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Mudbugs Weekly

October 26, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


LAST WEEK

Friday, October 23 vs. Allen

CenturyTel Center

L 2-1

GAME NOTES : The Mudbugs and Americans met for the first time ever on Friday night in a tight game that was decided entirely on special teams. Joe Blaznek's powerplay goal early in the second period put Bossier-Shreveport on top, but Allen countered with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal later in the period and then got the game-winner from Nathan O'Nabigon in the third, also on the man-advantage. The teams combined for 16 powerplays and 75 shots on goal in the contest.

Saturday, October 24 at Odessa

Ector County Coliseum

W 5-4 (SO)

GAME NOTES : Making their first trip to Odessa in three seasons, the Mudbugs struggled early on as the Jackalopes jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead with three goals in just 7:33. Bossier-Shreveport scored twice in the second frame, but gave up another goal late in the period to trail 4-2 going into the third. Joe Blaznek and Brett Smith both scored with under seven minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game at four, forcing overtime and eventually a shootout. With the shootout tied at one, 11 rounds passed before Simon Mangos scored his second goal of the shootout to seal a 5-4 'Bugs victory.

THIS WEEK

Friday, October 30 vs. Texas

CenturyTel Center

7:05 pm

GAME NOTES : This Friday night at the CenturyTel Center, Bossier-Shreveport will host the Texas Brahmas in the first of eight meetings this season between the two longtime rivals. The defending CHL Champions come in with a 1-2-1 record after losing back-to-back games in Mississippi last weekend. The 'Bugs will be looking for their first home win of the season in this game after losing both of their first two home games this season.

Saturday, October 31 at Mississippi

DeSoto Civic Center

3:05 pm

GAME NOTES : After starting the season with five straight games against Southern Conference opponents, the Mudbugs will finally play their first Northern Conference foe on Halloween in Mississippi. This afternoon bout will be the first of ten regular season meetings between the Mudbugs and RiverKings this year, with six of those games taking place in Southaven, Mississippi. The 'Bugs won last year's 12-game season series with record of 7-4-1 against the rival "Kings.

WEEKLY NOTES

Back and Forth We Go

For better or worse, the Mudbugs have a history of streaky play at the beginning of a new season. Last year the 'Bugs started off with four consecutive victories, while they lost their first six games the season before. This year however, Bossier-Shreveport has alternated wins and losses through its first four games to hold a 2-2-0 record coming into this week. This is the first time the team has been 2-2 after four games since 2002-03.

Call it a Comeback

Both of the Mudbugs' victories so far this season have come after the team trailed in the third period and came back to win on the road. In Corpus Christi on October 17, the 'Bugs were down 2-1 and 3-2 before winning 4-3 in regulation. Then on Saturday, Bossier-Shreveport was down 3-0 in the first period and 4-2 in the third only to tie the game and win it in a shootout. This continues with the trend from last season, when the Mudbugs had the CHL's best record when trailing after two periods at 7-17-2.

Simon Says... Shootout!

Defenseman Simon Mangos was the only Mudbug to score during Saturday's 11-round marathon shootout in Odessa, netting both of his shootout attempts including the game-winner. The sixth-year pro from Cambridge, Ontario has proven to be one of the league's most prolific shootout performers in his time with the 'Bugs, scoring six goals on ten attempts. Last season, Mangos led all CHL defensemen and ranked second in the league with four shootout goals.

Ninth-Year Premier

Veteran Mudbugs goaltender Ken Carroll made his first start of the season in net on Friday night, becoming the first player in franchise history to play nine seasons in purple and teal. Carroll tied Dan Wildfong for longest tenure in the 13-year history of the team last season and has now surpassed him by returning for 09-10. The Oil City, Ontario native is the third-winningest goaltender in CHL history and owns the league record for career shutouts with 29. Wildfong still holds the Mudbugs record for career games played with 488 over his eight seasons with the club.

Rivalry Weekend is Here

This week's games will see the Mudbugs re-ignite what many would consider their two biggest rivalries for the first time this season. Friday the 'Bugs play host to the defending President's Cup Champion Texas Brahmas, who have been the Mudbugs' biggest nemesis over the past two seasons. Since 2007-08, Bossier-Shreveport is 9-8-4 against Texas. Then the Mudbugs will finally play their first Conference opponent this year when they travel to Mississippi on Saturday. In 24 regular season games as division rivals during the past two seasons, the 'Bugs have gone 13-9-2 when facing the RiverKings.

Debuts for DeLory and Dowzak

Two rookies who have been assigned to the Mudbugs by NHL teams both made their debuts with the club last weekend. 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward James DeLory has been sent to Bossier City by the Florida Panthers after starting the year with Rochester of the AHL. A fourth-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2006, DeLory spent the past five seasons with Oshawa of the OHL, where he racked up 592 penalty minutes along with 94 points in 276 games. Defenseman Tysen Dowzak, who measures in at 6'5" and 212 pounds, has been assigned to the 'Bugs by the New York Rangers. During his four seasons with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, Dowzak also appeared in ten professional games in the AHL and ECHL.

Loose Pucks

Bossier-Shreveport has now beaten Odessa 11 times in a row dating back to the 2002-03 season... The 'Bugs took on two familiar faces last weekend, going up against Allen defenseman Ryan Fairbarn (who played for the Mudbugs from 2006 to 2008 and was waived from training camp this year) on Friday and Odessa blueliner J.R. Bria (a member of last year's Mudbugs) on Saturday... F Jeff Kryzakos has changed his uniform number from #91 to #17... Kryzakos and F Kevin Cooper are still awaiting approval of their immigration status...

TICKET INFORMATION:

Season tickets, mini-plans and group packages for the 2009-10 season of Mudbugs hockey are available at the team office: 2000 CenturyTel Center Drive, Bossier City, LA 71112. 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:

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

CHL TV:

New for 2009-10 is the latest version of CHL-TV, powered by Insinc Netcasting. Fans will have the chance to watch all 480 of the CHL's regular season schedule with a $5.95 pay-per-view price. Packages are available as well that give fans the chance to order a month at a time or the entire season. All game archives are offered to catch up on the games you missed for just $3.95. Visit http://chltv.insinc.com for more information.

Season and group tickets are on sale by calling 318-752-BUGS (2847) or by visiting our website at www.mudbugshockey.com.

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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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