THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240581
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 78 lines
Goalie Darryl Paquette has returned to the Admirals and will start tonight when Hampton Roads plays at Baton Rouge, La.
The Admirals also released two players - veteran defenseman Rob MacInnis and goalie Shamus Gregga. Another defenseman will be added to the roster, perhaps as soon as today, but officials would not say Wednesday who he is.
Gregga, who was recruited as a backup, was thrust into the starting role last week when Paquette was called up by Portland of the AHL.
Marc Seliger, a first-year pro from Germany, was sent to Hampton Roads to replace Paquette, but he was benched in the Admirals' home opener against Charlotte after allowing four goals in two periods. Gregga played the third period, allowing two goals, and started in a 5-2 loss against South Carolina on Saturday.
Gregga is not under contract to a team from a higher league, a fact that may have cost him his job. Seliger is under contract to the Washington Capitals.
MacInnis is a 31-year-old veteran who played for the Admirals two years ago and has extensive AHL and ECHL experience. He is the brother of St. Louis Blues star Al MacInnis.
FAN COMPLAINTS: There were more glitches than usual for the Admirals during their opener, and they led to dozens of complaints from fans.
Most centered around parking. Simply put, there wasn't enough. Many parking spaces have been eliminated by the construction of MacArthur Center, and there were two other events at Scope.
More than a thousand fans came into the arena after the game had started, and officials are convinced that the traffic jams probably cost them a sellout - the gate was 147 short of selling all 8,990 seats.
``We've been told there are enough spaces, that the fans just need to be educated as to where they are,'' Admirals vice president Page Johnson said. He said the Admirals will run advertisements next week urging fans to park in the Bute Street Garage.
Fans also complained that the music was too loud, that concessionaires ran out of beer and that the area around the Admirals' dressing room has been roped off.
Johnson said that the music will be turned down and that fans will be provided postgame access to the players, but he said the area around the locker room has to remain off-limits for insurance reasons - the Zamboni leaves standing water in that area.
As for the lack of beer?
``We've talked to Scope about it,'' Johnson said. ``They've assured us it won't happen again.''
ROUGH CAMP: The Admirals were generally pleased with training camp, even though it was held at the Ice Palace in York County, nearly 30 miles from their Scope headquarters. Even hard-to-please coach John Brophy seemed satisfied with the rink constructed by former Richmond Renegades owner Allen B. Harvie Jr.
``He did OK for a guy with a ponytail,'' Brophy said of Harvie.
But don't count George Calvert among Harvie's fans. Calvert, president of Power Play Sports, a local hockey equipment company, was ejected twice from the arena by Harvie.
Power Play recently opened a store near Harvie's rink that will compete against his pro shop, and Harvie and Power Play officials have had cross words over other matters in recent months.
NOTES: After being named AHL player of the week last week, former Admirals left wing Andrew Brunette was recalled Monday by the Caps from Portland. He led the AHL with six goals and 10 assists. . . . ECHL attendance is up by nearly 1,000 fans per game. The Admirals opening crowd was the league's largest, but that will change Friday when the Admirals play at Louisiana in the home opener for the IceGators. The game is sold out at the 11,026-seat Cajun Dome. . . . Only one Admiral ranks among league leaders in any statistic - Aaron Downey, who is second with 33 penalty minutes. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Darryl Paquette
Shamus Gregga
Rob MacInnis by CNB