• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Hockey Media

50 Years Ago in Hockey – Golden Jet Ready For Wings

By Rick Cole March 31st, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Hockey’s Golden Jet, Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks, says he is ready to take flight against the Detroit Red Wings tomorrow night in the first game of their semi-final series.

Bobby Hull is eager for his crack at a second Stanley Cup.

Bobby Hull is eager for his crack at a second Stanley Cup.

Hull will be wearing a new  brace to protect his injured knee.  In a full 83-minute workout yesterday, Hull tried out the new brace with good results.  He appeared to be able to turn either way with no ill effects and his movements were fluid and strong. if anything, he looked just a tad out of condition, and that will come with work.

Hull expressed satisfaction with his new equipment.

“I’m moving better because I discarded the cumbersome knee brace I wore when I was in Toronto.  I have a new one that is much smaller, much lighter and doesn’t restrict my movements as much.”

Hull said that the knee is pain-free when he twists and turns, and although he claims he is ready to go, coach Billy Reay says that the team will exercise caution where Hull is concerned.

Chicago coach Billy Reay

Chicago coach Billy Reay

“I want to see Bobby skate again before saying anything.  But the final decision will rest with Hull.  At least he’s back on skates, but he’s shy on condition and the knee could tighten up overnight.

“It stood up today and he’ll try it again tomorrow.  We won’t make a decision until we see how it is 24 hours after the first exercise.

“If he plays, even for only short spells, we risk the chance of injuring the knee even more and having him miss all the future games for sure.  If he rests, he should be ready to go in the second game, or for sure next week.”

During the Hawk workouts, Hull was on a line with Phil Esposito at centre and Chico Maki on the right side.  However, Hull took every draw, which is a large revision to the usual Chicago strategy.  Hull is a little better than Esposito on the faceoff, but using him in that role takes away the quick setup for his booming shot.

Leafs prep: rugged practices

The Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing for their semi-final series against the Montreal Canadiens with workouts at the Olympia in Detroit.  Manager-coach Punch Imlach ordered that the team stay in suburban Dearborn, Michigan after completing their regular season schedule in Detroit on Sunday evening.

Imlach’s reasoning is that if the team is devoid of all distractions, and that includes the all the attention that come with being at home, full attention can be given by the players to the task at hand – in this case, defeating the Canadiens.

imlachPunch

Punch Imlach doesn’t want his team to be “overrested.”

The Leaf practice yesterday was one of the most spirited and outright rough workouts anyone has seen an NHL team go through in a long time.  Based on the level of intensity shown by the boys, this team is ready and champing at the bit to get the playoffs under way.  There were no complaints about the strenuous session, only tired smiles at the end.

Imlach was asked if the players were unhappy with being sequestered away from their homes and families.

“I’m not running a popularity contest.  The end justifies the means.  I don’t care what they think of me.  If they get mad enough, they’ll take it out on the other team.  That’s what I want.  And we’ll win – again.”

Observers at the Olympia were impressed.  Red Wing publicist Elliot Trumbull said, “We’ve had games that weren’t as good as that.  Too bad the Canadiens weren’t here to see it.”

Imlach said that the Leafs will borrow a page from former Chicago Black Hawks coach Rudy Pilous’ playbook.  Pilous, now the coach of Toronto’s WHL Victoria farm club, used the then unheard-of tactic of having his team skate on the morning of playoff games in 1961 and 1962.

Imlach explained, “I just want to guard against any possibility they’ll be overrested.  We’ll only go about 10 minutes, just to loosen up and test the skates.”

Habs in good frame of mind

The Montreal Canadiens have the air of a calm professional ready to complete an assigned task efficiently and effectively.  That was the impression a number of players gave when speaking yesterday to Pat Curran of the Montreal Gazette.  Some of the comments:

Jean Beliveau: “The team is going into the playoffs healthier than in several years. We are a little heavier on defence, which should make a difference against Toronto.”

Henri Richard: “Everybody is up for this one. I know I feel a lot better than for the playoffs  last season.  I’m ready to do my share.”

Henri Richard

Henri Richard

Jean-Guy Talbot: “We have no injuries to worry about like last year when we were without Big Jean and Gilles Tremblay.  We could still use Tremblay but Beliveau is one fellow a team can’t afford to miss in the playoffs.”

Claude Provost: “We’re healthy and we are ready. I don’t think the Leafs are as ready as they were last season.”

Jacques Laperriere: “Everybody wants to win so much more this year.  We missed playoff experience last time, especially in that seventh game.”

John Ferguson: “I’m twice as ready for the playoffs and so are the other new players.  That should make a difference, we know what we are up against and set to work a lot harder to win.”

Dave Balon: “We won’t win just because we’re healthy, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t if we work hard every game.  I think we are stronger than last year even though we didn’t finish first.”

Ralph Backstrom: “We missed by only one goal in the seventh game against Toronto last year.  Key to the series will be goaltending just like pitching is the key in the World Series. I think Charlie and Gump will come through for us.”

Yvan Cournoyer: “We proved during the schedule that Toronto isn’t so strong and we should be able to prove it again in the playoffs.  Then we’ll take Detroit and prove the same thing.”

Dick Duff: “After playing with the Leafs, I know more about what they can do and can’t do.  I just hope I can get as mad as I want to.  With the money on the line, that shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Former Leaf Dick Duff

Former Leaf Dick Duff

Charlie Hodge: “I won’t say where our strength is and put somebody on the spot.  Personally  I’m a little more confident than last season when I was pretty nervous.  On the other hand, I have to be a little nervous to be at my best.”

Gump Worsley: “If we skate, we’re going to beat the Leafs and if the fellows skate, they’re capable of taking it all.”

  • Tags
  • 1965
  • Bobby Hull
  • John Ferguson
  • Punch Imlach
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 2:05 PM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Are in Good Hands With Jack Hughes

Jan 24th 1:35 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks Seeing Offense From Erik Karlsson But Defense Is Lacking

Jan 24th 1:10 PM
Women's Hockey

NWHL Goalies Steal the Show on Day 1 of 2021 Season

Jan 24th 12:35 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Jets, Dubois, More

Jan 24th 11:15 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Frederik Andersen: Slowly But Surely Finding His Game

Jan 24th 11:00 AM
Archives

Canucks Have an Eye for the Swedes

Jan 24th 10:50 AM
Montreal Canadiens

The Best Canadiens Team Since 1993 Stanley Cup

Jan 24th 10:47 AM
Archives

Bruins’ All-Time Best Draft Picks

Jan 24th 10:25 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Options to Replace Stephens on the Fourth Line

Jan 24th 9:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ K’Andre Miller an Early Bright Spot on Defense

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information