The breaking point in this prolonged episode came on November 4, 1950. With the two clubs throwing accusations at one another, the league stepped in and took action. Since no resolution could be reached, they had no choice and here is the stunning twist. Marshall was ordered to return to St. Mike's and Laufman and Negladiuk were instructed to return to Guelph.
With all this turmoil going on, you would think Marshall's game would have suffered. Would he be so unhappy and lose his focus? In a game on November 27, 1950, Marshall clearly proved once again that all he wanted was to play hockey. He scored 5 goals for St. Mike's in an an 8-5 victory over the Waterloo Hurricans.
At the conclusion of St. Mike's season in early March of 1951, Marshall would play for his third team. He joined the St. Michael's Monarchs who were a senior team in the OMHL. The following year, 1951-52, Marshall departed for the east-coast and played senior hockey in the MMHL. As a member of the Charlottetown Islanders, he scored 50 goals and 44 assists for 94 points in 84 games.
Tomorrow, we look at Willie Marshall's pro-career in the conclusion of Wille Marshall : AHL Legend.
By: Jim Starr, Hershey, PA
ReplyDeleteWillie Marshall is the kindest, loving, most giving person off the ice. I guess he was on the ice too, since he rarely received a penalty.
No one will argue that he is the greatest AHL player ever. His record setting Goals, Assists, and Points in the AHL will never be broken.
I used to help make ice hockey sticks that were made near Hershey by Dom Dominick, he called his stick: Dominion.
Willie Marshall used the Dominion stick while he was with the AHL "Clippers" in Baltimore. I know that, because I was the 19 year old kid that delivered the sticks to him at the Civic Arena in Baltimore. (By the way, Barry Ashbee of the flyers use the Dominion stick as well, and I would deliver his sticks to the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
When Willie Marshall played in Hershey, he won another Calder Cup Championship. Willie Marshall's jersey hangs in the rafters at the Hershey Bears home arena.
A career Biography has been written about Willie Marshall, entitled "The Willie Marshall Story", look for it on book stands.
In the book, there are many interesting unknown facts and stories that he tells about during his great career. Many of the stories will make you smile, and he explains exactly how he set the new AHL scoring record. The book includes a lot of behind the scene true stories.
Today,(2019) Willie Marshall is preaching the gospel of Jesus at area Senior Living facilities near his home, just 17 miles from Hershey, PA.
I talk with him on the phone several times a year. Never a dull moment, always entertaining, and he has
a kind word for everyone he ever met and play with, and against, during his career.
As a matter of fact: I am going to go to the phone and call him right now. Willie Marshall, What a Guy!