JUNE 2, 1975
VALIANTS CLAIM CHALLENGE CUP The Montreal Valiants closed the book on the 1975 NAHC season Saturday night with a performance that was as disciplined as it was decisive, blanking the Boston Bees 1–0 at Denny Arena to claim the Challenge Cup for the 10th time in franchise history. Only the Toronto Dukes, with 13 championships, have lifted hockey’s most prized trophy more often.
The final act belonged to goaltender Fred Rucks, whose calm, economical brilliance defined the series and the postseason as a whole. Rucks turned aside every Boston chance in the clincher and finished the playoffs with four shutouts and a 2.22 goals-against average, numbers good enough to make him just the second goaltender ever to earn the David Welcombe Trophy as playoff Most Valuable Player.
It was a difficult week for Boston sports fans. Four nights before the Bees were shut out of the Cup, the city’s other finalist, the Boston Centurions, saw their season end at the hands of St. Louis in the Federal Basketball League championship series.
For the Bees, the trouble in the Challenge Cup final began early. Despite owning the league’s best regular-season record, Boston surrendered both opening games on home ice, immediately placing itself in a precarious position. The Bees did respond in Game Three with their most convincing effort of the series, skating to a 5–1 victory behind a pair of goals from Mark Berg. Even then, the win did little to shake Montreal’s confidence—or Rucks, who later called it his poorest outing of the postseason.
Game Four proved to be the turning point. Boston appeared poised to even the series after carrying the play early and building a 2–1 first-period lead while outshooting Montreal 15–7. The Valiants steadied themselves in the second period, tying the game on a John Partridge goal, before seizing the lead midway through the third when Mark Moggy’s point shot threaded its way through traffic and past Alexandre Daoust.
The Bees answered quickly, Steven Perreaux knotting the score at three just over a minute later, and the game remained deadlocked through regulation as Rucks made several critical stops. Boston survived an early overtime penalty, but the reprieve was temporary. Eleven minutes into the extra session, Pete Fortin finished a crisp setup from Ed Halliday to give Montreal a 4–3 victory and a commanding three-games-to-one series lead.
The decisive fifth game was a tense, tightly checked affair befitting the stakes. Montreal struck late in the opening period when Dan Roeszler snapped a wrist shot past Daoust from the top of the left circle. That lone goal stood up as Rucks and the Valiants turned aside everything Boston could muster, including a frantic final-minute push with Daoust on the bench, to seal the series with another 1–0 victory.
Ron Kincaid led all scorers in the postseason with 24 points in 19 games, flanked by linemates Ed Halliday—who topped the league with 13 playoff goals—and Fortin. It was an unexpected run from a team that entered the final as an underdog, but it ended with a familiar result: Montreal once again at the top of the hockey world.
With five Challenge Cups in the past dozen years and a 10th overall now secured, the Valiants have reaffirmed their place among the NAHC’s great dynasties—and done so by outplaying, outthinking, and ultimately outlasting the league’s best regular-season club.
ROCKETS CAPTURE FBL CROWN
St Louis Seals Title Without Injured BrantnerNo John Brantner, no collapse.
The St. Louis Rockets answered the one question that hovered over the Federal Basketball League finals by closing out the Boston Centurions with a composed 110–100 victory in Game Six, securing their third championship in four years and their fourth in the past seven seasons.
There was understandable anxiety inside Gateway Center before the opening tip. The Rockets returned home holding a 3–2 series lead, but they were coming off a bruising 121–105 loss in Boston that coincided with the stunning sight of Brantner—the league’s most prolific scorer and its unmistakable centerpiece—leaving Game Five early with an injury that ended his postseason. For a team built so heavily around his scoring brilliance, the question was not whether St. Louis could replace Brantner’s points, but whether it could replace his presence.
They did so collectively, and decisively.
Pressed into the starting lineup, Bob Baranowski delivered the finest performance of his four-year FBL career. Making just his 12th career start, Baranowski led all Rockets with 25 points, playing with poise and confidence well beyond his résumé. He was far from alone. Center Reggie Barton and guard Clarence Turgeon each poured in 21 points as St. Louis spread the offensive burden and never allowed Boston to seize control.
