Mudbugs' Goaltending Duo Complete
August 11, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA -- The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League have today announced their second player signing for the 2004-2005 season and officially solidified their most important position. Goaltender Jeff Blair will return for his second season with the team and will once again join all-star Ken Carroll to form one of the top goaltending tandems in the CHL.
Last season, Blair was acquired in a December trade with the Odessa Jackalopes and posted a 17-5-2 record with a 1.96 goals against average and a .937 save percentage in 24 games with the Mudbugs. The Kamloops, British Columbia native won nine games in a row from late December to January and went 12-1-0 in his first 13 starts. In addition, Blair posted the first four shutouts of his professional career and finished tied for the league lead in shootout wins with four. The 26-year-old netminder will enter his sixth season of pro hockey and is eager to return to the team and region where he has found a home.
"I'm extremely happy to be returning," said Blair. "There is nowhere else that I would rather play and to be coming back to continue the Mudbugs' winning tradition was the main factor. I'm also excited that Kenny is coming back since we get along and work so well together so it should be another great season."
In the 2004 playoffs, Blair appeared in four games including the memorable triple overtime game against the Wichita Thunder in Game 2 of the Northern Conference Finals where he made 38 saves in a 2-1 victory. Prior to last season, Blair was no stranger to Louisiana having played in 37 games for the now-defunct Baton Rouge Kingfish of the ECHL in 2002-2003.
"There's no question that Jeff was one of our unsung heroes from last year," said Mudbugs Head Coach Scott Muscutt. "From the moment he got here he took his game to a new level and was the perfect fit for a very important position on our roster. Bringing both Jeff and Kenny back was a priority for us and obviously I'm very excited about our goaltending for this season."
The eighth season of Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs hockey begins October 22nd at the CenturyTel Center and season ticket packages and corporate partnerships are currently available. For more information, please call 318-752-BUGS or visit www.mudbugshockey.com.
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