Sports stats



Cotton Kings weekly report

October 18, 2005 - National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
Lubbock Hawks News Release


MAKING THE CUT

Lubbock Cotton Kings Head Coach and Hockey Operations Director Chris Dashney made his first roster moves following the conclusion of the Cotton Kings preseason slate, by placing goaltender Kevin Kurk and forward Matt Bothwell on waivers. Kurk, a 6'7" goaltender that played last season in Elmira of the UHL, took the loss in net during Friday night's 6-2 home exhibition loss to Bossier-Shreveport by allowing 5 goals in 26:16 of net time. Bothwell, a native of Pueblo, Colorado, tallied a power play goal in Saturday's 6-4 road exhibition loss against the Odessa Jackalopes. Additional roster moves may be made before the Kings must submit their opening night roster on Thursday.

MAKING THE PUT

The Cotton Kings conducted their annual "Swing with the Kings" golf tournament Monday at LakeRidge Country Club with 22 teams hitting the links. This year's format included foursomes scrambling each hole with a special guest. Each hole contained a different member of the Cotton Kings assigned to the hole and each team rotating through had an opportunity to have the individual join their foursome for that hole only. There were also special holes that included a "longest drive" contest with driving with a hockey stick instead of a golf club. The foursome of Dave Davis, Tim Moneymaker, Joe Walters and Darren Yates won the tournament with a score of 54.

SO HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR SUMMER?

While most players returned home for the offseason, one player spent his offseason doing what he does during the season... playing hockey. Nolan Graham spent his summer where it is winter... in Australia playing in the Australian Ice Hockey League. The returning Kings member lived in the eastern state of New South Wales in the coastal town Newcastle, playing with the AIHL Champion Newcastle North Stars. He registered 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points to rank eighth in league scoring, and claimed the Coach's Player of the Year award. The championship for the North Stars was their second in the six-year old AIHL, as the winning team gets to hoist the Goodall Cup... the second oldest hockey championship trophy behind the NHL's Stanley Cup.

THIS WEEK'S "INSIDE THE NUMBERS"

6 - First Timers- There are six players on the Kings current roster that will take the ice for the their first professional game this Friday night in Rio Grande Valley.

18 - Players - Under new CHL Rules, teams will be permitted to dress all 18 players on the active roster. Last season, teams could have 18 players on the active roster, but could only dress 17 players.

30 - Power Play Opportunities - In Saturday's exhibition game, the Cotton Kings and Odessa Jackalopes combined for 30 power play opportunities, with the Kings receiving 16 opportunities. Indications show that double-digit power play opportunities could be the norm due to new adjustments made to penalties to make the game more offensive. Last season, the Kings averaged four power play opportunities per game.

CHL RULE CHANGES

Cotton Kings Head Coach Chris Dashney serves on the CHL's Competition Committee and during the offseason, he assisted the CHL's decisions on their implementing of new rules and standards. The following is a list of new rule changes courtesy of the Central Hockey League:

Interference

The term "obstruction" has been removed from the Rule Book, and penalties will be called interference, hooking, holding, etc. The point that needs to be emphasized to everyone is that the player who continues to skate and tries to find the open ice will be rewarded, and the player who does not move his feet, and uses his stick or free hand to impede the progress of an opposing player will be penalized. Players must use their body position to make contact with another position, not their stick or free hand. It is imperative to understand that physical contact and physical play is not being removed from our game, but rather non-skating, interference fouls by use of the stick and holding are being targeted.

Additional Key Rule Changes

Roster Size

Each CHL Team shall be composed of eighteen (18) players (sixteen (16) skaters and two (2) goalkeepers), and each team may dress a maximum of 18 players during CHL games.

Stick Measurements

There shall be no measurement for the curvature of a stick. All other size regulations and measurements (width and length of blade, length of stick, etc.) will still be enforced.

Goalkeeper Movement

The goalkeeper may not play the puck outside of the designated trapezoidal area behind the net, but may play the puck within that area and anywhere in front of the goal line. This area shall be defined by lines that begin six feet (6') from either goal post and extend diagonally to points twenty-eight feet (28') apart at the end boards. Should the goalkeeper play the puck outside of the designated area behind the goal line, a minor penalty for delay of game shall be imposed. The determining factor shall be the position of the puck. The minor penalty will not be assessed when a goalkeeper plays the puck while still in his goal crease (any part of the body touching the crease).

Diving

This is now a separate rule. The penalty will no longer be "Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Diving", but rather simply as "Diving".

Passes

The center red line has been removed for the purposes of off-side passes (but will still be visible for icing purposes). Players may pass the puck from anywhere in their defensive zone to a teammate provided the player receiving the pass is not over the opposing team's blue line (must be on-side at the blue line).

Icing

Should the Linesman feel that an attempted pass was receivable, he shall have the discretion to waive off the apparent icing infraction. (This is going to be tested in the pre-season). Automatic (no-touch) icing will still be in place as it was last year.

The Shoot-Out

All players are eligible for participation in the shootout, except players who are serving a major penalty, 10 minute misconduct, game misconduct, gross misconduct or match penalty. Teams may not use a shooter for the second time until ten (10) shooters have shot, at which time they shall revert back to the first shooter and remain in the order as long as necessary. No team may use more than ten (10) shooters in the shoot-out.

24 FOUNDATION TO ANNOUNCE 2005/2006 PLANS

Last season, the 24 Foundation helped raise more than $30,000 for South Plains area folks in need, and the efforts led to Paul Fioroni, the foundation's founder and member of the Lubbock Cotton Kings, earning the Central Hockey League's "Man of the Year" award. On Wednesday, Paul Fioroni will announce his goals and contributions the 24 Foundation aims to perform throughout the 2005/2006 Cotton Kings season at a press conference scheduled to begin at 3 PM at Frontier Dodge (Spur 327 and Frankford) in Lubbock. Family members of individuals being assisted this season will be on hand along with Fioroni, as he announces all his fundraising efforts.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Oct. 14 vs. Bossier- Shreveport Loss 6-2 *exhibition

Oct. 15 @ Odessa Jackalopes Loss 6-4 *exhibition

WEEK AHEAD

Fri. Oct. 21 7:35 pm @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Radio: KOOL 98.1 FM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: The Lubbock Cotton Kings begin their defense of the Southwest Division crown Friday, as they open the regular season on the road in Rio Grande Valley. It will mark the first time the Cotton Kings have not opened the season against Amarillo. The Cotton Kings are 3-2-1 on opening nights in franchise history, while the Killer Bees are 0-2-0. Lubbock leads the all-time series against the Killer Bees with a record of 3-2-0, sweeping the home-and-home series last season. Paul Fioroni (3g,2a) and Emory Olauson (5a) each lead the Kings in the all-time series with 5 points, while the Bees are led by former Cotton King Matic Kralj, who has 3 points (1g,2a) in the series.

Sat. Oct. 22 7:35 pm @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Radio: KFYO 790 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: The Cotton Kings will conclude their opening weekend with another contest in Hidalgo, Texas against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, which have several ties with the Cotton Kings. The Kings are coached by former Lubbock player and coach Tracy Egeland, and have former Kings Ryan Shmyr and Matic Kralj in their roster. The Cotton Kings did not play consecutive road games at the same location last season during the regular season.

• Discuss this story on the National Women's Basketball League message board...

National Women's Basketball League Stories from October 18, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Lubbock Hawks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central