My father was invited to the Bruins camp in 61--but when he asked them to pay the bus or train fair from Edmonton to Boston they declined and he quit hockey shortly there afterwards
Interesting. All of the teams were known for being parsimonious (nickled & dimed the players to death in fact in most cases), Boston in particular as they'd been financially challenged for decades. Back in the late 30's for example, Milt Schmidt, Dumart & Bauer had played for the Kitchener Greenshirts (the 3 childhood friends), signed by the Bruins, but only Dumart & Bauer invited to Training Camp in their rookie seasons as GM Art Ross felt that at 17, Schmidt was too young....
Expenditures incldg travel for Dumart & Bauer were covered. A bit dumbfounded that their lynchpin Center and best friend wasnt included, they did manage to talk Ross into at least giving Schmidt a try, even though just 17, so Ross sends him a letter of invitation to Camp, but getting there, thats on Schmidt. Out of your pocket kid. Though Im not completely certain, possible Dumart & Bauer threatened Ross, that you get him here or we walk, Ross grudgingly going along with it but being petty about it at the same time. Fortunately for the Bruins, Schmidt, who had to work through the summer to raise the funds complied & did make it to Camp, going on to becoming becoming one of the greatest players in Bruins & NHL history over 15yrs as a player... then of course as Coach, Asst GM & then General Manager, guy who gets Orr signed, robs Chicago blind in "the trade", architect of their Cup wins in the lat 60's & early 70's....
Now, can you imagine if based on principal Schmidt decided that as the Bruins were too cheap to cover his train fare then they clearly didnt really want him very badly, and so lets say he just dropped out of hockey or maybe opted out of the NHL, went rogue, went & played Senior or maybe in Europe, never a Bruin? And all over whatever it might have cost in train fare that the Bruins were too cheap to fork over & get the kid into camp?... Schmidt didnt make the team immediately, played in the minors for a few months, but midway through his Rookie Season? Called up, playing for the Bruins.... likely never did get reimbursed for his train fare.... Totally different headspace back then of course however I have heard similar stories & lots of them. Guys who just wouldnt jump when the NHL snapped their fingers and good for them.