Neeld suspension irks Norsemen, transcribed article (Tonawanda News, 1976-03-24).pdf
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Neeld suspension irks Norsemen, transcribed article (Tonawanda News, 1976-03-24).pdf
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Neeld suspension irks Norsemen
By MIKE BILLONI
NEWS Sports Writer
“This is a dirty, rotten thing. It’s the same old stupid thing that has been going on all year — let the bad guy get away with everything and then penalize the good guys.”
This was an angry Buffalo Norsemen General Manager Willie Marshall speaking from his Tonawanda Sports Center office Tuesday morning after he had read a telexed message from the North American Hockey League office that Norsemen defenseman Greg Neeld is suspended for two playoff games. Neeld was issued a game misconduct several minutes after Monday night’s 6-4 loss to Johnstown in the second game of the best-of-five quarter-final round series.
“I called (NAHL Commissioner Jack) Timmins this morning (Tuesday) and he said he was standing behind referee Gene Kusy’s decision to give Greg a game misconduct,” Marshall said. “I don’t condone what Greg did. I feel it’s a civil matter and I would be in full agreement of a fine, but I don’t agree with the league’s decision to suspend him from two playoff games. It’s so typical of this league. Every call they make is so inconsistent.”
Norsemen Player-Coach Guy Trottier was reached in Johnstown late Tuesday and he described what he saw. “After the game, we were complaining to Kusy about some of the calls that he missed. While we were standing on the ice, somebody poured beer on Greg, then a guy threw a steel can at him and then a knife was thrown at him. What’s a guy supposed to do?
“He got a little upset, and I don’t blame him, so he started swinging his stick to scare the people away and he lost his balance and the stick flew right up into the air and went into the stands.
“Mr. Kusy didn’t announce over the P.A. that Greg was given a game misconduct, he waited until he went into the dressing room before he put him on the game report,” Guy added. “In fact, I never realized that he was given a penalty until we were on the bus heading for the motel, when I was looking over the game report.”
Timmins, who is in Johnstown for the playoffs, had this to say when contacted at a Johnstown motel Tuesday: “You can’t let players go winging sticks into the stands. First of all, the goalie (Marion) Vien took a swing with his stick and he was going to let it go, but he held onto it. Then Neeld winds up and lets it go.
“There is no excuse for something like this. Especially for a guy in Neeld’s position, who has already lost an eye because of an incident with a hockey stick. He should have known better,” Timmins continued.
“There is already a civil suit against a Binghamton player for throwing a stick into the stands here and striking a kid, who lost 60 per cent of his vision. I was accosted by the kids’ parents at the game and then when the game is over, I see another similar incident. You can’t justify something like that.
“It’s too bad it had to happen to one of their better hockey players, but you just can’t let things like that go,” he added.
When asked if he saw anything being thrown at Neeld, Timmins responded, “I was sitting up fairly high and I didn’t see any of those things.
“You could hit someone in the kisser or hit some innocent bystander. Anyway, the game was over. What was he doing throwing his stick into the stands?”
Trottier thought the Neeld suspension “was a rotten deal. Two of their guys shoot the puck at the referee and he doesn’t give them anything.”
Marshall, who was infuriated by the incident all day said, “It’s really a bum rap and I totally disagree with the suspension part of the penalty.”
The series, which is tied at a game apiece, continues tonight in Johnstown. The fourth game will be played in the Tonawanda Sports Center Thursday night at 7:45 and a fifth game, if needed, will be played Saturday in Johnstown.
Everyone expects Johnstown to come and play its “goon” style of hockey again tonight. “I don’t blame them,” Marshall said. “If they are able to get away with it, keep using it.”
A big factor in Monday’s game was the Norsemen’s inability to convert on the numerous power play opportunities they had. Marshall said the loss of Steve Atkinson and Trottier not dressing because of back problems is the main reason for the poor power play.
So the continuing saga of the Buffalo Norsemen goes on.
NORSENOTES — Trottier, who has missed four games with a bad back, said he stayed in bed all day Tuesday with the heating pad. “It feels a little better, but I’ll see how it feels when I hit the ice. If I am ready to go, I’ll play, if not, I’ll wait until Thursday.”
The Norsemen have lost all six games they have played in Johnstown’s Cambria Arena. Trottier said he asked Kusy why he didn’t penalize the players who were shooting pucks at him. Kusy replied, “I was giving them the benefit of the doubt.” To that Guy said, “Well, next time I shoot at you, I hope you give me the benefit of the doubt.”
Tickets are now being sold at the new Norsemen ticket office, inside the Tonawanda Sports Center, for Thursday night’s game. If the series should go to a fifth game, the Norsemen Booster Club will sponsor a bus excursion to Johnstown. Details will be available at the booster club table Thursday night.
