Killer Bees Game Notes

November 30, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


The Bees (8-6-1, 17 pts.) face off against Corpus Christi (8-7-2, 18 pts) for the second time this season. Corpus is one point ahead of the Bees in second place in the Southeast Division. The Bees have won three of their last four games, including Tuesday's 3-1 victory at Laredo. Corpus is coming off a 6-4 loss to Amarillo on Tuesday.

BROADCAST INFO

Radio: Jammin' 104.9/95.3 FM (Rich Bocchini)

Internet: Live Audio at killerbeehockey.com; audio/video stream at chltv.com

TV: none

TONIGHT'S STAT FACTS

- Jeremy Symington's 1.65 GAA and .945 save percentage leads the CHL He earned the Oakley Goalie of the Week Award for Week 6.

- The Rayz are the least penalized team in the CHL, averaging 20.24 PIM per game. Rio is 12th with an average of 26.13.

- The Bees are third in team GAA (2.80), while Corpus is seventh. The teams have each scored 47 goals this season; Corpus is 16th in goals for average (2.76, 17 games) while Rio is 10th (3.13, 15 games).

- Corpus is 0-2 when leading after the first period, but 4-0 when leading after two.

- Justin Quenneville is fifth in CHL scoring (9-14-23), while Derrick McIver is tied for eighth (7-13-20).

TONIGHT'S OPPONENT

Rayz forward Jason Baird was named the Central Hockey League's Oakley Player of the Week on Monday. The former Rayz MVP had three goals and four assists in a three-game stint versus the Youngstown Steelhounds. Baird's performance helped the Rayz go 1-0-2 over the week and kept Corpus Christi unbeaten in their last six games. Over the six-game span, the two-time CHL All-Star MVP has notched five goals and 13 points, including four different three-point games.

TEAM VS. TEAM

ALL TIME SERIES

Rio leads 20-11-1-5 (10-6-1-3 at home, 10-5-0-2 on the road).

SEASON SERIES

The teams don't meet again December 1 (Dodge) and 2 (American Bank Center). Overall, the Bees and Rayz square off 12 times this season (6 home, 6 road).

LAST MEETING

Oct. 27, 2006 - Bill Newson scored twice and Matheiu Blanchard made 26 saves in a 5-2 Rio win.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

December 2 -- 7:05 PM at Corpus Christi (Jammin 104.9/95.3 FM)

December 3 -- 4:00 PM at Austin (ESPN 1240 AM)

December 8 -- 7:35 PM Corpus Christi

December 9 -- 7:35 PM Laredo

NOTES OF THE NIGHT

- Tonight begins the second three-in-three weekend of the season for Rio, and their first of four this month.

- Going back to Wednesday, Nov. 22, the Bees play seven games in 12 days.

- Jeremy Symington's string of shutout hockey ended at 171:47, a new team record.

- The Bees PK has killed off 61 of 64 power plays going back to a 10-for-10 night at Odessa on Nov. 16.

TEAM LEADERS

Killer Bees Opponent

Points Cirone - 18 Quenneville - 23

Goals Cirone - 8 Quenneville - 9

Assists Maxwell - 11 Quenneville - 14

PP Goals Newson - 5 Quenneville - 6

SH Goals Several- 1 Several - 1

GW Goals Reynolds - 2 Quenneville, Carter - 2

PIM Voltera - 50 Baird - 46

Shots Reynolds - 63 Baird - 73

+ / - Cirone - +6 Hardwick - +8

TRANSACTIONS

11/17/06 ADD Symington, Jeremy (G) signed

11/17/06 DEL Blanchard, Mathieu (G) waived

11/14/06 DEL Hult, Alexander (C) waived

11/14/06 ADD Looby, Mike (D) signed contract

11/11/06 ADD Looby, Mike (D) claimed off waivers

11/09/06 ADD Voltera, Rob (RW) signed contract

11/06/06 DEL Faris, Mark (RW) waived

10/27/06 ADD OLeary, Mark (LW) signed contract

10/27/06 DEL Bickel, Ted (F) waived

KILLER BEES GOALIE NOTES

Symington

- Signed with Rio on Nov. 17 after beginning the season with Youngstown.

- Went 2-0 with the Steelhounds, winning two games at Memphis opening weekend.

- Earned first Bees win in a 34-save, 3-0 shutout of Bossier-Shreveport on Nov. 22. Followed that up with another 3-0 shutout (31 saves) two nights later at Bossier, and earned Oakley CHL Goalie of the Week Honors for Week Six.

- Symington's string of shutout hockey ended at 171:47, a new team record (Nov. 18-Nov. 28, eight consecutive periods-plus)

- Has played five games in the AHL with the top affiliate of the Ottawa Senators (Binghamton) where he went 3-1-1

- Went to the CHL finals with Laredo in 2005 after a solid regular season that saw him post an 18-10-1 record with a 2.39 GAA. He was also a CHL All-Star in 2005.

- Was an eighth round draft selection of the NY Islanders in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

- Attended St. Lawrence University from 1997-2001, and was the ECAC Post-Season Tournament MVP his senior season.

Van NyNatten

- Is 2-4-0 in his last six outings, and has faced

- Earned first pro win with 24 saves in second pro start at Laredo on October 28.

- Made 41 saves in a 2-1 win at Odessa on Nov. 16.

- Teammate and roommate of Killer Bee Ryan Carrigan at Niagara from 2003-05.

- Ranks first on CHA chart in career wins and minutes.

- Made an NCAA season-high 59 saves in a 7-1 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 7, 2006.

- Stopped Ryan Campbell on a penalty shot at Memphis (Nov. 25, 2006)

KILLER BEES PLAYER NOTES

IRON MAN BILLY

Bill Newson played in his 400th pro game Nov. 18 vs. Arizona. He played in his 200th straight regular season game for the Bees Wednesday, Nov. 22 vs. Bossier-Shreveport and scored the game-winner. Counting playoffs, Newson has skated in 212 straight games for Rio; he has never missed a game in the franchise's history.

MAKE A POINT OF IT

Jason Cirone and Bill Newson have points in nine of Rio's 15 games this season. The Bees are 8-2-0 when Newson records a point.

Dennis Maxwell has points in seven games this season. Rio is 6-0-1 when Dennis Maxwell records a point.

VOLTERA ADDED AS ALTERNATE CAPTAIN

Rob Voltera joins Bill Newson, Kurtis Dulle and Dennis Maxwell as an alternate captain. Voltera and Dulle will wear the "A" on the road.

FIT TO BE TIED DOWN

The Bees had a player ejected for not properly having his jersey tied down on consecutive Saturdays. Bill Newson got the game on Nov. 11 vs. Austin, while Dennis Maxwell was shown the door on Nov. 18 vs. Arizona. Both game misconduct penalties were later rescinded.

KILLER BEES TEAM NOTES

SECOND PERIOD BLUES, THIRD PERIOD REDEMPTION?

The Bees have been outscored 17-11 in the second period but have outscored opponents 19-8 in the third.

GET THE FIRST GOAL

Rio is 4-4-1 when allowing the first goal and 4-2-0 when scoring first.

IT'S NEVER EASY TO COME BACK

The Bees are 1-4-0 when trailing after the first period, and 0-6-1 when trailing after two. They are 6-0-0 when leading after two.

AUSTIN TIES OPPONENT RECORD

Austin scored goals 11 seconds apart on Nov. 11, setting a new opponent record for quickest goals.

COMPACTING THE SCHEDULE

The Bees play 12 three-in-three stretches this season. The Bees close the season with a trio of three-in-three weekends in March.

BUSY DECEMBER

December is the busiest month of the season for the Bees. They play 14 games overall with eight away from Dodge Arena.

STREAKS

Reynolds (0-3-3) and Cirone (3-0-3) - points in two

SITUATIONAL GOALS

GOALS FOR

5-ON-5: 20

5-ON-4: 17

5-ON-3: 1

4-ON-4: 4

4-ON-3: 1

4-ON-5: 2

EN: 2 (1 was 4-on-6)

EA: 0

GOALS AGAINST

5-ON-5: 23

5-ON-4: 9

5-ON-3: 4

4-ON-4: 3

4-ON-3: 0

4-ON-5: 1

EN: 1 (1 was 5-on-4)

EA: 1

SPECIAL TEAMS

POWER PLAY

- Tied a franchise record with three power play goals on Oct. 27.

- Is 5-for-43 (11.63%) in last four games; went 14-for-67 (20.9%) in first 10 games.

- The team has at least one PPG in all but three games this season.

- Rio was held scoreless on 10 chances Nov. 18 vs. Arizona.

- Tied a season-high with 11 opportunities (2-for-11) at Laredo Nov. 28.

PENALTY KILL

- Laredo set new opponent record with 13 power plays Nov. 28 at the LEC.

- Has killed off 61 of 64 power plays going back to a 10-for-10 night at Odessa on Nov. 16.

- Had killed off 24-straight over two-plus games (Nov. 16 at Odessa and 17 vs. New Mexico). Arizona snapped the string on its' fourth power play of the game on Nov. 18.

- The Bees allowed four power play goals on opening night (4-for-9).The opposition had not scored multiple PPG since opening night until Memphis scored twice on Nov. 25.

OVERTIME AND SHOOTOUTS

Overtime

Nov. 11, 2006 - 6-5 loss vs. Austin (John McNabb)



Central Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2006


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