Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302140240
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ICEHAWKS CLIP RAMPAGE
New York Islanders coach Al Arbour has a handful of Stanley Cup rings, but even he couldn't save this bunch, Steve Gatzos says.After his East Coast Hockey League club had outplayed and out-hustled the Louisville IceHawks only to lose 5-2 Saturday at the Vinton LancerLot, the Roanoke Valley Rampage coach opted to play defense after his team's 39th loss in 52 games.
"To be honest, I'm not really sure if we had the best coach in the world in here things would be a great deal different," Gatzos said. "I'm not saying this to cover my rear end at all. I've spoken to a lot of other coaches in this league and I think they would convey the same thoughts.
"But, obviously, I can do a better job. This is partly my fault. The team I put on the ice, I picked the players and I put them out there. I'm certainly to blame as much as anyone."
Gatzos now knows how David felt against Goliath. He's got a peashooter, and the rest of the league has cannons.
Peashooters won't win that confrontation too often.
"People look at the score and they'll say we weren't in this game," Gatzos said. "We were all over 'em all night long. We just can't seem to get over the hump."
Louisville (23-31-5) was fortunate to escape town with two points. After taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Sheldon Gorski and Brian Cook, the IceHawks simply survived the rest of the way.
Trailing 3-0 early in the second period, the Rampage dominated the rest of the way but came up short.
After Dean Dorchak's second goal of the night closed Roanoke Valley to 3-2 with 17 minutes left, the IceHawks watched the home team squander a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity, then proceed to blow countless quality scoring chances.
Louisville then put the Rampage out of its misery by scoring two goals in the final 80 seconds to make the final look like worse than it was.
"Our two best scorers are out of the lineup" because of injuries, said Gatzos, referring to center Scott Burfoot and forward Jack Williams.
"We just don't have what it takes to finish. We just seem to come up short, though we were there the whole game."
Despite having nothing to play for, the Rampage still is putting forth an effort. It was coming off a stirring 4-3 overtime win over Western Division-leading Toledo on Friday.
"I was hoping we could put two wins together," Gatzos said. "We work hard, but we don't win. It gets a little frustrating.
"I think these guys all understand you can move up to another league from a last-place team just like a first-place team."
Right now, the only place to which the Rampage players are moving is an early tee time on the golf course in March.
"I'm pleased that the effort is still there," Gatzos said. "If there's one thing to feel good about at this point, it's that."
\ ICE CHIPS: Goalie Pete Fry, who posted a stellar performance in Friday's overtime upset, left the Rampage on Saturday morning for an offer to play in the first-year Colonial League. The Rampage picked up local bystander Rick Kelly for its No. 2 goalkeeper behind starter Todd Chin. . . . The Rampage was going for two straight wins, something it hasn't accomplished since early November. . . . Dorchak's two goals were his club-high 33rd and 34th of the season. . . . The Rampage, which has lost an ECHL-record 23 straight games on the road, travels to Columbus on Friday, Dayton on Saturday and Toledo on Sunday. \
see microfilm for box score