Norm Johnson spent nearly two decades in the WHL and was one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the Western Hockey League even though he started his career as a defenseman! He also ranks third all-time in total points scored in WHL history with 1082 points (391 goals, 691 assists). At the time Norm scored his 1000th point, he was one of only seven hockey players in all of professional hockey to have surpassed the 1000 point mark.
Norm Johnson only decided to pursue hockey as a career after being literally a few feet away from joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Moose Jaw where he was intending to apply. Hailing from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Johnson played for the home town Canucks from 1949 to 1954. He played 22 games in the IHL for the Fort Wayne Komets in 1954-55 before joining the WHL's Brandon Regals the following seasons. Norm was drafted by the Boston Bruins following his first season with Brandon. Then in 1956-57 he scored 78 points in 70 games and was named to the Prairie Division second all-star team. His outstanding performance with the Regals then resulted in him getting a call-up to the Bruins in 1957-58. He played fairly well in a 15-game trial then played 39 games the following season for the Bruins as well. Part way through the year though he was claimed on waivers by the Black Hawks. Norm then worked in seven regular season games in 1958-59 with the hawks and was an emergency call up for two games in the 1960 semi-finals.
Then came the 1960’s, an era in which Norm dominated the WHL and established himself as one of the best Centers to ever play the game of hockey. He spent most of his WHL career with three teams - the Calgary Stampeders (1960-63), the Los Angeles Blades (1963-1967) and finally the Portland Buckaroos (1967-1971). During these years Norm had 11 consecutive seasons in which he scored 20 or more goals (setting a career high of 43 goals in 1968-69) and topped the 80 point mark more than eight times with a high of 96 points in 1970. He also centered a line with Lou Jankowski and Ron Leopold in 1963 that set a WHL record of 278 points for three players. In addition, he led the league in assists once, and was a two-time selection to the WHL first all-star team. Norm also played on two WHL Championship teams, the 1956-57 Brandon Regals and 1970-71 Portland Buckaroos. He then hung up his skates and retired after the 1971 season and went into coaching with the Spokane Jets.
Norm, like many other Portland Buckaroos players then settled in Portland after his playing days were over.

Right-winger Cliff Schmautz split one NHL season between the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers. His brief NHL tenure came late in his pro career when he was an established scoring star in the Western league.
The older brother of Bobby Schmautz was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and played junior with the local Quakers. During his first pro season he scored 32 goals for the IHL's Omaha Knights and never looked back. He excelled with the EPHL's Soo Thunderbirds then spent several years tormenting goalies in the WHL. Overall Schmautz topped the 20-goal mark six times with the Portland Buckaroos and was the top scorer in WHL with 104 points in 1966. That year he was also named to the league's first all-star team.
In June, 1970 his hopes of playing in the NHL received a boost when he was claimed by the expansion Buffalo Sabres in the Intra-League Draft. Schmautz scored five goals in 26 games then joined the Flyers for 30 games after he was claimed on waivers. Following his dream season, the classy veteran returned to the WHL and retired in 1975.
Cliff like many other Portland Buckaroos settled in Portland after his playing days were over. Tragically, Cliff passed away in 2004 from a heart attack.

Cliff Schmautz
				Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1959-60	Omaha Knights	IHL	63	32	20	52	91
1959-60	Calgary Stampeders	WHL	5	1	1	2	11
1960-61	Sault-Ste.-Marie Thunderbirds	EPHL	70	32	20	52	91	12	7	6	13	4
1961-62	Sault-Ste.-Marie Thunderbirds	EPHL	24	6	9	15	24
1961-62	Buffalo Bisons	AHL	43	14	13	27	29	4	0	0	0	12
1962-63	Buffalo Bisons	AHL	64	24	15	39	24	13	8	4	12	4
1963-64	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	34	7	7	14	22	5	2	3	5	2
1963-64	Buffalo Bisons	AHL	26	3	7	10	6
1964-65	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	66	17	42	59	84	10	3	2	5	0
1965-66	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	72	46	58	104	47	14	9	7	16	17
1966-67	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	66	28	29	57	53	4	2	1	3	2
1967-68	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	69	26	33	59	36	12	7	4	11	4
1968-69	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	53	27	29	56	28	11	10	4	14	4
1969-70	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	70	40	33	73	23	11	6	6	12	6
1970-71	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	26	5	7	12	10
1970-71	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	30	8	12	20	23
1971-72	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	68	40	37	77	44	11	6	2	8	2
1972-73	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	54	30	21	51	47
1974-75	Portland Buckaroos	WIHL	0	11	8	19	8

Left-Winger Gordon Fashoway signed with the Portland Buckaroos of the old WHL on August 31, 1960. "Fash" as his team mates called him was by then already the 3rd highest goal scorer in hockey history with 450 goals, trailing only Gordie Howe with 468 and Maurice 'The Rocket" Richard with 544. Gordon was familiar with Portland and the fans since he had played for the Portland Eagles in 1950-51.
At 34, the 180-pound veteran was counted on for first-line duty with the Bucks. He had played nine seasons with New Westminster in the old Pacific Coast League before moving to Victoria, while twice leading the league in goals scored. Fashoway broke into hockey with Kansas City in the old United States Hockey League and also played part of one season with the Chicago Black Hawks.
Fashoway's 1st season in Portland produced exactly the results that the Buckaroos hoped for when they signed him as he lead the team with 42 goals and assisted on 32, for a total of 74 points. In addition, it was his leadership and gritty style that helped the Bucks win the Lester Patrick cup. The Western Hockey League rewarded his efforts as the first winner of the new Fred J. Hume trophy (see the trophy by going to my trophies page) as the most gentlemanly player in the Western Hockey League. Fash received the trophy - voted by sports writers for gentlemanly conduct combined with outstanding ability - from league President Al Leader at the Glass Palace (Memorial Coliseum).
On December 12, 1962 Gordon scored his 1000th point as a professional hockey player. He scored the point while driving the puck into the net behind the San Francisco Seals Goaltender, Jim McLeod at 15:47 of the third period. While the Glass Palace fans roared for Fashoway's goal, they really didn't know they were roaring too, for a bit of hockey history. In fact, even Fashoway himself didn't know he had just scored his 1000th point as a pro. When he was told that he had just scored his 1000th point, Fash's reply was "is that so". For Fashoway that was quite the statement since he always let his game speak for itself, rather than tooting his own horn.
On January 1, 1963 Gordon Fashoway announced at a morning conference that he would be retiring at the end of the season, ending a 15-year career as a professional hockey player. Hal Laycoe, went overboard as he lavished praise on Fashoway. Laycoe pointed out that Fashoway had been the only captain the Portland club had ever known and he credited Fash's inspired leadership as a major factor in the Buck's incredible success. The Buckaroo skipper also dipped into the past to reveal Fashoway's value as a player. "Back in 1951, New Westminster purchased Fash from the Chicago Black Hawks for $6500.00, which in those days was an astounding price, perhaps the equivalent of $45,000.00 (in 1963). "Well, all I can say is that it was the greatest investment any hockey club made."
On March 27, 1963 the Portland Buckaroos and their fans honored Fash with "Gordon Fashoway" night. On that night Gordon was presented with a 1963 station wagon from the club and fans that loved him…a washer and drier from the team mates that so respected him…golf clubs, cash and savings bonds from those who admired him and a wrist watch from his coach Hal Laycoe. Fashoway walked away from the game as the second highest goal scorer in all of professional hockey, with a new job as the first chief scout and director of player development for the Portland Hockey Club. He also received a telegraph of congratulations from the President of the NHL, Clarence Campbell as well as sincere praise from the president of the WHL, Al Leader. That night as he had so many other times, Gordon Fashoway did what he did best. He scored Portland's first goal in a 9-2 victory over Calgary that meant a championship.
When Fashoway final hung up his skates for good at the end of the 1963 season, the 37-year-old native of Manitoba had appeared in over 965 games and had bagged 560 goals (not including his NHL or USHL goals). In addition, Fash's achievements in the WHL were studded with record breaking marks. He had played in 842 regular season games, was the league's all-time top goal manufacturer with 485, scored 20 or more goals in 15 straight seasons, 30 or more goals in 11 seasons, 40 or more goals in six seasons, ranked fourth in points with 812 and seventh in assists with 359. Fash also scored 50 goals in a season twice; 52 with Kansas City in 1949-50 and 52 with New West Minster in 1951-52.
Gordon Fashoway would eventually also take over as the Coach and General Managers of the Portland Buckaroos in 1969 when Hal Laycoe left to take over as coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Fashoway lead the Buckaroos to a Lester Patrick Cup Championship in 1970- 71 before eventually stepping down as coach in 1972.