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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 22, 1995                   TAG: 9503220079
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS FINISHES SECOND

The Roanoke Express' bid to win the East Coast Hockey League's East Division ended Tuesday night in Greensboro, N.C., where the Richmond Renegades rallied for a 7-6 shootout victory over the Monarchs.

That victory - in which Richmond came back from a four-goal deficit in the third period - gave the Renegades a 41-20-7 record, while the Express finished 39-19-10.

Roanoke is seeded fifth in the Riley Cup playoffs and will face the Knoxville Cherokees in a best-of-five first-round series that begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Roanoke Civic Center. The second game is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the civic center. Game 3 is Sunday at Knoxville, and Game 4, if necessary, also will be played in Tennessee. If Game 5 is necessary, it will be played at 7 p.m. March 29 in Roanoke.

Richmond will be seeded fourth in the playoffs and will open against the Columbus Chill.

In other ECHL news, the Charlotte Checkers announced Tuesday they will pass up an invitation to join the American Hockey League and will remain in the ECHL next season.

ECHL owners met Monday in Charlotte, with the most contentious issue being the possible defection of several ECHL clubs to the American Hockey League, which is one of the National Hockey League's top minor leagues.

But late Tuesday, Charlotte team officials said they will not jump leagues. Executives from the Richmond Renegades and Raleigh IceCaps confirmed they will remain in the league, as well.

It was not clear if the Greensboro Monarchs will remain in the ECHL or join the AHL. Hampton Roads and South Carolina also have inquired about joining the AHL, but have made no official application.

by CNB