Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Express made two major moves by acquiring Berthiaume, a former NHL goalie, from Erie for cash and by trading Yashin, the team's leading scorer, to the Charlotte Checkers for center Joe Hawley.
``Hopefully, these moves will help carry us through to the playoffs,'' said Pierre Paiement, the Express' general manager.
Berthiaume began the season with the East Coast Hockey League's Wheeling Thunderbirds, compiled a 6-1-1 record with a 4.10 goals-against average, then was released when Wheeling's American Hockey League affiliates in Fredericton and Cape Breton each sent a goalie to Wheeling.
Berthiaume was claimed by Erie, but when he refused to report, Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone worked a deal with Erie coach Ron Hansis.
Berthiaume is expected to make his debut for the Express on Friday night in Charlotte, N.C. Coincidentally, Yashin will be making his first appearance for the Checkers on Friday.
``We may see the wrath of Oleg Yashin on Friday night,'' Anzalone said.
Although the trade of Yashin certainly is a significant move, the deal came as no surprise. Yashin, whose 24 goals and 50 points lead the Express, had not played up to Anzalone's expectations in recent weeks. Anzalone benched Yashin on Saturday in Charlotte.
``Oleg Yashin's game has changed lately,'' Anzalone said. ``He wants to run and gun. I believe he was concerned about scoring points, about having a big year this year. I think he was concerned too much about things he couldn't control.
``I have nothing negative to say about Oleg Yashin. Nothing negative about Oleg forced us to make this trade. This trade will help Oleg, it will help Charlotte and, hopefully, it will help us.''
In Hawley, the Express gets a solid, multitalented player who doesn't have Yashin's reputation as a scorer but regularly puts the puck in the net.
Hawley, a 23-year-old fifth-year pro from Peterborough, Ontario, had 19 goals and 21 assists in 33 games for the Checkers. His points-per-game ratio actually is higher than Yashin's, and he can play anywhere on the ice - from center to defense.
``This guy's got grit,'' Anzalone said.
The Yashin trade almost overshadowed what was supposed to be the day's biggest announcement. Berthiaume comes to the Express one day after ECHL All-Star goalie Dave Gagnon was signed by the International Hockey League's Minnesota Moose for the remainder of the season.
``I was talking to another general manager in the league, and he said, `I can't believe you found somebody better than Dave Gagnon,''' Paiement said.
That remains to be seen, but Berthiaume brings an impressive resume to Roanoke's lineup.
Berthiaume, 29, compiled an 81-90-21 record with a 3.67 goals-against average and five shutouts for five NHL clubs from 1986-1994. He won 20 games or more twice - he was 22-19 with Winnipeg in 1986-87 and 20-11 with Los Angeles in 1990-91. Berthiaume also played for Minnesota, Boston and Ottawa.
His most memorable season was with the Kings in 1990-91, when he started 10-1 for Los Angeles, which lost to Edmonton in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Although he wasn't used by the Kings in those playoffs, Berthiaume appeared in 14 playoff games for Winnipeg from 1986-88, compiling a 5-9 record with a 3.72 GAA.
``That was a great season,'' Berthiaume said. ``Playing with Wayne Gretzky, Larry Robinson and Dave Taylor was a great time for me. They were fine gentlemen.''
Yashin scored 24 goals this season, the last coming in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Tallahassee. In 113 games with the Express, Yashin had 133 points on 62 goals and 71 assists.
Yashin's departure breaks up Roanoke's ``Russian line'' of Yashin, Ilya Dubkov and Rouslan Toujikov.
Hawley, an eighth-round draft pick of the St.Louis Blues in 1986, likely will be teamed on a line with Derek Laxdal, who played parts of six NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders.
``They're both pro-style players,'' Anzalone said. ``Hopefully, they'll be able to play together. We'll see [today] in practice.''
by CNB