| The
Stingers have won six of their last seven games, and to explain this defenseman John
Hughes says, "I think everyone has found his place on this team now." This
includes John Hughes, who may have wondered recently. The Stingers downed Phoenix, 4-1,
Friday night and then nipped San Diego, 3-2 Sunday for their fifth straight victory.
Cincinnati's defense was thorough in both games, and Hughes was even selected No. 1 star
following the defeat of Phoenix. This was a nice boost for the second-year pro, who was
benched just a few days earlier by coach Terry Slater for not skating hard enough.
"Maybe sitting out that game was what I needed to jar me," Hughes said. "It
was a real kick in my ego." Playing on loan in Phoenix
last year, Hughes was so effective that he finished the season with a plus-minus rating of
plus 49. Only one World Hockey Association player did better Bobby Hull. Hughes finished
fourth in rookie of the year voting. He has never reached his previous form this year,
though and his rating is hovering somewhere just on the positive side, although it is
still one of the best on his team.
"It's been a rough year," he confesses. "I've had a
lot of little problems - injuries and things - that keep cropping up all the time. And
I've had a tough time trying to control my emotions. Terry's been on me to skate recently.
I've been taking it too slow I guess not skating as fast as I can. It's something I hadn't
realized I'd been doing. Getting benched like that was a first. It had never happened to
me before in my life. This was a big part of the season and everyone has to do his share.
I felt pretty bad about it."
Hughes has an unusual style for defensemen, one which is both
exciting and dangerous. He likes to gamble at center ice. When an opponent is carrying a
puck down ice, rather than falling back into a usual defensive position Hughes likes to
rush the opponent and break up the play before it reaches the blue line. "It's a big
gamble because if you mess it up, they get the puck behind you and you're out of
position," Hughes explains. "It's a style that takes a lot of confidence. When
you take even a moment of hesitation, you miss the play. That moment has been killing me.
If you're gambling and moving up to hit a guy, you can't take time to think or worry.
You've got to do it instantly. Having a good game really helps your confidence but it
takes consistency to build it back up to where you're playing the way you should. I just
hope I can keep going."
Slater apparently has few doubts. "I sat him out because he
wasn't skating up to par. It's not a big thing, but as this time of the year there's no
room for imperfection," the coach says. "John's a money hockey player and I know
he's not going to sit back and take it easy this late in the year with playoffs as close
as they are. He's going to want to make the playoffs and he's one of those guys who'll be
at top form when you need him."
The Stingers play Tuesday in Toronto and then are home again
Wednesday against the New England Whalers. The latter game could temporarily decide
first place in the East Division, depending on how the two teams fare in the meantime. |
