| HOUSTON -
The Cincinnati Stingers are a little closer to being a fundamentally sound hockey team.
They lack about 20 minutes and a little faith. The Stingers, in this Texas city for a
Friday night game with the Aeros, controlled the defending World Hockey Association
champion Quebec Norqiques for one period Tuesday night, played even for another period and
then collapsed in the last 20 minutes in a 5-1 setback. "That's going to happen, but
I hope not very often," said coach Jacques Demers. "The system worked for two
periods. The players just lack the confidence to believe they can win a game 1-0 or 2-1.
It will take time." The Stingers led Quebec, 1-0, after
one period and were tied, 1-1, at the end of two with a fine defensive display. But
Demers' system and a possible road victory went out the window in the third period as the
Nordiques outshot the Stingers and outscored the visitors, 4-0. "We just weren't
content to play for the 2-1 game" said Demers "This team still thinks the score
has to be 6-2 or something like that. The team has an overall personality that makes the
players believe a lot of goals equal recognition. It's going to take time to overcome that
feeling."
It will indeed, since a number of Stingers have performance bonus
clauses that spell big money for a certain number of goals and/or assists in a season.
Asking those players to sacrifice goals for the good of "the system" means
taking money out of their pockets. Marc Tardif, the Nordiques' all-star winger, said after
Tuesday night's game it was obvious the Stingers could beat anyone if they played system
hockey (more disciplined hockey). "But in the third period they looked like the old
Stingers," added Tardif
Demers, though disappointed with the loss, said he was pleased that
the early part of the game provided his theory and perhaps taught the Stingers a lesson.
"We started out playing a very good hockey game but wound up playing a very bad
one," he said. The Stingers coach said he wasn't upset with rookie Mike Liut, who was
lifted when the score reached 4-1. "I felt he was just going along with the rest of
the team," said Demers. "Everyone panicked and he seemed to be doing the same. I
took him out because I didn't want his confidence hurt by having any more goals scored
against him." Veteran Ernie Wakely finished the third period in Tuesday night's
contest, performing quite well despite a barrage of shots from the Nordiques. Demers
indicated that Wakely would start the game here Friday night.. |
