THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 20, 1995 TAG: 9512200545
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER ADMIRALS NOTES
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Jason MacIntyre rewinds the VCR tape for the third time in less than a minute, then watches the puck smash into his face.
``He must have watched it 50 times,'' Hampton Roads Admirals forward Dominic Maltais says as MacIntyre rewinds the tape a fourth time.
Little wonder. It's not often you can see yourself nearly killed, in living color, especially when you don't remember it happening.
MacIntyre, an Admirals defenseman, was knocked unconscious Friday night at Scope by a slap shot from Roanoke's Tim Hanley that hit him in the face. And this was no ordinary slap shot. Hanley, a burly forward, reared back and let loose with a mighty swat about 15 feet in front of MacIntyre. The shot sailed high, and, unfortunately for MacIntyre, he turned into the puck.
Fortunately for MacIntyre he was wearing a mouth guard, one designed by Dr. James Krockmal, the Admirals' team dentist, to be thicker and more protective than those worn by most players.
Team doctors say the mouthpiece probably saved his life. The puck apparently hit a bone under his nose that could have fractured and lodged in his brain. Instead, the force of the puck was absorbed by the mouthpiece and by MacIntyre's upper lip, which was left black and blue and protruding about 4 inches.
What could have been a deadly incident apparently will have no lasting effects. MacIntyre practiced Monday and if X-rays prove negative today, he could play this weekend.
Yet the memories of what he saw on the tape will remain with him the rest of his life.
``I didn't know what hit me, didn't know if it was a puck or a stick,'' he said. ``I just felt a smack and everything went white. I remember (Trevor) Halverson flipped me over and I went out again.''
``That was the scariest thing I've ever been through,'' he added. ``I was a little nervous on the ice today when the pucks started coming off the boards. I guess anybody would be a little jumpy.''
Good guess.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Roanoke Express tough guy Jason Clarke drew a standing ovation from many Scope fans after helping MacIntyre to the Admirals' dressing room.
Clarke, who is sixth in the league with 183 penalty minutes, also won praise from Admirals president Blake Cullen for his act of sportsmanship.
``Two things stood out to me about that,'' he said. ``One is that he was man enough to do it. Second was the reaction of our fans acknowledging the sportsmanship of a very tough man and a very tough opponent.
``That kind of sportsmanship is sorely needed. He earned a lot of respect from me and our players.''
Apparently not from coach Frank Anzalone, however. Roanoke officials told to the Roanoke Times on Tuesday that Anzalone gave Clarke a tongue lashing when he skated back to the bench, a fact confirmed by some Admirals fans.
Anzalone was unavailable for comment, but Roanoke officials deny reports that Clarke was fined $100 for the gesture.
Anzalone may have been upset because MacIntyre and Roanoke's Marty Schriner were involved in a preseason fight that led to suspensions for both players.
AROUND THE ECHL: Corwin Saurdiff became the fifth goalie in professional hockey, and the first in the ECHL, to net a goal last season when he did so for the Admirals against Charlotte. At the time it was touted as a rare deed. However, Erie's Olie Sundstrom's goal Friday in a 6-3 victory over Wheeling was the third by a pro goalie this season. Others were scored by goalies in the Central and American hockey leagues. ``Guess I started a trend,'' Saurdiff said. . . . Jacksonville's attendance woes continue. Coach Jeff Brubaker has given the Florida city a winning team in its first season, but Jacksonville is averaging 2,058 per game and could be the ECHL's first bust in a Southern city. Friday and Saturday the Lizard Kings drew 1,435 and 1,355, respectively, for games with Mobile. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jason MacIntyre's mouth guard may have saved his life when he was
hit in the face by the puck.
by CNB