'Kings Weekly

Published on October 21, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


‘KINGS SPLIT OPENING WEEKEND The Cotton Kings completed their opening weekend going 1-1-0, shutting out the Amarillo Gorillas 6-0 Friday night and falling 4-2 to the New Mexico Scorpions Saturday night. Both games were on the road, as the Cotton Kings are in the process of completing their longest road trip of the season. The three game road trip wraps up Friday night in Austin before the ‘Kings home opener on Saturday the 26th. Lubbock's victory over the Gorillas improves Lubbock's opening night road record to 1-0-0 and overall opening night record to 2-1-1, all of which have been against Amarillo. Mike Hiebert recorded the opening goal 0:59 into the game to mark the fourth consecutive time (out of four) the Cotton Kings have opened the season with the first goal of the game. Derek Gauthier and Blaz Emersic responded within the next 2:20 to have the Cotton Kings running away with a 3-0 lead. Cotton Kings goaltender Mike Brusseau made his Cotton Kings debut one to remember, stopping all 36 shots faced to earn the victory and record the shutout. It was just the third time for a ‘Kings goaltender (he became the third different goaltender for Lubbock as well) to complete the task in regular season history for the ‘Kings. His shutout sequence would eventually come to an end at 85:47, as Chris Richards' scored an unassisted goal for the Scorpions Saturday night. Richards' goal was the first of three Scorpions goals scored in a span of 6:50 in the second period to give the Scorpions a 3-1 lead. Lubbock's Barry McKinlay scored a power play goal to cut it to a one-goal game, but Richards responded with a power play tally of his own in the third period to close out the game and hand Lubbock their first loss of the young season.

WHY WAS THAT SO TOUGH? In Lubbock's season opener, the Cotton Kings completed several statistical tasks that that they did not accomplish at all last season. The ‘ Kings had 55 shots on goal, which was a franchise high for the most amount of shots on the road. Last season's high for shots on goal was 48 (3/2/02 vs ODE) and the franchise high is 64 (3/18/00 vs NMX). 22 of the 55 shots were fired in the first period, to tie for the second highest shot total in the first period. Lubbock's high last season for first period shots was 19 (2/8/02 vs AMA). The team's five first period goals tied a franchise high for the most goals scored in a period. Lubbock never completed the task last season. Defensively, Brusseau's shutout was the first since 3/25/01. Lubbock also received 10 power play opportunities (converting on 2) for the first time since 10/27/00 at San Angelo.

‘KING OF THE WEEK Mike Brusseau has been named the Cotton Kings player of the week for October 14 – 20th. The netminder stopped 53 of 57 shots over the two games for a 93% save percentage. He collected a shutout sequence of 85:47, which marks as the fourth longest in franchise history. His opening night shutout performance against Amarillo was the third shutout in franchise history and the fourth of his career.

TALKIN' WITH THE COACH The Cotton Kings Call-In Show With Head Coach Bill McDonald premiers tonight from 6-7PM on Sportsradio 1340 KKAM. The show will air every Monday night live from the Cotton Patch Café, as Chris Due and McDonald will talk hockey and take phone calls from fans.

WEEK IN REVIEW Fri. Oct. 18 6-0 W @ Amarillo Top Star: LUB-Mike Brousseau shutout (36 of 36) Sat. Oct. 19 2-4 L @ New Mexico Top Star: NMX-Chris Richards 3 points (2g,1a)

WEEK AHEAD Fri. Oct. 25 7:30 @ Austin Ice Bats Radio: KOOL 98.1 FM Notes: The first match-up between these squads this season, the Cotton Kings were 2-0-0 last season and 6-3-0 against the Ice Bats all-time. This game could be a battle between the goaltenders as Austin's Matt Barnes and Lubbock's Mike Brousseau both received opening night shutouts. The Cotton Kings have allowed 4 goals in two games and Austin has only allowed 1 goal in two games.

Sat. Oct. 26 7:05 vs Laredo Bucks Radio: KKAM 1340 AM (KOOL if World Series is on) Notes: This will be the first ever match-up between the inaugural Laredo Bucks and the Cotton Kings, and the home opener for the ‘Kings. Laredo in town marks the return of former ‘Kings goaltender Lance Leslie, who his Lubbock's all-time wins leader between the pipes. The Bucks are coached by former Chicago Blackhawks coach Terry Ruskowski.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2002


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