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Killer Bees game notes

March 3, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME

The Killer Bees (25-22-5, 55 pts) travel to Odessa to face off against the Southwest Division leading Jackalopes (30-15-6, 66 pts) at the Ector County Coliseum. The Bees maintain the fourth seed in the Southern Conference playoff race leading Amarillo by two points. They are four points out of the third place seed occupied by Austin. Odessa holds the second seed in the South, 10 points behind Laredo.

RADIO/TV

Radio: ESPN 1240; Live Audio at killerbeehockey.com; audio/video stream at chltv.com

SEASON SERIES

The Killer Bees are 1-2-0 vs. the Jackalopes this season...There have been two penalty shots in the season series. Dwayne Hay was denied by Mike Gorman in the first meeting (Nov. 5). Matt Cressman beat Evan Lindsay in the third meeting (Feb. 21). Hay scored the game-winner in a shootout vs. Gorman in the same game he was denied on the penalty shot...The Killer Bees are just 1-for 19 (.053) against the Jacks on the power play.

ALL TIME SERIES

The Killer Bees are 5-5-0 all time vs. Odessa.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Friday, March 3 at Odessa, 7:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Tuesday, March 7 vs. Bossier-Shreveport, 10:30 a.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240) Special kid's day game. No tickets available.

Wednesday, March 8 vs. Bossier-Shreveport, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: EPN 1240) Use tickets dated March 7 for this game!

Friday, March 10 at Corpus Christi, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Saturday, March 11 at Lubbock, 7:05 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Sunday, March 12 at Amarillo, 6:05 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Tuesday, March 14 vs. Lubbock, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Friday, March 17 vs. Corpus Christi, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240) Presented by Valley Yamaha, the first 1000 kids 12 and under receive free youth jerseys! The Bees will wear St. Patrick's Day jerseys (post-game jersey auction benefits the non-profit Killer Bee Foundation; Special $1 green beer!)

Saturday, March 18 vs. Memphis, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240; TV: Televisa XERV-9, Cable 19)

TONIGHT'S OPPONENT

The Jacks are winless in two (0-1-1) but are 7-2-1 in their last 10...Odessa is in the hunt for fist place in the Southern Conference, trailing Laredo by 10 points with 13 games left. The Jacks have three games in hand on the Bucks...Sebastien Thinel (32-42-74) and Dominic Leveille (22-46-68) are among the top-10 in CHL scoring. They've combined for nine points (3-6-9) vs. the Bees this season...

TEAM NOTES

DOWN THE STRETCH

Including tonight, the Killer Bees have 12 games left in the season. Of their remaining games, seven are away from the Dodge Arena. The Bees face Conference rivals Odessa and Amarillo two more times and close out the regular season on the road at those two cities. Home: Memphis (1), Bossier-Shreveport (2), Lubbock (1), Corpus Christi (1), Laredo (1)

Road: Corpus Christi (1), Odessa (2), Lubbock (1), Amarillo (2)

13 GAMES IN 26 DAYS

The Bees close out the regular season by playing 13 games in 26 days, seven of which are on the road. The toughest haul is potentially a six-game in eight-day stretch from Mar. 7-14. The team hosts Bossier-Shreveport on March 7 and 8, and then hits the road for a three-in-three weekend Mar. 10-12. They begin in Corpus Christi and face off at Lubbock the following night before battling Amarillo on Sunday night. They'll head back home for a Tuesday night game against Lubbock on Mar. 14.

PLAYOFF FORMATS, SIMPLIFIED

Division winners earn the No. 1 and 2 seeds based on points. The next two teams with the most points in the Conference will be seeded No. 3 and 4. Should two or more teams be tied in winning percentage and points at the conclusion of the regular season, the following tiebreakers will be used: A) Most wins; B) Head to head record; C) Goals for and against differential. Home ice goes to the higher seeded teams (pending building availability). The two teams who meet in the Finals are re-seeded based on points.

