
DATE: Saturday, October 18, 1997            TAG: 9710180619

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   82 lines

THE ADMIRALS HIT THE ICE FLYING TAYLOR SCORES 2 IN ROMP; SELLOUT IS FIRST EVER FOR OPENING NIGHT

A good time was had by all Friday at Scope, with the exception of the players and fans who ventured down Interstate 64 from Richmond.

The Hampton Roads Admirals opened the season by roughing up the archrival Richmond Renegades 8-1 before a raucous crowd of 8,962, the first sellout for a home opener in franchise history.

Hampton Roads coach John Brophy promised before the game that his team would win the Northeast Division championship, and the Admirals hit the ice in championship form. They outshot Richmond 37-23, got outstanding goaltending from Jason Saal and blended generous portions of scoring from veterans and rookies alike

``We pushed the puck around better than we ever have in an opener,'' Brophy said. ``We played great, great hockey, as good as you can expect from any team in an opener.''

Veteran Rod Taylor, moved to tears by a pregame standing ovation, had two goals and an assist. Veteran Victor Gervais had a goal, as did returning defenseman Chad Ackerman.

Four goals came from newcomers: Alexander Kharlamov, a Russian who came from Portland of the AHL; Dan Ceman, from the University of Windsor; Billy Lincoln, from the University of Vermont; and Marty Clapton, from Brown University.

Rob Bonneau, from the University of Massachusetts, had two assists, as did Kharlamov, Clapton and returnees Rick Kowalsky and Mike Larkin.

But it was the defense and Saal, said the Renegades, who set the tone for this game. Saal, who allowed just three goals in two exhibitions, made several acrobatic saves the few times the defense allowed Richmond open shots.

``They're very strong in their own end,'' said Renegades forward Andrew Shier. ``That's a very tough defensive team, and at times it's defense that gets your offense going.''

Taylor, the team's career scoring leader and player/assistant coach, was the last player announced in pregame ceremonies and drew a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd as his parents, who flew from Lake Orion, Mich., watched from the stands.

``That was quite a thrill,'' he said. ``I haven't heard anything like that from the fans (prior to a game). It meant a lot to me. It was a lot of fun.''

Fun, too, for the Admirals after a sluggish first period - they led 2-1 in spite of being outshot 13-10 in the first 20 minutes.

They dominated the rest of the way and put the game away in the second period with two late goals. Kharlamov put the Admirals ahead 3-1 when he took a centering pass from Kowalsky inches in front of the crease and wristed it past Richmond goalie Taras Lendzyk at 18:33.

Ceman put the Admirals up 4-1 just 25 seconds later when he found a loose puck in front of the net and wristed it past Lendzyk.

The Admirals turned it into a laugher in the third period. Taylor scored at 55 seconds to make it 5-1. Ackerman then put a slap shot from 10 feet behind the blue line between Lendzyk's legs at 9:19.

By then, the Renegades appear to have packed it in. Taylor (at 13:28) and Lincoln (at 13:52) completed the scoring on goals that met little resistance from Richmond.

``I don't think it was an 8-1 game,'' Taylor said. ``The goalie got down on himself and let some weak goals in.

``This was just one game, but this team has as much potential as any we've had here. We've got guys who have NHL potential, some guys I think will play in the NHL. The talent is that good.''

Brophy agreed but said Friday's game was no indication of how the series will go with Richmond. The Renegades swept both exhibition games with the Admirals.

``It was not an easy game for them to play,'' he said. ``We put a lot of pressure on them. We're not going to say Richmond can't play after one game.

``They're a good team. Richmond's going to get better. But so are we. We're going to get a lot better, and win a lot of hockey games.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Richmond's Tyler Johnston leaves the Admirals' Chris Phelps and a

fallen official in his wake as he brings the puck up ice. The

Renegades were decked 8-1 Friday night at Scope.

Color Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Rod Taylor, left, and Marty Clapton celebrate the second of the

Admirals' eight goals in their season-opening victory Friday night

at Scope.