Laredo @ Rio Grande Valley Game Night Preview

January 20, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


RIO GRANDE VALLEY KILLER BEES

GAME NIGHT PREVIEW

Laredo Bucks (16-14-1) @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (11-21-2)

DATE: 1/20/05 TIME: 7:30 pm LOCATION: Dodge Arena (Hidalgo, Tx)

SOMEONE'S STREAK WILL COME TO AN END TONIGHT

Tonight, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees host the Laredo Bucks and one of the teams will have their winless streaks come to an end. Rio Grande Valley is seeking to break a three game winless streak, while the Bucks are looking to end a four game winless skid. Tonight begins a three-in-three weekend for both teams, with Rio Grande Valley remaining home tomorrow night to host San Angelo before wrapping up the weekend set in Corpus Christi Saturday, and the Bucks will travel back to Laredo to host Lubbock Friday night before heading to Austin on Saturday. Around the division, Austin will battle the Corpus Christi Rayz tonight, with the winner getting at least a share of first place in the division (depending if the win is in regulation), as Austin is one standing point behind the Rays heading into the contest.

THE SERIES

The Killer Bees and the Bucks meet for the 19th time all-time and for the seventh time this season. This is the Bucks fourth of six visits to the Dodge Arena this season. Laredo leads the all-time series with a 12-5-2 record, with Jeff Bes leading the all-time series with 35 points (11g,24a). The Killer Bees, who are led by Bill Newson (7g,9a,16pts) against the Bucks all-time, are 7-11-1 all-time against the Bucks and are 3-3-0 this season in the series. All series games this season have been won by the home team. Rio Grande Valley is 5-5-0 all-time over the regular season at the Dodge Arena (vs. Bucks) and have won five of the last six meetings at the Dodge. The Bees are led in the season series by Bill Newson (1g,6a) with 7 points, while Jeff Bes leads the way for the Bucks in the season series, leading all scorers with 10 points (3g,7a).

THE LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING

1/5/05 - The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees starting line of Bill Newson, Troy Linna and Ryan Shmyr engineered all three of the Bees goals to lead them past the Laredo Bucks 3-2 at a sold out Dodge Arena (5,600) Saturday night.

The Bees did not wait long to get going, as a James Hiebert penalty off the opening face-off led a Bill Newson power play goal 48-seconds into the game. Troy Linna slipped a pass to Newson, who broke past the defense on the right side, and cashed in through Jeremy Symington's five-hole to give the Bees the 1-0 lead. Linna set up the next goal 2:30 later, by working the puck to Ryan Shmyr, who cut across the low point from the right circle and flicked a wrist shot over Symington's right shoulder and into the top shelf to build the Bees lead to 2-0.

Laredo began marching back shortly after Shymr's goal by converting on a power play opportunity six minutes into the game. Brent Cullaton wristed a shot from the point that lofted through traffic and snuck past a screened Jeff Levy. The Bucks then tied the contest up 2-2 15-seconds into the second period while on the power play. Adam Paiement tallied the earliest goal scored by an opposing team to begin a period of play against the Bees by camping out in the left slot and awaiting a pass from his right by Jeff Bes. Once Paiement received the puck, he slammed it past Levy to tie the game 2-2 and convert the power play opportunity. The Bees answered back and regained the lead 7:31 into the third period with a goal by Jason Tessier, who stabbed a Ryan Shmyr pass from the left wing side past Symington. Tessier's acrobatic goal would hold up the difference as Levy and the Bees defense held the Bucks off the board for the game's remainder.

The Bucks out-shot the Bees 41-27, but Jeff Levy was up for the task and stopped a season team high 39 shots on goal. 12 of the Bucks shots were tossed on net by Brent Cullaton to mark a single game high for an opposing member against the Bees The Bucks were 2 for 5 on the power play and the Bees were 1 for 5 on their man advantages. Forwards Bill Newson and Ryan Shmyr, along with defenseman Jason Tessier each contributed a goal and assist for two-point performances for the Bees. Troy Linna was chosen as the top star after registering a career-tying high three assists for his first three-point game as a Bee.

ROSTER CHANGES

Laredo lists a healthy roster coming into tonight, while the Killer Bees are without Bob Rangus, who is currently on the 45-Day IR, and Darren Partch, who remains on the team's suspended list.

STANDINGS

Bees - 24 points, 4th place, 13 points back, Southeast Division.

Bucks – 33 points, 3rd place, 4 points back, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Bees – Bill Newson 29 points; Bill Newson 12 goals; Bill Newson 17 assists; Ryan Shmyr 136 penalty minutes.

Bucks – Brent Cullaton 40 points; Jeff Bes 16 goals; Brent Cullaton 25 assists; James Hiebert 181 penalty minutes.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bees – Power play: 16.1% 10th, Penalty killing: 73.3% 17th.

Bucks – 17.7% 8th, Penalty killing: 83.9% 7th.

GOALTENDERS

Bees – Jeff Levy (10-16-0, 0 SO, 3.34), Jacque Vezina (1-5-2, 0 SO, 4.23).

Bucks – Jeremy Symington (10-6-0, 1 SO, 2.30), David Guerrera (6-8-1, 2 SO, 2.16)

WHAT'S NEXT

Rio Grande Valley – Friday, January 21st 7:30 PM vs. San Angelo Saints Dodge Arena

Laredo – Friday, January 21st 7:30 PM vs. Lubbock Cotton Kings Entertainment Center



Central Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2005


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