Killer Games, Killer Tunes

Published on January 15, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


Setting the Stage: The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League have begun defense of their Governors' Cup title, opening the 2003-04 CHL season with a 16-15-5 record. Entering the final week before the All-Star break, the second-place Ice Bats lead Rio Grande Valley by one point and Corpus Christi by eight points in the Southeast Division standings. The Ice Bats play two home games this week, a Friday rematch against Rio Grande Valley and a Saturday night tilt against Lubbock.

Last season, the Ice Bats earned a franchise-best 46-14-4 record, clinching their second straight Southeast Division title and the Governors' Cup for the league's top overall regular season record.

Defeating New Mexico and Laredo in the 2003 President's Cup Playoffs, the Bats earned their second straight Southern Conference crown and a berth in the Cup Finals. There, however, for the second straight year, the Ice Bats fell one step short of the CHL's ultimate prize, falling to the Memphis RiverKings in five games.

A look back: The Ice Bats won four of their first five games out of the Christmas break, but took a step back last week, dropping three of four. Last Wednesday, the second half of the season didn't start on a promising note, as the Bats were ripped, 7-3 in Laredo.

The Bucks jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead. But the Bats still seemed to be in it when Kelly Smart hit Tab Lardner, and Lardner split the defense for a breakaway score with four minutes left in the period.

Those hopes were quickly dashed when Laredo's Chris Grenville scored 50 seconds into the second period. And Grenville and his linemates then blew the game open with three straight second-period power play goals. Down 7-1, the Ice Bats fought back with third period goals from Brent Hughes and Mike Olynyk, but the outcome was long before decided.

In one fashion or another, the Bucks' top line of Grenville, Brent Cullaton and Jeff Bes figured in the scoring of six of Laredo's seven goals. Cullaton led scoring with a goal and four assists, while Grenville and Bes each had two goals and two assists. The Ice Bats have now been outscored 15-4 in three losses at Laredo.

A look back, continued: Last Thursday, the Ice Bats rebounded with a solid 3-1 win at Corpus Christi. All goals were scored in the second period. In their return home after playing nine straight road games, the Rayz outshot the Bats 12-6 in a scoreless first period.

Austin's Shawn Legault then opened scoring on a backhanded rebound 45 seconds into the second period. Corpus tied the game just over two minutes later on Mike Tilson's 4-on-3 power play blast. But that was the only shot to get by Austin goalie Jonathan Forest in the game. Daniel Tetrault scored at 4:34 to retake the lead, then Forest stoned a breakaway chance by Jay Woodcroft and the ensuing rebound. Brett Seguin added a rebound goal late in the period, on one of 22 second period shots.

Forest continued to come up big in the scoreless third period, finishing with 38 saves on 39 shots. Kelly Smart and Gerald Tallaire led scoring with two assists each. The Ice Bats won their fifth road game in just their third building this season.

But on Friday, the Ice Bats ran out of gas late in their third game in three nights, losing at home to the Rayz, 5-3. Corpus Christi's Jay Woodcroft scored just 46 seconds into the game, and the Rayz put two more on the board late in the first period to build a 3-0 lead.

The Ice Bats stormed back in another strong second period, putting 24 shots on net. Gerald Tallaire put the Bats on the board with a power play goal 59 seconds into the period. Corpus goalie Rob Garrick robbed the Bats on two point-blank shots with 6-1/2 minutes left, but they closed within one in the final minute. Austin's Brent Hughes, flying down the right wing, quickly pulled the puck into the middle and snapped it by Garrick glove-side with just 23 seconds left.

The Ice Bats came all the way back on a Daniel Tetrault power play goal 2:35 into the final period. But Mike Rodrigues scored the game-winner with six minutes left, and the Rayz added an empty-netter. Despite outshooting Corpus 45-31 and scoring twice on five power play chances, the Bats lost. Woodcroft led scoring with a goal and two assists.

