ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 8, 1996 TAG: 9601080020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORTH CHARLESTON, S. C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
GOALIE DANIEL Berthiaume is ejected in Roanoke's first loss at South Carolina since 1993.
While southwest Virginians were dealing with the snowstorm of the year on Saturday night, the Roanoke Express faced a furious flurry of its own in the South Carolina Stingrays, getting stuck with a 6-1 loss at the North Charleston Coliseum.
It was Roanoke's first loss at South Carolina since Oct.23, 1993, which was the Express' first-ever road game.
The Stingrays crashed the net early and often in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Paul Rushforth deflected in Scott Boston's right-circle drive while planted at the edge of the crease at the 2:39 mark. Daniel Berthiaume protested vehemently to referee Derrick Woodworth to no avail.
Seven minutes later, Brett Marietti scored a power-play goal. He hit Berthiaume's stick numerous times on Mikhail Volkov's shot until the puck finally went in the net. Berthiaume protested again to Woodworth, and was ejected after throwing his water bottle twice at the referee.
The Express' only tally was 50 seconds later when Tim Christian redirected Ilya Dubkov's shot past goaltender Shawn Gauthier to get to 2-1.
The Express' night was typified about one minute later when Christian deflected a wide-open shot off the crossbar. South Carolina then buried the Express with a blizzard of goals in the second half of the second period.
The Express was outshot 15-4 in the first period and 44-22 for the game. It is the 12th time in 13 games the Express has been outshot.
Roanoke was 0-for-7 on the power play and 1-for-22 on the southern road trip.
Jason Clarke did not play against the Stingrays after reinjuring an elbow on Friday. He is out indefinitely.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB