By CURT SMITH - D&C Sportswriter - 5/18/1974
The new game in town is a big hit. A crowd of 6,150 turned out at the Community War Memorial last night to see the Rochester Griffins whip the Syracuse Stingers, 26-21, in their National Lacrosse League opener, and the fans left the arena almost as happy as the Griffins’ officials.
“It’s the first box lacrosse game I’ve ever seen, but I like it,” said Jim Baker of 167 Sharon Drive, Greece. “It’s fast, faster than hockey, and there’s no wasted time with penalties. It’s a game that holds your interest.” “It’s exciting, very exciting,” said Ann Burden of 651 Garson Ave., a hockey fan who turned out to see the sport for the first time. “I’m a hockey fan, but I think I’ll prefer this to hockey after a while.
There aren’t faceoffs except after goals, so the action rarely stops.” Dave Sherwood of 4 Maple St., Elba, was another fan who was impressed. “I’ve never seen it before and it’s different,” he said. “I like it because it’s fast and exciting. There’s a lot of speed in this game.”
All three fans were surprised by the size of the crowd. Before the game, Tad Potter, Griffins’ chairman of the board and owner of the National Hockey League Pittsburgh Penguins, said he was hoping for a crowd of 3,000. “I’ll be happy with 2,000,” said Morley Kells, the Griffins’ general manager and coach. “We have to accept smaller crowds until the people are exposed to the game.”
Both club officials were overwhelmed by the turnout, a real tribute to Rochester. “We owe the sports fans here a big thank you. This crowd makes those they had in Montreal and Maryland look sick. They had more people (about 9,000 in Montreal and 7,500 in Maryland) but not a better percentage. This place is 85 per cent full. That’s amazing for the first game. “This assures me that we’re in the right place. I’ll tell you right now that Rochester definitely is a major league sports town.”
Rochester fans love action. That’s why they turned out, and that’s why box lacrosse is going to fare well. It is, as most fans expressed, an exciting game. For those of us who detest dead time in athletic contests, it’s perfect. You see few delays in the action. And if you like scoring, and most of us do, there’s plenty of it. It took the Griffins 46 seconds to score 2 goals. It was 2-2 after 2 minutes and 38 seconds and the Griffins led 6-2 before 8 minutes had elapsed.
The game is not as physical as hockey and at times it lacks finesse, but there’s never a dull moment. Last night’s crowd was on its feet often.
They cheered each goal, rooted for the players, particularly Rochester’s Rick Dudley, who plays hockey for the Buffalo Sabres, and screamed when some players exchanged blows.
“The only thing I don’t like is that everyone wears helmets and you have trouble identifying the players,” said Rochester Americans’ coach and general manager Don Cherry, who sat in the crowd. “But I really like the game, although I don’t understand it. It’s a lot like hockey and there are a lot of hockey fans here. The crowd is a good one.” And so is the game.
Professional box lacrosse has returned to Rochester in fine style, both at the box office and on the Community War Memorial floor. Making their National Lacrosse League debut a winning one, the Rochester Griffins last night defeated the Syracuse Stingers, 26-21, before a crowd of 6,150.
The turnout, which far exceeded pre-game estimates, was only 106 less than the Rochester Red Wings drew in their home opener last month. The crowd also came within 389 of equalling the Rochester Americans’ first home game last October. In fact, some of the game’s events closely paralleled a hockey game.
The loudest cheers were given to Rochester’s Rick Dudley, also a left winger with the Buffalo Sabres, and the crowd roared as four fights erupted at different stages. “I’m an optimist,” Griffins’ coach and general manager Morley Kells said. “I would have been happy with three thousand. I’m doubly happy now. I especially liked the way the crowd reacted to the game. Most of the fans here like hockey. They like the action, the fights. But soon they’ll begin to understand the fine points of the game. I’m delighted with the whole evening.”
Besides the attendance, last night’s other major story was the Griffins’ diverse, effective fast-break attack. Four-open, offensive game, the number of player recorded more than three goals.
Although Kells had predicted a wide-open, offensive game, the member of goals scored, 47, surprised even him. “I certainly never envisioned this kind of game,” Kells said. “I think the main reason we kept scoring was that Syracuse chose to run with us. That made for a lot of breakaway goals by both teams. “I think we’re a little better conditioned than they are. We could run for longer periods. We had some defensive sags that let Syracuse get some cheap goals, but we can work on that. “The thing I’m pleased about is that every time Syracuse came within a couple goals, we pulled away,” Kells continued. “This team has a lot of heart. They proved it in the exhibition games; they proved it again tonight.”
Rochester led from the opening minutes. After an early 2-2 tie, the Griffins exploded for 6 straight goals, then faltered as the Stingers rallied to within 9-8 after the first period. The Griffins rebounded early in the second period. Rochester struck for 4 consecutive goals, widening its lead to 13-8, then built its edge to 18-11 before Syracuse made the second period score 21-15. As the third period began, Rochester again came out strong, controlling the play and boosting its edge to 26-15. Once more the Stingers rebounded, but too little and much too late.
Dudley, acquired by Rochester 10 days ago, and assistant captain Al Gordaneer led the Griffins with 3 goals apiece. Eight players added two goals each, including leading exhibition-game scorer Charlie Henderson and No. 1 draft choice Kevin Parsons. “I thought the crowd, the game, the whole night was great,” Dudley said. “I think the people enjoyed the game; they reacted like they did. “Box lacrosse leagues have failed before, but this one’s going to make it. It has first-class people all the way.
(Rochester’s previous lacrosse team folded two years ago.) “We played well tonight but we can play better. Offensively, we were fine. Defensively, we were pretty bad at times. We have to give our goalie more protection. “Both teams were tired. I know I was,” Dudley continued. “I’m still a little out of shape after laying off a month after hockey. But I’m more convinced now than ever that playing lacrosse this summer was a good move.”
Besides Henderson and Parsons, Paul Warden, Jan Magee, Rick Bisson, Barry Bartlett, Glen Neuman and Dave Wilfong also scored two Griffin goals apiece. Paul Cioci’s four goals paced Syracuse and Al Herrington scored three.
GRIFFIN GRAFFITTI: Montreal, which opposes Rochester in the Griffins’ next home game Friday night, drew over 9,000 for its home opener earlier this week . . . Philadelphia is nearing a 17,000-seat sellout for its home opener. National Hockey League referee Bruce Hood, recovering from a knee injury, is going to work his way back into shape by officiating NLL games this summer . . . NLL president Spence Lyons, Griffin owner Tad Potter, Mayor Tom Ryan and former Rochester lacrosse player Arleigh Hill attended last night’s opener.
