ROLLER HOCKEY INTERNATIONAL 1997 PREVIEW

EASTERN CONFERENCE

New Jersey Rockin Rollers

Record in 1996: 7-14-4

Home arena: Continental Airlines Arena (capacity 19,040)

Head coach: Doug Shedden

Key player: Right wing Tony Szabo

Changes for 1997: Szabo is one of the most prolific scorers in RHI history, amassing 199 points in 63 games. But each team he has played for has folded at the end of the season (This is his fourth team in four years.) He’ll also serve as the Rollers’ assistant coach. Szabo, a two-time MVP selection at the league’s all-star game, is being charged with bringing a Murphy Cup title to New Jersey, which had its best finish at 16-13 in 1995, when it reached the second round of the playoffs. Many feel this team will seriously threaten Orlando for league supremacy.

Website: www.njrockinrollers.com

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Montreal Roadrunners

Record in 1996: 14-11-3

Home arena: Molson Centre (capacity 21,000)

Head coach: Martin Raymond

Key player: Goaltender Alain Morissette

Changes for 1997: In 1995, the Roadrunners advanced to the Murphy Cup final, where they were defeated by the San Jose Rhinos. The club hasn’t been the same since. It didn’t make the playoffs last season and will struggle to do so again. Raymond, 29, is in his first season with the Roadrunners. He is a Quebec native and has been coach at McGill University for two seasons. Morissette was one of the league’s best two years ago, posting a 9-2 record for now-defunct Pittsburgh. He played sparingly last season, with a 6.05 goals-against average and a 5-8 record.

Website: none

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Ottawa Loggers

Record in 1996: 3-22-3

Home arena: Corel Centre (capacity 18,500)

Head coach: Jocelyn Guevremont

Key player: Forward Ken Blum

Changes for 1997: The Loggers, the worst team in the league last year, were taken over by the league office Monday after owner Michael Clary failed to pay annual RHI fees and other bills. Two games have been postponed and the league has pulled the plug on using the 17,000-seat Civic Centre. At this point, everything is up in the air as to the future of the franchise, including the status of Guevremont, who returns after sitting out the 1996 season.

Website: loggers.ottawa.com/

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Buffalo Wings

Record in 1996: 17-9-5

Home arena: Marine Midland Arena (capacity 18,595)

Head coach: Murray Eaves

Key player: Goaltender Nick Vitucci

Changes for 1997: Talk about a turnaround. Buffalo was known as the Stampede when it defeated Portland to win the Murphy Cup final in 1994. A year later, the team went bankrupt, its players quit in droves and the team had to be taken over by the league. Jerry Shorthouse bought the club in 1996, renamed it the Empire State Cobras and moved it to Glens Falls, where it averaged 1,000 spectators a game and nearly went broke despite having one of the best records in the league. Frances Edmonston purchased part of the club this winter and moved it to Buffalo. Vitucci is not an RHI marquee name, having spent his entire in-line career with the Buffalo organization. Still, he posted a career-low 5.69 GAA and was 10-2 with three overtime wins in 1996.

Website: www.buffwings.com/

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Orlando Jackals

Record in 1996: 23-11-2 (defending Murphy Cup champions)

Home arena: Orlando Arena (capacity 17,681)

Head coaches: Jeff Brubaker and Steve Martinson

Key player: Defender Daniel Shank

Changes for 1997: Crafty owner Norton Herrick is said to control a majority of franchise owners’ votes. He also holds a reported 25% share of RHI, owns all of the Jackals and he bought a majority share in the Montreal franchise just to keep it afloat. The cantankerous Brubaker is a hard-nosed, short-tempered mentor who wins wherever he coaches: the East Coast Hockey League, International Hockey League and RHI. The fiery Martinson, fired at now defunct San Diego, has resurfaced in Florida, and it’s no secret he and Shank don’t get along. Shank, team captain and former Bullfrog, has developed the reputation as the league’s premier bully, but the guy just flat out plays roller hockey better than most in the league. Last year he had a personal-best 81 points (31 goals, 50 assists). Look for the Jackals to repeat as Murphy Cup champions this season.

Website: jackals.inspace.net

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

Los Angeles Blades

Record in 1996: 16-13-1

Home arena: The Forum (capacity 16,005)

Head coach: Mark Hardy

Key player: Forward Doug Ast

Changes for 1997: Ast, a prolific scorer, was recently acquired from Vancouver via San Diego, when both clubs folded. He led the league with 50 goals last year and should give the Blades the edge they need to make a run at the archrival Bullfrogs and San Jose for the division title. Most of the team returns, including captain Steve Wilson, and goaltender Jeff Ferguson, who was 10-3 with a league-record low 4.82 GAA. The Blades also dipped into the announcers’ booth and snatched Jimmy Fox, long-time analyst and former King, to be assistant coach.

Website: www.la-blades.com

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San Jose Rhinos

Record in 1996: 15-12-1

Home arena: San Jose Arena (capacity: 7,500 for roller hockey only)

Head coach: Guy Gadowsky

Key player: Forward Mark Woolf

Changes for 1997: This has been one of the most consistent franchises in the league’s four-year history, though its record number of losses and failure to make the playoffs for the first time last season were a surprise. Woolf might be the best pure skater in the league and has been with the club since its inception. He had 32 goals and 53 assists last season and is the team’s all-time leading scorer.

Website: www.rhinos.com/rhinos

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St. Louis Vipers

Record in 1996: 17-5-1

Home arena: Keil Center (19,260)

Head coach: Perry Turnbull

Key player: Forward Kevin Plager

Changes for 1997: With all the last-second changes and franchises folding, someone had to be dragged into the Western Conference, and the Vipers got the call. St. Louis has been one the league’s best regular-season clubs over the last two years, posting a 28-19-3 record. The Vipers set nine club records in 1996, including most penalty minutes (520), most shots on goal (1,206) and most power-play goals (48).

Website: members.aol.com/stlouisvipers/

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Sacramento River Rats

Record in 1996: 10-17-1

Home arena: Cal Expo (outdoors, 5,000)

Head coach: Shaun Clauston

Key player: Forward Gerry St. Cyr

Changes for 1997: Just about everything is new. The Rats have vacated Arco Arena and will play outdoors at the state fairgrounds. Meanwhile, owners have issued public stock in the team at $2 a share. Clauston is an up-and-coming young coach who led the now-defunct Oakland Skates to two playoff appearances in two seasons. St. Cyr had 48 goals and 89 points last year. Jason Kreuckl, Jason Krywulak, Chris Robertson and Jeff Sebastian, all former Oakland skaters, have followed Clauston from the East Bay to the Central Valley.

Website: www.riverratshockey.com