Friday, January 10, 1992

by Tom Mahon, Daily News Sports Writer

Dave Evans isn't exactly sure why he's returning for his fifth season as head coach of the Philadelphia Wings.

He doesn't get to do a weekly TV or radio show the way some Philadelphia coaches do. He doesn't get paid to drink milk or wear a certain brand of shirts, either.

In fact, to hear him tell it, he barely gets paid at all.

"Economically, it's foolish," said Evans, who is anxiously awaiting the indoor lacrosse team's season opener against Boston tomorrow night at 8 the Spectrum. "It's probably cost me $20,000 (over the past four seasons). I could be home collecting unemployment and making more money than I do here."

Home for Evans is Vancouver, where he toils full-time as a groundskeeper, seasonal work that affords him the luxury of coaching the Wings, but not much else.

"It's only because of my job at home that I'm able to do it," Evans said. ''I'm really thinking this might be my last year, but, I've said that every year. I feel a loyalty to the team, but if we had a really bad year, or a really good year, I probably wouldn't be back. If we finish in the middle of the pack, I'd have to think about it."

The Wings did exactly that last season, when, instead of winning what would have been their third straight league championship, they ended up in last place in the American Division with a 5-5 record.

This season Evans has made some changes, in part because of a new rule that has shaved 10 seconds - from 40 to 30 - off the shot clock, and will create a faster offensive style than the Wings have used in the past.

"I think you'll see a different type of team," Evans said. "One that's more athletic, more speed-oriented. It'll be a lot more entertaining team. We've got a good infusion of young people, and, talentwise I think we're as good as the first championship team of three years ago."

One of the newcomers Evans expects a lot from is John Nostrant, who the Wings acquired in an offseason trade with the Baltimore Thunder.

Nostrant, a three-year veteran with the Thunder, scored 22 goals last season and made the league All-Star team as a second-team All-Pro. He originally was drafted by the the Wings - a team he's always wanted to play for - but narrowly missed making the final cut and ended up in Baltimore.

"I think the Wings are the premier team in the league," said Nostrant, who is a grade-school teacher and varsity lacrosse coach at Haverford School. ''You always played your best against them, especially when you came to the Spectrum.

"I can remember playing there one St. Patrick's Day and fans were coming up to me in hard hats with their faces painted yelling at me to go home. It was great."

Nostrant's presence will help make up for the loss of fellow lefthander Brad Kotz, who retired after last season.

Key returnees for the Wings include John Tucker, John Conley, Chris Flynn, Paul Deniken, assistant captains Scott Gabrielsen and Ricky Fried and captain Tony Resch.

Resch thinks the team has the potential to be as successful as the two championship teams he's played on.

"All of the ingredients are there, said Resch, a substitute teacher in the Philadelphia public school system. "It's just a matter of finding what everyone's role is.

"I don't think we can aim for anything but a championship season. It's certainly within our reach if we play well."

Saturday, January 25, 1992

Bob Martino scored four goals as the Pittsburgh Bulls defeated the Philadelphia Wings, 14-9, last night in Pittsburgh.

It was the Bulls' first victory ever against the Wings in five Major Indoor Lacrosse League games.

The loss dropped the Wings to 0-2 this season.

Rob Hoynes led the Wings with two goals. Wings goalie Dallas Eliuk had 27 saves.

Monday, February 3, 1992

Bob Cummings' goal with 28 seconds to play spoiled a final-period comeback by the Philadelphia Wings and gave the New York Saints a 9-8 victory yesterday in a Major Indoor Lacrosse League game at the Spectrum.

The Wings had trailed, 8-4, going into the final session, but four goals, including one by John Tucker with 52 seconds to play, tied the game at 8-8. Cummings then shot the game winner past Wings goalie Dallas Eliuk.

A desperation final shot by Chris Flynn was off target.

The loss, before 13,797 fans, was the third straight for the Wings and marred a 49-save effort by Eliuk, who was voted player of the game.

Tucker paced the Wings with four points, including two fourth-period goals. Steve Sombrotto and Pat McCabe each scored twice for the Saints (3-2).

Sunday, February 9, 1992

The Philadelphia Wings held off a fourth-quarter charge by the Detroit Turbos for their first victory of the season, 16-15, last night in a Major Indoor Lacrosse League game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Mark Hahn had three goals in four shots on goal and John Tucker had five assists to lead the Wings (1-3).

But the star of the game played for Detroit (4-1). Paul Gait had six goals and five assists. Gait took 14 shots on goal.

Monday, March 30, 1992

John Tucker's five goals led the Philadelphia Wings to a 14-12 win over the Baltimore Thunder last night at the Spectrum in the opening round of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League playoffs.

Tucker, a three-time MILL all-pro, also had four assists. Tom Burt's goal 11 minutes, 30 seconds into the second period gave the Wings a 7-6 lead.

The Wings next travel to Long Island for Sunday's American Division championship game against the New York Saints.

Monday, March 30, 1992

by Mark Kram, Daily News Sports Writer

Whenever the subject of John Tucker comes up, Philadelphia Wings coach Dave Evans gets this wide, "Can-You-Believe-This-Guy?" grin on his face and just shakes his head. He has coached Tucker for five Major Indoor Lacrosse League seasons, and it just amazes Evans how dependable the former Johns Hopkins All- America has been.

"Whenever we have needed a goal, or a big hit, or loose ball picked up, John has been there," Evans said. "He ignites us."

Tucker did just that last night. In a physical playoff semifinal in front of a Spectrum crowd of 10,185, Tucker scored five goals and assisted on four others to lead the Wings to a 14-12 victory over the Baltimore Thunder. Goaltender Dallas Eliuk stopped 35 Baltimore shots and later observed that the Wings are "peaking at just the right time."

The Wings, runners-up in the American Division, are scheduled to square off in the second round of the playoffs against the New York Saints at the Nassau Coliseum Saturday. The Saints are the American Division Champions.

"This is the time of the year to get it together," Eliuk said. "We just seem to be getting better and better."

The Wings had defeated Baltimore twice this season: 16-12 in Philadelphia in February and 20-9 in Baltimore in the final regular-season game in March. However, it always is a tough, hard-checking game between the two teams, and last night was no exception. "All of our players know the Baltimore players," Evans said. "There is a lot of pride involved."

The Wings opened the scoring when Tucker scored a power play goal at 2:39 of the first period. However, Baltimore scored three unanswered goals at that point and led, 3-1, when Rob Hoynes grabbed a pass from Tucker and beat Thunder goaltender Tom Manos in close to cut it to 3-2. Baltimore led, 4-3, at the end of the first quarter.

The Wings surged to the lead in the second quarter. Although Manos blocked a total of 36 Philadelphia shots, he cracked in the second quarter when Tucker scored at :19 of the quarter and added two quick assists, one to Paul Deniken and the other to Scott Gabrielsen. Baltimore appeared to have become passive. Thunder coach John Stewart called a timeout with his team behind, 6-4.

Evans told his team that he expected Baltimore to "come out and hit harder."

"I told our team, 'Be prepared,' " he said, " 'I can guarantee the game is going to become more physical.' "

The Thunder scored twice and tied it up, 6-6, at 11:18 on the second quarter. However, Philadelphia struck back again: Tom Burt scored on a pass from Ricky Fried and the Wings led, 7-6, at the half.

Tucker opened the scoring in the third quarter on a power play goal at 3:23, but Jeff Jackson answered it at 6:26. At that point - with Philadelphia up, 8-7 - a brawl broke out between Deniken and Jim Huelskammp. When order was restored and Deniken and Huelskammp were sent off for fighting, Tucker scored again and Fried connected to give the Wings a 10-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Two quick Baltimore goals closed the lead to one, but Fried and Tucker scored within 30 seconds of each other and John McEvoy added still another Philadelphia goal to give the Wings a 13-9 lead. The Thunder cut that lead two, but Deniken scored his second goal at 14:04. Brian Kroneberger scored seconds later, but it proved to be inconsequential.

Tucker showered and hurried from the locker room without comment, but Eliuk sat at his dressing stall and savored the victory. Sweat dripped off his face and drenched his undershirt.

"Baltimore generated a lot of opportunities toward the end," Eliuk said. ''We were lucky the clock ran out on them."

He smiled and added: "This was a sweet win."

Sunday, April 5, 1992

Paul Deniken and Mark Hahn each scored two goals last night to lead the Philadelphia Wings to an 8-6 playoff victory over the New York Saints and a berth in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League final.

The win at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., gave the Wings a shot at their third league title in four years. They captured the crown in 1989 and 1990.

Philadelphia will meet Buffalo at the Spectrum at 8 p.m. Saturday in the championship game.