Admirals still can’t get the puzzle pieces to fit

By TRIS WYKES, The Virginian-Pilot
© October 28, 2005

The game is known throughout pro hockey as “Juice
Boy’’ and involves individual players shooting against
a goalie after practice until the worst performer is
determined.

Juice Boy, as that poor soul is known, must then fill
cups of Gatorade for his teammates in the locker room,
a crushing display of subservience.

Wednesday at Scope, the game came down to Norfolk
Admirals coach Mike Haviland and goaltending
consultant Stephane Waite. The netminding coach scored
and Haviland was denied, making the boss Juice Boy.

Players cheered. Haviland threw his stick and roared
in mock anger. He ladled out juice but refused to
deliver the cups to each recipient.



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The Admirals (1-4-0-1) are off to the worst start in
their six-year AHL history, but you’d never know it
from their behavior. Tirades and torturous workouts
might work at times, but Haviland has decided against
them so far.

“We’re getting our points across in stern ways, but we
also have to get some positives out of this
situation,’’ said the coach, whose team is
next-to-last in the 13-team Eastern Conference . “If
we can learn and stick together now, it’s going to
help us in the long run.’’

No Admirals ECHL or AHL team has missed the playoffs
since the return of pro hockey to Hampton Roads in
1989. It’s too early to project whether the current
squad will make the postseason, but fans are wondering
what’s going on.

Why can’t the Admirals score more? Is Haviland, who
won two ECHL titles in the last three years, all he’s
cracked up to be?

“It really surprises me, especially since the coach
came here with a good record,’’ said Norfolk resident
and longtime fan Bruce Ebert. “I thought they’d get
off to a fast start.’’

That was the plan, with the Admirals playing seven of
their eight October games at home. But events with the
parent Chicago Blackhawks have had an effect in
Norfolk.

“The roster I had in mind on Sept. 15 certainly isn’t
the one we have now,’’ Norfolk general manager Al
MacIsaac said. “We’ve got a young team and a bunch of
tryout guys fighting to keep jobs.’’

The Blackhawks’ trade of Steve McCarthy and the return
to juniors of touted prospect Cam Barker, both
defensemen, meant NHL jobs for former Admirals Duncan
Keith and Brent Seabrook. One or both might have been
here otherwise.

At forward, Chicago has lost Eric Daze and Tuomo Ruutu
to injuries, and Adrian Aucoin and Kyle Calder also
have spent time on the sidelines. That meant
youngsters like Matt Ellison and Rene Bourque wouldn’t
have their tickets punched back to Virginia.

It’s not that such players don’t deserve to be in the
NHL, but past Octobers have seen the Admirals with two
or three squeezed out of the big leagues by the
numbers game.

Throw in the loss of Admirals power forward Matt Keith
to a broken toe and Chicago’s recall of AHL veterans
Jason Morgan and Milan Bartovic and there’s been just
enough turmoil to come up a goal short most nights.
Norfolk has converted once in its last 23 power-play
opportunities.

“Some of our players have earned jobs because other
guys are not here,’’ MacIsaac said. “When they got the
opportunity to come to our training camp, there were
one or two jobs to be had. Then it turned into three
or four.’’

Tryout players Steve Crampton, Jim Henkel, Carl
Corazzini and Steve Munn, who might not have made the
team, are playing regular minutes. Established
Admirals are playing more than they might have, on
regular shifts and special teams, but haven’t been
scoring.

“The new guys have been our best players,’’ said
Norfolk wing Shawn Thornton, pointing out that he and
fellow veterans Quintin Laing and Ajay Baines have a
combined five points. “The pressure should be on us
older guys.’’

Offensive specialists Martin St. Pierre, Nathan
Barrett and Mark Cullen, who all played elsewhere in
the AHL last season, tend to draw opponents’ top
lines. Were Matt Keith and Bourque or Ellison
available, the Admirals would have a more diverse
attack.

If Seabrook were in Norfolk, Admirals rookie defense-

man Dustin Byfuglien might be able to develop in a
slower, less hectic manner. And if Haviland were a
magician, he could make such conjecture disappear with
a wave of his whistle.

“We dug this hole and no one’s going to dig us out of
it,’’ said the coach, whose team plays four road games
after this weekend’s two games against visiting
Albany. “How do we handle this funk? I guess we’ll see.’’



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