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The Record

CANADIAN GAME PLAN NEEDS SOME FINE TUNING
                                    
By Karlo Berkovich Record staff
Thursday, January 15, 1970
As per its habit, Team Canada's coaching staff wore black on Sunday
night, and large portions of the world championship game did indeed
look dark for Canada.Cracks that showed in Saturday's thrilling 2-1
semifinal win over Finland stood out in stark relief on Sunday as
Canada won a 4-3 overtime thriller over the United States. Playing on
soft ice in an Auditorium Complex hothouse under the influence of
officiating that simply wasn't up to the standard of play, Canada was
made to look imperfect in many aspects of the game.

Yet because of its Team Spurt qualities, because of those reserves of
grit and tenacity that seem to dwell within anyone who wears a red
maple leaf, Canada prevailed for its fourth straight world title and
is now 20-0 in these competitions.

"People talk about pressure, and how we might crack under the
pressure," Team Canada coach Shannon Miller said. "But we have
character players who play with passion."

And, in the last two games of this tournament, players who played in
spurts. Team Spurt, if you will. Living up to that nickname was enough
to beat the United States on Sunday as Canada played with cool
efficiency when it counted, particularly in overtime. But it probably
won't be enough at the Olympics in Nagano, and most people connected
with Team Canada acknowledged as much.

"Sometimes it's a matter of staying in focus," said Canadian forward
Hayley Wickenheiser, who dominated the overtime after an indifferent
first 60 minutes and helped set up the winning goal. "Sometimes we
fall into lulls and we can't do that."

Those lulls revealed apparent lapses in preparation and concentration.
Canada's breakouts were often easy prey for American forechecking.
Line changes were often spotty and ill-timed. Add a lack of finish
around the net and scoring goals gets difficult for Canada against top
competition. The lack of a natural sniper was evident against Finland
and the U.S., supporting the views of local fans who plastered a few
"Where's Margot Page' signs around the Aud.

Of course, this isn't necessarily the version of Team Canada that will
compete in the Olympics. Miller mentioned that two or three changes
may be made and in fact, her job is not necessarily secure. Canadian
Hockey, the umbrella group that has now directed five straight world
junior championship teams and four straight women's titlists, decides
on its women's coach May 1.

That doesn't mean Miller is on thin ice, especially when you consider
that this Team Canada has been together for just two weeks and won't
be able to properly implement systems until it reconvenes for
full-time Olympic training in September. While team members raved
about team chemistry, the fact the team has not been together long
left it looking lost at times, unable to change strategy in mid-game
or mid-shift. Case in point? Not adapting to a dump-and-chase game
when faced with a wall of players in the neutral zone and at the
opposition blueline.

"That kind of stuff is a matter of trust between the players, and the
coaches," Wickenheiser said. "And it takes discipline."

The type of discipline that finally drove Canada to another title. But
the bar keeps rising, the focus gets more intense, the opposition
keeps improving. And once Canada begins full-time training, which
includes a tour of Finland in October and the Three Nations Cup
featuring Finland and the U.S. in November, systems and a lack of
snipers and size will have to be addressed. The days of Canada winning
on sheer talent alone are long gone. The long international women's
winning streak won't last forever. But close games such as those
Canada won against Finland and the United States will prove a blessing
in disguise.

"It's a matter of playing more competitive games," Wickenheiser said.

On Sunday, Team Canada nearly got more than it could handle.