The Figment Hockey News

[Tiger Fan]

JUNE 23, 1947

Are the Eagles Crashing? -The hottest rumour around the NAHC is that the Brooklyn franchise is folding up operations before next season. While this a surprise to many insiders say that owner Edward Faberge gave GM DD Martin an ultimatum before the start of the season to make the playoffs or the team would fold. The team did improve to 15 wins, 38 points for 6th places which is almost as many wins, points as the past 4 combined but apparently that is not enough for the owner. The league has not issued any statement but the lack of a news release refuting the talk speaks volumes to the Mail & Empire.

Let's take a look at what the league would look like without the Eagles as 6 team loop, along with what the possible direct impact will be on the Dukes. The first question is how will the schedule be affected for the teams? The scheduling department's job just got easier, an even number of teams is much easier to deal with than odd for balancing off days, travel. The schedule will have to expand to at least 50 games, Brett cannot see the league cutting the schedule back to 40 games. Could the league expand the schedule to 60 games, starting in mid-October still beginning the playoffs in late March? Financially the total travel expenses for teams should remain about the same over the season.

The other big question is whether the Shamrocks will capture Eagle fans filling Bigsby Gardens with all of NYC hockey followers. Could be a big financial boost to the Shamrocks. The other big question is how will Eagle players be handled, all become free agents or some sort of draft? This will be the thorniest issue the league has to handle with the Eagles franchise.

How the Eagles players are dispersed could have quite an impact on the Dukes. This writer's opinion is that the player issue will be handled by a dispersal draft -which is probably the easiest way causing the least disruption to the salary structure. If the draft is handled in the reverse order of finish in 1946-47 the Dukes would own the first pick. Given the constant presence of new head coach Jack Barrell at the Dominion Gardens this month, I am led to believe Barrell and the GM are discussing options for a dispersal draft.

Obviously the two biggest names that would be available are veteran goaltender Tom Brockers along with young center Quinton Pollock. Brett would lean towards Pollock as it makes little sense to have Brockers and Gordie Broadway competing for the job between the pipes. Pollock, a 30 goal scorer, would immediately solves the Dukes lack of offense which Barrell mentioned although he also mentioned he plan going forward was to build a strong defensive team. Word around the team is that many players will not have their contracts renewed by the Dukes including Rosie McInnis. The Dukes could also get creative by trading down in the dispersal draft in order to pick up a lower pick along with an already proven NAHC player. Does the Eagles demise change the plans for the Dukes future? Stay tuned for opinions om that topioc if the Eagles do actually fold, an event that would certainly create an interesting summer for the NAHC.

NAHC MAY LOSE BROOKLYN FRANCHISE

Intense rumours coming out of the New York area have the NAHC's Brooklyn Eagles on the brink of folding. One source the Detroit Times spoke too has confirmed it is a done deal and Brooklyn owner Edward Faberge is pulling the plug, blaming the club's demise on years of losing money. The club averted extinction just 7 short years ago when Brooklyn Kings ballclub owner Daniel Prescott stepped up with a stadium deal to allow Faberge to avoid the extortion-like prices he was paying the New York Shamrocks to rent Bigsby Garden but years of awful hockey has doomed the Eagles, just when the franchise was starting to see the light.

The Brooklyn team suddenly has some very talented players and that spells good news for the Toronto Dukes who will likely have first pick at the corpse that is the Eagles should the league elect to go ahead with a dispersal draft. Toronto's defensive zone coverage was awful a year ago and goaltender Gordie Broadway had a subpar season but even with the great Tom Brockers expected to be available, it has hard to see the Dukes, or any other team for that matter, passing on the opportunity to select Quinton Pollack first in the dispersal draft. Pollack is a 24 year old the Eagles purchased from the coast league this past season and all he did as an NAHC rookie was tie for the league goal scroring lead by lighting the lamp 30 times.

With Pollack to Toronto a done deal if the dispersal draft happens and follows the reverse order of standings from a year ago, that means Montreal will likely grab the veteran netminder Brockers with the second pick. Brockers was outstanding with a subpar defense in Brooklyn behind him and might just be able to lift the Valiants into contention if 31-year-old continues at the top of his game. There is also a chance that the Valiants play the 'long game' and go with 20 year old defenseman Robert Sharpley who was the Eagles second round draft pick a year ago and tallied 12 points as a rookie this season.

The New York Shamrocks would pick third and if all goes according to plan they would likely end up with a choice between Sharpley or talented center Ian Doyle. The 23-year-old Doyle was signed by Brooklyn after three years with Syracuse of the HAA and was averaging nearly a point a game before an injury ended his season in early January.

That leaves the Motors with the fourth selection and they would likely be happy with whichever of the 4 players listed above fell to them although don't rule out left winger Steve Coates who, like Pollack, was brought in by the Eagles from the coast league. The 23-year old had 32 points in 35 games this season but there is some question as to whether his point total was inflated because he played alongside Pollack. There is also a slight chance that if Sharpley is not available the Motors will look to 25-year old rearguard Alex Viens, a solid two-way defenseman who actually started his career with the Motors and won the McLeod Trophy as the league's top rookie two years ago. That would leave the top two teams in Boston and Chicago to pick from who was left. The Eagles did not have a lot of depth but the Motors and the 3 teams selecting ahead of them would each likely also land a solid contributor with their second round seletion.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• It will be Grange College, bidding for it's third AIAA baseball title in the past four years, against Carolina Poly in the finals of the Collegiate World Championship Series. The best-of-three affair gets underway this afternoon at Dyckman Stadium in New York.
• Helsinki has been awarded the 1952 summer Olympics, while the winter event will go to Oslo.
• With Hector Sawyer's heavyweight title fight at Cougars Park in Chicago sold out, fight promoter Chester Conley has moved to add a second date of big time boxing to the venue. Former welterweight champ Mark Westlake will face Willis May two days ahead of Sawyer's defense against Irishman Pat Harber.
• President Truman vetoed the Republican-sponsored tax bill, declaring to the House that it "offers dubious, ill-apportioned and risky benefits at the expense of a sound tax policy and is, from the standpoint of Government finances, unsafe."
• The President also decided to veto the Labor Bill but the House overwhelmingly voted to make it law over his veto with the Senate now debating its decision.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

July 7, 1947
No new news focused entirely on hockey this week as our commissioner works on the July 1 flip to the 1947-1948 season and the contraction of our league from seven teams down to six with the folding of the Brooklyn Eagles but there are some sports columnists who touch on hockey in their writings this week.


First, we have an article from our ChatGPT national columnist who weighs in with an occasional column on a number of sports happenings.

THE NIGHT PITTSBURGH WEPT

Melanson's Defeat Shakes the Steel City

Frank "The Tank" Melanson, the once-unlikely champion who emerged from the steel mills of Pittsburgh to conquer the world of boxing, suffered a devastating blow on the evening of July 4. The city's very own prodigal son, who had captured the middleweight crown in a stunning upset two years ago, was making his triumphant return to Fitzpatrick Park for his fifth title defense. The stage was set for a grand celebration, with fireworks illuminating the night sky after another resounding victory. However, fate had a different plan in mind, and John Edmonds crashed the party with a force that even the fiercest storm could not muster.

The fight unfolded with a palpable air of anticipation, as the Pittsburgh faithful filled the stands, eager to witness their beloved champion's dominance. Melanson, who had soared through 33 victories without a single defeat, had become a symbol of resilience and hometown pride. Yet, on this fateful night, the cheers turned to hushed whispers as Edmonds unveiled his tenacious spirit.

The climax came in the 14th round when the contest was abruptly halted. Though Melanson pleaded for the bout to continue, his plight was evident - blood cascading from a cut above his right eye had rendered him defenseless. Referee Ernest Byrd, despite enduring the wrath of the pro-Melanson crowd, made the difficult but necessary decision to protect the fallen hero. The scorecards had favored Melanson, and victory seemed within his grasp, but Edmonds, displaying unwavering determination, fought with the heart of a lion.

The fatal blow occurred early in the ninth round when the challenger from Munice, Indiana, landed two rapid-fire jabs, one of which found its mark, tearing open Melanson's eyebrow. Edmonds, ever the opportunist, seized upon the moment, relentlessly targeting the wound throughout the rest of the bout. Melanson's corner fought valiantly between rounds, attempting to staunch the flow of blood and extend their warrior's reign, but their efforts were in vain. The middleweight champion's crown slipped from his grasp, his time at the pinnacle of the sport coming to an unexpected end.

As the final bell tolled, a sense of somber reflection filled Fitzpatrick Park. The celebratory fireworks still exploded above, but they lacked the jubilant spirit they were intended to embody. Melanson, once an emblem of triumph over adversity, must now come to terms with his first taste of defeat. The road to redemption may be arduous, but if history has taught us anything, it is that the spirit of a champion can never be extinguished.

*** Ice Eagles Finally Down For the Count ***

While the world of boxing mourned the fall of Frank Melanson, another local sports institution faced its own devastating defeat. The Brooklyn Eagles, a team known more for its survival instincts than its on-ice triumphs, met its final demise after years of battling against insurmountable odds.

The Eagles' journey began in the heart of New York City, but it was the relentless claws of financial hardship -and the extortionet ways of the Bigsby clan- that forced the team's relocation to Brooklyn in 1940. Under the guidance of new owner Edward Faberge, the Eagles set their sights on a fresh start. However, their inaugural season was marred by a dismal performance, as they managed a mere eight victories in the Brooklyn Arena. The subsequent years only brought further despair, with consecutive seasons marked by a paltry three wins, pushing the team to the brink of oblivion.

Ironically, as the Eagles achieved their highest point total in Brooklyn history, accumulating 38 points with a 15-25-8 record, the team succumbed to its long-standing struggle to remain financially viable. Faberge, in a desperate bid to salvage the sinking ship, recruited promising talents from the minor leagues, hoping to build a winning team that would captivate the hearts of fans. Despite narrowly escaping the league's basement for the first time, the Eagles could not stave off the financial losses that plagued their balance sheet. Thus, the Brooklyn Eagles, once a symbol of resilience, now fade into the annals of history.

*** Cautionary Tales: Brooklyn Eagles' Demise Raises Concerns for St. Louis Pioneers ***

In the wake of the Brooklyn Eagles' collapse, St. Louis finds itself at a crossroads, teetering on the precipice of losing one of their two sports franchises. The St. Louis Pioneers, a storied baseball team that has languished in the shadows of mediocrity for far too long, now faces a stark reality. Despite their current position atop the Federal Association, boasting a first-place standing, the Pioneers find themselves struggling to fill the seats and capture the hearts of their disillusioned fanbase.

For over a decade, St. Louis baseball enthusiasts have exhibited a peculiar apathy towards their hometown team. The Pioneers, who last hoisted a pennant in 1921, have failed to recapture the glory that once electrified this city. The wounds inflicted upon the faithful by ill-fated trades, including the departure of the prodigious Max Morris, the titan of home runs, in the mid-1930s still sting today.

When Los Angeles movie producer Dee Rose assumed ownership of the team in 1940, hopes were raised for a renaissance. However, those aspirations quickly turned to disillusionment when it was revealed that Rose, in a move that reverberated through the sports world, had intentions to relocate the Pioneers to the sun-drenched shores of California. Fate, of course, intervened, delaying the ill-conceived migration as the shadows of war loomed on the horizon. Still, the wounds of betrayal inflicted upon the hearts of St. Louis fans remain fresh, casting a shadow of doubt over the team's future.

As the Pioneers now find themselves perched atop the league, their destiny rests not only on the shoulders of their players but on the fervor of their supporters. Will the citizens of St. Louis rise to the occasion, proving their undying loyalty, or will they mirror the apathy that condemned the Brooklyn Eagles to their final flight? Only time will reveal the answer.





The second column comes from the July 6 edition of the Detroit Times where Bob Murphy regularly writes about the Motor City pro and college teams.

Interesting to see the New York Gothams tearing things down again. Word is the Dynamos tried to get in on the buying frenzy but were rebuffed in their attempts to bring Sal Pestilli back to Thompson Field. Detroit refused to part with any prospects but was reportedly willing to send veteran pitcher Dixie Lee to New York in order to liberate Sal. In a lot of ways that move might have made more sense for the Gothams as Lee might have been the piece they needed to turn things around. Instead Sal went to the Continental Chicago clan and the Gothams shockingly moved another former Dynamos draft pick in Pete Casstevens to the Windy City Feds. Now, New York is dangling the picks they received in those deals for a top noth pitcher - say a Dixie Lee type- but word is they want someone younger than Lee. No idea who is going to crouch behind the plate at Gothams Stadium as they don't have a catcher any more. Really feels like the Gothams are using all those confusing street signs in Manhattan as their inspiration. Feels like no one in that organization has any idea which direction they are going.

*** Dynamos Hanging in Race ***

It is the all-star break and congrats to the three young Dynamos who will be making their first -of what we hope is many- trips to the all-star game. Carl Potter, Edwin Hackberry and Dick Estes are all very deserving and can rely on veteran Sid Williams to show them around. Williams is hardly an all-star regular -certainly no where near Bobby Barrell's record 11th appearance- but he is back for his second trip to the summer classic. Williams popped out as a pinch-hitter to end the 1941 game won by the Continentals 8-4 in Brooklyn.

Fans of the electric bolt have to be pretty happy looking at the standings today and seeing the Dynamos in second place. The rebuild is going quicker than expected, but there are some doubts the club can keep it up. Washington is very much in the mix and the Chiefs have added some pieces as well. You also have to think that Philadelphia is not willing to waste this amazing season Bobby Barrell is having on a second-division club. But unless someone can step up and join Lloyd Stevens as a productive contributor on the Keystones mound that might be just where they end up.

There was a crazy rumour circulating the Dynamos had sent a note to Toronto asking about Fred McCormick. If true, he would be a big addition and maybe the bat the Dynamos needed to put them over the top. Alas, Toronto sources insist McCormick is going to retire with the Wolves and probably just as well, as the price would be more than the Dynamos should likely be willing to pay, as the best course right now is stick with the plan to let all of their young talent develop together.

*** Ice Eagles Folding Good for NAHC, But Bad for Motors ***

While nothing official has been released by the league, it is clear that after years and years of rumours the Brooklyn Eagles have finally flown for the last time. Even in the late 1930's there was talk of the Eagles -run by current Detroit head scout Bill Yeadon back in those days- being squeezed out by the Bigsby's, who owned the New York Shamrocks and the Bigsgy Garden which the Eagles rented out. Maroons owner Rollie Barrell and several others rode to the rescue back then and the club found new life in Daniel Prescott's basketball stadium in Brooklyn. The team was awful on the ice, and few fans bothered to show up, leading to the rumours of its demise - rumours that now finally were realized.

A 6-team NAHC will be a much more stable loop. It is easier to schedule games, increases the talent pool and ensures that two-thirds of the league owners will get at least some playoff revenue. The problem is the timing could not be worse for the Detroit Motors as far as divying up the talent in Brooklyn. The Eagles really have two star quality players in 24-year-old goal scoring machine Quinton Pollack and 31-year-old legend Tom Brockers between the pipes. Those two seem all but assured of going to Toronto and Montreal, the teams that missed the playoffs along with the Eagles last season. New York finished fourth last season and picks third with promising 20-year-old defenseman Robert Sharpley the likely prize, unless Montreal grabs him instead of Brockers. So with the three key Eagles gone, each making the three teams that finished below the Motors a year ago a fair bit better, a second straight trip to the playoffs might just be a tough ask for Motor City icemen.


