Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, October 31, 1993                   TAG: 9310310195
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Medium

HAMPTON ROADS WHIPS EXPRESS 5-3

The expansion Express, which this season replaced the old Roanoke Valley Rampage, played nothing like its predecessor, which this season moved to Huntsville, Ala.

The Express skated well and outshot the Hampton Roads Admirals 40-39.

And despite falling 5-3 before a crowd of 7,404 at the Scope on Saturday night, the Express made matters very interesting down the stretch, a point at which the old Rampage usually was warming up the team bus.

Down 5-2 with 6 minutes, 10 seconds remaining, Express coach Frank Anzalone pulled goalie Bryan Schoen and skated six-on-five in an effort to catch up.

"We had to show a little enthusiasm and I have to show confidence in my guys that they can do that," Anzalone said. "We needed an edge. I thought we did a great job until we took that penalty."

It worked for a while. Particularly when Conrade Thomas netted a pass from behind the net from Tony Szabo with 4:53 remaining.

But that was all the Express (3-3) could get and the strategy was hampered severely when Ilja Dubkov picked up a two-minute minor for cross-checking Admirals goalie Mark Michaud behind the net.

"That's Frank, nothing surprises you," said Admirals forward Kelly Sorensen. "I played against Frank for three years when he was coaching at Lake Superior State. He tries all the tricks."

The Express, however, was in too deep a hole and Sorensen was the main reason. One night after failing to score in a key situation in a 5-3 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays, Sorensen came up big Saturday.

The Admirals' Victor Gervais scored a power-play goal 8:01 into the second period to grab a 3-1 lead. Instead of sitting on that lead, Sorensen added a goal 19 seconds later, scoring on a beautiful wrap-around shot.

Rod Taylor added two goals for the Admirals (4-1), increasing his team-leading total to eight.

\ ICE CHIPS: Express goalie Dan Ryder, who tripped linesman John Horan and received a match penalty during Friday's loss in Richmond, has been suspended indefinitely until ECHL Commissioner Pat Kelly can review videotape of the game. . . . Roanoke played without forward Gerry Daley (hip pointer) and defenseman Michael Smith (slightly separated shoulder). \

see microfilm for box score

Keywords:
HOCKEY