THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503050206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Dennis McEwen may have played his last game with the Hampton Roads Admirals.
Known as ``The Original Admiral'' because he is the only player remaining from the team's first practice six years ago, McEwen said he might retire after this season.
``I don't know whether I'll be back,'' he said. ``I have a lot of thinking to do.''
McEwen has been on the sidelines most of this season because of an ECHL rule that limits teams to three players on the active roster with more than three years' professional experience.
McEwen was injured the second week of the season and was replaced shortly thereafter by Rob MacInnis. McEwen returned when Trevor Halverson injured an ankle, but when Halverson returned, McEwen again was placed on injured reserve even though he wasn't injured.
When McEwen has played, he's played well. He has 14 points in 25 games and is one of the team's best penalty killers. He was also the team captain.
On the eight-game, 13-day road trip just ended, McEwen twice was left twisting in the wind.
MacInnis was suspended the first day of the road trip and McEwen was told he would play in Roanoke. But MacInnis was reinstated hours before the game.
Halverson was called up by Portland of the AHL a week later and McEwen was told he would play in Johnstown. But Halverson was suspended for a fight following what was supposed to be his final game with Hampton Roads. Veterans who are suspended can't be replaced by another vet, and by the time the suspension was lifted, Halverson was back with Hampton Roads. McEwen spent the road trip doing color commentary on WTAR radio.
``It's been frustrating,'' McEwen said. ``The road trip was the worst part. We lost so many guys and had others on the ice with gimpy ankles and sore shoulders. There I was in the press box, healthy and ready to go, and I couldn't do a thing to help. I felt useless.''
McEwen likely won't be placed on the 18-man playoff roster to be submitted by the Admirals Monday to the ECHL. Yet he will continue to practice with the team.
``The playoffs, that's my time to shine,'' said McEwen, who once scored four goals at Erie in a playoff game. ``The regular season means something, but not nearly as much as the playoffs.
``I'll keep practicing because you don't know what might happen. . . . I haven't lost hope.''
GREAT GREGGA: Shamus Gregga apparently has lost the starting position in goal to Corwin Saurdiff, who was reassigned to Hampton Roads last week by Kansas City of the IHL.
Saurdiff played well in his first game back with the Admirals in a 5-3 victory over Raleigh on Friday. He will start again tonight when Hampton Roads travels to Raleigh.
But Gregga proved on the road trip just ended that he can play in the ECHL.
Gregga's previous performances with the Admirals had been spotty. But he was thrust into goal by the injury of Todd Hunter. He started the last six games of the road trip and played well under duress.
In one three-game stretch he had 105 saves. He stopped four pinpoint shots in the final seconds of a 3-2 victory over Wheeling, the ECHL's best team, and had a near-shutout in a 2-1 victory Thursday at Johnstown.
``He stepped in and played great,'' Admirals' coach John Brophy said.
Assistant coach Al MacIsaac said Gregga prospered because he knew he was the only goaltender - the Admirals had no backup.
``It took all the pressure off of him,'' MacIsaac said. ``Before, he knew if he let some get past him, that there was somebody ready to take his place. He wasn't nervous and he finally played like we knew he could all along.''
The road trip ended a frustrating string of ill fortune for Gregga. He was cut earlier this season when Saurdiff arrived. When he was recalled after Saurdiff departed, he was ineligible to play for several days because his junior team would not release him.
When his release was finally granted, Hunter had been purchased from Raleigh and played superbly in goal. Gregga was again consigned to the bench.
``No offense to Todd, but his injury was the best thing that could have happened to me,'' Gregga said. ``The biggest thing the road trip did was to boost my confidence. There's no looking back now. I feel right now like I can play at any level.'' by CNB