THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, July 25, 1995                 TAG: 9507250407
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

ADMIRALS' HOME SLATE FOR THE '95-96 SEASON IS SPICED BY VARIETY

The Hampton Roads Admirals unveiled a 1995-96 home schedule that has a more diverse menu of East Coast Hockey League teams than last season.

The schedule is dominated by the Admirals' East Division rivals - Richmond, Roanoke, Charlotte, Raleigh and South Carolina - who come to Scope five times each. That's down from last season, when the Admirals played many division rivals seven times at home.

The Admirals will play 18 of the 20 ECHL teams this season - Dayton and Louisville are the exceptions - and 15 of them at home. Last season they played only 11 teams at Scope.

``We're happy with the schedule from that standpoint,'' Admirals president Blake Cullen said. ``Our fans wanted to see more teams, and they will.''

The schedule includes 35 home games, one more than last year. There will be 17 on Friday, when the Admirals traditionally sell out, and five Saturday games.

The Admirals will open training camp on Oct. 1 and will hold a scrimmage Oct. 4 at Scope. No admission will be charged for the scrimmage.

After three exhibition games - at home against Roanoke on Oct. 6, at Richmond on Oct. 7 and at Roanoke on Oct. 10 - the Admirals will open the regular season at Charlotte on Oct. 13. They will open their home schedule Oct. 18 against Raleigh.

An exhibition with a touring Russian team is likely to be added. The Admirals hosted an exhibition last season, and Cullen said he is negotiating with two Russian teams. ``I think we'll get something worked out with one of the teams,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: HOME SCHEDULE

[For a copy of the schedule, see microfilm for this date.]

by CNB