Oklahoma City Blazers week in review

November 2, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Oklahoma City Blazers News Release


BLAZERS FINISH WEEK 1-0-1 – Oklahoma City skated twice last week, gaining three standings points with a 1-0-1 record. The Blazers defeated the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs 2-1 at home on October 29. The Blazers hit the road on Saturday to Odessa where the Jackalopes came away with a 3-2 shootout win. The Blazers are 1-2-1, with 3 points and in fifth place tie in the Northeast Division of the CHL.

BLAZERS NAB FIRST WIN – Oklahoma City picked up its first win of the season on October 29 against the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs. Michel Beausoleil was the Blazers offense as he recorded both Blazers goals. Four others added assists including Hardy Sauter and Shawn Weiman. Goaltender Sean Connors stopped 31 of 32 shots on the night for the win. The victory was the sixth in seven tries at home against the Bugs.

FIRST AND ONLY VISIT TO ODESSA – Oklahoma City made its first and only regular season visit to Odessa on October 30. The Jackalopes were lousy hosts, defeating the Blazers 3-2 in a shootout. Jarad Bourassa and Michel Beausoleil provided the Blazers goals. Goaltender Boyd Ballard stopped 38 of 40 shots on the night in the loss. Brenden Morrow chipped in with his first assist as a Blazer.

SECOND 1-2-1 START FOR BLAZERS – The Blazers 1-2-1 matches the team's worst start after four games in franchise history. This team and the 1997-98 squad each started the season 1-2-1. The 97-98 squad went on to a 48-19-3 mark, including some of the best record from games 33-46 in franchise history.

LOTS OF ONE-GOAL GAMES – Oklahoma City has been stuck in a one-goal game rut for the better part of two seasons. Over half of the Blazers 36 games played in the calendar year of 2004 have been decided by one goal. The Blazers record in those games is a paltry 6-8-5. That includes the 1-2-1 start this season. The Blazers are the only team this season to have each of their games decided by one goal.

CONNORS RANKED THIRD – Blazers second-year goaltender Sean Connors is currently ranked third in the Central Hockey League with a 1.50 goals against average. His .954 saves percentage is also good for third in the league early this season.

BEAUSOLEIL THE OFFENSIVE SPARK – Michel Beausoleil has been the offensive spark for the Blazers this season. His five points (3-2-5) leads the team. He is one of two players on the Blazers roster with more than one goal and one of two players on the Blazers roster with more than one assist. First-year defenseman Jarad Bourassa has two goals and centerman Brad Herauf has two assists.

NHLER IN THE BLAZERS LINEUP... - Dallas Stars forward Brenden Morrow made his debut with the Blazers last Friday. Morrow signed to play with the Blazers this season during the NHL lockout. The last time a player who played in the NHL the season before playing for the professional hockey team in Oklahoma City was during the 1981-82 season with the Oklahoma City Stars. That season the Stars served as the Calgary Flames primary affiliate. Of the 41 players who played on that roster that season, 14 had at least one game of NHL experience the season before. Of those 14, Pat Ribble (67), Eric Vail (64), Bobby Lalonde (62) and Mike Fidler (58) played the better part of a full season with an NHL club before that season with Oklahoma City.

COMING UP THIS WEEK – The Blazers will skate in three games this week. Wednesday, November 3, Oklahoma City takes on the New Mexico Scorpions for the first time this season at 7:05 p.m. at the Ford Center. Friday, November 5, Oklahoma City travels to Wichita to battle the Thunder for the first time this season. Saturday, November 6 Oklahoma City makes first appearance in Topeka since the 2000-01 season to take on the Tarantulas.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 2, 2004


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.

OurSports Central