30 — THE CITIZEN, Prince George — Tuesday, September 22,1981 KINGS' PARKER MaeDONALD SIMMER, MARTIN l RUGGED WINGER Important duo watched N o pressure for coach Jimmy Mann VICTORIA (CP) - Two of the VICTORIA (CP) — Parker MacDonald is taking a NHL seasons with several clubs and was head coach slowest skaters at the training camp of low-key approach to replacing popular Bob Berry ofas Minnesota North Stars for 61 games in the 1973-74 key for Jets Los Angeles Kings are getting most of MORE SPORT the National Hockey League coach of Los Angeles season. He later was named coach-of-the-year twice the attention from the brass of the Na­ Kings. in the American Hockey League. WINNIPEG (CP) - Rugged Jimmy Mann of tional Hockey League team. MacDonald, 50, moved from assistant to headAbout 30,000 kilometres has been cut off the de­ the Winnipeg Jets could be a major factor in the The Kings, who had the fourth best coach during the offseason when Berry suddenly quitmanding travel schedule of the Kings through team’s performance during the 1981-1982 Na­ record in the NHL last season, are as before, it has to actually be 110 per the Kings and later signed on to coach the high- realignment - Los Angeles plays its divisional ri­ tional Hockey League season. closely monitoring the rehabilition cent. I’ll just keep lifting weights and profile Montreal Canadiens. vals eight times each this season — and MacDonald During the off-season, general manager John progress of left wingers Charlie Sim­ skating until it is.” thinks the Kings will be much fresher in the second Ferguson sat down with the 22-year-old right mer and Rick Martin. “I don’t feel any pressure right now because the Simmer is the finishing touch to the regular season hasn’t started yet,” MacDonald saidhalf of the schedule when Wesf Coast teams tradi­ winger to stress his importance to the Jets’ Simmer broke his left leg March 2 tionally tire. lineup. after scoring 56 goals in 65 games; Triple Crown line. Taylor does the leg in an interview Friday. "I guess there is pressure, work and heavy duty in the corners, though, to do well with this team. MacDonald expects increased scoring from win­ The third-year NHL club finished last in the Martin suffered a knee injury 10 gers Martin, Steve Jensen, Bill Harris and Mike 21-team league last season, 24 points behind their months ago and, following surgery andwhile Dionne sets up plays with his "I’m looking forward to getting into the playoffs, stick-handling and deft passing. more than anything. We finished fourth last year andMurphy, along with second-year players Greg Terr- nearest rival, Detroit Red Wings. Small by NHL a trade to the Kings, is attempting a finishing fifthor sixth won’t bother me at all. ion and Jim Fox. standards, the team was often intimidated and comeback. Martin was playing for Buffalo “We’ve got to get into the playoffs and play topThe Kings also are taking a long look at centre that’s where Mann comes in. General manager George McGuire Sabres when injured Nov. 7 last sea­ hockey, something we haven’t done the last couple ofDoug Smith, 18, of Ottawa, the team’s No. 1 draft "They said they’re counting on me,” the six- and new coach Parker MacDonald, son. He scored 375 goals in nine previ­ years. It’s important that we get past the first choire. The little scooter has has impressed the foot, 211-pound Mann said. "They’ve asked me to taking over from Bob Berry, hope toous seasons with the team. have both in the lineup when the 1981-82 round.” Kings’ staff with hie skating in workouts. play tough and hard. Basically, they want me to He scored seven goals in 23 games The Kings, anchored by the Triple Crown line of MacDonald also expects improvement from de­ contribute.” regular-season schedule begins next month. for the Sabres last year before being Marcel Dionne between Charlie Simmer and Dave fenceman Larry Murphy, who had 76 points as a A year with Tulsa Oilers, the Jets minor hockey traded to the Kings for future consid­ Taylor, finished with 99 points last season, just four19-year-old rookie last season. league affiliate, convinced Mann that if he can’t “My leg looked a little bit better than erations. He had a goal and an assist in behind leading Montreal Canadiens in the Norris Di­ play, he can’t stay. it really is when I started skating ear­ his only game with Los Angeles before vision. They were eliminated in the first round of the ‘Twant to be here in Winnipeg,” he