Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 28, 1991 TAG: 9102280113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Already facing an long climb to qualify for the East Coast Hockey League playoffs, the Rebels learned Wednesday that top playmaker Peter Kasowski is lost for the season.
Kasowski sustained a hairline fracture of his left thumb when being slashed by a stick in the Rebels' 8-7 loss at Cincinnati on Saturday.
The loss of its top center is a blow for a reeling Roanoke Valley club that has dropped a season-high seven straight games heading into tonight's home contest against Louisville.
"We're going to miss him," Rebels coach Claude Noel said of Kasowski, who had 16 goals and 38 assists in only 36 games.
Noel indicated he will move Gary Callaghan up to the No. 1 line with forwards Brian Bellefeuille and Steve Gatzos.
Tonight's game is a must-win affair for Roanoke Valley. The Rebels (22-27-7) trailed Richmond by five points and Nashville by two heading into Wednesday's action.
"We can't lose and expect everyone else to lose," Noel said. "This is it."
The embattled first-year coach realizes he and his club are on the hot seat.
"You've got to win games in this business," Noel said. "It's really been frustrating. We go to Cincy and get seven goals, but they get eight.
"Henry [Brabham, Rebels owner] has had nothing negative to say about the situation. But you don't go into this business without assessing your job is on the line if you don't produce. It's the nature of the job.
"I came down here for this season. Henry and I haven't talked about next season. I'm sure he's not real pleased right now, but neither am I. But I can't be worrying about decisions that are out of my hands."
\ Noel said forward Rob Sangster may be back in the lineup tonight. Sangster hasn't played since injuring his right knee Jan. 5.
The Rebels, who are 0-4 against Louisville this season, travel to Greensboro on Friday before returning home on Saturday to face Winston-Salem.
After this week, the Rebs will have only five games left, only one - Erie on March 10 - at home.
\ When the Rebels entertain Winston-Salem on Saturday, there is a good chance they will be firing the puck at a former teammate.
Goaltender Gus Morschauser, who was with the Rebels until last Wednesday, originally was scheduled to be assigned to Milwaukee (International Hockey League) by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. However, Canucks management has decided to keep Morschauser in the ECHL, where he will finish the season with Winston-Salem.
As a backup to regular Bill Horn, apparently Morschauser was not getting the playing time for the Rebels that Canucks management had wished.
\ The Hampton Roads Admirals' shot at winning the ECHL's championship trophy took a blow on Monday when high-scoring forward Brian Martin signed an NHL contract with New Jersey.
Martin, who has been assigned to the Devils' American Hockey League farm club in Utica, N.Y., was the heart of coach John Brophy's team.
Martin ranked second in the ECHL in goals scored (55) and third in points (116) when he left the Admirals.
Despite losing their captain, the Admirals continue to steam toward the ECHL's Eastern Division title. Heading into Wednesday's game at Louisville, Hampton Roads had won a season-high six straight games. The last five wins have come at the start of a pivotal eight-game, 18-day road trip.
Because of a five-game losing streak by second-place Johnstown, Hampton Roads needs only two more points to sew up the East title.
\ ICE CHIPS: Entering Wednesday's contest at Erie, Knoxville's Stan Drulia and Dan Gauthier ranked 1-2 in ECHL scoring with 126 and 123 points, respectively. With eight games left, the two Cherokee linemates have an outside shot at breaking the league scoring record of 148 points, set by Erie's Bill McDougall in 57 games last season. . . . Knoxville goalie Dean Anderson has posted a season-record four shutouts en route to a sparkling 2.79 goals-against average and 20-5 record. . . . Playing at home still means something in the ECHL. Of the 11 teams, only two - Roanoke Valley (13-16) and Winston-Salem (10-18) have losing home records. Only Knoxville (16-11) and Hampton Roads (15-12) are above .500 on the road. . . . Despite embarrassingly low marks in Roanoke Valley and Winston-Salem, the league's turnstiles continue to click at a record pace. Through Sunday, the ECHL was averaging 4,012 fans per game. Cincinnati (7,450) and Hampton Roads (6,850) are the second- and third-largest draws in all of minor-league hockey, ranking only behind Milwaukee (8,340) of the International Hockey League. . . . Last Wednesday's Cincinnati-Knoxville exhibition game in Dayton, Ohio, drew a sellout crowd of 5,593. The Dayton Bombers are one of three expansion clubs approved for next season.
by CNB