THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410290349
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Admiral Report
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
The ice man cometh to Norfolk on Friday and got rid of the snow banks at Scope.
The city of Norfolk installed a new, $40,000 Jet Ice system this summer, one that was supposed to give Scope ice a clear look and a harder surface. Alas, the ice was whiter and softer than that of a year ago for the Admirals' first two home games.
Players complained. So did coach John Brophy, who likened the ice near the goals to a ``mound of snow'' after Wednesday's 9-5 victory over Greensboro.
That prompted Scope officials to give Jet Ice Inc. of Toronto a call.
Friday, Doug Moore of Jet Ice flew into Norfolk to supervise the Scope ice crew and quickly solved the problem.
``They were using way too much water,'' said Moore, who was director of operations at Maple Leaf Gardens when Brophy coached the Maple Leafs. ``It was locking a lot of air in the ice. Now you can see it's starting to clear up.
``They have a good ice crew, but they have a lot of new equipment here. It's totally different than making ice with raw water. It's a learning process. I'm only in here to smooth out the rough edges.''
A Jet Ice system, in use in all NHL rinks, mixes chemicals with water. The water is then supposed to freeze faster and clearer than plain water.
``Some of these fellas have been making ice for 20 years,'' Moore said. ``It's a change when you go to a new system. . . .''
``We could see some change in the ice today and it's going to get better and better. It won't be long before you have the best ice in the league.''
HOMECOMING: Shawn Snesar was one of the Admirals' most popular players last season. With long, flowing locks and a perpetual four-day beard, Snesar had rock-star looks and won over many with his aggressive play.
But Friday he came to Scope as a member of the Richmond Renegades. Traded to Richmond as part of a four-man deal in September, Snesar hit the ice for the first time to a chorus of cheers mixed with boos from the crowd of 8,072.
The defenseman says he has no regrets about leaving the Admirals after three seasons in Norfolk.
``I'm not bitter about it. I don't wish I was here playing,'' he said. ``I'm happy in Richmond, and that's where I want to play. We've got a lot of talent, a lot of young guys out of college who work hard. We've got a team that's going to do well.''
NO CHANGES: The Admirals made no player transactions Friday, even though Kelly Sorensen is eligible to come off injured reserve and Colin Gregor reported after being cut by the Canadian Olympic team. Brophy likely will add both players to the roster Sunday, though Gregor could play tonight, when the Admirals visit Richmond. by CNB