THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503310679
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
There was little doubt who had the East Coast Hockey League's best team in late January. The Hampton Roads Admirals won 16 out of 18 games in a month-long stretch that moved them from last to first in the East Division.
``Those guys are on fire,'' said Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone, whose Express dropped three games to the Admirals during that streak.
But two months later, the fire had long since been doused.
Hampton Roads slumped the second half of the season, falling from first to fourth before being abruptly ousted from the first round of the playoffs in four games by Tallahassee.
It was a bitter loss for an organization that considers itself one of the league's best.
Hampton Roads won ECHL titles in two of its first three years in the league. But in the three years since, the Admirals have lost twice in the first round and once in the second.
Tallahassee, a team composed largely of players picked up on waivers, beat the Admirals at their own game. They played solid defense and scored just enough goals.
Hampton Roads, meanwhile, couldn't find the net.
The Admirals averaged nearly five goals per game during their 18-game streak, but just 2.9 in the 30 games since. Their three playoff losses to Tallahassee came by margins of 4-3, 3-2 and 2-0.
Why did the Admirals' offense go south?
The call-ups of John Porco and Rick Kowalsky tore two of the top scorers from the lineup. Although both returned, Kowalsky didn't come back until a few days before the playoffs, and didn't regain his form. Porco was injured in the Admirals' second playoff loss. That allowed Tallahassee to gang up on Rod Taylor.
The call-up of defenseman Ron Pascucci, an All-ECHL pick with a deft shooting touch, just before the playoffs also hurt. Kansas City of the IHL promised to return Pascucci before the playoffs began, but went back on its word. Coach John Brophy might have moved defenseman Rob MacInnis to center to replace Porco had Pascucci been available. Without Pascucci, it was too risky.
Injuries to Matt Mallgrave, Pascucci and Trevor Halverson sidelined them for extended periods.
A late-season trade, in which the Admirals gave up Jim Brown for George Zajankala, turned out to be a dud. Brown, who had 45 points in 49 games for Hampton Roads, starred for Knoxville. Zajankala played well early on, but injured his shoulder and didn't return.
By playoff time, most of the Admirals were back in the lineup, but the team was not in a groove. The timing between teammates so critical to creating open shots wasn't there. The crisp passes that led to so many goals in January were hesitant lobs in March.
In short, the call-ups and injuries disrupted the team's chemistry.
Tallahassee, meanwhile, was just hitting its stride. The Tiger Sharks finished the regular season with a 17-5-1 run. They suffered no major late-season call-ups or injuries.
``That's a good team over there,'' Admirals' goaltender Corwin Saurdiff said, pointing in the direction of the celebrating Tiger Sharks. ``They played very well.''
Hampton Roads gave the Tiger Sharks a helping hand. They played soft defense last Friday at Scope and lost, 4-3, on a goal with 10 seconds remaining.
But there was nothing soft about the Admirals in the next three games. They played their most intense game of the season Wednesday and still lost.
``We lost it when we lost that first game,'' Brophy said. ``Had we won at home we'd be playing Friday night at home.
``But you can say should, woulda, coulda all you want. The bottom line is we didn't get it done. We lost and we've got to live with it.''
Admirals' president Blake Cullen will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. today at Scope, when he is expected to announce the team will remain in the ECHL. He had been exploring a move to the American Hockey League.
Meanwhile, Cullen defended Brophy, who was accused by Tallahassee general manager Tim Mouser of uttering a racist comment to a black Tiger Sharks' player.
Mouser said he's asked the ECHL to sanction Brophy for allegedly calling defenseman Robert Haddock ``Buckwheat.''
``He's made a very serious allegation,'' Cullen said. ``He's going to have to prove it.
``I've spoken with John and am convinced John did not make a comment of a racial nature to anyone.'' by CNB