ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
Roanoke Express coach Frank Anzalone saw what he needed to see during his team's exhibition Wednesday night. And he didn't need to look at the scoreboard to see it.
A disastrous second period contributed to the Express' 8-2 loss to the Richmond Renegades at the Richmond Coliseum. The Renegades scored six goals in the second period to ruin Roanoke's exhibition opener.
Winning, however, was not the primary goal Wednesday. Getting a look at some of the new kids was.
That's why experienced guys like Jeff Jablonski, Dave Gagnon, Tim Hanley, Michael Smith and Tim Christian didn't suit up.
``Sure, we didn't want to walk out of there losing 8-2,'' said Anzalone, but ``I want to make sure I make good calls on some of the younger guys. I'm pretty much the only guy watching them every day, so I want to make sure I pick the right guys.''
The Express has 17 guys in training camp who are 25 or younger. Seven forwards are under 23. Two of those guys - Bobby Brown, 21, and Jeff Cowan, 20 - scored Roanoke's goals Wednesday.
Other young players are getting their chances to contribute. Jeff Loder, 20, has a nice shot for a 5-foot-9, 170-pound center. Forward J.F. Tremblay, 21, is tough. Defenseman Matt O'Dette, 20, stands 6-5.
Heading into tonight's home exhibition against the South Carolina Stingrays, Anzalone said he still wants to look at some youngsters. The game is at 7:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center.
``So far, I've just been mixing and matching [the lines],'' said Anzalone. ``In my own mind, I have a better understanding of who could be playing together. Some players need to work on their defensive game. They're circling too much. We worked on that.''
Gagnon will most likely be in goal for the Express tonight. Wednesday, Larry Moberg played into the second period and allowed Richmond's first three goals. Scott Donaldson came in and surrendered four more before the period was through.
``We kept pace with Richmond in the first period,'' said Anzalone. ``We thought we were still in it and let down a little bit and Richmond kept the pace. The second period has always been our problem in that building.''
ROYAL PAYNE: Jason Payne joined the Express four days late because of a family matter he needed to resolve.
Payne, a 6-0, 210-pound defenseman, had been in camp with the American Hockey League's Saint John Flames and was scheduled to be in Roanoke on Sunday.
ICE CHIPS: Anzalone said Saint John could be sending another defenseman and possibly a goalie. First cuts will be coming this weekend. ``I think we'll know by the end of Sunday if a particular player is going to be with us,'' he said. ``We could know [today].'' The Express plays its final exhibition game at 3 p.m. Sunday against the Charlotte Checkers at the Roanoke Civic Center.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB