THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090579
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals played perhaps their worst first period of the season Wednesday at Scope, and thus saw their hopes of repeating as East Division champions of the East Coast Hockey League all but quashed.
Roanoke blew to a 3-0 first-period lead, then held on for a 3-2 victory.
The Express (36-16-9) won for the 10th time in its last 11 outings, a streak that has left Roanoke tied with Richmond for first place in the East, each with 81 points.
Hampton Roads (33-23-6) saw its winning streak end at three. With 72 points, the Admirals are fourth with seven games to play, probably not enough to catch both Richmond and Roanoke. Charlotte is third with 73 points.
``We're never out of anything until the old fat lady sings,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``But she's going to sing sooner than we think she is.''
Brophy wasn't singing at game's end. After speaking briefly with reporters, he slammed the door to the locker room and yelled at his players for 10 minutes. When asked after emerging if reporters could interview his players, he said: ``Sure, if you want to interview a corpse.''
The Admirals were outshot, 29-27, and at times manhandled by the Express, who frustrated Hampton Roads with their conservative, clog-the-middle style.
The Admirals rallied with goals by Tom Menicci at 1:22 of the second period and Rob MacInnis at 6:05 of the third, but did not get a shot on goal in the final nine minutes.
Even after Brophy called timeout at 18:13 and pulled goaltender Corwin Saurdiff, the Admirals were unable to manage a shot, as the Express stifled them with their aggressive defense.
``Give Roanoke credit,'' Brophy said. ``They shut us down.''
Forward Kelly Sorensen, who had an assist on the Menicci goal, said the Admirals lost the game inthe first period.
``We were awful in the first period,'' he said. ``We didn't play our system. The problem is that we keep falling behind and don't have the horses to come back.''
Brophy said that's been a problem for Hampton Roads all season, especially at home.
``I don't know how many times we've played in our own building and had no first period, none,'' he said. ``In our building.
``We had a chance (to move into third place) and get close to first place, and we come out and play like that. All we talked about for three days was coming out here ready to play, and we didn't. We were giving up goals like candy, giving up goals standing still.
``I'm sure they (the Express) are very happy over there. We've made a lot of people happy by not playing in the first period. They're tied for first place now, and we gave it to them.''
The only goal left for the Admirals is to finish among the league's top eight teams, and thus clinch home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Hampton Roads is eighth, six points ahead of ninth-place Tallahassee.
``We need to do that, but it does no good for us to be staggering into the playoffs,'' Brophy said. ``We won't win anything like that.''
Sorensen concurred.
``We gave away a great chance tonight,'' he said. ``It's only going to get harder from here on. I hope the guys realize that.''
Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone said there is hope for the Admirals.
``They miss Johnny Porco,'' he said about the Admirals forward called up to Saint John of the AHL. ``When they get him back, it will help. They're missing some people. If they get some faces back, they'll be a better team.'' ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Staff
The Admirals' Matt Malgrave bangs into Roanoke's goal over Daniel
Berthiaume and past Darwin McClelland.
by CNB