Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510130049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He has seen every player who suited up in the Express' forest green jerseys, he has been a part of two Express teams that showed steady improvement and advanced to the East Coast Hockey League playoffs and he is the team's all-time leading goal scorer.
So, who better to ask than Jestadt for a scouting report on this year's squad, which hits the ice for its season opener tonight at 7:30 against the defending Riley Cup champion Richmond Renegades at the Roanoke Civic Center.
``This is easily the best team we've had so far,'' Jestadt said. ``We've got just a few spots to fill. It's the best blend of players we've had since I've been here. The first year, we had some pretty tough players. This year, we've got more speed, but we've still got some tough players. We've got such a variety of players.''
The Express, which went 3-0 in preseason games, will need contributions from everyone if it is going to challenge the Renegades.
Tonight's contest will be the first in a two-game weekend for Roanoke, which entertains Raleigh on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Richmond is missing some players from last year's championship squad, most notably center Blaine Moore, but the Renegades will be one of the best teams in a tough East Division.
Last year, Richmond started the season 12-0-1 but was overtaken by Roanoke late in the season before edging the Express by one point for the division title.
``They're still very good,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone.
Anzalone said he had not decided who will start in goal for tonight's opener. He has two capable netminders in Mike Parson and Matt DelGuidice. Both likely will play this weekend.
``They're so equal, I'd say one will start [tonight] and the other will start Saturday,'' Anzalone said.
The Express received some bad news Thursday when it learned that center Marty Schriner may be suspended for fighting with Hampton Roads' Jason MacIntyre while both were in the penalty box during the third period of Tuesday's exhibition game.
Schriner and MacIntyre were sent to the box for fighting at the 1:27 mark of the period. The two players continued jawing, then MacIntyre bolted to Schriner's side of the penalty box, a penalty box official said.
ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly will review tape of the incident and will issue a ruling today whether or not suspensions are warranted for both players, Express general manager Pierre Paiement said.
``There shouldn't be any indecision about who was at fault,'' Paiement said. ``MacIntyre jumped on him. When you look at the tape and you see that they are fighting on one side [of the penalty box], it should be obvious who's at fault - it's the guy who went to that side.''
There is no partition separating players from each other in the civic center's penalty box. Paiement said he didn't know if there were plans to put one in place.
``We've instructed our security members to make sure they put a guy in the middle [between the players] when there are two players in the penalty box,'' Paiement said.
by CNB