Cyclone Taylor's Messages From Moscow (1958)

Fred (Cyclone) Taylor, who made fact more exciting than fiction in the long ago of Canadian hockey, spoke as clearly as if he were phoning from a booth across the street. Actually, he was at the Metropole hotel in Moscow where the waiters look like refugees from Deacon Allen's gym.

"I'm tremendously impressed by these Russian players," the Old Cyclone confessed. "It wouldn't surprise me if we (the Kelowna packers) don't win a game. If the Russians could finish off their plays around the net, there's no telling how many goals they would get. Their skating, passing and fine, clean play have been a revelation to me."

Moe young's cable came in with a message just as clear. "Coaches from all over Russia and the satellites are watching the Canadians. They are laying plans for the world championship tournament. Russia will work on body-checking. They're not dumb. They want hockey supremacy."

Moe, who plays for the Packers and doubles in brass as correspondent for a TV station back in B.C., added this cryptic note: "O'Reilly (Packers' head coach Jack O'Reilly) says the Kremlin could fall on the heads of the Russians. They'd still get up and body check."

Moe's message is the more encouraging of the two from the Canadian point of view. if those Russian coaches keep watching the Canuckskies, they're a cinch to foul up their own game. They're making it tough for our teams now with their speed and passing and their willingness to keep their elbows down so they can stay on the ice.

"If they're as smart as everyone gives them credit for being, they must have observed by this time that 50 per cent of Canadian players really can't skate. There are reasons for that, of course. They've been trained in a game that emphasizes positional play. Even the coaches of peewee clubs preach the importance of parading up and down your beat like a monkey on a string. The kids are so busy learning to protect themselves that they sacrifice speed.

Russians Could Outsmart Themselves

Mr. Taylor, in his rapid fire analysis (casual conversation with Moscow runs into dough) got to the crux of the matter in the first $10 worth of telephone tolls. The Russians, he mentioned, were wizards with the puck up to the other team's blueline. Then this significant observation:

"If they (The Russians) are successful in picking up a loose puck in the center zone, they are two or three strides ahead of our fellows right away. Of course, they skate fearlessly in that middle zone, because there is no body checking there under international rules. our fellows are hesitant because their training has been that they can be nailed with a body check there under Canadian rules."

The last thing the Old Cyclone wants to do is to put the rap on the sport which made him famous. He's not critical - merely analytical - but it's natural that the scoot of the Soviets should impress him. He was a fireball on blades himself. Canadians, he said fretfully, should improve in their own game.

And that's a pertinent comment. The Russians are better skaters, better passers, and are better conditioned. They're getting better every year. You can't say the same for Canadian clubs. One of Moe Young's cables contained this interesting paragraph: "Why the Russians do well is questionable. They dress poorly, look poor and play like hell."

The worst mistake they can make is to try beating us at our own game. If they start attempting to trade body checks, the Canuckskies will belt them into the blues. That's our style. When they try body slams, they'll have to slow down. They'll give away their big edge.