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Killer Bees game notes

March 18, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (30-24-6, 66 pts) battle the Memphis River Kings (21-34-4, 46 pts) for the third and final time this season. The Bees are coming off a 5-3 win over Corpus Christi last night, while Memphis lost 3-1 at Laredo. The Bees gained ground in the playoff race with the win as Amarillo lost 4-2 at home vs. Odessa. The Bees now have a five point edge on the Gorillas and kept pace with third place Austin, who defeated Tulsa 5-2. Rio remains three points out of the third spot in the Southern Conference. The Bees have won three of their last five and have earned points in four of those games. Memphis has dropped three straight and plays its third game of five in a row on the road.

RADIO/TV

Radio: ESPN 1240; Live Audio at killerbeehockey.com; audio/video stream at chltv.com; TV: Televisa XERV-9, Cable 19

SEASON SERIES

The Killer Bees are 1-1-0 vs. Memphis this season...The 7-3 win on Feb. 25 was Rio's first vs. Memphis in franchise history...Memphis took the first meeting this season 5-1 at Southaven, Miss.

ALL TIME SERIES

The Killer Bees are 1-4-2 all time vs. Memphis.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 18 vs. Memphis, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240; TV: Televisa XERV-9, Cable 19) Presented by Nextel and Inter National Bank; first 2000 fans receive ThunderStix

Tuesday, March 21 vs. Laredo, 7:35 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240) Fan Appreciation Night presented by Affectionate Home Care and Clear Channel Radio; Pena Eye Institute LASIK giveaway; $1 beer; All tickets just $11.

TONIGHT'S OPPONENT

The RiverKings placed injured rookie defenseman Nick Fouts on the season-ending IR last weekend. Fouts suffered a concussion in the March 3 game with Youngstown. Fouts spent 45 days on the IR from December 20 to February 2... Derek Landmesser played in his 600th professional game on March 3 versus Youngstown...Darrell Stoddard has earned points (3-8-11) in seven of his last nine games...Guy St. Vincent has started nine of 10 games in goal since Feb 25 at Rio Grande Valley, including the last eight in a row.

TEAM NOTES

DOWN THE STRETCH

Including tonight, the Killer Bees have four games left in the season. Of their remaining games, two are away from the Dodge Arena. The Bees face Conference Rivals Amarillo and Odessa once each, closing out the regular season on the road at those two cities. Home: Memphis (1), Laredo (1)

Road: Odessa (1), Amarillo (1)

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.

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.

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.

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 one game in hand on the Ice Bats. --- The Bees have one game left vs. Amarillo; the season series is 1-1 vs. the Gorillas.

Upcoming Ice Bats games

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

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

TEAM GOALS AGAINST IN TOP FIVE

The Killer Bees are fourth in the CHL with a 2.94 team GAA.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Killer Bees are 23-15-5 vs. Southern Conference teams and 7-9-1 vs. Northern Conference clubs.

ONE GOAL GAMES

The Killer Bees are 11-6-6 in one-goal games.

FIRST GOAL IS THE GOAL

The Killer Bees are 21-6-2 when scoring first and 9-20-3 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 2-18-0 when trailing after two periods. When trailing after the first, the Bees are now 3-11-1. 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 25-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 5-0 when scoring six or more. When scoring three or fewer goals, the record is just 6-24-6.

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 5-3-1 in March thus far.

CRAZY FINISH, PART 2

Down 1-0 entering the third period, the Killer Bees tied Bossier-Shreveport on Bret DeCecco's 25th goal of the season at 15:24 of third period on March 7. The Bugs regained the lead 3:17 later (Scott Sheppard), only to see Matt Medley jam home the tying goal with 43 seconds left in regulation with the extra skater on the ice. Matic Kralj scored the game-winner in the shootout. The comeback marked the second time in less than a month the Bees scored the game-tying goal with the goalie pulled (both times Terry Dunbar was in net) and went on to take two points in a shootout (Feb. 18, vs. Youngstown, 5-4 win).

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 shootout rounds until Trevor Weisgerber potted the winner.

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.

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).

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.

KID'S DAY BOOKENDS

The Bees improved to 2-9-1 in weekday games with the March 7 shootout win vs. Bossier-Shreveport. The other win was a 6-3 victory on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Corpus Christi. Oddly enough, both weekday wins have occurred on Kid's Day Games. The win at Corpus was the Bees first Kid's Day game, and the win vs. Bossier was the fourth and last of the season. The Bees went 2-2-0 in Kid's games this season, also falling to Oklahoma City (Feb 14) and Laredo (March 1).

