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
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