Archive: Half-Century Ago, NHL All-Star Game Marred By Poor Participation

Vol. 27, No. 20, Feb. 15, 1974 The Hockey News Archive

Almost two weeks ago, the NHL All-Star Game was a smashing success in Toronto. But in a cover story from The Hockey News’ Feb. 15, 1974 edition – Vol. 27, Issue 20 – the NHL’s 27th annual All-Star Game went down as a controversial event.

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The game itself in Chicago in 1974 was a legitimate thriller, with the Western team beating the East by a 6-4 margin thanks in no small part to the play of all-star MVP Garry Unger. But the main problem – as it often is with the All-Star Game – was finding enough top players willing and able to participate in it. In this particular case, East coach Scotty Bowman and New York Rangers GM coach Emile Francis got into a tiff with each other after Bowman’s request for a Rangers player for the game was denied by Francis. Bowman made his displeasure with Francis very clear.

“I can’t understand this.” Bowman told The Hockey News. “I always thought that it was a privilege to play in the All-Star Game. Now guys like Francis are using it for politics. It can boomerang, though. Some of his players won’t be too happy when they find out they had a chance to play in the game, and that their general manager refused to allow them.”

UNGER MVP AS WEST TRIUMPHS BUT CONTROVERSY DOMINATES GAME

Vol. 27, No. 20, Feb. 15, 1974

By The Hockey News Staff

CHICAGO – The 27th National Hockey League All Star game was one of the most exciting classics ever played, but it will not be remembered that way.

Instead, it will be chronicled as the game that nobody wanted to play in. the game that saw the East Division play minus five starters and the game that produced some heavy name-calling and mud-slinging between East coach Scotty Bowman and New York Ranger general manager coach Emile Francis.

The West, incidentally, won the game 6-4 on the strength of a five-goal splurge in the second and third periods. Garry Unger, a key man in the five-goal binge, was named the game’s most valuable player. He combined with Bob Clarke and Stan Mikita to turn the game around.

But those accomplishments were dwarfed by the pre-game and postgame problems involving Bowman and Francis.

The squabble started when five of the East players were knocked out of action with injuries. Bobby Orr was cut down two days before the game while Serge Savard was ordered to rest by the Montreal team doctor and Guy Lapointe suffered a shoulder separation. Jacques Lemaire was also out of action with a knee injury and Gilbert Perreault was having leg problems.

So, Bowman started calling East Division coaches asking for replacements. Many were called, but few answered.

Bowman asked Harry Sinden in Boston for the services of Carol Vadnais. But Orr and Darryl Edestrand were hurt and Dallas Smith was playing in the game. Request denied.

On to Toronto where Bowman asked Red Kelly for Darryl Sittler, Jim McKenny and Borje Salming. Sittler’s wife was having a baby and Kelly was not letting both defenseman play. McKenny was elected to go.

On to New York where Bowman asked for anyone. Francis, miffed when the second-year Islanders had two players on the All Star team and his Rangers one, refused.

And that’s when the name calling started.

“I can’t understand this.” Bowman said. “I always thought that it was a privilege to play in the All Star Game. Now guys like Francis are using it for politics.

“It can boomerang, though. Some of his players won’t be too happy when they find out they had a chance to play in the game, and that their general manager refused to allow them.”

Bowman chose Jocelyn Guevremont of Vancouver, Red Berenson of Detroit and Larry Robinson of Montreal to fill.

Francis showed up after the game and had a few choice words reserved for Bowman. Topping the whole thing off was Clarke’s comment that the East had been out-coached by the West.

The game itself was one of the most exciting in recent years. The East opened up a 2-0 lead on goals by Frank Mahovlich and Yvan Cournoyer.

Mahovlich’s goal was his eighth in All Star competition, leaving him two behind leader Gordie Howe.

Bob Berry of the LA Kings started the comeback by beating East goaltender Gilles Gilbert, who played a strong game in his first All Star appearance.

Then the flood gates opened. Dave Dryden, also appearing in his first All Star game, replaced Gilbert in the nets and was beaten twice in the second period and three times in the third.

Al McDonough of Atlanta scored on a pass from Clarke and five minutes later, at the 19:07 mark, the West grabbed the lead for the first time as Lowell MacDonald tipped in a blueline shot by Barclay Plager.

Mikita gave the West a two-goal bulge early in the third before Unger salted the game away with a shorthanded goal.

The East made a brief comeback on goals by Denis Potvin and Mickey Redmond but Pit Martin ended the threat by scoring with less than two minutes to play.

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