Full national sports coverage is available as always in the weekly editions of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

JULY 9, 1947

NAHC CONDUCTS EAGLES DISPERSAL DRAFT

With the Brooklyn Eagles officially no more, the six remaining teams in the North American Hockey Confederation conducted a dispersal draft to divvy up the talent from the Eagles franchise. It came as little surprise that 24-year-old center Quinton Pollack was selected by the Toronto Dukes with the first pick of the dispersal draft. Pollack tied for the league lead with 30 goals in his rookie season while adding 17 assists to lead the Eagles in scoring. Ian Doyle, another rookie last season, was selected second by the Montreal Valiants. The 23-year-old had 19 points despite missing half the season due to an injury.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was that goaltender Tom Brockers, arguably the best netminder in the league, did not get selected until the second round when the Boston Bees brought Brockers back to the organization he helped win 3 Challenge Cups while also claiming the Juneau Trophy as top goaltender on 3 occasions. The 31-year-old Brockers was traded to Brooklyn prior to the 1944-45 campaign.

HOW WILL DISPERSAL PICKS IMPACT THE 47-48 SEASON?

There were some big upgrades made quickly across the NAHC with the draft to divvy up the talent that once belonged to the now-defunct Brooklyn Eagles. Here are some thoughts from The Figment Hockey News on how the newcomers will alter their new team's make-up.

BOSTON BEES: Picking 7th did not stop the two-time defending Challenge Cup champs from landing an impact player. That would be a homecoming moment as 31-year-old Tom Brockers slipped all the way through the first round -likely due in part to his age- and thanks to the serpentine format of the process Brockers was able to return to the club he enjoyed the best seasons of his career.

It does mean the crease will be very crowded at Denny Arena and Pierre Melancon must be wondering what else he can do to earn the Bees trust. All he did was lead his club to two straight Cup wins and now he finds out that he has to fend off not only Brockers, but also 1943 first round pick Oscar James for playing time. James, who starred for the Cleveland Eries of the HAA a year ago, is said to be set to finally sign a deal with the Bees. Clearly goaltending will not be a concern in Beantown.

Center Robert Walker and winger Mark Dyck were the other two Boston dispersal selections. Each played in the minors last year. Dyck might need some seasoning but Walker, a 22-year-old who averaged nearly a point a game in Vancouver last year, may challenge for the second line center role and could provide some offensive depth.

CHICAGO PACKERS: The Packers selected 5th so they missed out on some of the big names but did land a player they hope may be able to contribute on the first line if Wes Burns has lost step. That player would be Jeremy MacLean, a 24-year-old who has spent the past six seasons playing in Cleveland.

The Packers selected another winger in Max Lavigne with their second choice. A 1945 second round pick of the Eagles, Lavigne was a teammate of MacLean's in Cleveland each of the last three seasons. He projects to have a high ceiling but may need some more time to develop before assuming a regular role with the Packers. The final choice for Chicago was depth defenseman Mark Brooks. The 25-year-old rearguard has had more than his share of injuries, including one which cost him half of last season, but Brooks has some talent and was a finalist for the McLeod Trophy (top rookie) three years ago despite originally being a 7th round draft pick.

DETROIT MOTORS: With some veteran defensemen moving on the Motors had their sights set on promising young blueliner Robert Sharpley right from the day word trickled out the Eagles were folding but the New York Shamrocks beat them to the punch. Instead, Detroit went with a steady blueliner in Alex Viens -who began his career in the Motor City- with their second round pick and focused on offense with their opening selection. That would be Nick Tardif, a 20-year-old New Brunswick native who was selected first overall by the Eagles in 1945. He spent the past two years in Vancouver and perhaps under produced with just 19 goals in 86 games over two seasons with the Bears but the Motors are confident he is poised to break out, if not this season then likely the next. The Motors were also quite pleased to land 22-year-old winger Hank Walsh, who had 25 points for Brooklyn last season, with their third round selection.

MONTREAL VALIANTS: There was some speculation the Valiants primary target would be goaltender Tom Brockers but the club is hoping that this past season was just a down year for Millard Touhey and their goalie will bounce back. That confidence shown in Touhey allowed the Valiants to grab a talented, but injury prone center in Ian Doyle. The 23-year-old British Columbia native had 19 points in his first 23 games and was a perfect second-line pivot behind Quinton Pollack in Brooklyn. It is no coincidence that the Eagles struggled and fell out of playoff contention after Doyle was knocked out of the lineup. There may be some injury risk but it is hard to pass up a player with his potential, and one who was drafted first overall by the Eagles in 1943.

The Vals used their two remaining selections on a pair of 21-year-old defenseman with some upside potential. It is unlikely that either Spencer Larocque or Billy Hader will ever be top-pairing defenders, but both could develop into solid second liners.

NEW YORK SHAMROCKS: Defense was the story of the day in New York and the Shamrocks have to be thrilled to end up with Robert Sharpley. Just 20-years-old, the left shot defenseman looks like the complete package and could one day become one of the best in the league at his position. He did not look out of place on the Eagles blueline as a rookie, and the offensive production should come as he gains experience.

Another defenseman in 24-year-old Ryan Kennedy was the Shamrocks third selection. He is no where near Sharpley's level and his play may have slumped a bit last season from his impressive game ratings of the previous two years, but Kennedy -who was an assistant captain in Brooklyn- should be a solid third-D pairing type of player.

Sandwiched between the defenders was 23-year-old winger Samuel Coates. He clearly benefitted from playing alongside Quinton Pollack in Brooklyn, but Coates averaged nearly a point a game until his season came to an end with a rib injury in February. With three strong centers in Orval Cabbell, Adam Greenham and Laurel Albers on the roster, Coates may just find another scorer he can complement with his move to the Greenshirts.

TORONTO DUKES: The Dukes had an awful year, going from first to worst in the NAHC, but that did give them a nice consolation prize when news broke that the Brooklyn Eagles had folded. That allowed Toronto the first pick in the dispersal draft and the right to select Quinton Pollack. It is hard to imagine a team with a better pair of centers than Toronto now possesses in veteran Bobbie Sauer and the 24-year-old newcomer. Pollack is a lock for rookie of the year after tying for the NAHC lead with 30 goals this season. The only question is will new Dukes coach Jack Barrell leave both his star pivots in the middle or will he be tempted to move one to the wing and play them together?

It was a long wait in the serpentine draft for the Dukes turn to come up again but they made the most of their final two choices in landing defenseman Chad Roy and Miles Norman. The blueline was a mess in Toronto last season so the 25-year-old Roy might even land on the top pair. Both he and Norman, 22, saw plenty of ice with the Eagles last season and one can expect both to likely duplicate that in Toronto over the coming campaign.

It is early but a guess at how the team's stack-up right now lands them like this:
1- Boston
2- Chicago
3- Toronto
4- New York
5- Detroit
6- Montreal

NAHC TO PLAY 60-GAME SLATE

With the drop to six teams the NAHC has unveiled plans for an expanded schedule starting this October. Each club will play 60 games, believed to be a high-water mark in pro hockey history. The schedule will see each team visit every other arena 6 times for a total of 12 games against each of their opponents.

The Challenge Cup playoffs will also be lengthend with word the semi-finals will now be a best-of-seven series, just as the Cup finals are. The playoff participants will remain as the top four teams in the league, leaving just two clubs on the outside looking in.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

DETROIT TIMES REACTION TO DRAFTING NICK TARDIFF

Motors are excited to add Nick Tardiff to our organization. He was not the focal point of our draft board, feeling he might elect to remain under contract in the coast league, but any time you have the opportunity to add a player drafted first overall, as Tardiff was by the Eagles in 1945, you have to jump at it. He has some leadership skills as well, considering Vancouver gave him a letter as a 20 year old. He had 22 points for the Bears last season and might need some time in the HAA to develop but we look forward to seeing what he brings the Detroit Motors organization going forward.

CHICAGO DAILY NEWS REACTION FROM PACKERS ON SELECTION OF MACLEAN

Packers are very happy with the addition of Jeremy MacLean, but were hoping to find a winger from the lefty side as veteran Wes Burns seems to have lost a step post-injury. The successful Burns-Burns-Mahoney line may be altered, as the Packers front office is very excited by the right winger MacLean, along with former 2nd Rounder Derek Gubb, who is eligible to sign after completing his contract with the Cleveland Eries. Gubb and MacLean were actually teammates in Cleveland for four seasons, although Gubb decided to sit out the 46/47 season.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Hal Sharp's 10th inning walk-off homer lifted the Continental Association to a 5-4 win over the Federal Association in the 15th annual FABL all-star game.
• Chicago Cougars infielder Walt Pack, who drove in 4 runs for the CA stars, was named the game's most valuable player.
• The Federal Association leading St Louis Pioneers made a major trade, acquiring former high school pitching legend Hiram Steinberg from Cleveland for one of the top prospects in the sport.
• The struggling Montreal Saints followed Pittsburgh's lead and became the second team to replace its manager within a week.
• President Truman is set to again veto the Republican income tax reduction bill. The revised bill was approved by both the House and the Senate and would go into effect January 1 if it makes it through to law.
• John L. Lewis signed a new contract for his United Mine Workers, ending fears of another soft coal shutdown. At his press conference Lewis declared war on the Labor Act, blasted Republicans and stated that Senator Taft, co-author of the new labor law, "will not be able to carry his home state of Ohio" if he runs for President.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

JULY 28, 1947

IMPRESSIVE SCORER GALBRAITH TOPS NAHC DRAFT

The North American Hockey Conferderation conducted its annual draft over the weekend and the Toronto Dukes took another step towards restoring the club to the level it was at prior to the terrible collapse last season. The Dukes, armed with a new head coach in former star player Jack Barrell, were gifted with a huge upgrade just a couple of weeks ago when they landed 30-goal scorer Quinton Pollack in the dispersal draft of players from the now defunct Brooklyn Eagles.

The Eagles demise left the loop with six teams and the Dukes, due to their last place finish in the recently completed campaign, were entitled to the first selection in the rookie draft. Toronto opted for more offense in adding Lou Galbraith, a 19-year-old offensive whiz who tallied 19 goals and 34 points while playing for Buffalo in the second best hockey league in the world. That would be the Hockey Association of America, a loop littered with many top prospects and former NAHC regulars -one in which Galbraith looked right at home as a mere teen. That has to sit well with Barrell and give the new coach a lot of hope that his talented rookie may just earn a spot on one of Toronto's three lines next season.

The Dukes could have a pretty impressive offense with the 24-year-old Pollack (30-17-47), veteran Bobbie Sauer (24-22-46) and impressive youngster Trevor Parker (14-15-29) holding down the three pivot spots. It is not hard to image Galbraith earning a spot alongside either Pollack or Sauer next season with veteran Herm Burdette, who missed most of last season with an injury, along with Syl Beam (5-12-17) and 22-year-old Maurice Charette (8-16-24) as his chief competition. 31-year-old Mahlon Klein (8-19-27) is likely the top man on the right side but youngsters Les Carlson (10-11-21) and Mike Navarro (1-3-4) along with rookie Dick Zimmerman, a 21-year-old who had 31 points in the coast league last season may challenge him.

With the second selection in the draft the Montreal Valiants elected to select a hometown kid, drafting Montreal native Francis McKenzie. The center iceman spent this past season with the Vancouver Bears of the Great Western Hockey League and had 10 points in a 14 game trial. There is no doubting McKenzie has talent, but there were some concerns about his ability to fit in on a hockey team, a big factor in the mock draft slotting the 19-year-old as far down as 9th on its pre-draft list.

The New York Shamrocks Jim Macek, a hard-working left winger who hails from Toronto and may endear Bigsby Garden face with his grinding, battling style. Detroit followed up with another forward, selecting British Columbia born centerman Ben Witt. The youngster has an high-offensive ceiling but there may be some concerns about his willingness to go into the dirty areas in order to make plays. Witt spent all of last season with Springfield of the HAA and notched 37 points in 47 games.

The Chicago Packers finally ended the streak of forwards by grabbing the top rated defenseman in the draft. That would be Mike Van Tol, a Windsor, Ontario native who looked very impressive on the back end for Springfield last season. Regarded as more of a skill defender than for his physical play, Van Tol may find himself right at home with some talented forwards in the Windy City to move the puck to. Boston rounded out the first round with the selection of centerman James Smart, a Halifax native who had a tryout with the Portland Ports last season but did not see any HAA action.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Bobby Barrell of the Philadelphia Keystones enjoyed his third three-homer game of the season, but that was the secondary story on Tuesday as one of those was Barrell's 500th of his career, putting him in exclusive company with only Hall of Famer Max Morris and Cincinnati's Al Wheeler in the 500 homerun club.
• The New York Stars, Chicago Cougars and Philadelphia Sailors all made trades as the deadline approaches and the three clubs jockey for top spot in the Continental Association.
• A crowd in excess of 45,000 is expected at Cougars Park in Chicago as world heavyweight champ Hector Sawyer makes another title defense. His opponent will be Irish Par Harber, and Sawyer is a huge favourite to retain the belt he has held since 1940.
• The House Un-American Activities Committee was told that Communists have infiltrated Army reserve rolls and will prove "dangerous disloyalists" in case of war with Russia.
• The House approved and sent to President Truman the Army-Navy 'unification' bill creating a single Department of Defense with three separate branches for Army, Navy and Air.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

AUGUST 18, 1947

DRAFT GRADES HANDED OUT BY OSA

The Chicago Packers led the way when it comes to the quality of their draft selections last month. That is the verdict of the OSA's hockey division, which praised the Packers, Detroit and Boston for having the best draft classes. The Packers, who selected 5th in the 6-team loop, had Mike Van Tol as their top selection. The 19-year-old defenseman from Windsor, Ont., was number two on the mock draft after spending last season with the Springfield Hornets of the HAA. Van Tol, described as an "old-school" rearguard, quickly agreed to a contract with the Packers and is expected to challenge for a spot on their blueline this season. He was the only one of Chicago's seven selections to sign with the club as the others will be left to develop in various minor leagues until they are deemed ready to complete for a spot with the Packers.

The Detroit Motors had the second best class, if OSA is to be believed. Center Ben Witt, selected 4th overall, and second round choice Herm Kruse were both signed by the Motors. Witt, is a high ceiling pivot who was a teammate of Van Tol's at Springfield last season. The British Columbia native is expected to make the Motors roster this season, as is Kruse -a big, crease, clearing defenseman from Niagara Falls. Rounding out the top half of the draft classes would be the Boston Bees, who's top choice was center James Smart. The Halifax, NS, native was the only one of the Bees selections signed to a contract this off-season.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the New York Shamrocks, a club that OSA feels deserves some criticism for their draft day decisions. That may reflect more on their depth choices rather than first rounder Jim Macek, a grinding Toronto-born left winger with a lot of tenacity. The other two clubs -the Toronto Dukes and Montreal Valiants- each signed two players from their draft group including Toronto's top pick Lou Galbraith -the first overall selection- and Francis McKenzie, picked second by the Vals.

BACKLUND SIGNS WITH PACKERS

The Chicago Packers added some goaltending depth to their organization with the news that 24-year-old Andy Backlund agreed to terms with the Windy City club. With Norm Hanson locked in as the Packers starter, Backlund will battle with incumbent Cole Foster and Mike Cleghorn, who spent some time with the Packers last season, for the back-up job with the two left on the outside likely being assigned to the Pittsburgh Rovers of the HAA.

