THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 30, 1994 TAG: 9411300596
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Mikhail Nemirovsky, a 20-year-old forward with both Russian and Canadian citizenship, has been added to the Hampton Roads Admirals' roster and is scheduled to play tonight against Roanoke at Scope.
Nemirovsky flew into Norfolk on Tuesday from Florida. He had two assists in six games before being waived by the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks on Nov. 11.
Less than an hour after being picked up at the Norfolk airport, he was outfitted with equipment by trainer Rick Burrill and hit the ice for a short practice.
Nemirovsky replaces Matt Mallgrave, who was called up Monday by the AHL's Portland Pirates.
Nemirovsky is a native of Moscow who was raised in Toronto after his parents fled Russia 17 years ago. They immigrated when Nemirovsky's father, a Russian soccer star, took his family to Italy for a tournament.
``We just never went home,'' Nemirovsky said in his Russian-Canadian accent. ``My parents were considered traitors in Russia for a long time.''
However, since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communism, the family has been able to make trips to their homeland. Nemirovsky spent the last two years playing for the Spartak club in Moscow.
Admirals coach John Brophy said Nemirovsky's agent persuaded him to give the player a try.
``We have a position open, so we'll see what he can do,'' Brophy said.
However, he likely won't see Nemirovsky in top form. Nemirovsky had not been on the ice in 10 days prior to Tuesday.
TOUGH DEFENSE: Brophy has often been critical of his team's defensemen, but he had no complaints after Saturday's 6-5 shootout victory in Richmond.
Chris Phelps was tossed out of the game for fighting in the second period, leaving the Admirals with four defensemen. That number fell to three late in the second period when Ron Pascucci was given a 10-minute misconduct.
That left Rob MacInnis, Jason MacIntyre and Tom Menicci as the only defensemen. MacIntyre was nursing a sore thumb and MacInnis was not in shape just a week after being signed out of a Nova Scotia senior league.
Pascucci was also at less than full strength.
``He has a pulled groin,'' Menicci said. ``It was so bad that he was barely able to walk. I don't know how he was out there skating.''
Yet the Admirals held Richmond to one goal in the game's last 30 minutes.
Brophy said the defensemen ``played with a lot of heart in the third period. I'm sure they were dragging at the end.''
SHORT STICKS: Only 4,130 tickets have been sold for tonight's game, which likely will draw the smallest crowd of the season. ... The first 3,000 fans tonight will receive free Admirals bumper stickers. ... The Admirals don't host a game Friday because there is a convention at Scope. It is the only Friday in an 18-week stretch from late October until late February in which the Admirals are not at home. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Coach John Brophy had high praise for his depleted defense after
Saturday's victory.
GAMEWATCH
HAMPTON ROADS vs. ROANOKE Site: Scope, 7:30 p.m.
Radio: WTAR AM-790 (pre-game show, 7 p.m.).
Tickets: 4,860 tickets remained late Tuesday afternoon, priced at
$6 and $7. Scope capacity is 8,990. For information, call 640-1212.
About the Admirals: Hampton Roads is last in the East Division
but is 3-0-1 in its last four games and would move out of the cellar
with victories tonight and Saturday (in Charlotte). The Admirals
lost at Roanoke, 5-3, in their opener. The teams haven't played
since. Center John Porco leads the Admirals with 18 goals and 11
assists.
About the Express: Center Pat Ferschweiler leads Roanoke with 21
points (six goals, 15 assists). Oleg Yashin has 19 and Jeff Jestadt
18. Former Admirals goaltender Dave Gagnon is 6-3-3 and has a 2.64
goals-against average for the Express. Roanoke handed Richmond its
first regulation loss of the season last week.
Chart
ADMIRALS STATS
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB