Mudbugs Weekly

December 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BUGS SWEEP THE WEEKEND

The Mudbugs swept a home-and-home series against the Tulsa Oilers this past weekend, winning 4-3 in a shootout on Friday at CenturyTel Center and scoring four third-period goals to earn a 5-2 victory on Saturday. It was the first time the Bugs won games on consecutive days since November 7 and 8, when they knocked off Tulsa and Rocky Mountain, respectively. Bossier-Shreveport has now triumphed in four of its last five games and holds a record of 15-7-2 with 32 points, good for second in the Northeast Division and third in the Northern Conference.

CLAYTON HEATING UP

Mudbugs Center Travis Clayton scored three goals in two games last weekend and now has tallied four times in his past three contests. That streak gives Clayton 11 goals this season, putting the 12th-year pro one ahead of Tyrel Lucas for the team lead in goal scoring. In addition to those four goals, Clayton has chipped in two assists during a four-game point streak to place him just one point off the team lead in scoring with 21 points this season. Interestingly, Clayton's second goal of the game Friday night was also his first and only even-strength tally of the season to go with his 10 powerplay goals, which tie him for second in the CHL this year.

BLAZNEK BREAKS OUT

Prior to Friday night's game, forward Joe Blaznek had endured the longest goal-less streak of his six-year CHL career, going 11 straight games without a goal. Blaznek broke out of the drought in a big way against the Oilers, getting two assists during regulation and then netting the shootout game-winner against Kevin St. Pierre to help the Mudbugs to a 4-3 win. In addition to the goal on Friday, Blaznek has four assists in the last four games to put his team-leading total at 14 helpers for the season. The Detroit, Michigan native now has seven goals to go with those 14 assists for 21 points this year.

JONNY'S BEEN GOOD

Goaltender Jon Horrell started both games for the Mudbugs last weekend, earning a pair of wins to improve his record to 5-0-1 this season. Friday night Horrell turned away 31 shots during game action and stopped all four Tulsa shooters in the shootout to help the Mudbugs earn a 4-3 win at CenturyTel Center. Then on Saturday night, Horrell followed up that effort with 27 more saves in a 5-2 victory over the Oilers, running his personal winning streak to three straight games. The 3rd-year pro has now started six games without a regulation loss this season.

BUGS AND OILERS PLAY NICE

Saturday night's game between Bossier-Shreveport and Tulsa featured the fewest total penalty minutes of any Mudbugs game this season, with the Bugs and Oilers combining for only 14 PIMS in the contest. The Mudbugs were called for four minor penalties for eight minutes and the Oilers were whistled three times for six minutes. Prior to Saturday, the lowest number of total penalty minutes in a Mudbugs game this year was 24 in their game vs. Wichita on December 4.

LAST WEEK

Friday, December 19 vs. Tulsa CenturyTel Center W 4-3 (SO)

GAME NOTES: Bossier-Shreveport hosted Tulsa on Friday night and quickly jumped ahead with a pair of first period goals from Travis Clayton to lead 2-0 after one period. The Oilers rallied to score three times late in the second though to take a 3-2 lead going into the third period. Chris Brassard tied it for the Bugs just 1:26 into the third period to tie it up and the game eventually went to a shootout. Joe Blaznek and Brett Smith scored in the shootout for the Bugs while Jon Horrell turned away all four Tulsa shooters to help the Mudbugs to a dramatic 4-3 win.

Saturday, December 20 at Tulsa BOK Center W 5-2

GAME NOTES: The Mudbugs and Oilers followed up Friday's close game Saturday night in Tulsa. Clayton again gave Bossier-Shreveport the lead in the first, but this time the Oilers answered soon after and then scored in the second to lead by a goal after two periods for the second straight night. Just as they did Friday though, the Mudbugs came out firing in the third, tying the game and then taking the lead on Dave Pszenyczny's second goal of the season. They added two more goals in the third to finish out a 5-2 victory. Neil Clark and Brett Smith each had a goal and an assist, while Dale Lupul added two helpers for the Mudbugs.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, December 23 vs. Texas CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

GAME NOTES: Bossier-Shreveport hosts Texas tomorrow night as the teams renew their bitter rivalry for the seventh time this season. Since the Mudbugs' 5-1 home victory over the Brahmas on CHL opening night, Texas has won five straight games in the series. Three of those victories have been by just one goal, including one decided in overtime and another in a shootout. This will be the Brahmas' third of five total visits to CenturyTel Center this season.

Friday, December 26 vs. Corpus Christi CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

GAME NOTES: The Mudbugs play their first game of the season against Corpus Christi the day after Christmas to open up a home-and-home weekend series with the IceRays. Corpus Christi was in a hole after a five-game losing streak earlier in the season, but has since gotten back into the mix in the Southern Conference, earning points in nine of their last 14 games. The IceRays are just one point behind division rival Rio Grande Valley for fourth place in the conference entering this week. Bossier-Shreveport won two of its three meetings with Corpus last season.

Saturday, December 27 at Corpus Christi American Bank Center 7:05 pm

GAME NOTES: The Bugs and IceRays meet again on Saturday night in Corpus Christi on the back end of their home-and-home weekend set. The Mudbugs lost 3-2 in their only appearance at the American Bank Center last season. The Mudbugs will meet Corpus Christi three more times this season after Saturday night's contest, which starts a three-game road trip for the Bugs.

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.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2008


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