SEPTEMBER 29, 1947
PRESEASON PREDICTION EDITION
THIS MAY FINALLY BE PACKERS YEAR
The Chicago Packers have been around since 1925 but are the only North American Hockey Confederation club never to win a Challenge Cup. That might change this year as the Packers could be the team to beat as clubs prepare to commence the 1947-48 season.
There are plenty of changes in store for the NAHC this year. They included a longer schedule as the clubs will for the first time complete a sixty-game slate and the playoff semi-final has been extended to a best-of-seven to match the Challenge Cup Final from its old formt of a best-of-five series. There is also one less team as the Brooklyn Eagles folded, dropping the NAHC to six clubs, the NAHC's lowest total since before it abosrbed the USHA in 1926.
The dismantling of the Eagles means a lot of players have found new homes and many deemed talented enough to play in a 7-team loop are not left looking for work in the streamlined 6 club Confederation. That upheaval makes predicting the results for the year ahead an especially daunting task but here is how TWIFB sees the race shaping up:
FIRST PLACE: CHICAGO PACKERS -The key to the Packers is always a healthy Tommy Burns (30-37-67), but the two-time McDaniels Trophy winner should be entering the prime of his career at age 27 after leading the league in scoring. Their is some concern that his brother Wes Burns (19-19-38) may have lost a step and might be bumped to the second line but Wes still has plenty of talent despite missing games with injury each of the past three seasons. Most of the other faces up front are familar ones with Marty Mahoney (15-33-48) and Ed Delarue (18-24-42) being two of the best. Two newcomers will likely see plenty of ice time in 24-year-old right winger Jeremy MacLean, a 31 point man in Cleveland a year ago, and 25-year-old Leon Seguin -the Packers second round pick in 1941 who average a point a game in Buffalo last season and appears ready to assume a key role in the Windy City.
The Packers defense is led by returnees Jerry Finch (6-19-25), Ted Stevens (3-8-11) and Pete Moreau (9-20-29) and there is some potential with 1945 first rounder Jesse Santoro set to make the jump from the Coast League and Mike Van Tol, a 19-year-old drafted 5th overall in July perhaps ready to be eased into the lineup. Defensive depth might be a concern and the Packers have made it known they would be willing to move one of their deep crop of forwards for a right shooting rearguard. Between the pipes the Packers look very strong with 27-year-old Norm Hanson (24-13-5, 2.56), who established himself as a big-time NAHC netminder last season.
SECOND PLACE: BOSTON BEES - The Bees have won each of the last two Challenge Cups and stand to only get better this season with the return of goaltender Tom Brockers (15-22-8, 2.74) after the 31-year-old spent the past three seasons in Brooklyn. The 4-time Juneau Trophy winner returns but will have plenty of competition in net as the Bees also return last year's starter Pierre Melancon (22-8-8, 2.57) -who won his first Juneau- and a highly touted 24-year-old rookie by the name of Oscar James.
The Boston defense may not overwhelm you with talent, but it is steady and has depth with six solid returning regulars led by Len Bentley (6-11-17), Willis Beane (4-15-19) and Conn Cundiff (4-13-17). There is also a chance that 22-year-old Mickey Bedard, the Bees 3rd round selection in 1944 who had 27 points in Buffalo last season, is ready to make the jump to the NAHC and just might vie for a spot in the Bees top two pairings.
Boston's big duo of Wilbur Chandler (19-30-49) and Tommy Hart (30-23-53) may get a new right winger this season as there may be some concerns about 32-year-old Waldemar Rupp (10-24-34) holding on to his spot on the top line. 21-year-old Garrett Kaufeldt is a newcomer who may got a shot or Jacob Gron, a 24-year-old who had 21 points in 19 games last season but missed more than half the campaign with injuries. There is plenty of depth up front especially with the addition of youngsters Robert Walker and Alex Gagnon from the coast league.
THIRD PLACE: DETROIT MOTORS - The Motors snapped a two-year playoff drought with a third-place finish last season but ran into injuries on the blueline and were quickly dispatched by a far superior Chicago outfit in the semi-finals. Third year coach Mark Moore builds his team from the blueline out and has two of the best rearguards in the league in Shel Herron (10-20-30) and Bryant Williams (6-14-20). Add in Joe Todd (9-17-26) and Alex Viens (3-9-12) and they have a decent second pairing but there is some concern about depth now that veterans Bernie Dunton and Phil Denman were granted their releases after each voice displeasure about reduced ice time last year. The goaltending will be solid as long as Henri Classe (21-16-10, 2.60) stays healthy. Brad Carter is the backup, but he only played 1 game each of the past two seasons.
