ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 7, 1996 TAG: 9608070031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DANIEL BERTHIAUME leaves the ECHL for the fledgling Western Professional Hockey League.
The Roanoke Express doesn't have Daniel Berthiaume to guard its nets anymore.
Berthiaume, the popular record-setting goaltender for the Express, has signed with the Central Texas Stampede of the upstart Western Professional Hockey League.
The loss is crucial for the Express, but perhaps even more crucial for the ECHL, which may soon be witnessing some of its other players defect to this fledgling rival league. Express coach Frank Anzalone said he hopes to have at least one affiliation with a higher league next season, an affiliation that may provide the Express with a goaltender.
``We can't match the Texas league offer based on our [ECHL] salary cap,'' Anzalone said. ``We'll keep researching goalies and maybe sign a young goalie. Hopefully, we'll get one from an affiliate.''
Anzalone didn't rule out the possibility of re-signing Matt DelGuidice, who was Roanoke's starting goalie at the beginning of last season. Berthiaume re-joined the team in November.
The Stampede, based in Belton, Texas, announced the Berthiaume signing at a news conference Tuesday.
It appeared the Express was ready to re-sign Berthiaume at the end of last season, but an ownership shake-up put contract talks on hold. Express president John Gagnon and general manager Pierre Paiement were removed from their positions on the team's board of directors, although Paiement eventually retained his GM job.
Berthiaume's agent, Larry Reauch, said Berthiaume wanted to stay in Roanoke, but could not turn down the offer from the Texas club, which apparently is trying to secure a teaching position for Berthiaume's fiancee, Pamela Erdim of Roanoke.
``He should've been signed [by Roanoke], sealed and delivered last spring,'' said Reauch. ``Pierre Paiement wouldn't return my phone calls. If they had taken care of business, he would have stayed in Roanoke. The only person who almost saved the day was Frank Anzalone. I hold him in high regard. If he hadn't stepped in, Danny would've signed somewhere else two months ago.''
Paiement, who is out of town until the middle of the month and couldn't be reached Tuesday, may not have been in a position to re-negotiate Berthiaume's contract when talks stalled. Many of Paiement's duties were changed after the ownership shake-up and the Express had salary-cap concerns that may have precluded them from meeting Berthiaume's salary demands.
Berthiaume was 37-7-5 in parts of two seasons with Roanoke. He was 22-13-3 with a 3.19 goals-against average last season.
Berthiaume, 30, originally signed with Roanoke in January, 1995, and proceeded to lead the Express to the second round of the Riley Cup playoffs. He won a league-record 13 straight games as Roanoke came within one point of winning the ECHL East Division.
Berthiaume began last season with the Detroit Vipers of the International League and posted two shutouts in his first three starts. He became the odd man out, however, when the Vipers wound up with three goalies on their roster and re-joined the Express.
``Danny loved Roanoke,'' Reauch said, ``but this was an offer he could not turn down.''
LENGTH: Medium: 66 linesby CNB