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April 7, 1997

DOOM LOOMS TEAM RUSSIA
                                    
By STEVE BUFFERY
Toronto Sun KITCHENER --  The Russian women's hockey team left
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in tears, devastated after failing to
qualify for the Nagano Olympics and worried sick about the future of
their sport back home.
  There have been reports the financially strapped Russian hockey
federation will stop funding the women's program if it failed to
qualify for the 1998 Games.
  SWEDEN 3, RUSSIA 1
  A 3-1 loss to Sweden yesterday at women's world championship sealed
the Russians' Olympic fate. The win gave the Swedes fifth place at
this tournament and a spot in Nagano. The Russians placed sixth and
may never compete at this level again if their funding dries up.
  And, as Swedish coach Bengt Ohlson acknowledged, losing Russia would
be a major blow to the sport worldwide. International hockey, whether
the men's or women's game, would not be the same without the Russians
in the mix.
  "I would be very sorry because we need many countries playing
women's hockey," Ohlson said.
  Russian team liaison Tim Rutkevich said there was a definite feeling
of gloom in the team's dressing room after yesterday's loss.
  "It was very emotional," he said. "Right now their careers are in
jeopardy. There's not enough money to go around to start with in
Russian sport."
  On the other hand, Ohlson believes his team's entry into the
Olympics will be a boon to women's hockey in Sweden.
  "This was a very important game for Swedish hockey," said Ohlson, a
veteran of 20 years with the men's team. "(A loss to Russia and)
ladies hockey would almost be a bust in Sweden."
  Ohlson said there are only 1,000 girls or women playing organized
hockey in Sweden, about 30 at a high level. The coach said eight teams
should allowed into Nagano instead of the planned six because that
would get more women interested in the sport.
  But Canadian Hockey's Bob Nicholson said six is enough, given the
lack of depth in the sport worldwide.

TORONTO SUN 

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