CHL Central Hockey League

Blazers Back to Where It All Began

Published on November 15, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The Oklahoma City Blazers and their fans will get a special taste of the good old days this season, returning for seven games to the Cox Convention Center (formerly the Myriad) where the team experienced tremendous success during 10 full seasons of play prior to moving to their current home, the Ford Center. From 1992-1993 through 2001-2002, the Blazers posted a remarkable home record of 232-63-18 at the facility (a winning percentage of .769) and captured two Central Hockey League championships. The Blazers organization agreed to move several home games to the Cox Convention Center this season in order to accommodate the needs of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets and the Ford Center.

Four CHL championship trophies were presented on Myriad ice during the decade of play, including Oklahoma City titles in the 1995-1996 and 2000-2001 seasons. The Blazers appeared in the post-season each of the 10 years (winning six division titles), and sold out a total of 31 games at the 13,479-seat venue while regularly leading all of minor professional hockey in average attendance.

The last home contest played at the Myriad was on March 22nd, 2002, with the Blazers hosting the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in Game 2 of the Northern Conference Semi-Finals. Oklahoma City's first opportunity "back home" comes this Friday evening, welcoming the Corpus Christi Rayz. Additional Oklahoma City home games at the Cox Convention Center are scheduled for November 20th (vs. Youngstown SteelHounds), and 23rd (vs. Colorado Eagles), December 2nd (vs. Amarillo Gorillas), December 31st (vs. Wichita Thunder), January 10th (vs. Tulsa Oilers) and February 10th (vs. Austin Ice Bats).

"From a fan-friendly standpoint, the Cox Convention Center is in better condition today than the last game we played there in 2002," said Express Sports CEO Brad Lund. "Much of that has to do with the nearly $70-million worth of improvements that has been made."

"Many special memories were created inside the Myriad," added Lund. "We look forward recreating the electricity and home ice advantage we enjoyed during our first 10 seasons."

Central Hockey League Standings - Through 11-15-05

Northwest Division GP W L OTL PTS Northeast Division GP W L OTL PTS

Wichita 10 8 2 0 16 Fort Worth 9 6 2 1 13

Colorado 8 6 2 0 12 Bossier-Shreveport 11 6 4 1 13

Tulsa 8 5 3 0 10 Youngstown 9 5 3 1 11

Oklahoma City 9 3 6 0 6 Memphis 9 3 6 0 6

Southwest Division GP W L OTL PTS Southeast Division GP W L OTL PTS

Lubbock 11 5 5 1 11 Rio Grande Valley 10 6 3 1 13

Odessa 10 3 4 3 9 Corpus Christi 10 6 4 0 12

Amarillo 9 2 5 2 6 Laredo 10 5 5 0 10

Austin 11 3 8 0 6

CHL Team By Team Notes

AMARILLO GORILLAS

Season Record: 2-5-2, 6 points

This Week: Tue. @ TUL, Fri. @ ODE, Sat. vs LUB

Amarillo began a four-game road trip this past Friday with a shootout loss to Laredo, followed by another loss to Corpus Christi. The Gorillas are now 2-5-2, last in the Southwest Division with six points, however, they have two games in hand on first-place Lubbock, who leads the way with 11 points. Amarillo's top player over the weekend was rookie Richie Hansen with two goals, a shootout goal, and an assist.

AUSTIN ICE BATS

Season Record: 3-8-0, 6 points

This Week: Fri. vs RGV, Sat. vs CRP

Austin went 1-2-0 over the last weekend, losing to both Laredo and Odessa at home, but traveling to Southern Conference leader Rio Grande Valley and shocking the Bees 6-3 after a lengthy start time delay. The Ice Bats scored twice as many goals (6) in their road win as they did in their two home losses (3). RW John McNabb still leads the team scoring with 13 points (9g,4a).

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS

Season Record: 6-4-1, 13 points

This Week: Fri. @ WIC, Sat. vs MEM

The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs had lost four in a row, all on the road, before Tuesday afternoon's 6-3 victory in Memphis for a Kid's Day game. Although cold on the road, the Mudbugs are 3-0-0 at home outscoring opponents 13-6. Dan Wildfong and Scott Sheppard each had two goals in the win over the RiverKings. Defenseman Dale Lupul is second in rookie scoring in the League with eight points (1g,7a).

