From djensen@yknet.yk.caFri Dec 6 10:36:15 1996 Date: Tue, 1 OCT 1996 11:41:28 -0700 (PDT) From: David Jensen To: dtlman@ix.netcom.com, vader@the-fix.sos.on.ca, henry296@futures.wharton.upenn.edu, fj491599@er.uqam.ca, jkolsrud@clinton.net, Kbeilner@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, lbf3010@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca, lwclark@chat.carleton.ca, drivers@cadvision.com, wysoglad.robert@ntrs.com, sharples@shape.nato.int, burkett@is.NYU.EDU, cstumpf@golden.net, ace@wizvax.net, EI952325@uqac.uquebec.ca, Andreas.Larsson@mailbox.swipnet.se, Brh@globalserve.net, wysoglad@aol.com, EI954020@uqac.uquebec.ca, henry296@wharton.upenn.edu, djensen@yknet.yk.ca, knash@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca, screwe@avalon.nf.ca, lmcewen@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, kinnaird@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca, jcmacdon@novice.uwaterloo.ca, canuck@gmacalgary.com Subject: Rapids Win Opener! (AP Whitehorse Star Oct 1st 1996) The Battle of the Smythe is underway as the division won the most games on opening day and outscored their opponents 18-9. Rapids coach Mike Bossy predicted it to be the toughest division in the league, and after opening day it may turn out that way. Two of the Rapids rookie phenoms, Jan Vopat & Sergei Samsonov, led an attack by the Rapids 2nd scoring line that had 3 goals at even strength. On the night the Rapids had 5 even strength goals. Vopat & Samsonov both played all 5 preseason games on the #1 line with Theo Fleury, however since both of them combined for 0 points in the preseason, asst. coach Brad Park moved them to the 2nd line and switched Vopat to RD from LD which did wonders for him. Although it's only 1 game, Bossy was optimistic about the Rapids chances this year; "We showed good team depth today. Theo was was a total non-factor today, and we still managed 6 goals without him, that always a positive sign. I think we've got what it takes to take the division, no one is going to coast to the division title, but I'm expecting us to win it the last week of the season. The Mallrats once again are going to be very tough to beat, they've got the two best players in hockey and should make the finals unless Eric & Mario have injury troubles. We play the Sparrows on their Ice tomarrow, hopefully we can do better on the road this year, we have to to have a shot at winning the Smythe. Our fans here in the Yukon always make it difficult on the opposition and the flight is long, so we always seem to do well here. We must win on the road!"