DATE: Tuesday, October 7, 1997              TAG: 9710070467

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM

LENGTH: 58 lines

ADMIRALS REPORT

Admirals' defense

benefits from talent

overflow in Portland

YORK COUNTY - If Barry Trotz were still coaching the Portland Pirates, Alex Alexeev and Chris Phelps likely would be playing defense for the American Hockey League team. Trotz said at the end of last season that he planned to use both players this season.

Alas, Trotz was hired two months ago by Nashville's fledgling NHL expansion team. With Trotz gone, they reported to camp two weeks ago in Portland with little hope of making the team.

``The team was basically picked when we got there,'' Phelps said. ``They had so many guys under contract that we didn't have a chance.''

Bad news for them, but good news for the Admirals, the Pirates' ECHL affiliate.

Combined with Yari Eresko from the Red Army in Russia and returnees Chad Ackerman and Mike Larkin, Phelps and Alexeev give coach John Brophy a defense he said could his best ever in Hampton Roads.

That's little consolation to Alexeev, who had three assists in exhibition games in Portland.

``I enjoy playing here,'' Alexeev said. ``I never improved as much as I did last year under coach Brophy. But we would all like to be in higher leagues.

``The guy I feel for is (Admirals forward) Victor Gervais. Everyone could see he was the best guy in camp. He had three goals. I guess they had so many guys under contract, they didn't have room for him. It's a shame.''

Trainers went to camp, too

Admirals trainer Stu Bender and equipment manager Gary Mansfield spent two weeks in camp with Washington Capitals.

``We were asked to go up there and help them,'' Bender said. ``It was a great experience. We found out they do most things the same way we do them here. They just have a lot more people and more money.''

Mansfield, who's been with the Admirals eight seasons, said he discovered that hockey players are all pretty much alike.

``I went in there expecting to see a lot of attitudes,'' he said. ``But for the most part, they were just good guys.''

Slap shots

Brophy says Rob Bonneau (University of Massachusetts) and Dan Ceman (University of Windsor) have been two of the top rookie forwards so far in camp. That's no surprise, in that both are already under contract. Center Billy Lincoln (University of Vermont) and left wing Ken Tasker (St. Mary's) have also impressed. ... Larkin is set to report today. Forward Ron Majic still hasn't reported. ... Brophy and general manager Al MacIsaac say the first cuts will come Monday. ``We should be able to get down to the 19 guys on Monday,'' MacIsaac said. The Admirals play four exhibitions in four days beginning Thursday, when they host Richmond at the Ice Palace.

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