In this video, Coach Harry Neale rallies the troops prior to a big 1975 game vs. Bobby Hull's Winnipeg Jets
As a WHA hockey coach, Neale's career was anything but boring. In 1975, during his tenure as coach of the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints, Neale became embroiled in a fight with one of his players-the then notorious tough guy Gordie Gallant-in a hotel.
"I had imposed a curfew that night," recalls Neale. "When I called up to his room, he wasn't there. I told his roommate, Mike McMahon, to inform him that there would be a fine of $100." "Gallant came back a little full," as Harry puts it, and when he found out about the fine he came straight up to Neale's room and "cocked me right in the face." Before the kerfuffle was over, Gallant had taken on both Neale and the assistant coach. "Gordie Gallant was one of the toughest guys I've ever seen," reminisces Neale. "When he first came into the WHA he was only 5'10, 170 pounds, and he took on every tough guy there was. And believe me, there were plenty at that time. Last I heard he saved a child and his girlfriend from a burning car...he was 170 pounds of pure steal, he was." ( Courtesy VarsityOnline.).
After the Saints folded in 1976, Neale coached the New England Whalers through the 1977-78 campaign. In the 1977-78 WHA season he coached the Whalers to the Avco Cup Finals as well only to lose to the Winnipeg Jets.
In six WHA seasons with Minnesota and New England, Neale's teams never missed the playoffs as he posted a regular-season record of 208-175-20 and a 32-32 playoff mark.
He went on to coach the Vancouver Canucks. With the Canucks he made a huge error when he passed on Mike Rogers after the WHA folded. Rogers, who played for Neale in New England, went on to record three 100 campaigns with Hartford and New York.
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