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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 21, 1995                   TAG: 9509210059
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ECHL TEAMS OUT TO CLEAN UP, SPEED UP

At least that is what league owners hope will be the result of rules changes they've adopted from the NHL for the 1995-96 season.

The owners voted last week to implement the NHL's new rules limiting defensive clutching and grabbing. The NHL passed the new rules in hopes of cleaning up the play in the neutral zone and increasing scoring.

The ECHL will get its first taste of the new rules when exhibition season begins early next month.

``It was unanimous to endorse the NHL's new rule,'' Roanoke Express general manager Pierre Paiement said. ``It will be interesting to watch the first 10 or 12 games to see if the rule is enforced properly. If it is, it will cut down on the clutching, grabbing and interference that have become the style of play for some teams.''

Paiement said the rule probably will induce a couple of trends: Teams with fast skaters should have an advantage, and more power plays will result from an increase in penalties.

``Defensive players will have to become very mobile,'' he said. ``Guys with size won't be able to hold [opposing players]. It should help the smaller guys and the fast guys.''

Paiement said the Express should be able to adapt to the rule change easier than some other ECHL teams. One team official said the Express may have more team speed than it had a year ago under head coach Frank Anzalone, who has been in St.Paul, Minn., this week observing the Minnesota Moose training camp. The Moose is Roanoke's International Hockey League affiliate.

Paiement singled out the Richmond Renegades, who used a physical style to win last year's Riley Cup, as a team that may be hurt by the rule change.

In other news, the Express announced that 27 players are expected to attend training camp in Hillsborough, N.C., beginning Oct.1. Six players from last season's 39-19-10 squad are expected to return - forwards Ilya Dubkov, Jeff Jestadt, Marty Scriner and Jason Clarke, and defensemen Jon Larson and Chris Potter, who will attend as a right wing.

Dubkov is in the Moose training camp, and Clarke is attending camp with the American Hockey League's Prince Edward Island Senators. They will return to Roanoke if they do not make those clubs.

``We will be big and young, as we were our first season [in 1993-94],'' Anzalone said.

On Tuesday, the Moose cut four players committed to the Express: defensemen Mike Larkin and Trevor Dodman, and forwards Tim Christian and Michael Stacchi. All four players are expected to report to Hillsborough.

The Express opens the exhibition season Oct.6 at Hampton Roads. Roanoke plays at Charlotte on Oct.7 then plays its lone home exhibition game on Oct.10 against Charlotte.

The regular season begins Oct.13, when the Express plays host to Richmond at 7:30 p.m.