THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996 TAG: 9610010427
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 73 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals have gained a highly-regarded defenseman, but might lose their top scorer to the International Hockey League.
Rod Taylor, who holds the franchise record for goals scored and was expected to be player-assistant coach this season, has scored two goals in two exhibition games for the Phoenix Roadrunners of the IHL. The team will announce its final roster this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Admirals have signed defenseman Christian Gosslim, a burly, 6-foot-4, 215-pound French Canadian. Gosslim, a fifth-round draft choice of the NHL's New Jersey Devils, was cut last week by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Admirals head coach John Brophy took Gosslim on the recommendation of his agent, Alex Alepin.
``He hasn't led us astray,'' general manager and assistant coach Al MacIsaac said. ``He likes the way his players have developed here and he's sent us nothing but good players.''
Alepin recommended goalie Patrick Lalime two years ago, and Lalime started for the Admirals before being signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alepin also represents Serge Aubin, who starred for the Admirals last season.
The Admirals also have a commitment from Chad Ackerman, a defenseman from Bowling Green University who was in camp last week with the Portland Pirates, the Admirals' AHL affiliate. That brings to 23 the number of players committed to attend the Admirals training camp, though some commitments depend on players not making teams in higher leagues.
The Admirals' camp opens Sunday at the Ice Palace skating rink in York County.
Other player developments:
Forward Dominic Maltais, who starred last season for the Admirals before breaking his wrist, has been assigned to Hampton Roads by Portland. Maltais, defenseman Chris Phelps and forward Rick Kowalsky had all previously signed two-way contracts that obligate them to Hampton Roads if released by Portland. Phelps and Kowalsky remain in Portland's camp. The Pirates and Admirals expect to sign up to five more players to two-way contracts.
Four players who previously committed to report to the Admirals if released by other teams have been cut. Veteran Rob MacInnis was released by Portland. MacInnis, who played for the Admirals in 94-95, is not under a Portland contract. Steve Richards was released by Hershey of the AHL and forward Jeff Kostuch and defenseman Claude Fillion were cut by Grand Rapids of the IHL.
GOALIE UPDATE: The fifth goalie in the Washington Capitals' rotation will be assigned by Portland to Hampton Roads, and it appears that either Darryl Paquette or Todd Reynolds, a rookie out of Northeastern University, will get the nod.
Paquette was in the midst of a strong camp in Washington when he broke his thumb. Paquette, who split time between the Admirals and Portland last season, should be ready to play when the Admirals open Oct. 18 against Charlotte.
The 6-1, 190-pound Reynolds, a Campbleville, Ontario native, was 5-9-2 with an .892 save percentage and a 3.32 goals-against average for a Northeastern team that had a poor record.
Goalie Shamus Gregga, who split time between Huntington and Cleveland of the IHL last season, will also be in camp. Gregga was a part-time starter for the Admirals in 93-94 and 94-95.
NEW TRAINER: Stu Bender, trainer for the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team for the last three seasons, has been named trainer for the Admirals. He replaces Rick Burrill, who left for Long Beach of the IHL.
Bender works at the Virginia Center for Orthopedics, which will provide the Admirals with three team doctors - Patrick O'Connell, Dirk S. Proffer and R. Brick Campbell.
AROUND THE ECHL: Former NHL All-Star Rod Langway, who came out of retirement to play briefly with the Richmond Renegades in 1994-95, has returned to Richmond again as an assistant coach by Renegades' coach Scott Gruhl. Langway hasn't ruled out playing if Richmond is shorthanded. . . . Defending ECHL champion Charlotte, one of the league's flagship franchises, is under new management. The Checkers have been sold to Tim Braswell, a Charlotte businessman. . . . Richmond added some scoring punch by signing Scott Burfoot away from the Colonial Hockey League. Burfoot led the ECHL in scoring in 1994-95 in Erie. by CNB