Roanoke Express
ECHL franchise that played in Roanoke from 1993 to 2004.
The Roanoke Express were a minor league professional ice hockey team that competed in the ECHL from 1993 to 2004. They played their home games at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
Hockey in the Roanoke Valley began with the Salem Rebels, who played their first season at the Salem Civic Center in 1967–1968 with Jim Jago as captain. Early crowds were sparse, sometimes under 1,000 in the 4,848-seat arena, but the team built a fanbase over time and sold out several games. In 1971, the team moved to the newly built Roanoke Civic Center and became the Roanoke Valley Rebels.
During much of the 1980s and early 1990s, teams like the Virginia Lancers and Roanoke Valley Rampage played at a custom arena called the LancerLot in Vinton. The Lancers were owned by Henry Brabham, who also owned the Lancer Mart convenience store chain. The LancerLot’s roof collapsed under heavy snow during the Blizzard of 1993, forcing hockey to return to the Roanoke Civic Center.
The Express were a success, drawing more fans than previous local teams. In the mid-to-late 1990s, crowds sometimes nearly filled the over-9,000-seat civic center, and average attendance in 1995–1996 was 5,679. The team played a hard-nosed style under coach Frank Anzalone, who later coached the Johnstown Chiefs, and featured strong goaltending from Daniel Berthiaume and Dave Gagnon. After Anzalone left for the Lowell Lock Monsters, Scott Gordon took over and the team reached new heights.
By the early 2000s, the novelty had faded. The team’s failure to advance deep into the playoffs frustrated fans, attendance dropped, and turmoil in management and ownership led to poor press and weaker marketing. The Express folded after the 2003–2004 season.
In 2005, Roanoke tried another team, the Roanoke Valley Vipers of the UHL, but it lasted only one season. In 2016, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs formed in the SPHL. The Dawgs have honored the Express, including retiring the number of Terence Tootoo, who died by suicide shortly after his single season in Roanoke. The Berglund Center kept hockey alive by hosting Virginia Tech games and an annual "Guns 'n' Hoses" game for the MDA, where firefighters played law enforcement. In the late 2000s, the "Roanoke Express" name was revived for a youth hockey team, which later merged into the Dawgs’ youth program.
- League
- ECHL
- Years active
- 1993–2004
- Home arena
- Roanoke Civic Center
- Location
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Average attendance (1995–96)
- 5,679
- Playoff appearances
- 11 (every season)
- Best playoff result
- Semifinals (1998–99)
Lore & Background
The Roanoke Express joined the ECHL in 1993, bringing professional hockey back to the Roanoke Civic Center after the roof collapse of the LancerLot in Vinton during the Blizzard of 1993 had forced the previous team out. The Express quickly proved a success, drawing larger crowds than earlier hockey teams in the Roanoke Valley. During the mid-to-late 1990s, some crowds nearly filled the over 9,000-seat civic center, and average attendance in the 1995–1996 season was 5,679.
The team was known for a hard-nosed style of play under coach Frank Anzalone, who later coached the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs. The Express typically featured outstanding goaltending from Daniel Berthiaume and Dave Gagnon. After Anzalone left for the Lowell Lock Monsters, Scott Gordon took over and the team continued to reach new heights. However, by the early 2000s, the novelty of hockey in the Roanoke Civic Center had worn off, and the team's inability to advance deep into the playoffs led to a frustrated fanbase and sagging attendance. Turmoil in management and ownership contributed to bad press and less effective marketing. The Express folded after the 2003–2004 season.
Reader's Guide
The Roanoke Express left a lasting mark on hockey in the Roanoke Valley, representing the most successful and longest-running professional hockey team the area had seen up to that point. The team's 11-year run in the ECHL included a playoff appearance every season, with a semifinal berth in 1998–99 as the deepest advance. The Express also produced a notable number of players who later reached the NHL, including goaltender Daniel Berthiaume, forward Vernon Fiddler, and several others. After the team folded, Roanoke attempted to field another hockey team in the UHL in 2005—the Roanoke Valley Vipers—but that team lasted only one season. In 2016, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs formed in the SPHL and have made numerous references to the Express, including retiring the number of Terence Tootoo. The Express name was revived in the late 2000s for a youth hockey team, which was eventually absorbed into the Dawgs' youth team. The Berglund Center (formerly Roanoke Civic Center) continued to host hockey through Virginia Tech games and an annual 'Guns 'n' Hoses' benefit game for the MDA.
Did You Know?
- The Roanoke Express played in the ECHL for 11 seasons, from 1993 to 2004.
- The team's home arena, the Roanoke Civic Center, had a capacity of over 9,000 seats.
- Goaltender Dave Gagnon was a two-time Riley Cup MVP.
- The Express name was later revived for a youth hockey team in the late 2000s.
More in Defunct Ice Hockey Teams, Part 4 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced