| Red Wings Conduct record Camp |
|---|
The Red Wings Invited 88 players to training camp to pick 18 for their National Hockey League Roster.
General Manager Sid Abel said this seasons' camp is the largest in the history of the organization. Abel has invited a total of 40 Professionals and 48 amateur players to participate in the workouts. The total is made up of 47 forwards, 31 defenseman and Ten Goalies.
"This is our biggest camp ever and it will be our last big one,"Abel said. "Next year we'll probably have only half as many players." The Red Wings GM explained that factors producing the large turnout are NHL expansion and the new universal draft. "This is really the last year we have a chance to protect players who have been on our sponsored lists," Abel said. "Once we cut a player from camp or fail to sign him to a pro contract or a special form, he's a free agent."
"We want to take a good look at all our sponsored players to make sure we protect the pro prospects. We don't want to miss a good one." Sponsorships were ended by the expansion of the NHL last season. Abel said the most highly regarded sponsored player coming to camp is amateur center Rene LeClerc from the Hamilton Red WIngs. LeClerc, 20, had 31 goals and 43 assists for 74 points last season and Abel said the youngster will be given a good chance to win a berth with the Parent Wings.
Topping the training camp list as he tops the NHL record book is right winger Gordie Howe. The perennial All-Star leads the camp delegation in season, games, goals, assists, points... and age. The 40-year-old Howe, who capped his 39th year with 39 goals last season, is starting his 23rd season in the NHL. He needs only 12 more goals to become the only player in hockey history to score 700.
Some 20 other players who saw service with the Red Wings last season are included on the camp list. Top returnees are Capt. Alex Delvecchio, left winger Frank Mahovlich, defenseman Gary Bergman, goalie Roger Crozier and rookie sensation Garry Unger.
Newcomers expected to be with the wings in 1968-69 include defenseman Bobby Baun, acquired in a trade with Oakland, and left winger Brian Conacher, drafted from Toronto. Reg Kent, a 23-year-old center, is coming to camp as the highest scorer last season. Playing for Johnstown in the Eastern League, Kent scored 144 points on 38 goals and 106 assists. |
| 1968 Training Camp Notes |
|---|
Youngest player invited to the Red Wings training camp is Lee Carpenter, a 19-year-old defenseman who was born after Gordie Howe had played three seasons and scored 35 goals in the NHL. Four other 19-year-olds were invited to camp but Carpenter, born on May 14, 1949, was the last of them to come into the world.
* * *
Canadian Domination of the NHL is slipping... slowly. This year's Red Wings training camp list includes 12 players born and raised outside Canada. Six players are from the U.S., including two Detroiters - defenseman Jim Niekamp and goalie Peter Donnelly. The other U.S. natives are left winger John Cunniff of Boston (Mass.); right winger Doug Volmar of Cleveland (O.); and right winger Craig Falkman of Minneapolis (Minn.). Four Players are coming to camp directly from overseas, including Swedish star Leif Henriksson. Ivo Jan, Ciril Klinar, and Viktor Ravnik are being imported from Yugoslavia. Two others were born overseas-Eddie Hatoum of Beirut, Lebanon, who emigrated to Hamilton (Ont.), and Dick Sieradzki, born in Germany and now a Detroit resident.
* * *
Who's Bobby Hull? Six players in the Red Wings training camp broke the 50-goal barrier last season. They are Gary Ford of Muskegon, and Galen Head of Johnstown and Fort Worth, who netted 56 goals apiece; Dick Mortenson of Edmonton, 53; and Gene Peacosh of Swift Current, Bob Jeffery of Stratford and Danny Lawson of Hamilton, 52 each. |
| # | Pos | Player | HT | WT | D.O.B. | 1967-68 Club | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | 1968-69 Club | Draft Notes |
|---|
| 1 | G | Don McLeod | 6'1 | 185 | 8/24/46 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Baltimore (AHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 1 | G | Roger Crozier | 5'8 | 160 | 3/16/42 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 5
34 | 0
0 | 0
0 | 0
0 | 2 | Detroit (NHL) | Chi 6/5/63 |
| 2 | D | Gary Bergman | 5'11 | 185 | 10/7/39 | Detroit (NHL) | 74 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 109 | Detroit (NHL) | 1964 Inter-League draft |
| 2 | D | Irv Spencer | 5'11 | 185 | 12/4/37 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 55
5 | 7
0 | 31
1 | 38
1 | 42
4 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 1963 Inter-League draft |
| 3 | D | Bob Falkenberg | 6' | 195 | 1/1/46 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 48
