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for me. I‘ve had the date Dec. 17 etched in my mind ever since it beâ€" #ame apparent Don was going to stick it out with Stars. I‘m a native of Toronto, and ever since 1 can remember, I‘ve worâ€" shipped every blue and white team that has called the Gardens ho me. Since my arrival in Waterloo though, you can count on the fingers of one hand the times I‘ve passed through the turnstiles of the Cariton St. Cashbox. But you can rest assured wild, wild horses couldn‘t have kept me away last Wednesday, my first chance ever to cover a National Hockâ€" ey League game. And to cover a kid who has turned celebrity in an adult world practically overnight, without., I‘m pleased to report, shedding a sinâ€" gular quality that for years has made him so popular and respected among coaches, opposition and peers. 7:25 p.m. MAPLE LEAF GARDENS Toronto Maple Leafs beat Minnesota 4â€"2, but North Star goalie Don Beaupre shone brightly Reporter makes his way to press room, notes familiar faces from Toronto media, heads downstairs to watch warmâ€"up. Nothing special, though deadâ€"serious look on goalie‘s face indicates butterflies on location. Reâ€" porter laughs, wonders who has more butâ€" terflies, goalie or Reporter himself. Big night for both, he surmises. 7:55 p.m. Following example of others, Reporter makes way to press box, takes seat and foâ€" cusses on goalie during national anthem. No tellâ€"tale signs of nervousness. Same can‘t be said for Reporter. Press box 55 feet directly above ice surface, and he can‘t stand heights. Butterflies can fly, reporters can‘t. FIRST PERIOD The Homecoming He‘s now the sensational Don Beaupre, but he‘s still Don Beaupre. Little action for first few minutes. At 3:57 goalie makes initial stop off Leafdefenseman Barry Melrose. Reporter records incident. Other nearby reporters wonder why. Midway through period, Leaf centre Darryl Sittler walks in alone. Great pad save. Three minuâ€" tes later Ian Turnbull sent in clear, shot deâ€" Last Woednesday was a big night in the lWe of goalie Don Beaupre. The 19â€"yearâ€"oid native of Waterioo was between the pipes at Mapile Loat Gaerdens for the visiting Minnesota North Stars against Maple Loats. And while it was his 15th National Hockey Loague game of the season, it was the first Beaupre had played in front of so many relatives and friends. It was, in short, a homecoming of sorts, with Toronto being the closest NHL city to the one where Beaupre grew up and played his minor hockey. Newspaper and radio reports had been filtering back all season concernâ€" ing the underâ€"age rookie sensation, but this was the first chance for local people to see the real thing. One of their own, playing in the NHL. It was also a homecoming of sorts press box chorus emphasizes magnitude of performance. 14 minutes. Quick save off cirâ€" cling Ron Ellis. Seconds later, robs Ellis again. 14:46. Bruce Boudreau handed puck all along in front of goalie. Goalie makes glove save. Grinch. No rebound. 17.minutes. Quick reflex move leads to sparkling block off Ellis shot from faceoff. 17:53. Lightning glove hand snares Sittler drive on 3â€"onâ€"1. Reâ€" porters in press box throw up hands, refer to stat sheet to check facts on goalie. Barely have time to look up at 19:15 when goalie makes save of night again on Sittler. Again on rising shot to glove side. **What a save, the kid‘s phenomenal, and he‘s just turned NINETEEN!