The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 23

SPORTS BUSINESS SECTION -v TUESDAY DEC. 11 1973 23 apozzi brings pro occer Big budgets and small crowds caused the 17-city league to collapse. Reconstituted on a more modest scale in 1969, with only five cities. It gradually expanded to nine the past two seasons. Now, with the four coastal cities added, the league will operate on a coast-to-coast basis for the first time since 1968.

Capozzi's partners in the venture are: Denny Veitch, his successor as the Lion's g.m. and, more recently, general manager of the Canada Summer Games in New Westminster-Burnaby. He will be executive vice-president of the as-yet unnamed team, with the duties of general manager. C.N. (Chunky) Woodward, owner of the department store chain bearing his name.

Chuck Wills, city lawyer, who will be the club counsel. He held the same position with the Royals. Mrs. Wendy McDonald, president of B.C. Bearing Engineers Ltd.

Pat McCleary and Harry Moll, proprietors of the Charlie Brown Steak House, a tenant in the Capozzi-owned headquarters building at Hornby and Dunsmuir. There is one more partner, as yet unnamed, Capozzi announced, plus one open position in the $500,000, 10-share structure. Capozzi Enterprises (Herb and Kelowna-based brothers Joe and Tom) have three shares. He said Veitch will eventually own two shares and the other five will be shared by the aforementioned principals. As for the team and its operation, Capozzi said a name-the-team contest probably will be used to find a name; it will play 12 home games from May through August.

Ten will be against league competition and the other two against touring teams. The tourists in 1974 will be an English team and one from the USSR, both as yet unnamed. All games will be played at Empire Statium. Dates were obtained last week. "We intend to go with as many local players as possible." said Capozzi.

"Hopefully, there will be a minimum of 10 B.C. men. For openers, we're looking at salaries of around $1,000 a month." He said Veitch is now looking for a coach and has made contacts both in Canada and Europe. "I wouldn't have gone into this without Denny," he added. "I feel there's not a more knowledgeable sports person, or one with more contacts." Veitch will be running an operation that's expected to cost at least $250,000 a year.

Capozzi says the four new teams are committed to stay in the league for three years and will be asked to post $100,000 bonds to back their commitment. To operate in the black, the Vancouver No-Names will have to gross an average of $25,000 a game from a ticket price range tentatively set at $4 tops down to $1. To keep the team in being during the off-season (the winter), Capozzi says he plans to promote indoor soccer at the Pacific Coliseum. It is being tried this winter in other league cities, including Toronto, where it has drawn crowds of up to 11,000 at Maple Leaf Gardens. A group of nine investors, headed by Walter R.

Daggett, a Seattle businessman, owns the Seattle franchise. A San Jose company president, Milan Mandaric, heads up the San Francisco operation. The Los Angeles group is headed by a Dr. Jack Gregory and its team is the only one with a name and colors the Aztecs, wearing tangerine and white. By JIM KEARNEY Herb Capozzi and professional soccer are scheduled to return to the Vancouver sports scene next summer.

The 49-year-old Vancouver millionaire, ex-Socred MLA and onetime general manager of the B.C. Lions made the announcement this morning at a press conference. He heads up a six-man and one-woman syndicate, all from this city, which will operate a Vancouver franchise in the North American Soccer League, starting in 1974. Rumored since last May, the Vancouver entry became a fact last week when NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam finally superintended the creation of a west coast division. Besides this city, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco will field teams.

They will bring to 14 the league membership. The other cities are Toronto, Montreal, Rochester, Dallas, St. Louis, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Miami and Baltimore. Vancouver last operated in the league in 1967 and 1968 with the Frank McMahon-George Fleharty-Ted Eakins-owned Vancouver Royals. CANUCKS TRADE WRIGHT cCreaiiY ski boss fV 4' I if fi I JOHN WRIGHT to Sr.

Louis quired a new left winger, Mike Lampman, from St. Louis in exchange for centre John Wright. Lampman, who hasn't had much opportunity to play with the Blues this season, will be in uniform tonight when the Canucks host Montreal. "We've been trying to deal for bigger people," said Laycoe, "and Lampman is big and strong and he can score." The 23-year old Lampman, the only native Californian (Lakewood) in the NHL, is -ry I. 2r 'is 'is -v 1 A I Jfiy 1 si ft ff i MIKE LAMPMAN new Canuck six-foot-two and 195 pounds.

