THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170539
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: YORK LENGTH: 54 lines
On what was clearly the most painful day of preseason training camp for the Hampton Roads Admirals, the team waived three players who starred for them last season.
Forward Jeff Kostuch and defensemen Steve Richards and Claude Fillion were waived. Fillion was claimed immediately by Toledo.
The Admirals also gained a goalie but are expected to lose one today. Mark Seliger, a 22-year-old native of Rosenheim, Germany, was assigned to the Admirals by the AHL's Portland Pirates.
The Pirates, now down to one goalie, are expected early today to recall Darryl Paquette, who had been slated to start in goal for the Admirals on Friday when they open against Charlotte at Scope.
Seliger, who is under contract to the Washington Capitals, is expected to start in Paquette's place. A ninth-round pick of the Caps in 1993, Seliger got off to a rough start in Portland, compiling an 0-3 record, a 5.73 goals-against average and a .765 save percentage.
The cuts reduce the roster to 20, one short of the 19 head coach John Brophy says the team will open with Friday.
Richards received votes from the media as the team's most valuable player last season, when he often filled in at forward because of injuries. The Ohio State graduate was ninth on the team with 36 points and was at times the team's best defender.
Kostuch was eighth on the team with 41 points and was durable, playing in 67 of 70 games.
Fillion was sidelined much of the season with injuries but was considered one of the team's top defenders when he was healthy. He had 16 points in 39 games.
Richards said he knew he was in trouble when he realized there were eight players under contract to teams from higher leagues.
``I can count,'' he said. ``I knew he had (three) contracted defenseman.
``I told Broph that I didn't want to be the fifth or sixth defenseman, that I'd rather be waived and play somewhere else if it came to that. This is my second year as a pro and it's a key year for me. I need to have the best chance to move up.''
Richards is hoping to sign with Tallahassee, where his brother is the goaltender.
``I'm not mad,'' he said. ``I know somebody will pick me up. But I really enjoyed my time here. It's a shame things didn't work out.''
Kostuch also said he isn't mad, but fought back tears and accepted softly spoken condolences from former teammates as he gathered his equipment at the Ice Palace rink, where the team is training.
``It's disappointing,'' he said. ``I spent a year here, played my role and went through all the bull with the call-ups and injuries, and hustled and played hard.
``This year, we're finally going to have a good team. Now I have to go somewhere else, where the team won't be as good, and start over.'' by CNB