Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 28, 1990 TAG: 9003280157
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Whitfield, 24, of Natick, Mass., led a Virginia defense that gave up 219 goals in 60 regular-season games. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Northeastern University graduate also had nine goals and 22 assists.
Whitfield, who has played three seasons in Virginia, has told team officials he doesn't plan to return next season.
Lancers officials honored Whitfield during the weekend by retiring his No. 2 jersey. Only one other jersey - the No. 15 of the late player-coach Frank Perkins - has been retired by the franchise.
\ After a season in which he rewrote the ECHL record book, Erie forward Bill McDougall was named the league's most valuable player.
In 57 games, the Boston Bruins minor-leaguer established ECHL records for goals (80) and points (148).
\ Lancers owner Richard Geery said Tuesday he still has things to consider before deciding whether to move the club.
Geery has been out of town the past two weeks exploring the possibility of entering a franchise in the proposed Global Hockey League. Geery has talked with officials in Orlando, Fla., and three other cities.
"I've been putting in time working on the Global deal, so I really haven't had the time yet to address the situation here," Geery said.
"Obviously, poor attendance is the major problem here. And it's got to be resolved."
Henry Brabham, who sold the club to Geery last summer, announced on March 17 that he will bring a new franchise to Vinton if Geery moves the Lancers, providing he can sell "500 season tickets."
That may not be an easy task. Despite bolstered marketing efforts under the new ownership, the club sold only 106 season tickets for 1989-90.
\ ICE CHIPS: Virginia coach Dave Allison left town in a hurry after his club lost in the first round of the ECHL playoffs. Geery said Allison will work as a scout for the Milwaukee Admirals for the remainder of the International Hockey League season. Milwaukee, the top farm club of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, worked closely with Allison and the Lancers during the season. . . . Hampton Roads, the ECHL's great box-office success story, drew 191,000-plus fans in its first season in the league. Including two playoff games, the Admirals averaged 5,968 fans for 32 dates. . . . At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Lancers drew a league-low 54,610 for 32 dates, an average of 1,707. . . . In 240 regular-season contests, the second-year ECHL attracted 823,920 fans, an average of 3,433 per game.
by CNB