| The
Cincinnati Stingers made a positive move Thursday toward improving their problematic
defense by signing veterari blue liner Pat Stapleton to a one-year contract. Unlike the
recent acquisition of minor league defenseman Willie Trognitz, whose ability to help the
Stingers is still questionable. Stapleton brings talent and experience to the Cincinnati
defensive lineup. Stapleton, 37, is best known by Cincinnati hockey fans as the anchor of
the Indianapolis Racers' defense the last two seasons when the Racers regularly defeated
the Stingers. He was much in evidence when Indy blanked the Stingers four straight games
in the World Hockey Association playoffs last April. But
Stapleton spent eight seasons with the National Hockey League Chicago Black Hawks before
jumping to the WHA as player-coach of the Chicago Cougars in 1973. Jacques Demers was
director of player personnel with that team, and when Demers took over as coach in
Indianapolis two years later Stapleton followed. Having Stapleton on his team once again
is a delight for Demers, now the Stingers' coach. "There's no doubt the guy is going
to help us," Demers said Thursday, "both on the ice and in the dressing
room."
Demers told the Stingers front office last weekend that the team
needed defensive leadership and some big, tough wingers to make the team a winner. He was
pleased that the team had made the effort to obtain a strong player like Stapleton.
"Its encouraging for me to see the Cincinnati organization go out and get the best
player available," said Demers. "All the teams in the league were bidding for
him and Cincinnati came up with the highest bid. It shows they want to have the best team
in hockey."
Stapleton, who skates in practice at Riverfront Coliseum today and
will be in uniform for tonight's game against the Edmonton Oilers (7:35 p.m), said he
didn't expect any difficulties in moving to the Cincinnati squad. "I'm going to
Cincinnati with the attitude that I'm going to help the team," the Sarnia, Ont.,
native said. "How much I can do remains to be seen, but I'll give it my best
effort." Stapleton signed a contract with the WHA when he took the job in Chicago.
That contract remained basically the same when he moved to Indianapolis, but the new
Racers ownership this year felt they were not bound by the pact. "The people in Indy
apparently didn't feel they had to live up to the contract," Stapleton explained.
"I got the impression during training camp they felt that way. So I sat home. It
looked like I wouldn't play at all this year."
He said he has talked to the Stingers several times in the last week
before reaching agreement on the one-year deal. He said he had been in contact with Demers
earlier but not when the terms were settled. Talking about the needs of the Cincinnati
team, Stapleton pointed out that "experienced defensemen are hard to find."
Concerning any leadership role he might have with the Stingers, he said leadership has a
lot to do with age and he's one of the older players in the league.
During his days with Chicago, Stapleton set an NHL record for most
assists by a defenseman (50) which was later broken by Bobby Orr. He shares the record for
assists by a defenseman in one game (six) and holds the WHA record in the same category
(six). He also set NHL Stanley Cup records for assists by a defenseman (14) during the
1970-71 season and the following year he tied the record for assists in Stanley Cup
competition with 15. He was the outstanding defenseman in the WHA in 1973-74.
NOTES - Following tonight's game at Riverfront Coliseum with
Edmonton, the Stingers take to the road for five games, starting with a game in Quebec
Saturday night against the WHA champion Nordiques. The Stingers are in Winnipeg to play
the Jets Sunday, then go to Edmonton for two games and back to Winnipeg for another before
returning home November 21.....the WHA is to make a ruling today (noon) on whether Willie
Trognitz remains with the Stingers for the full 10-game trial. Trognitz was suspended for
life from the International Hockey League and some WHA honchos apparently were concerned
that his presence might be an embarrassment. |
