvUQ22rPiDKNgXhwDWAwgj85f83rLwQ9h8EeXqvkGcngiRQsvLNJv80CT71YBKAGTnQuIENkDKsu4/s1600/lorne+rombough+buffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="lorne rombough long island cougars" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu9gqSi4vIO5En63dF_ortliYb7zaLTrjFaFV7l3sPwto7Jd43tdpa5DyKhU5RBWvUQ22rPiDKNgXhwDWAwgj85f83rLwQ9h8EeXqvkGcngiRQsvLNJv80CT71YBKAGTnQuIENkDKsu4/s1600/lorne+rombough+buffalo.jpg" height="320" title="lorne rombough long island cougars" width="218" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1973-74 was a great year for Lorne Rombough. He was a fifty
goal scorer in his only year in the North American Hockey League and played his
only three games of major league hockey with the Chicago Cougars of the World
Hockey Association. </span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Lorne Rombough – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1973-74, Lorne played 68 regular season games for the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/long-island-cougars.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Long
Island Cougars</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in the inaugural season of the NAHL. Rombough scored 50
goals and assisted on 42 for 92 points on the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/john-brophy-great-coaching-career.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">John
Brophy</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> coached team. He led the Cougars in goals and points. Lorne’s 50
goals placed him fourth in the league and he was the last of four players to
surpass the 50 goal plateau that season. His 92 points placed him tenth in the
league.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for the Cougars, the team placed third in the seven team
league, one point below .500. Yes, just two of seven teams had winning records
in the 1973-74 NAHL. This imbalance certainly showed in the playoffs. Long
Island reached the Lockhart Cup finals before being swept by the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in four games. The Blazers outscored the Cougars 27-5 in the
series.</span></div>
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<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Lorne Rombough – Pro Hockey</h3>
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In 1967-68, Lorne was team captain with the State University of Buffalo in U.S. College Hockey. The team went undefeated during the 15 game regular season but fell to Oswego State in the playoffs, their only loss of the season.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rombough played pro hockey from 1969-70 to 1979-80 in a
handful of leagues that includes the IHL, EHL (2 versions), AHL, NAHL, WHA,
SHL, PHL and NEHL. His actual first pro game came in 1968-69 when he appeared
in a single game with the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL. Lorne scored a goal in
that first taste of pro hockey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lorne played for the predecessor of the Cougars, the Long
Island Ducks of the EHL. In 1971-72, he placed ninth in the Eastern Hockey
League with 42 goals in 75 regular season games. He also assisted on 35 for a
total of 77 points that year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As mentioned, he got his lone shot at major league hockey in
1973-74. Rombough played three games with the Chicago Cougars of the World
Hockey Association. His short stay was pretty impressive with two goals and an
assist for the WHA club.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps, his best year in pro hockey came in 1974-75 with
the Hampton Gulls of the SHL. Lorne scored 56 goals and assisted on 43 for 99
points over 72 regular season games. Rombough placed second in the league for
goal, three behind league leader Andre Deschamps of the Charlotte Checkers. The
two were the only players that season to surpass the 50 goal mark. Lorne’s 99
points placed him fourth in the SHL.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-57876957402706297222014-02-16T08:53:00.000-08:002014-02-16T08:53:12.371-08:00Curt Brackenbury: NHL Enforcer Honed His Craft In The NAHL<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tough guy Curt Brackenbury played most of his second year of
pro hockey in the North American Hockey League with the John Brophy coached
<a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/long-island-cougars.html">Long Island Cougars</a>. It served as a bit of transformation in his game after
providing more of an offensive role in 1972-73 with the Jersey Devils of the
EHL. His penalty minutes ballooned from just 66 with the Devils in 1972-73 to the
fifth highest in the NAHL in 1973-74.</span></div>
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Curt Brackenbury – NAHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brackenbury played in the NAHL for just the 1973-74 season,
the first in the league’s four year history. With the Long Island Cougars, Curt
played 45 regular season games, scoring eight goals and assisting on 20 for 28
points while sitting 194 minutes in the penalty box. His 194 PIM placed him
fifth in the NAHL, 91 behind fourth place <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/bill-goldthorpe-aka-ogie-ogilthorpe.html">Bill Goldthorpe</a> of the Syracuse
Blazers and a whopping 177 behind the league leader, <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/04/nick-fotiu.html">Nick Fotiu</a> of the Cape Cod
Cubs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over 17 Lockhart Cup playoff games, Brackenbury added five
goals and an assist while spending nine minutes short of an hour in the sin
bin. The Cougars reached the Lockhart Cup finals before being swept by
Goldthorpe and the Syracuse Blazers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 1973-74 season was not exclusive to the NAHL for Curt.
He played in 13 games with the Des Moines Capitols in the IHL, along with four
games for the Chicago Cougars in the World Hockey Association.</span></div>
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Curt Brackenbury – Pro Hockey</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brackenbury played pro hockey from 1972-73 to 1982-83 in the
EHL, IHL, NAHL, WHA, SHL, NHL and CHL. As mentioned, his pro career started
with a different role than what the rest of his career would quickly evolve
into. With the Jersey Devils, he scored 17 goals and assisted on 27 for 44
points over 68 games. He sat just 66 minutes in the box.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After his year with the Long Island Cougars, Curt followed
<a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/john-brophy-great-coaching-career.html">John Brophy</a> to the SHL and the Hampton Gulls for the 1974-75 season. Soon
after, he was a regular in the WHA. Between 1973-74 and 1978-79, Brackenbury
played 265 regular season games in the World Hockey Association with the
Cougars, Minnesota Fighting Saints and Quebec Nordiques. He scored 41 and
totalled 91 points while accumulating 753 PIM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Avco World Trophy playoffs, Curt played an impressive
48 games, adding 14 points and 161 PIM. In 1976-77, he helped the Quebec
Nordiques to the finals against the Winnipeg Jets. Quebec won the championship
with the series going the full seven games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1975-76, Curt’s year was split between the financially
crippled Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Nordiques. His combined 365 PIM over
74 regular season games led the WHA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the WHA ceased after the 1978-79 season, Brackenbury
played his first games in the National Hockey League with Quebec. Between
1979-80 and 1982-83, Curt played in 141 NHL regular season games with the
Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues. He appeared in just two Stanley
Cup playoff games, both with the Oilers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Curt’s final year of pro hockey, he appeared in just six
games with the Blues. Brackenbury finished up the 1982-83 season in the Central
Hockey League with the <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/3_Top_Rookies_in_the_CHL_to_Enter_the_Hockey_Hall_of_Fame" target="_blank">Salt Lake Golden Eagles</a>, playing in 44 games.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-59806768189958845912014-01-27T14:11:00.000-08:002014-01-27T14:11:28.000-08:00Rick Dorman<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rick Dorman was, whether the league liked it or not, what
the North American Hockey League was all about. He could score, 17 goals in his
lone NAHL season, but it was his league leading 238 penalty minutes in 1976-77
that defined Dorman’s game. A junior with the Flin Flon Bombers, a team that
Bobby Clarke made famous, Dorman played pro through the 1984-85 season but got
his start in the NAHL.</span></div>
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Rick Dorman – NAHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rick played his first pro season, 1976-77, in the NAHL with
the Johnstown Jets and </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/erie-blades.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Erie Blades</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
As it was the last season of the league’s existence, it was Dorman’s only year
in the NAHL. He started out with the Jets but appeared in just nine games. His
offensive numbers were decent with two goals and four assists for six points.
