Cotton Kings game night preview
October 21, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
10/21/06 - ODESSA JACKALOPES (0-0-0) @ LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (0-0-0) -
7:05 PM LUBBOCK MUNICIPAL COLISEUM
IT'S HOCKEY TIME
The Lubbock Cotton Kings open up the 2006/2007 campaign tonight at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum hosting their Southwest Division rivals from the south... the Odessa Jacklopes. The 15th season of the CHL opened last night with five games on the docket, and tonight, the Cotton Kings and the Jackalopes each begin their 64-game regular season journey. It is the only game on the CHL Opening Weekend for the Kings and Jacks, who are each off until Friday following tonight's tilt.
THE SERIES
The Odessa Jackalopes and Lubbock Cotton Kings face off for the first time this season and for the 71st meeting all-time. Odessa, who owns the all-time regular season series with a 46-20-4 record, was 9-2-1 last season against the Kings. The overall season series is led by Odessa 8-2-1 this season. Jan Melichercik (1g,9a) has ten points to lead the season series offensively for the Kings, while Odessa's Sebastien Thinel (8g,9a) has 17 points for Odessa against the Kings. They are led in the all-time series by defenseman Scott Hillman, who has 8 goals and 38 assists for 46 points in 53 games. Lubbock is 24-41-5 all-time against Odessa and former King Jan Melichercik is the Kings all-time leader against the Jacks with 43 points (16g, 27a). Bobby Brown is the Kings active series leader with 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points in 17 games.
THE LAST TIME
3/25/06 - Lubbock Cotton Kings goaltender Lance Leslie made his final appearance in net to close out a 12-year career and in the process played in his 495th career game and became just the third goaltender all-time in league history to appear in 300 CHL/WPHL games, but their would be no fireworks to go along with his ride into the sunset, as the Odessa Jackalopes defeated the Cotton Kings 6-4 in the Cotton Kings home finale of the season in front of 6,929 fans at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum.
Odessa opened the scoring with 9:45 remaining in the opening period. John Kozoris won a faceoff draw back to Mike Carter at the top of the right slot and he teed it up with a slap-shot past Kings goaltender Lance Leslie for a 1-0 lead. The period saw five power play opportunities, with Lubbock having three of the man-advantages, but neither team able to convert on any of the conversions.
Odessa continued their scoring surge in the second period with a trio of goals in a span of 2:03. After Paul Davies opened the second period scoring with a goal 6:57 into the period, Dennis Maxwell and Adam Loncon teamed up for a pair of 5-on-3 power play goals just 37-seconds apart to build the lead to 4-0. Jon Foster was able to get the Kings back into the game 1:59 later with a pair of goals 7:06 apart to end the period with the Jackalopes holding a 4-2 lead.
Teams exchanged goals in the final period, with Jaime Lovell starting it off for the Jackalopes with a goal 3:56 into the period. Kings forward Kyle Nosan cut the Jackalopes lead to 5-3 grabbing a goal with 6:28 remaining. Odessa converted on one of four power play opportunities in the third period with John Kozoris goal with 5:04 remaining. Emery Olauson would put an end to the scoring at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum for the season with a shorthanded goal as 1:25 remained to end the scoring with Odessa leading 6-4.
Leslie stopped 27 of 33 shots in the game and has record for the year end at 14-14-4 with his career record ending at 241-173-54 overall. Derek Dolson received the victory in net, stopping 41 of 45 shots on goal. Odessa strived on the man advantage in the game, going 3 of 10 while the Kings were 0 for 5.
ROSTER CHANGES
Teams submitted their opening night rosters Thursday into the CHL and as of press time, no moves have been made by either squad.
STANDINGS
Kings - 0 points, T2nd place, 2 points back, Southwest Division.
Jackalopes - 0 points, T2nd place, Southwest Division.
TEAM LEADERS
Kings - No Games Played.
Jackalopes - No Games Played.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kings - Power play: 0.0% T11th, Penalty killing: 100.0% T1st.
Jackalopes - Power play: 0.0% T11th, Penalty killing: 100.0% T1st.
GOALTENDERS
Kings - Josh Gartner (0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00), Kyle Stanton (0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00).
Jackalopes - Mike Gorman (0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00), Derek Dolson (0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00).
WHAT'S NEXT
Lubbock - Friday, October 27th 7:00 PM @ Austin Ice Bats Chaparral Ice Center
Odessa - Friday, October 27th 7:00 PM vs. Amarillo Gorillas Ector County Coliseum
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