| The
Cincinnati Stingers will close out their hockey lessons abroad tonight in Vaasa, Finland,
where they will play the Finnish National Team. Following the game, the Stingers will
leave for Helsinki International Airport and will depart for home at 9 a.m. (Finnish time)
Friday morning. The Stingers are scheduled to return to Cincinnati at 11:35 p.m. Friday. The team had been scheduled to conclude the European portion of its training
camp in Stockholm, Sweden, but plans were changed to depart after tonight's game. Bill
DeWitt Jr., the club's executive vice -president, who returned from Turku, Finland, on
Tuesday, explained the schedule change. "In talking with both coach Jacques Demers
and Jerry Rafter, our player personnel director, we felt that our players would be better
prepared to open the championship season if they have these extra four days to readjust to
the North American way of life following the grueling return flight. "Our main reason
for training in Europe was to get our team in top physical condition, which we feel we
have accomplished. We also want to be totally rested for our exhibition game against the
Washington Capitals in Hampton, Va. on October 6th."
The Stingers will take Saturday off before resuming twice-daily
workouts at Golden Skates ( 10400 Kemper Road) on Sunday. The Hampton Gulls, Cincinnati's
American Hockey League farm club, have been in training at Golden Skates since September
23rd. The Stingers 1-5 international competition after Tuesday's 8-2 victory over the
Pori, Finland, club team have encouraged coach Demers.
"I'd have to say that center Jacques Locas has been one of the
biggest surprises for us," said Demers. "He's been working very hard and the
results are starting to show. I'd also have to point to Barry Melrose on defense and Mike
Luit in goal as being big pluses. We are starting to play the system that I feel will be
effective for us all year long. The individual performances may suffer this year but know
that the players will sacrifice their personal goals for more wins."
The Stingers will open the World Hockey Association season on
October 12th at Riverfront Coliseum against the Indianapolis Racers. |
