Norsemen charge "goons" after Johnstown debacle, article (Albert L. Hershey, c. 1976-03-30).jpg
Dublin Core
Title
Norsemen charge "goons" after Johnstown debacle, article (Albert L. Hershey, c. 1976-03-30).jpg
Description
[cont'd]
Check from behind
Campigotto skated into the Norsemen's end of the rink, cross-checked Neeld from the back during the pregame warmup, and “knocked him flying,” in a “goon hockey” tactic.
Commissioner John Timmins was unavailable for comment, as he left Johnstown after the disputed game for the Jets' en- counter with the Philadelphia Firebirds in the first game of the semifinal round. The league public relations di- rector, Gary Clark, said the decision to forfeit was made by the ownership of the Norsemen, but the commissioner tried for an hour to get them to reverse their decision and play. He said according to league bylaws a forfeit is declared five minutes after game time, and Referee Steve Dowling had ordered that the clock be started. Clark said no one from the commissioner's office is sure exactly what did happen, as the incident occurred before game time. Clark said he was just coming into the arena at the time.
Another Version
But, he said, observers disputed Trottier's claim that the Jets just attacked Neeld. Clark said he understood both teams were skating full circle, when Neeld and Campigotto exchanged words and began fighting, which led to a melee on the ice. Trottier said the Jets' Steve Carlson, who had a cast on his right arm; Dave Hanson and Campigotto all started mugging Neeld at the Buffalo end of the ice. The player-coach said Carlson then turned on the Norsemen's Charlie Labelle and hit him across the face with the cast. Neeld was treated for a con- cussion and Labelle for bruises. The fans became incensed when the Norsemen refused to come out for the start of the game, and about 300 of them blocked the passage from the dressing room.
Rock Breaks Window
About 1½ hours after the game was called, Johnstown police arrived with K-9 dogs and cordoned off a path so the visiting team could board its bus. A rock was thrown through a window of the bus, but no one was injured.
The decision not to play was made by Marshall and several of the owners, including Dr. Dudley Turecki, Richard DiVita and Barnard Hewitt.
“Naturally we took the team off the ice,” Marshall said, “we had two players who couldn’t play . . . they beat up a couple of our stars.”
Marshall continued: “Now the league goes along and they forfeit the game, and they fine us for being the victims. If that is any type of justice, hockey has taken a giant step backwards.”
There had been bad blood between the two teams and the Johnstown fans, and in a previous playoff in Johnstown Neeld was given a game misconduct when he threw his stick into the stands at the end of the game.
The Jets were given a police escort out of town after Thursday night’s game with the Norsemen in the Tonawanda Sports Center. The Norsemen won that game, deadlocking the series.
“The people of Buffalo, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls got a raw deal,” Trottier said. “I didn’t see any of their guys suspended. There are guys in the league who are not hockey players, guys who can’t shoot, and can’t skate, and can’t pass, but can only fight.”
The playoff series between the Norsemen, who finished fourth, and the Jets, who won the Western Division, was deadlocked at two games each, setting the stage for Saturday’s finale in Johnstown.
Series Was Tied
Trottier, who was sitting out a two game suspension, said the Norsemen took the ice about 7:25, and were skating in their zone when Johnstown came on the ice about two minutes later, and eventually came into the Norsemen zone and took on the two Buffalo players.
Neeld, who was knocked unconscious, was helped off the ice by his teammates. Goalie Jim Makey also was roughed up.
Check from behind
Campigotto skated into the Norsemen's end of the rink, cross-checked Neeld from the back during the pregame warmup, and “knocked him flying,” in a “goon hockey” tactic.
Commissioner John Timmins was unavailable for comment, as he left Johnstown after the disputed game for the Jets' en- counter with the Philadelphia Firebirds in the first game of the semifinal round. The league public relations di- rector, Gary Clark, said the decision to forfeit was made by the ownership of the Norsemen, but the commissioner tried for an hour to get them to reverse their decision and play. He said according to league bylaws a forfeit is declared five minutes after game time, and Referee Steve Dowling had ordered that the clock be started. Clark said no one from the commissioner's office is sure exactly what did happen, as the incident occurred before game time. Clark said he was just coming into the arena at the time.
Another Version
But, he said, observers disputed Trottier's claim that the Jets just attacked Neeld. Clark said he understood both teams were skating full circle, when Neeld and Campigotto exchanged words and began fighting, which led to a melee on the ice. Trottier said the Jets' Steve Carlson, who had a cast on his right arm; Dave Hanson and Campigotto all started mugging Neeld at the Buffalo end of the ice. The player-coach said Carlson then turned on the Norsemen's Charlie Labelle and hit him across the face with the cast. Neeld was treated for a con- cussion and Labelle for bruises. The fans became incensed when the Norsemen refused to come out for the start of the game, and about 300 of them blocked the passage from the dressing room.
Rock Breaks Window
About 1½ hours after the game was called, Johnstown police arrived with K-9 dogs and cordoned off a path so the visiting team could board its bus. A rock was thrown through a window of the bus, but no one was injured.
The decision not to play was made by Marshall and several of the owners, including Dr. Dudley Turecki, Richard DiVita and Barnard Hewitt.
“Naturally we took the team off the ice,” Marshall said, “we had two players who couldn’t play . . . they beat up a couple of our stars.”
Marshall continued: “Now the league goes along and they forfeit the game, and they fine us for being the victims. If that is any type of justice, hockey has taken a giant step backwards.”
There had been bad blood between the two teams and the Johnstown fans, and in a previous playoff in Johnstown Neeld was given a game misconduct when he threw his stick into the stands at the end of the game.
The Jets were given a police escort out of town after Thursday night’s game with the Norsemen in the Tonawanda Sports Center. The Norsemen won that game, deadlocking the series.
“The people of Buffalo, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls got a raw deal,” Trottier said. “I didn’t see any of their guys suspended. There are guys in the league who are not hockey players, guys who can’t shoot, and can’t skate, and can’t pass, but can only fight.”
The playoff series between the Norsemen, who finished fourth, and the Jets, who won the Western Division, was deadlocked at two games each, setting the stage for Saturday’s finale in Johnstown.
Series Was Tied
Trottier, who was sitting out a two game suspension, said the Norsemen took the ice about 7:25, and were skating in their zone when Johnstown came on the ice about two minutes later, and eventually came into the Norsemen zone and took on the two Buffalo players.
Neeld, who was knocked unconscious, was helped off the ice by his teammates. Goalie Jim Makey also was roughed up.
Date
1976-03-30
Collection
Citation
“Norsemen charge "goons" after Johnstown debacle, article (Albert L. Hershey, c. 1976-03-30).jpg,” North Tonawanda History, accessed November 26, 2025, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4667.