Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 1, 1994 TAG: 9411010085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gagnon said the suit will charge that the Huntington Civic Center exhibited negligence for not having protective padding on a metal upright that holds the Plexiglas dividing the home team's bench and grandstand.
The suit will ask that the arena be made liable for all medical expenses incurred by Clarke, Gagnon said.
Clarke's head slammed into the unprotected metal post after he took a savage body check by Huntington Blizzard defenseman Chris Morque in the third period of Roanoke's 4-3 win on Friday.
Clarke sustained a mild concussion and a possible fracture in his left forearm from the blow. The Express enforcer visited a doctor in Roanoke on Monday and is expected to miss tonight's home game against the Charlotte Checkers.
``It's the hardest hit I've ever taken in hockey,'' said Clarke, who was knocked unconscious. ``I can't believe somebody would leave a post uncovered like that. I could have been killed. It certainly could have been a lot worse than it was.''
Clarke's head slammed into the post so hard that it bent the metal upright 3 to 4 inches, Gagnon said.
Gagnon, working the game as a color analyst on the Express radio network, ripped the Huntington Civic Center on the airwaves, requesting that the Roanoke fans ``all mail a quarter to the City of Huntington so it can buy some foam rubber'' for the upright.
``I meant every word I said,'' Gagnon said. ``After the game, I got real upset at Bob Henry [Blizzard general manager] and he said they had padding but somebody forgot to install it before the game.
``It's just pure stupidity, pure unconsciousness and lack of responsibility on the part of the Huntington Civic Center.
``This incident could have killed somebody. For instance, if [Ilja] Dubkov [Express forward], who loses his helmet all the time, was hit right after he lost his helmet, I'm not sure he would be alive for negligence like that.
``That kid [Clarke] could have been handicapped for the rest of his life because a little padding wasn't put up.''
Gagnon said will send a letter of formal protest today to the ECHL office, Commissioner Pat Kelly and the mayor of Huntington.
ICE WOES: The Express was forced to cancel a scheduled skate Monday night at the Roanoke Civic Center because the ice was not ready.
``We're very disappointed becasue we thought we might be able to get the ice by 8 p.m. [Monday] so we could practice,'' Roanoke general manager Pierre Paiement said.
Instead, the Express players were forced to workout at the Roanoke YMCA.
``We decided it would be counter-productive to take the guys back to Winston-Salem [N.C.] to skate after taking them there twice last week,'' Paiement said.
Gagnon also wasn't thrilled with Monday's development.
``Every time there's no ice for practice, we lose,'' he said. ``Look at last season. Every time we lost practice, we lost.''
ICE CHIPS: Charlotte (3-2-1), which limited Greensboro to 15 shots in a 6-1 victory Sunday, is 3-0-1 since starting 0-2. ... Roanoke (3-3-0) will be shooting for its third straight win. The Express has lost two in a row at home. ... Richmond (6-0-0) continues to be the early surprise in the East Division. The Renegades swept Hampton Roads last weekend, winning 6-5 in Norfolk on Friday and 5-2 at home on Saturday in front of 7,082 fans. Richmond and Dayton (6-0-0) remain the ECHL's only unbeaten clubs through the first two weeks. ... Forward Reggie Brezeault, cut by Roanoke in preseason, is in camp with the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Blaze of the Sunshine Hockey League. ... Oleg Yashin and Pat Ferschweiler are tied for the Express scoring lead with eight points each. Yashin has a club-high five goals. ... Clarke's 57 penalty minutes lead the ECHL. Goalie Dan Ryder, who stopped 42 of 43 shots in a 2-1 win at Knoxville on Saturday, ranks fifth among ECHL netminders with a 2.52 goals-against average. ... Roanoke plays at Greensboro on Friday then returns home to face Raleigh on Saturday.
Express vs. Checkers
7 p.m. today at the Roanoke Civic Center. Tickets are $8.50, $7.50 and $6, $5 for senior citizens and students and $4 for children 12 and younger.
by CNB