Hockey: Ned Harkness
Ned Harkness was a college coach, mainly at Cornell University, where his star goalie in 1970 was Ken Dryden, who helped the Big Red win the NCAA Championship. So, Detroit management thought the Big Red boss could help the Red Wings. Didn’t happen. A 13-0 blowout loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Jan. 2, 1971, was the last straw. Players signed a petition stating they wouldn’t play another game for Harkness and gave it to GM Sid Abel. The GM wanted to fire Harkness, but Wings brass sided with Harkness. Abel resigned in protest, and Harkness was promoted to GM, concluding as coach with a 12-22-4 mark. Minor league coach Doug Barkley replaced Harkness behind the bench.