Hometown Stewart Centred Talented Second Line by PERRY BERGSON Was a Sneaky Player
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B2 ■ SPORTS THE BRANDON SUN ■ TUESDAY AUGUST 3 2021 TRY TO BEAT THAT!: THE 1978-79 BRANDON WHEAT KINGS Hometown Stewart centred talented second line BY PERRY BERGSON was a sneaky player. Dave (Mc- erybody else, wanted to win. He Donald) and I were the grinders was a hard worker, and if things Dave Stewart was Brandon’s on the line — we didn’t have the weren’t going good, he would sole returning centre in the talent that Stewy did — but I get mad and say ‘Let’s get go- 1978-79 season, and played an don’t remember him getting hit. ing!’ He was one of those guys.” important role on the team’s I remember him getting pissed GREGG DRINNAN (Bran- second line. off and dropping the gloves but don Sun): “He would score a The team’s only born-and- I don’t remember him ever put- thousand points with the way raised Brandonite — Laurie ting himself into danger.” the game is now in the West- Boschman moved to the Wheat TIM LOCKRIDGE: “Stewie ern Hockey League. He was re- City at age nine – Stewart played was a local guy who grew up in ally skilled, really good with the with the Manitoba Junior Hock- Brandon, and knew everybody. puck. He might well have been ey League’s Brandon Travellers He was a cocky, confi dent indi- the best puck handler on the in 1976-77 before moving to the vidual.” team. He was a little more laid- big club in 1977-78. DAVE CHARTIER: “(Dave) al- back, not as feisty or aggressive The 18-year-old rookie put ways had that smile on his face. as Laurie was. You could slot up 49 points in 72 games, set- Dave Stewart He was a little go-getter. He him anywhere. He could play ting up his success for a year wasn’t the biggest kid around anywhere in any role.” later when he jumped to 79 and I wanted to be as good as … we had the best team in the RAY ALLISON: “Stewie was points in 66 games, often cen- he was. He was very slick and league and Stewy was above the a good player. I don’t know tring Stephen Patrick and Dave smooth. Stewie had a great im- rest too … He was a good player why he didn’t slide into that McDonald. pact on that team.” back then.” spot ahead of Bosch. Stewie After a short pro career, RICK KNICKLE: “Stewie WES COULSON: “Stewie was was kind of the same as Lau- Stewart worked on the railway was a smaller guy. He was our a real fun-loving guy. He liked rie I thought, a similar player, and also went into business fourth-leading scorer among to have fun and was a great strong, wouldn’t back down. I in Brandon and Winnipeg. He the forwards. It was the top line centreman. He was good on thought we probably had the moved to Calgary seven years and then Dave Stewart. Stewie the draws. He prided himself two best centre men in the ago, where he works in sales for was really skilled and had the on winning draws … He could league.” a book publisher. odd fi ght. Our team had some score and he wasn’t afraid to KELLY McCRIMMON: “Bran- MIKE PEROVICH: “He was guys who were smaller and throw off the gloves and give don born and raised, he was as cool as the other side of the would fi ght and enjoyed it. Off somebody a tap upside the a really good player. Really pillow. He was funny and had the ice, he was one of the good head if they needed it. Stewie skilled, really talented, not the a good heart. He was a good guys. We had a lot of guys on always had fun.” biggest guy but a heck of a play- player, I remember, on faceoffs our team who really stuck to- DAVE McDONALD: “He was er, and the coolest guy there and killing penalties. He was a Dave Stewart was the only born-and-raised Brandonite on the gether and would party togeth- Mr. Smooth. He was very shifty was. He had a big presence on character. He was like Fonzie 1978-79 Wheat Kings roster. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) er off the ice, and that’s why we and a great playmaker. He was our team. He was a really im- (from the 1970s sitcom Happy won on the ice.” great to play with. He would put portant player in our room and Days).” (laughs) Drive, his family bought a place older than I was and I looked up STEPHEN PATRICK: “Stewie it right on the tape every time on the ice. A funny guy.” LAURIE BOSCHMAN: and we lived next door to each to him. He was a right-handed was real smooth. He was a great he passed you the puck. He was » [email protected] “When we lived on Macleod other. Dave Stewart was a year shot, he was a very good player skater, an effortless skater. He very determined, and like ev- » Twitter: @PerryBergson Allison’s work ethic, toughness drove big line Boschman fi lled Derlago’s spot admirably well BY PERRY BERGSON BY PERRY BERGSON Ray Allison blended talent With the graduation of su- and toughness to become one perstar centre Bill Derlago, one of the greatest players in Bran- of the biggest questions going don Wheat Kings history. into the 1978-79 season was A product of Cranbrook, who would play between Bran- B.C., Allison split the 1975-76 don Wheat Kings forwards Brian season between the Wheat Propp and Ray Allison. Kings and their farm club, The question was compound- the Manitoba Junior Hockey ed because Dave Stewart was the League’s Brandon Travellers. team’s only returning centre. Ul- Even at 16, which was a lot timately, 18-year-old Laurie Bos- rarer at the time than it is now, chman stepped up and made a he managed 26 points in 36 Ray Allison is the only player in WHL history to fi nish second in seamless transition into argu- Laurie Boschman stepped into the spot on the top line vacated games in the WHL. league scoring three years in a row. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) ably one of the most important after Bill Derlago graduated, and proved to a terrifi c linemate He became a full-time spots on the team. to Brian Propp and Ray Allison. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) Wheat King in 1976-77, and leader. He was really fast but Boschman, nicknamed over three years put up 137, he played hard.” “Bosch” by his teammates, KELLY McCRIMMON: “Lau- 160 and 153 points, fi nishing MIKE PEROVICH: “(Ray) moved to Brandon at age nine rie was really, really talented. He second overall in league scor- was a good guy, a great player. and got to know coach Dunc was such a good skater and really ing each year. He remains sec- He kept to himself. I didn’t re- McCallum at his annual hockey tough. He had skill, speed, hock- ond in franchise history with ally see much of Ray off the ice. school. ey sense. He was an 18-year-old 476 points in 242 games, trail- He led by example though his He spent the 1976-77 season when he played on that line with ing only his linemate Brian actions. He wasn’t a big talker, with the Wheat Kings’ farm club Propper and Ray, and they were Propp who fi nished with 511 he just went out there and did — the Manitoba Junior Hockey’s both 19. They dominated and points. He is fourth in career it. He didn’t say too much in Brandon Travellers — getting Laurie had a fantastic season.” goals with 188 and second in the dressing room, but when called up for three games as a STEPHEN PATRICK: “Lau- assists with 288. he did, you listened.” 16-year-old. rie could be a lot of fun in the He was no slouch in the DAVE McDONALD: “Ray He made the club for the 1977- dressing room but he was really post-season either, contribut- was a good talent. He had an 78 campaign, and responded focused on the ice. He had a lot ing 37 points in 22 games in excellent slapshot. Individual- with 42 goals, 57 assists and 227 of skill and was a really good the playoffs and eight points ly as people they were all good penalty minutes, displaying the skater, even a simple thing like in fi ve games at the Memorial Ray Allison guys. Ray worked hard. He combination of high-end skill making a real good backhand Cup. After the season, he was wasn’t as talented as Brian or and grit that would carry him to Laurie Boschman pass. No one on that line ever picked 18th overall in the fi rst some and he was tough and Laurie, but he worked his butt a 14-year career in the National held the puck too long. They all round by the Hartford Whalers could handle himself … He off, and when he had a chance Hockey League that saw him with them. It wasn’t easy to play fed off each other. He got banged in 1979. was a really, really good junior. to put the puck in the net, he dress in 1,009 regular season with those guys but it certainly around a lot but he was a tough Allison played 237 NHL Of the three of them, he prob- had a great slapshot.