The Figment Hockey News

[Tiger Fan]

MAY 10, 1948

RUPP LEAVING BOSTON?

One of a Number of NAHC Vets With Expiring Contracts

Veteran winger Waldemar Rupp and the Boston Bees may soon part company as the club has yet to sign the 33-year-old to a contract extension. Rupp is one of several veterans around the league who have contracts expiring on June 30. The long-time Bees star has seen his role diminished the past couple of years and he scored a career low 5 goals and 22 points while playing in 46 games this past season but Rupp was a key contributor to 5 Boston Challenge Cup victories and his 60 playoff points since 1940 are the most in the modern era of the sport.

The Chicago Packers have three players in a similar situation in winger Marsh Mansfield along with defensemen Ian Groening and Ted Stevens. The 33-year-old Mansfield had 34 points two years ago but accumulated just 9 last season while playing in only 27 games for the Packers. Groening and Stevens are each just 25-years-old but both were hampered by injuries last season. Stevens had 7 points in 21 games before a December leg injury ended his season while Groening suffered a similar fate due to a December shoulder injury but played sparingly before that, appearing in just 8 games.

27-year-old Detroit Motors winger Dave Bradley had a career high 16 goals while notching 31 points in 44 games this past season but has not yet been resigned by the club as it continues to focus on developing its young talent in a rebuilding mode. Bradley has 49 goals and 101 points in 185 career NAHC games, all with the Motors, but was a frequent healthy scratch by Detroit coach Mark Moore down the stretch.

The Toronto Dukes look like they may part ways with winger Syl Beam after the 32-year-old missed the entire season with an eye injury. Beam also missed much of the previous season with a broken wrist, scoring just 5 goals and 17 points in 26 games in the 46-47 campaign. He helped Toronto to a pair of Challenge Cup wins including the 1944 title in which he amassed 10 points in 10 playoff games. Toronto also has yet to extend the contract of 21 year old defenseman Rob Painchaud. The youngster was a 5th round draft choice in 1945 and made his NAHC debut in 46-47 by appearing in 25 games for the Dukes. Last year he had a number of minor injuries and bounced back and forth between Toronto and minor league Cleveland but did play in 33 games for the Cup winners although he was not on their playoff roster.

The New York Shamrocks do not have any NAHC players with expiring contacts as all have been renewed while the Montreal Valiants presently have seven including goaltender Mahlon Touhey, captain Doug Lynch, winger Max Ducharme and talented young defenseman John McDonald although the club, despite missing the playoffs for the second straight season, is likely to sign a number of them before the end of June deadline.

CHAMPION DUKES LOOK TO THE FUTURE

Brett Bing secured time to sit down with Dukes Head Coach Jack Barrell to talk about the Challenge Cup victory along with the future of the icemen. Brett got this interview before he became to involved with the fortunes of the Wolves over the summer.

Mail & Empire: First things first, congratulations on bringing back the NAHC title to Toronto.
Barrell: Thank you, to be perfectly honest the championship was a bonus. I thought this season would be one of transition, building towards to future with our system. I told the owner. Mr. Welcombe, that my goal was to reach the playoffs while installing a new system, starting to reestablish a winning culture throughout the Dukes system. Coming in I knew there pieces in place of good team led by Bobby Sauer, Gordie Broadway then the acquisition of Quinton Pollack in the Brooklyn dispersal draft meant we were strong down the middle of the ice. Taking Lou Galbraith first overall in the draft gave us added scoring punch although as a group we debated the wisdom of taking a defenseman with the first pick. Lou proved himself, before his late injury from which he is fully recovered, as the proper selection with 17-25-42 in 50 games along with a +6 which is very important to me. The Dukes have some offensive talent but it would not match at least three other teams in the league so the route I choose to follow was a tight checking, goal prevention system. From Day One in our Northern Ontario camp in Timmins the entire coaching staff stressed a sound defensive game. While there were times during the season the players seemed to abandon the system it was drilled endlessly in practice, we got ourselves into trouble in the final against the Shamrocks when for some reason we started to open up offensively, reining that in is a difficult task. I thought that the team saw the system as working when they got by the Bs in three straight, a surprise, only allowing 4 goals in 3 games. Terry Russell was a big factor in that, his goaltending in the playoffs, after being pressed into service with Broadway's illness, was exemplary, the major reason the team captured the Cup.

Mail & Empire: This past season will be tough to top, what are the plans going forward for the Dukes?
Barrell: At present we are holding meetings for the upcoming draft along with preparing for camp which again will start up north at the McIntyre Arena in the Porcupine area. That arena is a scale model of Dominion Gardens with boards that react in a similar fashion to our home rink. That seemed to work well last season, the fans in the north are very hockey savvy, they know the game. The exhibition games against the Sr A teams in that loop are competitive, there is not a very noticeable difference with the pace of the game with those teams and the NAHC. There are a couple of players I noticed last fall who I had friends in the north watching, providing updates on last winter. The office staff is trying to determine whether or not their rights are available or owned by a another team. A few of those guys could definitely play in the HAA if can get their playing rights. We again we be refining the system which will be based on defense, my goal is reduce our goals against from 184 to under 160. The Dukes may have surprised some teams last season, that will not be the case going forward, this summer we are stressing conditioning with our players. There were too many injuries to our roster last season, we are not sure how many were due to the 25 % increase in schedule, we want all the players to be prepared for a 60 game schedule. I do not know how my brothers Bobby, Harry go through a 154 game schedule in baseball, granted they are not playing at game pace of hockey where guys are running you into a wall at high speed, but playing almost every day has to be tough on the body.

Mail & Empire: Thank you, maybe we can get together over the summer. Will you be attending Wolves games?
Barrell: I, with my heredity, obviously enjoy baseball, attend when I can, I wish the Wolves were in the FA so I could see Bobby and Harry in action more often. They both come to Dukes games over the winter we they have a chance, Harry is a big Bs fan.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• For the sixth consecutive season the American Basketball Conference championship series will see the Washington Statesmen face the Brooklyn Red Caps. Each club swept its semi-final series last week.
• A four-game winning streak moved the Cincinnati Cannons into first place in a tight Continental Association. The Chicago Chiefs, with a 1-game lead on both Detroit and Washington, continue to lead baseball's Federal Association.
• The House Armed Services Committee approved, 28 to 5, a peacetime draft bill that requires registration of all men from 18 through 30.
• Britain and the US appear split over policy in Palestine after British delegates at the UN called for a new proposal to drop the American-sponsored plan for a Palestine trusteeship.
• Secretary of State Marshall warned Congress that efforts to form a worldwide organization without Russia probably would destroy the United Nations and expose the US to even greater dangers.

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

[Tiger Fan]

MAY 17, 1948

MOTORS' VETERAN DUO AT THE CROSSROADS: BARFIELD AND YEADON FACING RETIREMENT?

In the wake of the Detroit Motors' frustrating omission from the playoff picture for the third instance in the last quartet of seasons, the clarion call for a complete overhaul reverberates through the Thompson Palladium halls. Amidst the fervor to usher in the dawn of a new era, the spotlight hovers over the fate of two steadfast sentinels who have long graced the frozen North American Hockey Confederation battlefield.

Whispers carried by the wind are murmuring of the imminent departure of the 34-year-old helm-bearer, Captain Miles Barfield, and the 35-year-old tireless deputy, Doug Yeadon. Both these names have etched their legacy in Detroit's icy annals, a legacy that might soon experience its twilight moments. Head coach Mark Moore's relegation of these seasoned veterans to the bench in the dying embers of the season fuels the conjecture, a stark indication that the sands of time may have finally caught up with the duo.