BEES STRONG AT HOLDING LEADS

At 24-3-2 when leading after two periods, the Bees have been strong with the lead. Rio was up 1-0 over Bossier-Shreveport on March 8 but lost 3-1. The Bees led 3-2 on Feb. 14 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.

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 is fourth in the CHL with 22 wins and he is third overall in minutes played. He picked up his 17th win and 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.

NOT A SHUTOUT, BUT A SHUTOUT

Evan Lindsay made 40 saves in 1-0 shootout loss at Lubbock on March 11. However, it is not recorded as a shutout despite the goal not being added to Lindsay's goals against. He made 30 saves the following night in a 5-1 win at Amarillo. Lindsay went 1-1-1 for the week, making 101 saves on 104 shots.

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. He is 4-1 in his last five starts.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

WEISGERBER SETS FRANCHISE ASSIST STREAK; FRANSHISE HIGHS FOR ASSISTS AND POINTS IN ONE SEASON

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. His 36th assist set a new franchise high for helpers in a season and broke Bill Newson's mark of 35 (2004-05). His two assists on March 17 vs. Corpus Christi set a new franchise mark for points in a season, surpassing Newson's 2003-04 total of 59.

MUSHALUK NOMINATED FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Jeff Mushaluk was nominated by the CHL for its post season Rookie of the Year award. Mushaluk, who was a member of the Southern Conference All Star Team at the 2006 CHL All Star Game, has been among rookie defenseman scoring leaders for most of the season.

MULTIPLE POINTS

Bret DeCecco has six multi-point games (out of 18) since being acquired from Fort Worth. His linemates Dwayne Hay (10) and Aaron Phillips (9) have 19 combined for the season. Trevor Weisgerber leads the team with 14 multiple point games, while linemate Daymen Bencharski has 13. Bill Newson is next with nine.

NEWSON, PHILLIPS NET 20TH GOALS ON SAME NIGHT

Bill Newson and Aaron Phillips each scored their 20th goals in Rio's 5-1 win at Amarillo on Sunday, March 12. The goal marks Newson's fifth career 20-goal season and third in a row as a Killer Bee. Phillips now has three career 20-goal seasons. This is his first since 2003-04 with Pensacola (ECHL).

MEDLEY SETS RECORDS FOR BEES DEFENSEMEN

Matt Medley's game-tying goal on March 7 vs. Bossier-Shreveport set a new franchise mark for goals in a season by a defenseman. Medley broke Jason Tessier's record of 11 set in the 2004-05 season. He is fifth power play goal set a new franchise high as well, eclipsing the record shared by Mike Rees and Jason Tessier in 2004-05.

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.

ROSYCHUK SETS FRANCHISE RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE GOALS

Nathan Rosychuk set a new franchise record with a goal in his fifth consecutive game Friday, March 3 at Odessa. He broke the previous mark set on three occasions by Joe Guenther, Aaron Phillips and Bill Newson.

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).

KRALJ HAS KNACK FOR BIG GOALS

Matic Kralj's potted the game-winner in the shootout vs. Bossier-Shreveport on March 7, his second shootout-winner of the season and fourth game-winner overall. His goal on Jan. 13 at Corpus Christi earned the Bees the extra shootout point. He has been involved in five overtime/shootout-winners, including scoring in overtime vs. Laredo (Nov. 19) and setting up an Aaron Phillips overtime goal with a clean faceoff win on Dec. 18 He scored the game-tying goal Jan. 6 vs. Austin.

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. He has six goals in his last seven games including the game-winner March 3 at Odessa.

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 his previous career highs in scoring (2-10-12).

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

- Aaron Phillips has goals in three straight games (3-0-3), five of his last six, and points in seven of his last eight (7-2-9).

- Trevor Weisgerber has points (1-3-4) in three straight games.

- Nathan Rosychuk has goals (2-0-2) in two straight games.

- Sean Gillam and Kurtis Dulle each have two assists (0-2-2) in two straight games.

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 (16.2%)

The Killer Bees are tied for fourth in the CHL with 70 power play goals...Rio went 0-for-27 over four-plus games before knocking home two power play goals at Amarillo on March 12...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... Trevor Weisgerber and Daymen Bencharski and lead the team in power play goals.

PENALTY KILLING (85.32%)

The Killer Bees have allowed the fewest power play goals in the CHL (53) while they are tied for fourth with 13 shorthanded goals... ...The Bees had killed off 11-of-11 shorthanded situations over three games before allowing two power play goals to Lubbock on March 14...They smothered 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... Aaron Phillips (3), Trevor Weisgerber (3), 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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