THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 11, 1994 TAG: 9408110671
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals have released their road schedule for 1994-95, and it includes an eight-game, 13-day trip to the Northeast in late February and early March.
The late-season trip has become something of a tradition for the Admirals, who are shut out of Scope for nearly two weeks each season by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Last season, the Admirals won six of eight games during their two weeks on the road, including an overtime contest at Columbus and a shootout at Huntsville.
``The trip has been nothing but great for us every year,'' coach John Brophy said. ``Every year, it's made our season.''
The stretch begins Feb. 18 in Roanoke and takes the Admirals to Huntington, W.Va., Dayton, Ohio, Wheeling, W.Va., Columbus, Ohio, Erie, Pa., and Johnstown, Pa. (twice) before the Admirals return home March 3 to face Raleigh. The Admirals will play 10 games in 15 days, including home games just before and after the road trip.
``We'll be playing a lot of hockey in a short period of time,'' Brophy said. ``It will keep us busy.''
The Admirals will play Eastern Division opponents Richmond, Raleigh, Roanoke, Charlotte and Greensboro 26 times in 34 road games. A 1:05 p.m. match on Jan. 29, Super Bowl Sunday, is among six games in Richmond.
The Admirals previously released their home schedule, which includes a record 19 Friday night dates.
Brophy acknowledged he's disappointed that the road schedule does not include any dates with South Carolina, which developed a spirited rivalry with the Admirals in the playoffs, and Tallahassee, which relocated from Huntsville.
``Charleston is one of our favorite road trips, and our guys wanted to go to Florida,'' Brophy said. ``But there's no such thing as a good road schedule. Your only good games are at home, and our home schedule is ideal.''
The Admirals' weekend routine will be to play at home on Friday, then bus elsewhere for a Saturday game.
``We want to play at home on Friday night, but we know if we do that, we'll be on the road Saturday,'' Brophy said. ``We're prepared for that.''
The Admirals open the regular season Oct. 18 in Roanoke. Their home opener is Friday, Oct. 21, against Raleigh at Scope.
COMPLAINTS? Some fans have complained because the Admirals are playing Eastern Division teams 54 times in 68 games. One penned a letter to the editor of The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, and another harangued Admirals president Blake Cullen during a recent radio interview.
But, said Cullen: ``We've had exactly one call at our office. Nobody else has complained.''
Cullen says it remains to be seen whether fans will grow tired of seeing the same teams so many times.
``I was against'' the league's decision to limit scheduling, he said. ``I think some of the others who voted for it realized it was a mistake after they saw their schedules. I think the answer could come next year.''
Cullen hopes the league will expand from 18 to 20 teams, split into two divisions rather than three and limit scheduling to within each division. Divisional rivals would then come to Scope three or four times rather than a maximum of six.
AGENDA: The Admirals have placed two items on the agenda for the Aug. 23-26 league meetings in Columbus.
That the salary cap be increased from $5,400 per week to $6,000.
That the the playoff pool be revamped to increase payouts to players slightly. Members of the championship team would receive $2,350 apiece, in addition to their salaries. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Schedule
by CNB