THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511110683
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
It's too bad for the Hampton Roads Admirals that the ECHL playoffs didn't start Friday, for they were a team in prime playoff form.
Led by two goals from Rick Kowalsky, four assists from Serge Aubin and a stifling defensive effort, the Admirals methodically steamrolled the Roanoke Express 7-2 before a Scope crowd of 8,362.
Six players had goals and 12 had points on a night when the Admirals pelted Express goaltenders with 51 shots and limited Roanoke to 27, most of them lobs simply slapped aside by goalie Darryl Paquette.
It was perhaps the finest game of the season for the Admirals (7-1-3), who remain second in the East, a point behind the Richmond Renegades, who won 4-3 over Erie.
``We played a great game, and this team is just going to get better and better,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``Aubin is hurt. He's got a hip problem, but he had some great passes tonight.
``And we shut them down on defense, didn't we? They got nothing five-on-five against. There's no reason we shouldn't play this well or better from now on.''
Roanoke (7-6), which fell three points behind the Admirals in third place, had beaten Hampton Roads in five of the last six regular-season games between the two teams. The Express also bested Hampton Roads twice in exhibition games. But the Admirals say that wasn't a factor Friday.
``We were playing in our own barn with a chance to move into first place,'' left wing Trevor Halverson said. ``We weren't concerned with how many times they'd beaten us. Our goal was to put some points between us and them and get into first place.''
For Kowalsky, the goal Friday was to score goals. The 6-foot-2 right wing, an ECHL All-Star last season, had just two goals in the Admirals' first 10 games.
``About time,'' Kowalsky said when asked about scoring twice. ``I hadn't been playing well, and it affected my confidence a lot. It was nice to finally get a couple.''
The Admirals jumped on top quickly, taking a 3-0 first-period lead on goals by Jeff Kostuch, Kowalsky and Sergei Voronov.
Roanoke switched goalies between periods - replacing previously unbeaten Matt Delguidice with Mike Parson - and the change worked, for 20 minutes. Both teams scored a goal in the second period.
But Rod Taylor scored again at 5:50 of third with a wrister off a cross-ice pass from Aubin that opened the floodgates. Kowalsky scored at 12:15 to make it 6-2. Aaron Downey then got his second goal of the season at 13:34.
After Downey's goal, Kostuch skated across the ice, picked up the puck and tossed it to trainer Rick Burrill for safekeeping.
``It was really my first goal as a professional,'' Downey said, clutching the puck in the Admirals' dressing room. ``I got credit for a goal in Roanoke that Chris Phelps scored. They made a mistake.''
On Friday, the only mistakes came on the Roanoke end.
``We just didn't compete,'' Roanoke coach Frank Anazalone said. ``And they were primed and ready. They just seemed determined that we weren't going to take it on their ice. We'd beaten them a few times, and I'm sure they were determined for that not to happen again.
``Give them credit. That's a very talented team. Their affiliates have treated them very well this year. They're going to be tough to beat.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color photo]
TAMARA VONINSKI/The Virginian-Pilot
A Hampton Roads shot goes ``top shelf'' past Roanoke goalie Matt
DelGuidice. The Admirals scored three goals against the previously
undefeated DelGuidice during the first period Friday night at
Scope.
[Chart]
SUMMARY
STANDINGS
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB