THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250812
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals took another big step in their quest to acquire more talent from higher leagues Thursday by signing a working agreement with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and Cleveland of the International Hockey League.
Though terms of the agreement have not been finalized, the Admirals will receive players under contract to Cleveland, Pittsburgh's IHL affiliate. It is the first working agreement with an IHL team for the Admirals.
The agreement does not affect the Admirals' working agreement with the NHL's Washington Capitals and the Portland Pirates, the Caps' American Hockey League team. The Admirals have been affiliated with Washington since their inception in 1989.
``We will be receiving players from two organizations,'' Admirals president Blake Cullen said.
The Admirals have worked steadfastly in the off-season to increase the number of players they receive from higher leagues. They had just three players under contract to Portland last season and none from Washington. Other East Coast Hockey League teams had as many as a dozen players under contract to teams in higher leagues.
However, the Admirals negotiated an innovative agreement with Portland this spring in which the teams agreed to sign up to eight players jointly.
Those players would be paid by the Pirates if they play in Portland and by both teams if they play in Hampton Roads. Once in Hampton
Roads, the players could be recalled only by Portland, and that will in effect will give the Pirates a taxi squad in Norfolk.
Moreover, the deal gives the Admirals first choice on any Pirates optioned to the ECHL. Last season, Portland sent three players to ECHL rival Wheeling.
Cullen said he hopes the Lumberjacks will agree to a similar deal.
``There's really no way of telling how many players we'll get'' from Cleveland, Cullen said. ``It could mean as many as five players, but we just don't know yet.
``The key is that it opens up the International Hockey League to us, where we have not been. I've been saying for years that teams in our league should be affiliated with every team in the AHL and IHL. Otherwise, we're going to get run over by leagues (such as the Colonial Hockey League) with no salary limits.
``This is a good deal for Cleveland and the Admirals. They'll be able to take a chance and sign players who are on the fringe and might help them. If those players don't make it (with the Lumberjacks), they can send them to us for relatively little money and we can develop them.''
Cullen has spent much of the summer negotiating the agreement with Cleveland owner Larry Gordon, who has former Admirals Victor Gervais and Patrick LaLime on his team. But Cullen says it was Admirals coach John Brophy who finalized the deal with Pittsburgh general manager Craig Patrick.
Patrick's brother, Glen, is a Peninsula resident ``Glen has been to a number of our games, and that obviously didn't hurt us with the Penguins,'' Cullen said.
Brophy, who was unavailable for comment, will attend Cleveland's training camp in three weeks, Cullen said. ILLUSTRATION: Side Bar
Highlights of the Deal
For copy of side bar, see microfilm.
by CNB