NEELD articles - CAHA Decision Keeps Neeld In Limbo; Centennials Need Him To Stay In Race, article (The Hockey News, 1974-11-08).htm
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NEELD articles - CAHA Decision Keeps Neeld In Limbo; Centennials Need Him To Stay In Race, article (The Hockey News, 1974-11-08).htm
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CALGARY—
Greg Neeld should have fastened his seat belt when his Junior hockey career hit top acceleration. He has experienced more turbulence than most young prospects.
Neeld began his Tier One tale last season as a promising 18-year old defenseman with Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association’s Major Junior A league. But on Dec. 7, 1973 he came in collision with Dave Maloney of Kitchener Rangers on a play which was to make headlines across the country.
Hospitalized from an errant high stick, Neeld eventually lost his left eye as a result of the incident and generally missed the rest of the season. He was not to be deterred from the pursuit of his boyhood dream, however.
Neeld was back with the Marlies this season through exhibition play and the first four regularly-scheduled games wearing a helmet and a protective shield. But he was not at all pleased with the amount of ice time he was receiving. Marlies were carrying seven defensemen.
Neeld wanted to see more action. So he headed west to the Calgary Centennials of the Western Canada Hockey League, where two of his brothers play in the organization.
In the process, he became the eye of another hurricane. Neeld was in the Centennial lineup for two games before he received his formal release from the OH A or the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.
“There was no way Neeld could play in Calgary until he is released by Toronto. waived out of the OHA Major Junior A League and then given an east-west transfer by the CAHA.” said Gordon Juckes. executive-director of the CAHA.
Neeld actually did receive a verbal commitment from the Marlboros. Beyond that, he was not aware of all the technicalities involved.
Frank Bonello, Marlboros’ general manager, agreed generally that he is in compliance with the shift. “I promised Greg I wouldn’t stand in his way… but I haven’t released him. The release is up to the CAHA. This way, if the east-west transfer does not come through, he is still ours to trade to another OH A club,” Bonello said.
In the meantime. Neeld has been ordered to sit out of the Calgary lineup by WCHL president Ed Chynoweth until the controversy is settled. And the red tape was expected to take from 10 days to two weeks.
“I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion,” indicated Chynoweth. “Certainly some of our people jumped the gun. The CAHA has rules set down and our people should have followed them.
“But things have been straightened away now and we’ll wait for the proper processes to take effect,” added Chynoweth. “I still think you’ll see Greg Neeld in our league, not because we’re trying to rob OHA players but because the OHA will waive him and the CAHA will give him his transfer.”
In the meantime a talented hockey player sits in the wings according to Centennial general manager Scott Munro, and at the moment the Calgary club could use his abilities along the blueline. With nine games gone in the schedule, the Cents are still winless with six defeats and only three ties to show for their efforts.
“This guy Neeld is just a heck of a player,” offered Munro. “He cleans penalties in the 19 games he played with the Marlies last season.
And he hasn’t let the loss of an eye affect his aggressive style of play. In his four games with the Marlies this year, he had 27 penalty minutes including a major for fighting and in his first game as a Centennial he picked up 16 minutes including a double major for foghting.
Neeld described his fight in the OHA against a Sault Ste. Marie player this way: “Their guy took a cheap shot at one of our guys, a cheap shot from be hind. I went over and suggested he ought not do that again. He dropped his gloves and the fight was on. And yeah, I won.
“If I was conscious of the eye. I wouldn’t be playing,” continued Neeld. “You just go out and give it your damndest.
“I had been interested in coming to Calgary for quite some time,” said Neeld. “My young brother Rob was in Calgary and is part of the Centennials’ organization. He told me all about it and how good it was and I decided if I would make a move it would be to Calgary.
“I wouldn’t say I’m upset about it all. I’d say it’s a real letdown. I’d like to be playing,” added Neeld. “Toronto could be tough about it but I don’t think so. At least, I hope not.”
In the meantime. Neeld’s junior hockey career once again consists of crossing his fingers and hoping he’ll be able to play as soon as possible. It’s not as if a guy’s Junior eligibility runs forever and time is running out on Greg Neeld.
1976-01-02 NAHL Opens Doors Of Pro Hockey To Neeld
BUFFALO—
Young Greg Neeld spent much of last summer fighting legal battles designed to allow him to play pro hockey in Buffalo. Now he is doing just that, even if it is not exactly as he envisioned it.
Neeld of course is the Sabres draft choice who has been barred from signing with the NHL team by a league rule which declares players who have suffered his disability ineligible. Neeld lost the sight of his left eye while _ playing an OHA game two seasons ago.
The right hand shooting defenseman has signed with the Toronto Toros and been assigned to Buffalo Norsemen. He played his first NAHL game in a 8-1 Norsemen victory over the Maine Nordiques. And while he did not score any points in that win. he showed flashes of the talent that made him a potential NHL first round pick before his injury.
Since the injury. Neeld has suffered setbacks to his attempted comeback but never has given up pursuit of his goal of a major league career.
He was prohibited from returning to OHA competition so he moved to Calgary to play his last year of Juniors with the WCHL Centennials where he was a 29-goal scorer. When he was barred from signing with the Sabres he at first decided to attend school and play semi-pro hockey with the Reno Broncos of the SWHL. When that team folded earlier this season he was left with no place to play at all. But the still was convinced that the could return too organized hockey.
Greg now wears a specially designed helmet with a protective mask that entirely covers his face. And after experimenting with a move to forward to see if that would ease his readjustment. he has returned to his natural position, defense.
Were there ever two teams that need a good defenseman they are the Toros and the Norsemen. The Toros have been desparate for capable major league defensemen. which made a gamble on Neeld all the more attractive.
Gilles Leger of the Toros explained his club’s decision to sign the young seter thusly: “At the time Greg was originally injured John Bassett (Toros owner) promised him that the could have a shot with the Toros if he wanted one. We need good major league defensemen and think Greg has the ability to be one.”
Minnesota Fighting Saints held the WHA draft rights to Neeld. The Toros acquired him by giving Minnesota the WHA rights to Bill Nyrop. Leger is enthusiastic that the deal for Neeld will turn out to be a steal. “He shoots well, skates well, and is very strong fundamentally. And he has already improved markedly in playing the body, playing the man.”
[later article says WHA wouldnt let him in]
Nevertheless Leger wants to give the youngster some time to adjust to the pros, thus his status as the newest Buffalo Norseman. That sits just fine with the Norsemen, who along with the Toros have been crying for defensive help, and it also sits just fine with the league itself.
Commissioner Jack Timmins stated, “Neeld obviously has a lot of determination to make it in pro hockey and we are very happy that the is getting his first chance in the NAHL.”
And how does Neeld feel about this rejuvenated pro career? He has no doubts now; he feels that the can completely compensate for his handicap. As he explained to Mike Billoni of the Tonawanda News, “I had to learn to put my head to the left and look straight ahead. Now I can do it instinctively. I have gotten back my peripheral vision and my hearing has improved so much and is so crisp that I can tell exactly how far away other players are just by sound.”
Coach Guy Trottier summed up succinctly, “He is better than most hockey players with full vision.”
Feb 10, 1995/vol. 48, issue 21
Neeld faced blind justice in NHL bid
Talent wasn’t enough for Greg Neeld to play in the NHL. The league’s by-law against one-eyed players saw to that. But talent could be enough for David-Alexandre Beauregard.
In 1977, Neeld won a New York state court case against the American League for his right to play. If Beauregard pursues his NHL dream through the courts, he would be building on the legal ease Neeld began 18 years ago.
“If (Beauregard) wants to continue, he could use that as a precedent and probably have it turned over if the NHL decides to keep him from playing,” said Neeld, 39, now working for a security systems company in Vancouver.
Having been denied his own NHL career, he would like nothing better.
The common bond between Neeld and Beauregard is an opponent’s errant stick and enough ability and desire to overcome adversity.
Beauregard, a 19-year old with the St-Hyacinthe Laser and 1994 San Jose Shark draft pick, lost his left eye in a Quebec League game earlier this season. He has since rejoined the Laser.
Neeld was a consensus first-round pick before he was struck in the left eye by a stick from Kitchener Ranger Dave Maloney in an Ontario League game in 1973. Buffalo Sabres’ general manager Punch Imlach still saw enough in Neeld’s potential to warrant a significant gamble in the 1974 draft-a fourth-round selection on a one-eyed defenseman whom NHL administrators shunned like the plague.
League officials and his agent Alan Eagleson, advised Neeld to quit and return to school for his own safety. He fought them all.
Neeld never did make it to hockey’s highest level. Imlach’s effort to bypass the NHL by-law was quickly blocked and Neeld lost a U.S. antitrust suit against the league. But his perseverance laid the groundwork for Beauregard to complete the inroads Neeld began.
With a new lawyer. Neeld went after the AHL, where Imlaeh initially wanted him to play. U.S. District Court judge John T. Blfvin invoked the state’s human rights law in striking down the league’s by-law. Neeld kept playing in other leagues throughout the legal battles. A six-year career took him through the International and North American Leagues, the World Hockey Association and Europe.
Two years after the injury he had learned how to carry his head tilted to the left, with his right eye focused straight ahead to expand his field of vision.
“All my skills were the same, but I couldn’t see the plays happening like before,” Neeld said.
He eventually received a $100,000 out-of-court settlement from the NHL ($75,000 of which went for lawyer’s costs) to stop pursuing his case. His lawyers told him they would quit if he didn’t accept the deal.