By MIKE BILLONI
NEWS Sports Writer
“This is a dirty, rotten thing. It’s the same old stupid thing that has been going on all year — let the bad guy get away with everything and then penalize the good guys.”
This was an angry Buffalo Norsemen General Manager Willie Marshall speaking from his Tonawanda Sports Center office Tuesday morning after he had read a telexed message from the North American Hockey League office that Norsemen defenseman Greg Neeld is suspended for two playoff games. Neeld was issued a game misconduct several minutes after Monday night’s 6-4 loss to Johnstown in the second game of the best-of-five quarter-final round series.
“I called (NAHL Commissioner Jack) Timmins this morning (Tuesday) and he said he was standing behind referee Gene Kusy’s decision to give Greg a game misconduct,” Marshall said. “I don’t condone what Greg did. I feel it’s a civil matter and I would be in full agreement of a fine, but I don’t agree with the league’s decision to suspend him from two playoff games. It’s so typical of this league. Every call they make is so inconsistent.”
Norsemen Player-Coach Guy Trottier was reached in Johnstown late Tuesday and he described what he saw. “After the game, we were complaining to Kusy about some of the calls that he missed. While we were standing on the ice, somebody poured beer on Greg, then a guy threw a steel can at him and then a knife was thrown at him. What’s a guy supposed to do?
“He got a little upset, and I don’t blame him, so he started swinging his stick to scare the people away and he lost his balance and the stick flew right up into the air and went into the stands.
“Mr. Kusy didn’t announce over the P.A. that Greg was given a game misconduct, he waited until he went into the dressing room before he put him on the game report,” Guy added. “In fact, I never realized that he was given a penalty until we were on the bus heading for the motel, when I was looking over the game report.”
Timmins, who is in Johnstown for the playoffs, had this to say when contacted at a Johnstown motel Tuesday: “You can’t let players go winging sticks into the stands. First of all, the goalie (Marion) Vien took a swing with his stick and he was going to let it go, but he held onto it. Then Neeld winds up and lets it go.
“There is no excuse for something like this. Especially for a guy in Neeld’s position, who has already lost an eye because of an incident with a hockey stick. He should have known better,” Timmins continued.
“There is already a civil suit against a Binghamton player for throwing a stick into the stands here and striking a kid, who lost 60 per cent of his vision. I was accosted by the kids’ parents at the game and then when the game is over, I see another similar incident. You can’t justify something like that.
“It’s too bad it had to happen to one of their better hockey players, but you just can’t let things like that go,” he added.
When asked if he saw anything being thrown at Neeld, Timmins responded, “I was sitting up fairly high and I didn’t see any of those things.
“You could hit someone in the kisser or hit some innocent bystander. Anyway, the game was over. What was he doing throwing his stick into the stands?”
Trottier thought the Neeld suspension “was a rotten deal. Two of their guys shoot the puck at the referee and he doesn’t give them anything.”
Marshall, who was infuriated by the incident all day said, “It’s really a bum rap and I totally disagree with the suspension part of the penalty.”
The series, which is tied at a game apiece, continues tonight in Johnstown. The fourth game will be played in the Tonawanda Sports Center Thursday night at 7:45 and a fifth game, if needed, will be played Saturday in Johnstown.
Everyone expects Johnstown to come and play its “goon” style of hockey again tonight. “I don’t blame them,” Marshall said. “If they are able to get away with it, keep using it.”
A big factor in Monday’s game was the Norsemen’s inability to convert on the numerous power play opportunities they had. Marshall said the loss of Steve Atkinson and Trottier not dressing because of back problems is the main reason for the poor power play.
So the continuing saga of the Buffalo Norsemen goes on.
NORSENOTES — Trottier, who has missed four games with a bad back, said he stayed in bed all day Tuesday with the heating pad. “It feels a little better, but I’ll see how it feels when I hit the ice. If I am ready to go, I’ll play, if not, I’ll wait until Thursday.”
The Norsemen have lost all six games they have played in Johnstown’s Cambria Arena. Trottier said he asked Kusy why he didn’t penalize the players who were shooting pucks at him. Kusy replied, “I was giving them the benefit of the doubt.” To that Guy said, “Well, next time I shoot at you, I hope you give me the benefit of the doubt.”
Tickets are now being sold at the new Norsemen ticket office, inside the Tonawanda Sports Center, for Thursday night’s game. If the series should go to a fifth game, the Norsemen Booster Club will sponsor a bus excursion to Johnstown. Details will be available at the booster club table Thursday night.
Date
1976-03-24
Collection
Citation
“Neeld suspension irks Norsemen, transcribed article (Tonawanda News, 1976-03-24).pdf,” North Tonawanda History, accessed April 7, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4443.