COLORADO EAGLES

Season Record: 6-2-0, 12 points

This Week: Wed. vs WIC, Fri. vs TUL, Sat. vs TUL

Eagles' goalie Paolo Colaiacovo stopped 71 of 74 shots on the road last weekend in two late wins over Rio Grande Valley (OT) and Laredo (Filipic GWG at 16:27 of the third). Colorado has upcoming games against their two Northern Conference playoff opponents from last season, Tulsa and Wichita. The Eagles expect their 77th consecutive sellout when the Thunder visits the Budweiser Event Center on Wednesday.

CORPUS CHRISTI RAYZ

Season Record: 6-4-0, 12 points

This Week: Fri. @ OKC, Fri. @ WIC, Sat. vs ODE

Corpus Christi Rayz captain Bernie John led the Rayz to a phenomenal 3-0 weekend, and was named the CHL Oakley Player of the Week for week four. He led all Rayz players with seven points in three games and helped Corpus Christi record their second perfect week of the season. The Rayz couldn't keep the momentum going, however, as they dropped their Tuesday matinee with Rio Grande Valley 6-3.

FORT WORTH BRAHMAS

Season Record: 6-2-1, 13 points This Week: Tue. vs OKC, Thu. @ MEM, Fri. @ MEM

The Brahmas' Larry Sterling continued his strong play Saturday night stopping all 38 Mudbugs shots in a 2-0 victory, Sterling's sixth of the season and his first shutout of the year. The win came after a 3-1 loss the night before at the hands of Corpus Christi and their hot goaltender Scott Reid. The power play has struggled, especially on the road (1-25, 4%), but the penalty kill is first in the League (71-79, 91.1%)

LAREDO BUCKS

Season Record: 5-5-0, 10 points

This Week: Tue. @ YNG, Wed. @ YNG, Sat. @ RGV, Sun. vs RGV

The Bucks evened their record at 5-5-0, winning two games before dropping a game to Colorado with a late third period goal that snapped a four-game winning streak. RW James Hiebert has been stellar so far and is tied for second in scoring in the CHL with 18 points (7g,11a) while D Serge Dube and RW Brent Cullaton currently have seven-game point scoring streaks. Cullaton was recalled to San Antonio (AHL) on 11/11/05.

LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS

Season Record: 5-5-1, 11 points

This Week: Thu. @ ODE, Fri. vs YNG, Sat. @ AMA

Lubbock Cotton Kings goaltender Lance Leslie was honored as the Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week for his performance last week stopping all 31 shots on goal in Odessa Friday for his 16th career shutout (sixth with Lubbock) and then followed that performance the following night stopping all 30 shots on goal from Oklahoma City in a 1-0 shootout loss - the first Cotton Kings game ever to be scoreless going into overtime.

MEMPHIS RIVERKINGS

Season Record: 3-6-0, 6 points

This Week: Thu. vs FTW, Fri. vs FTW, Sat. @ BOS

The RiverKings dropped two of three over the weekend - a 3-1 win at the DeSoto Civic Center on Friday was sandwiched with a Thursday 7-4 home loss to Corpus Christi and a 5-1 loss at Wichita on Sunday - and another on Tuesday afternoon 6-3 to the ‘Bugs, the earliest start time (10am) in the club's history. Derek Landmesser's seven game assist streak to start the season was snapped in Sunday's game.

ODESSA JACKALOPES

Season Record: 3-4-3, 9 points

This Week: Thu. vs LUB, Fri. vs AMA, Sun. @ CRP

Last Friday night, the club honored former Jackalope John Bossio and had planned to honor defenseman Scott Hillman on Saturday, except that Hillman came out of retirement before the season and is currently tied for fifth on the team in scoring. Odessa completed the rare 1-1-1 weekend beating Austin 3-1, falling to Lubbock 3-0, and losing in dramatic fashion in overtime to Wichita 6-5.

