THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060546
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 80 lines
Rod Taylor, the Hampton Roads Admirals' career goals-scoring leader and most valuable player the last two seasons, is among three key players who might not return next season.
Taylor, goalie Mark Bernard and forward David St. Pierre hope to play in a new English professional hockey league.
Coach John Brophy says Bernard and St. Pierre have informed him they will play in England. Taylor is negotiating with an English team, and apparently is close to making a deal.
``I don't know if I'll be back,'' Taylor said. ``It's too far down the road to say for sure''
Brophy says he assumes Taylor will play in England.
``He's got the career numbers to get their attention,'' Brophy said. ``He's always wanted to use hockey to go places, to see new things. Maybehe'll get to see Europe.''
Brophy said many ECHL teams will suffer because of the new English league.
``They'll make it tougher for everyone,'' he said. ``They'll be recruiting a lot of our guys for sure.''
Taylor scored 40 regular-season goals last season and had 188 during his five seasons. His 325 career points are 21 short of tying the record held by Brian Martin.
Bernard, 62-38-12 as an Admiral, leads the team in career victories and games played (126).
Brophy had his second day of discussions Wednesday about next season with Mark Garcea and Page Johnson, who recently purchased the team from Blake Cullen. He has no contract and has requested a two-year deal.
``We're talking, but nothing is done yet,'' Brophy said.
PARTING SHOT: Trainer Rick Burrill informed Garcea and Johnson Wednesday that he is leaving to become trainer for the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League, then leveled some criticism at the new regime.
Burrill, the Admirals' trainer for three seasons, said Garcea and Johnson should have met with the front-office staff prior to this week to alleviate their fears about being laid off.
``I don't think the employees here who have been on the edge of their seats deserved to have as little concern shown for their well being,'' he said. ``There was nothing done to alleviate the tension and fears these people had.''
Garcea met with the staff Monday, five weeks after they first signed an agreement to buy the team from Cullen, but one day before the sale was final.
Responded Garcea: ``We were not allowed to go in and make any promises to anyone until the deal was closed. ... We went in there and talked to them the first day we could.''
``I'm sure these guys are good businessmen. They're very successful, obviously,'' Burrill said. ``But I don't think it was a very professional way to handle it.''
ORIGINAL ADMIRAL: Dennis McEwen, perhaps the team's most popular former player, has applied to become the Admirals' general manager. The new owners want the GM to run the team's business operations.
McEwen, who played five of the team's first six seasons, acquired the Original Admiral nickname because he was the only player remaining in the early '90s who was at the team's original workout in 1989.
McEwen, who did not play last season, has worked four years for Coastal Forms, an area printing company, and runs his own trading card company. He did cards for the Admirals and Tides last season.
``They asked me to get my resume to them and said they'd set up a meeting,'' McEwen said.
TEARFUL GOODBYE: Cullen bade farewell to his staff and the media at a press conference Wednesday, and though the event was emotional for most, only one participant lost his composure.
Brophy, the tough-as-nails coach who shed nary a tear after winning two ECHL championships, burst into tears during a television interview and walked away in mid-sentence.
``I don't get like that often,'' he said. ``But I never worked for an owner like Blake. We were very close. We looked forward to seeing each other each day. We went through a lot together. It's very hard to see him go.'' ILLUSTRATION: Admirals MVP Rod Taylor is working on a deal to play
in England. ``I don't know if I'll be back,'' he said. by CNB