ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610070137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The final day before players report to training camp was eventful for the Roanoke Express.
On Friday, the team made a trade involving a player who wasn't planning on coming to town anyway, welcomed back some old players, awaited word on whether one of its past stars was returning and readied for an influx of talent from its first-year affiliation with the NHL's Calgary Flames.
Among the players scheduled to report to Roanoke today are seven returnees from last season's squad: defenseman and team captain Dave Stewart (who had considered retiring after last season), leading goal scorer Jeff Jablonski, two-time East Coast Hockey League All-Star defenseman Michael Smith, all-ECHL forward Tim Christian and second-year defensemen Tim Hanley and Duane Harmer.
Former Express goalie Dave Gagnon is back with the team after spending the past 1 1/2 seasons with the International Hockey League's Minnesota Moose.
The team is still waiting to see if Ilya Dubkov, the all-time leading point scorer in franchise history, returns from Russia, where he was expected to play with the Red Army team. Dubkov may return to the United States, but he may elect to play in another league.
``We're still waiting to hear from him,'' said Pierre Paiement, Express general manager.
One player who won't be in camp is winger Olie Kjenstad, who was acquired from Birmingham along with defenseman Brad Prefontaine in a trade for Jason Clarke and Wade Gibson a month ago. Kjenstad did not want to report to Roanoke, so the Express traded his rights to Knoxville for right wing Sean Brown and defenseman Doug Searle.
Prefontaine ``was going to go to the Colonial League,'' said Paiement. ``You normally don't like to trade within your own division, but we got good players for him.''
Earlier this week, Clarke was still in Roanoke and had told friends he was exploring options in Europe. He did, however, report to Birmingham late Friday.
The Express will also welcome three players who were in camp with Calgary last month: left wing Jeff Cowan (a member of Calgary's 50-man roster), forward Bob Brown and Matt O'Dette.
BROPHY RIPS PLAYER: Defenseman Jason Payne hasn't even suited up for the Express yet and already he's been ripped by Hampton Roads coach John Brophy.
Last week, Brophy saw Payne get three major penalties for fighting in Saint John's 4-2 AHL win over the Portland Pirates. Usually, Brophy adores guys like that. Not this time.
``It was a pretty good game except for that bull at the end of the game,'' he said. ``I hope they send Payne down to Roanoke because we'll send his head back in a basket.''
ADULT LEAGUES: The Roanoke Valley Adult Ice Hockey League will hold an organizational open skate on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center. The skate will cost $10, season fees are $250.
(Library Note: the third paragraph originally said that Tim Christian was a forward and a defenseman. He is a forward. Tim Hanley is a defenseman.)
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB