THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050578
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
A decade or so ago, you could be sure a mini-war would break out every time a Russian and American hockey team crossed sticks.
John Brophy knows. He coached Birmingham of the World Hockey Association in an exhibition against the Russian national team in 1979.
``We murdered them,'' Brophy said. ``It was the days of the hammer and sickle. Emotions ran high. It was country vs. country during the Cold War.
``We had guys who wouldn't check anybody and yet were knocking people through the boards when we played the Russians.''
But that wasn't the case Wednesday at Scope, when Torpedo Yaroslavl challenged the Hampton Roads Admirals in an exhibition. Brophy's Admirals rolled past the Russians, 3-1, but it was done surgically, in the spirit of glasnost.
There were no major penalties and no fisticuffs. Just a clean, crisp hockey game.
Players shook hands at game's end and the Russians drew a standing ovation from the Scope crowd of 6,740. After dressing, both teams broke bread at a banquet hosted by Admirals president Blake Cullen.
Torpedo goaltender Alexel Chervakov, 29, who is on his eighth tour of North America, said the atmosphere on this trip is better than it was on most of his previous trips.
``It seemed there were many fights and much violence in the past when we went to Canada and America,'' he said through Marina Dzyura, who acted an interpreter for the media. ``Now everyone is just concerned with playing hockey. It's not so personal.''
Jim Brown, John Porco and Ron Pascucci scored for the Admirals, who got two assists from Dennis McEwen and solid goaltending from Patrick LaLime and Corwin Saurdiff. The Admirals killed seven of eight Russian power plays and won despite being outshot by 13.
The Russians were effusive in their praise for the Admirals and the Scope crowd, the largest they have seen after seven games of their 10-game U.S. tour. The loss dropped Torpedo's record to 5-2, with the only other loss coming at Binghamton of the AHL, 5-4.
``This is a very good team,'' said Russian forward Alexander Ardashov. ``The only team that compares is the (Binghamton) Rangers. This team is as strong as the Rangers.''
The Admirals dressed 20 players, three more than usual, including Mike Nemirovsky, a forward released by the Admirals last month but reactivated for the exhibition. He is a Canadian citizen who was born in Moscow and played two seasons in Russia.
He says the Admirals didn't see Torpedo at its best.
``I expected more from them,'' he said. ``They looked tired.''
Indeed they were. Thanks to a late change in travel plans, the team bused from Ithaca, N.Y., on Wednesday, leaving at 7 a.m. and arriving at 6:20 p.m. - 70 minutes before game time.
Still, the game was memorable for Nemirovsky.
``I knew one of their players and some of their team officials,'' he said. ``It was nice to talk to them, but most of all it was nice to play again.''
Nemirovsky played well. He came close to garnering two assists, but after both passes, the Admirals failed to score on open shots.
``We played a great game, especially in goal and on defense,'' Brophy said. ``That's a great team on the other side. The Russians are fast, skillful skaters. This is a great win for us, and a great win for the league.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN, Staff
Dennis McEwen, left, celebrated after teammate Jim Brown beat
Torpedo Yaroslavl goalie Alexie Chervakov for Hampton Roads' first
goal. McEwen assisted on the play.
by CNB