Rick sat 44 PIM in those nine games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dorman moved on to the Erie Blades and played 52 regular
season games with the club. He scored 15 and assisted on eleven for 26 points
while sitting 194 minutes in penalties. The </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2014/01/nick-polano.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Nick Polano</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
coached Blades reached the Lockhart Cup semi-finals before falling in five
games to the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. In the playoffs, Rick added four assists over nine games and sat
an additional 48 minutes in the box. It’s no surprise that he led Erie in PIM
for both the regular season and playoffs.</span></div>
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Rick Dorman – WCHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dorman played two years in the WCHL (present day WHL),
1974-75 and 1975-76. In his first season, he played exclusively with the Flin
Flon Bombers. Over 67 games, he scored 16 and assisted on 23 while sitting a
whopping 442 minutes in penalties. He place second in the league to Jerry
Rollins, a player that started out the season with the Bombers before moving to
Winnipeg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his second season, Rick played a combined 60 regular
season games with the Bombers and Winnipeg Clubs. He scored 11 and assisted on
23 with a total of 346 PIM. He placed second in the sin department again, this
time to Ted Olson, a player that split his year between the Edmonton Oil Kings
and Calgary Centennials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He returned to the league in an executive capacity for a
short time, about a decade ago. In August, 2003, Rick was named the General
Manager of the Moose Jaw Warriors. However, in October, 2004, before the
2004-05 season started, Dorman was let go by the club.</span></div>
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Rick Dorman – Pro Hockey</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rick played pro hockey from 1976-77 to 1984-85 in the NAHL,
USHL, IHL and AHL. However, most of his time was spent in the IHL. In his
second pro year and his first in the IHL, Dorman sat 475 PIM over 76 regular season
games with the Dayton/Grand Rapids Owls. He finished second, behind Alvin White
of the Kalamazoo Wings who amassed 510 penalty minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1979-80 was Rick’s only full year in the American Hockey
League and he made his mark. With the Binghamton Dusters, he placed fifth in
the league for PIM with 267 over 77 games. The league leader that year was </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/chris-nilan-rookie-card/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Chris
Nilan</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> of the Nova Scotia Voyageurs with 304 PIM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two years later, Dorman showed off his offensive abilities a
bit with the Flint Generals of the IHL. Sure, he placed fifth in the league
with 288 PIM but he also scored 15 and assisted on 42 for 57 points over 77
games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his final year of pro hockey, Rick still had it in him.
With the Indianapolis Checkers of the IHL, he placed sixth in the league with
263 PIM over a full 80 game schedule.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-71646872998448943592014-01-11T14:44:00.000-08:002014-01-11T14:44:35.497-08:00Nick Polano in the NAHL: End of a Player. Start of a Coach<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick Polano played just a small amount of games in the North
American Hockey League but was a head coach for two full seasons. The man that
would become head coach of the Detroit Red Wings for three years in the 1980’s
finished his playing career and started his coaching career in the NAHL.</span></div>
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<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Nick Polano – NAHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Polano played 19 regular season games for the Cape Cod Cubs
during the inaugural 1973-74 NAHL season. The defenseman scored one goal and
assisted on five. He also acted as head coach, replacing Bronco Horvath
midseason. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Lockhart Cup playoffs, Cape Cod was bounced in six by
the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/long-island-cougars.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Long
Island Cougars</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in the semi-finals. Nick played eight playoff games with
just an assist to show for his efforts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a year away from the league, Polano returned as head
coach of the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/erie-blades.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Erie
Blades</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> for the 1975-76 NAHL season. The Blades placed third in the five
team West Division during the regular season. In the playoffs, Erie fell in the
opening round to the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/philadelphia-firebirds.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Philadelphia
Firebirds</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. The series went the full five games with the Firebirds winning
three games to two. At one point, the Blades had a 2-1 series lead.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Polano returned to Erie for 1976-77, the final season of the
NAHL. The Blades finished fifth in the eight team league. Erie then advanced to
the semi-finals before losing to the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, four games to one.</span></div>
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<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Nick Polano – Pro Hockey</h3>
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<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=160078240X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After two years of junior hockey, 1958-59 and 1959-60, with
the Hamilton Tiger Cubs of the Ontario Hockey Association (Currently the Erie
Otters of the </span><a href="http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Ontario Hockey League</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">),
Polano moved on to a lengthy career in pro hockey. He never played in the
National Hockey League but Nick was found everywhere else, including the IHL,
EPHL, WHL, AHL, CPHL, WHA and NAHL. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His pro career started in 1959-60 when he split his final
year of junior between the Tiger Cubs and the Louisville Rebels of the IHL. It
ended with the Cape Cod Cubs in 1973-74. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never a champion, he came close to Calder Cup victories in
the American Hockey League twice. In 1966-67 with the Baltimore Clippers, Polano
reached the AHL semi-finals before being ousted by the Rochester Americans. In
1970-71, as a member of the </span><a href="http://hockey.knoji.com/4-providence-reds-to-win-the-ahls-les-cunningham-award/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Providence
Reds</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Nick got a taste of the finals when the Reds faced off against the
Springfield Kings for the Calder Cup. Springfield easily handled Providence
with a four game sweep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His only major league action came in 1972-73. As a member of
the star-studded and underachieving </span><a href="http://gts68.hubpages.com/hub/Philadelphia-Blazers"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Philadelphia Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
of the World Hockey Association, Polano played 17 games on the point,
contributing three assists.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Nick Polano – Coach</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Polano carried on with the Erie Blades after the NAHL ceased
to exist. He coached the Blades in the NEHL and EHL from 1978-79 to 1980-81. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1981-82, his NHL career was finally under way. He took an
