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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995                   TAG: 9505040062
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-7   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

YOUTH HOCKEY PLAYERS HAVE EYES ON U. S. NATIONAL TEAM

Nine Roanoke Valley teen-agers will try to skate their way onto the United States National Hockey Team this weekend when they take part in the Southeast District tryouts at Fayetteville, N.C.

The local players are Scott Baker, Jeremy Brown, Kevin Duddy, Greg Hahn, Jae McCadden, Dan Pitman, Patrick Savard, Ryan Watson and Chad Whitworth.

The players, ages 14-16, play for teams in the Roanoke Valley Youth Hockey Association.

Berths on the U.S. National Team also will be up for grabs this weekend at the Southeast District tryouts. Seven players from three age groups will be selected to attend the National Team camp later this spring.

``Our program has grown tremendously the last three years,'' said Dick Pitman, the director of the Roanoke Valley Youth Hockey Association. ``We have a lot of outstanding players in the league. It's an honor to have these players selected. It just shows how the popularity of hockey is spreading across Roanoke.''

Pitman, along with other league representatives and players' parents, have credited the Roanoke Express minor-league hockey team for leading a hockey renaissance in the area.

The Express, which plays in the expanding East Coast Hockey League, has drawn over 350,000 fans to the Roanoke Civic Center in the team's first two seasons.

``Hockey's growing here,'' Pitman said. ``No question.''

by CNB