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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-03-18, Page 12-TIIIMMISSOMININIFIONIM•11.41.11 the box office, they have the money. There has been little attempt at equalization in the NHL since expansion. It has been a sort of fight your way into contention matter. None of the new teams were given the opportunity to pick up viable talent as the established teams sloughed off their older, less stellar players to the new ones in the "sham" drafts when they entered the league. There was little help given the teams, and only one made any initial success. The Buffalo Sabres, under the wi- ly, guiding hand of Punch Imlach were in there from the beginning. Imlach knew the ins and outs of drafting players and could pick up the necessary talent through his knowledge. He didn't trade away his first draft choices to Sammy Pollock, he knew the benefit of picking up young rookies like Perrault and Martin and seasoning them with the pros who he wanted, He got first pick and first pick is important. Back in 1967 the best general manager in hockey went to work. Sammy Pollock is, bar none, one of the best in the sporting world. He started to trade very tantalizing players, sometimes for nothing. "Nothing" means that there weren't any other players exchanged, just draft choices, Like the first draft choice for the next two or three years or the first and second for next year. This kept the Canadiens strong and weakened the other teams. It means that the Canadiens, would continue to dominate the league and con- tinue to have the fresh young blood so essential to main- taining the team's status. Pollock was smart and for several years instead of seeing the Los Angeles name or the St. Louis name or, the prime example, California at the top of the list, it was always the Canadiens. This is why the unequal distance between the expansion team and the established teams still is too far apart. Logically, the expansion teams should have been reduced and some of them, like a few have, should be taking over for the old guards. The Flyers are, the Sabres are and sometimes the Cannucks, Islanders and the Penguins are, but not often and not enough, to placate the fans of the ex- pansion teams. No one likes to back a loser, particularly partisan sports fans laying $8, $10 and $12 down for seats in arenas. Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, California, St. Louis, all are on shakey financial footings because their team has never really measured up to the ekpectations of either their fans or the NHL. There is still a lot of talent within the reach of the NHL. The WHA is a complicating factor, but a quick persual of the WHA will show that most of the players in the rebel league are fallen stars who know that their time is up as far as the NHL goes. Many play their final years there knowing that they can still be stars in a wash out league and make money. There are exceptions, like Bobby Hull but his sort are few and far between the likes of Henderson and the younger Howes, lacklustre and trading on old name players. The NHL will continue to be a league of dispropor- tionate levels as long as talent like Flavell, Stephenson and Thomas are allowed to sit on the bench. The strong teams can afford to keep such players around and they would be more than helpful in an emergency. One could go so far as to say that the Montreal club, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, could probably take on and beat handily almost 50 per cent of the National Hockey League teams, the Canadien system is that good. Until the owners act to remove the disparity, an almost impossible act to perform, the differences will remain acute and there will never be an equalization. But then, which owner is going to tell Sammy Pollock that he can't keep the young stars he has so diligently sought and nurtured? It would only lead to more judicial in- tervention, as one could safely lay bets that the Canadiens, Flyers, and the company they travel in wouldn't take that sort of ruling without challenging it in court and further damaging the reputation of the NHL. by Fred Youngs It must be a difficult season for Doug Flavell, like it was a hard season for Wayne Thomas last year and Wayne Stephenson for the past couple of years. All three are goaltenders, all three earn good money, all three are in the top ten of their class and all three, at various times, have spent an entire season on the bench or in the press box because they were unfortunate enough to play for the top teams in the league. Flavell plays for the Leafs, admittedly not one of the powerhouse teams in the league, but