Buzzards Prepare for Holy Showdown

January 2, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release


EL PASO, Texas – The El Paso Buzzards look to turn the tide on a three-game losing streak as they host the San Angelo Saints at 7 p.m., Friday, at the El Paso County Coliseum. The Buzzards enter the match-up with a 3-2-0 record against the Saints this season and have won the last three contests against their Southern Conference rival. Catch all of the action on KHEY 1380 AM, El Paso's Sports Ticket with play-by-play announcer Michael LaPlaca and Michael Hissam doing color commentary.

The Buzzards have will be working on finishing off teams after jumping out to an early lead. Against New Mexico on Monday and Amarillo on Tuesday, the Buzzards led after two periods, but couldn't hold on. Buzzards' head coach Craig Coxe said his team will be working on being more aggressive in the third periods and attacking their opponents in the defensive zone.

"Right now every game is critical for us," Coxe said. "San Angelo is a tough team and we have to match their grit and aggressiveness. I know the guys feel confident about winning this game and to do that, it will have to be a team effort."

The Buzzards, 9-18-3 overall and 7-11-1 on the road, remain in fourth place in the Southwest Division. The Saints arrive in fourth place in the Southeast Division with an overall record of 11-23-2, but an abysmal 2-11-1 on the road.

In the previous contest between these two clubs, the Buzzards christened the Saints 5-3 on Dec. 21. Buzzards' left winger Russ Guzior had a hat trick and an assist, center Jeff Scharf had a short-handed goal and three assists and defenseman Rhett Dudley had two assists for the victory. Buzzards' goaltender Blaine Russell made 27 saves to earn the win.

DID YOU KNOW

Buzzards' right winger Jeremy Vokes has been on a roll. Vokes has a four-game point scoring streak going with three goals and three assists in that span. His plus/minus rating of +4 is the best among the Buzzards in the last five games and he has been moved up to playing on the power play and penalty kill units. Vokes has four goals and six assists in 30 games for El Paso this season.

WHERE THEY STAND

BUZZARDS - Coming into Friday's action, the Buzzards (21 points) are in fourth place in the Southwest Division, but are just nine points behind New Mexico for third place. El Paso has 83 goals for and has allowed 106. Buzzards' goaltender Blaine Russell looks to be back in action after twisting his knee against Lubbock on Friday, Dec. 27. Russell is 4-2-1 with a 2.81 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. The Buzzards are tenth in the league on the power play with a 14.6 percent success rate and are fourteenth in the league on penalty kill opportunities with a 77.2 percent rate.

SAN ANGELO – The Saints have played the most games of any Central Hockey League team this season. In 36 games, San Angelo is 11-23-2 (24 points) come into the game 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. San Angelo is a league worst 2-11-1 on the road. The Saints have scored 109 goals for and have allowed 149. The Saints lead the league in shots per game with 40.36. San Angelo is led in scoring by center Chris Peach, who has 16 goals and 30 assists in 36 games. San Angelo also tops the CHL as the team with most assists and short-handed goals scored against.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2003


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