The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference

[JETStender]

JULY 3, 1978

NHL price too high

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A year ago. when he was operating the Edmonton Oilers, Nelson Skalbania was willing to meet the National Hockey League's price for admission. This year, as owner of the Indianapolis Racers, he was not.

What's the difference? "The initials NHL mean more in Edmonton than, they do here," says Racers General Manager Don LeRose, who also was employed by Skalbania with the Oilers.

A year ago, we had people lined up to buy season tickets just on the possibility we might have NHL hockey. I don't think the label means that much here. The important thing here seems to be to have a competitive team. We are trying to do what we have to do to be competitive next season."

This year, Skalbania was not interested in paying a reported $2 million to join the NHL, and the Racers were not one of the four World Hockey Association teams ticketed for entry in the older league before the merger talks collapsed last week.

Now the Racers are trying to get season ticket sales underway again, hoping to sell at least 6,000 by the start of the 1978-79 campaign. In addition, LeRose said Skalbania hopes to name a new coach, to replace Bill Goldsworthy, within a week.

LeRose also said WHA general managers "will meet Wednesday and well be discussing a divisional setup and an interleague draft What we're pushing for is an alignment of the Racers, Cincinnati, Birmingham and New England in one division, and the three Canadian teams — Quebec, Edmonton and Winnipeg — plus Houston in the other division. I've talked to two other general managers about an interleague draft, and I think it will go through. If it does, it will be held Thursday." "What we are thinking about is that each team can protect 10 players and two goaltenders. No team could lose more than three players."

The WHA was not divided into divisions last season. Cincinnati and Indianapolis, finishing seventh and eighth, were out of the playoffs. LeRose said the divisional play would help. "No. lt the travel is getting to be too expensive," he said. "Also, it would give us more play against people we consider our natural rivals. And we would like to wrap up the three Canadian teams in one division.

Quebec, Winnipeg and Edmonton all finished ahead of Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Birmingham last season. LeRose said an interleague draft would tend to equalize the talent.

[JETStender]

THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1978

Six team league?
BY STAN FISCHLER
Special to the Free Press

NEW YORK, N.Y.— Slimmer by at least one team, the WHA today prepared for its annual player draft uncertain whether Birmingham soon will accompany Houston out of the league fold.

Following a meeting here yesterday at the Plaza Hotel, WHA president Howard Baldwin acknowledged the Aeros, Avco World Cup champions in 1974-75, are not likely to return for 1978-79.

"It seems unlikely," said Baldwin, following a meeting with Aeros' trustee Kenneth
Schnitzer, "that Houston will continue to operate in the WHA."

Immediately after the disclosure, Birmingham Bulls' president Join F. Bassett Jr. confirmed he was uncertain about his club's WHA future.

"I'm going to discuss the situation with my partners," said Bassett. "If they decide they want to ice a team, we'll be back in the WHA. If not, we won't play." Nevertheless, neither Baldwin nor Winnipeg Jets' owner and president Michael Gobuty seemed depressed about the WHA losing two franchises.

"If the WHA has sis teams," said Gobuty, "I'll be optimistic about its future. There will be good competition and I think the draft will help the Jets as well as Indianapolis and Cincinnati." Baldwin also put on a happy face. , "Let's not forget the NHL operated with six teams for a long, long time," said Baldwin.

The WHA meetings have been graced by several outstanding players including 50- year-old Gordie Howe and 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky, who flanked Muhammad Ali in the Plaza Hotel lobby last night. Howe indicated he would be skating with New England Whalers next fall, and was not concerned about the loss of Houston or the possible loss of Birmingham. "If the WHA can limit itself to six teams," said Howe, "and develop strength and continuity it could be a viable league.

"As for me, I'll be at training camp in September and I will play as long as my mind, legs and guts are still there." Although Bobby Hull was not in evidence yesterday a league official insisted Hull will be skating with the Jets next season.

The question of Gretzky's eligibility because of his age was dismissed by Baldwin, who assured newsmen the prodigy will be skating for Indianapolis next fall although he will not turn 18 until January.

"I respect the way Canadians feel about the use of under-age players," Baldwin concluded. "But I also know Gretzky won't suddenly develop magical powers the minute he turns 18."

[JETStender]

Syracuse Herald-Journal, Thursday, July 6,1978

Aeros may bite the dust

NEW YORK (UPI) - Howard Baldwin, president of the World Hockey Association, reported Wednesday it is unlikely that the Houston Aeros will continue to operate in the WHA.

"Ben Hatskin (WHA chairman of the board) and I have recommended to the trustees that Houston be given normal notice, based on the report of the Aeros' trustee, Mr. Kenneth Schnitzer," said Baldwin.

In another development, the Birmingham Bulls have been given until the close of business Wednesday July 12 to establish definite plans for the upcoming season. Bulls' trustee John Bassett has been released from the commitment made one month ago to operate during 1978-79. At the time, merger talks were under way with the NHL.

