Bucks To Battle \'Jacks In Conference Semi-Finals

Published on March 27, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League will take on the Odessa Jackalopes in the Southern Conference Semi-Finals, starting Saturday night at the LEC on "Pack The House For Charity" Night. Tickets are available for a $5 donation to charity, with all proceeds going to the Sacred Heart Children's Home and the South Texas Food Bank. Call 718-BUCK (2825), or stop by the LEC box office to pick up your tickets.

Odessa beat Austin Thursday night 1-0, to win the best of three first round series two games to one. Alexandre Vincent stopped all 26 Ice Bats shots to pick up the shutout win for Odessa. Vincent picked up both victories in net for the 'Jacks.

The Bucks had trouble with Odessa this season, going just 1-3 against the Jackalopes.

Three of the four meetings with Odessa were one-goal games, with one ending in overtime, and one in a shootout. Laredo's only win against Odessa came on December 2nd at the LEC, when Chris Korchinski scored 58 seconds into overtime to give the Bucks a 2-1 win. Kevin Beech picked up the win in net for Laredo, but he has since been traded to Youngstown.

The 'Jacks would take the other three meetings, winning in Laredo 3-2, and taking both games in Odessa 4-3 in a shootout, and handing the Bucks a season-worst 6-0 defeat on December 20th. In the 'Jacks shootout win the Bucks had a 3-1 lead with a little over 12 minutes left in the third period before Odessa came storming back for the win.

Serge Dube had four points (0-4=4) this season against Odessa, with Jeff Bes (2-1=3), and Chris Korchinski (2-0=2) netting two goals each against the 'Jacks.

The dangerous Odessa "French Connection" Line of Sebastien Thinel (2-4=6), Dominic Leveille (3-2=5), and Nathan Ward (2-2=4) combined for 15 points this season against the Bucks.

Laredo and Odessa have met twice before in the playoffs, with the Bucks winning both series'. Laredo's playoff debut in 2003 went well, as the Bucks beat the Jackalopes 3-2 in a deciding game five on Odessa's home ice. On their road to the 2006 championship the Bucks beat the 'Jacks four games to one to advance to the finals. Overall in the postseason Laredo is 7-3 against Odessa, including 4-1 at the LEC.

Laredo will host games one and two on Saturday and Monday at the LEC, with the series shifting to the Ector County Coleseum for games three, four and five if necessary.

Tickets are still available for $5 for Saturday's "Pack The House For Charity" Night at the LEC. All proceeds will go to the Sacred Heart Children's Home, and the South Texas Food Bank. Call 718-BUCK (2825), or head to the LEC to get your tickets now!

Southern Conference Semi-Finals (Best of Seven): #1 Laredo vs. #4 Odessa Game 1: Saturday March 29th Odessa at Laredo, 7:30pm Game 2: Monday March 31st Odessa at Laredo, 7:00pm Game 3: Wednesday April 2nd Laredo at Odessa, 7:00pm Game 4: Friday April 4th Laredo at Odessa, 7:00pm Game 5: Saturday April 5th Laredo at Odessa, 7:00pm** Game 6: Tuesday April 8th Odessa at Laredo, 7:00pm** Game 7: Wednesday April 9th Odessa at Laredo, 7:00pm** **If Necessary

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2008


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