Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 27, 1993 TAG: 9307270126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Maintaining a popular current trend in North American hockey, the Roanoke Express announced Monday that it has signed three Russian-born players to contracts.
Express coach Frank Anzalone said the three Russians - right wing Lev Berdichevsky, left wing Oleg Yashin and center-left wing Ilja Dubkov - likely will be teamed on the same line.
"Berdichevsky and Yashin played together last year [with Khimik Voskresensk of the Russian Elite League] and they indicated they would like to have Dubkov as their center," Anzalone said.
"I think they will give us a good core to work around. I know they're excited about coming to play hockey in Roanoke."
Anzalone first saw the Russians at a Pro Elite tryout camp near Boston last month. Berdichevsky led the 75-player camp in scoring, Yashin was fourth and Dubkov 10th.
"I saw them play and I made overtures right away to Berdichevsky and Yashin," Anzalone said. "But I was told by their agent that they were untouchable because they would likely end up with American or International league contracts.
"I figured that was it. But after the camp was over, the agent called me back and said they want to play together and could not solidify them a deal in the AHL or IHL. The players were going back to Russia, and they wanted to get something done in a hurry. They flew into New Jersey [where Anzalone lives] and we got the deal done."
The 6-foot, 180-pound Berdichevsky had 11 goals, nine assists and 96 penalty minutes in 42 games with Khimik last season. Anzalone said the 27-year-old Russian has both speed and toughness and goes to the net well.
Yashin, 24, is the younger brother of Alexei Yashin, the second overall pick in the 1992 NHL entry draft by Ottawa. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder had 13 goals and six assists in 25 games with Khimik last season.
Berdichevsky and Yashin, who played together on the Kiev team that played against NHL clubs on a North American tour last year, will both be classified as ECHL veterans. ECHL clubs can have no more than three players with three or more years pro experience.
Dubkov, who was heading to Nashville of the ECHL before the Roanoke deal, played briefly last season for the Central Red Army team. The 6-3, 180-pounder spent most of the season with the Central Red Army's top Elite League club.
Express general manager Pierre Paiement said he was delighted to have the Russians.
"Frank called me one day and said, `I've got three Russians who are considering going with us and they're flying to New Jersey.' I said, `Are they good?' Frank said, `yes', and now we have them.
"If we can find 14 more players of this caliber we should be in excellent shape."
"The main thing in all this is the Roanoke Express has signed three good players that other teams wanted. And that's a good start," Anzalone said.
\ NHL AFFILIATION SEARCH: It's beginning to look more and more like the Express may be forced to operate as an independent in its first season.
Paiement and Anzalone still are talking with two NHL clubs - the San Jose Sharks and one other unconfirmed team.
"We should know something by the end of next week," Paiement said. "I'm still optimistic about it, but if we don't get one it won't be the end of the world. It's nice for marketing purposes, yes, but there are still a lot of good players floating around.
"I'm not worried. Remember Fort Wayne won the IHL last year as an independent."
Anzalone said the search for an NHL tie has been hampered by several ECHL clubs taking second affiliates that have yet to be announced.
"Instead of having 10 possibilities, we have only three or four," Anzalone said. "It has been a tough road, but we're still in the hunt for a couple of places.
"We need to get a little lucky here, though. If we don't have an affiliation in the next 10 days, I'd say we're probably not going to get one."
Anzalone said his current time is better served recruiting players than spending time pursuing an NHL deal.
"Affiliation is very important to the fans and such, but it doesn't guarantee you're going to get players. You may catch a year when a team has no players to give you.
"If we have to go as an independent to prove what we've got here, let's go with it. If we have a successful year, then we'll have five [NHL clubs] knocking on the door next season."
\ LANCERLOT SITUATION: This question mark - more so than the search for an NHL affiliate - has Anzalone worried most.
LancerLot owner Henry Brabham hasn't begun reconstruction on the rink that had its roof collapse in mid-March. Anzalone said he has his "fingers doubly crossed" that Brabham soon will reach a settlement with the insurance company and rebuild the rink.
"That's our practice facility, which to me is most important," Anzalone said. "That facility is one of the main reasons I took the job."
Brabham was out of town Monday and unavailable for comment.
The Roanoke Civic Center has a filled datebook, and the Express could be forced to bus to Winston-Salem, N.C., for practice if the LancerLot is not ready by October.
by CNB