Bucks And Sundogs To Battle For South Crown
April 9, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks will take on the Arizona Sundogs in the Central Hockey League's Southern Conference Finals beginning Monday April 14th at the Laredo Entertainment Center.
Thanks to Westwind Homes, a limited amount of $5 tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis for the first two games of the series. Fans can also take advantage of the popular four for $48 deal, which offers FOUR FREE hot dogs, and FOUR FREE Cokes with the purchase of four game tickets. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday at 10am. For both ticket deals call 718-BUCK (2825), log on to ticketmaster.com, or head to the LEC to purchase your tickets.
Laredo is looking to make their fifth straight trip to the President's Cup Finals, while the Sundogs are playing in their first-ever Conference Finals in their second year of existence.
The Bucks and Sundogs had some memorable games during the 2007-08 regular season, with Laredo winning three of the four contests by a combined total of three goals. The Sundogs lone win in the season series came in a December 9th 3-0 win at the LEC.
*OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK*
There will be a lot of offensive firepower on display in the series. CHL MVP Jeff Bes (46-60=106), and CHL scoring champion Alex Leavitt (40-88=128) led their respective teams in scoring during the regular season.
During the playoffs the Bucks have shared the offensive wealth, as eight different playes have at least five points. Adam Rivet (3-5=8) and Chris Stanley (4-4=8) lead Laredo in playoff scoring, with Alex Goupil (2-5=7), and Bes (2-5=7) also putting up solid numbers.
Arizona has a two-headed monster on offense, as Leavitt (3-13=16), and Corey Urquhart (9-6=15), combined for 31 points in six playoff games. Dating back to the regular season Leavitt has a 23-game point streak, while Urquhart has scored a goal in 16 straight contests. Since joining the Sundogs on February 20th, Urquhart has scored at least one goal in 21 of 24 games.
*DEFENSE AND GOALTENDING OUTLOOK*
Laredo has had solid defense and goaltending all year long, and it continued in their four-game sweep of Odessa. The Bucks allowed just nine goals in four games against the Jackalopes, with Dustin Traylen (3-0, 2.34 G.A.A, .904 sv %), and John Ceci (1-0, 2.00 G.A.A, .920 sv %) in between the pipes. Traylen had a stellar regular season, as he was named to the Southern Conference All-star team with a 25-8-2 record, a 2.23 goals against average, and a .919 save percentage. Traylen posted three shutouts in 38 games played. Ceci joined the Bucks in January and went 7-7, with a 2.64 goals against average, and a .902 save percentage.
The Sundogs have two goalies who are proven winners in Marco Emond, and Robert McVicar.
Bucks fans know Emond well, as has won two CHL President's Cup Championships, one with the Bucks, and one beating them. Emond was on the Bucks 2004 Cup winning team, while he went 2-1 against Laredo in last year's Cup Finals with Colorado.
This season Emond went 18-6 in the regular season with Colorado and Arizona, while he is 0-2 in the postseason allowing nearly seven goals per game (6.38 G.A.A).
McVicar has posted double-digit wins in all five of his pro seasons, including an 11-4 mark this year with the Sundogs. McVicar won all four playoff games against New Mexico, posting a 3.92 goals against average, and a .879 save percentage.
*SPECIAL TEAMS OUTLOOK*
Laredo's power-play has been up and down all year long, but when the playoffs rolled around it picked up again. In the Bucks four game sweep of the Jackalopes they were 8-29 (27.6%) with the man advantage, while during the regular season the Bucks hit at a 18 % clip. In the playoffs Laredo has killed off 18 of 23 (78.3%) of their opponent's power-play's. During the regular season the Bucks were tops in the league on the penalty kill at 88.5%.
With the offensive firepower that the Sundogs have, it's no surprise that they have done so well on the power-play in the playoffs. In their six games against New Mexico Arizona was 14-44 (31.8%) with the man advantage. The Sundogs led the league on the power-play in the regular season as well, scoring 26.8% of the time. Arizona's penalty kill has not been as successful as their power-play, as they have killed off 27 of 37 (73%) of their opponent's power-play's. During the regular season the Sundogs were 14th on the penalty kill at 79%.
*COACHING OUTLOOK*
Bucks head coach/GM Terry Ruskowski is one of the more successful coaches in the CHL, winning 251 regular season games in six seasons at the helm in Laredo (465 career wins). Ruskowski has had tremendous success in the postseason as well with a 55-29 mark, winning two CHL President's Cup championships, and making four straight trips to the finals.
