Village Squire, 1980-11, Page 12Hockey
---from
behind
the bench
Angelo. above, spent a lot of time touring North American cities with the Buffalo
Sabres of the NHL before retiring to farming near St. Marys. He says he may be
back in hockey soon. (Photo by Shoveller]
BY HERB SHOVELLER
Although there are a number of people involved in making a
successful and winning professional sports franchise. usually
only those who actually compete get the recognition.
Yet if athletes are to play to their full capabilities, someone has
to make certain they are well prepared, both mentally and
physically, and we know too little about the parts those people
play, or even who they are.
Angelo Nigro, 41, who is a partner in a hockey triumvirate
which owns a hog farm and hockey school near St. Marys, was
one of those people. For eight years he toiled as trainer for the
Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL)
He joined the Sabres in their third year after expansion and
helped nurse the club through lean years before they became
consistent winners in the league. After that, he shared in their
glory.
The list of names of those who were his Buffalo bosses now
reads like the upper management of the Toronto Maple Leafs,
save, of course, Harold Ballard. Two names, Punch Imlach and
Joe Crozier, pop up often in a conversation with the ex -trainer.
When Vancouver was preparing to enter the NHL and there was
a chance Crozier would get the job of coach, he told Angelo he
would bring him in as trainer. That position fell through, but
when a similar prospect loomed in Buffalo, the promise
remained intact.
"Guys like Imlach and Crozier," says Angelo," when they
give you their word, you can count on it." Crozier eventually got
the Sabre job, and soon Angelo joined the organization and was
on his way to the major leagues.
It is not uncommon to hear of players following former coaches
to new teams. Former Bruin Bobby Schmautz wanted to t' flow
Don Cherry west when the flamboyant coach took on the
Colorado job. Former Leaf coach Roger Neilson relied on
members of the junior team he coached because they suited his
style. But why would a coach bring a trainer along?
A TOP RATE GUY
"Well, as far as Ang is concerned, he's just an excellent
trainer," said Maple Leaf coach Crozier by phone during the
pre -season exhibition schedule. "He's good with the players,
good in the dressing room and good on the bench. He's a top rate
guy. The players liked him and he was good on injuries." Crozier
PG. 10 VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1980
and Angelo were together for three years in Buffalo before the
coach was fired. The pair still keep in touch. "He was up here
the other day as a matter of fact." said the Leaf mentor.
What Crozier failed to mention was the topic of conversation
when the pair got together. But where Joe wouldn't, Ang would.
"He wants me to get back into hockey." explained the trianer,
"into the Toronto organization. I was in Toronto and I dropped
around to see him. We just had some lunch and we got to
talking."
Angelo didn't commit himself, t or has he yet, but the seed has
been planted. "I told him 1 would see him off and on during the
winter, and then give it more thought toward next spring. But I
would look forward to joining the Toronto organization. I think
they're on their way. They're going to have a hell of a team there
this year. And it feels good to know you can go back."
Although he says he hasn't decided, well, maybe he has.
"Joe's number one with me," praised Ang. "Yes, I'd definitely
go back especially if he's one of the guys running the thing."
A bond of trust, such as the one established between Crozier,
Imlach and Nigro, commands a certain respect. And Imlach'c
widely acknowledged ability as a general manager impresses
Angelo. The Sabres made a remarkably swift rise to the top of
the league under Imlach's tutelage, and that helped the
ex -trainer attain almost all of the aims he had in his own career.
Before arriving in the NHL, Angelo set three goals he wanted
to reach during his stay. The main aim, just to make it to a major
league team, came first. Once there, like most players, he hoped
some day to be a member of a Stanley Cup winner. Although the
Sabres came close several times, they never made the final step
to the top of the class. That goal eluded his grasp.
That the third hope was fulfilled is reflected in a bulky gold
ring on Angelo's finger. He wanted to be an NHL All-Star, and
when the league brought its annual showcase to the Buffalo
Memorial Auditorium, the trainer got his third wish.
"I was almost three for three," calculated Angelo, fingering
the All-star ring he keeps prominently displayed. "Two for
tnree, 1 figure that's pretty good. We went to the 1Tnals one year,
and I could have accomplished all the goals."
Whether it was foresight or not, Angelo left the Sabres and
major league hockey the year before Imlach was let go.
Retirement gives him ample time to spend on the farm, which