THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 2, 1995 TAG: 9510020154
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
It was a stroke of luck for Shamus Gregga when the Hampton Roads Admirals affiliated with the Clevleland Lumberjacks earlier this summer.
As a Cleveland farm club, the Admirals were able to obtain a tryout for Gregga with the International Hockey League team. And though the third-year goaltender knew he had little chance of sticking, he went to Cleveland's camp last month with one goal in mind.
``All I wanted to do was to sign an (IHL) contract,'' he said.
That he did. Gregga, a 21-year-old Toronto native, signed with Cleveland late last week and was optioned to the Admirals, who began training camp Sunday at Scope.
It was quite a turn of events for Gregga, who rarely played in 1993-94 for Hampton Roads and was forced to return to junior hockey last season after being cut by the Admirals. Though he returned and played well for the Admirals late last season, there were no guarantees he would stick this year.
In July the Admirals signed goalie Mark Bernard, who played on two ECHL championship teams with the Admirals, away from San Antonio of the Central Hockey League. And Corwin Saurdiff, who started for the Admirals much of last season, was signed by Portland, the Admirals' American Hockey League affiliate.
Yet because Gregga is under contract to Cleveland, the Admirals can't cut him and are obligated to give him lots of ice time regardless of who else is on their roster.
``I trained hard this summer,'' said Gregga, who played summer hockey in a Toronto league with Eric Lindros of the Flyers.
``I knew this was a key year for me, that I had to make a move. ... When they told me they were going to sign me, it was one of the happiest days of my life.
``They said I would be called up later this year to prove myself. I have confidence now that I can play at that level.''
Admirals assistant coach Al Macisaac said Gregga played well at the right time - as coaches for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Cleveland's NHL parent club, were watching.
``He played in an afternoon matinee game,'' MacIsaac said. ``Pittsburgh played that evening. The (Pittsburgh) brass saw him and were happy with what they saw and made a suggestion (to the Lumberjacks) that they sign him.''
Gregga's contract creates a potential logjam at goaltender for the Admirals. Saurdiff is still in Portland, but could be cut any day. If he comes down, Bernard might be relegated to being No. 3 goalie.
When the Admirals signed Bernard in July, they expected he would alternate in goal with Gregga.
But MacIsaac said there's every chance Saurdiff will stick in Portland, especially if Washington, the Pirates' NHL club, loses a goalie today in NHL waiver draft.
``We don't know what will happen,'' MacIsaac said. ``All we know is that we have two good goaltenders in camp. And that's a good position to be in.''
NOTES: Three more players arrived Sunday from AHL camps. Forwards Steve Richards and Jeff Kostuch both worked out in the afternoon. Defenseman Claude Fillion arrived late Sunday and will practice today. Richards, the leading scorer at Ohio State University, was a late cut by Portland. ... Rod Taylor, the team's top returning player, returns today from Michigan, where he was attending the funeral of his grandmother. ... Head coach John Brophy also arrives today from Portland, where he has been in training camp with the Pirates, who make their final cuts today. ``We're waiting on a truckload of players from Portland,'' MacIsaac said. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN
Staff
Bryce Davidson, right, takes a breather during the Admirals' first
practice Sunday. Workouts resume today, and Hampton Roads' first
exhibition game is Friday against Roanoke at Scope.
by CNB