Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Fitting two goaltenders into one crease is kind of like squeezing John Goodman into a pair of britches with a 32-inch waistline.
But Matt DelGuidice and Mike Parson keep trying.
For the fourth time in their professional hockey careers, DelGuidice and Parson find themselves competing for ice time on the same team - this time with the Roanoke Express.
``You'd be surprised how small the hockey community is,'' DelGuidice said. ``It's weird how many people know each other in hockey.''
DelGuidice and Parson have seen a lot of each other in the past five years. Both were drafted by the Boston Bruins - Parson was the Bruins' second choice in 1989, DelGuidice was a fifth-round pick in 1987. DelGuidice eventually played 11 games in the NHL.
Along the way, both players shared playing time with Providence and Portland (Maine) in the American Hockey League and both had a tryout with the Ottawa Senators in 1993. They were reunited in Roanoke when Parson signed with the Express as a free agent in August and DelGuidice was acquired in a trade with Nashville a couple of weeks later.
For a pair of guys who came up in the same organization and played the same position, DelGuidice and Parson have few similarities. On the ice, DelGuidice is left-handed, Parson is a right-hander. DelGuidice might stay on his skates a tad longer than does Parson.
Off the ice, Parson, 25, is a quiet family man with a wife, Christa, and 10-month-old daughter, Madison. DelGuidice, 28, is a single, garrulous extrovert.
``We're opposites, that's for sure,'' Parson said.
Frank Anzalone, the Express' coach, has rotated his goalies each game and each goalie has relieved the other once. He wouldn't say who would get the starting assignment tonight when the Express, which ended a four-game trip, plays Raleigh at 7:30 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
DelGuidice has the better numbers so far - a 4-0 record and 3.40 goals-against average compared with Parson's marks of 1-4 and 5.54.
Parson's numbers are a bit misleading. He has played twice against defending Riley Cup champion Richmond (which may be the ECHL's best team again) and once against a tough Wheeling squad. Other than a miserable performance in a 7-2 loss to Louisville, Parson has played well lately. His one victory came against Raleigh, when Anzalone pulled DelGuidice after one period.
``We're still fighting for ice time, but we're more mature as people,'' Parson said. ``We both still want to play, though.''
Parson came to Roanoke looking for a lot of playing time. He spent part of last season with Portland behind Jim Carey, who was called up by the Washington Capitals midway through the season.
Likewise, DelGuidice wants to play, but he'll be satisfied playing every other game.
``We're still a team,'' he said. ``You always want the other guy to do well. You've got to have two goalies playing well to be successful. Goalies get hurt, they get sick, they go through cold spells ... I'll be focused if I play one of every two games.''
Anzalone has said since the preseason that DelGuidice and Parson needed to be amenable to sharing goalie duties. So far, they appear to be.
``Both are capable goaltenders,'' he said. ``My plan is to not keep one guy out of action for more than twice in a row. I'll try to split them. ... By the same token, I've got decisions to make. Sometimes, I'll just hope I guess right and play the right guy.''
GALLENTINE UPDATE: Brian Gallentine, the Express' rookie left wing who suffered a serious injury to his left eye when he took a high stick in Sunday's game against the Wheeling Thunderbirds, has been released from Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital and will be returning to his home state of Michigan for therapy.
Gallentine's prognosis for recovery appears to be good, but it still will take several days or even weeks for the swelling around his eye to subside. The Jackson, Mich., native is expected to work with doctors in Ann Arbor for the next couple of weeks. He could return to Roanoke within a month.
``We may have to put him on the 60-day'' injured reserve list, Anzalone said. ``It may take 45 days for him to come back [from the injury], then another 15 days before he can skate. No doctor's going to let him skate for at least three weeks.''
If there's no nerve damage in his left eye, odds are favorable for a complete recovery.
ICE CHIPS:Roanoke right wing Jason Clarke has seven goals, the third-highest total in the ECHL. He is 16th in scoring, with 11 points. Clarke has had a solid 1995. Since Jan.1, when he scored his first goal of last season, Clarke has 18 goals and 39 points in 47 regular-season games played this calender year. ...
The Express picked up two players this week: forward Louis-Phillipe Charbonneau and defenseman Paul Croteau. Charbonneau, who was released last week by the Cornwall (Ontario) Aces of the AHL, had been invited to Roanoke's training camp before signing with Cornwall. The Express got Croteau from Raleigh for cash. Both players arrived in Roanoke on Thursday, but neither is expected to play tonight.
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.