THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Dr. Bob Farber, a dentist who
bears the name "Killer" on the back of
his jersey, said at first his wife was
apprehensive.
"At first she though I was nuts.
She took out more disability insur-
ance." But, he aded, "They're all sup-
portive. They all know how crazy we
are about it."
Crazy isn't the word. In Shaprio's
case, it's more like obsessed. One of his
teammates told a story about the time
the team bought uniforms. Shapiro
was so excited to get into his that he
got up at 3 a.m. just to try it on.
In fact, Shapiro's wife helps feed
his hockey habit. As a birthday pre-
sent last December she paid for her her
husband to go to the Red Wings fan-
tasy camp in Port Huron. Not only did
Shapiro win a trophy as most im-
proved player of the week, he got to
play a game in Joe Louis Arena
against hockey greats Howe, Ted
Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Mickey
Redmond and others.
"How else can a nice Jewish boy
play with the Red Wings?" Farber
asked. Farber also attended the fan-
tasy camp.
Jews have not been as visible in
hockey as they have been in baseball
with the likes of Hank Greenberg,
Sandy Koufax, Ken Holtzman, Ron
Blomberg, Mike Epstein and Steve
Stone. But, with the aid of the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, The Jewish News
has uncovered the names of past and
present players.
Steve Richmond currently is a de-
fenseman for the New York Rangers.
Others in Jewish ranks who have hit
the ice professionally are: Hy Buller,
defenseman; Alex Levinsky, defense-
man, Toronto Maple Leafs; Moe
Roberts, defenseman, Chicago Black
Hawks; Max Labovitch, forward, New
York Rangers; and Mike Veissol,
goalie, Chicago Black Hawks. There
was some 'speculation that Murray
Bannerman, a goalie for the Black
Hawks, may also be Jewish. The
Jewish News has learned from the
Black Hawks that he is not.
At the end of the season, the Al-
most All-Jewish Hockey League will
use its leftover treasury to make a
party. In the summer, some even play
together in a West Bloomfield men's
softball league.
Besides Shapiro, Farber, Tracht
and Moran, the roster is completed by
Dr. Miles Auster, physician; Larry
Berry, businessman; Dr. Irv. Blau,
dentist; Dr. Mike Chaben, dentist; Dr.
Tom Ditkoff, orthopedic surgeon; Jeff
Feldman, attorney; Dr. Larry Gers-
tein, dentist; Steve Gilbert, attorney;
Dr. Jimmy Ginzler, dentist; Dr. Max
Gottesman, optometrist; Les Green-
wald, attorney; Dr. Marty Levy, oral
surgeon; Sam Mecklir, attorney; Dr.
Jerry Mehler, dentist; Burt Rosenthal,
radio sales manager; Brad Schram, at-
torney; Dr. Marshall Solomon, podia-
Continued on next page
Dr. Bob Shapiro, "Commissioner" of the Almost All-Jewish Hockey League.
Action .. .
and reactions .. .
Friday, February 1, 1985 25