MAY 12, 1973
DEFECTIONS ROCK NAHC—BUT EXPANSION ATLANTA STEALS THE SHOW
Rookie Goalie Graham, Veteran Bozek Lead Upstart Blazers to League’s Best Mark It was a season that began in turmoil and ended in surprise. The North American Hockey Confederation’s 1972–73 campaign opened under the shadow of mass defections to the new Continental loop and closed with a pair of fresh faces—the Atlanta Blazers and Pittsburgh Sentinels—skating into the playoffs.
No team absorbed a harder blow than the Detroit Motors, who lost reigning MVP Hobie Barrell to a million-dollar deal with Ottawa of the CHL. Yet amid the player raids and shifting rosters, the league found its biggest story deep in Dixie, where a franchise that didn’t exist ten months earlier finished with the best record in hockey.
*** Blazers Blaze New Trail ***
The Atlanta Blazers, first southern entry in NAHC history, stunned the experts by racking up 109 points and running away with the East Division crown. Their formula was simple: airtight goaltending, opportunistic offense, and a dash of luck.
Between the pipes stood Cliff Graham, a 24-year-old rookie who’d spent the last few winters in Northern Ontario senior ranks. Graham posted a 29-9-9 record and a 2.30 goals-against average, good enough to earn the McLeod Trophy as top rookie—the first netminder to do so since Justin MacPhee a dozen years back.
Up front, Atlanta mixed cast-offs and cast-offs-turned-stars. Expansion draft pickup Maurizio Corradi (35-52-87) provided finesse, while veteran Charles Bozek, acquired early from Detroit, turned back the clock with 42 goals and 93 points. Together they made Atlanta’s debut a runaway success and silenced skeptics who doubted hockey could take root south of the Mason-Dixon line.
*** Montreal, Toronto Keep Pressure On ***
Behind Atlanta came familiar faces. The Montreal Valiants cleared the century mark in points for the fifth time in six years and extended their remarkable streak to thirteen straight playoff berths. Defenseman Mark Moggy (20-78-98) claimed the Dewar Trophy and shattered the single-season assist record, while linemates Pete Fortin (28-70-98), Andrew Cleverly (41-42-83), and Roger MacKinnon (42-37-79) kept Montreal atop the scoring charts once again.
The Toronto Dukes slotted third thanks to a career year from 32-year-old winger Ollie Perreault, who broke the league points record with 51 goals and 120 points, eclipsing the mark Scott Dueck set in 1968. The Boston Bees grabbed the final playoff ticket, powered by the steady play of veterans Jean Bourgault (18-73-91) and Bruce Callahan (47-39-86). Between the pipes, the Bees alternated between seasoned Alex Daoust (22-16-6, 2.76) and bright-eyed rookie Scott Bly (17-7-4, 2.40)—arguably the league’s top tandem.
Left on the outside looking in were the Chicago Packers, Detroit Motors, Quebec Citadels, and New York Shamrocks. Detroit never recovered from Barrell’s departure, while Chicago missed for the third time in four years. As for New York, the drought dragged on—thirteen seasons without a playoff berth—though winger Milt Young’s 56-goal campaign at least gave the Shamrocks something to cheer about.
*** Old Order Holds Out West ***
Out in the West Division, things looked more familiar. The Vancouver Totems and St. Louis Sawyers continued to rule the roost, each finishing with 83 points, the Totems edging first on the strength of more victories.
Vancouver leaned on the stick of Alan Porter (49-50-99), who turned in his finest pro season, and the cool hands of veteran goalie Justin MacPhee (16-14-5, 2.49). The Sawyers, meanwhile, remained built around franchise cornerstone Pat Valentine (26-56-82), whose blend of skill and grit kept St. Louis near the top yet again.
*** Pittsburgh Impresses, Los Angeles Steady ***
The second expansion club, Pittsburgh’s Sentinels, may not have matched Atlanta’s fireworks but earned plenty of respect in their maiden voyage. Lacking a true scorer—no Sentinel topped 45 points—they compensated with discipline and goaltending. Cliff Michaud, a 26-year-old Prairie League graduate, played 60 games, posted a league high seven shutouts, and gave the club a fighting chance most nights. On defense, rookie Tom Burns (7-24-31) showed promise beyond his 22 years, while old Montreal favorite Scott Dueck (20-22-42) offered leadership in the room.