also a far sight better than division leader Chicago Black Hawks and eons away from the Scouts and Capitals. The problem with the Leafs, as far as Flavell is concerned, is that they have too much talent between the posts. They've got McRae, who almost single handedly took the Leafs into the quarterfinals against the Flyers last year and they have Wayne Thomas. Thomas came from the Montreal Canadians, the veritable gold mine of talent in the NHL after sitting months behind the bench at the forum watching Ken Dryden and Michelle Laroque kick out the pucks. He's young, he's agile, and he is a brilliant goaltender, who, with a little more defence and scoring punch up front, could lead the Leafs to first place. The Leafs have always been lucky with goaltenders. While all else was failing them they have never been one of the teams that could be accused of weakness in net. After Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuck they had Ron Low, now toiling futilely for the Capitals. Not futilely because he isn't good, but because he doesn't have any form of a team to front him. Along the way there was Don Simmons, who came in the breach and helped the Leafs to a Stanley Cup win, At one time they had Bernie Parent, but Parent is a fickle man who knows what his talent can command in dollars and he jumped around to the WHA and then to star- dom at the Philadelphia Flyers, which brings us to Wayne Stephenson. The young Mr. Stephenson finally got some extended play this year when Parent's much talked about neck injury sidelined him. The immediate reaction of many hockey followers was that the Flyers, without the gifted glove hand of Parent would be out to lunch for the season. Stephenson, it was assumed by many, could not support the Flyers in net when they have their defensive lapses. How wrong everyone has been. Although the Flyers have not had as good a season as last year, their track record leaves nothing to be ashamed of and many other teams would love a "poorer" season like the Flyers are having. Goaltenders are not the only ones who sit out seasons, but they are an obvious example because a team is required to dress two, although only one will play, and because there are only two or three on a team, but there are other ex- amples. John Van Boxmere is one. Again from the Canadiens, he sat out a good part of the season until he could crack the line up. He is a brilliant hockey player, reminiscent of Brad Park. But when you have to compete against Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe and Pierre Bouchard, as well as Larry Robinson and Jimrhy Roberts who bounce between forward and the defensive lines, it is hard to get in. There were complaints from talent starved teams that the Canadiens should not be allowed to hold onto Van Box- mere. It is a viable complaint, and an interesting one. Naturally, the powerhouse teams like the Flyers and Canadiens and Bruins, and then the lesser, but still domi- nant teams, like the Leafs, Kings and Cannucks can afford to hold such talent. They have the teams that are drawing at • Silcock steps down as Squirt coach advice I can give them is that they do like I have done and change their sports this summer, thus helping to relieve certain people of headaches! Dave Silcock 1976 CHEVROLETS & OLDSMOBILES 17 MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM See Our Selection Now • 3 - 1 976 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pick-ups Get Our Price Before You Buy OK USED CARS 1974 CHEVY NOVA, 6 cylinder sedan, automatic, radio, less than 16,000 miles. License JCE526 1974 DATSUN SEDAN Model B210, automatic, radio, 6 tires, 6500 miles. License HNM036 1974 CHEVELLE 'MALIBU 4 door hardtop, 8 cylinder, automatic, radio, Michelins. License HNK821 1974 FIREBIRD 8 cylinder, automatic, power equipped, radials. License HMN321 1973 CHEVROLET BELAIR 2 door hardtop, power equipped. 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The Home of Guardian Maintenance TAPE SPECIAL Freddie Fender and Mickey Gillies each SUPER VALUE MINI 23 CHANNEL CB NOW, ONLY $11900 Radio !hack AND TROPHIES DEALER 411MailiSt,''"1 Exeler 2g.542a uANDEI Vol IS,„1 SNI OONF DTEATNADNYoLyE AL ET All TE ECROC g F ocdkCNAANDAAaLANLI,TzE, BASKETBALL TEAM — It was q close call for the Exeter basketball team in the rec league as they nearly lost out on a perfect season in their final game, Indeed, going into the final minutes of the game they were leading, but in the tried and true sports tradition, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and finished with a perfect record . . . winless. From left to right are Doug Pearson,John Hayman,Al Rankin, it Jim