
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1993                   TAG: 9310130216
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS A HIT ON THE ICE, BOX OFFICE

The Roanoke Express was a dual success in its opening act.

Making its East Coast Hockey League franchise debut, the expansion Express rallied to nip the Raleigh IceCaps 6-5 in its exhibition opener in front of a 2,551 spectators at the Roanoke Civic Center.

Although the game meant nothing, Roanoke's new hockey team couldn't have started its first ECHL season much better.

Forget the final score. The big upset was the crowd figure. The game's 7 p.m. start was delayed 15 minutes as ticket lines outside the civic center box office swelled.

"We expected maybe to get 1,000 people or so with this being only an exhibition game," Express general manager Pierre Paiement said. "We had no idea we'd get this many. Needless to say, we're very pleased with the turnout."

The crowd wasn't disappointed. In a very entertaining game for two clubs who have been on skates for only four days, the Express blew a 4-1 lead, only to steam back to win in an overtime shootout. Roanoke, which tied the game at 5 on Pat Ferschweiler's rebound goal with 4:43 left in regulation, won the shootout 2-0 on goals by Tony Szabo and Ladislav Svoboda. At the other end, Roanoke goalie Pat McGarry stopped all four Raleigh shooters.

Express coach Frank Anzalone was elated with his club's spirited effort.

"This gives us the potential and enthusiasm that good things can come to this team and situation," Anzalone said. "When you look at all the work that these owners have done to this point, this certainly is a good kickoff. Sure, we made some mistakes, but I saw a lot of things out there that I liked."

The Express played without two of its three highly touted Russians, its two NHL-contracted goalies from San Jose, Dave "The Moose" Morrisette, Michael Smith and Kyle Galloway. Raleigh, third in the ECHL East last season, had six of its top guns in street clothes.

"No matter the circumstances, this was nice," Anzalone said. "It gives us a start, a little push. I thought a lot of guys showed a good account of themselves. We have a lot of guys competing for jobs and they were saying to me tonight, `this is what I can do and I'm going to make your decisions tougher.' "

\ ICE CHIPS: Manon Rheaume, who last December became the first female to ever play in a pro hockey game, will be on Knoxville's traveling squad when the Cherokees visit Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the exhibition finale. . . . The Express roster is down to 27 players. Anzalone cut four players - goalie Francis Vincent and forwards Dion Stroud, Stephen Tennier and Howard Sandie - and forward Mike Sanderson unexpectedly quit the team Tuesday. Nine more players will have to go before Monday's league roster deadline.

by CNB