By RAY SHANK
David Molson gave the Montreal entry in the National Lacrosse Association permission to use the Canadiens name and team colors. But Sam Pollock won’t allow the Habs’ hardrock left winger, John Ferguson, to coach the lacrosse Canadiens.
“The Canadiens have told John they would rather he didn’t coach,” lacrosse team owner Brian McFatlane told The Gazette from his Toronto home yesterday. “However, John has agreed to help in some capacity.”
Ferguson confirmed that he wouldn’t coach saying: “I don’t feel I can devote 100 per cent of my time to the team and unless I can do that there’s no sense taking the job.”
Fergy admitted, however, he would try and help the club in some capacity.
“Naturally I’m disappointed John won’t be abler to coach and manage the team,” said McFarlane, “but I’m happy to keep him in some capacity. If I could have him as a player that would be even better.”
Ferguson was a former star player in the British Columbia Inter-City Senior Lacrosse League.
“I’m tired after that Stanley Cup series,” said Ferguson, “all I want to do is rest for a while—take a good, long vacation.”
McFarlane announced that Fred Whalley, formerly right-hand man to Oshawa Green Gaels coach Jim Bishop and last year coach of the senior Ontario Lacrosse Association champion Brooklin Redmen, will be coach and general manager of the NLA Canadiens.
The Canadiens have played only one league game, this one at Peteborough against the highly-touted Lakers. They lost it badly. Their next game is Friday night at Toronto against the second place Maple Leafs. Sunday night the Habs face Detroit Olympics at the Olympia. Their home opener is scheduled for the Paul Sauve Arena June 2.
The Canadiens owner also denied the rumor that he was moving the team from Montreal to Buffalo.
(Montreal Gazette, May 16, 1968)