MARCH 17, 1975
AIAA CAGE TOURNAMENT FIELD UNVEILED
The road to Bigsby Garden is officially set.
The AIAA released the 32-team bracket for its 66th annual men’s basketball championship on Sunday, with opening-round games scheduled to tip off this weekend. As always, the tournament will culminate in New York, where every AIAA title game since the inaugural 1909-10 season has been contested. That first championship was decided by a single basket, with Henry Hudson University edging Liberty College 33-31, beginning a tradition that now stretches across two-thirds of a century.
The defending champions, Lane State, enter this year’s tournament seeking a rare third consecutive title. The Emeralds, winners of the last two championships, are seeded third in the East Region and will attempt to join an exclusive club. Only North Carolina Tech, which captured three straight crowns from 1921 through 1923, has ever completed a three-peat.
Maryland State, co-champions of the South Atlantic Conference, earned the top seed in the East Region after navigating one of the nation’s toughest league races. The Bengals are one of five SAC programs selected, reflecting the conference’s continued depth and strength.
Top-ranked Detroit City College (25-4), champions of the Great Lakes Alliance, headlines the Midwest Region as the tournament’s number one overall seed. The Knights have been the nation’s most consistent club from wire to wire and enter postseason play with championship expectations firmly attached.
The other regional top seeds include Baton Rouge State in the South and Carolina Poly in the West. Baton Rouge State shared the Deep South Conference title in a tightly contested race, while Carolina Poly, another South Atlantic co-champion, makes the long trip west as the top seed in that region.
Conference representation once again leaned heavily toward the established power leagues. The Great Lakes Alliance placed six of its ten schools into the field, while the Deep South and South Atlantic Conferences each landed five teams. Notably absent were independent programs, a rarity that sparked immediate debate.
Annapolis Maritime appeared to be the odd team out. The Navigators finished 23-6 overall but were hurt by schedule strength and ultimately displaced when Grafton captured the Academia Alliance postseason tournament, securing the league’s automatic berth. That result forced George Fox into the field as an at-large entry and left Annapolis as the tournament’s unofficial 33rd team.
Several programs will be chasing long-awaited milestones when play begins. College of Omaha returns to the AIAA tournament for the first time since 1953 and makes just its fifth appearance overall. The Raiders have yet to record a tournament victory and face a difficult opening-round test against Charleston Tech in the South Region.
Holland and Northern Minnesota are also still searching for their first AIAA win. The Dutchmen draw second-seeded Noble Jones College in the Midwest, while the Muskies face perhaps the toughest assignment of all, opening against top-ranked Detroit City College.
At the other end of the spectrum, Coastal California continues to define tournament longevity. The Dolphins are making a record 60th appearance, extending a mark they already held. Detroit City College and Carolina Poly are tied for second all-time with 57 tournament bids apiece, underscoring their long-standing presence on the national stage.
With the bracket set and the spotlight once again fixed on Bigsby Garden, the familiar mix of tradition, expectation, and possibility returns. For some programs, this tournament represents another chapter in a storied history. For others, it offers a long-awaited chance to finally make their mark.
CITY COLLEGE CAGERS CARRY HOPES OF MOTOR CITYIt’s St. Patrick’s Day in Detroit, which usually calls for green beer, green ties, and at least one good reason to smile.
These days, finding that reason has become a chore—unless you’re willing to walk past the pro locker rooms and head over to the college campus.
Detroit has not exactly been spoiled for winners lately. The Dynamos have been drifting through baseball seasons for so long now that most fans have forgotten what contention looks like. The Motors, once kings of the NAHC, hit the skids hard after Hobie Barrell packed his bags and his million-dollar contract and headed for the CHL, and they’ll be watching the playoffs from home for the second time in three years. The Mustangs? A proud Federal Cage Loop franchise that hasn’t hung a banner since 1952 and is about to miss the postseason again. And the Maroons—well, let’s just say their last playoff victory predates color television, and maybe electricity.
There was a time, not so long ago, when Detroit could lay claim to being one of the best sports towns in the country. The late ’50s and early ’60s delivered Dynamos pennants and Motors Cups with such regularity that fans assumed it would never end.
It did.
But while the professional scene has sputtered, one program has quietly—and sometimes loudly—kept Detroit’s sports reputation intact. Detroit City College has been doing the city proud, first on the gridiron and now, unmistakably, on the hardwood.
The Knights football program has owned the Great Lakes Alliance the past two seasons and made back-to-back New Year’s Day trips to Santa Ana. Solid, steady excellence. But it’s the basketball team that has the city buzzing this March.
