Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240198
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Steve Gatzos, who played for the Roanoke Valley Rebels in 1990-91 and coached last season's Roanoke Valley Rampage, has been fired as head coach of Huntsville's troubled East Coast Hockey League franchise.
Gatzos' ouster comes on the heels of embattled owner Larry Revo's decision Friday to relinquish control of the club's daily reins to a Huntsville management group.
The group, Hockey Huntsville, Inc., is headed by former major-league baseball player Don Mincher. A Huntsville source said the group hopes to purchase the franchise from Revo at the end of the season.
Gatzos, one of the most popular hockey figures ever in Roanoke, fell victim to the chaos that has followed Revo since the New Yorker bought the Roanoke Valley Rebels' franchise from Vinton businessman Henry Brabham in June 1992.
Last season's Rampage finished 14-49-1, the worst in ECHL history.
Revo moved the club to Huntsville last April, retaining Gatzos as coach. The Blast was 2-9-2 when Gatzos was dismissed Saturday.
Gatzos could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Vic Posa, a player-assistant coach under Gatzos, was named the club's interim head coach.
The Blast beat Huntington 4-1 in Posa's debut Sunday in front of 504 fans. The Blast has averaged a league-low 1,010 fans per game through eight home dates.
In another move, Blast radio broadcaster Brooks Melchior quit to take a similar post with the Greensboro Monarchs.
Melchior was left behind by the team after a Nov. 3 game in Knoxville, forcing the broadcaster to rent a motel room for the night and rent a car to return to Huntsville the next day. Revo refused to reimburse Melchior $200 for expenses.
\ EXPRESS UPDATE: The Roanoke Express (6-9) hits the road today for Richmond, where it meets the Renegades tonight. The Express was drubbed 7-3 and 11-6 in its first two trips to Richmond.
Tonight's game at the Richmond Coliseum will feature a guest appearance by Gordie Howe, the NHL's all-time leading scorer. Howe is scheduled for an autograph session with fans.
Roanoke returns to the Roanoke Civic Center on Thursday for a Thanksgiving meeting with the Hampton Roads Admirals. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
\ ICE CHIPS: Express coach Frank Anzalone auditioned a Russian goaltender and a new defenseman in Tuesday's practice. There was no word on any roster moves as of Tuesday afternoon. . . . Roanoke's Mike Smith has 18 assists, tying him with Dayton's Tom Nemeth for most assists among ECHL defensemen. . . . Goalie Bryan Schoen, moved early last week to make room for newcomer Jim Mill, stopped 17 of 19 shots in a victorious debut with Toledo against Columbus on Saturday. . . . Back-to-back franchise-record crowds of 5,279 and 5,524 last weekend boosted Roanoke's average attendance to 4,231, nearly three times what the Rampage drew last season at the Vinton LancerLot.
by CNB