ECHL making T-Sharks play the waiting game May 1, 1999

By Jack Corcoran
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

The verdict still isn't in. The Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, who had a hearing with the league seven days ago in New Jersey to discuss alleged salary-cap violations, are still waiting for the league to make a ruling.

ECHL president Rick Adams would not comment Thursday on the status of the investigation or when the league plans to make a decision.

The Tiger Sharks allegedly went around the salary cap in a number of ways, including paying players illegal signing bonuses and funneling money out of a cash fund from merchandise raffles at the Civic Center. The offenses could result in a $50,000 fine.

Brophy convicted of assault

Hampton Roads coach John Brophy was convicted Wednesday of assaulting a security guard after a Jan. 10 game at the Roanoke Civic Center. Brophy, who was suspended six games by the ECHL for the incident, was fined $1,000 at a hearing in General District Court.

Brophy did not attend the hearing, although his attorney entered a guilty plea that had been worked out in advance with prosecutors, who did not seek jail time. "If it happens again, there will be something on the record to show that he's done it before," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Gardner told The Roanoke (Va.) Times.

Brophy was charged with assaulting two security guards who were trying to usher him away from fans after a fight-filled game that Roanoke won 3-0. One of the counts of assault was dropped as part of the agreement.

St. Pierre taking more heat

Referee Justin St. Pierre did not swallow his whistle this week -- but he still got more grief. St. Pierre, who was the target of angry post-game comments from Mississippi coach Bruce Boudreau and Florida coach Bob Ferguson after not calling any penalties in the final 52:51 of a double overtime game last week, was in the middle of another controversy Tuesday.

This time, he whistled New Orleans Brass defenseman Steve Cheredaryk for cross-checking with 6:14 remaining in regulation in Game 4 of the Southern Conference semifinals against top-seed Pee Dee. The Pride took advantage by getting a power-play goal from Chris Lipsett that led to a series-clinching 4-3 win.

New Orleans coach Ted Sator slammed St. Pierre for the call. "I'm disappointed that a game that was played so well was decided by a very marginal call," Sator told The (Biloxi, Miss.) Sun Herald. "In my opinion, it's inexcusable.

"I give Pee Dee full marks. They're a terrific hockey club. But a sixth man on the ice shouldn't have decided the hockey game."

Full of Pride

The Pride are the clear-cut favorites in the Southern Conference finals. Pee Dee, which opens its best-of-7 series against Mississippi on Saturday, won the league's regular season title with 106 points. The Pride also had success against the Sea Wolves, going 3-0-1.

Roanoke and Richmond, who met 10 times in the regular season, will continue their rivalry tonight in the Northern Conference finals. Roanoke (5-3-2) picked up 12 points in the season series, edging Richmond (5-4-1) by one point.

Attendance dipping

The ECHL suffered a slight fall off in attendance during the regular season, dipping to its lowest average attendance in six years. But the decline in the postseason has been even more noticeable. Heading into the conference finals, the ECHL is averaging just 3,360 fans in 51 games. Unless attendance picks up dramatically in the final two rounds, it will be the worst average playoff attendance since 1989-90, which was the league's second year of existence.

The ECHL averaged 4,850 in the regular season, the lowest since 1992-93.