ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 1996 TAG: 9610290060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
There are 65 games left in the East Coast Hockey League regular season, so the Roanoke Express does not face a must-win situation tonight.
However, a victory against the South Carolina Stingrays at the Roanoke Civic Center would be huge for a young team still trying to gain some consistency.
For one of the few times this season, Express coach Frank Anzalone will have a full roster of players. Dave Stewart is back from a three-game suspension and will help bolster a defense that has been shorthanded.
The Express (1-4-0) has lost its past three games and has been outscored 20-7 during that span, including a 9-1 loss at Charlotte on Friday. Roanoke has scored one goal in each of its past two games.
A lack of practice time also has hurt the Express at a time when it needs to work out some kinks. The civic center was the site of a popular gun show this past weekend and won't have ice available until today. The Express is expected to go through a workout this morning.
Last week, the team had to travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a practice, then left a day early so it could practice at Charlotte's Independence Arena. One Express official said that workout was observed by a member of the Checkers' staff.
With nine first-year players on the squad, a rough start was not entirely unexpected. Still, there is reason to expect improvement.
``You have to keep in mind that Charlotte started off 0-5-1 last year,'' said Joe Steffen, Roanoke's director of communications. ``They were similar to us, with a lot of young players and veterans. As everybody knows, they won the whole thing. [Charlotte goalie] Nick Vitucci had his problems early last year and he wound up being the playoff MVP.''
ICE CHIPS: The Express acquired defenseman Gary Bailey from Huntington during the weekend. Bailey replaces rookie Bill Holowatiuk, who left the squad. The Express is hoping to receive more help from its affiliation with the American Hockey League's Saint John Flames. Saint John soon should be activating a couple of injured defensemen, which may lead to a defenseman or two coming to Roanoke.
Shuttle buses will be running from the Williamson Road parking garage beginning at 6 p.m. today for the hockey game and the production of ``The Sound of Music'' at the civic center auditorium. Parking in the garage and the shuttle service are free.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB