THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 27, 1995 TAG: 9501270888
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
As the curtain was falling on their championship hopes last March, the Hampton Roads Admirals followed an ancient hockey tradition and lined up to shake the hands of the victorious Wheeling Thunderbirds.
All but one, that is. Jason MacIntyre skated straight to the locker room, smashed his stick against a wall and slammed the door behind him in frustration.
The frustration was understandable, because nobody endured as much pain as MacIntyre did to compete in the ECHL playoffs.
Unbeknownst to opponents, and even to some of his teammates, MacIntyre had suffered a wrenching shoulder separation near the end of the regular season. He was unable to lift his stick with one hand, and the slightest bump sent pain shooting through his body.
By all rights he should have been on the sidelines, his arm in a sling. But he insisted on playing, and he checked with ferocity. When he grimaced in pain, most thought it was just that old MacIntyre sneer, one that is uncomfortably familiar to opponents.
``The guy's a winner,'' said Admirals coach John Brophy, whose team hosts Charlotte tonight at 7:30 at a sold-out Scope. ``He'll do whatever he thinks it takes to win.''
On most nights that means knocking opponents to the ice. MacIntyre arguably is the Admirals' most aggressive player and comes to play spoiling for contact. He loves nothing better than a good check, is a skilled fighter and thus has spent more time (157 minutes) in the penalty box than any of his teammates.
At 5-foot-9 and 191 pounds, he is neither the largest nor the most talented Admiral. He acknowledges there is no hope he'll ever make it to the NHL, and little hope he'll ever play in the AHL.
``I just want to play hockey,'' says the 22-year-old from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. ``I love playing hockey.''
Brophy can relate. Also undersized and modest in talent, he was a 19-year journeyman in minor league hockey. Like MacIntyre, he's from Nova Scotia and was a ferocious defenseman who hated to lose.
``He's tough. When he goes in there, he just hammers everyone. It doesn't matter who it is,'' Brophy said. ``He's 191 pounds and every ounce of it is heart. He doesn't back off from anybody. He works as hard as anyone on the ice.
``He's aggressive, and that's good. He's ready to play. I don't like sleepy hockey players.''
Even when he was a child, nobody could accuse MacIntyre of being sleepy. He and his brother, David, would rise each morning at 5 to skate before school.
As is the case with most Canadian hockey players, he moved away from home to play junior hockey while still a teenager, and he played on two Canada Cup finalists.
He is from a family of athletes: David played with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL before going to Peoria in the IHL. Sister Joanne was a standout high school softball player who still plays on weekends, even after having four children. His mother, Joyce, plays select soccer, and his father, Rod, was a soccer player in his younger days who has since taken up hockey.
Jason MacIntyre grew up in a small town populated largely by Canadians of Scottish descent and probably will return there when his hockey days are over. His girlfriend is there, as are two possible career paths.
He was an apprentice mechanic in high school and worked for three car dealerships in the New Glasgow area. A job as a mechanic is his for the asking upon his return. His father is also a deputy chief of police, and Jason has hopes to follow in his footsteps.
``That's what I'll probably do eventually,'' he said. ``Police work has always interested me. Like everyone here, I'd like to play in the AHL or the IHL. But I just don't think it's going to happen.''
Brophy, for one, thinks it might.
``If he was a couple of inches taller, he wouldn't be here now,'' Brophy said. ``He'd be in a higher league already. But he doesn't need to grow to move up. His game has improved. He went to the (AHL) Portland camp this year and did well. If he sticks with it, he's got a chance. He can make it.''
One of MacIntyre's greatest virtues is his versatility - he is adept at defenseman and forward.
``I was a defenseman all the way through juniors,'' he said. ``There was one game where my coach asked me to play up front. I skated three shifts.''
Apparently the coach knew what he was doing. MacIntyre scored a goal on each shift to net a hat trick.
Brophy recognized MacIntyre's skating ability and quick stick last season when he was a rookie - he is probably the fastest and most elegant skater on the team - and moved him to forward.
MacIntyre was uncomfortable up front, but he did what Brophy said to make the team.
This season he returned as a defenseman, was moved to forward two months ago, and is now splitting time between both positions.
``We've got a chance to win a championship,'' he said. ``You do whatever it takes to win.''
Even if it means playing in pain. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Versatile Admiral Jason MacIntyre may not have NHL skills, but he's
impressed coach John Brophy: ``The guy's a winner.''
by CNB