O'ConnOr and Al Epp, front. In the second row is Al Beattie 1 and behind him are Keith Lovell, PeterZankowski, Mike Cicchini and John Rosenberg. GREAT VALUE IN 20"BIG-SCREEN COMPACT COLOR TV! 1976 Arifinir (4) 100% SOLID-STATE MAAC. uses up to 64% less energy! Voltage Regulating System uses up to 64% less energy than previous Zenith 19" Many color sets, four or more years old, use about as much power as five 75-watt light bulbs. Zenith's 100% Solid-State Chassis featuring the Zenith Patented Power Sentry all-tube sets. Zenith's energy-saving 100% solid-state chassis with its Power- Sentry system of voltage regulation needs only 130 watts of power ... less than two 75-watt light bulbs. CX? The WARWICK S2919W Beautifully styled, compact-size NEW LOW PRICE • 100% Solid-State Titan 260V Chassis • Brilliant Chromacolor Picture Tube • Synchromatic 70-Position UHF Channel Selector • Patented Power Sentry Voltage Regulating System • Solid-State Super Video Range Tuning System • VHF and UHF Antennas built as only Zenith builds color TV Russell Electric (Exeter) Ltd. MAIN ST. 235-0505 EXETER Dave Silcock, coach of the Exeter Squirts soccer team, has decided to step down, partly because of the cancellation of the proposed tour of England for the team. In a letter received by the Times- Advocate, Mr. Silcock explains the reasons behind his resignation and his plans for the future. Dear Editor: I was both relieved and disappointed at the cancellation of the Exeter squirt trip to England. I was relieved in the fact that a lot of work and responsibility had been taken away from me. However, I was more disappointed a few hours after the decision had been made to cancel, mainly because I had just received official con- firmation that four potentially exciting games, four receptions, appearance on a BBC (North) TV show, a full day with the professionals at Preston North End, and a free invitation to attend a top English League game involving one of the World's top teams — Liverpool, had all been arranged for the Squirt players and for anyone else who made the trip with the team. To make matters worse, I also received word on Friday from the Lancashire• Schoolboys Soccer Association that if we needed it, free accommodation could be arranged for the Squirt party at Lytham St. Armes, a beautiful resort on the English coast. So you can see my natural disappointment at now having to cancel all these plans. Since I started coaching the Exeter Squirt team last spring, and especially after they reached the North American Play-offs in August, I have received several comments to the effect that I should never have subjected a village team of 8-year olds to the dizzy heights of international competition. In many respects, I have to agree with these comments, as the village of Exeter and the Exeter Soccer Club cannot automatically be expected to handle such involvement. Also because my past connections with soccer had all been at the professional level in England and the USA.I was probably at fault for treating my Squirt 'players like junior professionals and pushing them on and on to greater things. But at the time, I felt that the majority of players on the squirt team were rising to each occasion, and they certainly proved this to me with the results of their games, and even in the way they played when they were finally knocked out of the Play- offs by Detroit, I am left with the impression that I gave the village of Exeter, and especially the executive members of the Exeter Soccer Club, more headaches than pleasure by pushing the Squirt team on to the North American Play-Offs and to accepting the invitation to England. Everyone concerned, will therefore be happy to know that I have resigned from the Exeter Soccer Club, and that I intend to spend more time playing competitive Cricket for the City of this summer! My sincere condolences go out to the Squirt players who may feel disappointed at the can- cellation of their England trip. I would also like to take this op- portunity of wishing the players well in their future sporting activities, and probably the best Midget tourney The Exeter Midgets will be one of the 32 teams who will take to the ice in the 12th Annual Wingham Midget Hockey Tournament. The tournament is considered to be one of the premiere events in Midget hockey in Ontario and will take place over two weekends, March 18 and 19 and March 25 and 26, The first weekend will see the "A" and "C" classes of teams in action and the second the "AAA" and "8" teams. Exeter is a "B" team. They will meet teams from Strathroy, Sirncoe, Listowel , New Hamburg, St. Marys, Walkerton and Hanover. There will also be a reception for the teams and coaches hosted by town council, a hospitality drop-in center and a dance. HP hockey playoffs start By MRS.CAROL. G1NGERICH Pee Wee -• Bantam The Northstars and Penguins split the opening two rounds of their playoff series as the Penguins took the first game 5-2 Saturday and the Northstars came back to win the second 4-3 Sunday. Torn Dinney of the Penguins opened the scoring with the only goal in the first period when he converted passes from Harold Borden and. Mike Mills. Borden added to the lead in the second from Dinney and Mills and then it was Mills turn as he drove the Penguins lead up to 3-0. Scott 'Walsh opened the scoring in the third, with the fourth for the Penguins when hebangedone home just before Shayne Peacock, on an unassisted effort, finally got the Northstars on the board. John Byrne picked up second Northstar goal shortly after Peacock's and Todd Case finished off the scoring late in the third. 12 penalties were called throughout the game, including a game misconduct. The Northstars were hard pressed in their Sunday win, as the Penguins battled back from 2- 0 and 3-2 deficits only to lose the game when Peacock potted the final marker late in the third period. Greg Lawrence converted Dave Lawrence and Billy Mof- fatt's passes in the first period to put the Northstars one up. Shayne Peacock added to that lead before the Penguins went to work when Scott Walsh and Mike Mills each scored before the end of the period to send the teams to the dressing room at two apiece. Doug Medd from Mike Rispin and Peacock was the only scoring play of the second, giving the Northstars a shaky 3-2 lead. The lead fell again when Danny Morrissey scored to tie it but it was all over on Peacock's game winner at the end of the third period. The series continues. Bantam The Ilderton Bantams opened their playoff series with Huron Park with a 5-2 win Saturday in Huron Park. After a scoreless first frame, Rick Lee and Ted McConnell scored for Ilderton. Rich Lather from Tony Underhill was the only reply for Huron Park. Lee and Barry O'Neil with a pair added markers for Ilderton to round out their scoring. Ralph Wells from Underhill accounted for the second Huron Park score. Pee Wee The Pee Wee's battled to a 6-6 draw with Ilderton in their opening game Saturday. Rich Lather led Huron Park with three goals, while Steve O'Neil picked up a pair and Dennis Johnston a single. Norm Campbell had four for Ilderton with Scott Balzs and Dave Noble getting single markers. Atoms After taking their first game in their playoff series with Ilderton If your front tires are showing' wear on one side only, chances are your wheels need align- ment. * If spark plugs have a heavy deposit on one side of the elec- trode and shell that can be flaked off easily, it's probably a result of fuel additives. Not to worry. * Most skidding occurs when drivers go into curves too fast. Slow down before highway exits. What's a "flat spot?" Refers to hesitation — that is, when the engine won't respond prompt- ly to quick aceleration effort. * Test your brakes. If the pedal feels spongy, you may hove air bubbles in the brake lines. Test your brakes* the number-one safety system in your car. Maybe it's time for a newer, safer model. Test- drive the best at Larry Sniders, Larry Snider MOTORS LIMITED EXETER 235-1640 LONDON 227.4191 Wren County's Largest Ford Dealer the Huron Park Atoms won the second, 5-1 and tied the third 2-2. The convincing win Saturday was led by Trevor Gilchrist, who had a pair and Mike Salvona who scored a single and assisted on two others. Gilchrist and Salvona counted for Huron Park in the second frame after a scoreless opener. Gilchrist, Steve Morrissey and George Tomes all scored in the third frame. Mickey Baird had the only Ilderton reply halfway through the third period. The tie Sunday clinched the series for Huron Park. Sammie Zavits opened the scoring to give Ilderton a lead at 7:54 of the first but Dave Rook came back to tie it up before the end of the period. Tony Jones put the Huron Park team out in front at 9:12 of the second when he converted a pass from David Rook. Wayne Urb- shott tied it late in the period. There was no scoring in the third frame. The next opponent the Huron Park team meets has yet to be decided. Girls Hcickey The best of five championship series for the Huron Parkettes and Lucan girls' hockey teams opened Monday in Huron Park with Lucan blanking Huron Park, 2-0. Sheila Smith from Mary-Jane: Martins in the first and Mary Deuenk from. Martins in the: second accounted for the scoring. Wendy Kraul tended the nets: for Lucan in the shut out win. Steer This Way BY LARRY SNIDER