THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 17, 1996 TAG: 9602170471
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Hampton Roads coach John Brophy served the first game of a three-game suspension Friday night when the Admirals played Erie for an incident between he and a Admirals fan Wednesday night at Scope. Assistant coach Al MacIssac coached the team, while Brophy watched the game from the stands.
The suspension, which also carries a fine and was imposed by ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly, means MacIssac also will handle coaching duties tonight at Johnstown and Wednesday night at South Carolina.
Kelly's decision comes one day after the Admirals and an unidentified fan settled a dispute that happened between the second and third periods of their Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to the Charlotte Checkers. Brophy reportedly tossed what an eyewitness described as a hacksaw or hacksaw blade at the fan after he shouted derogatory remarks at Brophy.
Kelly left ECHL headquarters early Friday afternoon and was unavailable to comment on a ruling that earlier in the day he professed being hesitant to make. Kelly said he and Admirals president Blake Cullen had discussed the incident both Thursday and Friday and that he would give Cullen an opportunity to impose his own discipline.
But Kelly didn't wait for Cullen to impose a penalty. He faxed his ruling to the Admirals offices at Scope Friday afternoon. When Cullen telephoned league headquarters and asked to speak to Kelly, he was told the commissioner had left to attend a game.
Friday night, an upset Cullen said Kelly's interference robbed him of the opportunity the commissioner had promised.
``I don't understand it,'' Cullen said. ``Pat told me he would wait to see how I handled it and if he wasn't satisfied he would then take action,'' Cullen said. ``He got a call from (The Virginian-Pilot) and a call from a fan and he thought he had to do something immediately.
``I've waited 17 days for a ruling on (Admirals defenseman) Chris Phelps (whose jaw was broken by what Cullen and Kelly agree likely was a flagrant foul by a Tallahassee player on Jan. 30). But he's got to talk to some people and he hasn't had a chance to get around to that one yet. He had to talk to supervisors and get some film. Seventeen days.''
Cullen and Brophy discussed the incident briefly after Wednesday's game. Cullen was not at Scope Thursday morning at 8 when the Admirals left on their present road trip. Friday, Cullen said, he missed connections with Brophy in the morning, then spent the time leading up to his receipt of Kelly's fax clearing the way for forward Victor Gervais to join the team from Cleveland.
Cullen said he planned to fly to Pittsburgh today, meet Brophy in Johnstown for an in-depth discussion of the incident, then decide on a course of action.
Cullen said he will not appeal Kelly's ruling.
``If Pat had been there today, maybe,'' he said. ``It's too late now.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
John Brophy
by CNB