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10 The Guardian, Charlottetown, Sat. April 6. 1983.

SPORTS FRONT

By PIUS CALLAGHAN

Canadians Are Out

ONCE again the proud Montreal Canadians are on the out- side looking in.

hey have missed out on the Stanley Cup finals and Will watch Toronto Maple Leafs battle Detroit Red Wings or Chicago Black Hawks for the famous mug.

The Molson. Selke. Blake company bowed out in no un- certain terms Thursday night as Punch lmlach's Toronto boys blanked them 5-0 before a delighted Toronto audience. Three years ago the Canadians and Leafs had fought it out in the finals and the Queen City entry couldn‘t win a hockey game. our y back. Leafs fought their hearts out to make the last playoff position. They made it on the last night of the regular schedule and then ousted second place finishers. Boston Bruins, in seven games in the semi-finals. However. in the finals against Montreal the Leafs managed only one decision.

AND so there's a debt there thatnvas bothering the Leafs ever since Canadiens ousted them in the finals in 1960. It‘s true they have never met the Habs since then in playoffs but season records showed the Montrealers holding a firm edge. This slapped abruptly this season when the Blakmicn were only able ‘ three decisions over Leafs in 14 regularly scheduled

to gain

contests. However. when Leafs copped the Prince of Wales "many me

by finishing first this season and the Montrealers came third. the stage was set for Toronto to get the revenge it so long desired. They played great hockey to coast to their semi- final triumph and blanking the Canadiens in that final contest added insult to injury..

'Punch’ Hos Fine Record

Chicago goalie Glenn Hall reaches down as he shoves puck away from net on a scor-

‘

lng attempt by Howie Young.

Jack Evans (5) of Chicago and Gordie Howe (0) of Detroit.

not shown. at Detroit so (AP Wirephoto)

shown in first period action are

GEORGE ‘Punch‘ Imlach must be a happy man. He took over in the stretch drive in 1959. got Leafs into the playoffs way into the finals, The next year he finished second but again lost out in the finals to Canadiens. The fol- lowing year Detroit Red Wings surprised by beating the second place leafs who were hurting with injuries, Last season. 1m- Iach got his boys home again in second 5 t. shunted Rangers out in the semi-finals and then grabbed the Stanley Cup by heat- ing Chicago Black Hawks four games to two. .

Imlach achieved another ambition. In a

Cup triumph against either Detroit or Chicago. He has changed his tactics of late and isn't doing any boasting about his team 5 chances of doing a repeat. However, the. fact that Imiach isnt off doesn’t mean that he hasn’t confidence in his out- fit. He has put together a solid club and they certainly should be able to keep that Stanley Cup in Toronto. .

Success and ‘Punch‘ have surely been bosom pals in the National Hockey League wars. He has proven a great leader. the guy or not. you must give credit to him tor his outstanding achievements. '

If he can win the finals. he should be ready to drop his dual role of general manager and coach and concentrate on one

FOLLOWING DISMAL SEASON

Immedi

As ToC

By BRUCE STOVEL MONTREAL (CPl—Montreal Canadians arrived home Friday from their most dismal season in 12 years. The question arose immediately: What changes will

e made for next season? Toe Blake said he is thinking seriously of retiring after eight seasons as coach. He said he

ate Query Raised hanges For Habs

igrined at the way we finishedlseven seasons as coach. But; "the season." He said some ofithls season, Canadiens finished the Canadiens weren't giving 1 third. their worst showing in 12 .full efforts in the team‘s 5-0 years. and were eliminated ,loss to Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs in five games. Thursday night. .tvo of them shutouts. It was “It would be premature to the first season Blake has not announce personnel changes the brought Canadiens either the

Sandy’s Parkdale Royals cap- tured Manltime Intermedi-

Sports with comparative ease. defeat- ing Bridgewater Hawks 8-5 in t third genre of a best of Buck Wlhltlockcoached4 Royals had built up a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes of play in last nim's genie and hurt the way

the play was going in those f two periods it looked like the

Souchak

One-Stroke Lead i

_ AUGUSTA. Ga. (AP)—Mus- cular Mike Souchak. one-time[ college football end. rolled in! an eight-foot birdie putt on the final hole Friday and took a one-stroke lead at 139 over two formidable rivals at the half- way point of the 27th Masters golf tournament.

Souchak. 35, the hard-luck man of the professional tour. added a two-under-par 70 to a

Royals would be much higher score

The Hawks came out in the third frame and did an about

rolling to a

one goal behind. scoring three within the first four minutes of play with the score then read- ing 5-4.

The Royals roared back in the remaining minutes, outscoring the Nova Scotians three goals

Takes

in 1954. birdied the final holci‘ for a 71_

Tied at 143 were Sam Snead. a three<time winner of this event. who ot .a 73: Dick Mayer. former U.S. Open cham- pion. with a second-round 70: and Tony Lema, whose 69 was the second best score of the day.

Julius Boros. who won the U.S. Open in 1952. also fired a 69 for 145. tying Player.

first-round 69 to take some of the lustre from a smashing i comeback by young Jack Nick- laus and a sensational chipping and putting performance by vet- eran Jay Hebert.

Nicklaus. at 23 youngest of the game’s big threesome which in- cludes Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. charged back with six-under-par 66, playing almost flawless golf. and tied Hebert for the runner-up spot at 140,

Hebert. steady and deadly around the greens. matched his opening‘day 0.

PALMER. SHOOTS 73

Palmer. by his own admission ragged and mentally tired. had six birdies in shooting a 73 for 147. Player. the little South Af-l rican who won here two years; ago, lost some of his touch, slipped to a 74 for a 145 total.

This is not an impossible posi- | tion for the defending champion .

3 runs in the eighth and ninth in-

RedsShode' Chisox 3-2

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Royals Win Mar. Crown; , Defeat Bridgewafer 8-5 '

toonetomake libel-inlaile 85

Defenoeman Junior MacLeod paced the Royals with a two- goal effort and both markers came on solo efforts. Angie Como]. Stu McLure, Buddy Maclntyre. Eustace Reeves. Kip

Ready and Jim MacLeod each

scored once.

Scoring for the visitors were Glen Langllle. Grant Hiltz. Earl

Ken Semmone and

Dean Saltzman. HELD SCORELESS

Shifty Apps Arsenault. who had scored four goals in each of the two games in Bmidgeiwat- er. was held off the scorcsheet last night. but with a little bit of luck could have rapped in a

Between the first and second periods of the game Dr. John Theriault presented the MCA trophy. emblematic of Island League supremacY. to Ralph Josey, captain of the Royals. team. I

Officials Don Whelan and Joel Coyle handed out. a total of: nine penalties, six of them going 3 to the Royals.

SUMMA

In. (D 2

First Period: A.

a

ties — Junior MacLeod 36; B.

Macintyre 7.53; Reeves (2) 11.- 15 16

second Period: — 3. Bridge- water — G. Langille (unassist- ed) 6.02; 4. Royals — B. Mac-

y Cincinnati Reds scored single

nings off Gary Peters for a 3-2 victory over Chicago White Sox Friday at Lynchburg. Va.

San Francisco‘s scheduled ex— hibition battle with Cleveland at Stockton. Calif.. was cancelled

by rain.

Two night games were sched- uled, with Philadelphia playing at Fort Lauderdale against the Yankees and Houston playing at

day after a game like that. but league title or the Stanley Cup. in .

we should have news for you "1 f9" 1 COUIdn'i‘EEt through

and heaVily favored Palmer, (the product of an error by Sex

or the other. There aren’t many more honors for the guy to

But then he may like the e

,felt he couldn‘t "get through" .to his players this season and

a week 0" two." he added. He said the team’s poorer rec-

ito them this season. ‘ said Blake latter his return from Toronto.

xtra burdens. Some guys thrive E

on work and hulach could be one of these gentlemen. . I

At any rate, he has done no y

Keon And Bower j

.

YOUNG Dave Keon and veteran Johnny Bower led the .

Leafs in the semi-finals. Keon. who just lost by death

the spearhead of the Tomato attack. Johnny allowed only six goals in five games pgainst the Canadiens and that’s pretty fair goaltending. The much publicized Frank Mahovlich has

an 18-month child, has been

been having his troubles with only one exist to his credit.

was looking much better in that last game and .

Plante on several occasions. The i nnition for the finals. After all.

Canadlens. Frank could g

survivor and come out of the playoffs with everybody on

side.

Regardless flog the outcome of the Detroit-Chicago feud. we i

can’t see 5 can lose they are going to clinch all And ‘

Punch' thinlm this 00

Major league Season”

the marbles again this season. I .

out this time. They look like .

Gets Underway Mon.

By JACK HAND

Life has been beautiful and Houston Colts and New York Nets in the never-never land of spring training games. Now comes the test. After one more weekend of exhibitions. the big league ball teams start playing for keeps Monday and Tuesday.

Baltimore. too, has enjoyed at balmy. carefree spring atop the1 standings in the American‘ League in March and April. l'nless the Las Vegas oddsmak- ers are off their rockers with the 1-3 quote favoring New York Yankees. the Orioles also are flying too high.

Nobody ever finidhes last in the spring. If you don't call yourself a pennant contender. you are sure it be the first division.

