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N. Y. Rangers Still Considering Coach Havent Filled Patricks Post; Ex-Player Expected To Be Named Eventually By SCOTT BAILL1E United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y.. May 10 UP. — Plenty of heirs apparent — but no definite heirs — had a claim to the vacant New York Rangers coaching post today as the club ! still sought a replacement for Lynn Patrick, who handed in his surprise resignation last Friday. Although the Rangers front office wasnt doing much talking, it was considered likely the Rangers would stick to its policy of filling the gap with an ex-Ranger player. Neil Colville, silver-thatched coach of the New Haven Ramblers, is a logical choice to move into Patricks spot as he is thoroughly familiar with a large bulk of the blueshirt roster. However, Colville is short on coaching experience. He only has a year and a half to his credit, having taken over the Rambler icoaching post when Patrick moved up to the Rangers in December of 1948. Debonair Phil Watson, the fiery forward who now coaches the amateur New .York Rovers, Is another ex-blueshirt who might get the job. Always popular in New York, Watson guided the Rangers farm club to trie Eastern Amateur League play-offs championship this past season in his second year at the helm.. Lynns Brother Mentioned Then theres Muzz Patrick, Lynns brother, who is mentioned as another possibility if he could be lured from the Taco-ma Rockets of the Pacific Coast League. The Rockets are also a Ranger farm club as are the St. Paul Saints of the United States Hockey League, coached by ex-blueshirt Clint "Snuffy" Smith. Smith is in his third year as a coach and if the club is after experience hed be a natural choice. Alfie Pike, whose Guelph Biltmores reached the Eastern Canadian junior hockey championships semi-finals, arid Ott Heller also are possibilities. However, Heller would seem to be well set in the Detroit organization. His Indianapolis Caps, a Red Wing farm club, walloped the Cleveland Barons four games straight to win the American League championships. The legendary Cook brothers — Bun. and Bill — are possible choices and certainly the most sentimental ones. Bun now coaches the Heft Barons whom the Caps knocked off while Bill is with Minneapolis in the United States League. Frank Boucher, who took over the Rangers after Les Patrick moved on to Victoria in the Coast League, is not a starter in this coaching derby. He stepped down because of too many front office burdens in the first place, and is completely booked up as the clubs manager and, director of its farm system.
