THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 16, 1994 TAG: 9412160667
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Ron Pascucci is better-known as a friend of the famous back home in North Andover, Mass., than he is as a hockey player.
His lifelong best friend and former Boston College teammate is Steve Hines of the Boston Bruins. And at Boston College, Pascucci roomed with David Gordon, the walk-on placekicker who booted the dramatic winning field goal with no time left against top-ranked Notre Dame in 1993.
But Hampton Roads Admirals coach John Brophy says Pascucci can make a name of his own, that with a little work and a little luck the Admirals defenseman could join Hines in the NHL.
``He's a defenseman who can skate and has a good stick,'' said Brophy, whose Admirals host Raleigh tonight at Scope. ``That's what people are looking for at every level.
``He can not only take the step up to the next level, but the next two levels. It's up to him. If he plays tough all the time, he'll move up.''
Pat Shetler, the color commentator for Admirals radio broadcasts and a former NHL linesman, agrees.
``Ron Pascucci played a little soft at times last year,'' he said. ``But not this year. People don't want to stand in front of the net with Pascucci out there. He's whacking people and knocking them around.
``He's developed into the finest defenseman in the league.''
Playing pro hockey wasn't much of a priority with Pascucci until last season. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals when he was in the 11th grade at Belmont Hill prep school in suburban Boston, but didn't much care.
``I really didn't give it much thought,'' Pascucci said. ``I didn't pay much attention to the draft.
``When it happened I got a call from my aunt saying my name was in the paper. That was nice, but I knew I was going to college, I knew I was going to get my education. My parents wouldn't have it any other way.
``I have no regrets. I had the best four years of my life at Boston College.''
Pascucci began skating as a child on his back porch, which his father would flood during the winter. He starred for Boston College's hockey team and graduated with a degree in marketing before finally making his way to the Caps 1993 training camp. There he met Brophy and came to the Admirals after being cut.
Last season he played well, with 44 points and a plus-minus of 11 in 58 games.
This year, he's played better. He is second on the team in scoring with 25 points, including a team-high 20 assists. But it is his play in the Admirals' zone that has been most impressive.
Rarely does an opponent with a puck make it past the blue line with Pascucci on the ice. Most end up losing the puck, their stick, their balance or all three.
Pascucci's finest hour may have come in a 5-1 loss in Charlotte. Because a defenseman was hurt and three others were in the penalty box or ejected from the game, he was the only defenseman on the ice for the game's last 11 minutes.
``I've never gone through something like that,'' he said. ``I wound up playing (defense) with Trevor Halverson. I knew I couldn't take a penalty. After that game I was physically, mentally and emotionally drained. The team was struggling. I didn't know where the team was going and where I was going.''
The Admirals were then mired in last place in the East Division and were off to their worst start. They've since pulled out of last and are 3-0-1 in their last four games.
``We're playing better,'' he said, ``because we're more physical. We're playing tougher hockey.''
Pascucci is often asked about Gordon's famous kick for Boston College, one Pascucci didn't see until the next day on ESPN. The Admirals were on a bus headed for a game in Raleigh when BC upset the Fighting Irish.
Rick Burrill, the Admirals' trainer who formerly worked at Boston College, burst into the locker room after the team arrived in Raleigh to tell Pascucci what had happened.
``He came in and said they won,'' Pascucci said. ``I told him I didn't believe him. Then he said Gordo kicked the winning field goal, and I knew he was lying then.''
It wasn't until Sunday, when he watched the replays, that Pascucci realized his former roommate was a national hero.
``Gordo is a great kid, a great person, but he's just a little out there if you know what I mean,'' Pascucci said. ``He doesn't know much of what's going on in the world around him.
``You know, we always used to say, `Could you imagine Gordo kicking the winning field goal with no time on the clock against a team like Notre Dame or Miami?' It was a joke.
``But he's probably the person to have in a situation like that, a pressure kick, because he doesn't really understand what the consequences are of the kick.
``I went back to Massachusetts last summer and talked to him about it. He kept saying, `I don't understand what the big deal is?'
``And he really doesn't understand.''
Pascucci understands, at 24, time is growing short if he is to play in the NHL.
``In college, I wasn't that involved in thinking about playing professionally,'' he said. ``But now it's crunch time for me. I need to move up, if not this season, then in training camp next season.
``You know, some nights I think, `What am I doing playing hockey. Why not get a job in the real world?' But then when I talk with my friends in the real world, they say don't ever get a job unless you have to. Keep playing hockey.
``I want to keep playing hockey. I want to play in the NHL in the worst way. I wouldn't be here otherwise.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
by CNB