If Houston and Birmingham drop out, the WHA will be left with six teams, New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Quebec. Both Baldwin and Hatskin have recommended to all WHA teams not to sign under-age juniors. The three Canadian teams, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Quebec are against such signings.

However, some United 'States-based teams have indicated their desire to sign the juniors. They base their feeling on the court decision in the Ken Linseman case of last year in which a federal judge ruled it is illegal in the United States to deprive a player of the chance to earn a living because of his age.

The WHA will hold an interleague draft today at 1:30 p.m. Each team will be allowed to protect 12 skaters and two goalies. No amateur draft will be held this year.

[JETStender]

Saturday, July 8,1978

Aeros Fold as Schnitzer Sells Team to Winnipeg

HOUSTON (AP) - The World Hockey Association Houston Aeros, the city's winningest pro franchise, were sold to the Winnipeg Jets Friday, ending a lengthy Odyssey by Aeros owner Kenneth Schnitzer lo gel into lire National Hockey League.

Schnitzer said the 13 existing Aeros player contracts and the Aeros franchise would be transferred to the Jets. "All we kept was the Aeros name and the office furniture," Schnitzer said. "I wanted lo make sure we cut all cords." The Aeros played six seasons here, compiling a 285-170-19 record and never missing the playoffs and winning WHA championships in the 1973-7-t.

The Aeros owner said the WHA wanted to Aeres to play next season but he had declined the offer, citing economics as the reasons, Schnitzer said the Aeros lost in excess of $1.5 million playing in the WHA last season. "We see no significantly improved prospects for the corning season," Schnitzer said. "That kind of ongoing loss does not make economic sense,"

The sale to the Jets does not include the contracts of Aeros Coach Bill Dineen, named WHA Coach of the Year, or assistant coach Jack Stantield, Schnitzer said.

Schnitzer had pursued several angles to bring an NHL franchise to Houston. Although a season ticket campaign fell short of expectations, Schnitzer negotiated with several NHL franchises and applied for entry into the NHL as an expansion team.

All that is behind him now, Schnitzer said. "I'm giving up for the foreseeable future (trying to enter the NHL)," Schnitzer said. "] think the NHL will come to Houston but I think it may be two or three years away. There is a solid base that will allow hockey to come here."

Schnitzer said even if the Aeros joined merger talks next year with the NHL, that would make five teams trying lo get into the older league. "The NHL would need an even number of team...so we would be in no better condition than we are today, and we would have (he added burden of another season's operating losses," Schnitzer said.

Schnitzer said if Houston eventually gets an NHL franchise, it will be through expansion instead of merger. "I don’t want to get involved with merger," he said, "those things are wild."

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. SATURDAY. JULY 8.1978

Jets take shine to Aeros
By BARBARA BUCK

It was an obvious marriage. The Winnipeg Jets, buffeted by the dual blows of losing two-thirds of the World Hockey Association's top line to the National Hockey League and the disappointment of being left at the alter by the NHL in recent merger negotiations, proposed to the financially-ailing Houston Aeros.

This time Winnipeg was a welcome suitor.

Friday Bob Graham, the Jets' chairman of the board, announced the club had purchased the contracts of all 12 players remaining under contract to the Aeros, thirdplace finishers in the WHA last season and twice Avco Cup champions. "This is the culmination of a plan developed over the past few weeks and concluded Tuesday at our annual meetings in New York." Graham told members of the Winnipeg media.

Included in the purchase are the rights to Houston's top line last season, centre Terry Ruskowski, right winger Rich Preston and left winger Morris Lukowich. Also on the list are centre Andre Lacroix, who holds the WHA record for goalscoring; winger Cam Connor; Scott Campbell, one of the most promising young defencemen in the league; former Winnipeg right winger Don Larway, who was the No. 1 draft choice of the NHL Boston Bruins in 1971: defencemen John Hughes. Paul Terbenchc and Allan McLeod; centre Steve West and left winger John Gray.

The purchase means, of course, the Houston franchise no longer exists, reducing the number of teams in the WHA to seven, with the Birmingham Bulls a doubtful entry next season.

Michael Gobuty masterminded the deal," Graham went on, "and we feel it will make the Jets an exciting team for the coming season." Ken Schnitzer, owner of the Aeros. Confirmed Gobuty's influence. "Most of the teams in the WHA expressed interest in the players," he said. "But I wanted to keep them together if it was possible, and I had had discussions with Michael from the beginning, so when the time came for the deal to be finalized, he was' given the priority.

“I could have sold the players to the league or the NHL individually, for perhaps more money, but this is a time when the WHA must protect what it has."

Graham declined to put a price on the purchase, but Schnitzer, who has made no secret of the fact lie has lost close to $2 million in the ' last couple of years, said even with the deal, he "still had lost $1.5 million", leading to the conclusion the purchase had been in the order of $500,000.

The move brings the number of players the club has under contract to 25, and with an expressed interest in at least three outstanding juniors. Graham said it was obvious the roster would have to be pared for the coming season.

