THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 29, 1994 TAG: 9411290401
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Forward Matt Mallgrave, the Hampton Roads Admirals' fifth-leading scorer, was called up Monday by Portland of the AHL.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Harvard graduate, who is under contract to Portland, scored 10 goals and had 17 assists in 18 games. Saturday, in a 6-5 shootout victory at Richmond, he had the Admirals' final goal in regulation and scored in the shootout.
Admirals coach John Brophy says he will try to find a body to fill Mallgrave's roster spot.
``But nobody can replace him,'' Brophy said. ``He was having a great year. The guy can play.
``Somebody has to move up (in the lineup), of course. I think a guy like (Jim) Brown can be ready to step in there and try to replace him'' on the first line.
Portland called up defenseman Brian Goudie two weeks ago. Brophy says there's no word on when and if Goudie might return.
``They have big-time injuries in Portland,'' he said.
BIG WIN: The Admirals' victory in Richmond on Saturday marked a triumphant return to the state capital for Colin Gregor and Rob MacInnis, both of whom played for the Renegades last season. Both scored their first goals of the season, and each had an assist.
``It felt good to come in here and win, to get my first goal,'' Gregor said. ``We've won two in a row, we're back to .500. We're making a steady climb back.''
The heretofore slumping Admirals are 8-8-2 with 18 points, two behind fifth-place Raleigh in the East Division, and are 3-0-1 in their last four games.
The game wasn't a total loss for Richmond. The Renegades picked up a point (with 32, they lead second-place Charlotte by eight) and drew a season-high crowd of 8,071, including at least 500 fans from Hampton Roads.
SHORT STICKS: Veteran Phil Berger made his debut for Greensboro in a 4-2 victory over Raleigh on Saturday and scored his first goal. The Monarchs placed veteran Dean Zayonce on injured reserve to make way for Berger. . . . The Admirals have made slow but steady progress with their special teams. They are 16th in the 18-team league in penalty killing at 74.07 percent; they were last a week ago. They are seventh in power plays (22.85 percent); they were near the bottom of the league two weeks ago. . . . Admirals center John Porco is fourth in the ECHL scoring race with 29 points and second in goals with 18. Erie's Scutt Burfoot leads with 44 points. . . . The Admirals' average attendance of 7,709 is second in the ECHL. South Carolina leads at 9,104. Charlotte is third at 7,564. The league has attracted 853,588 in 162 dates, an average of 5,269 per team. by CNB