Bucks In Youngstown For Three-Game Weekend Set
Published on March 13, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League will play a three game weekend series against the Youngstown Steelhounds. Game one of the set will be Friday night at the Chevrelet Centre, game time is 6:05 CST.
March 14, 2008 Laredo (39-17-3, 81pts, 1st in Southern Conf., Southeast Div. Champs) at Youngstown (34-19-5, 5th in Northern Conf. 3rd in Northeast Div.), 6:05pm CST, Chevrelet Centre
Radio: Norteno 1490-AM (Pre-game show 5:45pm) Internet Radio: www.laredobucks.com (Sportsjuice) TV: CHL Network (www.nifty-tv.com/CHL)
All-Time Series (Regular Season) Bucks lead series 3-2 2007-08: Bucks trail series 0-1 Last Meeting: November 10th, 2007: YNG 3, @LAR 2
The Bucks come into Friday's game needing three points (Bucks wins and/or Arizona losses) to clinch the number one seed in the Southern Conference playoffs. Laredo can clinch the South Friday night at the earliest, with a win and a Sundogs loss (OT/SOL, or regulation).
Laredo went 4-1 on their season-long five-game home stand, including winning their last three games. Last Saturday the Bucks won the showdown with CHL leader Bossier-Shreveport 4-2, with Jeff Bes picking up four points (1-3=4), and James Hiebert tallying three points (1-2=3). Dustin Traylen came up big between the pipes, setting aside 36 of 38 Mudbugs shots.
Bes (43-57=100) notched his second 100 point season of his career last week. He comes into Friday's game seven points back of Arizona's Alex Leavitt (34-73=107) in the CHL scoring race. Bes is a finalist for league MVP, the votes have been tallied and the winner will be announced after the regular season.
The Bucks will be debuting a new look line up Friday night. Chris Stanley will make his debut, and will center the line with Bes and Hiebert. Serge Dube will return to the line up Friday night. Dube has not played since the Bucks win in Rio on February 23.
Youngstown comes into Friday night's game in the middle of the wild Northern Conference Playoff race. The Steelhounds can finish anywhere from second to sixth in the North.
Youngstown currently sits in the fifth and final playoff spot, and stand five points back of the second spot in the North. The Steelhounds finished a three-game road trip last week at 2-0-1, and will end the regular season with a six-game home stand (three with the Bucks, and three with Colorado).
The Steelhounds started the season 12-1-1 on a 14-game road trip, since then they have gone 22-19-5 to hang on in the playoff race.
Youngstown has 12 players have scored 20 or more points this season, led by Chris Richards 71 (22-49=71).
Andy Franck has been stellar in net for the Steelhounds, going 21-10-4, with a 2.99 goals against average, and a .902 save percentage. Frank was called up and went 7-1-1 in the AHL this season for the Providence Bruins.
The Bucks will see a couple of familiar faces this weekend. Former Laredo players Jeff Genovy and Kevin Beech were both traded to Youngstown in two separate deals earlier this season. Genovy (5-11=16) has played in 19 games for the Steelhounds, scoring one goal, with six assists totaling seven points. Beech meanwhile has found success as Franck's backup, playing in six games, with a 4-2 record with two shutouts (four total). Overall Beech is 14-6-1 in net.
Bucks defenseman Gord Burnett will return to his old stomping grounds this weekend. Burnett started the season with the Steelhounds before being traded to the Bucks in late January.
The Bucks will be playing their seventh and final three-in-three series of the season, while the Steelhounds will be playing in their league-leading 10th.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at 6:05pm, and again on Sunday afternoon at 3:05pm.
*Bucks Notes*
* The Bucks come into the weekend with a 16-10-2 record away from the LEC, including winning their last five road contests. The Bucks have the second most road wins in the CHL.
* The Bucks scored their CHL-leading 19th short-handed goal last Saturday against Bossier-Shreveport.
* So far this season the Bucks are 25-4-2 when scoring the first goal in a game. The Bucks have scored first in two of their last three games.
*So far this season the Bucks are 17-1-2 when leading after the first period, and 27-2-1 when leading after two periods. However, when the Bucks trail after one, they are 5-7-1, and when they trail after two periods they are 5-15-1.
* Individual playoff tickets are now available, with group tickets starting at $10, and individual tickets starting at $12.75. Call 718-BUCK (2825) to order now.
**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 Schedule** The Bucks are scheduled to open the 2008 Playoffs at the LEC on Saturday March 29th at 7:30pm, with game two of that series on Monday March 31st at 7:00pm. The official playoff schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
BUCKS PLAYOFF PACKAGES Get your 2008 Bucks Playoff package today by calling 718-BUCK (2825). Playoff packages start at $140 for 12 playoff games.
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 March 13, 2008
- RiverKings to feature Sunny Meadows Safe Haven for Pets - Mississippi RiverKings
- Big Games And Special Events This Weekend - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- RiverKings Seek To Stay In Playoff Hunt - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks In Youngstown For Three-Game Weekend Set - Laredo Bucks
- Tulsa Oilers Teaming Up with Midland Recycling - Tulsa Oilers
- Special Offer for Friday's Oilers vs. Riverkings Game - Tulsa Oilers
- Kelsey Wormley Does Best Suzy Kolber by Interviewing Nathan Schwartzbauer - Youngstown SteelHounds
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