Bats Cap Season with Wednesday Party

Published on March 16, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


Setting the Stage: The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League finished the 2003-04 season with a 28-30-6 record, missing the post-season for just the second time in franchise history. But the Ice Bats took their playoff quest all the way to the final week, winning seven of their final nine games, including six on their season-ending eight-game road trip.

A look back: The Ice Bats finished their 3,300-mile season-ending road trip last week. The highlight was a shootout win at Governors' Cup champion Laredo on Saturday.

Last Friday, the Ice Bats had a six-game winning streak snapped in a close one at Corpus Christi, despite a stellar effort from goaltender Brent Belecki. The Ice Bats built a 2-0 lead in the first 4-1/2 minutes on consecutive goals from defenseman Brandon Carper. But the Rayz cut the lead in half on a Paul Dunphy tip-in with six minutes left in the period, and from that point on, controlled long stretches of the action.

Only Belecki kept the Bats in the lead through the second period. The Rayz outshot the Bats 24-8 in the period, but Belecki stopped all 24 shots faced. Corpus Christi broke through in the third, however, with back-to-back goals from Brad Wingfield, the winner coming with just 2:40 left in regulation.

Belecki finished with 56 saves on 59 shots against his former team, as the Bats dropped their final game ever at the Memorial Coliseum.

On Saturday, the Ice Bats earned their first win this season at Laredo, defeating the regular season champs, 2-1 in a shootout.

Austin's Chris Legg scored his first goal of the season 1:52 into the contest on a breakaway. After that, both goalies Jonathan Forest of Austin and Marco Emond of Laredo turned in solid performances. The Bucks finally tied the score in the final minute of the second period on a Jeff Bes goal.

Forest made outstanding stops in the third, robbing Laredo's Patrik Nilson several times on point-blank opportunities. After a scoreless third period and overtime, both teams scored in Round One of the shootout. But Austin's Chris Richards came right back with the winner in Round Two, and Forest stopped Laredo's final three shooters.

Forest stopped 30 of 31 shots through regulation and overtime, and three of four in the shootout.

After a long trip to Fort Worth, the Ice Bats missed out on a chance to finish at the .500 mark, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Brahmas in Sunday afternoon's regular season finale.

The Bats' wake-up call came late, as the Brahmas won the opening face-off and T.J. Warkus scored 12 seconds into the contest. Fort Worth's Justin Williams stretched the lead with a shorthanded goal on a 2-on-1 rush at 2:16.

The Ice Bats battled back with an Arturs Kupaks goal from the left circle midway through the opening period, then tied the game on a mistake by Fort Worth goalie Erasmo Saltarelli in the second. Saltarelli came all the way into the high slot to play the puck, but turned it over, and Austin's Chris Legg had open net for the game-tying goal.

But after that, the Bats hit the snooze button. Fort Worth's Aaron Davis scored 28 seconds after Legg's goal, and 51 seconds after that, Warkus added a rebound score. The Bats countered with a Brent Hughes power play goal midway through the second, and almost tied the score again on a Kelly Smart shot that rang the crossbar in the final minute.

In the third, the Bats had more chances to even the count, but failed to score on seven minutes of power play time over the last half of the period. Even after pulling goalie Brent Belecki for a 6-on-4 advantage with 1-1/2 minutes left, the Bats couldn't push the tying goal across.

Player Plaudits: Center Chris Richards finished among the top 20 league scorers, with 24 goals and 46 assists. Forward Gerald Tallaire was second on the team, with 15 goals and 36 assists. Brent Hughes ranked among the top five CHL rookies with 23 goals and 21 assists, while Arturs Kupaks was among the top 11 defensemen with 10 goals and 27 helpers. And Jonathan Forest finished among the top 13 league goalies, at 20-15-5, with a 2.67 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

Best of the Best: Ice Bats center Brett Seguin was voted "Best on Face-offs" in this year's CHL "Best of the Best" Poll, conducted among league teams. Forward Chris Richards was third in voting for "Best Playmaker," and Austin was once again selected "Best City" in the poll.

Playoff Pairings: Pairings and schedules are set for the first round of the CHL President's Cup Playoffs, to begin this Friday. Here are the pairings and seedings for the best-of-five opening round:

Southern Conference: Northern Conference: Laredo (1) vs. Rio Grande Valley (4) Colorado (1) vs. Wichita (4) San Angelo (2) vs. Amarillo (3) Bossier-Shreveport (2) vs. Indianapolis (3)

Season Send-Off: Fans are invited to join the Ice Bats at the team's season-ending Season Ticket Holder Awards Party and Jersey Auction, to take place this Wednesday, March 17th, starting at 7pm at Dave & Buster's. Ice Bats players will receive the Texas Dodge Dealers Post-Season Player Awards, based on fans' on-line voting.

In addition, the team's game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit Ice Bats Children's Charities. Silent auction items will include player-signed helmets, sticks and pucks, team-signed goalie sticks and photos, and other packages including a stay at the Driskill Hotel and golf packages from Blackhawk Golf Club.

Dave & Buster's is located at MoPac and Research Blvd.

Looking Ahead: Season tickets for the 2004-'05 CHL season are available now at the Ice Bats office. Fans may call (512) 927-PUCK for more information.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2004


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