THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410090153
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Several hockey publications have already picked Hampton Roads to finish second, behind Charlotte, in the East Coast Hockey League's Eastern Division.
So what say you, John Brophy, coach of the defending division champion Admirals?
``We've got the toughest damn team in the league and will finish on top (of the Eastern Division) and there's nothing anyone can do about it,'' said Brophy, whose Admirals open training camp today at Scope.
``For the first time we're opening camp with three lines as good or better than anyone in the league.
``We've got a lot of good hockey players. The group of newcomers is the best we've had.''
Bold words, but Brophy indeed has reason for optimism.
The Admirals' 31-man preseason roster includes several highly regarded players recruited by assistant coach Al MacIsaac within the last few weeks.
Some of the best newcomers:
Rick Kowalsky, a 1992 draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres who played last season with the Cornwall Aces of the American Hockey League.
Patrick Lalime, a goalie who was a 1993 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins who the NHL team has so far been unable to sign.
Blake Martin, who scored 125 points for Halifax to lead the Major Junior Hockey League in scoring. He was cut recently by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Anthoney MacAuley, a defenseman cut by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks who played at Dalhousie University last season.
John Porco, a center drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1991 who played the last two seasons in Italy.
Bill Lang, a center who scored 73 points and was team captain for North Bay of the Ontario Hockey League.
Hampton Roads had previously acquired other talented newcomers, most notably Trevor Halverson, a left wing and former second-round draft choice of the Washington Capitals who played in the International Hockey League last season and for the Admirals two years ago.
Also on board are left wing Colin Gregor, obtained in a trade with Richmond, and defenseman Joe Eagon, acquired from the erstwhile Louisville franchise in the dispersal draft.
More than half of the Admirals 17-man roster is likely to be filled with the nine returnees, including all-star left wing Rod Taylor, who led Hampton Roads with 54 goals, and center/right wing Brendan Curley, who was second in scoring.
Shamus Gregga, who attended Portland's preseason camp, is likely to start at goalie. Defenseman Brian Goudie, who led the Admirals in penalty minutes last season, is also back after a tryout in Portland. Jim Brown, a center acquired late last season, is expected to be a star in his second ECHL season.
Other returnees include Jason MacIntyre, a forward/defenseman who was a late cut in Portland; Dennis McEwen, who scored 54 points in his fifth season with the Admirals; Ron Pascucci, a defenseman and a late cut from Cleveland of the IHL; and Kelly Sorensen, a right wing who finished strong last season.
Other forwards on the preseason roster: Steve Anderson, who played for the Antigonish Bulldogs; Tony Delcarmine, a star at Dartmouth College; Martin Laitre, who played in Victoriaville; Mark MacLean, a Bowdoin College graduate; Dan Menard and Michael Horner, who played for the Hawkesbury Hawkes; Sean Perry, who played for the University of New Hampshire and the London Knights; and Greg Pineo, who scored 47 points for Halifax.
Other defensemen: Rod Foley, from St. Francis Xavier University; Kyle Haviland, from Memphis of the Central Hockey League; Tom Menicci, a first-team All-ECAC pick from St. Anselm College; Chris Phelps, who played for the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League; and Martin Woods, who played for Granby of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was a Winnipeg draft choice in 1993.
Cutting 14 players from that group ``will be very difficult,'' MacIsaac said.
The Admirals will practice twice per day - at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. - the next four days. All practices are open to the public.
On Thursday they'll work out in the morning and then host Johnstown in their first exhibition game that night at 7:30.
Only after the first game will Brophy make some early cuts.
``John likes to give every player a chance to play in an exhibition game, if possible,'' Admirals president Blake Cullen said.
``Some players are better game players than practice players. He likes to see them all under game conditions.''
More cuts will come following Friday's home exhibition game against Wheeling.
Brophy will cut down to 17 players following exhibition games Saturday in Johnstown and Sunday in Wheeling.
The Admirals will then bus to Roanoke, where they open the regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Their home opener is Friday, Oct. 21, against Raleigh.
Two players won't be in camp today. Brown, who spent two weeks in Portland's camp, will report Tuesday. Gregor also will be late reporting. by CNB