"The" Houston players have not been signed," he stressed, "but most of them are obligated to appear for training camp, leaving us in the rather unfamiliar situation of being overloaded with high-calibre' players at this point in the year. -At least two of the Houston players have clauses in their contracts which allow them to act independently in this situation," Graham admitted.

Lacroix, reportedly playing the third year of a seven-year contract worth $170,000 annually, can not be traded to a Canadian team without his permission. Graham seemed to feel the 5'8" centre's contract would stand in the way of his playing for the Jets. However, the large part of Lacroix's salary — $100,000 yearly—has been guaranteed for the next three years by Ray Kroc of San Diego, the team with which Lacroix originally played.

Cam Connor has a no trade clause in his contract, and is reportedly interested in playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. However the big left winger had nothing but good things to say about Winnipeg and the Jets when contacted Friday. ,

"If you have to be sold to somebody, the Jets are not a bad team," he admitted. "More than any other team in this league, the fans and the press are right behind the team. In fact, I think the players might be a little surprised because the Winnipeg people will treat them so well. But," he concluded, "after Houston, I think a lot of them will find the cold a little hard to take."

[JETStender]

July 12, 1978

WHA teams near merger

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indianapolis Racers and the Birmingham Bulls are very close to completing a merger of the two World Hockey Association teams executive vice president Don LeRose said Tuesday.

LeRose said the purpose of the merger is obviously to strengthen the Racers
and attempt to make them a contender " It also presumably would strengthen Indianapolis' chances of being included in any future merger with the National Hockey League.

If the merger goes through, the new Team would operate as the Racers in Indianapolis for the 1978-79 season.

Under the plan Bulls owner John Bassett would become part owner in toe Racers, whose majority owner is Nelson Skalbania of Vancouver, British Columbia. "Merging my interests with Nelson may very well be in the best interests of my partners in Birmingham and Toronto," Bassett said. "By amalgamating the rosters of two clubs — Indianapolis and Birmingham — and adding some of the top under-age juniors in Canada, you would have quite a competitive situation."

Bassett said be has held extensive talks with Central Hockey League officials and Birmingham is expected to be added to CHL as an expansion franchise in 1978-79, along with Houston, whose WHA team and players were sold to the Winnipeg Jets last week.

LeRose said of the move to place Birmingham in the CHL, "It would be a development team to go along with long-range plans for a possible National Hockey League franchise for Indianapolis."

[JETStender]

SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD THURSDAY JULY 13, 1978


For Two More Seasons ...
Rockies to Stay in Denver

.' NORTH BERGEN. N.J. (UPI) - The president of a New Jersey trucking firm announced Wednesday he has reached agreement to move the Colorado Rockies hockey team to the Meadowlands Sports Complex when an arena is completed.

Arthur Imperatore said the Rockies will stay in Denver for the next two seasons. He has paid $7 million for the team. He made the announcement at a news conference in Denver and through a spokesman here. Imperatore said the move is subject to the approval of the National Hockey League's board of governors, which meets July 25 in Toronto.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority will build a basketball and hockey arena for use by the Denver club and the New Jersey Nets professional basketball team.

Imperatore's spokesman said the decision for the Rockies to remain in Denver for the next two years was based in part on the lack of an existing facility in New Jersey and the lack of adequate, available-playing dates in Madison Square Garden.

The businessman made his announcement at a news conference attended by Denver Mayor Bill McNichols and Jack Vickers, head of the Colorado Rockies. Iniperaiore said the decision provides Denver with the opportunity to prove to the satisfaction of the league that it can support an NHL franchise either through expansion or transfer.

"I'm buying the team with the expectation of bringing it into my home area, which is New Jersey," said Imperatore. "I was born there, grew up there and became a hockey nut there."

Vickers and Imperatore said the delayed move will give Denver fans time to gather support to obtain another NHL team. Vickers said he had no bitterness about the financial losses he incurred or the lease dispute with the city.

"I regret that things didn't go better for us. We lost more money than we ever dreamed," said Vickers. "Mostly it has to do with professional sports and player salaries and all that."

[JETStender]

SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD THURSDAY JULY 13, 1978

Bulls to Stay in WHA

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The Birmingham Bulls will remain in the World Hockey Association.

That was the decision reached by principal owner John Bassett and his 32 limited partners after a Tuesday night meeting and announced by Bassett at a Wednesday news conference.

Bassett had until 5 p.m. Wednesday to notify the WHA and the Central Hockey League of his intentions. He had said earlier "that if the Bulls pulled out of the WHA, he would enter a Birmingham team in the CHL. Bassett had insisted all along that his mind was open on the matter, that the opinions of his local partners would decide the fate of the Bulls, who have played two seasons in Birmingham and gone to the WHA playoffs once.

After meeting with the partners, Bassett said, "These are a great bunch of guys. They have great pride in their city. There was no indecision, not a great of of discussion. Although no formal vote was taken, it was a unanimous situation.

"I guess they're learning professional sports is an addiction."

