THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180710
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 166 lines
The two best teams in the East Coast Hockey League's East Division square off tonight at Scope.
The Charlotte Checkers begin defense of their ECHL title against the Hampton Roads Admirals, and both teams appear loaded.
The Checkers have most of their players back from last season, including Phil Berger and goalie Nick Vitucci.
The Admirals are laden with contracted players from the Washington Capitals and Portland Pirates, and head coach John Brophy and general manager Al MacIsaac had a bountiful recruiting year.
If the Admirals can avoid the call-ups and injuries that have crippled them in recent years, they will contend for a championship.
A look at the three ECHL divisions, in predicted order of finish:
EAST DIVISION
Hampton Roads
Coach: John Brophy
1995-96 record: 32-25-13; lost in first round of playoffs
Outlook: Brophy says this is the best talent he's had in eight years. Rod Taylor is back to claim what few scoring records he doesn't already hold. Randy Pearce, leading scorer for the last Admirals championship team in 1992, is back after three years in higher leagues. The defense is exceptional. Alexander Alexeev, who played in Portland last season, and Chris Phelps, a two-time ECHL All-Star, are among eight players under contract to higher leagues. Returnees Dominic Maltais and Rick Kowalsky figure to be among the team's top scorers. Rookies Alain Savage, Andy Weidenbach and Ryan Mulhern will add scoring punch. The goaltending is also strong. Starter Darryl Paquette was 7-2-5 with a 3.06 goals-against last year for the Admirals. The backups are Marc Seliger, on assignment from Portland, and Shamus Gregga, back after a year's absence.
Charlotte
Coach: John Marks
1995-96 record: 45-21-4; won ECHL title
Outlook: Former Admiral Shawn Wheeler has retired to become a full-time assistant coach, but there are plenty of familiar faces in the lineup. Darryl Noren, the team's leading scorer last season, and Matt Robbins, the team's all-time leading scorer, are back. Kurt Seher, the team's only All-Star last year, leads the defense. Vitucci, another former Admiral, was MVP of the Riley Cup finals last season. Charlotte got off to an 0-5-1 record last year, then retooled. This season, no retooling appears necessary.
Richmond
Coach: Scott Gruhl
1995-96 record: 46-11-13; won East Division, lost in second round
Outlook: Gruhl retired and became the Renegades' head coach when Roy Sommer left to become an assistant coach in the NHL, and he faces a daunting task in trying to win a third consecutive East title. Scott Burfoot, who led the ECHL in scoring two years ago, was recruited away from the Colonial League, where he had 75 points for Flint. Right wing Jay Murphy (74 points) returns, as does Trevor Senn, who set an ECHL record with 507 penalty minutes last season. The goaltending is outstanding, with Grant Sjerven (15-2-4, 2.65 goals-against average) back. But the defense is suspect.
South Carolina
Coach: Rick Vaive
1995-96 record: 40-22-8; lost in first round
Outlook: Chris Foy has retired and moved to the Stingrays' front office, but he was replaced by Chris Hynnes, who was the Colonial League's top scoring defenseman last season with 26 goals and 54 assists. Hynnes has IHL and AHL experience. Center Mike Ross had 71 points last season.
Roanoke
Coach: Frank Anzalone
1995-96 record: 36-28-6; lost in first round
Outlook: Gone is Daniel Berthiaume, the outstanding goaltender who led Roanoke the last two years, but the Express replaced him with Dave Gagnon, who was 18-25-4 with Minnesota of the IHL. Olaf Kjenstad was acquired from Birmingham, where he was second with the Bulls in scoring. Tim Christian had 50 points and Michael Smith 48 for the Express last season. Defenseman Dave Stewart (41 points, 239 penalty minutes) also returns.
Knoxville
Coach: Barry Smith
1995-96 record: 37-29-4; lost in first round
Outlook: The Cherokees move to the East from the South and will find the going tougher. Jimmy Brown, sent to Knoxville by Hampton Roads two years ago in what may have been the Admirals' worst trade ever, returns after tallying 50 goals and 70 assists. Former Admiral Dan Chaput leads the defense. The Cherokees raided the Central and West Coast leagues for scoring talent. Kyle Reeves had 68 goals and 47 assists in 63 games for Fort Worth of the Central League, and Wayne Anchikoski had 28 goals and 34 assists in 50 games with Reno.
Raleigh
Coach: Kurt Kleinendorst
1995-96 record: 23-34-13; lost in first round
Outlook: Known affectionately around the league as the Ice Angels because of their gentle style of play, the IceCaps vow to be tougher this season. Right wing Doug Mann is a physical player. Right wing Darren Colbourne had 26 goals and 27 assists in just 36 games last season. The IceCaps have a new affiliation with Ottawa, and the Senators sent them two good players - goalie Patrick Charbonneau, a third-round draft pack who was 21-15-3 in the AHL and Colonial League last season; and Cosmo Dupaul, who had 25 goals and 32 assists last season in the AHL and Colonial.
NORTH DIVISION
Toledo, a two-time champion, was 48-14-8 but lost in the first round of the playoffs last season. Goalie David Goverde is outstanding, and Rick Judsen is a two-time ECHL All-Star.
Wheeling has a new nickname (Nailers) and coach (Tom McVie), and the Nailers could match last season's 42-23-5 record. John Blessman leads a tough defense.
Peoria moved to the ECHL from the IHL. Though most of their IHL players are gone, the Rivermen have recruited well. Goalie Jon Hillebrandt won 15 games in the AHL last season. Left wing Doug Evans has extensive NHL experience.
Louisville won 39 games with a strong defense last season and added Pat Mikesch, Michigan Tech's second-leading scorer.
Dayton moves to a larger arena but has a familiar face in Colin Miller, the team's MVP last season. Jason Carey is solid in goal, but the defense is questionable.
Columbus has a new head coach in Brian McCutcheon. Left wing Jamie Spencer, perhaps the team's best player last season, returns.
Huntington nearly folded last season and was fortunate to win 21 games. Center Jim Bermingham appears to be the best of the newcomers on a rebuilding team.
Johnstown wrested a working agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins away from the Admirals, but the Chiefs will be young and probably mediocre. Goalie Peter Skudra is solid.
SOUTH DIVISION
Tallahassee has most of its top players back, including goalie Mark Richards - brother of former Admirals defenseman Steve Richards - who was 28-11-5 last season. Cal Ingraham, the league's shortest player last season at 5-foot-6, had 71 points.
Louisiana led the league in attendance last season and used the revenue to sign enough players from other leagues to win 43 games last season. Center Ron Handy has pro experience in six leagues.
Birmingham will be vastly improved over last season's 26-39-5 record. Center Jamie Hicks was the top scorer and MVP for Saginaw of the Colonial.
Baton Rouge relocated from Erie and should be improved in its new environs. Left wing Kevin McKinnon is an experienced player who was in Finland last season.
Jacksonville was the surprise of the playoffs last season - the Lizard Kings advanced to the finals. But coach Jeff Brubaker is gone. Goalie Brian Renfrew is solid.
Pensacola is a transplanted team from Nashville and has a solid goalie in Derek Puppa, who led Alabama-Huntsville to the Division II collegiate title.
Mobile struggled (22-37-11) as an expansion team and will again as a second-year team. Jason Smith adds scoring punch. He had 87 points with Utica of the Colonial.
Mississippi's Sea Wolves will be feeling the blues this season in Biloxi. The expansion team should finish last. Left wing Troy Mann had 30 goals for Saginaw of the Colonial. by CNB