THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020474
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Hampton Roads Admirals left wing Colin Gregor left the team Wednesday afternoon and apparently will not return.
Gregor left without speaking to teammates and roommates Trevor Halverson and John Porco but called assistant coach Al MacIsaac briefly at 4:30 p.m. before departing for his native Alberta, Canada.
Gregor told MacIsaac that he was going home to help his father on the family cattle farm. ``He said his dad is very sick,'' MacIsaac said.
Porco said Gregor had been talking for days about leaving, but he was surprised when Gregor left without warning.
``We were taking a nap this afternoon,'' he said. ``When we got up, he was gone and so was his stuff.
``His father has an artificial hip and it's calving season. He said his dad was having to hire people to help him. Colin was worried about his dad and talked a lot about how much he needed help.''
Gregor was acquired in a trade with Richmond last September. He didn't report until November because he was playing for the Canadian National Team, got off to a slow start and then was placed on injured reserve for more than a month. He had three goals and two assists in 21 games.
Coach John Brophy said Gregor was probably better off leaving.
``It was late in the year and he never got started here,'' Brophy said. ``He said he didn't get along with me. He said I was too hard on him.
``If he was unhappy, and his hockey career wasn't going anywhere,'' he's better off helping his father on the farm, Brophy added.
Mike Nemirovsky, waived Tuesday to make way for Porco's return from San Diego of the IHL, was reactivated Wednesday and played against Roanoke.
VETERAN COUNTDOWN: Brophy said Tuesday that Halverson would play against Roanoke, but Halverson didn't and it still isn't known what the Admirals will do about their veterans problem.
The Admirals have the league limit of three - Dennis McEwen, Rod Taylor and Rob MacInnis. To activate Halverson, they'll have to waive or place a veteran on injured reserve.
Admirals president Blake Cullen said Halverson will play Friday when the Admirals host Knoxville but gave no hint as to how the Admirals will make room for him. by CNB