Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995                   TAG: 9503030079
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

INJURY HAS EXPRESS WORRIED ABOUT HOLT

Roanoke general manager Pierre Paiement has asked the Sharks for a medical reassignment for right wing Todd Holt, who played in two games after being sent to the Express last Thursday.

According to the Express, Holt has been diagnosed with a ``hypermobile cervical spine,'' a condition that affects the vertebrae in his neck and upper back.

An eighth-round selection in the 1993 NHL entry draft, Holt did not pass his physical during the Sharks' 1993 training camp. Team doctors refused to clear him to play again this season, but Holt signed a liability waiver absolving the Sharks and their International Hockey League affiliate, the Kansas City Blades, of any responsibility should he be injured while playing hockey.

It was unclear if the waiver applied to the Express, which is in the second year of its affiliation with San Jose.

``After receiving legal advice, we believe that Todd's present medical status represents too much of a risk,'' Paiement said in a news release. ``Our liability insurance does not cover someone who has failed his physical, and his condition represents too great a risk, liability-wise, for our organization to take.

``Our medical advice is that an injury to his neck area could easily result in complete paralysis.''

Holt, 22, the first player San Jose had assigned to the Express this season, appeared in 28 games for the Blades and had four goals and four assists. He had two assists in two games for Roanoke.

Holt was a prodigious scorer with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League from 1989-94. He set a club record with 216 goals and scored more than 100 points in a season twice. In 1992-93, he helped the Broncos win the WHL championship by scoring 56 goals during the regular season and by adding 22 points in the playoffs.

``Before we sat back and teased our fans and watched him have a four-goal game or something like that, our ownership felt we had to act now,'' said Frank Anzalone, Roanoke's coach. ``After taking a look at the problem, I have to agree. If he were to get hurt here, I don't know what would happen. We're so far away [organizationally speaking] from San Jose. We're not their No. 1 affiliate.''

Holt will most likely report back to Kansas City this week.

In another player move, Express center Reggie Brezeault was claimed off waivers by the Charlotte Checkers. Brezeault was on injured reserve with the Express, but he wanted to return to the ice despite a groin injury. Anzalone, who had hoped to keep Brezeault on the roster for the playoffs, complied with Brezeault's wishes and waived him.