Sundogs head coach/GM Marco Pietroniro is in his second season as a professional head coach, with a regular season mark of 73-47-8, and a 11-9 playoff mark that includes two series wins.
The winner of the series will move on to the President's Cup Finals to meet the either defending champion Colorado Eagles or Texas Brahmas.
Bucks vs. Sundogs All-Time (Regular Season) Bucks lead series 5-2
*2007-08 SEASON SERIES* 2007-08: Bucks won series 3-1
December 9, 2007: Arizona 3 at Laredo 0
Andrew Gallant stopped all 35 Bucks shots to pick up the win for the Sundogs to send Laredo to a 0-2-1 weekend. The Bucks lost despite out shooting the Sundogs 35-23.
December 28, 2007: Laredo 2 at Arizona 1
Dustin Traylen stopped 30 of 31 Sundogs shots, with Andrew Desjardins and James Hiebert tallying goals for the Bucks. Laredo once again out shot Arizona 35-31.
December 29, 2007: Laredo 6 at Arizona 5 SO
The Bucks rallied back from deficits of 2-0, 3-2, and 5-3 to take the shootout win. Jeff Bes had a hat trick and scored a goal in the shootout to lead Laredo.
January 11, 2008: Arizona 5 at Laredo 6 SO The Bucks once again rallied to beat the Sundogs, this time erasing deficits of 2-0, 3-1, 4-3, and 5-4. Matt Summers tallied the game-winning goal in the shootout, with Andrew Desjardins (1-2=3), and Jeff Bes (0-3=3) leading the way in scoring. John Ceci picked up the win in net stopping 27 of 32 Arizona shots.
*Westwind Homes Southern Conference Finals* Monday April 14th, Game 1: Arizona @Laredo, 7pm Tuesday April 15th, Game 2: Arizona @Laredo, 7pm Friday April 18th, Game 3, Laredo @Arizona, 7:05pm PST (9:05pm CST) Saturday April 19th Game 4, Laredo @Arizona, 7:05pm PST (9:05pm CST) Monday April 21st Game 5, Laredo @Arizona, 7:05pm PST (9:05pm CST)* Friday April 25th Game 6, Arizona @Laredo, 7:30pm* Saturday April 26th Game 7, Arizona @Laredo, 7:30pm* *If Necessary
**Bucks Playoff Packages Available Now** Bucks playoff packages are available now starting at $9.99 per game (payment plans are available). Call a Bucks representative at 718-BUCK (2825). Buying playoff tickets now gives you the opportunity to secure those same seats for next regular season if you choose to.
**Playoff Discounts For Military And Students** During the playoffs the Bucks will offer a discount for Military Members and students (any level). On all walk-up tickets for playoff games Military Members and students will receive a $2.50 discount for all ticket levels (with a valid ID).
BUCKS PLAYOFF TICKETS Get your 2008 Bucks Playoff Tickets now! Call 718-BUCK (2825) to order today!
LISTEN TO BUCKS GAMES LIVE ALL SEASON All 64 of the Bucks regular-season games, plus any additional post-season games can be heard live all-season on Norteno 1490-AM (KLNT), as well as online at laredobucks.com courtesy of sportsjuice. You can also watch all Bucks games online via the CHL Network.
BECOME A BUCKS CORPORATE PARTNER Your company can become a vital part of the Laredo Bucks family by reaching our fans with your business message. To create a customized advertising package for your company, contact Donald Thomson at (956) 523-7711, or dthomson@laredobucks.com, or contact Cindy Cisneros at (956) 523-7723, ccisneros@laredobucks.com.
BUCKS IN THE COMMUNITY To schedule an appearance by a Bucks player, coach, Bucky, or member of the front office staff call Bryan Benway at (956) 718-BUCK (2825) or email him at benway@laredobucks.com.
JOIN THE BUCKS BOOSTER CLUB To join the Laredo Bucks Booster Club contact club president Carlos Garcia at (956)740-8511, or email him at carlosg@modern-laredo.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2008
- Scorpions Named Rotary Business of the Year - New Mexico Scorpions
- Bucks And Sundogs To Battle For South Crown - Laredo Bucks
- Nick Spaling wins William Hanley Trophy as the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player - CHL
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