| The 37
hockey players still attached to the Cincinnati Stingers leave today on a three game trip
to Virginia, oblivion, and points beyond. Only 18 will return to make up the final roster
going into the World Hockey Association opener October 11th at Cleveland. Some 16 others
will be retained by the Stingers farm club at Hampton. The rest will be released. The trip begins in Hampton where the players will be divided somewhat
capriciously into two teams. They will play there Sunday and Tuesday nights. Wednesday
they move on to Norfolk to take on the Southern Hockey League's Tidewater Sharks in the
final preparatory game. Friday, the Stingers cut only one player, former Swords center Joe
Robertson, and decided for sure that defenseman Dick Spannbauer, center Pat Donnelly and
left winger Lorne Rombough would remain in Hampton. Lorne's brother, Doug, also is a
former Sword.
Stinger coach Terry Slater had planned to make a major cut before
this trip but found the task too difficult. "We've decided not to cut a lot of guys
until after we see them play some more," he explains. "We have a lot of people
who are awfully close. We have about five guys you can just pick out right now and all the
rest are pretty equal." Those kept in Hampton will be available for recall and Slater
says, "We'll probably want to take some back as things progress. At least for the
first part of the season, if we have a defenseman for instance who isn't working out and
we have someone down in Hampton who's doing well, we'll make an exchange. We won't want to
do that later in the season, though," he adds "You want to get a team together
and keep it that way."
Slater plans to keep 11 or 12 forwards, five defensemen and two
goalies. Those who are a cinch to make the club are still few indeed. Two centers sure to
make it are youngster Dennis Sobchuk and veteran Brian Campbell. Among those competing for
the two or three other center openings are Jacques Locas, a bonus signee who has not yet
fully distinguished himself, and Bernie McNeil (sic).
Tentatively, Sobchuk will be flanked by wings Pierre Guite and Gene
Sobchuk, Dennis's brother. Wings for Campbell will be Rick Dudley and Gary Veneruzzo.
Other forwards with a good shot at making the team are Dale Smedsmo, Steve Andrascik,
Claude LaRose and Don O'Donoghue.
Three defensemen are certainties at this point: Ron Plumb, Mike
Pelyk and John Hughes. Among the others, young Dave Inkpen seems to be the leading
candidate but Bruce Abbey, and two or three others are still in the running. The top
goalie will be Serge Aubry, the hard-as-nails 33 year old veteran acquired from Quebec. In
his two game appearances this season, Aubry is unscored upon. The backup is likely to be
top draft choice Norm LaPointe, although others are close.
Complicating Slater's task are some young players who he feels have
very good potential but may not be as good now as others who will be released. "We'll
try to keep these around in Hampton," he says. "You hate to let go of people who
may develop into good hockey players." Those picked to be the first official
Cincinnati Stingers team will return to Cincinnati Thursday. |
