THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290552
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Admirals Report
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals and Raleigh IceCaps will be off to the races between periods at Scope on New Year's Eve.
Admirals' coach John Brophy and IceCaps' coach Rick Barkovich have agreed to a series of speed-skating races between the first and second periods. Both teams will put their fastest skaters on the ice for a one-on-one skate three times around the ice. Both teams will then send three-man relay teams onto the ice.
The races are a replay of competition held last season between periods of the ECHL all-star game at Scope.
``They were a lot of fun, very entertaining for the fans,'' Admirals president Blake Cullen said. ``We wanted to do a little something to make New Year's Eve special.''
No word on who'll skate in the relay for Hampton Roads, but assistant coach Al MacIsaac says Kelly Sorensen probably will skate in the one-on-one competition.
``He's the fastest we've got,'' MacIsaac said.
Brophy, MacIsaac and all of the off-ice ice officials, females included, will come dressed in tuxedos in what has become a New Year's tradition.
Game time is 6 p.m. It is the only Admirals home game that doesn't begin at 7:30.
NEMIROVSKY TO PLAY: Mike Nemirovsky, the Moscow native who was waived by the Admirals several weeks ago, will play Wednesday when the Admirals host Torpedo Yaroslavl, a Russian team that is touring the eastern United States.
``I'm looking forward to it,'' said Nemirovsky, who cleared waivers and has been practicing with the team while awaiting a roster position to open.
``But I don't just want to play. I want to play well.''
Though born in Russia, Nemirovsky moved to Toronto when he was three and is a Canadian citizen. He nonetheless retains much affection for his homeland. After graduating from high school, he played two seasons of hockey in Russia before coming to the ECHL.
The Admirals are not bound by ECHL rules for the exhibition and will dress 20 players, three more than usual, including Tom Menicci and Colin Gregor, who are on injured reserve.
ON RADIO: It will be veterans night tonight on the Admirals Report on WTAR radio. Dennis McEwen, the only player remaining from the team's first practice six seasons ago, and Rod Taylor, who has been on the team since 1991, will both be on the call-in show on 790-AM at 7:04 p.m. by CNB