Toronto Star Sports
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Female Nats dismiss coach
By Alan Adams - Toronto Star Sports Reporter
October 20, 1996 

URL: http://www.thestar.com/thestar/editorial/sports/961020SPD4_ALANNATS.html


OTTAWA - Canada's national women's hockey team has fired one of its
coaches because her ideas didn't blend with those of head bench boss
Shannon Miller.

``It wasn't a power struggle,'' Miller said about her dismissal of
Melody Davidson. ``It was just a matter that everyone has to be on the
same page when you are working at this level. There's not a lot of
room for different agendas.''

Davidson left for her home near Calgary yesterday, on the eve of the
opening game of an important three-country tournament for the Canadian
women. She was unavailable for comment.

The feud between the two had been brewing since the team's week-long
training camp and the issue came to a head late Friday night.

``There were a few small incidents early in the week and it all came
to a head on a discussion on how to address players in the proper way
and at the proper time,'' said Bob Nicholson, the Canadian Hockey
Association's technical director and the person who oversees the
women's national team. ``It was obvious there were different
philosophies between the two of them and a decision had to be made.''

Miller and her other assistant, Daniele Sauvageau, will be behind the
bench tonight when Canada plays Finland in the first game of the
double round-robin tournament, which also includes the United States.

Canada named 27 players to its roster yesterday, including eight
players who have won at least one world championship. Two-time gold
medalist Karen Nystrom of Scarborough is one of the eight while
three-time gold medalist Angela James of Thornhill is another.

Other Toronto area residents set to wear Canada's colors are Lesley
Reddon of Mississauga, Cassie Campbell of Brampton, Geraldine Heaney
of Weston, Cheryl Pounder of Mississauga, Laura Schuler of Scarborough
and Vicki Sunohara of Scarborough.

Manon Rheaume, the only female goalie to play in an NHL game, was also
named to the team.

``We have lots of depth,'' said Miller, on leave from her beat as a
Calgary cop. ``We have lots of offensive talent but the key will be to
play tight defence.''

The three-country tournament is the last major competition before the
women's world championships in Kitchener next spring. It also serves
as a measuring stick for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan,
where women's hockey will be a medal sport for the first time.

Each country will have about 90 per cent of its Olympic team at the
week-long competition, which will also makes stops in Cornwall,
Kingston and Smiths Falls.

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