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| By: Larry Anstett, KW Record - April 28th, 1982 |
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Coach Joe Crozier wishes his Kitchener Rangers would take it a little easier on the Ottawa 67s . . . off the ice. But he hopes they continue to give them a rough time in Ottawa tonight in the third game of the eight-point Ontario Hockey League championship series, which Rangers lead 3-1. Rangers have outmuscled Ottawa in both games and some of the Rangers have accused the 67s of taking dives and of being timid. Captain Brian Bellows went as far as to call them “pansies.” “I can’t tell the guys to be quiet or what to say, but I wish they’d watch themselves,” Crozier said. “The last thing you want to do is get the other team fired up and give them food for thought. I mentioned that to the guys in the last series against Sault Ste. Marie. “Some guys (reporters) will blow up anything for a story and you have to watch what you say.” An interview with Crozier usually produces restrained comments like: “I thought the other team really played well . . . Give them credit, they never stopped working . . . We had to work hard to beat them . . . Their goalie played a great game.” He rarely denigrates the opposition. After Rangers 4-1 Sunday, Crozier went as far as to say: “I never say anything in the playoffs.” Outside of being critical of the Rangers for blowing two games in Sault Ste. Marie – where the Greyhounds scored two late goals in both games for a 4-4 tie and a 5-3 win – about the only person Crozier has criticized in the playoffs has been referee Jim Lever. Lever disallowed a goal that was clearly in the net during the Soo series, and on Sunday he gave Rangers’ star center, Grant Martin, a match penalty for spearing which brought about a three-game suspension. Still upset about the call, Crozier said Tuesday that it was a “very sad affair.” Lever, one of the OHL’s most competent referees, couldn’t be blamed for calling the spearing penalty because Martin did thrust his stick into Jeff Vaive’s midsection. But since Vaive got up quickly and didn’t miss a shift, Crozier thought the penalty was too severe and a five-minute high-sticking major would have been more appropriate. “I haven’t slept right for the last two nights,” Crozier said. “I’m very concerned about the suspension. You don’t realize how much this man (Martin) means to the club. He does so many things. You just can’t replace him.” Some thought the series would be a relatively peaceful one because 67s were the least penalized club during the regular schedule. But bad feelings already have developed and Lever called 34 penalties Sunday in a chippy game in which Rangers hammered 67s with numerous clean checks but also resorted to some undisciplined stick work that was unnecessary for a team so talented. After Martin was ejected with the spearing penalty, Crozier and Ottawa coach Brian Kilrea both put one hand behind their necks and pointed to their backs, a gesture which has been known to mean “yellow” or “back-stabber.” It wasn’t clear who started the animated proceedings. Crozier siad he was only imitating Kilrea. Kilrea, when asked what was going on, said, “Ask Joe.” Both coaches maintain they have a lot of respect for each other, going back to “years ago.” As Crozier put it, when Crozier coached Kilrea on the Rochester Americans team in the American Hockey League.
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