And on Sunday, the Bats finished the week with a tight 3-2 home loss to Rio Grande Valley. The Killer Bees were granted a two-skater advantage just 64 seconds into the game, on penalties called against Austin's Darryl McArthur and Brent Hughes. Rio Grande's Bill Newson made good for a 5-on-3 power play goal.

The Bats' Brett Seguin tied the game four minutes later, but Newson got loose for a shorthanded goal late in the period, and the Bees led 2-1 after one. Rio Grande's Chris Peach jumped on a loose puck in the slot and scored with 66 seconds left in the second period. But on a delayed penalty call against the Killer Bees, Austin's Shawn Legault cut into the lead, finding the upper left corner of the net with just 15 seconds left in the period.

A power play drive by McArthur hit the post 4-1/2 minutes into the third, and a subsequent shot hit Rio Grande goalie Jeff Levy in the mask and bounded away. Holding on for the win, Levy stopped 26 of 28 Austin shots. Newson's two goals led scoring.

All-Stars: Ice Bats forward Gerald Tallaire and defenseman Daniel Tetrault have been named as reserves for the Southern Conference squad at this year's CHL All-Star Game. For the veteran Tallaire, the team's top scorer, it will be his first All-Star appearance. Tetrault will be making his third appearance as an Ice Bat, having appeared in the 2001 WPHL All-Star Game as a rookie, and then as a starter in the 2002 CHL All-Star Game.

This year's CHL All-Star Game will be played January 22nd in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to the game, the Comcast Skills Competition will take place. Tallaire will participate in the "Rapid Fire" competition, while both Austin representatives will take part in the "Breakaway Relay" competition.

Wounded Wings: Ice Bats defenseman Scott McCallum missed two games last week to injury. He's listed as questionable for this weekend.

Player Plaudits: Ice Bats goalie Jonathan Forest still ranks among the top ten league goalies, at 12-8-4, with a 2.39 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Forwards Gerald Tallaire and Brett Seguin are tied for the team scoring lead, with 35 points each. Brent Hughes leads all CHL rookies with a team-most 17 goals, to go along with 9 assists. Forward Shawn Legault ranks 2nd in the league with 181 penalty minutes.

Potential Bite Victims: Expect Rio Grande Valley to be the Ice Bats' main competitor for a playoff spot down the stretch. The Killer Bees are 15-15-6, one point behind Austin. Take out their 2-8 record against Laredo, and the Killer Bees would be well above .500. The Bees are still trying to kick-start their last-place offense (2.33 goals per game), but are more than capable of outworking their opponent. A deserving All-Star, swift Bill Newson is heavily counted upon, with 20 goals and 10 assists. Youthful winger Matic Kralj is second on the team with 11 goals and 11 assists. Winger Ryan Shmyr plays traffic cop for Newson and gang, with 152 penalty minutes. Goalies Jeff Levy and Jacques Vezina have also had broad shoulders this season. Levy is 13-11-4, with a 2.52 GAA and league-most four shutouts. Vezina is 2-4-2, with a 2.44 GAA. 8-7-1 as a road team, Rio Grande Valley is coming off a Tuesday matinee loss at Fort Worth.

Lubbock has dropped four in a row, and nine of its last ten. The Cotton Kings are 9-20-6, 4th in the Southwest. They rank 15th offensively (2.46 goals per game) and last on defense (3.83 average goals allowed). And they need to stay out of the penalty box. Although third in the league in average penalty minutes (just over 28 per game), their penalty kill is also last (79.2%). All-Star Joe Blaznek leads the club with 13 goals and 19 assists. Forward Paul Fioroni has 29 points, winger Dave MacIntyre 15 goals and 12 assists, and former Ice Bat Jim Shepherd 10 goals and 16 helpers. Tough guy Gerry Hickey is 4th in the league with 179 penalty minutes, and his 23 majors lead the league. Goalie Jeremy Symington (5-10-4, 3.33 GAA) has taken on more minutes, allowing for the release of Mike Brusseau (3-8-2, 3.77 GAA). 3-10-3 on the road, the Kings have lost seven straight away from home. And they have to play Friday at Bossier-Shreveport before coming to Austin.

