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Mudbugs Weekly

November 10, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


TIGHT FINISHES

The Mudbugs came close to sweeping this weekend's set of three games in three days, but fell just short in the end. Bossier-Shreveport knocked off Tulsa on Friday and beat Rocky Mountain in a shootout on Saturday before losing Sunday in Texas to end their three-game winning streak. All three games were close at the end: Tulsa had a rare 6-on-3 powerplay late on Friday, the Bugs outscored the Rage 3-2 in a shootout that came down to the last shooter, and the Mudbugs' late rally against the Brahmas fell just short on Sunday. The Mudbugs are now 7-2-0 (14 pts) on the season, good for third in the Northern Conference. Only Colorado and Oklahoma City (18 pts each) are ahead of the Bugs in the North.

NOT LEADING SCORER, LEADING SCORERS

The Mudbugs have had a remarkably balanced offensive attack early in the year, with six players averaging over a point-per-game and two more right at one point-per-contest. Three players are tied for the team lead in scoring after nine games: Travis Clayton (6g, 6a), Kevin Cooper (5g, 7a) and Tyrel Lucas (5g, 7a). 17 of the 18 skaters on Bossier-Shreveport's roster have recorded at least one point this season.

PLENTY OF WEEKEND FIRSTS

A number of players enjoyed firsts in their Mudbugs and/or professional careers during the weekend's three games: J.J. Martin scored his first professional goal (which was also the game-winner) on Friday night against Tulsa. Jon Horrell not only earned a win in his Mudbugs debut on Saturday night, but it was also the first shootout victory of his pro career. Dave Pszenyczny scored his first Mudbugs goal against the Rage. Mark Johnson and Brett Angel both earned their first Mudbugs points on the same goal on Sunday when Johnson scored on a breakaway and Angel earned an assist.

CLAYTON GETTING CLOSE

First year Mudbug but 12th-year pro Travis Clayton will soon become the Central Hockey League's All-time leader in games played. Sunday in Texas, Clayton played in the 705th game of his CHL career, which sits just three behind Joe Burton's league-record 708 games played. Clayton also ranks second in league history in goals (332) and third in both assists (515) and points (849). All of his 11 previous pro seasons were played with the Wichita Thunder and he's played all but 12 of his career pro games in the CHL.

MILESTONE WATCH:

A few other Mudbugs are looking at career milestones of their own as well. 11th-year pro Joe Blaznek is about to reach the mark of 600 games in his pro career, playing in his 599th on Sunday in Texas. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Blaznek has recorded 564 points (268g, 296a) in those 599 pro games in the AHL, IHL, ECHL, and CHL. Defenseman Dale Lupul played in his 200th pro game Sunday, reaching that mark in his fourth pro season out of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Forward Chris Brassard recently passed Trevor Buchanan for third on the Mudbugs All-time scoring list and sits just three goals shy of passing Buchanan to become the second-leading goal scorer in team history.

LAST WEEK

Friday, November 7 vs. Tulsa CenturyTel Center W 3-1

GAME NOTES: Bossier-Shreveport gave up the first period goal to Tulsa, but scored three in the second period to earn its sixth win of the season. The Mudbugs got goals from Travis Clayton, J.J. Martin and Tyrel Lucas and two assists from Dave Pszenyczny to take control of the game. Ryan Mior made 28 saves to earn his fourth win of the year.

Saturday, November 8 vs. Rocky Mountain CenturyTel Center W 3-2 (SO)

GAME NOTES: Rocky Mountain got goals from Colt King and Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn to lead 2-0 just over halfway through the contest on Saturday night. Tyrel Lucas scored with just 11 seconds remaining in the second period to cut the lead in half, and then Dave Pszenyczny scored a powerplay goal in the third to tie the game for the Mudbugs. The game ended up in a shootout, where the Rage went ahead 1-0 before the Mudbugs' last three shooters (Chris Brassard, Simon Mangos and Joe Blaznek) all scored to put them on top 3-2. Jon Horrell stopped Rocky Mountain's final shooter (Simon Watson) to finish off the victory in his first game as a Mudbug.

Sunday, November 9 at Texas NyTex Sports Centre L 2-3

GAME NOTES: Texas scored three powerplay goals to even up their season series with the Bugs at 1-1. Mark Johnson's first goal as a Mudbug made it 1-0 in the first period before the Brahmas' Grant Jacobsen tied the game at one after one. Texas added to the lead in the second with a Tyler Skworchinski goal and then made it 3-1 on Justin Kinnunen's tally in the third. The Mudbugs rallied on Travis Clayton's goal that made it 3-2, but would get no closer in a penalty filled game that dropped them to 7-2-0 on the season.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, November 12 vs. Mississippi CenturyTel Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: It's a Northeast Division battle on Wednesday night at the CTC as the Bugs clash with Mississippi for the third time this season. The Mudbugs won both of the first two meetings this year by identical 6-2 scores, but the RiverKings bring a three-game win streak into this mid-week game.

Friday, November 14 at Texas NyTex Sports Centre 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Mudbugs and Brahmas will get another shot at one another after Sunday's penalty-filled 3-2 Texas victory in North Richland Hills. The season series is tied at one game apiece with the Bugs winning 5-1 on opening night at CenturyTel Center. There are sure to be some fireworks in the third of ten meetings this year between these former Northeast Division rivals on Friday night at the NyTex Sports Centre.

Saturday, November 15 at Laredo Laredo Entertainment Center 7:30PM

GAME NOTES: A great CHL rivalry will be renewed on Saturday night when the Bugs visit Laredo for the second time this season. In the season's first meeting on opening weekend, the Mudbugs came from behind with two powerplay goals to get a tightly contested 2-1 victory over the Bucks. Laredo currently has the second best record in the Southern Conference at 6-4-0. The teams will meet a total of four times this year.

TICKET INFORMATION: Season and group tickets for the 2008-09 season of Mudbugs hockey are available at the team office: 2000 CenturyTel Center Drive, Bossier City, LA 71129. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Individual game tickets can be purchased at the CenturyTel Center box office between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, by calling Ticketmaster at (318) 741-9700, or online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.mudbugshockey.com or call the team office at (318) 752-2847.

MUDBUGS RADIO: All Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs games, both home and away, are broadcast live on "The Home of the Legends" AM 1130 KWKH or Newsradio 710 AM KEEL in Shreveport. Both stations provide free online streaming online at www.kwkhonline.com and www.710keel.com.

CHL Network: Never Miss Another Away Game! The Central Hockey League and Network Foundation Technologies are pleased to renew their partnership that will provide a "FREE-for-View" experience for all CHL hockey fans through the CHL Network. The 2008-2009 CHL season will be broadcast live over the Internet utilizing Network Foundation Technologies' NiFTy Online Television product.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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