San Angelo @ Rio Grande Valley Preview

Published on January 2, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


RIO GRANDE VALLEY KILLER BEES

GAME NIGHT PREVIEW

San Angelo Saints (18-13-3) @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (14-12-4)

DATE: 1/2/04 TIME: 7:30 pm LOCATION: Dodge Arena (Hidalgo, Tx)

TIME TO OPEN UP THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees play their third game of a 4 games in 5 nights week tonight, hosting the San Angelo Saints. This is the first game of the new calendar year for both squads. San Angelo is making their third trip to the Rio Grande Valley this season, and their previous trip was on November 22nd. The Austin Ice Bats have won 3 straight to jump past the Killer Bees by one point in the standings, placing the Killer Bees in third place of the Southeast Division. San Angelo is four points out of first in the Southwest Division and they hold down the top wild card spot (3rd seed) in the Southern Conference. This game ends a Killer Bees streak of five consecutive games played against first place teams. The Bees were 1-2-2 in the span.

THE SERIES

This is the sixth meeting between the Saints and Bees this season and the third to be played at the Dodge Arena. The Saints and Bees will meet seven times against each other, with this being the last scheduled contest at the Dodge Arena. Rio Grande Valley has the season series lead with a 4-1-0 record, winning the last four meetings. San Angelo's Chris Minard leads the season series with 4 goals and an assist for 5 points. The Bees have several players leading the team in scoring against San Angelo with 4 points each.

THE LAST MEETING

The Rio Grande Killer Bees recorded a season high total for goals in an individual period, scoring four goals in the second period to defeat the San Angelo Saints 4-1 on November 22nd in front of 4,997 fans at Hidalgo's Dodge Arena. It is the first loss for San Angelo when leading after the first period of play, as the Saints built a 1-0 lead with 6:36 remaining in the first period by a Ryan Finnerty highlight reel goal. Finnerty was pinned against the boards behind the net and was able to break away from the boards while being tied up by Jonathan Parker and work around to the right slot and cut in front of the net, eventually breaking away from Parker and sliding the puck past Killer Bees goaltender Jeff Levy for his ninth goal of the season. The Bees, who had combined for 6 second period goals this season on home ice coming into the contest, started the streak of 4 unanswered goals 31 seconds into the period with a loose puck in front of the net that Troy Linna was able to poke past Saints netminder Brant Nicklin. Killer Bees forward Justin Van Parys recorded his second goal of the season at the 8:59 mark with a wrist shot from the left slot to give the Bees a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later Matic Kralj and Bill Newson combined for Killer Bees goals 28 seconds apart to close out the scoring. The four goals were scored in a span of 12:30 with three of the goals scored 4:02 apart.

ROSTER CHANGES

Rio Grande Valley lists a healthy squad for tonight's game, but Chris Peach is questionable. San Angelo has forwards Scott Mahar and Dustin Hunter, and defenseman John Jarram on the injured reserve list.

STANDINGS

Bees - 32 points, 3rd place, 20 points back, Southeast Division.

Saints – 39 points, 2nd place, 4 points back, Southwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Bees – Bill Newson 22 points; Bill Newson 15 goals; Several Tied with 11assists; Ryan Shmyr 122 penalty minutes.

Saints – Chris Minard 34 points; Trevor Weisgerber 15 goals; Chris Minard 20 assists; Ryan Finnerty 89 penalty minutes.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bees – Power play: 14.5% 12th, Penalty killing: 83.6% 10th.

Saints – 14.5% 11th, Penalty killing: 82.1% 12th.

GOALTENDERS

Bees – Jeff Levy (12-9-2, 4 SO, 2.37), Jacque Vezina (2-3-2, 1 SO, 2.14).

Saints – Scott Reid (16-7-1, 1 SO, 2.55), Brant Nicklin (2-6-2, 0 SO, 2.60)

WHAT'S NEXT Rio Grande Valley – Saturday, January 3rd 7:30 PM @ Austin Ice Bats Travis County Expo Center

San Angelo – Saturday, January 3rd 7:30 PM @ Laredo Bucks Laredo Entertainment Center

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from January 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