THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090559
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Admirals Report
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
American Hockey League commissioner David Andrews acknowledges that AHL owners discussed expansion Tuesday at a meeting in Boston, but he would not say whether Hampton Roads was among the cities discussed.
``We are considering expansion in Canada as well as the United States,'' he said by telephone from the league office in Springfield, Mass.
He declined comment on reports that the AHL will seek to absorb four ECHL franchises next season - Charlotte, Greensboro, South Carolina and Hampton Roads - and five more from the IHL. But he disputed sources who say the AHL is acting at the behest of the NHL.
``We are an independent league,'' he said. ``Our expansion is not being orchestrated by the NHL. As to who we accept and where we expand, that's our business.''
ECHL owners meet today in Charlotte, and though the AHL overture is not on the agenda, it is expected to be the first topic discussed.
Andrews said that as of late Wednesday he wasn't sure whether the AHL would make a presentation at the ECHL meeting.
``I can't comment on that because I don't know yet,'' he said.
He added that he might be able to make a definitive statement on expansion ``in a few days.''
A MIRACLE? In the midst of the Admirals' eight-game, 13-day road trip that ended last week, Jason MacIntyre swears a miracle occurred.
He says fellow defenseman Chris Phelps, a born-again Christian, walked up to him early last week.
``He said, `I prayed for your life. I felt the need to pray for your life,'' MacIntyre recalled.
Perhaps the prayer worked. Two nights later, in the first period of a 5-2 loss at Erie, MacIntyre was knocked to the ice. As he was trying to get up, an Erie player landed feet-first on top of his neck. The skate slashed directly across MacIntyre's jugular vein.
Hockey players have been killed in similar accidents, but MacIntyre was fortunate. The skate left a gash, but it was not life-threatening.
Phelps isn't necessarily claiming that a miracle occurred.
``It wasn't like I saw anything was going to happen,'' he said. ``Sometimes while I'm praying, I feel impartations about things. I just felt the impression to pray for his life in general, for protection and strength.''
ADMIRALS REPORT: Left wing Rod Taylor and backup goaltender Shamus Gregga will be the guests tonight on the Admirals Report radio call-in show. The show begins at 7:04 p.m. on WTAR, AM-790. by CNB