Clayton's Hat Trick Lifts Bugs Over Gems
March 8, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Travis Clayton recorded the first hat trick of his Mudbugs career to help Bossier-Shreveport outpace the Dayton Gems 5-4 Tuesday night at the CenturyTel Center. Paired with Laredo ¬â¢s loss to Arizona, the victory clinches a spot in the 2011 CHL playoffs for the Mudbugs, who also moved back into a tie with Tulsa for third place in the Berry Conference at 31-24-3.
The ¬ËBugs held a 3-0 lead in the second period before Dayton began to come back and eventually tie the game. That ¬â¢s when Clayton ¬â¢s last two goals put the Mudbugs back on top to stay and completed his first hat trick since February 20, 2007, when he was still with Wichita. Justin Aikins and Shane Hart got the other two Mudbugs goals, while Mike Vaskivuo tallied twice for Dayton.
The Mudbugs got off to a quick start in the contest with great chances and the edge in shots early on. David Rutherford and Jamie Milam both hit posts in the first period before Justin Aikins gave the ¬ËBugs a 1-0 lead with a backhand shot that finished off a nice rush with James DeLory and Brett Smith at 13:42.
The Mudbugs took a 2-0 lead early in the second period when Travis Clayton broke into the Dayton zone and rifled a quick shot into the top corner of the net for his first goal of the night. Shane Hart extended the lead to 3-0 less than two minutes later, receiving a beautiful feed from Rutherford before lifting a backhander over Derek MacIntyre ¬â¢s blocker at 5:46. Shortly after that however, Chris Lipsett tapped home a Damian Surma pass to get the Gems on the board at 3-1 after two periods.
Mike Vaskivuo took over for Dayton midway through the third, finishing a nice doorstep feed from Brett Lutes to cut into the lead again before knotting the score at three on a great individual effort that ended with his unassisted, shorthanded tally at 10:31.
But just 17 seconds after Vaskivuo ¬â¢s heroics, Clay Plume sent a wrist shot on goal that was misplayed by MacIntyre, allowing Clayton to chip in the rebound and put the Mudbugs right back on top. He then gave Bossier-Shreveport a 5-3 edge on the powerplay, receiving a pass from Shawn Limpright before beating MacIntyre from in tight to cap off the hat trick. Lutes scored an extra-attacker goal with 19 seconds left, but Dayton would get no closer in a 5-4 Mudbugs win.
Ryan Munce (2-2-1) earned his second win as a Mudbug with 22 saves as the ¬ËBugs outshot the Gems 31-26. Derek MacIntyre (6-7-0) finished the night with 26 saves. Bossier-Shreveport finished 1 for 5 on the powerplay and held Dayton scoreless on three opportunities.
The Mudbugs and Gems will meet again at 7:05 on Friday night as the ¬ËBugs homestand continues with "Youth Sports Night" and "Clawed ¬â¢s birthday". The Mudbugs will then host Texas on "JDRF Night" Saturday at 7:05 to open a home-and-home set with the Brahmas.
Group ticket packages for all Mudbugs home games are available now through the team office at 752-BUGS. Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the CenturyTel Center main box office. Visit www.mudbugshockey.com for all the latest team news and information.
Season and group tickets are on sale by calling 318-752-BUGS (2847) or by visiting our website at www.mudbugshockey.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2011
- Arizona Snaps 12-Game Road Winless Streak, Tops Laredo 2-1 - Arizona Sundogs
- Americans Slip in Third Period, Fall to Jacks 5-2 - Allen Americans
- Clayton's Hat Trick Lifts Bugs Over Gems - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- PrairieThunder Loses 4-3 in Overtime to the Texas Brahmas on Tuesday Night - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Bucks Fall to Sundogs, 2-1 - Laredo Bucks
- Mavs Hold off Eagles, 3-2 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Gems Have Three Game Win Streak Snapped, Fall to Mudbugs 5-4 - Dayton Gems
- Brahmas Take It Down to Final Wire to Win 4-3 in OT - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Eagles Comeback Falls Short Against Mavs, Nolan - Colorado Eagles
- Thunder Sneaks by Oilers in OT - Wichita Thunder
- Jacks Take Over Fifth Place with 5-2 Win Over Allen - Odessa Jackalopes
- Alex Penner Called-Up to AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers - Colorado Eagles
- Robby Nolan Named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week - Kansas City Mavericks
- RiverKings Support Warriors Center Efforts - Mississippi RiverKings
- Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week Announced - CHL
- Oilers in Best of Best - Tulsa Oilers
- Rush Represented in Thirteen Different Categories of 2010-11 'Best of the Best' - Rapid City Rush
- IceMen Land in CHL Best of Best Awards - Evansville IceMen
- PrairieThunder Coach Jason Christie Named "Best Coach" in CHL Poll - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Mudbugs Named Among CHL's Best - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Americans Reign Supreme in "Best of the Best" - Allen Americans
- Mavericks Shine in CHL's Best of the Best Poll - Kansas City Mavericks
- Eagles, Nelson Top League's "Best of the Best" Poll Again - Colorado Eagles
- Jakaitis and Labenski Named Among the Best in the CHL - Dayton Gems
- Jacks Recognized Among League's Best - Odessa Jackalopes
- Sundogs Sign D-Man Blatchford, Waive Grenache - Arizona Sundogs
- Mallards Recognized in CHL's "Best of the Best" Poll - Quad City Mallards
- Sundogs Recognized in Annual CHL 'Best of the Best' - Arizona Sundogs
- Lewicki Among Best of Best in CHL - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- RiverKings Among CHL Best of the Best - Mississippi RiverKings
- CHL Best of the Best Poll Results Announced - CHL
- INTRUST Bank Arena Best in League Again - Wichita Thunder
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