Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Shoot: L
Born: 18 Feb 1946, Moose Jaw SK (d. 2018)
| 
| 
|
Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)
| year | team | |||||||||||
| 1972-73 | Cleveland | |||||||||||
| 1973-74 | Cleveland | |||||||||||
| 1974-75 | Indianapolis | |||||||||||
| 1975-76 | Indianapolis | |||||||||||
| Totals: |
|
Winning Makes a Difference • by Rich Passan • The Hockey Spectator • February 2, 1973
Take it from Jim Wiste, There's nothing like playing for a winner. That's what the balding center iceman has been doing this season with the Cleveland Crusaders. And he's enjoying every minute of it. "The season goes by so fast and you enjoy it more when you're winning," said Wiste, who has been on more losers than winners. "When you're on a loser, you find yourself counting the games until the end of the season. You wonder about what you're going to do in the summer." "That's an indication you're not in the game," Wiste continued his analysis. "But when you're wondering when you play next, that's an indication you're ready and you'll play better hockey. A lot of people might say that's not a professional way to think, but it's human nature that if you're enjoying something, you're looking forward to it," Wiste said. And the articulate Denver University graduate hasn't looked back once this season, except for an eight-game stretch that saw him on the sidelines with a bruised hip. That, believe it or not, was his biggest disappointment this season. Jim is probably the most unselfish hockey player for the C's. "I like to pass more," he confessed. "And like my wingers to shoot. I have a tendency not to shoot when I have the puck and I never get angry at a winger for shooting. After all, the wingers complement me." "If my wingers don't shoot, we might never get a shot at the net," he laughed, "The centerman should get the puck to his wingers unless he's a great shot. My shot isn't bad, but it's just in my mind that I'm going to pass." Wiste performs on the C's third line, if you can call it that. Cleveland boasts probably the three best balanced lines in the World Hockey Association when it comes to scoring. Coach Bill Needham does not want one line scoring every game, He prefers to see all three lines clicking because the opposition then would not be able to concentrate on a particular trio. Wiste's line is the best checking for Cleveland, so let's call it the third line. This is a new role for the 26-year-old native of Moose Jaw, Sask., who came right out of Denver to play on the power play for the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League four years ago. "I centered for Cliff Koroll (now with the Chicago Black Hawks) and Brian Bradley (now with the New York Raiders) and we all had good years," said Wiste. "I started the next season with Chicago and played nine games with Stan Mikita on his left wing. Then, I broke my hand." "When I came back, we were in first place and on a winning streak and I saw spot duty justifiably," he recalled, "I was more or less a checker. We wound up in first, but you have to feel as though you're contributing something or else you won't go out and do your job." The following season, Wiste suffered a knee injury and has bounced around the minor leagues for the last two seasons before signing a two-year contract with the Crusaders. His new role doesn't bother him, "If we weren't winning, I naturally would think I could do a better job," he said. But let's face it. The guys are playing well. I'm happy where I'm playing. I'm just happy to be playing." Wiste is one of the few pro products of Junior and American college hockey. He spent a little over two seasons with the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League before putting in three seasons with Denver University. Surprisingly, Jim believes American schools will someday surpass the Junior A brand of hockey in Canada. "For one thing," Wiste began, "the players will have a couple more years to develop in American colleges. That means a lot to certain individuals." "The Canadians turn pro when they're 20, while the American college graduates are usually 21 or 22. You're stronger when you're a couple years older. Some juniors come out too early and hurt their careers. A lot of college coaches stress fundamentals and skating," Wiste added. "At Denver, we had terrific coaching. We played by the pro rules during practice and this helps in the conversion." It didn't help Jim that much when he went right from the DU campus to the training camp of the Black Hawks. "There were only 32 guys there," he remembered, "so you can see I was playing against the fast guys right away." "I think I built their confidence up the first week," he quipped. "I had a broken nose and a cut on my head." But it's all been worth it to Wiste, who hopes to apply his degree in finance after he retires. Which, he hopes, won't be for a long time. |
|
Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1973-74 (by Reyn Davis & Charley Hallman)
A great collegian at Denver University, an All-America and co-captain his senior year ... Best year as a pro came in 1968-69 when he had 32 goals and 44 assists for Dallas of the Central Hockey League ... Last year chimed in 28 goals and 43 assists for the Crusaders ... Got in a memorable brawl in St. Paul with fan which proved most controversial ... Native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, played in NHL for both Chicago and Vancouver ... Split 1971-72 between Rochester and Providence of the AHL and Seattle of the WHL. |
_______________________________________
Home • Book • Credits & Legal Stuff
(c) Scott Surgent