Playing behind left wingers Glen Sather, Bob Kelly and Floyd Thompson, he was used sparingly by the Blues this season and has scored one goal. The Denver University grad had 34 goals and 19 assists with Denver Spurs of the Western League last season before being called up by St. Louis, where he had two goals-and three assists in 18 games. His first NHL goal was against the Canucks. Laycoe said the Lampman- ken it in Saturday's game against Pittsburgh but X-rays Monday proved negative.

The club also reported surprised at Wright trade had been in the making for a week. Wright had 10 goals and 27 assists in his rookie season but played only a utility role this year, with three goals and three assists. We've been working on trades continuously," added Laycoe. At least two teams have made the Canucks offers for defenceman-left winger Jerry Korab. Hall said Poile, the club's former general who now carries the title of assistant manager, will be "doing some spadework for trades." Hall added, "I'm going to meet with Poile and ask him to do a lettle more travelling and scouting." Hall also pursued the possibility of appointing the injured Orland Kurtenbach as McCreary' assistant.1 "I told them (McCreary and Laycoe) if Kurtenbach's medical report is not good I want to appoint him assistant coach for the time being," he said.

Kurtenbach was to undergo another medical examination today. The veteran Canucks captain hasn't played since suffering a badly bruised left knee Nov. 25 against the New York Rangers. "He's still valuable to us as a player," said McCreary. tre Paul O'Neil) if rookie winger Dennis Ververgaert can't make it back from Grimsby, where he's priced from $1,800 to this tptcial collection.

On sale only at PARK ROYAL, BRENTWOOD Canucks they're considering going to with his father who was seri-Seattle for help (probably cen- ously injured in a car accident. By ARV OLSON Bill McCreary got a vote of confidence. John Wright got a one-way ticket to St. Louis. Hal Laycoe got orders to make more trades if necessary.

And Bud Poile got something to do. "I'm satisfied Bill McCreary is doing the best possible job under the circumstances," Coley Hall said Monday after a two-hour meeting with the Vancouver Canucks coach and general manager Laycoe. "I'm giving Bill a vote of confidence I've checked into it, and the players go for him." Hall, acting president of the National Hockey League club returned home from his Hawaiian vacation Sunday and had discussed with Laycoe the possibility of replacing McCreary. "I'm satisfied the spirit is there among the players," Hall said of the Canucks, who broke a 13-game winless slump by beating Pittsburgh 3-2 Saturday. "Injuries have played a part in our losing.

"I've told them to make trades. We need more help up front. We need another left winger. If it has to be two players for one, or one for one plus money, we'll do it." The Canucks yesterday ac- Scotty Ey LYNDON LITTLE Two thing surprise Scotty Bowman about the 1973-74 edition of the Vancouver nucks. First, that the team isn't doing better.

Second, that anyone would even consider blaming coach Bill McCreary for it. As a member in good standing of the frightfully insecure National Hockey League coaches' lodge, Bowman knows how it feels to stand on the firing line as the most visible target whenever a team goes in a terminal tailspin. "I really thought they (Vancouver) were in for a much improved season under Bill," commented a weary Bowman late Monday following a delayed flight from Montreal. "Of course, they beat us In those two exhibition games here (5-4 and 2-1) and then I figured they put up a pretty good show against us (a 4-3 Montreal win) early in the season in Montreal. But you just can't tell in this business." Canadians and a meet for the second time in regular season play this evening in an 8 p.m.

game at the Pacific Coliseum. Despite the fact McCreary is a friend they both apprenticed in the Montreal system before serving time in King Salomon's mines in St. Louis Bowman doesn't have much time to worry about Vancouver's problems. Like other east division clubs he's got to worry about staying within hailing distance of Boston's bustling Bruins. "Actually, we're only four points back of them," Bowman says.

"Our two losses to them are the difference. Other than that we're even." Bowman, who feels his club has tightened up on defence considerably in the past few games, is at a loss to explain why Canadicns have looked so good on the road (10-2-1) this AP Wirephoto for 16 yards in NFL game Monday night. Rams hammered Giants 40-6 in L.A. (Story, P. 24.) ELUDING CRAS of New York Giants' Ron Horns-by, running back Jim Bertelsen of LA.

Rams scoots Albrecht fired, Riley hired Last few days! Srassie (sirBanKS is offering genuine RUBY, EMERALD ond SAPPHIRE RINGS, BRACELETS and PENDANTS beautifully complimented with diamonds at i both in U.S. colleges with no previous CFL experience could be named as early as today. The third assistant could be Fred Hightower, who worked for Spavital last season as a defensive secondary coach. Riley said he was impressed with Hightower and would talk with him as soon as possible about the job. On the team itself, Riley said he would have to evaluate every player.

