THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501180570
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GREENSBORO LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The red-hot Hampton Roads Admirals won for the 10 time in their last 11 outings Tuesday, and could grab a share of first place in the ECHL's East Division tonight when they host the Richmond Renegades at Scope.
Rick Kowalsky collected his first professional hat trick, Rod Taylor added two goals and two assists and Patrick LaLime played almost flawlessly in goal for the Admirals, who blew past the Greensboro Monarchs, 5-1.
It was the 10th victory in the last 12 road games for the Admirals (23-12-3), who trail both Richmond (23-10-5) and Charlotte (23-12-5) by two points. Should the Admirals win tonight and Charlotte lose at South Carolina, Hampton Roads will pull into a first-place tie with the Checkers.
The Admirals ran their record to 2-0 since losing center John Porco, their leading scorer, to San Diego of the IHL. And both wins came on the road, including Saturday's 6-5, come-from-behind triumph at Roanoke.
``We haven't slowed down because we're playing good defense first,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``I guarantee you, over a period of time, we're going to miss the man. But right now we're doing all of the little things it takes to win.''
And the big things. Taylor had three goals and four assists in the two games. Brendan Curley, moved to the first line to replace Porco, had a goal and three assists. Both Curley and Dennis McEwen (two goals Saturday) have played well at center on the penalty-killing unit, where Porco excelled.
Kowalsky, named to the ECHL all-star team last week, added his first hat trick Tuesday since he played junior hockey two years ago in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Kowalsky had two goals within the first 15 minutes and nearly netted his third when he hit the goalpost at 15:45 of the first period.
Taylor also had two goals in the first period and appeared headed for his third when Kowalsky spotted him skating toward the goal in the game's waning minutes. Kowalsky zipped a pass toward Taylor, but it glanced off a Greensboro skate and plopped into the net.
``It was a cheesy goal, but I'll take it,'' said Kowalsky who has 22 goals and 44 points. ``It should have been Rod's goal.''
Taylor smiled when asked about coming within an eyelash of his third career hat trick for Hampton Roads.
``It doesn't matter,'' he said with a shrug. ``What's important is that we won and we're playing well. Our defense was great tonight.''
Brophy concurred.
``We shut them down,'' he said. ``We were picking up guys at center ice. We were physical. Our guys are playing hard and with emotion.''
And it promises to get even more emotional tonight against Richmond. Former Admirals defenseman Daniel Chaput, now with the Renegades, blasted his former teammates in an article published this week in Hockey Ink.
``They're a bunch of jerks,'' he said. ``They just play the old-fashioned John Brophy style. It's just stick guys, hack them in the back and do any type of cheap shot you can do.
``They don't have the talent, they don't have half the talent this team has, and so they have to play like that just to compete in this division.''
Brophy shook his head when told of Chaput's comments.
``That's why we traded him,'' he said. ``He didn't want to work. He'd be a much better player if he played some old-fashioned hockey.'' by CNB