Bucks, \'Jacks Playoff Series Preview
March 25, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
ODESSA, TX- The Laredo Bucks and Odessa Jackalopes will start 2009 Southern Conference Semi-Finals Friday night at the Ector County Coliseum. The Bucks and Jackalopes will meet in the playoffs for the second straight season, and for the fourth time overall. The series is a best of seven.
The Bucks have won the three previous postseason series' between the two teams, and hold an 11-3 record against the Jackalopes in playoff games.
Laredo finished the 2008-09 regular season at 36-23-5 (77 points), and had their run of five straight Southeast Division Championships ended by the Texas Brahmas.
Odessa went 39-19-6 (84 points) this season, and won their first Southwest Division title since the 2005-06 campaign.
*OFFENSE*
The Bucks lost two-time CHL MVP Jeff Bes to a season-ending injury on January 26, leaving them without their All-Time leading scorer.
Former Team Captain Brent Cullaton was re-acquired by the Bucks on February 2nd, and went on to lead Laredo in scoring with 72 points (20-52=72). Rookie of the Year Darryl Smith had a stellar year finishing with 70 points (36-34=70), first among rookies.
Laredo has one 30 goal scorer (Smith, 36), and three players with 20 or more goals (Alex Goupil, 23, Rick Kozak, 21 & Cullaton 20).
Igor Agarunov set a career high with 19 goals this season, surpassing his old high of 15 (2006-07).
The Jackalopes, who finished second in the league in goals per game (4.06), boast two of the top six scorers in the CHL this season, in League MVP Sebastien Thinel (38-59=97) and Dominic Leveille (26-54=80). Thinel won both the MVP and the Joe Burton Scoring Title this season.
Besides Thinel and Leveille, the Jackalopes have Veteran Kory Karlander (33-43=76) and rookie Jeff Pierce (22-44=66) who have scored in bunches this season also.
*DEFENSE*
The Bucks were just one of seven CHL teams to allow fewer than 200 goals this season. Laredo allowed the fourth-least amount of goals with 187, and as a result finished 15-7-5 in one-goal games. Laredo also finished fifth in goals allowed per game at 2.92.
Laredo's defensive core is lead by Team Captain Serge Dube, who finished 14th in the CHL in defensemen scoring.
Odessa meanwhile gave up 205 goals (3.20 per game) this season, finishing eighth in the league.
*SPECIAL TEAMS*
The Bucks special teams strength is their penalty kill, which finished third in the CHL at 85.3%. Odessa's power-play meawhile, was the second-best in the CHL this season (22.8%).
Laredo has struggled on the power-play in their last 13 games, as they are just eight for their last 59 with the man advantage.
*GOALTENDING*
Both the Bucks and Jackalopes have two solid goaltenders, who each finished in the top 20 statistically.
Laredo's Sebastien Centomo is the only netminder of the four in this series to win 20 games, as he finished 20-17-2. Since being signed by the Bucks at the end of January Andrew Martin is 6-3-1 in the Laredo net.
Alexandre Vincent only appeared in 25 games for the 'Jacks this season, but finished with a stellar 16-3-3 mark, while Juha Toivonen won 13 games for Odessa.
*REGULAR SEASON*
The Bucks went 1-3 against the Jackalopes this season, while being outscored 13-10 in the four games. Each team won a game on their opponent's home ice during the regular season series.
*COACHING*
Terry Ruskowski has led the Bucks to the playoffs in each of their seven seasons in the Gateway City, posting an impressive 58-33 postseason record. Laredo has won two President's Cup Championships with Ruskowski at the helm, and at advanced to the Southern Conference Finals in all six of their playoff runs so far.
Paul Gillis will start his second playoff run with the Jackalopes on Friday night. Gillis' Odessa squad were swept by the Bucks in last seasons Conference Semi-Finals.
Gillis has had playoff success elsewhere, as he led the Quad City Mallards to the UHL title, and appeared in two more championship series' in the league.
The Bucks and Jackalopes will play game two in Odessa on Saturday night, with the series shifting to Laredo next Wednesday (Apr 1) and Friday (Apr 3).
Game three, set for Wednesday April 1st is the Bucks "Pack the House for Charity" game, where all Tickets in every section, with the exception of glass and club level seats will be available for a minimum $5 donation. All proceeds going to Sacred Heart Children's Home and South Texas Food Bank. The Bucks will also give out 5,000 Thunderstix before game three.
The $5 tickets were made possible by a generous donation by Laredo Energy and Border Lease Services.
