Express Weekly

November 11, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Express finished the past week with a 1-1-1 record, to raise its overall record to 7-3-2 (16 pts.) which has the team tied for third in the Northeast Division with the Richmond Renegades. The Express trails the Reading Royals by one point and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies by two points, although Roanoke has three games in hand on Richmond and Reading and two games in hand on Atlantic City.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 vs. CHARLOTTE 5-1 Loss

The Express suffered its worse loss on the season on Tuesday night when the Charlotte Checkers defeated the Express for the second time this season. Charlotte opened the scoring with a goal in the first period, and proceeded to add three more goals in the second period to open up a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. The Checkers made it a 5-0 contest early in the third period, and held that lead until late in the game. Roanoke's lone goal came with under a minute and a half in the game by Dan Sullivan on the power play.

Niklas Sundberg made the start for the Checkers and stopped 20 of 21Express shots to earn the win. Evan Lindsay made the start for Roanoke and suffered the loss allowing three goals on 15 shots in the first 23:33. Sebastien Laplante replaced Lindsay early in the second period, and allowed two goal on 23 shots. The Express fell to 1-2-0 vs. Charlotte this season.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 vs. GREENSBORO 6-4 Win

The Express bounced back from its loss to Charlotte with a spirited game against the Greensboro Generals on Friday night. The Express blitzed the Generals with three goals in the first 12 minutes of the game. Jason Jaffray, Frank Novock, and Dan Carlson all scored in the first 11:18 of the period before Greensboro tallied on the power play. The Express answered right back with a second goal by Carlson to open a 4-1 lead. The Generals notched a second power play goal late in the first to send the teams to the locker rooms with Roanoke leading 4-2. Greensboro scored the only goal in the second period when they picked up their third power play goal of the game late in the period to close the gap to 4-3. In the third period, Roanoke recaptured a multiple-goal advantage when Rick Kowalsky picked up a power play goal at 3:05. After the Generals once again closed to within one, the Express sealed the win with an empty net, power play goal at 19:50 by Dan Sullivan. Express rookie netminder Sebastien Laplante made 26 saves to earn his fifth win of the season, and fomer Express goaltender Daniel Berthiaume started for Greensboro, but was pulled after one period allowing four goals on 10 shots. Jamie Hodson replaced Berthiuame in the second period and made 26 saves, allowing two goals. Hodson suffered the loss for the Generals. The Express improved its record to 2-0-0 on the season vs. Greensboro. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 vs. WHEELING 3-2 Shootout Loss

The Express finished off the weekend by earning a tie with the Wheeling Nailers. Wheeling picked up two first period goals to open the early lead while out playing the Express over the first 20 minutes. In the second period, Joe Dusbabek picked up his first goal of the season at 14:41 to cut the Nailers lead in half. Despite getting several cracks on the power play, Roanoke would not find the tying goal until they were on their 12th man-advantage of the night. With the net empty, the Express attacked the the Wheeling net with a 6-on-4 advantage, and former Nailer Dylan Gyori was able to stuff home a rebound with :46 left in the game to force overtime.

Neither team scored in the five-minute overtime period forcing the game to a shootout. For the Express it was the third time this season a game has gone to a shootout. Each team missed its first two chances, but Wheeling scored on its third and fourth chances, while the Express missed all four attempts, giving the Nailers the additional point.

Sebastien Laplante made his second consecutive start in net for the Express and made 24 saves on the night, while earning the tie. Mike Valley made his second straight start for the Nailers and stopped 29 Roanoke shots to earn the victory.

UPCOMING GAMES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 at RICHMOND 7:35 p.m.

The Express take on the Richmond Renegades for the first time of 10 times this season, when they travel to Richmond on Friday night. The Express faced the ‘Gades twice in the preseason, winning both games. Entering the week, the Renegades have a record of 8-7-0,(16 pts., T-3rd NE Division) and were 2-1-0 this past week. The Express is 47-28-9 all-time vs. Richmond.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 at PEE DEE 7:35 p.m.

Roanoke faces the Pee Dee Pride for the first of four times this season, when they travel to Florence, SC on Saturday night. The Pride, off to a strong start this season comes into this week with a record of 8-3-1 (17 pts., 2nd SE Division ). Pee Dee forward Matt Reid is 6th in the league in scoring (3 G 17 A) Wes Goldie is 3rd in the league in goals scored with 10. The Pride was 1-1-0 this past week. Roanoke holds a 15-7-0 all-time record vs. Pee Dee.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 vs. RICHMOND 4:05 p.m.

The Express returns home to play its first Sunday game of the season, when the Renegades come to the Roundhouse. The game is the first of five between the Express and Renegades at the Roanoke Civic Center this season. The Express enter the game with a 5-1-1 record at the Civic Center. The game is also the first time the Express plays three games in three nights on the season.

NEWS & NOTES

TEAM & LEAGUE LEADERS

After 11 games, Dylan Gyori leads the team with 21 points, having scored four goals and 17 assists. His 21 points is currently 4th in the league. Gyori has also scored at least one point in 10 of 11 games this season, and currently holds the league's longest streak for consecutive games with an assist, have picked up a helper in all nine straight games from 10/11 – 11/3. Jason Jaffray is right behind with 19 points which has him tied for 7th in the ECHL, and Rick Kowalsky trails Jaffray by one point with 18 on the season. Jaffray has picked up eight goals and 11 assists, and is tied for the team lead with a plus-7 rating, and Kowalsky has notched nine goals and nine assists. Goaltender Sebastien Laplante has a 2.32 goals against average in his eight games, and is 6th among all ECHL goalies with that GAA mark.

INJURY UPDATE

The Express currently have three players on the injured reserve list. Forward Mike Peron remains out of action on the 30-day IR with a pulled hamstring. Peron is slated to return to action on November 22. Forward David Silverstone also remains on the 30-day IR with a sore shoulder, and winger Shawm Limpright was added to the 7-day IR on Nov. 7 with a concussion suffered on Nov. 5 vs. Charlotte.

COACH'S SHOW

The Express will debut its coach's show on Monday night, November 11 at 6:30 p.m. from the Corned Beef & Co. Bar & Grill. Fans can join Express broadcaster Kevin Reiter and head coach Perry Florio for "Coach's Corner LIVE!" on Monday nights! This week's special on-air guest will be Roanoke team captain Rick Kowalsky. For the debut show, the entire Express team will be on hand to join the festivities.



ECHL Stories from November 11, 2002


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