ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 22, 1996 TAG: 9612230134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HOCKEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
When all the little Roanoke Express players gather around the Christmas tree glimmering with its string of lights - red lights, of course - this is what some hope to find:
Jeff Jablonski will be looking for lumps of goals in his stocking. Hopefully, there will be enough to give him 40 in a season for the first time in his professional career.
Dave Gagnon wants an aluminum goalie stick, so that when he takes a whack at a puck and aims it toward an empty net at the other end of the rink as he did Tuesday, the puck will sizzle past all roadblocks for his first goal.
A plane ticket for Winnipeg is what Jeff Loder wants to see, because that will mean another chance to play for the International Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
(Of course, the Express hopes it isn't a one-way ticket. A great present would be for Loder to get a brief call-up, play well and be told by Manitoba, ``We can't wait to see you next year. Have fun in Roanoke.'')
Ilya Dubkov should find a Santa suit, because of his on-ice gift-giving. The guy does everything short of putting a bow on the puck before giving Jablonski one gift assist after another. Christmas is a time when many people use Visa, and the Express is grateful Dubkov decided to use his.
For Michael Smith, simply a bottle of holiday cheers instead of boos. Maybe one day the professional wrestling fans who sometimes purchase hockey tickets will appreciate the value of a defenseman who can clean an opponent's stick as slickly as a candy cane, carry the puck into the zone and put it on net. The guy's only been an East Coast Hockey League All-Star twice and is pulling a hitch in the American Hockey League, so what do we know?
There's not enough money in Santa's budget to get Jeff Cowan the garbage truck he wants, but a gift certificate for a line of Rubbermaid products should suffice for this self-described ``garbage man.'' Until somebody changes a rule, goals resulting from hustle, effort, determination and being in the right place at the right time count just the same as a slap shot from the point, so let's talk trash.
Union cards go to rookies like Chris Lipsett, Bobby Brown, Ryan Equale and J.F. Tremblay. They've probably found their livelihood for the next few years.
For Duane Harmer, Dave Stewart, Doug Searle, Matt O'Dette and Cory Peterson, one more blue-liner to take up some slack. For Eric Landry, more shots. For Sean Brown, more recognition for his leadership and tough-as-nails play. For back-up goalie Larry Moberg, a victory.
For Tim Christian, who is as aptly named as any kid you'll ever meet, some appreciation for a quiet, team-first player who probably won't get the All-Star spot he earned as a rookie but is a perennial all-star with the church and youth groups he helps. Anybody who doesn't pull for this guy is a Scrooge.
And finally, for head coach Frank Anzalone, a guy who's always made due with what he's got, the team's fourth playoff berth in as many years.
And a practice rink would make a nice stocking stuffer.
MANAGEMENT MATERIAL: Former Roanoker Susan Robertson received a promotion in the Knoxville Cherokees' front office a couple of weeks ago after the team's general manager resigned.
Robertson, who was hired as the Cherokees' director of public relations a year ago, is now the co-general manager of business operations. She joins a short list of women who hold high-ranking front-office jobs in the ECHL, including Roanoke assistant general manager Shirley Woolwine and Richmond co-president Belinda Wiggins.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB