Evening star., 1955-02-08

ball ventures. Jack Riley his general 80
manager, was blowing his top, there was no -
doubt about it,
But Riley was literally one in a million. 90
Alone and against the advice of all of his Bill Fush,
friends, Jack pressed for hockey. Ulne,
admittedly sucker for sports teams reluctantly consented
1t that Riley wasn't losing his mind after ALE
Weve been averaging about O0 game and about
1900 at the gate he That's what it takes to break
even."
THAT THE LIONS CAN break even existing condi
ons truly astonishing 1t is unbalanced league con-
tanning such teams Clinton N Y and Worcester Mass,
names not normally associated with major sports
We've got turkeys in the league" Riley admits
ve said anything but that But was the only way
to get team going Next year we're looking for real good
league"
It's not really big-eague hockey has bgleague
attraction The words spirit" and "desre" certainly have
been overworked in sports but there's denying the Lions
scrappng outfit that has caught the fancy OF the
fans who have them
warecki Fern LaPonte, Dave Lucas, Art Darlington,
Jackie Spencer and the others have earned solid backing
no other hockey team has had here.
JACK RILEY rs a Canadian born son Of butcher AS
boy he his skates at the dinner table he wouldn't
lose any time in getting back to the miniature ice
hockey batter himself Jack endeared himself to Uine
years ago. while coach Of of the teams that
failed And when arhrs crippled Riley from neck to toes
few years Uine sent for hinot to play hockey for
Jack through with tha-but to be the assistant general
manager of the
Jack was with Tulsa of the United States League when
arhrtis stretched him months He managed to walk
again with the Of crutches and
completely recovered.
When Bob Foster resigned as Ulines general manager
Riley moved up. He Ulne sponsored basketball team
and hockey team collapse within threeweek period four
years STILL he he never doubted that hockey could
be going venture here.
THAT CLINTON WILL FINISH the season top is
foregone conclusion hey in the Canadian
Riley They'll end up playing about 20 in the
Eastern League shucks we've won more games than they've
played in league"
Worcester weekend team made up college boys who
can't play during the week. That leaves New Haven the
Lions and Baltimore the solid members and they have
special attachment for another witness the Grant
Butler episode
Butler is the Baltimore goaie but when Spencer
hurt the Lions had netkeeper With official permission
Riley borrowed Butler.
II reminded him that the Clippers only couple
of percentage points behind u.s. Riley I'VE playing
Clinton and lost Baltimore would ahead Jack
Butler said I'll do my best Buffers best 80 shutout
over the leagueleader team that hasn't been shut out
before or since.
INJURIES WRECKED THE Lions chances of finishing
ahead of Clinton The Washington club opened the
with flourish winning IA of its first is games Then La
Ponte and Marlowe Mcdonald the two centers and
Warec and Doug orvis hurt in rapid succession at
time when the Lions had to play eight in II nights
They lost in and tumbled out of first place.
Since the injuries have mended, the Lions have been
playing at the 500 level The teams chances in the post
playos look good If Spencer, goae holds up
we'll go all the way" Riley predicts.
Riley predicts great future for hockey here. He
in at the very beginning played with Baltimore against
New York in the very first at Riverside Stadium ut
very strange game" he recalls "Tey hadn't finished
the building and there wasn't any roof"
"IF WE COULD JUST get more people to see one game"
Riley says that's all we'd need understand about rs per
cent of the people living here have hockey
why would like to line televison sponsor Just to get
the people to see it."
The fans that coming have been constant of
encouragement to Riley Here's the pof" he says "a
n dn'f
tell whether they the home visiting team from
the reaction of the crowd Now you hear pin drop when
the other team When score everybody
loose"
Tomorrow nights game has special meaning The Clip
the opponents and they trail the Lions by exactly
0O1 in the percentage column Hockey players zoom over
the ice fast IS miles hour The puck aan speeds
to 65 miles hour So If you like your action
bodY-crashing and Spirited. Riley has for