(Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1975)
Wings’ general manager Ken Wood is still searching for a coach to guide Philadelphia’s pro lacrosse entry in the National Lacrosse League during the 1976 season, but he sure is busy making certain all other details are in order prior to the start of training camp the second week of April.
The training camp site has been selected and an announcement of the location is expected shortly.
Wood’s present plans call for a one-week rookie camp followed by an additional two weeks of regular pre-season training before the start of the season May 1.
Although the final schedule is still being put together, the Wings probably will play a 50-game slate that will end on August 31. The Nations Trophy playoffs again are slated during the month of September.
Wood, who is chairman of the loop’s general managers’ committee, said every effort is being made to make sure the Wings’ horrendous schedule of this past August never happens again.
The Wings, if your memory isn’t so hot, were forced to play eight games in 12 nights. The team lost all eight contests, dropped from second to fifth place and wound up missing a playoff berth that was almost a certainty.
Wood has talked to a number of coaching candidates but has made no final decision. It’s highly possible the final choice will be announced some time in November.
Meanwhile, Wood and former coach Bobby Allan, now the Wings’ chief scout, are doing quite a bit of leg work in anticipation of the upcoming player draft. Wood and Allan both figured heavily in drafting the 1974 Wings, the team that won the regular season championship of the NLL. Unfortunately, neither had anything to do with the 1975 draft.
The Wings will pick second in the draft and both Wood and Allan have said they have their sights set on several promising juniors and older players from Western Canada, who never before have played in the league.