National Hockey League goaltenders are unhappy with the league’s new rule this season that requires the spare netminder to be on the bench in full equipment during games. Johnny Bower of the Toronto Maple Leafs is leading the charge against the new edict.
Bower has been on the bench for the past three Toronto games while Terry Sawchuk has been on the ice for the Leafs. During Saturday’s game, Bower left the bench area and sat in the Toronto dressing room during play. He did so with the blessing of Leafs assistant general manager King Clancy.
Bower says he talked to other NHL netminders and they all agree the rule is not a good one.
“It’s a bad rule for us. When I was in Montreal for a picture session with Life magazine I talked to the other goaltenders in the league and they all agree. We don’t like it.”
The new rule states that the spare goalkeeper must be available and ready to go into the game at all times. He would be allowed a two-minute warm up before play resumes.
Bower, like most goaltenders, likes to handle about 70 shots before the game. He says having that many practice shots enables the goalie to make sure his equipment is on properly and to make any adjustments before the game begins. Bower also feels that two minutes isn’t enough for a player to limber up his legs and he would have to do other exercises after the two minutes to prevent muscle pulls and other injuries.
Bower has asked Clancy to approach the league and explore the possibility of having the spare goaltender sit near the bench or in the dressing room wearing all equipment except for the leg pads and skates. He feels that most goalies could be ready within five minutes if needed.
Hull, Rousseau Lead NHL Scorers
It’s no surprise that red-hot Bobby Hull sits atop the NHL scoring race in the early going, but a fellow rather unfamiliar to the leading scorer list has joined him at the front of the points race.
Hull has scored eight goals in six games, and has added three assists for 11 points. Bobby Rousseau of the Montreal Canadiens has the same number of points, and his numbers are a mirror-image of Hull’s totals. Rousseau has scored three times, setting up eight others for his 11.
Another surprising name stands in at third place with ten points. Doug Mohns of the Chicago Black Hawks, a converted defenseman who now patrols left wing for Chicago’s Scooter Line with Stan Mikita and Ken Wharram, has five goals and five assists.
Three players are next, tied with seven points. They are Jean Beliveau (4G, 3A), Mikita (1G, 6A) and Jacques Laperriere (1G, 6A).
Glenn Hall of Chicago is the leading netminder with a 1.75 goals-against average. Terry Sawchuk of Toronto is next at 2.33.
The top penalty minute man in the league is Arnie Brown of the New York Rangers with 19.
Russians to Train With Computers?
Soviet competitors in future athletic meets might be trained by orders from electronic computers. So says a Russian scientist speaking in Moscow at a national conference about “Cybernetics and Sport.” Cybernetics refers to the use of computers.
Vladimir Zatsiorsky says that computers can provide precise plans for practice to attain the best physical development.
Bruins Call Up Goalies
The Boston Bruins announced yesterday that they have recalled two goalkeepers to replace the injured Ed Johnston and Gerry Cheevers.
Twenty-year-old Bernie Parent has been recalled from Oklahoma City of the Central Professional Hockey League and will be the fourth Bruin goalie to make an appearance with the club this season when he starts Wednesday night in Chicago.
Jack Norris has been brought in from the Los Angeles Blades of the Western Hockey League as well. Norris isn’t expected to play, but to comply with the new rule for spare goaltenders, he will be on the bench with neither Johnston nor Cheevers able to suit up.
Parent is in his first professional season with the Boston organization after leading the Niagara Falls Flyers to the Memorial Cup last year. Norris played with the Bruins during the latter part of last season when Johnston was injured.
Boston also called up forward Forbes Kennedy from the San Francisco Seals of the WHL. Kennedy played with the Bruins last season, but started this year at San Francisco after being injured in training camp. He has three goals and three assists in six games with the Seals. He is expected to be used at centre and on the penalty kill by coach Milt Schmidt.