OKLAHOMA CITY BLAZERS

Season Record: 3-5-0, 6 points

This Week: Tue. @ FTW, Fri. vs CRP, Sat. @ WIC, Sun. vs YNG

The Blazers had a very successful weekend while on the rebound as they beat division leader Wichita 6-3 at home then won a 1-0 shutout thriller against the Cotton Kings the following night. Goaltender Sebastien Centomo made 53 saves in regulation and overtime and only allowed one goal in the shootout to notch his first shutout of the season. They picked up an important four points as they try to stay within reach in the NW Division.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY KILLER BEES

Season Record: 6-3-1, 13 points

This Week: Fri. @ AUS, Sat. vs LAR, Sun. @ LAR

The Killer Bees had an off weekend, losing to 2-1 Colorado in overtime before dropping a game to last place Austin at home 6-3. Fortunately they bounced back early in the week, getting a 6-3 afternoon win in Corpus Christi in the first meeting of the season between the two clubs which puts them ahead by a point in the division. This could prove to be a good sign as they went 2-7-2 against the Rayz last season.

TULSA OILERS

Season Record: 5-3-0, 10 points

This Week: Tue. vs AMA, Fri. @ COL, Sat. @ COL

The Oilers are in a rough stretch where they play eight games out of nine on the road, their one home game on Tuesday against Amarillo. On the plus side, the Oilers became the first CHL road team to win in Youngstown, a 3-2 victory on Friday night. Tulsa continues to lead the league in GAA at 2.50 goals per game and a large part of that could be a result of giving up the fewest shots against, just 28.6 per game.

WICHITA THUNDER

Season Record: 8-2-0, 16 points

This Week: Wed. @ COL, Fri. vs BOS, Sat. vs OKC

Trailing 5-3 with under two minutes remaining, the Thunder pulled off a miracle Saturday night in Odessa when Travis Clayton scored two goals with the goaltender pulled to force overtime, where he assisted on Jason Duda's game-winner. On Sunday, the Thunder exploded for four third period goals, scoring almost every way possible, beating Memphis 5-1 at home. Wichita leads the Northwest and meets Colorado on Wednesday.

YOUNGSTOWN STEELHOUNDS

Season Record: 5-3-1, 11 points

This Week: Tue. vs LAR, Wed. vs LAR, Fri. @ LUB, Sun. @ OKC

Rookie goaltender Simon St. Pierre won his third straight decision on Saturday night while earning the SteelHounds and his own personal first shutout. Forward Jeff Christian continues his torrid pace recording goals in each game this past week extending his goal scoring streak to six games, and currently leads the league with 20 points and 12 goals. Youngstown is 3-1-1 in one-goal games this season.

CHL Results - 11-08-05 through 11-13-05

Tuesday, November 8th

Odessa 1 vs Lubbock 7

Wednesday, November 9th

Oklahoma City 3 vs Wichita 6

Thursday, November 10th

Corpus Christi 7 vs Memphis 4

Laredo 4 vs Austin 2

Friday, November 11th

Tulsa 3 vs Youngstown 2

Wichita 3 vs Oklahoma City 6

Bossier-Shreveport 1 vs Memphis 3

Colorado 2 vs Rio Grande Valley 1 OT

Corpus Christi 3 vs Fort Worth 1

Amarillo 5 vs Laredo 6 SO

Lubbock 3 vs Odessa 0

Saturday, November 12th

Oklahoma City 1 vs Lubbock 0 SO

Wichita 6 vs Odessa 5 OT

Tulsa 0 vs Youngstown 4

Colorado 3 vs Laredo 2

Amarillo 2 vs Corpus Christi 5

Bossier-Shreveport 0 vs Fort Worth 2

Austin 6 vs Rio Grande Valley 3

Sunday, November 13th

Odessa 3 vs Austin 1

Memphis 1 vs Wichita 5

CHL Schedule - 11-15-05 through 11-20-05

Tuesday, November 15

Bossier-Shreveport 6 vs Memphis 3 (Day)

Rio Grande Valley 6 vs Corpus Christi 3 (Day)

