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Ice Bats Return For Two at Home

November 10, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


Setting the Stage: The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League are off to a 3-4 start on the 2004-05 CHL season. As a result, the Ice Bats are locked in a three-way logjam with Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley for first place in Southeast Division. Laredo is just two points behind the leaders in the competitive division race.

This week, the Ice Bats finish off a five-game road swing with a game at Corpus Christi on Thursday. The Bats then return to the Expo Center for home games Friday against Laredo and "Armed Forces Appreciation Night" Saturday against Tulsa. To start next week, the Ice Bats will travel to Laredo for an 11am game on Tuesday.

A look back: The Ice Bats rolled up nearly 1,800 bus miles to and from their three games last week. After losses in Memphis and Fort Worth, the Ice Bats picked up a key divisional win Saturday at Laredo.

Last Thursday, the Ice Bats jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Memphis roared back with a four-goal third period for a 5-2 win. The Ice Bats got a shorthanded goal from Kelly Smart 8-1/2 minutes in, and defenseman Vinnie Jonasson scored off a Dallas Anderson pass at 12:50 of the first period. Four minutes after Jonasson's goal, the Ice Bats turned the puck over at center, and Memphis' Alan Carr sliced the lead in half.

The Ice Bats maintained a 2-1 lead throughout the second, despite killing penalties over most of the final 11 minutes of the period. Fatigue finally set in during the final period, however. Within the first five minutes of the period, Memphis tied the game on Wayne Hall's rebound goal, and Don Parsons blew around the Austin defense to give the RiverKings their first lead. Memphis' Phil Aucoin scored a crucial breakaway goal off another turnover at 13:10, and Chris Migliore wrapped it up with an empty net goal late.

The loss came despite holding Memphis scoreless on eight power play chances. The Ice Bats failed to score on their lone power play opportunity.

Late mistakes cost the Ice Bats again in a 5-3 loss last Friday at Fort Worth. The Brahmas' Derrell Upton scored the first of their two shorthanded goals midway through the first period. Austin's Chris Richards countered with a score off a give-and-go play with Arturs Kupaks, but Fort Worth's Brian Bansner scored late in the first for a 2-1 lead.

Austin's Mike Olynyk retied the score early in the second, only to have Fort Worth retake the lead a couple of minutes later on a Martin Pacquet goal. Finally, the Bats' John McNabb threw in a low wrister on an odd-man rush to tie the seesaw game at three after two periods.

In the third, though, Fort Worth's Bryan Lundbohm scored the second shorthanded goal, and Jan Jas added an insurance goal 54 seconds later. The Ice Bats were unable to score on eight power play chances including three opportunities in the third period, during which the Bats were able to muster only two shots. Aaron Davis' three assists led Fort Worth scoring.

Three players short due to an injury and two suspensions, the dejected Ice Bats traveled to Laredo Saturday with only six true forwards. But with a gritty defensive effort from their 12 skaters, and a 41-save performance from Matt Barnes, the Ice Bats wrested a 3-1 win from the defending President's Cup champions.

Austin's Arturs Kupaks opened scoring at 1:56 of the first on a shot from the point that slithered through traffic. Just 38 seconds later, Laredo tied the score on a screened shot from the point. But power forward Kris Knoblauch deflected in another power play score eight minutes into the contest, and the Ice Bats led 2-1 after one.

Two minutes into the second, Austin's Benoit Genesse scored the team's third power play goal, and Barnes took over from there. Making tremendous saves when called upon, Barnes also got help from weary teammates in clearing the crease and the zone. Outshot 37-3 over the final two periods, the Bats kept the Bucks at bay through a scoreless third period-- even with Laredo on a power play over a tense final 1:39.

One day's play made a huge difference in specialty teams, as the Ice Bats scored on half of their six power play chances, while holding Laredo scoreless on seven chances.

Roster Flights:

Arrivals: The Ice Bats announced on Tuesday that Assistant Director of Hockey Operations Greg Gatto has been promoted to a position as the team's interim Head Coach. Gatto replaces Jeff Greenlaw as bench coach. Greenlaw will remain with the organization as Director of Hockey Operations, overseeing all personnel matters.