The Rockets took the lead midway through the first quarter and, from that point on, dictated the game. Boston made several pushes and cut the margin repeatedly, but St. Louis answered each one with timely baskets and disciplined execution. Shooting nearly 50 percent from the field, the Rockets outworked the Centurions at both ends of the floor and ensured that the season would end on their home court.
Despite missing the finale, Brantner’s imprint on the postseason was impossible to overlook. His extraordinary body of work earned the 31-year-old forward his fourth playoff Most Valuable Player award. The defining moment came in Game Seven of the Western Conference finals against Minneapolis, when Brantner erupted for a playoff-record 64 points. He also authored a 58-point outing earlier in the postseason and finished with eight games of 40 points or more—numbers that bordered on the absurd even by his lofty standards.
In the end, Game Six became a testament not just to Brantner’s brilliance, but to the Rockets’ depth, resilience, and championship pedigree. When the moment demanded it, St. Louis proved it was more than a one-man team—and in doing so, added yet another banner to an already crowded rafters.
WHEN THE CALENDAR TURNS, THE TRUTH COMES OUTBy the time the calendar flips to June, baseball has usually stopped pretending. The excuses are thinner, the sample size is thicker, and clubs begin to look less like preseason hopes and more like what they truly are. After roughly 50 games—just under a third of the schedule—the 1975 races are starting to separate expectation from reality, and in most cases, the standings are telling the truth.
Some of it has unfolded just as forecast. Atlanta and Seattle, the class of their respective associations a year ago, are doing what good teams tend to do once the weather warms: pulling away. Other developments, however, are enough to make even the most seasoned observer blink twice at the box scores.
Start in the Federal Association East, where Atlanta has made dominance look routine. The Copperheads have ruled the division for three seasons now, so their perch atop the league standings comes as no shock. They’ve opened up a five-game cushion on Baltimore, and they’ve done it without fanfare—just solid pitching, timely hitting, and the unmistakable posture of a club that knows it will still be standing in September.
Baltimore’s presence in second place isn’t the story. Boston’s position at the bottom most certainly is.
The Minutemen came into the season talking openly about ending a 15-year playoff drought, backing up the talk with veteran acquisitions meant to signal seriousness of purpose. Two months in, the result has been something closer to disbelief. Boston owns the worst record in baseball, and while the standings show a club floundering, the numbers beneath them tell a stranger tale. The Minutemen have been snakebitten in one-run games, losing 12 of 14 such contests, a statistical oddity that explains how a team that has been outscored by just six runs can sit 12 games under .500 after 44 games. Baseball, as always, finds new ways to bruise the hopeful.
Out West in the Federal Association, the disappointment has been St. Louis—but with an asterisk. The Pioneers are still in the cellar, still eight games behind the Los Angeles Suns, but the season has quietly shifted beneath their feet. Since May 9, St. Louis has gone 17–5, shedding an early six-game losing streak and beginning to resemble the club many thought it would be in April. They remain a long shot, but at least now they look alive.
The Continental Association has been less about surprise risers than fallen standards. Montreal, once a fixture atop the standings, is now confirming fears that last season’s slip to .500 was more than a blip. Harry Barrell’s Saints are six games under even and already 9½ back of Milwaukee, as the Arrows position themselves for a second straight division crown. The pitching has held, but the offense has lagged, and the most troubling sign wears No. 16 and answers to Dixie Turner.
Turner, the eight-time Whitney Award winner, saw his numbers tumble in 1974 and has yet to find his footing this season. At 33, still young by ordinary measures, he is suddenly old by baseball’s ruthless arithmetic. He’s hitting .259, popped his fourth home run yesterday, and went 2-for-4 in a loss to Kansas City—but those are footnotes compared to the dominance he once commanded. Whispers have begun, and in this game, whispers have a way of growing louder.
In the Continental West, Seattle has done little to diminish the glow of last October’s long-awaited championship. The Kings lead the division as expected, but few would have guessed that the Los Angeles Stars would already be 9½ games adrift, or that Dallas would trail by a staggering 14. The bright spot belongs to San Francisco, where the Sailors have quietly sailed into second place at 29–22. If they can hold their course, it would mark their first winning season since 1970—a modest achievement, perhaps, but one that matters deeply in that clubhouse.
There are still four months of baseball ahead, and no lead is permanent in a sport that grinds as relentlessly as this one. Still, with every division leader already holding at least a 4½-game edge, the early sorting has been swift and, in most cases, unforgiving. June doesn’t end races—but it does tell you who belongs in them.
- Congratulations to Atlanta pitcher Marco Middleton as the 32-year-old became the 72nd pitcher in FABL history to reach the 200-win plateau with a 2-1 victory over Minneapolis on Wednesday. The four-time Allen Award winner is off to a hot start to his season, posting a 6-1 record with a 2.70 era through nine starts.
- Two other milestones last week as Tom Lorang of the Chicago Cougars joined the 1,500 rbi club - a group with only 20 members- while Ben Baker of the Seattle Kings collected his 1,500th career base hit.
- Monthly Awards were handed out for May. Bill Dunham of the Los Angeles Stars was named the top pitcher in the CA last month, going 4-0 with a 2.38 May era. In the Fed it was Lloyd Henson as the 29-year-old was returned to the Pioneers after being released by Toronto who had claimed him in the rule five draft. The struggling Wolves have to be kicking themselves after Henson went 5-1 with a 1.93 era in May and helped St Louis start to turn its season around.
- Imperials outfielder Phil Terry and Minneapolis catcher Julio Castaneda were the batters of the month for May.
WOLVES MOVING FORWARD, WHAT TO DO? This reporter stated at the end of his last article he would start condensing his recaps to save fans from the mostly painful reliving of past events. Instead we start looking ahead in an attempt to give the fanbase some hope in the future. Dunbar has decided to start at the top of organization, with the people who have the final say therefore bear the most responsibility for the results of the Wolves.
GM- At present this may be most secure position in the upper level of management for the team. He was just brought out of retirement back the head the front office. He is said to have a good relationship with Bob Smith, the owner. He will likely be given time to bring winning baseball back to Toronto.
MGR- Carl Evans: Evans is in his 4th year as Wolves bench boss having compiled a 204-282 record over his first 3 seasons. His style seems to fit the team's roster. He favours pitching and defense over explosive offense. He has the final say on all in-game decisions so has the most control over the W/L record. He along the rest of the bench staff, except one, is in final year of his contract. Jim thinks that odds of Evans returning in 1976 are no better than 50/50 though he will most likely finish the year as the GM evaluates all aspects of the organization.
BC- Pete Giaimo: Is constantly seen in discussions with Evans before, during, after games. A sound developer of outfielders his future will be tied directly to that of Evans.
PC- John Joiner: Came to Toronto after 7 seasons in Japan before the start of last season. His first year was termed a success, things have turned negative this season. Jim thinks if a firing for show is required to placate the fans Joiner would be close to the top of the list.
HC- Jesse Krollinger: Joined the Wolves from the Milwaukee organization this spring, Initial results with his methods are less than satisfactory in the first 6 weeks of 1975. He still probably has time to get his system into place but fans want to see something moving forward in the very near future. He is the only staff member with a contact for 1976.
[b}1B Coach- Howie Strong and 3B Coach Andy Antonetti:[/b] Each of their job security is tied directly to Evans' future.
Trainer- Eli Christian: A fixture for the Wolves, he has been trainer since 1960 and will probably have the job as long as wants to work.
Scouting Director Jim Mackey: In his third year on the job the GM will get feedback on his worth when draft picks start reporting to minor league teams in June. His acumen will be will constantly on display as the GM evaluates the prospects over the summer. Mackey's job will rest on these results of the young players performance.
Overall most of the staff is tied to the whether or not the GM feels Evans is the right man for the future. The GM accompanied the team west on its poor road showing for the end of May. He was seen constantly taking notes during the game then holding post game meetings with Evans. Only time will tell if these meeting were critical of in game decisions or positive reinforcement of Evans. The GM has another card to play, will he force Evans' hand by trading some of the players on the current roster?
Wolves Remain in CA East Cellar
The Wolves went 3-3 last week taking 2 of 3 from the San Francisco Sailors before dropping 2 of 3 to Dallas which is one of 2 teams with a lower winning percentage in the CA than the Wolves. For May the Wolves finish with a 13-15 record. Not bad you say, until you look a little deeper.
