Monday, August 9, 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 Kelly McCrimmon’s path with club began in 1978 BY PERRY BERGSON DON GILLEN: “He under- He was so smart.” stood the game very well. He DON GILLEN: “When we Nobody has cast a greater understood the little things. He went down to Billings, they had shadow over the Brandon Wheat was a very smart hockey player. a booster club down there and it Kings franchise than Kelly Mc- He had a couple of unfortunate was quite active in a new organi- Crimmon. injuries. The wrist, I believe, he zation. They used to put signs up But in 1978-79, he wasn’t the broke a couple of times and that for the opposing team and I still owner, and sets you back for a few months. remember “#18 is McCriminal.” head coach who took the team And when you come back, is (laughs) to new levels of sustained suc- your the way it was? You : “Kelly was pret- cess. He was a rookie always knew you could count ty funny too. There were about who just happened to be the on him. The other team always three or four of those guys they younger brother of one of the knew he was on the ice.” were like peas in a pod, Donny best defencemen in team his- WES COULSON: “He didn’t Gillen and Kelly and Donny Di- tory. have the talent that a lot of the etrich and (Mike) Perovich. They By sheer force of will, Kelly other guys had on the team but would get going and it was pret- McCrimmon carved out his own he worked hard and he would ty funny. The locker room was a niche on the 1978-79 team as stand up for you. He didn’t give a pretty fun room at times, and we a hard-working, edgy forward s— about nothing. If somebody always had a good time.” who could contribute at both Kelly McCrimmon got off to a tremendous start to the 1978-79 season for the Brandon Wheat was picking on somebody, he GREGG DRINNAN (Brandon ends of the ice. Kings but only played 40 regular season games due to injuries and a long suspension. (Brandon would give them a little tap, and Sun): “Kelly was a hard worker, Unfortunately, he had some Sun fi le photo) if you wanted to go, fi ne. If you and his killing was un- rotten luck. He earned an eight- didn’t want to go, he would give believable. His anticipation of game suspension on Dec. 14 for himself, which obviously he has. the Blades come out. Out comes you another tap. He was quite where the puck was going was leaving the bench during a brawl, He was Brad’s little brother, and Kenny Federko and he takes a the character.” second to none. I know it’s a cli- came back on Jan. 15, missed 13 you could see some things that swing at him (laughs). ‘What are MIKE PEROVICH: “Kelly was che, but people talk now about games due to a cracked bone in were the same in him but they you doing?’” a good penalty killer. He worked a good stick and he had a re- his arm, suffered an ankle injury were both very independent. STEPHEN PATRICK: “I re- hard.” ally good stick, knocking down on March 2 and then reinjured Brad would help coach in prac- member this one time he ran STEPHEN PATRICK: “Kelly pucks and getting into lanes. his arm again during Game 2 of tice and Kelly was the same way. a guy in warmup. It was Bernie was great in the dressing room. One of the things people forget the league fi nal and missed the He understood the game and he Federko’s younger brother. It I didn’t see that he felt any kind about is the injuries, the arm rest of the season. wanted to learn more and do was amazing.” of pressure because his brother he broke twice and issues with He returned the next year, and more in the game.” DAVE STEWART: “Kelly is was a great player. Kelly would calcifi cation in the healing pro- after graduating, headed to the WES COULSON: “Kelly was Kelly. He didn’t have a ton of tal- always have guys around his cess. They would have been a University of Michigan for four quite the character. Him and ent, that’s for sure, not like his locker because he had a great better team if he was healthy years, and upon earning his de- I shared a bunk on the bus so brother, but he had his place. He sense of humour. He was a real through the whole season be- gree, went home to the farm. I got to know Kelly quite a bit. killed penalties and he would get good penalty killer and he was a cause I would suggest he was After coaching near Plenty, He was another one of those in front of the net and cause s—. bugger to play against … He was the best defensive player on the Sask., farm, he took a job with guys who was happy with life. He was good at that, and you al- a great teammate.” team. He was also really hard to the Wheat Kings in 1988, and Kelly McCrimmon He just had a hate on for Kenny ways need players like that. Did DAVE CHARTIER: “Kelly and play against. Chartier was a pest within a few years was a partial Federko, just an absolute hate. It I think he would be where he I played together on the penalty and he didn’t mind who knew owner of the team, later buying team to Jared Jacobson