THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 6, 1995 TAG: 9510060673
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Newcomers will claim most of the ice time tonight at Scope when the Hampton Roads Admirals take on Roanoke in their exhibition opener.
``The guys who have worked all week will get a chance to play,'' coach John Brophy said in reference to nearly a dozen newcomers from junior leagues and colleges.
Brophy plans to make his first round of cuts Saturday morning, and he will give players on the bubble plenty of playing time.
``We'll give them all a look. I have no idea what Roanoke has. All I know is that we'll play a lot of people.''
Bolstered by the addition of four more players Thursday, the Admirals' roster grew to 27. As expected, forwards Trevor Halverson and Rick Kowalsky arrived from Portland after being assigned to the Admirals by their American Hockey League affiliate. Bob Woods, a veteran defenseman who was assigned by Portland earlier this week, also arrived Thursday.
Forwards Dominic Maltaise and David St. Pierre came from Portland late Wednesday, in time to view the team's Blue-Gold scrimmage. Both practiced Thursday.
The Admirals also added to their overload at goaltender when Darryl Paquette, a late cut from Portland, came to camp. Paquette played last season at the University of Cape Breton.
Brophy has four goaltenders and will keep only three. He said Mark Bernard and Corwin Saurdiff will play tonight, while Shamus Gregga and Paquette will play Saturday in an exhibition at Richmond.
Forward Rod Taylor, the top returning scorer from last season, got good news when a CAT scan revealed no major injuries to his back. He is suffering back pains, but said he will play tonight.
The Admirals expect one or two more players from Portland and are hoping the Cleveland Lumberjacks, their International Hockey League affiliate, will also send them players.
``They (the Lumberjacks) know when our season starts,'' Brophy said. ``We have more than a week to go, and I expect we'll hear from them before then.''
NOTES: Former NHL player Walt Podubbny is at the Admirals' camp this week. Podubbny, who coaches Daytona Beach of the Southern Hockey League, will try to sign some of the Admirals' castoffs. . . . The Admirals claimed Tyler McManus, a forward from Cornell University, on waivers from Richmond. However, the Renegades allowed McManus to leave town immediately. That's a technical violation of league rules, which require waived players to be retained until 10 a.m. the day after being cut. Now the Admirals can't find McManus, who apparently is driving home to Toronto. . . . The Admirals leave town after tonight for nine days. Because of a church meeting at Scope, there will be no ice at the facility until the Admirals' home opener Oct. 18 against Raleigh. The Admirals will work out two days in Richmond, then travel to Roanoke for an exhibition Tuesday. They'll then work out three more days in Winston-Salem, N.C., in preparation for their regular-season opener Oct. 14 in Charlotte. by CNB