Sports stats



Cotton Kings Win Points, Lose Shootouts

February 7, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


EXTRA SESSIONS

The Lubbock Cotton Kings were able to obtain standing points in each of their two games with Amarillo this past weekend, but they suffered overtime shootout losses in both of them. Lubbock fell 2-1 Friday night and then came back from a 3-2 deficit, after losing a 2-1 third period lead, Saturday night with a goal with 2.7 seconds remaining to force overtime, which they went on to lose 4-3 in the shootout. The Kings have played in three consecutive overtime games heading into the week and have an overall overtime record of 4-3 (2-0 in OT results and 2-3 in shootouts). This week, the Kings will play three games against Northwest Division opponents, which the Kings are 0-4-1 against this season. Lubbock will start the week on the road in Oklahoma City on Tuesday and will return home Friday to host the Tulsa Oilers before closing out the week in Colorado Saturday with a tilt against the Colorado Eagles.

EMERGENCY FOR AN EMERGENCY

On January 27th, the Lubbock Cotton Kings placed goaltender Brett Koscielny on the injured reserve list and added Tyson Gajda as an emergency goaltender. Gajda appeared in two games with the Kings and on Friday he suffered a lower-body injury, forcing the Kings to search for another goaltender. To help the Kings get through the weekend, they dressed Equipment Manager Eric Thompson as the back-up goaltender Saturday in Amarillo. It was the first time Thompson has ever dressed for a pro game. He has his own goaltender gear and plays the position in recreational leagues. His services will be no longer needed on the ice, as Monday the Kings signed free agent goaltender Brad Buss. Buss is a 24 year-old native of Clinton Township, Michigan turning pro with the Lubbock Cotton Kings after closing out his college career last season at the University of California (Berkeley). He was a two-sport star at Warren, Michigan's De La Salle High School in north Detroit and had played two seasons of college baseball at San Diego Mesa College as a catcher from 2002 to 2003 before transferring to Cal and joining their American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II ice hockey program. The 6'3" 220-pound netminder was a First Team All-Pac Eight Conference member for each of the two seasons he played with the Golden Bears. Buss led Cal to the Conference title in 03/04 with a 10-5 record in 15 appearances and had a 3.13 GAA and 89.7% save percentage. He appeared in all 35 games last season and compiled a 16-18 record that comprised of a 90.7% save percentage and a 3.97 GAA. His college career totals included a 26-23 record in 50 games and a 90.5% save percentage. Buss worked out with several United Hockey League (UHL) squads during the offseason and attended training camp this season with the Port Huron Flags.

THE "BEAT"

Last week, Cotton Kings defenseman Jason Beatty became the third player in Kings history to receive an in-season promotion, as he was called up to the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL). He appeared in both of the Rampage's weekend contests and just as the Kings lost a pair of shootout contests, Beatty and the Rampage also lost a pair of shootout matches as well. Beatty had a shot on goal and a -1 plus/minus in the combined two games. He will continue with the Phoenix Coyotes top affiliate this week, as San Antonio is in Manchester on Wednesday, Hartford on Friday and Hamilton on Sunday.

"HEROES & LEGACIES" COTTON KINGS "HERO OF THE WEEK"

Each week a member of the Cotton Kings is selected as the "Heroes & Legacies Hero of the Week" for their performance in the previous week's games, and this week's recipient for their effort last week is veteran forward Mike Brolsma. The Kings rookie led all Kings in the two games played during the week with 2 points off a goal and an assist. Brolsma has been solid this season in Southwest Division play with 12 (7g,5a) of his 18 (9g,9a) points tallied this season coming against both Odessa and Amarillo. He leads the Kings in scoring against Amarillo this season with three goals and three assists for 6 points.

THIS WEEK'S "INSIDE THE NUMBERS"

2.7- Seconds - The Lubbock Cotton Kings pulled goaltender Lance Leslie for an extra attacker Saturday night, trailing 3-2 in Amarillo, and the move paid off with Nolan Graham scoring a goal with 2.7 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. It was the second goal this season the Kings have scored when pulling the goaltender for an extra attacker and the first in the final minute of regulation.

1 of 5- Teams - With Nolan Brown's first goal of the season on Saturday, the Cotton Kings are now one of five teams in the CHL that have each non-goaltending member of their active roster with a least one goal this season. .

100 - Games - On Saturday, Cotton Kings Head Coach Chris Dashney coached in his 100th career game and on Tuesday, forward Emery Olauson will play in his 100th pro game of his career.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Feb. 3 vs. Amarillo Gorillas OTL(so) 1-2 Top Star: AMA - Jamie Vandespyker (35/36 saves)

Feb. 4 @ Amarillo Gorillas OTL(so) 3-4 Top Star: AMA - Joe Guenther Hat Trick (3 goals)

WEEK AHEAD

PRACTICE TIMES: Wed: TBA... Thurs: 9:30 - 11 am AM... Fri: 10 - 10:45 AM...

Tue. Feb. 7 7:05 pm @ Oklahoma City Blazers Radio: KKAM 1340 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: Lubbock begins this week's action on the road in Oklahoma City. This is the third of four meetings between the two teams this season, and the first of two scheduled in Oklahoma City. OKC has the Kings number, winning 9 of the 10 all-time meetings. They won the previous meeting back on January 27th 8-2, which was the Kings biggest deficit this season. Marty Standish had 5 assists in the previous meeting for Oklahoma City and leads the series offensively this season. Bobby Brown leads Lubbock in the season series with two points (1g,1a). Lubbock's all-time series leader against Oklahoma City is Paul Fioroni (1g,4a) and Jan Melichercik (2g,3a), who each have 5 points, while Oklahoma City's all-time leader is retired Hardy Sauter, who had three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 8 games.

Fri. Feb. 10 7:05 pm vs. Tulsa Oilers Radio: KKAM 1340 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: The Lubbock Cotton Kings return home Friday to face the Tulsa Oilers for the second time this season and the first in Lubbock. It will be the second of three meetings between the two clubs this season. Lubbock has a 5-2-0 all-time record against the Oilers, but Tulsa leads the season series 1-0-0 after a 3-2 win over the Kings earlier this season.

Sat. Feb. 11 8:05 pm @ Colorado Eagles Radio: KKAM 1340 AM TV: CHLTV.COM

Notes: The Cotton Kings close the week heading to Loveland, Colorado to face the defending CHL Champion Colorado Eagles Saturday night. It is the 12th meeting all-time between the two clubs and the third of five scheduled meetings this season (three in Lubbock). Colorado has a 2-0-0 series advantage this season and leads the all-time series with an 8-1-2 record, while Lubbock is 3-8-0 in the all-time series. Colorado's Ryan Tobler is the all-time series leader offensively with 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points. Lubbock's all-time leader against Colorado is Paul Fioroni (3g, 4a) and Jan Melichercik (2g,5a), who each have 7 points.

• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...

Central Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2006


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 Cotton Kings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central