Origninally a 1942 fifth round pick of the Montreal Valiants, Backlund made his NAHC debut with the Vals in 1944-45. He was the backup to Millard Touhey each of the past three seasons, playing in a career high 10 games last year. Backlund has a 5-5-2 record with a 2.82 career goals against average in the NAHC. The signing of the Sault Ste. Marie native gives the Packers plenty of goaltending depth as all four of their contracted netminders spent at least part of the season in the NAHC a year ago.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Bobby Barrell belted 4 more homers last week and now has 51 on the season. He has six weeks left in his chase to break Max Morris' 1923 record 60 homerun season.
• The St Louis Pioneers are 9.5 games up on second place Detroit in their quest for the club's first pennant since 1921. The Philadelphia Sailors lead the New York Stars by 3.5 games in the Continental Association.
• Harold Stephens became the first man to both enter and leave the ring with the world welterweight title in 7 years after Stephens scored a 6th round TKO win over Carl Taylor Saturday night in Boston.
• The United States warned other nations that if the UN Security Council fails to solve the Balkan problem the United States is prepared to join with other countries to protect Greece "within the provisions of the charter."
• Russia has charged that "the crudest interference into the internal affairs of Greece emanates at present from the United States," in blaming the Americans for aggravating Balkan troubles.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 1, 1947

PACKERS LOOK TO BE CLASS OF NAHC

Looking at scouting report ratings alone, it certainly appears the Chicago Packers are poised to lift the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history next April. Preseason action is still a month away so Packers fans should not make plans to attend a Challenge Cup parade in front of the Lakeside Auditorium in the spring just yet, but the club looks loaded with talent and may finally have enough depth to go all the way.

TWIFB asked the league scouting service to rank NAHC players on a 1-5 star basis with five being the very best. Below are the results as we listed each player from the six surviving NAHC teams with at least a 2.5 star rating. The result is no other club can compare to the 16 names the Packers placed on the list.

The Packers have a superstar in two-time McDaniels Trophy winner Tommy Burns, an outstanding goaltender in Norm Hanson and a deep crop to surround them with including 4 newcomers to the organization in defenseman Jesse Santoro and forwards Leon Seguin, Jeremy MacLean and Derek Grubb.

Boston might have a little more high end talent led by veteran forwards Wilbur Chandler and Tommy Hart as well as the return of goaltender Tom Brockers after en exile to the now defunct Brooklyn Eagles, but the Bees may be hard pressed to match the Packers depth. The Montreal Valiants, with ex-Eagle Ian Doyle joining the mix, may also challenge while Toronto looks to have the inside track on the fourth and final playoff spot thanks to a talented pair of pivots in vet Bobbie Sauer and Quinton Pollack, who was named rookie of the year after a 30-goal season in Brooklyn a year ago.

Here is a look at how each club stacks up, according to the scouting service.

AROUND THE NAHC

BEES REFUSE TO DISCUSS RUPP ROW

From Finn LeBec, Boston Globe -- Waldemar Rupp, the Berlin-born long-time Boston Bee, was involved in an unspecified off-ice incident that has apparently upset defenseman Len Bentley. There are no previous documented problems between the two long-time teammates and Boston management is very tight-lipped on what transpired between the two.

In my opinion, the rumors of a rift between Rupp and any of his teammates about the recent war and Naziism is completely unfounded. Rupp moved to Canada as a young boy, in part to flee the Kaiser and was Canadian-trained. Secondly, Rupp, an alternate captain, has been an integral part of the strong nucleus in Boston that has raised the Challenge Cup five times in seven years. Bentley is also part of that nucleus.

It is clear in my recent interactions with Rupp that he is not happy about the club making the decision to sign 1945 first-round draft pick RW Garrett Kauffeldt and being bumped down the depth chart. Rupp is entering the last year of a four-year contract and definitely sees himself as a front-line player. I think Bentley was put-off by Rupp's reaction, as he is in a similar situation with the signing of 1944 third-round pick defenseman Mickey Bedard. Bentley has slipped in the depth chart as well, but he is not whining about it.

DUTTON AND DENMAN WILL NOT RETURN TO MOTORS

From Dan Urbanski, Detroit Times --Veteran defenseman Bernie Dunton and Phil Denman are both still looking for work after the duo elected not to resign with the Detroit Motors. Dutton, 36, has been a key piece on the Detroit blueline for well over a decade and was asked by the club in April to return for another season. He refused, citing concerns over a lack of ice time last year but now after receiving no interest from any of the other five NAHC clubs he has apparently reconsidered and wants to rejoin Detroit. The Motors have not addressed Dutton specifically, but a club spokesman said the team has one open contract left for the upcoming season and it will likely be used on a forward. Dunton had 10 points in 36 games with Detroit a year ago -a career low.

Denman is just 33 and likely miscalculated his value around the league, something that was compounded by the flood of available players with the decision of the Brooklyn Eagles to suspend operations. He tallied 12 points in 36 games for Detroit last season -his first full campaign in the Motor City after winning a pair of Challenge Cups with the Toronto Dukes.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• 3 more homers for Bobby Barrell and the Philadelphia Keystones slugger -who now leads FABL in all three triple crown categories- is just 4 longballs shy of Max Morris' record 60 in a season.
• The Federal Association race is over but the Continental representative for the World Championship Series is very much in doubt with the Philadelphia Sailors in a slump, and their lead on the New York Stars and Cincinnati Cannons shrinks to a game and a half.
• "Not Interested." That was the two-word answer American Football Association President Jack Kristich gave after the Continental Football Conference offered to play a winner-take-all game between the champion of the two loops in December.
• Fight magnate Chester Conley promises a record crowd to see a boxing match when Hector Sawyer faces the west coast's best hope in Dan Miller at Santa Ana Stadium 10 days after the venue hosts the East-West Classic collegiate football game. Conley predicts as many as 80,000 will be in attendance.
• The Atomic Energy Commission says it has 'tamed' the A-bomb and is now preparing to put atomic power to industrial use.
• The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine was reported set to recommend that the British mandate over the Holy Land be ended as soon as possible, with the majority in favour of splitting the country into independent Jewish and Arab nations.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 8, 1947

MOTORS SIGN FORMER FIRST OVERALL PICK EMOND

The Detroit Motors have announced the acquisition of left winger Remy Emond. The 25-year-old, who was originally drafted first overall by the Brooklyn Eagles in 1941, has never quite lived up to the billing of a number one selection but he did score 18 goals and 39 points for the Buffalo Bears of the HAA last season. Emond has never played in the NAHC but does have 7 years of experience in the Hockey Association of America, including the past three years with the Bears. It is there that the Quebec native caught the attention of Motors Head Scout Bill Yeadon, as Detroit has a working agreement with the Bears and Emond's knack for scoring prompted Detroit to sign him to a two-way contract.

"Odds are he will end up back in Buffalo, at least to start the season," explained Detroit coach Mark Moore, noting the newfound depth the Detroit club now has up front. "But he will be just a phone call away and I would not be surprised if you see him at the (Thompson) Palladium at some point this season."

The Motors released veteran forward Bill Woodley after signing Emond. The 30-year old had 8 goals and 20 points for Detroit last season and has 37 goals in 263 career NAHC games. Word is the club let Woodley go in order to keep a contract spot open should they find a depth defenseman.

From Bob Murphy, Detroit Times --End of Line for Yeadon? For almost as long as anyone can remember Doug Yeadon has been a fixture on the Detroit Motors roster. The 35-year-old Motors assistant captain has hockey history in his blood. Quite literally in his blood, as his father Frank and uncle Bill Yeadon were the founders of west coast hockey and would later hold at one time or another nearly every role imaginable in the sport. Player. Coach. Even owner as Uncle Frank was in charge of the Eagles franchise when they were called the New York Eagles. Bill was a star player in the early days of the sport and has spent the past decade as the head scout of the Motors -a position he still holds. Meanwhile, Doug's brother Fred ,32, was a teammate on the Motors for a number of seasons and now owns a pair of Challenge Cup rings after being dealt by the Motors to Boston four years ago.

It seems like the end of the line might be near for Doug as the Motors have signed several good young forwards including HAA scoring sensation Adam Vanderbilt, ex-Brooklyn Eagle Hank Walsh and first round draft pick Ben Witt. It is early as camp does not even start for another few weeks, but there is speculation that head coach Mark Moore's preliminary depth chart does not include a spot for Yeadon on the top three lines.

Yeadon scored a career low 30 points last season including just 6 goals, but he is undetered in vowing he will come in to camp with the same mindset he has had every season. "No job is guaranteed. I have to prove to them every fall I am one of the nine best forwards so I can be in the lineup every day."

Consistency has been a key part of Yeadon's game. Yeadon had not been out of the lineup since a back injury cost him two games in February of 1942 until last December when he was forced to miss one contest last year after a scary cut to his face left him with 9 stitches. Here is hoping he gets a chance to spill some more of that royal hockey blood on the Thompson Palladium ice surface again this season.

From FHN Staff --Yeadon is far from the only established player who's job may be on the line. The shrinking of the league from seven to six teams endangers the NAHC career of a number of vets across the league. Many have already been cut loose by there teams. Among those are Rosie McInnis, a 33 year old forward who has 194 points this decade including 23 for the Toronto Dukes last year. The Dukes also elected not to resign assistant captain Sam Koger after the 35-year-old had just 11 points in 30 games last season. Gilbert Chandler, who wore a letter in New York last season, was let go by the Shamrocks despite being just one shy of his career high with 22 points last year. The much travelled Chandler has suited up for 5 NAHC clubs in his 7 year career. George Lynn is also looking for work after the 26-year-old, who had 26 points for the Brooklyn Eagles a year ago, was not selected in the dispersal draft of former Eagles players.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The countdown continues. 2 more homers for Bobby Barrell giving the Philadelphia Keystones star 58 on the year -two shy of Max Morris' 1923 record setting 60.
• Defending AIAA grid champion St. Blane tops the preseason poll for the 1947 campaign. The Fighting Saints are followed by Detroit City College, Liberty College, Travis College and Alabama Baptist. The AIAA grid season opens Tuesday.
• The AFA starts its 28th year of pro ball this weekend. The second year CFC got underway a week ago and defending champion Kansas City had a tough time, but nipped the Buffalo Bulls 35-34 on Friday in the Cowboys home opener.
• A long battle is expected in the United Nations General Assembly over a committee plan to divide Palestine into Arab and Jewish states and admit 150,000 Jewish immigrants in the next two years.
• Acting Secretary of State Lovett warns that Europe's economic crisis is developing much faster than expected and that some type of American action to help relieve the situation will be necessary before the end of the year.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 22, 1947

PACKERS IN MARKET FOR DEFENSEMAN

The Chicago Packers have what many NAHC observers feel is the deepest collection of talent in the league but that has not stopped rumours flowing that the Packers are looking to upgrade their defense. The club, which reached the Challenge Cup finals last season before bowing out to Boston in 6 games, is the only NAHC team never to hoist the famous chalice.

The Packers have specifically targeted the acquistion of a right defenseman which perhaps leads to speculation the club feels rookie Mike Van Tol -their first round draft pick- may need another year of seasoning before he is ready to step in on the Packers blueline. Pete Moreau, Mark Brooks and Matt Jewitt are the holdovers but with the Packers hoping this will be the year they finally win that first Cup, the club is said to be willing to part with a veteran forward such as Ed Delarue, who finished third on the team with 42 points last season, or Marsh Mansfield -a 34 point producer last season- for the missing piece they feel they need on the blueline.

NEIGHBOR A RARE BREED IN BOSTON

Boston Bees defenseman Harry Neighbor is preparing to embark on his third full season with the club and is the proud owner of 2 Challenge Cup rings. The list of players that can boast winning the Challenge Cup is few, but even smaller is the list of Americans who have hoisted the famous trophy. Neighbor, who grew in Saginaw, Michigan, is one just two American born players to play in the NAHC last season.

Neighbor, who leads all American born players in the modern era with 325 NAHC games under his belt, broke into the league with the Chicago Packers in the late 1930s and was a steady defensive-minded rearguard on the Windy City club's blueline until he was dealt to Boston midway through the 1943-44 season. He helped Boston win the league playoff title each of the past two seasons, tallying 12 points during the season a year ago before adding 3 assists in the run to the Challenge Cup.

It is the Chicago Packers that have pioneered the development of American born players as four in total are under contract to NAHC organizations this year and all four have Chicago ties. The only other American-born player last year besides Neighbor to suit up for an NAHC game was Toronto Dukes back-up goaltender Terry Russell. The 30-year-old from Duluth, Mn., got his start with the Packers organization and was a teammate of Neighbor's in Chicago before being dealt to the Dukes prior to the 1945-46 season. Russell had some pretty strong years for the Packers and played 4 games in the 1944-45 playoffs but, unlike Neighbor, has not come close to a Cup win.

There is a chance the ranks of American born players could swell to as many as four next season with two others under contract to a pair of NAHC clubs, and once more both have ties to the Packers. One is under contract to the Packers, a defenseman by the name of Jesse Santoro. The 21-year-old Worcester, Mass., born rearguard spent the past three years in Vancouver of the coast league and is hoping to crack the Chicago Packers line-up.

The final one is 23-year-old winger Mike Navarro, who was born in New York City and has been in the Toronto Dukes system since the Packers traded him in 1944. A third-round pick of the Packers in the 1944 draft after spending a season with the Philadelphia Rascals, Navarro was dealt to Toronto after just 14 games with the Packers in 1944-45. He split the rest of the season between the Dukes and the HAA's Pittsburgh Rovers but did score 6 goals and add 6 assists his rookie season in the NAHC. Like Neighbor, Navarro also has a Cup ring as he played 10 games for the Dukes in their run to the Cup that season. Navarro suited up for 25 games for the Dukes in 1945-46 but spent last year in the minors, although he has hopes of cracking the Toronto roster this fall and joining fellow American Terry Russell on the Dukes.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Bobby Barrell is the new single season home run king. The Georgia Jolter hit 3 last week to raise his season total to 62, surpassing Max Morris' 1923 record.
• The St Louis Pioneers officially clinched their first Federal Association pennant since 1923. In the Continental Association the Philadelphia Sailors lead on the Cincinnati Cannons is just a half game entering the final week of the season.
• The Pittsburgh Paladins held off the Cincinnati Tigers 21-17 to win the lone game on the opening week slate to kick off the AFA's 28th season.
• Liberty College dumped Spokane State 30-6 in the first big college grid intersectional game of the campaign.
• Oakland's Dan Miller easily won a decision of Fraser Witt in Los Angeles in what will be Miller's final tune-up before he challenges World Heavyweight champ Hector Sawyer at Santa Ana Stadium in January.
• Cabinet officials are recommending voluntary food rationing in this country to help meet the world crisis amidst another week of rising food prices with no relief in sight.
• The growing conflict between the United States and Russia has reached such a critical state that further efforts to reconcile the two view points seem hopeless. That is the conclusion of the French Foreign Minister following a week long gathering of key officials from around the world at the United Nations.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

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 THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

OCTOBER 3, 1947

DUKES LOSE ROY FOR SEASON

A tough break for the Toronto Dukes as the club learned that Chad Roy will miss most, if not all of the season with a back injury he suffered Thursday night in Hamilton during the Dukes preseason tilt with the Chicago Packers. The 25-year-old British Columbia native was being counted on to play a key role on the Toronto blueline after he was acquired in the dispersal draft of former Brooklyn Eagles players. The much-travelled Roy, who had stops in Boston and Chicago before joining the Eagles midway through the 1945-46 campaign, had 2 goals and 10 assists for Brooklyn in 44 games last season.

BEES, PACKERS LOOK TO BE IN MID-SEASON FORM

Shamrocks Join Cup Finalists With 2-0 Start

We are just two games into the preseason slate but if the first week is any indication the Boston Bees and Chicago Packers are each going to enjoy outstanding seasons. Those two clubs -who met in the Challenge Cup final last season and are the favourites to return there next April- dominated the opposition in their first two tune-up games.

The Bees, winners of the last two Cups, were outshot 37-25 in the opener, played in Hershey, Pa. against the Detroit Motors but that did not stop the New Englanders from recording a decisive 7-2 victory. Veteran linemates Tommy Hart and Wilbur Chandler paced the Boston icemen with 2 goals each while rookie goaltender Oscar James -facing an uphill battle trying to make the club with Juneau Award winners Tom Brockers and Piere Melancon as his competition- gave Boston bench boss Danny McLachlan many reasons to smile with an outstanding effort between the pipes.

