THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9602010413
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Joel Poirier made an auspicious debut for the Hampton Roads Admirals on Tuesday, scoring the team's only goal in a 2-1 shootout loss at Tallahassee.
Poirier, 20, was optioned to Norfolk by the AHL's Portland Pirates. He was a seventh-round pick by the Washington Capitals last season and is the first player from the Caps' 50-man roster to play for the Admirals in nearly two seasons.
Poirier had 24 goals and 39 assists last season with Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound left wing had four goals and three assists in 29 games with the Pirates.
To remain under the ECHL's $7,500 weekly salary cap, the Admirals named Rod Taylor a player-assistant coach. Under ECHL rules, only half of the player-assistant coach's salary counts against the cap. Taylor's position is honorary because coach John Brophy doesn't believe in players doubling as coaches.
ATTENDANCE BOOMING: After a sluggish start at the gate, the Admirals have sold out three of their last five games at Scope and have raised their average attendance to 7,086 - good for third in the ECHL behind Louisiana (9,573) and South Carolina (7,317).
Moreover, sellouts are possible this weekend when the Admirals host Nashville on Friday and Roanoke on Saturday. With 12 dates left, including eight on weekends, the attendance average should continue to rise.
Nonetheless, the team likely won't reach its average of 7,585 of last season or come close to the franchise record of 7,904, set in 1992-93. Last year the team sold out nine games, compared to just three this season.
Ticket sales for this weekend's games have been moderate. But Admirals president Blake Cullen said he's anticipating large crowds based on walk-up sales.
Sales the day of the game the last two weeks have been unusually brisk, with as many as 2,500 tickets selling on game day.
ADMIRALS ALUMNI: Trevor Halverson appears to have found a home in Las Vegas. The former Admirals forward has a goal and four assists in seven games with the Thunder of the IHL. He is on a 25-game contract but is seeing more ice time than some fully contracted players. . . . Victor Gervais is seeing less ice time than he's accustomed to for Cleveland of the IHL but has five goals and 18 assists in 31 games. Defenseman Alexei Krivchenkov has one assist and 22 penalty minutes in 16 games with the Lumberjacks. Goalie Patrick LaLime is 12-7-4 with a 3.69 goals-against average, and goalie Shamus Gregga, who has spent most of the season with Huntington of the ECHL, was 1-0-1 with a 3.35 goals-against average in three games in early January. . . . Andrew Brunette leads Portland with 60 points (20 goals and 40 assists) in 44 games. Brunette recently was signed by the Caps and dressed, but did not play, for Washington last week. Steve Poapst has six goals and 16 assists in 41 games for the Pirates. Goalie Darryl Paquette is 2-4-1 with a 2.64 goals-against and a save percentage of .907.
ON-LINE: The ECHL is in the process of setting up a Web page for fans on the Internet. It will include statistics, schedules and features on the ECHL.
It isn't expected to be up and running until mid- or late February. Meanwhile, on-line users can E-mail the Admirals in care of public relations director Amy Dyches at HRAdmirals(AT)aol.com. by CNB