Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 27, 1994 TAG: 9402270022
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
When Reggie Brezeault visits local elementary schools with his Roanoke Express teammates, he can count on hearing one question.
"A lot of kids always ask me, `How come you play hockey and not basketball?' " Brezeault said.
"I can understand that. Face it, there are not many black people playing hockey."
Brezeault is part of a small minority. Of the 342 players in the East Coast Hockey League, five are black.
The 21-year-old Montreal native has a theory.
"Most black people are from the South, so it's pretty hard for them to play hockey," Brezeault said in his French Canadian accent.
"Being born in Montreal, I got a Canadian culture and I was around hockey a lot. It's the sport all my friends played. It's the sport I grew up with.
"Besides," Brezeault said, laughing, "I think all the Africans and Jamaicans don't like to be freezing. That's why they play basketball."
There have been nights in the ECHL when Reginald Brezeault might have preferred to play the game with the ball.
In some ECHL cities, especially the ones below the Mason-Dixon line, many fans still are fighting the Civil War.
During Roanoke's game at Norfolk's Scope on New Year's Eve, Brezeault was the target of racial epithets from some Hampton Roads Admirals fans who were leaning over the rail above a passageway leading to the visitors' locker room.
Brezeault usually stays cool, but this time he snapped. He elevated himself by putting one skate on a chair, then swung his stick back and forth at his taunters. The incident lasted only a few seconds, before a goal judge grabbed Brezeault and helped wrestle him away.
"I was mad, and we were losing. I was playing bad and was frustrated," Brezeault said. "I apologized to the policeman [who also intervened] later. I've forgotten about it. It's past."
Brezeault said Frank Anzalone, the Express' coach, warned him on arrival in Roanoke that there could be problems in some cities.
"Some games, Frank told me to take it easy or they'd call me some names," Brezeault said. "Really, there haven't been a lot of problems down here so far. Hey, they [the fans] pay to come, so I don't care what they say or do."
Brezeault certainly doesn't have any problem with the home fans. The Express faithful often respond to the 6-foot, 200-pound center's spirited play in resounding fashion.
"I like it when the fans cheer me because it gives me more confidence," he said. "I enjoy that. It's my first year [as a professional] and I still have a lot of things to prove. But they're behind me, and that's good for me."
Brezeault has been good for the Express. Since working his way into the lineup on a regular basis, Brezeault has filled a role for Anzalone.
"Every team needs guys like Reggie," said Anzalone, who picked up Brezeault as a free agent Dec. 2 from Fort Worth of the Central Hockey League.
"He's a third-line center. He's not a guy who is going to score a ton of goals or do anything real flashy, but he's a guy who is going to check people, work hard and play defense. And if one of his teammates is in trouble, Reggie is the kind of guy who doesn't mind stepping in and offering protection."
Brezeault understands his job description. He knows his role is to check, check and check some more. And, if the opportunity arises, maybe even score a goal.
"If I score, that's good, but the first thing in my mind is to play hard defensively," he said.
"As far as attention goes, I know I'm not going to get a lot. I've never been the big player on my team, but I work hard every game. Some players score a lot. Me, I don't score a lot . . . but it doesn't bother me."
Brezeault, who yearns to be a policeman back in Montreal, is getting an opportunity to play the role of protector.
"If a teammate is in trouble, I will step in and protect him," he said. "I want to show him that I'm here to play. If things happen, I know I can protect myself and my teammates. If another guy tries something, I've got to go [fight]. That's my job."
After being the odd man out for all but six games during his first six weeks with Roanoke - only 17 of 18 players on the roster are allowed to dress for a game - Brezeault has been a lineup mainstay since Jan. 21. In 15 games since, he has four goals and three assists. More impressively, Brezeault's plus-minus rating has been plus or even in all 15 games.
"I think I've played pretty well," Brezeault said. "When I first came here, Frank told me that I wasn't going to play a lot. He told me if I wasn't happy, he'd trade me.
"I told Frank I understood. I'm young and have a lot of things to learn. I told him I wanted to stay here, that I enjoyed the team and the town."
Obviously, the feeling is mutual. When Brezeault takes out an opponent with a bone-rattling check, chants of "Reggie, Reggie, Reggie" reverberate inside the Roanoke Civic Center.
"Hear that?" said Express captain Dave "Moose" Morissette, another fan favorite.
"Everybody loves Reggie," Morissette added with a smile. "Next thing you know they're going to want to name a candy bar after the guy."
by CNB