A day later the Bruins were in Montreal and Chandler pocketed two more goals while Tom Brockers handled the duties in net in a 4-2 doubling of the Montreal Valiants. It was the Valiants second straight loss after they fell 3-2 to the New York Shamrocks in Syracuse the previous night. Shamrocks 21-year-old rookie prospect Simon Savard scored twice in that game and would get another one the next night as the Greenshirts beat Detroit 4-1 for their second straight victory.

Chicago won both of their games over Toronto, dumping the Dukes in the preseason debut for Toronto coach Jack Barrell 6-1 in St Catharines on Wednesday and then by a 4-2 score the next night in Hamilton. Marty Mahoney had a hat trick for the Packers in a rough and tumble opener while the next night it was league MVP Tommy Burns who took center stage with a pair of markers, while Mahoney assisted on both of them.

   NAHC Preseason Standings
TEAM      GP W L T PTS GF GA
Boston    2  2 0 0  4  11  4
Chicago   2  2 0 0  4  10  3
New York  2  2 0 0  4   7  3
Montreal  2  0 2 0  0   4  7
Toronto   2  0 2 0  0   3 10
Detroit   2  0 2 0  0   3 11

EXHIBITION RESULTS
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1
New York 3 Montreal 2 at Syracuse, NY
Boston 7 Detroit 2 at Hershey, Pa.
Chicago 6 Toronto 1 at St Catharines, Ont.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 2
Chicago 4 Toronto 2 at Hamilton, Ont
New York 4 Detroit 1 at Philadelphia, Pa.
Boston 4 at Montreal 2

UPCOMING GAMES
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

AROUND THE LEAGUE

BEES OFF TO GOOD START

From Finn LeBec, Boston Globe --The Boston Bees had a good showing. 2-0-0 with a 7-2 win over Detroit and a 4-2 victory at Montreal. Oscar James won the preseason opener (35 saves) and Wilbur Chandler was in midseason form with two goals. But, the play of the rookie defensemen against the Motors impressed me. Mickey Bedard dished out two assists and Charlie Rittinger had an assist and tussled with Graham Comeau in the dying seconds of the game to make his case for a policeman, if one is necessary. Game two saw two more goals for Chandler and two more assists for Bedard. Next up is a set of preseason back-to-backs with a rematch against Detroit and a tilt against the Toronto.

NOT THE START MOTORS WERE HOPING FOR

From Dan Urbanski, Detroit Times -- Exhibition games are called just that for a reason. They have no bearing on the season and hopefully things will be much different for the Detroit Motors when the puck drops for real October 15. The Motors started preseason with 2 losses. Normally, that is not a big deal as these are just tune-up games but they were especially bad.

In the opener, a 7-2 loss to Boston, Detroit at least had a few bright spots. Forwards Graham Comeau -last season's leading scorer last season- and rookie Nick Tardif each played very well but the defense was very weak with Bryant Williams, who is supposed to be a team leader, looking especially bad but he was not the only veteran who did not show up on this night. Hopefully it was just rust being shaken off for goaltender Henri Chasse as he was awful, surrendering 7 goals on just 25 shots. We outshot the Bees 37-25 but had trouble solving rookie goaltender Oscar James. Newcomer Adam Vanderbilt and vet Garrett Ferrar scored the Motors goals.

The next night was an even worse effort with far too many passengers in a 4-1 loss to the New York Shamrocks. Mike Schlegel was a young player Detroit brass was hoping would play a key role on our blueline but not only did he get involved in an off-ice incident early in camp that has angered a number of his teammates but he played a terrible game against the Greenshirts. Schlegel will get a couple more games to prove himself but the same can't be said for three others who have been dispatched to Buffalo. One was 19 year old Herm Kruse, their second round pick, and his departure for the Bears was always a foregone conclusion but the other two were surprises. Anthony Jacques was a winger who camp observers thought might step into the starting lineup but the 21-year-old needs some time in the HAA. The other was Bobo Davis, Detroit's first round pick a year ago, who has been in the words of one veteran teammate "quite frankly a pain in the butt" ever since he joined the club. He is just 21 and too talented not to return but head coach Mark Moore decided to make an example out of Davis after a terrible effort against Boston and repeated verbal clashes with teammates so he is Buffalo-bound.

That leaves the club with 23 players in camp and three more cuts, likely 2 forwards and 1 defenseman to come before the Motors open the season October 15th at the Palladium against Chicago. Morale is terrible, but it was bad most of last season and the club still performed although management is quickly tiring of the antics of a few players, so there may be some more surprising moves to come.

QUICK THOUGHTS

On the New York Shamrocks from New York World Telegram hockey reporter Sam Fincher -- Shamrocks with a good start. Some of the young guys contributing. Savard with a big start.
On the Toronto Dukes from Toronto Mail & Empire sports columnist Brett Bing -- Tough start for Jack Barrell and it is clear his hard-nosed defensive system will take some time to get full buy-in as the Dukes give up 10 goals in first two preseason games.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The St Louis Pioneers and Philadelphia Sailors split the opening two games of the World Championship Series. The Sailors took the opener 6-4 on the road before Danny Hern evened things with a complete game 5-1 victory for the Pioneers in game two.
• As has been speculated for several weeks the Chicago Cougars have officially terminated the contract of manager Clyde Meyer after 8 seasons at the helm of the Continental Association club.
• The Sadler Bluecoats dumped the Ellery Bruins 30-13 in a rare mid-week collegiate football game for Academia Alliance squads. There is a full slate set for tomorrow including preseason number one St Blane making its debut at Fitzpatrick Park vs Pittsburgh State.
• President Truman informed congressional leaders today that emergency funds for aiding Europe cannot be provided without congressional action - possibly a special session.
• An increasingly violent anti-American campaign by Russian press and radio was predicted by United States officials examining Moscow's propaganda line, noting a Russian magazine attack comparing Truman with Hitler indicates a decision to pull out all the stops.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

OCTOBER 9, 1947

PACKERS, BEES LEAD PRESEASON PARADE

The Chicago Packers and Boston Bees were the class of the NAHC last year as they dueled all season for top spot and then met in the Challenge Cup finals with the Beantown brigade prevailing in both cases. Little has changed this season, at least in exhibition contests as both the Packers and Bees have won 4 of 5 tune-up games and share top spot on the table of meaningless tune-up games. Well, the teams that lose them will call them meaningless anyway.

The New York Shamrocks are right there with the big boys of the NAHC, and enjoying a terrific preseason. New York even handed Chicago it's only training camp loss to date, edging the Packers 3-2 Sunday thanks to a 2-goal effort from second year forward Adam Greenham. The good news of a strong start turned dour quickly as Greenham fractured his hip in a game two days later and may miss a good chunk of the season. Winger Jocko Gregg, a 23-point player a year ago, will also likely miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury and a number of other Shamrocks, including captain Bert McCalley are dealing with some nagging injuries.

After losing their first two preseason games to Chicago, the Toronto Dukes came up big with 2 wins and a tie. Following a 3-3 tie with the Shamrocks on home ice Saturday night the Dukes took the overnight train trip to Boston then surprisingly crushed the Bees 10-2 led by a 4 goal game by defenseman Al Cote which matched his goal total of last season. After a day off with more work on coach Barrell's system the team took down the Motors at Dominion Gardens 4-1 led by Gordie Broadway's 30 save performance.

Barrell is cautiously optimistic about what he is seeing on the ice in the first 5 exhibition games "We still need to tighten up in our own zone, Broadway bailed us out against Detroit. Clyde Lumsen (-6) along with Quinton Pollock (-5) still need work on their assignments in the defensive system."

The Montreal Valiants have been competitive, but their only win came Sunday evening when they doubled Detroit 4-2. All eyes in Montreal are squarely focused on the Vals crease where a bounce back season from veteran Millard Touhey is very much needed. Touhey has not been overly impressive in three training camp outings, dropping all 3 and posting a 4.02 goals against average.

Meanwhile in Detroit the struggling Motors are 0-5 and being badly outplayed. Goaltending has been suspect in camp but coach Mark Moore is confident that starter Henri Chasse, who played all but 1 game last season, will be ready when the games start to count next week. The Motors, in an effort to generate some positive momentum, cut their roster down to the regular season limit of twenty despite having two tune-up games remaining. Those departing for Buffalo include 22-year-old winger Hank Walsh, who scored 25 points as a rookie with the Brooklyn Eagles last season, and 25-year-old rearguard Alex Leveille, who suited up for 31 games on the Detroit blueline last year. That means four rookies will debut with the club this season including first round pick Ben Witt and HAA scoring sensation Adam Vanderbilt.

   NAHC Preseason Standings
TEAM      GP W L T PTS GF GA
Chicago   5  4 1 0  8  21 12
Boston    5  4 1 0  8  20 17
New York  5  3 1 1  7  13 11
Toronto   5  2 2 1  5  20 16
Montreal  5  1 4 0  2   3 10
Detroit   5  0 5 0  0   9 23

PRESEASON SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G A PTS
Burdette, Tor   4  2 8  10
Chandler, Bos   5  5 3   8
T Burns, Chi    5  5 2   7
Sauer, Tor      5  4 3   7
Hart, Bos       5  2 5   7
Mahoney, Chi    4  3 3   6
Bedard, Bos     5  1 5   6

EXHIBITION RESULTS
SATURDAY OCTOBER 4
Chicago 5 Montreal 3
Boston 4 Detroit 3
New York 3 Toronto 3

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5
New York 3 Chicago 2
Montreal 4 Detroit 2
Toronto 10 Boston 2

TUESDAY OCTOBER 7
Chicago 4 Montreal 3
Boston 3 New York 0
Toronto 4 Detroit 1

UPCOMING GAMES
TONIGHT
Toronto at Chicago
Montreal vs Detroit at Port Huron, MI
Boston at New York

FRIDAY OCTOBER 10
Boston at Montreal
Chicago at Detroit
New York at Toronto
end of preseason schedule

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• A 6-2 victory in game six gave the St. Louis Pioneers their first World Championship Series victory since 1920. The surprising Pioneers -who finished last in the Federal Assocation a year ago- beat the Philadelphia Sailors 4 games to two.
• A pitching duel in the sixth game of the Bigsby Cup as Jack Goff tossed a complete game two-hit shutout to lead the Oakland Greys to a 1-0 win over the Dallas Centurions and even the best of seven coast ball championship at 3 victories apiece.
• St. Blane looks to go 2-0 as the Fighting Saints invade Chicago to face Whitney College in the highlight of a busy weekend of collegiate grid action.
• The Central Communist Party of the Soviet Union and its counterparts in 8 other European nations unveiled a Manifesto aimed at combating the Marshall Plan and what it described as United States "imperialism." Many are calling it a declaration of an ideological war.
• President Truman called on all Americans to make food sacrifices as a contribution to peace. In order to combat hunger in Western Europe the President called on all citizens to go without meat on Tuesdays, without eggs and poultry on Thursdays, and to save a slice of bread a day.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Jiggs McGee]

OCTOBER 13 , 1947

PUCK DROPS ON NAHC SEASON WEDNESDAY

There is plenty of excitement on the streets of Chicago as talk has finally drifted away from the utter disappointment the Cougars were all season and the two-week slump that began in late July and destroyed the Chiefs hopes. Instead, all that could be heard in the local watering holes was banter about the Packers and how strong they look. "This might finally be the year," was the most commonly uttered phrase next to "Can I have another?" in the taverns last week as there is great optimism that the local ice outfit might just finally win its first Challenge Cup.

Training camp did nothing to dissuade talk that started to build over the summer and reached a crescendo when The Figment Hockey News tabbed the Packers as the team to beat this year. A 6-1 camp record has fans expectations hitting a fever pitch as the Packers prepare to open the season for real Wednesday night in Detroit.

The mood is much different at Thompson Palladium in Detroit where the Motors never got their engine started during the tune-up games. Detroit lost six of it's seven games, salvaging only a single point in a 1-1 draw with Montreal in Port Huron, Mi. on Tuesday. The Motors finished up with a lackadaisical effort in a 3-0 whitewashing at the hands of the Packer Thursday night and now must somehow regroup and get things going this week. That might be a lot easier said than done as there seem to be a lot of problems in Detroit due to some locker-room incidents although a few victories always does wonders for team morale. The bigger concern is what has happened to Detroit goaltender Henri Chasse. So good a year ago, the 24-year-old Quebec native suddenly looks like he would be challenged to stop a beach ball, and the defense -most notably veteran Bryant Williams- has been not much better in front of him.

Aside from Detroit, and perhaps Toronto which has already lost two regulars for most, if not all of the season, there is a lot of optimism throughout the league. The New York Shamrocks have had some injuries of their own, but the Greenshirts went 5-1-1 in the preseason and are thrilled with the play of 21-year-old rookie Simon Savard, who tallied four goals in six games and seems to have earned himself a spot in the lineup. The Shamrocks will open their season Friday in Montreal while the Dukes get things going Saturday when they host Detroit. The two-time defending Challenge Cup champion Boston Bees will be the final team to start the season -holding off until Sunday when they will raise their record 7th Cup winning banner to the roof of Denny Arena before hosting the Shamrocks.

   NAHC Preseason Standings
TEAM      GP W L T PTS GF GA
Chicago   7  6 1 0 12  28 14
New York  7  4 1 2  9  19 13
Boston    7  4 3 0  8  22 24
Toronto   7  2 3 3  7  23 21
Montreal  7  2 4 1  5  17 20
Detroit   7  0 6 1  1  10 27

PRESEASON SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G A PTS
Burdette, Tor   6  4 8  12
T Burns, Chi    7  7 2   9
Chandler, Bos   7  5 3   8
Hart, Bos       7  3 5   8
Savard, NY      6  4 3   7
Sauer, Tor      5  4 3   7

EXHIBITION RESULTS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 9
Chicago 4 Toronto 2
Montreal 1 Detroit 1
New York 5 Boston 1

FRIDAY OCTOBER 10
Montreal 2 Boston 1
Chicago 3 Detroit 0
New York 1 Toronto 1
end of preseason schedule

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15
Chicago at Detroit

THURSDAY OCTOBER 16
New York at Montreal

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18
Chicago at Montreal
Detroit at Toronto

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19
New York at Boston
Toronto at Detroit

AROUND THE LEAGUE

MORE BAD NEWS FOR DUKES

Beam to Miss Season

The Toronto Dukes have suffered a second long-term injury in training camp with news that veteran winger Syl Beam has suffered a serious eye injury after being clipped with a stick while colliding with an opponent in Friday's preseason finale against the New York Shamrocks. Beam joins veteran rearguard Chad Roy who is out long-term with a back injury.

A broken wrist sidelined Beam much of last season, limiting the Ottawa native to just 26 games and a career low 17 points. He was entering his fifth season with the Dukes after starting his career with the New York Shamrocks.

VALS LEAD LEAGUE DUCAT RACE

The rabid Montreal fanbase loves it's Valiants win or lose and despite missing the playoffs last season the club leads the NAHC in season ticket sales. The Valiants are one of two clubs to announce the season ticket totals have surpassed the 10,000 mark as Montreal is joined by excited Chicago fans hoping this might finally be the Packers year to win the Cup.