The Bulls averaged some 8,000 fans per game last season, up several hundred 'from the year before. The team finished sixth in the eight-team WHA and earned a spot in the playoffs, losing after to eventual Avco Cup champion Winnipeg in the first round. The meeting's result squelched reports that Bassett would merge the Bulls with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA.

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1978

Brewery set to buy Habs

MONTREAL (CP) — The battle of the breweries for control of one of North America's premier sports franchises— Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League—appeared ended today.

Molson Breweries of Canada Ltd., had a news conference scheduled for noon EOT, at which time it was expected to announce it had purchased 90 per cent of the 19-time Stanley Cup winning club from current owners- Edward and Peter Bronfman—for upwards of the -$23 million offer made earier this week by Labatt Breweries of Canada Ltd., of London, Ont.

At the same time the brewery was reported ready to lease the 16,544-seat Montreal Forum for an indefinite period. The air-conditioned Forum is in almost constant use with various other attractions on a year-long basis. It was learned that under the new corporate structure. Jean Beliveau, long-time star with the hockey club and now vice-president of corporate relations with the team will be made president. He will replace lawyer Jacques Courtois as president and NHL governor for the club.

In addition to his duties with the Canadiens, Beliveau is a director of the Molson Companies Ltd.. the parent company of Molson Breweries of Canada Ltd. Throughout the negotiations, the Bronfman brothers kept a completely low profile and refused comment.

D. J. (Don) McDougall, president of Labatt Breweries of Canada Ltd., who admitted earlier this week his company had held discussions with the Bronfman*, wus reported in Montreal today to attend a meeting of the Grand Prix auto racing organizing committee. His company is sponsoring the race scheduled here, Oct. 7-9.

When the Labatt interest became public knowledge. Molson Breweries president Morgan McCammon. Admitted his company was also interested in the purchase of the team.

The Canadiens have become a landmark of success and consistency, both on the ice and at the box office, in the midst of the current wave of franchise failures and transfers in North America today.

The original franchise was awarded on Nov. 22.1917. Since Senator Donat Raymond became principal shareholder in 1936, taking over from original owners Leo Dandurand and Joe Cattarinch, the team has changed hands only three times and twice within one family.

Senator Hartland Molson, honorary chairman of the Molson Companies Ltd., whose main operation at the time was the 196-year-old family-owned brewery, acquired the team in 1957 from Raymond. He later sold it to nephews David, William and Peter for a reported $6 million. The three Molson brothers sold the team and the renovated Forum to the Bronfmans on December 31. 1971 for a reported $15 million.

Labatt. which owns a 45 per-cent interest in Toronto Blue Jays of baseball's American League, attempted to enter the NHL as club owners in 1968.

At that time, the brewery attempted to purchase the struggling Oakland Seals franchise and transfer the team to Vancouver. The Canadian West Coast city had been bypassed by the NHL board of governors in its attempt to become part of the 1967 league expansion to 12 teams from six.

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY/SEPTEMBER .15, 1978

John Bassett, the controversial owner of Birmingham Bulls, claims he hasn't signed any under-age players, merely ihat he has an understanding with six of them.

The WHA has offered him $2.5 million for the Birmingham franchise. But it's expected he won't sell. "I'm completely prepared to play hockey in the WHA this season," Bassett said Wednesday night. "I paid the league half a million dollars in dues and I've kept my office staff. I'm ready.

"On the other hand, if I decide that way, I may not have a team in the WHA this season. It's my decision'. I'm the only one who can puii the rug out from under me. Whether we play will depend on whether the under-aged kids can play."

Ben Hatskin, the WHA's chief executive officer, says the under-age players will probably play. "The league has no jurisdiction to stop any 18-year-old from playing," said Hatskin.

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1978

Bulls remain
in WHA fold

HARTFORD, Conn. (CP) — The World Hockey Association will operate this season with seven teams, Including Birmingham Bulls, the league announced Saturday.

League trustees contemplated a proposal whereby the league would purchase the Bulls from owner John F. Bassett of Toronto and then disband the team. However, a league statement released Saturday said that while thought was given to the proposal, "no agreement could be reached." League trustees spent much of Friday involved in conference calls, discussing the Bulls' situation.

Bassett has run into disfavor with the league on several occasions and was suspended last season over his signing of under-age junior Ken Linesman. He continued to ignore the league's opposition to such signings this summer when he signed six more under-aged (under-20) juniors. A U.S. court ruled last year that the WHA could not legally prevent such players from playing

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1978
Pre-season Jets' notes
Notes about the Jets and their activities. ..

— Season ticket sales now number 7,342 — a club record — and the campaign has been extended until Friday. There will be no extension beyond the Friday deadline so mailing of tickets can be facilitated before the season begins.

— Casual ticket sales for all exhibition games went on sale at 9:30 this morning at the Arena box office.

— Each day this week the Jets will start with an hour's dry land training to consist of exercises and soccer at 8 a.m., at Lipsett Hall, followed by a two-hour skate at 10a.m. and a 90-minute skate at 3:30 p.m., at the Arena. The public is welcome at all workouts.