assistant coach job with the Buffalo Sabres under head coach Scotty Bowman. In
his only year with the Sabres, Buffalo lost in the opening round of the Stanley
Cup playoffs, 3-1 to the Boston Bruins.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year, he took the head coaching job with the
Detroit Red Wings. He remained behind the bench in Detroit for three years from
1982-83 to 1984-85. In the first year, the Wings did not qualify for the post
season. In 1983-84, Steve Yzerman’s rookie year with the club, Detroit made the
post season but lost in the opening round to the St. Louis Blues, three games
to one.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his final year as a head coach in the National Hockey
League, Polano once again led his team into the post season, despite a not so
special regular season record. The 1984-85 Red Wings met the Chicago Blackhawks
in the first round and were soundly thrashed. In the three game sweep, the
Blackhawks outscored the Red Wings 23-8 on victories of 9-5, 6-1 and 8-2.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-57946405052572641112013-12-07T08:41:00.002-08:002013-12-07T08:41:39.898-08:00Gerry Pinder: A Short But Productive Stay With The Maine Nordiques<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBuaJ7BDteQz5lZM_w6kMSVioTVGAv5v-_BGbBBaCXDA0PjdnjzRqL7xgmOk8uapZmkrX3F2d2GZQ41xCBPGUR_Geh9Ihl_i0js0MIbT4jlJ0iqb9Ga070H_PbVgRa6e9jIpYIuNvVz0/s1600/gerry+pinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="gerry pinder 1972-73 cleveland crusaders hockey card" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBuaJ7BDteQz5lZM_w6kMSVioTVGAv5v-_BGbBBaCXDA0PjdnjzRqL7xgmOk8uapZmkrX3F2d2GZQ41xCBPGUR_Geh9Ihl_i0js0MIbT4jlJ0iqb9Ga070H_PbVgRa6e9jIpYIuNvVz0/s320/gerry+pinder.jpg" title="gerry pinder 1972-73 o-pee-chee" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He spent little time in the North American Hockey League
during the league’s final season, just like many filtered through the NAHL in
its four years. Gerry Pinder played a total of 21 games in 1976-77 with the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/11/maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Maine
Nordiques</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> but certainly made an impact with the club.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gerry Pinder – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After starting the 1976-77 season in the World Hockey
Association with the San Diego Mariners, playing 44 games, Pinder joined the
Nordiques and played in eleven regular season games. Gerry fit right in with
six goals and three assists for nine points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Lockhart Cup playoffs, Maine came as close to a
championship as they would get, reaching the finals. Unfortunately, they were
no match for </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Pinder played ten playoff games, scoring eight goals and assisting
on two for ten points.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gerry Pinder – Junior</h3>
<br />
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0964477483&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pinder played two years of junior hockey with the </span><a href="http://gts68.hubpages.com/_6ecf8c9qi6nf/hub/Saskatoon-Blades-Scoring-Records"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Saskatoon
Blades</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, 1965-66 and 1966-67. In the first year, the Blades played in the
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). In the second, Saskatoon played in
the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (SMJHL), the direct predecessor to the
current WHL. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1966-67, Gerry broke loose offensively. In 55 regular
season games, he scored an amazing 78 goals and assisted on 62 for 140 points.
He led the league in goals and points and placed fourth for assists while being
named the league’s player of the year. As for the Blades, they didn’t fare so
well. The team placed fifth in the seven team league over the 56 game schedule
and were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Estevan Bruins.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gerry Pinder – Team Canada</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before going pro, Pinder spent a few years with Canada’s
national team. He competed in the 1968 Winter Olympic Games and the 1969 IIHF
World Hockey Championships.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 1968 Winter Olympics were held in Grenoble, France. Over
seven games, Gerry scored one goal. The goal came in a 3-0 win over Sweden.
Canada came out of the Olympics with a bronze medal. Joining Pinder on the
Canadian team were future major league pros </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/fran-huck/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Fran Huck</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Brian
Glennie and Bill MacMillan.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year, Pinder was with Canada when they
competed at the World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. In ten games, Gerry
scored three and assisted on one. Canada placed fourth in the tournament.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gerry Pinder – NHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pinder played 223 regular season games in the National
Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1971-72. His first two years were spent with
the Chicago Black Hawks and his final year in the NHL was with the </span><a href="http://gts68.hubpages.com/_6ecf8c9qi6nf/hub/california-golden-seals"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">California
Golden Seals</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Over that time, his numbers were quite respectable with 55
goals and 69 assists for 124 points. He also played 17 games in the Stanley Cup
playoffs, all with Chicago.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the California Golden Seals, Pinder was the offensive
leader on the rag-tag team. His 23 goals and 54 points led the team while
playing 74 of the team’s 78 games.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Gerry Pinder – WHA</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gerry jumped to the World Hockey Association for the
league’s inaugural season in 1972-73. Between 1972-73 and 1977-78, Pinder
played 353 regular season games, scoring 93 goals and assisting on 141 for 234
points. He played an additional 18 games in the Avco World Trophy playoffs,
adding 15 points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over his WHA career, Gerry played for the Cleveland
Crusaders, San Diego Mariners and Edmonton Oilers. His time with the Oilers was
limited to just four games during the 1977-78 season. His best year was his
first, scoring 30 goals for the Crusaders in 1972-73.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-47227165493815116122013-11-29T17:16:00.002-08:002013-11-29T17:21:24.097-08:00Bob Leduc: Maine Nordiques<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOAMUYAsNALDcoRpnelySp9TEQlfkwNei0XKzRfWLxEjnXNmMZUAMcyAmPw2Ey_-1Plw-zPOLCtsr32VyXYtTIWEYvZ1P-7LIAU34G7cQxSnHRlcFH1IMj0cUoOQnp1sKWPTflPcltFo/s1600/1972-73+o-pee-chee+322+bob+leduc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="bob leduc rookie card 1972-73 o-pee-chee ottawa nationals" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOAMUYAsNALDcoRpnelySp9TEQlfkwNei0XKzRfWLxEjnXNmMZUAMcyAmPw2Ey_-1Plw-zPOLCtsr32VyXYtTIWEYvZ1P-7LIAU34G7cQxSnHRlcFH1IMj0cUoOQnp1sKWPTflPcltFo/s320/1972-73+o-pee-chee+322+bob+leduc.jpg" title="1972-73 o-pee-chee bob leduc rookie hockey card" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bob Leduc closed out his professional hockey career in the
North American Hockey League. When the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/11/maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Maine
Nordiques</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and the NAHL ceased to exist after the 1976-77 season, so did
Leduc’s career. Never did he play in the National Hockey League but Leduc played
158 regular season games in the WHA in the rebel league’s first three seasons.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bob Leduc – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leduc played for the Maine Nordiques in 1975-76 and 1976-77.
