Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 13, 1994 TAG: 9401130063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Defenseman Mike Smith's professional hockey career continues to run in firsts.
Smith, the first player recruited by Roanoke Express coach Frank Anzalone last summer, on Wednesday became the first Express player to be selected for the East Coast Hockey League All-Star Game.
Smith, in his first season of pro hockey, was the only Roanoke player chosen to the 17-member East Division roster for the second annual All-Star Game to be held Jan. 25 at Norfolk's Scope.
Smith has been a pillar on defense for Roanoke (20-16-1) through the first half of the regular season. The 6-foot, 185-pound Smith ranks third among ECHL defensemen in assists (37) and seventh in points (39).
"It's definitely a huge honor," said Smith, who starred at Lake Superior State in college. "I was a little surprised to make it with all the older guys in the league. I'm really looking forward to playing."
Two Express players - right wing Tony Szabo and center Pat Ferschweiler - received votes in the balloting among league coaches and media representatives but failed to garner enough support to make the squad. Szabo and Ferschweiler rank 1-2 in scoring for Roanoke with 54 and 50 points, respectively.
Greensboro right wing Phil Berger, who leads the ECHL in scoring with 78 points, heads the East starters. Other East starters include Hampton Roads center Victor Gervais, Raleigh left wing Lyle Wildgoose, defensemen Alan Leggett of Raleigh and Chris Valicevic of Greensboro and Raleigh goaltender Matt DelGuidice.
West starters include Columbus center Clayton Young, Knoxville left wing Scott Metcalfe, Dayton right wing Derek Donald, defenseman David Craievich of Birmingham and Tom Nemeth of Dayton and Knoxville goalie Cory Cadden.
The East squad is composed of players from the seven East Division clubs, plus Wheeling and Johnstown. The West team is the six West Division clubs, plus Columbus, Dayton, Erie and Toledo.
\ KELLY UNLOADS: In the wake of the biggest brawl in ECHL history, Commissioner Pat Kelly brought the hammer down on Greensboro and Hampton Roads on Wednesday.
In response to a wild melee two seconds into last Friday's game that saw 12 players - six from each team - ejected and 249 combined penalty minutes, Kelly levied suspensions totaling 30 games and $1,500 in fines.
Greensboro coach Jeff Brubaker received a $1,000 fine. Brubaker and Monarch players Don Borgeson and Greg Capson all received three-game suspensions, to be served during the two clubs' three remaining regular-season games. Greensboro's Jamie Nicholls, who triggered the fight by jumping Hampton's Brendan Curley at the drop of the opening faceoff, was suspended for five games, three of which will be served against the Admirals.
Hampton coach John Brophy received a $500 fine and four-game suspension, one of which he served last Saturday against Richmond. Admirals players Richie Walcott, Kevin Malgunas and Darren Perkins each received three-game suspensions. All four will serve their suspensions during the remaining games with Greensboro. In addition, Hampton's Brian Goudie was suspended for two games and Jason MacIntyre for one.
Kelly issued a statement from his Charlotte, N.C., office stating that he would have no further comment.
\ ICE CHIPS: Russians have been an integral part of the Express' current hot streak. Lev Berdichevsky has seven goals the past five games; Oleg Yashin has five straight multi-point games and six multis his past eight games (5 goals, 10 assists); and Ilja Dubkov has five goals and five assists the past 10 games. . . . Express captain Dave "Moose" Morissette, still on crutches after having his left knee operated on last Thursday, had a broken nose repaired Tuesday. . . . Roanoke is 4-0-0 vs. the North Division heading into its three-game, three-day sojourn this weekend in Toledo, Columbus and Wheeling. . . . Roanoke's nine straight home wins is three short of the ECHL record of 12, set by Erie in 1988-89.
by CNB