Our memories take us back to the fateful summer of '37, when Doug's sire, Bill Yeadon, then the owner of the Eagles but now the astute Head Scout of the Motors, orchestrated a momentous player exchange to save his franchise from bankruptcy by dealing his entire roster to Detroit for players and cash. This marked the initiation of the affiliation between the Yeadon lineage and the Motors, although they were still known as the Olympics back then. Barfield and the younger Yeadon joined forces, becoming pivotal in etching the franchises' name in Challenge Cup folklore with their resplendent victory in '38-'39. Their hockey acumen propelled the franchise to two other Cup final showdowns.

As this season's curtains descend, signs of the toll a decade-long ice odyssey extracts from a player's physique come to the fore. Both Barfield and Yeadon struggled to replicate their former point-scoring glories, wrestling with their most barren seasons in over ten years. While Yeadon inked a one-year extension last November at a significantly reduced remuneration, his intentions for the forthcoming season remain shrouded in secrecy. John Connolly Jr., the steward of Motors, extends a hearty welcome to their return, yet the true measure of their welcome lies in the hands of Coach Moore. It's palpable that the coach's prime directive in the waning battles was to harness the exuberant vigor of the fledgling forwards, rendering the seasoned duo spectators from the press box.

Should the fates of these veterans pivot towards retirement, Detroit will be mourning the end of an epoch. Their connection with this city predates even the Motors' nomenclature. They were the backbone of the Detroit Olympians in the heady days of '37-'38. Their popularity has endured through the vicissitudes of time. Barfield's 187 NAHC goals, all etched while clad in a Detroit jersey, make him the chief goal-smith in Detroit's annals. The zenith of his career was in '41-'42, where he spearheaded the NAHC in point production and notched a stellar 7 goals in 10 playoff clashes, nearly wresting the Cup from Boston's grasp. His captaincy since '40 has been the bedrock of Motors' leadership.

Yeadon's lineage drips with hockey aristocracy. His sire, Bill, a progenitor of the Transcontinental Hockey Association, orchestrated the New York Eagles before joining the Motors as a scout, yielding rich dividends. Doug's own journey in the NAHC commenced with the Eagles in '34-'35, amassing a staggering 583 games, 490 of them donning the Motors' colors including 31 last season. The winter just past saw his point tally slump to 19, a figure reminiscent of his New York swan song. The tapestry of time has somewhat dimmed his agility, inviting whispers of retirement. As the wheels of change set Detroit's hockey horizon ablaze, the sun may also set on the illustrious careers of Barfield and Yeadon. An era winds down, and Detroit braces itself for the poignant adieu to these hockey icons.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Amidst rumours that several American Basketball Conference teams are set to bolt to the Federal League, the Brooklyn Red Caps won their fifth ABC title in the past six years with a three games to one victory over the Washington Statesmen in the best of five final. Red Caps guard Ivory Mitchell was named playoff MVP for the sixth time in his 8-year career.
• The best-of-seven Federal Basketball League title series between defending champion Chicago Panthers and the Baltimore Barons is tied at one win apiece.
• Philadelphia Keystones veteran slugger Bobby Barrell broke out of a slump with 6 homeruns last week helping his club to 8 straight wins and moving the Keystones to the top of the Federal Association.
• The state of Israel, first Hebrew nation in 2,000 years was born on Friday in a Jewish declaration of independence and Jewish armies moved to meet the threat of an Arab invasion as the British left the region.
• Arab forces attacked the newly proclaimed nation from 3 sides and conducted air raids on the temporary capital of Tel Aviv.
• President Truman says "no new departure in American policy" was involved in a recent diplomatic exchange which put both the United States and Russia on record as ready for "discussion and settlement" of their differences.

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

[Tiger Fan]

The article below, taken from the June 7, 1948 edition of the Detroit Times, is not entirely hockey news but it does include some speculation into the upcoming NAHC draft and this is a real down period for hockey, so it is included below.

JUNE 7, 1948

I FEEL A DRAFT - IMPORTANT DAYS AHEAD FOR LOCAL CAGE AND ICE CREWS

The only good thing about missing the playoffs is you are rewarded with a high draft pick. That is the one consolation both the Detroit Motors and Detroit Mustangs can look forward to as each of the local outfits prepare for the upcoming drafts in their respective sports. The ice Motors, after a last-place finish in the North American Hockey Confederation, will own the first overall selection while the cage Mustangs, who missed the playoffs both years of their existance, will select second in the Federal Basketball League after the Toronto Titans make their choice known.

The Motors could really use help everywhere on the ice, but the biggest need is likely an elite forward who can help the club improve on its league low 2.76 goals per game from last season. While there may not be a dominant can't miss scorer in the current draft class there are some interesting players for Motors Scouting Director Frank Yeadon to look at. It is expected one of three wingers in Pat Benning, Carl Loon or Lou Barber will be Detroit's choice. Benning is a right winger from Yeadon's old stomping grounds of British Columbia and the scouting department feels he has the potential to match Nick Tardif -the Motors young star who was named the league's top rookie this season. Loon hails from Edmonton and is much the same type of player as Benning only playing left wing while Barber, a Tillsonburg, Ont., native may be the closest to being NAHC ready of the three. Barber suited up for 33 games with the HAA Toledo Tigers as a 19-year-old and had 4 goals and 15 points.

Rollie Barrell's Detroit Mustangs feel they are in a very good spot. The Toronto Titans have the first selection in the draft due to their 13-35 season but Barrell is happy choosing second. The owner would not comment on any specific potential draftee but it is clear the Mustangs will select either Walt Messer or Darren Fuhrman. Messer might be a slightly better fit as the Mustangs do have a need for a big body with Manuel Nelson turning 39 years of age recently but it is expected the Titans will select him simply on name recognition in a bid to help attendance. Messer is the reigning AIAA player of the year and younger brother of New York Gothams outfielder Walt Messer. Fuhrman, a Texas native who starred at Texas Gulf Coast, might end up having the higher ceiling but with him the Detroit lineup might be a little undersized if the plan is to use the 6'6" youngster along with Jack Kurtz and David Reed in the front court, assuming Nelson elects to retire as he has hinted.

The draft is also important in the coming weeks in FABL. The first 10 rounds have been completed but the Detroit Dynamos are highly anticipating the arrival of local youngster Dino Sharp. The 18-year-old Detroit native was the Dynamos first round pick and was among the nation's leaders with 12 homers for his Cleveland-area high school this season. Most mock drafts conducted by OSA list the power-hitting first baseman as the number one draft eligible prospect. Detroit, and the rest of FABL, are free to sign draftees to pro contracts after the final 15 rounds of the draft are conducted June 21.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• World Heavyweight Champion Hector Sawyer is back in the ring Saturday at Gothams Stadium New York face lightly regarded Steve Case in what should be a mere tune-up for the champ before he embarks on his European tour.
• Ward Messer, younger brother of New York Gothams all-star outfielder Walt Messer, and 1947-48 AIAA collegiate basketball player of the year, has decided to enter the Federal Basketball League draft. College seniors must declare an intention which draft out of the two pro leagues they wish to be included in.
• For the third year in a row Bluegrass State is the top seed in the Collegiate Baseball World Championship Series, which opens in Boston a week from today.
• A record peacetime military budget of $10 billion was passed by the House and sent to the Senate after hearing warnings of menace from Soviet might.
• Speaking in Omaha on his western campaign tour, President Truman warned a Farm Belt audience of the danger of a "farm depression" in a speech ripping into Congress for inaction on his agricultural program.
• Flooding in the Pacific Northwest has left at least 20 dead and caused more than $37 million in property loss.