City College is no stranger to the AIAA spotlight. The Knights lifted national championships in 1966 and 1967 and have made consecutive Final Four appearances at Bigsby Garden the past two seasons. Now they return to the tournament as the number one ranked team in the country, 25–4 overall, fresh off their fifth GLA title in seven years, and carrying expectations that stretch well beyond campus.
They’ll open Midwest Region play Saturday in nearby Lansing, with St. Ignatius hosting the first round. The matchup pits top-seeded DCC against Northern Minnesota, a club making its first tournament appearance in more than a decade and still looking for its first-ever AIAA victory. On paper, it’s a mismatch. In March, nothing ever quite is—but the Knights will be heavy favorites.
This edition of City College basketball looks built for another long stay. Sophomore forward Ike Ziegler has emerged as a national force, while veterans Harry Gilmour and Chuck Carpenter give the Knights the kind of poise that only tournament scars can provide. Add in the smooth shooting of junior forward Frank Wesley, and there’s a balance to this team that suggests it may finally have the extra gear that eluded the semifinal squads of the last two years.
For one weekend, at least, Detroit fans will know exactly where to look for hope. It won’t be at the ballpark, the arena, or the football stadium. It’ll be in a college gym in Lansing, where a group of Knights will be carrying more than just their own expectations.
Right now, they’re carrying the Motor City.
MINUTEMEN LAND VETERAN SHORTSTOP IN LOW-KEY DEALThe Boston Minutemen addressed a lingering soft spot in their lineup during the first week of spring training, acquiring veteran shortstop Dale Raz from the New York Imperials in exchange for a minor league catcher.
Raz, 31, had been New York’s regular shortstop for the better part of six seasons and built a strong reputation as one of the league’s premier defenders. He captured the Continental Association Diamond Defense Award in each of the past four years, but became expendable after the Imperials acquired two-time all-star Rusty Robertson from Minneapolis in December.
In Boston, Raz is expected to push incumbent Walter Huckaby for the starting job. Huckaby has been a serviceable defender, though not at Raz’s level, but his struggles at the plate have limited his value. He hit just .207 last season and owns a .213 average over four years as the Minutemen’s primary shortstop. Raz does not project as a significant offensive upgrade, or even a minimal one—he batted .216 a year ago—but Boston believes his glove and experience could bring needed stability to the position.
The Imperials receive 19-year-old catcher Earl Bryan in return. A seventh-round pick last June, Bryan split last season between rookie ball and Class A. While considered a long-term project, OSA scouts see some above-average contact potential in his bat, though his path to becoming a big league regular remains uncertain.
It’s a modest, early-spring transaction, but one that offers Boston immediate defensive help while giving New York another young piece to evaluate behind the plate.
Luck of the Irish and the Search for a ShortstopWINTER HAVEN, FL — It is St. Patrick’s Day here in Florida, but the only green I am interested in is the grass at the ballpark. We are two weeks into the spring training schedule, and the optimism coming out of the Minutemen camp is thicker than a bowl of North End clam chowder.
The club is sitting at 9-5, and the bats are waking up early. Jim Morton and Dick Ward are tearing the cover off the ball, while Bud Shireman—all 29 years of him—looks like he has ice water in his veins. Five saves and a 1.35 ERA? If he keeps this up in April, the bullpen phone might start ringing itself.
But let’s get to the real news.
The front office finally stopped playing coy and addressed the elephant in the room: Shortstop. Last night, the Minutemen shipped off 19-year-old catching prospect Earl Bryan to the Imperials for Dale Raz.
Sully’s Stance: Look, I get it. The internal options at short were looking about as reliable as a ten-year-old Chevy in a blizzard. Other clubs were hoarding offensive shortstops like they were gold bars, so the Minutemen pivoted to an all-glove strategy. In Raz, you are getting a 31-year-old journeyman with four diamond defensive awards on his mantle.
You know exactly what you are going to get with this guy. If he plays 150 games, he will scrape together maybe a hundred hits and a .214 average. It isn't pretty at the plate, folks. But the hope—and it is a big one—is that his glove work is so stellar that he keeps more runs off the board defensively than he fails to provide offensively.
The heart of this order is the big three of Dick Ward, Charlie Hartsell, and Willie Stephens. After those three, the production drops off faster than a stone in the Charles River. We know Raz is a light hitter, but my real worry is how this outfield gets sorted out.