SEASON TICKET SALES
Montreal...11,308
Chicago....10,519
Boston..... 9,421
Toronto.... 9,262
New York... 6,632
Detroit.... 6,207

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The Oakland Grays beat the Dallas Centurions 7-1 in game seven to win the second annual Bigsby Cup, presented annually to the champion of the Great Western League.
• In a surprise move the Continental Association champion Philadelphia Sailors have released two regulars, including all-star catcher Woody Stone.
• Parity is the story in the AFA as no grid team remains unbeaten following losses suffered by the Philadelphia Frigates and Detroit Maroons yesterday. A huge upset in the CFC as the Kansas City Cowboys fell for the second week in a row, dropping a 23-17 decision at home to the Los Angeles Lobos.
• Ricky McCallister saved the day as the Saints quarterback rallied St Blane to a 24-10 win over Whitney College after their running game had stalled.
• Fiery debate has left the United Nations Political Committee set for a showdown choice between the United States and Soviet Russia over the subject of the explosive Balkans issue.
• The United States accepted in principle a proposal for the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab nations while also agreeing to help the United Nations preserve "internal law and order" during a recommended two-year transition phase.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

OCTOBER 27, 1947

VALIANTS OFF TO QUICK START

A slow start takes much of the blame for the Montreal Valiants missing the playoffs for the first time in five years last season, but things look much different in the early going this time around. The Vals, under the guidance of new Head Coach Norb Hickey, have won four of their first five games including a split of a home and home series with the two-time defending Challenge Cup champion Boston Bees. That gives the Valiants 8 points in 5 games and a big reason has been the improved play of goaltender Millard Touhey.

The 31-year-old had his struggles in the early going a year ago, and perhaps celebrated too hard a semi-final upset of the Toronto Dukes over the summer. Touhey was out of shape when he arrived at camp and struggled through the worst season of his career. This season it has been a different story for Touhey, who aside from a rough outing in the loss in Boston, has been back at the top of his game.

The Montreal offense has also been coming up big and the addition of Ian Doyle from the Brooklyn Eagles in the dispersal draft has played a big role -something that was only made possible by Hickey's confidence in Touhey. There was some speculation the Vals should select Juneau award winning goaltender Tom Brockers from the Eagles with their first pick in the dispersal draft as there were concerns that Touhey might be on a downward spiral. Grabbing Doyle instead, who shares the league lead in points with teammate Bert Lancelove, has given the Valiants two top level centers in Doyle and Clarence Skinner and, at least in the early going, has given Montreal an offense that is the envy of the league. Doyle is just 23 and does have a knock of being injury-prone and missed half of his rookie season last year but is averaging nearly a point per game in the NAHC while not yet at his peak.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS GF GA
Montreal   5  4  1  0  8  18 13
Boston     4  3  1  0  6  14  9
Toronto    4  2  2  0  4  10  8
New York   3  1  2  0  2   7  8
Chicago    4  1  3  0  2   8 12 
Detroit    4  1  3  0  2   7 14

     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
Lanceleve, Mon  5  5  2  7
Doyle, Mon      5  2  5  7
Walker, Bos     4  4  2  6
Skinner, Mon    5  4  1  5
Lynch, Mon      4  1  4  5
Rupp, Bos       4  1  4  5
Cabbell, NY     3  3  1  4
Haines, Mon     3  2  2  4
Cundiff, Bos    4  2  2  4
Burdette, Mon   4  1  3  4
Chandler, Bos   4  1  3  4
Gron, Bos       4  1  3  4
Mahoney, Chi    4  1  3  4
Bernard, Mon    5  1  3  4

NAHC RESULTS
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22
Boston 6 Montreal 1 : 23 year old Boston rookie Robert Walker had a hat trick and veteran Waldemar Rupp had 4 assists to lead the hometown Bees to a 6-1 victory over Montreal. Walker, who was originaly a first round pick of Chicago, has spent the past 4 seasons in Vancouver before joining the Bees. He also assited on Conn Cundiff's third period goal to make it a four-point night for the newcomer.

New York 3 Toronto 1 : New York scored three third period goals in a span of less than four minutes -two from Orval Cabbell- to rally past Toronto for the Shamrocks first victory of the season. Bert McCalley had the other New York marker, with Cabbell drawing the assist, while Alex Lavalliere had given the Dukes the early lead with a second period goal. Toronto outshot the Greenshirts 31-27 but New York netminder Etienne Tremblay had a big game in net.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25
Montreal 5 Boston 1 : Home ice proved very friendly as three days after getting hammered by Boston at Denny Arena, the Valiants turned the tables in the Montreal Arena. Clarence Skinner and Bert Lanceleve -each with their third goals of the young season- staked the Vals to a 2-0 first period lead and second period markers off the sticks of Nick Haines, John Cline and Leo Bernard turned it into a route. Jacob Gron had the lone Boston marker.

Chicago 2 Toronto 1 : After starting the season with two losses, the Chicago Packers notch their first win in edging Jack Barrell's Toronto Dukes 2-1 at Dominion Gardens. The Dukes, who took an early 1-0 lead on Alex Lavalliere's 3rd goal of the season, outshot the Packers 37-32 but Chicago netminder Neil Hanson had a strong outing. Mark Brooks and Tommy Burns scored just over a minute apart early in the second period to provide the Packers offense with rookie Derek Gubb assisting on both. Chicago defenseman Ted Stevens was suspended for a boarding major and will miss the Packers game in Boston tomorrow.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26
Boston 4 Chicago 2 : A rematch of the Challenge Cup finals saw the hometown Bees rally with 4 unaswered third period markers to beat the visiting Packers 4-2. Jesse Santoro scored late in the first period to give Chicago the early lead and Jarrett McGlynn -with Marty Mahoney notching his second assist of the evening- lit the lamp with just 3 seconds remaining in the second period to put Chicago up 2-0. The late goal, often a morale killer, did just the opposite and inspired the Bees to take control in the third stanza. Wilbur Chandler got things started with his first of the season at the 2:28 mark and Robert Walker would tie the game ten minutes later. Veteran Waldemar Rupp notched the game winner with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game and Garrett Kauffeldt sealed the win with an empty-net goal.

Montreal 4 Detroit 1: The Valiants stayed two points ahead of Boston and in sole possession of first place with a 4-1 victory over the slumping Detroit Motors. Bert Lanceleve scored twice for the Vals with Clarence Skinner and Nick Haines adding singles. Arnold Singleton replied with the lone Detroit goal.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29
Detroit at Chicago
Boston at New York
Montreal at Toronto
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1
Detroit at New York
Boston at Toronto
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2
Montreal at Chicago
Boston at Detroit
Toronto at New York

AROUND THE LEAGUE

From Finn LeBec, Boston Globe --The Bees won 2 of 3 this week to move to 3-1-0 on the young season. The highlight was a natural hat trick from rookie Robert Walker in the 6-1 win against the Valiants to put the game away late in the second and early in the third. Tom Brockers has been in net for all 4 games so far and his only poor showing was in the back end of the home-and-home with Montreal. Brockers was torched for five goals in the first two periods of the 5-1 loss, though the Bees defense did him no favors by allowing 43 shots. Brockers has a 2.25 goals against average and a .929 save percentage, both second in the league behind Toronto's Gordie Broadway.
From Dan Urbanski, Detroit Times -- With trips to Chicago and New York plus a home game with Boston on a busy schedule next week, the Detroit Motors are looking like they might be in trouble. The goaltending and defense- the strength of the club a year ago have been terrible. There is no offense to speak of and the mood in the locker room is a mess. Perhaps a little early to be talking about replacing the coach but Mark Moore did himself no favours dropping back-to-back games to Jack Barrell and his seat is certainly getting a little warm.

Toronto loses two close ones at home as they are held to one goal in each game. Wednesday night's encounter with New York treated the 12,233 in attendance to a fast paced, close checking game. After a scoreless first Alex Lavalliere put the Dukes on top with a goal 2 minutes into the second assisted by Philippe Dubois and Herb Burdette. It appeared that the single marker might hold up until the Shamrocks Orval Cabbell decided to take over the game scoring twice, assisting on a third goal in a span of just over 3 and a half minutes giving the New Yorkers to a 3-1 victory. Quinton Pollock suffered a 30 stitch gash when clipped by a skate on a tripping penalty in the third period. Pollock will continue to dress but wear a helmet until the sutures are removed, he said "The scar will add more character to my face, this is part of playing hockey."

On the traditional Saturday night game at Dominion Gardens the Dukes again opened the with Lavalliere's third halfway through the first only again to be victimized be two quick goals in the second by Chicago as Mark Brooks and Tommy Burns tallied 81 seconds apart give the Packers a 2-1 lead which they hung on to for their victory of the '47-48 season. Norm Hanson stood on his head turning away 36 Toronto shots including 15 in the final period as the Dukes pulled out all stops in an attempt to get the equalizer.

Coach Barrell said " As I said the team still has lots of work to do, we tend to give up the possession of the puck too easily, the guys probably deserved a better fate than two losses although you are not gong to win many games scoring only one goal a game in the NAHC."

On the injury front Roderick Gunner suffered a serious shoulder injury that will probably keep him out the entire month of November. With no return in sight for either Chad Roy or Syl Beam the Dukes summoned Rob Painchaud from the Eries, he will be on the gamesheet for Wednesday's game against Montreal. The only good news is that Dick Zimmerman was given the "Good to go" from the training staff.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Professional Basketball became the latest online league to join the Figment Universe, following in the footsteps of this NAHC hockey league and the flagship FABL baseball league which just completed its 22nd season as an online league.
• The Kansas City Cowboys won a CFC West Division showdown with San Francisco while the AFA has a 3-way tie atop its West Division following a busy weekend of pro grid.
• A dominating 69-10 crushing of Minnesota Tech on Saturday has helped the 5-0 Detroit City College Knights leapfrog St Blane and move to the top spot in the latest grid rankings. The Fighting Saints also prevailed, but just barely as they held off a pesky Western Iowa eleven by a 17-10 score.
• Western Iowa is the team to beat according to TWIFB preview of the upcoming college cage season. The Canaries are picked #1 followed by Redwood University, Whitney College, St Blane and CC Los Angeles.
• The names of 16 screenwriters dismissed by Warner Bros. studio as "un-American" were disclosed as the House Committee on Un-American Activities got off to a stormy start in its inquiry into Communist influence in Hollywood.
• Britain banned tobacco imports from the United States and announced new cuts in food imports as the government warned that economic collapse would probably mean the end of British democracy.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

NOVEMBER 3, 1947

Boston and Montreal have jumped out to an early lead after two weeks of NAHC action. The Bees, owners of each of the last two Challenge Cups, are to be expected especially with the return of Juneau Award winning goaltender Tom Brockers to the Bees after spending the past three seasons in Brooklyn. Montreal, on the other hand, is a bit of a surprise but the Valiants are starting to hear the term "Flying Frenchman" bandied about in the Montreal Arena as their high scoring offense has new coach Norb Hickey looking like a genius to fans in the hockey hotbed.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Boston     7  5  2  0  10  21  14
Montreal   7  5  2  0  10  25  21
New York   6  4  2  0   8  21  12
Toronto    7  3  4  0   6  16  19
Chicago    6  2  4  0   4  14  17
Detroit    7  1  6  0   2  11  25

     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
Albers, NY      6  1  9  10
Lanceleve, Mon  7  6  3   9
Mahoney, Chi    6  2  6   8
Doyle, Mon      7  2  6   8
Cabbell, NY     6  6  1   7
Walker, Bos     7  5  2   7
Lynch, Mon      6  3  4   7
Chandler, Bos   7  1  6   7
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
Brockers, Bos   7  5  2  0   0  2.00
Tremblay, NY    5  3  2  0   0  2.41
Hanson, Chi     6  2  4  0   0  2.51
Broadway, Tor   6  2  4  0   0  2.85
Touhey, Mon     7  5  2  0   0  3.01
Chasse, Det     5  1  4  0   0  3.63

NAHC RESULTS
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29
Detroit 1 at 3 Chicago : After a 1-3 start on the road the Packers arrive at Lakeside Auditorium for the first time this season and skate away with a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Motors. Tommy Burns, who has had a slow start, comes up big in this one with a goal and 2 assists while linemate Marty Mahoney picks up a pair of helpers. The Packers outshot slumping Detroit 38-32.

Boston 2 at 3 New York: Rookie Simon Savard's second goal of the season proved the difference as the Shamrocks nipped Boston 3-2 at Bigsby Garden. Orval Cabbell and Tommy Brescia also scored for the Greenshirts while Mickey Berard and Tommy Hart replied in a losing effort for Boston.

Montreal 3 at 5 Toronto: The two Canadian rivals meet for the first time this season with the Dukes coming out on top by a 5-3 score. It was just the second loss of the season thru 6 games for the Valiants, who fell despite outshooting Jack Barrell's club 34-33. Five different Dukes lit the lamp while Max Ducharme was a 2-goal scorer for the visitors.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1
Detroit 2 at 5 New York: Detroit's awful start continued as the Shamrocks outstot the Motors 44-16 and thoroughly dominated a 5-2 victory. Jocko Gregg and Gil Corbeil each scored twice for the winners with Laurel Albers chipping in 3 assists. Henri Chasse had a decent game in the Detroit net but the rest of the team took the night off.

Boston 2 at 1 Toronto: Tommy Hart's unassisted goal early in the third period proved the difference to lift the visitng Boston Bees to a 2-1 win over the Dukes. Garrett Kauffeldt of Boston and Herb Burdette traded goals in the opening stanza of a game in which Boston's 40 shots on Gordie Broadway nearly doubled Toronto's efforts.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2
Montreal 4 at 3 Chicago: The Packers early season struggles continue with a 4-3 loss at home to Montreal. The Valiants dominated the play and outshot the Packers 36-24 including 30-15 over the final two periods. Doug Lynch got the game winner -his third of the young season- 4 minutes into the third period.

Boston 3 at 1 Detroit: Another loss for the Motors, who fall to 1-6-0 on the season after Boston rode second period goals from Robert Walker, Waldemar Rupp and Tommy Hart to a 3-1 victory. Arnold Singleton scored late in the third period to ruin Tom Brockers shutout bid. Boston forward Jacob Gron was suspended for four games after a vicious boarding major in the first period.

Toronto 0 at 6 New York: The last of a busy night of Sunday hockey saw the New York Shamrocks continue their solid start to the season with a 6-0 drubbing of the Toronto Dukes. It was a special moment for 21 year old rookie goaltender Alex Sorrell as he stopped all 22 shots he faced for a shutout in his NAHC debut. Another Shamrocks rookie, 22-year-old winger Sam Furr paced the offense with 3 points including his first career NAHC goal.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5
Boston at Chicago
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6
New York at Detroit
Toronto at Montrel
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8
Detroit at Montreal
New York at Toronto
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9
New York at Chicago
Toronto at Detroit

AROUND THE LEAGUE

From Sam Fincher, New York World Telegram --The Shamrocks are off to a solid 4-2 start. Laurie Albers is dishing out assists to everyone, Orval Cabbell is his usual scoring self and a few rookies are making their marks. Sam Furr and Simon Savard are doing it on the scoresheet while Jim Macek is literally leaving marks to the tune of 19 penalty minutes. Injuries have left the defensive core unsettled, but goalies Etienne Tremblay and Alex Sorrell have covered for any lapses.

From Marc T. McNeil, Montreal Star -- Montreal is keeping pace with Boston, but a big red flag is the number of goals given up. Offense has been clicking, but the defense is an afterthought. Unless the plan is simple: just outscore everyone.

The Toronto Dukes beat Montreal at home to finish October but November does not start out well on the ice. On Wednesday night the fans were treated to a relatively high scoring affair against the Valiants. Trevor Parker opened the scoring in the first on a pretty passing play from Walz, Zimmerman for his first of the season. The Dukes, as has been to common early this season, fell into a funk early in the second allowing the Flying Frenchmen to take a 2-1 lead before the period was 5 minutes old, which led to outburst on the bench by Jack Barrell. The coach was seen making hand gestures to many players in what was thought to be a description of their mistakes in coverage. What ever was said seemed to have produced the desired results as the team stormed back with 4 straight goals by Galbraith, Zimmerman, Burdette, Carson to secure a 5-3 victory. Post game Barrell said "We cannot paly a fire wagon brand of hockey especially against a team like Montreal, Broadway again came up big after we took a couple bad penalties allowing two power play goals."

