Factoid: The Captains continue to mirror the Tampa Bay Lightning from last year by choking when it counted.

It isn’t as disappointing when you’re the bottom team, but this one stings given that the turn had tables for once.

1971 OFFSEASON

Notable Retirements

Heralds defenseman Joseph Jarvis hung up his skates after 11 pro seasons with the THL. Considered an unsung star, he did notch two All-Star selections while playing as the favored linemate of superstar Paul Kauffman. Jarvis' tough, balanced style made him a threat from the blue line and was highly respected throughout the league. Jarvis will be a prime coaching candidate. Glaciers defenseman Carson Damico also retired, after stints with Lecayne, Narva and the Glaciers. Port Alrene's Dutch forward Joeri Van Dalen retired from the THL after 10 seasons with the Anchors to take a coaching job back in Holland.

Coaching Carousel

Longtime Whales assistant coach Ben Stone retired after 11 years with the team, helping Portarra to 8 playoff runs and two Marcotte Cups during that span.

League Expansion Announcement, New Commissioner?

During a scheduled State of the League address, Commissioner Willard made some big announcements. He said that he would be retiring following the 1972 season due to failing health and would be bringing in longtime colleague and former lawyer John Morgan Hatch to be co-commissioner to learn the ropes and take over daily operations while they worked together on several big projects for the league. Hatch would then take over solely for the 1973 season. The owners unanimously approved of the new addition and plan.

Willard also announced that the league would be expanding in 1972 with four new franchises joining the league, bringing the THL to 12 teams. Some details were still being hammered out but he did confirm that Trowburgh and Fort Bevin would both be gaining franchises. He hinted that a west coast city was involved as well as a large city currently already with a team. There will be an expansion draft as well as a lengthened regular amateur draft to bring in a suitable amount of players.

Lastly, Willard announced that the league would be divided into two divisions following expansion, however potential alignments were still in progress, but that special credence would be given to current and longstanding rivalries. He also said that all scenarios for playoff format changes were being considered.

Draft News

In a draft light on talent and availability in preparation for the big 1972 draft, it was shortened to one round. Ukrainian defenseman Petro Yaroslav declared for the draft which helped infuse some top-end talent to the pool. Danish goalie Karl Carstens also declared, along with local Kirkenport product, F Marc Truong. The top of the draft went as expected with Yaroslav, Truong and Carstens going 1-2-3 to the Glaciers, Kirlow and Portarra respectively.

1971 Draft - 1st Round

1 – YBG – D Petro Yaroslav (Ukraine)
A prototypical defenseman, big frame, willing shot blocker. Quiet guy who will need to learn the pro ropes.

2 – KIR – F Marc Truong
Nifty scorer, excellent passer, Truong projects as a nice option on the top line.

3 – POR – G Karl Carstens (Denmark)
Has plenty of unrealized talent. Some questions on his hockey IQ. Could be a good player under the right coaching.

4 – CHA – D Isaac Trask
All around tough guy, very raw prospect. Could see early action as an enforcer.

5 – PA – F Orval Fraser
High hockey IQ type of player. Not particularly athletic, good passer, decent scoring touch. More of a tough second-line forward.

6 – NAR – G Wilton O'Leary
A borderline talent, O'Leary could see the big leagues under a patient system to work through the warts. Natural eyes but lack of athleticism and hockey sense will hinder him.

7 – YUB – F Carter Hanna
Conversion project. Light-bodied player who can skate fast but doesn't offer much in the way of any real hockey skills.

8 – KRK – D Bryan Ketchum
Played forward in the Indy leagues but projects as a defenseman. Raw product who needs a lot of work.


Trades and Signings

With '71 being the calm before the storm of uncertainty with the league expansion in 1972, several teams made big trades to either go all out in attempt to win a Cup or set themselves up for the future. The Glaciers and Kodiaks got it started with a massive 8-player trade swap. The feature players were former MVP D Joaquin Outlaw and goaltender Greg Kannell in a trade that will have a huge influence on the season.

Glaciers receive:
D Joaquin Outlaw
G Reed Darling
F Joey Fredella
D Roy Schillings

Kodiaks receive:
D Albert Golatt
D Ben Komatsu
G Greg Kannell
F Jimmy McNee

Kirlow then traded for Port Alrene's D Carey “Wags” Waggoners, sending D Robert Sudbrock and F Jerry Andolsek for him. The Anchors, with few prospects in the pipeline desperately needed some youth and Wags OK'd the trade, wanting to return to his original team for a shot at a Cup. There were rumors that at least two teams made large offers for Gary Wisniewski but the Anchors balked on trading away their superstar and talks fizzled out.

Team Identity Changes

After a flurry of team changes between 1969-1970, there were no changes for this offseason.

Up next: 1971 Season

1971 REGULAR SEASON


The new-look Glaciers, led by a resurgent Joaquin Outlaw, found themselves in an early dogfight with Kirkenport in the battle for first place. The change of scenery seemed to invigorate Outlaw as he had a fine campaign. The Captains though, led by the suddenly late-blooming Gerry McKnight in goal, followed up on his previous season with a year for the ages that earned him just the second-ever MVP for a goalie. Not since the inaugural season in 1960 had a goaltender seen such few goals allowed. Backup Scott Fitchette barely even played as McKnight was indestructible and impenetrable starting 58 of 60 games as he led the Captains to 133 points and another 1-seed.

McKnight's magical season in goal lifted much of the pressure from the rest of the team, especially the ever-fluctuating chemistry with lightning rod Chris Wydra and helped the team experiment with different lines and strategies. F Keenan Draper and Wydra both notched All-Star berths, along with D Lauri Rikhard. The Glaciers kept pace with Kirkenport for much of the season, cooling off a bit torward the end. But star forward Peter Isaksson stayed hot, grabbing the Best Forward award and helping the Glaciers hold on to the 2-seed.

Over in Kirlow, defenseman Carey Waggoners was playing like a new man at 34 years old, infusing new energy into the Kodiaks' blue line after the departure of the unpredictable personality of Outlaw. With Wags and former Glacier Albert Golatt anchoring the blue line, rookie forward Marc Truong found a place for himself on the first line with Pascal Brink and Morton Geary, earning Best Rookie honors, as the Kodiaks turned their season around and squeezed past the Falcons for the 3rd seed.

The reigning two-time champions on the Sava Side in Yubay weathered some hiccups in goal and on the top line Von Wentz was dealing with some personal issues and Geno Pasternak struggling to score at times with more than half the forward unit injured at one point. The team called up a half-dozen Indy League players to fill in and try to hold down the fort until the roster could get healthy again. D Allen Lombardi won the Blue Collar award for his efforts in stepping up in time of need and leading by example. With such a strong culture on the Sava Side, the Falcons were able to stay afloat and stay in the playoff hunt for a chance to become the first three-peat champions.


Always inextricably linked, the Whales and Anchors had mirror seasons that both didn't go very well. Tying for 45 points, although Portarra came out ahead on a slightly better differential, the teams struggled in every capacity. Portarra was down to their 4th goalie for a two-week stretch and at one point veteran forward Alex Harter was leading the Anchors in goals scored from his spot as the last option and enforcer. Both teams will have plenty of decisions to make for the next season.

Things went better for Chasonne but with Lou D'Angelo having a down year, the overall team scoring suffered, leaving Paul Kauffman to overcompensate from the blue line. Kauffman had a good year but the Heralds still remain a couple of scoring threats away from true contention. Now considered one of the best defensive units in the league, the Narva Neptunes contended fiercely until season's end but came up short of a playoff spot. However, their blue lines with Brankovic-Gallenbeck and Janssen-Metz were brutal battering rams as the Neps have developed a reputation as a team not to look forward to playing against. They too still lack credible scoring although Kris Kotulak has made strides in the top spot.

Playoff Preview

Captains vs Falcons
The Kirk Boys want to redeem themselves and show they're better than they displayed against the Falcons in the Cup and are excited about the matchup. The Falcons have proven they are a resilient bunch and should never be counted out. Will the champions continue their winning ways or with the Kirk Boys finally break through?

Glaciers vs Kodiaks
After a glitchy previous season, the Glaciers are back in action and ready to pick up where they left off when they were nearly impossible to beat. The Kodiaks, though, are also back for the dance and feel confident they can make it a messy series. Which side of the blockbuster trade wins?

Up next: 1971 Playoffs

Last year felt a little comfortable making me doubt the ability in the playoffs, but for the first time I have a gut feeling it is the year of the Captain!

Also, seeing Narva peaking from the outside is tough. They are not getting an optimal draft spot in a year with a lot of change happening. Seems like they will have to claw back into the hunt again after only a year or so of competency in the league.

1971 PLAYOFFS

Semi-Finals


1 Kirkenport Captains vs 4 Yubay Falcons
McKnight was a little shaky in the beginning of the series but finally settled back down as the Captains overwhelmed the Falcons in games 4-5 to take the win and return to the Finals.



2 Yubay Glaciers vs 3 Kirlow Kodiaks
The Kodiaks stunned the Glaciers in Game 1 but steady pressure from the Niko Side was too much for Kirlow as Keith MacGarvin was locked in and Isaksson provided just enough juice on the puck.


1971 MARCOTTE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

1 Kirkenport Captains vs 2 Yubay Glaciers
This series has all the makings of being an epic battle as both netminders are playing at a high level. The Glaciers new blue line has the advantage on the defensive side but the Captains have deep forward lines that can score from anywhere. Merle Sharpe has more experience on the bench than Captains counterpart Walton Pruitt but the Glaciers also have a lot of new faces on their roster and team chemistry hasn't been as tight. Even the pundits are split on their predictions.



Game 1: YBG 0 @ KRK 2 – Tension was high as these two heavyweights readied themselves for war. The Captains jumped to an early lead on goals from Keenan Draper and Chris Wydra as McKnight pitched a shutout.

Game 2: YBG 1 @ KRK 2 (OT) – Glaciers forward Peter Isaksson found home on a deflection but an OT goal from old Captains vet Rocco Behrens took it for the Isle of Kirk.

Game 3: KRK 2 @ YBG 1 – Wydra scored twice as the Glaciers fought hard to win on their home ice. Joaquin Outlaw and Petro Yaroslav both spent significant minutes in the penalty box as they tried to bully the Captains to no avail.

Game 4 KRK 1 @ YBG 0 – With Gerry McKnight having one his “steely-eyed games,” as defenseman and team captain Lauri Rikhard liked to call them, the Captains switched to heavy defensive tactics as they out-hit and frustrated the Glaciers the entire game. Rikhard later scored as the Captains made a surprising clean sweep of it and took home their long-awaited first Marcotte Cup. The whole city of Kirkenport shut down as the team arrived back on to the Isle from Yubay and the Midnight Mile was a raucous party for nearly three straight days as the Kirk Boys celebrated their first Cup.

Up next: A big offseason of changes and additions