— The Jets will play their first exhibition game next Sunday at 7:30 p.m. against St. Louis Blues

— Succeeding exhibition games in the Arena will be played Tuesday, Sept. 26, vs. Colorado Rockies; Thursday, Sept. 28, and Monday, Oct. 3 vs. New York Rangers; Sunday, Oct. 8, vs. Minnesota North Stars; and Wednesday, Oct. 11, vs. Edmonton Oilers.

[JETStender]

Now complete to Sept 1978, last year too follow.....

[JETStender]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21,1978

CLOSE LINES: Arthur Impertore, the New Jersey trucking millionaire, saved the NHL a great deal of embarrassment by buying the Colorado Rockies and keeping them afloat when they were in danger of folding
.
Now Impertore wants to sell the Rockies to local interests and obtain an expansion franchise for his Meadowland Sports Complex in New Jersey. Since his fellow governors figure they owe him a favor, he's likely to get it.

Does this hurt chances of the four WHA teams seeking a merger with the NHL next summer? Jets' spokesman Bob Bell thinks not. "I don't believe it will have much affect one way or the other," he said. "If anything, it will help because it would give us an even number of teams and make scheduling easier".

[JETStender]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21,1978

Sigurdson
SPORTS EDITOR

This is, as we know, the most critical season in the Jets' frequently insecure seven-year history.

There is solid evidence to suggest this will be the last hurrah for the WHA. Four of its seven surviving cities, including Winnipeg, are dedicated to achieving a merger with the established NHL. We also know the NHL seems to view Winnipeg's merger-minded partners — New England, Edmonton and Quebec City — with more favor than they do the Jets.

It is vital, therefore, for the Jets to clearly demonstrate they are playing in a viable major league market. . .that they can survive the loss of gate attractions the stature of Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson and still fill their arena.

The Jets f i n a l l y have a commitment from city hall to expand Winnipeg Arena to major league standards. That's important, but NHL governors are not likely to be terribly impressed unless the hockey club shows the world it can fill the seats it already has. It is reassuring to learn the priority in the Jets' front office remains merchandizing hockey and that Hull's reputation for dedication to duty remains unsullied.

If the Jets have a problem, it is blending the vets, the rookies and the Houston Group into one cohesive unit. The best thing that could happen to the hockey club right now is a two-week road trip with everyone living together and getting to know one another better

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978

Heart not in game, Hull retires

By REYN DAVIS
Yes, my sun, he's quit. No. 9 is but a memory.

Bobby Hull, a lion of a man with the disposition of a lamb, has said he's had enough of the game he loves and he's hung up his tattered Tacks. "It's a sad story," said Lars-Erik Sjoberg, the Jets' captain who understood Hull as well as anyone. "He's been the team and the league."

At 39, the Golden Jet of hockey ended his career four games into his 22nd season. He made the announcement in absentia, through a prepared statement written by a club employee. . .a stark contrast to the milling thousands who welcomed him to Winnipeg and the World Hockey Association, at the corner of Portage and Main on June 17, 1972.

Sadly, while his retirement was being announced in the Golden Jet Lounge of Winnipeg Arena, Hull was at Winnipeg International Airport waiting for the arrival of some cattlemen from Saskatoon.

The livestock industry beckons the Manitoba rancher who breeds Simmentals on his farms at Elm Creek and Anola.

Far away in Florida, his agent, a Chicago certified public accountant, Harvey Wineberg, the man who negotiated his $2.75 million defection to the WHA, said he knew nothing of Hull's retirement. "I haven't spoken with Bobby for several days," he said, expressing no knowledge of his 12-day leave of absence.

Hull leaves major league hockey with 906 goals in 1,447 regular season games. Only the legendary Gordie Howe of New England Whalers lias scored more — 946 goals in 2,283 games.

Including playoff games. Hull has scored 1,012 career goals. He had two goals and three assists in four games this season.

"I have always said that I would play hockey as long as I continued to enjoy the game," said Hull in his written remarks. "However, for personal reasons, I have not been able to devote my full attention to the game and, therefore, in all fairness to iny teammates and management, I feel that this is the right decision for all parties."

He erased rumors that he intended to return to the National Hockey League as a member of New York Rangers.

"If I ever decide to play again it will be with the Winnipeg Jets," said Hull. "Obviously, the decision to hang up my skates was not an easy one, so it would be ludicrous for anyone to suggest that I am contemplating playing with another team."

Hull said he might increase his involvement in 8 Hockey Ventures Inc., the company that owns the Jets. Hull is one of the seven shareholders. Perhaps no hockey player gave the game as much charisma. His smile could melt the coldest heart. Children loved him because he always had time for them, even if he had to hold up a bus full of impatient, thirsty teammates while he signed the last autograph.

His fan mail came from Czechoslovakia, Russia, Japan, Sweden, Finland, West and East Germany, Poland, Canada and the U.S.

If the WHA lacked some of the glamour of the NHL in North America, his popularity increased dramatically as he established new frontiers of fame in Western and Eastern Europe and Japan.