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

[Tiger Fan]

Just a little hockey news as our multi-sport online league works its way through the summer and baseball season but there is more coming as the NAHC rookie draft will be held in the next few days and then preparation for the 1948-49 season.

JULY 5, 1948

MOTORS SAID TO BE LEANING TOWARDS BARBER WITH FIRST PICK

The Detroit Motors will have the first selection in the upcoming North American Hockey Confederation draft and while the club has not confirmed who they will be selecting with the top choice, indications are they are leaning towards Lou Barber. The 19-year-old Tillsonburg, On., native was watched closely last season by Motors head scout Frank Yeadon and the rest of his staff because he spent most of the campaign playing for nearby Toledo of the Hockey Association of America.

As one of the youngest players in the league, Barber had some growing pains but did manage to score 4 goals and tally 15 points to help the Tigers finish second in the HAA's West Division. Detroit scouts feel Barber is very close to being ready to contribute in the NAHC next season and feel his elite playmaking skills give him the potential to become one of the top players in the league as he matures.

If Barber is not the Motors choice, it will still be a winger as the club is also looking closely at Patrick Banning and Carl Loon. Banning is said to have the highest ceiling in the minds of the Detroit staff but is much further away from his potential than Barber while the knock on Loon is a worry that he is not durable enough to withstand the rigors of a full NAHC season.

The Motors, who finished last in the 6-team NAHC and missed the playoffs for the third time in the past four seasons, have holes everywhere but the team's lack of elite offensive talent is likely the most glaring need. There is hope for the future with some talented young players on the rise in 22-year-old winger Nick Tardif, who led the club in scoring and won the McLeod Trophy as rookie of the year, along with a pair of 20-year-old pivots in Ben Witt and Francis McKenzie. The Detroit defense lacks depth but coach Mark Moore feels Jim Todd and 22-year-old Spencer Larocque can develop into a top pairing while goaltender Henri Chasse has demonstrated glimpses of what could be one of the best goaltenders in the league.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Frank Melanson is set to defend his world middleweight title in Philadelphia on Saturday. His opponent will European champion Edouard Desmarais, who's only loss as a professional came against Melanson in his first attempt to take the title away from "Frank the Tank."
• Big changes potentially in store for pro basketball as rumours persist that as many as 4 teams may bolt the American Basketball Conference to join Rollie Barrell's Federal loop, which recently completed its second season.
• President Truman declared flatly that he has no idea of stepping aside for another Democratic presidential candidate and expects to be nominated on the first ballot at the party's convention and then beat the Dewey-Warren ticket in November.
• Truman signed the $6 billion dollar foreign aid appropriation bill, including $4 billion earmarked for Europe under the Marshall Plan, describing it as "concrete evidence and assurance to the free people of the world that we stand ready to work side by side with them to preserve free institutions in stability and peace."
• Drafting of men 19 through 25 will begin "very soon" after September 22 at a rate of about 30,000 a month until the following July 1, the Secretary of the Army announced this week.

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

[Tiger Fan]

JULY 19, 1948

VALS CUT TIES WITH TOUHEY

After two straight seasons of missing the playoffs the Montreal Valiants have decided major changes are needed. The club elected not to resign five regulars from last season's club including veteran goaltender Millard Touhey. Touhey, who took a lot of heat a year ago for reporting to camp out of shape and has been wildly inconsistent at times, was given his walking papers along with defenseman Leo Bernard and forwards Max Ducharme, Nick Haines and Doug Lynch. Between them the three forwards combined for 39 goals and 116 points last season but it is the decision to drop Touhey that comes as the biggest surprise.

The move leaves the Vals in desperate need for goaltending help as they currently only have 23-year-old Peter Beliveau, a 1944 6th round pick of the Detroit Motors who played his first two NAHC games for the Valiants last season, under contract. It appears a new certainty the Valiants will need to trade for a goaltender as the only free agent of note at the position is Ronnie Flanagan - a 31-year-old journeymen who spent most of the past three seasons as the New York Shamrocks backup netminder.

A Valiants spokesmen commented off-the-record in stating the entire organization is getting a little sick of Touhey, which clearly prompted the decision to make a change. The 32-year-old has been Montreal's number one netminder for the past five seasons and led the club to the Challenge Cup finals three years ago after upsetting first place Toronto in the opening round. There were high expectations two seasons ago but the Vals stumbled, in no small part due to the fact that their goaltender did not come to camp in game shape. Touhey had a strong start last year but, after challenging for first place through Christmas, the Valiants feel apart in the second half of the season and Touhey finished with a 22-26-2 record with a 3.18 goals against average. Overall, in five seasons with Montreal he was 63-45-16 with a 2.65 GAA.

The big question now is where will Touhey land? There are not a lot of teams in need of a goaltender. Perhaps league champion Toronto looks at him as a back-up to Gordie Broadway although his salary demands may preclude that from happening. The alternative is Detroit, but that depends upon how comfortable the Motors are with Henri Chasse. The 25-year-old was very good two years ago in leading Detroit to the playoffs but he had a down season this past year.

Leo Bernard is a 28-year-old defenseman who has been a fixture on the Vals blueline all decade. He is probably not a top pairing defender but could probably fit in on the second or third line with a number of teams so he should draw some interest from the Vals NAHC rivals. A year ago Bernard suited up for 49 games and had 16 points including 5 goals.

The three forwards will likely land somewhere although it is quite possible it will be in the Hockey Association of America for at least two of them. Max Ducharme, a versatile player who can handle all three forward positions, will likely be in high demand after the 24-year-old had a career high 40 points in 59 games last season. Nick Haines is 26-years-old and dealing with a serious back injury that will force him to miss the first half of the season so he may not get a look from NAHC clubs. The center/right winger had 33 points in 49 games a year ago. Doug Lynch was the long-time captain of the Vals but was cut loose despite notching 39 points in 54 games. The 35-year-old may end up with the minors as his only option.

They are interesting decisions by Montreal's management, which is clearly gambling that shocking moves like those light a fire under a club that has had prolonged losing streaks each of the past two seasons and underachieved as a result. The move with Touhey -with no replacement in sight- seems to be an especially risky decision.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• New York Stars outfielder Bill Barrett led the Continental Association to an 11-3 win over the Federal loop in the 16th annual FABL All-Star Game. The series is now tied at 8 wins each with the CA claiming victory in each of the last three.
• The American Basketball Conference is no more as all 8 of its teams have decided to join Rollie Barrell's Federal League, doubling the third year loop to 16 clubs.
• The anti-Truman Southern delegates to the Democratic National Convention, held this past week in Philadelphia, failed to get behind the candidacy of Arkansas Gov. Ben Laney and began splitting up their votes.
• As a result, President Truman was selected as the Democratic candidate for the 1948 presidential election. Truman used his acceptance speech to call for a special session of Congress to begin July 26.
• Tension mounts in the Russian blockade of Berlin and fear are increasing it may lead to war. First comes news that Britain has built up its troop strength, including sending some formations withdrawn from Palestine, to Western Germany and a day later the US Air Forces reveals that a vanguard of 60 B-29 Super Fortresses are off to England for what it is calling special training missions in an announcement that was quickly followed by a Russia response alerting the Allies that Soviet fighter planes will be training in the air corridors to Berlin.