In his first year, he took on the dual role of player / head coach. Over 67
regular season games, he put in decent numbers with 23 goals and 43 assists for
66 points. The Nordiques finished last overall but because the Cape Codders
folded mid-season, Maine qualified for the post season. They were an early
exit, losing 3-1 to the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Beauce Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
in the opening round.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1976-77, Jean-Charles Gravel took over the head coaching
duties with the Nordiques and Bob played just 25 regular season games. He
contributed four goals and totalled 14 points. Maine was much improved and
placed second in the eight team league. In what would be his final year in
professional hockey, Leduc added nine points over 12 playoff games. The
Nordiques reached the Lockhart Cup finals before being swept in four games by
the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bob Leduc – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0964477483&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Between 1964-65 and 1976-77, Bob played in the AHL, EHL, WHA
and NAHL. Most of his career was spent in the American Hockey League with the
Providence Reds. With Providence, he played 496 regular season games, scoring
129 goals and assisting on 185 for 314 points. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite finishing with a below .500 record, in three years
Leduc was with the Reds, the team did quite well in the post season. In
1967-68, Providence placed seventh in the eight team league. Yet, they reached
the semi-finals before falling to the Quebec Aces, 3-1.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year, their regular season status improved to
fifth out of eight and the Reds once again advanced to the Calder Cup
semi-finals against Quebec. This time, Providence pushed the best of five
series to the limit before succumbing to the Aces.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1970-71, the AHL was split into two four team divisions.
Providence placed first in the Eastern Division, despite having just 69 points
over 72 games. The Reds were fourth overall in the league. Once again, they did
well in the playoffs, this time advancing all the way to the Calder Cup finals
before being swept by the Springfield Kings in four games.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the World Hockey Association’s inaugural season in
1972-73, Leduc was a member of the Ottawa Nationals. Playing all 78 games, he
put in one of best years in pro hockey with 55 points. Bob moved with the
Nationals to Toronto for the following season as the franchise became known as
the Toros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leduc totalled 51 points in
just 61 games and the Toros found some success in the playoffs. Toronto reached
the semi-finals against the Chicago Cougars and pushed the series to the seven
game limit before falling. At one point, Toronto led the series 3-2.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1974-75, Leduc took on the dual role of player/head coach
with the Toros, although he played in just 19 games during the regular season
and none in the playoffs. Toronto placed second in the five team Canadian
Division and fifth overall in the 14 team league with 88 points in 78 games.
However, the Toros fell in the opening round to the San Diego Mariners in six
games.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bob Leduc – Hockey Card</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bob got his mug on mainstream cardboard just once. The Bob
Leduc rookie card appears as number 322 in the <a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/virtual-collection/1972-73-o-pee-chee-nhl/" target="_blank">1972-73 O-Pee-Chee</a> set. The last
series of that set featured players in their brand new WHA uniforms. Leduc was
shown as a member of the Ottawa Nationals.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-25190053965828770682013-11-26T12:13:00.003-08:002013-11-26T12:13:50.382-08:00Jim Corsi of the Maine Nordiques<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmSRa81csACKl-_wjDcwmwF4qNMsu62ip1rxU1jJnvIIc-eat6xSF54rWav7eNI9IC8P-bOpuwAkMtQXiSFQLiuAWi8JFLBY6vUMyeLZXK8rZ0yoHZf7DMQPu9M2139Un877ijBo1tM4/s1600/jim+corsi+edmonton+oilers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="jim corsi quebec nordiques" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmSRa81csACKl-_wjDcwmwF4qNMsu62ip1rxU1jJnvIIc-eat6xSF54rWav7eNI9IC8P-bOpuwAkMtQXiSFQLiuAWi8JFLBY6vUMyeLZXK8rZ0yoHZf7DMQPu9M2139Un877ijBo1tM4/s1600/jim+corsi+edmonton+oilers.jpg" title="jim corsi edmonton oilers" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since 1998-99, he has been the goaltending coach for the
Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Jim Corsi got his start in
professional hockey with the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/11/maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Maine
Nordiques</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> of the NAHL in the league’s final season, 1976-77.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Jim Corsi – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his first year pro, Corsi played in net for 54 of the
Nordiques 74 regular season games. He posted a 3.57 goals against average and
had one shutout. Backing him up and playing in 28 games was Mario Viens. Viens
played pro for just the 1975-76 and 1976-77 season after four years in the
QMJHL with the </span><a href="http://gts68.hubpages.com/_6ecf8c9qi6nf/hub/cornwall-royals"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Cornwall
Royals</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. In 1975-76, he split his season between the Toronto Toros in the
WHA and the Buffalo Norsemen in the NAHL.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Corsi played in all 12 playoff games for Maine in 1976-77. After
finishing second overall in the eight team league, the Nordiques then swept the
Johnstown Jets in the opening round and downed the Binghamton Dusters in the
semi-finals. In the Lockhart Cup finals, Maine came up against the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in the finals and were swept out of NAHL history.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Jim Corsi – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0809297469&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Out of Concordia University in the CIAU, Corsi played
professional hockey from 1976-77 to 1979-80 in North America and from 1980-81
to 1991-92 in Italy. In North America, Jim played in the NAHL, WHA, AHL, NHL
and CHL. Over two years in the World Hockey Association, 1977-78 and 1978-79,
he played in 63 games for the Quebec Nordiques. In the second year, he split
duties with another former NAHL goalie, </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/richard-brodeur.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Richard
Brodeur</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Behind the bench of that Nordiques team was Jacques Demers.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1979-80, Corsi played 26 games with the Edmonton Oilers
in their first year in the National Hockey League after the WHA merged. It
ended up being Jim’s only NHL action and he shared duties with five other
goalies that year. </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/eddie-mio.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Eddie Mio</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
played the most games with 34. Other notable goaltenders playing for Edmonton
that year included Ron Low and Dave Dryden.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During his days in Italy, Jim played for club teams while
also appearing with the country’s national team. Corsi appeared at eight IIHF
World Championship tournaments for Italy. He was on the roster for the Italian
squad at the 1984 Winter Olympic games.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Jim Corsi – Coach</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Corsi has been goaltending coach with the Buffalo Sabres
since 1998-99. Since, the team has not had a problem keeping pucks out of the
net, rather putting them in. His star pupils have been Ryan Miller and Marty
Biron.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-10863574148928223202013-11-15T12:07:00.000-08:002013-11-15T12:07:56.322-08:00Maine Nordiques<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXvWP9JDmvmn-Wi89zPbqDdjgpnL1WghnBn5Bpu-FL1djQAzct1zD3EYf4sqJypOntWrYv9iPaazpHwKCFUH_fXyUmCF8AKLkvPs_I6eANRDBubWUDjD56P5Ftm7YefJT-y_r3ntNltE/s1600/maine+nordiques.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="maine nordiques lewiston nahl franchise" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXvWP9JDmvmn-Wi89zPbqDdjgpnL1WghnBn5Bpu-FL1djQAzct1zD3EYf4sqJypOntWrYv9iPaazpHwKCFUH_fXyUmCF8AKLkvPs_I6eANRDBubWUDjD56P5Ftm7YefJT-y_r3ntNltE/s1600/maine+nordiques.png" title="maine nordiques nahl" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Maine Nordiques existed for the entire duration of the
North American Hockey League, 1973-74 to 1976-77. The team was affiliated with
the Quebec Nordiques of the World Hockey Association. Home games were played at
the Central Maine Youth Center, now the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, in Lewiston,
Maine. The venue seats 3,677 for hockey and was opened in 1958.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
1973-74</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best regular season performance by the Maine Nordiques
was countered by a terrible post season. Maine placed second out of seven teams
in the NAHL, 19 points behind the first place Syracuse Blazers and 20 points
ahead of the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/05/long-island-cougars.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Long Island
Cougars</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. However, in the Lockhart Cup playoffs, the Nordiques won just one
of eight games in the opening round, round robin style format.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00AF66OMC&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the regular season, four players totalled 100 or more
points: Rejean Giroux, </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/09/paul-larose-of-maine-nordiques.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Paul
Larose</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Michel Rouleau and Michel Archambault. All four were in the top six
for points in the league. Giroux placed second in the NAHL with 64 goals while
Larose was third with 53. The two were also 2-3 in the points department with
Giroux finishing with 122 and Larose ending up with 119. Michel Rouleau
finished sixth in the league for penalty minutes with 173.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Future NHL goalie </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/richard-brodeur.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Richard
Brodeur</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> played his only 15 games in the NAHL during the regular season.
