Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
Shoot: L
Born: 12 Jul 1957, Winnipeg MB (d. 2017)
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Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)
| year | team | |||||||||||
| 1977-78 | Edmonton | |||||||||||
| 1978-79 | Edmonton | |||||||||||
| Totals: |
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Semenko is an Oiler • by Jim Matheson • The Edmonton Journal • October 24, 1977
They say junior hockey makes kids tough. Have you ever tried taking a 36-hour, non-stop bus ride from Brandon to Victoria? Or an eight-hour haul to Flin Flon? No? Well meet a kid grown tough — Dave Semenko. "I don't think I'll miss the long bus rides," laughed the 6'-3", 200-pound leftwinger Sunday night as he lounged in the Eastglen Motor Inn. "How do the Oilers travel?" For the record, by bus from the airport to the various hotels. Semenko's question was more than idle curiosity The 20-year-old Brandon Wheat King forward ended weeks of negotiations Sunday by signing a multi-year contract with the World Hockey Association club. For how much? Certainly more than the $300-plus a month the married Semenko was getting as an over-age junior in Brandon. "It's less than Robin Sadler got from us before he turned his back on the money and went home during training camp," said coach Glen Sather. Sadler had a two-year deal with an option year for more than $100.000. Semenko doesn't come as highly touted as Sadler but his credentials certainly are better than average. He was drafted in the second round by the NHL Minnesota North Stars last June, who liked his aggressiveness (285 minutes in penalties) more than his goal scoring ability (27). But the two parties never got together on money. The WHA Houston Aeros thought enough of him to draft him highly, as well, but couldn't fit him into their budget after acquiring Andre Lacroix and his $200,000 salary. That's where the Oilers came in. They got his rights and have been dickering ever since while he went back for another year of junior. "We need a little bit more aggressiveness." said Sather, who indicated the newest Oiler will accompany the club on a three-game road tmp to Houston, Birmingham and Winnipeg later this week. "Our scouting report on him says he commands a lot of respect while he's on the ice." In other words, nobody will fool with him. He figures to be the Oiler policeman — if he can adapt to the pro game quickly enough. "Semenko and Dave Hoyda (Portland) were the toughest guys in the WCHL last season," said Philadelphia Flyer super-scout Gerry Melnyk. "Nobody went near either one of them." Sather doesn't want to paint too rosy a picture. however. "He has a good wrist shot and handles the puck fairly well but he does have some weaknesses," said Sather. "He needs work on his skating but we have a specialist (Audrey Bakewell) to give him some help." Bakewell, who tutored Portland Winter Hawks, has been working with Oiler defenceman Dave Langevin and centre Ron Chipperfield up until now. Semenko had 10 goals in seven games with Wheat Kings while he waited for Oilers to come up with an offer he couldn't refuse. The offer was such that he can be sent to the minor leagues if he’s not ready but for the time being he'll battle Brett Callighen. Ken Baird, Rick Morris, Butch Deadmarsh and Randy Rota for left-wing berths. The last three also play the right side which may or may not complicate matters more. Any way you look at it. Sather can only dress 19 players. |
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