OCTOBER 6, 1975
IMPERIALS STUN KING, AWAIT WINNER OF FCS "On paper"
If you're a baseball fan, you've hear that phrase. And probably more often then you'd like.
"On paper" this kid has all the tools. "On paper" this team is more talented then we have ever seen. "On paper" that trade is not going to turn out pretty well.
Well, on this paper, we're talking about the New York Imperials and how they deserved absolutely every bit of their first ever divisional title.
And how they managed to dismantle a team that no one in the Continental thought they had a chance to beat. On paper of course.
New York hasn't been taken seriously by anyone this season, even the staff here, but perhaps we were too blinded by that paper we so admire. I mean, let's talk adversity: the Imps lost two of their top hitters, one of their top pitchers, and a variety of useful supplemental pieces. They never really won a bunch of games in a row, or looked overly dominant at a time, but despite all of this even their "paper" results weren't that bad.
Sure, New York won only 84 games, but they only finished one month with a losing record, scored the second most runs in the Continental, and did a good enough job defending their home stadium.
"No one has given much of a shot, so I wouldn't expect that to change now," outspoken icon George Love told reporters after their 3-1 win in which Love was 2-for-4. "That's how it's been since they used their first pick on me. We're the forgotten New York team. The one not supposed to win. But guess what? I'm going to the World Championship Series!!!"
What was said after that isn't kind to the ears or eyes, but as the 31-year-old infielder popped and showered his champaign, the joy was immense. When you're playing with house money, anything feels like a win, but when you're this close to greatness, no one is going to remember you had the fewest wins of a division leader if you finish with the one thing every player dreams of: a ring.
Fittingly, the hero of the series came from an unlikely source, who isn't even starting if Phil Terry (.301, 17, 71, 14), Bill Wood (.256, 7, 56, 14), and even Mike Counts (.250, 5, 35, 4) isn't sitting on the IL. Aside form an 0-for-3 in the series clinching win, Brian Miller (.254, 4, 21) was outstanding, and the rookie could be the unlikely hero the Imps need. Named CCS MVP, the 23-year-old went 6-for-17 with 2 doubles and 7 RBIs, with his biggest performance in Game 3.
Miller and Al Reece (.337, 9, 66, 18) battered former Allen winner Swede Hawkins (13-9, 3.71, 137) in game three, and after that game is when it started looking like the juggernaut in Seattle wasn't quite as sound as we thought. Miller knocked in 4, including a 2-run double in the first, while Reece's doubled added another in the 4th. He finished 3-for-4, scoring twice and drawing a walk, and 27-year-old minor league reserve outfielder Dud Garrison (.292, 1, 6) got into the fun too, 2-for-4 with a walk, double, run, and 2 RBIs, and after the error-filled 10-5 win, it looked like the series was not going back to Seattle.
Pitching and a cleaner game is how the finale went, so all that really mattered was what happened in the 5th. Catcher Jack Peeples (.290, 9, 78) started the inning with a single, stayed there after a flyout, and go to scoring position on starter Jim White's (19-10, 3.63, 225) bunt. Singles from Owen Drake (.268, 17, 61) and Freddy Curtis (.254, 4, 30, 7) plated the game's first two runs, and it was all White needed to get his team to the WCS. It wasn't pretty, he walked 6 with 5 hits in 7 innings, but he did strikeout 6, and the only thing that really matters is the single run. Likely Allen winner Moe Lowery (21-8, 2.68, 177) was strong aside from that, but that's usually enough when you have the #1 offense behind you.
It wasn't the same Kings offense we were used to seeing. Sure, stud catcher Fred Tollefson (.289, 24, 88, 22) was a threat, batting .308/.471/.538 (179 OPS+) with a homer and four walks, but Bob Glowacki (.260, 22, 55) really struggled, and the supporting cast was not as forceful as we've grown accustomed to seeing. Between the easy regular season and winning last year, there's a chance the Kings got complacent, looking towards the final destination before they got far enough on their trip.
Now New York is in the enviable position of waiting, as they'll get to rest, scout, and lick their many, many wounds while the Federal series finishes off. Four days off could be a concern for some, but when you've fought as hard as the Imperials have, and continued to prove the doubters wrong, what is rust going to do that the rest of the season hasn't already? Whether you believe they deserved a chance to play October baseball is now irrelevant. They were given the chance. They executed when they needed to. And now this writer will be rooting for them no matter who they end up facing in the finals.
Even if "on paper" they wouldn't get a second look. Or even a first.
Win or lose, the 1975 New York Imperials are champions of the Continental, and if four more games for their way: Champions of the World.
Federal Championship Series Returns to Atlanta for the Finale
Neutral baseball fans will at least get one elimination game, as after splitting both homestands the Suns and Copperheads need a fifth game to determine who will take on the Imperials in the World Championship Series.
If LA can pull off the upset, not only would the WCS contain two expansion clubs, but whoever won will earn their first ever WCS. Granted, the Suns have had past playoff appearances and have played pretty good ball in the 70s, but each time they made the playoffs they were bounced early.
This year, however, they were a win away from the title, as a huge 5-run 8th in Game 3 allowed them to squeak out a 5-4 win, putting them in position to clinch on their home territory. Even though likely unanimous Whitney winner Tom Lally (.319, 31, 107, 9) was 2-for-4, he had nothing to do with the comeback, and in fact started the 8th with a ground out. His partner in crime Sam Forrester (.281, 27, 116, 43) picked up the slack with a two strike single, but even he was quickly erased on a fielder's choice. Down 4-0 against All-Star and 4-Time Allen winner Marco Middleton (16-3, 1, 2.86, 136), who had the highest win percentage in franchise history this year, he just needed one more out, and got veteran Bill Perry (.255, 9, 74, 20) down 0-2.
"On paper" this is the easiest out in the lineup, especially down 0-2, as Perry had a 82 WRC+ and over three times as many strikeouts as walks this season. He's also a career .242/.280/.333 (74 OPS+) hitter who's really there only for his defense, and when he swings at pitches he shouldn't Suns fans groan "oh boy" as he sheepishly retreats to the bench.
But as the Imps showed earlier that day, the paper isn't worth the ink printed on it, as baseball always has a funny way of punishing those who underestimate their opponent. Trying to be cheeky, Middleton left one over the plate, and even a guy like Bill Perry can make you pay. He looped one over the second basemen, bringing up offseason acquisition Larry Hurlbutt (.269, 12, 44, 10) with two on and two out.
It took just one pitch, again a mistake, and Hurlbutt punished the talented Copperhead. It wasn't really blasted, but since 335 down the left field line is enough in LA, it left the seats, and the comfortable 4 run lead was down to just one.
You'd think that would be all for Middleton, but expecting the star to get out of things, the Atlanta pen was not ready. Bucky Gray (.323, 3), only hear because of Ed Mooney's (.288, 9, 80) injury, worked him full, and looped another ball over second to reach safely. Bill Hunn (12-3, 7, 1.96, 54) still wasn't quite ready, so Middleton got one more pitch, facing Gene Meadows in the pitcher's shot. Meadows, a 28-year-old journeyman from Chicago, almost identical to the 27-year-old Garrison on the Imperials, didn't even have an at bat this season for the Suns, and all 33 of his FABL appearances previously came as a pinch hitter. But despite all that, he delivered a heroic swing, putting his team on top with a 400-foot bomb that anyone in the LA area could hear.
Stunned and dejected, Middleton left the game, as his 4-0 lead evaporated and he was in a position he was very unfamiliar with. Hunn did get the third out with just one batter, but now pressure was on Atlanta for the first time all game. They got some motion against Bill Smith (1-0, 1, 2.83, 8), with two reaching on singles, but the 38-year-old managed to neutralize former Whitney winner Al Hubbard (.333, 13, 75, 25), striking him out to finish Game 3.
Game four had early scoring and late scoring as well, but this time the Copperheads built a big enough lead. They got two in the first on a Jack Blair (.334, 17, 114, 37) double and Howard Smith (.259, 10, 70) single, before a Jim Duchesne (.267, 15, 87) two-run shot capped off a 4-run 3rd. That would be enough, but for good measure they got one more in the 5th, helping them survive a Lally homer and a bunch of singles. Harry Inge (13-7, 2.90, 136) delivered the gem they needed, 7 innings with 8 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 2 walks and strikeouts, that allowed the series to shift back to Atlanta for the finish.
