THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280426
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
By game's end Wednesday night, many in the Scope crowd of 8,247 were barking, though not because the home team played like dogs.
Led by goalie Mark Bernard and a swarming defensive effort, the Hampton Roads Admirals defeated the Richmond Renegades 4-3 in a shootout.
The shootout victory, only the Admirals' fourth in 14 tries, came against the East Division's first-place team and snapped a four-game winless streak.
``A big win, one we had to have,'' coach John Brophy said. ``Maybe this will change things for us (in shootouts). We played with confidence. We should have confidence from now on.''
During most of their 10 shootout losses, the problem was a lack of scoring. In many shootouts the Admirals mustered one goal or fewer in their five shots on net. But Steve Richards, Serge Aubin and Trevor Halverson each scored in succession in the shootout.
``It was nice to see some of our guys put the puck in the basket,'' said Bernard, whose 30 saves, and nickname, Saint Bernard, evoked barks from the crowd.
The game wasn't decided until the final shot. Aubin's goal, on the Admirals' third shootout attempt, gave Hampton Roads a 2-1 advantage. Bernard snuffed Richmond All-Star Scott Gruhl on the Renegades' fourth shot, but after Bob Woods missed for Hampton Roads, Trevor Senn wristed the puck over Bernard's left shoulder.
Halverson then followed the pattern scripted by Aubin. He deked left, then right, forcing Richmond goalie Sandy Allan to commit, then wrapped the puck between the goalpost and Allan's outstretched stick.
``It worked for Serge, so I figured it might work for me,'' Halverson said of his dekes. ``It was close. He (Allan) almost got it.''
The Admirals dominated much of the game and led 3-1 early in the third period. But they were forced by injuries and call-ups into employing a makeshift five-man defensive corps, a patchwork that gradually unraveled.
Early in the first period, defenseman Jason MacIntyre suffered a shoulder injury that kept him on the bench most of the game. Then, at 9:32 of the third, with the Admirals nursing a 3-2 lead, Sergei Voronov was assessed two penalties, including a 10-minute misconduct that kept him on the bench the rest of the game.
With Voronov out of action, MacIntyre returned. He and Richards, who is nursing a groin injury, skated full shifts.
``We couldn't do it with three guys,'' Richards said. ``We were fortunate Mac was able to come back.''
Richmond rallied to tie the score, though it took a helping hand from Lady Luck. Gruhl centered the puck in front of the net and was credited with a goal when the puck hit Voronov's stick and went into the net at 7:06.
Then, at 10:14, Garrett MacDonald hit Todd Sparks as he streaked down center ice. Sparks wristed a power-play goal over Bernard's shoulder to make it 3-3.
Under the circumstances, Brophy wasn't unhappy with the defense.
``All of our guys came to play 60 minutes,'' he said. ``The forwards did a great job of forechecking and keeping the pressure off of them.''
The victory moved the Admirals to 3-1-1 against the Renegades, who are winless in their last seven games at Scope.
``We get the electricity going when we play them,'' Brophy said. ``They're a first-place team, our rivals.
``We had to stop the bleeding before it turned into a tailspin. Clouds were beginning to form over this locker room.
``I think you'll see this team play a lot better from now on.'' ILLUSTRATION: Admirals dump Richmond
Color photo by L. Todd Spencer
[appears on page C1]
Hampton Roads' Rod Taylor, left, and Serge Aubin had Richmond goalie
Sandy Allan on the seat of his pants in the first period but
couldn't take advantage. The Admirals won 4-3 in a shootout, with
Trevor Halverson scoring the game-winner. Story, C4.
L. TODD SPENCER
Richmond goalie Sandy Allan is less than pleased with himself after
yielding a second-period goal to Dominic Maltais.
Duel of the titans: Hampton Roads' Ron Majic, left, and Richmond's
Brian Goudie square off in the first period.
by CNB