Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410110010
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Looking for an early tip-off on Roanoke Express II?
Just listen to coach Frank Anzalone: ``On paper, we look fairly good. ... I don't see any holes yet. ... All told, we're pretty good.''
Considering the source, that's quite a revelation. Anyone familiar with Anzalone knows the poker-faced coach never has been the type to tip a good hand early.
``Frank is one of those guys who could have Wayne Gretzky in his lineup and still be crying about not having any players,'' said a rival East Coast Hockey League coach. ``Therefore, I'm surprised to hear him say that. If he's saying that, he must have something.''
Anzalone will begin to learn today just how much he has when the Express opens its 1994-95 preseason training camp at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Anzalone is expecting 37 players, including nine from last season's surprising 37-28-3 expansion club, for the nine-day camp.
``I'm glad to get things rolling,'' Anzalone said. ``I'm really looking forward to seeing what we have here.
``I think we did a good job of recruiting. Every player coming in here has been cross-referenced, I've seen them play, or I know of them. All of them can play.''
Half will end up playing in Roanoke. The other 19 will be shipped out before the Express opens the 68-game regular season Oct.18 against Hampton Roads at the civic center.
``The toughest part of camp by far is the cuts,'' Anzalone said. ``I hate telling players I don't have a spot for them. It's not a fun thing to do.''
Most of the established players won't have to worry about making the cut. Already having locks on jobs are player-assistant coach Derek Laxdal, veteran goaltender Dave Gagnon and three top returnees: center Pat Ferschweiler, left wing Jeff Jestadt and All-Star defenseman Michael Smith.
Two more holdovers - Russian forwards Oleg Yashin and Ilja Dubkov - also figure to be shoo-ins.
``You would expect Ferschweiler, Jestadt and Smith to be fine,'' Anzalone said. ``And if Dubkov has trained and if his attitude has progressed past the ups and downs of last year, he's going to be a good player. Regarding Yashin, I really didn't count on him to be back. I figured he'd sign with Minnesota [Roanoke's International Hockey League affiliate] or get a great chance in Europe. Now, he's here, fighting it out.'' If those seven are in, it leaves 29 players battling for 11 roster spots. Here's a rundown at each position:
GOALTENDER: The addition of Gagnon, released by Minnesota (IHL), was a major coup. The former Detroit Red Wings prospect has owned the ECHL, posting a 22-3-0 playoff record while leading Hampton Roads (1990-91) and Toledo ('93-94) to Riley Cup titles. His ECHL regular-season record is 24-8-2 during parts of three seasons.
San Jose Sharks farmhand Dan Ryder, 22-13-0 last season with Roanoke, will battle rookie Craig Lisko of Ferris State for the second spot. Newcomer Mark McCarthy is the longest of long shots.
``I didn't know Ryder would be sent here this early,'' Anzalone said. ``I thought Lisko was a definite until then.''
DEFENSE: With Smith considered a given, five spots will be open for 10 players. The loss of Trevor Burgess, who signed with a team in Europe, has Anzalone looking for a right-side point man on the power play.
``That's the one player I didn't replace,'' Anzalone said. ``I think that's the No.1 area to see if anybody is going to step up.''
Best bets to land jobs include the incumbent, Chris Potter, and Jon Larson, who had 10 goals and 19 assists in 51 games last season with Knoxville.
Among the newcomers, Paul Belleza (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) and Don Daigle (6-3, 218) offer size and muscle.
``Belleza has good hands for a big man, and Daigle is extremely tough. And both want to play,'' Anzalone said. ``This is their NHL right now.''
Mark Luger, a 6-foot, 205-pounder out of the University of Denver, mirrors the defensive style of former Express player Claude Barthe.
FORWARDS: Anzalone likes his deep crop up front, saying ``we're going to have success finding 10 forwards.'' If Laxdal, Ferschweiler, Jestadt, Yashin and Dubkov are penciled in, that leaves 17 players vying for the final five spots.
Of the newcomers, Robin Bouchard, who had 52 goals, 54 assists and 238 penalty minutes last season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, is the front-runner.
Carl Fleury, another QMJHL prospect, and Chuck Loretto, who had 93 points last season in Germany, also are among the best bets. Ruslam Tyzhikov, a 6-4, 215-pound Russian, also rates a close look.
Jason Clarke, a rugged right wing who played in Charlotte and Erie last season, is the top candidate to fill the void left by the loss of enforcer Dave ``Moose'' Morissette to Minnesota.
Finding a spot won't be easy for returning Express players Reggie Brezeault and Roger Larche, who likely will be victimized by the ECHL's ``veteran'' rule that limits each club to three third-year pros.
Anzalone will split the 36 players into two teams to face off in scrimmages at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Anzalone will make further player evaluations in home exhibition games against Johnstown (Wednesday), Charlotte (Friday) and Raleigh (Saturday).
``We're going to find out real soon who wants to play,'' the coach said.
Express in action
Roanoke's ECHL team has scheduled three home exhibition games: Johnstown on Wednesday, Charlotte on Friday and Raleigh on Saturday. Game time Wednesday is 7 p.m. The Friday and Saturday games start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the civic center box office.
by CNB