The Series: The Ice Bats are 2-4 in their first season of play against Rio Grande Valley. The Bats have scored just once in three losses in Hidalgo, but have beaten the Killer Bees twice in three meetings in Austin.

The Bats are 8-5-2 lifetime against Lubbock, winning both meetings this year. The Bats downed the Cotton Kings 4-2 December 6th, and 4-3 in a shootout New Year's Eve, with both games played in Lubbock.

Comments from the Coach:

On last week: "We lost two very important hockey games last week at home. We're making things hard on ourselves. There's no excuse for those two teams to both beat us at home. There's no individual to blame-- it's been a team thing. We make costly mistakes... mental errors. But the guys are working on it, and we can't focus on the negative. The team has been working hard in practice. Now hopefully, we're building on that."

On this week: "In my mind, we have to win both of these games. Rio Grande Valley is another four-point game. We have to stay ahead of these guys. We're playing them for a playoff spot. They're an extremely hard-working club and a good defensive team with good goaltending. They have a couple of quick forwards who can do some damage. We have to keep up with those guys defensively, and then match their effort or outwork them."

Cave, Sweet Cave: Friday night, one lucky fan will have a chance to win a new Ram pickup in the Dodge "Score-O" contest. And the Ridgeview Middle School band will perform, as part of Austin Community College's "Marching Band Series."

Then Saturday's another big night, as the Ice Bats take on Lubbock. Beginning at 4:30pm, the University of Texas men's hockey club faces Baylor. At 7:30, it's the Ice Bats and Cotton Kings, with souvenir pucks free to 3,000 fans, courtesy of Henna Chevrolet. Finally, after the game, the "Crown Royal Concert Series" kicks off with a performance by country-rockers "Reckless Kelly." Just one ticket is required for admission to the UT and Ice Bats games, and the post-game concert.

Tickets to all Ice Bats home games are now available at all Texas Box Office locations, including the Ice Bats ticket office and all Austin-area HEB stores. On-line ordering is available through www.TexasBoxOffice.com. To charge by phone, fans may call Texas Box Office at (512) 477-6060, or the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK.

Individual game tickets range in price from $10 to $30, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. In addition to group tickets, season tickets remain on sale at the Ice Bats office, in full-, half-season, or 10-game plans. Free Belfry Club membership is still included for all new full season packages, as well as free parking for all full-season and half-season plans.

For more information, fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com.

Hit the Road, Jack: Fans may stop in at Henna Chevrolet to register to win a trip for two on the bus with the Ice Bats as they go to Fort Worth Sunday, February 29th. The top prize also includes premium seats to the game in Fort Worth, a team autographed jersey and hockey stick, and an official Ice Bats game program. Contestants must be 21 to enter. Henna Chevrolet is located on I-35 North, just north of Highway 183.

In the Air: For the second straight season, all Ice Bats away games will be broadcast on 1260 ESPN Radio, KWNX-AM. The station will broadcast all road games during the 2003-04 regular season and CHL Playoffs. All road games will also be available live on-line, through www.SportsJuice.com. The Texas Dodge Dealers Warm-up Show begins 20 minutes prior to game time. Ice Bats Director of Broadcasting, Media/PR Glen Norman will handle play-by-play duties for a sixth straight season.

Bats in Cyberspace: Bats fans can learn the latest about their team by logging on to www.icebats.com. The official website of the Bats was newly re-designed by BeyondBeyond Design and constructed by webmaster Nathan Jones.

Home or away, Bats fans can also follow the action with real-time scoring on the website, courtesy of Pointstreak.com. Fans will be able to access a game box score in real-time, as well as those of all other CHL games being played.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2004


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