B2 ■ SPORTS THE BRANDON SUN ■ TUESDAY AUGUST 3 2021 TRY TO BEAT THAT!: THE 1978-79 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 , 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 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.” : 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 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 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. There games. turned out he was worthy.” player. All three guys had a lot of games and also skated in Eu- ably doesn’t get the credit he was a lot of effort from him.” Boschman now lives in On- GREGG DRINNAN (Brandon motivation, a lot of desire and a rope, retiring after the 1993-94 deserves after the fact.” WES COULSON: “Ray was tario. Sun): “Laurie was really feisty. lot of skill.” season. RICK KNICKLE: “Ray was a good teammate. He was a BRIAN PROPP: “Laurie fi t What did he have, 160 penalty TIM LOCKRIDGE: “Laurie He worked for more than more of a complete player as tough kid. I want to say he’s the right in with me and Ray after minutes? (It was 149.) He was a wanted to excel and succeed. two decades at a bulk cream a junior than Brian was and only guy who fi nished second Derlago wasn’t there. He was feisty, chippy hockey player and He was as competitive as Ray spending business in New Jer- Laurie was. Hard-nosed, could in the really good on the faceoffs and that earned him more open ice was but then some. To me, Lau- sey, and is now retired in South shoot the puck off the wing, in scoring three years in a row knew how to set up goals and … He was a physical player and rie always wanted to be one of Carolina. really good accurate snapshot. (behind Propp and Derlago). how to shoot … He was a little Laurie had that tricky feistiness the guys so bad, and that’s what He was named the 28th best In the olden days, the Danny He would always stand up for younger but he was one of the to him that allowed him to win drove him. He was such a good player in WHL history when Gares and Guy Lafl eurs and you if somebody took a cheap guys who wanted to work out puck battles. It really wasn’t a hockey player. He could do ev- their all-time top 50 players those guys would go down the shot at you and he had tons of more with weights.” case where Ray went in and got erything at both ends of the ice. were unveiled in 2016. wing and could rip shots from talent too … He was a hard- RAY ALLISON: “Bosch was the puck and got to Laurie, and He wasn’t a one-way player at all. LAURIE BOSCHMAN: “Ray the top of the circles. He was nosed kid and worked hard.” strong on the faceoffs and good Laurie fed Propp. Half the time He had a lot of motivation to do lived at our house for a couple hard-nosed, could fi ght, very DAVE STEWART: “Ray is a defensively. Unfortunately we it was Laurie in the corner. He well.” of years so I considered him tough.” good guy. He’s down to earth, probably left him to bear most wasn’t afraid of anyone and he DAVE CHARTIER: “Laurie an older brother that I didn’t STEPHEN PATRICK: “Ray he wasn’t too much of a big of the defensive load on the line wasn’t afraid of going anywhere.” was a playmaker more than any- have. I had a younger brother. wasn’t as intense (as Propp) talker. He had a helluva shot. but he had good hands, could RICK KNICKLE: “Laurie thing.” Ray was a great junior player. but he had a great toe drag. He He was a natural right winger, pass the puck well. He wouldn’t was a local kid who grew up in MIKE PEROVICH: “Laurie We clicked as linemates with was a little more quiet but re- up and down.” back down from anybody. I think Brandon and played his mi- was a good hockey player. He Propp after Billy Derlago left. ally talented … They all com- DON GILLEN: “(Ray) was we kind of protected Brian a lit- nor hockey there. He had really was like your buddy in the class Ray was tough, he had a quick plemented each other. That similar (to Propp). He maybe tle bit so that nobody would go good hockey sense and had a who was born on Dec. 31, every- release. It was just a pleasure Boston line reminds of them, wasn’t quite as focused but after him. Laurie was really good confi dence about him, a cocki- body was a year ahead of him. to play with both Ray and Bri- with Patrice Bergeron, Brad still very focused.” at it. Laurie was probably more ness you might say, but in a That was Bosch. He took a lot an.” Marchand and David Pas- DAVE CHARTIER: “Ray was of an all-around player than Bil- good way. He could back things of ribbing but he fi t right in, he BRIAN PROPP: “I’ve known trnak. Whenever I watch Bos- a great guy, he was a good ly was. Not as fi nesse but still a up. He would get beat up and picked up where Billy