Mudbugs Weekly
April 5, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
LAST WEEK
Northern Conference Semifinals:
Game 3: Tuesday, March 30 CenturyTel Center W 3-1
GAME NOTES: Travis Clayton and Shawn Limpright each finished with a goal and an assist as the Mudbugs defeated Colorado 3-1 to take a 3-0 series lead in the Northern Conference Semifinals Tuesday at the CenturyTel Center. Ken Carroll stopped 24 of 25 shots as the 'Bugs shut out Colorado until the final minute of regulation, killing off all five Eagles powerplays along the way. Dave Pszenyczny also scored for the third consecutive game to help Bossier-Shreveport built its first 3-0 series lead since the 2001 postseason.
Game 4: Thursday, April 1 CenturyTel Center W 4-2
GAME NOTES: The Mudbugs completed a four-game sweep of the Eagles with a 4-2 victory in Game 4 of the Northern Conference Semifinals Thursday at the CenturyTel Center. The win gave the Mudbugs their first triumph in a best-of-seven series in three seasons and sent them to the Northern Conference Finals for the first time since 2006. Ken Carroll had a big night for the Mudbugs, making 36 saves to hold off the high-scoring Eagles and earn his third win of the series. Shawn Limpright and Tyrel Lucas each had a goal and an assist as the 'Bugs built a 3-0 lead on their way to sweeping a playoff series for the fifth time in their history and first time since 2001.
THIS WEEK
Northern Conference Finals: #3 Bossier-Shreveport vs. #1 Rapid City
Game 1: Saturday, April 10 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 8:05 pm
Game 2: Sunday, April 11 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 6:05 pm
SERIES NOTES: The Mudbugs have now turned their attention from a second-round series vs. Colorado to the Northern Conference Finals against the top-seeded Rapid City Rush, who are making their first CHL playoff appearance in just their second year of existence. After missing the playoffs in their inaugural season, the Rush has been one of the CHL's top teams throughout 2009-10. They finished with the best record in the North, second only to Governors' Cup Champion Odessa overall. The 'Bugs are 4-1-1 all-time against Rapid City in the regular season, including a 2-0-1 mark this year. Bossier-Shreveport won 3-2 in a shootout in November before playing a back-to-back set at Rapid City in January. The Rush won the first of those games 4-3 in overtime before the Mudbugs came back to win the second game 4-2.
WEEKLY NOTES
On to Round Three
The Mudbugs are headed to the Conference Finals for the eighth time in franchise history and first time since 2006 after a four-game triumph over Colorado in the second round of the playoffs. Bossier-Shreveport has advanced to the President's Cup Finals in five of its seven prior trips to the Conference Finals. Since the CHL/WPHL merger in 2001, the 'Bugs have made the third round three other times: 2002 (lost to Memphis in seven games), 2004 (beat Wichita in five games), and 2006 (defeated Colorado in five games). The win over the Eagles snapped a string of three consecutive years in which the 'Bugs were knocked out of the postseason in the North Semifinals and had lost four of their last five best-of-seven series.
If You Want to Be the Best...
After defeating the three-time defending Northern Conference Champion Colorado Eagles, the Mudbugs will now face the #1 team in the North during the regular season: the Rapid City Rush. Rapid City beat out Colorado for the top seed in the conference and promptly swept the fifth-seeded Missouri Mavericks in their first-ever playoff series, outscoring the Mavs 18-9 in the second round of the playoffs. The Rush was the third-highest scoring team in the CHL during the regular season (3.95 gpg) and finished with the league's second-best home record (25-6-1). Head Coach Joe Ferras was named CHL Coach of the Year this season, while goaltender Danny Battochio won the league's Rookie of the Year award and was nominated for Most Outstanding Goaltender. Forward Les Reaney (MVP) and defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken (Most Outstanding Defenseman) were also finalists for CHL year-end awards.
Round 2 Recap
Bossier-Shreveport started its 2010 playoff run against the second-seeded Colorado Eagles, cruising to their first victory in a best-of-seven series since 2007 and their first series sweep since 2001. The Mudbugs rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the third period of Game 1 to win 4-3 in overtime before stealing Game 2 in Colorado by the same score. Coming home to the CenturyTel Center for Games 3 and 4, the 'Bugs built 3-0 leads in both contests and went on to win by scores of 3-1 and 4-2 to take the series. The four-game sweep gave the Mudbugs their second playoff series win against Colorado and avenged last year's second round series, when they were swept by the Eagles in four games.
KC to the Rescue
Making his first starts of the playoffs last week, goaltender Ken Carroll nearly a recorded a shutout against Colorado in Game 3 and stopped 36 of 38 shots in Game 4 on his way to a pair of wins. Carroll kept the Eagles' high-powered offense at bay after relieving an injured John DeCaro in Game 2, stopping 86 of 92 shots for a .935 saves percentage over the last 166 minutes of the series. The 2001 President's Cup Champion is the Mudbugs' all-time leader with 31 career playoff wins and six postseason shutouts.
Pszenyczny Performs in Prime Time
You may not be able to say his last name, but you can't help but notice defenseman Dave Pszenyczny so far in these playoffs. The second-year Mudbug is the team's leading playoff goal scorer so far after lighting the lamp in each of the first three games of the Colorado series. Pszenyczny has scored in six of his last ten games including the end of the regular season, where he set new career highs with 11 goals, 25 points, a +9 rating and 134 penalty minutes (which led the club this season). And by the way, it's pronounced shuh-NITCH-nee.
The Second Season Enters its Third Phase
With four playoffs wins so far in 2010, the 'Bugs have whittled their quest down to eight more victories this season, an accomplishment which, if completed, would end an eight-year Championship drought and earn the team its fourth President's Cup. Against Colorado, the Mudbugs won a best-of-seven series for the first time since the 2007 conference quarterfinals. They are looking now to get back to the President's Cup Finals for the first time since falling to Laredo in five games in 2006.
Loose Pucks
The Mudbugs are now 18-6 all-time with an opportunity to eliminate an opponent and advance in the playoffs... The Mudbugs signed G Parker Van Buskirk to replace injured G John DeCaro before Game 3... The 'Bugs have won 17 of 23 all-time playoff Game 4's... F Travis Clayton has ten goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games as a Mudbug... F Shawn Limpright led the club in scoring with five points (3g, 2a) vs. Colorado... D Chris St. Croix has four assists in four playoff games... F Joe Ori has 17 points (6g, 11a) in his last 15 playoff games dating back to 2008... F Brett Smith has racked up ten points (5g, 5a) in his last eight playoff games, all against Colorado.... F Joe Blaznek has 11 points (3g, 8a) in his last 11 playoff games... Including Game 1, the 'Bugs have now come from three goals down to win three times this season...
TICKET INFORMATION: Mini-plans and group ticket 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 games on the CHL's regular season schedule for a small 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.
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