European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 08, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes sunday october 8, 1967 2 division 12-team nil opens season wednesday new York a East meets West and the new joins the old in an expanded National hockey league beginning an historic 1967-68 Campaign wednesday night with a 12-Teara, two division setup and a record444-game schedule. The California seals los an Geles Kings Pittsburgh pen Guins Philadelphia flyers  blues and Minnesota North stars Are in the circuit Snew West division. The same six teams which have comprised the league since 1942 when the Brooklyn Ameri cans withdrew Are in the East division. They Are the Montreal canadians Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Detroit red wings new York rangers and Chicago Black  night games Are Montreal at Pittsburgh Newyork at Chicago Detroit at bos ton Philadelphia at Californi and Minnesota at St. Louis. Toronto and los Angeles Ope their seasons at Home on Satur Day night the Leafs against Chicago and the Kings against Philadelphia. The regular Campaign ends March 31. Each team will play 74games. All will play 10 games against each club in its division and four against each team in the other  canadians for example Are matched 10 times each against Toronto Boston new York Chicago and Detroit an four times apiece with califor Nia los Angeles Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis and min  season each club played 70 games for a league slate of210 games. The new teams paid franchise fees of $2 million which included player acquisitions from the older clubs achieved through a special draft last  goalies Glenn Hall it s mine new York giant defensive Back Carl Lockhart 43 intercepts a Washington Redskin pass thrown by Sonny Jurgensen in Washington while intended receiver John love 27 watches the theft As he Waits for the Ball. After making the catch Lockhart fell Fumble the Ball and love picked it up and went into the end zone for a touchdown. Alright is new York s Clarence Childs 48. The play helped the redskins Post a 38-34victory sunday oct. 4. Up photo and Terry Sawchuk were Amon the Star players obtained by the expansion teams. Hall was drafted by St. Louis from Chica go and Sawchuk by los Angele from Toronto. Other familiar names Are on the rosters of All six new clubs. In addition to Hall St. Louis has Don Mckenney Ron Stewart Bob Plager and Jim  s group includes Charlie Hodge Bob Baun Ken Douglas Billy Hicke and Billy  i Garfield a Mcdonald Leo Boivin Al Macneil Andy Bathgate and Ken Schinkel Are with  Philadelphia s team Are Ber Nie parented Van Impe Lou Angotti Brit Selby and Leon  has Dave Balon Jean Guy Talbot Cesare Mani ago Elmer Vasko and Bob Woytowich. Los Angeles other players include Gordon Labos Siere Bob walled Joyal an Doug Robinson. West coaches the coaches of teams in the West division Are red Kelly Altos Angeles Bert Olmstead California Keith Allen Phila Delphia red Sullivan Pitts Burgh Wren Blair Minnesota and Lynn Patrick St. Louis. Only Sullivan and Patrick have big league coaching experience Sullivan with new York an Patrick with Boston. The Black Hawks who won the regular season title last year for the first time in their history and the canadians Are rated the strongest teams in the East division. The Leafs Stanley cup titleholder lost two dependable veterans in Sawchuk and  Hull of Chicago will be seeking his third straight 50-goal season. He had a record 54 goals two years ago and scored52 in 1966-67. Detroit s Gordie Howe the circuit s career scor ing Leader with 649 goals will be starting a record 22nd big league season. There Are no coaching changes on the East division clubs. Toe Blake remains a Montreal punch imlach at to Ronto Sid Abel at Detroit Billyrea at Chicago Emile Francis at new York and Harry sin Denat Boston. Namath faces Stern test against rebuilt raiders by United press International Golden armed Joe Namath off to the Best Start in his career May need More Protection than a . Mint saturday if he expected to continue therise from Bonus baby to football , the passing Whiz for the new York jets faces his sternest test of the Young season saturday night in she stadium against Oakland s re built  Weeb