The club traded for both Bob Menz and Bobby Phelps last October. Great. Problem is, they both do their best work as right fielders. Jim Morton is already penciled in for the position—and he has earned it—so are we really going to run a three-man rotation for one patch of grass? This club needed to maybe make a deal for a centerfielder. 24-year-old Pat Allen will be given every opportunity to be that player as he is the only true centerfielder the club has in camp.
Sully’s Stance: Then there is the question at third base. The club knows they have a problem there as well. So far this spring, Howard Smith, Al Smith, Mickey Barker, and Jim Wise have all had over 20 plate appearances. Howard Smith is doing the best of the bunch with a .350 average, but do not go buying his jersey just yet. This is small sample size theater. This is the same Howard Smith who was acquired from Detroit after hitting a dismal .167 in 24 games for them last year.
The great thing about spring training is that all of these questions, along with the various positional pitching battles, will be answered over the course of the next three weeks. Until then, I will be looking for a proper Guinness. Happy St. Paddy’s Day, Boston.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE- The Toronto Wolves have an even 3-3 week, now 9-4 on the spring...Clyde Bradshaw leads FABL in RBI with 9 while Phil Story, 36, is making a case to stay in the league with a line of .400/.536/.550 in 28 PA. On the flip side the pitching staff in unsettled with some performing well early, others not; free passes are a issue....Season tickets at Dominion Stadium are projected to be up over 10% with total attendance surging almost 20%.
- Some teams were getting an early start on roster moves as three clubs have each waived a player just one week into spring play. The Dynamos decided Duke Bell was no longer necessary as a backup catcher after welcoming former New York Imperials catcher Ty Rusconi into camp. Houston has waived longtime backup first baseman Rich Harper, who was one of the original Comets from the 1969 expansion draft. Finally, Boston is cutting ties with veteran outfielder Bobby Martinez, a 36-year-old veteran of nearly 1,500 big league games.
- It is only spring training but the San Francisco Sailors are an early surprise, racing out to an 11-2 start.
- Ossie Schrieber has spent most of his career weighed down by a failure to live up to lofty expectations of being selected first overall in the 1964 FABL draft. He never could figure it out in Milwaukee and was waived by the Arrows in November. Detroit might be his last chance and so far at least Schrieber is showing he might just be able to improve what was an awful rotation a year ago. Schrieber is 2-0 with a 3.18 spring ERA, hardly lofty numbers but it is good enough to catch the attention of Detroit skipper Roger Cleaves, who is desperate for quality pitching.
ARE THE BEES READY TO END THE WAIT?
Boston surging as NAHC season winds down
It has been 15 years since the Boston Bees last skated off with the Challenge Cup, a long drought by the standards of one of the NAHC’s flagship franchises. There have been near misses along the way, including a pair of painful finals losses, but as the regular season enters its final days there is a growing sense that this could finally be Boston’s year.
The Bees have been the league’s standard-bearer from start to finish. With seven games remaining, they sit comfortably atop the overall standings and are all but assured of entering the playoffs with the best record in the NAHC. Matching the franchise-record 120 points set two seasons ago will be difficult, but Boston has already crossed the 100-point mark and shows no signs of easing up.
If anything, the Bees appear to be peaking at precisely the right moment. They are 5–1 this month and an impressive 14–2–1 since the start of February. Even a lingering rib injury to veteran goaltender Alexandre Daoust has not slowed them. A fixture in the Boston crease for a decade, Daoust remains among the league leaders and is very much in the conversation for a second Juneau Trophy as the NAHC’s top netminder.
Boston’s case as a Cup favorite begins with its offense. The Bees lead the league with 294 goals, narrowly ahead of defending champion Philadelphia. While they lack a catchy nickname like the Rogues’ famed Scotch Line, Boston’s top unit has been just as punishing. Center Matt Brophey has fit seamlessly between captain Bruce Callahan and Eddie Lafleur, forming a trio that has terrorized opposing defenses all season. Callahan has already matched the best offensive output of his 12-year career, Lafleur continues to build on last season’s breakout, and Brophey—acquired in a summer deal from Vancouver—is on track for a personal best in points.
Support comes from everywhere, including the blue line. Defenseman Andy Agar has quietly authored a standout season, piling up 84 points while orchestrating a lethal power play. Only Montreal’s Mark Moggy has produced more offense from the back end this year.
The Bees’ depth may be what ultimately separates them. A second line featuring Tommy Gordon, Steven Perreaux, and rookie Mark Berg has supplied consistent secondary scoring, with Berg emerging as one of the season’s pleasant surprises after paying his dues in Springfield.
Playoff hockey has a way of humbling even the best regular-season teams, and nothing is guaranteed once the brackets are set. Still, as the season winds down, the Boston Bees look every bit like a club capable of ending a 15-year wait and adding a 10th Challenge Cup to a proud franchise’s history.
NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY MARCH 10
New York at Cincinnati : Johnny Hawker's powerplay marker, his 13th goal of the season, midway through the third period proved the difference and lifted the Shamrocks to a 3-2 victory over Cincinnati. New York, third in the Dewar Division, gained two points on the second place Ironclads but still trail them by five points.
Calgary at Chicago :Chicago has not lost sine February 18 after the Packers nipped Calgary 3-2. Bruce Denison was the star of the show for the hosts, scoring twice and assisting on Kevin Kelly's goal. A big loss for Calgary as it keeps the Grizzlies a point behind San Francisco in the battle for third place and the final playoff berth in the Thomas Division.
TUESDAY MARCH 11
Washington at Pittsburgh : Sam Raymond had three assists to help pace the Washington Statesmen past Pittsburgh 5-3. The Sentinels have gone 0-17-1 over their last 18 games.
Los Angeles at Vancouver : The Totems blasted Los Angeles 7-1 in the big showdown for top spot in the Thomas Division. Defenseman Ross Dodd led the way with two goals to help Vancouver double its lead on the Stingrays to four points. Los Angeles has now lost five consecutive games after a torrid January-early February run moved them into contention for the division lead.
New York at Detroit : Charlie Rodgers had a goal and 2 assists to lead Detroit past New York 4-2. The Motors scored twice in the last three and a half minutes to rally for the victory.
Philadelphia at Minneapolis :Glenn McKenzie had two points while Ben Meyers was outstanding between the pipes to lead the Rogues to a 3-2 road win over the Norsemen. Ned Derby scored both Minneapolis goals.
Cincinnati at Montreal : The Ironclads and Valiants, both securely entrenched in second place in their respective divisions, skated to a 2-2 tie. Bryan Coulter scored both Cincinnati goals while Ron Kincaid and Hugh Christie were the Montreal marksmen.
St Louis at Atlanta :Marty Mosset scored three times including the game winner midway through the third period to lift St Louis to a 6-5 road victory in Atlanta. The win, coupled with the Norsemen loss to Philadelphia, moves the Sawyers a point ahead of Minneapolis for second place in the Yeadon Division.
Boston at Toronto : Bruce Callahan enjoyed a 4 point night to help Boston double Toronto 6-3 for their 8th win in their last nine outings.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 12
Chicago at Minneapolis : Al Ferguson made 33 saves while Anthony Baptiste contributed a goal and two assists to lead the Norsemen to a 4-1 victory over Chicago and leapfrog Minneapolis back ahead of St Louis in the battle for second place in the Yeadon Division.
THURSDAY MARCH 13
New York at Montreal :A pair of second period goals from Alex Boivin powered Montreal to a 4-2 victory at the Montreal Arena over the New York Shamrocks.
Toronto at Detroit : Sam DaSilva had a goal and two assists to pace Toronto to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Motors in a game that was marred by a incident early in the third period involving Toronto captain Ollie Perreault. The Dukes are battling Quebec for third place in the Connelly Division but it was a huge blow to Toronto's playoff hopes and Ollie Perreault's bid for the scoring title after the Dukes learned their star forward will miss the next five games due to a suspension stemming from the incident.
Philadelphia at Quebec :The Citadels fell 3 points behind Toronto following a 6-4 loss to the Dewar Division leading Philadelphia Rogues.
Vancouver at Cincinnati : It was Jake Stockman's 1000th career game. The longtime Boston winger who also spent time with Calgary before joining the Cincinnati Ironclads this season has 529 career points. Vancouver won the game 5-1.
Chicago at Washington : The Federals will not make the playoffs but they are finishing the season strong, beating Yeadon Division leading Chicago 5-0 for their third consecutive victory. Dave Harkins made 22 saves for the shutout, his third of the season.
St Louis at Pittsburgh :Pat Valentine had a goal and an assist to pace St Louis to a 3-1 victory over hapless Pittsburgh.
Calgary at Boston :Calgary's playoff hopes are dealt another blow with the Grizzlies fourth straight loss - this one by a 4-2 score to the league's best team in the Boston Bees. Eddie Lafleur's 35th goal of the season helped the Bees cause as Boston has won 10 of its last 11 games.
Atlanta at San Francisco :22 year old Atlanta backup goaltender Tony Besler notched his first career NAHC shutout, although he did also get one with Ottawa of the CHL last year, to lead the Blazers to a 3-0 win over San Francisco.
FRIDAY MARCH 14
San Francisco at Philadelphia : Another missed opportunity for the Gulls, who remain just 1 point ahead of Calgary in the fight for third place in the Thomas Division. Adam McPherson scored three times while Gary Yeadon had a goal and two helpers to lead Philadelphia to a 5-2 victory over the Gulls.
Toronto at Minneapolis :Playing without the suspended Ollie Perreault the Toronto Dukes rallied for three third period goals to beat Minneapolis 3-1.
Montreal at Quebec :A wild game in Quebec as the Citadels and Montreal battled to a 7-7 tie. Clyde Raines had five points and Ed Halliday four to pace Montreal while seven different Citadels found the back of the net. The tie drops Quebec four points back of Toronto in the fight for the final playoff berth in the Connelly Division.
SATURDAY MARCH 15
Boston at St Louis :Mark Berg scored twice and Steve Perreaux had three assists to help Boston shade St Louis 6-5 and leave the Sawyers just one point ahead of Minneapolis in the fight for second place in the Yeadon Division. For the Bees the win lifted them over the 100 point mark for the season.
Washington at Pittsburgh :It was a long time coming, since January 28th to be exact, but the Pittsburgh Sentinels finally won again. The Sentinels snapped an 0-18-1 stretch with a 4-2 victory over Washington.
Atlanta at Vancouver :Johnny Gruber scored twice including the game winner with 3:55 remaining in the game to lift Vancouver to a 3-2 win over Atlanta. The Totems four wins in their past five games stretches their lead over Los Angeles atop the Thomas Division to 8 points
SUNDAY MARCH 16
Calgary at Quebec :A big win for Quebec as the Citadels blast Calgary 6-1 on the strength of a Derek Post hat trick. Both clubs are battling to make the playoffs with the Citadels moving to within two points of Toronto for third place in the Connelly Division while the Grizzlies remain one point back of San Francisco in their Thomas Division tussle.
STRONG PLAY HAS EAGLES BACK IN PLAYOFF HUNTQuinton Pollack has known just about every kind of success hockey can offer. Widely regarded as the finest player the game has ever produced, the New York Eagles head coach has discovered that life behind the bench presents a different set of challenges—even with elite talent on his roster, including his two sons.
Jack Pollack, 25, has come into his own this season after a difficult introduction to the NAHC earlier in his career. Now one of the CHL’s most dangerous playmakers, he has become the engine of the Eagles’ attack. His younger brother Billy, just 20, is enjoying a true breakout campaign. In only his second full professional season, Billy has already eclipsed the 30-goal mark with five games still to play.
Yet individual progress has not always translated into team success. New York slipped into the playoffs a year ago and stunned league-leading Winnipeg in the opening round before bowing out quickly in round two. This season has followed a familiar script, with the Eagles again forced to scrap late just to keep their postseason hopes alive.
That push has been underway for several weeks now. The Eagles have gone 7–3–2 in their last dozen games, a stretch that has pulled them back into the conversation. Still, they remain on the outside looking in, sitting two points behind Edmonton for the final playoff spot.
A key moment came nine days ago at Chelsea Arena, when New York knocked off the Huskies 5–2 behind a three-point night from Jack Pollack. Back-to-back Edmonton losses to Chicago further tightened the race, but the margin for error is razor thin. With only five games remaining for both clubs, the Eagles’ late surge has given them a chance—but the clock is very much working against them.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 03/16/1975
- The Phnom Penh airport in Cambodia and the South Vietnamese central highlands area both came in for increased military action as North Vietnamese forces continue to push forward.
- The House and Senate have apparently quashed President Ford's bid for additional military aid for Cambodia and South Vietnam.
- Portugal's military arrested more than a dozen leading industrialists and bankers on suspicion of financing a rightist plot against the government.
- Economists predict that by the end of the year inflation may be running at about half of last year's torrid pace with a chance the rate might be even lower. The prediction is an annual rate of about 6% by this December compared with last year's 12% inflation rate.
- An executive of General Motors says the world's biggest auto manufacturer will make all of its cars smaller and less powerful to increase gasoline milage 50% by 1980.
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, 45, was widowed for the second time after her husband Aristotle Onasis died last week in Paris at the age of 69.