Changing the Game

by Stephen Laroche

  “In the WHA, we had to go with everything we had, no matter the age of the player. Now, we can build, play the really young guys and two to three years from today they will be NHL stars. Why try for a seventh place overall our first year and fall flat in the future because our team is too old and we have nothing coming up?”

  There was a ton of excitement in the air in Quebec as the Nordiques held a fan event that featured an open-air mass, disco, corn roast and an intra-squad game. The mood was loose and hopeful, unlike the previous year, when there were issues.

  “I knew there were some deep problems breaking up our team,” said Demers. “Every time I’d go into the dressing room I could feel the tensions. It hurt me very much, but I could not root the troubles out. We’ve only started into our exhibition season and already there is friendship and real camaraderie among all the guys with us this year. You cannot even imagine the wonderful feeling that it gives me. What a moral lift for everyone.”

  The regular season began for Quebec on October 10, 1979, as they hosted the Atlanta Flames. The crowd was packed into the Colisée, and Cloutier scored all three of the team’s goals, but it was not enough to secure a victory. Their second outing three days later marked the beginning of the Battle of Quebec, and every hockey fan in the province was glued to the television. The Montreal Canadiens prevailed, but the Nords finally got a win in their third game with Colorado on October 18.

  Montreal’s first visit to Quebec came 10 days after that, and Quebec settled the score with a 5–4 triumph in front of an overflowing crowd of 12,000. It was the first time the Canadiens played a regular-season game in Quebec City in almost 60 years. Tremblay’s number was retired that night as well. Since the contest was being shown on the CBC, arena workers were told to remove any advertising along the boards for O’Keefe Breweries and Coca-Cola, since the program had different sponsors.

  The Nordiques had a fairly decent start, but injuries to most key players became a major problem, especially in the second half of the season. After 40 games, they placed 10th in the NHL and even hosted the touring Central Red Army club on January 6, 1980.

  Controversy also arose when the team sent out a press release stating that all public address announcements were to be made in French and the national anthem would be done in French and English only if a visiting Canadian team observed the same practice. Even though the Nordiques felt justified since they claimed that 80 percent of their crowd was francophone, NHL president John Ziegler ordered them to go back to bilingual announcements for the time being. In a “spirit of cooperation,” the team decided to take the matter to the NHL Board of Governors for consideration. They continued to have all announcements in French with the exception that goals were announced in both languages. The NHL eventually passed a motion allowing public announcements to be made in French only, with the provision that the visiting team’s bench receive English announcements through a speaker behind the bench.

  On February 27, the Islanders came into town and Brodeur was called up from the minors to get a 5–3 victory in his return to the Colisée. Remarkably, it was the first time a goalie other than Billy Smith or Chico Resch started a game for the Isles since Gerry Desjardins left the team in 1974.

  “It was a special feeling for me coming back to play them,” said Brodeur. “I was stunned when they told me I was going to play, especially because it was against Quebec. It’s the greatest thrill of my life.”

  The relationship between Quebec’s players and the local media, however, came to a head when a few days later they refused to conduct interviews as a result of what players called unprofessional behaviour following a series of articles about Marc Tardif and another about two players missing curfew.

  As the team continued to battle the injury bug, they slipped further down the standings and finished the year in 19th place. Regardless, team executives were optimistic about their future in the NHL.

  “We now definitely know that the Nordiques belong in the National Hockey League and that if we can stay healthy … we will have one helluva season next year,” said Fillion. “The club’s overall play completely dissipated the false ideas of a lot of hockey people who said when we came into the league that we would only be a hanger-on. I can’t say enough about the players on our team; they have proved that we are a competitive team and that we will be even more so as years go by.

  “We have some really good kids who are coming up in the organization, and who knows who we’ll be able to pick up in the amateur draft in June. Take those factors and add in our promising attendance figures and we really don’t have a lot to complain about. We are very happy about the outcome of this year and look forward to next season.”

  Fillion’s statements proved true as the team helped Czechoslovakian stars Anton and Peter Stastny escape from behind the Iron Curtain, Jacques Richard exploded for 52 goals and Dan Bouchard was acquired from the Calgary Flames to help them to a playoff spot. Over the next few years, the Nordiques had tremendous success on the ice, and their rivalry with the Canadiens became one of the most intense in NHL history, thanks in part to the creation of divisions based on geographic proximity.

  Starting in the late 1980s, Quebec experienced several rough years, but as they built through the draft, they returned to contention. This process was aided when they traded away disgruntled first overall pick Eric Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers and got a package of prospects and veterans in return. Following the 1994–95 season, however, financial losses caused in part by rising player salaries and a weak Canadian dollar did not bode well for NHL hockey in the league’s smallest market. The provincial government was unwilling to provide a bailout, and team owner Marcel Aubut sold the Nordiques to investors based out of Denver, Colorado.

  The Colorado Avalanche began play in 1995–96, and it was a bitter pill for Quebec’s former fan base to see them finally win a Stanley Cup that year. Later on, the NHL implemented a revenue-sharing agreement for small-market Canadian clubs and that rubbed even more salt into the still-fresh wounds of the fans. A little more than 15 years later, there is some hope on the horizon as deep-pocketed business interests in Quebec are trying to bring NHL hockey back, with a new arena in the works as well.