The Los Angeles Stingrays rounded out the playoff field, extending their streak to five seasons. Center Stan Tenute (18-37-55) and winger Mark Dubblestyne (21-29-50) finally emerged as full-time contributors, while ageless wonder Mike Connelly, now 41, still shouldered 66 starts (26-26-10, 2.83) in goal.
*** Missed Chances Out West ***
A few clubs were left to ponder what might have been. The Philadelphia Rogues, despite a 48-goal effort from Adam McPherson and a strong sophomore season from Gary Yeadon (34-43-77), missed the playoffs by a mere three points. The San Francisco Gulls, one of the ’67 expansion entries, are still chasing their first playoff appearance, while the Calgary Grizzlies, now in their third year, remain mired in the cellar.
When the dust settled, the 1972-73 regular season told a clear story: the Continental raids changed everything, but fresh blood kept the NAHC alive and kicking. Old powers like Montreal and Vancouver held their ground, yet the regular season belonged to Atlanta, the league’s boldest experiment—and, for one winter at least, its best team.
NAHC PLAYOFFS
DUKES RECLAIM HOCKEY’S CROWN
Toronto Outlasts Boston as Experience Tops Expansion Flash
The Atlanta Blazers lit up the NAHC all winter long, but when the playoffs rolled around, the old guard reasserted itself. The expansion darlings who had stormed through the regular season found out in a hurry that springtime hockey is a different game entirely.
Facing the battle-tested Boston Bees, Atlanta jumped to early series leads of 2–0 and 3–2, only to see the veteran club roar back with 4–1 and 5–1 wins in Games Six and Seven. The Bees’ composure and depth carried them through, abruptly ending the Blazers’ storybook debut season.
The other first-year club, the Pittsburgh Sentinels, met an even rougher fate. The St. Louis Sawyers, paced by Pat Valentine’s eight points, swept the newcomers in four straight. Riding that momentum, the Sawyers then ran headlong into a surging Boston side. The Bees, full of confidence after dispatching the league’s top regular-season team, handled St. Louis in five games to earn their first Challenge Cup Finals berth since 1966.
*** Totems, Dukes Advance in the West ***
Out West, the Vancouver Totems and Los Angeles Stingrays renewed their annual grudge match. For the second year in succession, the two went the full seven games, and for the second time the Totems survived. Vancouver nearly squandered a 3–1 series lead but steadied on home ice for a 3–1 win in Game Seven, with Matt Brophey scoring his seventh goal in as many games to seal it.
The other Western quarterfinal brought a long-awaited clash between ancient rivals Montreal and Toronto—their first postseason meeting in over a decade. The series was tight, with three one-goal decisions, but the Dukes prevailed in five, dispatching the Valiants to reach the semifinals. From there, Toronto found another gear, sweeping the weary Totems in four straight to set up a classic final against Boston.
*** Old Rivals Renew Classic Final ***
Between them, the Dukes and Bees had claimed 21 Challenge Cups, yet they hadn’t met for the trophy since 1955. This time, Toronto wasted little time showing why it remains hockey’s most decorated club.
In the series opener at Dominion Gardens, the Dukes poured 35 shots on Boston’s Alex Daoust, who nearly stole it with a sparkling effort. A late strike from Dick Fournier finally broke through, giving Toronto a 3–2 win.
Two nights later, Daoust could offer no resistance to the Dukes’ firepower. Ollie Perreault and Hack Knackstedt each collected four points in an 8–0 rout that put Boston on its heels.
Back home at Denny Arena, the Bees showed their pride, taking 4–2 and 4–1 victories to even the series. But the final turn belonged to Toronto. Perreault and Knackstedt again led the charge in a 5–2 Game Five triumph, and the Dukes clinched their record 13th Challenge Cup with a 3–1 win two nights later.
Goaltender Pat Stephens was superb throughout the playoffs and sensational in the finale, turning aside 40 of 41 Boston shots. His postseason résumé—3 shutouts and a .947 save percentage—earned him the David Welcombe Trophy as playoff MVP, only the second goaltender ever to claim the honor.
