Norsemen story is exciting one, transcribed article (Peter Drumsta, c.1976-03-26).jpg
Dublin Core
Title
Norsemen story is exciting one, transcribed article (Peter Drumsta, c.1976-03-26).jpg
Description
Norsemen Story Is Exciting One
By PETER DRUMSTA
Not only did the Buffalo Norsemen avoid an abrupt ending to their season. They did it in an exhilarating, storybook manner which showed they might be on the brink of something even bigger.
The Norsemen, faced with elimination from the Lockhart Cup playoffs, scrambled to a 3-2 victory over the Johnstown Jets Thursday evening before 1531 in the Tonawanda Sports Center to tie their quarter-final series at two games apiece.
The teams will meet in a fifth and final game tomorrow evening in Johnstown, Pa., where the Norsemen have been unable to score a victory in five regular-season and two post-season games.
Buffalo matched the defending North American Hockey League champions in every phase of their game — skating, scoring, and scrapping.
When it was over, the beaten Jets demonstrated their frustration by touching off a shoving match as they left the ice.
The Norsemen stood up to the intimidating tactics of the Jets, fell two goals behind, then rallied for a tie and completed the game-long uphill climb with the deciding goal.
---
GALEN HEAD scored for Johnstown on the Jets’ first shot on goal, just 11 seconds into the game. With both teams asserting themselves, 75 minutes in penalties were called in a brawling first period.
Late in the second period, Head scored again for the Jets, springing free on a mixup by Buffalo in its own end.
But veteran Keke Mortson deflected in a shot by Larry Gould just over a minute later, and Billy Steele banged a short drive past Louie Levasseur to tie the game just before the end of the period. Both were power-play goals.
By the third period, the Jets had abandoned their fighting tactics, but the speed of the Norsemen forced them into penalties.
Claude Noel finally broke through for the winner, on a shot that rolled over the sprawling Levasseur and into the net.
---
BUFFALO OUTSHOT the Jets, 36-29, but Norseman goaltender Mario Vien was called upon to make some spectacular saves in his first start of the series. The Buffalo defensive corps managed to cover up during the final 7½ minutes to protect the lead.
The feeling around the Buffalo locker room was one of confidence.
“If we can keep our composure,” said Steele, “and maybe take a few dives, that’ll help us. The longer the game stays close, the better we’ll do.”
Player-Coach Guy Trottier, sitting out a two-game suspension as well as a painful back injury, felt that his club’s power play made the difference.
“We played their style and they can’t take it,” he said. “Down there the bounces go their way, but if we stick together, we can do it.”
---
GREG NEELD, the defenseman who will be back for tomorrow’s game after a two-game suspension, was involved in a scuffle with the Jets’ Steve Carlson as the teams filed off the ice. No penalties resulted from the incident.
By PETER DRUMSTA
Not only did the Buffalo Norsemen avoid an abrupt ending to their season. They did it in an exhilarating, storybook manner which showed they might be on the brink of something even bigger.
The Norsemen, faced with elimination from the Lockhart Cup playoffs, scrambled to a 3-2 victory over the Johnstown Jets Thursday evening before 1531 in the Tonawanda Sports Center to tie their quarter-final series at two games apiece.
The teams will meet in a fifth and final game tomorrow evening in Johnstown, Pa., where the Norsemen have been unable to score a victory in five regular-season and two post-season games.
Buffalo matched the defending North American Hockey League champions in every phase of their game — skating, scoring, and scrapping.
When it was over, the beaten Jets demonstrated their frustration by touching off a shoving match as they left the ice.
The Norsemen stood up to the intimidating tactics of the Jets, fell two goals behind, then rallied for a tie and completed the game-long uphill climb with the deciding goal.
---
GALEN HEAD scored for Johnstown on the Jets’ first shot on goal, just 11 seconds into the game. With both teams asserting themselves, 75 minutes in penalties were called in a brawling first period.
Late in the second period, Head scored again for the Jets, springing free on a mixup by Buffalo in its own end.
But veteran Keke Mortson deflected in a shot by Larry Gould just over a minute later, and Billy Steele banged a short drive past Louie Levasseur to tie the game just before the end of the period. Both were power-play goals.
By the third period, the Jets had abandoned their fighting tactics, but the speed of the Norsemen forced them into penalties.
Claude Noel finally broke through for the winner, on a shot that rolled over the sprawling Levasseur and into the net.
---
BUFFALO OUTSHOT the Jets, 36-29, but Norseman goaltender Mario Vien was called upon to make some spectacular saves in his first start of the series. The Buffalo defensive corps managed to cover up during the final 7½ minutes to protect the lead.
The feeling around the Buffalo locker room was one of confidence.
“If we can keep our composure,” said Steele, “and maybe take a few dives, that’ll help us. The longer the game stays close, the better we’ll do.”
Player-Coach Guy Trottier, sitting out a two-game suspension as well as a painful back injury, felt that his club’s power play made the difference.
“We played their style and they can’t take it,” he said. “Down there the bounces go their way, but if we stick together, we can do it.”
---
GREG NEELD, the defenseman who will be back for tomorrow’s game after a two-game suspension, was involved in a scuffle with the Jets’ Steve Carlson as the teams filed off the ice. No penalties resulted from the incident.
Date
1976-03-26
Collection
Citation
“Norsemen story is exciting one, transcribed article (Peter Drumsta, c.1976-03-26).jpg,” North Tonawanda History, accessed April 9, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4680.