ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 13, 1996 TAG: 9610150015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
Charlotte Checkers
Last season: 45-21-4, second in East (won Riley Cup).
Coach: John Marks.
NHL affiliations: Boston Bruins, New York Rangers.
Players to watch: F Phil Berger, C Darryl Noren, G Nick Vitucci.
Outlook: The Checkers have eight players back from last season's ECHL championship squad. They'll score goals - even without retired Shawn Wheeler - and look to be the class of the league's toughest division until somebody proves otherwise.
Richmond Renegades
Last season: 46-11-13, first in East
Coach: Scott Gruhl.
NHL affiliation:Hartford Whalers.
Players to watch: C Scott Burfoot, RW Andrew Shier, RW Jay Murphy.
Outlook: Scott Gruhl brings 16 years of professional experience to his first season as a head coach. The Renegades will miss him on the ice, but they'll still have plenty of scoring punch.
Roanoke Express
Last season: 36-28-6, fourth in East.
Coach: Frank Anzalone.
NHL affiliation: Calgary Flames.
Players to watch: RW Jeff Jablonski, D Dave Stewart, G Dave Gagnon.
Outlook: The Express has more new faces than it has had in three seasons. The defense should be sound, and if the scoring comes around Roanoke can contend.
Hampton Roads Admirals
Last season: 32-25-13, fifth in East.
Coach: John Brophy.
NHL affiliation: Washington Capitals.
Players to watch: LW Rod Taylor, C Randy Pearce, G Darryl Paquette.
Outlook: The Admirals were wracked by call-ups and injuries last season, but a youth movement should help them rise in the division.
South Carolina Stingrays
Last season: 40-22-8, third in East.
Coach: Rick Vaive.
NHL affiliation: Buffalo Sabres.
Players to watch: C Mike Ross, C Brett Marietti, D Scott Boston.
Outlook: The Stingrays, who pushed the Checkers to five games in the playoffs last season, welcome back nine players. If they get solid goaltending, they'll battle Charlotte again.
Raleigh IceCaps
Last season: 23-34-13, sixth in East.
Coach: Kurt Kleinendorst.
NHL affiliations: New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators.
Players to watch: F Darren Colbourne, F Spencer Meany, F Cosmos DuPaul.
Outlook: The IceCaps still are rebuilding. They're not good enough to compete for a title, but they shouldn't finish in the cellar for a third consecutive season, either.
Knoxville Cherokees
Last season: 37-29-4, fourth in South
Coach: Barry Smith.
NHL affiliation: Los Angeles Kings.
Players to watch: F Kyle Reeves, F Olie Kjenstad, C Jim Brown.
Outlook: Scoring could be a problem for the Cherokees, which doesn't bode well for a team in the ECHL's toughest division.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB