Knickle Fit Right in After Moving West for Hockey
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Thursday, August 5, 2021 brandonsun.com REPORT GAME RESULTS BEFORE 9 P.M. PHONE 204.571.7442 FAX 204.727.0385 Sports EMAIL [email protected] TRY TO BEAT THAT!: THE 1978-79 BRANDON WHEAT KINGS Knickle fi t right in after moving west for hockey BY PERRY BERGSON Rick Knickle, who played Goalies faced lots of with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 1970s, somehow lasted long enough in the game to rubber in late 1970s become the toast of the hock- BY PERRY BERGSON Knickle said. “You don’t get 70 ey world in 1993. in a peewee game.” Knickle came out from Nova If you judge goaltenders The pair was solidifi ed when Scotia, following in the foot- from the 1970s and 1980s by Charlie Funk was cut in mid- steps of his friend Tim Lock- their goals-against averages, September to reduce the num- ridge, who had lived in Por- you’re probably missing some ber of goalies in camp down to tage la Prairie before the move important information. two. east. Lockridge returned to The 1978-79 Brandon Wheat The two goalies nearly play with the Manitoba Junior Kings were a force in the West- sawed the playing time down Hockey League’s Terriers at age Rick Knickle ern Hockey League, but in 72 the middle, with Knickle see- 15, making his Wheat Kings regular season games, they ing action in 38 games, and debut a year later after a move held their opponent to 29 Olson on the ice for 35. Both the minors in Rochester and I to the MJHL’s Brandon Travel- or fewer shots just 18 times. goalies played in a regular sea- ran into him in Brandon when lers. Conversely, they allowed 40 or son just once, and that came Nolan was playing and he was With Glen Hanlon’s gradua- more shots 14 times, because Olson was ejected scouting. He was a real good tion after the 1976-77 season, “That era was just a lot of in the game that ended Bran- goaltender.” Brandon was holding an open shots,” goalie Rick Knickle don’s unbeaten streak when he MIKE PEROVICH: “Rick was audition for a new goalie so said. “I had a goals-against of sparked a brawl. quiet. He didn’t say much.” Knickle came out west. 3.10 and led the country al- “The two of them were re- DAVE CHARTIER: “Ricky is He was originally assigned most. Now it’s 2.10 or 2.00. It’s ally good,” Brian Propp said. a good guy. We would always to the Travellers, who served as a one-goal difference but it’s “They were good friends. The be the last ones off the ice, he Brandon’s de facto farm club, crazy the shots I would get. thing about them was that and I. Somebody would shoot but was quickly promoted and Thank God we had an offen- they were consistent. We had pucks and I would defl ect earned the top job, playing 49 sive team because that’s why I a lot of chances to play bet- them. He had the old goalie games. won more than I lost.” ter but we didn’t really have to mask and Rick was standing Nicknamed Schoonie by The wildest example came because we had a lead all the there and I defl ected it and it his teammates because of on Oct. 15, 1978, when the Vic- time. Knicker played well that went under his mask and hit his Nova Scotia roots, he split toria Cougars visited the Key- whole year, and so did Scott. him and cut him for probably playing time with Scott Ol- stone Centre. Brandon won Scott was a little unorthodox 10 or 12 stitches. He said ‘What son in 1978-79 but gradually 7-3, but Knickle faced 72 shots, but he fi gured out a way to the … were you doing?’ and I played more as the playoffs with Victoria fi ring the puck at stop the puck.” said ‘I don’t know what I was went on. He was on the ice for Rick Knickle posted a 3.16 goals-against average in the 1978- him 31 times in both the sec- doing, I was just trying to get the the fi rst two games of the 79 season and was named the WHL’s fi rst-team all-star goalie. ond and third periods. » [email protected] it up high.’ He was a goer. He Memorial Cup but the league’s (Brandon Sun fi le photo) “It was one of those nights,” » Twitter: @PerryBergson fi rst-team all-star goalie was stayed after practice. He was replaced by Portland Winter one of the better goaltenders. Hawks pickup Bart Hunter for He played well and everybody ON THE ICE the fi nal three games. liked him. There were a lot of Still, Knickle was taken in players who were leaders, and assists pushed him to 102 points on the season. Dunc McCallum: the sixth round, 116th overall, he was a silent leader.” Brandon 8, Edmonton 2 “We got a good effort from He had 99 the previous season as a rookie. The everyone but the difference was the line of by the Buffalo Sabres in 1979. RAY ALLISON: “Rick was Game 47, Feb. 2, 1979 team now headed out on a 17-day, nine-game Kiessig, Gillen and Kempthorne. They defi nitely Knickle returned to Brandon a good goalie. Glen Hanlon Recap: Edmonton’s Bruce Jacobsen was was the fi rst kid I played with road trip against Central and Western Division were the difference in the game. And our penalty for the 1979-80 season and tasked with shadowing Brian Propp. Advantage: opponents. killing was as good tonight as it was bad in in Brandon, and I don’t know then embarked on a profes- Brian Propp. The Wheat Kings star scored three Billings.” if they were in that calibre of BWK goals: Propp (3), Kempthorne, Stewart, sional odyssey that saw him goals and added a pair of assists as the Wheat Patrick, Allison. play until the end of the 1996- goaltending, but Rick was a Kings romped to the win. In an odd touch after 97 season. He may be best re- pretty good goalie, pretty fun- the game, Wheat Kings defenceman Brad BWK goalie: Olson. Brandon 5, New Westminster 5 membered for making his Na- damental. He had pretty good McCrimmon praised referee Murray Harding, who Shots on net: 59-39 BWK. Game 53, Feb. 15, 1979 tional Hockey League debut hands.” had recently had been offi ciating in the Central Attendance: 1,798, in Brandon. Recap: Brian Propp had a hat trick but his goal on Feb. 18, 1993 with the Los WES COULSON: “Rick was Hockey League, but moved back to Manitoba Record: 41-2-6. 8:54 into the third period was one to remember Angeles Kings at age 33, and just a fun-loving guy. He just for a job with the World Hockey Association’s Dunc McCallum: “That third period was as it propelled him into the top spot for career appearing in 14 regular season loved life. He was a good goal- Winnipeg Jets. Edmonton scoring leader Ray something we haven’t had in six weeks. There points in Western Hockey League history, with games. tender. We had two really good Neufeld watched the game from the stands with was emotion out there … and that’s what this 471, moving him one past Ron Chipperfi eld. On Knickle did amateur scout- goaltenders as a matter of fact. an ankle injury. game is all about … controlled emotion.” the historic play, Propp’s shot beat New West ing for the Nashville Predators He was a kid from Nova Scotia BWK goals: Propp (3), Allison (2), Perovich, goalie Richard Martens high to the stick side, for 13 years, before joining who worked hard and stopped McDonald, Roberts. and his 12th winner of the season tied the league the Arizona Coyotes as their the puck. He was a good team- BWK goalie: Olson. Brandon 4, Billings 4 record. Brandon led 2-0 after the fi rst, it was tied director of amateur scoring for mate.” Shots on net: 67-29 BWK. Game 50, Feb. 10, 1979 2-2 after 40 minutes and Larry Melnyk tied it 5-5 three years. DAVE STEWART: “Schoonie Attendance: 2,088, in Brandon. Recap: Trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes, and 4-2 for the Bruins (26-24-5) midway through the third was different. He had lots of period. Coach Dunc McCallum called it the team’s He now lives in B.C. Record: 39-2-6. fi ve minutes into the fi nal frame, Brian Propp and talent but sometime his mind Brad Kempthorne scored three minutes apart to worst game of the road trip. Brandon and New TIM LOCKRIDGE: “Rick and Dunc McCallum: “I tried to juggle the lines early me grew up together. Our dads would wander. He was a good salvage a tie. Kempthorne’s goal was his 20th of West had an all-time record of 13-13-6 against guy. Goaltenders are all a little but then I thought that farther down the road — the season. Former Wheat King Dan Earley had each other. were in the air force so I met in the playoffs — Propp will likely have a checker different.” one of the goals for Billings. BWK goals: Propp (3), Brad McCrimmon, Allison. Rick in Nova Scotia and he just on him all the time.