Boston was in town Saturday night in front of a crowd of 13.361. Bees controlled the game from the opening puck drop winning 2-1. The final score was flattering to the Dukes as Broadway faced 40 shots from the opposition. He made numerous acrobatic saves to keep the score close. If the team though they were outplayed Saturday they were in for worse on Sunday at Bigsby Gardens. Toronto again subjected Broadway to a shooting gallery with the Shamrocks scoring two goals in each period for an easy 6-0 whitewashing, with Alex Sorrell making 22 saves to record the shutout. Barrell did not meet with the media post game but rumour is that the Dukes are in for a few tough practices before Thursday's game in Montreal.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Hot Stove talk is heating up in baseball after the Brooklyn Kings acquired pitcher Bob Arman from Cincinnati and the Pittsburgh Miners are shopping a pair of potential Hall of Famers in catcher George Cleaves and hurler Lefty Allen.
• The Washington Wasps exploded for 59 points, the highest total for a team in an AFA game since 1934 as they thumped Chicago 59-7 in grid action. In college action top ranked St Blane beat Annapolis Maritime 31-14 while the second ranked Detroit City College Knights had their hands full in Springfield, Il., but held off Lincoln College 24-16
• The pro cage season gets underway this week as basketball has joined hockey and baseball in the online portion of the Figment sporting universe.
• 20-year-old Detroit born heavyweight Joey Tierney won again, scoring a unanimous decision over Larry Duncan at the New York Athletic Club to run his record to 9-0.
• As the House Committee on Un-American Activities continues to probe the motion picture industry, screenwriter John Howard Lawson faces a citation for contempt of Congress after refusing to say whether he was a member of the Communist Party. Over the next few days, six more screenwriters were also cited for contempt for refusing to answer questions.
• Secretary of State Marshall is busy shaping final recommendations to Congress for a 4-year European recovery program that may cost up to $20,000,000,000.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

NOVEMBER 10, 1947

BIG WEEK FOR DUKES, WHILE SHAMROCKS SLIDE

Jack Barrell has certainly made his presence felt behind the bench of the Toronto Dukes. Hired after a wildy successful but brief stint in the coast league after his falling out with owner Jack Connelly in Detroit, Barrell has quickly turned around a Toronto team that endured its worst season in well over a decade a year ago.

After fininish dead last in what was a 7-team loop a year ago, Barrell's charges are riding a 3-game winning streak and have a share of the lead as the current NAHC nears the end of its opening month. Toronto won all three of its contests this week thanks to some dependable goaltending from veteran Gordie Broadway and a balanced offensive attack that has already seen a dozen players score at least once and half of them have already found the net three times on the young season.

The leader of course remains veteran captain Bobbie Sauer, who even in the rough times of last season still managed to score at just a shade under a point a game clip. The British Columbia native has been the Dukes captain since 1940 and has led the club to a pair of Challenge Cup wins while also being named the winner of the Al McDaniels Trophy as league MVP twice. The return of Herm Burdette (4-5-9), who missed most of last season with an injury has been a big boost as has the arrival of last year's top rookie Quinton Pollack (2-5-7) from Brooklyn and two early candidates for the McLeod Trophy this time around in youngsters Dick Zimmerman (3-4-7) and first overall draft pick Larry Galbraith (2-5-7). Toronto faces a big week ahead with a home and home series with the Chicago Packers, who have struggled in the early going, as well as another matchup with last place Detroit, a club the Dukes have already beaten three times this season.

At the other end of the spectrum last week was the New York Shamrocks who, after a strong start to the season, suffered three straight losses last week. To make matters worse for the Greenshirts there are worries that veteran pivot Orval Cabbell, who leads the NAHC in goals with 8, may miss Wednesday's game against the defending champion Boston Bees due to a jaw injury.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Boston     8  6  2  0  12  26  17
Toronto   10  6  4  0  12  30  24
Montreal   9  6  3  0  12  31  28
New York   9  4  5  0   8  30  27
Chicago    8  3  5  0   6  23  26
Detroit   10  2  8  0   4  19  37

     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
Lanceleve, Mon  9  8  3  11
Albers, NY      9  2  9  11
Cabbell, NY     9  8  2  10
Gregg,, NY      6  6  4  10
Sauer, Tor     10  5  5  10
Doyle, Mon      9  4  6  10
Burdette, Tor  10  4  5   9
Carlson, Tor   10  3  6   9
Mahoney, Chi    7  2  7   9
T Burns, Chi    8  5  3   8
Lynch, Mon      7  3  5   8
Seguin, Chi     8  2  6   8
Chandler, Bos   8  1  7   8
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
Brockers, Bos   8  6  2  0   0  2.13
Tremblay, NY    7  3  3  0   0  2.39
Broadway, Tor   8  4  4  0   0  2.63
Hanson, Chi     8  3  5  0   0  2.89
Touhey, Mon     9  6  3  0   0  3.12
Chasse, Det     8  2  6  0   0  3.77

NAHC RESULTS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5
Boston 5 at 3 Chicago - Another win for the Bees over their Challenge Cup foe from last season. A couple weeks ago Boston doubled the Packers 4-2 at home and they followed that up with a 5-3 victory in the Windy City for their 3rd straight win. Defenseman Willis Beane, who scored just 4 goals all of last season, notched a pair of first period tallys and Craig Simpson scored with 1 second left in the period to give Boston a commanding 3-0 lead after twenty minutes despite the fact the Packers outshot Boston 13-10 in the stanza. The overall shot total would be very lobsided with the Packers coming up short on the scoreboard despite firing 41 shots at Tom Brockers. It was rough day for Norm Hanson in the Chicago net as he made just 17 saves. Tommy Hart in the second period followed by Garrett Kauffeldt's empty-netter secured the Boston win after Chicago threatened with goals from Jarrett McGlynn, Jereme MacLean and Wes Burns -who finally got his first of the season.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6
New York 3 at 6 Detroit - The Motors jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and held on to win for just the second time this season s they doubled the Shamrocks 6-3. Dave Bradley had a goal and 2 assists for the winners in what was a very rough second start for rookie New York back-up netminder Alex Sorrell. After shutting out Toronto in his debut, the 21-year-old was pulled early in the third period after surrendering 6 Detroit goals on just 20 shots.

Toronto 6 at 2 Montrel -Toronto bounced the Montreal Valiants 6-2 to snap a 2-game losing skid. Rookies Dick Zimmerman, with a goal and an assist, and Larry Galbraith, with two helpers, led the way for the winners in a game Toronto outshot Montreal 41-26.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8
Detroit 1 at 4 Montreal - The Valiants bounced back from their home loss to Toronto with 4 first period goals including a pair off the stick of Ian Doyle en route to a 4-1 win over the Motors. Adam Sandford with his first of the season and Brett Lanceleve, who is tied for the league lead with 8, were the other Montreal goal scorers while Miles Barfield replied for Detroit.

New York 2 at 3 Toronto - Toronto and New York continued their treks in opposite directions this week as the Dukes get a third period goal from Bobbie Sauer to scratch out a 3-2 victory. New York scored twice in the first on goals by Orval Cabbell and Gil Corbeil but the Dukes responded with markers from Lou Galbraith and Quinton Pollack in the middle frame.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9
New York 4 at 6 Chicago - The overnight train ride from Toronto might have left the Shamrocks at a loss for rest but they did hold Chicago scoreless for the first period. Chicago scored three times in each the second and third period including one from Tommy Burns in each frame while the Greenshirts could only manage two each period. The visitors did make it interesting when Laurel Albers cut the Packers lead to 5-4 with 1:11 remaining but Jarrett McGlynn iced the win with an empty-net goal.

Toronto 5 at 1 Detroit - Another win for Coach Barrell over his former team as Toronto easily handles the Motors at Thompson Palladium. Bobbie Sauer led the way with a 3-point night for the winners who gave Gordie Broadway the night off, allowing Terry Russell to claim the victory in net by stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12
Boston at New York
Chicago at Toronto

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13
Chicago at Montreal

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15
Boston at Montreal
Chicago at New York
Detroit at Toronto

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16
Detroit at Boston
Toronto at Chicago
Montreal at New York

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• In a blockbuster deal the Pittsburgh Miners have dealt potential future Hall of Famers George Cleaves and Lefty Allen to the New York Gothams for a package that includes two first-round draft picks and 8 young players.
• In what is likely the final meeting of the famed collegiate football series for quite some time, St Blane nipped Rome State 23-21 in a battle of unbeaten long-time rivals.
• The pro cage circuit began its season last week while in the college ranks, Commonwealth Catholic won the pre-season Jack Easton Tip-off Tournament and host Lane State prevailed in the West Coast Classic.
• World welterweight champion Harold Stephens will defend his title against Ira Mitchell at Cleveland's Lake Erie Arena January 24.
• In the UN, Russia rejected American suggestions on methods of partitioning Palestine and instead demanded that the British withdraw all troops no later than May 1 and a transition of no longer than 1 year until complete independence is given for the projected Jewish and Arab States.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

NOVEMBER 17, 1947

TOUGH WEEK FOR CHAMPS. BEES ON 3 GAME SLIDE

The two-time defending champion Boston Bees had their worst week of the season and quite possibly worst in several years after the Bees went 0-3 for the week. The problems started with a dismal showing at Bigsby Garden on Wednesday evening when the New York Shamrocks beat Tom Brockers 4 times in the first period and cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory. The weekend did not go much better for Danny McLachlan's club as Montral notched three third-period markers to pull out a 4-2 victory and even the comfortable surroundings of the Denny Arena on Sunday did nothing to turn the Bees fortunes around. Rookie Ben Witt scored 3 times to lead the Detroit Motors, a team that started the season with 8 losses in their first 10 games, to a 5-3 win over Boston.

The Bees slump leaves the two Canadian clubs -Montreal and Toronto- in first and second place a year after each failed to make the playoffs. The loop still remains tight with only four points separating the top four clubs and fifth place Chicago -which has had a slow start- may finally be showing signs of life as Tommy Burns brothers, with a goal in each of his two weekend games, looking like he is starting to heat up.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Montreal  12  8  4  0  16  38  33
Toronto   13  7  6  0  14  36  38
Boston    11  6  5  0  12  31  31
New York  12  6  6  0  12  40  31
Chicago   12  5  7  0  10  36  36
Detroit   12  4  8  0   8  29  41

     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
Albers, NY     12  2 13  15
Mahoney, Chi   11  4  9  13
Cabbell, NY    11  9  3  12
T Burns, Chi   12  7  5  12
W Burns, Chi   12  5  7  12
Carlson, Tor   13  4  8  12
Seguin, Chi    12  3  9  12
Lanceleve, Mon 12  8  3  11
Sauer, Tor     13  5  6  11
Lynch, Mon     10  3  8  11
Gregg,, NY      7  6  4  10
Skinner, Mon   12  5  5  10
Doyle, Mon     12  4  6  10
Pollack, Tor   13  4  6  10
Chandler, Bos  11  2  8  10
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
Tremblay, NY    9  5  3  0   1  2.05
Brockers, Bos  11  6  5  0   0  2.73
Touhey, Mon    11  7  4  0   0  2.92
Hanson, Chi    10  3  7  0   0  3.13
Broadway, Tor  11  5  6  0   0  3.22
Chasse, Det     9  3  6  0   0  3.46

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12
Boston 0 at 5 New York: Possibly the most unexpected result of the week as the Shamrocks scored 4 times in the first period on Tom Brockers and rout the Bees 5-0. Laruel Albers, who is currently the leading scorer in the entire NAHC, had 3 assists as did Sam Coates while Greenshirt defenseman Paul Tetreault had a goal and two helpers. Etienne Tremblay became the second Shamrock netminder to record a shut out this season. The win snapped a 3-game Shamrocks losing skid.

Chicago 3 at 4 Toronto: The visiting Packers outshot the Dukes but came up on the short end of a 4-3 result. Wes Burns scored twice early in the first period to stake Chicago to the lead, but Quinton Pollack and Frank Featherstone evened the count before the opening stanza ended. Les Carlson's second period marker and Al Coates early in the third gave the Dukes a 4-2 lead. Derek Gubb, with the first of his career, allowed the Packers to get within one with 7 minutes to play but they could not notch the equalizer.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13
Chicago 2 at 1 Montreal: A second straight game with two early goals paid off this time for Packers as Jesse Santuro and Jarrett McGlynn scored just over 2 minutes apart in the first period and it held up as only Isaac Finnson could beat Chicago netminder Norm Hanson, who backstopped his club to a 2-1 victory.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15
Boston 2 at 4 Montreal: Rey Sclisizzi scored once and added two assists as a busy NAHC weekend began with a 4-2 Montreal win over Boston. It was the second loss in a row for the Bees.

Chicago 2 at 4 New York: The Shamrocks win for the second time this week as Chris Broeke scored twice in a 30 second span early in the third period to snap a tie and lift the New Yorkers to a 4-2 victory.

Detroit 5 at 1 Toronto : After losing their first 3 meetings with former coach Jack Barrell, the Detroit Motors finally had a solid game -winning for just third time this season and first against Toronto by beating the Dukes soundly 5-1. Rookie Nick Tardif led the Detroit attack with a goal and two assists while fellow newcomer Ben Witt -the Maroons first round draft pick- scored his first NAHC goal.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16
Detroit 5 at 3 Boston : Forget the New York 5-0 win over Boston early in the week, this was the biggest surprise as the Motors -after averaging less than 2 goals a game in their first 10 outings, exploded for 5 for the second night in a row and handed the slumping Bees their third straight loss. Detroit rookie Ben Witt had a memorable night as a day after getting his first NAHC goal he scored a hat trick.

Toronto 1 at 6 Chicago: Injuries have contributed to a slow start for last year's Cup finalists, but the Chicago Packers offense was firing on this night in a 6-1 pasting of Toronto, which made for a rough weekend for the Dukes -outscored 11-2 by the bottom two clubs in the standings. Moose Vezina had 4 assists in the game but also received some bad news when he left late in the contest with a shoulder sprain that will sideline him for a week and a half. Marty Mahoney had a 3 point night and Tommy Burns and his brother Wes each scored for the victors.

