ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
In hockey vernacular, it is referred to by players and coaches as ``The Barn.''
Since the first skaters took to frozen water with sticks in hand and a roof over their heads, home rinks have been the barn where teams are expected to stockpile their victories like hay bales.
For the last three weeks, though, victories have not been born in the barn for the Roanoke Express. To paraphrase another old saw, wins are getting away before the Express can close the barn door.
``These are games you can't let get away,'' Express defenseman Dave Stewart said after Roanoke lost at home to the Richmond Renegades on Jan.14. ``You don't want to lose to teams in your division in your own barn.''
Roanoke has lost its past three games at the Roanoke Civic Center heading into this weekend's home games against Raleigh and Charlotte. The Express is also on a three-game skid overall, which comes right after the team had won 10 of 11 games from Dec.8-Jan.10.
The Express took some time off during this week's East Coast Hockey League All-Star Game break and hit the ice Wednesday and Thursday to work some kinks out. Coach Frank Anzalone liked some of the things he saw in practice.
``We didn't really talk as much about winning as we did about focusing on things we need to upgrade,'' said Anzalone. ``We accomplished a lot during the last two days. We're trying to approach things not like we're mad. There was some maintenance we needed to do to get back on the road to recovery.''
The Express worked on shoring up its power play and doing a better job of using its speed to get the puck through mid-zone.
``Our power play has been confused,'' said Anzalone. ``We're not shooting the puck enough from the point enough. We want to take more shots and have people around the net. In mid-zone, there are times when we want our defense to find a centerman who's flying.''
PERSONNEL MATTERS: Anzalone also had grown concerned that some players are quietly disenchanted with playing time now that the Express is back to a full complement of players. With Jeff Loder and Michael Smith back from call-ups to the International and American Hockey Leagues, some players have had to sit out games.
ECHL rules allow teams to carry 20 players on the roster but dress only 18 for games.
``There was just some internal confusion about what was going on,'' Anzalone said. ``Some guys are going to sit out. There's no way around it. We had some meetings to discuss it. Who knows? In February we may have some injuries or call-ups and some guys will have to play. If there's some back-biting going on and some guys are not happy about not playing, we'll have to address it.
``I like these guys and I want to help them become better players. I want them to do well, but some are going to have to sit out.''
ICE CHIPS: The Express announced the makeup dates for games missed against the Richmond Renegades earlier this month. Roanoke will travel to Richmond on Sunday, Feb.9 for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff and will return to Richmond on March 10 for the second game, also at 7:05.... Express right wing J.F. Tremblay, who injured his left wrist on Jan.14 against Richmond, will remain on injured reserve. He would be Roanoke's 21st player on the roster, one above the maximum allowed by the ECHL.... Two streaks ended when the Express lost 4-1 at Raleigh on Jan.18 - Ilya Dubkov's 16-game point-scoring streak and the team's six-game road win streak.
BIG WEEKEND: The Express is anticipating two of its biggest crowds of the season for this weekend's games and is responding with some of its biggest promotions of the year.
Tonight, the ``Wild Boyz'' daredevil team will perform stunts, including repelling from the ceiling and high-speed maneuvers across the ice.
Saturday night will be NASCAR Night and popular driver Ken Schrader will be on hand to sign autographs, as will Late Model driver Butch Hamlet and Mini Cup driver Willy Wines Jr., who drives the Roanoke Express race car. The racers will sign autographs beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the civic center.
On Sunday, the Express will be one of the co-sponsors for the Kroger Big Screen Super Bowl Party at the civic center. Admission to the 3 p.m. party is a donation of a non-perishable food item which will aid the Southwest Virginia Food Bank. During the party, the Roanoke Valley Hockey Boosters will sponsor a silent auction to have dinner with an Express player.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB