Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
Hampton Roads pounded the Express 4-1 Wednesday before 5,770 at Scope, denying Roanoke a victory that essentially would have clinched the ECHL's East Division title.
The Express (39-16-9) has a four-point lead over second-place Richmond, which comes to the Roanoke Civic Center on Saturday in a game that could decide the East title.
``They would have just about clinched it if they'd won,'' Hampton Roads coach John Brophy said. ``We don't care who wins, but we don't want them to do it against us.''
The victory by Hampton Roads (34-23-7) also ended a league-record 13-game winning streak by Roanoke goaltender Daniel Berthiaume, who gave up three goals (the fourth was scored on an empty net).
``He wasn't as sharp as he's been,'' Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone said of Berthiaume. ``He looked a little tired at times, and that's understandable.''
The Express bused to Norfolk on Wednesday following Tuesday's victory against Raleigh. Hampton Roads, meanwhile, had fresh legs. The Admirals hadn't played since Saturday's 3-2 loss at Roanoke, and were boosted by the return of All-ECHL center John Porco, who had two assists in his first outing since being reassigned from Saint John of the AHL.
Anzalone said the Admirals ``deserved to win.''
``They were committed to winning. They were not going to be denied,'' he said. ``No matter what we did and no matter how well we played, they outplayed us. They outworked us. They were everywhere. It was a monster game for them.''
After surrendering three goals in the first 33 minutes, Roanoke mounted a brief rally when Mike Krygier, who scored his first goal in an Express uniform in Tuesday's 7-3 win over Raleigh, slapped in a power-play goal at 15:27.
ICE CHIPS: Roanoke wing Marty Schriner is expected to miss the final week of the regular season after pulling a knee ligament in Tuesday's game against Raleigh. Schriner was examined by team physician Brent Johnson on Wednesday and will be re-evaluated on Saturday ... Wheeling's Vadim Slivchenko was named the ECHL's most valuable player and Dayton's Jim Playfair was named the league's coach of the year in balloting conducted by ECHL coaches and media representatives. Slivchenko leads the Thunderbirds, the ECHL's top team, with 76 points. Erie's Kevin McKinnon was named rookie of the year and Chris Gordon of Huntington was named goaltender of the year. Roanoke's Dave Gagnon, who was called up to the International League's Minnesota Moose on Feb.8, was runner-up in voting for goaltender of the year. Dayton's Brandon Smith was selected as the league's outstanding defenseman.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
HOCKEY
by CNB