Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510090114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
EAST DIVISION
Richmond Renegades
Coach: Roy Sommer.
Home ice: Richmond Coliseum.
Affiliation: Hartford (NHL), Los Angeles (NHL), San Francisco (IHL).
Last season: 41-20-7 (won division, won Riley Cup).
Outlook: If the Renegades can overcome the loss of center Blaine Moore, who led them to the championship, they should be one of the best teams in the league again. Scott Gruhl, 36, is back for another tour of duty, as is goalie Grant Sjerven (17-6-2, 3.01 GAA), who missed the ECHL playoffs because he was with the IHL's Chicago Wolves. Solid forwards Kurt Mallett, Trevor Senn and Jay Murphy return, and new players such as wings Greg Hadden and Mike Morin could emerge as stars.
Predicted finish: First.
Roanoke Express
Coach: Frank Anzalone.
Home ice: Roanoke Civic Center.
Affiliation: Minnesota (IHL).
Last season: 39-19-10, second in East, lost in second round.
Outlook: The Express should be bigger and faster than last season's team, which fell one point short of claiming a division title in just its second year. The Express doesn't have a big-time scorer, but Ilya Dubkov, Jeff Jestadt, Craig Herr and Marty Schriner can put the puck in the net. As long as Michael Smith and Dave Stewart are around - both are potential IHL call-ups - the defense will be strong.
Predicted finish: Second.
Charlotte Checkers
Coach: John Marks.
Home ice: Independence Arena.
Affiliation: Boston (NHL), Chicago (IHL).
Last season: 37-22-9, third place in East, lost in first round.
Outlook: The Checkers always seem to look good on paper. They should be high-scoring - Darryl Noren and player-assistant coach Shawn Wheeler are two of the league's best, and former Toledo center Gerry St.Cyr and former Greensboro Monarch Sebastian LaPlante will provide experience. However, Charlotte needs a backup to veteran goalie Nick Vitucci.
Predicted finish: Third.
Raleigh Icecaps
Coach: Kurt Kleinendorst.
Home ice: Dorton Arena.
Affiliation: Anaheim (NHL), New Jersey (NHL).
Last season: 23-39-6, sixth in East, missed playoffs.
Outlook: Kleinendorst, one of the ECHL's best coaches, is back at the helm after a year out of the league. That, plus some strong affiliations, should make the IceCaps the most improved team in the league. Raleigh was one of only two teams that did not make the playoffs. Lyle Wildgoose, who announced his retirement at the end of last season, and Jim Powers, who played only 13 games last season because of a knee injury, are back, too.
Predicted finish: Fourth
Hampton Roads Admirals
Coach: John Brophy.
Home ice: Norfolk Scope.
Affiliation: Washington (NHL), Pittsburgh (NHL), Portland (AHL).
Last season: 37-23-8, fourth in East, lost in first round of playoffs.
Outlook: The Admirals should be strong defensively, but they have some offensive holes to fill. If they get a quality center, they could move up in the division. ECHL veteran Rod Taylor is back, as are All-Star defensemen Ron Pascucci and Chris Phelps. Hampton Roads, like Richmond, also should receive ample help from its affiliations.
Predicted finish: Fifth.
South Carolina Stingrays
Coach: Rick Vaive.
Home ice: North Charleston Coliseum.
Affiliation: Buffalo (NHL).
Last season: 42-19-7, first place in South, lost in quarterfinals.
Outlook: This shows how strong the East Division is - the Stingrays, who move to the East after winning the South last season, may only be the fifth-best team in the division. The defense is strong, with Scott Boston and Scott Foy.
Predicted finish: Sixth.
\ NORTH DIVISION
Toledo Storm
Coach: Greg Puhalski.
Home ice: Toledo Sports Arena.
Affiliation: Detroit (NHL), Adirondack (AHL).
Last season: 41-22-5, third place in North, lost in first round.
Outlook: If the East Division is the ECHL's toughest, the North isn't far behind. This division could be called the ``Ohio Division'' because Toledo, Dayton and Columbus should vie for the title. The Storm has some experience in All-Star defenseman Rick Corriveau and forwards Dennis Purdie and Rick Judson. Former Greensboro goalie Rob Laurie will be backed by rookie Will Clarke.
Predicted finish: First.
Dayton Bombers
Coach: Jim Playfair.
Home ice: Hara Arena.
Affiliation: Dallas (NHL), Peoria (IHL).
Last season: 42-17-9, second place in North, lost in quarterfinals.
Outlook: The Bombers were one of the most improved teams in the league last season under 31-year-old Playfair. They'll be strong again, especially defensively in front of All-Star goalie Jeff Stolp. The addition of IHL veterans Sergei Kharin and Colin Miller should help Dayton contend for the Riley Cup.
Predicted finish: Second.
Wheeling Thunderbirds
Coach: Larry Kish.
Home ice: Wheeling Civic Center.
Affiliation: Edmonton (NHL), Montreal (NHL).
Last season: 46-17-5, first place in North, lost in first round.
Outlook: General manager Larry Kish hired himself as coach after popular coach Doug Sauter took a job with Oklahoma City in the Central Hockey League. Kish brought in former NHL player Ron Wilson as a player-assistant. Wheeling is stocked with experienced players, including defenseman John Blessman and goalie Geoff Finch. Forward Keli Corpse is the all-time leading scorer for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League.
Predicted finish: Third.
Johnstown Chiefs
Coach: Nick Fotiu.
Home ice: Cambria County War Memorial.
Affiliation: Hershey (AHL).
Last season: 31-32-5, fourth place in North, lost in first round.
Outlook: The rebuilding Chiefs, in their first year under former NHL tough guy Fotiu, picked up Trevor Jobe, the league's all-time leading goal-scorer. Defenseman Steve Foster is the only player back off Johnstown's roster last season.
Predicted finish: Fourth.
Columbus Chill
Coach: Moe Mantha.
Home ice: Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum.
Affiliation: Chicago (NHL), Indianapolis (IHL).
Last season: 31-32-5, tied for fourth place in North, lost in first round.
Outlook: The Chill welcomes back last season's leading scorer, Derek Clancey, and All-Star defenseman Aaron Boh. Former AHL netminder Bill Pye is expected to be in goal. The youth movement is on, as evidenced by 30 rookies in camp.
Predicted finish: Fifth.
Lousiville River Frogs
Coach: Warren Young.
Home ice: Broadbent Arena.
Affiliation: Independent.
Last season: Expansion team.
Outlook: Local favorite Sheldon Gorski, who played for the old Louisville IceHawks from 1990-93 and is No.4 on the ECHL's all-time scoring list, is back in town. The RiverFrogs signed ECHL veteran Phil Berger, the leading scorer in league history, but he opted to coach in the Southern League. Louisville opened training camp with almost 40 players.
Predicted finish: Sixth.
Huntington Blizzard
Coach: Grant Sonier.
Home ice: Huntington Civic Center.
Affiliation: Independent.
Last season: 28-37-3, fifth place in South, lost in first round.
Outlook: This embattled franchise has dealt with a 14-victory season and an ownership squabble in its first two seasons. The Blizzard finally has some stability, now that former Greensboro general manager Morris Jeffreys has taken over here.
Predicted finish: Seventh.
Erie Panthers
Coach: Ron Hansis.
Home ice: Erie Civic Center.
Affiliation: Independent.
Last season: 18-46-4, sixth place in North, missed playoffs.
Outlook: Erie has fallen so far in the past few years, it may be difficult for the Panthers to climb in the standings. Hansis has been able to acquire the rights to quality players, but getting them to report to Erie has been difficult. Player-assistant Cam Brown is back. The Panthers picked up the rights to Glen Stewart from Greensboro in the dispersal draft, but he is with Binghamton (AHL).
