THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270537
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 65 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals have renewed their primary working agreement with the Washington Capitals.
The Admirals, who worked with the Capitals in their previous seven seasons, will receive players through the Portland Pirates, the Caps' American Hockey League affiliate.
Admirals coach John Brophy worked out the deal last week in discussions with Washington general manager David Poile and Portland coach Barry Trotz.
``It will basically be the same working agreement we had last year,'' Brophy said. ``We'll get six to eight players from Portland.''
The Washington-Portland working agreement has been criticized by Admirals' fans but was a lucrative arrangement last season. The Admirals opened the season with eight players under contract to Portland. Though some of those players were recalled, when injuries struck the Admirals late in the season, Poile used his contacts to get the Admirals help for the playoffs.
Unlike previous seasons, when the Admirals were pummeled by late-season call-ups, Portland agreed not to call up any players from Hampton Roads in the last few weeks of the regular season.
The Richmond Renegades have long coveted a working agreement with the Caps and have done much to endear themselves to Washington. Richmond is bringing the Caps to the Richmond Coliseum for an exhibition, and Renegades president Harry Feuerstein recently purchased the rink in Piney Orchard, Md., where the Caps train.
``Richmond wants them, and we have David Poile to thank'' for the Caps' not switching affiliations, Brophy said. ``He could have gone to a lot of other places. This shows there's still loyalty left in the business.''
Brophy continues to work on renewing the team's agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
TRAINING CAMP: The Admirals might hold their preseason training camp at a York County skating rink being developed by Allen B. Harvie Jr.
Harvie's rink is scheduled to open next month. The former Renegades owner also plans to build rinks in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
The Admirals will be without ice at Scope because of a convention. They have considered taking the camp to Canada, but Brophy says they would prefer to remain in Hampton Roads if they can find an adequate rink.
The Admirals often practice at Iceland in Virginia Beach, but that rink is not large enough for training camp.
ALL-STAR COACH: Admirals assistant coach Al MacIsaac, who was elevated to general manager on Monday, got more good news Wednesday when he was named coach of the Eastern Conference for the Roller Hockey International All-Star Game on July 8 in Anaheim, Calif.
Renegades coach Roy Sommer, who guided Anaheim to the Roller Hockey International title last season, will coach the West. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
MacIsaac's Philadelphia Bulldogs can be seen on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. Monday against the Orlando Jackals, who are coached by Jeff Brubaker, the Admirals' old nemesis at Greensboro.
Former Admirals Bob Woods, Rob MacInnis, Don Martin, Jim Brown and Steve Richards play for the Bulldogs. The goalies are Mark Richards, Steve's brother and a star at Tallahassee last season, and Daniel Berthiaume, the Roanoke Express star.
SLAP SHOTS: New Admirals owners Mark Garcea and Page Johnson will be interviewed at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on WVEC-TV. They will be guests on Joel Rubin's ``On The Record.'' . . . The Baton Rouge team has chosen a nickname: the Kingfish. The team, which relocated from Erie, Pa., to Louisiana's capital city, was named in honor of the late Huey Long, the populist governor known as ``The Kingfish.'' . . . Admirals ticket manager Susan Gary said season ticket sales are up slightly from last season, when the team sold 3,500. by CNB