THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300611
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Four players have been suspended for their participation in fights during Wednesday's Hampton Roads-Greensboro game at Scope and won't play tonight when the Admirals and Monarchs square off again at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Admirals will be without forward Kelly Sorensen, who was suspended for three games, and defenseman Brian Goudie, who received an automatic one-game suspension after getting his third misconduct of the season in the Admirals' 6-2 victory.
Sorensen and Greensboro's Jeremy Stevenson began a long evening of fisticuffs by dropping their gloves and fighting just 33 seconds into the game. Referee Steve LeMay penalized them for coming off the bench to fight, bringing automatic three-game suspensions.
That was a narrow reading of the rules - apparently one intended to send a message. The two had been on the ice about 30 seconds and were lining up for the faceoff when they began exchanging words, then dropped their gloves.
Greensboro player/assistant coach Phil Berger also was suspended a game for kicking Ron Pascucci with his skate, then throwing a glove at LeMay.
The Admirals left Thursday for Greensboro, prepared for a resumption of hostilities tonight.
Rod Taylor, a fourth-year veteran, said a time bomb has been ticking between the teams since the season began.
``Now we go play them (tonight), down in Greensboro,'' he said. ``And what do you think's going to happen? I'm sure it's going to be worse. I was waiting for this to happen after the last game in Greensboro.''
Why? ``It's the rivalry,'' he said. ``It's been handed down through the years. It's the way it is between these teams.''
The teams indeed have a long history of animosity.
Last season the teams fought at Scope before the first puck was dropped, resulting in suspensions to half a dozen players and both head coaches.
Nearly two weeks ago, the rivalry seethed on the edge of a blowup during the Monarchs' 3-1 victory in Greensboro.
Monarchs defenseman Dwayne Gylywoychuk suffered temporary paralysis after being checked by Admirals forward Jason MacIntyre in the second period. Although Greensboro coach Jeff Brubaker said the check was clean, Stevenson began punching MacIntyre from behind in the game's waning seconds in apparent retaliation.
After Wednesday's game, LeMay spent more than two hours in his dressing room, reviewing film of the three major fights and several minor standoffs.
The Admirals said they asked LeMay also to look for cheap shots they say were taken at Admirals center John Porco, the team's leading scorer, who indeed appeared to be a Greensboro target.
Early in the second period, Greensboro's Chad Seibel, a 6-foot, 205-pound defenseman, raised his stick like a baseball bat and swung at Porco's arm.
Later, Greensboro's Mark DeSaintis, also 6-0 and 205, ripped Porco's helmet off while checking him into a corner. Seconds later, he grabbed Porco by a shoulder pad and threw him down.
Taylor then entered the game to deliver a message - he skated directly to DeSaintis and knocked him to the ice. Both were assessed minors.
Ron Majic delivered the same message later to Dean Zayonce after the Monarchs defenseman pummeled Porco in front of the Admirals' bench. Majic knocked Zayonce to the ice, setting off the third and final major bout of the night.
``I knew it was going to get hit, but they should have the class to do it cleanly,'' Porco said. ``I can't believe some of the things they were doing.''
Brubaker said his team will play hard tonight, and by the rules. But Admirals forward Rick Kowalsky says he'll believe it when he sees it.
``There's a point where the coach has to say enough's enough,'' he said. ``But he didn't. He kept sending guys out.''
Added Taylor: ``This was a garbage game. It puts this league down. It's bad for the league. It's bad for hockey.'' by CNB