Montreal 2 at 1 New York: Glen Whitley's first of the season just over 6 minutes into the third period snapped a 1-1 tie and lifted the Valiants to victory in New York. The win gives Montreal sole possession of first place, two points up on Toronto. Nick Haines had staked the Vals to a first period lead but Orval Cabbell -with his league leading 9th goal of the season- evened things in the second stanza.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19
Toronto at Boston
Montreal at Chicago
New York at Detroit

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22
Chicago at Detroit
New York at Montreal
Boston at Toronto

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23
Montreal at Boston
Detroit at Chicago

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• Surpringsly the league has not yet seen a game end in a tie and we are already 20% through the new expanded 60 game slate.
• Is there a more impressive start than that of Montreal forward Brett Lanceleve? He scored just 8 goals all of last season but has already equalled that total this year and is big reason why the Vals are in first place.
• Jack Barrell has done a nice job restoring the Toronto Dukes to their rightful place near the top of the league. The Dukes had a very uncharacteristic season a year ago but seem to have righted the ship. Although given the job ex-Dukes boss Norb Hickey is doing in Montreal now it is hard to blame the coach.
• Speaking of coach there were rumours out of Detroit that Mark Moore was on his way out after the Motors stalled out of the gate and started 2-10. There were a lot of problems in the dressing room and a lot of big names underachieving, with none more so than veteran defenseman Bryant Williams. The 28-year-old may have turned it around over the weekend with 4 points and a +5 rating in the two wins as the Motors beat both Toronto and Boston.
• Injuries shoulder much of the blame for the slow start in Chicago but the offense was also struggling although perhaps a 6-1 win over Toronto yesterday will get the Packers going. Only the Flying Frenchmen in Montreal can boast of 4 players with double-digit point totals this side of Chicago. Marty Mahoney leads the club with 13 while the Burns brothers each have 12 points as does 25-year-old rookie Leon Seguin, who seems to be fitting right in with the Packers high octane offense.
• When he is healthy second year Shamrock winger Jocko Gregg has been very productive, with 6 goals and 10 points in 7 games. The problem is Gregg has already missed 5 games after a couple of nagging injuries. The Shamrocks have also been forced to deal with injuries that have kept defensemen Ryan Kennedy and Robert Sharpley out for 6 games each.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• It is looking like Woody Stone, the 31-year-old all-star catcher released by the Philadelphia Sailors, is poised to become the highest paid player in baseball after the Dallas Centurions and San Francisco Hawks are both said to be offering Stone even more than the $75,000 Triple Crown winner and new single season homer king Bobby Barrell will collect next season.
• The Detroit City College Knights clinched their second straight East-West Classic bid and the Great Lakes Alliance title with a crushing 41-7 victory over Wisconsin State while Travis College secured its place in the Cajun Clasic after the Bucks wrapped up the Southwestern Alliance section title with a 31-0 win over Amarillo Methodist.
• Testimony has resumed in the Senate War Investigating Subcommittee with Howard Hughes dislosing that an Air Forces deputy procurement chief, now retired, tried to borrow $200,000 from him while a photo reconnaissance plane contract was under negotiation with the Hughes company.
• Secretary of State Marshall urged Congress, when it resumes today, to rush through an emergency relief fund of $597 million to carry France, Italy and Austria through the winter without waiting to work out a long-range recovery program for Europe.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

NOVEMBER 24, 1947

RECORD SETTING NIGHT FOR BURNS

When the headline reads 'record setting night for Burns' one just assumes it refers to Tommy Burns, the winner of the league scoring title last season and a two-time winner of the McDaniels Trophy as the NAHC's most valuable player. But no, it is actually his older brother Wes who smashed the modern era single game points total with a goal and 6 assists in a 7-3 Chicago Packers victory over the Detroit Motors Saturday evening.

Burns scored the Packers first goal on Saturday and then assisted on each of the other six Chicago markers to break the old record of 6 points established by Waldemar Rupp with Boston in 1940 and equalled at least once by another Bees player 4 years later when Larry Dees had a 6 assist night. That assist total was the record Burns equalled on Saturday. Burns brother Tommy scored two of the goals, as did winger Marty Mahoney with Pete Moreau and Jesse Santoro rounding out the Chicago scoring.

The four game winning streak by the Packers doubled their win total on the season and moved them into a 3-way tie for second place, just two points back of first place Montreal.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Montreal  15  9  6  0  18  46  47
Chicago   15  8  7  0  16  51  42
Boston    14  8  6  0  16  42  35
Toronto   15  8  7  0  16  40  43
New York  14  6  8  0  12  45  42
Detroit   15  5 10  0  10  38  53 

     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
Mahoney, Chi   14  8 13  21
W Burns, Chi   15  7 14  21
T Burns, Chi   15 11  7  18
Albers, NY     14  2 14  16
Cabbell, NY    13 11  3  14
Gregg,, NY      9  8  6  14
Lanceleve, Mon 15  8  6  14
Chandler, Bos  14  6  8  14
Lynch, Mon     12  5  8  13
Seguin, Chi    15  3 10  13
Skinner, Mon   15  6  6  12
Carlson, Tor   15  4  8  12
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
Brockers, Bos  13  7  6  0   0  2.62
Tremblay, NY   11  5  5  0   1  2.73
Hanson, Chi    12  5  7  0   0  3.02
Broadway, Tor  13  6  7  0   0  3.03
Carter, Det     5  1  3  0   0  3.05
Touhey, Mon    14  8  6  0   0  3.23
Sorrell, NY     5  1  3  0   1  3.44
Chasse, Det    11  4  7  0   0  3.66

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19

Toronto 2 at 5 Boston : We start a busy Wednesday off with the defending cup champions snapping a 3-game losing streak with a 5-2 win at Denny Arena. Rookie Garrett Kauffeldt continued his strong play with a goal -his 5th of the season- and 2 assists for Boston. Veteran Wilbur Chandler scored a pair in the third period to secure the victory.

Montreal 2 at 5 Chicago : Rookie Derek Gubb scored twice to lead the Packers to their second straight victory, a 5-2 win over the visiting Valiants.

New York 2 at 5 Detroit: And making all 3 games on this day end in a 5-2 result was the Detroit Motors, who are suddenly hot with 3 straight victories in a win over the Shamrocks. Five different Motors goal scorers beat Greenshirt goaltender Etienne Tremblay, who had a rough outing in a game the Shamrocks outshot the home team 32-23.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22

Chicago 7 at 3 Detroit: Wes Burns broke the modern record for points in a game and tied the assist mark with a goal and 6 helpers to carry Chicago to a 7-3 victory over the Motors. The victory was the third in a row for the Packers and snapped a 3-game winning streak for the last place Motors. Wes Burns wasn't the only Chicago player to have a big night as Marty Mahoney had 2 goals and 3 helpers while Tommy Burns, Wes' brother, scored twice.

New York 3 at 6 Montreal: The Valiants handed the slumping Shamrocks their third straight loss despite two more goals from New York veteran Orval Cabbell, giving the 29-year-old a league high 11 on the season.

Boston 0 at 2 Toronto: The Dukes snapped a 3-game losing skid with 2-0 win over Boston thanks to a 21-save shutout from goaltender Gordie Broadway, who added to his modern era leading total of 43. Rookie forward Kurt Walz scored both of the Toronto goals.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23

Montreal 0 at 6 Boston: The Bees bounced back from being shutout in Toronto 24 hours earlier by blanking the other Canadian team, the Montreal Valiants, by a 6-0 score. Wilbur Chandler scored twice while Mickey Bedard had a 4 point evening in support of rookie Oscar James, who made 14 saves for the clean sheet in his NAHC debut.

Detroit 1 at 3 Chicago: The offense slowed down a little for the Packers, who had scored 18 goals in their previous 3 games, but they did claim their fourth straight win in sweeping a home-and-home weekend series with Detroit. The 3-1 Packers victory was once more led by the Burns brothers as Wes and Tommy each had a goal and an assist in a game that saw Chicago outshoot the Motors 40-17.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26
Boston at Chicago

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27
Boston at Detroit
Toronto at Montreal

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29
Montreal at Toronto

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30
Toronto at Boston
New York at Chicago
Montreal at Detroit

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• Oscar James of Boston blanked Montreal 6-0 in his NAHC debut making him the second goaltender this season to post a shutout in his first career NAHC game. The first was Alex Sorrell of New York, who blanked Toronto 6-0 in his debut.
• It is an interesting season when Montreal can be in first place at 9-6-0 with more goals against than they have scored and the Shamrocks are 5th at 6-8 despite have a +3 goal differential.
• Brett Bing of the Toronto Mail & Empire reports "The Dukes are improving but lack consistency, one good game, one questionable. Broadway is facing a challenge between the pipes from Russel after his Saturday night shutout of the Bees following Broadway's 5 goals against in Boston. Coach Barrell now has a decision to make going forward."

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The CC Los Angeles Coyotes clinched the West Coast Athletic Association grid title and with it a berth in the East-West Classic in Santa Ana on New Years Day following a 10-10 tie with their rivals Coastal California. CCLA will face Detroit City College in a rematch of last year's title game.
• The Kansas City Cowboys moved a step closer to secuiring home field advantage as they try to defend their Continental Football Conference title. The 10-2 Cowboys beat East Division leading New York 17-10.
• President Truman called for Congress to restore authority for rationing important consumer goods "on a highly selective basis" and imposing limited price and wage controls once more.
• Republicans, led by Senator Taft of Ohio, a presidential aspirant, launched a bitter attack on the President's plea for price-wage controls.
• The Senate Appropriations Committee called for an inventory of American food supplies before Congress acts on the President's request of nearly $600 million in emergency aid to France, Italy and Austria.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Tiger Fan]

DECEMBER 1, 1947

BIG LINE HAS PACKERS ON THE RISE

The Chicago Packers offense is in full gear now that the high scoring trio of the Burns brothers and Marty Mahoney are back together. Injuries and some early season experimenting by Packers coach Ed Hempenstall had briefly separated the three, but it is going to be hard for the Chicago bench boss to consider doing that again as the club is unbeaten in its last six games and his hot on the heels of the first place Montreal Valiants for the NAHC lead.

Tommy Burns -the league scoring leader a year ago- is riding a 7-game goal scoring streak and has amassed 14 points in that stretch. His big brother Wes Burns, the Packers captain, has 13 points in the past six games including a record setting 7-point evening in a game against Detroit last week, totals that helped Wes be named NAHC player of the month for November. The right winger on that line, Mahoney, has 15 points in the last six games and sits atop the NAHC scoring parade with 25 points on the season -two more than each of the brothers.

There is a real logjam at the top of the standings as four clubs are separated by just 3 points as they begin to distance themselves from the Detroit Motors -who are at least starting to show signs of life- and the slumping New York Shamrocks, who have lost 4 straight and 7 of their last 9 games after a 4-2 start to the season.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Montreal  18 10  7  1  21  57  59
Chicago   17  9  7  1  19  59  46
Boston    17  9  7  1  19  56  46
Toronto   18  9  9  0  18  55  59
Detroit   17  6 10  1  13  44  58
New York  15  6  9  0  12  47  48
 
     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
Mahoney, Chi   16 10 15  25
T Burns, Chi   17 13 10  23
W Burns, Chi   17  8 15  23
Chandler, Bos  17  8 12  20
Lanceleve, Mon 18  9  7  16
Skinner, Mon   18  7  9  16
Carlson, Tor   18  5 11  16
Albers, NY     15  2 14  16
Cabbell, NY    14 11  4  15
Gregg,, NY     10  8  7  15
Pollack, Tor   18  8  7  15
Sauer, Tor     17  7  8  15
Lynch, Mon     15  5 10  15
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
Brockers, Bos  14  7  7  0   0  2.72
Tremblay, NY   11  5  5  0   1  2.73
Hanson, Chi    14  6  7  1   0  2.87
Broadway, Tor  16  7  9  0   1  3.41
Touhey, Mon    16  9  7  0   0  3.45
Chasse, Det    13  5  7  1   0  3.48
Sorrell, NY     6  1  4  0   1  4.01

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26

Boston 2 at 2 Chicago: It is always exciting to see the Challenge Cup finalists from a year ago square off and the Packers entered this one on a high, riding a 4-game winning streak. Chicago did not win its 5th in a row but the Packers did come out of it with a point as the loop had just its first tie-game of the season. The Burns brothers each scored once as the hosts lead 2-1 after 40 minutes but rookie defenseman Charlie Rittinger's first NAHC goal midway through the third period for Boston forced each club to settle for a single point in a game in which even the shots -at 32 apiece- were deadlocked.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27

Boston 3 at 4 Detroit : It has been a rough start to the season for the Motors, but they claimed their fourth win in six games with a hard fought 4-3 win over the visitors from Boston. Joe Todd's third period goal was the difference as Henri Chasse made 39 saves in the Motors cage while Garrett Ferrar scored twice for the home side. With the loss the Bees are just 2-5-1 in their last 8 outings.

Toronto 3 at 6 Montreal: The Toronto Dukes are in a bit of a slump as well, with the 6-3 loss to Montreal being their fourth loss in the last five games. The Valiants continue to lead the NAHC and continue to score as Max Ducharme led the way with 2 goals in this one.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29

Montreal 3 at 7 Toronto: The rematch at Dominion Gardens went much differently as the Dukes, trailing 2-1 after twenty minutes, scored 4 unanswered goals to take the lead before finishing with a 7-3 victory in what can only be described as a rough outing for Montreal goaltender Millard Touhey. The 31-year-old stopped just 22 of the 29 shots he faced in allowing multi-point games to 8 Dukes led by Bobbie Sauer and Herb Burdette with 3 each.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30

Toronto 5 at 7 Boston: The Bees got back in the win column with a high scoring win at Denny Arena that saw Boston erupt for 4 goals in the final 11 minutes to pull out the victory. Wilbur Chandler scored twice for the winners with Waldemar Rupp and Jacob Gron each collecting 3 helpers. Quinton Pollack replied twice for Toronto to give the former Brooklyn Eagles star 8 goals on the season.

New York 2 at 6 Chicago: A clash of two teams heading in opposite directions the surging Packers extended their unbeaten streak to 6 games while the sinking Shamrocks -who have not win since topping the Packers 4-2 on November 15th- lost their fourth straight. Marty Mahoney and Tommy Burns each had 3 points for the winners.

Montreal 2 at 2 Detroit: A surprising result in the Motor City allowed Detroit to escape last place for the first time since the opening weekend of the season as they Motors played the first place Montreal Valiants evenly. Wayne Augustin and Max Ducharme had the Vals up 2-0 early in the third period but goals by Alex Viens and Graham Comeau, each assisted by rookie Adam Vanderbilt, allowed the Motors to claim a point.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3
Chicago at Boston
Toronto at New York

SATURDAY DECEMBER 6
New York at Boston
Detroit at Montreal
Chicago at Toronto

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7
Montreal at Boston
Toronto at Chicago
Detroit at New York

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• Detroit is finally out of the basement (although New York does have 2 games in hand) for the first time since the opening week of the season. Big week for the Motors with a win over Boston and a tie against front-running Montreal. Perhaps the schedule aided them as the Motors were rested each day while the Bees and Vals both had overnight trade rides after road games elsewhere prior to arriving at the Palladium.
• The New York Shamrocks drop to last place, but still with enough games in hand to move up. We had a very light November schedule but look to catch up some in December.
• Sam Fincher of the New York World Telegram points out that the Shamrocks are losing despite the fact that goaltender Etienne Tremblay has been very good of late. Bad news though as Tremblay was hurt last week and is expected to miss at least a couple of games. The Shamrocks are carrying three goalies with rookie Alex Sorrell likely to start until Tremblay returns.
• Speaking of rookie netminders, Oscar James of the Boston Bees won the goaltender of the month, despite not being promoted from Springfield until mid-November. James had a shutout in his NAHC debut and went 2-0-1 in his first three starts while wrestling some starts away from veteran Tom Brockers.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Annapolis Maritime upset Rome State 27-21 in the annual college grid battle between the military academies. It was the Navigators first win in the series since 1943.
• It will be a rematch in the Continental Football Conference championship game, slated for December 15 after the New York Gothams clinched top spot in the East Division. The Gothams will be get a second chance against Kansas City in the title tilt after losing to the West Division champion Cowboys last year.
• The Baltimore Barons of the Federal Basketball League are off to an 8-0 start.
• Patitioning of Palestine into Jewish and Arab countries was approved by the United Nations by a vote of 33 to 13, prompting Arab nations to threaten general opposition and uprisings against any attempt to carry out the Assembly's decision.
• Allied unity that won the war has "fallen apart." That is the declaration made by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a strong appeal to the Senate for speedy approval of the $597 million emergency aid for Europe to defeat "lurking tyranny" and "Communist aggression."

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Jiggs McGee]

DECEMBER 8, 1947

PACKERS JOIN VALS AT TOP OF NAHC

The Chicago Packers are the hottest team in the NAHC and thanks to a 9-1-1 record over their last 11 games the Packers have moved into a tie with the Montreal Valiants for top spot in the North American Hockey Confederation. The Packers have outscored their opponents 21-9 in winning their last 4 games. The Valiants have been steady, going 6-3-1 in their last ten but have lost twice to the Packers in the past four weeks and will face them again next Sunday in the Windy City.