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

[Tiger Fan]

JULY 26, 1948

MOTORS FIRE MOORE AS COACHING CHANGE MADE

The Detroit Motors have hired veteran hockey man Badger Rigney to take over behind the bench for the struggling franchise. The 50-year-old Rigney, who last coached the Brooklyn Eagles four years ago, will replace Mark Moore who was dismissed last week. The club also announced that long-time forward Doug Yeadon, has decided to retire as a player and will join Rigney on the bench as his assistant.

For Rigney it is a return home of sorts as the final season of his 15-year playing career was with the Detroit club when they were known as the Olympians. Rigney made his playing debut with Boston as a 23-year-old defenseman and also had stops in Hamilton, with the New York Shamrocks and Quebec before finishing his career in the Motor City after the Champlains relocated from Quebec City. He was a hard-nosed, talented defenseman known for his tenacious play -hence the nickname as his real name is Richard Rigney.

After his retirement as a player, Rigney left the sport for four years and, always cunning with his investments, managed to make enough money to purchase the Eagles franchise from Bill Yeadon when Yeadon ran into financial difficulty. Rigney installed himself as owner-coach until deciding to sell the club in 1944. Now, and very much at Yeadon's urging -Bill is the Motors head scout- Rigney returns to the sport.

Assistant Coach Doug Yeadon began his playing career for his father with the then-New York Eagles but was sold to Detroit in 1937. He played 583 career NAHC games and scored 154 goals including a career best 21 in 1941-42 for the Motors before annoucing his retirement and plans to move behind the bench last week. Highly respected by his teammates, it seems a natural transition into the coaching ranks for the 35-year-old.

Shown the door by Detroit is Mark Moore, who also his ties to the Eagles as his first NAHC job was as an assistant coach in Brooklyn before heading to the Great Western Hockey League where he coached Tacoma for one season. When Motors owner John Connolly Jr. fired long-time coach Jack Barrell, it was Moore who was brought in to replace the former star player. Moore narrowly missed the playoffs his first season in Detroit but guided the club to a 3rd place finish a year later. His third season, just completed, had a terrible start and led to rumours he might be fired mid-season. The club made a playoff push, which saved his job for the short term, but the Motors finished in last place. Connolly had been debating his options for some time until finally making the decision to replace Moore last week. In three season with Detroit, Moore was 67-65-24 but led his club to just one playoff series. Replacing a legend like Jack Barrell with a struggling team really put Moore in a spot where it was nearly impossible for him to succeed.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

NOTABLE FREE AGENTS

A number of veteran players are left looking for work after their previous organization opted not to resign them. Here is a team-by-team look at the changes.

BOSTON BEES: The big news is that 33-year-old winger Waldermar Rupp was not offered a new deal. The long-time assistant captain was showing his age last season with a career worst 22 points in 46 games but he did add a pair of goals and an assist in two playoff games which helped Rupp remain the modern-era (post 1940) playoff scoring leader with 60 points. He had been a part of 5 Challenge Cup winning Bees clubs.

Boston also dropped 25-year-old center Daniel Fortin and 29-year-old winger Leroy Hester, each of whom split the season between the big club and Springfield.

CHICAGO PACKERS: The Packers cut ties with a pair of defensemen in Ted Stevens and Ian Groening as well as veteran winger Marsh Mansfield. Stevens, 25 and a three-year veteran on the Chicago blueline, was injured much of last season but had worn out his welcome due to frequent conflicts with teammates. Groening, also 25 and in his third season with the Packers, was limited to just 8 games this past season due to injuries. The 33-year-old Mansfield had some strong seasons early in his career with the Shamrocks and scored 34 points for Chicago two years ago but found himself in the press box much of this past season and had only 9 points in 27 games.

DETROIT MOTORS: The only player move of note was the decision by long-time assistant captain Doug Yeadon to retire after more than a decade in the league. The 36-year-old will not go far as it was announced recently that Yeadon will be an assistant coach with the Motors this season, following in the footsteps of his father Bill, the long-time coach and current Head Scout of the Detroit club.

MONTREAL VALIANTS:It has been well documented that the Vals made a decision to do a complete overhaul of their organization with many changes highlighted by the decision not to resign veteran goaltender Millard Touhey or his backup Sam Desjardins. Others not resigned include veteran rearguard Leo Bernard and a number of forwards rangine from 24-year-old Max Ducharme to 35-year-old Doug Lynch. In addition, 33-year-old center Tony Narand, who played just 20 games last season due to an injury, decided to retire.

NEW YORK SHAMROCKS: Very little will change on the Shamrocks roster with only veteran goaltender Ronnie Flanagan, who played in just 1 game for the Shamrocks last season, being let go from their main roster.

TORONTO DUKES: The Dukes gave a trio of veterans their walking papers but only one saw an action with the Cup winners last season. That would be 22-year-old defenseman Rob Painchaud, who had 12 points in 33 games during the season before being demoted to Cleveland. Two long-time fixtures on the wing are also gone in Syl Beam and Mahlon Klein but neither played a game for the Dukes last season. Beam missed the entire year with a preseason eye injury while Klein was dispatched to Cleveland after a long career with Toronto that saw him as a key piece of a pair of Challenge Cup winners earlier in the decade.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Former world middleweight champion Dennis O'Keefe was a surprise loser in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fl. O'Keefe, who has lost three of his last five fights, was outpointed by a little known pugilist named Robert Schultz.
• Tom Miller, two-time Christian Trophy winning shortstop from Coastal State and the first overall draft pick remains unsigned by the Washington Eagles. After Dave Smith agreed to a deal with Cincinnati, Miller is the only remaining first-rounder yet to sign.
• Top Army and diplomatic chiefs spent much of the week in the White House after being summoned by President Truman to discuss options to handle the Russian blockade of Berlin.
• Cabinet ministers of the five nations belonging to the Western European union meet in the Netherlands to discuss common interests but the Berlin blockade is expected to be the main subject.
• Truman will hand Congress an administration bill to deal with the rapidly rising cost of living when the special session gets underway this week. It is expected to be a stormy session dominated by discussion on price controls and civil rights.

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

[Tiger Fan]

AUGUST 23, 1948

RICH GET RICHER, PACKERS INK DUCHARME

The NAHC's most powerful offense just added another key weapon with news that the Chicago Packers had agreed to a contract with 24-year-old left winger Max Ducharme. It returns Ducharme full circle to the NAHC club that originally drafted him as he was Chicago's 4th round choice in the 1943 draft but was dealt to Montreal four months later in the deal that brought combative defenseman Ted Stevens to the Windy City. While Stevens wore out his welcome in Chicago and has moved on to minor league Syracuse for the upcoming season, Ducharme took a couple of seasons to find his footing in Montreal but had a breakout year last season with 14 goals and 40 points in 59 games.

In a surprise move the Valiants released him along with a number of other players in a purge following a second straight season of missing the playoffs. There was plenty of interest around the league for the native of Drummondville, QC., but he elected to sign with the Packers and will add to arguably the most talented group of forwards in the league.

*** Where Will Ducharme Fit in Packers Lineup? ***

Many observers are left wondering what possessed Ducharme to sign with Chicago when he had his pick of clubs to join. Clearly the allure of joining the Challenge Cup favourites was likely the reason but one has to wonder if there will be enough ice time to go around at Lakeside Auditorium for the 24-year-old.

