Killer Bees Game Notes

January 7, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


UPCOMING GAMES

1/8/10 at Corpus Christi, American Bank Center, 7:05 PM

1/9/10 vs. Colorado Eagles, Dodge Arena, 7:30 PM

RECORD: 15-12-4 (34PTS) HOME: 9-6-1 ROAD: 6-6-3 STANDING: 5TH, SOUTHERN CONFERENCE STREAK: LOST 1

TONIGHT'S GAME

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (15-12-4, 34 pts) play their final two games before the CHL All-Star Break with contests at Corpus Christi (12-15-5, 29 pts) on Friday and Colorado (21-6-2, 44 pts) at home on Saturday. RGV dropped its first outing of 2010 in a 5-1 loss at Arizona on Jan. 2. Despite the loss RGV maintains a playoff position (5th) and can jump ahead of fourth place Laredo with a win tonight and a Bucks loss at home vs. Colorado. Both Amarillo (32 pts) and Corpus Christi (29 pts) are creeping up in the rearview mirror while last place Arizona is still in the mix (25 pts). The IceRays have won four of their last 10 games and earned points in six of those contests. Colorado visits Laredo on Friday and then heads to RGV for the first time since 2008. The Eagles enter the weekend tied for third in the CHL with 21 wins but are winless in two (0-1-1). RGV has never defeated Colorado (0-7-2).

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

. CLOSE TO A MILLION --- The franchise's millionth fan will pass through the turnstiles on Jan. 9. The lucky fan will get a prize pack worth over $6,000 including a 42 inch HDTV from LG and roundtrip tickets to Las Vegas on Allegiant Air, among other prizes.

. COMING UP --- RGV hosts Laredo and Odessa next Friday and Saturday and then plays three straight on the road (Corpus Christ, Jan. 19.Bossier-Shreveport, Jan. 20, Tulsa, Jan. 24).

. TIGHT SOUTHERN CONFERENCE RACE --- Six points separate the No. 3-7 spots in the South while the No. 1 and 2 teams are separated by just seven points.

. RECORD-SETTING 2009 --- RGV's record of 37-21-7 in 2009 was the best in a single calendar year for the Killer Bees. That record was buoyed by a 22-10-3 run from Jan.-March and a November record of 8-3-3.

. BROOKS NAMED ASST. COACH AT ALL STAR GAME IN LAREDO --- The Killer Bees, Laredo Bucks and Corpus Christi IceRays team up to face the rest of the CHL on Jan. 13 at Laredo in the 2010 CHL All Star Game. RGV Head Coach Chris Brooks will serve as an assistant coach for the South Texas team.

. BENNEFIELD, ANSELL ALL-STAR STARTERS --- Nathan Ansell and Jesse Bennefield will be in the starting lineup for the South Texas team at the CHL All Star Game.

. RGV ALL STAR RESERVES ANNOUNCED --- Andy Franck, Grant Goeckner-Zoeller, Sean Muncy and Tom Sawatske were named reserves to the South Texas All Stars. They join Nathan Ansell and Jesse Bennefield at the game on Jan. 13 in Laredo.

. MULTI-POINT LEADERS --- Jesse Bennefield leads the team with 14 multi-point games while Grant Goeckner-Zoeller has 10 multi-point games.

. ROAD GAME DATE CHANGE --- The game originally set for Jan. 22 at Bossier-Shreveport has been moved to Jan. 20.

. RYCROFT ON INJURED RESERVE, SWEAZEY ACTIVATED --- Daymen Rycroft was placed on the 14-day injured reserve on Dec. 20 and has missed the last three games. Matt Sweazey was activated from the IR to take his place in the lineup.

. BEES AMONG CHL LEADERS (as of 1/7/10) --- Grant Goeckner-Zoeller (T4 scoring, T5 goals, T4 PPG).Jesse Bennefield (T4 points, T2 goals, T3 PPG).Sean Muncy (T2 rookie points). Nathan Ansell (4th D scoring, 2nd PPA).Andy Franck (3rd minutes played, 2nd saves, 7th save%).

