B2 ■ SPORTS THE BRANDON SUN ■ THURSDAY JULY 29 2021 TRY TO BEAT THAT!: THE 1978-79 BRANDON WHEAT KINGS Racers want Propp and Allison, but Wheat Kings say no! BY GREGG DRINNAN Hartsburg and Rob Ramage. Cincinnati took The approach to the Wheat Kings by Skal- Mike Gartner and the Racers, of course, picked bania was made through player agent Bill Mc- This story originally appeared in the Nov. 8, off Gretzky. Farlane, who repre sents Propp and Allison. 1978 edition of the Brandon Sun. All nine players, though, were taken — with- “Neither player has been heavily involved It was only last week that Nelson Skalbania, out permission of the various clubs — from up to this date,” Brockest said. “And they are owner of the World Hockey Association’s India- teams in the Ontario Major Junior A League very defi nitely members of the Wheat Kings. napolis Racers, sold 17-year-old Wayne Gretz- and the Quebec Major Junior League; and The initial reaction from their agent (McFar- ky and his reported $1.75-million personal Western League clubs were left unscathed. lane) is that the offer made to them is not out- services contract to Edmonton Oilers and im- Subsequently, two team owners from the east standing.” mediately was quoted as saying that he intend- have fi led lawsuits in Ontario’s Supreme Court Brandon coach Dunc McCallum said his re- ed to recruit 10 more juniors this season. against several of the players, Birmingham action to these latest developments was “the Well, Skalbania’s raiding party has touched Bulls’ owner John Bassett and player agent same as it was last summer” when Propp and down and it appears that its fi rst stop was right Alan Eagleson, claiming breach of contract. McCrimmon were approached by the Bulls. here in Brandon. Propp and Allison both signed WHL player “They weren’t offered a whole bunch to As Jack Brockest, general manager of Bran- con tracts with the Wheat Kings before this sea- join,” said McCallum. “And they’ve got more don Wheat Kings, stated: “ I can’t think of a bet- son started and Brockest says, “As far as we’re to lose in the long run by making a hasty de- ter place for him to start than right here where concerned, they’re valid contracts. They signed cision. If the boys are going to fi nish their we have whom we believe to be the two best with us as 19-year-olds. draft year here, I think possibly this is another junior players in the country.” “But, we’re not holding this as a club over feather in their hat, and may even help them At a hastily called press conference Tuesday their heads.” get drafted a little higher. Any publicity they night at the Keystone Centre, Brockest revealed Because under-age players from the west can get has to help. that “an approach has been made … to buy up have been left alone, there has never been a “But,” McCallum added, “it’s about time the contracts of Brian Propp and Ray Allison.” precedent-setting court case held to establish the National League took a stand. If the NHL Propp and Allison, linemates with the West- the validity of the contracts. Brockest adds, would declare that these juniors who sign with ern Hockey League club, are both 19 years though, that “I think we’re quite prepared to the WHA aren’t eligible for the (NHL) draft old, meaning they are eligible for the National do that (take legal action). But we’d hate to get next year it would stop it in a hurry. These kids Hockey League’s 1979 junior draft. On top of two kids caught in the middle of litigation.” all want to play in the NHL, and they’d scurry that, the two outstanding forwards are cur- It’s doubtful if things will ever go that far, so back to the junior teams in a hurry.” rently making a shambles of the WHL scoring Wheat Kings have adopted a wait-and-see at- Brockest and Wheat Kings’ president Bob race, in which they stand one-two. titude. Cornell didn’t waste any time, or words, “The Wheat Kings have been offered $80,000 “The initial reaction of the two players,” shooting down rumours which have been to give up the rights to Propp and Allison,” commented Brockest, “is that they want circulating as to whether or not the Brandon Brockest added. “But at an emergency board to wait and go into the draft in the normal hockey club is for sale. meeting it was unanimously agreed that we scheme of things. I mean, the WHA exists “Some people have been claiming the team turn the offer down. We don’t want any part of today, but there’s no guarantee it will tomor- could be purchased as an expedient way of it.” row.” getting to these two players,” said Brockest. “ The “it” Brockest refers to is the signing Propp and defenceman Brad McCrimmon But, there’s no way. The Wheat Kings are sim- Brandon Wheat Kings general manager Jack Brockest and of under age junior hockey players by WHA were ap proached by Birmingham last sum- ply not for sale.” the team’s board of directors refused to sell the contracts of teams. Birmingham Bulls, Cincinnati Stingers mer, but decided to stay and play out their Cornell was in full agreement: “I don’t Brian Propp and Ray Allison to the World Hockey Associa- and Indianapolis combined last summer to ink junior eligibility and wait for the 1979 draft. think the club will ever be for sale. The exist- tion’s Indianapolis Racers. Brockest is shown behind Bran- nine underage players. The Bulls grabbed sev- Indianapolis, though, has not expressed an ing owners and ‘B’ shareholders have worked don’s bench during a game coach Dunc McCallum had to en of those — Pat Biggin, Keith Crowder, Mi- interest in McCrimmon, who defi nitely is one very hard to get the Wheat Kings to where miss. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) chel Goulet, Rick Vaive, Gaston Gingras, Craig of the top 10 juniors in the country. they are today.” SIGNINGS AROUND THE NHL Oilers, Flames make big splashes • Michael McCarron — two-year, ANAHEIM DUCKS $1.5-million deal. BY GEMMA KARSTENS-SMITH • Ryan Getzlaf — one-year, $4.5-million deal. • Brogan Raferty — one-year, $750K deal. NEW JERSEY DEVILS BOSTON BRUINS • Jonathan Bernier — two-year, $8.25-million When Zach Hyman visited • Nick Foligno — two-year, $3.8-million deal. deal. Edmonton with his wife about • Derek Forbort — three-year, $9-million • Chase DeLeo — one-year, $750,000 deal. a week ago, he quickly realized deal. • Dougie Hamilton — seven-year, that signing with the Oilers as a • Erik Haula — two-year, $4.75-million deal. $63-million deal. free agent would be a “no brain- • Tomas Nosek — two-year, $3.5-million NEW YORK RANGERS er.” deal. • Patrik Nemeth — three-year, $7.5-million • Troy Grosenick — one year, $750,000 deal. The couple liked the city and deal. • Linus Ullmark — four-year, $20-million • Jarred Tinordi — two-year, $1.8-million could see their seven-month- deal. deal. old son, Theo, growing up there. BUFFALO SABRES • Greg McKegg — one-year, $750,000 deal. Hyman loved the rink — and the • Vinnie Hinostroza — one-year, OTTAWA SENATORS opportunity to play with super- $1.05-million deal. • Michael Del Zotto — two-year, $4-million stars like Connor McDavid. • Mark Pysyk — one-year, $900,000 deal. deal. “I wanted to go to the place • Jimmy Schuldt — one-year, $750,000 deal. • Andrew Agozzino — one-year, $750,000 that wanted me the most and CALGARY FLAMES deal. that had the best chance to win • Blake Coleman — six-year, $29.4-million PHILADELPHIA FLYERS and had the best chance for me deal. • Nate Thompson — one-year, $800,000 • Trevor Lewis — one-year, $800,000 deal. to develop as a hockey player. deal. • Kevin Gravel — one-year, $750,000 deal. • Adam Clendening — one-year, $750,000 And Edmonton checked those • Nick DeSimone — one-year, $750,000 deal. deal. boxes,” Hyman said Wednes- • Adam Werner — one-year, $750,000 deal. • Nick Seeler — one-year, $750,000 deal. day after inking a seven-year, CAROLINA HURRICANES • Ryan Fitzgerald — one-year, $750,000 deal. US$38.5 million with the Oilers. • Frederik Andersen — two-year, $9-million • Gerald Mayhew — one-year, $800,000 deal. Edmonton made some big deal. PHOENIX COYOTES moves as the NHL’s free-agent • Tony DeAngelo — one-year, $1-million • Carter Hutton — one-year, $750,000 deal. market opened Wednesday, deal. • Dmitrij Jaskin — one-year, $3.2-million • Antti Raanta — two-year, $4-million deal. signing Hyman, defenceman deal. • Josh Leivo — one-year, $750,000 deal. • Jordan Oesterle — two-year, $2.7-million Cody Ceci and forward Derek Zach Hyman, shown celebrating a goal with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2019-20 sea- • Ian Cole — one-year, $2.9-million deal. deal. Ryan. The club also re-signed (The Canadian Press) • Jordan Martinook — three-year, son, signed with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS blue liner Tyson Barrie to a $5.4-million deal. • Evan Rodrigues — one-year, $1-million three-year deal and traded up- (three goals, eight assists) in 23 three-year, $13.5 million deal on ue of $2.5 million, and re-signed CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS deal. and-coming d-man Ethan Bear playoff appearances. Wednesday. “And when you’re veteran blue-liner Travis Ham- • Jujhar Khaira — two-year, $1.95-million • Brock McGinn — four-year, $11-million to the Carolina Hurricanes for “Blake was a highly sought- winning games and having per- onic to a two-year, $6-million deal.