Reg Kent centered not one, but two of the most prolific scoring lines in Johnstown professional hockey history.
That fact alone probably merits the accolades Kent will receive Sunday when his No. 7 Johnstown Jets jersey is retired and raised to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena rafters, where it will join Don Hall’s No. 9, Dick Roberge’s No. 11 and Galen Head’s No. 8.
But all of those points only represented part of the reason for Kent’s success in Johnstown, where he still resides with his wife, Barb, a city native.
“I’m not saying he was Wayne Gretzky, but he sure had the mind of a Wayne Gretzky,” said Gene Peacosh, a natural center who played left wing on a line with Kent and right wing Galen Head in 1968-69. “He could see the ice surface. He could see everywhere. That’s what made him such a great setup man.
“Most guys could only see where they were skating. Reggie could see guys coming into position. If a guy was in the open, he hit him,” said Peacosh, 60, during a telephone interview from British Columbia. “Galen had a great shot off the right wing, and he’d hit him, but I didn’t lack any passes.”
Indeed. Kent (42 goals-97 assists-139 points), Head (67-54-121) and Peacosh (44-43-87) combined for 153 goals and 347 points that ’68-69 season in the former Eastern Hockey League.
It might be difficult to imagine, but the 1967-68 line of Kent (38-106-144), Head (53-52-105) and Johnny Gofton (63-59-122) was even more productive, with three 100-point men and a combined 371 points.
“Reg was a dipsy-doodler and stickhandler,” said Gofton, 65, of Tillsonburg, Ontario. “He could deke and hang onto the puck. We went down the wings and got free. He’d give us the puck and, ‘Bang.’ That was about it.
“There was a lot of chemistry. Things clicked for us. I could skate pretty good. Galen could shoot pretty good. Reggie seemed to attract the guys, then, ‘Bang,’ away we’d go. It was just the way it worked out.”
Kent finished as the third-leading scorer on Johnstown’s all-time list with 818 points, including 274 goals, from 1965-74.
The Willingdon, Alberta, native played 601 games for the Jets. His 144 points set a single-season record in ’67-68.
“Playing in Johnstown was great,” said Kent, 64, who has been a Chiefs’ season-ticket holder since he and his wife returned to the city six years ago. “I was a young kid coming out of the Detroit (Red Wings) camp. (Former Jets GM) John Daley brought me into town. It was a great experience. I played with a lot of great guys and met a lot of nice people. Johnstown is a really nice place to play hockey. We need to keep hockey in Johnstown.”
Some well-known names from Johnstown hockey history will help celebrate during Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. game against the rival Wheeling Nailers.
Among those scheduled to participate in the “Hockey Heroes Ceremony” are: Hall and Head; Chiefs’ 20th anniversary team members Dmitri Tarabrin and Rick Boyd; Johnstown Jets/Red Wings defenseman Harry Shaw; Jets enforcer Dave Birch; Johnstown Wing Steve Emmett; Jets goaltender Denny Erickson; and former Chiefs President/ECHL Chairman James Edwards Sr.
“It’s quite an honor,” Kent said of No. 7 being retired. “There are going to be a whole lot of people there. It’s wonderful. I’m very honored. There are some pretty classy people’s numbers hanging from the rafters.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.
Chiefs
Related Photos
-
Galen Head (left), Reg Kent (center) and Gene Peacosh (right) combined to score 153 goals and 347 points in 1968-69. File Photo/The Tribune-Democrat
Discussion
Lucky seven
Chiefs set to retire Kent's number
- Chiefs
-
-
Slapshot Cup expands to 18 teams in second year
The Slapshot Cup Hockey Tournament has expanded for its second year in Johnstown.
-
Former players rally to help ‘Ziggy'
Randy Rowe felt it was so important to wear the specially designed Ziggy’s Fundraiser sweater that he juggled his schedule and planned a 91⁄2-hour drive from Belleville, Ontario, to Richland Township.
-
Johnstown sufferes an epic loss
The final seconds ticked down in the Johnstown Chiefs’ ECHL existence on Saturday night, and even though the hometown team trailed by four goals, a standing-room-only crowd began chanting, “Let’s go Chiefs.”
That chant would be nothing out of the ordinary on most nights. But this game was the last game.
Twenty-two ECHL seasons and thousands of memories came to a conclusion when the Chiefs dropped a 5-3 contest to Elmira at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. -
Mike Mastovich: ‘A sad night for Johnstown’
Scott Allen stood on the New York Islanders bench during Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
Long Island and the NHL is about as far from Johnstown and the ECHL as one gets on a sunny afternoon. -
Joe Gorden: City teams usually on thin ice
A sellout crowd turned out on Saturday to say goodbye to the ECHL’s
Johnstown Chiefs in their last game at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. The irony was obvious. -
Nailers to play 11 games in Johnstown next year
The thought of loyal Johnstown Chiefs fans rooting for the Wheeling Nailers might have been difficult to grasp a few months ago.
But next season, Johnstown’s hockey fans have no other choice. -
Mike Mastovich: 10 Defining moments in Chiefs history
So, this is it.
Twenty-two ECHL seasons and 1,518 regular-season games.
It ends tonight at a sold-out Cambria County War Memorial Arena. -
Chiefs drop final road game
The Johnstown Chiefs dropped the final road game in team history on Friday night, falling behind early and failing to catch up to the Cincinnati Cyclones in a 5-1 loss in front of more than 10,000 fans at U.S. Bank Arena.
- Arena confirms: Wheeling Nailers to play some games in Johnstown next year
-
From goalies to grinders to scorers, the Chiefs have seen it all
Nineteen seasons of covering the Johnstown Chiefs have been filled with numerous ups and downs, unexpected twists and more than enough bizarre antics.
- More Chiefs Headlines
-
Slapshot Cup expands to 18 teams in second year
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
