ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701280007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HOCKEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
When the East Coast Hockey League began play with five teams in 1988, it was uncertain if minor-league hockey would make it in the South. Other leagues had risen and disintegrated for 20 years by the time Vinton oil baron Henry Brabham made one last attempt to keep the sport going in this region.
Less than 10 years later, it's still going - and growing. Next season, the ECHL is expected to grow to 25 teams with new franchises popping up in New Orleans and Greenville, S.C., on its way to 30 teams by 2000.
That would be 500 percent growth in 12 years.
``The sport has grown tremendously,'' said ECHL president Rick Adams, who listed some of the reasons for the league's growth. ``The numerous buildings we've expanded into are geographically positioned to give us strong rivalries. There's a need for player development at this level. The league's mission statement is entertainment.
``If you have an entertaining show, a nice facility to play in, a close rivalry ... you have everything you need to succeed. ... It's all these things.''
SPEAKING OF RIVALRIES: The fireworks that resulted from the Jan.11 Roanoke Express-Hampton Roads Admirals game at the Roanoke Civic Center have yet to dissipate. It was a particularly rough game that the Admirals won 4-3, but it was a game that may be remembered more for what happened afterward.
First, there was a brief but well-publicized confrontation in the civic center crow's nest between Admirals general manager and assistant coach Al MacIsaac and Roanoke public-address announcer Slam Duncan. The trouble began when Duncan sarcastically announced over the P.A., ``Another class act by the Hampton Roads Admirals'' following the final horn.
There was more, according to Express vice president and director of communications Joe Steffen, who listed a few more malfeasances in a letter directed to Admirals owner Mark Garcea.
Admirals coach John Brophy was the main target of Steffen's letter, which was approved by the entire Express ownership group. Specifically, Brophy is accused of ordering the injury of Roanoke players, assaulting the local boosters club president, crashing the postgame imbibing in the fans' lounge and even violating state Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations by sneaking a beer out of the civic center.
Steffen writes: ``.... while the Express management has little power to control Mr. Brophy's on-ice behavior and sadistic directives, we will not allow the rest of the Roanoke Civic Center to be turned into a Slap Shot-esque sideshow orchestrated by those who have been placed in charge of your team.''
Steffen goes on to inform Garcea that ``other than the ice rink, dressing room and necessary ingress and egress, the rest of the Roanoke Civic Center is expressly off limits to your coaching staff.''
The letter also was sent to Andy Van Hellemond, the ECHL's senior vice president of hockey operations. The Admirals will ingress to the civic center twice more during the regular season - Feb.25 and March 29.
STAR-STUDDED: An official from one ECHL club said coaches across the league probably were stressing the merits of team play the day after the Charlotte Checkers beat a team of ECHL All-Stars 7-6 on Tuesday night at Charlotte's Independence Arena.
``Teamwork beats talent,'' the official said.
The unusual matchup was witnessed by 7,087 fans - the biggest crowd to watch an ECHL All-Star Game - but don't expect this format to continue next year when the game moves to Lafayette, La.
Someone affiliated with the Louisiana IceGators said his club would revert to the old format of two East-West All-Star teams for the 1998 game. There won't be a need to use a gimmick to get people to watch hockey at the Cajundome - the IceGators average more than 11,000 fans per game.
Some players didn't enjoy this year's format because it only allowed one player per team to earn All-Star status.
``Some deserving guys got left out,'' said Roanoke's Jeff Jablonski, who scored a goal for the All-Stars.
ALL-STAR ESCAPADES: Hampton Roads' Chris Phelps swept the skills competitions during the first intermission of Tuesday's game. He won the hardest-shot category by ripping an 86-mph shot during the finals after qualifying with an 89-mph shot. He won the fastest-skater competition by circling the rink in 15.31 seconds to beat Charlotte's Matt Robbins in the final. ... Brabham made an appearance before Tuesday's game when he dropped the ceremonial first puck.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB