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Hockey cen terrejected footballBy PAUL UNDBERG.. The sale .American oft-the-Maine Nordiques roster, 32-year-old center John Cunniff, was not _weaned.oa the sapJrom a hockeystick. Instead, like so many other New England bovs of . the 195fl’s,-cumnrr rJim Brown breaking tackles, John Unitas throwing touchdown passes, and Sam Huff dismembering unfortunate halfbacks.The son of a longshoreman, Cun-niff was bom in South Boston, Massachusetts and has always made his home there. Fur reasons that he can not recall, John's earliest ambitions focused on professional sports, especially football.The Nordiques star played both football and hockey at South Boston High School prior to entering Boston College m 1962. As an 18-year-old college freshman, John capitulated to his 5T9T’ frame and shelved his professional football plans in favor of a hockey career.Hp wpnf on tn plsy fnnr ypar*; nfEastern Collegiate Athletic -Conference hockey at--BostonCollege. 'The Boston Bruins drafted Cun-niff during his junior year at B.C., an unusual honor for an American college player in the 1960s, and assigned John to the Fort Worth {Texas) Wings of the Central Hockey League. Following graduation from B.C., the Nordiques center completed stints with the '66-'67 USA National Team and the '67*’68 USA Olympic Team before reporting to the Wings near the end of the '67-’8 season.Since 1968 Curuilff has been, as he always wanted to be. a ppfes-sional athleteHowever, unlihe the careers Brown, Unitas and Huff, the career of Cunniff has not been characterized by l^rge salaries, news media attention and public adoration. This is not the way John wanted it to beExcept for two seasons with the Now -England Whalers of the WHA, John's eight-year journey through professional hockey has been in the minor leagues The veteran hockey player has played in the Central Hockey League. American Hockey League, and North American Hockey LeagueNordiques notesand has known bGme stadiums in Fort Worth (Texas), Cleveland (Ohio), Baltimore (Maryland), Rochester XXfrrrorky^imsort-vjlle (Florida), Yarmouth (Massachusetts) and, now, Lewiston (Maine).The big time has alluded Cunniff. No offense intended, Central Maine, but the big time is not playing before a capacity crowd of 2900 in Lewiston for a four-digit salary.when I was a young hockeyplayer,John feM the. writer, 11 When I'm on the ice, Fm thinkiiig. ~You caiTl Ire lemoBona] and think straight. I do bottle up some emotions, but not very much/1 John’s visage is naturally placid and Is marked more by scars from the hockey wars than it is marked by expression. Smiles and scowls alike appear only infrequently.YET, TO FOCUS on the limitations of Cunniff’s career is to miss the essence of a remarkable professional athlete. ‘Seven years after fifsf manipulating a hockey stick, and while.a junior at a New England college, John Cunniff was drafted by an NHL club. -With the competition in training since their pre-school years, Cunniff hpgjin at ngp anri wpnt nn inscore 10 goals as a major league hookey player with the Whalers during the ’62-73 and 73-74seasons.Yes indeed, Cunniff is a remarkable professional athlete.After a recent NAHL game in which the Nordiques came from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Firebirds, the writer talked with John in the Maine Nordiques dressing room. An eider statesman on a young club. John shows little emotion on the ice or during an interview. His calmness during frenzied hockey action distinguishes him from other players and is a fundamental part of his playing personality.I wasn't verv emotional evenIN HIS STYLE of play, John is in stunning contrast to tie hockey players, known so well in all leagues, who speak with their sticks andjists. The style of this Nordiques center is one of thought; position, finesse and tactics. Rarely docs he receive a majorpenalty, and then certainly not on his own initiative. Journeyman Cunniff disdains the brawling side of his profession.The new rule assessing to theaggrp^finr in a fight a two minciteminor as well as the five minute Fighting major should improve things,” John noted. “Now a team will think twice before sending a hired gun out on the ice because it can put them in a short-handed situation. If you're involved in a fist fight in any other sport — baseball or football, for example — they throw you out of the game immediately. In hockey you can be in 3 fights in one game. It’s crazy'”Penguinsdemote LaroucheDuring the 75-76-NAHL season, John had double duty as player-coach with the now defunct Cape Codders franchise. John enjoyed the taste of coaching and, understandably. misses Tffe extra salary The veteran hockey player has his eye on coaching, with a professional minor league or university team, as a continuation of his hockey career.NAHLscorePITTSBURGH (API -’ThePitt-sburgh Penquins announced Thursday that center Pierre Larouche has been assigned to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.Larouche. 20. joined the Pen-quins in 1974. The move marks the first time in his career that he has been in the minors.Under league rules. Larouche cannot return to the Pittsburgh roster for at least seven day*Cunniffs Immediate goal is t help Ibe Maine Nordiques to a suecessful season. Although the lean is off to a strong start, John note that their play has been errati and they must find consistency i they are to reach their potential The calm Northques center is no one to establish firm pofcoual per formance goals I'm off to a sta start in terms of point piohictiaU John said without diMp^miUnenl “btfl thev'll dime in time.
Newspaper Details
Kennebec Journal
Augusta, Maine, US
Fri, Nov 05, 1976
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Neal G.
USA 18 Sep 2020
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