THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502200140
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Even with two unexpected faces in their lineup, the Hampton Roads Admirals were woefully undermanned Saturday and suffered their worst defeat to Roanoke in five seasons.
Pummeled by four second-period goals, the Admirals absorbed an 8-2 shellacking from the Express before a Roanoke Civic Center sellout crowd of 8,541.
It was only the 17th victory for Roanoke in 53 tries against Hampton Roads and one of the most lopsided. For Hampton Roads (28-19-5), it was the fourth loss in a row and the ninth in 12 games.
Defenseman Rob MacInnis and forward Trevor Halverson both played, even though officials had said a day earlier that both would be sidelined.
Halverson received an automatic three-game suspension for coming off the bench after the whistle to take part in a fight during Friday's 5-4 loss to Dayton.
Halverson's suspension was put on hold until ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly has time to review the game film, which Brophy says shows that Halverson was on the ice before the whistle blew.
MacInnis ostensibly was suspended indefinitely from the team by coach John Brophy after the Dayton loss and wasn't supposed to make the trip. But MacInnis boarded the team bus and, after meeting with Brophy on Saturday afternoon, suited up.
The Admirals were without defenseman Brian Goudie, suspended for two games for allegedly threatening referee Chris Cozzan with 40 seconds left in the Dayton game. Goudie, who will also miss Tuesday's game at Huntington, denies the allegation.
Forward Ron Majic didn't play (pulled hamstring), and defenseman Jason MacIntyre injured his shoulder early in the game after skating just a few shifts. Combined with the recent call-up of Rick Kowalsky to the AHL, it left Brophy with just 11 able-bodied skaters.
``I recognize that we beat a hockey team that wasn't fully healthy,'' Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone said. ``But they came in here last year with 14 guys, got a one-goal lead and beat us. We didn't want them to get a lead and nurse it.''
With Roanoke holding a 2-1 second-period lead, the Express made sure Hampton Roads had no such chance by abandoning their usually conservative offense and burying the Admirals. Tony Szabo, Derek Laxdal and Marty Schriner all scored in the first 4:34 of the second period.
MacInnis passed to John Porco for a goal at 7:14 to narrow the margin to 5-2. But Roanoke's Dave Stewart scored on a slap shot from just inside the blue line at 14:08 to make it 6-2.
For the first time in in months, the Admirals' goaltending was poor - Todd Hunter and Shamus Gregga allowed the eight goals on 27 shots.
Brophy said the manpower shortage is killing his team, and that's one reason MacInnis' suspension was lifted.
``People are going out all over the place,'' he said. ``Suspending him, throwing another guy in the pile when we don't have anyone to fill in with doesn't do anybody any good.
``We didn't play well. We did nothing in the first period for about the 31st time this year. Any time there are three penalties in a game, nobody's doing nothing. And Roanoke scored every time they shot the puck.''
The solution to the Admirals' problems, he said, is getting people back into the lineup.
``When half of your guys are sitting in the dressing room (hurt), it's hard to put a team on the ice,'' he said. ``I don't know all that's wrong with this team, but that's sure as hell a big part of it.'' by CNB