Transcribed from the Central Islander March 1968

Contributed by Carol (Mercer) Walsh

Gander Flyers Finish Season in Cellar

Jacques Allard Sets New Scoring Marks

The 1967-68 N.A.H.A. season is all over for the Gander Flyers and while proved disappointing in the fact that the Flyers dropped from first place last year to the cellar slot this year, still there were some consolation prizes.  One of the biggest was the record breaking performance of playing coach Jacques Allard.  The shifty center turned in a year-long display of prolific goal scoring and play making that will be nearly impossible to duplicate.  Allard’s 62 goals and 59 assists, a total of 131 points shattered all the N.A.H.A. records for scoring.  Mike Kelly of the  Flyers held the old record for goals, 44 in a season, while Alex Faulkner established the old assists record of 57.

Scoring championships are not new to Jacques Allard.  In the Maritime Senior Hockey League Allard twice topped the league in points and only last year tied with Mike Kelly for the N.A.H.A. scoring honours as each finished with 91 points.

Allard a native of Chicoutimi, Que. Came to Newfoundland in the 1965-66 season as a player with the Gander Flyers.  In the past three seasons his performance has thrilled the Newfoundland fans and 29 Allard is rated by many as the best player to come to the province.

Another bright spot for the Gander fans was the late season spurt by local teenager, Eddie Philpott.  The lanky left winger earned a berth on the Flyers and during the second half of the schedule combined with Allard at center and speedy Leo Kane on right wing to form a very formidable offensive line for the Gander team.  It was this combination that led the Flyers to an unexpected 12-3 romp over the Conception Bay CeeBees in Harbour Grace late in the season.

Plans for the 1968-69 season are underway and as usual the big “Ifs” are playing the lead role.  When a team finishes in the cellar, support of the fans sometimes drifts away but with the potential and promise that the Flyers showed in the latter part of the season, fans are still confident that the Gander Flyers will be able to ice a team next year that will be a top competitor once again for the Herder Trophy.

Statistics Gander Flyers 1967-68