Dennis Abgrall

Dennis Abgrall of Moosomin, Saskatchewan was a star right winger with the Saskatoon Blades in the early 1970s. That helped him get drafted by both the Los Angeles Kings (70th overall in 1973) and the Los Angeles Blades of the WHA (1972 general player draft). But a Hollywood career was not in the cards for young Abgrall.

Abgrall initially followed his dream and was devoted to making the National Hockey League. He signed with Kings and reported to their farm team for two years. He even got called up for 13 games during the 1975-76 seasons, picking up 2 assists.

Sensing his future with the Kings was perhaps not what he had hoped for, Abgrall jumped at the chance to sign with the WHA's Cincinnati Stingers, the team that absorbed his WHA rights after the LA Sharks went belly up. He enjoyed two years of big league hockey in the WHA, and he also enjoyed the sizeable pay increase.

When the WHA folded Abgrall headed overseas, playing for teams in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.