Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 2, 1993 TAG: 9311020014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Think again.
Through the first two weeks of the 1993-94 season, Revonomics aren't working in Huntsville, either.
In its first three home dates, Revo's Blast has averaged 1,277 spectators per game, nearly 3,200 below the league average and 216 less than last season's league-record low in Vinton.
On Thursday, the Blast drew 482 - the smallest crowd in ECHL history except for the 63 die-hards who turnout for the Rampage's Vinton finale played during a blizzard on March 13.
Already, Revo has been blasted by a Huntsville columnist for his lack of marketing and promotion work. A Huntsville source said the Blast sold fewer than 100 season tickets. Every other ECHL club sold at least 1,200.
Revo, who left Roanoke blaming everybody but himself for the Rampage's failure on and off the ice, had to have cringed when he saw the attendance figures for the Roanoke Express' first two home games - 3,576 and 5,072.
"Larry Revo said hockey would never work in Roanoke," said John Gagnon, the Express' majority owner. "Well, I wonder what he's thinking now."
Revo couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
\ EXPRESS UPDATE: After four consecutive road games, the Express (3-3) returns to its home ice tonight, playing host to the Erie Panthers (4-2) at 7 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The Express originally was scheduled to bus to Hillsborough, N.C., on Monday to practice, but instead opted for a dry-land workout at the civic center.
"We canceled the trip to Hillsborough because we don't want to wear the guys out," said Pierre Paiement, the Express' general manager. "They had been on the road since last Wednesday and didn't get back until 4 a.m. Sunday. So we thought it might be best to just stay here [Monday]. It's a lot of wear and tear on the players to bus two hours to practice and then bus two hours back."
Paiement said the club is trying to make the best of a bad situation - no available ice at the civic center.
"November and March are our two roughest months," he said. "Dry-land workouts are good for conditioning, but I'd be a liar if I said it's as good as having ice. Nothing is better than the real thing."
\ HISTORY-MAKER: Toledo's Erin Whitten made pro hockey history Saturday night, becoming the first female goaltender credited with a victory. Relieving injured starter Alain Harvey after one period, Whitten stopped 15 of 19 shots to earn the victory as the Storm defeated Dayton 6-5.
Whitten, 24, is the second female goalie in pro hockey. Manon Rheaume played for Atlanta of the International Hockey League last season and is with the ECHL's Knoxville Cherokees.
Whitten said she thought Rheaume had won a game with Atlanta, so she was surprised at being told her victory was the first for a woman.
"Nobody can top that, so it's a great feeling," Whitten said. "Being in the record books is great, but it's not what I'm concerned about. I'm doing what I love to do. Whether that makes history or not, it doesn't really matter to me. I just want to play hockey."
Toledo coach Chris McSorley said Whitten may make her first start Nov. 12 against Huntington.
\ CHARLOTTE SUCCESS: Now that Charlotte has NBA and NFL franchises, will the NHL be next?
Felix Sabates, majority owner of the expansion Charlotte Checkers, hinted last week that he "eventually wants an NHL franchise down the road."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reportedly told Charlotte general manager Carl Scheer "you guys keep doing the right things and eventually you'll have one there."
The Checkers sold more than 4,000 season tickets for their inaugural ECHL season and have averaged 7,633 for four home games.
\ ICE CHIPS: Phil Berger, the third-leading scorer in ECHL history, is back with Greensboro. Berger began the season in Raleigh's camp. . . . Former Virginia Lancer Mike Chighisola has surfaced in Nashville. The Knights become the sixth ECHL club to sign the forward's paycheck since 1988.
by CNB