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Killer Bees vs. Laredo Game Night Preview

October 29, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


RIO GRANDE VALLEY KILLER BEES

GAME NIGHT PREVIEW

Laredo Bucks (2-1-0) @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (0-1-0)

DATE: 10/29/04 TIME: 7:30 pm LOCATION: Dodge Arena (Hidalgo, Tx)

IT'S HOCKEY TIME IN THE VALLEY!

Hockey returns to the Dodge Arena tonight, as the Killer Bees open up their home schedule against the CHL Champion Laredo Bucks. The Bees are looking for their first win of the season after losing their season opener 5-2 in Austin on Saturday night. The Bucks lost their season opener as well, with a 4-1 loss in San Angelo, but have responded with a two-game winning streak.

THE SERIES

This is the 14th regular season clash between the Killer Bees and the rival Laredo Bucks. The Bees are 4-8-1 all-time against the Bucks, who swept the Killer Bees 3-0 in the first round of the CHL playoffs. Rio Grande Valley is 2-5-0 against the Bucks at the Dodge Arena, winning two of the last three games. The previous three regular season meetings have resulted in overtime decisions. CHL MVP Jeff Bes is one of seven returning Bucks and leads the all-time series in scoring with 25 points off of 8 goals and 17 assists. Bees returning all-star Bill Newson led the Bees in the series scoring with 9 points (6g,3a). In net, the Bucks have returning netminder David Guerrera (4-1-2 vs. Bees) and Jeremy Symington, who was 1-0-0 against the Bees last season as a member of the Lubbock Cotton Kings. Bees goaltender Jeff Levy was 3-6-0 in net last season against the Bucks, while Jacque Vezina was 1-2-1.

THE LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING

3/12/04 - The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees handed the Laredo Bucks a loss, as Sean Gillam tallied the game winning goal in the eleventh round of the overtime shootout to lift the Killer Bees to a 3-2 overtime victory.

It was the last regular season contest between the two teams and the two teams gave a taste of what is to come in the first round of the playoffs as they showed their dislike of each other right off the bat. The two teams combined for 64 penalty minutes (45 against Laredo) in the scoreless first period that saw three fights.

The teams decided to play hockey in the second period of play and defenseman Jason Tessier gave the Bees a 1-0 lead 6:05 into the period with his eleventh goal of the season. Tessier was able to capitalize on his own rebound in front of the net after receiving a feed from Bill Newson. The Bucks took advantage of a power play opportunity with 1:09 remaining as Patrik Nilson fired a shot from the right side that Bees goaltender Jacque Vezina initially stopped, but the puck came free and crossed the goal line.

The Bees regained the lead 8:16 into the third period with a 5-on-3 power play by Chris Peach to give the Bees a 2-1 lead. The Bucks capitalized on a later Bees power play with a shorthanded goal by Nilson to tie the contest up at 2-2 with 6:54 remaining.

The contest would end up going into overtime and Laredo was unable to convert on a 4-on-3 power play opportunity to force the game to be decided in the overtime shootout. It was there that Jacque Vezina was in the spotlight stopping 9 of 11 Laredo attempts, while Matic Kralj, Troy Linna and Sean Gillam scored for the difference and the victory. Gillam deked Bucks goaltender David Guerrera from the left side and put the puck past him in the eleventh round and Jacque Vezina stopped Mark Mattier's attempt to give Gillam the game winning goal.

ROSTER CHANGES

Both Rio Grande Valley and Laredo list full healthy rosters for tonight's game.

STANDINGS

Bees - 0 points, 4th place, 4 points back, Southeast Division. Bucks – 4 points, Tied 1st place, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Bees – Several Tied with 1 point; Two Tied with 1 goals; Several tied with 1 assist; Several tied with 4 penalty minutes. Bucks – Brent Cullaton 6 points; Jeff Bes 5 goals; Brent Cullaton 5 assists; Dion Hyman 23 penalty minutes.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bees – Power play: 0.0% T-13th, Penalty killing: 66.7% T-15th. Bucks – 13.3% 10th, Penalty killing: 88.5% 6th.

GOALTENDERS

Bees – Jeff Levy (0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00), Jacque Vezina (0-1-0, 0 SO, 4.04). Bucks – Jeremy Symington (1-0-0, 0 SO, 2.00), David Guerrera (1-1-0, 0 SO, 2.53)

WHAT'S NEXT

Rio Grande Valley – Saturday, October 30th 7:30 PM vs. Austin Ice Bats Dodge Arena

Laredo – Saturday, October 30th 7:30 PM vs. San Angelo Saints Laredo Entertainment Center



Central Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2004


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