Evening star., 1942-11-04
Opposing Providence,
Minor Team, With
Major Talent
Five From Les Cunudiens,
Pair From Red Wings
Slotted for Action
By BURTON HAWKINS.

ANAAN~s
Five players borrowed from Les
Canadiens OF the National League
and two more on loan from the
Detroit Red Wings Of the same
circuit will be included in the war
altered lineup of the Washing
ton Lions tonight at Uhne Arena
when they make their local 1942-43
American Hockey League debut
against the Providence Reds.
Losers of three straight road
games due to q skeletonized squad,
the Lions won't be hampered by
shortage Of manpower tonight pro-
viding promised aid arrives. The
Lions, in fact, will be playing
minor league game with seven
major league players who will be
returned to their respective teams
as soon as the remainder OF Wash
ington's delayed performers are
able to report.
The Lions have been dealt ter
rife early season blow by inability
to get some OF their players across
the border. Coach George Mantha
SAYS several OF the Lions failed to
fulfill numerous technlcalities re-
ouired by Canadian oh1cials and
therefore have been forced to walt
several days in Montreal before re-
ceiving permission to leave the
country.
Sees Future as Bright.
"Giye us three weeks or month
and we'll come along nicely" pre-
diets Mantha. II don't like this
business of borrowing players be-
cause can't hope to build team
with fellows who are here one DAY
and gone the next, but once we
get our full team we'll be all right.
Eventually we're going to be IN
q better spot than many other teams
in the league. Our players all Will
have permission to remain IN the
United States for six months. Many
players in the league have been
granted only 20 days in the States
and the Cleveland Barons. for
instance, have several players who
will be called for military service
shortly.
I'VE should get all our players IN
n few DAYS, but it will take little
time to get them iii shape and have
them clicking as team. We won't
be too good for a little while, but l
believe that when we do get going
well make up a lot of lost ground.
I. like the players we've signed-all
We have to do is gel them here.
Banks on French Players.
-"Well have good team because
I've gotten the best French players
tn Canada. The French aren't liked
up there and none of the Canadian
teams will sign them. Down here
there is none of that discrimination,
80 those French will help"
A French Canadian himself,
Mantha has equipped the Lions with
others in Lou Trudel, Paul, CASTOR
and Fernand Gauthier, Rogers Leger,
Paul Leclerc, Hank Dyck, Paul
Courteau and Rod Lorran. -~a@
Plucked from Les Canadiens have
been Tony Graboski. Leo Lamoureux.
Charley Sands, Charles Phillips and
Bob Carragher, while here through
the courtesy Of the Detroit Red
Wings are Joe Brown and Alex
Ritson. Peggy ONeil. Frank Mailley,
Alex Singbush, Bill Purcell and Doug
Norris complete tine Lions roster.
= q "I'll promise Washington fans We'll
have a fast, scrappy team" says
Mantha. "As long as I'm going to
be boss this team will play hard
the player that doesn'l won't be
around long. Well have some dis
cipline we didn't have last year"
One Yankee on Squad.
Only Yankee will the Lions is
1s-year- Billy Purcell. slim
winger Mantha met when playing
with the New Haven Eagles two
years ago. At that time Billy was
a high school youngster who carried
the Eagles sticks on the ice.
"He asked me to coach his high
school team," says Mantha, land
since I was lonesome up there I did
Il. to fill up the hours. discovered
Purcell had lot to recommend him
and I had a lot of fun developing
him. He's just baby and he has
plenty to learn, but he's our fastest
skater and the fans will love him."
The Lions this season will be alone
in the local field. The Washington
Eagles have dropped from the East
ern League and with no competition
The Lions hope for increased crowds.
They've been talking Of a record
5000 tonight, in fact, when Andy
Tarkas NJ the Redskins faces nff