NHL Notes : Dailey, 32, Is Trying a Comeback

It doesn’t happen often that a National Hockey League player has a second chance at a career after staying away from the game for five years. But Bob Dailey, who last played for the Philadelphia Flyers in 1981, is trying to make a comeback attempt with the Flyers’ Hershey farm team at the age of 32.

Dailey’s career was halted in November of 1981 when he suffered a serious injury to his left ankle as he crashed into the boards in a game at Buffalo.

“Bob has worked very hard to get in shape over the last several weeks and has been skating with the Flyers in practice the last two weeks,” said General Manager Bobby Clarke.

“The ankle appears to be holding up well at this point. We will evaluate his play over a period of time to determine whether or not he can make it back to the NHL. We should get an indication of his progress early on as Hershey plays a lot of games in the next week or so.”

Over his career, Dailey had 94 goals and 231 assists for 325 points in 561 games. In 304 games with the Flyers, Dailey had 56 goals and 138 assists for 194 points.

He holds the Flyers’ record for goals in a season by a defenseman with 21 during the 1977-78 season. Dailey played in two NHL All-Star games and twice was the recipient of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers’ outstanding defenseman, in 1979 and 1981.

New York Ranger goaltender Glen Hanlon, citing the age at which a youngster should start in the nets:

“Eight weeks is a great time. Stick him in a goal and roll some things at him.”

One of the jokes told at a recent Ranger team photo session:

“It was so cold last Friday, I saw a chicken with a capon.”

Detroit Red Wing defenseman Reed Larson on what keeps him going in the NHL:

“It’s a good life and I love to play the game. But I’m yearning for a .500 season or over.”

The Red Wings currently have the worst record in the NHL.

Hard-boiled New York Ranger defenseman Larry Melnyk, upon being asked to smile while his picture was taken:

“No smile. No smile. Well . . . maybe one.”

When 43-year-old Bryan Lewis handled the duties for a Winnipeg-Montreal game earlier this season, he became only the third referee in the 69-year-old history of the National Hockey League to officiate in 1,000 regular-season games. Lewis joins Ron Wicks and Bruce Hood in the prestigious “1,000-Game Club.”

“Bryan’s accomplishment is one that we are very proud of,” said NHL Commissioner John Ziegler. “His dedication and professionalism are to be commended.”

A native of Alliston, Ontario, Lewis joined the professional ranks in 1967-68 when he officiated in the American Hockey League and defunct Western Hockey League. He spent two seasons in the minor leagues before making is NHL debut on Jan. 6, 1970 when the Los Angeles Kings visited the Montreal Canadiens. Lewis assessed two minor penalties in his debut--Butch Goring for hooking and Dale Rolfe for holding.