Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1992 TAG: 9201010183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Landmark News Service
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
MONARCHS RING IN NEW YEAR BY NIPPING REBELS
The Roanoke Valley Rebels ended the year with a 7-6 loss to the Greensboro
Monarchs in ECHL action Tuesday night.
Greensboro, now firmly atop the East Division standings of the East Coast
Hockey League, erased the effects of 1-2 road trip on the strength of Chris
Laganas' hat trick.
Goalie Greg Menges stopped just enough Roanoke Valley shots while Laganas
and the Monarchs peppered Rebels goalie Mike James with 51 shots.
As a result, the Monarchs will open the new year in a position they have
not enjoyed in the past two seasons - first.
"We played not bad but had some mental lapses as usual - guys missing
checks and got caught flat-footed on blue line," Roanoke Valley coach Roy
Sommer said. "They're [Greensboro's] going to score 90 percent of the time
like that."
Tuesday's game was not a typical battle between two of the league's most
bitter rivals. Past encounters have resulted in brawls, suspensions, spilled
blood and police escorts. Tuesday's game featured 19 minutes in penalties.
"It was like they [the Rebels] came to play hockey," Laganas said. "They
didn't want to start anything tonight."
The teams played to a 2-2 tie after the opening period. Roanoke Valley
(11-14-3) scored first on a shot from Bill Harington that eluded Menges less
than three minutes into the game.
Greensboro (21-9-2) tied it at 10:21 on a goal by Laganas and took a 2-1
lead at 15:45 on a power-play blast from Scott White.
Roanoke Valley tied it again with 2:33 left in the period on a rebound goal
by Brian Bellefeuille.
The second period was wide open as the teams combined for six goals.
Greensboro scored four times to take a 6-4 lead.
After Roanoke Valley tied it with two goals in the third period, Laganas
scored on a slap shot from just inside the blue line for the game-winner.
NOTE: See microfilm for statistics.