PLAYOFF RACE - OPPONENT UPCOMING GAMES

Austin plays all of its remaining games away from the "Bat Cave" (or, Travis County Expo Center). They play seven in a row on the road, and then play two "home" games in Belton, Texas, before closing out the season on the road. The Bees took the season series against Austin with a 5-2-2 record. The Bees have three games in hand on the Ice Bats. --- The Bees have two games left against Amarillo, a team which faces four remaining three-in-three sets as well as two four-in-five's. After tonight, Amarillo will have three games in hand on the Bees.

Upcoming Ice Bats games

Austin at Fort Worth-Sat, Mar 04-7:30 pm

Austin at Fort Worth-Sun, Mar 05-3:00 pm

Austin at Tulsa-Fri, Mar 10-7:35 pm

Austin at Wichita-Sat, Mar 11-7:05 pm

Austin at Bossier-Shreveport-Sun, Mar 12-7:05 pm

Tulsa at Austin (at Belton)-Fri, Mar 17-7:30 pm

Laredo at Austin (at Belton)-Sat, Mar 18-7:30 pm

Austin at Memphis-Fri, Mar 24-7:05 pm

Austin at Tulsa-Sun, Mar 26-2:00 pm

Upcoming Gorillas games

Bossier at Shreveport-Amarillo-Fri, Mar 03-7:00 pm

Amarillo at Lubbock-Sat, Mar 04-7:05 pm

Odessa at Amarillo-Sun, Mar 05-6:00 pm

Amarillo at Wichita-Fri, Mar 10-7:05 pm

Amarillo at Tulsa-Sat, Mar 11-7:35 pm

Rio Grande Valley at Amarillo-Sun, Mar 12-6:00 pm

Amarillo at Odessa-Tue, Mar 14-7:00 pm

Odessa at Amarillo-Fri, Mar 17-7:00 pm

Lubbock at Amarillo-Sat, Mar 18-7:00 pm

Amarillo at Lubbock-Sun, Mar 19-5:05 pm

Amarillo at Odessa-Tue, Mar 21-7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley at Amarillo-Fri, Mar 24-7:00 pm

Amarillo at Oklahoma City-Sat, Mar 25-7:35 pm

Lubbock at Amarillo-Sun, Mar 26-6:00 pm

ROAD WINLESS SKID SNAPPED

A 3-1 win at Corpus Christi on Feb. 26 snapped a season-high 10-game road winless skid (0-8-2). Prior to that game, the Bees had not collected a solid two points on the road in 12 games, dating back to a 4-1 win at Fort Worth on Dec. 30. Ironically, the winless streak started after the Bees edged the Rayz in a 3-2 shootout on Jan. 13 at American Bank Center.

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

Rio Grande Valley's playoff picture is tied in part to how the team performs on the road in the final 20 games. The Killer Bees play 10 of their final 20 games away from Dodge Arena.

ANOTHER NEW SHOTS RECORD

The Killer Bees set a franchise record with 57 shots in a game vs. Austin in a 5-1 win on Feb. 25. That breaks the previous record of 55 set this season on Dec. 31, 2005 vs. Fort Worth. The Bees had 24 shots in the first period vs. Austin, which surprisingly is not a record. The 2004-05 team put 27 shots on goal in the second period of a 4-1 win over Odessa on Jan. 6, 2005. The Bees put 50-plus shots on goal in three six games from Feb. 12-24.

JUST SHY OF SHOTS RECORD

The Killer Bees put 54 shots on Corpus Christi's Scott Reid on Feb 12 in a 5-0 win. They fell one shot short of tying the former franchise record for shots on goal in one goal (55, set Dec. 31, 2005 vs. Fort Worth).

TRADE WINDS

The Killer Bees acquired All Star winger Bret DeCecco from Fort Worth for center Bobby Davis and future considerations on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2006. DeCecco played in San Angelo last season, where he was a teammate of Killer Bees Trevor Weisgerber, Nathan Rosychuk and Matt Medley.