The schedule makers give Washington and Cincinnati 1 break by letting them open Monday a day ahead of the others. The Senators always invite the president their opener, and President Kennedy is expected to help the Senators get off against the Baltimore

-oles. Cincinnati always opens at home, a tradition that has been observed since the Red Stockings first entered the National League in 1876 Pitts- burgh will be the opposition.

The rest of the clubs get bu Tuesday. In the National League the San Francisco Giants. defending champs. will be at ous .

The favored Los Angeles Dod- gers will be at Chicago. Mil- waukee will be at Pittsburgh, St. Louis at New Yer a Cincinnati at Philadelphia for at night game.

' in the American there are

5‘

only four Tuesday genres wit Baltimore and Wantington kii . New York Yankees w 1

Kansas City. Chicago at Detroit. Cleveland at M esot and Boston at Los Angeles for a

3

open at shortstop and Ed

Kranepool. an 18-year-old high 1 school grad who got $85,000 last i

year. may be in right field.

The most expensive rookie. Bob ($175,000 bonus) Bailey. will be playing third base for Pittsburgh.

The American League's first year (‘rop is concentrated on Cleveland with shortstop Tony Martinez, centre fielder Vic Dayilillo and third baseman Max Alvis.

The Yankees have a new first baseman. Joe Pepitone. but he was up last year for 63 games and cannot be ranked a rookie.

Among the doubtful starters in the openers due to injuries

are Roger arts ny

Kubek of the Yanks. Frank omas of the Mets. Frank

Robinson of the Reds. Jimmv sons

Piersali of the Senators. and ROy Sievers of the Phillies.

it0 take care of the i'Head says Moore. w 0 can . } _ longer skate smoothly andlsix league titles in his firstispring

l JOHNSON MAY GO

blamed himself partly for the team's comedown.

Among players. Dickie Moore is the most obvious question mark. The 32 - year - old left winger fought back gallantly from a knee operation last May to score 24 goals this season, 19 of them in the second half of the schedule.

Moore. who holds the National

iHockey League record for the ‘a cast covering his torso untill

most points in a season. says simply. “I don‘t know." asked about his future.

no!

walks with an uneven gait. must ! devote himself to an all-out re-. habilitation program this sum» mer if he hopes to play.

Another player who might no

.199 with the club next season is;

5 - year - old defenceman Tom Johnson. Johnson was haunted

injuries this season and; yed in only 43 games. Man"

gar “iv:

aging director Frank Selke made an oblique attempt to trade him in late December. "mg Johnson's unpopularity with Montreal fans affected his play. and he is still regarded by observers as prime tradev ait. ‘ Another question mark is 32-

a: DJ v

after injuring his wrist Jan. 3 and didn't score once in the last six weeks of the season. includ- ing playoffs.

Geoffrion has said he intends .to play again next season. But he admits being worried about persistent rumors he will be

trad .

Goalie Jacques Plante. 35. hedged when asked about next season. saying he would like to doctor first and think about things for a while before de~ ciding. But the temperamental goaltender has said earlier in )the season he feels he is good

‘for another two or three sea-

‘noss ANNOYED

when i

ord this season “is largely duei“and When that happens “'5 o letting the opposition score‘time t0 'SEt 0119- “We Weren't the first goal on us in some 50 ithe same team as we used to be gamcs_ land I feel I‘m partly to blame l Lou Fontinato. a veteran de- gfor it. I couldn‘t get my mes- fencemran who fractured his Esage across the way I used to. neck March 9 in a game against 3 “I don‘t blame the players New York. is rated almost ccr- ‘Most. of them gave everything tain not to play next year. He gthey have. but two or three of still has some trouble movingithem didn't have the right at- lhis arms and will not be out of Etitiide.

“1 don't, want to commit my- lself one way or the other until my mind fully.|

i late summer. . Blake played on three Motit- Ive made up

year-old right winger Berniei“'ee "A". Bantam "A" and (Boom Boom) Geoffrion. The Midget " " and the evening Boomer went into a deep slump Will conclude with the final

1'9

to five cup championships andl

City Youngsters Hold ' Minor Hockey Night

This evening at Sports Arena the City Minor Hockey Leagues conclude a most successful season as they stage their an- nual Minor Hockey Night.

Four City titles will be at stake — Paperweight Pee

skate of the season for all.

The evening's program will get underway at 7 o'clock sharp with Bill Murphy‘s Paperweight s p r i n g Park Elks tsngling with Winston Judson's Paper- weight St. Jean Otters. At 7.30 Ivan Doherty‘s Q.C.H.S P e wee Foxes take on Louis But- ler's B.H.S. Lions and at 8.00 p.m. it will be Harvey Jack- son's Parkdale - Southport Bombers against Vern G rctt‘s Q.C.H.C. Panthers for the Bantam crown. Winding up the evening‘s hockey activity Wilf MacDonald's Midget Canucks will battle it out with Jim Dow. ling's Bruins in their final game for the City Midget crown.

in 7

‘ Selke said Friday he is "cha-

Offer Still Not Acceptable V Says Stafford Smyfhe

By BILL MacDOUGALL

TORONTO (CP) — Stafford Smythe says he still wouldn't accept 1.000.000 for Frank Ma- hovlich although the Leaf star looked inept during most of the Toronto Maple ta Cup semi-final against Mont- real Canadiens.

“No. 1 wouldn't think any differently now." Mape Leaf Gardens president said Friday when asked whether the left winner‘s recent perform- is giving him second thoughts about his rejection of such an offer last fall.

“The principle remains the some," Smythe said. “As a

.‘

D 5 O 0

night game. businessman. I‘d have to accept

The rookie crop is small out very promising, lb Will

The rs prob ly have two in the opening line-up

such an offer anytime. But this n in port you couldn't accept such a deal." "Why wreck the whole team for money?" he asked.

In the long run. Sinth is probably right about wrecking the team what tMohoviicii did as Leafs

hostel-em series from Montreal 4-1. he would assist wmlhardly be missed now.

Osflismdtheell-sur

.Butoaiiebulsofhis

game last fall at. a get-together

of hockey executives and their

followers. Hawks co owner

James Norris offered 81.000.000

for Mahovlich and sealed the

dfislfbe thought—with a hand- a e.

When the air and heads cleared in the morning. the deal fast began to fall through and in the next few days the out- burst of publicity ceased and the uproar in the hockey world subsided. Mahoviich remaining with leafs.

The high price on his head no doubt helped him to get a four-year contract at an esti-

proceeded to score 36 goals assist on 37 others for 73 points and a fourth-place tie in the [National Hockey League scor- .i g That makes three

seasons ago

the semi-final he got only one Mpfioviieii has attributed his ..sliiuisiiaeu to a late-season

. Stanley C u p champion iBut there'll be an announcement glen Leonard and But team Physiotherapist Bill lteams and guided the Canadians lin a week or two '

' expires this i

l

His contract

Teams winning these titles. along with teams who have al- ready won "B" Titles for the year will later be entertained at a hockey dinner at the Char- lottetown Hotel when crests and trophies will be presented. This is a change of plan to simply speed up tonight's program and give the y o u n g hockey- ists a bit of ‘extra recognition. for their good work during the

s

m (D

For the games players tak- ing part in the games will be admitted free. children will be admitted at the usual "nominal Minor fee frir games and skate

_ and adult admission also will

be the usual charge for such events.

In addition to the four games and skate children attending to- night‘s activities will be given a special treat as they pass through the turnstile — Central Cneameiries. Ltd. supporting minor hockey. have generously offered to give each youngster attending one of their delicious drum sticks.

it will be a big night for the Minors! Why not pack the Ar- ena to Show the boys you are interested in activities? Officials in charge have this winter tried to "keep the boys out of hot water by putting them on e "

Tonight’s activities at the Ar

9 p.m. raw ‘ 0118 get underway at 7 o'clock Ice 2 — sets of Fridays 9 sharp. p.m. Draw.

who has in recent years become I a fairway Houdini with his fan- tastic finishes.

All three Canadians in the Masters shot 72s Friday. Stan Leonard of Vancouver had a two-round total of 146. one

ter than Palmer. Alvie Thomp- er-S second smgie and an in.

son of Toronto. who had ‘ opening-day 79. stood at 151. i while Al Balding of Toronto had l a total of 154. ‘

The field of 84 was cut after; Friday‘s round to the low 44 and ; ties. which meant all those with [ a total of 152 or lower. This; Thompson in' the chase but eliminated Bald- mg

Bo Wininger. who shared the‘ first-round lead with Souchak at 69. and iame-arme Ed Furgol were tied for fourth place at 141.

Winingcr one-pulled eight greens for an even-par 72 and Furgol. 46. US. Open winner

Curling Draw For Montague

Here is the draw for the Montague Curing Club today: (Saturday): —-

:00 A. M.

Ice 1 —— E. Shaw. L. MacDon- aid. T. Hooper. D. O'Connor vs AJE. Sullivan. D. Jones, B. Bryand. B. McLure.

Ice 2 —- A. Jones. B. Smith. G. Giddings. A. MacDonald vs E.F. MacDonald. M. Nicholson, B. Dunphy. P. Nicho‘son.