THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180538
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals got a considerable infusion of talent on the eve of their home opener when the Pittsburgh Penguins assigned three players from their 50-man roster to Norfolk on Tuesday afternoon.
Russian defensemen Alexei Krivchenkov and Sergei Voronov and French-Canadian center Serge Aubin are to fly to Norfolk this morning and should play tonight when the Admirals host Raleigh at Scope. Game time is 7:35.
Aubin gives the Admirals five French-Canadians - the most in the team's seven-year history. Most of the Quebec natives speak English. Not so for the Russians, who have been in America only a month.
``All I care is whether they understand how to play hockey, and I'm sure they do,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said.
The three additions bring to 10 the number of players under contract to teams from higher leagues. The Admirals have six players from Portland, their American Hockey League affiliate, and one from Cleveland of the International Hockey League.
``We've never had this many contracted players,'' said Admirals president Blake Cullen, who helped Brophy negotiate new working agreements with Portland, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
The three newcomers are Pittsburgh draft choices who were playing in Cleveland but were sent down because they were getting little ice time.
Aubin, a teammate of Admirals defenseman Martin Woods in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, scored 37 goals and had 73 assists last season in 60 games for Granby. He had 234 points in three seasons in the Quebec league. He was taken by the Penguins 161st overall in the 1994 draft.
Krivchenkov, from Novosibirsk, Russia, was the 76th choice overall in the 1994 draft. Voronov, who is from Moscow, was taken 206th in the 1995 draft. Both played in the Russian Elite League last season.
Brophy attended the early portion of the Cleveland camp but did not see the three newcomers.
``They were still in Pittsburgh,'' he said. ``But they've got to be good if they're on the 50-man roster.''
The Admirals will have to waive or trade three players to make room on their 20-man roster. Brophy and assistant coach Al MacIsaac huddled in their office Tuesday afternoon trying to deal players.
NOTES: Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins will drop the ceremonial first puck. He will sign autographs before the game and between the first and second periods. . . . The game will not be a sellout. Cullen said 4,500 tickets remain in the 8,990-seat arena. . . . Defenseman Jason MacIntyre has been suspended for five games for fighting in the penalty box last week in an exhibition game in Roanoke. He will serve the second game of his suspension tonight, and the Admirals will be limited to dressing 16 players instead of the usual 17 ... Corwin Saurdiff, who was sick last week when the Admirals opened the season in Charlotte, will start in goal. ... Forward David St. Pierre is listed as doubtful for tonight with a pulled groin. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
STAFF FILE
Coach John Brophy will lead the Admirals against Raleigh tonight at
Scope.
by CNB