Mudbugs Week in Review
January 5, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
OLIVER THE OILER KILLER â For the second consecutive time against the Tulsa Oilers, David Oliver scored the game-winning goal and Jeff Blair recorded a shutout as the Mudbugs beat the Oilers, 1-0 in front of 4,618 fans at the CenturyTel Center. The game stayed scoreless with zero goals and zero minor penalties, until David Oliver finally broke the deadlock 5:58 into the third period as Jason Campbell found him at the bottom of the right faceoff circle. Oliver's low shot beat Tulsa goaltender Rod Branch for his ninth goal of the season and sixth against the Oilers. Blair finished the night with 25 saves for his second career shutout, both against Tulsa. The Mudbugs played the game without leading scorer Chad Spurr, who was suspended by the Central Hockey League for two games due to a "leaving the bench" penalty on Friday December 26th. The win was the fourth for the Mudbugs in four games against the Tulsa Oilers this season.
WILDFONG LEADS BUGS PAST MEMPHIS â On Friday night, the Mudbugs traveled to Southaven, MS to meet the Memphis RiverKings for the sixth time this season and came away with a 4-2 win at the DeSoto Civic Center to take over first place in the Northeast Division. After a scoreless first period, the Mudbugs exploded for four straight goals in the second period as Colin Kendall slammed in his own rebound past RiverKings goaltender Mike Minard. Then Dan Wildfong took over with two goals and then set up Chris Brassard for a deflection at 18:13 to give the Mudbugs a 4-0 lead. In the third period, Memphis took control of the game with goals from Alexandre Mathieu and Jay Neal, but failed to get any closer on the scoreboard. Trevor Buchanan played in his 800th professional game.
WHAT A COMEBACK â In one of the games of the year, the Mudbugs overcame 3-0 and 4-3 deficits in the third period on Saturday and shocked the Fort Worth Brahmas with a 5-4 win at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Fort Worth took a 3-0 lead with goals from Chad Woollard and Jeff Scharf in the first period and Adam Davis in the third. However, the Mudbugs would battle back as Craig Soke scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season. Chad Spurr then banged in a rebound off of Brahmas goaltender Tyler Nilsson to tie the game in dramatic fashion and erase Fort Worth's 3-0 lead. The Brahmas then responded with Woollard scoring again, but a David Oliver centering pass from below the end goal line deflected off the back of goaltender Nilsson and into the net to tie the game once again. Just 27 seconds into overtime, Chris Brassard broke into the Brahmas' zone on a two-on-one and fired a slap shot past Nilsson for the game-winning goal.
MUDBUGS STARS OF THE WEEK
Dan Wildfong â Two goals, two assists in the last two games
Jeff Blair â In goal for all three games, second straight shutout vs. Tulsa on Tuesday
Craig Soke â Two goals to help lead the Mudbugs in their dramatic comeback on Saturday vs. Fort Worth
SPURR & MINARD NAMED TO ALL-STAR TEAM â The CHL today announced the reserves for the 2004 Northern Conference All-Star Team and the Mudbugs had two more players named to the squad. Forward Chad Spurr and defenseman Craig Minard will join starting goaltender Ken Carroll at the 2004 Dodge CHL All-Star Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 22nd. Spurr is the Mudbugs' leading scorer with 33 points and will make his first career all-star appearance. Minard also makes his first all-star trip and has been one of the Mudbugs' most consistent defensemen over the last three years.
THIS WEEK â This week, the Mudbugs will hit the road for three contests in three nights. Friday, the Mudbugs and Brahmas will meet again at the Fort Worth Convention Center for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff. On Saturday, the Mudbugs will then travel to Rio Grande Valley for their first-ever meeting with the expansion Killer Bees. Then on Sunday, the Laredo Bucks will host Bossier-Shreveport at 5:05 p.m. For more information on the 2003-04 Mudbugs hockey season, please call 752-BUGS or visit www.mudbugshockey.com.
MUDBUGS RECORD THIS WEEK: 3-0-0
OVERALL RECORD: 21-7-3
1st Place in Northeast Division (45 points)
HOME RECORD: 11-2-2
ROAD RECORD: 10-5-1
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2004
- Blaz to 2004 Dodge All-Star Game - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Woollard selected as CHL Player of the Week - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Mudbugs Week in Review - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Beaudry Named CHL Goalie of the Week - New Mexico Scorpions
- Bees Weekly - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- CHL Names Players of the Week - CHL
- RiverKings To Spotlight Sexual Assault Resource Center - Mississippi RiverKings
- RiverKings Help Provide Class for Hockey Enthusiasts - Mississippi RiverKings
- Mudbugs' Spurr & Minard Named All-Stars - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Baird is All-Star Bound for First Time - Indianapolis Ice
- Ice and Scorpions this Weekend at the Pepsi Coliseum - Indianapolis Ice
- Fleck Named to CHL All-Star Team - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Defenseman Landmesser Chosen as All-Star Reserve - Mississippi RiverKings
- Oilers' Bermingham Selected To All-Star Squad - Tulsa Oilers
- Grobins Named CHL All-Star - Wichita Thunder
- Dodge CHL Northern Conference All-Star Reserves Announced - CHL
- Woollard selected for 2004 Dodge CHL All Star Game - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Hot Scorpions Make it Six Wins in Last Seven Games - New Mexico Scorpions
- Scorpions' Richards added to All-Star Roster - New Mexico Scorpions
- Saints Week in Review - San Angelo Saints
- Thunder Complete Home Sweep of Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- LMT Family Night and Autographs This Wednesday - Laredo Bucks
- Oilers Weekly - Tulsa Oilers
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