Mudbugs 2009-2010 Season In Review
Published on April 30, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 2009-2010 season was an exciting six-month ride that took us through a total of 75 regular season and playoff hockey games. Starting with Opening Night in October and coming within one victory of the CHL's Ray Miron President's Cup Finals, the 13th season of Mudbugs Hockey was full of memorable moments and achievements. Here is a look back at the season that was for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs:
October 16, 2009 - The Mudbugs start the 2009-10 season against the Laredo Bucks at CenturyTel Center. Their 13 active seasons tie the 'Bugs with Odessa and Texas as the fifth-longest running franchises in today's CHL.
October 17, 2009 - The 'Bugs earn their first win of the season in Corpus Christi, overcoming a third-period deficit to beat the IceRays 4-3 on Neil Clark's game-winning goal.
October 24, 2009 - Odessa jumps out to a 3-0 advantage and takes a 4-2 lead into the third period before Bossier-Shreveport rallies to tie the game and eventually win 5-4 in an 11-round shootout. John DeCaro makes 10 shootout saves (the most by any CHL goalie this season) and Simon Mangos gets the game-winning goal after scoring on both of his shootout attempts.
November 14, 2009 - Veteran defenseman Chris St. Croix plays in his 600th professional game and Captain Brett Smith scores twice as the Mudbugs defeat Rapid City 3-2 in a shootout.
December 1, 2009 - Travis Clayton has his best night as a Mudbug, finishing with five points and reaching the milestone 900th point of his 13-year pro career. Both Clayton and Jeff Kyrzakos tie the Mudbugs franchise record with four assists and Ken Carroll records a 43-save shutout as the 'Bugs crush Arizona 6-0.
December 11, 2009 - Scott Muscutt becomes the third Head Coach in CHL/WPHL history to coach 600career games as Bossier-Shreveport rallies from a 4-1 deficit to beat Mississippi 5-4 at the CTC.
December 12, 2009 - Brett Smith scores on a shorthanded breakaway during a 3-1 win over Mississippi to become the all-time franchise record holder in career shorthanded goals. He would add two more "shorties" later in the season to extend his record to 15 in five years with the 'Bugs.
December 18, 2009 -John DeCaro becomes the second-winningest goaltender in Mudbugs history, earning his 58th victory with the club as the 'Bugs top Wichita 6-2. DeCaro would go on to win a pair of Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week awards this season as well (February 1, March 22).
December 31, 2009 - The Central Hockey League unveils its All-Decade teams for 2000-2009, with goaltender Ken Carroll and forward Travis Clayton both making the First Team. Carroll became the first player in Mudbugs history to play nine seasons with the club this year and Clayton played 11 years in Wichita before spending the past two with Bossier-Shreveport.
January 5, 2010 - Forward David Rutherford scores perhaps the best goal of the CHL season against Missouri. Midway through the third period, Rutherford executes a move widely known as "the Michigan", setting the puck flat on his stickblade and tucking it inside the post from behind the net for a goal.
January 9, 2010 - Joe Blaznek scores his 300th professional goal on a third-period powerplay to provide the game-winning tally in a 4-2 win in Rapid City.
January 13, 2010 - Goaltender Ken Carroll appears in the 2010 CHL All-Star Game after garnering his sixth career selection. #34 stops 13 of 16 shots in the second period as the CHL All-Stars fall 9-4 to the South Texas All-Stars.
January 20, 2010 - The Mudbugs earn their most lopsided win of the season, blowing out Rio Grande Valley 7-0 at CenturyTel Center. The victory moves Scott Muscutt ahead of Chris Stewart for second in CHL/WPHL history with 376 career coaching wins.
January 30, 2010 - Travis Clayton scores the game-winning goal with 1:01 remaining in overtime to complete a third period comeback and give the Mudbugs a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Eagles at CenturyTel Center.
February 5, 2010 - Clayton becomes the first player in CHL history to play 800 games in the league; doing so against the team for whom he played 696 of those games: the Wichita Thunder.
February 14, 2010 - Joe Blaznek plays in his 700th professional game as Bossier-Shreveport defeats Corpus Christi 4-1 at the CTC.
February 19, 2010 - Scott Muscutt coaches his 627th career game, passing Bill McDonald for second in CHL/WPHL history in games coached. The 5-4 overtime win over Tulsa also kicks-off Bossier-Shreveport's first-ever "Pink in the Rink" weekend to raise funds for the Northwest Louisiana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
February 21, 2010 - David Rutherford finishes with a goal and an assist in a 6-0 win over Tulsa to extend his point streak to 16 games; the second-longest such streak in the CHL this season.
February 28, 2010 - Simon Mangos scores twice and Ken Carroll makes 35 saves as the Mudbugs best Tulsa 3-2 to win their eighth consecutive game, topping out their longest winning streak of the season.
March 5, 2010 - Mangos is named one of five finalists for the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman award. Mangos set career highs this year in assists (33) and points (45) and finished in the CHL's top seven defensemen in goals, assists and points.
March 7, 2010 - Ken Carroll makes 36 saves in a 4-1 decision over Corpus Christi to earn his 187th CHL win, tying him for 2nd in league history in career victories.
March 16, 2010 - Forward Shawn Limpright takes over the team lead in scoring for good with two goals and two assists in a 5-1 win over Mississippi. In his first season with the 'Bugs, Limpright led the club with 33 assists and 53 points this year.
March 19, 2010 - The Mudbugs host the third jersey retirement ceremony in franchise history, raising the #33 of former Captain Jim Sprott to the CTC rafters during a 5-0 win over Missouri. Sprott was part of all three Mudbugs President's Cup Championship teams and still ranks first in team history in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes by a defenseman.
March 26, 2010 - Game 1 at Colorado: Trailing the Eagles 3-0 midway through the third period, the 'Bugs score three goals in three minutes; tying the game on Dave Pszenyczny's shorthanded goal. Joe Blaznek then nets the overtime winner to give Bossier-Shreveport a 1-0 lead in the Northern Conference Semifinals.
April 1, 2010 - Game 4 vs. Colorado: The Mudbugs score three first-period goals on their way to a 4-2 victory that completes a four-game series sweep of the three-time defending Conference Champion Eagles. It is the 'Bugs first series sweep since 2001.
April 11, 2010 - Game 2 at Rapid City: Starting in place of an injured Ken Carroll, goaltender Parker Van Buskirk makes 26 saves as the 'Bugs tie the Northern Conference Finals at one game apiece with a 4-3 win over the Rush.
April 16, 2010 - Game 4 vs. Rapid City: Jamie Milam scores twice, Shawn Limpright finishes with three points and Parker Van Buskirk stops 30 shots as the 'Bugs dominate the Rush 6-1 to tie the series at two.
April 20, 2010 - Game 6 at Rapid City: Parker Van Buskirk earns his first pro shutout with 27 saves and gets goal support from Tyrel Lucas and Brett Smith as the Mudbugs win 2-0 to force a Game 7. Their season would end the next night however, as the Rush rebounded to take the deciding game 7-3 and win the 2010 Northern Conference title.
Planning for the Mudbugs' 2010-2011 season is already underway, so log on to www.mudbugshockey.com or call 752-BUGS for all the latest offseason Mudbugs news and ticketing information for next year.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 30, 2010
- Mudbugs 2009-2010 Season In Review - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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