20 | 2
0 | 13
3 | 15
3 | 57
10 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Baltimore (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 3 | D | Lou Marcon | 5'9 | 178 | 5/28/35 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 66 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 157 | Released from camp | 1958 Inter-League draft |
| 4 | D | Bob Baun | 5'9 | 182 | 9/9/36 | Oakland (NHL) | 67 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 81 | Detroit (NHL) | Oak 5/27/68 |
| 5 | D | Jim Cardiff | 5'9 | 165 | 8/29/44 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 70 | 3 | 24 | 27 | 122 | San Diego (WHL) | Sponsorship - Weyburn (SJHL) |
| 5 | D | Kent Douglas | 5'10 | 180 | 2/6/36 | Oakland/Detroit (NHL) | 76 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 126 | Detroit (NHL) | Oak 1/9/68 |
| 6 | D | Bart Crashley | 6' | 170 | 6/15/46 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 13
57 | 0
2 | 4
14 | 4
16 | 16
18 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 7 | C | Garry Unger | 6' | 175 | 12/7/47 | Tulsa (CPHL)
Rochester (AHL)
Toronto/Detroit (NHL) | 9
5
28 | 3
1
6 | 5
3
11 | 8
4
17 | 6
6
6 | Detroit (NHL) | Tor 3/3/68 |
| 7 | C | Rick McCann | 5'9 | 175 | 7/22/46 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 68
3 | 20
0 | 51
0 | 71
0 | 98
0 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Free Agent 1967 |
| 8 | C | Dave Rochefort | 6' | 190 | 7/22/46 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 65 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 55 | Baltimore (AHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 8 | LW | Brian Conacher | 6'3 | 197 | 8/31/41 | Toronto (NHL) | 64 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 31 | Released from camp | 1968 Inter-League draft |
| 9 | RW | Al Johnson | 6' | 180 | 3/30/35 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 46 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 27 | Denver (WHL) | 1960 Inter-League draft |
| 9 | RW | Gordie Howe | 6' | 204 | 3/31/28 | Detroit (NHL) | 74 | 39 | 43 | 82 | 53 | Detroit (NHL) | Signed 10/8/46 |
| 10 | C | Alex Delvecchio | 6' | 195 | 12/4/31 | Detroit (NHL) | 74 | 22 | 48 | 70 | 14 | Detroit (NHL) | Signed 1948 |
| 11 | C | Pete Mahovlich | 6'4 | 210 | 10/10/46 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 42
15 | 20
6 | 14
4 | 34
10 | 103
13 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | 1963 draft 1st rnd, 2nd |
| 12 | RW | Bruce MacGregor | 5'10 | 180 | 4/26/41 | Detroit (NHL) | 71 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 13 | Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 14 | LW | Nick Libett | 6' | 175 | 12/9/45 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
San Diego (WHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 40
10
22 | 11
4
2 | 28
2
1 | 39
6
3 | 22
0
12 | Detroit (NHL) | Signed 3/22/66 |
| 14 | RW | Sandy Snow | 6' | 180 | 11/11/46 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 56 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 17 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 15 | LW | Hank Monteith | 5'10 | 175 | 10/21/45 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 66 | 19 | 31 | 50 | 36 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Free Agent 1967 |
| 15 | RW | Ron Anderson | 6' | 185 | 7/29/45 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 39
18 | 21
2 | 19
0 | 40
2 | 46
13 | Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 16 | D | Ron Harris | 5'10 | 180 | 6/30/42 | Oakland (NHL) | 54 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 60 | Detroit (NHL) | Oak 5/27/68 |
| 16 | LW | Dave Richardson | 5'9 | 175 | 12/11/40 | Detroit (NHL)
Ft Worth/Memphis (CPHL) | 1
46 | 0
21 | 0
28 | 0
49 | 0
71 | San Diego (WHL) | Min 10/19/67 |
| 18 | D | * Gerry Hart | 5'9 | 178 | 1/1/48 | Flin Flon (WCHL) | 58 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 290 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Baltimore (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Free Agent 1968 |
| 18 | D | Jim Watson | 6'2 | 200 | 6/28/43 | Detroit (NHL) | 61 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 87 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Baltimore (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 19 | C | Pete Stemkowski | 6'1 | 200 | 8/25/43 | Toronto/Detroit (NHL) | 73 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 86 | Detroit (NHL) | Tor 3/3/68 |
| 20 | LW | Dean Prentice | 5'11 | 180 | 10/5/32 | Detroit (NHL) | 69 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 42 | Detroit (NHL) | Bos 2/15/66 |
| 21 | C | Jim Peters Jr | 6'2 | 188 | 6/20/44 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 20
45 | 10
5 | 18
6 | 28
11 | 13
8 | LA 10/10/68 | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 23 | C | Ross Perkins | 5'10 | 170 | 11/4/46 | San Diego (WHL)
Fort Worth (CPHL) | 54
19 | 15
4 | 21
5 | 36
9 | 21
0 | San Diego (WHL)/Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 26 | D | * Lee Carpenter | 5'11 | 190 | 5/14/49 | Hamilton (OHA) | 53 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 77 | Returned to Jrs | 1966 draft 3rd rnd, 18th |
| 27 | LW | Frank Mahovlich | 6' | 205 | 1/10/38 | Toronto/Detroit (NHL) | 63 | 26 | 26 | 52 | 32 | Detroit (NHL) | Tor 3/3/68 |
| 30 | G | Buddy Blom | 5'9 | 170 | 9/16/42 | San Diego (WHL)
Fort Worth (CPHL) | 1
32 | 0
0 | 0
28 | 0
2 | 0
0 | Pit 10/68 | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 30 | G | Roy Edwards | 5'8 | 165 | 3/12/37 | Ft Worth (CPHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 9
41 | 0
0 | 0
0 | 0
0 | 2
0 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Pit 9/7/67 |
| 36 | D | * Kerry Ketter | 6'1 | 200 | 9/29/47 | Edmonton (WCHL) | 59 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 169 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Free Agent 1968 |
| 39 | C | Rene LeClerc | 5'11 | 170 | 11/12/47 | Hamilton (OHA) | 54 | 31 | 42 | 73 | 119 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 1964 draft 4th rnd, 19th |
| 41 | D | * Randy Manery | 6' | 175 | 1/10/49 | Hamilton (OHA) | 53 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 65 | Returned to Jrs | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 45 | RW | * Steve Andrascik | 5'11 | 190 | 11/6/48 | Flin Flon (WCHL) | 60 | 30 | 26 | 56 | 88 | Returned to Jrs | 1968 draft 1st rnd, 11th |
| 46 | LW | * John Cunnif | 5'9 | 175 | 7/9/44 | US National team
Fort Worth (CPHL) |
8 | 24
2 | 33
1 | 57
3 |
9 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Free Agent 1967 |
| 50 | LW | * Craig Reichmuth | 5'11 | 185 | 9/22/47 | Flin Flon (WCHL) | 60 | 18 | 31 | 49 | 333 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Free Agent 1968 |
| 52 | LW | * Jim Shires | 6' | 190 | 11/15/45 | Denver University (NCAA) | 34 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 43 | Released from camp | Sponsorship - Edmonton (WCHL) |
| 53 | C | Fred Speck | 5'9 | 170 | 7/22/47 | Hamilton (OHA)
Fort Worth (CPHL) | 52
1 | 31
1 | 54
1 | 85
2 | 115
2 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| 54 | C | * Ron Walters | 6' | 175 | 3/9/48 | Edmonton (WCHL) | 58 | 30 | 53 | 83 | 22 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 56 | RW | * Gary Bredin | 6' | 185 | 5/25/48 | Moose Jaw (WCHL) | 52 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 27 | Returned to Jrs | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 57 | RW | * Doug Volmar | 6'1 | 215 | 1/9/45 | US National Team | 45 | 53 | 13 | 66 | | Columbus (IHL) | Free Agent 1968 |
| 58 | D | * Joe Zanussi | 5'8 | 160 | 9/25/47 | Swift Current (WCHL) | 57 | 17 | 48 | 65 | 46 | Johnstown (EHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| 59 | G | * Gerry Gray | 6' | 168 | 1/28/48 | Hamilton (OHA) | 45 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | D | Jim Niekamp | 6' | 170 | 3/11/46 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | 49 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 76 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | C | * Dick Mortenson | 5'11 | 175 | 4/29/48 | Edmonton (WCHL) | 60 | 53 | 40 | 93 | 37 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Baltimore (AHL)/Johnstown (EHL) | Free Agent 1968 |
| | C | * Gary Ford | 5'10 | 170 | 10/6/46 | Muskegon (IHL) | 66 | 56 | 59 | 115 | 143 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | C | * Gene Peacosh | 6' | 175 | 9/28/48 | Swift Current (WCHL) | 53 | 52 | 48 | 100 | 60 | Johnstown (EHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| | C | * Leif Henriksson | 6'1 | 172 | 4/26/44 | Frolunda (SWE) | 21 | 12 | 9 | 21 | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | C | * Reg Kent | 6' | 185 | 10/24/44 | Johnstown (EHL) | 63 | 38 | 106 | 144 | 6 | Johnstown (EHL) | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | * Brian Gibbons | 6'3 | 190 | 7/7/47 | Hamilton (OHA) | 41 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 64 | San Diego (WHL)/Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | D | Dennis Huculak | 5'11 | 180 | 1/5/43 | San Diego (WHL) | 72 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 65 | San Diego (WHL) | Free Agent 1967 |
| | D | * Dick Sieradzki | 5'10 | 190 | 3/13/46 | Michigan Tech (WCHA) | 32 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 23 | Released from camp | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | Doug Barrie | 5'9 | 177 | 10/2/46 | Kansas City/Omaha/Tulsa (CPHL) | 63 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 171 | Pit 10/68 | Tor 6/6/68 |
