THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020497
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
It was just a few days ago that Hampton Roads Admirals officials acknowledged they were worried sick that right wing Rick Kowalsky might be lost for the season.
Wednesday night, Kowalsky showed why the Admirals' brain trust churned up so much stomach acid.
After being diagnosed with strep throat, an inflamed spleen and a possible bout with mononucleosis Saturday morning, Kowalsky made a surprise return Wendesday and scored a pair of third-period goals to give the Admirals a 3-2 victory over the Roanoke Express.
The triumph, Hampton Roads' fourth in a row over Roanoke, broke a four-game non-winning streak and kept the Admirals (26-13-4) in firm control of third place in the ECHL's East Division with 56 points. Roanoke (23-13-7), which would have moved ahead of the Admirals with a victory, remains fourth with 53.
Officials worried privately that Kowalsky would be lost for the season when he turned up with a high temperature, extreme fatigue and what appeared to be an enlarged spleen following a loss to Charlotte - all symptoms of mononucleosis, which would have sidelined him for the year.
But the strep was treated with antibiotics, the mono test was negative and the spleen turned out to be normal - Kowalsky's spleen appeared swollen only because his body is so thin.
Though he wasn't supposed to come back until next week, and hadn't skated all week, he got the OK late Wednesday from Dr. Sam Brown to play.
The Admirals went 0-2-1 without Kowalsky, one of six players lost to injuries or call-ups that touched off the team's recent slump.
Two of those players were back Wednesday, and both made a big difference. John Porco, up with San Diego of the IHL for three weeks, had a goal and an assist. And Kowalsky had the game-winning goal - and a game-ending fight.
Roanoke's Jon Larson, with whom Kowalsky had traded words, slashes and hacks much of the game, skated to the Admirals' end of the ice and punched Kowalsky twice seconds after the game ended.
Kowalsky then dropped his gloves and they proceeded to fight. Though obviously fatigued, Kowalsky appeared to win the brawl, too.
``I wasn't particularly anxious to get into it, but something had to be done,'' Kowalsky said.
Kowalsky acknowledged that he gave as much as he took from Larson.
``I gave him a little stick at the end,'' he said, still gasping for breath 10 minutes after the game. ``I ran him a little. I knew the clock was running down. I took a little liberty with him and he didn't take a liking to it.
``This isn't anything new. We've been going at each other all year.''
Both teams got superb goaltending. Dave Gagnon, a former Admiral, kept Roanoke in the game with a typically near-perfect performance. The ECHL All-Star had 42 saves.
Admirals goaltender Todd Hunter, acquired from Raleigh on Tuesday to replace Corwin Saurdiff, who had been called up by Kansas City of the IHL, played well for the second night in a row. He had 32 saves, including several in the final two minutes, when Roanoke pulled Gagnon in a desperate effort to tie.
``Have we got a goaltender?'' Brophy asked rhetorically. ``The guy played well, didn't he?''
As did Porco, Kowalsky and Taylor (who had three assists).
``We missed Kowalsky. He's one of the best players in the league, an All-Star,'' Brophy said.
``Porco plays with such passion. That's what he brings to this team. When the team is struggling, the team is down, you need that.''
As well as a quick-healing right wing. ILLUSTRATION: JIM WALKER/Staff
Dennis McEwen corrals the puck in front of Roanoke goaltender Dave
Gagnon. Gagnon, a former Admiral, had 42 saves for the Express.
by CNB