Jamal Agnew joined the Lions secondary after being selected in the fifth round (165th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Played four years at the University of San Diego, posted 31 tackles, 13 pass defenses and two interceptions as a senior starter and was named San Diego’s Defensive MVP in 2015.
The Cleveland Crusaders where awarded an WHA franchise operated by Cleveland sports entrepreneur Nick Mileti, who also owned baseball's Indians and the NBA's Cavaliers. Playing out of the 9300 seat Cleveland Arena, initial attendance was one of the better of the league. The bulk of the team was made up of the Broncos' roster, which included Jerry Pinder as well as future hall of famer Gerry Cheevers in net . Cleveland put together a defensively-minded squad which included former NHLer Paul Shmyr, originally drafted by Miami, that rode Cheevers to second place in the East and third overall, allowing the fewest number of goals with 239. Their first round playoff opponents were Philadelphia. Though nearly evenly matched in every stat, the Crusaders swept the Blazers in 4 games due largely in part to Cheevers' stellar play. Unfortunately though, their inaugural run at the Avco Cup fell short in the second round, dropping to the eventual champion New England Whalers in 5.
Maurice Filion served as general manager for the Quebec Nordiques throughout most of their time in the World Hockey Association, and briefly served as coach on three separate occasions. Filion was hired by the Nordiques during their inaugural season and was slated to serve as director of scouting but, after legendary former NHL star and initial Quebec head coach Maurice Richard resigned due to health problems, he took over as head coach. The interim tag was removed after a successful 5-2 start to his WHA career but after the season, Filion assumed role as the team's general manager.
I'll throw in another few WHA players from 1972-73 before moving along to an oddball batch.
Mike Boland spent 4 seasons playing varsity at University of Toronto prior to turning pro with the AHL Springfield Kings. The arrival of the WHA in 1972 saw him selected by the Ottawa Nationals in the 1972 General Player Draft. During his eighth game he suffered a dislocated shoulder and his game was never the same. He finished a season there and then was signed to a free-agent contract by the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. He played two games with the Flyers in 1974-75, which was the extent of his NHL experience.He finished his hockey career in, of all places, Australia before becoming a Gemini Award winner in the world of documentary cinematography.
Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Elena Yo-Yo Rodriguez
Andy Aitkenhead played ten years in various minor leagues out west, most notably appearing in the Allan Cup finals in 1924 and 1926 with the Saskatoon Sheiks. His NHL rookie season of 1932-33 was a Stanley Cup-winning one as he played all eight games for the Broadway Blueshirts, winning six and recording two shutouts en route to the championship in four games over Toronto. At 29, Aitkenhead looked set to be the team's goalie of the future. After playing every game of the following season, though, the team was eliminated from the playoffs quickly and he lost the starter's job the next season to Davey Kerr. Aitkenhead played just ten games, and spent the next six seasons in the PCHL, retiring in 1941.
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 each for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.