Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 49

John Down EDMONTON JOURNAL, Monday, April 13, 19V4 49 Walton sinks the game Oilers And now the final Wayne Overland Black arm-bauds for 'doomed nine' ST. PAUL Oilers got a pre-game "pep talk" Sunday from Edmonton scout Bob Freeman. Oilers opened the St. Paul paper to find a story quoting Freeman and listing nine players who should not be back next year. The players promptly obtained black arm bands to wear in the dressing room prior to the morning 1 gftj By WAYNE OVERLAND Of The Journal lidmontmi Minnesota 5 ST.

PAUL Mike "Shakey" Walton shook Edmonton Oilers out of the WHA playoffs Sunday. Walton scored three goals as Minnesota Fighting Saints edged an injury-depleted Oiler squad 5-4 to win the best-of-seven playoff series four games to one. Oilers, plagued by playoff injuries as they were in the regular season, went into the final game without the services of most valuable player Al Hamilton (groin), Ron Anderson (broken thumb). Rusty Patenaude (knee) and Jack Morris (sore tliroat). In the end it was the absence of Hamilton that hurt Oilers worst.

The big defenceman was usually on the ice when Walton took a shift during the regular schedule and previous playoffs and managed to contain the tricky Saints' forward. Hamilton warmed up before the game but had to withdraw to the broadcast booth to help out CFRN's Al McCann on the radio. He couldn't turn, stop or accelerate without stabs of pain. Walton ion i pet I "If Hamilton was healthy," said coach Brian Shaw, "we'd still be playing, it's that simple." Walton, who scored no less than eight hat tricks this workout. hey were taking it as a joke," said coach Brian Shaw weakly.

The story said the "doomed" Oilers were Jack i Chris Worthy, Bob McAneeley, Ed Joyal, Brian McKen-zie, Ken a i Ron Anderson, Bob Falken-berg and Len Lunde. Sportswriter Iharlie Hallman said he was given the information by Freeman before the last game in Edmonton. Hail-man wrote that another source within the Oilers' organization told him Mike Wallon whips .10 footer past Cliris Worthy for his second goal There's no better foreign Player By DAVE ANDERSON New York Times Service AUGUSTA, Walking up the 17th fairway at the Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, Gary Player turned to 'his caddy, Eddie McCoy. "In Ell the years I've played here," the 37-year-old Scuth African golfer said, "I've been on this green only about six times. But when I won the Masters in 19G1, this is where I won the tournament and this year it's going to win it for us again." Player spun a nine-iron shot to within eight inches of the cup for a birdie three that provided him with a two-stroke victory.

"As scon as I hit that nine-ircn," Player said later, 'i told Eddie, 'we're rot even going to have to and we didn't." That confidence is typical cf Gary Jim Player the winner of seven major golf championships two Masters, two British Opens, two Professional Golfers Association tournaments and one United Stales Open. "My life is full of little ambitions," he said, "and now I've wen more major titles than anybody outside of American players." In the hours of Easter morning before he teed off Sunday, he hid easter egss for his children in the garden of the near-by home where he and his family have been house guests this week. "Easter is very important in our family." he said. "My wife and I have five of our six children with us here." They arrived in the United Slates last week for the Greater G'-eensbcro Open after a 15-hour flight frpm Johannesburg. "It's expensive." he said, laughing.

"I won S3.2IX) at Greensboro and I b'-oke exactly even. 1 can't afford to take my family everywhere. Thank ocdness most of them go to school." Player is a globetrotter. He will compete in the Spanish open on Thursday, go lo Japan the following week for another tournament, then return to Johannesburg for a week's rest. "The week after that.

I'll be Boh Freeman that the team has not yet signed any NHL players, which is contrary to statements by general manager Bill Hunter. Hunter, naturally, was furious. He denied that Freeman has any knowledge of Oiler plans for next season. Hallman said that this was one of Freeman's beefs when he fed him the information. The scout claimed he couldn't even get a trip to.

Calgary and would be resigning at the end of the season. As for NHL players, Sunday afternoon Hunter was happier than Scotty Bowman and Emile Francis hen Bruce MacGregor and Serge Savard scored. Hunter has had successful talks with their agents and will, sign MacGregor and Savard if Oilers will pay the price. Anderson's gone lo Indy As for the players wearing black, Ron Anderson already belongs to" another WHA team, having been claimed by Indianapolis in the expansion draft and will report there next season. Many of the players named as "goners" are solidly in Hunter's good books and he is the only man in the organization who trades personnel or terminates contracts.

About Joyal. who scored a winning playoff goal for Edmonton, Hunter says: "How would you replace his experience and skating? Not with junior, that's for sure. A player like Joyal is almost impossible lo replace in today's market, that's why I hope his arm is completely healed by next year." Hunter rates Baird as "a top young player any learn in major league hockey would be glad to have." Hunter is also high on McAneeley's potential and considers Lunde as at least a good reserve forward for next year while Falkenberg has been far from the worst Oiler, especially in the playoffs. Players could use smarts What the playoffs have shown" Oilers need, apart from obvious" help in goal, are players with the hockey smarts can perform well under pressure. Defenceman Doug Barrie is the classic example of what is wrong with Oilers.

