Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 29, 1993 TAG: 9305290099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gagnon's search for a head coach for Roanoke's 1993-94 ECHL expansion entry took an abrupt U-turn Thursday night when Richmond Renegades coach Roy Sommer withdrew his name from consideration.
Gagnon said Sommer changed his mind about coming to Roanoke after Thursday afternoon's announcement that the Renegades were in the process of being sold by Allan Harvie to minor-league baseball investor David Elmore.
"Roy and I had had everything worked out except for us both signing the contract," Gagnon said. "I was supposed to fax him a contract to sign on Thursday night. The deal was supposed to have been consummated then. I had my man."
That all changed when Elmore entered the picture in Richmond. The California businessman owns five minor-league baseball teams and has been awarded an International Hockey League franchise in Denver, likely to begin operation in 1994-95.
"I'm sure [Elmore] offered him more money to stay," Gagnon said. "Roy basically said he was backing out for financial reasons. Plus, I'm sure he's looking at his future. He could wind up in Denver eventually.
"It was a big blow. I just told Roy, `OK, that's it.' I didn't make a counteroffer because I don't want to play that game."
Sommer, who coached the Roanoke Valley Rebels in 1991-92 before going to Richmond last season, called Gagnon about the Roanoke opening several weeks ago. Sommer told Gagnon that he turned in his letter of resignation to Harvie last Friday.
"I didn't call Roy Sommer; he called me," Gagnon said. "He said he could bring us some players, and that was key. So when he told me he had resigned in Richmond, I thought we could work a deal."
After Sommer retreated, Gagnon and general manager Pierre Paiement pulled out the resume file again late Thursday.
Gagnon said the leading candidates now are Gregg Pilling, who coached the Roanoke Valley Rebels in the early 1970s; Pierre Aubrey, a former NHL player who coached in Junior A at Victoriaville, Quebec, last season; Gaston Gingras, who has coached in Italy the past two seasons; and Stephane Roy, an assistant coach on the last Canadian Olympic team and younger brother of Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy.
Pilling, who coached Paiement on the 1973-74 Rebels team that won the Southern Hockey League championship, received a ringing endorsement from Paiement's former Rebels teammate and current New York Rangers coach Mike Keenan.
"Pierre called Keenan Thursday night and he said you couldn't find a better coach than Gregg Pilling," Gagnon said. "Pierre and I both talked to Pilling, and we asked him for some guarantees on what kind of players he could bring in and what kind of deal he could work with an NHL team for players. We're interested in him."
Gagnon said he would like to hire a coach before the June 15 ECHL expansion draft. The Roanoke club will choose fourth in the draft that includes two players from each of last season's 15 clubs.
by CNB