The choice: Halifax . . . or Howe?

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Guy Charron, the head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, never will forget the first time he was involved in an NHL trade.
Charron, a rookie with the 1970-71 Montreal Canadiens, was closing in on his 22nd birthday when he learned that he was about to be reassigned to the Habs’ AHL farm team, the Halifax Voyageurs.
In fact, he says he had his suitcase packed.
Then, on Jan. 13, 1971, he learned that he and forwards Bill Collins and Mickey Redmond had been dealt to the Detroit Red Wings for left-winger Frank Mahovlich. Despite having been born in Verdun, Que., Charron said, he was “excited” to leave the Canadiens.
“I was excited because I was being reassigned to Montreal’s farm team and, instead of that, I got to play with Mr. Howe and Mr. Delvecchio,” Charron said Saturday night. “I couldn’t be complaining about that.”
For years, Alex Delvecchio centred a line featuring Gordie Howe on the right side and any number of players on the left side.
“Here I am,” Charron said, “I have my suitcase to go to Halifax or to go to Detroit to play with Howe and Delvecchio.
“I think I liked the idea of playing with Howe and Delvecchio.”
Charron finished that season with 12 points in 24 games and would go on to play more than three seasons in Detroit before moving on to the Kansas City Scouts — he and defenceman Claude Houde were dealt by Detroit for defencemen Bart Crashley and Larry Giroux and forward Ted Snell — and later signing as a free agent with the Washington Capitals.
And how would Charron advise his players to deal with the uncertainty that comes with
“My message would be,” he said, “that you have got to control what you can control; what you can’t control, you can’t control.
“These things are part of hockey and when you choose that profession you know that these things can happen.”

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com