ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Jack Bogaczyk
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Hockey can be a cold game. Then, Frank Anzalone already knew that.
The only coach in Roanoke Express history has guided an NCAA championship team. He also has lost two pro jobs.
And at the so-called ``Roundhouse,'' Anzalone has been roundly booed in recent weeks. He's asked not to have the spotlight shine on him during Express' pregame introductions at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Sadly, his wife, Teresa, no longer attends Express' games. She has carried their crying son, Francis, from the arena after the boy couldn't help but hear fans ripping his dad.
Then, a week ago, a season ticket-holder - Box 9, Row A is the neighborhood - came up with a flier entitled ``Top 10 Reasons to Get Rid of Frank Anzalone'' and circulated it at a game that became the club's 11th loss in 15 dates after a 16-9 start.
Express executives aren't sure whether Anzalone saw the page or not, and club security quickly collected many of the sheets, which concluded, ``Frank Anzalone is a proven winner, but he needs to get with it or get out.''
It was - surprise - unsigned by a ``Concerned Express Fan.'' Other descriptive adjectives would apply, too, but at least the fan was half-right.
Anzalone is a success, despite what the scoreboard said Tuesday night. After a 6-2 Express loss to Charlotte, Anzalone was left to seek the franchise's 100th victory Saturday night at the Checkers' dome.
In his three seasons behind the Express' bench, only Richmond's Roy Sommer (103) and John Brophy (101) of Hampton Roads have coached more ECHL victories than Anzalone.
Against the Express' East Division foes - Richmond, Hampton, Charlotte, South Carolina and Raleigh - Anzalone's three teams are 57-45-8, and at least by five victories.
He took an expansion club in a city that was in hockey meltdown and won immediately. The misguided missive contends the Express has more talent than 65 percent of its ECHL rivals.
Not many ECHL insiders would concur with that - if any. Who does the ``fan'' think tirelessly scouted and recruited those players? Why do some of those players keep coming back to play for Anzalone?
Of course, there are players who have and will snipe at Anzalone. That's pro sports. Does anyone think every one of the Phoenix Suns was saddened to see Paul Westphal fired Tuesday?
Although the Express has battled to get and keep players, Anzalone has been nothing but gracious in allowing players to leave for a higher level. Maybe that's why, although he can be a demanding taskmaster, players want to learn from him.
In the league's best division, with a club that has a joke of an affiliation compared with its rivals' NHL and IHL assistance, the Express is competitive. South Carolina, one of the Express' East Division foes, announced plans to build a practice rink Tuesday.
Anzalone's team should be so fortunate. No, it's not fun to be at the YMCA for practice.
That Anazlone took Lake Superior State from Michigan's upper Peninsula to the 1988 NCAA Division I title was no fluke. He has a plan, a system, and his teams play it.
Not everyone can play for him. Not everyone likes to watch his team's trapping, positional, defensive style.
Some of the same fans who don't like Anzalone's philosophy haven't taken to defenseman Michael Smith, either. He gets the raspberries, too, because he's the quintessential Anzalone player.
He's also only a two-time ECHL All-Star.
Those fans who want flying wings and flying fists? Would they also put up with last place, 2,200 in the seats every night and Roanoke's name on another hockey tombstone?
Sometimes, Anzalone is his own worst enemy, usually because he's so brutally honest. Ask a question. Get an answer.
Hey, he's just being Frank.
Express president John Gagnon says Anzalone ``is not the most positive coach in the league. He is the most knowledgeable about hockey, period. You'd have a hard time finding someone else who knows as much about the game of hockey.''
He also isn't on thin ice. Anzalone is working on the first season of a two-year contract at a base salary in the $45,000 range.
Gagnon said the coach has been assured his job is safe, although it would be understandable if Anzalone is disheartened as things have turned cold on and off the ice.
``He knows how to find players, how to recognize what a player can do,'' Gagnon said. ``He's probably the best coach in the ECHL.''
Anzalone isn't going to win any popularity contests. Then, that's not what he's paid to do. What he's paid to do, he's done.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Frank Anzalone was denied victoryby CNBNo.100 with Roanoke when his Express lost to Charlotte 6-2 on
Tuesday night. color. (different photo ran in New River Valley
edition).