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.
Nick Fotiu – Cape Cod Cubs
Nick Fotiu
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.
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.
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.
Nick also played in the World Hockey Association. He
appeared with the New England Whalers during the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons.
Gary Sittler – Syracuse Blazers
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.
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.
Gilles Bilodeau – Beauce Jaros
In 1975-76, Gilles
Bilodeau set the eternal league record with 451 PIM over just 58 games with
the Beauce
Jaros. His margin of victory was a remarkable 140 minutes more than second
place Dave Hanson
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.
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.
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.
Rick Dorman – Erie Blades/Johnstown Jets
Rick Dorman
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.
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.
