THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503110408
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Left wing Rod Taylor and center John Porco have been named to the the All-ECHL team selected by coaches and sports writers.
Taylor, a fourth-year veteran, did not make the ECHL All-Star game played in January, but has been on a hot streak the second half of the season. Taylor has 73 points, second on the team, and is among the team's career leaders in three categories - second in goals with 147, tied with Dennis McEwen for fourth in assists with 116 and third in points with 263.
If he returns for a fifth season, Taylor likely will become the leader in all three categories.
Porco leads the Admirals with 77 points, but is on loan to Saint John of the American Hockey League. He is expected to return before the playoffs.
Porco joined goaltender Chris Gordon (Huntington), defensemen Brandon Smith (Dayton) and Rick Corriveau (Toledo) left wing Darren Schwartz (Tallahassee) and right wing Vadim Slivchenko (Wheeling) on the first line.
Taylor was named to the second line along with goaltender Dave Gagnon (Roanoke), defensemen Scott Boston (South Carolina) and Tim Roberts (Wheeling), center Scott Burfoot (Erie) and right wing Stephane Charbonneau (Erie).
AHL UPDATE: Admirals president Blake Cullen has apparently been in touch with AHL officials or intermediaries to find out whether the league truly wants the Admirals to move up next season.
Sources have reported that the AHL is seeking to convince Charlotte, Greensboro, South Carolina and Hampton Roads to move up, but there has been little or no official contact between the league and the four teams.
Cullen wouldn't say who he spoke to Friday, but acknowledges he had spoken with nobody associated with the AHL as late as Thursday night.
``I'm now pretty sure that all of the facts from the AHL will be available to me shortly,'' he said. ``After the facts are in, we'll see where we stand, whether they really want us, how it would work and if we want to go.''
MISSING FACES: Admirals assistant coach Al MacIsaac and forward Ron Majic were both in Canada Friday and missed the Admirals' game with Richmond.
MacIsaac is in the Toronto area attending a college tournament and scouting players for next season.
Majic went home to Sault St. Marie for a day to attend to personal business.
Coach John Brophy said Majic will play today when the Admirals visit Roanoke.
ADMIRALS PARTY: The Admirals Booster Club will hold its annual end of the season part Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the VFW Post 4809 in Norfolk. For details, call 548-0559. by CNB