THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501060597
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
The Roanoke Express come to Scope for tonight's game with the Hampton Roads Admirals minus the player who has guided them to second-place in the ECHL's East Division.
Goaltender Dave Gagnon was called up Wednesday by the IHL's Minnesota Moose.
Gagnon is considered the ECHL's best goaltender. He has a 2.79 goals-against average and shut out the Admirals, 3-0, on his last visit to Scope. He is a former Admiral who was twice named most valuable player in the ECHL playoffs.
``Dave deserves this chance,'' Roanoke general manager Pierre Paiement said. ``He's given us some great goaltending.''
Dan Ryder, who has also played well in goal, will start for Roanoke. He has a goals-against average of 3.00 and a 5-2 record. John Bradley, who played for Johnstown last year but was cut by the Express earlier this year, has replaced Gagnon on the roster.
NARROW RACE: After exploding to a 13-0-3 start, Richmond has since gone 6-8-2. As a result the East Division race has narrowed considerably.
Charlotte (20-10-4) took over first place earlier this week with 44 points. Roanoke (19-7-5) and Richmond (19-8-5) are tied for second with 43 points.
The Admirals (18-11-3), who were last in the East five weeks ago, are fourth with 39 points and are closing on the leaders. The Admirals have won five in a row and could pull into a tie for second this weekend.
After tonight's game, the Admirals host Richmond Saturday. Charlotte is at Richmond tonight. Roanoke is off Saturday.
Two Hampton Roads victories this weekend and a Charlotte victory tonight would leave the Admirals, Roanoke and Richmond tied for second.
BIG CROWD: The Greensboro Monarchs hope to break their own minor league single-game attendance record Saturday when they host the Charlotte Checkers at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Team officials have been promoting ``fill the coliseum'' night for months and expect a crowd in excess of 20,000. Last season they set the minor league record with a gate of 20,911. The Detroit Vipers of the IHL nearly broke the record in September when they drew 20,182 for a game against the Cleveland Lumberjacks.
The coliseum's capacity is 21,500.
``We've got a real shot at breaking the record,'' team spokesman Mark Mead said. ``Ticket sales have been very good.''
The Monarchs will also surpass the 1 million mark in total attendance Saturday in just their sixth season. The Admirals passed the same mark last year in their fifth season.
The ECHL all-star game will be played in Greensboro on Jan. 24.
20-MAN ROSTER: Admirals president Blake Cullen says he's received an encouraging response to a letter he faxed to other clubs proposing that the league adopt a 20-man roster.
Currently, teams are limited to 18 players and can dress 17. However, some clubs have as many as six additional players on injured reserve.
Cullen says his proposal would reduce costs and give teams added flexibility. Teams could carry 20 players, including up to six veterans, but only dress 17 players, including a maximum of three veterans. The injured reserve list would be abolished.
The $6,000 weekly salary cap wouldn't change. The combined salaries for either the top 18 players, or the 17 players allowed to dress, would have to total $6,000 or less.
``I've had four or five (general managers) call me in favor of it,'' said Cullen, who will propose during the all-star meetings that the 20-man roster be adopted for the rest of this season.
``I don't know whether we can get it done for the rest of this year, but we'll give it a shot.''
NO ENGLISH: Best quote of the night following the Admirals' 3-1 victory over Torpedo Yaroslavl, a touring Russian team, on Wednesday came from Admirals' coach John Brophy. Asked if he spoke any Russian, he said: ``Russian? Hell, I don't speak English.''
HALVERSON STILL OUT: Admirals forward Trevor Halverson tested his gimpy ankle at practice this week and determined it's not sufficiently healed.
``It's not ready,'' Halverson said. ``I skated for part of one practice, and it's just not ready to go.''
He'll rest the ankle this weekend, and give it another shot next week. MEMO: Landmark Communications sports writer Ralph Berrier Jr. contributed to
this report. by CNB