THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602250212
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHAD SCHEXNAYDER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LAFAYETTE, LA. LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Hampton Roads broke a nine-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Louisiana IceGators Saturday night before 11,042 in the Cajundome, as one second-period play gave the Admirals a much-needed lift.
At the 14:03 point, with the IceGators defending a five-on-three, IceGator defenseman Chris Valicevic was hit with a Rod Taylor slap shot, cutting his eye. With Valicevic flat on the ice, Sean Selsmer deposited the puck past IceGator goalie Chuck Thuss to tie the game at 1.
Valicevic's younger brother, Rob, came over for a tussle with Taylor. Then the East Coast Hockey League's leader in penalty minutes, IceGator Rob McCaig, left the penalty box with nine seconds left on a holding call to join the fray. McCaig was handed a two-minute roughing, five-minute fighting, 10-minute game misconduct and two five-minute match penalties.
After all that, the IceGators were forced to kill the remaining 41 seconds of the five-on-three and a defend against Hampton Roads' power play for the next 10 minutes.
The Admirals (26-20-13) wasted no time in making the IceGators pay, scoring three goals over the next 3:15. Goals by Ron Majic, Mike Barrie and Selsmer put the visitors in front 4-1.
Unfortunately for the IceGators, all the damage was not done. After Selsmer's second goal, Hampton Roads Aaron Downey ran Lafayette defensmen Aaron Boh into the boards and fell on top of him. IceGator Mike Heaney took exception and joined the pile. Boh was carried off the ice on a stretcher for precautionary measures. Heaney was issued a match penalty and a game misconduct.
Serge Aubin and Barrie added goals in the third period for Hampton Roads.
John Spoltore's 27th goal of the year gave the IceGators a 1-0 lead at the 18:11 mark. Spoltore's wrist shot on the Louisiana power-play came after Admiral forward Joel Poirer was charged with tripping.
Bob Berg chipped in his league-leading 45th goal of the year at the 17:22 mark in the final period.
Thuss spent most of the night in the line of fire, stopping 29 of 35 shots by the Admirals. For Hampton Roads, Mike Torchia saved 33 of 35 Louisiana shots in his second game with the club. by CNB