THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510010164
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Many familiar faces will be missing today at Scope when the Hampton Roads Admirals open training camp, including veteran Dennis McEwen, who apparently has retired.
McEwen, known as ``The Original Admiral'' because he is the only player left from the team's first practice in 1989, was unavailable for comment. But his wife, Carol, said he is indeed retiring. ``He just feels like it's time to move on. We want to have kids. He has another career,'' she said.
McEwen, a Virginia Beach resident, is an account executive for Coastal Forms and Data Products, which consented for him to play hockey the last two seasons.
However, McEwen played just 25 of 72 games last season because of the ECHL's veterans rule, which limits each team to three players with three years or more of pro experience. McEwen asked coach John Brophy last month for a guaranteed spot on the roster, something assistant coach Al MacIsaac said the team could not guarantee.
McEwen played on the Admirals' championship teams in 1990-91 and 1991-92. He holds the franchise record for games played (246) and most goals scored in a playoff game (four). He's fourth in career goals scored (75) third in assists (124) and fifth in points (199).
Only 18 players arrived Saturday of a group expected to swell to about 35 later this week.
Even Brophy was missing. He is in Portland, Maine, at the training camp of the Admirals' American Hockey League affiliate, scouting and attempting to sign players.
MacIsaac, who will run practice today in his absence, said things are off to a slow start because camp is beginning a week earlier than usual and because expansion in other pro leagues has increased competition for players. The AHL and International Hockey League both expanded, and the fledgling West Coast Hockey League and Southern Hockey League been recruiting aggressively, he said.
``A lot of players who usually would be here now are still in other training camps,'' he said.
Five of the Admirals' top players from last season - forwards Trevor Halverson and Rick Kowalsky, defensemen Ron Pascucci and Chris Phelps and goaltender Corwin Saurdiff - are still in Portland. Some or all are expected to return to Norfolk after the Pirates make their final cuts tonight.
Rookies Steve Potvin and Jeff Johnstone from Niagara Falls of the Ontario Hockey League, one of Canada's best junior leagues, are in AHL training camps and have yet to report.
Nonetheless, there is plenty of size and experience on the depth chart already. Twelve returnees from last season are expected to claim spots on the 20-man roster, as is goaltender Mark Bernard, a former Hampton Roads star who was signed away from San Antonio of the Central Hockey League.
Newcomers Chad Wagner (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), Brad Hanrahan (6-5, 230) and Claude Fillion (6-3, 207) give Brophy plenty of size on defense. The best of the incoming defenseman might be Martin Woods (6-0, 200), a Hull, Quebec, native who was in camp last season but declared ineligible by ECHL officials and forced to play junior hockey again.
Woods had 45 points a 198 penalty minutes in 41 games for Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Admirals will practice at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day through Tuesday, then practice at 9 a.m. Wednesday and play an intrasquad scrimmage at 7:30 that night. Admission to the scrimmage is free and practice sessions are open to the public.
The first cuts are expected Thursday. On Friday the Admirals host Roanoke in an exhibition game, then travel to Richmond on Saturday and Roanoke the following Tuesday for their final tuneups. Hampton Roads opens the regular season on Oct. 14 at Charlotte. The Admirals' home opener is Wednesday, Oct. 18, against Raleigh. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Dennis McEwen asked for a guaranteed roster spot, but the Admirals
refused.
by CNB