DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710240675

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: BY HARRY MINIUMSTAFF WRITERNORFOLK LENGTH:   88 lines

THOMAS WOLFE, MEET ALEX ALEXEEV ADMIRALS' UKRAINIAN DEFENSEMAN REALLY CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN.

If Alex Alexeev ever decides to return to Kiev, it could cost him a lot more than just the air fare.

``I will have to serve three years in prison,'' said Alexeev, a second-year defenseman for the Hampton Roads Admirals.

That would be his punishment for failing to serve his mandatory two years in the Ukrainian Army. Then, upon his release, he would have to serve those two years in the military.

``They don't make exceptions,'' he said.

Alexeev left his country 4 1/2 years ago at age 17 and hasn't been back. He would like remain in America, if he is fortunate enough to get a green card.

Until then, Admirals coach John Brophy says Alexeev has a home in Hampton Roads. He named Alexeev the team captain last week - a first, Brophy says.

``There's not another Russian captain in all of North America,'' said Brophy, whose Admirals host Johnstown tonight. ``Russians aren't captains because they don't usually speak the language well enough, and those that do don't always have the leadership qualities.

``Alex is captain because he leads by example. He works his guts out every night whether we're on the road or at home. He's first in the dressing room ready to practice, and last off the ice. He's going to lead by example rather than holler at people.''

Alexeev, who is fluent in Russian, Ukrainian and English, tackled the language barrier the old fashioned way. He came to America for the NHL draft 4 1/2 years ago and was picked by Winnipeg. The Jets (now the Phoenix Coyotes) didn't sign him, but he decided to stay.

He was only a few months from being drafted into the Ukrainian Army and didn't want to interrupt hockey for two years of digging foxholes. So he went to Tacoma, Wash., and played two seasons of junior hockey. He did so not knowing a word of English.

``They put me with a family and I didn't see a Russian for a year,'' he said. ``So I kind of pick it up from people around me. I still have problems when I have to write.''

And problems back in Kiev.

The Ukrainian Army is still after him. Once, when a Kiev newspaper reported that he was to return home to play for the Ukrainian national team, two Army officers appeared at his mother's doorstep. She called him at his apartment in Virginia Beach and told him not to come home.

``I would love to stay here,'' he said. ``I love America. . . . But I don't see it happening. It's really, really hard to get a green card.''

Without the green card, Alexeev isn't allowed to work in the offseason, and his visa expires in two years.

``It will not be renewed until I have been in the Army,'' he said.

The good news is that his mother, Anna, won a green card in a lottery in Kiev and came to America this summer to be with her son. She is in Tacoma, where Alexeev spent the summer, taking English-language classes and will move in with Alexeev in Virginia Beach next month.

``She's going to try to go to school here,'' he said. ``But I'm not sure I will be able to afford for her to stay here. During the season I can because I have an apartment provided (by the Admirals). But I can't work in the offseason.''

Alexeev, an only child, says he loves his mother dearly and will do all he can to take care of her. He says he owes her that.

When he was 3, his father left to find work. They they haven't heard from his since.

``There was a place in Siberia you could go to make big money cutting down trees,'' Alexeev said. ``So he said he was going to go there and work and get some money. He went there and never came back.

``My mom took care of me. She didn't buy any clothes for herself. She just took care of me.''

In his two remaining years in America, Alexeev hopes to get her settled, and win a championship.

``I want a championship so bad,'' Alexeev said. ``In Tacoma, we had the best team but had a goaltender who didn't care and lost in the second round.

``Two years ago in Portland (of the AHL), we got to the final game and lost. Last year, I think we (the Admirals) had the best team in the league and didn't win.

``If I have to go back, I want to go with a championship ring on my finger.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color file Photo

Alex Alexeev..

Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Admirals coach John Brophy says Alex Alexeev, left, is the only

player from the former Soviet Union to serve as a team captain in

North America. KEYWORDS: PROFILE

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