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Plante Walks Back Criticisms of Rangers

Oct. 29, 1964 - Veteran goaltender Jacques Plante (pictured) denied today that he had pictured the New York Rangers as a dissension-riddled hockey team and had asked to be traded.

Plante, currently playing with the American Hockey League Baltimore Clippers, had been quoted by a New York newspaper as saying the Rangers were a “cheap organization” and that he would never play again for Ranger coach Red Sullivan.

A jammed news conference heard Plante deny the charges one by one, claiming he had been misinterpreted and quoted out of context.

“I’ve been in hockey since 1947, and I’ve never knocked the game or any organization in it,” Plante said. “The game has been my life. Why should I knock it?

“I never said I wouldn’t play for Sullivan. I said I couldn’t play for him right now because of my knee.”

Plante was sent to Baltimore when the season started after complaining of an injured right knee. His injury, diagnosed as cartilage trouble, is being treated by the Clippers’ team physician and, according to Plante, “improving with every game.”

Sullivan, who had been quoted as saying he wanted to trade Plante, denied that statement. 
“I never said I wanted to trade Jacques,” the coach explained. “I said I’d consider trading him.”

Plante said he was glad when he was dealt to the Rangers a year ago last June “and I’m still glad to be with the organization. I hope to stay with them after my playing days are over.”

“I said I was happy playing in Baltimore,” he added, “and that’s true. I’m happy because I’m able to play.”

A six-time Vezina Trophy winner and winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player three years ago, Plante was traded to New York by the Montreal Canadiens in a seven-player swap in June 1963.

Ironically, Gump Worsley, the goalie the Rangers gave up in the trade to get Plante, is also playing in the American League. Worsley is the netminder for the unbeaten Quebec Aces.



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