Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 28, 1993 TAG: 9302280223
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: JOHNSTOWN, OHIO LENGTH: Medium
RAMPAGE BREAKS ROAD LOSING STREAK
Coach Steve Gatzos said last week that he was so frustrated with the Rampage that he might even get out on the ice to help the team out.On Saturday night against Johnstown, that's just what he did.
Not only did he skate, he scored.
If that's not a rallying point for a team, what is?
His play must have been the help Roanoke Valley needed because the Rampage went on to beat the Chiefs 6-5 in overtime. The victory breaks the longest road losing streak in East Coast Hockey League history at 26.
Ironically, Roanoke Valley's first and only win of the season on the road was also in Johnstown on Halloween night, 119 days ago. The Rampage now is 2-26-1 on the road.
Johnstown opened the scoring with goals by Bruce Coles and Mark Karpen in the first period. Coles was assisted by Jeff Ricciardi and Brent Thurston. Karpen was aided by Chris Crombie and Christian Lariviere.
Roanoke fired back with two goals of its own in the second period. Dean Dorchak scored with help from Denis Skapski and Rob Bateman, and Ken House scored with aid from Chris Smith and Rob Bateman.
Johnstown struck again late in the second period with a goal from Matt Robbins. He was assisted by Chris Crombie and Coles.
Gatzos scored the next goal for the Rampage to tie it 3-3 at 14:17 in the third period. He was assisted by House.
Johnstown rallied with two more goals before Roanoke Valley cut loose, scoring two goals late in the third period tie it again. Peter Sperenza scored at 17:34 with help from Paul Dukovac and Joe Dragon. Ron Jones added another goal at 19:46 with aid from Smith and House to tie the game at 5-5.
House, who has had seven goals in the past five games, scored the winning goal at 1:26 in the overtime period. He was assisted by none other than coach Gatzos and Smith.
The win breaks a five-game losing streak for Roanoke Valley, which had lost 27 of 29 games going into the contest. Roanoke Valley (13-42-1) has only eight games left to play, three on the road and five at home. They must win seven of the last eight games to avoid setting the ECHL record for the worst record in a season.
\ ICE CHIPS: The Rampage played without defenseman Claude Maillet and forward Roger Larche, both out with injured knees from Friday night. . . . The win comes on the heels of Friday night's loss to Johnstown in Vinton. The Chiefs won 5-4. . . . House was picked up from Louisville on waivers three weeks ago. . . . Roanoke Valley plays again today at 2 p.m. against Richmond at the LancerLot. . . . The Chiefs (30-20-5) are owned by Henry Brabham, owner of the LancerLot and former owner of the Roanoke Valley team. \
see microfilm for box score