Brodeur was back with the Quebec Nordiques by playoff time. Michel Harvey took
on the dual role of player / head coach.</span></div>
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<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
1974-75</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Nordiques started 1974-75 with ten consecutive losses
and Michel Harvey was relieved of his coaching duties. Jean-Charles Gravel took
over as head coach and the team improved somewhat but did not qualify for the
post season. Maine finished eighth in the eight team league with just 55 points
over 74 games.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul Larose led the team with 54 goals and 49 assists for
103 points. He placed second in the league for goals and third for points. The
team used six different goaltenders but their number one was Bernie Wolfe.
Wolfe would later play four years in the National Hockey League with the
Washington Capitals.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
1975-76</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bob Leduc took over the role of player / head coach and the
Nordiques were downright dreadful. Leduc had spent the past three years in the
WHA in the Ottawa Nationals / Toronto Toros organization. Maine finished the
year with just 18 wins and a tie, along with 55 losses. The Cape Codders played
just 52 games before folding and still finished 14 points ahead of the
Nordiques. Maine was fifth in the five team East Division and last overall in
the ten team league.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because the Codders folded, Maine actually made it into the
playoffs. The </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Beauce Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
took out the Nordiques in the opening round but Maine did manage to win one
game. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again, Paul Larose was the team leader offensively,
putting up great numbers on a terrible team. Larose scored 41 and assisted on
73 for 114 points over 71 games. He placed tenth in the NAHL for goals, fifth
for assists and eighth for points.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
1976-77</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Nordiques turned it around for their final year in the
doomed league with Jean-Charles Gravel returning as head coach. Maine finished
second in the eight team league and won their first ever playoff series in the
league by sweeping the <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/4_Retired_Numbers_of_the_Johnstown_Chiefs" target="_blank">Johnstown Jets</a> in the opening round. In round 2, the
Nordiques took out the Binghamton Dusters in five games. In the Lockhart Cup
finals, Maine was swept by the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul Larose Gary Coulter led the team with 31 goals each.
John Cunniff was the team leader with 65 assists and 94 points. Jim Corsi was
the number one goalie for the Nordiques. Corsi played 26 games in the NHL for the
Edmonton Oilers during the 1979-80 season. John has been goaltending coach for
the Buffalo Sabres since 2001-02.</span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-1417289424448863202013-10-24T19:51:00.000-07:002013-10-24T19:51:02.868-07:00Bryan McSheffrey
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-jk88NTrKZijHPJzUO3MSs3f-QdihvI8-toPjq4IOXVhVZTPdvLizzr-_WaY3uJvm0KnDmnX66nUJrmmXCf7_egqg0QENk0Lj96N8FBtOr8syT0lwJWGizkFIeyNOuB03cxbcMcGOvY/s1600/1973-74+o-pee-chee+219+bryan+mcsheffrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="bryan mcsheffrey vancouver canucks rookie hockey card" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-jk88NTrKZijHPJzUO3MSs3f-QdihvI8-toPjq4IOXVhVZTPdvLizzr-_WaY3uJvm0KnDmnX66nUJrmmXCf7_egqg0QENk0Lj96N8FBtOr8syT0lwJWGizkFIeyNOuB03cxbcMcGOvY/s320/1973-74+o-pee-chee+219+bryan+mcsheffrey.jpg" title="bryan mcsheffrey o-pee-chee rookie card" width="229" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bryan McSheffrey was a player that had a promising junior
hockey career in the OHA with the Ottawa 67’s in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
McSheffrey looked to be off and running in the National Hockey League with the
Vancouver Canucks, the team that made him a second round pick in 1972. However,
by 1975, he was in the North American Hockey League, never to play in the NHL
again.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bryan McSheffrey – NAHL</h3>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">McSheffrey played two years in the NAHL, 1975-76 and
1976-77. In his first year, he started out with the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/guy-trottier-coach-and-star-of-buffalo.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Guy
Trottier</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> coached Buffalo Norsemen. Over 46 games, he scored 27 goals and
assisted on 31 for well more than a point per game at 58. Even with only
playing 46 of 74 games, Bryan placed fourth on the Norsemen for assists.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bryan was shipped to the fragile Cape Codders midseason. The
Codders had folded before Christmas but were resurrected for a short period of
time in the new year. McSheffrey played three games with the club, scoring just
a goal. The Cape Codders folded for good on February 18, 1975. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">McSheffrey finished off the 1975-76 season with the Mohawk
Valley Comets, playing 12 games and adding seven points. The Comets lost in the
opening round to the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1976-77, Bryan spent the whole season with the Comets,
playing in 63 games and totalling 72 points on 29 goals and 43 assists. He
placed third on the team for points. Mohawk Valley lost in the opening round to
the Binghamton Dusters, three games to two.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bryan McSheffrey – Ottawa 67’s</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bryan played four years with the Ottawa 67’s from 1968-69 to
1971-72. He appeared in one game with the </span><a href="http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/oshawa-generals-retired-numbers/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Oshawa
Generals</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in 1967-68. He was well over a point per game during his OHA career
with 260 in 226 regular season games. He led the 67’s in goals in 1969-70 with
35 and placed second behind Blake Dunlop the following year for goals and
