From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!CAD:tektronix:tekmdp!steveb
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Title: Re: International Hockey
Article-I.D.: tekmdp.1638
Posted: Wed Jan  5 11:20:22 1983
Received: Mon Jan 10 01:06:08 1983

	I've been watching the Soviet - NHL series.  No denying that the
Soviets play beautiful hockey.  I think the philosophy of "the opposition can't
score while we control the puck" is smarter and more fun to watch than the
NHL one of "the opposition can't score while they're in their own end".
The Russians have great puck control, playmaking, and patience.
	BUT, I am no longer in awe of them.  Five or ten years ago I
thought the Russians were hockey gods.  Today I assert that they don't
have a single AWESOMELY talented star (as I feel the NHL has, say, maybe
3 to 6 of); rather it's their team play.  Further, I claim that if we
distilled the best of the NHL into 8 `all-star' teams, EVERY ONE of the
eight would handle the Russians WITH EASE.
				Asbestos suit on,
				Steve Biedermann
				(decvax or ucbvax)!teklabs!tekmdp!steveb