| HARTFORD, Conn. - Some notes from the hockey beat. Rick Dudley contends his
mad chase into the stands during the second period of Wednesday's game was merely for
conversation. He says this with a big grin. Having just been handed a 10-minutes
misconduct penalty, Dudley was taunted by some fans above the penalty box as he entered.
One fan waved Dudley up to fight, and looked surprised when he came. Dudley climbed over
the glass partition and stepped over several rows of seats but stopped one row short of
the fan, whom policemen quickly hustled out of the building. "I wasn't going to hit
him," Dudley swears. "That would have meant an instant suit. He'd have taken me
to court for sure. I just wanted to see what he had to say. When I got up there I asked
him if he had anything to tell me. He didn't say anything." Dale Smedsmo, who didn't even play in the game, joined Dudley in the stands.
To do this, he had to climb out of the players' box, skate across the ice, climb into the
penalty box, skate across the ice, climb into the penalty box, climb over the glass and
then stagger up the rows of seats. Even so, he nearly beat Dudley. "I was just going
up there to protect the fan." Smedsmo jokes, looking at Dudley. "Somebody's got
to protect the people from this guy."
* * *
The misconduct penalty which had landed Dudley in the box to begin
with "was the worst penalty I've ever taken in my life." he exclaims. "I
swear I didn't do anything."
" You backed into the linesman," Smedsmo says.
"I what ?"
"You backed up into the linesman."
For Pete's sake," Dudley gasps. "I didn't even see
him."
Dudley is coming off a three game suspension for roughing up a
linesman he definitely did see. The suspicion is WHA referees will judge him very harshly
in the future.
* * *
The Stingers are in last place. Losing, 4-2, to Cleveland Wednesday
night to put them there. This is no catastrophe in the World Hockey Association's East
Division. The spread between first and last is no greater than the spread between first
and second in the West Division. And Stinger coach Terry Slater vows "We'll be in
second place by the 17th of March. Believe me when I tell you." Slater bases his
optimism on a very favorable schedule ahead. After tonight's game here in New England.
Cincinnati is mostly at home until the middle of next month. The other divisional teams
are mostly away.
Still the Stingers had hoped to win one of these two away games this
week, and now that the Crusaders have escaped, the only possible victims are the Whalers.
"This game is twice as important now," the coach estimates. "We need this
win against New England. We need the boost."
* * *
The last time the Stingers played here in Hartford, there was
another incident involving fans in the crowd. Dudley, Smedsmo, and others jumped into the
stands after the game to get someone who'd pitched beer and a beer can at Slater. The
coach himself led the attack before being pulled back by his players. "This time I
ought to carry an umbrella in and out of that place," Slater says "I'm tired of
getting my coats cleaned after every game here."
* * *
Bob Johnson was the Cleveland goal tender who made several fine
saves against the Stingers in holding them to two goals. The Crusaders are currently
carrying three goalies and Johnson, who was acquired when the Denver-Ottawa franchise
folded, is hoping to hold onto his job when the roster is cut to two. He therefore
couldn't have been happier about playing against Cincinnati Wednesday. he says it's his
lucky city. "I used to play for Hershey in the American League," he explains.
"I always had good games against the Cincinnati Swords. I could count on it."
* * *
Beginning tonight here, the Stingers play three games in three
nights including Saturday and Sunday in Riverfront Coliseum. This is a season first.
Talking about how much just one game takes out of a player, Slater grimaces. "We're
going to look like scarecrows by Monday," he says.
The Stingers play Indianapolis Saturday and Calgary Sunday. |
