European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 1, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 20 the stars and stripes february Riding the bus in the Junior hockey league by Robin Herman new York the journey began in predawn darkness with the temperature 22 degrees below there were icicles on the inside of the bus windows As the Brandon wheat Kings climbed aboard at fun for the seven hour ride to Saska and another game on the 72game the weary players moved silently to their Brad a hefty defens Eman with a scrubbed look ing chose a place on the aisle and pushed Back the seat to make room for his sleeping this was a Rou Tine Learned four years when he left his parents farm to play midget a kind of minor league of Canada leagues Junior hockey he was 14 years old Mccrimmon wants to play la the National hockey for Tab note Down a desolate Road through the Frozen and above the huh parallel u the route to the at the end of the scoots Are waiting to record ids performance Bow deftly he handles the Tow hard Tae checks opponents into be unyielding How willing be is to he and his aged 17 to Hope to be among the one in 100 juniors who make it to the major Many youngsters entering the sport loin at the level called pee a couple of cuts below even midget making it is a Distant dream failure Means a lifetime on the farm and an end to fantasies of Fame and playing hockey becomes an obsession that eclipses thoughts of girls and All the other preoccupations of most to an Junior hockey might seem but to the the hard life has this is a period of delicious anticipation and Good times with the wheat Kings play in a 12team Amateur league that sprawls across four Canadian provinces and three american they play under conditions More brutal than any professional would Ever submit players speak of ramming Ufi ponets into some of which Are part so the scouts can last season one player lost an Eye in a spearing incident Many of the players display gaps where their Bant Teeth used to off toe psychological conditions Are the players most leave Home at an Early age in search of better boarding with families near their new most of toe players drop out of Moking it is a Distant dream failure Means lifetime on the farm and an end to fantasies of Fame and at wits end by Erma a Amlock Ive made a study of standing ovations and Ive come to the conclusion that anyone can there Are certain phrases and actions that will bring an entire auditorium to its clapping wildly and re fusing to Stop Long after youve left the for some people o bananas whenever they see a Une of Dancen or ice skaters la a single raw uck iat in time to toe it Doest matter u there All kicking in the same direction or at the same time or if indeed their feet Are two inches from the people love some songs naturally excite an inspirational things like climb every Mountain or the Moos Suhle in ague also he played for teams in three is teammates teasing him about the unending mid season in More they four my done the wheat Over us i dont take them before there he if i get them at you have them for four and t might get to be a drag and the kid forget if i youve got a lot of big in the Ai Jota r s what i like about the Western Premier Pii dont baby the Long bus the i Era Are treated the True test is but West you if Mccalum says the this trip to Saskatoon Bone which Wou Shorter he recalled a nonstop trip in an octo Lerand blizzard from new Westminster in British through the the team new Westminster after a sunday night game at 11 own in f and arrived at Lethbridge at 8 Oclock the n we time Hist in time for the or Mil suite maund the Small mining 400 Miles North of Winnin Canada for producing Bobby c the Philadelphia flyer Clarke was born and he played Junior hockey cottages Are scattered on the Rocky Hills around an i foot stack that spouts White Clouds of Hua Aoa Gay my dominates the nun Oommen you out of
