ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996 TAG: 9601300064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The Star City could become the East Coast Hockey League All-Star city in 1998 or 1999.
John Gagnon, the Roanoke Express' president, has submitted a bid to have the ECHL All-Star Game played at the Roanoke Civic Center during the 1997-98 season. The Express and the Louisiana IceGators were the only clubs to bid on the game during the past week's owners meeting in Tallahassee, Fla.
``Right now, it's between us and Louisiana,'' Gagnon said. ``We proposed at the [owners'] meeting to host the game. We ran out of time to discuss it, so [the decision] has been pushed back to May'' when the owners meet again.
It's possible the league could receive a bid from another club before the owners' next meeting. Gagnon said it's also possible that if the league awards the 1997-98 game to either Roanoke or Louisiana, the 1998-99 game could go to the other club.
``Since three of the last four games have been played somewhere in the East,'' Gagnon said, ``my thought is that the league will look to Louisiana in '97-98 and to Roanoke in '98-99.''
If Roanoke holds an ECHL All-Star Game, the Express is responsible for paying all expenses, including travel and accommodations for players, meals, prize money for skills competitions and the banquet held the night before the game. Gagnon figures those expenses to be about $50,000.
``It's not a money-maker,'' he said. ``You wind up losing a bit of money, but it's great for the city.''
Tallahassee officials estimate this year's All-Star Game, played Jan.23, generated $1 million for the local economy. In addition to All-Star participants, coaches and team owners, at least 40 NHL scouts and representatives of several equipment manufacturers attended the three days of All-Star-related meetings and functions.
This year's game also was the first to be televised, airing in most of the ECHL markets on a tape-delayed basis.
The ECHL All-Star Game never has generated high attendance figures, but owners are considering changing the game's format to one that pits the host city's team against a team of all-stars.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Heading into tonight's game against Nashville at the civic center, the Express is playing some of its best defense of the season. Roanoke has given up 12 regulation goals in its past six games - a span that includes a 6-2 loss to Charlotte on Jan.16. Coming off Saturday's 1-0 victory over Hampton Roads, the Express has given up four regulation goals in three games.
The biggest improvement for the Express has been in its transition defense, where it has cut back on odd-man rushes - the two-on-one, three-on-two breaks that often result in goals.
``We know we're not the fastest team in the league,'' said Frank Anzalone, the Express' coach. ``We made some adjustments in our system to make sure we're recovering.''
The Express will need to continue its defensive improvement tonight against the Knights, who lead the league with 227 goals in 43 games.
EXPANSION NEWS: The league did not approve any expansion franchises for next season, but the list of candidates is led by Baton Rouge, La.; Biloxi, Miss.; and Pensacola, Fla.
The league also received inquiries from groups in Memphis, Tenn.; Evansville, Ind.; Jackson, Miss.; and Shreveport, La.
With Trenton, N.J., and Greenville, S.C., joining the league in 1997-98, the ECHL likely will then be split into two divisions with teams playing only other teams in their own division.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB