THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 6, 1994 TAG: 9412060519
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: ADMIRALS NOTES
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Hampton Roads defenseman Jason MacIntyre won't play tonight at Raleigh or Wednesday against South Carolina at Scope because of a two-game suspension imposed Monday by ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly.
MacIntyre was suspended for his role in the final seconds of a fight with Charlotte's Eric Fenton on Saturday in the Admirals' 5-1 loss to the Checkers.
After MacIntyre landed several solid blows, a linesman trying to break up the fight grabbed him from behind. Players are supposed to stop fighting once they are in the grasp of a linesman, but MacIntyre continued to go after Fenton and slipped. He and the linesman flipped onto the ice.
``I didn't know who grabbed me,'' MacIntyre said. ``I didn't have time to think. I didn't mean to hurt'' the linesman.
MacIntyre admitted starting the fight but said he did so because he was infuriated that Fenton had high-sticked him seconds before in front of the Admirals' goal. The stick left a nasty gash under his left eye.
``He was taking cheap shots,'' MacIntyre said of Fenton, who had played for the Admirals last season. ``It wasn't the first. There's no call for that.''
The timing is unfortunate for MacIntyre, whose father, Rod, was scheduled to arrive in Norfolk today to watch his son play this week.
``He'll get to see me Friday,'' MacIntyre said, referring to the Admirals' game with Richmond.
Hampton Roads coach John Brophy declined to comment on the suspension.
The Admirals will skate one player short tonight and Wednesday. ECHL rules forbid a team from replacing a suspended player.
LONG PRACTICE: The Admirals held their most physical practice of the season Monday afternoon, going nearly three hours on the ice, including nearly 30 minutes of wind sprints. Afterward, most of the players lifted weights.
The players checked at game speed while scrimmaging, and during the sprints some collapsed on the ice in exhaustion.
``We've got to pay the price to get better,'' forward Trevor Halverson said.
Said Brophy: ``When you're losing, this is what you've got to do to break out of it.''
The Admirals will skate again at 9 this morning before leaving for Raleigh.
BIG AL: Assistant coach Al MacIsaac has been working out with the team since Friday, but he says he doesn't plan to play this season.
MacIsaac was one of the league's best defensemen before he retired at the end of the 1992-93 season. He has been Brophy's assistant coach and assistant general manager since.
Brophy says he hasn't asked MacIsaac to play.
``I promised him I wouldn't do that,'' Brophy said. ``I have no idea if he plans to come back. He hasn't mentioned it to me, and we haven't talked about it. But if he came back, he'd be the best damn defenseman in the league.''
MacIsaac laughed when asked if he'd play again.
``I'm just out here to help the players in practice,'' he said. ``I'm not in any kind of shape to play.''
SHORT STICKS: Brophy, a football aficionado, made a tackle worthy of a linebacker on trainer Rick Burrill during the loss at Charlotte. A Charlotte fan, who was cursing at the Admirals between beers, spit on Burrill, who decided to go into the stands after the fan. Brophy restrained Burrill - but then spat at the fan. . . . The Admirals Boosters Club held its Christmas party for the coaches, players and team officials Sunday at the Ramada Inn at 57th Street in Virginia Beach. Players were presented with gifts, including a few gag gifts. Goaltender Corwin Saurdiff was handed a 5-foot chain and was asked to attach it to the goal and to his rear end because of his propensity to wander from the crease. . . . Raleigh, which won in a shootout at Scope in its last outing against the Admirals, is 2-5 at home, including a loss to Hampton Roads in its home opener. ILLUSTRATION: Jason MacIntyre continued to fight after a linesman grabbed
him.
by CNB