MOST REBELS CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING UP, NOT OUT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 7, 1992                   TAG: 9202070033
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
MOST REBELS CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING UP, NOT OUT
While owner Henry Brabham tries to peddle the Roanoke Valley Rebels franchise, the only move the players are worried about concerns their current position in the East Coast Hockey League standings.
Battling to win a Eastern Division playoff spot, the players appear almost oblivious to reports that the club could be playing its Roanoke Valley swan song.
"I don't see the talk about the club possibly being sold having any effect on this hockey team whatsoever," captain Bill Whitfield said Thursday. "Hey, we've heard the same stuff every year. So what's the big deal? I don't think most of these guys want to be back here again next year anyway. Shoot, everybody is hoping they go to a higher league.
"That stuff won't hurt us. No big deal."
Center Peter Kasowski agreed with Whitfield, saying, "We haven't even talked about it. Our only concern is to make the playoffs, which I think we will."
Rebels coach Roy Sommer confessed he was jolted initially, but he guaranteed his players won't give up because the future of the franchise is in question.
"I don't think the players are worried about possibly being the last team that plays hockey in Roanoke," he said. "I think they're more worried about jobs for next year, whether it be at this level or another. If we get in the playoffs, people are going to want our hockey players, no matter what happens here."
Sommer has more at stake than the players in a possible sale of the club. His job figures to be on the line.
"When I first heard the news, it kind of made me a little depressed for the day," the first-year coach said. "Finally, I said to myself, `Hey, there's nothing you can do about that. Whatever is done is done and you've got to keep playing.' "
With 5 1/2 weeks left in the regular season, the Rebels (16-26-3) are tied with Knoxville (15-27-5) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the East. The Rebels lost 7-5 in Knoxville on Wednesday, costing them a chance to put some breathing room between themselves and the Cherokees. A regulation victory would have put Roanoke Valley four points ahead with two games in hand on Knoxville, meaning the Rebels have two more games remaining than Knoxville.
"I was disappointed in our performance," Sommer said. "Mentally, we weren't ready to play. Why we weren't ready to play that game is beyond me, especially after the way we played last weekend [when the Rebels beat Raleigh and Toledo in back-to-back home games]."
The two clubs' remaining schedules play in Roanoke Valley's favor. The Rebels play 11 of their final 19 games at the Vinton LancerLot, where they are 12-8-1 as opposed to 4-18-2 on the road. Nine of Knoxville's final 17 games are on the road.
"Despite [Wednesday's] downer, I feel pretty confident about the guys we have right now," Sommer said. "We've got some more speed, more scoring punch, and [Mike] James has really been playing well in goal. Jamesey played well in Knoxville. We just didn't give him any help in the front of the net."
\ With two offers to buy the club spurned at the ECHL winter meetings Tuesday, Brabham reportedly has received an overture from a local group of possible investors. The Rebels' owner, who refused to comment on the proceedings to the Roanoke Times & World News on Thursday, reportedly will meet with the group late next week.
\ The Rebels open a two-game homestand against red-hot Johnstown tonight at 7:30. The teams take Saturday off, then meet again at 4 p.m. Sunday at the LancerLot.
Coach Steve Carlson's Chiefs roll into town riding a five-game winning streak that has enabled them to creep to two points behind first-place Toledo in the Western Division. Although they are 1-2 against the Rebels this season, the Chiefs own the second-best record in the 15-team league at 31-13-2.
| The postseason playoff format, in which the top six teams from each division qualify, was finalized at the winter meetings.
In each division's first round, the No. 1 team will meet No. 6 in a best-of-seven format. No. 2 will meet No. 5, and No. 3 will face No. 4 in a best-of-five series.
The second round will pit the Nos. 2-5 and Nos. 3-4 winners in a best-of-five series, and the Nos. 1-6 victor will receive a bye. The two winners will face off in a best-of-seven series to determine the division champion. The division champions then will play a best-of-seven series for the Jack Riley Cup.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB