AUGUST 23, 1948
RICH GET RICHER, PACKERS INK DUCHARME
The NAHC's most powerful offense just added another key weapon with news that the Chicago Packers had agreed to a contract with 24-year-old left winger Max Ducharme. It returns Ducharme full circle to the NAHC club that originally drafted him as he was Chicago's 4th round choice in the 1943 draft but was dealt to Montreal four months later in the deal that brought combative defenseman Ted Stevens to the Windy City. While Stevens wore out his welcome in Chicago and has moved on to minor league Syracuse for the upcoming season, Ducharme took a couple of seasons to find his footing in Montreal but had a breakout year last season with 14 goals and 40 points in 59 games.
In a surprise move the Valiants released him along with a number of other players in a purge following a second straight season of missing the playoffs. There was plenty of interest around the league for the native of Drummondville, QC., but he elected to sign with the Packers and will add to arguably the most talented group of forwards in the league.
*** Where Will Ducharme Fit in Packers Lineup? ***
Many observers are left wondering what possessed Ducharme to sign with Chicago when he had his pick of clubs to join. Clearly the allure of joining the Challenge Cup favourites was likely the reason but one has to wonder if there will be enough ice time to go around at Lakeside Auditorium for the 24-year-old.
Ducharme aides his own cause by being flexible enough to comfortably fit into any of the three forward positions and there are always injuries to contend with over a long season but it is pretty clear the Packers do not have many openings up front. The first line seems certain to once again consist of three-time reigning league MVP Tommy Burns along with his brother Wes and Marty Mahoney. Point a game center iceman Jarrett McGlynn seems assured of a spot on the second line likely between Jeremy MacLean and Dave Rankin which means Ducharme ends up in a heavy battle with the likes of Ed Delarue, Moose Vezina, Larry Seguin, Derek Gubb and young Stanley Royce for whatever ice time might remain.
One thing is certain: There will not be a shortage of offensive talent with the Packers in the upcoming season.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
NAHC DRAFT COMPLETED
The 1948 North American Hockey Conferderation rookie draft was held over the weekend with the Detroit Motors owning the first choice which they used as expected on 19-year-old winger Lou Barber. The Tillsonberg, Ont., native spent part of last season with the Toledo Tigers of the HAA, notching 4 goals and 15 points. Next up was the Montreal Valiants, who went for blueline help with the selection of London, Ont., native Byron Redmond second overall. If there was a surprise in the opening round it was the fact that the Toronto Dukes opted to draft a goaltender with their first round choice. The Dukes went with Charlie Dell, a British Columbia native who spent last season as Barber's teammate with the Toledo Tigers. Dell became the first goalie selected in the opening round since the Boston Bees drafted Oren James with the final pick of round one in the 1943 draft.
JUNIOR LOOP ADDED
Going forward NAHC clubs will no longer be looking to draft players from the minor leagues as a working agreement has been made with a new junior loop that will be tasked with developing players for the pros. The league is the Candian Amateur Hockey Association, a 12-team league that will recruit and draw the top talent from Canada and the northern United States and have them compete in an NAHC type schedule. The league, set to begin play in October, will have two divisions:
CAHA EASTERN DIVISION
Halifax Mariners
Hull Hawks
Saint John Saints
Sherbrooke Industrials
Trois-Rivieres Trappers
Verdun Argonauts
CAHA WESTERN DIVISION
Brantford Blue Legs
Kingston Cadets
Kitchener Roosters
London Lions
St Thomas Pachyderms
Windsor Dominions
OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK
- The defending Federal Association champion St Louis Pioneers have opened up a 3-game lead on the New York Gothams while in the Continental Association the New York Stars lead on the Philadelphia Sailors is down to 2.5 games.
- The Russian blockade of Berlin appears to be backfiring as increased ecoonomic troubles are being reported in the Russian zone of Germany.
- The four-power talks in Moscow about Berlin and Germany came to an end but no published agreements were reached. More discussions are expected at a future date.
- The Chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities says a previously undisclosed spy ring involving US government officials will be brought into "full focus" when the committee resumes hearings September 7.
- President Truman and Republican leaders are engaged in another slugging match over his forecast of a $1.5 billion dollar budget deficit. They say Truman is juggling the figures for political effect in advance of the fall election.
Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of
THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.