THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 14, 1995 TAG: 9501140346
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Friday the 13th was a lucky day for John Porco.
The Hampton Roads Admirals' leading scorer signed a 25-game contract Friday with San Diego of the IHL and will be in uniform tonight when the Gulls meet Las Vegas at the San Diego Sports Arena.
While glad to see Porco move up, Admirals coach John Brophy blasted the Gulls for the way they handled the callup. Brophy spoke briefly three days ago with San Diego assistant coach Kurt Kleinendorst, but says he hasn't heard back from the Gulls.
``I'm happy for John,'' said Brophy, who is also the team's general manager. ``He's a good player who deserves a chance to move up. He's worked hard from his first day here.
``I'm just ticked off about the way they handled it. I talked to them earlier this week and they said they didn't know whether they would take him up. The next thing I know Porco's agent (Rand Simon of Toronto) is calling to tell us they're taking Porco.
``The chain of command in the hockey world ought to be that you talk to the general manager first, then the coach. But that doesn't happen. They call up the agent, then they call the house of the player.
``Maybe they figure they don't have to talk to us because we're the ECHL. (as head coach at Toronto).''
San Diego officials say they called up Porco, who scored 56 points in his first 34 games with Hampton Roads, to help jump-start their team, which lacks scoring punch and is last in its division.
Hampton Roads does not have a working agreement with San Diego, and thus didn't have to release Porco from his contract here. The Admirals acknowledge they tried to convince Portland, their AHL affiliate, to sign Porco.
``We'd rather have him in Portland because that's the team we work with and because we might get a player in return,'' Brophy said. ``It's a one-way street with San Diego. We get nothing in return.
``But we don't hold players back. And incidentally, we're not in last place.
``If they want to take a few more (players) and have me come up there and show them how to get out of last place, I'll go show them how to do it.''
Porco, who was injured much of the last two seasons while playing in Asiago, Italy, says he does not relish leaving the Admirals.
``I hate leaving,'' he said. ``This is a great team and a great bunch of guys. I've loved playing here. The fans are great.
``I owe a lot to Broph and the whole Hampton Roads organization. I hadn't really played the last two years. He took me in, played me right away and gave me a lot of confidence.''
SQUIRT ADMIRALS: The Junior Admirals Squirt team defeated a team of media personalties, 2-0, in a five-minute exhibition that was a prelude to a longer exhibition Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Iceland of Virginia Beach.
It took former NHL linesman Pat Shetler, color commentator for Admirals' broadcasts on WTAR radio, just 31 seconds to be sent to the penalty box. Carol Lewis, a WNIS broadcaster and wife of Admirals' captain Dennis McEwen, was also sent to the penalty box.
Proceeds from Sunday's rematch benefit the Junior Admirals. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
John Porco signed a 25-game contract and will be playing on the West
Coast tonight.
by CNB