Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070050
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The up-and-down start to the Roanoke Express hockey season has brought back frightful childhood memories for coach Frank Anzalone.
``I don't like roller coasters,'' Anzalone said. ``Roller coasters scared me out of my wits.''
Anzalone should have packed the Dramamine last weekend, because the ride on the Express elevator was enough to give anyone motion sickness.
One night after a woeful exhibition in a 5-2 loss to Raleigh at home on Friday, the Express ripped those same IceCaps 6-3 on the road.
While Friday's loss left Anzalone fulminating - when he watched his team hold Raleigh to 16 shots yet allow five goals - Saturday's win left him wondering which way his team was headed.
``I always liked that little electric train that just went around in circles,'' he said. ``Three tickets and you just rode around. No ups, no downs.''
After an inconsistent start that leaves the team with a fitting 6-5 record, Anzalone hopes this train is back on track, as the Express plays host to East Division foe South Carolina tonight at 7 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The Express has been streaky on the power play and mistake-prone in the defensive zone through the season's first 22 days. There have been enough bad plays to go around.
``One involves a defenseman, then one involves a forward, then one involves a goalie,'' Anzalone said. ``We're a team that's not yet overly confident. We get behind and get a little rattled, panicky. It's my responsibility to steady this roller coaster, but it's the players' jobs to be receptive to what we're doing.''
Anzalone is considering changing his goalie rotation after Matt DelGuidice improved his record to 5-0 with Saturday's victory. Anzalone has rotated DelGuidice and Mike Parson on a game-by-game basis, but Parson is 1-5 and has dropped his past four starts. Anzalone is pondering giving DelGuidice a second consecutive start, something he hasn't done this season.
``I'm considering it,'' Anzalone said. ``I'm considering it because it's considerable. I haven't made my mind up, but it's worth thinking about, worth looking at.''
by CNB