The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 24

4-Sports The Tampa Tribune, Friday, October 6, 1995 Lightning pick Peckham to replace Kelly in booth Sports Media Doug Carlson Rick Peckham comes to Tampa Bay after covering pro hockey for the past 18 seasons. After Tampa Bay Lightning television play-by-play announcer John Kelly took a job with the Colorado Avalanche, team public relations man Gerry Helper Saturday' college garnet Noon Virginia at N. Carolina (10) Noon Pitt at Boston College (32) Noon Ohio St. at Penn St. (28) 1 2:30 Florida at LSU (1 3) 12:30 Northwestern at Michigan (ESPN) 1 Houston at Texas Christian (SN) 1 Illinois at Indiana (ESPN2) 2 Kansas at Colorado (PPV) 3:30 Notre Dame at Washington (28) 4 Mississippi Valley St.

at Grambling (ESPN2) 6:30 Southern Cal at California (SN) 7:30 Miami at Florida State (ESPN) 2 a.m. Virginia at N. Carolina (SN, JD) SN Sunshine Network; TD tape delay; PPV pay-per-view. Sunday'! NFL game 1 Packers at Cowboys (13) 4 Colts at Dolphins (8) 8 Broncos at Patriots (TNT) Monday' NFL gam 9 Chargers at Chiefs (28) I think the fans will enjoy him." Peckham had done play-by-play for the Hartford Whalers since 1984 before apparently getting caught in a squeeze play with new team ownership. According to newspaper accounts, Hartford's ownership was unhappy with the team's color analyst and decided to make a change.

Peckham said he jumped at the chance to apply for the Lightning job. He plans to keep his home in Connecticut and commute to Tampa. "I see the Lightning as a team building for the future with outstanding young talent," Peckham said. "They have a lot of qualities other teams would like to have with their size on the back line and toughness on defense." "Everybody around the league knows you're going to have to work very hard to beat the Lightning." Sunshine Network, meanwhile, said it is dumping its 30-minute Lightning pregame show. "We took a look at it and decided three hours was ample time for hockey and there probably wasn't a need for it," Sunshine spokeswoman Amy Pempel said.

the game not being shown on local television, program director Rob Weingarten said. On Saturday and Sunday, the games will be on WNZE (570 AM) because WHNZ is committed to Miami-Florida State on Saturday and Denver-New England Sunday. When the LCS begins Tuesday, WHNZ again will choose the game not being shown on local television, Weingarten said. WFNS, 910 AM, is locked in with the Braves for the remainder of the playoffs because of contractual obligations. On line: Fort Lauderdale-based SportsLine, opened for business on Aug.

15 and has benefited from baseball's knucklehead decision to regionalize the playoffs. SportsLine says it's the only computer on-line service to offer instantaneous play-by-play coverage along with animated graphics. "I almost wish baseball would do this regionalization again next year," spokesman Todd Lieman said. Instant access to the service can be obtained by filling out an application along with your credit card number, Lieman said. If you're not willing to fill in your card number, the process takes 24 hours.

If you have access to the Internet, you can find SportsLine at viewers decide which League Championship Series is aired, starting with Game 1 on Tuesday. A 1-900 number will be posted during "28 Tampa Bay News." The call will cost 50 cents each. WFTS ran a similar poll at the start of the divisional playoffs, but went back on its plan to give voters a shot at any of four series by only accepting votes on the Atlanta-Colorado and Cleveland-Boston series. There was no advance notice of the vote, but 651 calls were placed for the Indians-Red Sox and 303 were placed for the Braves-Rockies. WFTS intends to stay with the Indians-Red Sox series until its got a phone call.

Old friend Rick Peckham was interested. On Thursday, Sunshine Network said Peckham, who has broadcast hockey for 18 seasons, is Kelly's replacement. Peckham worked for the Buffalo Sabres' farm club in Rochester when Helper was with the Sabres 16 years ago. The friendship lasted and Peckham said Helper and Lightning Phil Esposito helped him get a shot at the job. Peckham, 40, joins color analyst Bobby Taylor starting Thursday when the Montreal Canadiens visit the ThunderDome.

"Rick's a really solid and thorough broadcaster who does his homework," Helper said. "He brings some real life to the broadcast and (http: www.sportsline.com) NAME GAME: When you hear Lightning coach Terry Crisp talk about his "system," what he's talking about is a variety of components or designed plays. There are breakouts from the defensive zone, entries into the offensive zone and regroups. None are terribly difficult to learn or execute, but Crisp has given each a name to make the job of identifying the plays a little easier. For instance, there is the Wheel, a regroup, and the Savard Drop, an entry that former Lightning center Denis Savard brought in when he joined the team two years ago.