CRAZY FINISH

The Killer Bees were down 3-0 to Youngstown on Feb. 18 until Bill Newson scored twice to bring the team within a goal, and then Bret DeCecco batted a puck out of mid-air for his 20th goal to tie the game late in the third. Just 10 seconds later (16:59), Mario Chinelli scored to re-take the lead for Youngstown. Daymen Bencharski erased that deficit by scoring his 19th with 1:13 left and Terry Dunbar pulled for the extra skater. The teams battled through overtime and seven shooutout rounds until Trevor Weisgerber potted the winner.

SHOOTOUTS IN BUNCHES

The Killer Bees have played two straight shootout games twice this season. They went 1-1 in the extra-extra Jan. 13 and 14, winning 3-2 at Corpus Christi and losing 2-1 at Austin. The Bees lost at home to Corpus on Feb. 17 by a 3-2 final, then came back vs. Youngstown 5-4.

SHORT BENCH

The Killer Bees played with just 14 skaters in the 3-2 overtime loss at Laredo on February 8. Daymen Bencharski missed the game with a groin injury, while the team was short to begin with due to the Davis/DeCecco trade.

TOUGH TIMES

The Killer Bees went 2-6-2 in games 31-40, their worst 10-game stretch of the season. They were outscored 27-17 and managed just five power play goals on 65 chances. By comparison, the team went 9-1-0 in games 21-30.

MIDWEEK BLAHS

Midweek games have not been fun for the Killer Bees this season. They are 1-9-1 in weekday games and have been outscored40-22. The lone win was a 6-3 victory on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Corpus Christi.

TEAM GOALS AGAINST IN TOP FIVE

The Killer Bees are fifth in the CHL with a 3.04 team GAA.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Killer Bees are 19-14-4 vs. Southern Conference teams and 6-8-1 vs. Northern Conference clubs.

ONE GOAL GAMES

The Killer Bees are 10-5-5 in one-goal games.

FIRST GOAL IS THE GOAL

The Killer Bees are 18-5-2 when scoring first and 7-19-3 when allowing the first goal.

FINALLY, BEES COME BACK AFTER 40 MINUTES

The Killer Bees finally came back from a deficit entering the third period to win on Feb. 18 vs. Youngstown. They are now 1-17-0 when trailing after two periods. When trailing after the first, the Bees are now 2-11-1, also earning a point in an overtime loss to Colorado on Nov. 11. Rio's 4-1 win over Corpus Christi on Dec. 16 marked the first time the team came back from trailing after the first period to win.

ONE, TWO THREE.....WE WANT FOUR! The Killer Bees are a perfect 20-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 5-0 when scoring six or more. When scoring three or fewer goals, the record is just 5-22-5.

MONTH BY MONTH

The Bees got off to the best start in franchise history, going 4-1-0 in October. After a tough November (3-7-1), the Killer Bees went 9-3-0 in December and went 4-5-2 in January. They went 5-5-2 in February after staring the month 0-3-1. They are 0-1-0 in March thus far.

BEES STRONG AT HOLDING LEADS

At 20-2-2 when leading after two periods, the Bees have been strong with the lead. The Bees led 3-2 at Oklahoma City entering the third period but fell 5-3. They had not given up a third period lead since a 6-3 loss vs. Austin on Nov. 12.

NEW FRANCHISE ROAD-WINNING STREAK

The Killer Bees set a new franchise record with their fourth consecutive road win Dec. 30 at Fort Worth. The previous mark of three in a row last occurred Feb. 15-21, 2004.

BEES SET FRANCHISE WINNING STREAK

With a 5-4 win in overtime on Dec. 18, the Bees set a new franchise streak with five wins in a row. They extended the streak to six games overall with a 5-1 win at Corpus Christi on Dec. 23 The team had two previous win streaks of four wins in a row, most recently Feb. 15-21, 2004.

