| The
Cincinnati Stingers are desperate. If you don't think so, take a look at their new
defenseman tonight when they take on the Birmingham Bulls at Riverfront Coliseum (7:35
p.m.). Following coach Jacques Demers' call for more muscle in the lineup to police the
ice and give the Stingers some respectability, the front office went to the International
Hockey League and picked up defenseman Raymond William (Willie) Trognitz, a six-foot,
205-pound toughie who has never played in the majors, for a 10-game trial. You may
remember Trognitz as the fellow who was banned for life from the IHL after he did a number
on another player with his stick October 29. That's not the first time somebody has been
hit with a stick, but Willie did it it after the game outside the dressing room. In six games this year with the Dayton Owls (formerly the Columbus Owls),
Trognitz accumulated 83 minutes in penalties. During a three-year minor league career he
built up some 700 minutes in the penalty box and was suspended for 10 games last year for
assaulting an official. Also appearing in a Stinger uniform tonight will be rookie
defenseman Floyd Lahache, another player with a reputation as a good man in a fight.
Lahache, who had 225 penalty minutes last season with Sherbrooke of the Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League, has been playing with the American Hockey League Hampton Gulls since
the start of the season.
And what does Demers think of all this ? "I've never seen him
(Trognitz) play, so I can't really tell if he can help us or not," Demers said,
obviously not convinced. "We'll just have to see. He's never played in the majors,
and using a stick isn't the answer." Demers does know Lachache, having worked with
the 5-10, 185-pound youngster during training camp. Whether the rookie has what it takes
to stay in the majors is another matter. "He's been doing a lot of hitting in
Hampton," Demers said of Labache. "If he can do that here and not given up too
much, he might stay with the club."
It seems obvious that the talents of a minor league brawler and a
rookie won't solve the Stingers' problems. Demers made it plain that the teams needs at
least one tough but experienced defenseman and a couple of big, tough wingers. Demers made
a move of his own for tonight's battle of last place teams by shuffling his forward lines
once again. While reiterating a statement he made at the start of the season about wanting
to keep his lines intact, he pointed out that "when you're 1-8 and nobody''s going,
you have to make some changes."
Rich Leduc will center a line with Claude Larose and Blaine
Stoughton at the wings; Rick Dudley returns to a left wing on Robbie Ftorek's line with
Dennis Abgrall on the right; and Dennis Sobchuk is back at center ice with Del Hall and
Peter Marsh as wingers. Demers is still convinced that the Stingers' salvation lies in the
acquisition of the aforementioned defenseman and wingers. He needs muscle and some
experience. The experienced defenseman is available, although his price is high. Pat
Stapleton, who played eight seasons with the National Hockey League Chicago Blackhawks and
was a team leader on Demers Indianapolis Racers, is sitting at home waiting for an offer.
"There's no question that Stapleton could help us," said Demers. "He
commands respect, and he's a great player on the ice and in the dressing room. He could do
a lot for us."
The Stingers will have to come up with top dollar to get Stapleton's
name on a contract, but that's the case regardless of whom they try to sign in the way of
talented, tough hockey players. The Stingers, who had played six of their nine games so
far against New England and Winnipeg - two of the strongest teams in the World Hockey
Association - may he a breather against the Bulls. But don't bet on it. The Bulls have
been playing very badly, but they have some good hockey players including Frank Mahovlich,
Joe Noris, Vaclav Nedomansky, Dale Hoganson and Mark Napier. If the Bulls ever put it
together and decide to start playing hockey, they'll be hard to beat. |
