Buzzards Ready to Dethrone Cotton Kings

November 20, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release


After two days of rest and practice, the El Paso Buzzards gear up to host to the Lubbock Cotton Kings, finishing a three game set Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the El Paso County Coliseum. The Buzzards come home after facing the Cotton Kings in Lubbock on Sunday. Buzzards' head coach Craig Coxe said the days off would reenergize his club and refocus their goals. The Buzzards, one of the top teams in total attendance and attendance average in the Central Hockey League, drew their second and third largest crowds of the season during the previous weekend's games against New Mexico and Lubbock. Buzzards fans continued their strong support as 4,735 turned out against New Mexico on Friday and 4,891 against Lubbock on Saturday.

CARMICHAEL RETURNS TO ACTION

Buzzards' goaltender Matt Carmichael will reclaim his number one goaltender spot and start Wednesday against the Cotton Kings. Coach Coxe said he has been pleased with Carmichael's development this season and hopes the time off helps the goaltender reestablish himself as one of the most dominant goalies in the CHL. Coxe gave Carmichael two games off as rookie net minder Josh Baier received his first two professional starts against Lubbock on Saturday and Sunday. Carmichael leads all CHL goaltenders in games played with 12 and is second in the league in minutes played (700) and saves (336). He is 4-7-1 with a 2.83 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

"The days off really helped because I knew I was not as sharp as I could be," Carmichael said. "I feel focused, rested and ready to go. Hopefully, we can put a couple of great games together and get back into the hunt."

WHERE THEY STAND

Coming into today's action, the Buzzards (9 points) are in fourth place in the Southwest Division, but are just five points behind Lubbock for third place. The Buzzards are 3-5-0 at home and 1-4-1 on the road. El Paso has 37 goals for and has allowed 46 goals. Left winger Russ Guzior paces the Buzzards. Guzior is tied for sixth in the CHL in scoring and leads the team with eight goals and eight assists in 14 games. The Buzzards are ninth in the league on the power play with a 13.5 percent success rate and ninth in the league on penalty kill opportunities with an 84.5 percent rate. The Buzzards will play four of their next five games at the Nest against Lubbock, Odessa and San Angelo. This will be the first Wednesday night game of the year for the Buzzards.

Lubbock is 6-4-2 this season and two points behind New Mexico for second place in the Southwest Division. The Cotton Kings are 15th in the CHL on the power play with a 9.6 percent success rate and sixth in the league on penalty kill situations with an 87.5 percent success rate. The Cotton Kings are paced by right winger Blaz Emersic (6-11=17) who is tied for fifth in the league in scoring.

UPCOMING GAMES

Fri., Nov. 22 Buzzards vs. New Mexico in Albuquerque
Radio: 6:45 pm 1380 AM "El Paso's Sports Ticket

Sat., Nov. 23 Odessa vs. Buzzards at the Nest
Radio: 6:45 pm 1380 AM "El Paso's Sports Ticket

ROSTER CHANGES

Coach Coxe said Buzzards' left winger Troy Linna will play tonight. Lubbock will be without goaltender Neil Savary (knee), who remains on injured reserve, and defenseman Barry McKinlay, who is tending a family emergency back in Canada.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2002


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