s p o r t s Ron A llerton, sports editor. 562-2^111 T , , r W ednesday, F e b ru a ry 9, 1983 — 13 'NOTHING IN HALIFAX' Guy Lafleur paints bleak picture for Habs MONTREAL (CP) — Every year, in January, the and nothing at Halifax, either. I’ve been saying that for first 54 games last season, they have allowed 198 during president of the United States delivers a state-of-the- three years. Management made me keep my mouth the same period this year. union address, reflecting on developments of the past shut and nobody believed me at the time, but today ev­ When they dealt defencemen Brian Engblom and Rod year, «vith a peek into the future. erybody can see I was right. Langway to the Washington Capitals before the start of Guy Lafleur, the Montreal Canadiens’ right winger, “We’re better off not thinking about a Stanley Cup in the season, the Canadiens expected to decline some­ seems to have borrowed a piece of American tradition. Montreal for quite a few years to come.” what defensively. They expected an improved offence At least once a year, he speaks his mind on the current Lafleur absolved coach Bob Berry of blame for the with the acquisition of Ryan Walter in the deal, but they have scored seven fewer goals — 249 compared situation of the National Hockey League team that em­ Canadiens’ problems. with 256. ploys him. “What do you want Bob to do under the circum­ His latest message came during the weekend in an in­ stances? He’s doing the best he can with the horses at And what of the future, which, if Lafleur is to be be­ terview with La Presse. his disposal and he doesn’t have that much.” lieved, looks bleak? In the past the Canadiens well- stocked farm system enabled veterans to hand the "I want to give the team leadership, but the whole Lafleur has been praised by some and criticized by torch to youngsters without missing a step. Lafleur team is having its problems right now,” Lafleur said. others for his comments. His detractors say he is rightly points out there is little at the team's AHL affil­ ‘‘It’s a tough period we’re going through, especially for speaking to divert attention from his own diminishing iate in Nova Scotia. veterans such as myself who are used to winning skills. There might be some truth to that, but there is The future seems to be at various U.S. high schools throughout their career and, suddenly, are suffering de­ far more truth in what Lafleur has to say. and colleges, in Sweden, where Jan Ingman and Lars feat after defeat. It is worthwhile, then, to examine Lafleur’s com­ Eriksson, draft picks from 1981, bide their time until “But it seems to me this team can no longer count ments in greater depth. they play for their country in the 1984 Olympics, and solely on us, on the older guys like Larry (Robinson) Statistics, cold and hard as they are, indicate the Ca­ perhaps in high draft selections coming to the Cana­ and myself and Bob Gainey. We won’t be here for that nadiens have regressed in their rebuilding job. One diens in the next two years. Before they can be formed many more years and what’s going to happen when we year ago, at the all-star break, the Canadiens had 74 into a Stanley Cup winner, the years of which Lafleur won’t be there any more?” points after 54 games. In 1983, after 54 games they had speaks will probably have passed. Lafleur continued: ‘i ’m concerned for the future of 66, somewhat disturbing, but not nearly as alarming as For now they are only shadows on a distant horizon Guy Lafleur’s comments are sure to arouse con the team. Right now, we can see there are no reserves their defensive slide. After allowing 158 goals in their and there are failing hands ready to throw the torch. troversy in hockey-mad Montreal. IN SPITE OF ABSENCE Brodeur feels honored VANCOUVER (CP) — Richard Brodeur watch­ 54 games this season, will miss at least the final ed the annual National Hockey League all-star four games of the Canucks’ six-game road trip game Tuesday from the comfort of his living which continue* tonight against the Pittsburgh room rather than at ice level in Uniondale, N Y. Penguins. The goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks was He said the 45-foot shot by Daoust late in the pleased, however, he had been selected for the Toronto game struck him when he turned his hel- all-star game for the first time in his 11-year pro­ meted head. fessional career. “ I saw it coming — right between my eyes,” “Sure, it’s disappointing,” Brodeur said. “ It’s Brodeur said. “ I tried turning my head always a goal to look forward to. “ I thought I was going to get it in the chest, but “The main thing was, I was chosen to play.” it was a riser.” Brodeur was injured Saturday in Toronto when Brodeur dismissed the ever-present injury fac­ struck in the head by a shot fired by Dan Daoust tor in hockey by saying the “ action now is quick­ of the Maple Leafs. He suffered a lacerated right er than it was a few years ago. ear and perforated ear drum. “They circle and shoot more and then there’s Murray Bannerman of the Chicago Black the counter plays,” he added. “But. we get paid Hawks led the voting at the goaltender position very well for what we do and it’s just one of the for the Clarence Campbell Conference team, fol­ risks we take.” lowed by Brodeur. His place was taken by Van­ couver backup John Garrett, acquired last Friday The Vancouver Canucks visit the Pittsburgh I'en- from the Quebec Nordiques. (fuins today at 4:30 p.m. on BCTV (channel 12, cable Brodeur, who has played in 46 of Vancouver’s ID. NHL W AITING FOR BLUES Saskatoon bid not priority UNIONDALE, N Y. (CP) — John Ziegler, presi­ son attendance is up about three per cent to the dent of the National Hockey League, has placed end of January. Saskatoon’s dream of a franchise on the back “ If that continues, right through the total oper­ burner, waiting for St. Louis to light the fire. ation, we might be somewhere between $10 mil­ The reluctance of the St. Louis Blues to present lion and $15 million in the red,” Ziegler said, ‘i f the NHL’s board of governors with a plan for sale it’s near $10 million, to cut our losses by 50 per of the franchise to a group headed by Bill Hunter cent in one year, with the economy with the way Gretzky slams his fourth goal past Wales Conference goalie Pelle Lindbergh, completing a 9-3 rout. of Saskatoon has left the deal hanging. we’ve had in North America. I would be pleased Recently, the Ralston Purina Co. said it wanted but not satisfied." to sell the Blues and was negotiating with Hunter Seven clubs made money, seven broke even or THREE RECORDS BROKEN and his partner, Peter Batoni. Ralston Purina lost a little and seven had substantial losses last asked that its request to sell and transfer be ta­ season, he said. ken off the agenda since a deal had not been com­ The site of the all-star game next year remains pleted. up in the air. although there are two or three cit­ Gretzky great against other stars Ziegler said at a news conference Tuesday he is ies being mentioned. The Quebec Nordiques have unwilling to call a special meeting of the gover­ withdrawn their offer to serve as host. The Calga­ UNIONDALE, N Y. rett, named to the The lone reply from nors to deal with the issue until he has something ry Flames appeared to have gained acceptance (CP) — When Wayne Campbell team after the Wales in the third concrete to deal with. for their bid to hold the 1985 game. Gretzky decides to Vancouver’s Richard period came from the The governors’ next regular meeting is March 28 in Chicago. The governors met with the players’ association start contributing it Brodeur was injured, New York Rangers’ but Ziegler said because of lack of time “we can wear out the nearly unbeatable. Don Maloney. Ziegler termed reports from Saskatoon sources that a special meeting might be held within two couldn’t really negotiate” on several unresolved opposition goal light Vancouver’s new goa­ Defenceman Rod issues in the new collective agreement Another Langw ay of the weeks "pure speculation.” — even against a lie, who less than a meeting is set for late May. team of hockey stars. week ago was with Washington Capitals He had little hard news about the meetings, Gretzky’s four the Quebec Nordi­ blamed a third period except to say the NHL is losing less money than There was no discussion of Philadelphia owner third-period goals set ques, allowed only breakdown in back- last year. Ed Snider’s suggestion the 80-game schedule be three records, won one goal in his 30- checking by the Wa­ The NHL lost more than $20 million last year, cut to allow post-season play between the Stanley him an automobile as minute shift in net. les for the loss. with only seven of 21 clubs in the black. This sea- Cup champion and the Soviets.