THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 28, 1995 TAG: 9501280371
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals lost a bitterly contested hockey game in overtime Friday, and then may have lost a large measure of their comraderie in the locker room.
Charlotte's Joe Hawley slapped in the rebound of a missed shot at 4:10 in overtime to power the Checkers past the Admirals, 3-2, Friday before a sellout crowd of 8,990 at Scope.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak for Hampton Roads (25-13-3), which is tied for second with the Charlotte (24-14-6), each with 54 points.
At game's end, coach John Brophy argued angrily with several players behind closed doors, and one of the team's top defenseman, Brian Goudie, took a swipe at the Admirals' coaching staff, saying he should have played more.
Referring to assistant coach Al MacIsaac, Goudie said: ``I'm upset with the way Al MacIsaac is coaching.
``If they're going to play me like this, I might as well skate three shifts and become a goon.
``I can't play when we're penalty killing. I can't play on the power play. If that's the way they want to play me, than that's what I'll do.
``We lose Ron Pascucci (out with an injured ankle) and all of a sudden I can't get ice time.''
Goudie was involved in a brief fight with teammate and roommate Matt Mallgrave Friday morning in the team's skatearound practice. Asked if he was being punished for that, he said: ``I came to play hockey tonight. If they want me to bring that to the hockey game, the hell with them.''
Brophy declined to respond.
``I don't get in matches with players,'' he said.
Hampton Roads outshot and for much of a defensive struggle outplayed the Checkers, but were done in by a critical mistake. Admirals defenseman Rob MacInnis was assessed a double minor for punching Checkers forward Eric Fenton at 2:54 of overtime, and the penalty led to the game-winning, power-play goal.
Trouble began when MacInnis and Fenton became entangled behind the Charlotte net. Fenton landed a fist on MacInnis, who responded with a punch and went after Fenton. MacInnis was the only player called for a penalty by referee Steve LeMay.
The penalty gave the Checkers a power play in the final 2:06, and they peppered goaltender Corwin Saurdiff with shots. He blocked three before Hawley knocked in the game winner.
Fenton and Wheeler are former Admirals. Fenton quit the team last year at midseason in a bitter dispute with Brophy.
Fenton, who skated off the ice two weeks ago playing an imaginary violin to the crowd after a 4-3 victory over Hampton Roads, did the same again Friday, and, along with his teammates, was showered with cups, ice and popcorn.
Fenton admitted he baited MacInnis into punching him by landing a blow unseen by LeMay.
``We were locked up in the corner, and mysteriously my hand wound up in his face,'' Fenton said with a grin.
MacInnis wasn't grinning at game's end.
``I took a shot to the head and punched back,'' he said. ``If I go to the penalty box splitting blood and nobody else goes to the box, then I think that guy (LeMay) ought to seriously consider how good a referee he is.''
Brophy was livid with his team's performance, despite the fact the Admirals have lost four of their best players to callups and injuries in the last two weeks.
``They outplayed us, they're just too good for us,'' Brophy said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ``We came out and played hard, then gave up after the first period.
``We've got guys here who think they know everything, who think they run the team. They don't run the team. I do.
``Fenton skates on the ice like two weeks ago, playing a violin, and except for (Jason) MacIntyre, nobody laid a hand on him.
``You tell me a team that lets a guy like that get away with something like that came to play hockey.'' by CNB