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Killer Bees, Mudbugs Face Off Tonight

January 24, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME

The Killer Bees (20-13-3, 43 pts) face off against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (17-12-5, 39 pts) for the second game of a four-game, nine-day road trip. In all, the Bees will play seven in a row on the road including a three-game stint in Laredo to begin the month of February. The road trip started with a 5-1 loss at Memphis on Sunday. Clay Plume scored the only RGV goal while Evan Lindsay took the loss in net with 29 saves. Bossier-Shreveport beat Memphis Saturday 1-0 on Dan Wildfong's goal and a 35-save performance by David Cacciola. The Bees are 10 points behind Laredo in the Southeast Division, holding second place by eight points over Austin. The Mudbugs lead the Northeast Division by seven points over Youngstown. Overall, RGV is sixth in the CHL while Bossier-Shreveport in seventh.

QUICK HITS

- The Killer Bees have earned points in 14 of their last 17 and have won 12 of those games.

- RGV, Bossier-Shreveport and Tulsa have each allowed a CHL-low three shorthanded goals.

- The Bees don't play at home until Feb. 10 vs. Amarillo.

- RGV is 1-2-1 in its last four road games, including an overtime loss at Austin on Jan. 8.

- The Bees are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.

RADIO/TV

Radio: Real Country 840 (6:50 p.m.), audio stream available at killerbeehockey.com (audio/video stream at CHLTV.COM when available)

Tune in all season long on ESPN 1240 or Real Country 840 to follow the Bees home and away. Rich Bocchini has the call beginning 15 minutes prior to faceoff. Email your comments and questions to killerbeesradio@yahoo.com. Selected emails will be answered during the second intermission.

SEASON SERIES

First of three meetings...the Mudbugs travel to Dodge Arena for back to back games March 7 and 8.

ALL TIME SERIES

The Killer Bees are 1-2-2 vs. the Mudbugs all time.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE Friday, January 27 at Colorado, 7:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240) Note 8:00 p.m. CST start time

Saturday, January 28 at Colorado, 7:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240) Note 8:00 p.m. CST start time

Friday, February 3 at Laredo, 7:30 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Saturday, February 4 at Laredo, 7:30 p.m. (Radio: Real Country 840)

Wednesday, February 8 at Laredo, 7:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Friday, February 10 vs. Amarillo, 7:30 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Sunday, February 12 vs. Corpus Christi, 6:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Tuesday, February 14 at Oklahoma City, 10:35 a.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

TONIGHT'S OPPONENT

The Mudbugs have won two in a row and are 5-2-3 in their last 10...Brett Smith leads the CHL with four shorthanded goals...Goalie Ken Carroll is second overall with a 2.33 GAA and leads the CHL with three shutouts...The Bugs are much better at home (10-4-3) than on the road (7-8-2). They've won three of their last four outings at the CenturyTel Center.

TEAM NOTES

HOME, SWEET HOME

The Bees have won seven of their last nine home games dating back to Dec. 11. Their four-game home winning streak was snapped Dec. 27 vs. Laredo in a 3-1 final.

MONTH BY MONTH

After a tough November (3-7-1), the Killer Bees went 9-3-0 in December and are 4-2-2 in January so far.

BEES STRONG AT HOLDING LEADS

On the road, the Bees have a 6-0 record when leading after the first and 8-0-1 when leading after two periods. Overall, they are 10-3-0 leading after one and 16-1-1 leading after two periods. The lone loss when leading after two was a 6-3 loss to Austin on Nov. 12, while the Bees earned a point in 3-2OTL at Austin on Jan. 8.

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.

SHOTS AND EVEN MORE SHOTS

The Killer Bees have managed 22 shots on goal in a period twice this season (Nov. 15 at Corpus Christi and Dec. 18 vs. Laredo). The franchise record for shots in a period is 27 set Jan. 6, 2005 vs. Odessa. On Dec. 31, the Bees allowed a season-high 19 shots in the first period vs. Fort Worth as the teams combined for a season and franchise-high 40 shots.

