THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 5, 1994 TAG: 9412050116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Three weeks ago, Hampton Roads Admirals coach John Brophy angrily threatened to trade most of his players because they weren't winning and, he said, weren't playing hard.
Such threats are among the many unusual motivational tools Brophy uses from time to time.
Once, he said he was so disgusted with the Admirals that he would waive them all as soon as he got to the office the next day. It didn't happen, of course, yet the players got the message - shape up or you might get shipped out.
But it was a different Brophy who spoke following a 5-1 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday. He was not angry when he said: ``We've got to make some changes.''
He spoke softly and thoughtfully, almost with regret, a sure sign this wasn't a motivational ploy.
``We've got to do something. For whatever reason, we aren't winning with what we've got.'' He sighed, then added: ``When you get to this point after 20 games, you either change things or you keep losing.''
At 8-10-2, Hampton Roads is off to its worst start and is last in the East Division. And the two ties are shootout losses, meaning the record would be 8-12 in most leagues.
The Admirals have played well in short stretches but appeared to hit a low point in the loss to the Checkers. They bused to Charlotte two days early and spent both days preparing for the game. They worked out at Independence Arena and watched the Checkers play Friday, then ate dinner together and focused on this one game.
``The atmosphere in the locker room before the game was different than it's been all season,'' defenseman Tom Menicci said. ``We thought we were ready.''
They were. The Admirals played hard. But, as one member of the Admirals' entourage put it: ``There's something wrong. Something's not clicking with this team.''
At game's end, most of the Admirals were disconsolate and refused to be interviewed.
``I don't want to say anything,'' John Porco said, ``because I might regret what I say later.''
Most simply stared at the floor, as sweat and, in some cases, blood dripped from their faces.
Clearly, motivation is not the primary problem with this team. These guys want to win.
So what is the problem?
Perhaps No. 1 is a lack of team chemistry.
As individuals, the Admirals are all talented hockey players. But they haven't meshed as a group.
``It's not just (chemistry), it's a lot of things,'' Brophy said. ``But, obviously, they are not playing well and aren't playing together, and we've got to do something about it.''
Some other reasons for the Admirals' slump:
Other teams are vastly improved. Richmond, Charlotte and Roanoke mined a mother lode of talent in the offseason. All have veteran goaltenders. They simply are better than Hampton Roads at this point. And because play in the ECHL is being confined almost exclusively to within divisions this season, those teams account for eight Hampton Roads losses and a shootout defeat.
Lack of size. Pound for pound, the Admirals are as good as anyone in the ECHL. Problem is, they have less tonnage than most of their division rivals.
Personnel losses from last season. All-stars Shawn Wheeler, Daniel Chaput, Victor Gervais, Shawn Snesar and Mark Michaud are gone and haven't been adequately replaced. Of the current Admirals, only Porco is a legitimate all-star candidate.
Pressure. It comes from Brophy, the fans and the players themselves. Everyone associated with the franchise, winner of two ECHL titles and two East Division titles the last five years, demands a winner. The players feel that pressure, and players under pressure often make mistakes.
That was the case Saturday, when sloppy passing in front of the Hampton Roads net resulted in two easy Charlotte goals in the first period.
``We played them right into our net,'' Brophy said, shaking his head. ``That's what happens when you lose. The puck doesn't bounce your way. You make mistakes. The more you lose, the more those things seem to happen.''
Brophy says the blame falls squarely on his shoulders.
``I put this team together,'' he said. ``I picked the players, I coach them. It's my fault. Go after me, not the players.''
Brophy, of course, has gone after the players himself.
He invited reporters into his locker room after one game and chastised the players for all to see.
He accused his players of quitting after another game.
Wednesday, he forced them to skate wind sprints at Scope for nearly 15 minutes after a 3-0 loss to Roanoke as perhaps 1,000 fans watched, including some who jeered.
He's also played the good cop, trying to stroke his players with affirmation. He's shaken up his lineup, experimenting with different line combinations. None of it has worked for more than a few games.
So the next step is to talk trade, though he's likely to find few bargains. Most teams he's spoken with want Porco, a player Brophy says is the best in the league, and have offered little in return.
Brophy has long some days of tough bargaining ahead.
``A lot of guys on are team are playing with a lot of heart,'' he said. ``Those are the guys we've got to keep. In this league you've got to keep the guys who play every night. But we've got to shake things up.''
Regardless, impatient Admirals fans should remember a cold, hard fact - every sports franchise, no matter how storied, eventually hits the skids. Not everyone wins forever.
The Celtics, Lakers, Cowboys and even Notre Dame football have all suffered losing seasons.
It'll happen here someday.
It might be happening now. by CNB