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Cotton Kings Weekly Notes

March 13, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


TWO WEEKS TO GO AND ANYTHING CAN GO

For most of this season, a streak of losses for the Lubbock Cotton Kings did not have much of a negative impact, but a single win here and there helped them a lot. Many teams were battle with inconsistency, which has left the Cotton Kings in the playoff hunt, but now the losses are doing damage. Lubbock found out first hand what a loss at this point of the season can do this past Saturday night in Amarillo. The Cotton Kings entered Saturday night two standing points behind Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot, which is the closest they have been in months, but after suffering a 5-1 loss to the Amarillo Gorillas, they now find their backs up against the wall. Lubbock sits four standing points behind Rio Grande Valley with six games remaining as they enter this week's action Wednesday night in Arizona. The Kings are without a three-in-three weekend this week for the first time in nearly two months, as they will host Tulsa Friday following their Wednesday night tilt at Arizona, and then will complete the

WHAT'S LEFT

Let's take a look at what remains for Austin, Lubbock, Odessa and Rio Grande Valley, as the teams fight for the last playoff spot in the Southern Conference:

AUSTIN ODESSA RIO GRANDE VALLEY LUBBOCK

GAME OPP. WP GAME OPP. WP GAME OPP. WP GAME OPP. WP

@ LAR 71.6 vs. MEM 68.8 @ BOS 70.2 @ ARZ 51.7

vs. LAR 71.6 @ NMX 57.1 vs. MEM 68.8 vs. TUL 49.1

@ RGV 48.3 @ RMR 32.1 vs. AUS 46.6 vs. NMX 57.1

vs. CRP 61.9 vs. AMA 52.6 vs. LAR 71.6 @ COL 72.8

@ RGV 48.3 vs. LUB 44.8 vs. AUS 46.6 @ ODE 45.7

vs. RGV 48.3 @ AMA 52.6 @ AUS 46.6 vs. AMA 52.6

TOTALS 58.3 51.3 58.4 54.8

The "OPP.WP" column represents the winning percentage (as of March 13th) of the remaining opponents, with the total representing the average winning percentage of the remaining opponents. Rio Grande Valley and Austin face the toughest remaining schedule, while Odessa faces the easiest schedule based on the average winning percentage of the opponent.

KING FOR A DAY

On March 17th, fans can have a chance to be a "King for a Day" and be an honorary Cotton King. Fans can get a "behind-the-scenes" experience of professional hockey that only the Cotton Kings can provide. The "King For a Day" receives an official certificate, a City Bank Coliseum Tour (Locker Room, Break Out session with Team Coach), an on-Ice experience, a personalized authentic player picture, hot dog and drink, ticket to the March 18th game (with group recognition) and each attendee will be entered into a drawing for a customized game jersey. The entire package is only $15 and additional info can be obtained by contacting the Kings at 747-7825. The Kings would like to thank Ramsey Auto Group for donating scholarships to non-profit organizations to participate in the event. Here is an in-depth look at what the package details

Official Certificate

This certificate will recognize the participant as an Honorary Cotton King for March 17th and will be signed by Cotton Kings Head Coach Craig Janney.

Tour

The tour will include a tour of the locker room, the coliseum, and a break out session with a Kings member describing what the team schedules are like on game days and traveling.

On the Ice

The on-ice experience will include shooting and carrying the puck. The shooting practice involves shots on a shooter-tutor, timed shooting on the Top Shot, and a break-away on one the Cotton King goalies. The puck handling will include drills and techniques.

Personalized Picture

A headshot will be taken of each attendee and will be placed into an action shot from a game and printed out for you to treasure as a keepsake.

Refreshments

After the workout session ends, we will provide a hot dog and a drink to each attendee. Attendees will then be welcome to stay for public skate at no extra charge.

Ticket

Each attendee will receive a ticket to the Sunday afternoon game on March 18th against the New Mexico Scorpions and the Honorary Cotton Kings will be recognized as a group at the game.

ANSWERING THE CALL

Twenty year-old Texas Tech student Mark Chapman was on his way home for Spring Break when he received a call on his cell phone. He glanced at it and almost did not answer the call, assuming it was call about an adult hockey game. Chapman went ahead and answered the call, and during the discussion he was asked if he was available to suit up as goalie. He stated that he wasn't available since he was heading home for Spring Break, but then caught himself mid-sentence and asked "which team was this again?" Chapman, who plays in the Lubbock adult hockey league, then realized that the adult hockey game actually was the Lubbock Cotton Kings game that night (Friday) in Odessa. He then quickly made the decision to abbreviate his Spring Break by remaining in Lubbock over the weekend and traveled with the Kings Friday and Saturday to serve as a back-up for Kyle Stanton, while JF Perras was out due to an injury he suffered Thursday night. Chapman is a Mass Communications (Electronic Media) major at Texas Tech and grew up playing hockey in Shreveport and Dallas-Fort Worth while growing up in Whitehouse, Texas near Tyler. He moved to the DFW metroplex and played High School hockey for a Birdville ISD team. The young goaltender did not receive any playing time, as he was released Monday, but it should be a great Spring Break story he can share with his friends.

