ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 27, 1996 TAG: 9612270036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
ROANOKE HOPES for many things, including a win over the Richmond Renegades tonight at the civic center.
Christmas is past, yet the wish list for the Roanoke Express has gotten longer.
It would like to have a full roster of players when it plays the Richmond Renegades tonight at home.
The Express would like for Jeff Loder and Michael Smith to return to Roanoke from their holidays in higher leagues.
It would like to beat the Renegades for the fourth time in as many meetings this season.
Any of that would make for a happy holiday season for Roanoke, which is trying to hang with the Renegades, the South Carolina Stingrays and the Hampton Roads Admirals in the East Coast Hockey League's East Division.
Heading into Thursday's games, Richmond, South Carolina and Hampton Roads were all tied for first place with 40 points. Roanoke is in fourth place with 33 points.
The Express is almost certain it will be without Loder and Smith tonight. Smith is still with the American Hockey League's Saint John Flames and Loder remains with the International Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
Express general manager Pierre Paiement said it is possible both players will return soon. Team officials thought Smith would be back before Christmas, but his solid play for the Flames earned him an extension.
``The word is that Calgary will have nine defensemen back in their lineup soon,'' Paiement said of Saint John's parent club. ``If they send two guys down to Saint John, Smith could come back, although we were told that he's been their best defenseman lately.''
When Loder was called up a week ago, it was thought that the 20-year-old center, who is Roanoke's second-leading scorer, was gone for good. It's possible, though, that he's just filling a spot on a Manitoba roster that's been wracked with injuries.
Loder and Smith both were expected to play Thursday - Loder was playing against Kansas City, Smith against the St. John's Maple Leafs.
``They might return Jeff Loder right after the game,'' on Thursday, Paiement said. ``My assumption is, when he came to play the first time [with Manitoba earlier in the month,] he played well enough for them to see that if they need somebody, they can bring him back. I don't think they plan to keep him the rest of the season.''
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB