Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020136
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Making sure their new 1993-94 East Coast Hockey League expansion franchise would tie with Roanoke's longtime railroad heritage, the partners of Hockey-Roanoke Inc. announced Tuesday night that the team will be known as the Roanoke Express.
"We feel like the name Express gives us an identification with Roanoke," said partner Joe Steffen. "We wanted a name to latch on with Roanoke's railroad connection and we felt Express was the best one."
Not to mention popular. In a name-the-team contest run through the newspaper and two radio stations, 15 people suggested Express. The only moniker mentioned more frequently was Stars, which was submitted by 20 people.
Roanoker Andy Stowasser was the winner of two season tickets being offered by the club to the winning entry. Stowasser's name was picked in a blind draw among the 15 people who had submitted Express. More than 350 entries, covering approximately 230 names, were submitted.
The franchise's seven owners whittled the list to four names - Express, Steamers/Steam, Shooting Stars and Thunder - before taking a final vote. Express was a unanimous choice, Steffen said.
"We liked the singular name because it depicts a team rushing forward, a hard-driving force," Steffen said. "It was a really important decision and we feel like the name gives us a most positive image. Also, from a marketing standpoint, we feel like we do a lot with the name Express."
Steffen said the team has two local designers already working on a logo, which will be unveiled in approximately two weeks.
It's not the first time a Roanoke minor-league team will be called the Express. Roanoke's entry in the old Atlantic Coast Football League more than a decade ago was called the Roanoke Valley Express. The hockey owners can only hope its Express won't derail like the ill-fated football Express, which was a big loser and folded after one season.
COACHING SEARCH: Stephane Roy, younger brother of Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy, has emerged as a leading candidate for the Express' head coaching post.
Roy, 25, who played briefly in the NHL in 1987-88 with Minnesota, has no head coaching experience. He served as an assistant coach last year for the Canadian Olympian team.
Roy received a ringing endorsement from Montreal coach Jacques Demers, who called Express president John Gagnon on Monday morning, only hours before the Canadiens hit the ice for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals against Los Angeles.
"I couldn't believe [Demers] was calling me on the day of a game," Gagnon said. "He said Stephane is a Roy. He's very hard-working, very serious and will do a good job for you."
Express general manager Pierre Paiement is scheduled to meet with Roy on Thursday in Montreal.
Gagnon said that Gregg Pilling, who coached the Roanoke Valley Rebels to the Southern Hockey League title in 1973-74, and former NHL player Pierre Aubry are no longer being considered.
Frank Anzalone, who coached the ECHL's Nashville Knights in 1991-92, also is being considered. He was fired by the Knights with two weeks left in the '91-92 season, being replaced by player Brock Kelly. Nashville finished 24-36-4 that season.
by CNB