THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996 TAG: 9609170445
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 71 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals have signed or received verbal commitments from 17 players, including defenseman Chris Phelps and forwards Rick Kowkalsky and Dominic Maltais.
Rob MacInnis, a defenseman who played for the Admirals in '94-'95, will also be in training camp. MacInnis, brother of St. Louis Blues star Al MacInnis, played last season in the Colonial Hockey League.
Phelps, Kowalsky and Maltais were signed to two-way contracts by the Portland Pirates, the Admirals' AHL affiliate, and Hampton Roads. They will be in Portland's training camp later this week and will play for the Admirals if cut by the Pirates.
Coach John Brophy and general manager Al MacIsaac announced the signings Monday after spending six days at the Washington Capitals' training camp. They will spend most of this week in camp with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the IHL in search of free agents, then will head to Portland's training camp.
The Pirates and Admirals will jointly sign up to five more players.
Phelps is a two-time All-ECHL selection. Maltais and Kowalsky were first-line players sidelined with broken wrists at midseason last winter. Of the three, Phelps figures to have the best chance of making the Pirates.
Brophy and MacIsaac also announced the following commitments:
Defensemen Jason MacIntyre, Claude Fillion, Rich Bronilla and Mike Larkin, all of whom played at least part of last season with the Admirals.
Forwards Jeff Kostuch, Fran Bussey, Danny Bousquet, Steve Richards, Ron Majic and Aaron Downey, all of whom played at least part of last season for Hampton Roads.
Forwards Sean Selmser and Ryan Black, both of whom played for Hampton Roads last season, are trying out for the Canadian Olympian team but have agreed to report to the Admirals if they are cut.
Goalie Shamus Gregga, a former Admiral who played last season in Cleveland and with Huntington of the ECHL, will be in the Admirals' camp. He probably will fill one of two goalie spots. The second will be assigned to the Admirals by Portland and Washington.
``Essentially, we'll get Washington's fifth goalie,'' MacIsaac said.
Darryl Paquette, who split time last season between Norfolk and Portland, had been expected to be the goalie optioned to the Admirals but might be winning a spot in Portland. He picked up the victory Sunday in the Caps' 3-2 exhibition win over Florida. Ex-Admiral Andrew Brunette had a goal for the Caps.
The Admirals already have player/assistant coach Rod Taylor, a veteran, under contract. MacInnis is the only other veteran from whom the Admirals have received a commitment. Though Taylor's position on the roster is assured, MacInnis must win one of three remaining veterans' slots. If the Pirates assign three veterans to the Admirals, MacInnis will face an uphill battle to make the team.
The Admirals open training camp Oct. 6 in suburban Newport News. They open Oct. 18 at Scope against Charlotte.
NEW RADIO VOICE: Tom Grace, former radio voice of Boston College's hockey team, has been named play-by-play announcer for the Admirals. He replaces Pete Michaud, who resigned last month rather than accept a salary cut.
Grace, a 32-year-old native of Belmont, Mass., was the color analyst last season for Worcester of the AHL. A Boston College graduate, he also has a master's in journalism from the University of Texas and has worked on television and as a sports columnist.
Pat Shetler, the Admirals' longtime color commentator, will return, the team also announced.
Though unavailable for comment, Grace said in a press release that he's ``looking forward to doing my absolute best for the Admirals and their loyal fans.''
``There isn't a better (organization) in the East Coast Hockey League,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Defenseman Chris Phelps could return to the Admirals
this season under a two-way contract. by CNB