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billdavidson'•m« r-'-rIt is vSunday evening, April 18. 1971, and the time is 8 35CST. ...Ernest. V McLean has just boarded his singie-engine aircraft and is departing from The Pas in northern Manitoba on route to Yorkton. Sask. His hockey team, the EstevanBruins, has just recently been eliminated in a Western Canada Hockey League quarter-final showdown with Winnipeg Jets, so McLean is '-pending some time at his other business— constructionPunch, as McLean is affectionately known in hockey circles throughout Canada, radios the Yorkton traffic tower9ft minutes after he leaves theground.Then silence.More than 24 hours elapse and his many friends, as well as foes, are also silent. Theyfear the worst.However, there is reasonto rejoice on the Monday evening in question as the teletypeclicks out the following message:“Ernest V. f Punch) McLean was found Monday, less than 30 miles from his Yorkton destination ... He suffered multiple lacerations and bruisesand an undisclosed injury’ to his left eye ... He is reported in good condition in hospital.ERNIE McLEANIt is now Sunday evening, Sept. 19, 1971. and the time is :35 CDT. ...As 1 pass through the portal of the Man-Ex Arena, the irst person to come into view is none other than Punch McLean hat undisclosed injury to his left eye” is the only tell-tale vidence that he almost lost his life five months earlier. The rdeal had cost him the sight, of that eye, but the initial effect ne gets now is that he looks like he has just walked out of lat shirt, advertisement, often seen in American periodicals.le's still the same jovial (off the ice) Punch.Oh yes, one other thing has changed. McLean's mailing ddress is now New Westminster. He’d rather switch than ,ght a losing battle at the bank, so he pulled his franchiseut of Estevan and headed west to New West.With this in mind, and following the normal greetings. IcLean offers his thoughts on the new home for his over-sized and of Bruins:“You wouldn't believe it,” he says. “It’s called Queens ark Arena and it’s surrounded by a . . . rose garden You d ever know it was a rink, he continued, “until you’re inside.” “It’s not that new,” interjects McLean’s partner and former randonite, BiU Slunske. “In fact, it's old. But besides the rena we've got a baseball diamond that puts Kinsmen Stadium» shame.”The “new” New West entry in the WCHL shares the build-ig with the Salmonbellies, last week’s finalists in the Domin-n lacrosse playoff for the Mann Cup. Somehow it’s difficult picture the big, and sometimes bad. Bruins playing in ank surrounded by a . . rose garden.“They haven't even seen the rink yet.” says McLean, “be-iuse we've been on the road for a week now and we won t2 ’home’ until Oct. 1.”(Brums held training camp in Vulcan. Alta and since ten they've played four games. Before they arrive in New rest, they will have played 10 more.)“By the time we get settled,” adds Punch, “the kids will ther be in shape, or ready to quit.”^y☆It is now Sunday evening. Sept. 19. 1971,' and the time is 9 30 CDT. and the Wheat Kings, with manager-coach Rudy hlous behind the bench for the first time, have just upset ne Brums. 6-3. .. .McLean is quietly sipping coffee, not a worry in the or Id . . . except:“Do you know the name of our ‘stick boy’?” he asks.I look around, half expecting to be introduced to a freckle iced kid carrying the probable name of Bobby Orr or Gordie [owe. 1 answer in the negative.“Well, I think he’s from Braiidon,” says McLean “He ame to our dressing room before game time and asked if e could be stick boy.’ I said sure, but at the end of the secondv 7enod he walked out . . . with 15 sticks under his arm!”A few moments later the pack gathers in the Wheat King ffice and host Pilous and McLean hold court“I've heard there's some guys who will do anything to in a game, Rudy, but even I wouldn’t stoop that low,” says imeh.“He's fired right now,” offers Pilous in reference to the ippery-fingered youngster. “I told him to steal your bus. too“If he’s that good.” retorts McLean, “I’ll take him rightow.”The duo continues the battle of wits for 15 minutes, topics mging from the NHL to junior player rights, and I score Pilous 10, McLean 7, giving Brandon a sweep on this particu-ir nightThe verbal display, unfortunately authored before a limited it. responsive audience of six. is more entertaining than the itertaining game offered only moments before. In fact, if lings get a little slow at the box office this season, they can isperse with hockey, throw Pilous and McLean together at »ntre ice. drop a microphone, and stand back.Goalie Wayne Wilhelm, Mark Johnston, Neil Melnyk and Dwayne Pent land (1Bruins’ Ron Kennedy a second chance.by BRUCE PENTONSun Sports WriterRemember what happened last season when Brandon Wheat Kings won a hockey game'1 Oh, there was reioie-ing in the streets of course, but usually, there was a reason or reasons why.Like, the opposition’s regular goalie was sick, or afraid of the animals in the stands Or, the opposition’s top scorer was sick, or afraid of the animals in the stands. Or, the opposition was tired, playing the the fresh Wheaties after a two- or three-game stint the previous two or three days.Well, the Wheaties won a hockey game Sunday night at the Man-Ex. 6-3 over the New' Westminster Bruins in a Western Canada HockeyLeague exhibition tilt and'• For two of the periods, the Bruins went with their third-string goaltender, Don Blair;Bruins' Benue Lukowich,who should score about 60 goals this year, was in Saskatoon for a funeral;Bruins were playing their third game in three nights, after a win (Saturday) and a loss (Friday) in Winnipeg against the Jets.Those would have been applicable excuses for a Wheat King win last year.but:• Wheaties went with their number one goaltender, Dave Me Lei land, for only 20 of 60 minutes;Donn McLaughlin, who's signed, sealed but not yet delivered, missed the game and he’s expected to score at least 30 goals this year for Brandon;It was the first game of the year for the Wheaties. who still have 30 players in camp, and the kinks are as evident as Ernie (Punch) McLean'spatch.Still, with all those excuses for a loss hanging in the air. the Wheaties skated to 2-0 and 5-1 period leads and were in control throughout.It was a pleasure to watch, if you're a Wheat King fanBob Murdock, Randy Pen-ner. Dale Cook. Mark Johnston. Brian Coates and Wayne Coxworth scored singles for Brandon while Don Marti-neau. with two, and Rov Car-4/michael replied for NewWestminster, nef Estevan Bruins.Wheaties outshot the Bruins 36-31 and three Brandon goal-tenders. Dave McLelland,Brian Canart and Wavne Wil-%/helm were the puckstoppers. Don Blair played the first 40 minutes for the Bruins before No. I, Doug Sauter, came into the game McLelland still hasn't been scored upon in 50 minutes of hockey 111 Brandon He played 30 minutes Thursday night during the intra-squad game and didn t, allow a goal and at the end of the first period, the one that McLelland, the Bruins hadn't hit the scoreboard Canart was in goal the second period and didn't play badly, giving up only one goal while Whilhelm allowed two 111 his 20-minute stint.Referee Don Bold ofBrandon called seven penalties, four to the Bruins.including a misconduct, to Barry Smith and a major to Gord Hensike, involved in asecond-period scuffle with Brandon's Robbie Neale.Neale. Brandon's classvVsecond-year centreman, in-lured Ins hand during the fight. “It's only a sprain.”said Neale, “hut two of mvtfingers hurt like hell.”As was the case in the intra-squad contest, the Brandon rookies shone. Four of the goals—those by Murdock.game, athevrfgotPenner, Johnston and Coales—came from rookies. “The rooks really played well,” said sophomore Ron Chipperfield. who scored 40 goals last season. “But not the vets I know 1 fell a little heavy out there. I just couldn't get going.” Manager-coach Rudv Pilous said almost the same thing, but his comments carry more weight than Chipperfields' “Some of those guys (veterans) think they don't have to work,” said Pilous after the“They think thev’ve spot locked up. But. wrong. Don’t be surprised in the next few days if I make a cVmple of trades. Murdock and Coates were the best of the rookie forwards while 15-year-old Mark Johnston more than held his own on defence.He scored the second goal of the game 111 the first periodwhen he dumped two Bruins.got up, skated away with the puck and beat a surprised Blair. Johnston, from Shilo. followed the puck into the net and got it for a souvenir.Probably the host Brandon line was that, composed ofMurdock, Penner and Barrv• /Chernos. They scored twoa.goals and carried the play to the Bruins every time on theft/ice.The only complete “rookie line was made up of Frank Hyndman. Ralph Krentz andWayne Vandevyere and itwould win the award for the speediest and hardest-working line, if any such award was available.But, those players know that hard work and hard work alone will earn them a spot on the team. At this stage of the season anyway.Tuesday at 8 p.m., the same two teams go at. it again.HOCKEYTUESDAY/SEPT21/8 P.M
Newspaper Details
Brandon Sun
Brandon, Manitoba, CA
Mon, Sep 20, 1971
Page 6
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USA 06 Jan 2020
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