Playing Conditions Truly Rinky-Dink

After three days of diplomacy, players and coaches pulled no punches in universally panning the ice conditions at Yoyogi Arena--the swimming and diving venue for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

They blamed the ice for sluggish play, poor skating and missed scoring chances. It also might have played a part in the charley horse Vancouver’s Mark Messier suffered when he collided with Mighty Duck center Mark Janssens in Saturday’s game.

Even Duck Coach Pierre Page, who has been optimistic the ice would get better after several days of tinkering by NHL ice guru Dan Craig, believed the conditions were poor. Although the league added extra air-conditioning units, Page said it was still too warm in the arena.

“The building was 61 degrees when we got here in the morning, but I don’t know if it was because somebody left some doors open in the back, but it heated up real quick once the crowd came in,” he said.

Said Vancouver Coach Tom Renney: “I think as the game went on and the conditions got worse, the play deteriorated.”

The players noticed the heat too. “I sweated more than I’ve ever sweated in a game,” Vancouver’s Markus Naslund said.

Added Duck captain Teemu Selanne: “It’s bad. The most serious thing is that there are a lot of big holes coming up. It could lead to some serious leg injuries.”

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Messier didn’t pin blame for his injury on the ice or Janssens’ hit that sent him to the dressing room late in the second period.

“It was just a pretty simple play,” said Messier, who was making his Canuck debut after he was signed as a free agent from the New York Rangers in the off-season.

“It was nothing too serious, I didn’t think. I just seemed to be turned the wrong way.”

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The Ducks are scheduled to practice twice Monday--once in Yoyogi Arena [while it’s still Sunday afternoon at home] before leaving Tokyo and again after they land in Los Angeles.