THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601100555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
On doctor's orders, Kelly Sorensen's hockey career has come to an abrupt end.
Sorensen, the 25-year-old wing who is the Hampton Roads Admirals' eighth all-time leading scorer, was informed by his doctor late last week that he has a degenerative disc in his back as well as problems with his bottom two vertebrae.
``That's it for hockey,'' Sorensen said Tuesday from Honey Bee Golf Club, where he is assistant pro. ``I have to realize that my hockey career is at an end. There was some initial shock when I was told (Friday), but I don't know if it has completely hit me yet.''
The news couldn't come at a worse time for the Admirals. With Trevor Halverson, the ECHL's leading scorer, having been called up to Portland of the American Hockey League, the Admirals were expecting Sorensen to fill his spot on the roster.
In fact, when the Utah Grizzlies of the IHL summoned Halverson for one game last Tuesday, the Admirals had Sorensen's jersey hanging in his old locker prior to their Wednesday night game against Raleigh. But Halverson surprised everyone by arriving back in town in time to face the IceCaps, against whom he scored a hat trick.
Sorensen was dejected about not being able to play at the time. Now, he's thankful.
``Turns out it was lucky for me,'' Sorensen said. ``My back could have been damaged even more.''
Sorensen had been practicing with the team since the beginning of the season, waiting for an opening among the three ``veteran'' players the Admirals are allowed to carry. He first became aware something was wrong when he pulled a muscle in his back during a practice three weeks ago. The pain progressed until his doctor finally ordered X-rays last week.
Sorensen, who has played competitive hockey since he was 5 and leaves the Admirals with 42 goals in 175 games, will concentrate on golf-course management and wait for the team to have a different type of opening.
``I realize my hockey-playing career is at an end, but if (coach John) Brophy ever needs help with coaching . . .'' Sorensen said.
Brophy, meanwhile, is scouring player lists for a veteran to bring in to replace Halverson.
``I don't have any vets running around,'' he said. ``If I find one, I find one. My main goal at this point is to get the guys I've got healthy.''
Among those most worrisome to the coach are defenseman Mike Larkin (knee), who was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday; right wing Dominic Maltais, who was given Tuesday off to rest a mildly swollen knee; and defenseman Sergei Voronov who has a shoulder contusion that may be OK by Friday night's home game against Wheeling.
Also, defenseman Jason MacIntyre practiced Tuesday for the first time since injuring his shoulder 2 1/2 weeks ago. But Brophy said MacIntyre is not ready to play yet.
Defenseman Claude Fillion, out for a month with an injured knee, will begin skating Wednesday, though he's not expected to play for several weeks.
ALL-STAR ADMIRALS: Halverson, who had 34 goals for the Admirals, was one of only two team members named to the ECHL All-Star team Tuesday. And he wasn't the starting left wing. Toledo's Rick Judson beat him out.
The other Admirals All-Star was a shocker - defenseman Chris Phelps. He was an All-Star last season but hasn't played since leaving the team Dec. 16 to be with his ailing infant daughter in Ottawa.
Phelps, who was scheduled to return to the team in time for practice today, has 19 points in the 26 games he has played.
``We never have any All-Stars,'' Brophy fumed. ``You tell me how we average (about) 90 points a season every year with no All-Stars.''
Other Admirals who likely received votes are Maltais, the team's second-leading scorer with 28 goals; center Serge Aubin, who leads the team with 34 assists; right wing Rick Kowalsky, who has 35 points in 38 games; Voronov, whose plus-22 leads the team; and goalie Mark Bernard, who has been one of the keys to the team's recent surge.
BAD CALL: The Blizzard of '96 has left a special, unpleasant memory for Kowalsky. The right wing was called up to Portland last weekend but couldn't get a flight out of Norfolk to Maine. He was snowed in Sunday and Monday. Portland called Tuesday to say forget it; the Pirates received a player on loan from Indianapolis.
BOOSTER SKATE: The Admirals Booster Club is sponsoring ``Skate with the Admirals'' from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the Haygood Skating Center, 1036 Ferry Plantation Road in Virginia Beach. This event is open to the public. The $5 admission fee includes skates; you may bring your own in-lines. For further information, call Nancy Franklin at 523-2590. by CNB