THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503190188
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
NORFOLK - The Hampton Roads Admirals excised a mighty thorn from their sides - and made some hockey history Saturday - by blowing past the Charlotte Checkers, 5-2, at Scope.
In what may have been the final ECHL regular-season game played at Scope, Admirals goaltender Corwin Saurdiff shot the puck the length of the ice - all 180 feet - and pocketed an empty-net goal at 18:46 of the third period.
It is the first goal scored by a goaltender in the ECHL and is believed to be only the third ever in pro hockey.
``I've been around hockey a long time (more than four decades), and I've never seen it,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``It was something special.''
``As long as you live,'' Admirals forward Kelly Sorensen added, ``you'll never see that again.''
The Admirals must have wondered whether they'd ever beat Charlotte again coming into Saturday. The Checkers were 6-3-1 and winners of three in a row against Hampton Roads, all by one goal.
The respective head coaches of the two teams had feuded through the media after a loss in Charlotte, and doing much of the damage against Hampton Roads have been a pair of ex-Admirals - Eric Fenton and Shawn Wheeler, who left the team on less than friendly terms after last season.
Fenton exited Scope his last two visits by playing an imaginary violin to jeering fans. Both Fenton and Wheeler had goals in the Checkers' last victory over Hampton Roads, a 3-1 decision on Jan. 31.
But on this night the Admirals dominated, outshooting the Checkers, 41-19, in a game televised back to Charlotte. Brian Goudie had a pair of goals, including the game winner, and Rod Taylor and Trevor Halverson also scored.
The contest may have been the last between the two teams. Charlotte has announced it will join the American Hockey League next season. Hampton Roads, Richmond, Raleigh and South Carolina also are considering moving up, but are undecided.
So is the East Division race. The Admirals moved into a third-place tie with Charlotte and have clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
If they win tonight at Richmond in their final regular-season game, they'll clinch third place and face either Greensboro or Nashville Friday and Saturday at Scope in the first round of the playoffs.
If they lose today, they'll meet Tallahassee Friday at Saturday at Scope in first-round playoff games.
Fenton didn't score, but as usual managed to create a stir. At 11:50 of the first period he knocked Trevor Halverson to the ice with the butt end of his stick. He then skated over to the Admirals' bench and began yelling at Brophy and the Admirals.
When he got within arm's reach, he took a fist in the mouth from Admirals' defenseman Jason Mac-Intyre. When all was done, MacIntyre had been tossed from the game, Fenton was assessed two minors and a 10-minute misconduct and Rick Kowalsky a 2-minute roughing penalty.
``He skates over to our bench and is flapping his jaw,'' Brophy said. ``He deserved to get his head knocked off.''
That didn't happen, but a near-sellout of 8,851 left more than happy. After Saurdiff netted his goal, he skated to the bench to receive congratulations, then skated to center ice and shook his stick, as if reloading his gun. He was accorded a two-minute standing ovation.
Meanwhile, Charlotte forward Sergei Berdnikov took the net in which Saurdiff had scored and knocked it over onto the ice. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TOOD SPENCER
Rick Kowalsky of the Admirals, left, attempts to work his way around
Kurt Seher of Charlotte.
by CNB