Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406150012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The lack of a full-time practice facility due to scheduling conflicts at its home Roanoke Civic Center remains the club's No. 1 concern four months before the start of the 1994-95 season.
"Right now we're the only club in an 18-team league without a full-time practice rink," Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone said. "It's imperative that somehow we find a second sheet of ice."
Express general manager Pierre Paiement is currently negotiating with LancerLot owner Henry Brabham concerning possible plans for reconstruction of the Vinton rink that was felled by the March 1993 blizzard.
Although Paiement said Monday he was encouraged by the possibilities, Brabham cast doubt on the project Tuesday, saying he's not interested in rebuilding the rink unless a second party is willing to split reconstruction costs, a tab of roughly $125,000.
"You're looking at about $250,000 to rebuild simply the rink portion," Brabham said. "To put a roof and building around it, you're talking $1 million to $1.5 million.
"I'm gonna eventually build the building back, no matter what. We can put basketball courts in there or expand the health club.
"I'm 65 years old and I don't want to go borrow that kind of money to put ice back in. Unless someone else wants to come in and help with the money, I can't see it happening."
Paiement said the hockey club was interested in leasing the building year-round if Brabham rebuilt the rink.
"That's nice," said Brabham, "but I'm the one who has to put up the money to rebuild the thing."
Although two portable ice-making companies have told him their systems aren't compatible with what's left of the LancerLot unit, Brabham said a third company is scheduled for a look-see in the next couple weeks.
"I'm not saying it's a totally dead deal," said Brabham, "but right now as things stand it doesn't look real promising. Now, something could change."
Paiement refused to speculate Tuesday as to whether the Express ownership ground would be willing to help Brabham with reconstruction costs.
Last season, due to lack of ice time at the civic center the Express was forced to travel to various Nobth Carolina sites six times for practice.
"The civic center did all they could for us," said Express coach Frank Anzalone. "But face it, they've got other scheduled events coming in that require the ice to be taken up during our season.
"Therefore, a second sheet of ice is a must. I discovered last season that bussing six hours round-trip to practice wasn't very productive. In fact, we canceled several practice trips due to that.
"We had two slumps last season and both happened to correlate with times we didn't have practice ice. So, yes, this is very important in regards to remaining competitive in a very competitive league."
EXPRESS RADIO: In a news conference Tuesday at the civic center, the club formally announced that WFIR (960 AM) will serve asthe flagship station for its radio netwozc this season.
The 5,000-watt Roanoke station will carry one preseason game, all 68 regular-season and playoff games under the terms of the one-year agreement.
"The Express approached us about this and basically offered us a deal we couldn't refuse," said Terry Gibbons, WFIR general manager. "After serious consideration, we thought it over and decided to go with it. We think the Express is ia viable entertainment product in the Roanoke Valley and will give us some listeners we've never had before. Wu'll take a look at what happens this year and the n go from there. Hopefully, it wil be a great marriage."
The Express games were carried on WROV (1240 AM) and WRIS (1410 AM) last season. Club officials said they received numerous complaints from fans who couldn't pick the two stations' signal in outlying areas.
"My girlfriend and I had to drive to the parking lot of the Salem Holiday Inn last year to pick up a game," noted Blacksburg resident Joe Steffen, one of the club's minority owners.
In addition, WXCF-FM 104, based in Clifton Forge, will carry one preseason, all 34 road and all playoff broadcasts during the upcoming season.
SOUVENIR OUTLET: Express souvenirs, which generated more than six figures in revenue last season, will be available starting July 1 at the "Slap Shop", a new merchandising outlet opening in Valley View Mall.
The outlet will house several new lines of merchandise and novelty items - Express golf shirts and other various apparel emblazoned with the 1994-95 "Ice Hot" campaign slogan - not previously available to Roanoke fans.
The outlet will be open seven days a week during regular mall business hours.
BOLSTERED STAFF: The Express is refuses to play short-handed in the office. In addition to extending Anzalone's contract 1995-96, the club announced the hiring three new personnel members Tuesday.
Dan Marshall, an Indiana University graduate who worked in the intern program of the NHL's St. Louis Blues last season, has replaced Tim Woodburn as the club's assistant marketing director and head of public relations.
Woodburn, the club's radio play-by-play voice, has been promoted to director of marketing-broadcasting.
In addition, Blacksburg natives Donna Rush and James Cooper have been hired to assist sales manager Shirley Woolwine.
by CNB