Ducharme aides his own cause by being flexible enough to comfortably fit into any of the three forward positions and there are always injuries to contend with over a long season but it is pretty clear the Packers do not have many openings up front. The first line seems certain to once again consist of three-time reigning league MVP Tommy Burns along with his brother Wes and Marty Mahoney. Point a game center iceman Jarrett McGlynn seems assured of a spot on the second line likely between Jeremy MacLean and Dave Rankin which means Ducharme ends up in a heavy battle with the likes of Ed Delarue, Moose Vezina, Larry Seguin, Derek Gubb and young Stanley Royce for whatever ice time might remain.

One thing is certain: There will not be a shortage of offensive talent with the Packers in the upcoming season.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

NAHC DRAFT COMPLETED

The 1948 North American Hockey Conferderation rookie draft was held over the weekend with the Detroit Motors owning the first choice which they used as expected on 19-year-old winger Lou Barber. The Tillsonberg, Ont., native spent part of last season with the Toledo Tigers of the HAA, notching 4 goals and 15 points. Next up was the Montreal Valiants, who went for blueline help with the selection of London, Ont., native Byron Redmond second overall. If there was a surprise in the opening round it was the fact that the Toronto Dukes opted to draft a goaltender with their first round choice. The Dukes went with Charlie Dell, a British Columbia native who spent last season as Barber's teammate with the Toledo Tigers. Dell became the first goalie selected in the opening round since the Boston Bees drafted Oren James with the final pick of round one in the 1943 draft.

JUNIOR LOOP ADDED

Going forward NAHC clubs will no longer be looking to draft players from the minor leagues as a working agreement has been made with a new junior loop that will be tasked with developing players for the pros. The league is the Candian Amateur Hockey Association, a 12-team league that will recruit and draw the top talent from Canada and the northern United States and have them compete in an NAHC type schedule. The league, set to begin play in October, will have two divisions:

CAHA EASTERN DIVISION
Halifax Mariners
Hull Hawks
Saint John Saints
Sherbrooke Industrials
Trois-Rivieres Trappers
Verdun Argonauts

CAHA WESTERN DIVISION
Brantford Blue Legs
Kingston Cadets
Kitchener Roosters
London Lions
St Thomas Pachyderms
Windsor Dominions

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The defending Federal Association champion St Louis Pioneers have opened up a 3-game lead on the New York Gothams while in the Continental Association the New York Stars lead on the Philadelphia Sailors is down to 2.5 games.
• The Russian blockade of Berlin appears to be backfiring as increased ecoonomic troubles are being reported in the Russian zone of Germany.
• The four-power talks in Moscow about Berlin and Germany came to an end but no published agreements were reached. More discussions are expected at a future date.
• The Chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities says a previously undisclosed spy ring involving US government officials will be brought into "full focus" when the committee resumes hearings September 7.
• President Truman and Republican leaders are engaged in another slugging match over his forecast of a $1.5 billion dollar budget deficit. They say Truman is juggling the figures for political effect in advance of the fall election.

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

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 6, 1948

LYNCH RE-UPS WITH MONTREAL

The Montreal Valiants have had a change of heart and resigned their veteran captain Doug Lynch after initially refusing to extend his contract. The 35-year-old, who had 14 goals and 39 points in 54 games last season, was cut loose in a purge of the team that included the release of goaltender Millard Touhey, defenseman Leo Bernard and forward Max Ducharme. Lynch, who has been the club's captain since 1940, was the only player to return to Montreal as Ducharme signed with the Chicago Packers while Bernard was contracted by the Toledo Tigers of the Hockey Association of America.

Touhey's fate is once more up in the air as the 32-year-old goaltender was signed by the Syracuse Lancers of the HAA but was surprisingly let go from his contract a week later amidst speculation he failed his physical. The 32-year-old has displayed periods of greatness in his 5 seasons with Montreal but has also come under fire for his conditioning and focus at times.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The Philadelphia Sailors have closed to within a game of first place New York as the Sailors attempt to overtake the Stars and win their second consecutive Continental Association pennant. In the Federal Association, the St Louis Pioneers lead on Washington is 2 games.
• Pat Chappell threw for 232 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the Kansas City Cowboys to a 48-14 drubbing of the Los Angeles Lobos in the Continental Football Conference opener for the two-time defending league champions.
• World champion Mac Erickson had little trouble in his first defense of the welterweight crown, scoring a third round knockout win over John Gregory at Chicago's Lakeside Auditorium.
• Russian and Western military governors of Germany met in a so far unsuccessful attempt to deal with East-West problems on both the blockade of Berlin and deciding on a currency solution. But at weeks end came reports that the Russians were making arrangements to end the 72-day-old blockade.
• Men born in 1923 began registering for the peace-time draft this past week.
• A trucking strike in New York City has halted the movement of all general cargo in and out of the city. Ports on the Pacific coast were idle this week as well after longshoremen quit work and prepared with allied unions for a strike.

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

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 13, 1948

TOUHEY SIGNS WITH DETROIT

The Detroit Motors have taken steps to address the inconsistency out of their goaltending last year by agreeing to a 4-year deal with former Montreal Valiants netminder Millard Touhey. The 32-year-old Touhey started 51 games for the Vals a year ago, posting a 3.18 goals against average, but was released by the club over the summer due to inconsistent play of his own.

Touhey was Montreal's goaltender for the past five seasons and had a dominant 1945-46 campaign that culminated with an opening round playoff upset of the first place Toronto Dukes. Big things were expected from the Toronto native in 1946-47 but he reported to training camp out of shape and never did get untracked causing the Valiants to miss the playoffs. They had a terrific start to the season a year ago but second half struggles, including but not limited to Touhey's work in net, saw the Valiants miss the playoffs for a second year in a row.

The Motors had their own challenges between the pipes last season as 25-year-old Henri Chasse, a Juneau Trophy winner in his sophomore season of 1945-46, endured plenty of ups and downs last season as the Motors sank to the bottom of the league after finishing third the previous season. Chasse was among the top goaltenders two years ago but saw his goals against average balloon by nearly a goal a game and his save percentage fall below .900 in a year filled with struggles.

The pair are expected to fight it out for the number one job which likely spells the end of veteran backup goaltender Brad Carter's days in the Motor City. Carter, who backstopped Seattle to a Great Western League title in 1942-43 before joining the New York Shamrocks the following year, played in an NAHC career high 19 games for Detroit last season.

Motors new head coach Badger Rigney promises it will be an open battle for the starting job and each goaltender gets a clean slate with the bench boss, who replaced the departed Mark Moore. "I have full confidence in each of them and it is a luxury to have two goaltenders that have each proven they are more than capable of carrying a team," explained Rigney. "Having two number ones is a good thing and we hope will bring out the best in both Henri and Millard."

The Motors had expressed some interest in Touhey in June but at the time his contract demand was said to be over $20,000 season. After negotiations between Touhey and the HAA's Syracuse Lancers fell apart, he lowered his demand and agreed to a 4-year deal with Detroit that will pay the netminder just over $16,000. Detroit does have a lot of money tied up between the pipes as Henri Chasse signed a long-term extension a year ago that pays him $18,000 per annum.

