| Bryon
Baltimore was on of the reasons the Indianapolis Racers staged a late-season comeback last
year, made the World Hockey Association playoffs and defeated the Cincinnati Stingers in
the first round. Baltimore, 25, is a defensive defenseman. he plays the position by the
book, protecting his territory and trying to disrupt the opponent's offensive efforts. He
doesn't worry about scoring as long as he doesn't give up goals. About one month ago Baltimore sustained a hip pointer which incapacitated him
for several days. However, when the injury had healed he remained on the bench while Indy
coach Ron Ingram looked elsewhere for defensive assistance. The big (6-foot-2, 200 pounds)
defenseman figures that's all behind him now, He's wearing the yellow and black of the
Cincinnati Stingers, playing once again for coach Jacques Demers, and he expects to see
plenty of ice time. "I wasn't playing so naturally I wanted to get out of Indy,"
Baltimore said in expressing his delight with the trade which sent him and forward Hugh
Harris to Cincinnati in exchange for defenseman Gilles Marotte and winger Blaine
Stoughton.
 |
© Courtesy
of Cincinnati Library |
| Hugh Harris, Bryon
Baltimore are reunited with coach Jacques Demers. |
"I've been ready to play for some time but I've been on
the bench except for a couple of shifts against the Russians and against Houston," he
continued. "I can't really pin point any problems with Ingram, but apparently the
coach felt the big defenseman "just didn't fit into his plans." Baltimore
admitted he was "not an outspoken person" and said he never really talked to
Ingram about his banishment to the Racers bench. "I never really got together with
him (Ingram) and I didn't know exactly why I wasn't playing," he said. "There
was no real difference of opinion."
Baltimore said there was, and is a morale problem on the
Indianapolis team. "Any time a team is losing, there's going to be a lack of morale.
You're going to have differences among people. Unless you're in first place, things are
never as good as they could be." Baltimore believes he will help the Stingers.
"I'm not very offensive-oriented," he said. "I think I can supply a lot of
defense, that's my game. The defensive aspect of the game has always been my strong point.
I don't worry as much about scoring points as watching my plus-minus figures."
Baltimore said he was glad to be back playing for Demers, his coach
in Indy the previous two years. "He's a good coach," the defenseman said of
Demers. "He's an easy coach to play for, an easy guy to get along with. He tries to
make things as easy as possible. If you do your job you'll get along with Demers."
Baltimore pointed out that the Stingers are now driving towards the playoffs. "I hope
I can provide some help in that direction," he said. |
