Canton Observer for September 29, 1988 - Canton Public Library

agp.c) OJtE Thuradey, September 29. 1966
«P /
McSween must return
to minor league for now
By Larry O'Connor
staff writer , "
Don McSween could road between
the stitches. Tbe Plymouth native
knevr be was destined to start this
season in tbe minors.
That fact was real as the blood oo
his jersey, thanks to a cut lip be
received courtesy of tbe Detroit Red
Wings Tim Higgins in a recent exhibition
hockey game at Joe Louis
Arena.
Tbe Buffalo Sabres defense man
winced a bit, but maybe blood spilled
in tbe National Hockey League is a
little bit easier to deal with.
Tbe cuts issued by coaches in
training camp are tbe ones that reaU
ly hurt. But McSween, who was seat
down to tbe minors this week, knew
the inevitable.
"I kinda know my place in the
Buffalo organization right now,"
. said McSween, who starred at Mkhi-
. gan State University. 'Tm a little bit
away from contributing ... I think
J I'm close."
Tbe road between Buffalo and
their minor league affiliate in Ro-
; Chester, N.Y., is only, 70 miles. The
• distance from tbe minors to the
' NHL, though, seems much farther
for many players.
McSween certainly bad his thumb
*• out for tbe NHL at this training
; camp. But his ride was only going
; back to Rochester.
TRAINING CAMP was crowded
this season. Buffalo is loaded with
defensemen, especially young ones
like"McSween.
He tried to make an impression.
Except, for a defenseman, it's a little
more difficult The only time
moat people seem to notice a defenseman
is when they're twisted up
like a pretzel after the other team
hasscpred.
Those who play on tbe blue line
are more difficult to gauge. They
usually take longer to develop than
forwards.
"Ifs tough to say," Buffalo coach
Don McSween
Ted Sator said. "I wish I had one answer
and be able to say this defenseman
needs to work on this and this
defenseman needs to work on that
"I think Donny's strong point is
that he's so intelligent on the ice. He
recognizes situations very well."
That usually doesn't show up in
statistics. Still, McSween was a plus-
23 last season with the Sabres'
American Hockey League affiliate,
the Rochester Americans, a remarkable
feat for a defenseman. He also
scored nine goals and had 29 assists
for 38 points.
THAT'S NICE - for . the minor
leagues. But if he's to shuffle off to
Buffalo. McSween knows it will take
more than that Hell have to stand
out like a diamond in a pile of pebbles
in the minors. •
His plan is tn start the season at
RocBester and, hopefully, get called
up during the season. He appeared in
six games last season with the
Sabres.
Rochester isn't going to be his permanent
mailing address.
'Tm not a career minor league
player," be said. "I'm 24. I went to
Michigan State and I'm almost finished
with my electrical pngin«wing
degree
"You don't want to spend your
whole life getting cut up. It's a tough
way to make a living."
Which wasn't what McSween had
in mind when he drafted in the
eighth round in 1983. He was the anchor
on the Spartans' blue line for
four seasons, including MSU's NCAA
championship year in 1985-86.
At Rochester last season, he found
tbe going tough. He had 108 penalty
minutes and was nicknamed
"McBlood" because of his Chuck
Wepner knack of getting cut —
McSWEEN*S ENCOUNTER with
Higgins late in the third period
against the Wings only enhanced his
reputation. Higgins ran a Sabre into
the boards. McSween took exception
and went after the Wings' right
winger.
"He got a solid shot in with his
glove on," said McSween, who
received six stitches on the outside
and four on the inside to close his lip.
In the game against Detroit
McSween was also on the ice when
the Sabres were nicked for two Red
Wing goals (one was on a power
play). He admitted to being a little
nervous playing before the hometown
crowd.
"Their guy moved in front of the
net, and I didn't move him out" said
McSween, describing the Wings' second
goal by Murray Eaves. "The
puck went off his skate and into the
net.
"You know that little difference is
really a big difference," he added
"That little difference is a guy scoring
a goal and a guy not scoring a
goal, stopping a guy or not stopping
a guy. The guys who make it can
handle the grind."
Modano's pro career put on hold
Westland's Mike Modano, tbe-first
pick la last summer's National
Hockey League Draft, likely will not
sign a contract this year with the
Minnesota North Stars, the team
that selected him.
Contract talks between Modano's
Howard Gourwitz of Southfield
and tbe North Stars have discontinued,
Gourwitz said.
"As a result it appears that Modano
wiH be playing hockey this
coming season for tbe Prince Albert
- Raiders of the Western Hockey
"Let us Sennet your
Roofing and Std»
Seeds
League," Gourwitz said. "He went
back to western Canada (Sascatchewan)
last Friday."
Modano, a center, played tbe last
two winters for Prince Albert, a junior
team. He scored 47 goals and had
80 assists in 65 games last year.
Gourwitz believes tbe breakdown
in negotiations is due to tbe North
Stars' failure to offer appropriate
bonus clauses in a contract for a
player taken No. 1 overall in the
NHL draft
Gourwitz claimed that recent No.
Buy NOW 1
BSAVE!
Rooftop Delivery Available
5ENC0
FASTENING SYSTEMS
and wind-Mown ram
GRACE tAAW
Ice Shield
Hours:
No. 1
Gutter 69%,
Gray. BMii Black Mweca A Bia»a.
••chafe*. Nory
Soffit IS" * 5 4 9 S .
n>» k m IW1' "9
Anden'iC
Al'l'colora S, *54*|
w* Oo Ctnom Bmtany
Lee Wholesale Supply We Accept
559€5 Grand River — New Hudson
. 437-6044 or 437-6054 Cl'j
BERGSTROM'S INC.
HEATING • COOLING • PLUMBING
STORE HOURS
MOW.-FRI. 9-7
8AT9-4
WEATHERMAKER
MQH-EFF1CENCY
FURNACE
UP TO 97.3*
EFFICIENT
QUIET
OPERATION
CALL FOR
FREE ESTIMATES
. LIFETIME
LIMITED WARRANTY
ON
HEAT EXCHANGERS
522-1350 EXPIRES 9-30-88
25429 W FIVE MILE
REDFORO, Ml 48239
PRESEASON
OAS FURNACE
CLEAN AND CHECK
REG. $51.50
CALL FOR DETAILS
AN INEFFICIENT
FURNACE MEANS EXTRA
DOLLARS ON YOUR
ENERGY BILL
CARRIER POWER
| HUMIDIFIER
INSTALLED A RUNNING
<
1 drafted players contracts have
contained $104,000 bonuses for being
named Rookie-of-the-Year. Gourwitz
said tbe North Stars top bonus offer
to Modano for being named Rookieof-the-Year
was $15,000.
Shieka Kapila was defeated by North Farmington's
Anne Heimbuch at No. 3 singles, but Sa-
tennis
PLYMOUTH SALEM 4
NORTH FARMINGTON 3
Monday at North Farmington
No ' singles Missy Smith (PS) deteateo
Wendy Woll. 6-0, 6-0
No. 2: Becky Gressier (NF) del Wendy
Shien, 7-6. 3-6. 6-0
No 3 Anne He