ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 9, 1996 TAG: 9610090015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on October 10, 1996.
The Roanoke Express-Charlotte Checkers ice hockey exhibition game
will be played Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center. Wednesday's
sports section listed the wrong time.
Some hockey players will tell you training camp seems to last much longer than two weeks.
For Bobby Brown and Jeff Cowan it has seemed much longer than that. More like a month or more than a month.
They're in camp this week with the Roanoke Express, the duo's third training camp in a month. Members of the Calgary Flames' 50-man roster, Brown and Cowan went to camp with the NHL club, then were sent to Saint John of the American Hockey League before coming to Roanoke.
``We've been living out of a hotel room since the sixth of September,'' Brown said.
These two guys are ready to drop the puck on some real games. The pair has played in five exhibition games, not including the Express' visit to Richmond tonight.
Both have been impressive during the Express' camp at the Roanoke Civic Center. Both are young (Cowan turned 20 one day after Brown turned 21 in September) and both have lit up their respective junior leagues. Brown scored 42 goals in 59 games with Brandon of the Western League and Cowan notched 38 goals in 66 games in the Ontario League.
``They're both looking really good,'' said right wing Jeff Jablonski, who led Roanoke with 39 goals last season. ``Of course, they've been skating for about a month.
``Cowan's tall and lanky [6-foot-2, 185 pounds] with a lot of good moves. He stands out because of his size. Brown's got a big shot. He's scored a ton of goals.''
Both players thought they had excellent chances of sticking with Saint John, but an influx of players forced them down to Roanoke and the East Coast Hockey League.
``Saint John was in a bind,'' Cowan said. ``They drafted some guys and had to keep them. We have to stay positive. There is some disappointment when you realize you're not going to stay [in the AHL], but we're glad to be here. I'm ready to play.''
Neither player is focusing on how long he may be in Roanoke. Brown and Cowan could be around for the entire season, or they could be called up if they play well.
``You have to play hard and you have to play well to make them want to call you up,'' Brown said. ``If I deserve it, I'll get a chance. Once you get on the ice, you play because it's fun and because you want to win. You have to work hard.''
EXHIBITIONISTS: The Express should get a good test tonight when it begins the exhibition schedule at Richmond. The Renegades had the best record in the league last season and are now coached by former Richmond star Scott Gruhl.
``I expect it to be physical,'' Jablonski said of the game. ``I'm not sure what kind of team Gruhl will put on the ice, but I think there'll be lots of hitting. I know we have guys who like to hit.''
The Express plays two more exhibitions, both at home. Roanoke entertains South Carolina on Friday and plays host to Charlotte on Sunday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
SIZING 'EM UP: Judging by its training camp roster, the Express will have more size than in recent seasons - especially on defense, where the average size of Roanoke's players is about 6-foot-2, 200 pounds.
Three defensemen are 6-3 and 210 pounds or over: Tim Hanley, 6-3, 210; Doug Searle, 6-4, 220; and Matt O'Dette, 6-5, 220.
``Size doesn't put goals in the net,'' said Express defenseman Duane Harmer. ``Sometimes you can intimidate [with size]. You need a mix of grinding guys and finesse guys and I think we've got that mix.
``Searle and Hanley are big lads. With guys like that, hopefully [opposing] forwards will think twice before going in the corners.''
ICE CHIPS: Forward Jonathan Kelley has left training camp for personal reasons and it is unclear if he will return. Forward/defenseman Jason Payne, who attended the Saint John camp and was expected to be a physical force on the ice, did not report to Roanoke. Payne told at least one player he would report next week, but by then he may no longer be in coach Frank Anzalone's plans.
Neither player obtained from Birmingham in the off-season in the Jason Clarke trade reported to Roanoke. The Express sent Clarke and Wade Gibson to Birmingham for Olie Kjenstad and Brad Prefontaine, but traded Kjenstad to Knoxville for Searle and Sean Brown when Kjenstad balked at reporting to Roanoke. Prefontaine never came to camp.
As of late Tuesday, the Express had sold 2,086 season tickets, believed to be the most in Roanoke Valley hockey history. Last season, when the team averaged a franchise-record 5,900 fans per game, the Express sold about 1,800 season tickets.
The Express is sponsoring a golf tournament at 1 p.m. Oct.21 to raise money for the children's cancer ward at Community Hospital. The event will be held at Botetourt Country Club and is open to individuals and teams of three golfers. All Express players will take part, with each player being added to a three-man team. The tournament fee is $50, which includes greens fee, cart rental, food and beverages, a gift and a pair of Express tickets. Call Botetourt Country Club at 992-1451 to register.
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