points.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his final year in the league, McSheffrey led Ottawa with
52 goals and 96 points. He placed fifth in the league for goals behind a group
of four that went on to play in the NHL, including league leader and Hockey
Hall of Fame member Steve Shutt.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Bryan McSheffrey – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bryan was a second round pick of the Vancouver Canucks at
the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. He had size and scoring ability and in the
beginning the Canucks had big plans for him. McSheffrey played just 90 games in
the NHL over his career, all between 1972-73 and 1974-75 with the Canucks and
Buffalo Sabres. His time in Buffalo was limited to just three games. Bryan
appears on just one hockey card. The </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/bryan-mcsheffrey-rookie-card/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Bryan
McSheffrey rookie card</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is part of the 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee set.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">McSheffrey finished his pro hockey career in the Netherlands
Eredivisie with HYS Den Haag (The Hague). He was the league’s scoring leader,
playing in 1978-79 and 1979-80. Over his time in the Netherlands, Bryan
produced at over three points per game.</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-35777396139769098532013-10-01T21:03:00.001-07:002013-10-01T21:03:55.574-07:00Philadelphia Civic Center: Home of the Firebirds
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD7dA0orD07VUQki4LXBMvxfafIVf2ot8nsuWhH6-RuJ7Ut00L3jpbzD87XHR2ulPwmYvfEX1OgmXwa0uWeU199DSbqmCkrG0XcyUhmtfYqebf3N207Gr7962ww_qA_wSmPk6tMGh0U8/s1600/philadelphia+civic+center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="philadelphia civic center" border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD7dA0orD07VUQki4LXBMvxfafIVf2ot8nsuWhH6-RuJ7Ut00L3jpbzD87XHR2ulPwmYvfEX1OgmXwa0uWeU199DSbqmCkrG0XcyUhmtfYqebf3N207Gr7962ww_qA_wSmPk6tMGh0U8/s320/philadelphia+civic+center.jpg" title="philadelphia civic center" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/philadelphia-firebirds.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Philadelphia
Firebirds</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> played in the North American Hockey League for three years from
1974-75 to 1976-77, the team played their home games at the Philadelphia Civic
Center. The full name was Philadelphia Convention Hall and Civic Center.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Firebirds won a Lockhart Cup championship at the Civic
Center in 1975-76. When the NAHL disbanded after the 1976-77 season, the
Firebirds joined the American Hockey League and played out of the Civic Center
for the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons before leaving town.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Philadelphia Civic Center was opened in 1931. The arena
held a capacity of around 9,000 for hockey. The venue was closed in 1996 and
demolished in 2005. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Civic Center was also home to a handful of other
professional sports teams. In pro hockey, the Philadelphia Blazers of the World
Hockey Association played at the arena for the 1972-73 season. It was the first
year of WHA hockey and the only year that Philadelphia had a franchise. The
team was meant to start as the Miami Screaming Eagles but had to move to Philly
because of arena issues.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Blazers were hyped by the signings of goaltender Bernie
Parent and NHL budding superstar Derek Sanderson. Both soon after returned to
the National Hockey League. The Blazers were relocated to Vancouver for the
1973-74 season.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Professional basketball in Philadelphia was rooted in the
Civic Center. The Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA played their home games at
the venue from 1952-53 to 1961-62. The team won a NBA title in 1955-56 with a
victory over the Fort Wayne Pistons. For the 1962-63 season, the Warriors moved
to San Francisco and are the present day Golden State Warriors. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Philadelphia 76ers also called the Civic Center home
from 1963-64 to 1966-67. The 76ers were relocated from Syracuse, New York after
1962-63. They were originally known as the Syracuse Nationals. The 76ers moved
into the Spectrum for 1967-68, the same year the NHL’s Flyers moved in.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for the Spectrum, it seated 17,380 for hockey. It closed
in 2009 and was demolished in 2011.</span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-84995504264656254432013-09-26T17:22:00.001-07:002013-09-26T17:22:37.612-07:00Michel Plante of the Philadelphia Firebirds
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tmWgT5c7V9kA_oLLCakjhcYJPQtla9sHiqEP8NJWGYffeWPGDQ_4HSqm48CoHpF3tpJBcgPoxKpqx3Yl12ly2I5EIjWK_zCud4xwp0d0VwiaeUBltxgySc-VQUN3UCCeXXef1uDzjA0/s1600/michel+plante.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="michel plante philadelphia firebirds nahl" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tmWgT5c7V9kA_oLLCakjhcYJPQtla9sHiqEP8NJWGYffeWPGDQ_4HSqm48CoHpF3tpJBcgPoxKpqx3Yl12ly2I5EIjWK_zCud4xwp0d0VwiaeUBltxgySc-VQUN3UCCeXXef1uDzjA0/s1600/michel+plante.jpg" title="michel plante philadelphia firebirds nahl" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michel Plante along with </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/07/bob-collyard.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Bob Collyard</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/08/gord-brooks.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Gord
Brooks</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> led the Philadelphia Firebirds to the 1975-76 Lockhart Cup
championship in the North American Hockey League. Plante played the final three
years of the NAHL’s existence followed by one more year in pro hockey before
retiring.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Michel Plante – NAHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plante played with the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/philadelphia-firebirds.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Philadelphia
Firebirds</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> for three years from 1974-75 to 1976-77. He appeared in 213
regular season games, scoring 102 goals and assisted on 140 for 242 points.
