THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190504
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 70 lines
The good news for the Hampton Roads Admirals is that the fans came back. A near-sellout crowd of 8,753 turned out for their season opener Friday at Scope.
The bad news? There was plenty on a night when the Admirals were pummeled by Charlotte 6-1, a score that might understate just how lopsided this game was.
The Admirals were shaky in goal. Darryl Paquette, expected to start for Hampton Roads, was recalled by Portland of the AHL. Rookie Marc Seliger, assigned to the Admirals by Portland, started in his place and left after two periods and Charlotte leading 4-1.
The Admirals played porous defense, giving up three goals on 2-on-1 breakaways.
They appeared disoriented. Twice, Admirals ran into each other at full speed and went sprawling at center ice. Players were often out of position, especially on defense.
All this from a team head coach John Brophy said might be his most talented in eight seasons.
``We were bad, really bad,'' Brophy said. ``There's not much more you can say.''
That may have been because the Admirals did not play any exhibition games. Because Scope was booked with other events, the Admirals had to move their training camp elsewhere. By the time they chose York County as their site, it was too late to schedule any exhibitions.
While the Admirals appeared in need of a tune-up, Charlotte was a well-oiled machine. The Checkers played three exhibitions, which they used to blend rookies with a large portion of returnees.
David Brosseu had two goals and Eric Boulton added a goal and two assists for Charlotte.
``They played very well. You've got to give them credit, they made us look bad,'' Brophy said. ``It was a crime that we had no exhibition games. We haven't been in the bleeping rink since last March. We had just one practice in here before our first game.''
But Brophy admitted that no amount of practice at Scope would have made a difference on this night.
``There were a whole lot of guys who stood around and did nothing,'' he said.
``We gave them easy goals.''
The Admirals got off to a good start, scoring on a power play at 9:50 of the first period. Randy Pearce sent the puck to Rob MacInnis, whose slap shot from the blue line was redirected into the net by rookie Ryan Mulhern.
But from there it was all Charlotte. Brosseau and J.F. Aube scored in succession at 16:46 and 17:30 to give the Checkers a 2-1 lead. Aube's goal came on the first 2-on-1 breakaway.
Boulton and Daryl Noren scored in the second period, the first on a 2-on-1, the second from a shot in front of the net.
The Checkers poured it on early in the third period, getting goals from Brosseau and Phil Berger in the first six minutes.
``Very disappointing,'' said Admirals player-assistant coach Rod Taylor. ``To lose your home opener in front of a big crowd and lose it the way we did, that's not supposed to happen.''
Charlotte returns home today for its home opener and to hoist the ECHL championship flag from last season. The Admirals depart on a five-game, 11-day road trip, beginning tonight at South Carolina.
``We're going on the road and I'm glad we're going,'' Brophy said. ``We'll have things straightened out when we get back.'' ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN
The Virginian-Pilot
The Admirals' Alex Alexeev, left, and Charlotte's Eric Boulton greet
each other along the boards at Scope. by CNB