"We can never replace a man of Bobby's caliber on the ice, in the dressing room or as a goodwill ambassador for hockey," said Michael Gobuty, the Jets' president. "And we're not even going to try." H u l l had more 50-goal seasons (nine) than any other player. He set the major league record for goals in a single season with 77 in 1974-75, the year he was introduced to two Swedish kids who would profoundly affect his career.

He called Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg the two greatest linemates he ever had. Playing a quaint Euro- Canadian style, they whirled down the ice, dropping, nudging passes to each other every few feet, until the' perfect shot was there.

They entertained thousands, often evoking rounds of applause in other teams' buildings.

"I'm disappointed that the industry of hockey didn't see fit to keep our half-European, half-Canadian learn together, permitting it into the NHL, because I'm sure their style would have rubbed off on many other coaches, players and fans," said Rudy Pilous, the Jets' director of hockey operations who has known Hull since 1953.

Hull played on one Stanley Cup champion (Chicago Black Hawks, 1960-61, coached by Pilous), and two Avco Cup champions (Winnipeg, 1975-76 ami 1977-78). He leaves a gaping hole in the game he called his own.

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978

Will Fergy the GM also be an owner?

By REYN DAVIS
The notes and notions are piling up again. ..

Most people are aware the Jets weren't purchased back in January, but taken over by a group of Winnipeg businessmen whose corporate title is 8 Hockey Ventures Inc.. .

Soon after the company was founded one of the original eight, Dr. Gerry Wilson, bowed out when he began to feel no one was paying heed to his hockey knowledge.

Ever since then, 8 Hockey Ventures Inc. has been a company of seven investors — the Shenkarow brothers, Barry and Marvin, Harvey Sector, Bobby Hull, John Shanski, Michael Gobuty and Bob Graham.

Nobody is overly concerned about the missing eighth man, but don't be surprised if a very heavy investor by the name of Nelson Skalbania either joins the group or buys it outright.

Skalbania is the immensely successful Vancouver businessman who is trying to divest himself of t h e I n d i a n a p o l i s Racers. . .It is also rumored that when John Ferguson takes over as general manager on Jan. 1, he will be more than an employee but an investor as well. .

Larry Hillman knows all a b o u t J o h n Ferguson. They were teammates on the 1968-69 Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens. . ."Later, playing against him, we had a couple of fights," said Hillman.

Following his New York experience, Ferguson is said to be very wary of becoming involved in a situation over which he has no control.. .His firing by the Rangers last June left a deep scar.. .An approachable, interesting person who smokes cigars a la Bobby Kromm, Ferguson is said to be as tight as a knot before a game.

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAV, NOVEMBER 3, 1978


Gretzky sold to Oilers in move to save Racers

EDMONTON (CP) — The final stage of a surprising and swiftly-completed deal between Edmonton Oilers and Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association ended Thursday night when Wayne Gretzky, the 17-year-old centre sensation, along with Peter Driscoll and - Ed Mio, touched down at Edmonton's International Airport.

Racers' owner Nelson Skalbania sold Gretzky, Driscoll, a left winger, and goaitender Mio to the Oilers for a total of $850,000 in an apparent move to keep the foundering Racers solvent until at least the end of the 1978-79 season.

The trio arrived by private jet after being informed of the deal by Indianapolis coach Pat Stapleton early Thursday afternoon.

Under the terms of the agreement, Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington must also assume the balance of personal services contracts Skalbania has with Gretzky and Driscoll.

An early agreement, under which the Oilers would pay Skalbania an added indemnity if they enter the National Hockey League, was reported scrapped.

Pocklington explained Thursday that the Oilers' four-game, home-ice losing streak prompted him to okay the deal. "I couldn't stand by and watch our team keep losing," he said.

Oilers' coach Glen Sather said he does not know yet how he will utilize Gretzky and Driscoll, although he said both will play here tonight against Winnipeg Jets.

[JETStender]

WFP FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10, 1978

By Robert Fachet
WASHINGTON — At one time, hockey was the fastest and most exciting of team sports, a compelling spectacle of sharp passing, hard hitting and dazzling speed.

Where other sports have progressed through new techniques, advanced training methods and nutritional factors contributing to bigger and stronger athletes, hockey has become the ravaged victim of slap shots and cheap shots.

Other sports have prospered through the medium of television, but hockey's finer points cannot be carried to the screen. The puck is too small, the developing urn swift. The self-serving owners of the National 'Hockey League continue to fight a ruinous monetary war with the World Hockey Association, to resist efforts to balance competition and to forestall a sensible realignment and scheduling situation.

Other sports have prospered through the medium of television, but hockey's finer points cannot be carried to the screen. The puck is too small, the developing too swift.

When NHL owners familiar with the successful NBA-ABA basketball merger tried to convince old-liners of the advisability of a similar ending to the hockey war, Toronto Maple Leaf owner Harold Ballard said, "1 don't want to hear any more about that African game." said Snider, the Philadelphia Flyers' owner, had some unkind words for his colleagues after he worked hard to effect a merger with the WHA, only to see his efforts torpedoed.

"A lot of things about this league (NHL) bother me." Snider said. "Sometimes it seems that you can have a meeting with all the governors and think that you're getting things accomplished. But then you realize that the real action takes place later, at 4 o'clock in the morning, in the smoke-filled rooms.

"I'm afraid there's a bit of a cancer in the NHL, an atmosphere where people can look you eyeball to eyeball and still not tell the truth . . . There are cliques that sit around voting each other into the Hall of Fame and trying to run everything. There are an awful lot of things that smell corrupt to me."

"Nothing seems to have been considered about the obvious lack of competition in the league," Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHL Players Association, said. "Let the vested interests be heard and they'll say, 'This won't help Montreal' or 'This won't help Toronto.' They're not thinking of what will help hockey."

"From Montreal's point of view, things aren't too bad right now," said Sam Pollock, a member of the Canadien's board of directors and the Hall of Famer who built Montreal to its current position of dominance.

"There are problems in hockey, sure, there are always a lot of problems in growing up. But as for the Canadiens giving to the have-nots, it is not going to happen. This is like any other business."

The NHL also continues to live by the tie, the only sport where a fan pays his money and, almost one-fifth of the time, sees nothing decided.

Ties are an absurdity that should not be permitted. A year ago, 132 of the 720 regular-reason NHL games ended in ties, with the Colorado Rockies deadlocking 21, more than a quarter of their schedule.

The WHA, by using a 10-minute sudden-death overtime, played a 320- game schedule with only 14 ties. Hockey is rotting away, right from the roots.

Players emerging from the junior ranks are bigger and stronger than their predecessors, but they are less skilled. Survival of the fittest prevails in the junior wars, not necessarily survival of the best.

Young players aping the scattergun pros use curved sticks to send dipping slap shots at goaltenders. The sticks make puck control difficult and backhand passes and shots virtually impossible. Slap shots make a pleasing sound as they thunder off the boards or glass, but they are generally ineffective.

Body checking in open ice has declined, while cheap-shot board checking has flourished. Defenders often permit their checks to speed past, while trying to line them up for an awesome thump into the boards. Coaches disdain trying to set up plays. Instead, like many of their professional counterparts, they instruct their players to move the puck across the red line as quickly as possible and dump it into a corner. The opposition usually retrieves the puck and attempts to repeat the process. For lengthy periods, the puck may be in motion, but nothing is happening.

Those few special youngsters who develop playmaking skills find themselves the targets of roughnecks with more courage than ability. That is the new terminology: if a bully plays for you, he is courageous; if he performs for the opposition, he is a goon.

Hockey has many problems, including greedy owners, greedy players, greedy agents and the absence of network TV money to sustain all that voraciousness.

The players have been chastised for their greed — the league's average player salary is $90,000 — but much of the limited positive input has come from them. The players initiated the waiver draft, which is showing some slight effect toward equalization of talent. They have also proposed a free-agent compensation plan similar to football, with compensation in draft choices and determined by salary, that could alleviate a chaotic situation if the league's appeal of the Dale McCourt case fails.

In fact, the players' position has seemed so sensible in the face of management intractability that there was wonder why Eagleson hadn't been chosen as the league president, instead of John Ziegler. "It's much more fun working with
400 players than 18 owners," Eagleson said. "Much nicer, too." Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver share lucrative television income from the CBC.

American teams do not have that luxury; and the prospects of a U.S. network deal is dim. None of the. networks cared, to show even one game of the NHL-Soviet series next February, a show designed exclusively to stimulate network TV interest. When NBC televised NHL games nationally, its Atlanta affiliate instead showed Sunday afternoon movies, because the ratings were higher. Last year, the station that televises some of the Flames' road games refused to join the NHL network, because it considered the Flames' coverage to be sufficient.

The Chicago Black Hawks, in their sellout days, sneered at prospective ticket purchasers and refused to televise home playoff games. Then empty seats appeared and multiplied. The Hawks last year reached the Stanley Cup playoffs, as the champions of the inferior Smythe Division, and the faithful were rewarded with $18.75 ticket prices.

The must serious problem facing hockey is this decline in the quality of the product.

Expansion from six major-league teams in 1967 to the current total of 24 has played its part in the lowering of standards. Instead of 120 players, 480 now claim big-league status in the NHL or WHA. Despite greater opportunity and vastly higher salaries, however, fewer good players are graduating from junior hockey. Even more disquieting, fewer youngsters are playing hockey.

In 1976-77, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association registered 550,000 players. That marked a drop of 30,000 in one year and continued the trend of the '70s. Hockey officials cite a declining birth rate for the dropoff, but as hockey participation has fallen off, soccer is becoming the sport of the future for young Canadians.

A British Columbia study showed that hockey registrations in the province declined from 50,179 in '74-'75 to 45,513 in 1976-77. Soccer registration rose from 24,000 in 1970-71 to 32,798 in 1976-77. At the youngest age levels, the soccer increase is 20 percent, while hockey teams cannot fill their quotas.

