Bucks Tripped Up In Pre-Season Opener 5-2
Published on October 9, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League fell to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 5-2 at the Laredo Entertainment Center Thursday night, in the pre-season opener for both teams.
Brandon Hammermeister picked up two goals to lead the Killer Bees, while Christian Boucher stopped all 33 shots he faced in his two periods of work for Rio.
Matt Summers and Erick Lizon scored goals for Laredo, while rookie goaltender Ryan Gibb stopped 16 of 17 shots in the Bucks net.
The first period was scoreless for the first 12:30, until Rio broke free on the power-play. Rookie Zak McClellan stuffed in a rebound on the right side of the crease past Bucks rookie goaltender Ryan Gibb. Gibb stopped the first two Bees attempts on the play, but McClellan poked the third attempt.
Two minutes later Gibb faced his first real test as he stopped Rio's Daryl Moore on a break-away attempt. Gibb set aside 14 of 15 shots he saw in the first period.
The Killer Bees were one for three on the power-play in the first 20 minutes, while Laredo was 0-for-two with the man advantage in the first period.
Rio outshot Laredo in the first 20 minutes 15-14.
The Killer Bees would increase their lead in the second period, off of Laredo rookie goaltender Mike Collichio. Collichio replaced Gibb midway through the middle period.
Rio would take a 2-0 lead at the 9:59 mark of the period, on just the second shot Collichio faced. Travis Banga sent in a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle, off of a rebound past Collichio.
The Killer Bees would increase their lead to 3-0 with 4:46 left in the period, as Brandon Hammermeister sent a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that deflected off of Collichio and into the back of the net.
Rio would finish off the second period scoring with just 39 seconds left in the period, as Jesse Perrin took a laser pass at the high slot from Trevor Weisgerber, who was positioned in the right corner. Perrin lifted a slap shot top shelf past Collichio.
Laredo outshot Rio in the middle period 19-10.
The Bucks would pick up their first goal of the game in the third period, as Matt Summers cut the Killer Bees lead to 4-1 just 1:06 into the period. Summers rifled a shot from the bottom of the left circle past Killer Bee goaltender Bill Zaniboni.
As the Bucks were celebrating Summers' goal, Laredo's Brett Hopfe and Rio's Cody Cole got into a scuffle at the blue line, with Hopfe taking Cole down to the ice.
Laredo would cut the lead to 4-2 at the 8:28 mark of the third period, when Erick Lizon rocketed a slap shot from the high slot past Zaniboni and into the back of the net.
The Bucks pulled Collichio for an extra attacker with a little over one minute left and trailing 4-2, and the Bees would take advantage striking into the empty net. Hammermeister picked up his second tally of the night into the net to make it 5-2.
Laredo outshot Rio in the third period 9-8, as well as for the game 42-33.
Laredo's rookie goaltender's got their first pro experience, as Gibb stopped 16 of 17 shots in net, while Collichio set aside 12 of 15 shots he faced.
Boucher stopped all 33 shots he faced for Rio, while Zaniboni set aside seven of nine shots.
*Bucks Notes*
*Laredo was 1-7 on the power-play, while Rio was 3-6
*Laredo had 32 minutes of penalty's, while Rio had 34.
*Jeff Bes, Serge Dube, Adam Rivet, Steve Weidlich, Bobby Russell, and Sebastien Centomo did not play for the Bucks.
*Rivet and Dube served as coaches on the Laredo Bench, while Head Coach and General Manager Terry Ruskowski watched from the stands.
The Bucks and Bees will tangle again Friday night at the Dodge Arena, before Laredo plays at Corpus Christi on Saturday night to round out the pre-season schedule.
Laredo and Rio Grande Valley will meet 13 times in the regular season, starting October 24th in Hidalgo.
The Bucks open the 2008-09 season at the LEC on October 17th against the Rocky Mountain Rage.
Season ticket prices stayed the same as they were last season, starting at just $34 a month (including playoffs). Call 718-BUCK (2825), or visit the LEC to speak to a Bucks ticket representative.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2008
- Bucks Tripped Up In Pre-Season Opener 5-2 - Laredo Bucks
- IceRays game tickets now on sale - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Oilers Home Tonight after Shootout Win - Tulsa Oilers
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