ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603040086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HOCKEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
Acting as ambassadors of the Roanoke Valley's burgeoning hockey scene, 14 teen-age boys journeyed to Canada in hopes of bringing home some precious metal.
The members of the Roanoke Junior Express showed some precious mettle, too.
uu``People were saying, `They play hockey in Roanoke, Virginia?''' said Pierre Paiement, general manager of the East Coast Hockey League's Roanoke Express and one of the coaches of the Junior Express. ``They soon realized not only do we play hockey, it's pretty good hockey.''
That's because the Junior Express won four of five games and earned a bronze medal in the B Division of the Can/Am Challenge Cup on the weekend of Feb.24-25.
While on their way to the Great White North, some players wondered if they could make a respectable showing in the tournament, which attracted more than 60 teams from Canada and the United States.
``I had no idea how we'd do,'' said Patrick Savard, 16, one of the team's leading scorers in the tournament. ``I knew we had a good team, but the teams in Canada are really good. When we first got there, we saw some of the other teams and we said, `Hey, we can win this tournament.'''
They almost did. They won their first three games before losing 5-1 to eventual champion Nassau, N.Y. The Junior Express followed that with a 4-2 victory over Howard County, Md., in the bronze-medal game.
``Winning that first game against Houston was so important,'' Savard said. ``That got our confidence up.''
Savard had four goals and two assists and Ryan Watson had three goals and three assists to lead the Junior Express. Chad Whitworth also scored three goals. Goalie Dan Pitman was in the nets for all five games, posting a 2.40 goals-against average and recording a 2-0 shutout against Lehigh, Pa.
Paiement said the team's performance should do wonders for the continued growth of the sport in the valley.
``This could have a great impact on youth hockey,'' he said. ``It should give our kids confidence that they can play with anybody.''
The team raised $15,000 in donations to make the trip. Paiement said it may prove difficult to raise that much money every year, but that local teams could make shorter trips on an annual basis. Paiement said much of the credit for this year's fund-raising success should go to Andre Savard, Patrick's dad, who enlisted the help of several businesses and individuals to reach the $15,000 goal.
``He put a lot of work into it,'' Paiement said. ``Any project this size, you need a leader to spark it. He certainly was the reason it was so successful.''
Other members of the squad of 15- to 17-year-olds were Scott Baker, Jeremy Blair, Jeremy Brown, Kevin Duddy, Greg Hahn, Steven Hamblen, Evan Maxey, Robbie Smith, Will Spiller and Mark Tuggle. The coaches were Paiement, Dean Watson and Dick Pitman.
HERR AS IN HURT: Express forward Craig Herr, who broke two ribs Feb.25 in the latest episode of an injury-filled season, could be ready to play Tuesday against Mobile.
Neither Herr nor right wing Jason Clarke made the trip to Richmond and South Carolina last week. Clarke, who suffered a fractured shoulder blade Feb.24, is out indefinitely.
EXPRESSIONS: The Express will play seven home games in March, including five in a row beginning with Tuesday's game against Mobile. The Express has won seven consecutive games at the Roanoke Civic Center. ... Roanoke's 7-2 loss at Johnstown on Feb.24 was the team's first defeat in four trips to the Cambria County War Memorial Coliseum.
AROUND THE ECHL: Hampton Roads acquired two NHL-contracted players last week. Center Mike Barrie, under contract to the Buffalo Sabres, and goalie Mike Torchia, assigned from the Washington Capitals, both played significant roles in the Admirals' recent 6-2 victory over the Louisiana IceGators. Barrie scored two goals and Torchia turned aside 33 shots. To make room for Torchia, the Admirals waived Todd Hunter, who promptly was claimed by the Charlotte Checkers. ... Former Express forward Reggie Brezeault was waived Friday by the Birmingham Bulls. ... Kimbi Daniels scored four goals in Charlotte's 11-2 victory over Louisiana. Daniels and Phil Berger had scored four of the Checkers' five game-winning goals since joining the team. Checkers' goalie Nick Vitucci beat Mobile 8-3 last week for his league-leading 27th victory of the season. ...
South Carolina goalies Sean Gauthier and Jason Saal traded places again. Gauthier was re-assigned to the Stingrays from St.John's of the American Hockey League and Saal was recalled. In February, Gauthier was called up and Saal was sent down. ... Nashville's Hugo Belanger had six points (one goal, five assists) in a 6-5 shootout victory over Jacksonville on Feb.20 and followed that with a five-point night in a 9-8 loss to the Lizard Kings 24 hours later. ... Tallahassee's Darren Schwartz scored his 500th point in the ECHL on Feb.24 with a power-play goal in a 7-4 victory over South Carolina. Schwartz and Berger are the only players in ECHL history to score 500 points. Tuesday when the Mysticks come to town. The Mysticks have a player named Phil Esposito, not to be confused with the former NHL star and executive.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 linesby CNB