‘* chortles former NHL goaltending great Charlie Hodge from 55 feet above the ice surface. Constant buzz down media row. Superlatives abound. Moments later, 19:48, shutout angle evaporates. Puck dug out along boards, Leafs Rocky Saganiuk whirls and slips tying goal through goalie‘s legs. Deafening roar from crowd. Opportunity long time in comâ€" ing, and they weren‘t going to waste it. Leafs outshoot Stars 11â€"8. INTERMISSION "At the start of training camp this year, we felt Don could play in the National Hockâ€" ey League, but we weren‘t sure if he was good enough right then to play for us,"‘ said North Stars clever GM Lou Nanne. ‘"But ever since day one he‘s just been outstandâ€" ing. ‘‘He only allowed one goal in the two games he worked in Sweden for us, then we watched him beat Edmonton when we only had half our team there â€" that convinced us to keep him around at least until the end of training camp. Right after that, back in Calâ€" gary the only goal he allowed was on a penâ€" alty shot, then in the last preâ€"season game he goes into Sudbury and shuts out Quebec. ‘‘That convinced us right there that not only had he been our best goalie in camp and was good enough to keep, but also that he deserved to start our opening game."‘ Wasn‘t there a risk there, asks the Reâ€" porter, with North Stars and their fans still reminiscing about the heroi¢s of goalies Gilles Meloche and Gary Edwards in last spring‘s StanleyCup playoffs? flects off goalie‘s shoulder. Later in first period intermission, commentator Bob Goldâ€" ham to refer to play as save of period. 16:08. Brief scrap results in marathon penalty disâ€" cussion. Bottom line, Leafs continue powerâ€" play Goalie makes handful of spectacular saves. Makes Reporter forget he feels dizzy. Period ends, Stars up 1â€"0 on Tom Younghans breakway goal. INTERMISSION _ Reporter notes shot on goal even 12â€"12. Sits by himself in corner of press room, watches first period intermission on TV. Much talk about goalie. "Good puck sense, follows it well, and for a little % pretty strong too,"‘ says Bob Golidham. "He‘s so confident, he really believes in himself, and we believe in him too,"‘ offers Stars leading scorer Bobby Smith. So will Leafs, after next 20 minutes. SECOND PERIOD ‘*Nope, it wasn‘t a difficult decision,"‘ said the Minnesota brain trust. ‘"We (manageâ€" Rather sedate first portion, one big stop on blast from Borje Saiming near midway mark. Then, around 14â€"minute mark, goalie comes to centre stage to sing his song, and ment) had no second thoughts at all about it. Vuring a pregnant pause, the Reporter The players have had the greatest of conâ€" queries if there was any trepidation on the fidence in him right from the start, they‘re part of the coach in starting goalie in front of tremendously impressed with the way he‘s family and friends. performed, they think he‘s really something. _ Sopnmor laughs. Not at question. At suggesâ€" And the fans are really enthused with him, tion. we‘re a young club and he‘s a new young ‘‘Are you kidding? I don‘t worry about anyâ€" The transition, the Reporter wonders , the jump from junior to pro at age 19, the sudden thrust into the media limelight, how has Beaupre handled it all? *‘*We work, work, work like a dog all night long and then leave a guy standing wide open in front of the net like that," spurted North Star coach Glen Sonmor after the fact. ‘‘*We‘ve got one defenceman behind the net, I don‘t know where the other one was, and just go completely asleep. There‘s not any posâ€" sible excuse for allowing a goal like that." With the oneâ€"goal deficit, Stars e‘ect to pull goalie with 1:08 to go. Moments lawer, puck is turned over in Leaf end, Sittler feeds Ron Ellis and the 35â€"yearâ€"old veteran bags his first of the year into the empty net. Relief mirrors in his face. Not only because he finâ€" ally got his first. More likely because he knew that was the only way that he would be able to score on Stars on this occasion. Final score 4â€"2 Toronto. Final shots 34â€"31 Toronto. Second star Don Beaupre Minnesota. Disapâ€" pointed at losing, declines opportunity to take a bow. OUTSIDE DRESSING ROOM Reporter joins flock of media sorts firing questions at Sonmor . Answers every one coâ€" lorfully, informatively, with no attempt to hide frustration or disappointment. ‘‘Yes, we‘re struggling, there‘s no doubt goore about it,"‘ he says amidst Coke bottle SWigs. one u; ‘‘We‘re just having a terrible time trying to YÂ¥ score goals lately. And we‘re asleep mentalâ€" tjonal ly, we‘ve allowed far too many goals at the _ 5 end of periods like we did out there tonight."" . ropay "I think he‘s handled the media beautifulâ€" ly," said Nanne. "He‘s a sincere, confident young man, and his allâ€"round attitude has been excellent. Up to this point, I‘d say he‘s the most solid addition we could have hoped to add to our club this year. ‘‘Goaltending is such an important posiâ€" tion, we just couldn‘t have added a more imâ€" North Stars regain lead at 7:49 on disputed goal by Tom McCarthy. Lead shortlived though. 