THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 1996 TAG: 9610150411
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: YORK LENGTH: 37 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals cut eight players Monday, including Dany Bousquet, a center who led the team in scoring in the playoffs last season.
Two other returnees from last season - defenseman Rich Bronilla and left wing Fran Bussey - also were cut. Rookies released include defenseman Roy Gray and forwards Mike Hiebert, Dominic Rheaume, Jason Anderson and Scott Coleman.
Bousquet, who had four points in three playoff games last season and scored a goal in the Admirals' Blue-White game Sunday, was devastated by the news.
``I am in shock,'' he said. ``I had a good camp. I thought I would make the team. I'm upset. I know I can play in this league.''
``It was not an easy thing to do,'' coach John Brophy said of releasing the eight players. ``It's the hardest part of the job.''
Things only get tougher later this week. The cuts reduced the roster to 24, six over the limit of 18 who can play when the Admirals open Friday at Scope against Charlotte.
Eight of those players are under contract to teams from higher leagues and thus can't be cut. Player-assistant coach Rod Taylor is also under contract with the Admirals, and Randy Pearce, a veteran who led the team to its last championship in 1992, will make the team.
That leaves just eight slots to fill.
There are six others who played last season and several rookies, including forwards Alain Savage and Ryan Mulhern, who appear to have won positions. Rob MacInnis, a veteran defenseman who played two years ago for Hampton Roads, is also battling for a spot.
Moreover, Brophy said the Portland Pirates of the AHL and Washington Capitals of the NHL could send as many as three players.
``The contract players from Portland really hurt the rest of us,'' Bousquet said. ``It helped them get good players, but makes it tough on guys trying to make the team.'' by CNB