Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 8, 1994 TAG: 9407280009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Express' general manager, Pierre Paiement, and coach, Frank Anzalone, met with Sharks officials at last week's NHL draft in Hartford, Conn. Paiement said the club hopes to secure an agreement with San Jose by the end of the month.
``Nothing is definite yet,'' Paiement said Thursday. ``We did have a good talk with Dean Lombardi [the Sharks' director of hockey operations] and Chuck Grillo [the Sharks' director of player personnel].
``Basically, we told San Jose what we would expect, what could have been better about last season's deal, and so forth.
``They seemed very receptive to that and left saying, 'Let's see if we can respond to your needs.'''
The Sharks sent only three players - goalies Dan Ryder and Brian Schoen and forward Stephan Tepper - to Roanoke last season. Ryder contributed immensely, posting a 22-13-0 record, but Schoen (1-4-0 record before being traded to Toledo in November) and Tepper (two goals and two assists in nine games) were non-factors in Roanoke's 37-28-3 season.
``Now that we know them and they know us, we'd like to think we could work a little better together the second time around,'' Paiement said. ``We know what they can do for us, therefore, we'd like to continue a working agreement if possible.''
In the event a deal can't be struck with San Jose, Paiement said he has talked with representatives of several other NHL clubs about affiliation. Paiement declined to identify the clubs.
``The NHL people were a lot more receptive to us this time ... a whole lot more so than last year. They know that Roanoke has a solid hockey franchise now,'' Paiement said.
The Express also reportedly has talked with officials of the International Hockey League's new Minnesota entry about a possible second affiliation. Paiement declined to comment when asked about the state of those negotiations.
COACHING MOVES: ECHL coaching vacancies in Columbus and Raleigh have been filled in the past week.
Moe Mantha, who played 12 seasons in the NHL before closing his playing career as captain of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, signed a three-year contract with the Columbus Chill. Mantha, 33, replaces Terry Ruskowski, who resigned in April to become the head of coach of the expansion Houston Aeros of the IHL.
Mantha, who was selected from more than 50 applicants, spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.
In Raleigh, the IceCaps also are going with a guy who has no experience as a head coach, choosing Rick Barkovich to replace Kurt Kleinendorst.
Barkovich, 30, served as a player-assistant coach last season with Raleigh, which lost to Toledo in the Riley Cup final series.
Kleinendorst, considered one of the ECHL's best coaches, resigned in May to take an assistant's post with the IHL's San Diego Gulls.
Chris McSorley, who resigned in Toledo after winning back-to-back Riley Cups, has joined Kleinendorst in the IHL. McSorley was named associate coach Thursday with Las Vegas.
The two ECHL clubs still without head coaches - Nashville and Tallahassee - have indicated they will announce their selections next week.
ICE CHIPS: Paiement said the Express is attempting to schedule three exhibition games, two of which will be played at home. The club's preseason camp opens Oct.8. The ECHL's seventh season begins Oct.18. ... Paiement said the league schedule should be announced July 15. The Express is seeking at least 20-22 weekend home games among the 24 Friday or Saturday dates it submitted to the league. Roanoke had only 15 weekend home dates during its 68-game schedule last season. ... Express season-ticket sales topped the 1,200 mark this week. ... Tallahassee sold more than 500 season tickets last week in the first three days they were available.
by CNB