It is the offensive side of things were the Motors made the biggest changes and there could be as many as five new faces in the group of Detroit forwards this season. Start with highly touted youngster Adam Vanderbilt, Detroit's 3rd round pick in 1944 who led the HAA with 63 points last season and add Randy Emond, a 25-year-old who was a point a game performer in Buffalo. There is also 22-year-old winger Hank Walsh (7-18-25), who was selected from Brooklyn in the dispersal draft as well as rookies Nick Tardif and first round pick Ben Witt. The returnees include top scorer Graham Comeau (20-26-46), Garrett Ferrar (20-17-37) and captain Miles Barfield (12-21-33). Competition for spots up front in Detroit will be fierce and the Motors might just make a second straight trip to the playoffs.
FOURTH PLACE: MONTREAL VALIANTS - Only the Brooklyn Eagles scored less often than the Vals last season but the addition of Ian Doyle (11-8-19) from the Eagles might help a team that's pieces were likely much better than their collective result a year ago. Doyle will need to stay healthy- the 23-year-old has already earned a reputation of being fragile- but if he does the center ice position looks very solid with Claude Skinner (18-17-35) and Rey Sclisizzi (10-7-17) joining Doyle in the middle. Youngsters Adam Sandford, who missed nearly all of last season with an injury, Brett Lanceleve (8-20-28), Nick Haines (8-19-27) and veteran captain Doug Lynch (8-14-22) all will be counted on to rebound from down years.
Blueline depth behind Leo Bernard (4-13-17) and Isaac Finnson (7-9-16) might be a concern unless second year man John McDonald (1-7-8) and newcomer Spencer Larocque can step up. The big question mark in Montreal revolves around 31-year-old goaltender Millard Touhey (14-22-4, 3.31). Such a key piece of the Valiants surprising upset of Toronto in the 1946 semi-finals, Touhey reported to camp a year ago out of shape and never really recovered in posting the worst numbers of his career. There was some speculation that the Valiants would select Tom Brockers in the dispersal draft, but they went with Doyle, giving their veteran goaltender a vote of confidence.
The big change in Montreal is behind the bench as the Vals jumped at the chance to sign Montreal native and two-time Challenge Cup winning coach Norb Hickey after he was let go by Toronto last April.
FIFTH PLACE: TORONTO DUKES - The Dukes promise to be a much different team than the one that collapsed from first place two years ago to last place in the 1946-47 season. Jack Barrell, the ex-Dukes star who had great success coaching briefly in the coast league after a falling out with Detroit owner Jack Connelly Jr., is back in the NAHC and will be behind the Dukes bench.
Toronto may well be the most improved team in the league -at least upfront- with the addition of rookie of the year Quinton Pollack (30-17-47) from Brooklyn and 19-year-old phenom Larry Galbraith, who scored 19 goals for Buffalo last season, with the first pick in the rookie draft. Add in dependable captain Bobbie Sauer (24-22-46), veteran winger Herb Burdette, who missed most of last season with a rib injury, and rising stars Les Carlson (10-11-21) and Tony Parker (14-15-29) and the Dukes should contend for a playoff spot.
Gordie Broadway is 33-years-old but still one of the top goaltenders in the league and backup Terry Russell should be able to give Broadway the occasional day off. Defense was the big problem last year and and Toronto did address it somewhat with the addition of 25-year-old Chad Roy (2-10-12) from Brooklyn. However, the club still looks thin in that position beyond J.C. Martel (3-7-10) and young Fred Featherstone (6-10-16).
SIXTH PLACE: NEW YORK SHAMROCKS - The Shamrocks made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1941-42 and we are not saying they won't do that again this year. Chicago and Boston seem to be the class of the league but beyond that any of the four remaining clubs, with the right breaks and avoiding key injuries, could easily make the post-season. We do need to pick someone for last place and based on the talent on hand that team is the Shamrocks for 1947-48.
New York has a couple of very talented young goaltenders in Alex Sorrell and Freddy Hubbs. Each may have a bright future but for now the netminding chores fall to 25 year old Etienne Tremblay (16-19-6, 2.81), who is not a bad netminder but likely the least accomplished among the NAHC starters between the pipes this season. In front of him is 30-year-old captain Bert McCalley (3-18-21), who may well be the best defensive defenseman in the league, but beyond him depth is a concern. That depth may not be too far away as Robert Sharpley (2-10-12), a 21-year-old who saw regular action as a rookie with Brooklyn last year, looks to have a bright future and second year man Paul Tetreault (6-12-18) also appears to have great potential.
Like on the blueline with McCalley, the Greenshirts boast one of the best forwards in the game in 29-year-old Orval Cabbell (23-22-45). There is good center ice depth with Laurel Albers (9-21-30) and sophomore Adam Greenham (13-19-32). On the wing the Shamrocks added former Eagle Sam Coates (10-22-32) to a group that included Tommy Brescia (14-22-36) and 20-year old Joe Martin (7-9-16), who missed half the season after a scary injury in which his leg was lacerated by a skate blade. Big things are expected from first round draft pick Jim Macek but perhaps not for a year or two. Like on the blueline there is some talent, and what appears to be a bright future, but depth might be a concern in the season ahead.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
EXHIBITION GAMES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1
New York vs Montreal at Syracuse, NY
Detroit vs Boston at Hershey, Pa.
Chicago vs Toronto at St Catharines, Ont.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2
Toronto vs Chicago at Hamilton, Ont
Detroit vs New York at Philadelphia, Pa.
Boston at Montreal
SATURDAY OCTOBER 4
Montreal vs Chicago at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Detroit vs Boston at Springfield, Ma.
New York at Toronto
SUNDAY OCTOBER 5
Chicago vs New York at Buffalo, NY
Montreal vs Detroit at Windsor, Ont
Toronto at Boston
ON THE LOCAL NEWS FRONT
Detroit Columnist touches on Motors upcoming season.
CHANGING OF SEASONS IN DETROIT SPORTS
Ah, the winds of change blow through the city of Detroit as we bid farewell to the boys of summer and welcome the warriors of fall and winter. Rollie Barrell's Maroons are back on the gridiron while the Thompson Palladium is preparing to fire up the Zamboni for the Motors. We have thoughts on all but let's start with Dick York's boys.
Despite and awful finish to the season that saw them drop their last 11 games it certainly appears the Dynamos are on the right track. This young and promising team may not have been in the thick of the pennant race this season, as St. Louis made sure of that, but their first division finish is quite a feat. The future looks bright for the Dynamos, with Edwin Hackberry, Stan Kleminski, and Carl Potter showcasing their talents at such a young age. Just imagine what they can achieve when they hit their prime. Though there are still some gaps to fill, the minor leagues are teeming with talent. According to Dan Barrell and the OSA, seven Dynamos prospects rank among the top 100 in the sport. While we may not see them in Detroit next season, their arrival in '49 and '50 could finally propel this club back to the World Championship Series, a feat not accomplished since 1929.
*** Rollie Barrell Reveals a Big Secret ***
What a surprise it was when Rollie Barrell walked into the Maroons practice facility early last week alongside Tom Bowens. This star pass catcher, second only to Maroons legend Stan Vaught, joined the Maroons without anyone outside the organization having a clue. The secret, as it turns out, lies in the family connection, as Bowens is married to Barrell's sister Betsy. This marks the second time Barrell has convinced a retired star to come back to the game, following Stan Vaught's return. In fact, Vaught's retirement came after the Maroons lost the AFA title game the year before the one that marked the supposed end of Bowens days, but thanks to the persuasion of Rollie's daughter Allie, Vaught decided to give it one more shot. While we can't credit Allie for Bowens' return, the parallel is striking. The 34-year-old Bowens was eased into the lineup and had just 1 catch in the opener but also made a contribution on defense forcing a fumble as the Maroons beat their archrivals from Chicago 30-20.
*** Motors Reving Up ***
It may not feel like it outside, but hockey season is upon us. The Motors will face the defending Challenge Cup Boston Bees on Wednesday in the preseason opener for both clubs. This will be the longest NAHC season in history as the league has expanded to a 60-game schedule, which helps explaining the early start to training camp and the Motors October 15 regular season lid lifter. The Motors contingent of 35 players gathered over the weekend to begin camp amid a lot of uncertainty about where they stand. Detroit finished third a year ago and reached the playoffs before falling to Chicago in the semi-finals and anyone you talk to will tell you this year's edition should be a better outfit than last year's Motors. The problem is, thanks to all of the former Brooklyn Eagles players being scattered around the league after that club folded, everyone else is improved as well. Not the news you might want to read, but it says here the Motors will be hard-pressed to get back to the playoffs. Chicago is very good and Boston is a little older but still a strong team and they will battle it out for top spot once more. Montreal looks to have the inside track on third place and Jack Barrell will likely turn Toronto around very quickly. If that is the case the Motors and Shamrocks may both be heading to the golf course in mid-March when the playoffs begin.
OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK
- The Philadelphia Sailors ended a 17-year drought by capturing the Continental Association flag. The Sailors will next face the Federal Association champion St Louis Pioneers in the 54th annual World Championship Series, which gets underway in St Louis on Wednesday.
- Bobby Barrell narrowly edged Mel Carrol of the Washington Eagles by .001 to claim the Federal Association batting title and earn the Philadelphia Keystones slugger the second triple crown of his career. Barrell finished with 64 homeruns, snapping Max Morris' 1923 mark of 60.
- A busy slate of pro grid games in both the AFA and CFC while in the college ranks Rome State kicked off its season with a 24-0 win over Penn Catholic. The Centurions are 27-1-1 in their last 29 outings.
- President Truman is in a crisis parley with top agriculture advisors as pressure mounts for Truman to make a statement regarding both the rising costs and worries of shortages in the food situation at home and abroad.
- Britain warned the UN today that if the Soviet Union persisted in trying to force its own will on the world "the unstable peace of the world will crumble and crash" with "hideous consequences."
Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of
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