Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: SUNDAY, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503130047 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That's just one of several scenarios the Express and the rest of the ECHL teams will be considering before the league's board of governors meets March 20 in Charlotte, N.C.
Roanoke hockey fans should not start making plans to visit such AHL outposts as Nova Scotia or New Brunswick just yet, though. The possibility of the Express moving up to the AHL is as remote as Newfoundland.
However, after the week the ECHL just had, anything seems possible.
The week began with reports the ECHL's top four teams in home attendance - Hampton Roads, Charlotte, Greensboro and South Carolina - were headed to the AHL as part of an NHL-proposed plan to restructure the minor leagues.
When the ECHL's board of governors met in Charlotte on Thursday, it became clear other teams, Roanoke and Richmond among them, also might have the opportunity to move to the AHL. Again, an unlikely scenario, but one that has Express president John Gagnon pondering the possibilities.
``Roanoke could be included [in a move to the AHL], sure,'' Gagnon said. ``Any team could be included. We're thinking about it, too. Right now, there's nothing concrete.''
Several factors would preclude the Express from joining the AHL, the biggest being expenses. The average operating budget for AHL teams is approximately $2.5 million. The Express is working with a $1.2 million budget this season.
If Roanoke were able to afford an AHL team, the Express most certainly would have to increase - perhaps double - ticket prices.
``The only factor we have to look at is the ticket prices,'' Gagnon said. ``The average ticket price in the American league is $12. Our average price is $5.50 [Express tickets range from $4 for children to $8.50 for box seats]. I don't think, at first glance, Roanoke can afford that. People come to our games because they are affordable. If ticket prices doubled, you could not expect as many people to come to your games.
``I would like to have a team in the AHL, but you have to look at the big picture.''
Apparently, a few other teams are rethinking their positions. Sources say Charlotte almost certainly will be in either the AHL or International Hockey League next season. The Checkers' ownership has made no secret that its ultimate goal is to bring an NHL franchise to Charlotte.
The AHL first proposed an exchange that would have sent the teams from the faraway Maritime Provinces, such as Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton of Nova Scotia, Fredericton and St.John of New Brunswick and St.John's of Newfoundland to the ECHL. Those teams are among the AHL's worst in home attendance. In return, the AHL would get Hampton Roads, Greensboro, Charlotte and South Carolina.
The ECHL's board of governors, to put it mildly, was against that proposal.
``It's like they wanted to take the cake and leave us the crumbs,'' Gagnon said. ``Can you imagine [the ECHL club in] Tallahassee going up there [to the Maritime Provinces]?''
The only thing that seems certain - barring a late pitch from the IHL - is that there will be some sort of partnership between the AHL and the ECHL next season.
``If I had to make a wild guess, I would say there won't be a merger but a very strong association between the two leagues,'' Gagnon said.
GOALIES PURSUING GOALS: It's no secret goaltending has been one of the main reasons behind Roanoke's success this season. The Express' netminding work may make history before the regular season is through.
It's possible tTwo goalies who have played for Roanoke this season - Dave Gagnon and Daniel Berthiaume - have a legitimate chance to eclipse the ECHL season records for save percentage and goals-against average. Gagnon, a one-time NHL goalie who began the season with the Express, had a save percentage of .917 when he was called up by the IHL's Minnesota Moose on Feb.7. That figure would break the record of .911 set by Hampton Roads' Nick Vitucci in 1992-93.
Berthiaume, a former NHL goalie who joined the Express one day after Gagnon's departure, had a save percentage of .905 heading into Friday's game against Greensboro. He would need to continue a string of phenomenal performances to raise his percentage another six points, but it's possible. Berthiaume, who played eight games with Wheeling this season, has a save percentage of .932 with the Express.
The league record for lowest GAA is 2.939, set by Winston-Salem's Frederic Chabot in 1991-92. Gagnon's GAA was 2.83 when he left the league and Berthiaume's was 2.96 before Friday's game.
Even though he will not be returning to the ECHL, Gagnon played in enough games to qualify for league records. Goalies must appear in at least 20 games to be eligible; Gagnon played in 29.
Berthiaume also has an excellent chance of breaking the league record for winning percentage, .821 set by Dean Anderson of Knoxville in 1990-91. Combining his records with Roanoke and Wheeling, Berthiaume is 18-2-2 this season - a winning percentage of .863.
UNION DUES: ECHL players will vote Friday whether or not to bring a union into the league. The Express' players will cast their ballots at the Roanoke Civic Center before the Express' game against the Charlotte Checkers, who also will vote there.
The Professional Hockey Players Association announced in February it had filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to become the sole representing body for ECHL players. If the players approve, the ECHL will be unionized before next season.