9:14, goalie makes chest save on Saâ€" ganiuk, but large rebound poked through legs by Boudreau. 2â€"2. Few chances from that point on. Looks like tielooming. 18:01. Good spade work by Leafs Ron Ellis and Bill Derâ€" lago gets puck free behind net. Centred quickly to Dan Maloney, all by his lonesome in front of goalie. Quick shot. 3â€"2 Leafs. Goaâ€" lie got left pad on shot, but puck trickled through . â€" e portant player."‘ THIRD PERIOD ‘*Yeh, wasn‘t that goalie just sensaâ€" tional?" said his buddy. "If that was any OTHER NHL goalie, the score would have been about 15â€"2 for Leafs," one urchin was overheard to spout. ‘‘*Are you kidding? I don‘t worry about anyâ€" thing with that kid. Beaupre was very strong again for us Tonight, in fact, he‘s played a series of oulstanding games for us." Reporter closes notebook. Heads inside dressing rpom. INSIDE DRESSING ROOM Reporter acclimatizes self to surroundâ€" ings. Notes goalie sitting across room with handful of Toronto reporters. Approaches, notes goalie is visibly withdrawn, disappointâ€" ed, altho:fiapolitely answering all questions. One media type leaves. Reporter moves into small circle, extends congratulatory saâ€" lutation to goalie for excellent outing. Goalie thanks, without looking up. Then, as Reâ€" porter asks whether goalie has endured tougher period than tonight‘s second, goalie recognizes voice, looks up, and responds warmly. As the Reporter makes his way out of Maple Leaf Gardens, his first professional assignment clutched m his right hand, he passes a straggling group of youngsters enâ€" gaging in postâ€"game analysis. The goalie pauses, stops stuffing his equipâ€" ment for a moment, and for the first time since the end of the game, a wide grin breaks out all over Don Beaupre‘s face. "I guess not,"‘ he responds, casting a knowâ€" ing glance only he and the Reporter underâ€" stand. 11:10 p.m. *‘Yeh, I think against the Islanders that game in Minnesota,"‘ goalie replies. ‘"Let‘s put it this way, aside from getting a shutout or a win, there‘s not much more you could have asked for tonight, is there?"‘ quesâ€" tions the Reporter. ‘*Not really, it was just another game, just another arena,‘"‘ said the goalie. ‘"No, not really another arena, I‘ve played here beâ€" fore, where nearly all the other arenas were new to me. It‘s been pretty hard to get it together mentally for this game, it‘s been a pretty hectic week, a lot of people came down to see me. I saw a lot of people down here tonight that I knew. But I only had eight tickets, alâ€" most all the people that came from Waterloo already had them." Another Toronto reporter asks a question about the game, and for a moment, the goaâ€" lie‘s animation disappears as he responds with a puzzled look concerning Stars‘ current slump. He quietly resumes packing his gear into his dufflebag, and the Reporter senses it is time to leave. With the technical interrogation thinning out, the Reporter changes subjects and asks whether this game was any different from the others. "I don‘t really know, the guys told me right at the start I‘d get away with a lot of stuff the first time around, but that they (shooters) would get to know you better. But then Sittler came in twice tonight and both times shot to my glove side, which I‘d have to call my strength." Goring?‘‘ a North Star reporter asks. "Yeh, that one,"‘ says goalie. Are the shooters in the league starting to see any weaknesses in your play, asks the Reporter. Sure was, thought the Reporter. Senseâ€" ‘*"The one where you made that big save on By Rick Campbel! Chronicle Sports Editor