The Montreal Canadiens host the Chicago Black Hawks tonight in the seventh and deciding game of the 1965 Stanley Cup Final.  The big question is, will the teams keep up the home-ice tendency that has been the norm throughout this series?  If so, the Canadiens are obvious favourites.  If not, and the Hawks can break the home-ice string as they managed to  do against Detroit, then it will truly be an upset, at least as far as the oddsmakers are concerned.

Stanley Cup vets like Dick Duff and Glenn Hall will be key men tonight.

The home team has won 17 of 19 playoff games this spring.  With that in mind, the Canadiens have been installed as anywhere from  8 1/2 to 5, to 2 to 1 favourites to capture Lord Stanley’s mug tonight.

Hodge, Hall likely goalies

Neither club has made any announcement regarding lineup changes for game seven.  Montreal coach Toe Blake refused to name his goalkeeper, but it seems unlikely that he would switch from Charley Hodge at this late date.  Except for his impromptu  first start of the series, Hodge has played well for Montreal.

Charley Hodge will likely start game seven for Montreal.

Gump Worsley has been  in uniform for the Habs as backup, and presents an adequate option if Hodge runs into trouble.

Glenn Hall will most certainly get the start in goal for Chicago.  Except for one period, Hall has been the man in goal for the Hawks and there is little doubt he gives Chicago their best chance to win.

Glenn Hall will, as usual, be between the pipes for the Hawks

There was talk that the Hawks may dress Johnny McKenzie in place of young Dennis Hull.  Hull was in uniform for Thursday’s game but did not see the ice.

The Cat picks the Hawks

New York Ranger general manager Emile “The Cat” Francis told Toronto Star reporter Red Burnett that he expects the Black Hawks to rise to the occasion and take game seven on the road.

Ranger GM Emile Francis picks Chicago in game 7.

Francis said, “Hawks are all even with the Habs at three wins each and they have yet to play a good game.  Tonight with that extra $1,000 per man riding on the outcome they might turn in the same kind of effort they used to blast Red Wings in the seventh game of the semi-finals right in Detroit.

“Up to that zero hour it had been a homer’s series but Hawks won on Detroit ice when defeat meant elimination.  They might turn the same trick here in Montreal.”

The winners of tonight’s game will share $36,000, while the losers will split $18,000.

Rochester AHL champs

The Rochester Americans captured the Calder Cup, emblematic of the American Hockey League championship, with a convincing 6-2 win over the Hershey Bears last night at home in Rochester.  The Amerks won the series four games to one.

Gerry Cheevers

The Rochester line of Billy Harris, Jim Pappin and Dick Gamble accounted for all six of the winners’ goals.  Pappin led the way  three goals.  Harris netted a pair, with veteran  Gamble adding the other.  Gene Ubriaco and Ralph Keller replied for the Bears.

Gerry Cheevers, the AHL’s top goalkeeper this season, stopped 36 Hershey drives for the win.  Sixteen of his saves were made in a wide-open first period when the issue was still in doubt.

Flyers going to Memorial Cup Final

The Niagara Falls Flyers whipped the Lachine Maroons 6-1 last night in Niagara Falls to secure their spot in the Memorial Cup final.  The Flyers will represent Eastern Canada against the winner of the Winnipeg Braves – Edmonton Oil Kings Western final.

Bill Goldsworthy

Niagara Falls established the outcome early, scoring four times in the opening frame.  Don Marcotte paced the Flyer attack with two goals.  Singles came off the sticks of Bill Goldsworthy, Bud Debrody, Ted Snell and Gilles Marotte.  Graham Bruder was the lone Lachine goal-getter.

Lachine’s 17-year-old goalie Cliff Rose put on a brilliant display of goalkeeping. Only his fine work kept the Flyers from reaching double figures on the night.

The Flyers are hoping for a Memorial Cup title as a going away present for owner-general manager Hap Emms.  Emms will be leaving the Flyers to take over as the new General Manager of the Boston Bruins.  Emms’ last Memorial Cup win was in 1963.