Of Trades And The Number Eighteen
In most cases a team that wins a championship has to make some changes to strengthen their roster. To win a Canadian championship the 1971-72 Guelph CMC’s made quite a few changes, all for the betterment of their chances to and eventually win the Centennial Cup.
The original roster to start the ’71-’72 season saw the likes of Dave Reid, Craig Lohsen, Harold Horner, Dwight Dunlop and Gerry Sawchuk in the lineup. Reid, Lohsen, Horner, Dunlop and Sawchuk were released to make room for some key pieces to the puzzle. Before I go any further it is worth mentioning that goaltender Gerry Sawchuk is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuk.
In December of that season goaltender Ted Lenssen was acquired from the London Knights along with forward Bruce Herridge and defenseman Mike Zettle from Kitchener. Mike Zettle owns a little peice of Guelph hockey history but I’ll save that for another day. Just before the signing deadline the CMC’s also obtained defenseman Gary Sittler from London. Gary is the brother of former Maple Leaf captain Darryl Sittler. Adding Zettle and Sittler allowed Dennis Neilly to move from defence to the wing giving the club a big, tough forward for the opposition to contend with.
The biggest move of the season came via; a trade with Brantford. The CMC’s shipped forwards Brian Duench and Paul Molson to the Majors for forward Paul Fendley. Acquiring Fendley gave the CMC’s even more strength at centre as well as a player with proven scoring punch and the ability to kill penalties as well. Upon arrival in Guelph, Fendley was given the number 18 that was worn by Paul Molson.
We all know what that number means in Guelph and how it finally became the only retired number in Guelph hockey history. Along with this little bit of history comes a photo of the last player to wear number 18 before Paul Fendley. Molson went on to finish the season with the Majors and when Brantford moved the franchise to Niagara Falls the following season the Paul Molson trail goes cold after his stint with the Flyers.
I do recall Sawchuk playing goal, but the other names involved in the release/trade are drawing a blank (except Fendley, of course). I saw a game with Sawchuck in net and he got pasted!