*** Experience Wins the Day ***
For all the talk of expansion and defections, the spring of 1973 proved that championship pedigree still counts. The Atlanta Blazers and Pittsburgh Sentinels brought welcome new energy to the league, but in the end it was the cool hands and hardened habits of the Toronto Dukes that carried the day.
Thirteen Challenge Cups and counting—proof once more that while the faces of hockey may change, the road to the championship still runs through Toronto.
[size="6]BARRELL LIGHTS THE WAY AS CHL COMPLETES FIRST SEASON [/size]
Continental Loop Delivers Goals, Growing Pains, and a Few Surprises The upstart Continental Hockey League wrapped up its first season with plenty of headlines, a flood of offense, and one undeniable star. While few would confuse the level of play with that of the long-established North American Hockey Confederation, the CHL’s debut campaign offered its share of excitement—and a record-shattering performance from the sport’s most famous defector, Hobie Barrell.
Barrell, the long-time Detroit Motors ace, rewrote the record book with the Ottawa Athletics, piling up 69 goals and 146 points—both professional marks. Critics may argue that the numbers came against diluted opposition, but no one questioned the brilliance behind them. The Ottawa captain, now the highest-paid player in the game, remains stuck at 492 career NAHC goals after the senior circuit announced it would not recognize Continental statistics. That stance likely ends Barrell’s pursuit of Quinton Pollack’s all-time scoring records, though it did nothing to dull his impact on the new league’s credibility.
Ottawa’s attack also featured familiar names: older brother Benny Barrell (22-40-62), veteran defender Dave Corden (15-33-48), and goaltender Carl Dutove (26-19-8, 3.24). Add in West German import Arne Schilling (27-61-88)—the league’s most accomplished European—and the Athletics possessed firepower aplenty. Still, they finished tied for second in the East Division with Buffalo, seven points behind the pace-setting Chicago Lions.
Chicago’s success stemmed from balance and steady goaltending. Former Packers stalwart J.P. Morissette (30-68-98) paced the offense, but 24-year-old netminder Alex Melnyk stole the spotlight. Buried for years on Montreal’s depth chart, Melnyk seized his chance, posting a 34-17-7, 2.36 record and the league’s top goaltender honor.
Buffalo’s surprise package was Hank Brassell (41-63-104). The 25-year-old American-born journeyman finally found a home and became the only player other than Barrell to clear the 100-point mark, earning Rookie of the Year laurels and validating CHL executive Lou Galbraith’s belief that plenty of untapped talent existed beyond the NAHC.
Cleveland placed fourth in the East with 70 points but missed the post-season under the league’s unbalanced playoff system, which guaranteed only division winners a berth. Behind them came New England and New York, the latter enduring a miserable campaign. The Eagles finished at the bottom despite the presence of legend Quinton Pollack behind the bench and his son Jack Pollack (21-32-53) on the ice. Goaltender Bruce Main (15-35-7, 3.94) struggled badly, though he received little help from an overmatched defense. Hopes for a revival in New York hockey will have to wait another year.
Out West, the Seattle Chinooks led a tight race, boasting the league’s most balanced lineup. Former NAHCers Joe McIntyre, James MacQueen, Bill Giliati, and Max Music meshed smoothly with ex-Prairie Leaguers John Wakelin and Yvon Gauthier, producing one of the CHL’s most entertaining clubs. Denver finished second behind a breakout season from ex-San Francisco pivot Jack Littlechief (24-47-71). The remaining West entries—Calgary, Kansas City, and Edmonton—were separated by only a few points, with the Warriors, Stampeders, and Huskies ultimately claiming the final playoff spots.
Playoffs: Warriors Capture First Continental Cup
The Kansas City Warriors saved their best hockey for the post-season. Fourth in the West during the regular schedule, they caught fire in April behind offensive-minded blueliner Mark McCoach and a hard-working forward unit of Manny Cantin, Doug Leatham, and Jack Law. Kansas City swept Seattle in the quarter-finals, then dumped Chicago in six to reach the inaugural Continental Cup Final.
In the East semi-final, Buffalo edged Ottawa in six games despite heroics from Hobie Barrell, who matched Brassell’s eight-point output for the series.
The final opened in Buffalo, where the Keepers erased a two-goal deficit only to fall 3-2 in overtime on Charles Lapointe’s winner for Kansas City. The Warriors followed with a 5-3 triumph in Game 2, sparked by two goals from Cantin, and stretched their lead with a 5-2 win back home. Buffalo salvaged Game 4 (3-1) before Kansas City closed the series decisively, 6-2, as Law capped his playoff-leading 21-point run with a hat trick and an assist.
A Solid Debut, but Questions Remain
When the final horn sounded, the new league could call its first season a qualified success. Attendance was uneven and the New York Eagles proved a disappointment, yet the CHL delivered entertaining hockey, a few credible markets, and a marquee name in Barrell that kept fans and columnists alike paying attention.
The road ahead will be no easier—financial pressures and more player raids are already looming—but after one fast, noisy winter, the Continental has at least proved it can stand on its own skates.
ROCKETS RED REIGN
St. Louis Sweeps to Third FBL Crown in Five Years The St. Louis Rockets have become the gold standard of the Federal Basketball League. With their second straight championship—and third in five years—the Rockets have left little doubt about their dynasty status. Even more remarkable, they’ve gone a perfect 8–0 in the last two finals series, sweeping their way to back-to-back titles.
At the center of St. Louis’s rise is John Brantner, the 29-year-old powerhouse forward who continues to rewrite the record books. Since being selected first overall in the 1966 draft out of Maryland State, Brantner has done everything but disappoint. The league’s Rookie of the Year in his debut campaign, Brantner has since captured two MVP trophies, led the FBL in scoring three times, and this season set a new league mark with 37.6 points per game, adding 12.8 rebounds for good measure.
Brantner’s long-time running mate, Clarence Turgeon, turned in a career year himself, averaging 22.0 points as the Rockets rolled to a 64–18 record—the best in the league and tied for the third-highest win total in FBL history. Only their own 1968–69 squad, which won 69 games, and the 1969-70 New York Knights have done better.
The Milwaukee Hammers did their best to keep pace, finishing seven games behind St. Louis in the Midwest Division. All-League forward Bill Crawford and assist leader Milt Schultz powered Milwaukee to a strong season, while in the Pacific, the Seattle Emeralds rode the dynamic duo of Wade Mulkey and seven-foot forward Spider Forester to the division crown—the only other Western club above .500.
In the East, the New York Knights once again stood tall. With All-League stars Dick Van der Linden and Bob Terwilliger leading the charge, New York posted a 61–21 record, dominating the Atlantic Division by 18 games and eyeing a fourth straight trip to the finals after titles in 1970 and ’71.
But the postseason had other plans. In the opening round, the Philadelphia Phantoms—a team that had finished 20 games behind New York—shocked the basketball world. Despite Van der Linden averaging over 31 points per game, the Knights fell in six as Philadelphia captured its first playoff series win since taking the 1966 title.
The Phantoms’ magic continued with another six-game victory over the Chicago Panthers, who had earlier ousted Boston. That sent Philadelphia into the finals against a St. Louis club that hadn’t lost a single postseason game—sweeping Houston and Seattle on their march to the championship.
The finals were more coronation than competition. Brantner opened the series with 52 points in a 142–134 win and followed with 42 more in a 152–110 rout the next night. The scene shifted to Philadelphia, but nothing changed. Brantner poured in 48 points and 16 rebounds in Game 3, then closed the sweep with a “quiet” 35 as the Rockets rolled 127–102.
With that, St. Louis became the first team in FBL history to go undefeated through the playoffs. The Rockets are now 24–1 in postseason play over the past two years—an unprecedented run that’s left the rest of the league chasing shadows. Not since Washington swept these same Rockets in 1956 has the FBL seen a championship sweep, and no club has ever done it twice in a row.
Right now, the view from the top of the Federal Basketball League is painted in Rocket red—and unless someone finds a way to slow down John Brantner, that view may not change anytime soon.
DRILLERS STRIKE GOLD ONCE AGAIN
Dallas Captures Second CBL Crown, Robinson Leads Playoff Charge The Dallas Drillers are back on top of the Continental Basketball League world. With their second league title in six years, the Drillers joined the Louisville Spirits as the only repeat champions in the young but increasingly competitive challenger to the Federal loop.
Dallas didn’t exactly dominate the regular season. The Drillers finished second in the West Division behind the high-flying Portland Pioneers, but once again, the playoffs told a different story. In fact, no CBL division winner has reached the finals since Dallas themselves took the inaugural championship back in 1967–68. This year proved no exception, as both regular-season leaders bowed out early: the Pioneers fell to the Drillers in the second round, while in the East, the top-seeded Baltimore Chargers—who owned the league’s best mark at 56–22—were shocked in the opening round by the Cincinnati Steamers, a club that had finished four games under .500.
The Chargers had looked unstoppable during the regular season. Led by scoring and rebounding champion Zane Davis and sensational rookie guard George Ogletree, fresh off back-to-back Barrette Trophies at Baton Rouge State, Baltimore breezed through the 78-game schedule. But when the postseason arrived, their fortunes turned. The Steamers stunned the Chargers on their own floor in the playoff opener, running away with a 145–127 decision. Cincinnati went on to take the series three games to one, then edged past the Pittsburgh Ironmen in a grueling seven-game semifinal to earn a trip to the finals for the second time in three years.
For Dallas, the championship run erased several years of frustration. The Drillers had been bounced from the playoffs in the first round each of the previous three seasons, despite fielding strong clubs. Under the steady leadership of veteran point guard Mark Robinson and All-CBL first team guard Elias Sipple, this year’s team was determined to end that trend—and they did, though not without drama.
Their first-round matchup came against the San Diego Breakers, led by the electrifying John Jenkins, a two-time CBL MVP and three-time Barrette Award winner from his college days at Northern Mississippi. Jenkins continued to dazzle, averaging 26 points and nearly 10 assists per game, as San Diego pushed the Drillers to the limit. But Dallas prevailed in a tough five-game series to move on.
Next came Portland, which had just outlasted the Kansas City Plainsmen with a decisive 136–102 victory in Game Five of its opening round. The Drillers, showing poise and experience, outworked the Pioneers over six games to reach the finals.
In the championship series, Dallas faced the Cinderella story from Cincinnati. The Steamers had already knocked off two higher seeds and came in riding a wave of confidence, but the Drillers’ depth and veteran savvy proved too much. Dallas captured the CBL crown in six games to reclaim the title they first won back in the spring of 1968.
No one played a bigger role in the Drillers’ success than Mark Robinson. The 33-year-old playmaker—who spent half a decade with the Chicago Panthers of the Federal Basketball League before jumping to the CBL’s Drillers in the league’s first year—delivered what may have been the finest postseason of his long career. Robinson, who has led the CBL in assists in each of its six seasons, averaged nearly 12 per game in this playoff run. But this time, he also took on the role of primary scorer, averaging an impressive 26.1 points per game during the postseason and providing the steady hand that guided Dallas to another championship.
For Robinson and the Drillers, the long road back to the top ended just the way it began six years ago—hoisting the CBL trophy, with confetti falling and a league taking notice that Dallas basketball is once again drilling for gold.
[b]COLLEGE BASKETBALL RECAP
EMERALDS SHINE AT LAST
Lane State Ends Six-Decade Wait with First AIAA Crown
It took more than sixty years, but the Lane State Emeralds have finally climbed to the top of the college basketball world. Long overshadowed by their West Coast Athletic Association rivals, the Emeralds now have a national championship trophy to call their own.
For decades, Lane State watched as its neighbors basked in glory. To the north, Rainier College captured five AIAA titles. Down south, City College of Los Angeles and Coastal California combined for six more. Even Redwood claimed a pair. Meanwhile, the Emeralds—who trailed only Coastal California’s incredible 29 league titles with nine of their own—built a reputation as a team that looked strong in January but faded in March.
They had reached the national semifinals five times and played for the championship three, most memorably falling to Rainier College in the 1939–40 title game—a loss that still stings basketball fans in Oregon. Their last trip to the final four came in 1962, another disappointment, but the deepest wound came just a year ago when the Emeralds missed the tournament entirely, ending a 19-year streak of appearances.
For head coach Ray Kilmer, now in his second decade on the job, the pressure was mounting. But perhaps last year’s snub provided the spark his team needed. The Emeralds opened the season in dazzling form, racing to a 12–1 record. Then, as so often seemed to happen at Lane State, adversity struck.
Junior guard Terry Bradshaw, one of the team’s brightest stars, was ruled academically ineligible for the remainder of the season.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. The conference schedule loomed, and the Emeralds immediately stumbled. They beat Rainier College in their opener, then dropped back-to-back games to Redwood, and CC Los Angeles, leaving them 1–2 in league play.
But just when it seemed the season might unravel, the Emeralds found their footing behind a most unlikely hero. Bob Basham, Bradshaw’s backup the previous two seasons, stepped into the starting lineup and never looked back. His 11-point effort helped spark a 53–45 upset win over Coastal California in Los Angeles—a victory that ignited an 11-game winning streak and carried Lane State to the top of the WCAA standings.
Basham went on to lead the team in scoring the rest of the way, averaging 11.6 points per game as Lane State finished 24–5 overall, 11–3 in conference, earning the WCAA crown and the No. 2 seed in the West Region.
The Emeralds opened the national tournament in style. Senior forward Tim Adams scored 19 points and Basham added 15 in a 74–53 rout of Valley State, the Southern Border Association champion. The second round brought another comfortable win, this time 58–49 over Carolina Poly, a power from the South Atlantic Conference. Junior Julio Herrera came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points—his chance coming only because starter Alan Durham broke his foot in the first half.
Down two regulars, Lane State faced another South Atlantic contender, North Carolina Tech, in the regional final. In past years, this was when the Emeralds might have folded. Not this time. Adams scored 14, junior guard Dick Overton added 12, and the Emeralds advanced to the national semifinals with a 61–53 triumph.
Waiting in New York City’s Bigsby Garden were Detroit City College and Western Iowa from the Great Lakes Alliance, and Mississippi A&M, winners of the Deep South Conference and making their third trip to the national semifinals in four years.
Lane State’s semifinal battle with Detroit City turned into a nail-biter. The Emeralds built a 15-point halftime lead, but the Knights, fueled by junior forward Steve Peterson’s 20 points, stormed back. Detroit closed to within two in the final seconds before a missed jumper by guard Ray Falcone at the buzzer preserved a 55–53 Lane State victory.
In the other semifinal, All-American Melvin Abbott scored 15 as Mississippi A&M defeated Western Iowa 65–60 to reach the title game for the second time in three years.
The championship contest proved anticlimactic. Lane State seized control early, led by eight at halftime, and never looked back, rolling to a 70–54 victory. Herrera scored 15, Basham added 12, and fittingly, two players who began the season on the bench carried the Emeralds to their long-awaited national title.
After decades of frustration, Lane State had finally earned its place among the greats of college basketball—and did it with grit, poise, and a little help from the underdogs who refused to quit.
AIAA CAGE NOTES
- It has been a long time since a Liberty College big man was named AIAA National Player of the Year but that is what Hank Woolley did this year. He joins a pair of Federal Basketball League greats in Luther Gordon and Ward Messer as the only other Liberty College players to win the Art Barrette Trophy. The senior, who hails from Hartford, Ct., is a lock to be a first round draft pick this summer. He led the Bells to a 23-8 record, their highest victory total in over a decade and just their second AIAA appearance since 1963.
- Speaking of Messer, Ward's son Wayne Messer just completed his freshman campaign with Carolina Poly. Not a bad showing for the 6'5" forward, who averaged just under 20 minutes off the bench for the Cardinals, scoring 5.5 ppg and adding nearly 4 rebounds a contest. OSA had him as a top ten prospect his high school senior season.
- Paul Brunnell of Centerville ended his college career with 1,968 points. That is the fourth highest scoring total of all-time trailing only Brooklyn State's Valerio Cortes (1936-39) with 2,036, Ron Bonhall (1962-65) of Redwood who scored 2,035 and former Indiana A&M star Joe Whaley (1964-67) who tallied 1,989.
- Brunell averaged 17.1 ppg this season for the Indians, trailing only Miami State's Bob Cox (18.0) and Al Edwards (17.5) of Georgia Baptist.
- Edwards, a senior forward for the Gators, scored 39 points in a March 66-65 loss to Bluegrass State. It was the highest point total ever accumulated by a player on a losing team and one shy of the AIAA record 40 points jointly held by Hugo Smith, who did it for Johnson Tech in 1959, and North Carolina Atlantic's Dick Schultz, who equaled the mark five years later.
Next up will be the review of the 1973 baseball season.