THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 3, 1995 TAG: 9510030367
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals got a major shot in the arm Monday when the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League assigned six highly regarded players to Norfolk.
The newcomers:
Forward Dominic Maltais, a French Canadian who led Ft. Worth of the Central Hockey League in scoring last season with 40 goals and 38 assists in 66 games.
Goalie Corwin Saurdiff, who was 13-6-2 last season for the Admirals and is the only ECHL goaltender ever to net a goal.
Bob Woods, an ECHL and AHL veteran forward/defenseman who played in Austria last season. He had 200 points in 190 games for Johnstown over three seasons.
Brian Stacey, a defenseman who was under contract to the Washington Capitals last season while playing junior hockey.
Chris Phelps, an All-ECHL defenseman who was fifth in scoring with the Admirals last season as a rookie.
Center David St. Pierre, who played 17 games last season with Saint John of the AHL.
They are expected to report late today or Wednesday. All but Phelps have two-way contracts that bind them to Portland and Hampton Roads. That means the teams will split their salaries if they play in Norfolk and that only Portland can recall them from the Admirals.
Coach John Brophy spent two weeks in Portland's training camp, missing the first two days of the Admirals' camp, while trying to nail down the contracts.
``John knew what he was doing,'' Admirals president Blake Cullen said. ``He was up there rounding up players.''
The contracted Portland players and goaltender Shamus Gregga, under contract with Cleveland of the IHL, give the Admirals six players signed by teams from higher leagues. ``We've never had close to that many before,'' Cullen said.
Odds are the number will rise. The Caps, parent club of Portland, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, parent of Cleveland, make their final cuts later this week. Those cuts probably will bump more Portland and Cleveland players to Norfolk.
``It's going to be a few more days before we have all of our players,'' said assistant coach Al MacIsaac, who has supervised practice in Brophy's absence.
Forwards Rick Kowalsky and Trevor Halverson and defenseman Ron Pascucci, who played for the Admirals last season, are scheduled to play Friday for Portland when the Pirates open in Providence. Former Admirals Steve Poapst and Andrew Bruentte also made the team.
Woods is the only veteran of the Admirals' newcomers. Returnees Rod Taylor and Kelly Sorensen and Mark Bernard also are veterans. But Bernard does not count against the ECHL limit of three veterans because he is a goaltender.
Cullen said he is working on the assumption that Woods, as a contracted player, will not count against the veterans cap. The fledgling players union has proposed that vets under contract to teams from higher leagues not count against the limit. Cullen is hopeful that the union and league will soon agree to a contract with that provision.
That could provide an opening for the return of veteran Dennis McEwen. He was on the ice Monday, though not in full gear. He said he might play if the rule is changed.
McEwen is seeking a guaranteed spot on the roster before he will commit to return.
The Admirals are hopeful rookies Steve Potvin, who is in camp in Baltimore, and Bill McGuiggan, who is in Cornwall, will arrive later this week if cut by AHL clubs.
The Admirals hold an intraquad scrimmage Wednesday at Scope that is open to the public, then host Roanoke Friday in their first exhibition. by CNB