Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 27, 1995 TAG: 9501270047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Smith, the Roanoke Express' ECHL All-Star defenseman, is leaving town again to re-join the Minnesota Moose of the International Hockey League. It marks the fifth time in the past month Smith has been called up by Minnesota, one of Roanoke's two IHL affiliates. A spokeswoman for the Moose said Smith will join the team for tonight's game in Indianapolis.
Smith's departure leaves the Express with five defensemen for this weekend's home games, including tonight's matchup with the Johnstown Chiefs at 7:30 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
It has been a busy week for Smith. Last weekend, he was with Minnesota for games in Las Vegas and San Diego, flew to Greensboro, N.C., to play in the ECHL All-Star Game on Tuesday, and returned to Roanoke on Wednesday.
``I've gotten hardly any sleep,'' Smith said. ``It's been tiring. I've been spending my time in airports.''
Such is the life of a minor-league hockey player, although in most cases a player will be assigned to one team for more than just a game or two at a time. Minnesota has kept Smith on a yo-yo string - up to the IHL for two games, down to the ECHL for two, up for one, down for one.
``Every player's goal is to move up,'' Smith said. ``I feel bad for the guys [in Roanoke], because Minnesota has no players to give us. It's tough on everybody.''
The worst time for Smith was two weeks ago, when the Moose called him up on a Saturday morning to play in a Saturday night game, then returned him to Roanoke on Sunday.
``That was pretty bad,'' Smith said. ``I got there [to St.Paul, Minn.] at 4:30 [p.m.] for a 7 o'clock game, then got back on the plane Sunday.''
Smith has been on the Express elevator from Roanoke to Minnesota since December, when injuries began to deplete the Moose defense. A couple of times, Minnesota has returned Smith to the Express on days when the Moose didn't play.
When Smith arrived in Greensboro for the ECHL All-Star Game, Roanoke general manager Pierre Paiement said it was his understanding Smith would be returning to Roanoke for the weekend home stand. However, Minnesota has two defensemen out with injuries.
``The call-ups are going to continue,'' said Frank Anzalone, the Express' coach. ``You're the lower league, they're the higher league. When they call a young man [to join the team], he's going to say yes.''
The good news for Roanoke is that goalie Dave Gagnon, another ECHL All-Star, actually might stay in an Express uniform for a while. Gagnon also has spent most of the past three weeks with the Moose, but Minnesota has regained the services of goalie Frank Pietrangelo, who is coming off the disabled list today.
TONIGHT'S GAME: Johnstown, winner of only two of its past 10 games, limps into town fresh off a disastrous 11-2 loss in Richmond on Wednesday. The Chiefs have won five road games this season, tying them with Columbus and Erie for fewest road victories in the league. Johnstown has been outscored 26-6 in its past three road games.
The Chiefs' players took a bath in plus-minus ratings during the loss to Richmond. Defenseman Mike Dennis, who refused a trade to Roanoke this season when the Express tried to acquire him from Dayton, took a minus-6 in that game. Six other players were minus-3 or worse.
The plus-minus rating is one of the favorite statistics of players and coaches. Basically, if you're on the ice in an even-strength situation when your team scores, you get a point. If you're on the ice at even strength when the other team scores, you lose a point.
Johnstown has 13 players with double-figure minus ratings.
HOME SWEET HOME STAND: The Express entertains Erie at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, then Huntington comes to town Tuesday.
Erie, which has the ECHL's worst record, handed the Express one of its worst losses of the season Sunday when the Panthers scored three goals in the third period to win 5-4. Roanoke blew a late scoring opportunity in that game when Craig Herr was called for interference during an Express power play.
It was the 10th time Roanoke has been penalized during a manpower advantage.
``We watched the film from that game this week,'' Anzalone said. ``It was just like watching a film in biology class. It was long, it was boring, but we had to watch it and we should learn from it. Now, we have to pass the test.''
HURTING: Express left wing Jeff Jestadt had surgery Tuesday to repair his broken left cheekbone and officially was placed on the 14-day injured reserve list. Defenseman Jon Larson, who played during the weekend on a sprained ankle, appears to be skating close to full speed again.
Express vs. Chiefs
7:30 p.m. today, Roanoke Civic Center. Tickets are $8.50, $7.50 and $6, $5 for senior citizens and students and $4 for children younger than 12.
by CNB