ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 13, 1996 TAG: 9611130069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
THE OLD GUARD, Ilya Dubkov and Dave Gagnon, leads the way as Roanoke shoots down Richmond 6-2.
Ilya Dubkov is back for the Roanoke Express. So is Dave Gagnon.
Actually, Dubkov was imported from Russia a couple of days ago and Gagnon has been with the team all season. However Gagnon appears to be returning to the form that made him an East Coast Hockey League All-Star two years ago. He stopped 34 of 36 shots as the Express pounded the East Division-leading Richmond Renegades 6-2 on Tuesday night.
A Roanoke Civic Center crowd of 3,815 cheered Gagnon as he turned aside every shot he saw for two periods. Two weeks ago, Roanoke fans were booing the veteran netminder as he and the team got off to a slow start.
The loudest ovation, though, was reserved for Dubkov's introduction on the public address system before the game. The crowd erupted again after he scored a goal in the first period in his first game back in Roanoke.
The all-time leading scorer in Express history journeyed back to the United States after a brief stint in Russia's Red Army program. When he was demoted to the Red Army B team a couple of months ago, he called Express coach Frank Anzalone and requested a chance to return.
``The opportunity has been given to him,'' said Anzalone, who was unhappy with Dubkov's play at times last season and was unsure if he wanted him back. ``He wanted to come back. I think he did well tonight. He adds that ability to carry the puck.
``He's not here to hit guys. Hopefully, with the `new' Express, if he works hard, we're supposed to have guys who can do the hitting for him. We want him to do what he's done in the past, only do it 20 percent better than last year. The guy can handle the [puck], that's all there is to it.''
The Express learned nearly two months ago that Dubkov wanted to return. Getting him from Russia to the United States, however, still was about as difficult today as in the days of the Iron Curtain.
``It took five days to get a visa,'' said Anzalone. ``His wife [Olga] got hers in three. We had to wait 10 days for an airline ticket. He went to Siberia on a road trip and I couldn't reach him for six days.''
Judging by Tuesday's outcome, it was worth the wait.
``It's good to be back,'' said Dubkov. ``In Siberia it snows in September.''
Gagnon, too, probably felt as if he'd been exiled to Siberia judging by the chilly reception he received from the home crowd a couple of weeks ago. After going 1-4-1 and watching his goals-against average soar above 6.00, Gagnon has gone 4-1-0.
``I definitely was not playing well,'' he said. ``The guys needed me to play better. A lot of times the fans just look at the box scores. The only person out there who felt worse than me was [defenseman Michael Smith]. He gets booed, too.
``It doesn't make you feel good, but I guess they had a right to'' boo.
There was no booing Tuesday, as Roanoke (6-8-1), which went 2-4 on a six-game trip, ended a three-game losing streak by scoring the game's first four goals.
Gagnon and the Express got more than enough offensive support in a three-goal first period featuring goals from Jeff Jablonski, Dubkov and Jeff Loder.
The Express went up 4-0 when Chris Lipsett and Ryan Equale hooked up on a bang-bang goal at 16:45 of the second. Lipsett got the puck from Jeff Cowan behind the net and centered to an onrushing Equale, who beat Richmond goalie Tripp Tracy through the pads.
Richmond (8-3) ended the shutout bid when Jay McNeill scored in the third, but Christian swiped another pass and made it 5-1 with a slap shot. Trevor Senn scored for the Renegades, but Sean Brown added a power-play goal for the Express.
Two of the Renegades' three losses have come to the Express, a team they posted a 6-0-4 record against last season.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: NHAT MEYER\Staff. Roanoke goalie David Gagnon deflects aby CNBshot by a Richmond Renegade during the second period of their game
at the Roanoke Civic Center on Tuesday night. color.