left off. He (Ray) for 41 years … He’s ton, it reminds me of Propp, team guy too. Ray was a mon- solid player.” come right back and you respect did a great job, and he worked down in Myrtle Beach, he re- Allison and Boschman.” ster back then.” DAVE STEWART: “Laurie that. He was stepping into big hard and was competitive.” tired there so I don’t see him KELLY McCRIMMON: “Ray BRUCE PENTON (Brandon really wanted to make it. He shoes between Brian and Ray. WES COULSON: “His skill lev- as much anymore because was such a good winger. He Sun): “(Ray) was sort of a less- was always working out in the They were there for two years el was one of the biggest things we lived in Cherry Hill most was uber talented and could er version of Propp. He was a summertime. He was trying together with Billy D but Laurie and Bosch worked hard. I think of the time that we were to- play any way you wanted. He strong kid, he had great upper to put on more weight, which had a good sense for puck-han- it was his skill level that com- gether. He came in at the same was tough, he played hard, he body strength … He wasn’t as he did. When you have those dling ability and getting pucks plemented the other two guys. time. I think he played a year played every night and was al- strong a skater as Propp but two wingers, after while it’s not to those wingers. He also had 66 He was one of those guys who before with the Travellers. He ways there.” he had a great shot too. He hard to catch on when you got goals that year, and that’s noth- could skate and shoot and he was a great linemate. He was TIM LOCKRIDGE: “Ray was was a good skater, don’t get the calibre of Ray and Propper, ing to sneeze at.” was tough. He was tougher than so strong and good with the a little more intense with wor- me wrong, he just wasn’t quite who have already played in the BRUCE PENTON (Brandon I think a lot of people give him puck, passing and shooting. rying about the games. It got as good as Propp but he was league for a couple of years. Lau- Sun): “(Laurie) was a pretty tal- credit for and when he went on He was good in the corners under his skin a little more strong and had a good shot. rie fi t in good.” ented kid and he was from Bran- to play in the National Hockey and he fed me the puck. He’s than the other guys because of He played the right side, Propp DON GILLEN: “Laurie was a don, which was a pretty big deal. League, he racked up some pen- such a good guy, a good friend his intensity. I played a little bit played the left side and Bos- solid good player. He was more He was a local kid. His dad was alty minutes.” and he always looked much of Brandon Travellers with him chman was in the middle. He than tough enough. He would a car salesman at Canadian Mo- DAVE McDONALD: “Laurie younger than the other players too. We were actually team- was also tough. Allison didn’t stand up for himself and his tors. Laurie joined that top line was a smart player. When we got because he had a baby face.” mates for four years. The one mind scrapping. He scrapped teammates. Laurie was a re- and just fi t in perfectly.” drafted, that was the fi rst year of GREGG DRINNAN (Bran- thing about Ray, he was off by quite a bit, although to have a ally good person. He did a lot BRANT KIESSIG: “(Laurie) the underage (drafting 18-year- don Sun): “Of the three of himself a little bit. Not in a bad guy on your top line spending of things right in a lot of ways. was a good guy around the rink olds began that year) and he was them (on the top line), I way, but off the ice, he wasn’t a lot of time in the penalty box Laurie worked hard, he had the and obviously a good hockey the fi rst on picked on our team, thought (Ray) was the best all- always in that little clique. He wasn’t very smart and I think physical ability to skate quite player.” which I understand. He was a around player at both ends of did what he wanted to do, very Dunc toned him down a little well, was tough enough to go RICK KNICKLE: “Laurie fi t year younger than everybody the ice, offensively and defen- aloof in a sense.” bit. Boy, he could handle him- to the places he needed to go in well with those guys because else but he was very smart with sively. He wasn’t a guy who was BRIAN PROPP: “Ray’s re- self.” to. He was with two guys who he was an agitator but also had the puck, a good stickhandler going to get you 190 points but ally humble. He didn’t like the » [email protected] were 19, top-end talent, and he skill and did a lot of things for and a good teammate and good he was certainly going to score press and was quiet but a great » Twitter: @PerryBergson was defi nitely capable of playing that line.” guy. He was nice to talk to.”