Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506210015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``It's hard to say how things are going now, because it's still early,'' said Anzalone. ``If work ethic means anything, we'll be okay because I'm working my rear end off.''
With the opening of training camp less than four months away, three things are holding up Anzalone's recruiting efforts: the lack of a working agreement between the ECHL and the nascent players' union, the uncertainty about the Express' affiliations for next season and the lack of a practice facility.
All but the last of those should be worked out soon.
The Professional Hockey Players' Association is holding meetings with player representatives this week and should have a deal with ECHL owners in July.
The Express, which is likely to end its affiliation with the NHL's San Jose Sharks, is talking with several clubs, including the former Quebec Nordiques, who have moved to Denver, and the Philadelphia Flyers. There's a good chance Roanoke will remain affiliated with the independent Minnesota Moose of the International Hockey League.
The sooner the owners and the union work out a deal, the better. In May, the owners voted to change the league's ``veteran rule'' slightly by allowing teams to carry three veterans - defined as a player with three years of professional experience - or four if the fourth player is a goalie.
The union may want that number to increase. Coaches need to know what the rule is before they attempt to sign players.
The lack of a practice facility is not likely to be rectified this season. The team already has decided training camp will be held Oct.1-8 in Hillsborough, N.C.
Efforts have been under way for months to build a skating rink in Roanoke County north of the city, but those plans - which involved the county government and private citizens - have been put on hold. Pierre Paiement, the Express' general manager, said a couple of private investors still are ``enthusiastic'' about building a rink in Roanoke.
``There is going to be a rink here in a year-and-a-half or so,'' Paiement said. ``I think we'll get it done faster if it's done through a private investor.''
Even with those distractions, a proven recruiter such as Anzalone will get his job done. He already has contacted several players from last season's team, which finished second in the East Division and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
The Express' biggest need is a goalie. Daniel Berthiaume, the former NHL goalie who set an ECHL record during the past season with 13 consecutive victories while in goal for the Express, has signed with the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League for next season.
Berthiaume, 29, joined the Vipers during the IHL playoffs after the Express was eliminated in the second round of the ECHL playoffs by eventual champion Richmond. He played in all five of Detroit's playoff games and compiled a goals-against average of 2.53 and a save percentage of .926.
Dan Ryder, who played for the Express for two years and worked mainly as a backup last season, is not expected to return to Roanoke. Ryder's rights are held by the San Jose Sharks.
``I think we have a lot of good things to sell here in Roanoke,'' Anzalone said. ``Roanoke has a beautiful side to it. If we can just get the players here to see that ... ''
MOOSE RETURNS: Anzalone said Dave ``Moose'' Morissette will be one of the guest instructors during the youth hockey school sponsored by the Express. Morissette, the first player taken by the Express in the 1993 expansion draft, was the team captain and one of Roanoke's most popular players in 1993-94. The on-ice enforcer played for Minnesota in the IHL during the past season.
The hockey school will be Aug.7-11 at the civic center. The school, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, is open to players ages 6-17. Jason Clarke also will be a guest instructor.
HUNTINGTON TROUBLES: Robert Henry, majority owner of the Huntington Blizzard, is named as a defendant in two lawsuits filed by partners Richard Szturm and James H. Burlew. Szturm, a co-owner of the Blizzard, filed a lawsuit in Cabell County (W.Va.) Circuit Court accusing Henry and Huntington Hockey of mismanagement. Henry owns 55 percent of Huntington Hockey, which manages the day-to-day operations of the ECHL team.
Szturm claims Henry refused to submit a business plan designed to stop substantial operating losses, which were estimated at $300,000 the past two years. Szturm asked for an injunction removing Huntington Hockey and appointing head coach Paul Pickard as interim general manager.
Burlew, a former executive vice president of Huntington Hockey and owner of 45 percent of the partnership stock, contends he and Henry each were to have owned 50 percent of the stock, but Henry transferred 55 percent of the stock to himself. Burlew claims he is owed $229,678 by Henry and Huntington Hockey.
ICE CHIPS: Two expansion teams have chosen names. The new team in Lafayette, La., will be called the Louisiana IceGators and the Jacksonville franchise will be the Lizard Kings. The IceGators will be coached by Doug Shedden; Jacksonville still is searching for a coach. The other two expansion teams will be called the Louisville (Ky.) RiverFrogs and the Mobile (Ala.) Mysticks. ... Kurt Kleinendorst is back as coach of the Raleigh IceCaps after a year spent as an assistant with San Diego of the IHL. Kleinendorst, 34, led the IceCaps to the Riley Cup finals two years ago. ... Rick Vaive has signed a two-year contract extension to coach the South Carolina Stingrays and also will assume the position of director of hockey operations.
by CNB