THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 14, 1996 TAG: 9610140138
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: YORK LENGTH: 57 lines
If there were any doubts about whether left wing Ryan Mulhern would play this season for the Hampton Roads Admirals, he erased them Sunday night.
Mulhern, a rookie from Brown University, had three goals and three assists to lead the White past the Blue 10-4 in the team's preseason scrimmage at the Ice Palace before a crowd of about 300.
It was the first and only tuneup for the Admirals before their home opener Friday against defending ECHL champion Charlotte at Scope.
Mulhern, Randy Pearce and Rick Kowalsky played first line for the White team, and head coach John Brophy hinted that it might be his first line against Charlotte.
``Not a bad line there, is it?'' said Brophy, who coached the losing Blue team. ``They looked very good.''
Indeed they did, scoring seven goals and five assists.
Pearce, who led the Admirals to their last championship in 1992, and Kowalsky, an All-ECHL choice two years ago, each had two goals and an assist.
The White's second line of Alain Savage, Jeff Kostuch and Denis Lamoureux also played well. Lamoureux and Kostuch scored and all three had an assist.
Nonetheless, Brophy acknowledged that it was impossible to draw any hard conclusions from the scrimmage. Four defensemen - Claude Fillion, Joel Theriault, Rob Gray and Christian Gosselin - were sidelined with injuries.
``We had forwards playing defense, guys filling in all over the place,'' Brophy said.
Blue goalie Todd Reynolds appeared to play poorly in surrendering ten goals. But Brophy said appearances were deceiving.
``He's hurt,'' Brophy said. ``He's got a sore back.''
Rod Taylor had two goals for the Blue. Dominic Maltais, Scott Coleman and Dany Bousquet also scored.
Coleman's goal, on a breakaway slapped through Reynolds' legs, was the first for the White on what was both a good and bad night for the Richmond native. A 5-foot-8 left wing who was given little chance of making the team, Coleman was involved in a fight with Jason Anderson in which Coleman separated his shoulder when he was knocked to the ice.
It was the first of three fights on a night when players were literally fighting for their jobs.
For the 32 players in camp, it was the last chance to impress before the first round of cuts, which come at 8 a.m. today. Brophy and general manager Al MacIsaac, who coached the White, must reduce the team to 18 by Friday. Eight players are guaranteed spots by virtue of contracts with the Admirals, Portland or Washington.
``They've got some tough decisions to make,'' Kowalsky said. ``Guys are injured and it's tough to make a decision on a guy when he's hurt.
``But the opener is coming and they've got to make some choices.''
NOTES: Portland, which has already sent six players to Hampton Roads, may send two more this week. Brophy said the Pirates called to discuss two prospective players, whom he won't name until when or if they arrive. ... Forward Aaron Downey and goalie Darryl Paquette were scratched with injuries. They should be ready for Friday's opener. ... Gray took a stick to the face in practice which left his left eye swollen shut. by CNB