THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 14, 1994 TAG: 9411140133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GREENSBORO LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
Hampton Roads Admirals coach John Brophy says he will begin trying to make wholesale trades upon returning to his office today at Scope.
``We have to find out if anyone in the league wants to play in Norfolk,'' he said. ``I'll do as much as I can do (to make trades).
``I don't know what's wrong, but obviously a number of our players don't want to play for me or don't want to play in Hampton Roads.''
Brophy accused many of his players of ``quitting'' during the Admirals 6-2 loss to Greensboro on Saturday, the team's fourth defeat in a row.
Hampton Roads is 5-7-1, and while that would hardly be cause for panic for most hockey teams, it's the worst start ever for the Admirals, who are accustomed to playing for championships, not struggling to stay out of last place.
Brophy is at a loss to explain what's gone wrong. He says he's using the same system and the same coaching style that produced so much success the last five seasons. He has a strong class of returning players and has recruited talented newcomers.
Yet the Admirals have allowed 62 goals, by far the most in the league - this from a franchise that traditionally has been among the ECHL's stingiest.
``It's not that we're losing games,'' Brophy said. ``We're not working, we're not trying. Nobody wants to play. That's the problem. You can play hard and lose, but that's not the case here.
``I think our organization treats our players as good as anyone in the league. We didn't build the franchise to let some clowns come in here and tear it down by not working. . . . Nobody's doing anything, and that's our fault as coaches. I take full responsibility. When we win, I get the credit. It's my fault when we lose.
``But the fact is, I'm not leaving, in case anybody thinks I am. So I'll find out whether anybody in our league wants to play hockey here.''
Brophy hastened to add that some of his players are untouchable. John Porco, Trevor Halverson, Kelly Sorensen and Matt Mallgrave ``all come to play every day,'' he said.
``But we've got some guys who are not off to a good start. Maybe it's not a lack of hustle, but maybe the first thing you do when things aren't going well is quit skating.''
Brophy, an old-school coach who motivates through a generous portion of verbal prodding, has even tried the nice approach to jump-start the club, Mallgrave said.
``I'm sure Broph is pulling his hair out,'' said the Harvard graduate. ``He comes in and screams and yells and it doesn't work. He comes in and tries to be positive and it doesn't work.
``I think a lot of guys are thinking about it too much and talking about it too much instead of just going out and doing it. We sit in here for 20 minutes before every game and talk about it, then we don't go out and play hard.''
Chemistry has been a problem. The Admirals miss Victor Gervais, Shawn Wheeler and other players from last season who set up their teammates. They miss goaltender Mark Michaud.
Without those players, Rod Taylor and Brendan Curley, the team's two leading scorers last season, are not scoring as frequently.
Taylor's trademark last season was an open, sweeping slap shot. He's had precious few open shots this season.
Curley leads the team in assists but didn't score his first goal until Saturday. Like Taylor, he's been struggling to get clean shots.
Brophy has been unable to find the right combinations on his three lines. But he insists that the quality of hockey players is not what's wrong.
``The problem isn't talent,'' he said. ``We've shown a few times what we're capable of when we're motivated. The problem is effort.''
Brophy is especially displeased with his team's 1-6 road record.
``When did we ever get beat up on the road?'' he asked. ``Every game is 6-2. We're playing the same system we played here forever and nobody seems to want to buy into it.
We're teaching the same system we've used for six years. We won our division last year. The teams we're playing now are no better than our team. Yet they're beating us.
``They're beating us because our guys literally come to the rink to do nothing. I guess the team is afraid to make mistakes. The easiest thing is not to go near anybody and not do anything. We just stand around out there.''
Saturday, the Admirals allowed five goals in a three-minute stretch at the end of the first and beginning of the second periods.
``We tell them and tell them and tell them that the most important parts of the game are the first two and the last two minutes of each period. We stress that. So what do we do? We get two (goals) scored at the end of the first and three at the beginning of the second.
``Last year, we won our division basically on the road. We played eight games in 10 nights and won every game but one.
``How do you think we won? We didn't change anything in our system from then until now. The way we won was with a bunch of guys working their tails off.''
Porco said the Admirals have problems beyond their work ethic.
``We've got a lot of things to work on, too many to be named,'' Porco said. ``But the main thing is we've got to start coming to the rink every night hungry. We have to want to win. We have to show some heart.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Coach John Brophy accused many of his players of ``quitting'' in
Saturday's
6-2 loss.
by CNB