In other transaction news the Toronto Dukes signed a depth goaltender, inking former New York Shamrocks backup Ronnie Flanagan to a two-year deal worth $3,200 per season. The 31-year-old Parkhill, Ont. native spent a number of seasons early in the decade as a starter with both the Shamrocks and Detroit but appeared in just 1 game for the Greenshirts last season while splitting time between New York and the minor league Philadelphia Rascals. Flanagan is expected to challenge Terry Russell for the back-up job behind veteran Gordie Broadway.

BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER RUFUS BARREL DEAD AT 75

Note: Rufus Barrell was that father of former NAHC star and long-time coach Jack Barrell, who recently guided the Toronto Dukes to the Challenge Cup title. The NAHC joins all of the sporting community in mourning the passing of a legend, who in addition to being the patriarch of a long-list of pro athletes, also helped revolutionize the scouting business in hockey, baseball and basketball with his role in the establishment of the Omni Scouting Agency. Barrell was a 1948 inductee into the baseball Hall of Fame.

Renowned Baseball Scout and Beloved Family Man

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mr. Rufus Barrell, a legendary figure in the world of sports and a beloved patriarch of his family. Mr. Barrell, aged 75, peacefully departed this world in his sleep on the morning of September 9, 1948, at his family farm in Egypt, Georgia.

Born on June 13, 1873, on that same farm, Rufus Barrell's legacy is one of unwavering dedication, passion, and love. He leaves behind a trail of memories and achievements that have touched countless lives.

Rufus was a man deeply committed to the sport of baseball. His early life as a highly talented pitcher was marked by promise and potential until a fateful accident prematurely ended his playing career. However, rather than succumbing to adversity, Rufus channeled his passion into a new role as a scout.

In the annals of baseball history, Rufus Barrell's name is synonymous with excellence in scouting. He co-founded the Omni Scouting Association, a name now revered for its commitment to identifying and nurturing talent. OSA became the official scouting partner not only of professional baseball but also of football, hockey, and basketball, underscoring Rufus's profound influence in the world of sports.

Throughout his illustrious career, Rufus served as a scouting director for several esteemed teams, including the Brooklyn Kings, the Washington Eagles, and the Cincinnati Cannons. His keen eye for talent, unerring judgment, and dedication to the sport propelled these teams to success and established Rufus as a revered figure in the scouting community.

In the tightly-knit Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues (FABL) community, Rufus Barrell was more than a legend; he was a cherished icon, a symbol of unwavering commitment, and an inspiration to aspiring athletes.

Beyond his professional achievements, Rufus was a devoted family man. He shared nearly sixty years of marriage with his beloved wife, Alice Barrell. Together, they raised ten children: Joe, Rollie, Jack, Jimmy, Dan, Fred, Tom, Bobby, Harry, and Betsy. Their family's strength endured even in the face of profound tragedy, having lost two sons, Joe and Jimmy, under heartbreaking circumstances.

As Rufus Barrell peacefully departed this world, he left behind a legacy of love, dedication, and indomitable spirit. His life was a testament to the enduring power of passion, hard work, and unwavering commitment to one's craft.

Rufus's memory will forever live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him. His impact on the world of sports and his enduring legacy as a devoted family man will continue to inspire generations to come.

A private family service will be held in honor of Rufus Barrell, commemorating a life well-lived and a legacy that will never fade.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Rufus Barrell Memorial Fund, dedicated to supporting aspiring athletes in achieving their dreams, just as Rufus did throughout his remarkable life.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• Despite missing his top two receivers, Pat Chappell still threw for 308 yards to lead the two-time defending Continental Football Conference champion Kansas City Cowboys to a hard-fought 23-22 victory in Buffalo. The Cowboys are 2-0 as are the New Orleans Crescents after rookie Vince Gallegos threw for 268 yards and two scores in a 28-14 doubling of the New York Gothams.
• Canyon A&M dumped Flagstaff State 24-7 in battle between Southern Border Conference foes in the lone game to open the collegiate football schedule. Most teams do not get underway for another two weeks but there are a pair of key games next weekend in Penn Catholic hosting Darnell State while Travis College debuts at home against Bayou State. Coast powers CC Los Angelees and Coastal California will also see action.
• The St Louis Pioneers and Philadelphia Sailors each increased their lead in the FABL pennant races. The Pioneers won 7 of their last 8 games to pull 3.5 games ahead of second place Washington with 3 weeks remaining in the campaign while in the Continental Association the Sailors are 2 up on the New York Stars.
• On the campaign trail in Michigan, President Truman predicted another "boom and bust" cycle if "a reactionary Republican administration comes into power," adding "the boom is for them and the bust is for you."
• Gov. Dewey of New York, Republican presidential nominee, will make his first campaign speech September 20 in Des Moines, Ia.
• Two American news correspondents were hurt after Communist-led demonstrators once more smashed into Berlin's City Hall, using battering rams and smashing windows.
• Russians and Communist-controlled German police fired on Berlin anti-Communists after a crowd of Germans stoned a jeepload of Russian soldiers inside the Soviet sector. Soviet officials accused the Western Allies of "inciting" Berliners against Russia and Communism.

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

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 20, 1948

LIMERICK IS POETRY TO NAHC SCOUTS EARS

The OSA, the league scouting agency for the North American Hockey Conference, has unveiled its list of 5 young players to watch in the junior league structure. The 12-team junior loop, formed by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association with support from the NAHC, will draft and sign top teenage talent with an eye towards developing them for a future career in professional hockey.

It will mean the NAHC's annual rookie draft will no longer include underage players signed by minor pro teams as they will be required to play junior hockey going forward. The 12 team league with teams based in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, will commence play in the fall.

According to OSA the top draft eligible forward in the junior league will be Justin Limerick. The youngster was born in the United States and played his youth hockey in Massachusetts. He will play for the Saint John Saints and is the early favourite to be the first pick in next year's draft.

Rounding out the top five are a quartet of young defenseman including Limerick's Saint John teammate Olivier St-Armand, a Montreal native. The others are Toronto born defenseman Paul Reddington of the Halifax Mariners, Sudbury's Mike Cotey who will suit up for the Windsor Dominions and Dave Molitor, an Alberta-born boy who has moved east to play for the Brantford Blue Legs.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

The Montreal Valiants made move to address their extreme shortage of talent in net by acquiring 27-year-old Brad Carter for the Detroit Motors in exchange for a fifth-round pick in next year's draft. Carter, who appeared in 19 games for Detroit last season, was deemed expendable and likely to be released by Detroit after the Motors signed former Montreal netminder Millard Touhey to compete with returnee Henri Chasse for the starting job in the Detroit crease.

Originally a New York Shamrocks fourth round pick in the 1941 draft, Carter joined the Shamrocks two years later and played in 16 games for the club over a three year stint. New York released after in the spring of 1946 and Detroit signed him to back up Chasse. The Saskatoon native appeared in just 1 game for the Motors his first season with the club but with an expanded schedule coupled with Chasse's struggles Carter set a career high for NAHC games last season with 19. Now 27, he heads to Montreal with more NAHC experience than any other goalie presently under contract to the Vals.

The Detroit Motors have released veteran forward Mike Narand. The 28-year-old began his career with the Chicago Packers before joining the Motors in 1944. He has 63 goals and 164 points in 341 career NAHC games but scored just 4 goals in 30 games for Detroit last season. The move was made to clear contract space to allow the Motors to sign 22-year-old defenseman Dixon Butler, who had spent the last 4 seasons in the Great Western Hockey League. The Whitby, Ontario native played for the Tacoma Lions last season after being the Montreal Valiants second round choice in the 1945 draft. Detroit acquired his rights from the Vals in a trade last December that saw defenseman Bryant Williams and Shel Herron head to Quebec while Detroit added youngsters Francis McKenzie and Spencer Larocque in addition to Butler.

