ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703040031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: KNOXVILLE, TENN.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Dave Gagnon posted his second shutout of the season, and the Roanoke Express beat the Knoxville Cherokees 2-0 on Saturday night in the East Coast Hockey League.
Jeff Loder and Doug Searle scored third-period goals for the Express (31-21-4), which has won eight consecutive meetings with Knoxville this season and remains in fourth place in the East Division.
The first 40 minutes were scoreless, although Roanoke outshot the Cherokees 30-17. Gagnon withstood 16 third-period shots from Knoxville (18-36-3) and finished with 33 saves.
Gagnon posted Roanoke's fourth shutout this season despite still battling a sore right knee. He also sustained a bloody chin after a collision with Knoxville's Garrett Burnett sent him face-first into the ice late in the third period.
Gagnon stayed on the ice, which was important because the Express has no regular back-up goalie. Larry Moberg retired this past week after a 5-2 loss to Hampton Roads, forcing Roanoke to pick up emergency back-up Rob Charlier from Winston-Salem, N.C. The Express is attempting to sign a goalie from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Express also played without right wing Eric Landry, who was loaned to the American Hockey League's Saint John Flames on Saturday.
Roanoke got the offense it needed when Loder one-timed a centering pass from Tim Christian at 3:04 of the third for his 21st goal of the season. Searle made it 2-0 at 4:11 on a broken play when he flipped a shot past Knoxville goalie Sergei Tkachenko, who slipped.
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