Closing Statement: Putting the Trailside/Red Army Debate to Rest

The captain of Team Trailside, Mr. Stefan Sopko is an outspoken individual. He is a vocal leader on and off the rink for his team, and has helped transform Trailside from a .500 hockey team three seasons ago (the team’s inaugural season) to the powerhouse that is today. After Sopko’s team was unceremoniously dumped by Red Army in the second round of the playoffs this past Sunday night, Sopko went on WDSP 1400’s “Rodney and Harriet” sports talk show to discuss the game, and what it meant (or didn’t mean) for the balance of power in the division.

The rambling 26 minute interview (which can be heard in its entirety here) began with Sopko saying that, more than anything, it was luck that played the biggest role.

“They were lucky,” Sopko said. “So lucky. We were off, and that was it. And now they’re parading around, celebrating like they won the cup. But ya know what? They ain’t won [expletive] yet. [Expletive]!

“They beat us one game. I mean, one game Rodney. We had beaten up on them for three straight seasons. Beating a dog is only so much fun after a few kicks, we had to give them one.

“And we had an off night. It wasn’t even that they played well, it was us playing terrible! But no, they’re going to act like they were the better team. I ain’t buying it. I ain’t buying it for one minute.”

Sopko, who isn’t one to mince words, even went on to say that previous games against the Red Army were never competitive.

“Ya know what, it wasn’t even fun playing them in the past. We could have fielded bronze players to play them, to at least give them a fighting chance. They are a joke. [The Red Army] has been on life support for a few seasons. They get a few lucky wins, and this happens. Disgraceful.”

Hmmm, strong words. But are they accurate? Does Sopko have an argument here? Is Trailside still the team to beat or this the case of a sore loser flying off the handle?

Well, let’s look at some facts, shall we?

Since Trailside joined the league, they have faced Red Army in nine games, with seven of those contests coming in regular season play and two during the playoffs. In regular season play, Trailside amassed an impressive record of 6-1. In postseason play however, the Soviets are a perfect 2-0. For now, let’s consider all things equal, so in the all-time series, Trailside boasts a 6-3 record over the Red Army.

In Trailside’s first season, they faced the Soviets four times. The scores of those games: 8-5 Trailside, 8-5 Red Army, 7-4 Trailside, and 9-6 Red Army. I think the whole “it was never competitive playing those guys” argument loses some weight when the season series was 2-2 and the aggregate score between teams was 26-26.

Trailside’s second season saw them finish 13-1, and Trailside defeated the Soviets in both games, by scores of 12-8 and 6-3. This season they played three times. Trailside won the first two meetings by scores of 4-3 and 7-4, and on Sunday night the Red Army won 8-4.

Do these scores strike anybody as lopsided? The largest margin of victory was four goals, a feat both teams accomplished once (though it should be noted, the Soviets victory came in a playoff game). Of the other five victories that Trailside has over Red Army, four were by three goals, and one by one goal. The all-time aggregate score is 59-52 in favor of Trailside. A seven goal differential in nine games.

The “not competitive” argument? Dead.

Now, about those “life support” comments. Sopko claims that the Red Army has been hanging on a thread and been struggling the past three seasons. Let’s look at that too. Three seasons ago, the Soviets finished first overall with a 10-4 record. Last season, the Soviets went 5-8-1, and this season they ended their regular season 9-5. In this “three season” span that Sopko alludes to as a winter in Red Army hockey, they went 24-17-1. Sure, it’s not as gaudy as Trailside’s 30-12-0 record over that same span, but worthy of warranting the “on life support” label?

No.

This interview was nothing more than a man whining about being beaten. His team, once untouchable and dominant, was humbled. That is it. The true comedy is how Sopko talks a big game, as though his team is a dynasty. Winning a championship is no mean feat, and we hear at the Digest do not mean to diminish what Trailside did last season—it was impressive. But they have won one championship. One. And in their three seasons, they have been in the championship series just once. This is the Red Army’s second trip to the championship series in three seasons (yes, those three seasons) and fifth trip in eight seasons.

If they do win this season, it would be their fourth title.

Former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s famously said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, not their own facts.” Mr. Sopko claims to only deal with facts (though he also claims the 13-1 season was “perfect”) but there are more holes in his assertions than a Louis Sachar story. The bottom line is, maybe the Soviets did get lucky. Maybe in a three game series, Trailside would have won games two and three, and who knows, they may not have even been competitive. We’ll never know. What we do know, is that of the two teams, one is moving on to play in the championship.

And it ain’t Mr. Sopko’s team.