THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160471
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 55 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals aren't surprised Patrick Lalime made it to the NHL. That he has made it into the NHL record books, however, is a different story.
Lalime, who played for the Admirals during the 1994-95 season, on Tuesday night tied the record for an unbeaten streak by a goalie at the start of his career at 14 games.
``Patrick was a good player when he was here; you could see where he'd make it to the NHL,'' Rod Taylor said Wednesday. ``But no one could imagine a guy going unbeaten the way he has.''
Lalime opened the 1994-95 Admirals season with some hot nights. He stopped 32 shots in a 5-2 win over Richmond on Oct. 29, then came back with 42 saves in a 5-4 win over Johnstown on Nov. 2 and 44 saves in a 6-5 overtime win over Richmond on Nov. 26.
His record for the Admirals was 15-7-3. He recorded two shutouts and a 3.35 goals-against average.
``It wasn't hard to figure he was a good goaltender,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``I thought he would have done better when he left here for the International (Hockey) League, but he didn't have a great career there. But, obviously, it was good enough.
``He's in Pittsburgh at the right time. They've turned their whole game around. Maybe if he'd come there earlier, it wouldn't have been so good for him. But they made two or three trades and all of a sudden, they're playing the best hockey in the NHL. That's nice for the goaltender. That's not to say he isn't a good goaltender and hasn't done his share. Without a good goaltender, you win nothing, never. Simple as that.''
WARNED: ECHL senior vice president Andy Van Hellemond has issued a stern warning to the Roanoke Express and public address announcer ``Slam'' Duncan following an incident at the end of Hampton Roads' 4-3 victory over the Express last Saturday night.
Players from both teams lingered on the ice to clutch, grab and spit at the end of the second one-goal game in as many nights between the two rivals. Witnesses say Duncan yelled into the microphone, ``Another classless act by the Hampton Roads Admirals.''
Admirals assistant coach Al MacIsaac heard Duncan and immediately ran to the public address booth to confront him. One account said that Duncan pushed MacIsaac several times, which MacIsaac denies. He does say that Duncan cursed him and vowed, ``I'll say any damn thing I want to.''
Not according to Van Hellemond, who received a letter from MacIsaac and threatened to have Duncan fired should it happen again.
``I talked to the `Slam Man' and he and his team have been put on notice,'' Van Hellemond said Wednesday. ``They (Roanoke and Duncan) have been disciplined.
``Give the guy credit. He agreed his behavior was very unprofessional and he made no excuses. He takes full responsibility. He told me, `I became a fan again for that short moment.' ''