Like the rest of the Firebirds, Michel really shone in 1975-76.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over 73 regular season games in 1975-76, Plante scored 52
and assisted on 66 for 118 points. He placed fifth in the NAHL for goals, ninth
for assists and seventh for points. In the playoffs, he added another 27 points
over 16 games as the Firebirds captured the Lockhart Cup championship with a
victory of the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Beauce Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
in six in the finals.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Michel Plante – QMJHL</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michel played for the Drummondville Rangers in the first
three years of existence for the QMJHL, 1969-70 to 1971-72. Plante’s hometown
Rangers ceased operations after the 1973-74 QMJHL season. In his final two
years with Drummondville, Plante wore the ‘A’ on his jersey. In 1970-71, he led
the team offensively with 39 goals and 54 assists for 93 points over 61 games.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Michel Plante – Pro Hockey</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plante was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth
round of the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, 75<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> overall. He played pro
from 1972-73 to 1977-78 in the WHA, SHL, NAHL and IHL. Michel appeared in 92
regular season and four playoff games in the World Hockey Association with the </span><a href="http://gts68.hubpages.com/hub/Philadelphia-Blazers"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Philadelphia Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
in 1972-73 and 1973-74.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his final year of pro, Michel almost had his second
championship. He played for the Port Huron Flags in the International Hockey
League. The Flags did not excel during the regular season, finishing fourth out
of five teams in the IHL North Division with just the sixth best record in the
nine team IHL. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, the Flags knocked off the division leading Saginaw
Gears in the opening round, four games to one. It then took just another five
games to take out the second seed Kalamazoo Wings to earn a berth in the
finals. Port Huron came up against the Toledo Goaldiggers and stretched the
series to the full seven games before bowing out. Plante contributed 15 points
over 17 playoff games to push the Flags to the finals.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-88439283212624958652013-09-17T21:10:00.000-07:002017-01-02T07:26:39.882-08:00Paul Larose of the Maine Nordiques<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsZPfdsEm6cGsEf8q2wOUqZJOzqDK1u5WKDPNkkmt2MhqgseIjQk3M9idbQ80qRIhidaHxaLAj_IkgsrIy44awXbq-iaLGawmv86aGg2-oXe1rTY7bST9fwSRJHG6ayjfc_5ucP8dMlA/s1600/paul+larose+quebec+nordiques.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="paul larose quebec nordiques wha" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsZPfdsEm6cGsEf8q2wOUqZJOzqDK1u5WKDPNkkmt2MhqgseIjQk3M9idbQ80qRIhidaHxaLAj_IkgsrIy44awXbq-iaLGawmv86aGg2-oXe1rTY7bST9fwSRJHG6ayjfc_5ucP8dMlA/s1600/paul+larose+quebec+nordiques.png" title="paul larose quebec nordiques" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Paul Larose played in all four North American Hockey League
seasons and was one of the league’s most consistent offensive producers. Larose
played all four years, his final four as a pro hockey player, with the Maine
Nordiques, helping the club to a Lockhart Cup finals appearance in 1976-77.</span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
Paul Larose – NAHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over 287 regular season NAHL games, Paul scored 179 goals
and assisted on 248 for 427 points. Twice he topped the 50 goal plateau and
surpassed 100 points in three of his four years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In his first year with the Nordiques, Larose scored 53 and
assisted on 66 for 119 points over 70 games. He placed third in the NAHL for
goals, second for assists and third for points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">1974-75 saw Paul score 54 but add just 49 assists for 103
points in 73 games. He was the team leader with Maine for goals, assists and
points. Larose’s 54 goals placed him second in the league, one goal behind <span id="goog_688171295"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Rod
Bloomfield<span id="goog_688171296"></span></a> of the Binghamton Dusters. Paul placed tenth for assists and tied
for third for points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Larose once again led the Nordiques in goals, assists and points
in 1975-76 with 41 goals and 73 assists for 114 points over 71 games. His
assist total placed him fifth in the league. 114 points would have tied Paul
for the league lead in 1974-75. In 1975-76, the total placed him down in eighth
spot in a NAHL led by Joe Hardy of the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">Beauce Jaros</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
who amassed an amazing 208 points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In his final season of pro hockey, Paul’s numbers dropped
but the Nordiques excelled with their most successful season in their stay in
the NAHL. Over 73 regular season games, he scored 31 and assisted on 60 for 91
points. He placed eighth in the league for assists. Maine reached the Lockhart
Cup finals before being swept in four by the </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></div>
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Paul Larose – QMJHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Paul played just one year of junior in the QMJHL, Quebec’s
contribution to the Canadian Hockey League. Larose started out the season with
the Trois Rivieres Ducs, scoring 31 and totalling 66 points over 33 games
before being traded to the Quebec Remparts. With Quebec, he also totalled 66
points but in just 24 games. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Combined, Larose played 57 games, scoring 52 and assisting on
80 for 132 points. In the high scoring QMJHL, Paul finished ninth for goals,
fifth for assists and sixth for points. The Remparts were led by </span><a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/guy-lafleur-marcel-dionne-rookie-card/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">Guy
Lafleur</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> who scored 103 goals and totalled 170 points in 56 games. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Quebec was crowned President’s Cup champions as QMJHL
playoff champs after sweeping the St. Jerome Alouettes in the finals. Larose
finished second to Lafleur on the team for playoff points with 30 in 15 games.
Guy amassed 43 in the same 15 games.</span></div>
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Paul Larose – Pro Hockey</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Larose was taken by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh
round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, 91<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> overall. He played pro
hockey from 1970-71 to 1976-77 in the EHL, WHA and NAHL. In the World Hockey
Association, Paul played 28 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1972-73 and five
with the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades in 1974-75.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Larose’s top year in pro hockey came in 1971-72 with the
Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League. Paul finished his second year of
pro hockey with 67 goals and 62 assists for 129 points over 75 regular season
games. His 67 goals led the EHL and his 129 points placed him second behind
teammate <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.ca/2017/01/ray-adduono.html">Ray Adduono</a>’s 165. Syracuse reached the finals before being swept by
the Charlotte Checkers.</span></div>
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Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-20066950356588136562013-09-05T08:59:00.000-07:002013-09-05T08:59:18.491-07:00Brian Conacher: Head Coach of the Mohawk Valley Comets<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsiBA-w-PDCt_x4vWVCvQ1UTGUzIh1m1hFcJVH0X1HxAwNkO3pSEZok5nw30oH0YG9Zvv9wT0gYf8OLwSDqIDk3vV_oPUmgRKmLSQL2Gqfh8zjOS72VeVmrQeAzYisqacHE0hzodFves/s1600/brian+conacher+rookie+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="brian conacher toronto maple leafs rookie hockey card" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsiBA-w-PDCt_x4vWVCvQ1UTGUzIh1m1hFcJVH0X1HxAwNkO3pSEZok5nw30oH0YG9Zvv9wT0gYf8OLwSDqIDk3vV_oPUmgRKmLSQL2Gqfh8zjOS72VeVmrQeAzYisqacHE0hzodFves/s320/brian+conacher+rookie+card.jpg" title="brian conacher topps rookie card" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Son of National Hockey League great Lionel Conacher, Brian
Conacher played his share of NHL hockey before he became a head coach in the
North American Hockey League. Conacher coached the Mohawk Valley Comets for the
1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, along with 12 games at the start of 1975-76. He
wasn’t given much to work with and the Comets were not very successful.</span></div>
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Brian Conacher – Head Coach</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Conacher’s first year as head coach of the Mohawk Valley
