ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 17, 1996 TAG: 9602190123
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
It has been said before that Dave Stewart's shot hits its target with the impact of a shell fired from a howitzer.
Friday night, it may have been harder. The only way to describe the three goals scored by the Roanoke Express captain in a 4-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays is that they were fired from a Stewartzer.
Stewart's first hat trick since his days in junior hockey, some clutch saves by Roanoke goalie Daniel Berthiaume and a key call by referee Justin St.Pierre that disallowed South Carolina's tying goal in the final minute all helped Roanoke (30-21-2) win its season-high fifth straight East Coast Hockey League game.
Stewart became the first player in the three-year history of the Express to score three power-play goals in a game. All three were carbon copies: slapshots from the point, with three defenders on the ice, and Ilya Dubkov and Michael Smith assisting on all three.
``I told the guys before the game, `I've got some good sticks here,''' said Stewart, whose third goal made it 4-2 and stood as the game-winner, his first of the season.
``I don't know, sometimes the sticks feel different. Good things happen when you put the puck on the net.''
Except when South Carolina's Scott Boston did it with 34 seconds to play. South Carolina went on its 11th power play of the night following a hooking call on Duane Harmer, then made it a 6-on-4 by pulling goalie Jason Saal at 19:22. Four seconds later, Boston beat Berthiaume with a slapshot that apparently tied the score 4-4.
However, St.Pierre waved off the goal, ruling that South Carolina wing Dan Fournel was in the crease when the shot scored. Berthiaume (18-9-0), who turned aside 34 shots, made a pair of clutch saves on hard shots in the waning seconds.
It was fitting that the game was decided by a referee's call, because the game featured more whistles than a construction site next to an aerobics studio. The teams combined for 21 minors and 18 power plays. The Stingrays, however, converted just one of their man-advantages.
``There was no consistency in play because of all the penalties,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone.
The Express had leads of 3-1 and 4-2 in the third period, but nearly lost both of them. Stewart's second goal on a 5-on-3 beat Saal at 6:51 of the third to make it 3-1, but Marc Tardif responded with a rebound goal at 9:18. Stewart scored his third at 12:53, then Brett Marietti made it 4-3 with a rebound goal at 16:12.
``You've got to nurse a lead when you've got it,'' said Anzalone. ``We didn't play the system very well.''
Roanoke power plays accounted for the game's first two goals - one for the Express, one for the Stingrays.
The first came with Express skating 5-on-3, as Stewart one-timed Dubkov's pass and sent a missile from the point that found the back of the net at 7:58 of the first period.
With Roanoke on a second-period power play, South Carolina's Rob Donovan knocked the puck out of the zone and sped down the right side. Berthiaume, not seeing Stingray defenseman Kevin Knopp on the left wing, came out of goal to meet Donovan, who shipped a pass that Knopp buried into an open net at 7:10 to tie it 1-1.
Almost lost in Stewart's scoring spree was Jason Clarke's 20th goal of the season. Clarke, Roanoke's tough guy, said scoring 20 was his preseason goal.
``I guess I don't want to stop there,'' said Clarke.
No.20 came in dramatic fashion, as Clarke's shot from the right circle shattered the shaft of Saal's stick at 16:33 of the second.
``Right now, I'm not worrying about goals,'' said Clarke, ``as long as the team's playing well.''
ICE CHIPS: The Roanoke Valley Hockey Boosters distributed their monthly awards, with Stewart being named defensive player of the month for January and Tim Christian getting offensive player of the month. The club also gave a recognition to Berthiaume for his Jan. 27 shutout of Hampton Roads.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB