1977 Off-Season

1977 Entry Draft

The biggest story of the 1977 PHL entry draft was definitely the surge of European and American talent entering the league. For the first time ever, a Canadian player was not picked until Carl Kennedy went third overall to Nova Scotia. Brian Donovan, already famous for his stellar performance for team USA during the 1976 World Hockey Challenge, made history as both the first American and the first goaltender to be selected first overall when Detroit nabbed him with their top pick. Another American, Brian West, the son of PHL legend Sam West, was selected second overall by Vancouver. Among the Europeans selected in the draft were Finland’s Risto Rautianen, who went to Pittsburgh, and Sweden’s Filip Holmgren, Thomas Akerlund, and Hannes Rehnquist, who were selected by Seattle, California, and Montreal respectively. Philadelphia took a big risk on Soviet forward Vladimir Gaganov, who tore up the World Hockey Challenge, winning the tournament MVP. The issue would be whether or not the Soviet Union would allow its top player to play in the United States, a prospect that seemed very unlikely.

1.      Detroit – Brian Donovan, G, USA

2.      Vancouver – Brian West, D, USA

3.      Nova Scotia – Carl Kennedy, F, CAN

4.      Dallas – Glenn Hammond, F, CAN

5.      Quebec – JP Leclerc, D, CAN

6.      Winnipeg – Pat Luna, D, CAN

7.      Pittsburgh – Risto Rautianen, F, FIN

8.      Seattle – Filip Holmgren, F, SWE

9.      Boston – Bruce McKinnon, D, USA

10.   Edmonton – Ted Clifton, F, CAN

11.   Toronto – Owen Scott, F, CAN

12.   Calgary – Ron Chambers, F, CAN

13.   Long Island – Tom Hunter, F, CAN

14.   St. Louis – Ralph Dixon, F, CAN

15.   Washington – Kurt Reed, D, CAN

16.   Denver – Andy Gray, G, CAN

17.   Philadelphia – Vladimir Gaganov, F, RUS

18.   Chicago – Roger Hughs, D, CAN

19.   New York – Doug Bryant, D, CAN

20.   California – Thomas Akerlund, F, SWE

21.   Montreal – Hannes Rehnquist, D, SWE

22.   Ottawa – Paul Hines, D, CAN

23.   Minnesota – Ken Powell, F, CAN

24.   Edmonton (From LA) – Kevin Gross, D, CAN

Notable Retirements:

Mark Benson, F, Toronto, 1956-1977

Mark Benson will go down as arguably the greatest and most popular players ever to wear the double blue in Toronto. Benson arrived in Toronto as a 19-year-old in 1956 and led the Racers to the Lewis Cup Finals in his first season, where they lost to the New York Civics. In 1958, Benson and the Racers edged Philadelphia in seven games to finally take their first title since 1940 with Benson finishing second in playoff scoring. In 1964, Benson would win his second championship with the Racers, but it would be the last one of his career. He would go on to play a total of 21 seasons in Toronto, leading the franchise all-time in scoring and games played. Benson also served as president of the Professional Hockey Players Association from 1968 until his retirement.

Don Greer, F, Boston, Edmonton, 1958-1977

Don Greer served as a leader with the Boston Bulldogs for 18 seasons, helping them win two Lewis Cups in 1959 and 1971. In game seven of the 1959 final, an 18-year-old Greer scored the tying goal in an eventual 2-1 Boston victory. Greer’s heart and determination combined with his skill made him a fan favorite in Boston. In 1976, Bulldogs fans hearts broke when Greer was selected in the expansion draft by the Edmonton Northern Lights. He played one season with Edmonton, leading them into the playoffs, before retiring in 1977.

James Steger, G, Nova Scotia, Dallas, 1960-1977

Originally recruited by the Hamilton Kings in 1957, James Steger never managed to crack the Kings’ lineup and was released in 1959. His big chance finally came when he was signed by the Nova Scotia Claymores in 1960. Steger quickly helped take the Claymores from lowly expansion team to Lewis Cup Champions in 1967. In 1974, an aging Steger was left unprotected in the expansion draft. Chosen by Dallas, Steger played three years with the Metros before retiring.

Transactions

CGY releases F Sven Larsson, Larsson signs with DET

Larsson will get a considerable increase in ice time in Detroit.

WPG trades F Tim Douglas to MTL in exchange for F George Dickerson

The blockbuster trade of the summer sees the rebuilding Pioneers deal their captain to the Royale, who are hoping to contend this year. In return, Winnipeg gets one of the best young players in the game in Dickerson.

News

The summer of 1977 was a fairly quiet one for the PHL. Among the biggest headlines were a few coaching changes. Nova Scotia fired longtime head coach John Coupe, replacing him with former Claymores defenseman Randy Kane. The Pittsburgh Stingers, determined to finally reach the post season, cleaned out their front office firing both head coach Scott Merkel and GM Neil Jacobs. The Stingers hired veteran PHL coach Bob King as their new head coach and Sam Greer as their GM. King previously coached the Philadelphia Redshirts and Ottawa Beavers in a coaching career dating back to 1958, while Greer had played for the Stingers during their GHL days and early PHL days before going on to manage a junior club in Pittsburgh to back to back championships. Upon being fired by Pittsburgh, Neil Jacobs went on to sign with the Vancouver Bighorns as their new GM.

In other news, Denver Bulls’ captain Brian Hunt was named the new president of the PHPA in the wake of Mark Benson’s retirement. “I’m excited and honoured to have the opportunity to represent my fellow players” said Hunt.