Standings

Riverfront Coliseum

1st

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Prior to the game, Stingers goal tender Serge Aubry was given his unconditional release. The veteran who was suppose to guard the net until Stingers younger goalies developed, had a GA of 4.15. He was benched for the youthful Kiely who had shown much promise. Paul Hoganson who started the season with the Whalers, was acquired recently as a backup, while number one draft pick Norm LaPointe is down with the Hampton Gulls.

With the Roadrunners in town, the Stingers players welcomed back former teammate Gary Veneruzzo. Veneruzzo was traded earlier in the season to Phoenix for defenseman Ron Serafini. Veneruzzo made no bones about the fact that he was very bitter about being traded. He felt that the club could have traded him before the season or at least after the season. Especially seeing as how Serafini has seen little ice time.

During the game, very little transpired during the first period. But two minutes into the second period the first goal was scored in the game. The goal came from Phoenix's left wing Barry Dean under rather silly circumstances. Dean and two other Roadrunners bunched into the crease with Kiely and made it appear as if their was 3 on 1. Kielys teammates looked on idly and did nothing while Dean batted the puck into the net. Later in the game Roadrunners John Migneault was sent to the penalty box for tripping. Rick Dudley proceeded to net a Stingers goal during the power play. Larose followed at 18:52 with a long shot into the Roadrunners net.

Despite Dudley scoring the Stingers third goal of the game during another power play, Cincinnati fell asleep. Dave Gorman scored two straight goals and in on the assists for both Cormier goals was none other then former Stingers Gary Veneruzzo. Shortly after Cormiers two goals came another Roadrunners goal. This time by Dave Gorman. Gormans shot came from about 20 feet out after a pass from Dean. In the final seconds of the game, Slater pulled John Kiely for a one man advantage, leaving the net empty. Roadrunners Robbie Ftorek dug out the puck from the Stingers' net and passed it to Del Hall. Hall knocked the puck into the empty net to seal the win for the Roadrunners. Slater sat in his office after the game and grumbled "This is a hell of a way to start Christmas".

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FIRST PERIOD

PENALTIES - None

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SECOND PERIOD

PENALTIES - PHO: Migneault (tripping) 4:50. CIN: Hughes (tripping) 9:03.

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THIRD PERIOD

GOALS - CIN: Dudley (Plumb, D. Sobchuk) 4:36.  PHO: Cormier (Boyd, Veneruzzo) 10:12.  PHO: Cormier (Boyd, Veneruzzo) 10:53. PHO: Gorman (Dean) 12:33.  PHO: Hall (Ftorek, Gray) 19:42..

PENALTIES - PHO: Hall (tripping) 4:02.

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SHOTS ON GOAL

GOALTENDERS - CIN: Kiely. PHO: Norris.

ATTENDANCE - 7,445

REFEREE - Peter Moffat

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1975-76 WHA Finals Standings

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