Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 20, 1994 TAG: 9402200033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Burke wasn't kidding.
Besides goaltender Dan Ryder, the only legitimate stick-carrying Sharks on Williamson Road this winter have resided at a nearby billiards parlor.
"We did expect to get a little more help from San Jose," Express general manager Pierre Paiement says. "It's been a little disappointing. I think the big problem is that San Jose doesn't have as many players under contract as some other NHL clubs, therefore there are fewer players to go around."
After stocking its own roster, plus that of its top affiliate, Kansas City of the International Hockey League, San Jose obviously hasn't had much left to ship to Roanoke and the East Coast Hockey League.
Outside of Ryder, the Sharks have fed the Express only table crumbs - malcontent goalie Brian Schoen and uninterested forward Stephen Tepper. Schoen was a disaster, going 1-4-0 with a robust 4.94 goals-against average before being traded to Toledo in November. Tepper, whose soft play defied his size, may have been even worse, making silly mistakes normally reserved for Juniors; he lasted nine games in Roanoke before being called back to Kansas City, a development that didn't exactly crush Express management.
To San Jose's credit, Ryder has produced. The goalie is 19-11-0 with a respectable - for the ECHL - 3.86 goals-against average.
But of the 17 ECHL clubs with NHL agreements, it's safe to say that Roanoke has been as short-changed as any.
"Other teams in our league are getting the overflow of players from their NHL affiliate," Paiement said. "But San Jose just doesn't have the personnel right now."
Although Paiement wouldn't admit it, don't be surprised if the Express says "No Way, Jose" and attempts to hook up with another NHL club before next season.
Yes, Roanoke is tired of being hustled by Sharks.
\ PLAYOFF STRUCTURE: Apparently, many area hockey fans are having trouble putting together the pieces to the ECHL's complicated playoff puzzle.
That's understandable.
Here's how the playoffs work:
The top five teams in each of the three divisions automatically qualify. Of the remaining four teams, the one with the most points qualifies as the wild-card entry. Any tie in the standings will be broken by a seven-step tie-breaker that starts with most games won, least games lost, head-to-head record, etc.
All first-round series will be best of three. The wild-card team, from no matter which division, will play the No. 1 qualifier in the East (Series F). Other first-round pairings will pit East No. 2 vs. East No. 5 (Series G); East No. 3 vs. East No. 4 (Series H); North No. 1 vs. North No. 5 (Series A); North No. 2 vs. North No. 4 (Series B); West No. 1 vs. West No. 5 (Series C); West No. 2 vs. West No. 4 (Series D); and North No. 3 vs. West No. 3 (Series E).
All second-round series will be best of five. The winning teams from Series E, F, G and H will be reseeded first through fourth based on regular-season points, with No. 1 facing No. 4 and No. 2 facing No. 3. If the wild-card team advances past the first round, it automatically will be seeded fourth for this and any other remaining round. The other two second-round series will pit winners of Series A and B and Series C and D.
All third-round series will be best of five. The four second-round survivors will be reseeded first through fourth based on regular-season points, with No. 1 facing No. 4 and No. 2 facing No. 3.
Finally, it gets easy. The two remaining teams play a best-of-seven series for the Riley Cup.
\ SMITH DEFENDED: The home fans have been riding Express defenseman Mike Smith hard lately, a development that doesn't amuse Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone.
Despite being Roanoke's only player picked for the ECHL All-Star Game and ranking second among all league defensemen in assists, Smith has been serenaded with boos when announced at many recent home games.
"I'd like to see the fans open up their hearts and have a little more understanding of Michael Smith," Anzalone said. "He's our All-Star, a finesse, poised defenseman. The fans can do what they want, but I think they're misunderstanding Michael's game. He plays with smarts and finesse, not brawn. He makes about one mistake every three games, but when he makes one it can be a big one. I think the fans have to understand that the guy has been an anchor for this team."
\ ICE CHIPS: Hampton Roads stalwart Shawn Wheeler has joined Roanoke's Lev Berdichevsky in the American Hockey League. Wheeler has been signed for the remainder of the season by the Hershey (Pa.) Bears. . . . Nashville coach Nick Fotiu is serving a five-game suspension. Fotiu was reprimanded by ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly for entering a box seat during a game last week and exchanging harsh words with Bob Sloan, league supervisor of officials. . . . The Columbus Chill has drawn 68 straight sellouts at its 5,700-seat home arena, the longest such streak in minor-league hockey. . . . The ECHL is on pace to draw nearly 3.2 million spectators this season. The current per-game average of 4,884 through 492 dates is an all-time league high.
by CNB