One such name isn't making things easier for some of the Lightning's young players. In fact it's confusing them. At least, that's what Brian Bellows tells Crisp. "We were running the entry we call 'The named for Guy LaFleur, of course," Crisp said, "and Bellows comes over and says, 'Hey Coach, maybe you should change the name of that I said, and he said, 'Well, I think it's confusing some of the kids. A couple of them are asking, who is HAUNTED HOTEL: Crisp is a little worried his team may be haunted this season by the spirit of former Lightning defenseman Marc Bergevin.

Bergevin, who was traded to Detroit for Shawn Burr during the summer, was a big practical joker, and when the entire Lightning team received 3:15 a.m. wakeup calls during a recent road trip, many suspected it might be Bergevin playing some old tricks. "I'm not sure it was Bergevin, but I've got a hunch," Crisp said. "I'll know for sure it's him when we go to the airport and everybody's luggage is all tied together. That was one of his favorites." ODDS AND ENDS: Crisp will be one of guests during an NHL cyberchat today on the Internet from 4-7 p.m.

Interested parties can gain access through http:www.nhl.com. LW Rob Zamuner (sprained knee) could be out as much as three weeks. Zamuner and David Shaw (rotator cuff strain) are expected to miss Saturday's game. Bill Houlder (pulled groin) is questionable and RW John Tucker (rib muscle strain) is probable. Houlder led the Lightning in scoring during the exhibition season with nine points (two goals).

Chris Gratton, Brian Bradley, Paul Ysebaert and Aaron Gavey tied for the team lead in goals with three each. Tickets are still available for Saturday. Prices range from $12.50 to $52. Call the Lightning ticket office at (813) 229-8800. With Houlder out, Bradley and Petr Klima were working the point on the power-play during practice Thursday alongside Roman Hamrlik.

ROY CUMMINGS Cast and crew: Fox studio analyst Terry Bradshaw underwent wrist and shoulder surgery Tuesday to repair damage done during his days with the Steelers. Bradshaw will have a full arm cast for the next four weeks. Radio baseball: WHNZ, 820 AM, will stick with the Yankees-Mariners series until its conclusion. If the series ends tonight, WHNZ will see what's left and try to carry Your 50 cents worth: WFTS Channel 28, is back in the polling business. The ABC affiliate will let After 13 years, NHL returns to Denver tonight Pro Hockey A Tribune Wire Service Report DENVER As the NHL returns to Denver for the first time in 13 years, the Colorado Avalanche are expecting improved postseason results.

"I think our learning process is over," said center Mike Ricci as he prepares for tonight's NHL opener against the Detroit Red Wings. "We learned enough lessons. We lost to Montreal a few years back when we should have won. We lost to the Rangers when we could have won. "We definitely don't want to say at the end of this year that we learned a lot.

We're a young team, but we're an experienced team." As the Quebec Nordiques last season, the team posted the second-best record in the NHL and won the Northeast Division championship, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. gets to be difficult. "He needs some rest and relaxation. With nothing going on with the Senators, there is no reason to hang around." Yashin's father, Valeri, said his son was frustrated with the waiting. "He was tired of waiting around so he went to find a team," said Valeri.

"He doesn't have a team in Moscow yet but we have talked to people and that should not be a problem." Yashin was suspended by the NHL team in early September when he failed to show up for training camp. Yashin boycotted the Senators' camp because he wanted his contract renegotiated. Ottawa general manager Randy Sexton listened to offers for the skilled center but opted not to trade him. Yashin has said he will never again play for Ottawa, and Gandler Colorado's opponent for the season-opener has plenty of playoff experience. The Red Wings advanced to the Stanley Cup finals before being swept by the New Jersey Devils last year.

Former New Jersey wing Claude Lemieux, the MVP of the playoffs, is expected to play for Colorado today after being traded to the Avalanche in a three-team trade on Tuesday. "It gives a little bit more mystique to the game because of the fact that he was a dominant player in the playoffs last year," Colorado coach Marc Crawford said Thursday of Lemieux, who has missed the preseason because of a contract dispute with the Devils. "Today he felt pretty good on the ice, and we're happy to have him in the lineup. He may not be at 100 percent, but he's a competitive said things have gone past the point of no return. Elsewhere The Buffalo Sabres signed former first-round draft pick Wayne Primeau to a multiyear contract, guaranteeing he will spend a full season in the NHL.

