Thunder head coach job in jeopardy

Tim Graham

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 | 10:39 a.m.

Chris McSorley will know tonight if he will be unemployed in the morning.

McSorley's position as head coach of the Las Vegas Thunder is in jeopardy. Part-owner Ken Stickney flew in today from his Manhattan Beach, Calif., home for a special meeting with general manager Bob Strumm to discuss McSorley's future in the wake of a team-record seven-game losing streak.

"I wouldn't say that anybody's job in particular is in jeopardy, but as an organization we have to make some decisions," Stickney said. "We need to make sure we're moving in the right direction."

"This isn't an indictment of Chris. But something certainly is missing right now and we need to inject it."

McSorley is in his third season as head coach and fourth overall with the Thunder. He owns a 124-88-31 record heading into tonight's 7:05 game against the Manitoba Moose at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"We're certainly not accepting of the way that we're going currently," Stickney said. "Talking to a lot of fans and a lot of people, we don't want the perception that we're surrendering. If that means making changes -- whether it be coaching, personnel or standing pat -- whatever we do we're going to go down to swinging.

"I believe we can win the title, and anything but the championship is unacceptable."

Assistant general manager and coach Clint Malarchuk, who guided the Thunder for the first five games of this season while McSorley was suspended by the league, likely would replace McSorley if a switch is made.

Strumm would not comment directly on McSorley's future, but said that no job within the Thunder family is safe.

"When you're 2-8 in the month of February I think everyone should be concerned," Strumm said. "I'm concerned, the players should be concerned. From our standpoint in the organization it's not an acceptable performance.

"Today we'll talk and hopefully everything will end on a positive note."

Stickney said he would meet with as much personnel as possible, including players, before making the decision.

"My style is to get as much information as I can from as many sources as I can," he said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a preconceived notion, but my job is to get as much input as possible."

The Thunder could be the only team that doesn't qualify for the Western conference playoffs.

"Making the playoffs is not a question that needs to be asked or answered," said McSorley, who could not reached today for comment on his job status. "In Las Vegas, postseason play is assumed, not anticipated."

Las Vegas has never missed the playoffs. It even won the Huber Trophy as the IHL's regular-season champion in its inaugural campaign of 1993-94 and again in 1995-96.

But if the Thunder continues to slip tonight against the Moose and Friday night against the San Antonio Dragons, it further will jeopardize its playoff hopes.

"I would think these teams are categorized as real important games for us, considering the places we are in the standings," Strumm said. "They're huge games."

There are nine teams in the Western Conference. The Thunder is in seventh place with only the Moose and Dragons below.

With 23 games left in the regular season, Las Vegas is 26-27-6 for 58 points. Never has it been below .500 so late.

Thunderbolts

* LEGACE LEAVING: Las Vegas Thunder goaltender Manny Legace will be sent to Springfield of the American Hockey League for 10 days. The Thunder is loaning its No. 1 goaltender to give him more ice time down the regular-season homestretch. Tim Cheveldae relieved Legace in Friday's 4-3 loss to Utah and then started Saturday night against Utah and Sunday afternoon at Long Beach. Cheveldae played well in both starts, stopping 40 shots to beat the Grizzlies 4-1 and 28 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Ice Dogs. "Unfortunately, the rules say we can't play two guys at once," Thunder GM Bob Strumm said. Springfield will play six games during Legace's stay, and Strumm predicts his goalie will see action in four or five. Legace spent his last three seasons with Springfield, when it was an affiliate of the Hartford Whalers. Konstantin Simchuk will be called up from Tacoma of the West Coast Hockey League to serve as Cheveldae's backup.

* ATLAS SHRUGGED: Tim Cheveldae noted that playing through the Thunder's recent seven-game losing streak felt like the weight of the world. "Every game it just gets worse and worse," the former NHL all-star said. "Once you get to three in a row it gets bad. And every loss after that it just keeps piling on your back. After a while you're not going to be able to crawl." The Thunder snapped its skid Saturday night. After that, at least Cheveldae felt renewed. "I think everyone felt better about themselves, and certainly we were in a better mood going into (Sunday's) game," he said. "It's just so much more enjoyable coming to the rink (after a victory). You like going to work. You feel better about yourself."

* LOOSE PUCKS: Left wing Ken Quinney needs 18 goals to become the first Thunder player to score 200. ... Defenseman Steve Bancroft is 14 points away from becoming the ninth player in franchise history to record 100. ... When forward Chad Wagner reached the 100-minute mark in penalties last week, he did so in just six games. ... Despite owning the worst record in the Midwest Division at 25-30-5, the Manitoba has a league-high five players with 20 or more goals this season. ... Former Thunder center Bill Bowler joined the Moose eight games ago. He has three goals and three assists since.