THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240377
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Rick Kowalsky isn't quite sure how he's supposed to act tonight when he suits up for the East in the ECHL All-Star Game at the Greensboro Coliseum.
``I have no idea what to expect because I've never been in an all-star game,'' he said.
``I could be playing on a line with (Richmond's) Scott Gruhl, and I chopped him in the legs and he hacked me about four times the last time we played. I wonder how he's going to feel about me being there.
``All of those guys in the locker room will probably hate me. For one reason or another, you get under their skin on the ice.
``I'm not sure I'm the all-star type.''
Whether he thinks so or not, Kowalsky clearly has established himself as the all-star type this season. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound native of Simcoe, Ontario, came to Hampton Roads as a defensive specialist but is having an all-star year offensively at right wing.
He has 23 goals and 21 assists, and is a major reason why the Admirals have won 15 of their last 17 games. Kowalsky has had 14 goals and 12 assists in that streak, and he returns tonight to the site where he had his first professional hat track - in a 5-1 victory over Greensboro two weeks ago.
``He's an excellent two-way player who does everything right on the ice,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``I'm sure he'd like to pick up half a step somewhere, but I know he can play in the American Hockey League.''
By that, Brophy means play regularly and well. Last season, Kowalsky played for Cornwall in the AHL but was limited mostly to power-play killing shifts. He had just 17 points in 65 games.
He reluctantly concluded that Cornwall didn't consider him a major prospect, tried out with the Hartford Whalers this fall, then called Danny Flynn, his junior coach at Sault Ste. Marie, after being cut.
``I knew I was coming down to this league this year, that I needed to establish myself here before trying to move back up,'' he said. ``When I talked to coach Flynn, I told him I didn't want to go somewhere where the guys were racing from practice to get onto the golf course. I didn't want to get caught in a situation where it was a country club and I would lose a step. I wanted someone who was going to work his team hard.
``He didn't hesitate. He told me I had to go with Broph. It was the best move I ever made. Things have gone great for me here. My game has improved and my confidence has improved.''
As have his chances of taking a step up. With the lockout over, teams from both the IHL and AHL are scrambling to find replacements for players called up by the NHL. The Admirals lost John Porco two weeks ago to San Diego and could lose goaltender Patrick LaLime any day to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With big-league size and the best stats of his career, Kowalsky could be next. But he is having such a good time that he says he'd almost rather be passed over.
That's in part because this season has been his first positive experience in pro hockey.
Two years ago, after being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, he was diagnosed with a hernia his first day in camp. He underwent surgery and wound up playing junior hockey again.
Last season he played well in Montreal's camp and even got some exhibition ice time. But he was cut and wound up on the bench in Cornwall.
This season he's having the time of his life.
``I haven't thought much about going up, maybe because I'm having my best offensive year,'' he said. ``If the callup is there, it's there. But I confess I'd probably rather stay the year here, have a good season, win a championship and then have something work out over the summer.''
Kowalsky is no stranger to winning championships. In two of his first three seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds he played on Ontario Hockey League champions. In his final season, Sault Ste. Marie won the Memorial Cup - the Canadian junior championship.
He says he smells that same championship scent in Hampton Roads.
``I think the intent of all the players here is not just to win, but to win a championship,'' he said. ``We've got a team that can do that.
``When people ask me about moving up, I tell them that we're winning, we've got great fans and we're having a great time. I love coming to the rink every day, even for practice. I don't care what level you're at, it doesn't get any better than that.''
NOTES: WTAR radio, AM-790, will broadcast the All-Star Game, beginning at 6:30 p.m. . . . Kowalsky will be joined by teammate Chris Phelps, a defenseman, on the East. Phelps replaced Ron Pascucci, who was injured Friday in a victory over Greensboro. Porco also was selected but will remain in San Diego. . . . Officials say 3,000 tickets have been sold for the All-Star game at the 22,500-seat Greensboro Coliseum. . . . Another sellout looms for the Admirals - Only 1,300 tickets remain for Friday's contest with Charlotte at Scope. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Rick Kowalsky, above, and Chris Phelps will represent the Admirals
in tonight's ECHL All-Star Game in Greensboro.
by CNB