ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
In a week when players came and went, the biggest personnel move for the Roanoke Express may have been one that never occurred.
Michael Smith, a two-time East Coast Hockey League All-Star defenseman, elected this week to turn down a potentially lucrative offer to play in England. It was a surprising decision, because many Express observers felt Smith's departure was a foregone conclusion.
Smith missed Roanoke's 6-3 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday and didn't make his final decision until about 7 p.m. that day. Coach Frank Anzalone and Express players found out after the game Smith was staying.
``As far as we knew, we had lost Smitty,'' said Roanoke captain Dave Stewart. ``We'll be glad to have him back. We were ready to have to carry on, regardless.''
Other players echoed Stewart's surprise.
``I talked to him [Tuesday] and he was out the door as far as I knew,'' said Express forward Jeff Jestadt.
Smith probably thought so, too, when he first received the offer. Subsequent talks with the English team led Smith to believe the offer was not as good as originally stated. The first offer was worth approximately $1,000 per week, according to a source.
``If it had been their first offer, maybe I would have taken it,'' said Smith, who watched most of Wednesday's game from the press box. ``After I thought about things, I turned it down.''
Smith has been a defensive mainstay in each of the Express' three seasons. Though not as physical as some defensemen in the ECHL, Smith has made a name for himself by playing excellent positional defense and using his stick better than perhaps anyone else in the league.
``People who know hockey know how good Michael Smith is,'' Jestadt said.
Smith's situation was developing at a time when the Express was making its first significant deals of the season. On Tuesday, the team sent wing L.P. Charbonneau and defenseman Paul Croteau to the Erie Panthers for center Karry Biette and defenseman Wade Gibson and dealt Jon Larson to Raleigh for Dan Murphy in a swap of defensemen.
``I think we did well in the trades,'' Stewart said. ``We lost a good friend in Jonnie Larson. He was one of the good guys. We got some good guys in return.''
DelGUIDICE ON BLOCK: There could be another major trade on the horizon involving Matt DelGuidice, who was Roanoke's No.1 goalie before the Express signed Daniel Berthiaume in November.
It was rumored this week Roanoke was ready to ship DelGuidice to Dayton for right wing Sergei Kharin, who last season was an International Hockey League All-Star. A Dayton source confirmed the Bombers wanted to trade Kharin, who was suspended by the team when a deal could not be reached.
``It's all something I can't control,'' said DelGuidice, who was in goal for Wednesday's loss and hasn't won since Nov. 18. ``I know what the business is all about. It's been a grind, but I'll just keep playing until I hear something.''
Pierre Paiement, the Express' general manager, seemed to indicate DelGuidice, who played briefly in the NHL and got off to a strong start with Roanoke, was a tradeable commodity.
``Maybe something will happen,'' Paiement said.
RETURN OF ROUSLAN?: Former Express forward Rouslan Toujikov, who scored 16 goals in 39 games for Roanoke before being shipped to Erie last season, practiced with the Express on Thursday.
``We're not promising him anything,'' Paiement said. ``He's a guy who has good tools, but his attitude wasn't always good. Frank said he would let him practice and see what happens.''
SNOW BUSINESS: With another 6 to 12 inches of snow expected Thursday night and today, it's possible tonight's game against Raleigh at the Roanoke Civic Center could be postponed. Paiement said a decision will be made this morning on whether or not to play.
This could be an important stretch for the Express, which plays six more home games this month but only four in February.
``We're trying hard,'' Anzalone said. ``I'd like to tell our fans that we do care about playing well [on home ice]. We need to play well here.''
LENGTH: Medium: 78 linesby CNB