EFFORT THERE, BUT WIN ISN'T

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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 10, 1993                   TAG: 9301100144
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
EFFORT THERE, BUT WIN ISN'T
The Roanoke Valley Rampage keeps setting East Coast Hockey League franchise records. None of which it cherishes.
Despite a hearty effort, the Rampage lost again Saturday night, this time 3-2 to the Hampton Roads Admirals at the Vinton LancerLot. In the process, the Rampage continued to rewrite the futility book covering Roanoke Valley's five- year ECHL history.
The loss was the club's 10th straight, surpassing the record of nine consecutive L's by last season's Rebels. The Rampage already owns the franchise record for most consecutive road losses - 16.
At least this time, though, the Rampage came close. In its nine previous losses, Roanoke Valley (10-25-1) had been outscored 68-25.
"It was a hell of a good effort," said Rampage coach Steve Gatzos, who a week ago came just short of saying his club had quit.
"We had more than enough chances to win the game," Gatzos said. "Sure, I'm not happy we lost. I don't accept losing. I never will.
"But you have to try and take something positive from something negative. I think the people here and the players can see some light again in what's been an awful dark tunnel."
The Admirals (20-12-3) did their damage early, scoring their three goals in the first 11:49.
Jason Rathbone and Randy Pearce scored on power-play rebounds sandwiched around Brian Martin's behind-the-net wraparound goal.
Coach John Brophy's club, 18-1-3 against Roanoke Valley since the 1990-91 season, then depended on goalie Duane Derksen the rest of the way. The Washington Capitals' farmhand was a one-man blockade, fending off 43 of 45 Rampage shots.
The Rampage needed an extra man to beat Derksen twice. Both Roanoke Valley goals - by newcomer Vaclav Nedomansky and Craig Endean - came via the power play.
"That was his first big-time game," Brophy said of Derksen, 4-4 with a 4.57 goals-against average entering the night. "His confidence wasn't too high before. That was by far his best game."
Gatzos shook his head.
"There we go . . . our luck again," he said. "Their goalie finally stands on his head, plays the best game of his career probably, and it's against us."
Brophy, who spent the night behind the bench with his hands tucked in his customary LancerLot trench coat, said he wasn't aware of Roanoke Valley slide, in which it has lost 20 of 24 games.
"They [the Rampage] worked their rear ends off tonight," Brophy said. "I'm not surprised. We get points in here, but they never seem to come easy."
The win snapped a two-game Admirals losing streak.
Gatzos might kill for such a streak.
"The losing streak, sure, it works on you," Gatzos said. "But at least now we know we're capable of winning again."
\ ICE CHIPS: Gatzos was incensed over an interference call on defenseman Darryl Mitchell with 3:09 left that wiped out any Rampage hopes. "The ref [Terry Koharski] told Mitchell after the game he may have overreacted a little. What kind of answer is that? Nothing happened. And you call that in a 3-2 game with three minutes left?" . . . Roanoke Valley's fourth straight loss at the LancerLot made its home record 9-9. . . . The Rampage travels to Greensboro today. \
see microfilm for box score

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB