| One-tenth
of the season has elapsed during the Cincinnati Stingers' current losing phenomenon -
eight games - and so the situation now teeters dangerously on the brink of disaster. And
yet the team's general attitude is still one of optimism, to such a degree that coach
Terry Slaters says, "It's a miracle. The spirit here is still great considering
everything," he declares. "These people are still confident, still feeling good.
After losing eight games, most teams would be dead by now, they'd be out of it for the
season. But this team is still working." The eighth loss
came at home Saturday night against Toronto, the last-place Canadian Division team. The
score was 9-5 and left Slater cursing his goaltenders, but praising the continued effort
of his other players. "We never quit playing until the final goal," he enthuses.
"The guys are working their tails off all night and they never stop trying. We had
one bad game against Winnipeg when everything sort of came apart, but otherwise this team
has given 100% right down to the end. No one is quitting."
A poll of the players supports Slater's observation. "It's just
a passing thing." says center Bryan Campbell, a co-captain. "This is a good
hockey team. You just get in a slump like this and it's hard to get back out. It's going
to take a win or two and then we'll be okay. When you're losing, you feel you can't win.
But when you start winning you feel you can't lose."
To stop the onslaught of opposition goals coach Slater says he will
acquire another goalie if he has to go to China to do it. A deal could be made as early as
this week. In addition he reveals, "We've got a goal-tender in the National League we
hope to sign next year. I'm not going to mention a name, but we're going to work very hard
at signing him." Rookie goalie Norm LaPointe who gave up five of Saturday night's
goals before being removed in favor of Rich Coutu, was told afterward be was being sent
down to the Hampton farm team.
With veteran Serge Aubury out of action for at least another week
due to a hamstring muscle pull. Coutu is now the only goalie on the roster going into a
key two-game series Wednesday and Thursday against intra-divisional rivals Cleveland and
Indianapolis. Forward Don O'Donohue and defenseman Bruce Abbey are also being sent down.
Winger Murray Meyers, a much needed right hand shot is being called up. "This is the
toughest part about coaching trying to figure out what to do to get yourself out of this
thing," Slater says gloomily. "How can you coach when you don't have
goaltending? You spend all your time trying to keep everyone's confidence up and trying to
keep some kind of momentum going. It's a terrible situation, the worst I've ever been
in." |
