| PRAGUE,
Czechoslovakia (Special) - The Soviet National hockey team thumped the Cincinnati
Stingers, 11-4 Friday in the Stingers' first exhibition game of the season, but new
Cincinnati coach Jacques Demers wasn't exactly surprised by the lopsided score. "I
never like to lose, but I was impressed with our play since we've only been on the ice 11
days," Demers remarked. "They've (the Soviets) been on the ice since they first
of August and we're still getting into shape." The
Stingers are taking part in the Rude Pravo Cup tournament here as part of training camp.
They meet the Czech Nationals squad tonight, play the Soviets again on Monday and the
Czechs on Tuesday before traveling to Heinki, Finland and Stockholm Sweden. "They
outplayed us," Demers said of the powerful Soviet team which defeated the Stingers
7-5 in an exhibition last year at Riverfront Coliseum. "They were outskating us. When
they're always a step ahead of you, it makes it pretty tough."
The Soviets took an early 2-0 lead before winger Dennis Abgrall
scored about 13 minutes into the contest. The Soviets led, 4-2 at the end of the first
period with Abgrall also accounting for the second Cincinnati goal. At the end of two
periods the Soviets had a commanding 8-3 advantage, the lone Cincinnati goal coming from
new defenseman Serge Beaudoin, Center Jacques Locas scored the final Stinger goal while
the Soviets added three more for the final tally.
Demers said the playing surface in the Ice Palace at Prague is
considerably larger than that which the Stingers are accustomed to playing on, with nearly
10 feet more in width and length. This he pointed out, gave the hard skating Soviets a
deciding advantage. "If we had played the game under the conditions we're used to in
the WHA, we would have had a much better chance of winning," he insisted.
Demers said he was pleased with the overall team effort of the
Stingers and the way they are learning his system of hockey. He singled out young
defenseman Barry Melrose for an outstanding performance against the Soviets. This was
Demers' first game as the Stinger coach and he admitted it was " every emotional
experience for me. I feel they (the players) obtained a lot of respect from me as a coach.
They seemed to respond to what I'm trying to teach." |
