Cook Heats Up West With Late Goal

Tony Szabo put on a scoring clinic Monday night at the Pond with six goals, but it was a light-scoring, late replacement who stole the show at the Roller Hockey International all-star game.

Anaheim Bullfrog defensemen Joe Cook, who was supposed to be lounging at the Colorado River, recorded a hat trick, including the winning goal with 35 seconds remaining, to lead the West past the East, 14-12, before an announced crowd of 9,406.

Szabo, who plays for the Long Island Jawz, was named the game’s most valuable player for the second consecutive year after he brought the East back from a 12-9 deficit in a three-minute span late in the fourth quarter with three goals, including his sixth of the game with 46 seconds left.

Szabo, who received $1,500 for his MVP award, has become one of the most dynamic players in RHI. He led the league with 50 goals as a rookie in 1995 with Detroit, and he ranks No. 1 this year with 29.

But Cook, subbing for injured teammate Darren Perkins, answered just 10 seconds later, slamming home Kim Maier’s rebound off the left post. Maier, who plays for the Oakland Skates, also had a hat trick and three assists. Cook had three assists.

Cook was scheduled to be on vacation this week but got the word late Sunday night that he would replace Perkins.

“In last year’s game, I had no goals and [played poorly],” he said. “So it was nice to redeem myself here in front of the home fans. I’m somewhat speechless.”

Szabo took the loss in stride.

“Being from the East, we want to come out here and prove ourselves,” he said. “We don’t have all the roller hockey facilities back home that they do here, all the manufacturers are here, so we want to do our best.

“We’ve got a lot of better players in this league this year over last, so to repeat as MVP is special.”

Twenty-six goals. Forty assists. One hundred twelve shots on goal. This was the kind of game league founders had hoped would be a springboard for RHI, which plans to expand from 18 to 24 teams, most likely by 1997, and also open six to 10 clubs in Europe.

But the one statistic posted Monday night that raised a few eyebrows had nothing to do with the players.

The announced crowd of 9,406 was just slightly better than last year’s event in St. Louis. While well above the league average, it had to be a disappointment to league officials, who say they believe RHI is destined to become one of the top sports in America.

“It was disappointing,” said Stuart Silver, one of the Bullfrog owners. “We did a lot of advertising, but it was a Monday after a holiday week and most people were probably too tired to come.”

There was plenty to see. The East jumped in front, 5-2, but the West rebounded to take an 8-6 halftime lead and looked secure with a three-goal margin entering the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

But Szabo didn’t quit and when he tied the game with his sixth goal, East Coach Jeff Brubaker thought he had the game, which would have gone directly to a shootout, in the bag.

“I think our goalkeeper could have won in a shootout,” he said.

But Cook got the winner and then Maier ended the game with an empty-net goal with 11 seconds to play.

“All-star games are supposed to be showcases for the league and what you saw tonight was just that,” Bullfrog Coach Grant Sonier said. “As funny as it sounds, we had over 100 shots on goal and I thought the goaltending was outstanding, as well.”