32 Years Ago Today: Demers Raps Lazy Stingers

Cincinnati Inquirer story Thanks to Cincinnati Sports History

October 30, 1977

Achtung! Stingers! Commandant Demers speaks. You will play solid, close-checking, position hockey or heads will roll. That's right, folks, Jacques Demers, the Cincinnati Stingers head coach who was brought to town to turn the WHA team into a consistent winner, has made it official. The honeymoon is over.

The Stingers are 1-5 on the new season, and Friday night's 3-2 loss to the Jets in Winnipeg was the final straw. Demers would hold back no longer. "Some people on this team have shown they are not ready to go all the way to win," said Demers. "There are four or five guys who aren't putting out. They're not giving that little bit extra needed to win." Demers said he isn't ready to single anyone out just yet, but he added that "if things don't come around soon, there are going to be changes made."

The coach's outburst doesn't signal a wholesale realignment of the team, at least not yet. But he made it clear he isn't ready to settle for anything less than 100% from his players. "I want to emphasize that this isn't a question of panic," said Demers. "Bit I want to be sure who has a winning attitude and who doesn't. If a player feels uncomfortable playing my way I want him to come to me and say so and we'll go from there." He no longer believes his style of hockey, a chance from what most of the Stingers played last season, has anything to do with the team's slump. Everyone knows the system, that's not an excuse," Demers stated. "This style of hockey is nothing new. It's the same style used by good hockey teams for years. It's just hard-checking positional hockey. I won't take no for an answer any more. We're going to start playing tough, aggressive hockey."

The loss at Winnipeg was the result of two periods in which some Stingers weren't playing full out and mistakes were made. When everything started to come together in the third period the Stingers actually outplayed the Jets but came up one goal short. The reason for the change of attitude in the final period Friday night was due in no small part to Demers' tirade in the dressing room after the second period.

"That was the first time this year I really got upset before the third period," he said. "We have some prima donnas on this team who think they can just go out for a skate when they don't feel like playing. Talent alone won't win games. It takes hard work. There were people who played against Winnipeg who didn't take a body check all night. Hitting is the name of this game and if some people can't play the game my way I'll find others who can." He emphasized that he wasn't concerned with players who weren't scoring goals. The problem is one of defense, or more correctly the lack of defense, from forwards and defensemen alike.

Demers pointed to center Robbie Ftorek, usually the smallest man n the ice regardless of who the Stingers play, who has been involved in two of the three fights the team has had this year and who consistently goes into the corners with much bugger opponents. "A guy like Robbie, who weighs about 155, is batting in the corner with three Winnipeg players, trying to dig out the puck with 22 seconds left in the game while five other players are on the ice," Demers said, not hiding his displeasure. "That's ridiculous." Demers said he already sees the possibility of two players moving into starting positions if certain attitudes don't change.

"Jamie Hislop and Jacques Locas could be starting soon if some other players don't come around," he said. "I'll play the people I know will give me everything they have. I'm going to open some people's eyes before it's too late." The Stingers, who got back to Cincinnati Saturday afternoon originally had today off, but Demers changed that schedule and called a full practice for 9 a.m this morning. "We're going to get hungry and start winning," Demers said. "Winning is the only thing that counts, I'm used to winning. I have a winning record as a coach. I was hired to do a job and I'm going to do it."

The Stingers aren't back in action until Friday, November 4, when they travel to Hartford, Conn., to meet the New England Whalers. But Demers has given the call to arms, and this week's practice promises to be nothing but work.