Austin @ Rio Grande Valley Preview

Published on January 24, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


RIO GRANDE VALLEY KILLER BEES

GAME NIGHT PREVIEW

Austin Ice Bats (17-17-5) @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (17-17-6)

DATE: 1/24/04 TIME: 7:30 pm LOCATION: Dodge Arena (Hidalgo, Tx)

BEES HAVE CHANCE TO MAKE A RUN

The Bees moved into second place of the CHL's Southeast Division with a win last night over Corpus Christi, as Austin lost to Laredo, but the Bees must win tonight or they will be back in last place and facing 6 consecutive road games before returning back to the Dodge Arena. The Bees are looking to extend a two-game winning streak to three games, which would also extend their home winning streak to a franchise high three games.

THE SERIES

This is the fourth meeting between these two squads at the Dodge Arena and seventh overall meeting this season between the two teams. Rio Grande Valley leads the series 4-3-0, and has yet to lose to Austin on home ice. Rio Grande Valley's Bill Newson leads the series offensively and leads the Bees in the series with 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points. Austin has several players with 5 points to lead their squad against the Bees this season. Tonight's game is the seventh of 12 series match-ups this season.

THE LAST MEETING

Austin Ice Bats goaltender Jonathan Forest stopped all 17 Rio Grande Killer Bees shots for his second shutout of the season, leading the Bats past the Bees 2-0 last Friday night at Austin's Travis County Expo Center.

After a scoreless first two periods of play, the Bats took a 1-0 lead 3:20 into the third period of play with a goal by Jaroslav Jabrocky. Jabrocky, a free agent acquisition playing in his first game with the Bats, was able to knock the puck across the goal line in a pile-up in the crease. The goal would be all Austin needed, but Daniel Tetrault added Austin an empty net goal with 25-seconds remaining.

The Bees tied a season low with just 17 shots on goal in the performance, and Jeff Levy suffered the hard-luck loss in net stopping 23 of 24 shots. Both squads were 0 for 3 on the power play and each team combined for just 16 penalty minutes in the game.

ROSTER CHANGES

Rio Grande Valley and the Austin Ice Bats each list healthy line-ups tonight. Austin has two active goaltenders even though Peter Brady remains on the IR.

STANDINGS

Bees - 40 points, 2nd place, 30 points back, Southeast Division.

Bats – 39 points, 3rd place, 31 points back, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Bees – Bill Newson 34 points; Bill Newson 21 goals; Roger Holeczy 15 assists; Ryan Shmyr 158 penalty minutes.

Bats – Gerald Tallaire 38 points; Brent Hughes 19 goals; Several tied with 29 assists; Shawn Legault 200 penalty minutes.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bees – Power play: 14.2% 12th, Penalty killing: 82.7% 11th.

Bats – 12.1% 16th, Penalty killing: 82.9% 10th.

GOALTENDERS

Bees – Jeff Levy (15-12-4, 4 SO, 2.40), Jacque Vezina (2-5-2, 1 SO, 2.79).

Bats – Jonathan Forest (13-10-4, 2 SO, 2.46), Shawn Conschafter (6-5-0, 0 SO, 3.43)

WHAT'S NEXT Rio Grande Valley – Tuesday, January 27th 7:00 PM @ Odessa Jackalopes Ector County Coliseum

Austin – Sunday, January 25th 3:00 PM vs. Ft. Worth Brahmas Travis County Expo Ctr.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2004


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