| Dennis
Sobchuk remarked after the Cincinnati Stingers 7-5 victory over the Indianapolis Racers at
market Square Arena Saturday night that "I guess we won one for the Gipper."
Stinger coach Jacques Demers didn't know anything about George Gipp, but finally got the
message. He had asked his players for a big effort against the Racers, and the Stingers
came through. Demers, who coached at Indianapolis for three years, received a standing
ovation from the crowd of over 11,000 when he walked on the ice. The Indy fans still hold
him in high esteem. "I was nervous going into the game," Demers said, "but
I was even more nervous after i got that ovation. But it was nice, and it shows what kind
of hockey fans they have in Indianapolis." Demers said he
asked the Stingers for a win and when the two teams left the ice afyter 60 minutes he knew
"they wanted to win it for me. I asked them for a little extra and they really worked
hard." What made the victory more pleasent was the Stingers' ability to come back
from a 2-0 deficit and keep forcing the issue despite playing their four games in four
nights, each in a different city. "We proved one thing for sure," Demers
explained 'We're in fantastic shape. The players could have given up after they were down
two goals. It was the fourth game in four nights, but they didn't wuit and they were still
going strong at the finish."
The Stingers had been bounced around in the two previous games at
Birmingham and Houston, unable to handle the physical players the Bulls and Aeros can put
on the ice. But in Indianapolis they faced a team much like themselves, skaters and
shooters rather than hitters and fighters. "They are a lot like us," Demers said
of the Racers. "They don't have the big wingers, the physical forwards that some of
the other teams in the league have."
Stinger captain Rick Dudley, despite a sore knee played as though he
had been resting for a week instead of having stepped off an airplance at the Indianapolis
airport at five the same morning. Dudley was in conrers all night, digging the puck out
and setting up the plays, including both of rookie fenseman Craig Norwich's goals.
"Everyone played well," Demers said. "They went out there and worked hard
and did their job. It was certainly a great trip back to Cincinnati after the game."
When the Racers scored their fifth goal to tie the game at 5-5,
Demers pulled goalie Michel Dion and sent in rookie Mike Liut, however, was back in the
net after a few moments on the bench and finished the game. "After that fifth goal, I
pulled him out and just told him to settle down," Demers said. "He went right
back in and finished strong. He's been playing very well for us. I just wanted to settle
him down so I got him off the ice for a minute." The Stingers also had Sobchuk and
defenseman Barry Melrose back in action Saturday night. Neither player made the trip to
Birmingham and Houston because of injuries, but joined the team in Indianapolis. |
