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Roanoke Express Weekly

January 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Express dropped a pair of games to the Florida Everblades this past weekend to go 0-2-0. The Express enters this week with a record of 20-17-2, (42 pts., 5th place in Southern Division).

LAST WEEK'S ACTION

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2004 at FLORIDA 4-2 Loss

The Express fell 4-2 to the Florida Everblades on Friday night at TECO Arena in Estero, FL. The loss evened the season series at one win apiece.

The Everblades opened the scoring six minutes into the first period to get the scoring started, but as the game moved into the second period, the Express tallied the next two goals. Doug Scatchard notched his seventh goal of the season at 1:31 of the second period to tie the game. Blair Stayzer then jammed home a rebound at 5:43 of the middle period to give Roanoke its lone lead of the game. However, the ‘Blades re-tied the game less than a minute later at 6:43. The game remained tied at two until the late stages of the third period, when Florida took a 3-2 lead with 3:40 left in regulation. Roanoke pulled its goaltender in the closing moments looking for the equalizer, but it was Florida who took advantage of the situation scoring into the empty net with 34 seconds left in the game.

David Belitski started in net for Roanoke and stopped 37 Florida shots, but suffered the loss to see his record go to 11-8-2. The Express is now 2-3-0 all-time vs. Florida.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2004 at FLORIDA 6-2 Loss

The Everblades completed the weekend sweep on Saturday night with a 6-2 victory over the Express at TECO Arena.

The ‘Blades set the tone early scoring twice in the first seven minutes of the game, and four times overall in the first period. Florida scored each way possible in the opening period, notching an even strength goal, two power play goals, and a short handed goal, to put the Express in a deep hole after 20 minutes. David Belitski, who started the game in goal for the Express was lifted after the first period for Jason Wolfe.

In the second period the Express fell behind 5-0 seven minutes into the period, but then scored the next two goals to draw back to within three. Joe Dusbabek got the Express on the board with a power play goal at 8:00 of the second period, and Kevin Bergin whacked home a deflection at 8:49 of the third period to cut the Everblades lead to 5-2. However, Florida regained the four goal lead at 12:59 of the final period.

Belitski suffered the loss allowing the four first period goals on nine shots to fall to 11-9-2. Wolfe stopped 27 of 29 shots over the final two periods.

UPCOMING GAMES

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2004 at JOHNSTOWN 7:00 p.m.

The Express has a short week this week, playing just three games, the first against the Johnstown Chiefs on Friday night. The game is the only one of the season between the two teams. The Chiefs begin this week's action with a record of 21-14-4 (46 pts., T-4th Northern Division). The Chiefs are 13-3-2 at War Memorial Arena this season. Last year Roanoke won the only meeting of the year 4-3 in a shootout on December 10 at the Roanoke Civic Center. All-time the Express is 28-12-4 vs. Johnstown.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2004 at TRENTON 7:00 p.m.

Roanoke travels to the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ on Saturday for the only meeting of the year between the two teams in Trenton. Overall the game will be the second of two between the former division rivals this season. The Titans earned a 5-1 win over the Express on January 3 at the Roanoke Civic Center in the first meeting this season. The Titans begin this week with a record for 16-15-3 (35 pts., 8th Northern Division). The 34 games played by Trenton this season is the fewest of any team in the ECHL. Roanoke holds a 15-19-0 all-time record vs. Trenton.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2004 vs. READING 4:00 p.m.

The Express and the Reading Royals skate against each other for the third and final time this season on Sunday at the Roanoke Civic Center. The Royals won the first two meetings of the season between the former division rivals, both at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. Reading collected wins of 3-1 and 4-2 on December 5 & 6. The Royals begin this week with a record of 20-12-6 (46 pts., T-4th Northern Division). The Express is 15-8-0 all-time vs. Reading.

NEWS & NOTES

All-Star: The ECHL All-Star break comes this week, with the skill competition taking place on Tuesday, January 20, and the All-Star Game taking place on Wednesday, January 21. The All-Star festivities are in Peoria, IL this season. Express forward Shawn Limpright will represent the Express in Peoria.

Special Teams: The Express enters this week ranked 12th on the power play (18.3%) and ranked 18th on the penalty kill (83.0%).

League Leaders: Roanoke Express captain Rick Kowalsky is ranked 15th in overall scoring in the ECHL with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) ...Duncan Dalmao is 5th in the league in power play assists with 16...Dalmao also ranks 7th in overall points by defenseman with 31...David Belitski is first among all ECHL goaltenders in shootout save percentage, stopping 85 percent of shooters.

In The Division: Roanoke is 14-6-2 against its Southern Division opponents this season. 30 of their 40 points have come against divisional opponents.

What Are They Up To?: The Express currently has three players called-up to the AHL. Here's an update on how each have performed: Dan Carlson (Lowell Lockmonsters) - 19 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, 8 PIM. Tim O'Connell (Norfolk Admirals) - 12 games, 1 goal, 4 assists, 14 PIM. Shawn Limpright (Syracuse Crunch) - 5 games, 0 goals, 2 assist, 8 PIM.

UPCOMING PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE

Monday, January 19 OFF

Tuesday, January 20 OFF

Wednesday, January 21 OFF

Thursday, January 22 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Friday, January 23 7:00 p.m. GAME vs. Johnstown @ The War Memorial Arena

Saturday, January 24 7:00 p.m. GAME vs. Trenton @ The Sovereign Bank Arena

Sunday, January 25 4:00 p.m. GAME vs. Reading @ The Roanoke Civic Center

(All practice times and locations are subject to change)

ALL EXPRESS GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON THE 3WR RADIO NETWORK, 910 AM IN ROANOKE AND 990 AM IN BLACKSBURG. ALL GAMES ARE LIVE ON THE INTERNET AT www.wcqv.com



ECHL Stories from January 19, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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