Summer of ’67 – Hockey Tidbits

As we come up to our September 1 beginning of daily coverage of hockey news from 50 years ago, let’s have a look at some more bits of news that emerged over the summer of 1967:

Players Association Recognized:

Amid all this expansion draft news comes another bit of information that may be just as newsworthy in the long run. The National Hockey League has formally recognized the formation of the National Hockey League Players Association. Toronto Lawyer Alan Eagleson is the main person responsible for the formation of the association and will be its executive director. Bob Pulford of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been elected the organization’s first president.

Pulford and Eagleson are long-time associates and have both angled for union-like representation for the players over the past few years.

One of the more interesting developments connected with the establishment of a players union is a rule that states all players on NHL team protected lists must be signed to contracts before the start of training camp this fall. It had been normal practice in the past for players to sign their contracts during training camp, before the start of the regular schedule.

Blues Purchase Quinn

The St. Louis Blues continue to add toughness and size to their blue line. On June 9th the team purchased the contract of defenceman Pat Quinn from the Montreal Canadiens. Quinn, 24, is a six-foot, three-inch, 215-pounder who is regarded as one of the roughest players in hockey. He spent last season with Montreal’s Central Professional League farm team in Houston.

Howe Has Surgery

Detroit Red Wings superstar Gordie Howe underwent surgery on his right elbow on June 9th. The operation was performed to remove a cyst.

Surgeon Dr. john Finley of the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital says the surgery was a complete success and Howe will be fully recovered in time for the Red Wings training camp in September.

Howe, who is now 39, sustained the injury in a collision with Eddie Shack of the Toronto Maple Leafs during a game in March.

Canucks Set Working Agreements

The Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League set up their working agreements with National Hockey League teams for the upcoming 1967-68 season. The Canucks say they will continue with their existing agreement with the New York Rangers. In addition, Vancouver will also received player help from the new California Seals expansion club.

The Rangers say they will send players to both Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League and the Canucks. The Seals will also send players to both teams.

There is a strong connection between the Seals and Canucks organizations. California coach and general manager Bert Olmstead ran the Canucks operation last seasons.

Canucks also named Canadian broadcaster Annis Stukus as their general manager.

Butterfield AHL Prexy

The American Hockey League owners have named Jack Butterfield as the permanent president of the league. For the past year, Butterfield had been serving in an interim capacity, and at the annual league meeting, the owners decided to make his appointment permanent.

Butterfield’s first act as president was to announce he would pursue a complete and total merger with the Western Hockey League.

“I feel that such a merger will be the salvation of the AHL and that with a 13- or 14-team circuit stretched across the country we will be able to present the public a very strong brand of hockey and at the same time strengthen our footage in future negotiations with the National Hockey League.”

Robert (Bob) Clarke of the Rochester Americans was named Chairman of the Board.

Canadiens Sign Junior Stars

Montreal Canadiens signed a couple for former Peterborough Petes Junior A stars in late June. Joining the Canadiens with an excellent chance of making the big club next fall are wingers Garry Monahan and Mickey Redmond, both 20. Both signed two-year contracts.

Redmond led the Ontario Hockey Association Junior A Series last year with 51 goals in 48 games. He also appeard in five playoff games with the CPHL Houston Apollos, scoring three goals and two assists.

Monahan scored 30-54-84 with Peterborough, and also played three games with Houston in the playoffs, scoring once.

Shero to Coach Buffalo

The Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League named Fred Shero. Shero has been coaching the past few years in the New York Rangers organization. Last season he was with Omaha of the CPHL.

Shero, 41, will succeed Fred Hunt, who retains his post as general manager. He played 145 games over three seasons in the late 1940s for the Rangers, scoring six goals and adding 14 assists.

Shero plans a wide-open style of play for the Bisons:

“I’ve never believed in prizes for goaltenders or in a defensive style of play. We’re in the entertainment business and offensive hockey gives the fans more for their money.

“I’d sooner win a game 9-8 than 1-0. We’ll be trying to score goals whether were ahead by six or behind.  I don’t subscribe to the theory of sitting on a lead. We’ll be shooting for goals for 60 minutes in every game.”

 

Kings to Use LA Sports Arena

The Los Angeles Kings were granted a number of dates at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on which they will host National Hockey League home games. The Kings new arena, The Forum, will not be ready until January of 1968.

The Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, often at odds with Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke, granted the Kings 11 home dates between October 31 and December 23.

NHL Teams Announce Camp Dates

Several NHL teams announced their September training camp plans in July:

• Montreal Canadiens will open their training camp at the Forum in Montreal on September 15. The Habs will play 12 pre-season games. Nine of those games will be against NHL Eastern Division teams. Eastern teams are not permitted to play exhibition games against teams in the Western (Expansion) Division.
• Toronto Maple Leafs begin training camp on September 6 in Peterborough, Ontario. Maple Leafs will play 11 exhibition games, including a home-and-home series with Montreal Canadiens. It will be the first time in history the clubs have met in pre-season action.
• Philadelphia Flyers set a date of September 10 for their  camp opening in Quebec City. They will begin exhibition play there on September 17 against their AHL Quebec farm team.
• St. Louis Blues will begin training camp at the St. Louis Arena on September 11.
• Pittsburgh Penguins players will report to training camp in Brantford, Ontario on September 13.
• Minnesota North Stars will train in Haliburton, Ontario. Camp will begin on September 7.

Hockey Notes from July:

• New York Rangers goalie Gilles Villemure has spent the summer driving trotters at Three Rivers, Quebec.
• John Mitchell, assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, will become the general manager of the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League. Mitchell is a native of Kirkintillock, Scotland.
• Leafs Punch Imlach reports that 41-year-old Allan Stanley is skating twice a day at his home in Fenelon Falls, Ontario in preparation for the upcoming NHL season.
• Former California Seals general manager Rudy Pilous will sue the team over his dismissal from the post in June. Pilous is seeking $105,000 he says the team owes him.

• Philadelphia Flyers are working on a deal to acquire forward Rosaire Paiement from the Boston Bruins. Paiement played for the Jersey Devils of the EHL last season.
• Red Wings general manager Sid Abel says he has been busy trying to pry a defenceman from the California Seals. Wings are said to be very interested in both Bob Baun and Kent Douglas.
• Terry Casey, 23, a forward with the United States national team, was killed in a car accident near Hinsdale, Montana.
• California Seals named Gordon Fashoway, 41, as an assistant coach to Bert Olmstead.
• Ken Wharram, Paul Henderson, Bruce Draper and Mike Corbett spent the summer teaching at the Holiday Hockey Camp in Sundridge, Ontario
• Philadelphia Flyers have named Howard Baldwin, 25, as ticket manager.
• Fernie Flaman, who had a 15-year NHL career, will coach the Fort Worth Wings of the CPHL next season. Flaman coached the now defunct Los Angeles Blades of the WHL last year.
• Canadian broadcast veteran Al Shaver will become the play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota North Stars.
• Thirty-two-year-old Tommy Woodcock is the new head trainer for the St. Louis Blues

• Los Angeles Kings named Johnny Wilson as general manager-coach of the Springfield Kings of the AHL.
• Minnesota North Stars have purchased from Montreal Canadiens the rights to two junior players, Bernard Cote and Don Herriman.
• California Seals have signed their first player, centre Joe Szura, who was with Cleveland Barons of the AHL last season.
• Doug Harvey, 42 and one of hockey’s all-time greats, has been signed to be player-coach with the Kansas City Blues of the CPHL.