APRIL 14, 1947
CHALLENGE CUP NOW A BEST OF THREE
Bees, Packers Split in Windy City, Tied at 2
Two completely different games as the Challenge Cup finals continued in Chicago but when the dust settled the series was deadlocked at 2 wins each as the Boston Bees and Chicago Packers did that same thing they did in Boston to start the series - split games three and four. The best-of-seven Cup final is now even at 2 victories apiece.
Game Three was all Boston as the Bees put a quick end to any worries that their offense was in a slump after scoring just twice in the first two games by exploding for four goals in the first period alone in game three and ended up crushing Chicago 10-2. Jim Morey led the way with 3 goals and an assist while Tommy Hart had a five point night and both Viv Napier and Waldemar Rupp contributed 3 points. The 10 Boston goals came on just 21 shots as the Bees chased Packers starting goaltender Norm Hanson less than a dozen minutes into the game after Hanson -who had shutout the Bees in game three- surrendered 4 goals on 7 shots.
Unlike game three in which the outcome seemed decided very early, the fourth game went late into the night before it determined a winner. The Packers blew a two-goal lead entering the third period but Moose Vezina would be the hero for the hometown club when he scored the game winner 47 seconds into the second overtime period to lift Chicago to a 5-4 victory and even the series once more.
Tommy Burns, who has been unusually quiet in the final, scored twice for Chicago with Ed Delarue and Matt Jewitt also solving Boston goaltender Pierre Melancon, who faced 53 shots in the game. Waldemar Rupp, Tommy Hart, Fred Yeadon and Willis Beane were the Boston marksmen.
The series now shifts to Boston for game five with the Bees looking for their second straight Cup win and 5th in the past 7 years while the Packers continue their quest for the first title in franchise history.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
CHANDLER TO MISS GAME FIVE
by Finn LeBec, Boston Globe
Wilbur Chandler looks like he will miss Game 5, so 22-year-old Craig Simpson will jump into the cockpit as first-line center. Chandler has a bruised toe and is expected to be back for Game 6 in this air-tight series that is tied at two games apiece.
Boston's offense exploded for ten goals in a Game 3 offensive performance that came out of nowhere. Joe Morey had a hat trick and Tommy Hart anchored the first line with a goal and four assists in the 10-2 win. Chicago goalie Norm Hanson was pulled after allowing four first-period goals in the first 12 minutes of the game.
The win gave Boston back home ice, but Chicago held the fort in Game 4 with a thrilling double-overtime victory. Moose Vézina scored 47 seconds into the fifth period of play. Boston forced free hockey with two goals in the third, as two defensemen - Fred Yeadon and Willis Beane - scored to tie the contest.
ROVERS CLAIM HAA CROWN
The Pittsburgh Rovers were crowned champions of the minor league Hockey Association of America after the Steel City club swept Syracuse three-straight in their best of five championship series. The Rovers, who have a working agreement and are supplied some of their players from the Chicago Packers, finsihed with the best regular season record in the 7-team loop at 27-15-6, good for 60 points and a 2-point cushion on the second place Syracuse Lancers.
Pittsburgh won the series opener on home ice by a 5-3 score as Chris Rissling and Alfie Dennis each scored twice for the Rovers. In game two it was Ollie Beauregard with a 2-goal effort to pace the Rovers to a 3-1 win over the Lancers. The final game was held in Syracuse and the Lancers made it a battle, with Ernest Shaefer scoring with just 1:34 remaining in regulation to tie the game at two but 8 minutes into overtime the Rovers Larry Prance scored the series winner to complete the sweep for Pittsburgh with a 3-2 victory. Prance is a 22-year-old center drafted by the Chicago Packers in the 6th round in 1943, who finally was signed by the club last July and assigned to Pittsburgh, for whom he scored 11 goals and added 21 assists in his first year of HAA action after 3 seasons with Portland of the coast loop.
OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK
- Whitney College edged Liberty College 49-47 to win the AIAA cage tournament. It marked the second straight year the Bells lost in the championship game.
- Spring training is over and FABL clubs made the train trip north over the weekend in preparation for the season opener, which is Monday for Washington and Philadelphia and Tuesday for everyone else.
- The world's first billionaire, and richest man, Henry Ford died this week at age of 83.
- President Truman declared the United States must "take a positive stand: against aggression in all its forms and act "ahead of time" to prevent another world war.
Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of
THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.