ALL TIME SHOTS RECORD SET

The Killer Bees broke another franchise record Dec. 31 by firing 55 shots at Fort Worth's Larry Sterling. The previous mark of 54 happened Jan. 6, 2005 vs. Odessa. The teams combined for 93 shots (a Bees record) and fell eight shots short of the CHL season high of 102 set by Colorado and Odessa on Oct. 22.

BEES AND RAYZ COMBINE FOR PIM HIGH

The Bees and Corpus Christi Rayz combined for 112 PIM on Dec. 23, the most this season between the Bees and an opponent. Ryan Shmyr set a team high with 26 PIM, while the Rayz' Shawn Legault racked up 29 PIM.

GOALIE NOTES

LINDSAY AMONG GOALIE WINS LEADERS, EARNS SECOND SHUTOUT

Evan Lindsay's 19 wins are just out of the top five in the CHL and he is among the leaders in minutes played. He picked up his 17th win and his second shutout of the season with a 34-save performance Feb. 12 vs. Corpus Christi. He earned his first shutout of the season Jan. 7 vs. Corpus Christi with 24 saves. His closest shutout bid prior to that was ended with Derrick McIver's goal with only 19 seconds in regulation at Corpus Christi on Dec. 23.

LINDSAY EARNS GOALIE OF THE WEEK NOD, AGAIN

Evan Lindsay earned his second nod as the Oakley CHL Goalie of the Week for Week 17. Lindsay began his week with a 42-save performance Feb. 8 in a 3-2 overtime loss in Laredo, and then made another 34 saves Sunday, Feb 12 to blank visiting Corpus Christi 5-0. He went 1-0-1 on the week, his 1.45 GAA and .962 save percentage leading the team out of an eight-game winless slide. Lindsay was also named the Oakley CHL Goalie of the Week after earning two wins the weekend of Jan. 6 and 7. The Bees edged Austin 4-3 in OT on Lindsay's 29 saves and Kurtis Dulle's OT winner. Lindsay made 24 saves in a 1-0 win over Corpus Christi the following night.

DUNBAR GETS EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT

Terry Dunbar (DOB 12/31/79) earned his fourth win of the season and second in a row with 23 saves just hours before turning 26 at Forth Worth on Dec. 30.

DUNBAR SNAPS PERSONAL WINLESS SKID

Terry Dunbar snapped a three-game personal winless skid with a 15-save shootout win over Youngstown on Feb. 18. Dunbar was 0-2-2 in his previous four starts despite allowing just 10 goals (2.46 GAA) and making 110 saves (.916) over that stretch.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

ROSYCHUK MAKES WAVES IN RETURN

Nathan Rosychuk returned from an 18-game stint on the injured reserve by scoring the game-winner vs. Austin on Feb. 24. He followed that up with a goal and two assists the following night and then scored the game-winner at Corpus Christi on Feb 26.

BENCHARSKI, ROSYCHUK AND WEISGERBER COMBINE FOR 16 POINTS IN THREE GAMES

The line of Daymen Bencharski, Nathan Rosychuk and Trevor Weisgerber scored six of Rio's 15 goals over three games from Feb. 24-26 and accounted for 16 total points (6-9-15).

A MEDLEY OF POINTS

Rookie defenseman Matt Medley has posted 11 points (7-4-11) and is plus-six since Feb. 12. He has leaped ahead of fellow rookie blueliner and CHL All Star Jeff Mushaluk for the scoring lead among Bees defenders. Mushaluk had a two-game scoring streak snapped March 1 at Laredo.

ROSYCHUK RETURNS; KUCZMANSKI PLACED ON IR

Nathan Rosychuk was activated from the 45-day injured reserve today, while Jason Kuczmanski was placed on 45-day injured reserve retroactive to Tuesday night's game. Rosychuk had been out since Jan. 8, a span of 18 games. Overall, he has missed 21 games due to injury this season after being placed on 14-day injured reserve back in late October. In 26 games this season, he has 18 points (2-16-18) including a power play tally. This is the second time Kuczmanski has been placed on the 45-day injured reserve list. He missed 21 games from Nov. 15 - Jan. 8. In 10 games prior to his injury, the rookie out of SUNY-Geneseo had two goals. He earned one assist prior to his most recent IR placement.

SIXES FOR PHILLIPS

Aaron Phillips posted six points (3-3-6) and was plus-six in six games from Feb. 17-26.

CHERNESKI SCORES FIRST AS A PRO

After 38 games, rookie Phil Cherneski bagged his first pro goal on the power play vs. Austin on Feb. 24.

BENCHARSKI RETURNS AFTER MISSING FIVE

Daymen Bencharski missed five games from Feb 8-17 with a groin injury. He returned to the lineup on Feb. 18 vs. Youngstown and contributed with a goal and an assist. His goal at 18:47 of the third forced overtime (and the eventual shootout, which the Bees won 5-4.

DECECCO SCORES IN BEES DEBUT

Bret DeCecco collected his 19th goal of the season in the third period of Rio Grande Valley's 5-3 loss to Amarillo on Feb. 10 in his Killer Bees debut. In his first eight games as a Bee, he was held without a point just once and posted nine points (5-4-9) and was plus-4.

EGELAND WINS AS HE REACHES 200 PRO GAMES AS HEAD COACH

Tracy Egeland earned a win in his 200th pro game as a head coach on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006. The Bees edged Corpus Christi in a shootout 3-2 at American Bank Center.

BENCHARSKI BAGS A PAIR IN ALL-STAR GAME; LINDSAY SAW A SHOT PER MINUTE

Center Daymen Bencharski, a starter in the Obra Homes CHL 2006 All Star Game at Dodge Arena, potted two goals in the South's 10-9 shootout loss to the North. Evan Lindsay saw nearly a shot per minute (26 saves, 31 shots in 35:29).

SMITH REACHES 250 PRO GAMES

Darcy Smith appeared in his 250th pro game Sunday, Jan. 8 at Austin. Already this season, he has surpassed career scoring highs with three goals and 17 points (previous highs 2-10-12).

KRALJ HAS KNACK FOR BIG GOALS

Matic Kralj's game-winner in the shootout Jan. 13 at Corpus Christi was his third of the season. He has been involved in four overtime/shootout-winners, scoring vs. Laredo (Nov. 19), setting up an Aaron Phillips overtime goal with a clean faceoff win on Dec. 18, and scoring in the above mentioned shootout. He scored the game-tying goal Jan. 6 vs. Austin.

WEISGERBER SETS FRANCHISE ASSIST STREAK

Trevor Weisgerber's assist on Daymen Bencharski's goal Dec. 23 at Corpus Christi set a new franchise-high for consecutive games with an assist. The streak was broken Dec. 27 vs. Laredo in a 3-1 loss. Weisgerber's six-game streak eclipsed the five-game mark set by Joe Guenther in 2004.

BENCHARSKI NAMED OAKLEY CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK 8

Daymen Bencharski has been selected as the Week Eight recipient of the Oakley Central Hockey League Player of the Week award. Bencharski registered eight points (4-4-8), including three multiple-point outings in four games, and his second natural hat-trick of the season.

SCORING STREAKS

- Nathan Rosychuk has goals in four straight and seven points (3-4-7) in four games since returning from injury.

- Trevor Weisgerber has assists in three straight and seven points overall (1-6-7)

- Matt Medley has points in five straight (2-5-7) and in seven of his last nine (4-7-11).

- Dwayne Hay has been held scoreless in two straight after going on a run of scoring in eight of nine games (3-7-10)

- Daymen Bencharski has seven points (3-4-7-) in six games since returning from injury.

- Aaron Phillips had four points (2-2-4) in three straight games prior to Wednesday's loss at Laredo.

