Bats Look To Settle Playoff and Family Business Friday

February 25, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


(Austin, TX) - On February 20th the Central Hockey League's Austin Ice Bats were sitting in seventh place in the Southern Conference, stuck in a three game losing streak, and trying to keep pace in the race for the final playoff spot.

Led by the play of goalie Miguel Beaudry and the forward line of Brendan Cook, Ted Vandermeer, and Mike Bartlett...the Ice Bats played their most impressive hockey of the season when it was most needed. The Ice Bats went 3-0-0, catapulted over two teams into fifth place and the final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference, setting up Friday's game against Amarillo as the biggest of the season thus far for the Ice Bats.

On Thursday, the Bats hosted the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in game one of a home-and-home series. Austin exploded for five goals, including two from Brendan Cook, and Miguel Beaudry made 31 saves as the Bats cruised to a 5-1 win over the Bees.

Friday, the Bats' offense took the spotlight again in Hidalgo, TX with five goals in the win. Brendan Cook raised his play to another level by recording the Bats first Hat Trick of the season (three goals) in the 5-3 win. Cook and his linemates Ted Vandermeer and Mike Bartlett combined for 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in the home-and-home sweep of Rio Grande. Doug Groenestege made 32 saves.

Saturday was a special night for the Ice Bats, who wore pink jerseys and raised nearly $10,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Playoff implications were on the line as the Bats battled the Corpus Christi Rayz, one of two teams fighting Austin for that final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. Intensity swirled throughout Chaparral Ice Arena as the Bats slipped by with a 3-1 win. Cook and Vandermeer each had a goal and an assist, while Miguel Beaudry stopped 21 shots in the victory.

Along with their three wins, the weekend was just as impressive statistically for the Austin Ice Bats.

- Brendan Cook finished the weekend with 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in the three games.

- The Bats top forward line of Cook, Vandermeer, and Bartlett combined for 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists)

- Miguel Beaudry went 2-0 with a 1.00 Goals Against Avg. and a .962 Save Percentage, stopping 52 of 54 shots.

- In the Standings, Austin passed Corpus Christi and Amarillo for fifth in the Southern Conference with a 22-29-1 record (45 pts.). Austin is 15-7-0 since January 1st, after starting the season 7-23-1.

Family Business, Playoff Contention Headlines Friday's Showdown

This Friday at 7:35 PM the puck will drop between the Amarillo Gorillas and the Austin Ice Bats. Two teams separated by one point in the standings, fighting for the final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference.

Amarillo is led by Ted Vandermeer's brother, Bill Vandermeer, and Rookie of the Year favorite, David Nimmo. Each player has recorded 58 points this season. Nimmo with 29 goals and 29 assists, Bill Vandermeer has 27 goals and 31 assists.

The Bats and Gorillas met earlier this year on January 20th with Austin winning 5-1. Ted Vandermeer recorded two goals in the game, and Beaudry stopped 46 of 47 shots for Austin.

Starting with Friday's game the Ice Bats have 12 contests remaining in their regular season, Amarillo has 13 games. Austin hasn't qualified for the CHL playoffs since the 2002-2003 season.

Tickets for Friday's game are still available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com, but they are selling fast. The Bats also face Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. The puck drops at 7:35 PM on both nights.

The Ice Bats are the AA Affiliate for the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros (AAA). The team is currently playing its 12th season in Austin. Single game tickets and mini-plans are available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2008


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