THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 10, 1994 TAG: 9410100179
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Martin Laitre, a 6-foot, 220-pound French Canadian, came to Scope Sunday to make a name for himself.
Mission accomplished.
An hour into the Hampton Roads Admirals' first practice, Laitre and Steve Anderson, aspiring rookies at left wing, faced off in the first hockey fight of the season at Scope.
It was difficult to say who started the fight, though choosing a winner was simple. Laitre came away with a bruised right fist. Anderson was taken to the lockerroom with four cuts that required 18 stitches to close.
A few hours later, perhaps 30 minutes into the Admirals' second practice, they squared off again. Again, Laitre emerged relatively unscathed. Anderson was carried off to Chesapeake General Hospital for more stiches.
``His face looked like a hand grenade had gone off,'' said one Admiral, wincing.
With several other returning standouts at left wing, both players appear to be fighting for the team's one vacant position. Literally.
``They were trying to show who was king of the hill,'' Admirals' coach John Brophy said with a shrug when asked about the fight.
Laitre said he didn't come to Scope with the intention of fighting. But he was determined to make a name for himself.
``I came here to show that I'm ready to play, that I'm ready to earn a job,'' said Laitre, who played for Victoriaville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, and is fluent in English.
``It's time to show who really wants to stay here and who doesn't, not by fighting but by showing intensity and aggressiveness. I've always been that type of player.
``I feel good about the first day, but it was only the first day.''
And a tough day it was for most of the Admirals' rookies.
They skated and hit and lifted weights and rode stationary bikes for nearly three hours in the morning. Then they scrimmaged for an hour and skated for another in the afternoon.
``There's a difference between being in shape and being in Brophshape,'' said Dennis McEwen, the Admirals' captain last season.
Brophy said he is impressed so far with the 29 players in camp, who will be cut to a final roster of 17 within a week.
``They worked hard and everybody's trying to make the hockey club,'' he said. ``They came here in pretty good shape.''
Kelly Sorensen's stick clearly was in fine shape. The veteran right wing had a hat trick in the afternoon scrimmage, which Brophy viewed from the stands with Admirals' president Blake Cullen.
Two players not in view were left wing Colin Gregor and center Jim Brown. Gregor, obtained in a trade with Richmond, is trying out with the Canadian Olympic team. If he makes the Canadian team he won't play in Hampton Roads.
Brown reports Tuesday.
Unlike most previous camps, the Admirals have no veterans or goaltenders to cut. The vets, players with at least three years of experience, are McEwen, Rod Taylor and Trevor Halverson. ECHL rules allow three vets.
The goaltenders are Shamus Gregga and Patrick Lalime.
The Admirals' first exhibition game is Thursday at Scope against Johnstown at 7:30 p.m. It is the first of four exhibition games in four days. The Admirals open the regular season Oct. 18 at Roanoke.
NOTES: About 600 Admirals' fans attended the morning and afternoon workouts. Today's workouts, which are also open to the public, are 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Admirals will scrimmage in the early workout. ... The Admirals sold about 3,900 season tickets, 200 less than last season's record preseason sale. The tickets were mailed Saturday and should arrive to ticket holders Tuesday. apiece. The second game is Friday against Wheeling at Scope. Wheeling eliminated the Admirals from the playoffs last season. ... The Admirals regular-season home opener is Friday, Oct. 21, against Raleigh. Tickets are on sale for $6 and $7 for that and all regular-season home games. by CNB