ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997 TAG: 9701300055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Michael Smith won't say it, but he probably wishes Roanoke Express fans would lay off the boos.
The Express defenseman gets more ice time than any Express skater, but it's not because he was once recruited and coached at Lake Superior State by Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone.
``You have to really know the game of hockey to appreciate Michael Smith,'' said Express general manager Pierre Paiement.
That's why, when a Quebec-based scouting acquaintance of Paiement saw the Express play late last season, Smith - whose name the man didn't know at the time - was the first player noticed.
Smith, despite being a two-time East Coast Hockey League all-star, hears the raspberries many icy nights at the Roanoke Civic Center. It is baffling to consider how little his steadiness and stick work are appreciated above the ice.
Smith, who turned 26 two weeks ago, is not exactly a big hit, or a big hitter. He also need not apologize for either.
``My game is to play offensively,'' Smith said. ``I might not always be in the right spot defensively, but usually I am. We can't be always perfect.''
Well, almost.
Smith played the 227th game of his Express career in Wednesday night's 5-0 triumph over Knoxville. It was a lot like the previous 226 for Buffalo's 13th-round draft pick in 1991 - except that he played with the flu.
As for being in the right place at the right time, the 6-foot-1 defenseman usually is there. Against the Cherokees, he fired the shots that eventually became the first two Express scores - his fourth goal of the season and Wayne Strachan's power-play rebound.
However, the Winnipeg native hasn't logged more ice time than any Express player except goalie Dave Gagnon because he's an offensive force. Smith plays the point on the power play. At the other end of the rink, he's difficult to attack because he's rarely out of position.
Smith is the target of derision on home ice because he's not a physical defenseman. He plays the puck. Stickhandling is one of his strengths. Smith doesn't have the quickest feet - that's why he's not playing at a higher level - but he's a lot like Cal Ripken at shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.
He knows how to play the position. If he was a pitcher, he'd be Atlanta's Greg Maddux; not the biggest or fastest, but with great control and working to spots.
He'd be a dream in real estate, where any good salesman knows the three most important items are location, location, location.
``He's just a very good player,'' Anzalone said. ``He has one of the best sticks in hockey, and he's, without question, the smartest player I've ever coached. He may be one of the smartest players ever to play hockey, anywhere.''
This season, the Express has the big, physical backliners to complement Smith. He's the same player he was, but the team is better for it. Frustrated last season in a fractious Express season, Smith told Anzalone he ``wanted to see the character return that was missing,'' the Express coach said. ``That's all he ever asked.''
He played for Lake Superior's 1992 NCAA Division I title team. He's played 13 games in the IHL and seven in the AHL, including five this season in a call-up to the St. John Flames.
It is here he fits, however - conservative, dependable, about as lit up as downtown Roanoke on a weeknight at midnight.
In the four-year history of the Express, only center Ilya Dubkov has played more games (232) than Smith. And although Smith isn't as offensive a defender as Bobby Orr, only Dubkov and Jeff Jestadt have scored more points. Smith, with 183, needs four to pass the latter.
Most crucial, in the plus-minus column on equal-strength goals that Anzalone and his players consider most significant to success, Smith is at plus-33 in his four Roanoke seasons.
``Michael doesn't have a great shot, but he sees the ice better than most,'' Anzalone said. ``He's a great player. You have to know hockey to know that.''
Smith just wants to play. While younger Express players will move up from this most-balanced team in franchise history, Smith said, ``I'm not going anywhere.''
That's something for the ``Roundhouse'' rooters to cheer about.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Smithby CNB