Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 20, 1991 TAG: 9102200059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Allison, the ECHL coach of the year in 1989-90 with the Vinton-based Virginia Lancers, returned to the league on Tuesday when he became coach of the Richmond Renegades.
Allison, who became available last Thursday when the first-year Albany (N.Y.) franchise of the International Hockey League folded, replaces Chris McSorley, who was abruptly fired as Renegades coach on Sunday night by club owner Allan Harvie.
"In many respects, I'm glad to be back in the ECHL," Allison said. "When I left last year, my one regret was that I didn't win a championship. Hopefully, we can take care of that right here in Richmond."
Allison, 31, said his contract with Harvie runs through the finish of the season. Richmond (25-26-6), which is in third place in the ECHL's Eastern Division, has seven of 64 regular-season games to play.
"I'm living in a motel right now. Hopefully, I'll be living there for a couple more months," quipped Allison, referring to the fact that the ECHL championship series isn't scheduled to end until mid-April.
Allison said Harvie contacted him after word broke that the Albany franchise had ceased operation.
"Allan called me looking for players," Allison said. "Then, he followed up again on Sunday after he decided to dismiss Chris McSorley.
"Hey, I figure this is like riding a bike. As soon as you fall, the best thing you can do is get back on it.
"The only other option I had was to go home [Fort Francis, Ontario] and look for a real job. It didn't take me long to realize that I liked this option better."
Allison coached Virginia to a 36-18-6 record and third place in the eight-team ECHL in '89-90. The Lancers were eliminated by eventual league champion Greensboro in the first round of the playoffs.
\ The Roanoke Valley Rebels, losers of five straight games and struggling to qualify for the ECHL playoffs, received another jolt on Tuesday.
Defenseman Rob Wilson, who had been playing some of his best hockey of the season the past few weeks, was called up on loan by the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League. Also, Vancouver Canucks-contracted goalie Gus Morschauser has been recalled to the IHL's Milwaukee Admirals.
To replace Morschauser, the Rebels acquired goaltender Michael Mudd from Louisville. The deal completed last Friday's trade that sent forward Ron Aubrey from the Rebels to Louisville for future considerations.
Roanoke Valley, which is tied with Nashville for the eighth and final playoff spot, resumes play on Friday against Cincinnati at the LancerLot.
\ Eastern Division-leading Hampton Roads made its final regular-season visit to the Vinton LancerLot last Saturday. And to listen to Admirals coach John Brophy, that's just fine.
Brophy, who has worn a trench coat during games at the Lot this season to half-mockingly protest the lack of heat in the building, centered his attack on LancerLot Zamboni driver Dal Simmons on Saturday.
Brophy said Simmons, well known to area fans for his comical antics while driving the ice resurfacer, is "a clown who belongs in the circus somewhere."
"The guy is unbelievable," Brophy said. "I was at the game the night before and he's pulling a dummy [characterizing Saddam Hussein] around the ice. The cord holding the dummy gets tangled up in the Zamboni and he can't clear the rest of the ice properly.
"And, tonight, there was a big mound of ice in front of our net and there was crap all piled up behind the net. It was like that because of the way he was clearing the ice. If he wants to be a clown, he ought to join the circus."
Simmons answered Brophy's charges, saying: "Every circus needs a ringleader. He [Brophy] would make a good one."
\ If Hampton Roads wins the ECHL East, Brophy will owe a huge assist to Admirals management. Unlike some league clubs, Hampton Roads doesn't cut corners when it comes to finances.
Last week, for example, the Admirals came to Roanoke by bus on Friday afternoon, played Saturday night, then took an airplane Sunday morning to Johnstown for a pivotal afternoon game with the second-place Chiefs. The move paid off as Hampton Roads ripped Johnstown 9-3.
"We have a first-class organization," Brophy said. "In order to have a chance [against Johnstown], we had to fly. The bus would have taken all night, and by the time we would have gotten there, it would have been almost time to play."
Sunday's air trip - a rarity in the ECHL - marked the fourth time in two seasons that Hampton Roads has flown to a road site.
\ ICE CHIPS: Roanoke Valley coach Claude Noel's hopes of acquiring defenseman Scott Drevitch apparently are history. Drevitch, who played for Allison here and at Albany, has been picked up by New Haven (AHL). . . . Forward Rob Sangster, who hasn't played since Jan. 5 because of a right knee injury, reports he is close to returning to the Rebels' lineup. After trading Ron Aubrey last Friday, the Rebels desperately need Sangster back as an on-ice policeman. . . . Besides Allison and Drevitch, others feeling the fallout from the Albany situation include former Lancers Jeff Waver, Steve Herniman, Doug Hobson and Al Leggett. Allison said Hobson has landed an assistant coaching job in junior hockey while the others are still looking.
by CNB