January 18th 1978 - Cincinnati Stingers vs Birmingham Bulls

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

Wednesday, January 18th 1978

By Terry Flynn

Bully ! Stingers In Birmingham

It may be a replay of the Thanksgiving Day Massacre, but tonight's game between the Cincinnati Stingers and the Bulls in Birmingham probably won't reach the physical proportions of that infamous November meeting when the Stingers lost, 12-2. The Stingers sporting a beefed up roster that includes Willie Trognitz and Bruce Grieg, are ready for the rough stuff the Bulls have made a part of their hockey. But with WHA referees doling out penalties like Halloween candy these days, cheap shots have been reduced to a minimum. The Bulls made a habit of manhandling the Stingers but in their most recent encounter at Riverfront Coliseum last week, Birmingham wasn't nearly as cocky knowing Cincinnati had those big boys on the bench. The Bulls still managed to win, 4-3.

Even with their new muscle, the Stingers are looking for one more big tough skater to give them on-ice respect and permit high scoring forwards like Robbie Ftorek and Rich Leduc some room to work. The guy Cincinnati and coach Jacques Demers want is Kim Clackson. Stingers fans well remember Clackson as the villain of so may meeting between the Stingers and the Indianapolis Racers while Demers was the Indy coach. Although not a gifted skater, Clackson does his job and is probably the toughest player in the league. Clackson is currently under contract to the Winnipeg Jets, and The Enquirer has learned that the Jets turned down a cash offer from Cincinnati to acquire Clackson. The Stingers are still trying to work out a trade with the Jets.

Demers and the Stingers players have started the second half of the season with a new outlook. They are trying to forget the first half when they lost 23 games while languishing in the WHA cellar. "This is a new start," said Demers," and we are 1-0 right now." He was referring to the 6-3 victory Sunday over the league champion Quebec Nordiques. Demers pointed out that the team has a positive attitude and with he added muscle on the bench the Stingers are ready to make a run at one of the top positions in the league standings before playoff time rolls around.

The coach is also aware that the Stingers can't afford to play under .500 the rest of the season if they expect a good spot for the playoffs. That also means winning at home, something the Stingers have had trouble with since losing the season opener to Indianapolis.

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Wednesday, January 18th

Standings

Lost to Birmingham Bulls

Jefferson Civic Center

7th

The Cincinnati Stingers entered the game minus their start center Robbie Ftorek. Ftorek was hit in the mouth by a puck in the WHA All-Star game the night before. But the Birmingham Bulls didn't need any mirrors or tricks against the Stingers to prove they had the upper hand with or without Ftorek. The Bulls victory would be the fifth straight over Cincinnati, who seemed disorganized and were unable to mount any real offense despite having six power play opportunities. For instance Rich Leduc had a great opportunity in the first period. Leduc had the puck about five feet from the Bulls net but missed wide with his shot.

The Bulls got away from their gooning ways for the most part made one good rush at the Stingers net on a power play late in the first period. Stingers Butch Deadmarsh was out for high sticking but the Stingers goalie Michel Dion stopped three quick shots at point-blank range to end any Bulls threat. Dion himself was given a penalty at 19:11 when him and Bulls Tony Cassolato were called for high sticking.

The Bulls may have played relaxed in the first period but they took over in the second. Birmingham knocked Cincinnati off the puck for 20 minutes and the Stingers just kept skating. The Bulls scored at 1:45 in the period when the Stingers coughed up the puck in center ice. Bulls Henderson fed Marrin in front where the big forward beat Dion while Cincinnati failed to cover in front. Willie Trognitz tangled up with Henderson at 3:51. Trognitz unleashed on Henderson before the Bull even had a chance to remove his gloves.

The Bulls went on to score another goal at 9:23 in the period but referee Ron Fournier disallowed it. Fournier ruled that the puck didn't cross the goal line although it appeared to hit the net in the back of the goal. No matter, the Bulls scored a goal that counted shortly after when Ron Langway fed his Bulls teammate Westrum. Westrum skated right up to the Stingers net where he had only to beat Michel Dion for the score.

In the third period the Stingers failed to score yet again. But the Bulls went on to tack on an insurance goal at 8:30 when Paul Henderson bagged one.

Cincinnati	-	0	0	0	-	0
Birmingham	-	0	2	1	-	3

FIRST PERIOD

GOALS - None

PENALTIES - BIR: Harris (slashing) 1:58. BIR: Stephenson (high sticking) 5:08. CIN: Leduc (cross checking) 6:07. BIR: Beaudoin (tripping) 7:42. CIN: Deadmarsh (high sticking) 17:20. BIR: Cassolato (high sticking) 19:11. CIN: Dion (high sticking) 19:11.

SECOND PERIOD

GOALS - BIR: Marris (Henderson) 1:45. BIR: Westrum (Lanway, Marrin) 12:19.

PENALTIES - CIN: Trognitz (roughing & fighting) 3:51. BIR: Henderson (high sticking & fighting) 3:51. BIR: Marrin (slashing) 5:25. BIR: Beaudoin (interference) 11:13. CIN: Legge (high sticking) 11:13. BIR: Cassolato (high sticking) 14:45. CIN: Deadmarsh (roughing) 18:24. BIR: Westrum (roughing) 18:24.

THIRD PERIOD

GOALS - BIR: Henderson (Langway, Marrin) 8:30.

PENALTIES - CIN: Grieg (cross checking) :43. BIR: Beaton (charging) 4:36. CIN: Trognitz (misconduct) 4:36. CIN: Leduc (fighting) 6:42. BIR: Linseman (fighting) 6:42.

SHOTS ON GOAL

Cincinnati	-	09	04	05	-	18
Birmingham	-	11	10	10	-	31

GOALTENDERS - CIN: Dion. BIR: Wood

ATTENDANCE - 8,676

REFEREE - Ron Fournier