The Valiants have resigned defenseman John McDonald. The 21-year-old had split the past two seasons between Montreal and its minor league affiliate in Syracuse but was allowed to sign with the Rochester Robins of the HAA over the summer before the Valiants had a change of heart and reacquired the Halifax native. McDonald suited up for 47 games for the Valiants a year ago, scoring 5 goals and adding 7 helpers.

Chicago and Toronto also elected to bring young defenseman under contract. The Packers selected 23-year-old Joe Fleming in round four of the 1944 draft and after 5 seasons to develop with the Pittsburgh Rovers of the HAA the Oshawa native is expected to crack the Packers blueline. Toronto is hopeful 21-year-old Charlie Brown is also ready to make the jump from the minors. Brown was the Dukes second round choice in 1946 and patrolled the blueline for the Vancouver Bears of the GWHL last season. The New York Shamrocks also signed a player from the Pittsburgh Rovers, bringing Alfie Dennis to the Big Apple. Dennis, who had 27 points last season for the Rovers, is a 23-year-old right winger originally from Calgary that the Shamrocks selected 3rd overall in the 1944 NAHC draft.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The St Louis Pioneers and Philadelphia Sailors inched closer to a rematch of last season's World Championship Series. With two weeks remaining the Pioneers lead Washington by 4.5 games in the Federal Association while the Sailors are 5 games up on both the Stars and Cougars in the Continental Association.
• The Cincinnati Tigers rallied with 17 fourth quarter points to beat Detroit 24-16 in the lone game on the opening week schedule for the American Football Association.
• The Kansas City Cowboys are 3-0 after beating the Comets in Chicago by the largest margin in Continental Football Conference history, 70-7. The two clubs meet again next week at Packer Park in Kansas City. New Orleans is also 3-0 after the Crescents nipped New York 17-14.
• Travis College crushed Bayou State 45-6 in the first big week of college football. The other big game had Penn Catholic down Darnell State 28-10 in Philadelphia.
• Count Bernadotte, the United Nations mediator in Jerusalem was assassinated in the Jewish-held part of the city by "men in Jewish Army uniforms."
• A liberal democratic newspaper in Berlin says the Communists have plans to seize the city on a predetermined date shortly after the November US Presidential elections. The government says the Sternists, a Jewish extremist group, is responsible.
• The British Foreign Secretary told the House of Commons that the Communists are following a plan aimed at seizing control of Southeast Asia.
• Gov. Dewey met with all his top advisors for a final review of the foreign situation and some domestic problems before starting his campaign for the Presidency yesterday.
• President Truman confidently began his campaign in a 17-car special train on a Western tour by predicting he will be victorious and stating "I am going to fight hard and I'm going to give them hell."

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

[Tiger Fan]

SEPTEMBER 27, 1948

NAHC TRAINING CAMPS UNDERWAY

The six North American Hockey Confederation clubs began training camp last week and preseason games will start Wednesday as the defending champion Toronto Dukes and the rest of the NAHC prepare for the October 13th regular season opener. The Dukes, despite finishing 3rd in the standings a year ago, knocked off the second place Boston Bees in the semi-finals before downing the New York Shamrocks -who had surprised first place Chicago in the opening round- to win their 7th Challenge Cup in team history. The 7 Cups for the Dukes ties them with Boston for the most one by a single team and continues a stretch of dominance dating back to 1940 where only the Bees and Dukes have won the playoff title.

The Bees made a depth move last week, signing veteran minor league free agent center Ray Gustafson to add some depth to their organization. The 29-year-old has spent his entire pro career in the Hockey Association of American, including last season when he tallied 7 goals and 27 points for the Cleveland Eries. Gustafson has been part of a pair of HAA championship teams but was let go by the Eries organization last week in order to give him a NAHC opportunity with Boston.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 29
Montreal at Detroit
Boston at Chicago
New York at Toronto

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30
Chicago at New York
Detroit at Boston
Toronto at Montreal

SATURDAY OCTOBER 2
Montreal at Chicago
Boston at Detroit
New York at Toronto

SUNDAY OCTOBER 3
Detroit at Boston
Toronto at New York
Chicago at Montreal

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• A crucial showdown looms in baseball's Federal Association as the St Louis Pioneers, with a 3.5 game lead on second place New York, prepare for a 3-game set in the Big Apple with the Gothams to start the final week of the baseball season. The Philadelphia Sailors are trying to nurse home a 2-game lead on the Chicago Cougars in the Continental Association flag chase.
• Defending AIAA national champion St Blane blasted Whitney College 35-3 in its season opener with two-sport star Joe Fulgham, a likely FABL draft pick in January, leading the way with 121 yards rushing for the Fighting Saints.
• The defending American Football Association champion Cleveland Finches picked up exactly where they left off as the Finches, who won their final four games last season including the title tilt with Washington, opened their 1948 campaign with a 31-24 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Frigates.
• The Kansas City Cowboys and New Orleans Crescents are the only unbeaten teams at 4-0 in Continental Football Conference play. The two will meet in New Orleans a week from tomorrow.
• A posthumous report by the murdered Count Folke Bernadotte declares the UN must step in to end the Palestine war if the Arabs and Jews fail to make peace. The UN mediator was killed in Jerusalem last week.
• US Secretary of State Marshall and his British and French counterparts are meeting in Paris as part of a UN conference with a goal of difusing the tense situation in Berlin and the cold war between East and West. During his address Marshall warned the Russians not to take American patience as a sign of weakness.
• A 2-hour general strike in France of both Communist and non-Communist unions saw 7 million walk off the job, protesting low wages and high living costs.
• Hot on the campaign trail, both President Truman and Governor Dewey spent the week crisscrossing the west by train. Dewey calling for a new administration as the only way to achieve "national unity in these troubled times" while Truman focused his speeches on the prevention of another war and plans for curbing inflation.

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

[Tiger Fan]

OCTOBER 4, 1948

MOTORS OFF TO QUICK START

The Detroit Motors, led by a fast start from young center Francis McKenzie, had a strong opening week of NAHC preseason action with 3 wins in 4 outings, all coming at the expense of the Boston Bees. However, new Detroit coach Badger Rigney, who takes over a last place team, cautions that these are tune-up games and mean nothing in the big picture.

"It is great to see a young guy like Francis (McKenzie) gain some confidence with a couple big games," noted Rigney, "but this is all about getting guys ready for the grind of the season and we clearly did not see the best Boston has to offer."

McKenzie, who was acquired from Montreal last December as part of the deal that sent veteran defensemen Shel Herron and Bryant Williams to the Valiants, spent most of last season in the minors after being drafted 2nd overall by the Vals. He scored once in his first preseason game and then exploded with a 5-point night, including a hat trick in a 6-2 triumph over the Bees last night.

The most important thing right now is staying healthy and Boston and Detroit both failed in that regard. The Bees will be without 32-year-old winger Jim Morey for at least a month after the veteran assistant captain broke his hand last week. Morey had 50 points in 53 games a year ago. Detroit, meanwhile, lost the services of defenseman Spencer Larocque for at least the opening few games of the season after the 22-year-old suffered a sprained ankle last week in a game with Boston. Larocque, another piece of the big deal last December with Montreal, had 23 points in 37 games following the trade after starting the season with just 6 points in 21 games as a rookie with the Valiants.

