Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 61

Wednesday, May 30, 1984 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Star-Phoenix Sports D9 Kings finally land Quinn Bradshaw throwing, optimistic of return INGLEWOOD, Calif. fAP) It took general manager Rogie Va-chon of Los Angeles Kings longer than he expected to persuade Pat Quinn to become the National Hockey League club's newest coach. Vachon's selling job finally paid off Tuesday as Quinn, 41, became the 13th coach in 17 seasons for Los Angeles and the third in less than a year. "There was no doubt that Pat was on the top of the list the whole time," Vachon told a news conference Tuesday. "It took a little more time than we expected.

"It was certainly a selling job," he added. "Pat was committed to law school and it was a big move for him to come here. Of course, the weather helped, better than Philadelphia's." Quinn, named the NIIL's coach of the year after leading the Flyers to a berth in the Stanley Cup championship round in 1979-80, replaces Roger Neilson, who had taken over when Don Perry was fired as coach last Jan. 30. Los Angeles missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year last season, finishing with a 23-44-13 record, worst in the Smythe Division.

For Quinn, who spent the last two years in law school, the decision to return to coaching was not made quickly. "It took quite a while, longer than expected," said Quinn. "I wanted to make sure my commitment to return to coaching was a sure thing. "I think this new management team will put Los Angeles back in the right direction." Said Vachon, "This is another move to re-establish the Kings as a winning hockey club." It was also a move which Vachon feels will bring stability to the Kings' front office. "If the front office goes smoothly, it shows on Ihe ice," Vachon said.

"Pat Quinn brings a winning tradition and proven ability to work with yoing players and veterans." Quinn coached the Flyers for parts of four seasons and was fired with eight games remaining in the 1981-82 campaign. The Flyers' drive to the NHL layoff final, only to lose to New ork Islanders, came in his first full year as a coach in the NHL. Quinn said Tuesday, however, he isn't expecting to duplicate that lofty finish during his first year in Los Angeles. "I can't say we'll compete for the Stanley Cup next season," Quinn said. "We're going to set some goals and work ultimately to compete for the Stanley Cup." Vachon agreed that rebuilding 'the Kings will require time.

"It would be great to make the playoffs this year," said Vachon. "But we're building for the future. "We're trying to build a team and that will be good in four or five years and keep getting better." Neilson did not have his contract renewed by the Kings at the end of last season and was hired as an assistant coach during the I can play, and play the way I think in my mind that I can play, I'll retire. I can't come back and be a popgun quarterback. I'm not going to come back and hurt the football team and hurt myself.

1 never was a finesse guy." Bradshaw first experienced arm problems late in the 1982 season, after the nearly two-month layers' strike. He underwent el-nw surgery to repair a tendon problem in March 1983, then rein-jured the arm at last May's mini-camp when he tried to throw too hard too soon. Bradshaw has spent the last five months in an extensive conditioning program. He has lifted weights and is stronger than at any other time in his 14-year career. He recently had the highest score ever recorded in the Steelers' annual conditioning tests, grading superior in all categories.

"I desperately want to play, because I love the game. The toughest decision for any athlete is when to retire. If I can't be the old Terry, I don't want to play." PITTSBURGH (AP) Terry Bradshaw calls his two-year battle with a sore right arm a tortuous thing, but said Tuesday he is firing footballs 50 yards with little Eain and plans to report to Pitts-urgh Steelers' training camp in July. Bradshaw still is not convinced he will play, but claims a successful rehabilitation program has made him increasingly optimistic he will again quarterback the National Football League team he led to four Super Bowl championships. 'i'm not 100 per cent, but I have been throwing hard, 25 to 30 yards on a line with no sharp pain," Bradshaw said after lobbing footballs for about 15 minutes at the Steelers' annual mini-camp at Three Rivers Stadium.

"Last weekend, I was up to 50 yards. "There was some aching, but nothing serious. I could have played with it. I was throwing bullets for 20 minutes." Bradshaw, 35, said he would retire rather than go through another season filled with pain, confusion and uncertainty. "If I don't think in my mind that Pat Quinn playoffs by Edmonton Oilers, who won the Stanley Cup.

Perry still is with the Kings as a special assistant to the general manager. No terms of Quinn's contract with the Kings were announced. Ex-Yankees criticize Steinbrenner tremendous. You play every game looking over your shoulder. "The newer players go there and don't realize what's going on.

It's not like the players of six and seven years ago. We tould handle it. That's the difference. These guys can't. They get crushed.

They see what goes on and they're flabbergasted." Though Nettles, 39. is hitting only .213 this season with five home runs and 17 RBIs, manager Dick Williams credits him for the Padres' 25-21 start in the National League. "He can beat you with his head," said Williams, whose team is in New, York for a three-game NEW YORK (AP) -Graig Nettles and Rich Gossage of San Diego Padres came back to New York this week with some leftover thoughts about their struggling former teammates, the Yankees. Both are critical of George Steinbrenner, the American League club's principal owner. "He's always lurking in the background and waiting to pounce on a guy for a mistake," said Nettles, traded away last March 31 after being the Yankee third baseman for 11 years.

