As the Chicago Black Hawks get ready for the second game of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Montreal Canadiens tonight, more bad news on the injury front is just what they don’t need.
Left winger Bill Hay is set to join Pierre Pilote, Elmer Vasko, Eric Nesterenko and Kenny Wharram in the ranks of the walking wounded. While Hay’s injury has not been officially diagnosed, it’s thought he suffered a chipped bone in his elbow.
Hay had the elbow x-rayed yesterday. Chicago coach Billy Reay said that no one was sure just when the injury occurred.
“He doesn’t know how he picked up the injury. It could have been a fall or a check during Saturday’s game. It was so sore yesterday he couldn’t work.”
Hawks recall Stanfield
The Black Hawks yesterday recalled forward Jack Stanfield from the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League in case Hay can’t go. He joins previous Buffalo recalls Gerry Melnyk, Don Johns and John Miszuk.
Wharram and Pilote dressed for game one, but did not play. Both are very questionable for tonight’s game and there is a very real possibility that Reay may just go with healthy bodies instead. Vasko injured an ankle when he blocked a shot in game one, but indications are he should be ready for game two.
No changes for Habs
Montreal coach Toe Blake says that the Canadiens will employ the same lineup that proved good enough in the first match.
Blake said his club played its best game ever against Bobby Hull on Saturday.
“We defended well against him Saturday night, but it’s pretty hard to keep it up, and you still have to watch the Mikita line.”
Blake also said that he will keep Jean Beliveau’s line checking Mikita “as long as it works.”
Chicago’s Scooter line, made up of Mikita, Wharram, and Doug Mohns, must produce if the Hawks are to have any chance in this series.
It’s expected that both game one goalkeepers, Glenn Hall for Chicago and Gump Worsley for Canadiens, will man the nets again tonight.
Niagara Falls wins again
The Niagara Falls Flyers took a 2-0 lead in their Memorial Cup Eastern semi-final series with the Garson Native Sons last night, but this time, the score was a more respectable 6-0. The Falls won the first game 18-3.
Bud Debrody scored two goals for the Flyers. Singles came from Ted Snell, Jim Lorentz, Bill Goldsworthy and Gilles Marotte.
Debrody was carried off the ice on a stretcher late in the game after being heavily checked by Garson’s Don Lewis. He was examined by a doctor and it was reported he had aggravated a back injury that has bothered him all season.
Garson goalkeeper Bob Whidden faced 49 shots, While Bernie Parent stopped 26 Native Sons drives. Parent has been playing with a broken thump on his right hand.
Ahearn applies for NHL TV rights
John F. (Bunny Ahearne, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, has applied for European rights to National Hockey League games. Ahearne says that the reaction from the NHL has been cool.
Ahearne said that his attitude towards the NHL, especially recently, has been questioned by the league, making them reluctant to grant television rights to him.
NHL president Clarence Campbell said that the league has received Ahearne’s letter, but has taken no action. He said there is no suggestion of doing anything before next season at the earliest.
