Goupil, Special Teams Beat Rays

October 30, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League beat the Corpus Christi Ice Rays 6-3 Thursday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The Bucks have won three straight games, to jump itnto first place in the Southeast Division with a 4-2 record (8pts).

Alex Goupil came up big for the Bucks, as he had a hat trick on the night (two power-play goals, one short-handed goal) to lead Laredo to the win. Goupil has five of his six goals this season againt the Ice Rays. Rookie Darryl Smith had his second career multi-goal game, as he netted two goals in the win, to give him five on the season.

The Ice Rays jumped out in front just 22 seconds into the game, as they scored off of a rebound allowed by Sebastien Centomo. Mike Zbringer took Centomo's rebound at the left side of the crease, and chipped it in past the Bucks goaltender. The tally was Zbringer's fourth of the season.

Laredo got on the scoreboard and tied the game up 5:41 into the first period, as Jeff Bes and Darryl Smith had a two-on-two break into the Corpus end. Bes fed Smith at the high slot left side, and Smith sent a wrist shot past Ice Rays goaltender Kris Tebbs. The goal was Smith's first since his hat trick performance on opening night. Bes picked up his team-leading seventh assist on the tally.

Corpus re-took the lead at the 10:03 mark of the first period when captain Justin Quenneville poked in a rebound on the left side of the crease past Centomo. Was Quenneville's third of the season.

The Bucks (3-1 at home) would tie the game up as they struck on the power-play, with just 46 seconds left in the first period. Alex Goupil took a pass from Devin Featherstone, and sent a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Tebbs. It was Goupil's fourth goal of the season, with Featherstone and Steve Weidlich each picking up their first assists of the year.

Coming into the game the Bucks were 4-40 with the man advantage thus far this season.

Laredo outshot Corpus (1-3, 2pts) in the first period 11-9.

The Bucks came out on fire in the second period, as they scored three-special teams goals, to take a 5-3 lead after two periods.

Laredo got it started and took a 3-2 lead just 1:48 into the middle period, when Goupil scored his second goal of the game off of a short-handed breakaway. Goupil took a pass from Jason Dixon at the right side of the crease and sent a backhander by Tebbs.

The Bucks would take advantage on a five-on-three power-play at the 9:44 mark of the period to make it 4-2. Goupil would pick up the hat trick as he sent a rebound shot from the middle of the right slot past Tebbs.

Corpus would cut the Laredo lead to 4-3 at the 12:48 mark of the second period, when T.J Reynolds sent a shot from the left point towards Centomo, Quenneville re-directed into the back of the net past Centomo. It was Quenneville's second goal of the game, and his fourth of the season.

Laredo would strike again short-handed with 5:05 left in the period, as Smith broke past the Ice Rays defense and sent a backhander past Tebbs, to score his second goal of the night.

All three of the Bucks second period goals were on special teams, two came short-handed, and one came with a two-man advantage.

The Bucks would put the game away just 12 seconds into the third period, as Jeff Bes intercepted a clear out attempt by Tebbs, and wrapped the shot short side into the back of the net.

Centomo improved to 4-1 on the season, as he stopped 26 of 29 Corpus attempts, while Tebbs took the loss in net for the Ice Rays, setting aside 27 of 33 Bucks attempts.

The Bucks will travel to face the Ice Rays Friday night, before traveling to Rio Grande Valley on Saturday.



Central Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2008


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