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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 1, 1993                   TAG: 9312010212
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

EXPRESS GETS TOUGHER WITH ANOTHER DEAL

In hopes of adding muscle to its lineup, the Roanoke Express acquired left wing Gairin Smith from the Wheeling Thunderbirds in a three-way trade Tuesday that also involved the Huntsville Blast.

In exchange for Smith, the Express dealt center Conrade Thomas to Huntsville, and Wheeling will receive Huntsville forward Rival Fullum.

Smith, a 6-foot, 203-pound Toronto native, played last season for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, totalling 14 goals, 30 assists and 127 penalty minutes in 50 games. He had five goals, two assists and 77 penalty minutes in 17 games this season with Charlotte before being traded to Wheeling on Monday.

Thomas, 26, had seven goals and five assists in 16 games with Roanoke.

The trade was Roanoke's second in four days. On Saturday, the Express dealt forward Gerry Daley to Louisville for defenseman Paul Ohman.

Roanoke (7-11) resumes East Coast Hockey League action Thursday, entertaining the Richmond Renegades at 7 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center.

In other sports in the region:

Virginia's Claudio Reyna is one of 10 finalists for the Hermann Trophy, college soccer's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Reyna, a junior midfielder, has 10 goals and eight assists for the Cavaliers (20-3).

The other finalists are: Jimmy Glenn, Clemson; Jason Kreis, Duke; Richard Sharpe, Florida Tech; Todd Yeagley, Indiana; Shane Battelle, St. Louis; Brian McBride, St. Louis; Keith DeFini, Creighton; Brian Kamler, Creighton; and Alan Prampin, Southern Methodist.

by CNB