. UPDATE THE RECORD BOOKS --- Sean Muncy became the third player in team history to score three goals in one period, helping lead RGV to a 7-3 comeback win over Mississippi on Dec. 20. Bill Newson achieved the feat with during the third period of an 11-2 win over Austin on Dec. 3, 2005 while Daymen Rycroft did it a week later during a 4-3 win over Laredo on Dec. 11, 2005.

. UPDATE THE RECORD BOOKS, PART 2 --- RGV's five third-period goals on Dec. 20 matched a franchise mark set three other times. The most recent was during their 6-4 win at Corpus Christi on Nov. 24, 2007.

. INJURY UPDATE --- F Justin Kanigan and F Daymen Rycroft are on the injured reserve list.D Jason Seerey has been granted leave by the CHL.

. ALL-TIME MARK --- RGV is 178-192-41 (411 games).

RGV RECENT GAMES

JAN. 02, 2010, ARZ 5, RGV 1 --- Topher Scott scored RGV's only goal in a 5-1 loss at Arizona. The Sundogs became just the second team to score three times in the third period en route to the win. Andy Franck stopped 40 of 45 shots in the game for RGV while Arizona's Kyle McNulty made 27 saves. Linus Fagemo and Joey Sides each scored twice.

Text Box: UPCOMING PROMOTIONS CHEAP SKATE TICKETS --- Get $8 tickets at the Box Office on game days starting an hour and a half before puck drop. Cheap Skate Tickets are limited and only available on the Box Office on game day. UPCOMING HOME GAMES --- Jan. 15 vs. Laredo (1st 2000 fans get Thunderstix).Jan. 16 vs. Odessa (1st 1000 kids get jerseys).Jan. 27 vs. Odessa (Winter Texan Night, $1 hot dogs, popcorn and soda).Jan. 30 vs. Texas (1st 1000 fans get team card sets).DEC. 31 2009, RGV 3, ARZ 2 --- Jesse Bennefield, Sean Muncy and Nathan scored as RGV beat Arizona for the first time this season. Ansell's goal held up as the game-winner after the Bees gave a 3-0 lead in the second period. Andy Franck made 26 saves in net.

DEC. 29 2009, TUL 2, RGV 1 (SO) --- Aaron Davis scored the decisive shootout goal for the Oilers and Marty Magers made 52 saves in the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Joel Irving scored RGV's only goal on the power and snapped a spell of six-plus periods without a goal for the Killer Bees.

DEC. 27 2009, AMA 1, RGV 0 --- Gordon Bell scored on the power play for Amarillo while RGV goalie Wylie Rogers made 38 saves. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for RGV and snapped Rogers' personal streak at three games.

DEC. 26 2009, RGV 4, AMA 3 --- Tom Sawatske scored the only shootout goal to give RGV the win after Amarillo tied it with 1.5 seconds left in regulation.

DEC. 20 2009, RGV 7, MIS 3--- Sean Muncy scored a natural hat trick in the third period to help lead RGV to a 7-3 comeback win. Grant Goeckner-Zoeller and Jesse Bennefield collected four assists while Nathan Ansell scored twice.

BROADCAST INFO

ON THE AIR

Every Killer Bees game is broadcast live on Real Country KBUC 102.1 FM. The team provides free online streaming of radio broadcasts on www.killerbeehockey.com. Bring a radio to home games and tune to 93.5 inside the arena to listen live!

CHL TV

The new CHLTV, powered by Insinc, gives fans the chance to watch every CHL game with a $5.95 pay-per-view price. Monthly and season-long packages are also available. Every game is archived so fans can catch up on missed games for $3.95. Season Ticket Holders receive a substantial discount. Visit chltv.insinc.com for more information.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2010


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.

OurSports Central