Both teams are off today to travel, setting up what should be a highly anticipated ace-off. The hosts pin their hopes on Howie Burt (16-7, 3.39, 114), the staff ace and 1973 Allen and Kellogg winner, but LA pulverized him in the series opener. Forced out in the 5th, he was charged with 7 runs off 6 hits, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts, and on two times during the regular season they were able to score 5 runs on him. LA then counters with Heinie Schmidt (16-11, 3.07, 147), who surprisingly has never went to an All-Star game, and wasn't quite his dominant self in the big win. The lead may have contributed to it, but he allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 6 in 8 innings. He will need to be much better if he wants to experience is first WCS, a showcase where pitcher's like him tend to shine the most.
The Ghost of Ferdinand Hawkins Tips His CapI have always believed in two things when it comes to baseball: a good hit-and-run and a good ghost story. Seattle just handed us both.
The Seattle Kings, owners of 105 regular-season victories and the posture of defending champions, have been sent home for the winter by a New York Imperials club that won 23 fewer games and looked, at times, like it had been assembled in the trainer’s room between ice packs.
Three games to one. No riot. No epic collapse. Just a steady, unmistakable thud.
And so, like an old reliever who can’t find the plate, we wander back to the same familiar explanation: maybe Ferdinand Hawkins is still warming up somewhere.
*** A Hex With Good Endurance ***
For the younger set who think a curse is something that happens when the bullpen phone doesn’t ring, allow Uncle Mooney to refresh you.
Back in 1892 — when mustaches were mandatory and the World Championship Series did not yet exist — a pitcher named Ferdinand Hawkins was unceremoniously released by the Kings, then residents of Brooklyn. Hawkins, who would win 191 games in a Kings uniform, allegedly upon his departure informed owner Barnabas Colson that his club would never win a world title.
Now technically, there wasn’t one to win that year. The Series debuted in 1893. The Kings captured pennants in 1912, 1923, 1927 and 1936, but believers in the Curse insisted Hawkins meant the big prize, not just a Continental Association flag.
The curse, we were told, was lifted in 1937 when Brooklyn finally won its first World Championship Series. Balloons flew. Church bells rang. Ferdinand, who passed away two years prior in 1935, took the secret to his grave and refused to utter the word “Brooklyn” even on his deathbed.
Prior to Hawkins' passing, the Kings tried everything short of holy water. They invited him to anniversary celebrations. They drafted his grandson, catcher Ian Weber, in the ninth round in 1935. Since young Weber joined the organization, the Kings made two straight Series appearances and won one.
Coincidence? Possibly. But baseball men are not big on coincidence. We prefer patterns. And this franchise has one.
*** The Traveling Roadshow ***
The Kings are the only club to play musical chairs with three cities — Brooklyn, Kansas City, and now Seattle — as if geography were part of the infield drill.
They have reached the postseason 12 times. Twice — 1937 and last year — they finished the job. In Brooklyn they went 1-for-5. In Kansas City they went 0-for-4. Now in Seattle, they have found fresh and inventive ways to bruise their admirers.
Meanwhile, regular-season glory arrives like room service. Only the Chicago Cougars have won more Continental Association games. Only the Los Angeles Stars and Cleveland Foresters have made more playoff appearances in the circuit.
But October? October treats them like a rental car.
This latest exit will sting. The Kings were overwhelming favorites. The Imperials arrived patched together with adhesive tape and optimism. Seattle supporters will point to Bill Harris’ late-season elbow injury, and that’s fair. But New York was running a MASH unit masquerading as a ballclub.
At some point, you run out of alibis.
*** A Copperhead Comparison ***
The only franchise that shares this particular flavor of October indigestion is the Atlanta Copperheads, formerly the long-suffering Pittsburgh Miners. Fourteen postseason trips, two titles. And here’s the punch line: the only two championships the Kings ever captured came at the expense of that very outfit.
Perhaps Hawkins’ ghost has a sense of humor.
*** So What Is It? ***
Is it a curse? Choking? Bad luck wrapped in good press clippings?
As a former ballplayer, I can tell you this: when a team consistently plays looser in April than in October, something is living in its head. Call it pressure. Call it history. Call it Ferdinand warming up in the great bullpen beyond the right-field wall.
Whatever it is, it has remarkable stamina.
The Kings win too often in the summer to be called frauds. They lose too reliably in the fall to be called dynastic. They exist in that uncomfortable middle — baseball’s version of a man who owns a tuxedo but never gets invited to the wedding.
Maybe the curse ended in 1937. Maybe it ended last year. Or maybe Ferdinand Hawkins, who never did forgive a pink slip in 1892, just enjoys reminding the Kings that a regular season is a promise — and October is a reckoning.
Either way, Seattle will spend another winter insisting the ghost is gone. And the rest of us will keep a seat open for him in the press box.
WINGS SOAR TO 3-0, HAND HOUSTON EARLY-SEASON REALITY CHECKThe biggest statement of Week Three in the American Football Association came from San Francisco.
The San Francisco Wings, without a winning campaign in the past four years, improved to 3–0 with a decisive 34–10 victory over the Houston Drillers. The result not only keeps the Wings perfect but raises legitimate questions about Houston’s hold on the American Conference West. The Drillers, long the division’s standard-bearer and three-time World Classic champions, are now 1–2.
The game was competitive for a half, with San Francisco holding a 10–6 edge at intermission. The second half belonged entirely to running back Clifford Lattimore. He scored four touchdowns after the break on runs of 20, 17, 13 and 1 yard, finishing with 108 yards on just 11 carries. Backfield mate Jimmy Young also topped 100 rushing yards as the Wings pulled away with ease. A tougher test awaits next week when San Francisco travels east to meet the Boston Americans.
*** Stars Capitalize on Boston Mistakes ***
Boston lost its unbeaten record in frustrating fashion, falling 27–24 to the New York Stars. The Americans dominated statistically, outgaining New York 440 yards to 150, but turnovers proved costly. Quarterback Juan Huff threw two interceptions, including a 28-yard return for a touchdown by John Davidson midway through the fourth quarter. A third-quarter fumble inside the red zone also wiped away a scoring opportunity. The win was the first of the season for the Stars.
*** Rivermen Rout Titans ***
The Cincinnati Rivermen delivered the weekend’s most emphatic performance, overwhelming the New York Titans 43–6 in a matchup of previously unbeaten National Conference East teams.
New York entered the game riding wins over last season’s World Classic participants, Buffalo and Houston, but was thoroughly outplayed at home. Cincinnati quarterback Chuck Rayford completed 25 of 34 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns in a commanding effort.
*** Wasps, Cowboys Stay Perfect ***
The Washington Wasps moved to 3–0 with a 30–0 shutout of the Atlanta Firebirds. Scott Houle rushed for two touchdowns, and quarterback Charles Hartman added 203 passing yards and a score.
The Kansas City Cowboys also remained unbeaten, routing the 42–7 in a battle of 2–0 clubs. Quarterback Joshua Sellers threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way.
In other action from around the league the Miami Mariners topped the Milwaukee Stags 19–9 behind four Horace Duffy field goals and a nine-yard touchdown run by Dave Kinard.
The Detroit Maroons improved to 2–0–1 with a 25–0 win over the Chicago Wildcats, who have scored just 10 points all season. Chicago managed only two first downs and 45 total yards. Caleb Luce ran for 85 yards and a touchdown while backup Detroit quarterback, pressed into action with a long term injury suffered last week by starer Charles Sonnenberg, completed just 6 of 27 passes but did not turn the ball over and hit Andre Wertz with a 7-yard touchdown toss in the first quarter.
The New Orleans Crescents blanked the Los Angeles Tigers 24–0. Royce Neal threw for 151 yards and a touchdown, and linebacker Charlie Schutzenhofer returned a fumble 15 yards for another score.
The Denver Mountaineers edged the San Diego 27–24. Despite two interceptions, quarterback Robert Hass threw the decisive five-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Cormier early in the fourth quarter.
The Pittsburgh Paladins rallied past Cleveland 17–10. A late field goal cut the deficit before Charlie Stillwell connected with Alton Pennell on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 remaining to provide the winning points. Stillwell, who has been under fire for his work recently, completed less than 50% of his throws but the 15 completions he did make went for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Dallas Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Frigates 38–23. Ryan Kraus rushed for 118 yards on just six carries and scored three touchdowns, including a 62-yard run.