At Game four on Friday April 3, every fan in attendance will receive a FREE HOT DOG! Also on April 3 fans can take advantage of $1 Beer, as well as $1 soda all game long!
The Bucks will open the Southern Conference Semi-Finals Friday (March 27) at Odessa.
*Ticket Prices Stay The Same Throughout Playoffs*
Walk up ticket prices will stay the same throughout every round of the 2009 Playoffs. In seasons past the ticket prices have increased round by round.
With the exception of Game Three (April 1), which will be $5, ticket prices start at $12.75.
*Southern Conference Semi-Finals Schedule: Laredo vs. Odessa (Best of seven)*
-Game 1 Friday March 27 @ Odessa , 7:05pm
-Game 2 Saturday March 28 @ Odessa , 7:05pm
-GAME 3 WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, @ LAREDO , 7:00PM(Pack The House For Charity)
-GAME 4 FRIDAY APRIL 3, @ LAREDO , 7:30PM (Free Hot Dog! $1 Beer all game!!)
-Game 5 Saturday April 4, @ Odessa , 7:05pm (If neccesary)
-GAME 6 TUESDAY APRIL 7 @ LAREDO , 7:00PM (If neccesary)
-Game 7 Thursday April 9 @ Odessa , 7:05pm (If necessary)
*"Pack The House For Charity"April 1st: $5 Tickets Playoff Tickets!*
The Laredo Bucks, in conjunction with Border Lease and Laredo Energy have announced that they will again "Pack The House For Charity" at the Bucks first home playoff game this season, April 1st against Odessa . All Tickets in every section, with the exception of glass and club level seats will be available for a minimum $5 donation, with all proceeds going to Sacred Heart Children's Home and South Texas Food Bank. The Bucks, along with Border Lease and Laredo Energy are looking to sell out the game, and have 8,002 fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center .
Tickets are ON SALE NOW by calling 718-BUCK (2825), or by going to the LEC box office. All walk up tickets on the day of the game will also be available for $5. This is the second year in a row that fans can receive a ticket for $5 to a playoff game with all the proceeds going to charity. Fans can donate more than $5 to the charities if they so choose
*Win A Vegas Weekend Or Carnival Cruise From The Bucks!*
The Bucks have announced that fans can win either a Las Vegas Weekend Getaway or a Carnival Cruise, if they purchase a Bucks playoff package.
The Las Vegas Weekend Getaway includes airfare and hotel reservations, courtesy of the Bucks, on dates agreed upon by the winners of the getaway and the Bucks.
The Carnival Cruise winner receives a FREE 4 night cruise leaving from the Port of Galveston, Texas, courtesy of the Bucks, on dates agreed upon by the winners of the cruise and the Bucks.
Winners of either the Las Vegas Weekend or Carnival Cruise may not take a cash equivalent and it is not transferable.
To be eligible to win one of the two great prizes, fans must buy their Bucks playoff package before the first home playoff game. Drawing will be held during the 1st intermission of the 1st playoff game.
Call 718-BUCK (2825) to order your playoff packages now, and to be eligible to win the prizes.
*Credit for playoff games not played, will be applied to the 09-10 season ticket packages.
*Big Discounts At Bucks Team Store*
The Bucks will be offering big discounts at the team store starting March 18th when the Bucks host the Texas Brahmas. Season ticket holders get 30% off and non season ticket holders get 15% off (excluding items that are already on sale). The discounts will run throughout the Bucks playoff run.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2009
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- Mudbugs Rally Past Rage to Win in Overtime - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- IceRays beat Bees 6-2 to force game three - Corpus Christi IceRays
- RiverKings Fall To Blazers in Overtime - Mississippi RiverKings
- Brahmas to air first playoff game on television - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Rapid City Rush Raise Another $20,000 With Jersey Auction - Rapid City Rush
- RiverKings Take Final Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll - CHL
- Bucky Still In Jail: Bail Set At $5 Tickets - Laredo Bucks
- Kris Tebbs Named Sher-Wood/Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Month - CHL
- Eagles Riley Nelson Named Sher-Wood/CHL Player of the Month - CHL
- IceRays Kris Tebbs Named Sher-Wood/CHL Goaltender of the Month - CHL
- Playoffs Start Tonight For RiverKings-Blazers - Mississippi RiverKings
- Mudbugs vs. Rage: Game Two Tonight - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks, âJacks Playoff Series Preview - Laredo Bucks
- Austin Sutter wins CHL Player of the Week - Amarillo Gorillas
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