By DAVID SHOIHET
The National Lacrosse League opened its second season Saturday night as a crowd of 12,216 in Philadelphia Spectrum saw Maryland Arrows edge the Wings, 19-17.
For Montreal fans, Les Quebecois open their season tonight in the Capital Centre in Landover Md. against the Arrows. Tomorrow night, the Montreal team moves on to the Spectrum to face the Wings.
The six-team league has three ‘new’ franchises this season — Long Island, N.Y. (formerly Rochester), Boston (formerly Toronto) and Quebec City (formerly Syracuse).
On paper, coaches of the six teams say that Long Island, Boston and Montreal have improved over last season.
Here’s a rundown of each team:
The Tomahawks (nee Rochester Griffins) won the NLL championship last season, eliminating Philadelphia Wings in the final. This year, Morley Kells’ squad looks even stronger with Tim Barrie backing Merv Marshall in nets.
Another newcomer is Doug Hayes, the Hawks’ No. 1 draft pick. Hayes, at 6’ 3”, 216 pounds, will add some muscle to the champs’ lineup. Rick Dudley, who scored 81 goals in only 28 games last season, will return, but only after his Buffalo Sabres have finished the NHL playoffs.
The Tomahawks open their home schedule Aoril 30 at Nassau County Coliseum (14,865 capacity) against Quebecois. Business manager Ron Finucan says 10,000 to 12.000 fans are expected for the first pro boxla game in the New York City area.
Syracuse Stingers moved to Quebec City, a city that enjoyed a fine reputation in senior lacrosse years ago. ]The Stingers finished last in 1974 but coach Medo Martinello has put together a fine squad this year built around No. 1 draft pick Dave Durante, Pat Differ, Gaylord Powless and Paul Cioci.
In 1970 with Richmond Juniors, Durante scored 30 goals in 23 games. Then in 1973 he became the most sought after player in the over-age junior draft and went to Coquitlam where he scored 26 goals and added 23 assists in 23 games.
Differ tallied 64 goals in 40 games for Syracuse last season. Powless had 72 in 37 games and Cioci collected 78 goals in 40 games. The Caribous will play their opener in Le Colisee (10,070 Cap) on April 21 against Boston Bolts.
The Wings finished first last season but lost in the finals to Rochester. Rookie coach Jim Hinkson’s team lost its opener Saturday to Maryland despite getting four-goal efforts from Larry Lloyd and rookie Rick Boucher.
The Wings boast offensive power in Lloyd (82 goals last season), John Grant (78) Brian Robinson (61) and Terry Lloyd (77). The Wings topped the league in attendance last season drawing an average of 8,737 into the Spectrum. They’ll meet Montreal tomorrow night at home and expect a crowd of over 12.000
The Bolts are now in Boston which is better than being in Toronto where the Tomahawks drew so poorly in the hot confines of Maple Leaf Gardens. The club, minus coach Jim Bishop (who moved to Montreal) will play in the Garden, where air-conditioning does not exist.
Nevertheless, the Bolts, under coach Larry Ferguson, maintain that New Englanders love lacrosse — whether its field or indoor.
Ferguson, who played for Philadelphia last season, has built his club around his No. 1 draft pick Al Lewthwaite. At 6’ 3” and 240 pounds, Al was the policeman of New Westminster Salmonbellies last season. He scored 31 goals and assisted 55 times despite playing only 26 games.
The Bolts will also depend on the scoring talents of Bob Haw (52 goals in 1974), Brian Thompson (69 goals) and Bram Wilfong (42 goals). The Bolts host Long Island in their Garden opener April 28.
When the Quebecois open their season tonight in Maryland, three of the six starting players will be newcomers, Dave Evans will be in goal. Gerry Pinder and Ken Winzoski will be starting forwards. They will be joined by John Davis. Gordie Floyd and Dale McKenzie.
Evans, playing last season with Vancouver Burrards, was the Western League’s No. 1 goalie and went in the second round to Montreal. Winzoski ,from New Westminster, was Montreal’s No. 1 pick. Speed is his specialty. He is also tops at defense and is a better than average goal scorer and was chosen as the most outstanding player last year in the Mann Cup finals.
Pinder starred for Coquitlam, B.C. Adanacs last season after playing junior with Richmond, B.C., Roadrunners. He’s known as a defensive specialist, but coach Jim Bishop expects a lot of scoring from him this season. Quebecois, playing in the Forum, open their home schedule April 21 against Philadelphia.
The Arrows, playing out of the Capital Centre (17,500 cap) home of the Washington Capitals of the NHL, drew 133,780 for their 20 home games last season (6,689 aver.) but at least 11.000 fans are expected for their 1975 home opener tonight against Montreal.
The Arrows boast pro lacrosse’s top scorer of 1974 — Paul Suggate, who finished with 115 goals and 124 assists in 40 games. Bill Coghill, who scored five goals against the Wings Saturday night, finished . last season with 149 points, including 64 goals.
Greg Thomas, the club’s No. 1 draft choice from Coquitlam, promises to be the newcomer to watch this season for the Arrows. Cy Coombes, who played with the club in 1974, scoring 37 goals in 18 games, will coach the club this season.