Ewbank says Namath has been Reading the de Ranger Center assigned duties with Ahl club Kitchener ont. A Bob Jones a Center has been assigned to Buffalo of the Amer ican hockey league the new York rangers announced Fri Day. The National hockey league team also reported that right Winger Rod Gilbert and defense Man Harry Howell were to miss saturday s night s exhibition game against Toronto because of injuries. Both however Are expected to play in the season s opener against the Black Hawk sin Chicago next wednesday night. Lenses superbly but it was going to take continued Protection to give his quarterback sufficient time to spot and hit the  we can continue to protect Joe the Way we have been Idon t think anyone can Stop our receivers said Ewbank As the jets prepared for the Raider  has thrown for More than 400 Yards in the last two outings As the jets boosted their Eastern division leading rec ords to 2-1. Oakland opening a three game Road trip to the East is tied for the Western division Lead with san Diego at 3-0. The remainder of the a fraction takes place sunday with Boston 3-3 playing at Sandiego Miami 1-2 at Kansas City 2-1 and Buffalo 1-3 a Denver 1-4. Houston 2-2 is Idle this weekend. The jets raiders contest matches the Oakland defense against the new York  the strength of Namath s Strong and accurate right Armithe jets Lead the league in passing scoring and total offence. But the raiders Are tops i three major defensive categories allowing Only 68.7 Yard Rushing 96.0 passing and. 164.7 total . Who has thrown for 967 Yards and seven touch Downs credits the operation on his leg for cutting Down on the number of interceptions he has  can take a Little longer to look around he explained. Ican stand Back there longer and get hit More than i did  Oakland s stingy defense is athletics release three dark aides Kansas City to. Up the Kansas City athletics announced Friday that coaches Bobby Hofman Al Vincent and Wes Stock would not be retained next season. Hofman and Vincent had served with the a s since the beginning of the 1966  was named to replace cot Deal who resigned during the1967 season. All were personal picks Falvin dark who was fired As athletics manager late in the season. Dark has since been named to manage the Clevelan indians. Led by Kent Mcclouglan Willi Ebrown Dave Grayson and Roger  Lamonica a backup Bat Buffalo for four years has passed for 605 Yards while guiding the resurgent  jets Are a two Point favorite to hand Oakland it first defeat. Dick Post a third Stringer atthe beginning of the season is expected to carry the running attack for san Diego As the chargers seek their fourth wino the Campaign. The chargers Are favored by  favored Kansas City a 23-21 loser to Oakland last sunday is a heavy favorite to Bounce Back against Miami. The chiefs possess a potent offensive attack led by quarterback Len Dawson and Little Mike  Norton will probably Start for the dolphins in the nationally televised game. The Buffalo Denver Outing Isth first meeting Between the teacher Lou Saban and the student Joe Collier. Collier took Over As coach at Buffalo when Saban left moving up from his assistant s role and they will be Matching tricks for the first time. The Bills Are favored by five. Century clash tops in nil continued from Page 19 Pittsburgh and Cleveland Are tied at 1-2. The cards and giants go up against teams thirsting for their first victories sunday. St. Louis is at Minnesota and the giants Host new Orleans. Both the Vik Ings and saints Are 0-3. Pittsburgh probably was hampered by the absence of regular quarterback Bill Nel son out indefinitely with a knee injury. Rookie Kent Nix did Well enough last week passing for 159 Yards and one  Steeles still lost however 34-24 to the Philadelphia  Browns recorded their first Triumph a week ago rout ing new Orleans 42-7. Quarter Back Frank Ryan though bothered by sprained Ankles threw three touchdown passe while Ernie Green and Leroy Kelly were in top  teams split two games last year. The Browns won the annual saturday night game in Cleveland 41-10 and the Steeler rebounded Fop a 16-6 Triumph in  sunday s games san fran Cisco is at los Angeles Balti More at Chicago Green Bay at Detroit Dallas at Washington and Philadelphia at Atlanta