FRANCHISE POWER PLAY GOALS RECORD SET, AGAIN

A four-goal night on the power play set a franchise record Dec. 10 at Austin. The Bees matched the 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 and a 3-for-14 night Dec. 30 at Fort Worth.

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. That included three major penalties, the most in the CHL this season. Wichita holds the league-high for team PIM in a game this season with 134 (5-4 loss vs. Oklahoma City on Dec. 27), while the Thunder's Chris Bain (Wichita) had the distinction of having a league-high 40 PIM assessed during that game.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Killer Bees are 16-9-2 vs. Southern Conference teams and 4-4-1 vs. Northern Conference clubs.

BEES SOLID IN ONE-GOAL GAMES

The Killer Bees are 9-3-3 in one-goal games.

FIRST GOAL IS THE GOAL

The Killer Bees are 14-1-1 when scoring first and 6-12-2 when allowing the first goal.

ONE, TWO THREE.....WE WANT FOUR! The Killer Bees are a perfect 16-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 4-0 when scoring six or more. When scoring three or fewer goals, the record is just 4-13-3.

COMEBACK NOW?

With a record of 0-11-0, the Bees have yet to come back from trailing after the second period. They are only marginally better (1-8-1) when trailing after the first, earning a point in an overtime loss to Colorado. Rio's 4-1 win over Corpus Christi on Dec. 16 marked the first time the team came back after being down entering the second period.

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.

POWER PLAY (16.9%, 7th)

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. They went 16-for-87 (18.39%) in games 21-30. The Bees have scored a PPG in all but 10 games this season and have the third-most PPG (49) in the CHL. Daymen Bencharski leads the team with eight PPG. The Bees have allowed just three shorthanded goals this season.

PENALTY KILLING (85.6%, 4th)

The Bees went 6-for-67 on the penalty kill (91.04%) in games 21-30 and are fourth the CHL with nine shorthanded goals. They broke a franchise record Dec. 31 vs. Fort Worth with their ninth SHG. Trevor Weisgerber (3) and Daymen Bencharski (2) lead the team in SHG.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

KUCZMANSKI IN, ROSYCHUK OUT

Jason Kuczmanski has been activated from the Injured Reserve list and Nathan Rosychuk has been placed on the 45-day Injured Reserve list retroactive to Saturday, January 7. Kuczmanski has been on the shelf since Nov. 15 with a shoulder injury. In 10 games prior to his injury, the rookie out of SUNY-Geneseo had two goals. Rosychuk will be eligible for assignment on Monday, February 20. In 26 games this season, he has 18 points (2-16-18) including a power play tally.

EGELAND WINS AS HE REACHES 200 PRO GAMES AS HEAD COACH

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

LINDSAY AMONG GOALIE LEADERS, FINALLY GETS THE GOOSE EGG

Evan Lindsay's 16 wins are tied for second in the CHL. 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.

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, bagged 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 highs with three goals and 13 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.

MUSHALUK AMONG ROOKIE LEADERS

Jeff Mushaluk is among CHL rookie scoring leaders with 17 points (3-15-18).

WEISGERBER SETS FRANCHISE ASSIST STREAK

Trevor Weisgerber's assist on Daymen Bencharski's goal 12/23 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.

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.

INDIVIDUAL SEASON HIGHS SET DEC. 30

Dwayne Hay set a personal high water mark with a four-point game (1-3-4) at Fort Worth on Dec. 30, while Matic Kralj matched Hay and his own personal season-high. Kralj had two goals and two assists back on Oct. 29 at Austin. Aaron Phillips chipped in with a three-point night (1-2-3), his second of the season. Matt Medley's two-goal night was the rookie defenseman's first multi-point game of the season.

SCORING STREAKS

- Matic Kralj (1-3-4 has assists in two straight and points in three of his last four games.

- Jeff Mushaluk has assists (0-2-2) in two straight.

- Trevor Weisgerber has goals in two of his last three games.

TRANSACTIONS

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 game

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

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