Amarillo vs Tulsa

Laredo vs Youngstown

Oklahoma City vs Fort Worth

Wednesday, November 16th

Wichita vs Colorado

Laredo vs Youngstown

Thursday, November 17th

Lubbock vs Odessa

Fort Worth vs Memphis

Friday, November 18th

Amarillo vs Odessa

Tulsa vs Colorado

Youngstown vs Lubbock

Fort Worth vs Memphis

Bossier-Shreveport vs Wichita

Rio Grande Valley vs Austin

Corpus Christi vs Oklahoma City

Saturday, November 19th

Lubbock vs Amarillo

Memphis vs Bossier-Shreveport

Tulsa vs Colorado

Oklahoma City vs Wichita

Corpus Christi vs Austin

Laredo vs Rio Grande Valley

Sunday, November 20th

Youngstown vs Oklahoma City

Odessa vs Corpus Christi

Rio Grande Valley vs Laredo

Central Hockey League Leaders - Through 11-15-05 (5:00 PM CST)

Points Team GP PTS

Christian, Jeff YNG 9 20
Blaznek, Joe WIC 10 19
Hiebert, James LAR 10 18
Murphy, Randy CRP 10 18
Richards, Chris YNG 9 17


Goals Team GP G
Christian, Jeff YNG 9 12
Blaznek, Joe WIC 10 11
Sheppard, Scott BOS 11 10
McNabb, John AUS 11 9
Graham, Nolan LUB 11 9


Assists Team GP A

Richards, Chris YNG 9 14
Murphy, Randy CRP 10 12
Cullaton, Brent LAR 8 12
Multiple Players Tied At 11


Plus / Minus Team GP +/-

Richards, Chris YNG 9 +14
Christian, Jeff YNG 9 +13
Lloyd, Darryl YNG 9 +11
Mallette, Kris YNG 9 +9
Lizotte, David WIC 10 +8


Penalty Minutes Team GP PIM

Legault, Shawn CRP 10 84
Filipic, Fraser COL 8 69
Ewasko, Jeff ODE 10 66
Pankewicz, Greg COL 8 61
Borsheim, Les COL 8 60


Rookie Scoring Team GP PTS

Leveille, Dominic ODE 10 12
Lupul, Dale BOS 11 8
Nosan, Kyle LUB 11 7
Multiple Players Tied At 6


PP Goals Team GP PPG

Sheppard, Scott BOS 11 7
Blaznek, Joe WIC 10 6
Parsons, Don MEM 9 5
Multiple Players Tied At 4


GW Goals Team GP GWG

Blaznek, Joe WIC 10 4
Christian, Jeff YNG 9 3
Multiple Players 2


Wins Team GP W

Laplante, Sebastien WIC 9 7
Sterling, Larry FTW 7 6
Colaiacovo, Paulo COL 8 6
Lindsay, Evan RGV 8 5
Multiple Players Tied At 4


Shutouts Team GP SO

Sterling, Larry FTW 7 1
Leslie, Lance LUB 9 1
St Pierre, Simon YNG 3 1
Carroll, Ken BOS 6 1
Gorman, Mike ODE 7 1
Barnes, Matt AUS 8 1


Goals Against Team GP GAA

Sterling, Larry FTW 7 1.84
Leslie, Lance LUB 9 2.32
Carroll, Ken BOS 6 2.35
King, Chris TUL 5 2.36
Laplante, Sebastien WIC 9 2.59


Save % Team GP %

Sterling, Larry FTW 7 .945
Leslie, Lance LUB 9 .930
Reid, Scott CRP 8 .925
Carroll, Ken BOS 6 .923
Laplante, Sebastien WIC 9 .922


CHL Attendance Total # AVG

Oklahoma City 23,480 3 7,826
Bossier-Shreveport 19,301 3 6,433
Laredo 22,590 4 5,647
Colorado 26,445 5 5,289
Wichita 34,926 7 4,989
Lubbock 19,461 4 4,865
Youngstown 18,793 4 4,698
Rio Grande Valley 32,883 7 4,697
Tulsa 13,959 3 4,653
Corpus Christi 26,046 6 4,341
Fort Worth 24,228 6 4,038
Memphis 17,260 5 3,452
Austin 23,004 7 3,286
Odessa 12,629 4 3,157
Amarillo 12,266 4 3,066
Total: 327,271
Games: 72
Average: 4,545

All player and team statistics, as well as true real time scoring, are available on the CHL website: www.centralhockeyleague.com/statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2005


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