New year to mean new owners
by Dave Carter
A “for sale” sign is still tagged to the Montreal franchise in the National Lacrosse League but it’ll read “sold” early in the New Year.
The league, headed by Gerry Patterson, is expected to announce by “mid-January” that a group of five or six investors have purchased Les Quebecois.
“We have some serious prospects but we are still looking for others,” said Quebecois president Robert Dagenais, who took over from ex-Canadiens’ star John Ferguson during the season. “Three are already committed and we hope to announce something after our special meeting at the beginning of January.”
The club was put on sale for $1 million during the season by Nelson Stoll. But as of early this month Stoll had not received any offers and was quoted as saying he was asking’$500,000.
“If Montreal is not in the NLL (National Lacrosse League) this season (1976) then there will be no league. It just goes to show how strong this franchise is to the league.” Dagenais said.
THREE-YEAR DEAL
“It will be a bilingual group and Mr Stoll will not be part of it,” continued Dagenais. “The new investors will commit themselves for three years.” Patterson, like everyone else in North America, is worrying about the economical situation and feels 1976 will be the toughest season to “get through.”
“This is the key year in our foundation procedure.” he said yesterday. “We will continue to build on the foundation and if the economic situation can turn around after this season then we can start to think about building a house on our foundation.”
Patterson does not expect NLL expansion until 1978 and will not dilute the six franchises in any way. It’s been an education for Patterson in his first year as league president — from making up last season’s schedule to selling franchises.
“It was hard enough making up the schedule this season.” he said after preparing the *75 sked. “and I wouldn’t like to go into the business of selling franchises like Mr. Davidson (WFL founder Gary Davidson).’’
As for Les Quebecois it was a successful season for the players and fans but another loss for management. Stoll luring coach Jim Bishop away from Bruce Norris in Toronto was the beginning of success.
Bishop, however, was criticized throughout the season by players, fans and the media for several trades he had made and the way in which he ran the club, but in the end Bishop was given all the praise for not only making professionals of the Les Quebecois but coming one step away from capturing the Nations Trophy.
They went from fourth place in the standings under John Ferguson and Bill Bradley in 1974 io second last season. In ’74 they finished just under .500 with a 19-21 record in 40 games and the last playoff spot — they were eliminated by Rochester four games to two.
This season however they finished with a 24-24 record in 48 games. They met Boston in the first round of the playoffs and eliminated them 4-3 after trailing 3-1. They advanced to the finals against Quebec before losing in a sloppy series 4-2.
