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Edmonton, Alberta January 21, 1975 Stacked with nine Aeros, the West won the third all-star contest, held in Edmonton's new Coliseum. The Aeros scored five of the six goals scored by the West, with Andre Hinse scoring twice. Rejean Houle had two goals and two assists for the East, winning him the game's MVP award, the second time in two years the award was given to a player from the losing side. |
1st period: 1. West: Mark Howe (G. Howe, Lacroix) 7:08; 2. West: Hinse (Lund, Hughes) 8:18; 3. East: Tardif (Houle, Selwood) 13:32; 4. East: Houle (Pleau, Dorey) 17:37.
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Coach: Bill Dineen (Houston) Goaltenders: Don McLeod (Vancouver), Wayne Rutledge (Houston), Joe Daley (Winnipeg). Defensemen: Barry Long, Doug Barrie, Al Hamilton (Edmonton), John Schella, Poul Popiel (Houston), Lars-Erik Sjoberg (Winnipeg), Gerry Odrowski (Phoenix). Forwards: Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson (Winnipeg), Gordie Howe, Mark Howe, Larry Lund, Andre Hinse, Frank Hughes, Ted Taylor (Houston), Andre Lacroix (San Diego), Danny Lawson (Vancouver), Fran Huck, Mike Walton (Minnesota). |
Coach: Ron Ryan (New England). Goaltenders: Al Smith (New England), Gerry Cheevers (Cleveland), Andy Brown (Indianapolis). Defensemen: Pat Stapleton (Chicago), Brad Selwood, Rick Ley (New England), Dale Hoganson, J. C. Tremblay (Quebec), Jim Dorey (Toronto), Paul Shmyr (Cleveland). Forwards: Serge Bernier, Rejean Houle, Marc Tardif (Quebec), Pierre Guite, Gary Veneruzzo (Michigan), Wayne Dillon, Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson, Tom Simpson (Toronto), Larry Pleau, Tom Webster (New England), Ralph Backstrom (Chicago). |
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Andre Lacroix's Record Perfect In All-Star Play • by "staff" • Winnipeg Free Press • January 22, 1975
As all-star games go, this was one of the best. And the difference as far as the two-time losing West was concerned was three-time winner, Andre Lacroix of San Diego Mariners. Lacroix had previously played for the East in World Hockey Association all-star victories in 1973 and 1974 when he was playing for Philadelphia Blazers and New Jersey Knights, both defunct. Bobby Hull, one of two No. 9s the West had in its lineup, said Lacroix was the major difference in the West's improved performance over previous starts, a 6-4 victory this time. Lacroix centred two lines, knitting passes to people like Gordie and Mark Howe, Ted Taylor and Fran Huck. Taylor was aghast that Lacroix wasn't named the game's first star by the media selectors. "The guys on the team voted and Andre was a unanimous winner," said Taylor, one of nine Houston Aeros in the West's lineup. The four Jets representing Winnipeg fared well. Hull scored a goal, starting the West's four-goal uprising in the second period, Ulf Nilsson made some deft passes to Hull and rightwinger Danny Lawson. Lars-Erik Sjoberg teamed with Gerry Odrowski of Phoenix Roadrunners on defence and as a unit, they were perfect. Goaltender Joe Daley of Winnipeg started in goal and made several difficult saves while holding the East to a 2-2 tie in the first period. Andre Hinse, Ted Taylor and Gordie Howe scored in a five-minute span after Hull gave the West a 3-2 lead in the second period. Hinse had two for the winners, while Mark Howe, assisted by his immortal father, opened the scoring for the Western Division, which led 6-3 after the second period. Three members of Quebec Nordiques handled the Eastern scoring. Rejean Houle, named most valuable player in the game, had two goals and set up linemates Mare Tardif and Serge Bernier for the others in the penalty-free contest. All five goaltlenders faced a series of difficult shots. None was particularly outstanding as the West outshot the East 30-28. Teammates Rick Ley and Tom Webster of New England Whalers, playing for the East, were injured during the game. Webster played sparingly after suffering an apparent leg injury in the first period and Ley needed six stitches to close a cut under his eye after Paul Popiel's deflected shot struck him. Mark Howe converted a deft flip pass from his father to open scorimg for the West and Hinse hit an open net with a pass-out 70 seconds later to put the West ahead 2-0. But Houle generated a comeback for the East before the frame ended. He combined with Brad Selwood to leave Tardif an easy tap in for a goal then whistled a high shot past Joe Daley four minutes later to tie the score, Daley gave up two goals and Wayne Rutledge and Don McLeod one each as the three split the metminding. Gerry Cheevers, who started for the East, was beaten four times. He split the duties with Andy Brown because Al Smith was excused from plaving. Hull moved into the slot for a perfect pass from Danny Lawson early in the second period to put the West ahead for good. Then Hinse lifted a low shot between Cheevers' pads. Taylor beat Brown cleanly on the first shot faced by the Indianapolis netminder and Gordie Howe scored less than two minutes later on a perfect set-up from Andre Lacroix, who had three assists. With the issue apparently settled, Houle took over again for the East. He split the Western defence neatly and beat Rutledge cleanly under the crossbar and came close again before the second period ended. His second goal was the most exciting of the night. In the third period, the Quebec stars, all members af Team Canada 74, which was honored during the all-star break, combined for another clever effort. Tardif and Houle set up Bernier from 20 feet oul and he caught the far corner with a low shot. In the final few moments, Gordie Howe and Hull each hit a goalpost with Brown beaten, As his line-mates openly fed him, Howe also missed a houncing pass in font of an open net. Earlier, he checked the puck free behind the cage, swung around in front and drilled a shot high over the screen with the goaltender down. |
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