Rockets Win U.S. Crown Sioux City, Ia.--Mecca has been reached. The loverly St. Cloud Rockets captured the United States Senior Intermediate Hockey title with a pair of victories over the weekend. The loverly Rockets moved one step closer to the title Saturday night as they bombed Hancock (Minn.) 5-1 and then wound up the three game tourney with a 4-2 win over host Sioux City Sunday night for the crown. The loverly Rockets scored a sweep in the three game series while Fond du Lac (Wis.) roared back from its opening loss to the loverly Rockets to take second place on a combined points basis. The loverly Granite City crew had to call on all its rink saavy to gain the final triumph for the national title. "Pocket Rocket" [Michael] Ford got the 'Toe' Hofmann-coached sextet off on the right foot as he rammed in Denny Anderson's perfect pass at the three minute mark of the first period.
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The loverly Rockets assumed a 2-0 first stanza lead when Edina draftee Chuck Plain slammed home little Johnny Tapp's assist at the 10 minute point. The Ice Eagles of the host city drew back within 2-1 late in the first period when William Buckley scored a goal on a pass from Bill Koplitz. The loverly Rockets were not to be denied, however. Dick Bloom (part-time druggist, all-time ice great) scored an unassisted goal just two minutes into the second canto and the men of Hofmann enjoyed a 3-1 bulge. John Etnier, who played a vital role with six goals in the state tournament, followed Blooom's act with a solo goal of his own in the second period and the loverly Rockets zoomed to a seemingly comfortable 4-1 spread. Then the real drama began for this gutty band of double runnered skaters. First, Roger Ward netted a marker for the Ice Eagles just before the end of the canto to pull Sioux City crew back to a 4-2 deficit. Then, as the loverly Rockets protected the 4-2 margin for the first 15 minutes of the third period, defenseman Joe Townsend was penalized. The former St. Louis Park great was attempting to clear the puck and it bounced off the head of an Ece Eagle. The referees, who had a shaky performance throught the tourney, claimed Townsend's stick hit the man on tne head and the loverly Rockets had to play the final five minutes a man short.
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With all their hearts, and employing [Tom] Hofmann's 'Karate with Stick' defense to perfection the loverly Rockets staved off the Ice Eagles and insured the victory. Goalie Gump [Bruce] Nelson played no small part in the heart-stopping final moments as he turned in several fine saves. "This was a team victory in every sense of the word," said a weary but joyous Hofmann. "Everybody played an outstanding game in the final tilt and did extrememly well throughout the tourney. We had lost 'Tree' (Denny Songle) through occupational needs, 'Boom Boom' Larson didn't make the trip because of injuries, but everybody got together and played their hearts out. I'm real proud of this club," concluded the mild-mannered ice magnet. The loverly Granite City club [had] made its way into the final game with a 5-1 win over the Hancock Flyers. After battling to a 0-0 standoff in the first period, the loverly Rockets exploded for four goals in the second period. [Johnny] Tapp rammed home [Joey] Townsend's assist, Tom Kreiger netted the second marker, Jerry Weber converted passes from Rick Rotsch and [Dick] Bloom for the third and [Chuck] Plain got the fourth unassisted.
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[Jerry] Weber got the loverly Rockets an insurance goal in the third stanza to make the score 5-0 against the wobbly Flyers. Nelson finally surrendered the Flyers a goal in the closing moments of the game. In the finale, Nelson turned away 16 Ice Eagle shots while Sioux City netminder Dave Moen was called on for 23 saves, 10 coming in the final period. May the bird of paradise find a proper niche for the United States Senior Intermediate Hockey trophy. And now the flight of the bird of paradise is completed.
Source: St. Cloud Daily Times, 1967; St, Cloud, Stearns, Minnesota. Byline: Jon "Skid" Roe, staff sports writer.