Steroids, gambling and the new NHL: Oldtimers weigh in on the game, By: Neil MacKinnon

Observer, February 12, 2006

When the Legendary Hockey Heroes come to town there’s always a lot to talk about.
There’s the new face of the NHL, the current scandals swirling around the league and maintaining a love of the game.
A staunch defender of players rights and outspoken on all hockey issues, Tiger Williams still loves the game.
However, he has no affection for the new NHL, its rules or its salary structure.
“I don’t like it. Any of it. I don’t like the new rules. I don’t like the shootout.
“The game’s been around for 100 years and I don’t agree with it because some American guy wants to come in and change our game.
“I’m a traditionalist. There’s a million power plays, so the records set by (Gordie) Howe and (Wayne) Gretzky and (Darryl) Sittler and people like that, the natural goal scorers... that was a good game.
“You had to compete every night. You had to battle every night and every moment to score. Now, you have this glorified old-timers league. I don’t agree with it and that’s that.”
Williams was far from alone in his disdain for the new regulations.
Richard Brodeur, who boasts 16 career shutouts in the bigs, set his sights on the cushion that has been given to players in front of the net.
“Something has to be done with that one still.
“You could be the guy who’s five-foot-two and 140 pounds. You go in front of the net and you can sit there all day. Nobody can touch you. If you do touch him, he falls down and you get two minutes.
“It makes it really tough for the goalies because they can be in your face all night and there’s nothing that can be done about it.”
Jimmy Mann, the first ever draft pick for the Winnipeg Jets, agrees with his colleagues and added the main thing he’s hoping for is that equalization payments and the salary cap will someday see the NHL return to Winnipeg.
“They have a brand new, beautiful rink. They have great fans there and the way things are now structured, with the new cap, I’m all for it. I hope Winnipeg does get a team back. They deserve it.”
Williams, on the other hand, thinks any notion of small-market franchises ever cropping up again is nothing more than a pipe dream.
“Nope, that will never happen. Never. Name me somebody who’s going to shell out $125 million, $150 million for a new franchise?
“Maybe you’ve forgotten, maybe everyone’s forgotten, the owners are all losing money. It ain’t going to happen and anybody who says it will doesn’t understand economics.”
As far as steroids in the sport, Mann said he’s never seen any evidence of it and doubts there is a problem with doping in the league.
He also feels that the current gambling scheme set up by Rick Tocchet has been blown out of proportion by the media and throws all his support behind Gretzky.
“I don’t know how much of it we can really believe right now. Everyone I’ve talked to knows Wayne, knows his character and we all support him. Everybody can gamble a

little bit. I think it has been (blown out of proportion), but we’ll find out down the road.”
The Oldtimers Hockey Challenge raised funds for the Quesnel Dreams for Kids. While the Quesnel All-Star Bandits downed the visitors 12-11 last year, the Oldtimers struck back this year, winning 8-4.
Williams said he was quite impressed by the local talent.
“This is the toughest team to play against in Western Canada. They play hard, they play gritty and they don’t let up. They just keep coming at you and that’s the way I like it.”