 Clutch
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Age: 38
Loc: US 17/92
Registered on 10-21-03
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02-09-10 12:25 AM - Post#1165511
In response to vsurov
Minnesota 6 vs. Birmingham 2 @ Duluth, Minn 9/29/1976
Pat Westrum (M) vs. Gilles Bilodeau (B)
Gord Gallant (M) vs. Jerry Rollins (B)
St. Louis 2 @ Minnesota 4 9/30/1976
Patey (STL) vs. Nantais (M)
Gassoff-OUT
Detroit 4 @ Minnesota 3 10/2/1976
Tom Younghans vs Dan Maloney 2x
Younghans Stands Up To Maloney
Minneapolis Tribune, 10/4/1976
Late in Saturday night's exhibition at Met Sports Center little Dennis Polonich skated past North Stars rookie Tom Younghans and said: "Maloney wants to know if you're coming to Kalamazoo."
Then he skated away, chuckling. Dan Maloney would have asked the question himself, except he had been banished to the Red Wings dressing room for being far more interested in fighting than in playing hockey in the 4-3 Detroit victory. Younghans had the audacity to stand up and fight Maloney, who is the most notorious villain in the NHL, two times.
But yes, Younghans did go with the team for Sunday night's game in Kalamazoo.
Younghans and the North Stars showed up in Kalamazoo all right, but it was not what you would call an impressive performance as the Red Wings bombarded the Stars 7-0. Minnesota got only 23 shots while Detroit got two goals from Mike Bloom and a goal and two assists from Danny Grant. If physical intimidation was a factor it was begun the night before.
AT 5-foot-10, Younghans gave away four inches and 30 pounds to Maloney, who is something of a legend in the NHL. They say that no other Red WIng skater even bothers to keep his head up on the ice, because no opponent would dare risk a bodycheck for fear of reprisal from Maloney, who was charged for assault last year in a game.
Apparently the Red Wings were snoozing when the word came out that violent physical intimidation would be dealt with harshly this season. Or else that statement was just so much fluff.
At any rate, Younghans said yes, he knew who it was he was fighting, and no, there was no way to avoid the fights. Younghans was not a fighter as a Gopher skater the last three years, but he's a tough kid who knows no way to play but give 100 percent. If that means fighting, he'll do that too.
"The first time," Younghans said, "Maloney came up and speared me from behind. So I had to fight him, it couldn't be helped."
There are others who might have hurdled the sideboards and still have been running at the prospect of confronting Maloney, who earlier in the game had high-sticked Glen Sharpley, another Minnesota rookie, for five stitches on the eyebrow. Before that, Polonich and Richard Nantais had tangled in the first few minutes and Maloney was clearly the third man in, pushing Nantais aside.
Referee Andy Von Hellemond didn't see it that way and left Maloney in the game, which didn't help the quality of hockey, but did give Younghans the chance to prove his courage.
"When I slipped, he stood over me with a big grin." Younghans said. The linesman and teammate Lou Nanne grabbed for Maloney. That got Nanne tossed out as the third man in. Younghans, however, had nailed Maloney with a punch that cut the big Red Wing on the nose before he slipped under him. Then he crawled out between the linesman's legs, scrambles to his feet and threw one last left jab.
After they served their penalties, Younghans sped across center ice and clipped Maloney with a clean bodycheck in front of the Red Wing bench. Enraged, and possibly astonished, Maloney threw down his stick and gloves. But he had to shout at Younghans to convey his hostilities, because Younghans was skating after the action, unaware that round 2 was to start.
When he realized what was going on, he came back and obliged Maloney with another lively scrap. This time Von Hellemond got the message and banished Maloney for instigating the fight.
Younghans got an ovation that time when he went to the penalty box. It has not been often, in recent seasons, that North Stars fans have seen one of their players stand up and fight in the face of attempted intimidation.
"I certainly wasn't looking for a fight," Younghans said. "But I want to make this club, I think I can play in this league right now. They say I lack polish and that's probably true. But I'm getting more confident all the time and all I need is some game experience at this level, I think.
Now listen
I don't know the dimensions of outer space
But if our ability to feel love turns out to be just a cosmic accident
I'd like to think this means the universe is on our side
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