HOCKEY EN ESPANOL

The Lubbock Cotton Kings announced that in conjunction with their scheduled "Hispanic Night in the Kingdom" for March 18th at the City Bank Coliseum, the game will be televised live by Ramar Communication's Telemundo 46 (KXTQ). The televised broadcast will be the first live broadcast of Cotton Kings hockey in Spanish and first live overall broadcast carried by a local affiliate. Dr. Ruben Pizarro will handle the play-by-play duties solely in Spanish. Pizarro is an afternoon talk show host on ESPN Deportes affiliate KWNX in Austin. He also serves as the Spanish voice of University of Texas football, and has broadcasted several hockey games for the Austin Ice Bats. The game time is set for 5 PM on Sunday, March 18th, as the Cotton Kings will have a Southwest Division contest against the New Mexico Scorpions.

BEST OF THE BEST

The Central Hockey League (CHL) released the results from their annual "Best of the Best" poll, and the Lubbock Cotton Kings were recognized as having the "Best Press Box" and the "Best Game Notes." The annual poll is based on votes conducted by CHL players, coaches and operation staff members from all 17 CHL teams, and is comprised of 46 categories. The categories range from the best valuable player to the best arena concession food. The City Bank Coliseum was selected as having the "Best Press Box" in the CHL. The press box provides and outstanding broadcast perspective high atop the ice and is located center-ice. The Kings media relations crew was also recognized as providing the "Best Game Notes." Game notes provide statistical information and storylines for media members and broadcasters covering the game. The Cotton Kings were also recognized for having the third best "On Ice Promotions" and "Arena Music" in the CHL. Lubbock was not recognized with any player honors of the 22 player categories. The entire "Best of the Best" poll results can be viewed by logging onto the Central Hockey League's website at www.centralhockeyleague.com.

THE WIENERSCHNITZEL TOP DOG OF THE WEEK

Each week, a member of the Cotton Kings is selected as the "Wienerschnitzel Top Dog of the Week" for their performance in the previous week's games, and this week's recipient for their effort last week is forward Anders Strome. The third-year Kings member co-led the team offensively in the three games with two points. Strome led the team in goals on the week with two, registering both on Friday in Odessa. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has 102 goals and 95 assists in his career, placing him three points away from 200 career points.

THIS WEEK'S "INSIDE THE NUMBERS"

1.86 -Goals Per Game - Lubbock has struggled getting offense in their last 7 games and are averaging 1.86 goals per game over the span. The Kings have scored just one goal in three of their last four games.

6 - Overtime Losses - Lubbock has lost their last six consecutive overtime games at home, with four coming in the shootout.

17 - Games - Goaltender Kyle Stanton finally ended his consecutive winless streak to 17 games Friday night in Odessa, stopping 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 win..

WEEK IN REVIEW

Mar. 8 vs. New Mexico OTL(so) 1-2 Top Star: NMX - David Cacciola (24/25 saves)

Mar. 9 @ Odessa W 3-1 Top Star: LUB - Kyle Stanton (31/32 saves)

Mar. 10 @ Amarillo L 1-5 Top Star: AMA - Matt Miller (2 goals)

WEEK AHEAD

Wed. Mar. 14 9:00 pm @ Arizona Sundogs

Radio: KFYO 1340 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: The Arizona Sundogs are hosting Lubbock for the third and final time this season and the contest wraps up the six-game season series between the two division foes. Arizona leads the series at 3-2-0 (Lubbock is 2-2-1 in the series). Lubbock's Bobby Brown (4g,6a) leads the series with 10 points, while the Sundogs are led by Brent Kelly, who has a trio of goals and assists for six points.

Fri. Mar. 16 7:05 pm vs. Tulsa Oilers

Radio: KFYO 790 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: The first 1,500 fans will receive a T-Shirt compliments of City Bank, as the Cotton Kings host the Tulsa Oilers. The contest is the second time Lubbock has host the Oilers this season and it is the third of three meetings between the two clubs this season. Lubbock has a 6-5-0 all-time record against the Oilers. Anders Strome is the series all-time leader with 9 goals and an assist for 10 points, while Tulsa's Jaroslav Cesky leads the all-time series with 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points. This season's series is tied 1-1-0, and individually, Kyle Nosan leads the series for the Kings with a goal and 4 assists. Mike Wiggins (2g,2a) and Darryl Smoleroff (1g,3a) each have 4 points this season against the Kings.

Sun. Mar. 18 5:05 pm vs. New Mexico Scorpions

Radio: KFYO 790 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: Lubbock closes out the week celebrating "Hispanic Night in the Kingdom" presented by Telemundo and New York Life. This game is the eighth and final match-up on the season between the two teams and the fourth in Lubbock. The Scorps have won six of the seven meetings this season and is 6-1-0 in the series, and this match-up will be the 65th all-time meeting. Bobby Brown (5g,2a) leads the Kings in the season series with seven points, while Lance Herauf (5g,4a) and Ryan McLeod (5g,4a) each have nine points in the series to lead the Scorps'. Lubbock holds a 29-25-10 all-time record against the Scorps with former King Jan Melichercik leading the all-time series with 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points, while New Mexico holds the all-time advantage with a 35-21-8 mark. Former Scorpion Peter Ambroziak leads the series offensively with 59 points (20g,39a).

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