For the first half of the month they were 8-6 after going 8-5 on a home stand. They finished the month 5-10 after taking a trip west before coming home this past week. Toronto has faced the top 3 in the West in 18 of 21 games interdivision this season, so there could be hope going forward against the West. A minor consolation is the Wolves are winning at home, 11-8 at home 2-7 on the road for May. This does not bode well for June with 20 of 30 games on the road including 2 twin bills in 5 days in Milwaukee then Cleveland.
The past week played out in a similar manner of the season has gone. Winning at times despite shoddy defense, they made 9 errors in the 3 game series against SF. Jim Hunter pitched well in the first game then Red Bullock survived 4 miscues in an 8-3 win. With Dallas in town the team walked it off on a chilly Friday evening before dropping both weekend games. The Sunday loss to open June was particularly maddening when the Jim Hunter could not hold a 5-0 lead in a 6-5 loss when the winning run was walked across the plate. The team was loudly booed leaving the field. The left side of the infield, Clyde Barrow,14, Heinie Pearce, 12, has now combined for 26 errors in the first two months of the season. Dunbar knows that Evans knows this has to stop or changes must made soon.
In other news Sid Cullen was POTW in the CA. Nice for him although at 38 how much does he left in the tank? Rumours are that the GM is trying to send Cullen to a contender to close out his 15+ year FABL career. Davenport's Danny Munoz was POTM in the Heartland League. At 24 he could soon be in AA. A roster was made on Sunday Jackie Daniels was recalled after short rehab stint with George Downing heading back to Buffalo. The month of June will probably decide the direction for the Wolves.
Buffalo Nickels -AAA
The staff in Buffalo is on the young side led by newly hired Manager John McDonald who at 43 many believe is at least at one level above where he should start his managerial career. His forte is as a defensive instructor. He is a former 4th rounder who never caught on full-time in Boston before he went to Japan to finish his career. He is assisted by PC Babe Holden who is in his second year with the team. At 36 he seems to be able to communicate effectively with the staff. The old man on the staff is HC George Bise at 50. He is reputed to very good at instructing players by keeping their approach simple with generally only giving only one key for each hitter to concentrate on while at the plate.
At this time Nickels, Toronto's highest level farm team, are currently 19-18 sitting 4th in the Union League.
Biggest Surprise: Had this column been written a week ago it would have been Jim Hunter who was 3-0 with a miniscule 0.81 ERA. He was called to the big club before the western swing where he has struggled in his four starts. At present Dan Moran 2B is opening eyes, turning heads. Moran was acquired in an off-season trade with Seattle that sent P Ray Eddy to the Kings. Moran's has started the AAA season well both at the plate and in the field. Currently ranked as the #97 prospect he can play second, third, or short. While some are calling for immediate promotion he may be better served spending more time in Buffalo in the long term.
Watching: Pedro Maldonado, 1B, who was another off-season acquisition rumoured to be staying in FABL had Bob Reynolds not had a hot spring. Maldonado has struggled to start the season, though he has improved lately at .250/.372/.412 6 HR 27 RBI. Some think will Reynolds slow start if he had shown anything early Maldonado would already be with the Wolves.
On the mound Joe Trent, 27, who has discovered a new pitch is being revaluated by the scouting staff. Could be a late bloomer that will help at the FABL level?
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 06/01/1975
- The White House seeks to close chapter on Mayaguez crisis, as President Ford urges Congress to move forward while defending his authority to act swiftly.
- War Powers debate intensifies on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers pressing new limits on presidential military action in the wake of Cambodia and Vietnam.
- Public confidence in government remains fragile, as post-Vietnam, post-Watergate skepticism continues to shape political commentary.
- Vietnam refugee airlifts are complete but now the focus turns towards long-term resettlement plans. Canada expands intake of Indochinese refugees, signaling a broader humanitarian commitment as provinces prepare housing and employment support.
- Energy officials warn consumers not to expect relief at the pumps, despite calmer oil markets and the absence of new OPEC price hikes.
- Middle East diplomacy stalls as Kissinger suspends shuttle talks, acknowledging a deadlock between Israel and Egypt over further Sinai withdrawals.