Barrie, a physically taleiUed player, tends to blow up under pressure and take penalties. Teams don't win championships and big games making dumb mistakes. Lack of smart players is also why Oilers have one of the worst powerplays in the WHA. The secret to a good powerplay is not coaching or strategy, but. rather naturally gifted goal scorers who know how to cash in on their opportunities.

Wingers like Randy Rota and Hon Kozak, who Hunter is romancing from Los Angeles of the JvHL, may solve this problem. MacGregor is also a smart two-way player with a record of proven performance under pressure. On the blueline Oilers don't require any major overhaul, but they do need a tuneup. At least one defenceman with size and mobility. The answer might be Ray McKay from California of the NHL, ho is close to signing Oilers.

At present Oilers have too many defencemen who are either big and slow- or fast and small. Captain Al Hamilton is the only defender who has both agility and good size. Hunter is aware of what improvements Oilers require and sticks to his prediction of at least three new faces from the NHL. "Anybody who says we haven't signed NHL players is going to be a liar when they see our lineup next season," he savs. season, but never before terrorized Oilers, romped without Hamilton to frustrate him.

The winning goal was typical, coming at 4:32 of "the third period as Walton got in behind the Oiler defence for a breakaway on Chris Worthy. The Edmonton goalie had stopped Walton on a break in the first period but didn't have the answer a second time. The goal put Saints ahead 5-2 and earned Walton a standing ovation from a crowd of 10,764 fans, to say nothing of a St. Paul bank which promised $1,000 to any player getting a hat trick in the playoffs. Although behind, Oilers refused to concede and struggled back into contention when Doug Barrie scored on a long shot and then rookie Blair McDonald got his fourth goal of the playoffs with 8:13 left.

Oilers appeared to have the game tied up with five minutes left when 38-g a I scorer Ron Climie had three feet of open net to shoot at from just outside the crease. Somehow Climie, who had a poor playoff series as he fought tlie flu. missed the chance. Pressure phncr Oilers continued to press when Ken Baird, one of their best pressure players the last two seasons, split the Minnesota defence, had his first shot blocked and scooped the rebound just wide before being driven into the post himself. Seconds later Oilers again gave Saints fils when they surged around the goal but couldn't get the puck past John.

Garrett who ended up with 40 saves compared to 35 for Worthy. Saints, who dominated the first period, didn't get on the scoreboard until the final minute when Walton scored twice in 15 seconds. Worthy had no chance on either goal, making the initial stop on the opening score but a helpless when Walton got the rebound and Oilers defence failed to tie up the league's leading scorer. The second Minnesota goal can be attributed to a coaching error as Brian Shaw left defenceman Bob Wall on the ice too long and he didn't have enough strength to keep with Jimmy Johnson who set up Walton in front. Hack in Oilers got back in the game at 31 seconds of the second period when Baird beat Garrett on a low slap shot.

But Oilers defence was faulty aeain as first Barrie got trapped up the ice aad then George Morrison deked out Bob Falkenberg and beat Worthy from close range. Veteran Ed Joval narrowed the gap to one goal again when be flipped a rebound over Garrett. Oiiers weathered a penalty to Barrie but couldn't bold Saints off ben Steve Carlyle was dispatched to the box at 15:04. Wayne Connelly had the whole net to deposit the puck in hen be took a perfect pass from Morrison. Out shot 19-7 in the openi- period.

Oikrs carried play and a 13-9 advantage in s-bnts in the middle period back in the United States for the Colonial Invitation in Texas," he said. "That's one reason why I think I appre- ciate winning the Masters so much. The mote dedicated you are, the more sacrifices you make, the more you ap-predate wining a major championship. No golfer has ever practised more than I have, no golfer has ever travelled more than I have." Once known as a physical culturist, he has been unable to exercise as much since he underwent bladder surgery early last year. "It was a very serious operation," he recalled.

"I had a blockage from my kidney lo my bladder. I couldn't pass water for nine days. And do you get mean when you can't pass water. After the operation, I couldn't play golf for four months." He returned to the U.S. tour last summer and won the Southern Open.

His victory in the Masters Sunday was his 17th on the lour. "Ycu can never be considered a champion," he says, "unless you can win in America, because this is where the bet players are." At only five feet, eight inches, and 150 pounds, Player is one of the smallest golfers, but he considers himself a superior athlete. "Seme people think that golfers aren't athletes, but I'm an athlete," he has said. "Give me a year to concentrate on tennis and I would be a world class player. I could plav with Rod Laver or any of the tennis pres." Although he was born, reared and resides in South Africa, with its apartheid policy, he has continually struggled for equality for black solfers there.