said. lier in the summer,” Simmer said it was determined that his right knee playoffs by New York Rangers. "Nowhere else. I want to win with these guys. It’s Thursday in an interview. “But it’s needed additional rest. Hull not sure my dream to stay here.” still a little tender when you get out Realignment has placed Los Angeles in the “The first time I skated was about Smythe Division with Calgary Flames, Vancouver STOCKHOLM (AP) — As kids swarmed around For a big man, Mann can skate well, his shot is with the other guys and make quick better than average and he works hard. He does turns and stops. five days ago because I really wasn’t Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Rockies.asking for autographs, Bobby Hull, as popular as able to exercise all summer,” said “All the teams in our division are tough because ever in hockey-crazy Sweden, patiently signed for take penalties — lots of them. "I admit I take a few,” he said. “A guy who “It’s coming along better than ex­ Martin, 30. “There was some swelling there’s no night you just throw your sticks out there everyone. pected, but I’m still a little disap­ in my knee this summer and I had and beat somebody on reputation,” MacDonald said.But will he ever sign for New York Rangers? “I takes 200 minutes in penalties every season is bound to take some. But I think you have to admit pointed that it’s been so slow.” some cortisone injections. “Calgary is perhaps the strongest of the clubs be­don’t know,” Hull said Friday night when watching a Simmer, 27, is part of Los Angeles’ cause it’s tough playing in the small Calgary rink. game in an international hockey tourney here. "It’s a lot of my penalties aren’t deserved. I’ve been a "The knee is still pretty sore and I’m marked man.” celebrated Triple Crown line with “But we have some great hockey players now and,tough and a big challenge after being out of hockey centre Marcel Dionne and right winger going to have to do a lot of work with if Richard Martin comes around, we’ll have more is reputation as a notorious fighter preceded the weights to get the strength back in for almost two years.” him out of the junior ranks. He led the Quebec Dave Taylor. balanced scoring.” Hull, 42, decided to try a comeback while visiting my leg. The Triple Crown unit accounted for almost half ofFinland on a business trip last month. Major Junior League in penalties as a forward The line hasn’t been together yet in with Sherbrooke Beavers. training camp because Taylor is in a “I had anoperationlast year, but the Los Angeles’ 337 goals last season, with Dionne scor­He worked out daily with IFK of Helsinki, a Fin­ swelling really hurt my skating. Then I ing 58 times, Simmer 56 and Taylor 47. nish major league club, and then accepted an invita­ He lived up to advance billing in his first year separate conditioning group from with Winnipeg, who made him their first round Simmer and Dionne wasn’t scheduled was traded. Simmer and Martin are coming off serious in­ tion to try out as left wing with the Rangers. choice in the 1979-80 junior draft. He led the league “I’m really looking forward to play­ juries, however, and MaDonald is watching their After two games with the National Hockey League to report until Friday after playing in in penalties. the Canada Cup series for Team ing for the Kings. I just hope I can get progress closely in training camp at Victoria’s team, the Golden Jet says he still has not made up his back in there as soon as possible.” mind. The influence of European-style hockey has Canada. Memorial Arena. rubbed off on the NHL, and a new preference for Martin played alongside brilliant Martin underwent knee surgery last November “I need a coupleof more games in this tournament players who can skate, make a play and think at “I’d like to be ready to start the sea­ centre Gilbert Perreault for most of while a member of Buffalo Sabres and later wasand some more exhibitions in the U.S. and Canada,” the same time has replaced the old roughhouse son, but I’m going to make sure the leg his career in Buffalo. With Los traded to the Kings. He’s still having problems with he said. “But frankly, it feels very heavy right now.”tactics of the late 70’s when Philadelphia Flyers is 100 per cent before I go back out," Angeles, he’s not likely to get any work swelling in the knee. The NHL’s third all-time leading scorer, Hull is were winning the Stanley Cup with the nickname said Simmer.