THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 28, 1994 TAG: 9410280748
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
John Porco hasn't played hockey in North America since 1991, so some readjustment has been necessary this season, his first with the Hampton Roads Admirals.
First, the fans don't drink red wine, sing fight songs and wave banners at Scope. They did in Asiago, Italy, a small city in the Alps just north of Venice where Porco played the last three seasons.
``The fans were wild,'' said Porco, a left wing whose father was born in Southern Italy and came to Canada as a young man.
``The arena held about 4,000 people, and as long as we were winning, it was full. They were with us win or tie. When we were losing, nobody showed up.
``But I had a great time. I loved every minute of it. The fans would drink wine and sing their songs. It was pretty exciting.
``The money was good, the hockey was great and the people were wonderful.''
Porco could have returned to Asiago, where he was paid far more than players are paid in the ECHL. But he came to Norfolk in search of a dream. The 23-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, hopes to make it to the National Hockey League.
``I wanted a shot here, to see how I could do,'' he said. ``I'll play here and see what happens this year. If I don't move up, I'll probably go back to Italy.''
Drafted out of junior league three years ago by the Philadelphia Flyers, Porco tried out with the Flyers' American Hockey League team in Hershey, Pa., this fall. But Porco missed nearly all of last season with shoulder injuries, which required two dates with a surgeon to fix.
``Not playing hockey last year much at all hurt me a lot,'' said the baby-faced Porco, who at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds looks more like a tennis player than a hockey player.
``It was tough to play after missing most of a year. Things didn't work out in Hershey.''
Porco was then contacted by several ECHL teams, but came to Norfolk, thanks to Admirals forward Trevor Halverson. Porco and Halverson, who became friends when they were teenagers playing junior hockey, talked about Hampton Roads this summer while skating in Sault Ste. Marie, which is located on the Canadian border with Michigan.
``I told Trevor I was looking for a team and he mentioned Norfolk,'' Porco said. ``He told me about the fans and the arena and about how they pack them in. Some of my old junior coaches told me about (Admirals coach John) Brophy, how he gets you in shape.
``Everyone in this league is looking to move up to the next level. People kept telling me he's the guy to get you in shape and help you move on, that Hampton Roads is the place to play.''
Porco then called Brophy, who didn't know much about Porco's background.
``He was lost over in Europe for a few years,'' Brophy said. ``As soon as we checked his record, we knew he would be good for us.
``He scored 50 goals about every year in juniors.''
Porco has played well in four games for Hampton Roads, tallying two goals and an assist. Brophy says he will play better.
``He's a good skater and a hard worker who sees the ice very well,'' Brophy said. ``I'm sure he'll end up with a lot of goals, but his strong point is setting up other people to score.
``He has a chance to move up, and the farther he goes the better he'll look. He's a skilled player who is going to play better as the skill level rises.''
Assistant coach Al MacIsaac said Porco's only problem has been adjusting to the more physical American game.
``It will take him some time to get used to North American hockey again,'' MacIsaac said. ``The European game isn't quite as physical.''
Especially after the whistle blows. There were few fights in Asiago, which played in a seven-nation league that included teams from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Slovakia and Slovenia.
``The hockey was good, a lot better than I expected,'' Porco said. ``The ice surfaces are bigger and the offense was really good.
``We had a great team, with three guys with NHL experience (including John Tucker, currently with Tampa Bay) and seven other Canadians.''
Porco is a valuable commodity in the Italian League, which limits the number of foreigners. Because his father, John Sr, is Italian, Porco carries dual Italian-Canadian citizenship.
``I grew up speaking Italian, and with 10 English-speaking players, there was no culture shock,'' he said.
``I would enjoy playing there again. I could be happy playing there for the rest of my career. But I want to try to make it here first.
``I think I have a chance to move up. I'm only 23. I'll give it my best shot.'' ILLUSTRATION: JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI/Staff
Left wing John Porco has posted two goals and an assist in four
games for Hampton Roads.
by CNB