ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170018
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The day before the opening of the regular hockey season, Roanoke Express coach Frank Anzalone got a rude awakening.
Bright and early Wednesday morning, as he was making his way to hockey practice, Anzalone was met by second-year defenseman Tim Hanley, who informed the coach that he was leaving the squad. Tuesday evening, Hanley's younger brother Pat was taken off the Express roster after a disagreement with Anzalone.
Whether the younger Hanley was dismissed or quit is not quite clear. It seems his departure was hastened by a little of both. Shortly afterward, his big brother decided he didn't want to stick around, either.
``They got into their truck and rode off into the horizon,'' said Anzalone. ``It's one of the top five most disheartening incidents of my coaching career.''
The loss of the Hanleys leaves the Express with only six defensemen heading into tonight's season opener at Knoxville. Anzalone is hoping to claim a player off waivers from another club before the team takes the ice.
The episode with the Hanleys ended after Anzalone and Pat Hanley had a disagreement over the rookie's role with the club. Brought into camp as a defenseman, Hanley had played some at forward during the exhibition season.
``I told [Tim Hanley] that Pat was kind of on the bubble,'' said Anzalone. ``He was in a battle. Tim said he understood. I put [Tim Hanley] in an apartment first [without a roommate].
``[Tuesday night] I gave Pat a contract and put him in the apartment. He gave it back to me and said `Why did I play left wing [in an exhibition against Charlotte on Sunday]?' I said, `So you wouldn't have to sit every third game.' Pat and I were not on the same page. We were not even communicating. Pat didn't want to stay. I know that I had been very fair, very accommodating.''
Hanley was one of Roanoke's biggest defensemen at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He was not the most physical of blue-liners, but he was solid in the Express zone and was counted on in the team's power play.
The only Express player to play in all 70 games last season, Hanley had five goals and 12 assists. Neither he nor his brother were available for comment on Wednesday.
``The bottom line is, they don't see themselves in the ECHL,'' Anzalone said. ``Tim's a solid guy and was a good guy to have in the organization. We lost a good hockey player today.''
FAST START: The Express opens the season with three games in three days, beginning tonight at Knoxville. The Express hosts Huntington on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center. Raleigh comes to town Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
``I'd rather play one, then have an off-day, then two [games],'' said Anzalone. ``We have a very difficult schedule.''
NEW BLOOD: If Roanoke is to have a good year, it will need solid contributions from rookies like Bobby Brown, Jeff Cowan, Chris Lipsett, J.F. Tremblay and Jeff Loder, among others.
With the departure of Tim Hanley, the Express has only five returning players on its 20-man roster.
``If some of the guys are good players at a young age, we have some talent to be pretty good,'' said Anzalone. ``We're not bad in the grinding department. We might be short a grinder who can score. We're good. We're not overly strong, but we've got some talent.''
ICE CHIPS: Anzalone made his final roster move when he waived forward Jason Payne. Anzalone had wanted to trade Payne, possibly to Jacksonville, but Payne jumped to the Colonial League. Forward Kyle Millar is on the roster, but he has an injured ankle and will miss the weekend games. Anzalone said Millar could begin skating next week.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff: 1996-97 Roanoke Express. KEYWORDS: MGRby CNB