The 33-year-old Gatto, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, is in his first season with the Ice Bats. A veteran of six seasons of professional hockey as a player, Gatto spent three seasons in the CHL. He appeared for two seasons as a Player-Assistant Coach with the San Antonio Iguanas from 2000 to 2002, and was with Odessa for one season prior to his retirement as a player in 2003. Last season, Gatto stayed in Odessa as an Assistant Coach under Jackalopes Head Coach Don McKee.

Departures: The Ice Bats will play six games without forward Dallas Anderson, who was suspended by the League for an elbowing incident late in last Thursday's game at Memphis. Anderson, who has already served two games of the suspension, will be eligible to return November 19th. Forward John McNabb, suspended one game for a slash in the same contest, returns this week.

Wounded Wings: Rookie center Jeff Neufeld, who has missed the last three games to injury, has been placed on 14-day injured reserve, retroactive to October 30th. Neufeld will not play this weekend.

Player Plaudits: Second-year forward Benoit Genesse ranks among the league's top dozen scorers (#3 in goals) with seven goals and three assists. Also in the top 20 are veterans John McNabb with four goals and five assists, and Arturs Kupaks (the top scoring defenseman), with four goals and six helpers. Kelly Smart leads the league with two shorthanded goals. Forward Dallas Anderson has the league's early penalty minute lead, with 88 minutes in five games.

Potential Bite Victims: Corpus Christi bears little resemblance to the Rayz outfit that finished 15 games below .500 last year. New Head Coach (and former Ice Bats assistant) Ken McRae has his team off to a 2-2-2 start, in the thick of the contentious Southeast Division race.

Offensively, the team ranks third in the league (3.67 goals per game), and McRae's trademark defense (currently 14th with 3-1/2 average goals allowed) will come around. Newcomer Greg Bullock ranks fourth in the league with 5 goals and 7 assists, having scored in all six games. Last year's Outstanding Defenseman in the league, Bernie John has 8 assists.

And another of the players McRae brought with him from Indianapolis, All-Star Jason Baird has 4 goals and 3 assists. Goalie Brent Zelenewich is 0-3-1 despite allowing almost a goal fewer per game (2.84) than former University of Michigan standout Josh Blackburn (2-0, 3.81 GAA).

The Rayz won their first game in the 7,000-plus seat AmericanBank Center, 6-4 over Laredo last Friday, then lost in a shootout Saturday at Rio Grande Valley.

Laredo nearly lapped the field with a 48-8-8 record last year, smashing the record book en route to the President's Cup title. A good bit of that championship team returns, but the Bucks are just 2-5 so far this year, much to the displeasure of Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. Forward Adam Paiement leads the team with 4 goals, 3 assists. Winger Brent Cullaton, who spent a good deal of time in the AHL last year, has a goal and 6 assists. Last year's MVP, Jeff Bes is best known as a playmaker, but has 5 goals. Talented forward Chris Nielsen was recalled by the Bucks' AHL affiliate in San Antonio this week, but there's help on the way with two defensemen returning from England. Gifted blueliner Serge Dube arrived last Saturday, and sturdy Steve Weidlich should be cleared to play this week. Rookie of the Year last year, goaltender David Guerrera is 1-4 thus far, despite a good 2.64 GAA. The Bucks try to snap a four-game losing streak against Bossier-Shreveport Thursday before coming to the Bat Cave Friday.

Tulsa finished 26-25-13 last year, missing out on the post-season, and there are some new faces in the lineup for Coach Butch Kaebel, now in his first full season. The Oilers have started 3-5 this year in the five-team Northeast Division. Top 20 scorer Dan Gravelle does return, and leads the team with 5 goals, 5 assists. Newcomer (and colorfully named) Olivier Maltais has 5 goals and 4 helpers. The team's power play needs some work, ranking last with just three power play goals on 38 chances. Goaltender Bill Ruggiero (3-3, 3.35 GAA) has seen most of the work in net. After losing to Memphis 3-1 on Tuesday, the Oilers try to get back on track at cross-state rival Oklahoma City on Thursday. They'll then return home to face Lubbock Friday before making their way to Austin.

