Buzzards fall to Jackalopes 6-2
December 14, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
ODESSA, Texas – No player will admit it, but superstition is a vital part of hockey. With the El Paso Buzzards on the road for Friday the 13th, they needed all the good luck they could get.
Unfortunately, a black cat crossed the Buzzards path as El Paso fell to the Odessa Jackalopes 6-2 Friday. BuzzardsÂ’ center Joe Gray had a goal and an assist while BuzzardsÂ’ left winger Russ Guzior notched his team leading 11th goal of the season.
Odessa started the scoring with a one-time goal by Odessa forward Greg Gatto for his fourth of the season. Odessa forward John Bossio and defenseman Scott Hillman assisted on the play. The Buzzards started off the game with a rash of penalties called against them. Referee Mark Hulshof called five penalties in the first period against the Buzzards with only two against the Jackalopes. The result was the Jackalopes out shot the Buzzards 20-6 in the first period. BuzzardsÂ’ goaltender Blaine Russell made several dazzling saves to keep El Paso in the contest.
In the second period, the Jackalopes continued the offensive barrage with three goals. Odessa forward Sebastien Thinel slapped in two goals and Don Margettie collected the third. Gatto, Mike Rutter, Scott Green, Dave Francis and Jerry Cunningham assisted the Jackalopes goals.
In the third period, the Buzzards clawed their way back into the game. Gray scored his sixth goal of the season at 7:56, assisted by Jeff Scharf. Then Guzior joined the scoring with a backhanded goal from the right slot for his 11th of the season, assisted by Gray. BuzzardsÂ’ goaltender Matt Carmichael played the third period, stopping all nine shots he faced.
Odessa forwards Bossio and Travis Kennedy collected two empty-net goals to seal the victory.
Penalties victimized the Buzzards. The Buzzards had 14 penalties called against them compared to eight for Odessa.
The loss drops the Buzzards to 6-15-2 overall, and 2-7-0 on the road. Odessa improves to 16-5-3 overall and 9-3-1 at home, winning their third straight. The Buzzards played well on special teams. They held the Jackalopes to 1 for 10 on the power play.
The BuzzardsÂ’ next game will be at 7 p.m., Saturday, in the El Paso County Coliseum against the Austin Ice Bats. Listen to all of the Buzzards games on 1380 KHEY, El PasoÂ’s Sports Ticket with the voice of the Buzzards, Michael LaPlaca. The Ice Bats hold the first place position in the Southwest Division. The Buzzards retain the fourth place spot.
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Central Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2002
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- Buzzards fall to Jackalopes 6-2 - El Paso Buzzards
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