DATE: Thursday, November 20, 1997           TAG: 9711200646

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   68 lines

MANSOFF'S 2 GOALS LIFT ADMIRALS HE'S LED TEAM TO THE ECHL'S BEST RECORD, AND INTO TIE WITH WHEELING

Jason Mansoff never thought he'd be playing hockey this season for the Hampton Roads Admirals. An all-star for the University of Maine, he was signed by the Washington Capitals last spring and figured to do no worse than play defense for Portland of the AHL.

But after a strong training camp, Mansoff found himself the victim of numbers. Portland had too many players in camp.

So he was sent to the Admirals, who are quite happy to have him. Mansoff had two goals and an assist Wednesday and came within a few inches of a hat trick to lead the Admirals to a 5-2 victory over Johnstown.

The victory lifted Hampton Roads, which at 8-2-2 has the ECHL's best record, into a first-place tie with Wheeling in the Northeast Division, each with 18 points. Wheeling has played four more games than Hampton Roads.

Mansoff acknowledges he wasn't thrilled to be sent to Hampton Roads.

``You want to play at the best level possible,'' Mansoff said. ``I expected to be playing in Portland.

``But I've just got to do the best I can to get back up there, and that's to play well here.''

Admirals coach John Brophy says he's doing just that. After a slow start, Mansoff has scored 10 points in 10 games, tops among Admirals defensemen.

``The guy is a National Hockey League skater,'' Brophy said. ``Nobody in our league can take off and skate the way this guy can. I've seen very few in any league who can skate like he can.

``He's played very well for us.''

The same could be said for Alexander Kharlamov, who had a goal and two assists. Rob Bonneau added a goal and an assist, Dan Ceman three assists, Rick Kowalsky two assists and Yuri Yeresko his first goal of the season.

Sebastien Charpentier moved to 5-0 with another strong performance in goal. Though the two goals were a season high, Charpentier had 30 saves, many on breakaways and point-blank shots.

``We're used to giving up 20 or 25 shots at the most,'' Mansoff said. ``It's a good thing Sharpie was on his game.''

So was Mansoff, who put the Admirals ahead with 36 seconds left in the second period with a slap shot that left goalie Dan Dennis flailing.

Johnstown tied the score 1-1 on its first power play when Carl Fleury pushed a rebound past a diving Charpentier at 7:18 of the second period.

Two minutes later, Bonneau eluded a defender in front of the net and in one motion took a pass from Ceman and knocked it past Dennis.

Mansoff made it 3-1 on a power play on which he did a fine imitation of a forward. Mansoff found himself alone at the blue line and headed toward the goal, lofting a shot just in front of the crease that was blocked. Kowalksy shot the rebound, which was blocked, and Mansoff then wristed the puck past Dennis.

Mansoff almost had his third goal with seven minutes remaining, but Dennis blocked a wrister. Kharlamov then dug out the rebound and scored to put the game out of reach.

NOTES: The Admirals Boosters Club is sponsoring a skate with the Admirals night at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Haygood Family Skating Center in Virginia Beach. Admission is $5 and includes roller-skate rental. Several players and Salty Dog, the team's mascot, will skate with fans. . . . The Admirals sold Boston College rookie Brian Callahan to Johnstown in time to him to dress out Wednesday. Callahan, who had an assist, was reunited with brother Greg, a Chiefs defenseman. . . . The Admirals embark on a three-game road trip beginning Friday at Raleigh. They return home Nov. 28 to host Roanoke. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Hampton Roads' Chad Ackerman collides with Johnstown's Dan Harrison

while going for the puck during the Admirals' 5-2 win Wednesday.

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