The Russian national hockey team invaded Cincinnati in what was one of
many stops of a tour of America. You might call this Russian team the "Original big
Red Machine". The national team in Russia had the best players in a nation with a
population of 300 million with little to do. Taking pre-teen youngsters and developing
them into a fine crafted player. Players that played hockey eleven months out of the year.
Cincinnati played the team tough but regrettably fell two goals shy of victory.
Despite the loss to the Russian
national hockey team, Terry Slater was very proud of his club. However, he wouldn't share
that same pride with the on ice officials. Slater who was very angry towards the World
Hockey Association officials that called the game, didn't particularly expect "a
homer job" to his club. But an equal chance would have been nice. 'When you play in
Russia you expect to get it from the Russian officials. But our own officials went against
is tonight. Peter Moffat was just unbelievable".
|
© Courtesy of Cincinnati
Public Library. |
The Soviet goalie Aleksandre Sideinikov
awaits the puck in the first period. Rick Dudley watches the puck while
laying on the ice. |
The Russian head coach Konstantin
Loktev was also disappointed in Peter Moffat, complaining that he didn't call enough
penalties and feeling that he let the game get out of hand with no worries about the
players getting hurt. "We want sport, not injuries. We are suprised by this official.
Referee Moffat has no feeling for seeing injuries".
Slater also pointed out that his
players "gave it all they had. They really skated. But it was frustrating every time
we got some momentum we got a cheap penalty that helped the Russians. The penalties were a
real farce". He included calls that weren't made, pointing to the sixth goal by the
Russian center Vladimir Petrov. Slater claimed that they were off sides during that goal
but the linesmen just stood there. Even the 10,320 fans that were in attendance saw it.
The fans began booing after Petrov scored. It would be the first of three goals by the
Russian center.
Dennis Sobchuk, who played against some
of the players as a junior in Canada stated "This has to be the best hockey game ever
played in Cincinnati". And few could argue. The teams skated up and down the ice,
battling, batting and scoring off of each other.
In light of the shaky grounds the WHA
was in, Terry Slater needed to "This gives a lot of credibility to the World Hockey
Association. One WHA team [Whalers] beat the Russians and we played with them all the way.
And that is the best Russian team ever assembled". |
