THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 1994 TAG: 9410180487
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals cut three players Monday, then welcomed a surprise addition to their roster.
Kelly Sorensen, the third-year player who stunned the Admirals by announcing his retirement last Friday, had a change of heart over the weekend and has returned to the team. He is on the 15-day disabled list with a hand injury received in last Thursday's exhibition victory over Johnstown.
The Admirals reduced their roster to 17 by cutting right wing Tony Delcarmine and defensemen Anthony MacAulay and Joe Eagan in Roanoke, where they begin play tonight against the Express at 7 in the Roanoke Civic Center.
Delcarmine, a rookie from Dartmouth, scored two goals in the 4-3 victory over Johnstown and had two assists in a 7-4 victory over Wheeling Friday. MacAulay, a graduate of Dalhousie College in Canada, also had an assist against Wheeling.
Eagan, acquired in the dispersal draft from the now defunct Louisville franchise, was hampered by an injured hip during training camp.
Sorensen called Admirals president Blake Cullen Monday morning and asked to rejoin the team. The two met in the Admirals' Scope office in the afternoon and agreed to contract terms.
``We were going to ask him to drop the puck for us Friday,'' Cullen said of the Admirals' home opener against Raleigh. ``We were going to bring him out for a last hurrah.''
But Sorensen said he knew almost right away that he'd made a mistake.
``I missed it too much,'' Sorensen said. ``I listened to both games on the radio this weekend and was dying to be playing again.
``I swallowed my pride and told Mr. Cullen that I need to be part of this team.''
Sorensen, an assistant golf pro at Honey Bee Golf Club in Virginia Beach, has worked out a schedule with pro Bridget Pendergast that will allow him to work part time until the spring.
``This is great,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``He'll be a terrific player for us now that his mind is set.''
The Admirals roster includes 10 forwards, five defensemen and two goaltenders.
Rookie center John Porco will team with left wing Trevor Halverson and right wing Rick Kowalsky on the first line.
The second line consists of center Jim Brown, left wing Rod Taylor and right wing Matt Mullgrave. The third line includes team captain Dennis McEwen at center, Brendan Curley at left wing and rookie Bill Lang at right wing.
Rookie Martin Laitre is the 10th forward.
The first-line defense includes Jason MacIntyre and rookie Chris Phelps. Ron Pascucci and Tom Menicci are on the second line.
Veteran Brian Goudie is the fifth defenseman. ``He'll play on power plays, penalty kills and other key situations,'' assistant coach Al MacIsaac said.
As usual, Brophy has mixed his better players among the lines.
Rookie Patrick LaLime will be in goal after a close preseason battle with Shamus Gregga, a returning player.
``Both Shamus and Patrick will play a lot this season,'' MacIsaac said. ``They might alternate (games) in goal.''
Roanoke, which expects a near capacity crowd of 8,372, appears to be improved over the team that was 37-28-3 and finished fifth in the East Division.
However, Brophy says he has done no scouting of the Express.
``I've done nothing,'' he said. ``Basically to me it's the same team we've beaten something like 75 times out of 100.
``The important thing to me is how we're playing. We played great in the exhibition season. The team is where we want it to be to start the season.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Kelly Sorensen ``was dying to be playing again.''
PAUL AIKEN/Staff file
Ron Pascucci brings his in-your-face defense to the Admirals' second
line. They open the season tonight at Roanoke.
by CNB