CHL Central Hockey League

Laredo Bucks Poised to Break Several CHL Records

Published on February 3, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The Central Hockey League's Laredo Bucks have been nothing short of dominant this season, and their success may lead to numerous adjustments to the CHL record book, beginning this evening with a home contest against Austin. A win tonight at the raucous Laredo Entertainment Center would be their 16th straight on home ice, topping the current mark of 15 consecutive home wins set by Abilene during the 1998/1999 season.

Laredo's numbers this season are staggering in nearly every category. The Bucks' current .844 winning percentage would shatter the CHL single season record of .781 (held by Odessa in 2001/2002) and leads all "AA" teams in North America. Want to see goals? Laredo's 4.31 average goals scored per game leads the circuit. Prefer defensive play? The Bucks 2.16 goals against average also tops the CHL, and would break Austin's CHL record of 2.17 set last year. A fan of special teams play? How about a 25.7 power play percentage and a 90.1 penalty kill success rate that both, naturally, are the best in the CHL. With 76 points, the Bucks need just nine points to claim the CHL's Southeast Division crown, which would ensure Laredo would have the benefit of home ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs.

Other potential CHL season marks that could be set this season by Laredo include most wins, most points, most home wins, and most road wins. 15 victories in their last 19 games would tie the CHL record of 51 in a season, while 32 points would also gain a share of the single season point record of 108. Should Laredo win eight of their remaining nine home games, they would tie the mark of 29 home wins in a season, while nine wins in their last 10 road games would tie the record of 24.

Early this season, several of the Bucks veterans made a pact not to lose back-to-back games all season, and through 45 contests, mission accomplished, while also posting two separate winning streaks of 10 games each.

Despite Laredo's remarkable achievements and eye-popping statistics so far this year, Bucks Coach Terry Ruskowski prefers to focus on only his clubs' win/loss record and their dogged pursuit of a Ray Miron President's Cup title. "From the first day of training camp, our only goal has been to win the title," said Ruskowski. "Nothing has changed since then."

Pointstreak Performance of the Week

Bossier-Shreveport rookie forward Craig Soke led the Mudbugs to a dramatic 4-3 shootout win over visiting Indianapolis on January 30th. Trailing 3-1 with less than six minutes to play, Soke set up a pair of goals 90 seconds apart by All-Star Chad Spurr, then capped the win by scoring in the 10th round of the shootout. Soke had eight goals and eight assists in January, allowing him to move into fourth spot in the rookie scoring race with 15 goals and 17 assists on the season.

CHL Team Notes – Through 02/02/04

Amarillo Gorillas
D Darren Curry likely lost for season following leg injury January 30th at New Mexico.

Austin Ice Bats
Acquired G Brent Belecki and D Trent Brandvold at trading deadline to help make playoff push.

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Line of Chad Spurr, Craig Soke and Chris Brassard combined for 26 goals and 34 assists in January.

Colorado Eagles
Northwest leaders play eight of next 11 games away from home, have 12 point division lead.

Corpus Christi Rayz
Earned just nine points in 22 road games this season (4-17-1), 55 GF, 91 GA in away contests.

Fort Worth Brahmas
LW Chad Woollard scored first AHL goal January 27th while recalled by St. John's Maple Leafs.

Indianapolis Ice
Currently one point behind New Mexico for final Northern playoff berth, 5 of next 7 games at home.

Laredo Bucks
Bucks can set CHL consecutive home victory record (16) with victory over Austin tonight.

Lubbock Cotton Kings
Players and staff will host special screening of "Miracle" on February 8th to benefit "Mac-a-Roni" fund.

Memphis RiverKings
Outscoring opposition 53-35 in third periods of this season, outscored 105-93 in first and second.

New Mexico Scorpions
Left winger Pete Ambroziak has scored goals in four straight games, all Scorpions wins.

Odessa Jackalopes
Jackalopes are only club perfect in shootouts (4-0) but winless in overtime (0-2) this season.

Oklahoma City Blazers
Blazers have a better winning percentage (.565) on the road than at home (.523) this season.

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Killer Bees lead CHL with six shutout victories this season, have also been shutout four times.

San Angelo Saints
Saints have both scored and allowed 64 goals in away games this season, road record of 12-8-2.

Tulsa Oilers
Scored season high eight goals on January 30th, but blanked 1-0 the following night.

Wichita Thunder
Back-to-back home wins over expansion siblings Colorado and Rio Grande Valley January 30th, 31st.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2004


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