THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994 TAG: 9410190584
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE LENGTH: Long : 112 lines
In his brief time with the Hampton Roads Admirals three years ago, goaltender Dave Gagnon set a team career record for keeping pucks out of the net.
Tuesday, while in goal for the Roanoke Express, Gagnon showed that he hasn't lost his touch.
Roanoke broke a 2-2 tie with three third-period goals, and Gagnon held off a late Hampton Roads flurry, as the Express upended the Admirals, 5-3, Tuesday in the East Coast Hockey League opener for both teams.
The loss spoiled good performances from several Admirals newcomers. Defenseman Chris Phelps had a goal, an assist and a hard-checking defensive effort; left wing Trevor Halverson had three assists, and Patrick LaLime was outstanding in goal.
The Admirals' defense, however, was less than outstanding.
The Admirals didn't play with their accustomed fury in their end and allowed the Express to pepper LaLime with 35 shots, 18 in the second period.
``He played very well,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said of LaLime. ``We didn't do as much as we should have to help him.
``Roanoke was the better team tonight. They played hard, and Gagnon did a fine job.
``I don't think we were too bad. . . . But only about half our guys played hard. We've got to do better than that.''
Brophy didn't name names but said he was upset with that half of his team.
``We've got some guys who've played a few games in the American Hockey League,'' he said. ``They think, because they're in a supposedly lower league, that they don't have to work as hard. We'll take care of that.''
Gagnon mixed some classy play with a generous portion of luck to record the victory.
Three times, Hampton Roads pucks rattled off the posts. Numerous other times, Gagnon would block a shot, leaving the puck in front of an open net, and Admirals players would miss shots or the puck would bounce off Gagnon.
``Sometimes the puck doesn't bounce your way,'' left wing Brendan Curley said.
The bounces went all Roanoke's way early in the third period.
Roanoke veteran Pat Ferschweiler put the Express ahead, 3-2, 49 seconds into the period with a rebound of a Michael Smith miss. LaLime blocked the Smith shot, but his view of Ferschweiler was blocked by other players. Ferschweiler then simply slapped the puck past him.
Roanoke scored the clinching goal when Jeff Jestadt slapped in a Ferschweiler miss at 8:41 to put the Express ahead, 4-2.
On both goals, the Admirals found themselves out of position defensively when the Express gained possession of the puck.
``We gave away both goals,'' Brophy said.
The Admirals dominated play the rest of the way, bombarding Gagnon with nine shots.
Hampton Roads scored on a power-play goal by rookie Rick Kowalsky at 13:33 that cut the lead to 4-3.
The Admirals then kept the pressure on Gagnon. A shot by Phelps at 18:21 missed by inches. Halverson and Jim Brown then both narrowly missed seconds later.
Ferschweiler finally iced the victory for the Express on a power-play goal with 32 seconds left.
``We played hard in the third period, and that was encouraging,'' Curley said. ``We were down by two goals and didn't quit. We kept going and going. Luck just wasn't with us at the end.''
Added Halverson: ``It was the first game, and we've got a lot of first-year players. We're going to get better. We have a great crop of players here. You'll see a lot of great hockey from this team.''
NOTES: The Admirals scored all three goals on power plays. ``That's a good sign,'' Brophy said. ``The power play was working.'' . . . The crowd was announced at 4,722, about half of the expected gate but still a club record for an opening game. . . . The Admirals open their home schedule Friday at Scope against Raleigh, then travel to Charlotte Saturday. Both teams are expected to be the Admirals' chief competitors for the East Division title.
Hampton Roads 1 1 1 - 3
Roanoke 1 1 3 - 5
First period-1, Roanoke, Fleury 1 (Smith), 4:58. 2, Hampton Roads, Porco 1 (Phelps, Halverson), pp, 17:32. Penalties - Belleza, R (high sticking), 2:12; Goudie, HR (roughing), 10:06; Hampton Roads minor (bench), 10:06; Bouchard, R (roughing), 10:06; Ferschweiler, R double minor (high sticking) 10:12; Stewart, R (slashing), 14:07; Schriner, R (tripping), 16:35.
Second period-3, Roanoke, Stewart 1 (Ferschweiler) pp, 13:21. 4, Hampton Roads, Phelps 1 (Halversen, Menicci), pp, 14:33. Penalties- Brown, HR (high sticking) :54; Bouchard, R (high sticking) :54; MacIntyre, HR (holding), 12:54; Goudie, HR (high sticking) 13:06; Laxdal, R (high sticking) 13:06; Mallgrave, HR (roughing) 14:13; Potter, R double minor (roughing), 14:13; Laxdal, R (roughing) 14:13; Pascucci, HR (roughing) 14:13; Curley, HR (slashing) 15:08; Goudie, HR major (fighting) 17:00; Jestadt, R major (fighting), 17:00; Pascucci, HR (unsportsmanlike conduct) 19:58; Bouchard, R (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:58.
Third period-5, Roanoke, Ferschweiler 2 (Smith) :49. 6, Roanoke, Jestadt 1 (Ferschweiler), 9:41. 7, Hampton Roads, Kowalsky (Menicci, Halversen), pp, 13:33. 8, Roanoke, Ferschweiler, pp, 19:28. Penalties- McKewen, HR (holding) 3:04; Clarke, R (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:37; Laitre, HR (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:37; Larson, R (elbowing), 12:36; Goudie, HR major, game misconduct (cross checking) 19:38.
Shots on goal-Hampton Roads 10-7-12-29; Roanoke 11-18-6-35. Power-play opportunities-Hampton Roads 3-of-7; Roanoke 2-of-6. Goaltending-Hampton Roads, LaLime 35 shots-30 saves; Roanoke, Gagnon 29-26. Officials-Dunne (referee), Horan, Hamlett. T-2:41. A-4,722. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DON PETERSON/Landmark News Service
The Admirals' Rod Taylor moves in on Roanoke goaltender Dave Gagnon.
Hampton Roads came up short, 5-3, in their season opener at the
Roanoke Civic Center.
by CNB