Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511120014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Daniel Berthiaume, who became one of the most popular players in the history of Roanoke Valley hockey with his flashy style and record-setting goaltending last season, has left the International Hockey League's Detroit Vipers and probably will rejoin the Roanoke Express next week.
Berthiaume, a former NHL goalie who was playing well with Detroit but was about to see a decrease in playing time, left the Vipers last Sunday and was placed on the team's suspended list. Friends of Berthiaume say he was back in Roanoke this week, although he could not be reached for comment late Friday.
Jason Rothwell, Detroit's director of media relations, said Berthiaume was expected to sign with the Express soon. The Vipers issued a news release before Thursday night's game against Michigan that stated Berthiaume would sign with the Express. A source with the IHL confirmed that Berthiaume was headed to Roanoke.
Neither Express general manager Pierre Paiement nor Berthiaume's agent, Larry Reauch, would comment Friday.
Berthiaume was named the IHL's goalie of the week in early October after posting shutouts in two of his first three games. He was 4-3 with a 2.69 goals against average and .903 save percentage, but he was about to become part of a three-man rotation in goal after the Vipers received Darrin Madely from the NHL's Ottawa Senators last week.
``Bert obviously wasn't happy about that,'' Rothwell said. ``The day of the game [Sunday], he didn't show. He didn't show for the morning skate, didn't show for the game. Monday night, [Express coach] Frank Anzalone contacted our team and said [Berthiaume] was in Roanoke and [Anzalone] was wondering what was going on. We put him on the suspended list and released him.''
Berthiaume, who played the final two months of last season with the Express after being acquired from the Erie Panthers, was 15-4-2 with a 2.36 goals against average and .919 save percentage.
The 29-year-old native of Longueuil, Quebec, set an ECHL record with 13 consecutive victories with the Express.
Nicknamed ``The Bandit,'' Berthiaume played parts of nine seasons with five NHL teams, compiling an 81-90-21 record and a 3.67 GAA.
His best NHL season was with Winnipeg in 1987-88 when he was 22-19-7 with a 3.51 GAA. He later was a teammate with Wayne Gretzky on the Los Angeles Kings, with whom he won 20 games in 1990-91.
He joined the Express late last season after Roanoke's top goalie Dave Gagnon was recalled by the IHL's Minnesota Moose.
In the playoffs last year, Berthiaume was 4-4 and recorded a shutout against eventual Riley Cup champion Richmond in the second round.
Keywords:
HOCKEY
by CNB