"It's not a healthy way to play baseball. "It wears you down. For six months, you can't enjoy life. It gets to you. The distractions are increasingly became enraged by Steinbrenner's antics.

It forced him to reject any offers from his old club. "He doesn't allow you to be relaxed," said the right-hander, 33. "I always went out there tight. "You can't do your best that way. You can't pitch when you're scared to screw up.

"The hardest thing for me was to give up that uniform that N.Y. There was something special about the N.Y. It was a totally different feeling than I ever had before." Winfield unhappy Page D12 series against the Mets. "We're a better team because of him." In 20 appearances this year, Gossage has established himself as the team's top short reliever, notching 11 saves in 14 opportunities, and San Diego has won 18 of the 20 games in which he has pitched. "I'm on a happy team now," said Gossage, who signed a six-year free agent contract last Jan.

6 worth $13 million. "For me, that's really a big change. "I get a good feeling driving to the ballpark. I'm learning to enjoy the game again." Gossage said that during his six-year stay with the Yankees he Cabot's Becking Stains "Made to be walked oi" ayA Paints 3 LOCATIONS WAREHOUSE DOWNTOWN WILDWOOD MALL 665-6366 244-4721 373-2424 -fait WJ Uv I A Vi7 it "'T X'' ,1 wixT-' -V-' i 0 CIECWDi? Sots sab Molin retires; Canucks raise ticket prices S-P Swvlces Swedish forward Lars Molin will not return to Vancouver next season after turning down a two-way National Hockey League contract with the Canucks. Molin said he will sign with MoDo AIK of the Swedish First Division because he doesn't want to play for the Vancouver farm club, Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League.

"I can make as much back home, if not more, than in the minors over here," said Molin after playing out his option. "I knew if I had a bad training camp, I'd be gone to the minors I'll take Sweden over Fredericton any time." The Canucks later announced the signing of Finnish national team member Petri Skriko, a 22-year-old right winger who was drafted in the eighth round of the 1981 entry draft. Skriko, who just completed his fourth season with Saipa in the Finnish League, played on a line in the Sarajevo Winter Olympics with Raimo Summanen, now an Edmonton Oiler. The Canucks also had some news for their fans a five per cent hike for all ticket prices. Arthur Griffiths, assistant to the chairman of the Canucks, said general inflationary conditions and increased operational expenses prompted the increase.

In other NHL news: Montreal Canadiens announced the signing of 24-year-old Swedish centre Per Thomas Rundqvist, who played for Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League last season, scoring 13 goals and 22 assists in 36 games. He's been a member of the Swedish National team the past two seasons. Rundqvist signed a three-year deal with a one-year option. Winnipeg Jets have signed left-winger Jor-dy Douglas to a new contract. Douglas, who joined the Jets last January in a trade with Minnesota North Stars, scored seven goals and added six assists in 31 games.

Hartford Whalers traded their eighth-round pick in the June 9 entry draft to Detroit Red Wings for the rights to defenceman Brad Shaw. Shaw, 20, played in 68 regular-season games last season for the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67s, who won the Memorial Cup as Canadian major junior hockey champions. Shaw had 11 goals and 71 assists during the season and three goals and 32 assists in 18 playoff games, earning a spot on the OHL all-star team and the league award as best offensive defenceman. The Whalers have only one pick in the first five rounds of the draft. After picking 11th in the first round, they must wait until the sixth round to pick again.

Right winger Jim Peplinski of Calgary Flames was named Tuesday the winner of the Charlie Conacher Memorial Trophy. The award has been given annually to an active NHL player deemed to be making outstanding humanitarian and-or community service contributions during the course of his career. Peplinski accepted the Memorial Trophy from Ontario Premier Bill Davis for his work involving the Calgary Special Olympics and the local Big Brothers organization. It was the last time the award was to be given. The trophy is to be retired and placed on display in the Charlie Conacher Research Centre for cancer, which is being built at Toronto General Hospital.

Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky has been selected as the 1983-84 NHL player of the year in a poll of NHL players conducted by The Sporting News. Centre Steve Yzerman of Detroit Red Wings was chosen rookie of the year. Clay 8J, tela 2 Come in and see the largest sale ever in Dodge City's history. Over 500 new and used vehicles to choose from. jpif.i- rrr ymmimmwn (MWf sfiMKrawjT m-ow-Tj wiflrflK( -si lMiMl a4i HtH.J& i 7 5 yr.80,000 km warranty North AmertoChrysler HW nVT? PRFffP? HML blears LuimZJi UdlllK I.