  Real Cloutier

  “Buddy” Cloutier, one of the greatest scorers in the history of the World Hockey Association, reached at least 50 goals in a season four times over five seasons with the Nordiques before they moved over to the NHL. In 1978–79, he led the league with an impressive 75 goals and 129 points, and Quebec had to basically bribe the Chicago Black Hawks with a first-round pick in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft to ensure they did not attempt to reclaim him. That selection turned out to be future Hall of Famer Denis Savard, so it was a tough blow, but not enough of a disappointment compared to the outrage they would have faced from fans had they not tried to keep the young star on their roster.

  While making his debut against the Atlanta Flames on October 10, 1979, Cloutier tied an NHL record by scoring three goals in his first game, and all of them came during the first period against future teammate Dan Bouchard. Those tallies were also the first in franchise history.

  “For the first two periods against Atlanta, I was always a step behind,” he said after the game. “I was talking to myself. In the third, I got my rhythm. That’s it.”

  Throughout the 1979–80 campaign, Cloutier had many solid outings and was excited to finally get a chance to play against the Montreal Canadiens and Guy Lafleur — a superstar he was often compared to in previous years, much to his frustration.

  “I want to try the NHL for one season to see what I can do. I want to prove myself, to show my ability to play against the best players in hockey. I’m certain I’ll be able to play well, but, now, I must prove it… . We’re all looking forward to the game against Canadiens because it’s going to be a tremendous rivalry,” he predicted. “I met Guy Lafleur this summer and he told me that he planned to go all out in the games against Nordiques. He said that that they didn’
t want us cutting in on their territory — the province of Quebec. I told him that I planned to do the same thing against the Canadiens. We might just have a surprise for the Canadiens, who have had things all their own way down here for all those years.”

  During the second meeting between the two budding rivals on October 28, Cloutier scored a goal and added an assist in a big 5–4 victory. For the rest of the season, he racked up points at a very respectable pace considering the personnel losses the club had sustained. He was chosen to represent them at the 1980 NHL All-Star Game and scored the winning goal on a pass from one of his heroes — Gordie Howe. Needless to say, he kept the puck. Cloutier missed a little bit of time because of an ankle injury, but after his return, he had a hat trick and an assist while facing the New York Islanders. In the end, he flirted with scoring 50 goals and led his teammates in goals, assists and points during their first year.

  Real Cloutier

  Marc Tardif

  One of hockey’s greatest players in the 1970s who rarely gets the respect he deserves for his massive success in the World Hockey Association, Tardif was named the league’s Most Valuable Player on two occasions and also won a pair of scoring titles. It was unbelievable that the Montreal Canadiens, the team he played for before jumping to the rival league, chose not to protect him during the expansion draft. The Nordiques were more than happy to welcome him back with a large multi-year contract — even if he never truly left.

  Tardif opened the season with three assists on goals by Real Cloutier during the first game against Atlanta. He had a two-point night against the Colorado Rockies on October 18, 1979, scoring his first NHL goals since the 1972–73 season. Not content to rest, he earned another three points when they battled the Edmonton Oilers the following night.

  Since he wasn’t putting up points at the same pace as previous years, there were rumours circulating that he was going to be traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Rick MacLeish. Getting benched by coach Jacques Demers one night also spurred some reported interest from the New York Rangers. He missed a few games because of knee issues, and the press in Quebec created problems when they reported that he and some other players had missed curfew. At that point, the team banded together and refused to conduct interviews with the press when the Minnesota North Stars came to town on February 5, 1980.

  Michel Dion could relate to the pressure the media placed on Tardif, and both players eventually felt vindicated.

  “The first year that I was with the Nordiques, the media was hard on him all the time, and it was the same the next year for me. The funny thing is that we both redeemed ourselves by the 1982 All-Star Game. We shook hands before the game and talked and I said to him that we both beat the media.”

  As the end of the season approached, Tardif had a hat trick in a 9–7 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on March 29. He finished the year with 68 points over 58 contests. He also made a solid impression on some of the team’s younger players, including a future Hall of Famer.

  “I had the chance to see Marc Tardif when I was younger and for me, the Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets were the best teams around,” said rookie teammate Michel Goulet. “He was one of the most natural left wings in hockey and one of the best left wings to ever play. He was a guy that I admired and he knew how to play the game of hockey. He gave me tips on how to shoot the puck and how to get better. I had my eyes and ears wide open. I think at the end of the day, if Marc played in the NHL, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was regarded as one of the greatest left wingers.”

  Marc Tardif

  Michel Goulet

  Goulet was one of several top junior hockey players who made the decision to jump to the WHA for the 1978–79 season, as one of the “Baby Bulls” in Birmingham. He did not speak any English during that first pro season and teammate Gaston Gingras served as his interpreter. Over the course of the year, he put up a respectable 58 points and was tabbed to come into the NHL through the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.

  In a bold move, Goulet’s agent went to court on the future Hall of Famer’s behalf at the end of the season and received an order that blocked any other team besides the Nordiques from drafting him. When Quebec went to call out their first selection, it was no surprise when Goulet’s name came up. He made his NHL debut against Atlanta when the 1979–80 campaign opened and earned his first point with an assist against the Hartford Whalers two weeks later.

  Used primarily on the checking line for most of the season, Goulet did not score his first goal until November 10, when he put the puck by Doug Soetaert of the New York Rangers. He reflected on the historic moment.

  “It’s always the one I remember the most. The puck was dumped into the corner, and Pierre Plante fed it out to me and I was going to the net and tapped it in. It was a perfect pass. Scoring a goal there in Madison Square Garden was a big thrill. It took me 10 games, but after that it became a lot easier!”

  Just eight days later, Goulet scored two goals, including the winner, in a battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His totals quickly began to pile up. He was placed on a line with Jacques Richard late in the year and he had a two-goal night against the Colorado Rockies on March 20, 1980; the second tally of the night was his 20th of the season.

  “It was my first year in the NHL and I was just trying to do my best every single game,” he reflected. “When you’re 18 years old and playing against men, you can make mistakes, but it prepared you to be more conscientious.”

  Michel Goulet

  Robbie Ftorek

  Seemingly destined to become a professional hockey player, Ftorek was born shortly after his mother went straight to the hospital during a New Year’s Day game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers in the 1951–52 season. He was a member of the American Olympic team that won a silver medal in 1972, and he turned pro with the Detroit Red Wings soon after but found true success in the World Hockey Association as a member of the Phoenix Roadrunners and Cincinnati Stingers.

  A free agent after the WHA closed shop, Ftorek signed a reported seven-year deal with the Nordiques. He scored his first goal of the season against Denis Herron of the Montreal Canadiens on October 13, 1979. Early on, he offered his opinion on the difference between playing in the NHL and the WHA.

  “It’s hockey,” he said. “The NHL may have some better teams than we had, but we could have played with them. I play hard because that’s the only way to play. I’ve learned how to get out of the way of a lot of hits, but I can take it if I’m hit and I can hit back. I’m not playing any harder here than I was there. Anyone who is was cheating himself, his team and the fans if he wasn’t giving it all he had before. I’m not thrilled to be in this league or anything like that. I’m happy to be in hockey, period.”

  During his time in the lineup, Ftorek averaged nearly a point per game. He had a nice homecoming against the Bruins on November 22, when he scored a goal and added an assist in a 7–4 loss. In December, he had game-winning goals in consecutive home games against Los Angeles and Winnipeg. But his best outing of all was some wonderful revenge on the Red Wings when he put up five points in a game where the Nordiques lost by a score of 7–6. Not long after, he was put on the shelf with a knee injury that ended to his season.

  “I liked Robbie,” said Michel Goulet. “He was dedicated to hockey and to winning. When he came to Quebec, he didn’t produce as much as everybody thought he would, but I thought he was an excellent guy to play with. He’s passionate about hockey and it shows.”

  Curt Brackenbury also appreciated what Ftorek brought to the team.

  “When you played against him before, he had a lot of intensity. He was 150 pounds soaking wet, but he played out there like he weighed 250. He came to win every shift and every practice. It was tough for him to come in as an American and explain things when you spoke another language. His word was his word.”

  Robbie Ftorek

  Jamie Hislop

  Hislop was a young star on the rise during his time in the WHA with the Cincinnati S
tingers and he scored a career-best 70 points with the club in 1978–79. Since the team was not a part of the merger, he was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets, but he was packaged up along with Barry Legge in a trade with Quebec for Barry Melrose.

  Hislop was arguably the heart and soul of the Nordiques during their first NHL campaign and the only player to appear in all 80 games. His contributions went well beyond offensive production. He was placed on a line with former Cincinnati teammates Robbie Ftorek and Reg Thomas and had several multi-point games throughout the year. Thanks to his dedication and perseverance, he was nominated for the Masterton Trophy. General manager Maurice Fillion had some kind praise for him.

  “For me, the biggest surprise of the year had to be the play of Jamie Hislop,” he said. “I really have to tip my hat to him; he played well in every game of the season for us and gave us so much more than we thought he could give. He never let up for one moment all season.”

  Bob Fitchner

  Fitchner spent six seasons in the WHA earning accolades for his work as a defensive forward and quietly put up decent numbers along the way. He joined the Nordiques late in the 1975–76 season and remained with the club when they became part of the NHL. Although the Pittsburgh Penguins had drafted him nearly a decade earlier, he was a free agent at the time he entered the WHA and they did not attempt to claim him.

  “I was in Quebec City for the WHA years. We had two very good offensive lines and it was a luxury for us to have a line that focused on the defensive end of the game,” he said. “We moved into the NHL with the same philosophy and had a really good start. I think the WHA teams surprised the status quo.”

  The team had originally tagged Fitchner for demotion to the AHL at the beginning of the year, but they quickly realized that his skill as a faceoff man was going to be missed. Over his first 18 outings, he had a very respectable five goals and seven assists. In November, he broke a bone behind his collarbone, and coach Jacques Demers let the press know how that was going to impact the club’s on-ice fortunes.