Buzzards Crown Cotton Kings, 4-1
Published on December 27, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
EL PASO, Texas â Slowly but surely, the El Paso Buzzards are climbing back into the playoff picture. Buzzards' right winger Jeremy Vokes and left winger Russ Guzior both scored short-handed goals and goaltender Blaine Russell made 21 saves as the Buzzards won their third straight with a 4-1 victory over their division rival, the Lubbock Cotton Kings. Buzzards' left winger Troy Linna collected three assists, right winger Derrell Upton scored a goal and an assist and defenseman Bob Rapoza tallied his first goal as a member of the Buzzards.
The Buzzards, playing without defenseman Jeff Potter, started off the game a little short on players, but big on heart. Guzior, the Central Hockey League Player of the Week, opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 8:42 in the first period to give El Paso a 1-0 lead. Buzzards' center Jeff Scharf and defenseman Rhett Dudley collected the assists. Scharf on a breakaway was taken down by Cotton Kings defenseman Julius Halfkenny and was awarded with a penalty shot. On the most exciting play in hockey, Scharf tried to go between the legs of Cotton Kings goaltender Jure Penko, but Penko dropped down to make the save. El Paso, with a renewed commitment to defense, stopped Lubbock on the power play three times. The Buzzards kept the puck deep in the Lubbock end, outshooting the Cotton Kings 10-6.
In the second period, the Buzzards kept up the short-handed magic. Vokes tallied El Paso's second short-handed goal of the evening making it 2-0 after two periods. Linna set up the goal by intercepting a pass from Cotton Kings right winger Blaz Emersic and streaking through the right side of the neutral zone. Linna sent a soft pass right on the tape of Vokes' stick and the right winger buried the shot top shelf past Penko. The Buzzards' special teams continued to excel, stopping both Cotton Kings power plays in the period. The Buzzards also outshot Lubbock 12 to 10 in the period.
The Cotton Kings got on the board early in the third period with a power play goal by Dave Ambler. The Buzzards quickly regained the momentum with a breakaway goal by Rapoza at 4:24. Linna and Upton assisted on the play. Then Upton put the nail in the coffin with a redirection goal from Linna and right winger Josh Tymchak at 7:06 to seal the victory. Russell went down with a knee injury with 1:25 to go in the third period after making a great save on Cotton Kings center Anthony Donskov. Russell was fine and returned to the game. The Buzzards outshot Lubbock 31 to 22 overall and held on for the win.
The win improves the Buzzards to 9-16-2 overall and 7-9-1 at the Nest. Lubbock drops to 13-10-4 overall and 5-6-4 on the road. With the two-shortanded goals, the Buzzards are now tied for second in the CHL with eight The Buzzards notched their first victory of the season against the Cotton Kings with the victory.
The Buzzards' next game will be at 7 p.m., in the Nest, Saturday against the Odessa Jackalopes. Listen to all of the Buzzards games on 1380 KHEY, El Paso's Sports Ticket with the voice of the Buzzards, Michael LaPlaca. The Jackalopes remain in first place in the Southwest Division. The Buzzards retain the fourth place spot now five points back of New Mexico for third in the Southwest Division.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2002
- Buzzards Crown Cotton Kings, 4-1 - El Paso Buzzards
- Brahmas Slapshot for Friday, Dec. 27 vs. Tulsa - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Buzzards Square off Against Jackalopes - El Paso Buzzards
- Gorillas hold off Wichita for 15th win of the season - Amarillo Gorillas
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