| | D | * George Forgie | 6' | 200 | 2/24/48 | Selkirk (MTJHL) | | | | | | Johnstown (EHL) | 1965 draft 1st rnd, 3rd |
| | D | * Hal Willis | 6' | 205 | 6/8/46 | Long Island (EHL) | 72 | 18 | 38 | 56 | 219 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | * Hap Myers | 5'11 | 195 | 7/28/47 | Edmonton (WCHL) | 55 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 98 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| | D | * Ivo Jan | 5'11 | 190 | | Yugoslavian Olympic Team | | | | | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | * Jack Criel | 5'10 | 180 | 7/12/47 | Brandon (WCHL) | 58 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 204 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | * Jim Mair | 5'11 | 190 | 5/15/46 | Johnstown (EHL) | 71 | 20 | 45 | 65 | 247 | Johnstown (EHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | D | * Jim Whittaker | 5'10 | 180 | 7/27/48 | Oshawa (OHA) | 54 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 120 | Released from camp | 1966 draft 2nd rnd, 12th |
| | D | * Jim Young | 6' | 165 | 11/1/46 | Muskegon (IHL) | 68 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 73 | Released from camp | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | D | * Mike Crupi | 5'11 | 180 | | Johnstown (EHL) | 60 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 222 | Johnstown (EHL) | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | * Ron MacPherson | 5'11 | 175 | 11/6/45 | New Jersey (EHL) | 31 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 13 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | D | * Victor Ravnik | 5'11 | 205 | | Yugoslavian Olympic Team | | | | | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | G | * Harvey Budarick | 5'9 | 170 | 12/14/46 | Kimberley (WHL) | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | G | * Jim Coombs | 6' | 185 | 11/2/46 | Edmonton (WCHL) | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | Johnstown (EHL) | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | G | * John Voss | 5'10 | 175 | 2/2/46 | Greensboro (EHL) | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Free Agent 1968 |
| | G | * Pete Donnelly | 5'8 | 150 | 6/14/48 | Kitchener (OHA) | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | G | * Wally Deneault | 5'9 | 170 | 9/21/47 | Cranbrook (WIHL) | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | LW | * Bob Jeffery | 5'10 | 170 | 10/20/48 | Stratford (OHA) | | | | | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | LW | * Ciril Klinar | 5'11 | 200 | | Yugoslavian Olympic Team | | | | | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | LW | * Dave Cherevaty | 5'10 | 190 | 11/19/47 | Des Moines (IHL) | | | | | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | LW | Larry Billows | 5'10 | 175 | 4/3/46 | Kansas City (CPHL) | 44 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 54 | Pit 10/68 | Sponsorship - Weyburn (SJHL) |
| | LW | * Morris Mott | 5'8 | 170 | 5/25/46 | Canadian National Team | 15 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 14 | Released from camp | Sponsorship - Weyburn (SJHL) |
| | LW | Randy Gates | 5'11 | 170 | 7/15/45 | Fort Wayne (IHL) | 65 | 30 | 38 | 68 | 66 | Fort Worth (CPHL) | Sponsorship - Weyburn (SJHL) |
| | RW | * Bob Birdsell | 5'10 | 190 | 12/10/47 | Edmonton (WCHL) | | | | | | Released from camp | 1965 draft 2nd rnd, 8th |
| | RW | * Bryan Bennett | 6'2 | 200 | 10/23/47 | Edmonton (WCHL) | | 4 | 10 | 14 | 34 | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | RW | * Craig Falkman | 5'11 | 180 | 8/1/43 | US National Team | | 13 | 16 | 29 | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | RW | * Danny Lawson | 5'11 | 185 | 10/30/47 | Hamilton (OHA)
Detroit | 54
1 | 52
0 | 38
0 | 90
0 | 26
0 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | RW | * Dick LeLacheur | 6' | 190 | 8/25/48 | Edmonton (WCHL) | 50 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 33 | Released from camp | Camp Tryout 1968 |
| | RW | * Ed Hatoum | 5'10 | 181 | 12/7/47 | Hamilton (OHA) | 50 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 44 | Ft Worth (CPHL)/Baltimore (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Sponsorship - Hamilton (OHA) |
| | RW | * Galen Head | 5'10 | 175 | 4/16/47 | Detroit (NHL)
Johnstown (EHL)
Ft Worth (CPHL) | 1
70
4 | 0
53
3 | 0
52
1 | 0
105
4 | 0
31
4 | Johnstown (EHL) | Sponsorship - Edmonton (CAHL) |
| | RW | * Terry Cooke | 6' | 185 | 7/31/46 | Waterloo University | | | | | | Released from tryout | Camp Tryout 1968 |
* - Amateur Player.
