Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 22, 1993 TAG: 9301220224
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
RAMPAGE: GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
A SIZABLE CROWD turned out to watch the Roanoke Valley Rampage play a "home" game in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Thursday night, but they didn't see anything new.At least one losing streak associated with the Roanoke Valley Rampage ended Thursday night.
While Roanoke Valley was being dealt its East Coast Hockey League-record 15th straight defeat, 4-1 by Wheeling, Rampage owner Larry Revo finally came up a winner at the box office.
Revo, who announced six weeks ago he was moving the game from the Vinton LancerLot because of poor attendance, was ecstatic over a turnout of 3,334 spectators at the 3,516-seat Joel Coliseum.
The crowd figure easily surpassed the Rampage's previous high of 2,530 on Nov. 13 in Vinton, and it more than doubled the club's season average of 1,613.
"Obviously," Revo said, "I'm very, very pleased with the huge turnout. I thought we might do well here, but not this kind of number.
"That number - 3,334 - sort of just rolls off your tongue, doesn't it?"
When asked if Thursday's financial bonanza would make him consider moving another home game from Vinton, Revo paused and said, "I wouldn't rule it out, . . . but I haven't thought about it yet."
Revo was guaranteed the first $8,000 in profits, and there was little doubt he hauled that and more back to Roanoke late Thursday.
"About eight more games like this and I could get even [for the season]," Revo said.
On the ice, the news wasn't quite so cheerful. Although it was competitive with the Eastern Division-leading Thunderbirds, the Rampage couldn't avoid its 25th loss in 29 games since Nov. 14.
Wheeling scored three times on five power plays while holding Roanoke Valley scoreless on its nine extra-man chances.
The Rampage's goal came from newcomer Chris DePiero, who skated off after the game with a possible broken right wrist.
"It's unbelievable," Rampage coach Steve Gatzos said. "I get a guy to come in, he scores a goal in his first game and then breaks his wrist. It just never ends, I guess."
The Rampage (10-30-1) had plenty of chances to score, but it fell victim to its impotent power play.
"Just horrendous passing, and it killed us," Gatzos said.
Wheeling, which was paced by Robert Guillet's hat trick, had trouble getting started against a club it had outscored 45-18 in winning five of six games this season.
"I thought, considering everything, we played 'em pretty tough," Gatzos said. "They didn't score an even-strength goal until the last minute [Guillet's breakaway with 56 seconds left]."
Goalie Peter Frye, making his first start for Roanoke Valley, had a commendable debut, stopping 29 of 33 shots, many of the difficult variety.
\ ICE CHIPS: The crowd had mixed emotions about the Thunderbirds, who left Winston-Salem for Wheeling at the end of last season because of low attendance at the Annex. Late in the second period, some 30 spectators stood and chanted: "We want the Rampage, we want the Rampage." . . . The T-Birds drew only three crowds all last season bigger than Thursday's. . . . Wheeling (25-11-4), which leads the Eastern Division by four points over Raleigh, is 6-1 against Roanoke Valley. . . . Like DePiero, defenseman Claude Maillet made his Rampage debut. Maillet was picked up on waivers from Greensboro. The two newcomers replaced defensemen Denis Skapski and Paul Dukovac, both injured in Tuesday's game in Greensboro. . . . The Rampage travels to Norfolk to play Hampton Roads tonight. Roanoke Valley returns to the LancerLot on Saturday to play Knoxville. Wheeling 112-4 Roanoke Valley 010-1
First period-1, Wheeling, Guillet (Roberts, Edgerton), 10:43 (pp). Penalties-Schwartz, Whl (roughing), :56; Blum, RV (high-sticking), 4:42; Senn, Whl (high-sticking), 4:49; Blum, RV (hooking), 9:46; Yewchuk, Whl (high-sticking), 14:57; RV bench (too many men, served by Kovalev), 17:18.
Second period-2, Roanoke Valley, DePiero 1 (Williams, Dragon), 2:08. 3, Wheeling, Schwartz (Antos, Guillet), 14:35 (pp). Penalties-Edgerton, Whl (tripping), 2:43; Guillet, Whl double minor (high-sticking), 4:42; Maillet, RV (cross-checking), 13:42; Marcoux, Whl (high-sticking), 17:10.
Third period-4, Wheeling, Guillet (Roberts, Antos), 6:34 (pp). 5, Wheeling, Guillet (Edgerton), 18:54. Penalties-Marcoux, Whl (holding), 3:24; C. Smith, RV (holding), 5:30; Senn, Whl (charging), 12:30.
Shots on goal-Wheeling 13-10-10-33. Roanoke Valley 11-12-10-33.
Power-play opportunities-Wheeling 3 of 5. Roanoke Valley 0 of 9.
Goalies-Wheeling, Ouellette (33 shots-32 saves). Roanoke Valley, Frye (33-29).
Referee-Bob Willer. Linesmen-Tim Bennett, Paul Simeon.
A-3,334.