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Path: utzoo!decvax!bellcore!allegra!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!alberta!lake
From: lake@alberta.UUCP (Robert Lake)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Offence vs. Defence
Message-ID: <470@alberta.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-May-85 11:50:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: alberta.470
Posted: Thu May  2 11:50:59 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 01:00:17 EDT
Distribution: na
Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Lines: 19

One of the reasons I like the Oilers (aside from the obvious one of
them being my home-team) is the new insights they have provided with
the game of hockey.  I cannot recall any team in the past (especially
a Stanley Cup competitor) which has emphasized offence over defence the
way the Oilers have.  I find their play to be very refreshing and inno-
vative - how many other teams would want to put the likes of Messier and
Gretzky on the penalty killing role?  To me, the Oilers with their style
of play combined with Gretzky's skills have done more for the game of
hockey in North America than anything else since the league expanded in
the late '60s.

If the Oilers can win the Stanley Cup again this year, I think they
will provide a new trend for teams who wish to build Stanley Cup
champions.  Rather than concentrating on first building an offence
around your defense, do the reverse.  The net result from this will
be even more exciting hockey, and probably some of the best Stanley
Cup finals ever played.
				Robert Lake (alberta!lake)
				University of Alberta