173:
in the 1967–1968 season with Jim Jago as team captain. The first season had some sparse crowds of less than 1,000 in the 4,848-seat arena. Over the next few years, the team developed a fanbase and a number of games were sold out. In 1971, the team moved to the newly built
Roanoke Civic Center near
220:
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 for the team and less effective
29:
201:. During the mid to late 1990s, some crowds nearly filled the over 9,000 seat civic center. In 1995–1996, average attendance was 5,679. The team's hard-nosed style of play reflected their coach, Frank Anzalone, who later coached the ECHL's
185:. The Virginia Lancers were owned by Henry Brabham, who also owned a chain of convenience stores named Lancer Mart. The roof of the LancerLot collapsed as a result of heavy snowfall during the
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In the late 2000s, the "Roanoke
Express" name was revived for a youth hockey team. It was eventually absorbed into the Dawgs' youth team.
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Roanoke Valley's first minor league ice hockey team, called the Salem Rebels, played its inaugural season at the
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The
Express proved to be a success both on the ice and in drawing more fans than previous hockey teams in the
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213:. The team continued to be successful, and in fact reached new heights, after Anzalone left for the
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marketing than in the team's early years. The
Express folded after the 2003–2004 season.
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and
Roanoke Valley Rampage played in a custom built facility called the LancerLot in
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260:, in which area firefighters would go up against area law enforcement.
249:, who had committed suicide not long after his sole season in Roanoke.
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In 2005, Roanoke tried to field another hockey team, this time in the
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The
Berglund Center tried to keep hockey alive in Roanoke by hosting
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For most of the 1980s and early 1990s, various teams such as the
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237:. This team folded after just one season. Then, in 2016, the
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resulting in hockey moving back to the
Roanoke Civic Center.
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downtown
Roanoke and were renamed the Roanoke Valley Rebels.
150:
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205:. The Express typically had outstanding goalkeeping with
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from 1993 until 2004. Home games were played at the
401:- played with Canucks, Flames, Kings, and Thrashers
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87:black, Hunter green, purple, white (initially)
1030:Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States
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1075:Chicago Blackhawks minor league affiliates
1070:New York Islanders minor league affiliates
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449:
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1060:San Jose Sharks minor league affiliates
1045:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2004
1065:Calgary Flames minor league affiliates
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472:Relocated and defunct ECHL franchises
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431:History of the Express from 1993-2001
1040:Ice hockey clubs established in 1993
1035:Defunct ice hockey teams in Virginia
16:Ice hockey team in Roanoke, Virginia
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13:
1055:2004 disestablishments in Virginia
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217:and was replaced by Scott Gordon.
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145:were a professional minor league
1050:1993 establishments in Virginia
499:Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
323:3–1 in quarterfinals; lost to
1:
319:3–1 in first round; defeated
308:3–1 in first round; lost to
283:3–1 in first round; lost to
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7:
1025:Sports in Roanoke, Virginia
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10:
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659:Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
572:(Greenville Swamp Rabbits)
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89:Black, Red, White (later)
830:Jacksonville Lizard Kings
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639:Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
375:- former NHL goaltender
239:Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
879:Mississippi Sea Wolves
809:Hampton Roads Admirals
725:Chesapeake Icebreakers
998:Victoria Salmon Kings
984:Trenton Titans/Devils
893:Newfoundland Growlers
753:Columbus Cottonmouths
612:(Cincinnati Cyclones)
592:(Cincinnati Cyclones)
589:Louisville RiverFrogs
552:(Jacksonville Icemen)
529:Carolina Thunderbirds
312:3–2 in quarterfinals.
287:3–1 in quarterfinals.
235:Roanoke Valley Vipers
921:Pensacola Ice Pilots
704:Baton Rouge Kingfish
690:Arkansas RiverBlades
632:(Adirondack Thunder)
622:(Atlanta Gladiators)
579:Lexington Men O' War
522:(Adirondack Thunder)
502:(Adirondack Thunder)
215:Lowell Lock Monsters
155:Roanoke Civic Center
78:Roanoke Civic Center
977:San Francisco Bulls
935:Phoenix RoadRunners
872:Manchester Monarchs
865:Louisville Icehawks
858:Louisiana IceGators
851:Long Beach Ice Dogs
844:Las Vegas Wranglers
837:Knoxville Cherokees
816:Huntington Blizzard
795:Greensboro Monarchs
788:Greensboro Generals
509:Bakersfield Condors
362:3–1 in first round.
355:3–1 in first round.
348:3–1 in first round.
341:3–2 in first round.
334:3–1 in first round.
301:3–1 in first round.
294:3–0 in first round.
276:2–0 in first round.
1020:Defunct ECHL teams
956:Richmond Renegades
942:Quad City Mallards
802:Greenville Grrrowl
718:Charlotte Checkers
662:(Wheeling Nailers)
532:(Wheeling Nailers)
512:(Norfolk Admirals)
417:- formerly of the
327:4–0 in semifinals.
315:1998–99: Defeated
304:1997–98: Defeated
279:1994–95: Defeated
171:Salem Civic Center
1007:
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991:Texas Wildcatters
900:New Orleans Brass
886:Nashville Knights
549:Evansville IceMen
435:The Roanoke Times
419:Los Angeles Kings
409:New Jersey Devils
393:Vancouver Canucks
373:Daniel Berthiaume
358:2003–04: Lost to
351:2002–03: Lost to
344:2001–02: Lost to
337:2000–01: Lost to
330:1999–00: Lost to
297:1996–97: Lost to
290:1995–96: Lost to
272:1993–94: Lost to
207:Daniel Berthiaume
159:Roanoke, Virginia
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112:Franchise history
61:Southern Division
41:Roanoke, Virginia
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203:Johnstown Chiefs
193:Joining the ECHL
187:Blizzard of 1993
179:Virginia Lancers
135:1998, 1999, 2000
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367:Notable players
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143:Roanoke Express
132:Division titles
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481:(still active)
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127:Championships
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149:team in the
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489:Alaska Aces
381:- two-time
379:Dave Gagnon
211:Dave Gagnon
107:Independent
1014:Categories
415:John Tripp
399:Jeff Cowan
353:Greensboro
321:Chesapeake
306:Huntington
147:ice hockey
74:Home arena
479:Relocated
383:Riley Cup
332:Johnstown
292:Charlotte
281:Knoxville
225:Afterward
117:1993–2004
104:Affiliate
325:Richmond
285:Richmond
267:Playoffs
58:Division
682:Defunct
433:, from
411:forward
395:forward
360:Florida
346:Trenton
274:Raleigh
165:History
66:Founded
339:Toledo
317:Dayton
233:: the
183:Vinton
98:
95:
92:
84:Colors
48:League
243:SPHL
209:and
151:ECHL
141:The
69:1993
52:ECHL
36:City
385:MVP
258:MDA
231:UHL
157:in
1016::
407:-
391:-
161:.
464:e
457:t
450:v
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