Finally in Los Angeles, the hometown Olympians pulled out a 13-10 overtime victory over the Seattle Roughnecks. Seattle kicker Jimmy Provost tied the game with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation Each team had a couple of possession in the extra period before Olympians kicker Dexter Grisham crushed a 52-yard game winning kick nine minutes into the overtime.
Three weeks into the season, the Wings, Wasps, Rivermen and Cowboys remain perfect — while in Houston and Buffalo, early concerns are growing louder.
DEEP SOUTH POWERS CONTINUE TO ROLL
Gators, Generals and Tigers Each Win to Remain in Top 5Three of the top five college football teams in the nation continue to hail from the Deep South Conference after each of the three remained perfect on the season. Top ranked Georgia Baptist, #2 Mississippi A&M and fifth ranked Central Kentucky each improved to 3-0 and are joined in the top five by Lawrence State (3-0) and the surprising El Paso Methodist Bandits.
For three quarters the Northern Minnesota Muskies gave the number one ranked Gators all they could handle and trailed by just 3 points before Georgia Baptist erupted for 23 unanswered points in the final fifteen minutes to win 39-14. Alfred Morgan threw a pair of touchdown passes but once more it was the Gators ground game, keyed by a 138-yard rushing day from John Garvey that led Georgia Baptist to the victory. Two fourth quarter turnovers sealed the Muskies fate and drop the Midwestern Alliance school to 2-2 on the year.
Mississippi A&M easily passed its test against Northern California as the Miners entered the game 2-0 and ranked 15th. Preseason All-American Marcus Butler led the way for the Generals, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown as Mississippi A&M built a 24-3 lead at the half and then withstood a late comeback attempt to prevail 27-20.
Central Kentucky improved to 3-0 with a 31-17 victory over the Ferguson Wildcats (1-2) but it actually dropped the Tigers one spot in the polls. Lawrence State leapfrogged the Tigers as the Chippewa moved from fifth to fourth in the rankings with a 37-14 victory over Mile High State. The big surprise in the top five is El Paso Methodist, who remained at #3 with their fourth consecutive victory, 27-11 over South Valley State. The Bandits do not have the toughest schedule as they are part of the Southern Border Association but they can not be taken too lightly as two of their victories were over last year's number one team Redwood and they destroyed a Northern Minnesota squad by 41 points - the same Muskies team that played the number one ranked Gators fairly even for three quarters. Bandits senior running back Mark Wilson is starting to draw some Christian Trophy talk after another 100 yard rushing game. Wilson leads the nation with 587 yards rushing.
Other notable weekend results include wins for Central Ohio, Indiana A&M and St Magnus. The three Great Lakes Alliance rivals and Whitney College, which was idle on Saturday, will enter the conference slate all with perfect 3-0 records and all ranked in the top twelve. Central Ohio, which faces Whitney College next Saturday, handed Travis College its first loss of the season, winning 17-6 in Texas. Indiana A&M won a tough challenge on the road, downing Maryland State -which entered the game ranked 12th- by a 31-19 score. St Magnus withstood a late rally from Charleston Tech to beat the Admirals 29-23.
It will be an interesting game at Detroit's Thompson Field next weekend when the St. Magnus Vikings invade to play the reeling Detroit City College Knights. It is no surprise that one of the two teams is 3-0 and ranked 8th in the nation but a shock that it is the Vikings and not the Knights. The nightmare season continued for Detroit City College on Saturday when the Knights feel to 0-3 with an awful showing against Red River State. The Rowdies won 35-17 for their first victory of the season.
WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
Minns College Mavericks - 30, Rome State Centurions - 12
Chicago Poly Catamounts - 24, Pittsburgh State Finches - 19
Garden State Redbirds - 19, St Patrick's Shamrocks - 0
Miami State Gulls - 27, Idaho A_M Pirates - 0
American Atlantic Pelicans - 30, Penn Catholic Crusaders - 9
Annapolis Maritime Navigators - 23, College of San Diego Friars - 10
Boston State Pirates - 19, Liberty College Bells - 14
Huntington State Miners - 44, Lambert College Stags - 7
St Pancras Lions - 42, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers - 10
Mobile Maritime Middies - 29, Ellery Bruins - 27
Brunswick Knights - 28, Petersburg Patriots - 16
Grafton Scholars - 36, Chesapeake State Clippers - 33
Dickson Maroons - 19, Bulein Hornets - 6
Alexandria Generals - 20, Potomac College Pelicans - 17
Sadler Bluecoats - 24, Canyon A_M Armadillos - 3
George Fox Reds - 27, Richmond State Colonials - 10
Georgia Baptist Gators - 39, Northern Minnesota Muskies - 14
Central Kentucky Tigers - 31, Ferguson Wildcats - 17
Payne State Mavericks - 30, Bayou State Cougars - 3
Northern Mississippi Mavericks - 17, Topeka State Braves - 6
Mississippi A_M Generals - 27, Northern California Miners - 20
Portland Tech Magpies - 13, Cumberland Explorers - 10
Lane State Emeralds - 31, Baton Rogue State Red Devils - 3
Bluegrass State Mustangs - 30, Redwood Mammoths - 7
Alabama Baptist Panthers - 31, CC Los Angeles Coyotes - 21
Opelika State Wildcats - 21, Coastal California Dolphins - 3
Rainier College Majestics - 30, Western Florida Wolves - 14
Noble Jones College Colonels - 31, Spokane State Indians - 17
Commonwealth Catholic Knights - 30, Queen City Monarchs - 10
Tempe College Titans - 28, Cleveland Tigers - 3
Central Ohio Aviators - 17, Travis College Bucks - 6
Lubbock State Hawks - 28, Western Iowa Canaries - 17
Red River State Rowdies - 35, Detroit City College Knights - 17
St Ignatius Lancers - 12, Arkansas A_T Badgers - 9
Minnesota Tech Lakers - 26, Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes - 16
St Magnus Vikings - 29, Charleston Tech Admirals - 23
Utah A_M Aggies - 17, College of Omaha Raiders - 10
Boulder State Grizzlies - 41, Colorado Poly Redbirds - 17
Lawrence State Chippewa - 37, Mile High State Falcons - 14
Pierpont Purple - 16, Custer College Cavalry - 10
El Paso Methodist Bandits - 27, South Valley State Roadrunners - 11
Provo Tech Lions - 29, Eastern Kansas Warriors - 14
Texas Panhandle Cowboys - 15, Cache Valley Cowboys - 14
Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen - 55, Wyoming A_I Prospectors - 16
Eastern State Monitors - 37, Valley State Gunslingers - 31
Lincoln Presidents - 28, Columbia Military Academy Cadets - 23
Indiana A_M Reapers - 31, Maryland State Bengals - 19
NEXT WEEKEND GAMES INVOLVING TOP 20 TEAMS
#3 El Paso Methodist (4-0) at Bulein (1-2)
Red River State (1-2) at #4 Lawrence State (3-0)
#12 Whitney College (3-0) at #6 Central Ohio (3-0)
St Ignatius (2-1) at #7 Indiana A&M (3-0)
#6 St Magnus (3-0) at Detroit City College (0-3)
Annapolis Maritime (1-1) at #9 American Atlantic (3-0)
#11 Eastern State (3-0) at College of Omaha (1-2)
#14 Alexandria (3-0) at #18 Provo Tech (3-0)
#15 St Blane (2-0) at Henry Hudson (0-1)
Rome State (0-3) at #16 St Pancras (3-0)
Commonwealth Catholic (2-1) at #17 Minns College (3-0)
NAHC LIFTS CURTAIN ON 75-76 SEASON TOMORROW Hockey is back as the North American Hockey Confederation's 53rd season gets underway tomorrow. The Boston Bees, once more loaded on the back end, are the darlings of the oddsmakers as the club that finished with the best regular season record a year ago but fell to the Montreal Valiants in the Challenge Cup finals, is considered the team to beat in the pursuit of hockey's holy chalice.
Little has changed in the Boston lineup from a year ago. Veteran Alexandre Daoust remains a fixture between the pipes at the age of 32. The legendary Andy Agar, still in his prime at age 29 and coming off his second consecutive Dewar Trophy win as the league's top blueliner, anchors a deep defense that includes veteran David Bertrand and the steady Barry Waddington. Up front, the club is expecting even bigger things out of left winger Eddie Lafleur, a first team all-star selection two years ago and despite missing 8 games with injury still accumulated 89 points, third on the squad behind Agar and Bruce Callahan. Callahan, the 32-year-old captain, is back as is steady forward Matt Brophey and fellow center Mark Berg, who won the McLeod Trophy as rookie of the year last season.
If a team is going to challenge the Bees this season, many suggest it will either be the St Louis Sawyers or Minneapolis Norsemen. The two Yeadon Division rivals both are oozing talent with Yeadon Trophy winner Pat Valentine and standout defense Hugh MacLaren heading up the Sawyers while the Norsemen have a trio of 100-point producers a year ago in Tony Baptiste, Tom Rowley and Bill Sullivan along with arguably the best goaltender in the league in veteran Al Ferguson.
Those in Toronto might argue that Pat Stephens, who won a Juneau Trophy in 1972-73 when he led the Dukes to their record 13th Challenge Cup win, deserves the nod as top goaltender. If Stephens, 29, can have another strong season Toronto is a team that could surprise although they have more of a focus on offense this year with the addition of Milt Young from New York and Alain Ducharme from Los Angeles, which takes some of the scoring pressure off of 33-year-old superstar Ollie Perreault. Toronto is a dark horse candidate to claim the Cup, along with the Philadelphia Rouges who added veteran playmaker Yves Dagenais and his 117 points from Detroit to an offense that was already stuffed with talent thanks to the Scotch Line of Adam McPherson, Gary Yeadon and Glenn McKenzie. The concern in Philadelphia lies between the pipes where there are worries regarding 30-year-old Ben Meyers, who is attempting to comeback from a devastating broken ankle that prematurely ended his season last February.
Here are the OSA player rankings.
NAHC REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
TOMORROW (OCT 7)
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8
Montreal at Los Angeles
St Louis at New York
Vancouver at Detroit
Atlanta at Minneapolis
Washington at Cincinnati
Chicago at San Francisco
THURSDAY OCTOBER 9
Cincinnati at Boston
New York at Quebec
Philadelphia at Calgary
FRIDAY OCTOBER 10
San Francisco at Los Angeles
SATURDAY OCTOBER 11
Montreal at New York
Atlanta at Detroit
Calgary at Minneapolis
St Louis at Cincinnati
Washington at Vancouver
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
Chicago at Toronto
SUNDAY OCTOBER 12
Vancouver at Boston
Toronto at Quebec
Atlanta at Chicago
Washington at San Francisco
Montreal at Calgary
EUROPEAN TALENT AGAIN AT FOREFRONT AS CHL OPENS SEASON When the Continental Hockey League begins its fourth season this week, the spotlight will once again shine across the Atlantic.
A year ago, Swedish imports Mattias Jacobsson and Ludvig Olsson transformed perceptions of European players in the CHL. Jacobsson, a 24-year-old center with the Winnipeg Falcons, finished third in league scoring with 124 points while skating alongside scoring champion Tim Moore. Olsson, a 25-year-old defenseman with the Ottawa Athletics, led the league with 90 assists and totaled 111 points. They were not alone. Goaltender Martin Nordgren of the Baltimore Blackjacks and young defenseman Anders Sunden of the Chicago Lions also made strong impressions, while Ottawa blueliner Borje Sjostrom quietly solidified the Athletics’ defense corps.
That success has paved the way for what appears to be an even larger Scandinavian presence this winter.
*** Eagles Add Swedish Standouts ***
The most talked-about arrivals are in New York, where the New York Eagles have signed Swedish forwards Sven Holmqvist and Stefan Edberg. No one would say so at the time but missing the CHL playoffs last spring may prove to be the best thing that ever happened to the Eagles. It allowed Eagles coach and hockey legend Quinton Pollack to travel to West Germany last April and take in the World Championships of hockey. Pollack saw a number of players he felt would have a big impact were they to join the Eagles. Many were from the Soviet Union and would not be allowed to leave but Pollack was most impressed by a pair of Swedish forwards who finished 1-2 in the tournament scoring race.
Sven Holmqvist is a 25-year-old center who led the tournament in scoring with 17 points in seven games after leading the Swedish first division in points with 55 in 28 games for Stockholm Kronorna HC. Holmqvist is described as a playmaking whizz who in the words of Pollack "doesn't just pass to where a teammate is; he passes to where they will be three seconds from now. In the Swedish league, he was known for the 'no-look' backhand pass. Svenny possesses 'stop-on-a-dime' agility and in many ways reminds me of myself when I played."