“I didn’t want their money,” he said. “I wanted to play in the NHL.”
Greg Neeld should have fastened his seat belt when his Junior hockey career hit top acceleration. He has experienced more turbulence than most young prospects.
Neeld began his Tier One tale last season as a promising 18-year old defenseman with Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association’s Major Junior A league. But on Dec. 7, 1973 he came in collision with Dave Maloney of Kitchener Rangers on a play which was to make headlines across the country.
Hospitalized from an errant high stick, Neeld eventually lost his left eye as a result of the incident and generally missed the rest of the season. He was not to be deterred from the pursuit of his boyhood dream, however.
Neeld was back with the Marlies this season through exhibition play and the first four regularly-scheduled games wearing a helmet and a protective shield. But he was not at all pleased with the amount of ice time he was receiving. Marlies were carrying seven defensemen.
Neeld wanted to see more action. So he headed west to the Calgary Centennials of the Western Canada Hockey League, where two of his brothers play in the organization.
In the process, he became the eye of another hurricane. Neeld was in the Centennial lineup for two games before he received his formal release from the OH A or the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.
“There was no way Neeld could play in Calgary until he is released by Toronto. waived out of the OHA Major Junior A League and then given an east-west transfer by the CAHA.” said Gordon Juckes. executive-director of the CAHA.
Neeld actually did receive a verbal commitment from the Marlboros. Beyond that, he was not aware of all the technicalities involved.
Frank Bonello, Marlboros’ general manager, agreed generally that he is in compliance with the shift. “I promised Greg I wouldn’t stand in his way… but I haven’t released him. The release is up to the CAHA. This way, if the east-west transfer does not come through, he is still ours to trade to another OH A club,” Bonello said.
In the meantime. Neeld has been ordered to sit out of the Calgary lineup by WCHL president Ed Chynoweth until the controversy is settled. And the red tape was expected to take from 10 days to two weeks.
“I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion,” indicated Chynoweth. “Certainly some of our people jumped the gun. The CAHA has rules set down and our people should have followed them.
“But things have been straightened away now and we’ll wait for the proper processes to take effect,” added Chynoweth. “I still think you’ll see Greg Neeld in our league, not because we’re trying to rob OHA players but because the OHA will waive him and the CAHA will give him his transfer.”
In the meantime a talented hockey player sits in the wings according to Centennial general manager Scott Munro, and at the moment the Calgary club could use his abilities along the blueline. With nine games gone in the schedule, the Cents are still winless with six defeats and only three ties to show for their efforts.
“This guy Neeld is just a heck of a player,” offered Munro. “He cleans penalties in the 19 games he played with the Marlies last season.
And he hasn’t let the loss of an eye affect his aggressive style of play. In his four games with the Marlies this year, he had 27 penalty minutes including a major for fighting and in his first game as a Centennial he picked up 16 minutes including a double major for foghting.
Neeld described his fight in the OHA against a Sault Ste. Marie player this way: “Their guy took a cheap shot at one of our guys, a cheap shot from be hind. I went over and suggested he ought not do that again. He dropped his gloves and the fight was on. And yeah, I won.
“If I was conscious of the eye. I wouldn’t be playing,” continued Neeld. “You just go out and give it your damndest.
“I had been interested in coming to Calgary for quite some time,” said Neeld. “My young brother Rob was in Calgary and is part of the Centennials’ organization. He told me all about it and how good it was and I decided if I would make a move it would be to Calgary.
“I wouldn’t say I’m upset about it all. I’d say it’s a real letdown. I’d like to be playing,” added Neeld. “Toronto could be tough about it but I don’t think so. At least, I hope not.”
In the meantime. Neeld’s junior hockey career once again consists of crossing his fingers and hoping he’ll be able to play as soon as possible. It’s not as if a guy’s Junior eligibility runs forever and time is running out on Greg Neeld.
1976-01-02 NAHL Opens Doors Of Pro Hockey To Neeld
BUFFALO—
Young Greg Neeld spent much of last summer fighting legal battles designed to allow him to play pro hockey in Buffalo. Now he is doing just that, even if it is not exactly as he envisioned it.
Neeld of course is the Sabres draft choice who has been barred from signing with the NHL team by a league rule which declares players who have suffered his disability ineligible. Neeld lost the sight of his left eye while _ playing an OHA game two seasons ago.
The right hand shooting defenseman has signed with the Toronto Toros and been assigned to Buffalo Norsemen. He played his first NAHL game in a 8-1 Norsemen victory over the Maine Nordiques. And while he did not score any points in that win. he showed flashes of the talent that made him a potential NHL first round pick before his injury.
Since the injury. Neeld has suffered setbacks to his attempted comeback but never has given up pursuit of his goal of a major league career.