Defenseman Eric Desjardins has signed a new, multiyear contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Terms were not disclosed. Despite missing all of training camp and practicing with his new team for less than a week, Wendel Clark will play for the New York Islanders in their season opener Saturday against Boston. Clark, acquired Tuesday from the Colorado Avalanche in a three-way deal, did not report to camp in hopes of renegotiating his contract. He agreed to a three-year contract worth a reported $6.15 million.

guy and he'll find a way to get to 100 percent. That's the beauty of his play." Yashin leaves Ottawa, returns to Moscow OTTAWA Disgruntled forward Alexei Yashin flew to Moscow on Thursday to practice with a team while he waits for the Ottawa Senators to trade him. His agent, Mark Gander, said Yashin was tired of reading about himself in the local newspapers and having people stop him on the street to either express their support or scold him. "It will be easier for him to be in Russia," said Gandler. "All that stuff is OK for a little while, but it Langkow, Tampa Bay agree on 3-year contract From Page 1 2 Lightning season tickets and 2 airline tickets to anywhere in the Continental U5.

It's the Lightning's first home game of the season. But before you watch 'em eat and Esposito said a trade is probably the best way. "Yes, I'm still trying to make a deal," Esposito said. "It may be today, it may be two weeks from now. But somehow we have to get rid of two players and I'll do it by the end Calgary alive, you can sit back and watch the i i 1 The fun starts at 7:35 pm at theThunderDome.

For opening nighttickets. UUU LA i No. Player Pos. 30 J.C. Bergeron 93 Daren Puppa 2 Bill Houlder 3 Eric Charon 4 Cory Cross 7 Rob Zamuner LW 11 Shawn Burr CLW 12 John Cullen RW 14 John Tucker RW 15 PaulYsebaert RW 18 Daymond Langkow 19 Brian Bradley 20 RudyPoeschek DRW 21 Bob Halkidis 22 Aaron Gavey 23 Brian Bellows LW 24 Jason Wiemer LW 27 David Shaw 29 Alexander Selivanov RW 33 Brantt Myhres LW 34 Mikael Andersson RW 39 Enrico Ciccone 44 Roman Hamrlik 77 Chris Gratton 85 PetrKlima RW na Steven Finn I Vf I opening night pre-game ceremony featuring a segment of the incredible "Hollywood of October." Although he won't be traded, Langkow could eventually be moved, too, Esposito said.

"He can play wing or center, but we have to see what kind of ice time he's call 229 8800 or "SBSrgsgg? at 287-8844. This is one game you La 11 uu riri Langkow rCNn don't want to miss. On Ice" show from 1 yy If II 1 12 I I 1 MM I 12 11 I I Busch Gardens. jj 'Cause the Lightning's been r-x Adrian Plavsic hi Atlanta on two-week conditioning (tint Myhres suspended for first 10 games. working hard, and man, There'll also be free giveaways, including are tney nungry tor a Dig win.

LUUWIAS'U because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten all of this done." getting," Esposito said of Langkow. If he's not going to play, then we'll send him back to juniorts." If the Lightning send Langkow to juniors before he plays in 11 NHL games, his contract will not go into effect until next season. If he does play in 11 games, he can still be sent to junior at some point, but the Lightning will be obligated to pay his entire salary of $800,000. Langkow's deal also includes a signing bonus worth $945,000 and performance bonuses for being named Rookie of the Year ($200,000) and for earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team If Langkow gets 20 goals or 60 points this season he will get a $25,000 bonus. That bonus will increase for every five goals and 10 points Langkow gets beyond 20 and 60, respectively, and tops out at 50 goals and 100 points, for which he will receive $300,000.

"Working out the bonuses was where the work came In," Esposito said. "But I'll tell you this, it's a good thing I missed that plane today Correction Lightning player John Cullen was misidentified in a photograph on Page 1 of Thursday's editions. Also, Lightning player Jason Wiemer was misidentified in a photograph on Page 10. 1 1 1 Get up-to-date statistics, stories and player bios on the Lightning from Tampa Bay Online, the Tribune's computer news and information service. Jump: Sports and select the Lightning icon.

IP Solar Bears open tonight in Orlando Lightning us.Calgary Flames SatGcf 7th 735 pm are available at prices between $5 and $15 at the Orlando Arena box office. Unsigned Washington Capitals stars Peter Bondra and Michal PI-vonka are on the Vipers' roster. The Solar Bears are 0-1, having lost their season opener 6-5 to the Vipers last Friday. Former Lightning player Mike Hartman is among those on the Solar Bear roster. Tampa BayjLightning The Hardest Halting Team In The Mil.

A Tribune Staff Report ORLANDO Central Florida's other professional hockey team, the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League, open their home season tonight at 7:30 against the Detroit Vipers. The Solar Bears set an IHL record with 5,400 season tickets sold and have 10,400 tickets sold for night's game. The remaining seats.