Tommy Burns has once more been the key cog in the Chicago attack. Burns recently had an 8-game scoring streak snapped but he has a 10-game point streak active heading into the Packers next game, which will be Wednesday when the Boston Bees visit Lakeside Auditorium.

Third place Boston has struggled since beginning the season with 6 wins in the first 8 games. Since then, the Bees are just 3-8-1 and will limp into Chicago Wednesday on a 3-game losing streak.

Tommy Burns (left) and his brother Wes Burns are once again leading the Chicago Packers.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Chicago   20 12  7  1  25  74  53
Montreal  20 12  7  1  25  66  61
Boston    20  9 10  1  19  59  54
Toronto   21  9 11  1  19  62  73
New York  18  7 10  1  15  53  55
Detroit   19  7 11  1  15  48  66
 
     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
T Burns, Chi   20 15 13  28
Mahoney, Chi   19 11 17  28
W Burns, Chi   20  9 18  27
Chandler, Bos  20  9 13  22
Pollack, Tor   21 10 10  20
Sauer, Tor     20  9 10  19
Skinner, Mon   20  9 10  19
Cabbell, NY    17 12  6  18
Albers, NY     18  3 15  18
Lanceleve, Mon 20  9  8  17
Lynch, Mon     16  6 11  17
Hart, Bos      19  7  9  16
Haines, Mon    26  6 10  16
Gubb, Chi      19  6 10  16
Carlson, Tor   19  5 11  16
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
Tremblay, NY   11  5  5  0   1  2.73
Brockers, Bos  15  7  8  0   0  2.74
Hanson, Chi    16  8  7  1   0  2.83
Touhey, Mon    18 11  7  0   1  3.18
Sorrell, NY     9  2  5  1   2  3.39
Broadway, Tor  19  7 10  1   1  3.43
Chasse, Det    15  6  8  1   0  3.57

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3

Chicago 4 at 3 Boston: The Packers beat the Bees for the first time in four meetings this season thanks to third period goals from Jarrett McGlynn -his second of the game- and Tommy Burns. The Bees had scored 3 answered goals in the second to take the lead including a pair from Jacob Gron.

Toronto 3 at 3 New York: The Shamrocks winless streak stetched to 5 games but they did end a 4-game losing skid with a 3-3 tie on home ice against the Toronto Dukes. The Dukes had been in a slump entering the game was well, with a 2-5 record to show for their last 7 outings. With Etienne Tremblay still nursing an injury, rookie goaltender Alex Sorrell came up big for the Greenshirts, who were outshot 37-23. Bobbie Sauer scored twice for Toronto while Robert Sharpley, Orval Cabbell and Gil Corbeil, with the tying marker at the 16 minute mark of the third period provided the New York offense.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 6

New York 1 at 0 Boston : 22-year-old Shamrocks rookie Alex Sorrell had an outstanding game, turning aside all 34 shots he faced for his second career NAHC shutout in a 1-0 New York victory. Laurel Albers provided all the offense with an unassisted goal early in the first period. It was the battle of rookie goaltenders as Boston's Oscar James was at the other end and stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced.

Detroit 0 at 6 Montreal: After the two clubs tied in Detroit last week, the Valiants thoroughly dominated the rematch at the Montreal Arena. Clarence Skinner scored twice and Adam Sandford added one to give Montreal a 3-0 lead just over 3 minutes into the game and the offensively challenged Motors never recovered. Montreal outshot Detroit 42-14 making for possibly the easiest shutout Millard Touhey has ever had.

Chicago 5 at 2 Toronto: The Packers ran their unbeaten streak to 8 games with a 5-2 win at the Dominion Gardens. Tommy Burns saw his 8-game goal scoring streak come to an end but the Packers star did notch a pair of assists to run his consecutive point streak to 10 games, during which he has accumulated 19 points. Five different players scored for Chicago in Jarrett McGlynn, Marty Mahoney, Ed Delarue, Jeremy MacLean and Derek Gubb. Dick Zimmerman and Philippe Dubois replied for the Dukes.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7

Montreal 3 at 2 Boston: The Bees are in a slump with 3 straight losses and just 1 victory to show for their last six games. After a scoreless first period Ian Doyle and Adam Sandford staked the Vals to a 2-0 lead in the middle frame. Boston's Robert Walker and Montreal's Rey Sclisizzi swapped third period goals and the Bees had pulled Tom Brockers in the third trying to score two to force a tie. George Anderson beat Montreal's Touhey to cut the gap to 3-2 but that was with only 2 seconds remaining so the Bees were unable to pull even.

Toronto 2 at 6 Chicago: The Packers won the second half of the weekend home and home series with Toronto as easily as they took the opener last night. Four goals in an 7-minute span early in the second period proved the Dukes undoing and forced Toronto coach to pull Terry Russell, who started in the Toronto net in an effort to give Gordie Broadway a day off. Tommy Burns was held to just one point, an assist, but it was enough to keep his scoring streak going at 11 games.

Detroit 4 at 2 New York: In the battle for fifth place the Detroit Motors doubled the Shamrocks 4-2 at Bigsby Garden to leave both clubs tied with 15 points. Third period goals by Adam Vanderbilt and Ben Witt snapped a 2-2 tie and lifted the visitors to victory.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10
Boston at Chicago
Toronto at Detroit
Montreal at New York

THURSDAY DECEMBER 11
New York at Montreal

SATURDAY DECEMBER 13
Chicago at Detroit
New York at Toronto

SUNDAY DECEMBER 14
Toronto at Boston
Montreal at Chicago
Detroit at New York

AROUND THE LEAGUE

ROOKIE GOALIES MAKING THEIR MARK

A pair of rookie goalies had stellar NAHC debuts recently with both Oscar James of Boston and the New York Shamrocks Alex Sorrell recording shutouts in their debuts. James has been especially impressive in Boston, pushing veteran Juneau Award winner Tom Brockers for playing time while going 2-2-1 with a 2.41 goals against average. The 24-year-old British Columbia native was the Bees 1st round draft pick in 1943 but spent 4 seasons apprenticing in Cleveland of the HAA. He was called up from the minors in late November and shutout Montreal in his NAHC debut.

Sorrell is just 22-years-old and already owns two NAHC shutouts including blanking Toronto in his debut November 6. Last week he shutout the Boston Bees, with James as his opponent, 1-0 but consistency has been a concern. With two shutouts Sorrell has obviously looked good but he has struggled at times as well in allowing both Detroit and Chicago to beat in 6 times in November matchups. With starter Etienne Tremblay nursing a couple of minor injuries there has been plenty of pressure on the young goalie who grew up just outside Toronto. He was a third round pick of the Shamrocks in the 1945 draft and has spent the previous 3 seasons playing in the coast league for Portland and Tacoma.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The Fighting Saints of St Blane subdued Coastal California 31-21 in Los Angeles on Saturday, closing up a perfect football campaign and staking a commanding claim as the top college football team in the nation.
• With a week remaining in the AFA season neither division title is set. Cleveland meets Chicago on Sunday with the West berth in the AFA title game on the line while Washington and Philadelphia are still alive in the East Division.
• In a rematch of last seasons CFC title game the Kansas City Cowboys and New York Gothams will meet Sunday in Kansas City to crown a champion in year two of the new football league.
• John Edmonds defends his world middleweight champion against Frank Melanson -the man he took the belt from- in Chicago on Saturday.
• Strikes continue to plague France as leaders of the Communist-dominated General Confederation of Labor defied the government's anti-strike legislation. A new much stricter, anti-strike, anti-sabotage law went into effect on the weekend.
• In urging the House to quickly approve the $590 million emergency stopgap aid, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee warned that Russia could take over Europe in 24 hours if it saw fit to do so. This following his committee's report stating Russia has military supremacy in terms of troops at this time.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.

[Jiggs McGee]

DECEMBER 15, 1947

BREAKING NEWS: The Montreal Valiants have acquired all-star defenseman Shel Herron along with veteran rearguard Bryan Williams from the Detroit Motors in exchange for three young talents. Details to come in next week's edition.

WILL MOTORS BE SOLD OFF FOR PARTS AS TRADE DEADLINE APPROACHES?

The NAHC trading deadline is less than a week away and while midseason moves are not common in the sport, there is some speculation that a front-runner like Montreal, Chicago or Boston might look to add a piece that might help put that club over the top. The season is a long one -especially so with the hike from 48 to 60 games this year- but it certainly appears that both the New York Shamrocks and Detroit Motors will be hard pressed to make the playoffs so there is always the possibility one of those two teams move a veteran piece for the endless optimism of hope for the future a young talent or two can provide.

Looking at last place Detroit perhaps veteran rearguard Shel Herron might be a player targeted by both Chicago and Montreal. Neither the Packers or Vals are in need of an offensive upgrade but a solid top pairing defender may be enough to help either win its first Cup in years -well, forever for Chicago which has never won the Challenge Cup and since 1928 for the Valiants. There has been no word out of the Big Apple but Shamrocks 30-year-old defenseman Bert McCalley might be another name the Packers and Vals are both interested in. The Boston Bees might more have their eyes trained on secondary scoring and a player like Shamrocks great Orval Cabbell seems to fit that bill.

The issue all three contenders might face is whether they are willing to part with enough young assets to draw any interest out of the Shamrocks or Motors. All three of the above mentioned players are fan favourites in their community and long-time members of their resepctive clubs, not to mention the fact that all three wear letters on their jerseys.

We did see a major deal last season when struggling Toronto and New York combined to send playmaking pivot Laurel Albers to Broadway in exchange for steady rearguard Phillippe Dubois but a big midseason deal feels more than exception than the rule in the NAHC.

   NAHC Standings
TEAM      GP  W  L  T PTS  GF  GA
Chicago   23 14  8  1  25  85  60
Montreal  23 14  8  1  25  76  70
Boston    22 11 10  1  23  65  56
Toronto   24 11 12  1  23  68  78
New York  22  8 13  1  17  62  67
Detroit   22  7 14  1  15  53  78
 
     SCORING LEADERS
NAME           GP  G  A PTS
T Burns, Chi   23 18 13  31
W Burns, Chi   23 10 21  31
Mahoney, Chi   22 11 19  30
Chandler, Bos  22  9 13  22
Cabbell, NY    21 14  7  21
Pollack, Tor   22 10 11  21
Albers, NY     22  6 15  21
Skinner, Mon   23  9 11  20
Sauer, Tor     22  9 10  19
Lanceleve, Mon 23  9 10  19
Lynch, Mon     18  7 12  19
Hart, Bos      21  9  9  18
Haines, Mon    19  6 12  18
Gregg, NY      17  8  9  17
Carlson, Tor   21  6 11  17
Galbraith, Tor 24  6 11  17
     GOALIE LEADERS
NAME           GP  W  L  T  ShO GAA
James, Bos      7  4  2  1   1  2.00
Brockers, Bos  15  7  8  0   0  2.74
Tremblay, NY   13  5  7  0   1  2.78
Hanson, Chi    18  9  8  1   0  2.85
Carter, Det     7  1  4  0   0  2.90
Touhey, Mon    21 13  8  0   1  3.15
Broadway, Tor  22  9 11  1   1  3.18
Sorrell, NY    11  3  6  1   2  3.31
Chasse, Det    17  6 10  1   0  3.70

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10

Boston 3 at 1 Chicago: Chicago entered the game riding a nine-game unbeaten streak while the Bees limped into the Windy City on a 3-game losing streak....so of course both streaks ended with rookie goaltender Oscar James turning aside 28 of the 29 Packers shots in a 3-1 Bees victory. Tommy Burns scored his league high 16th of the season to keep his point-streak going at 11 games while Jacob Gron had a goal and an assist for the visitors.

Toronto 3 at 1 Detroit: Dukes coach Jack Barrell is now 4-1 against his former team as second period goals from rookies Lou Galbraith and Dick Zimmerman -5th of the season for each- lifted Toronto to a 3-1 victory.

Montreal 4 at 1 New York: Montreal completed a sweep for the visiting clubs on this night with a 4-1 decision giving the Valiants their third straight win. Ian Doyle, Doug Lynch, Max Ducharme and Spencer Larocque scored for the Vals, who moved two points clear of Chicago for sole possession of first place.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 11

New York 4 at 5 Montreal: A sweep of the home and home series as Wayne Augustin and Ian Doyle score third period goals as Millard Touhey and the Valiants hold off the Shamrocks 5-4. Augustin had a 3 point evening for the winners.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 13

Chicago 6 at 3 Detroit: After being derailed by Boston on Wednesday, the Chicago Packers got back on the winning side of the ledger with a 6-3 doubling of Detroit. Tommy Burns scored twice, giving him points in 12 straight games while his brother Wes had a goal and 2 assists and Marthy Mahoney -the third member of the highest scoring line in the league- added two helpers. Chicago peppered beleagured Motors goaltender Henri Chasse with 59 shots.

New York 1 at 2 Toronto: First period goals from Lou Galbraith and Trevor Parker stood up as the Dukes handed slumping New York its fourth straight loss. Laurel Albers had the lone Shamrocks marker midway through the third period with Gordie Broadway bolting the door the rest of the way in the Dukes cage.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 14

Toronto 1 at 3 Boston: A long train ride overnight to Boston likely left the Dukes a little flat-footed in the early going as Robert Walker and Mickey Bedard scored in the first period to put the Bees up 2-0 in a game they would win by a 3-1 margin. Les Carlson gave Toronto hope in the second period but the Bees ice with an early third period powerplay marker off the stick of Tommy Hart.

Montreal 1 at 4 Chicago: First place was at stake as the Chicago Packers pulled even with Montreal for top spot after a 4-1 victory in which the Packers exploded for 3 games in the final stanza. Wes Burns, with his league-high 21st assist, was the only member of the Packers big trio to get on the scoresheet, bringing an end to brother Tommy Burns 12-game scoring streak. Ed Delarue, Jeremy MacLean, Jarrett McGlynn and Mike Van Tol were the Chicago marksmen with Leo Bernard the only Toronto goal scorer.

Detroit 3 at 1 New York: The battle to escape the basement went to New York as the host Shamrocks snapped a 4-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over a Detroit team that is 2-6-1 in its last 9 games and now has lost 3 straight. Jim Macek opened the scoring for Shamrocks midway through the first with Laurel Albers notching a powerplay marker in the second before Detroit's Doug Yeadon and the Greenshirts Sam Furr traded third period goals. It was the first of the season for the 35-year-old Yeadon, a member of a family with a rich tradition dating back to the creation of west coast loop, and one gets the feeling his days are numbered in Detroit.

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17
Detroit at Chicago
Boston at New York

SATURDAY DECEMBER 20
Boston at Montreal
Detroit at Toronto

SUNDAY DECEMBER 21
Detroit at Boston
Toronto at Chicago
Montreal at New York

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Frank 'The Tank' Melanson successfully recaptured the World Middleweight Title with a 12th round TKO of John Edmonds in their rematch after Edmonds claimed the belt with a TKO win of his own in July.
• Quarterback Pat Chappell was the MVP after throwing 3 touchdowns to lead his Kansas City Cowboys to a second straight Continental Football Conference title, beating the New York Gothams 42-13
• The Washington Wasps have qualified for the American Football Association championship game for the first time in franchise history after needing a tie-breaker to top Philadelphia for the East Division title. The Cleveland Finches beat Chicago on the final day of the season to claim the West Division.
• St Blane quarterback Ricky McCallister was also named the recipient of the Christian Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player in collegiate football this season.
• Republican leaders in Congress announced agreement on a four-point anti-inflationary program which they expect to pass before this session of Congress adjourns for the Christmas holidays. President Truman blasted the plan as inadequate and insisted his 10-point plan he gave Congress three weeks ago would do the job of curbing the rising cost of living.
• Bitter clashes over the partition of Palestine continue into their second week as Britain reveals plans to surrender her Palestine mandate May 15, paving way for the Arab and Jewish states to come into being on June 1.

Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.