The Series: The Ice Bats are 45-21-4 lifetime against Corpus Christi. October 22nd, the Ice Bats came back from a four-goal deficit to defeat the Rayz, 6-5 in overtime, in the season opener for both teams.

The Bats are 10-11-1 lifetime against Laredo, with each team winning on the other's home ice this year. The Bucks won 6-2 October 24th in Austin, the Bats 3-1 last Saturday in Laredo.

Austin is 2-2-1 against Tulsa, with the teams also winning on enemy ice in splitting a pair of games last year. The Oilers won 5-3 last February 8th in Austin. The Ice Bats returned the favor, winning 5-4 in overtime March 5th in Tulsa.

Comments from the Coach:

NOTE: Comments come from Greg Gatto, the Ice Bats' new interim Head Coach.

On Last Week: "We didn't play badly the first half of Thursday's game in Memphis. We were up 2-1 through two periods in a tough building. Some undisciplined penalties hurt us and we wore out. Against Fort Worth, we again hurt ourselves with mental mistakes. Whether we were tired or again, a little undisciplined, we can't afford to do that. Saturday, we stuck right to the game plan, played an unbelievable defensive game, and that and our goaltending won us the hockey game."

On This Week: "We're continuing to stress defense. We'll be without Neufeld and Anderson again this week, and with three games in three nights, we'll get tired. So we have to play smart and capitalize on other teams' mistakes instead of the other way around. Our specialty teams have been outstanding, in the top three in the league, so we should be at the top of the leader board. We just have to play smart, disciplined hockey."

Cave, Sweet Cave: After completion of a five-game road swing, the Ice Bats return to the Expo Center for games this Friday and Saturday.

This Friday, November 12th is Capital Metro "Antenna Puck" Night, with free antenna pucks to go to 5,000 fans. The UT men's hockey team will face Southern Methodist University after the Ice Bats game.

This Saturday, November 13th is "Armed Forces Appreciation Night," and the Ice Bats will wear special game jerseys to honor America's servicemen and women. Free American flags will go to 3,000 fans, courtesy of Milestone Mortgage. SportClips will be on hand to provide haircuts, and anyone who receives a "military cut" will pick up a free ticket to a future home game. Also, the UT hockey team faces SMU starting at 4:45pm, and after the game, the "Bud True Music Concert Series" continues with a free post-game concert from Vallejo.

Season tickets and corporate partnerships are still available for the new season. Once again, free membership to the "Crown Lounge at the Belfry" is included with all full-season packages, and free parking with all full-season and 16-game ticket plans.

Individual game tickets are available now through the Ice Bats office at 927-PUCK, on-line at www.GetTix.Net, or at any of a dozen Pinky's Wireless locations in the Austin area, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Killeen and San Marcos. Tickets are also available at all Texas Box Office locations, including all Austin-area HEB stores, or on-line at www.TexasBoxOffice.com.

To charge by phone, fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at 927-PUCK, Get Tix at 1-866-4-Get Tix, or Texas Box Office at (512) 477-6060.

Individual game tickets range in price from $10 to $35, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. Fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com for more information.

In the Air: Once again, all Ice Bats away games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio, 1530 on the AM dial. The station will broadcast all road games during the 2004-05 regular season and CHL Playoffs. The games will also be available on-line, through the station website at www.espnaustin.com. The Texas Dodge Dealers Warm-up Show begins 20 minutes prior to game time. Ice Bats Director of Broadcasting, Media/PR Glen Norman will handle play-by-play duties for a seventh straight season.

Bats in Cyberspace: Bats fans can learn the latest about their team by logging on to www.icebats.com. Home or away, Bats fans can also follow the action with real-time scoring on the website, courtesy of Pointstreak.com. Fans will be able to access a game box score in real-time, as well as those of all other CHL games being played.

THIS WEEK:

Thur., Nov. 11th, 7:05pm, vs. Corpus Christi Rayz, at AmericanBank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas

Fri., Nov. 12th, 7:35pm, vs. Laredo Bucks, at Travis County Expo Center, Austin, Texas

Sat., Nov. 13th, 7:35pm, vs. Tulsa Oilers, at Travis County Expo Center, Austin, Texas

Tues., Nov. 16th, 11:00am, vs. Laredo Bucks, at Laredo Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas



Central Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2004


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.

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