Comets, the team placed last in the seven team NAHL with 42 points over 74
games. The Comets finished 19 points behind the sixth place Binghamton Dusters
and 70 points behind the first place </span><a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Syracuse
Blazers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1974-75 saw a great improvement in the Comets. The team
totalled 25 more points than the previous season with 67 over 74 games. Mohawk
Valley finished sixth out of eight teams and got their first taste of the Lockhart
Cup post season. However, the Comets fell in the opening round to the
Binghamton Dusters, another team much improved over the previous season.</span></div>
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0470152958&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mohawk Valley’s success in 1974-75 was largely due to the
goaltending duo of Michel Dion and Jim Park, both in their first year with the
club. Dion went on to play several years in the WHA and NHL while Park played
three years in the WHA. Jim won the Terry Sawchuk Trophy in 1979-80 as the
goaltender on the team in the Central Hockey League with the least goals
against.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Twelve games into the 1975-76 season, Conacher was replaced
by Ted McCaskill. During those 12 games, Brian returned to ice for three,
scoring two goals and assisting on another. McCaskill played four games in the
NHL with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967-68 and was a regular in the World
Hockey Association in 1972-73 and 1973-74 with the Los Angeles Sharks. In
1974-75, he played 40 games in the NAHL with the Binghamton Dusters, his final
games as a pro hockey player. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The team didn’t fare much better under McCaskill, placing
third of five teams in the East Division with 64 points in 74 games. The Comets
then fell in the opening round of the playoffs to the Syracuse Blazers.</span></div>
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Brian Conacher – Pro Hockey Player</h3>
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<a href="http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/1971-72-o-pee-chee-138-brian-conacher.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Brian
Conacher</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> played a total of 155 regular season games in the National Hockey
League between 1965-66 and 1971-72 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red
Wings. He also appeared in 12 playoff games, all during the 1966-67 season when
the Maple Leafs captured the Stanley Cup championship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian played one last year of pro hockey in 1972-73 before
ending up behind the Mohawk Valley bench. He played for the Ottawa Nationals in
the inaugural season of the WHA. Over his career, he also played in the AHL and
CHL. Conacher played for Canada at the 1964 Winter Olympics and the 1965 World
Hockey Championships. He was a Calder Cup champion in the American Hockey
League with the Rochester Americans in 1965-66.</span></div>
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Brian Conacher – Author</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2007, Conacher published a book titled <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470152958/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0470152958&linkCode=as2&tag=ohalce05-20">As the Puck Turns: A Personal Journey Through the World of Hockey</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ohalce05-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0470152958" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. The book chronicled his diverse
life in hockey and peeked inside one of the sport’s royal families.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791929612014171092.post-73759532557853953252013-09-02T09:52:00.000-07:002013-09-02T09:52:14.295-07:00Dave Hanson: The Man, The Foil and The Legend<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiEgaRPiHWU8WFuLSn361hGttZoqn_x04HeH8fi6CIn2pJZ6MUpXS53OHfRUlLztDpd0wBLpW01q3CkzlGkErWGXJS_W-ZN2ppz9wCb-SCgyvfInvDRn-T3T7w-4XPLvr5uAltYPpeRE/s1600/dave+hanson+hockey+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="dave hanson johnstown jets nahl" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiEgaRPiHWU8WFuLSn361hGttZoqn_x04HeH8fi6CIn2pJZ6MUpXS53OHfRUlLztDpd0wBLpW01q3CkzlGkErWGXJS_W-ZN2ppz9wCb-SCgyvfInvDRn-T3T7w-4XPLvr5uAltYPpeRE/s320/dave+hanson+hockey+card.jpg" title="dave hanson johnstown jets nahl" width="227" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dave Hanson really needs no introduction to any true North
American Hockey League fan. Hanson was a last minute replacement for Jack
Carlson in the 1977 hockey cult film ‘Slapshot’. Dave played Jack Hanson, one
of a trio of Hanson brothers on the fictitious Charlestown Chiefs, along with
Jeff Carlson and Steve Carlson.</span></div>
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Dave Hanson – NAHL</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hanson played parts of three years in the NAHL from 1974-75
to 1976-77, all with the Johnstown Jets. In his first year, he placed third in
the league for penalty minutes with 249. Ahead of him were Gary Sittler,
brother of Darryl, of the <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-syracuse-blazers-were-relative.html">Syracuse Blazers</a> and teammate and movie brother Jeff
Carlson, also of the Jets. Just three PIM behind Dave was teammate Jack
Carlson. In that first year, the brawling Jets won the Lockhart Cup, sweeping
the Binghamton Dusters in the finals.</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=ohalce05-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=1600788750&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year was Hanson’s last full season in the
NAHL. He finished second in the league for penalty minutes with 311. Ahead of
him, a far, far distance away was <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/03/gilles-bilodeau-nahl-single-season-pim.html">Gilles Bilodeau</a> of the <a href="http://slapshotnahl.blogspot.com/2013/04/beauce-jaros.html">Beauce Jaros</a> with 451
PIM, an NAHL record.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1976-77, the last for the league, Hanson played just six
games for the Jets before never really unpacking his suitcase for the rest of
the season. Dave played for four other teams in pro hockey, the Hampton Gulls
of the SHL, Rhode Island Reds of the AHL, Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA
and the New England Whalers of the WHA. </span></div>
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Dave Hanson – Pro Hockey</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hanson played pro from 1974-75 to 1983-84 in a handful of
leagues, including the NAHL, SHL, AHL, WHA, CHL, NHL and IHL. He was not
drafted into the NHL but was a fourth round pick of the Fighting Saints at the
1974 WHA Amateur Draft, 59<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> overall. Dave appeared in 33 National
Hockey League games with the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars. In
the World Hockey Association, he played 103 total regular season games with the
Fighting Saints, Whalers and Birmingham Bulls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps Dave’s pinnacle in pro hockey came in 1980-81 with
the <a href="http://hockey.knoji.com/the-4-calder-cup-victories-of-the-ahls-adirondack-red-wings/" target="_blank">Adirondack Red Wings</a> of the American Hockey League. He placed fifth in the
league for PIM but, more importantly, won a championship. The Red Wings won the
Calder Cup with a victory over the Maine Mariners in six in the finals. Maine
outscored Adirondack 22-19 in the series on the strength of a 10-1 drubbing in
game four.</span></div>
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Dave Hanson – The Author</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2008, Hanson authored <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1600788750/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1600788750&linkCode=as2&tag=ohalce05-20">Slap Shot Original: The Man, the Foil, and the Legend</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ohalce05-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1600788750" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. This is a firsthand account of the behind-the-scenes
antics while filming Slap Shot. Dave also gets into how the movie changed his
life, along with the other cast members, taking them from minor hockey league
players to movie stars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Big names abound with Bob Costas and Gordie Howe providing
the Foreward. Also included are introductions from Jeff Carlson and Steve
Carlson, the other two thirds of the Hanson Brothers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The book is having a bit of a re-release on October 1, 2013.
Slap Shot Original: The Man, The Foil and the Legend will once again be available
via Amazon. The book qualifies for Amazon’s pre-order guarantee, meaning if you
pre-order and the price drops before the book is available for shipping, they
refund the difference. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you order the book and the DVD of the original movie ‘Slapshot’,
you just might qualify for free shipping if the total is $25 or more!</span></div>
Tom Samworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05617541849540134178noreply@blogger.com0