Half-Way Home: Bucks Mid-Season Review
January 2, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League are the first team to play half of their regular season games. With the Bucks 6-2 win on New Year's Eve they have a 23-7-2 record thru their first 32 games, and lead the CHL in points with 48.
The first half of the 2007-08 season for the Bucks started off with a bang. Laredo tied the CHL-record for most consecutive wins to start a season with 10, before being handed their first loss at home to Youngstown 3-2 in November 10th.
In those first 10 wins the Bucks posted four shutouts, two each by Dustin Traylen and Kevin Beech, while winning games by scores of 8-2 (at New Mexico), 6-0 (at Amarillo), 7-0 (Corpus Christi), and 9-3 (Amarillo).
In the second game of the season in New Mexico, Laredo's Jeff Bes became the franchises' all-time leader in goals scored. Bes scored the record-breaking goal in overtime to give the Bucks a 5-4 win. Bes has 132 career goals as a Buck.
The Bucks had plenty of individual accolades during the first half of the season. Three players earned CHL weekly honors.
James Hiebert was voted CHL/oakley player of the week for the opening weekend. In the Bucks first two games in New Mexico, Hiebert had four goals and one assist in the two wins. Bes was named CHL/oakely player of the week for the second week of the season, while Traylen was voted CHL/Sherwood goaltender of the week during the same period. It was the first time in Bucks history that they swept the league weekly awards. In his award week Bes scored five goals and handed out three assists in three games, including a CHL season-high four goals on October 27th against Amarillo. Traylen was voted CHL goaltender of the month for October. Traylen went 4-0 in the month, posting two shutouts, both against Corpus Christi.
The Bucks had two winless three-game swings this season. Laredo went 0-2-1 in Rocky Mountain (4-1 loss), Colorado 5-4 loss), and Odessa (4-3 SO loss) from November 16-21. The Bucks had a 3-0 lead in the loss to the Jackalopes.
The second three-game winless skid saw the Bucks go 0-2-1 in Texas (3-2 SO loss), in Corpus (4-2 loss), and at home to Arizona (3-0 loss) from Dec 7-9.
After the 3-0 loss at home to the Sundogs, the Bucks have won seven of their last eight games, including their current five-game winning streak.
In the current streak the Bucks went to Arizona and swept both games, 2-1, and 6-5 in a shootout. Laredo trailed by scores of 2-0 and 5-3 in the shootout win. Bes notched a hat-trick in the game.
Thru the first 32 games the Bucks have gone 23-4-1 against Southern Conference teams, including 14-2 against their Southeast Division opponents. Leading after the second period as been a big key for the Bucks, as they are 16-1-1 when leading after 40 minutes.
The Bucks had three players voted Southern Conference All-Stars this season. Bes, Traylen, and Serge Dube.
Bes is tied for the league lead in scoring thru the first half of the season with 47 points (19-28=47), while Dube is tied for third in the league in defenseman scoring with 28 points (6-22=28), and Traylen has put up a 14-6-1 record, with a 2.13 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage with three shutouts. Traylen's 14 wins put him second in the league behind the Rage's Scott Reid (16).
Laredo has played at least two more games than every other team in the league, including seven more than Wichita (25).
Here is a look at the Bucks leaders thru the first 32 games:
*Bucks Leaders- Skaters*
Games Played: Several with 32
Goals: Jeff Bes, 19
Assists: Jeff Bes, 28
Points: Jeff Bes, 47
Plus/Minus: Jeff Bes, +28
Penalty Minutes: Alex Penner, 92
Power-play goals: Brent MacSween, 6
Power-play Assists: Jeff Bes, 9
Short-handed goals: Serge Dube, Chris Korchinski, 2
Short-handed assists: Adam Rivet, 3
Game-winning goals: James Hiebert, 4
Shots: Jeff Bes, 147
*Bucks Leaders- Goaltenders*
Games: Dustin Traylen, 21
Minutes: Dustin Traylen, 1185:38
Wins: Dustin Traylen, 14
Losses: Dustin Traylen, 6
Overtime Losses: Dustin Traylen, Kevin Beech, 1
Shutouts: Dustin Traylen: 3
Goals Against Average: Kevin Beech, 2.02
Save Percentage: Dustin Traylen: .922
The Bucks, who have a 21 point lead in their division, and eight in the conference, will start the second half of the season Thursday when they host the Mississippi Riverkings at the LEC. Game time is 7pm. Tickets are available by calling 718-BUCK (2825).
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2008
- RiverKings Requesting Volunteers - Mississippi RiverKings
- Carroll Named CHL Goaltender of the Month - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Sher-Wood/CHL Player of the Month Announced - CHL
- Sher-Wood/CHL Goaltender of the Month Announced - CHL
- Chris Richards Fields Questions From Junior Reporter - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Sundogs Trade Chris Greene to Wichita for Tyler Liebel - Arizona Sundogs
- Thunder Makes Trade - Wichita Thunder
- Half-Way Home: Bucks Mid-Season Review - Laredo Bucks
- Odessa's Alexandre Vincent Wins Performance of the Week - CHL
- Latendresse Recalled, Redenbach Reassigned to Arizona - Arizona Sundogs
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