last Sep- might be because he had a hate is now? No, I thought he would kill. He was a buzzer. What he it or how out in the open it was the rest of the club from Bob tember. on for . He couldn’t head back to the farm.” lacked in talent, he was unbe- that he was doing this goofi ness. Cornell. TIM LOCKRIDGE: “The pro- stand the . He RICK KNICKLE: “Kelly was lievable in heart. He was a good Kelly was the same way but he After winning a Western fessor. The one thing I remem- grew up around Saskatoon but another guy on our team — with player. He was like a bulldog. was a lot slyer. Kelly knew where Hockey League championship ber about Kelly was his detail he couldn’t stand Ken Federko. Brad being the star He would never give up, worked the referee was all the time and in 2016, McCrimmon joined the for the game. His wheels were I remember one night in Sas- and getting all the accolades — hard all the time. Look at what Kelly didn’t care who you were or ’s Ve- always turning. He was con- katoon and we’re down in our who was really important on he has now. That’s his work eth- how big you were. He would do gas Golden Knights as assistant stantly analyzing everything so end. We came out fi rst and all our team. I believe if he wasn’t ic, and he had it back then too. anything to win.” general manager, and was later you knew he was going to go on of a sudden Kelly takes off and hurt, we would have won the A lot of it came from home obvi- » [email protected] promoted to GM. He sold the somewhere and do very well for stands right by the door where .” ously but he worked his tale off. » Twitter: @PerryBergson Playing in his own shadow Wheat Kings fi nish BY GREGG DRINNAN coaching.” up record season “It’s nice to be playing with This story originally ap- Brad,” said McCrimmon, add- BY PERRY BERGSON the 1983-84 when peared in the Nov. 15, 1978 ing that he and his brother, scored 15. Propp’s 16 game-win- edition of the Brandon Sun. who work a farm near Plenty, Most seasons are measured ning goals remains the record. Who is the Brandon Wheat Sask., together in the off- simply in wins, losses and ties. The two goals Brandon scored Kings’ fi fth-leading scorer? season, are playing alongside The great ones are measured by six seconds apart on April 24, On top, and in fact leading each other for the fi rst time the record book. 1979 in a 13-3 win over the Leth- the , is in fi ve years. “We were always All these years later, the 1978- bridge Broncos remains the two Brian Propp. Following him, in close as kids and he told me 79 Brandon Wheat Kings (58-5- quickest markers in WHL play- order, are Ray Allison, Laurie if I worked hard here Dunc 9) still hold the Western Hockey off history. Boschman, Brad McCrimmon would keep me. But, even if I League mark for most points Remarkably, in a season they and Kelly McCrimmon. hadn’t been on Brandon’s list, with 125, and an incredible 49- played 104 times, just three Kelly McCrimmon? this is the team I’d have want- game unbeaten streak that ran teams beat them more than That’s right. Prior to to- ed to play for … and more for from Feb. 11, 1978 to Dec. 13, once, the night’s game with the visit- Dunc’s coaching than just to 1978. (four times), Saskatoon Blades ing Lethbridge Broncos, the be with Brad.” The closest anyone has come (three) and Peterborough Pe- younger of the McCrimmon Brad, who is 18 months to the points record was in 2008- tes (twice in overtime). They brothers had 12 goals and 14 older than Kelly, is likely the 09 when the Hitmen lost once to the Edmonton Oil assists, for 26 points, in the WHL’s top defenceman and went 59-9-3-1 for 122 points, Kings, Billings Bighorns, Trois- club’s 19 games. quite probably will be one of but it’s worth noting the league Riviéres Draveurs and Moscow Admittedly, those fi gures are the National League’s top draft had overtimes and shootouts by Selects. nothing fantastic in this era of selections when the 1979 draft then. Oddly, the team wasn’t a huge high-scoring junior hockey. rolls around. But, Kelly says In 2004, the Ontario Hockey hit in Brandon. It seems almost But, when you listen to Wheat being known as “Brad’s broth- League’s start- unthinkable now but the 1978- Kings’ coach Dunc McCallum er” doesn’t bother him. ed the season with a 31-game 79 team didn’t do especially well you realize just how fi ne a “It’s been like that for quite a unbeaten streak, topping Bran- at the box offi ce until late in the season the 18-year-old rookie while,” Kelly commented, “so don’s 29-game mark by two. The season. rightwinger is having. it doesn’t matter. I got used to Wheat Kings still hold the WHL BRUCE PENTON (Brandon “A year ago at training camp playing in his shadow and it mark for longest streak to start a Sun): “They were so good that (1977), Kelly might have had doesn’t bother me.” season and longest streak over- it hurt the crowds. They were a hard time making the Trav- Tonight, when Broncos all. so dominant and so assured of ellers,” McCallum said, refer- and Wheat Kings faceoff at 8 Brandon’s record of just fi ve victory at home that I think a ring to Brandon’s entry in the o’clock at the Keystone Cen- losses is fi ve better than the lot of people just stayed away. It Manitoba Junior League. tre, Kelly will be lined up with 1976-77 Wheat Kings and the was such a foregone conclusion Wheat Kings’ general man- veteran Dave Stewart 1978-79 Portland Winterhawks. that the excitement level was ager Jack Brockest agreed. and newcomer Dave McDon- Brandon’s two losses at home not there, other than if Portland “The difference between Kelly Years before becoming head coach, general manager and ald. McCallum put this unit is tied for second behind the came to town or something like in training camp last year and owner of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelly McCrimmon was together before last Sunday’s 1973-74 New Westminster Bru- that.” this year was like night and a hard-working 18-year-old forward who had the bad luck of 7-7 draw in Saskatoon with the ins, who were unbeaten. The GREGG DRINNAN (Brandon day.” breaking his arm twice during the 1978-79 campaign. (Brandon Blades and has been pleased Wheat Kings’ 17-game unbeaten Sun): “The one thing people McCrimmon came to Wheat Sun fi le photo) with the results. McCrimmon, streak on the road was broken in might forget about that season Kings’ 1977 training camp too, couldn’t be happier. 1999-2000 by the Hitmen, who is they didn’t draw that well. after fi nishing the prior sea- of the Centennial Cup again “He’s a leader and he wants “McDonald has good size went 18 games without a loss. I don’t know if they averaged son with the Centennial Cup last season and McCrimmon to win,” says McCallum. “He’s and he’s aggressive,” McCrim- They still hold the mark for few- 2,500. Maybe some late season winning Prince Al bert Raid- played a big part in the team prepared to sacrifi ce to get the mon said. “And he’s like me est road losses with just three. attendance brought the crowds ers of the Ju- getting that far. He scored 23 job done. I’d like to have 19 in that he likes playing in the The team’s 491 goals is in third up but part of that was they nior League. He realized he goals over the season, and that guys like him.” corners. Stewart is a good cen- all time behind the 1986-87 Ka- were too successful. They went wasn’t all that impressive, so included 13 in the playoffs, McCrimmon, meanwhile, treman. He’s very smart and mloops Blazers (496) and 1982- 16-0 against Regina, so you had he returned to the Terry Simp- and it was his post-season has only praise for the two good with the puck. Things 83 Winters Hawks (495). Regina coming into your build- son-coached Raiders with his play that got him invited back men who have handled his have worked out well.” The 85 shots they put on ing eight times and they weren’t mind set on improving. to Wheat Kings’ camp. junior career — Simpson and McCrimmon, though, real- net against the on going to sell any tickets. They “I worked hard last year,’’ of- “We did some checking McCallum. izes he’s nowhere near a per- March 12, 1979 in a 14-4 win re- just weren’t very good.” fered McCrimmon, who car- around on him during the “Simpson was not as aggres- fect hockey player. “I have mains a league high. BRUCE PENTON: “It was ries 150 pounds on his fi ve- summer,” added McCallum, sive a coach as Dunc is,” Mc- to improve my skating and I Brian Propp set the record for shameful I thought at the time foot-nine frame. “I broke my “and people recommended Crimmon ex plained, “but he would like to put on another goals (94) and points (194) for a but they were just so good that foot early in the season and him on his playoff play. ” appreciates people who work 10 pounds,” he says. left that season — he al- people stayed away. There is improved most from Janu- But, don’t let the scoring sta- hard. I really respect him, as a If he does that, says McCal- ready had the assists record the no reason there shouldn’t have ary on. I lifted weights over tistics fool you. McCrimmon is coach and as a man. But, I re- lum “and continues to im- year before with 112 — and his been 4,500, 5,000 people there the summer and put on 10 not a sniper. He does his best ally like Dunc.” prove” who knows what the 194 points is third in WHL his- every game.” pounds. In fact, I’ve gained 15 work in the corners, and his McCrimmon enjoys playing future will hold for Kelly Mc- tory. » Tomorrow’s Sun: The playoffs pounds since I was at camp 56 minutes in penalties prove for McCallum so much that he Crimmon. Maybe even play- Also, Propp tied Bill Derla- begin. two years ago.” he doesn’t shy away from the says the main reason he came ing in the NHL, alongside go’s record of 13 hat tricks in a » [email protected] Raiders gained the fi nals heavy going. to Brandon was for “Dunc’s brother Brad. season, which was eclipsed in » Twitter: @PerryBergson