TRANSACTIONS

02/24/06 ADD Rosychuk, Nathan (LW) activated from IR 02/21/06 DEL Kuczmanski, Jason (F) placed on 45 day IR

02/08/06 , ADD DeCecco, Bret (RW) acquired in trade from Fort Worth

02/08/06 , DEL Davis, Bobby (C) traded to Fort Worth

01/22/06 , DEL Gajda, Tyson (G) waived

01/22/06 , ADD Dunbar, Terry (G) activated from leave by league

01/18/06 , DEL Dunbar, Terry (G) granted leave by league

01/18/06 , ADD Gajda, Tyson (G) signed contract

01/10/06 , ADD Kuczmanski, Jason (F) activated from IR

01/08/06 , ADD Shmyr, Ryan (RW) activated from suspension

01/07/06 , DEL Rosychuk, Nathan (LW) placed on 45 day IR

12/28/05 , DEL Shmyr, Ryan (RW) placed on league suspension for 5 games

12/16/05 , ADD Kralj, Matic (C) activated from IR

11/20/05 , DEL Kralj, Matic (C) placed on 14 day IR

11/16/05 , ADD Cherneski, Phil (LW) signed contract

11/15/05 , DEL Kuczmanski, Jason (F) placed on 45 day IR

11/11/05 , ADD Rosychuk, Nathan (LW) activated from IR

11/05/05 , ADD Phillips, Aaron (RW) activated from suspension

11/02/05 , DEL Phillips, Aaron (RW) placed on league suspension for 1 games

10/28/05 , DEL Rosychuk, Nathan (LW) placed on 14 day IR

SPECIAL TEAMS

POWER PLAY (16.7%)

The Killer Bees are tied for fourth in the CHL with 64 power play goals...They were held 0-for-7 Wednesday at Laredo...The Bees went 13-for-60 (21.6%) over games 41-50...They broke an 0-for-21 slide over four games with a pair of power play goals at Laredo on Wednesday, Feb. 3...The team went 5-for-65 (7.69%) in games 31-40 after going 16-for-87 (18.39%) in games 21-30...The Killer Bees set a franchise record with four power play goals Dec. 10 at Austin and matched that performance Dec. 31 vs. Fort Worth...Daymen Bencharski (8) and Trevor Weisgerber (7) lead the team in power play goals.

PENALTY KILLING (85.3%)

The Killer Bees have allowed the fewest power play goals in the CHL (48) while they are tied for second with 12 shorthanded goals...The Bees had killed off 22 of 23 shorthanded situations over five games prior to allowing two goals vs. Corpus Christi on Feb. 17...Oklahoma City's power play goal on Feb. 14 snapped a streak of 17 straight kills over four games...The Bees went 6-for-50 over games 41-50 (88.0%)...The penalty kill went 8-for-53 (84.9%) in games 31-40 after going 6-for-67 (91.04%) in games 21-30... They broke a franchise record Dec. 31 vs. Fort Worth with their ninth SHG...Trevor Weisgerber (3), Aaron Phillips, Dwayne Hay and Daymen Bencharski (2) lead the team in SHG.

NEW POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITES HIGH SET

The Killer Bees went 3-for-14 on the power play Dec. 23 at Corpus Christi and tied a franchise high set Feb. 14, 2004 vs. Laredo when the Bees went 2-for-14 on the man advantage. It eclipses the season-high of 12 power play chances, set Dec. 17 at Laredo when the Bees went 2-for-12.

FRANCHISE POWER PLAY GOALS RECORD SET, AGAIN

A four-goal night (4-for-11) on the power play set a franchise record Dec. 10 at Austin. The Bees matched that output Dec. 31 vs. Fort Worth, going 4-for-13. The Bees have scored three power play goals numerous times, including a three-goal performance on Dec. 3 at home vs. the Ice Bats, a 3-for-14 night Dec. 30 at Fort Worth, and a 3-for-7 night vs. Corpus Christi Feb 12.

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