Like Detroit, the Chicago Packers had a 3-1 start to their preseason slate. Chicago did suffer an injury to Juneau Trophy winning goaltender Norm Hanson but fortunately it is just minor. The 28-year-old netminder dislocated a finger on his catching hand but should be back in time for the Packers regular season opener in Detroit a week from Wednesday.

PRESEASON RESULTS
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 29
Montreal 4 at 3 Detroit - Rey Sclisizzi (2G), Hank Walsh (2G,1A)
Boston 5 at 0 Chicago -Tom Brockers (26 saves) Robert Walker (2G 1A)
New York 0 at 3 Toronto - Gordie Broadway (28 sv), Dick Zimmerman (2G)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30
Chicago 4 at 0 New York - Michael Cleghorn (29 saves)
Detroit 6 at 2 Boston - Louis Rocheleau (3A)
Toronto 1 at 4 Montreal - Alex MacDonald (1G, 1A), Rey Sclisizzi (2G)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 2
Montreal 2 at 6 Chicago - David Rankin (2G, 1A)
Boston 1 at 4 Detroit - Henri Chasse (36sv)
New York 5 at 4 Toronto - Sam Coates (2A), Les Carlson (2A)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 3
Detroit 6 at 2 Boston Francis McKenzie (3G,2A) Vince Arsenault (1G,2A)
Toronto 6 at 3 New York - Bobbie Sauer (2G,2A) JC Martel (1G,2A)
Chicago 6 at 1 Montreal - Larry Seguin (2A)

UPCOMING GAMES
TOMORROW
Montreal at Toronto
Boston at Chicago
New York at Detroit

THURSDAY OCTOBER 7
Montreal at New York
Detroit at Chicago
Toronto at Boston

FRIDAY OCTOBER 8
Boston at Montreal
New York at Toronto
Chicago at Detroit
end of preseason schedule

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• The Toronto Dukes are a little concerned about the number of goals given thus far in the tune-up games. Bobby Sauer is off to a hot start 3G, 3A, team is showing a bit of truculence with RW Les Carlson leading the way with 11 hits Coach Barrell wants the D-men to take the body more often, finish their checks in the defensive zone.
• The Detroit Motors have brought veteran minor league winger Marsh Spencer into camp. The 28-year-old has spent the past 8 seasons with the Cleveland Eries and is coming off a career best 16 goal, 37 point season for the HAA club. Spencer, who was a Detroit farmhand in his younger days, had an assist in is preseason debut against Boston over the weekend but may face some stiff competition in his efforts to make the Motors regular season roster.

OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK

• The St Louis Pioneers and Philadelphia Sailors each repeated as pennant winners and will begin the World Championship Series Wednesday in Philadelphia.
• A wild brawl broke out at the Montreal Arena after the controversial split-decision victory for Canadian Adrian Petrie over world middleweight champion Edouard Desmarais. The American Boxing Federation says it will look into allegations of wrongdoing by two Canadian judges.
• The Oakland Grays and Houston Bulls are tied at 1 win apiece in the best of 7 Bigsby Cup final to decide the Great Western Baseball League champion.
• St Blane crushed Pittsburgh State 40-14 to remain number one in the collegiate grid polls.
• United Nations Assembly delegates cheered British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin following a speech in which he launched a blistering attack on the Soviet Union saying the Russians alone would be responsible if a new World War was to occur.
• France has joined the United States and Britain in blaming Russia for the Berlin crisis, which appears headed to a UN Security Council airing.
• Russia counters by accusing the United States of seeking war and said the Americans have no monopoly on the atom bomb.
• A forthcoming report from the House Committee on Un-American Activities will shed light on efforts of Soviet-directed spies to steal atomic bomb secrets.

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

[Tiger Fan]

Unfortunately, this looks like the end of the FHM portion and hockey as an online league in the Figment sporting universe. The game might work well for solo modern play but as a fictional online league it has been a nightmare and a constant source of frustration for our commissioner and GM's. He is no novice as he has been running online leagues with many different games for well over a decade, maybe even two, but says nothing has ever caused him the headaches as a commissioner that FHM does. And we are a six-team league. No idea how anyone could handle running a league with 18-30 teams and not pull all their hair out because of this game.

It is a shame because I enjoy playing the game in solo mode as a historical sim (although more as a hands-off commissioner and not running a specific team). Fictional-historical, which we do here, is doable as a solo sim too but with its headaches. Throw in online, which I admit I have no experience with outside of running a team in this league, and it seems like it is a complete mess.

We had to restart completely once. We get regular import errors, most around roster violations, but I am told that FHM does not tell the commissioner what team is causing the error in most cases or why it is in violation, so it becomes a terrible struggle for him to import teams one-by-one in an effort to identify the team that is causing the issue and then trying to figure what was wrong in the import.

It is too bad because although it sounds like I am completely crapping on FHM here (and on the handling of online play I fully am) but there are some real positives that make me want to love the game. It just gets frustrating that version after version of FHM it feels like online and completely fictional play are ignored. But the stats the game generates for our little late 1940s league felt very realistic. Heading into our 3rd season as an online league I think most GMs were feeling an attachment to a lot of their players and we are all learning the league. It has more warts than OOTP for sure, but in those respects, it is starting to feel like the players and teams in the NAHC are as real to us as the great OOTP FABL online league we have been playing for more than two decades of game seasons. But that is over now because of the constant hassle of trying to get the game to actually work without team import problems.

For a game marketed by OOTP it is amazing how little attention the hockey guys seemed to put into two of the things that made OOTP great - customization and online play. So as attached to my Detroit Motors as I became, and as disappointed as I am to see this league fail because the game makes it nearly impossible to play without a commissioner able to spend hours troubleshooting every couple of weeks when a crash or import error occurs, it is a bit of a relief too because we just knew the next error was coming, just weren't sure when that day would come.

Today is apparently the day and if nothing else, the mess that is FHM online play, has given me an even greater appreciation for what a special game we have in OOTP. If only FHM had followed the OOTP design plan than the NAHC might be as fun a league to play in as the other sports in the Figment online universe.

[drummerJ99]

Originally Posted by Tiger Fan

It just gets frustrating that version after version of FHM it feels like online and completely fictional play are ignored.

For a game marketed by OOTP it is amazing how little attention the hockey guys seemed to put into two of the things that made OOTP great - customization and online play.

Agree 100%. Online league options compared to OOTP is severely lacking. But Jeff has said before the OOTP guys have warned them to stay away from the HTML stuff and how big of a headache is is for the OOTP side. So doubt we will ever see more then we have now unfortunately.

[Tiger Fan]

Originally Posted by drummerJ99

Agree 100%. Online league options compared to OOTP is severely lacking. But Jeff has said before the OOTP guys have warned them to stay away from the HTML stuff and how big of a headache is is for the OOTP side. So doubt we will ever see more then we have now unfortunately.

Yep. And it is not even the html. We can work around that but when imports regularly fail to work and the commissioner gets no message as to which team file caused the problem it becomes a nightmare for him.

The good news is our commissioner, like the rest of the GMs is very attached to the league and spent a bunch of time last night getting wading through the mess once more so we are going to continue. I am not sure I will post it here anymore because I am always left wondering when our next issue comes up and we have to give up on the league or switch to STHS.

I thank those who followed along here and you can still continue to follow along in the baseball dynasty section, where all of our sports are covered, which is linked at the bottom of any of the previous recap posts.