He was prohibited from returning to OHA competition so he moved to Calgary to play his last year of Juniors with the WCHL Centennials where he was a 29-goal scorer. When he was barred from signing with the Sabres he at first decided to attend school and play semi-pro hockey with the Reno Broncos of the SWHL. When that team folded earlier this season he was left with no place to play at all. But the still was convinced that the could return too organized hockey.
Greg now wears a specially designed helmet with a protective mask that entirely covers his face. And after experimenting with a move to forward to see if that would ease his readjustment. he has returned to his natural position, defense.
Were there ever two teams that need a good defenseman they are the Toros and the Norsemen. The Toros have been desparate for capable major league defensemen. which made a gamble on Neeld all the more attractive.
Gilles Leger of the Toros explained his club’s decision to sign the young seter thusly: “At the time Greg was originally injured John Bassett (Toros owner) promised him that the could have a shot with the Toros if he wanted one. We need good major league defensemen and think Greg has the ability to be one.”
Minnesota Fighting Saints held the WHA draft rights to Neeld. The Toros acquired him by giving Minnesota the WHA rights to Bill Nyrop. Leger is enthusiastic that the deal for Neeld will turn out to be a steal. “He shoots well, skates well, and is very strong fundamentally. And he has already improved markedly in playing the body, playing the man.”
[later article says WHA wouldnt let him in]
Nevertheless Leger wants to give the youngster some time to adjust to the pros, thus his status as the newest Buffalo Norseman. That sits just fine with the Norsemen, who along with the Toros have been crying for defensive help, and it also sits just fine with the league itself.
Commissioner Jack Timmins stated, “Neeld obviously has a lot of determination to make it in pro hockey and we are very happy that the is getting his first chance in the NAHL.”
And how does Neeld feel about this rejuvenated pro career? He has no doubts now; he feels that the can completely compensate for his handicap. As he explained to Mike Billoni of the Tonawanda News, “I had to learn to put my head to the left and look straight ahead. Now I can do it instinctively. I have gotten back my peripheral vision and my hearing has improved so much and is so crisp that I can tell exactly how far away other players are just by sound.”
Coach Guy Trottier summed up succinctly, “He is better than most hockey players with full vision.”
Feb 10, 1995/vol. 48, issue 21
Neeld faced blind justice in NHL bid
Talent wasn’t enough for Greg Neeld to play in the NHL. The league’s by-law against one-eyed players saw to that. But talent could be enough for David-Alexandre Beauregard.
In 1977, Neeld won a New York state court case against the American League for his right to play. If Beauregard pursues his NHL dream through the courts, he would be building on the legal ease Neeld began 18 years ago.
“If (Beauregard) wants to continue, he could use that as a precedent and probably have it turned over if the NHL decides to keep him from playing,” said Neeld, 39, now working for a security systems company in Vancouver.
Having been denied his own NHL career, he would like nothing better.
The common bond between Neeld and Beauregard is an opponent’s errant stick and enough ability and desire to overcome adversity.
Beauregard, a 19-year old with the St-Hyacinthe Laser and 1994 San Jose Shark draft pick, lost his left eye in a Quebec League game earlier this season. He has since rejoined the Laser.
Neeld was a consensus first-round pick before he was struck in the left eye by a stick from Kitchener Ranger Dave Maloney in an Ontario League game in 1973. Buffalo Sabres’ general manager Punch Imlach still saw enough in Neeld’s potential to warrant a significant gamble in the 1974 draft-a fourth-round selection on a one-eyed defenseman whom NHL administrators shunned like the plague.
League officials and his agent Alan Eagleson, advised Neeld to quit and return to school for his own safety. He fought them all.
Neeld never did make it to hockey’s highest level. Imlach’s effort to bypass the NHL by-law was quickly blocked and Neeld lost a U.S. antitrust suit against the league. But his perseverance laid the groundwork for Beauregard to complete the inroads Neeld began.
With a new lawyer. Neeld went after the AHL, where Imlaeh initially wanted him to play. U.S. District Court judge John T. Blfvin invoked the state’s human rights law in striking down the league’s by-law. Neeld kept playing in other leagues throughout the legal battles. A six-year career took him through the International and North American Leagues, the World Hockey Association and Europe.
Two years after the injury he had learned how to carry his head tilted to the left, with his right eye focused straight ahead to expand his field of vision.
“All my skills were the same, but I couldn’t see the plays happening like before,” Neeld said.
He eventually received a $100,000 out-of-court settlement from the NHL ($75,000 of which went for lawyer’s costs) to stop pursuing his case. His lawyers told him they would quit if he didn’t accept the deal.
“I didn’t want their money,” he said. “I wanted to play in the NHL.”
Date
1974-11-08
Collection
Citation
“NEELD articles - CAHA Decision Keeps Neeld In Limbo; Centennials Need Him To Stay In Race, article (The Hockey News, 1974-11-08).htm,” North Tonawanda History, accessed November 30, 2025, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4685.