By RAY SHANK
Montreal Canadiens don’t make their home National Lacrosse Association debut until Sunday night at the Paul Sauve Arena. By then the lacrosse Habs will have five games under their belt and club owner Brian McFarlane of Toronto will have an idea of wat to expect from his professional charges during the remainder of the 38-game schedule.
But one thing McFarlane and team coach Fred Whalley are already sure about is that Montrealer Michel Blanchard is definitely a confirmed pro.
Handsome, 24-year-old Michel is from a lacrosse family. His father, Bernard “Coco” Blanchard was a star player some 15 years ago with such professional clubs as the Canadiens and is still very much involved with the game as an administrator for minor lacrosse in Montreal. His three brothers, Yvan, Gilles and Jean-Pierre have all performed in the Quebec Lacrosse League. Gilles and Jean-Pierre are no longer active but Yvan, the youngest of the four at 20, plays with Drummondville Athletics of the QLL.
Yvan started playing senior lacrosse at the age of 15.
Michel, however, didn’t start until four years ago, playing with Nationale the first year, Valleyfield the next and Drummondville the last two seasons.
Why did he leave the Athletics—where salaries are said to be in the $50 a game are for a top player—to turn pro with the Canadiens?
“We (Drummondville) had won everything the last two years and it was getting too easy,” says the 5’8” forward. “Anyway I’d heard the west had the best lacrosse players in Canada and I wanted to get a chance to play against them.”
The Canadiens are members of the NLA’s east division with Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Olympics and Peterborough Lakers. But they’ll play a home-and-home series against west division members Portland Adanacs, Vancouver Canucks [sic], Victoria Shamrocks and New Westminster Salmonbellies.
A secondary school professor by trade, Michel scored nine goals and added four assists in his first four games with the Canadiens. He’s currently the top scorer on the team.
The Canadiens are composed mainly of Ontario players. Michel, Barry Delisle, George “Pidgie” Norton and sub-goalie Guy Paquet [are the only Montrealers on the squad].
“Michel’s been a big surprise for us,” says McFarlane. “He scored four goals for us against Toronto one night and he should have got six or seven. We gave him the number nine sweater and he’s worn it like a real Gordie Howe.
“Coach Whalley was stupefied with his speed. He’s definitely one of the fastest guys in the league.”
How does Blanchard compare pro lacrosse with amateur boxla in the Quebec League?
“Oh, it’s much better. It’s not as fast but it’s much of hard hitting but it’s good more scientific. There’s a lot of solid hitting, not dirty or bush like in the QLL. The passing is more precise…It’s just an all-round better game. The coaching is also of superior quality.”
A centre since he started playing four years ago, Michel has been used on both wings by Whalley.
“I can shoot both sides and the coach told me I’d be more valuable to the team on the wings.”
At 175 pounds, Michel feels he could stand to lose about 10 pounds. “If I can shed 10 pounds in the next couple of weeks I’ll be in perfect shape and should play better.
How many goals does he expect to score as a pro?
“My contract calls for a bonus for every goal I score over 15. I hope I can score 30,” he says, modestly. Two years ago he was top scorer at Drummondville with 35.
The Canadiens are in Toronto tonight to entertain the Maple Leafs and they face the Leafs again Sunday night at the Paul Sauve Arena, 8:15 p.m.
Canadiens’ only victory in four starts came against Toronto. They won 14-10. They could use another couple of triumphs at the expense of the Leafs, whose only victory came against first place Detroit.
(Montreal Gazette, May 29, 1968)