Bes Leads Bucks To Win To Snap Skid

Published on February 12, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


HIDALGO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League beat the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 4-2 Tuesday night, in front of 4,725 fans at the Dodge Arena.

With the win the Bucks snapped their three game winless streak, and improved to 31-15-3. Laredo's 65 points puts them eight ahead of Arizona for first in the Southern Conference playoff race.

Jeff Bes scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Bucks. Bes' two goals give him 33 for the season, and his three points give him 78 for the season.

It didn't take long for new Bucks forward Alex Goupil to contribute. Goupil gave the Bucks a 1-0 lead just 2:52 into the first period, as he sent his first shot as a Buck past Killer Bees goaltender David Lemanowicz from the top of the left circle. It was Goupil's 14th goal of the season, with Igor Agarunov picking up the assist.

The Bucks and Bees rivalry picked up right where it left off January 12th, Gord Burnett fought Mike Tuomi at the 7:19 mark, hitting Tuomi with several shots to the head. Burnett received a five-minute fighting major, a fight instigator, and a game misconduct for the fight. The Bucks were forced to kill off a five-minute Killer Bee power-play. Rio was 0-2 with the man advantage in the first 20 minutes.

The Bucks outshot the Killer Bees in the first period nine-to-eight.

Laredo made it 2-0 just 2:44 into the second period, when Bes sent a laser slap shot from the point past Lemanowicz on the power-play. Paul Elliott and Steve Weidlich picked up assists on Bes' goal.

The Bucks increased their lead to 3-0 moments later, as Bes knocked a loose puck in in front of the Bees net for his second goal of the game, and 33rd of the year. The play started when the Bucks sent the puck towards the Bees net, Lemanowicz dove for the puck, in his crease and knocked it loose. With Lemanowicz down Bes knocked the puck into the empty net.

The Killer Bees got one back short-handed to make it 3-1 with 3:58 left in the period. Travis Banga took the puck for the Bees crossing the right point on a two-on-one, Banga sent a pass to Rob Voltera who sent a slap shot by Bucks goaltender John Ceci from the left circle. Voltera, Rio's leading scorer, notched his 22nd goal of the season.

The Bucks were outshot in the second period 14-13, but added two goals to hold a 3-1 lead going into the third.

Laredo (12-10-2 on the road) made it 4-1 at the 9:58 mark of the third, when Andrew Desjardins put in a rebound from the left side of the slot past Lemanowicz. It was Dejardins' 16th tally of his rookie campaign.

The Killer Bees (10-28-7) made it 4-2 at the 14:38 mark, when All-Star Travis Banga re-directed a Bernie Chimel shot into the net past Ceci.

Ceci picked up the win as he stopped 28 of 30 Bees shots, while Lemanowicz suffered the loss, stopping 32 of 36 Bucks shots.

Rio is now winless in their last six games (0-5-1).

The Bucks are back in action this weekend as they travel to Corpus Christi on Friday night, before having a re-match with the Killer Bees on Saturday.

*Boxscore*

http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=534629

**Walker Could Play This Weekend**

The Bucks received good news this week about defenseman David Walker. Walker could return to the line-up this weekend from a disc injury. Walker was in Los Angeles last week getting a second opinon, and will see Laredo doctor's Wednesday to be cleared to play.

Walker has been on the IR since January 5th.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2008


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