Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 26, 1995 TAG: 9509260048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Michael Smith is back with the Roanoke Express. Again.
Smith, a two-time East Coast Hockey League All-Star defenseman who bounced between the ECHL and the International Hockey League last season, was cut by the IHL's Milwaukee Admirals last week and will return to the Express.
A third-year pro from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Smith played in the ECHL All-Star Game in each of his previous two seasons with Roanoke. He will join the team when training camp begins Sunday in Hillsborough, N.C
``Getting Michael Smith back certainly helps us,'' said Pierre Paiement, the Express' general manager. ``It seems like we'll be pretty good defensively with him back.''
Smith, who had six goals and 40 assists in 1994-95, was called up to the IHL's Minnesota Moose and sent back to Roanoke seven times last season. Minnesota, Roanoke's IHL affiliate, was injury-riddled on defense last season and was forced to recall Smith as a stopgap.
Milwaukee had signed Smith, 24, to a two-way contract that would have sent him to the Madison (Wis.) Monsters of the Colonial Hockey League if he was cut by Milwaukee. However, that contract was based on an impending vote by the IHL's owners to extend rosters over their 23-man limit.
That proposal was voted down this month, allowing Smith to become a free agent when he was cut by Milwaukee.
by CNB