The Stockholm native was hesitant about leaving his homeland but knew of Pollack and said thru a translator that an opportunity to play for the hockey legend was too good to pass up. Holmqvist, who is nicknamed in his homeland as the "Swedish Magician", was also said to be instrumental in convincing his Swedish national team linemate and good friend Stefan Edberg to also make the jump to North America.
Edberg is a year younger than Holmqvist but they were often teammates in youth hockey in their native Stockholm and on the national team but they were rivals in the Swedish Premier League where Edberg starred for the Malmo Isdrakar (Ice Dragons). Edberg is a natural goal scorer who owns a heavy, accurate wrist shot with a lightning-fast release and is arguably the fastest skater in Europe. He scored 32 goals in 30 games for Malmo last season to lead the Swedish League in that department.
Holmqvist and Edberg immediately fit right in once them came to New York for training camp. They topped the Eagles in preseason scoring with Edberg scoring 5 goals and 10 points in six games while Holmquist had 9 points, including 7 assists in his seven games.
New York, which missed the playoffs last spring, believes the pair can provide the offensive spark needed to return to contention. The Eagles open the regular season tomorrow night at home against the Cleveland Immortals.
*** Warriors Also Active Overseas ***
The third player that Pollack hoped to bring to New York but opted to sign with the Kansas City Warriors instead, a team that was equally aggressive as the Eagles in Europe. That would be Markku Jarvinen, a 24-year-old winger who led Finland in the World Championships, opted to sign with the Warriors and finished tied for second in preseason scoring with 13 points, trailing only Houston's Stan Tenute. The Warriors were also very active in Europe as they signed a second player in center Lars-Erik Dahlen. Dahlen, a Swede who played for the Farjestad Wolves the past four seasons, was productive in camp with 10 points in 7 games and immediately gelled playing alongside Jarvinen.
Kansas City made the playoffs a year ago but was eliminated in the opening round by Winnipeg, a team that reached the finals before falling to the Milwaukee Maulers. Both the Warriors and Eagles expect to be much improved this season thanks to the latest wave of elite European talent.
Kansas City reached the playoffs last season before falling to Winnipeg in the opening round. Management believes the new additions will strengthen an already competitive roster. The Warriors begin their campaign Wednesday in Ottawa against Hobie Barrell and the Athletics, one of three games scheduled that evening.
*** Growing European Influence ***
The steady influx of European players continues to define the CHL’s identity. What began as selective signings has evolved into a broader movement, with Scandinavian talent playing prominent roles across multiple franchises. With Jacobsson and Olsson having set a high standard last season, expectations are elevated for this latest class. Early preseason results suggest the transition to the North American game may be smoother than ever.
As the puck drops on another CHL season, the league’s international flavor is no longer novelty. It is becoming a central feature of its competitive landscape.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 10/05/1975
- The Supreme Court, in its first formal session of the 1975-76 term, agreed to review the one year old Election Reform Act. The Act provides public financing of presidential elections and limits the amounts contributors may gave and candidates may spend.
- President Ford safely negotiated a three-mile parade route and 150,000 spectators in a West Virginia parade under one of the tightest security lids ever clamped on an essentially cheerful celebration. However, on three occasions Ford threw security to the wind and jumped out of his bulletproof limousine and was almost mobbed by cheering spectators. This just over a month after the second of two assassination attempts on the President.
- Despite a ban on such activities, the Pentagon will not punish 40 senior defense officials who went hunting at a lodge operated by a major defense contractor. A 1967 directive issued by Defense Secretary McNamara forbade an officer or civilian official from taking "anything of monetary value" from a defense contractor.
- The CIA tried several times to assassinate Cuban Premier Fidel Castro according to Sen. Frank Church, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating the CIA. The director of the CIA acknowledged the attempts, although indirectly, but said in 1973 he ordered the CIA to have nothing to do with assassinations and he did not think it is good to carry on a public discussion about them.
- Israel unofficially began implementation of its interim peace agreement with Egypt by permitting American oil technicians to enter an oil complex in the occupied Sinai.