Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Cyclones begin quest for title
Felsner likes chances of his new IHL team
By John P. Wise
Enquirer contributor
The Cyclones begin what they hope is another month of hockey when the team visits Orlando tonight for Game1 of their Eastern Conference best-of-7 semifinal series.
Cincinnati assistant Chris Cichocki was a player on the 1996 Cyclones team that lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals. He said this series could be similar to the one four years ago. “That series was one of the high points of my career,” he said of the series Orlando won in the seventh game with a 1-0 decision. “That was some real good hockey. Both teams had good skaters like they both do now, and there was good goaltending on both sides too.”
The 2000 edition of the Cyclones is an impressive blend of talented veterans and speedy youth. But Cichocki warned that description fits the Solar Bears as well.
“Both teams will tell you this will be a skating series,” he said. “Orlando probably has more experience, so it could come down to their experience against our younger legs. Their top six guys on defense are strong too.”
The Cyclones spent last week practicing during the franchise's first-ever, opening-round bye. Cincinnati captain Gilbert Dionne said not having played in 10 days won't be an issue.
“It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but Orlando has been off for a week and a half too,” he said. “That can't be an excuse for either team.”
Newcomer Brian Felsner, who earned IHL All-Star Game MVP honors as a Houston Aero in January, likes his chances with his new team.
“We've beaten everybody in the league, so I think if we bring our best game, we should go far,” Felsner said. “I think we've got a little of everything. We've got some grit, we've got some scoring and we've got some young guys who play with a lot of tenacity. We just need to put it all together.”
Goaltending will take the Cyclones as far as they can go. Starter Jean-Marc Pelletier has been out since spraining his ankle March 23.
Pelletier has practiced for eight days. But if he's not game-ready, backup Randy Petruk will get the call.
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