Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410250016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Yashin, ripped by Express coach Frank Anzalone and general manager Pierre Paiement for his lackadaisical play in training camp, finally showed up in Roanoke's 5-4 loss to Greensboro on Friday, scoring a goal and setting up another.
``Oleg appeared to be much more into things for a change,'' Anzalone said. ``He knows the situation. We've talked to him. He knows he's got to pick up the pace and produce.''
Yashin, who exhibited signs of offensive brillance in a 38-goal, 45-assist 1993-94 season, had been missing in action until Friday. He had one goal and one assist while mustering only six shots on goal in three preseason games. In Tuesday's opener against Hampton Roads, a seemingly uninspired Yashin was held to one shot on net.
Against Greensboro, Yashin revealed some of the talent that makes some believe he's capable of playing in a higher league, deking Monarchs goalie Bill Horn and scoring on a nifty breakaway and setting up defenseman Jon Larson's goal with a perfect pass. The usually passive Russian even fought
``We all know what Oleg Yashin is capable of doing,'' Anzalone said. ``We need to see the Oleg Yashin that we loved at times last season. Oleg was off the ice for a long time before he came to camp and it showed. We're trying to give him time to shape up, but we're not going to wait forever.''
With a number of established players looking for jobs after Monday's final training camp cuts, Anzalone can't afford to keep a guy who is not producing.
RUSSIAN PROJECT: Anzalone is treating another Russian, Ruslam Tyzhikov, with kid gloves. The coach said he plans to bring the 6-foot-1, 205-pound rookie forward along slowly.
Tyzhikov was the odd man out against Hampton Roads and Greensboro, with ECHL clubs only allowed to dress 17 players for games.
``He's a big strong kid and I just didn't feel it was appropriate to let him go at this particular time with that size, that strength and that ability,'' Anzalone said. ``He's only 22 and you see a lot of Lev Berdichevsky in him. But Lev was 28 years old when he came here.
``I believe this kid may be a diamond in the rough, and I think we need to give ourselves the opportunity to find out.''
MOE KNOWS SUSPENSIONS: Columbus began its season Thursday in Johnstown without the services of Moe Mantha, its rookie head coach.
Before the game, a 7-4 loss to the Chiefs, Mantha was hit with a three-game suspension and the Chill was fined $2,500 by ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly for an incident at the end of Columbus' preseason game Monday in Huntington.
In a protest of officiating, Mantha walked off the ice at the end of overtime with the score tied at 7. Approximately one minute after Mantha walked, the Chill also left the ice, resulting in the forfeiture of the game.
``I'd had enough of that officiating,'' Mantha said. ``I tried to make a point. The supervisor of officials was here and I wanted to make a statement.''
The Chill players decided on their own to walk out, Mantha said.
``The guys all stuck together after their coach walked off. I did not plan this,'' Mantha said.
Huntington had nine power-play opportunities compared with one for Columbus in the game.
Welcome to the ECHL, Moe.
SIZZLIN' SZABO: Former Roanoke star Tony Szabo continues to torch nets in Scotland.
After recording a hat trick in each of his first six games, Szabo cooled off for a couple of games after his son, Tyler, poured a cup of coffee on himself. The youngster suffered burns on 17 percent of his body and was hospitalized for three days, but his burns didn't require any surgery.
With his son's condition improving, Szabo cranked back into gear last weekend, scoring six goals in a pair of games.
DEEP THREAT: Nick Vitucci has become the first ECHL goaltender to score a goal.
The Toledo netminder lifted a 185-foot clearing attempt into an empty Columbus net Oct.16 in the waning moments of the Storm's 5-2 preseason victory over the Chill.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Tallahassee Tiger Sharks officials were left red-faced Wednesday when a reported 4,000 fans had to be turned away after the Ticketron computer system at the Leon County Civic Center malfunctioned. The Tiger Sharks had to settle for a crowd of 6,224 for their home opener - an 8-7 victory over Birmingham. ... How's this start for a defenseman? Birmingham's Dave Craievich had five points (a hat trick and two assists) in the Tallahassee loss. ... Raleigh has named veteran defenseman John Blessman as its player-assistant coach. ... Former ECHL All-Star Derek Booth has been selected as South Carolina's player-assistant. ... Columbus enters its Nov.2 home opener with a minor league-record 76 consecutive sellouts at the 5,700-seat Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The last time Columbus failed to sell out at home was Jan.2, 1992, against - you guessed it - the moribund Roanoke Valley Rampage. ... Roanoke's season-opening crowd of 4,722 was a franchise record for a weeknight.
by CNB