Express extend qualifying offers to eight players
July 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release
ROANOKE, VA – Roanoke Express Head Coach Tony MacAulay announced today that the Express has extended qualify offers, in accordance with ECHL rules, to eight players from the 2003-2004 roster. The players receiving the offers prior to the league mandated July 1, 2004 deadline were Kevin Bergin, Dan Carlson, Joe Dusbabek, Shawn Limpright, Andrew Oke, David Silverstone, Rob Snowball and Jason Wolfe.
According to league guidelines, teams were allowed to issue qualifying offers to eight players, with no more than four being veterans (288 regular season games played). Teams secure rights to a qualified member when that team extends a qualifying offer to that player no later than July 1. All qualifying offers remain open for acceptance by the player until August 1, 2004. Any player receiving a qualifying offer becomes the property of the team extending the offer for one playing season. Players who have already signed a Standard Players Contract do not need to receive qualifying offers. In addition, players on open qualifying offers can not be traded.
A look at the eight players receiving offers from the Express:
Bergin, 22, skated in 70 games with the Express last season notching 33 points (13g, 20a). During the season, he played both forward and defense, amassing 138 penalty minutes.
Carlson, 25, completed last year with 61 points (25g, 36a) in just 47 games with the Express. The former University of Notre Dame star was voted in as a starter for the ECHL All-Star Game, and also saw action in the American Hockey League with the Lowell Lock Monsters for 20 games last season.
Dusbabek, 26, finished his fourth season in an Express uniform with 48 points (17g, 31a) in 55 games. Also out of the University of Notre Dame, Dusbabek collected five game-winning goals last year and added seven power play goals.
Limpright, 22, spent the majority of the season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch after earning a call-up on January 1. Prior to that Limpright tallied 35 points (18g, 17a) in 25 games with Roanoke. Nine of his 18 goals came on the power play. With the Crunch, Limpright collected 18 points in 45 games.
Oke, 22, joined the Express late last season after beginning the year in the WHA 2. In 20 games with the Express, the big defenseman picked up two goals and two assists.
Silverstone, 22, completed his second season with the Express picking up nine points (3g, 6a) in 34 games. The rugged winger missed the final two months of the season while recovering from a concussion.
Snowball, 22, made an impressive impact in his first season with the Express. The enforcer notched seven points in 40 games, an collected 118 penalty minutes in that span. The winger missed six weeks while recovering from a broken jaw suffered early in the season.
Wolfe, 26, made his Roanoke Express debut between the pipes last season and finished with a 16-16-3 record in 37 games. The College Park, MD native compiled a 3.35 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.
The Express begins its 12th season in the ECHL on October 22 when it travels to Florence, SC to take on the Pee Dee Pride. The Express opens its home schedule on Friday, October 29 when it hosts the Augusta Lynx. Season tickets for the 2004-2005 season are on sale now and may be purchased by stopping by the Roanoke Express offices at 14 E. Campbell Ave., or by calling the offices at (540) 343-4500. Visit the Express website at www.roanokeexpress.com to see the complete 2004-2005 schedule!
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