Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: TUESDAY, October 12, 1993 TAG: 9310120056 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The expansion Express opens its three-game ECHL exhibition season against the Raleigh IceCaps at 7 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center.
"We're anxious to see how what we've got matches up with some of the other clubs," Express coach Frank Anzalone said.
The Express opened its 10-day preseason camp last Saturday. Anzalone split the 32 players into two teams, which have gone head-to-head the past two nights in scrimmages.
Anzalone said he's been pleased with what he's seen.
"While's it hard to assess anything this quickly, I think everybody has given a good account of themselves," Anzalone said. "I don't think anybody disappointed me.
"There's no question that some guys are quicker than others and some are more polished and relaxed than others. We're still shaping up kinks in equipment and things like that. It's going to take 'em a few days to start to feel at home."
Three defensemen failed to report to camp, including veteran Will Averill and rookie Scott Meehan of Massachusetts-Lowell.
"I was a little disappointed we didn't get Meehan because he's a real good defensive defenseman," Anzalone said. "We lost a good one there."
Meehan was one of the final cuts at Providence (AHL) and likely will be sent to Charlotte of the ECHL, Anzalone said.
Averill, who played in the ECHL at Richmond last season, was among the final cuts in Portland (AHL) and is considering retirement, Anzalone said.
"Will would have given us a touch of a veteran defenseman," Anzalone said.
The other defenseman who failed to report was rookie Chris McDonald, who was detained in Canada for personal reasons.
The only other player who failed to show was forward Paul Caufield.
The two goalies forwarded to the Express by the NHL's San Jose Sharks - Dan Ryder and Brian Schoen - arrived in Roanoke Sunday morning.
Ryder worked out with the club Sunday, but Schoen was forced to sit out because his equipment failed to arrive on time from San Jose's top farm club in Kansas City.
Anzalone stressed that the buzz word in the Express camp has to be "attitude."
"That's our big word," he said. "I think that's the best plan of attack as a first-year team. Because we all have to keep in mind that we are an expansion team. We're a new team in this league.
"But I like what I've seen so far. There's some talent here. We have some players who can play."
\ ICE CHIPS: A surprising crowd of some 250-300 fans showed up at the civic center on Sunday afternoon to grab a sneak peek of the Express' first intrasquad game. The gathering was roughly five times the size of the final home-game crowd drawn last season by the ill-fated Roanoke Valley Rampage. Only 63 fans braved a blizzard to attend the Rampage's final home game on March 13 at the Vinton LancerLot. Raleigh should be a strong test. The IceCaps were one of the best skating teams in the ECHL last season, going 37-22-5 and finishing third in the Eastern Division. . . . Tickets for tonight's game are $6, $7 and $8. Senior citizens and students are admitted for $5, with children 12 and under admitted for $4.
by CNB