DATE: Tuesday, July 1, 1997                 TAG: 9707010434

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM,STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   36 lines

ROD TAYLOR WILL RETURN TO THE ADMIRALS FOR A SEVENTH SEASON

Rod Taylor, one of the Hampton Roads Admirals' most-prolific scorers and popular players, will play a seventh season at Scope.

The team announced Monday that Taylor, 30, has signed a one-year contract to serve as player-assistant coach for the second consecutive season.

Taylor is the second player signed by the Admirals. Victor Gervais, whom Admirals coaches called their best player last season, signed a two-way contract with Portland of the American Hockey League last month. Gervais is expected to play most of the season with the Admirals.

Taylor, nicknamed ``Rocket'' because of the ferocity of his slap shot, signed an ECHL contract.

Taylor holds franchise records in games played (340) and goals (221). Last season Taylor had 33 goals, 33 assists and a plus-minus of plus 22 in 68 games.

PAQUETTE RETIRES: Goalie Darryl Paquette has retired, general manager and assistant coach Al MacIsaac said. He and his wife are moving to South Korea to teach English.

Paquette, who split the last two seasons between Hampton Roads and Portland, set an ECHL record with three consecutive shutouts in the final three games of the regular season. Paquette was 35-15-5 with a 2.98 goals-against average last season.

MacIsaac said the Admirals may sign Kory Cooper, who was an emergency backup goalie for the Admirals late last season. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Rod Taylor holds the Admirals' records for games played (340) and

goals (221).

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