Predicted finish: Eighth.
\ SOUTH DIVISION
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
Coach: Terry Christensen.
Home ice: Leon County Civic Center.
Affiliation: New York Islanders (NHL), Florida (NHL), Utah (IHL).
Last season: 36-25-7, second place in South, lost in semifinals.
Outlook: The Hockey News picked the Tiger Sharks as the favorite to win the Riley Cup. Tallahassee could have as many as 12 players from a team that was eliminated by eventual champion Richmond in the semifinals. Player-assistant Darren Schwartz (47 goals) is back, as is goalie Mark Richards (31-16-7, 2.90), the Sherwood ECHL Player of the Year.
Predicted finish: First.
Birmingham Bulls
Coach: Phil Roberto.
Home ice: Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.
Affiliation: St.Louis (NHL), Cincinnati (IHL).
Last season: 26-38-4, sixth place in South, lost in quarterfinals.
Outlook: Roberto's teams usually play rough and player-assistant coach Jerome Bechard (427 PIM, 48 points) plays as rough as anybody. Ian Ebert and Craig Lutes can play physically and still put the puck in the net. Tallahassee may be the class of the South Division, but the Bulls can give them a fight for the crown.
Predicted finish: Second.
Nashville Knights
Coach: Mark Kumpel.
Home ice: Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
Affiliation: Tampa Bay (NHL), Atlanta (IHL).
Last season: 32-30-6, third place in South, lost in semifinals.
Outlook: The Knights could be a surprise team. Goalie Craig Brown (24-20-3, 3.48 GAA) returns, as does Derek Eberle, who scored 58 points in 58 games. Latvian Alex Chunchukov could emerge as one of the league's top offensive threats. Charlie Gaffney, who is joined by twin brother Joe, was nominated for Hobey Baker Award that goes to best player in college hockey while he was at Division III Bowdoin College.
Predicted finish: Third.
Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Coach: Jeff Brubaker.
Home ice: Jacksonville Coliseum.
Affiliation: Independent.
Last season: First season since moving from Louisville.
Outlook: Brubaker, the former Greensboro coach who is well-known for his rough-and-tumble style of hockey, promises the Lizard Kings will live up to their marketing slogan, ``Cold-Blooded Hockey.'' Like most expansion teams, Jacksonville will be young, but ECHL veterans such as Mark Saumier should show them how to play.
Predicted finish: Fourth.
Knoxville Cherokees
Coach: Barry Smith.
Home ice: Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
Affiliation: Los Angeles (NHL), Phoenix (IHL).
Last season: 30-30-8, fourth place in South, lost in first round.
Outlook: Cory Cadden is a proven goaltender, and high-scoring Troy Binnie should anchor one of the lines. Frank Evans, who was with Las Vegas in the IHL, will add experience to the Cherokees, who were eliminated from the playoffs by Roanoke last season.
Predicted finish: Fifth.
Louisiana Ice Gators
Coach: Doug Shedden.
Home ice: Cajun Dome.
Affiliation: Los Angeles (IHL).
Last season: Expansion team.
Outlook: Louisiana probably is going with more experienced players than the other expansion teams and has the potential to make an impact in its first year. Shedden won two CHL titles with Wichita and brings in veteran wings Bob Berg and Jim Latos and veteran goalie George Maneluk. The defense should be anchored by John Vary and Chris Valicevic.
Predicted: Sixth.
Mobile Mysticks
Coach: Eddie Johnstone.
Home ice: Mobile Civic Center.
Affiliation: Kansas City (IHL).
Last season: Expansion team.
Outlook: Johnstone takes over an expansion team after coaching Johnstown last season. A young team will look to the likes of Matt Hoffman (25 goals with Johnstown) and player-assistant coach Dave Craievich. Mobile should be helped by nine players who were in camp with the Kansas City Blades, an IHL team that used to be affiliated with the Express.
Predicted finish: Seventh.
by CNB