ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 3, 1996 TAG: 9609040063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The re-tooling of the Roanoke Express will continue this week with the departure of another popular player, as the East Coast Hockey League team is expected to trade enforcer Jason Clarke to the Birmingham Bulls.
Clarke was in Roanoke on Monday and said he had been contacted by a Birmingham official Sunday and was told that a trade was nearly complete.
``I don't know what's going to happen,'' said Clarke. ``I was really hurt when I found out I was traded.''
Clarke and goalie Daniel Berthiaume were two of the team's most popular players the past two seasons, but neither will be back in Roanoke. Berthiaume signed with the Central Texas Stampede of the fledgling Western Professional Hockey League two weeks ago.
While Berthiaume was expected to return to Roanoke, Clarke's trade comes as no surprise to those close to the team who knew that Clarke's relationship with coach Frank Anzalone deteriorated last season.
Anzalone suspended Clarke for one game after Clarke allegedly was late for a practice. Anzalone benched Clarke during the first game of the ECHL Riley Cup playoff series against Charlotte after Clarke took two second-period penalties, one of which led to a power-play goal.
``Me and Frank didn't see eye-to-eye on most things,'' said Clarke. ``I was optimistic maybe we would work things out.''
Anzalone was not available for comment Monday.
Express general manager Pierre Paiement confirmed that the Express is attempting to finalize a deal with the Bulls.
Clarke, once dubbed a ``pugilistic specialist'' by Anzalone, became a fan favorite for his on-ice fisticuffs in two seasons with the Express. He set an ECHL record with 467 penalty minutes in 1994-95 when he scored only 11 goals and registered 18 assists.
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