Cotton Kings Game Night Preview

November 25, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


11/25/06 - AMARILLO GORILLAS (6-5-2) @ LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (8-4-1)

- 7:05 PM LUBBOCK MUNICIPAL COLISEUM

GLAD TO BE BACK HOME

The Lubbock Cotton Kings had their five game streak of consecutive games with a standing point come to an end Wednesday with a 5-1 loss in Laredo, but that is not the only thing the loss did. Despite just suffering their second regulation loss of the month, the Kings enter tonight's game against the I-27 rival Amarillo Gorillas in second place in the Southwest Division. Arizona has played two more games than Lubbock and has taken advantage of those games to take a one-point lead atop the Southwest Division standings. Lubbock looks to get back on track tonight and seeks to extend a three game home winning streak. Amarillo comes in after a 7-4 loss last night in Tulsa. The Gorillas sit in third place of the Southwest Division (three standing-points back of Lubbock). They are the only team in the CHL without a regulation home loss (5-0-2), but they have lost their last five road games (1-5-0).

THE SERIES

It is the third of 11 meetings on the year, the second of six in Amarillo and the 77th all-time meeting. Lubbock brings in a 42-22-12 all-time series record and Amarillo brings a 34-36-6 all-time series mark. Lubbock leads the season series 2-0-0 and is led by Trevor Wesigerber, who has five points in the series (3g,2a). The Gorillas have four players with 2 points in the series. Former King Jan Melichercik (10g,34a) has 44 points against Amarillo to stand as the all-time leader in scoring against Amarillo for the Kings. Amarillo's all-time leader in scoring against Lubbock is former Gorilla Derek Hahn, who has 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points.

THE LAST TIME

11/18/06 - A Trevor Weisgerber shootout tally made the difference in the Lubbock Cotton Kings 4-3 win over the Amarillo Gorillas at the Cal Farley Coliseum.

Weisgerber got things started for the Hub City team when he fired a wrister past Gorilla netminder Jamie Vandespyker at 5:30 for the 1-0 lead. Amarillo tied up the game at 10:56 with a Keith Rowe tally. Rowe then made it a 2-1 Amarillo advantage at 11:51 of the second period. Lubbock would answer. On a breakaway and with the feed from Simon Watson, Philippe Lacasse tied the game at two at the 17:17 mark to close out the scoring for the frame. The goal is the fourth of the year for Lacasse.

Stacey Bauman connected from the point on a 5-on-3 man-advantage to give the Cotton Kings a 3-2 lead at 4:41 of the third period. Bauman's fourth goal of the season saw assists from Troy Neumeier and netminder J.F. Perras. Amarillo's Bill Vandermeer would follow up with a 5-on-3 power play score of his own at 6:58 to tie the game at three and eventually send the game into overtime. Following a scoreless extra session, the Cotton Kings converted twice in the shootout with the game-winner going to Weisgerber. The goal is the seventh of the season for Weisgerber and is his third career game-winner in a shootout.

Perras earned the win in net for Lubbock. The Embrun, Ontario native's second victory of the season comes in his first professional shootout. Perras had a Cotton King season-high and career-high 44 saves off of 47 Amarillo shots. Vandespyker stopped 16-of-19 Lubbock shots on net in the loss.

ROSTER CHANGES

Lubbock has not made any moves as of press time in regards to tonight's game. Yesterday, Amarillo added forward Austin Sutter to the roster.

STANDINGS

Kings - 17 points, 2nd place, 1 point back, Southwest Division.

Gorillas - 14 points, 3rd place, 4 points back, Southwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Kings - Points: 18 Simon Watson, Goals: 9 Simon Watson, Assists: 10 Kyle Nosan, Penalty Minutes: 46 Paul McBrien.

Gorillas - Points: 9 Rich Hansen, Goals: 8 Rich Hansen, Assists: 4 Several Tied, Penalty Minutes: 24 Kevin Wilson.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kings - Power play: 17.4% 7th, Penalty killing: 87.2% 4th.

Gorillas - Power play: 15.7% 10th, Penalty killing: 84.3% 7th.

GOALTENDERS

Kings - JF Perras (2-2-0, 0 SO, 3.70), Kyle Stanton (6-2-1, 1 SO, 2.62).

Gorillas - Shawn Conschafter (4-1-1, 1 SO, 2.47), Jamie Vandespyker (2-4-1, 0 SO, 3.40).

WHAT'S NEXT

Lubbock - Friday, December 1st

7:05 PM @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs CenturyTel Center

Amarillo - Tuesday, November 28th

7:05 PM @ Corpus Christi Rayz American Bank Center



Central Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2006


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