All 32 would have to prove to him that they have the type of intense centration necessary to do the type of job he Is looking for. "I think there are good ballplayers on the club, but I'd like to make them more consistent to be able to come up with the big play when needed." CFL came during the years of the Spavital regime when he was asked to be a guest coach in training camps, before being hired by Saskatchewan head coach John Payne last He coached previously at schools in Idaho. Riley told reporters that several people had asked him to stay in Regina, where he was well respected by management and players alike, but "I've been wanting to be a head coach for nearly 30 years, I guess, and I thought this opportunity was too big to pass up." Like his predecessor Spavital, Riley said he is a "disciplinarian, a believer in good conditioning." IDs first task will be to find assistants, but the new head coach says two prospects, season and so mediocre at home (6-5-1). "It's just one of those things," he says. "The other teams seem to be coming up with big games at the Forum." As for the just-completed Wright for Lampman trade Bowman said: I was in St.

Louis when we drafted him (Lampman). He's proved to be a real sniper in the minor pros. Anytime I've seen him play I've liked him. I know Laycoe was always high on him." Meanwhile, Canucks received a favorable report on Jerry Korab's injured heel. There were fears he had bro Henderson sidelined Toronto Maple Leafs say Paul Henderson will miss two National Hockey League road games this week and possibly a a y's home game against New York Rangers.

Henderson suffered a severe charleyhorse Sunday in Buffalo and he may be joined on the sidelines by Dave Keon, who missed Sunday's game with a swollen left hand. In Detroit, meanwhile, the Red, Wings announced they have called up left winger Nelson Debenedet and forward Bill Hogaboam from their Virginia farm club. Debenedet, 26, and Hogaboam, 24, who plays both right wing and centre, were scheduled to join the Wings in time for today's practice. And in Philadelphia, the Flyers said that assistant coach Mike Nykoluk will go on temporary assignment to coach Richmond Robins of the American Hockey League. The Robins are last in the AHL's Southern Division and the Flyers say Nykoluk will spend a "week or so" with their farm club.

3 SAVINGS All pieces or let in fine hand-c rafted 18K whit gold mountings. Tlx quality of the itonet It tuoerb. the ttvUi hrMthtokUa Two Canadian Football League clubs made front-office changes Monday. Montreal Alouettes fired general manager J. I.

Albrecht and Winnipeg Blue Bombers hired Bud'RiJey as their new head, coach. Riley's 'hiring comes as no surprise since it, was rumored a month agd that' the Bombers would sign the Saskatchewan Roughridef assistant to fill the spot which became vacant when Jim Spavital was fired at the end of the season." But the Montreal move is a bit of a shocker. Sam Berger, owner and president of the club, said in a statement the Alouettes "had granted Mr. Albrecht a free hand as general manager during the 1973 CFL season and was now exercising Its contractural option" to terminate his services. Albrecht's contract, a year deal that was to expire in 1974, had a clause in it that said he could be dismissed for cause, provided he was given three months pay.

"I was weary of the perpetual changes. People were being brought in and left without having a good chance to be looked at," said Berger. Berger said that he was sure coach Marv Levy and his staff had good contacts and a good idea of players in the United States. The Montreal owner said it was "time we paid more thought to Canadian content ond the selection enormous. RINGS ore reqularlv oriced from $400 ta SS.OOO.

BRACELETS are reaularlv oriced from $850 $6,000. PENDANTS are regularly $7,500 Budget ferms avoihbt on BUD RILEY new Bomber boss which has been neglected. "I am considering giving the job to Marv Levy, to make him a coach and general manager, and I expect to have an announcement very shortly." The Alouettes finished In third place in the Eastern Division standings this season. They defeated Toronto in the semi-finals, but were beaten by the Ottawa Rough Riders In the finals. The 48-year-old Riley was among 20 applicants for the Winnipeg job, a number of whom general manager Earl Lunsford described as worthy and capable of making good ncad coaches.

Riley's first exposure to the BLAZERS SEND GELLARD TO FARM TEAM REBELS Vancouver Blazers have sent their sixth highest Bcorer to their Southern League farm team, Roanoke Rebels. Sam Gellard, a left winger who had seven goals and four assists, was sent to Roanoke Monday by the World Hockey Association team. Gellard saw limited action and hadn't scored a goal In the Blazers' last nine games In which he was dressed. Blazers are preparing to meet Quebec Nordiques Wednesday night at Pacific Coliseum. 566 SEYMOUR, 685-2271.