MONTREAL (AP) -Highscoring center, Dale McCourt of the St. Catharines Flncups, selected as Canada's top player in the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior League, was selected Tuesday by the Detroit Red Wings as No. 1 in the National Hockey League's amateur draft.
It took 5 3/4 hours for the 18 teams to wade through 17 rounds—with the Red Wings the only team picking in the final two-and gobble up 185 players. Each club paid $1,000 per selection with the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens leading the way with 27 choices, many gained on trades.
It is generally conceded that, beyond the first two rounds (36 players), draft choices have little chance of making an NHL team. Meet are Invited to training camp on a look-see basis.
The Red Wings obviously liked what they saw in McCourt—and McCourt is delighted. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Sudbury, Ont., had 60 goals and 79 assists in 66 games with St. Catharines this season. He finished his OHA career with a record 477 points on 194 goals and 283 assists.