THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120591
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER ADMIRAL NOTES
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Martin Woods, a burly defenseman the Hampton Roads Admirals hoped would play a key role for them this season, has been declared ineligible by East Coast Hockey League commissioner Pat Kelly.
Woods, 19, was ruled ineligible because he has another year of eligibility remaining in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
``Our league has a rule against using a player with remaining junior league eligibility if a junior league still wants him,'' Kelly said from the league office in Charlotte. ``If we didn't have this rule, all of our teams would be raiding junior leagues.''
The rule isn't in the league bylaws. Kelly told the Admirals it is an unwritten rule they should have been aware of.
Admirals president Blake Cullen said he had never heard of the rule but would abide by Kelly's order.
``Pat says it's a rule and we can't play him, so we can't play him,'' Cullen said of Woods. ``We don't want to break any rules.''
Kelly said he was contacted three weeks ago by the Victoriaville Tigres, who hold Woods' Quebec league rights. Kelly said he spoke with Admirals coach John Brophy about Woods then but didn't act until he saw the Hampton Roads preseason roster this week.
Woods, a French-Canadian, spoke bitterly about the decision in deeply accented but fluent English. He said he can't understand why Shamus Gregga, an Admirals goaltender last season, was allowed to play even though he had junior eligibility remaining.
``How come he can play and I can't?'' he said. ``To put a rule in now for some players and not all players is wrong.
``I want to play professional hockey. I'm ready to play professional hockey. I will not improve as much in junior hockey as I will here. I was looking forward to playing for coach Brophy. I was looking forward to playing for the fans here. We had more people here for practice than we did at some junior games.
``It's unfair.''
Kelly says Gregga played because he was unwanted by junior leagues.
``We couldn't find a team that was interested in him,'' Kelly said. ``We told them to call us if they wanted him. Nobody ever called.''
He says the same was true of Steve Greenberg, who played for the Admirals in 1989 even though he had junior eligibility.
``We even spoke with his parents,'' Kelly said of Greenberg. ``Nobody was interested.''
Woods said his agent called Kelly and threatened to sue the ECHL.
``But I see no reason to sue,'' Woods said. ``He (Kelly) told my agent that even if we won in court, he still would not let me play.''
Woods said Victoriaville officials have told them they plan to sell his rights to the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec league for $30,000.
``He's too good to play junior hockey,'' Admirals captain Dennis McEwen said. ``He's ready to play at this level. He'll tear them up.''
Cullen says a team from a professional league that doesn't bar using juniors might sign Woods.
``He looks like a helluva prospect from what I've seen of him,'' Cullen said of the 6-foot, 205-pounder. ``Good size and speed. A tough kid.
``If he goes to another pro league, I'll be disappointed.''
NEW PLAYER: Matt Mallgrave, a right wing and a four-year starter at Harvard, has been assigned to Hampton Roads by the Portland Pirates of the AHL.
Mallgrave played briefly last year for the St. John's Maple Leafs and for South Carolina of the ECHL, but is considered a rookie because he played fewer than 20 games.
Because he is under contract to Portland, most of his salary won't count against the ECHL salary cap.
Mallgrave had 27 goals and 13 assists in 31 games for Harvard as a senior. He was a sixth-round draft choice of Toronto in 1993.
``He's a good prospect, we're happy he's coming,'' said assistant coach Al MacIsaac, who spent nearly two weeks with Mallgrave in Portland's training camp.
Mallgrave isn't expected to play Thursday, when the Admirals host Johnstown in a exhibition game at Scope. However, he'll likely play Friday when they host Wheeling.
MORE NOTES: Rod Taylor, the Admirals' leading scorer last season, took an errant stick Monday and received a cut that required six stitches to close. Taylor was back on the ice that afternoon. No serious injuries have yet occurred in training camp. . . . Defenseman Brian Goudie is practicing once per day this week. He attended both the Washington Capitals' and Portland Pirates' camps and is in game shape already, Brophy said. ``He's been in camp forever,'' Brophy said. ``And he's trying to look for a place to live.'' . . . Admirals book covers will be given away to the first 1,500 schoolchildren who attend Friday's exhibition with Wheeling. Tickets for both exhibitions are on sale for $5 apiece. . . . Center Jim Brown, who spent two weeks in Portland's preseason camp, reported Tuesday and worked out in the afternoon session. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
``I want to play professional hockey,'' said Martin Woods. ``It's
unfair.''
by CNB