He invited Lee Elder, the U.S. black touring pro. there for a series of exhibition matclie s. When he holed out Sunday for his Masters' victory, he used a "soul shake" in shaking hands with his black caddy. "That." he explained sim-oly.

"ii the wav the blacks shake hands in Scuth Africa too." Other MASTERS stones Page 51 cally rejected the possibility that he took the drug before the game. They told a news conference Sundav risht they had been through all the possible sources of the substance and had fa-Itd to find a single feed o- medication that couid have accidentally caused the dtpirs incident. The sam; drug a fourd it: blood tannics cf Swedish forward U'f lat Monday bringing identical disciplinary action. But Mlsin admitted tikir.2 the drug, claiming he was under doctors orders for a medication that contained the banrx-d substance. Represen'atnes cf several teams, inclijdirg S3 coach Vsvelod RoJh-ov had appealed for removal of Ephedrine from the barred-drugs Tt Swedes avenjed tie drug-charfcj k-s PiUtj with 3-1 ricumr Suwiar.

Black is beautiful Gary Player, who almost always wears black when he plays golf because "it gives me strength." give a soul shake to black caddy Eddie McCoy Sunday after inning his second Masters golf championship Augusta. Ga. Player, who is from South Africa with its apartheid policy, is a strong supporter of the black people. Quite likely, he's more loved by the blacks than the whites in his own country. Dope leads Finns to cough up win Journal News Services Alsnen and Wetzel! cateaori- King chases crown, aso lMe remnge OiV THE INSIDE Urn in.

Flyers advance in National Hockey League playoffs. Kings extend Hawks, Habs-Rangers -taIeniateI. Page 50. End Mi golf professional ties long-tantl-ing ational course record during final 3Ia-ler round. Page 51.

Bonier ere knocking down pins in Iroth Edmonloii and Calgary. Page 52. Houston Aeros made short work of Winnipeg Jet substitute goaltender in World Hookey playoffs. Page 52. Edmonton teams dominate provincial minor hockey playoffs held in Edmonton.

Page 51. Vaulters may try to win S2(UHM) by taking up challenge of steel Pa-re 54. Sprcial 1 Tl.e Journal TORONTO liebb King goes after the World Junior curling tiilc here today, and along it a chance at The Canadian Sclwolboy eiiamLtOu from Ross Shep-pard mttts Benhard Attin-ger lUterland tnis afternoon i the sudden-death final the ten-team competition. AHinar. who played fhir fur brother Peter in the ir Canada Silver Broom la-t rr.omn.

and King advanced to the final with triumphs Sundav nisht at the East York Curi-vn Cub. i-ceded his la-t rock 'i ctko tle I'niied States 5-4 while King required an cm frame to get by Sweden r. P.fh fht sm's arj Cin. dian rinks had gone through the round-robin preliminary with five wins only one Tne King crew of Brad Hannah. Bill Fowlis and Chris Kin? won five in succession after dropping a W-6 verdict to Attinger in their firit outing last Friday.

wis my Kobb admit'ed Sund.y night. kind of cheked up in the ninth." King misMij both his deliveries in that end and gave Attinger a three-ender to pull the Swifs boys from a one-pcint deficit. Sweden finished third in the elimination with four wins and two losses, their second an S-3 'etback by King earlier Sunday afternoon. They ii'ii crl-. "It didn't meja anything," admitted King.

"We knei had to t-ni acain. In the semi-fins'. Sweden tied it with a single on the Ifllh. giving Kni the hammer in the extra end. And the Kos- Slieppurd sho! maimer made no mistake.

The crucial end was the ninth, with the score tied 5-5 and the Svedes having lst rock. Bjt as it turned cut. King stole one when the Swedish skip failed on r. takeout attempt of a King stone frczen to one of his. "The.v-v.cro lying one at tlie hack ui the house, and cur was whether to take it out or freeze." Robh explained.

decided we'd rather be tiovn vi 'vh last rock than only cue down itbuit la-t. We tried frwv- ml Ik" missed." Tne remainirg rinhs in tlie field finished this way: T.S. 3-X Germany and 24 anl Norway 0-6. In the wcrld hockey championship, it's ret who won or lest but who set caught. And the Finns got caught Saturday in the second installment cf the Great Dope Scandal.

Finnish goalie Slig Wetzell played brilliantly in a 5-2 victory over Czechoslovakia. Friday, but there was a reason. He was doped. A routine blued test after the victory showed ephedrir.e in the blood system and the Finnish victory was taken away. i is commonly used in cough medicines.

So. the Czechs got a 5-0 victory and sole possession of first-place. The Czechs bour-ced Poland 12-3 Saturday to up their record to 6-0 for 12 points, txo ahead of the Soviet Union. hich rpped Ea-t Germ 10-3. Finnish team doctor Peiii.