PHILADELPHIA - Brian Leetch, the New York Rangers defenseman, has:

* Won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the NHL;

* Won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman;

* Won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP;

* Won the Stanley Cup;

* Played with Derian Hatcher.

He likes playing with Derian Hatcher. The 6-5 Stars defenseman is using the World Cup tournament as a coming-out party, if you will. A world stage to show people that Hatcher belongs in all the discussions of the elite defensemen playing the game of hockey today.

"He's made it easy for me," Leetch said of Hatcher. "I was certainly surprised. Playing in the East, I don’t see him that much. I knew he had a good shot, I knew he played the body well and that he was good defensively.

"But he's so smart with the puck. And he has the skills to do things with it. Look at his two goals [Tuesday night]. Those were not easy plays. Especially the second one. A lot of other guys make a great play to get the puck like he did, and they just bang it back in. Not him; he had the presence of mind to make a play with it, and he ended up scoring."

It was the second period Tuesday in the opening game of the World Cup finals. Team USA was trailing Team Canada, 1-0. Hatcher was at the blue line as Tony Amonte, the Chicago Blackhawk, was passing to Bryan Smolinski, the Pittsburgh Penguin. Smolinski was leaving the puck for John LeClair, the Philadelphia Flyer, who took a shot at Team Canada goalie Curtis Joseph.

Hatcher saw Amonte and Smolinski taken out of the play. He stepped up into the slot and grabbed the rebound of LeClair's shot. He calmly switched the puck to his forehand and buried a shot over Joseph’s shoulder to tie the score.

"I told Brian, `I'll do whatever you want,' " Hatcher said. "I' ll sit back and stay on the blue line. He’s the guy who is so good with the puck. But since the first day of the tournament, they've wanted us to step up into the play at the right time."

Hatcher's second goal, the one that had Leetch raving, was even better. Team Canada's Joe Sakic, another Conn Smythe Trophy winner, made a backhand clearing attempt in his own zone that Hatcher read, stepped into and intercepted. Instead of firing it into the corner, Hatcher spotted Amonte, down low to the left of Joseph.

Amonte, a sniper, turned toward Joseph but saw Hatcher filling the lane, jumping up into the play. Amonte gave the puck back to Hatcher, who one-timed it by Joseph for a 2-1 lead.

Those are the plays All-Star defensemen make. But All-Star defensemen do more. They play a style of hockey that the opposition must react to. Hatcher has been doing that, too, in this tournament.

"He's been very good," said Stars general manager Bob Gainey.

© 1996 The Dallas Morning News All Rights Reserved

Terry Egan / Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News, Hatcher impressing one and all at Cup., The Dallas Morning News, 09-12-1996, pp 10B.