THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010595
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER ADMIRALS NOTES
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
Hampton Roads Admirals coach John Brophy and forwards Trevor Halverson and Ron Majic have been suspended for three games each, and the team fined $1,000, for their roles in a fight following last Friday's 3-2 victory at Wheeling.
All three will serve the final game of their suspensions tonight when the Admirals visit Erie at 7. They all missed Saturday's 3-2 loss at Johnstown and a 6-5 shootout loss Sunday at Columbus.
And the bad news doesn't end there for the Admirals. All-ECHL forward Rick Kowalsky, who was supposed to play tonight, apparently is still with Cornwall of the AHL, which called him up nearly two weeks ago.
Cornwall officials told Brophy on Sunday that Kowalsky would be optioned back to the Admirals on Monday night. But as of Tuesday Kowalsky had not arrived, and Brophy has been unable to contact the Cornwall club.
Brophy said he assumes that Kowalsky left with Cornwall on an extended road trip and doesn't know when he'll return. That leaves the Admirals with 13 players, five below the league limit.
Brophy, Majic and Halverson were suspended indefinitely by ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly on Saturday. A three-game suspension was the minimum for the players under league rules.
Brophy and Wheeling coach Doug Sauter were also assessed two-minute minors, but Sauter, who got into a shouting match with several Admirals and assistant coach Al MacIsaac, was not suspended.
Kelly told Brophy in a brief phone conversation Saturday that he caused the fight by walking across the ice and slapping the glass in the direction of the Wheeling timekeeper, who had failed to start the clock when the puck was dropped twice late in the game.
Admirals president Blake Cullen said Kelly conceded that the clock operator erred, but disagreed when Cullen insisted that Brophy's actions did not precipitate the fight.
Films show Majic and Wheeling's Brock Woods dropping their gloves - Woods appeared to drop his first - and fighting about 20 yards from Brophy, who had his back turned.
Cullen, usually reluctant to comment on league suspensions, was mildly critical of Kelly for suspending Brophy. Cullen was in Wheeling and saw the fisticuffs.
``I don't understand him saying nothing would have happened if John hadn't gone over'' to the timekeeper, Cullen said Sunday. ``I don't agree with that. Nor does that give their players an excuse to stand at center ice so that we have to skate through them.''
Tonight's game is the seventh of an eight-game, 13-day road trip, and the first of four games in five days against three of the ECHL's worst teams. The Admirals host Raleigh on Friday, then travel to Raleigh on Sunday. Erie is last, Raleigh 16th and Johnstown 14th in points in the ECHL.
``We've got a chance to pick up eight points,'' Brophy said. ``And we need them.''
PLAYOFF TICKETS: Tickets for the Admirals' first three home playoff games will go on sale at 10 a.m. today. The tickets are $8 each.
The playoffs are to begin March 24; it has not been determined whether the Admirals will open at home or on the road.
Season-ticket holders have until March 10 to reserve their seats for the playoffs.
INJURY UPDATE: It was Brian Goudie's misfortune that he lost portions of three teeth from a stick in the mouth at Johnstown last week. The Johnstown team doctor refused to treat Goudie, saying he had no dental training.
That left the job of applying temporary fillings to Admirals trainer Rick Burrill, who has even less dental training. While functional, the fillings weren't aesthetically pleasing, though Goudie played Sunday in Columbus.
On Monday, Goudie received root canals at the Ohio State University Medical Center, which has one of the nation's best dentistry programs. The dental work will be completed this weekend by Dr. James Krochmal in Chesapeake.
Goudie shrugged when asked how painful it was to play 24 hours after having teeth knocked out. ``You do what you have to do,'' he said.
Veteran Dennis McEwen has had teeth knocked out and says the pain is excruciating. ``Brian has two nerves exposed, and it's the most painful injury you can have,'' he said. ``Nothing hurts like that. And he went out and played well.''
George Zajankala, out for three games with a shoulder injury, is listed as questionable for tonight. Matt Mallgrave (injured ankle) is eligible to come off injured reserve Monday, but he likely won't return right away.
HELP IN NET? A source close to the team said Tuesday night that goaltender Corwin Saurdiff, who has been with the Kansas City Blades of the IHL for about a month, could rejoin the Admirals as soon as tonight.
Shamus Gregga is expected to start tonight's game in Erie.
ROAD TRIP: The Admirals' annual trek north takes them to some of the league's most distant cities - Erie is an 11-hour ride from Norfolk. Yet regardless of where they have played, there have been at least a few dozen fans from Hampton Roads in the stands.
At most stops there have been 200 or more. Some drove their own cars, while others came on a bus with the Admirals Booster Club.
``If this team played in China, our fans would follow us there,'' Brophy said. ``Nobody in the league takes fans on the road like we do.''
AROUND THE ECHL: Former Admirals star Trevor Jobe, whom the Raleigh IceCaps hoped would fuel a late-season drive, has signed a contract with a pro team in Switzerland and will finish the season there. His departure might also have finished the IceCaps, who have slumped since his departure and are in danger of falling out of the playoff hunt. . . . ECHL officials say Louisville, Ky., and Jacksonville, Fla., now appear all but certain to join the league next season. Horn Chen, who owns the now-dormant Louisville franchise, leads one of two groups bidding to open a franchise in Jacksonville. Mobile, Ala., already has been awarded a franchise. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Coach John Brophy's suspension followed a fight Friday in Wheeling.
by CNB