A primary factor, obviously, is cost. Outfitting a hockey player has become a major family expenditure in the luxury class: all a soccer player needs is a pair of all-purpose shoes. Additionally, the cost of ice time is increasing and communities are reluctant to further subsidize hockey in the face of rising expenses.

In the United States, the spiraling cost of electricity is forcing rinks to boost their rates to hockey teams. Pushed on to parents, the increases are in many cases unbearable. "A lot of players lack puck-handling skills to do anything except keep the puck in front . ihem," said Ron Smith, technical director of the Ontario Hockey Association. "Neutral ice play is low in practice priorities." What he means is that kids just want to shoot pucks and knock guys down.

In most sports, the greater size of athletes is a plus. In hockey, it. Restricts puck-handling and play-making. Rinks are still 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. What North American hockey really needs to open up play is the spaciousness of European rinks, which are 30 meters wide and allow considerably more room for maneuvering.

The thought of the lost seats necessitated by conversion is enough to give an NHL owner apoplexy. So, the NHL instead has played finger-inthe- Go Jets Go with modest rules changes, like last year's legalization of the , red-line pass and this year's restriction on freezing of the puck by goaltenders. By far, the greatest impetus to boredom has been provided by the proliferation of illegal tactics arounu the league. Holding and hooking have replaced checking, and a stiff punch with resulting mayhem is a frequent response to a rare solid check.

The NHL has sanctioned selective enforcement of the rule book, asking its officials to judge the "flow of the game" in lieu of strict enforcement. This often translates to: "If the two teams are refraining from attempted homicide, let them play." "There are also philosophies," said Scotty Morrison, the NHL's refereein- chief. "Either throw the whistle away or call everything. In a game between clubs with differing philosophies, the referee hasn't got a chance."

Players are conditioned to believe that the referee won or lost the game. The inevitable result is the "fix" accusation of Boston's Brad Park during the Stanley Cup final. It was hardly the proper injection for an ailing sport.

Helmets are commonplace and, with current styles of play and rules standards, they are a wise source of protection. But if board checking and high sticking were reduced and flagrant fouls treated severely, they would be unnecessary. Then fans once again could identify with the players, one of the charms of pre-expansion hockey.

The NHL schedule is preposterous, a joy only to travel agencies and airlines. Washington, for example, is making two trips to the West Coast this month for single games with division "rival" Los Angeles. The 80-game schedule, followed by interminable playoff rounds, forces the climactic Stanley Cup final into the baseball weather of late May. Except for rabid fans of the teams involved, nobody really cares about the outcome.

That's a sorry situation for the sport's big moment and it is an inhibiting factor to playoff television coverage.

Competitive imbalance has altered little in recent years, with Montreal dominant and Boston, Philadelphia. Buffalo and the Islanders its chief challengers. The waiver draft eventually figures to help, but for a long time to come mismatches and empty seats are certain to plague the NHL — unless the owners work together for I he common good. But that isn't likely to happen because most hockey owners trust nobody but themselves.

John Ziegler, in his second season as president of the National Hockey League, has been panned in many circles for lethargic leadership. But even if Ziegler was blessed with unlimited energy and executive ability, he still would be shackled by the league's constitution, which places power in the hands of the owners.

How well they handle the assignment is obvious from hockey's current status as a minor-league sport, surpassed by tennis and taking' its kicks from soccer, which at least has a network television contract.

The Washington Post

[JETStender]

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1978

Racers deal pair for draft spots

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Racers traded forward Richie Leduc and defenceman Kevin Morrison to Quebec Nordiques in exchange for spots in the next three World Hockey Association drafts, the Racers announced Thursday.

Indianapolis, a last place team battling for financial survival, received Quebec's second-round choice in the 1979 and 1980 drafts, plus their third round selection in 1981.

The trade of Leduc, the Racers' leading scorer, and Morrison reduces the financial needs of the team.

Owner Nelson Skalbanla defended his earlier sale of three of his top players for $890,000 by saying Wednesday he figured to lose $1.3 million this season due to small home attendance and a high payroll.

"I wasn't happy here," said Leduc at a news conference announcing the deal. "It's due to the whole situation here. I felt lost and confused over recent events here and I don't want to play with a last place team."

Indianapolis, which sold rookie centre Wayne Gretzky, goalie Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll to Edmonton Oilers in a deal that Leduc said upset him, has a 2-9-2 record.

"We were high and optimistic about the team until the sale," said Leduc. "We had just scored three points with a victory and a tie against Winnipeg." Leduc said he understood why Skalbania sold the players.

"He's been keeping the franchise alive without any help from local businesses. "But I'm very happy to leave this place." Leduc joined the Racers last season from Cincinnati, where he said he had problems with Stingers' coach Jacques Demers. Demers, a former Indianapolis coach, now is coaching Quebec.

"I don't live in the past," said Leduc. 'I’m happy to be going to Quebec and believe I'll get along with Demers."