Mudbugs Release Schedule
Published on August 9, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
THE CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE released its 2002-2003 schedule today and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs will open the season against a familiar rival. The Memphis RiverKings will visit the CenturyTel Center on Thursday October 17 to open the new season of Mudbugs hockey.
The home opener will be one of twelve meetings on the season between the Mudbugs and the defending President's Cup Champion RiverKings â the most of any Mudbugs' opponent. Last season, Memphis eliminated Bossier-Shreveport from the CHL playoffs with a 4-3 series win in the Northern Conference Finals. The Mudbugs will also play divisional rivals Fort Worth and Indianapolis seven times each, including three visits to Indiana to take on the Ice. This season, the Central Hockey League's priority was to place an emphasis on weekend dates during the scheduling process. Nearly 80% of the league's games will be played on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday during the 2002-03 season. The Mudbugs' schedule features 14 Saturday night games and seven Friday night games at the CenturyTel Center. Of the Bugs 32 home games, 21 are on weekend nights, along with one Tuesday game, seven Thursday nights, and three Sunday evenings.
"We're looking forward to some great games at the CenturyTel Center," said Mudbugs' General Manager Jason Rent. "With plenty of weekend games, our fans have several different opportunities to see a lot of teams and a lot of great hockey here in our building." However, with the emphasis on weekend games, the Mudbugs will play 17 series of three games in three nights. In fact, 51 of the Mudbugs' 64 games this season will be a part of a three-game sequence. Fourteen games take place in November â the most games in any single month during the season.
"There are some challenging portions of our schedule, but I'm sure our team will be up to the task." said Rent. The Mudbugs' longest time away from home will take place in December. The team will play a series of five straight road games beginning on December 11th against the Indianapolis Ice and will not return to the CenturyTel Center until December 26th. The Mudbugs' longest home stand of the year will be four games in February. Two three-game home stands will also take place at the CenturyTel Center.
The Mudbugs will play each team in the Central Hockey League at least once, however they will not travel to New Mexico or El Paso. Other notable dates on the 2002-03 Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs hockey schedule include October 25th when the team makes their first visit to the brand-new Ford Center in Oklahoma City. December 20th will also be the first ever meeting between the Mudbugs and the expansion Laredo Bucks. The Bucks will then visit the CenturyTel Center for the first time on Saturday, March 15. The Mudbugs' regular season will conclude the following day in Corpus Christi with an afternoon game against the Ice Rays.
Central Hockey League Stories from August 9, 2002
- Waring, Patterson Sign On - Indianapolis Ice
- Ice Releases Schedule - Indianapolis Ice
- Buzzards Schedule Released - El Paso Buzzards
- CHL Releases Brahmas 2002-2003 schedule - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Ice Bats Schedule Released - Austin Ice Bats
- Mudbugs Release Schedule - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- CHL Releases Schedule - CHL
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