San Angelo @ Rio Grande Valley Preview

March 1, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release

RIO GRANDE VALLEY KILLER BEES

GAME DAY PREVIEW

San Angelo Saints (33-16-7) @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (28-20-8)

DATE: 3/1/04 TIME: 11:00 am LOCATION: Dodge Arena (Hidalgo, Tx)

BEES MAGIC NUMBER DOWN TO 3

It will be a crazy day at the Dodge Arena today, as the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees host the San Angelo Saints and their first ever "Kids Day Game". The arena will be packed with over 4,000 elementary students representing many valley school districts including Harlingen CISD, Hidalgo ISD, McAllen ISD, Mission CISD, PSJA ISD, and Sharyland ISD. The Saints march in leading the Southern Conference's Southwest Division by only two-standing points ahead of the Amarillo Gorillas, who are a team the Killer Bees find just 7 standing-points ahead of them in the Conference standings. First and foremost, the Bees are seeking to clinch a playoff spot and they find themselves 3 standing points away from clinching a spot. A win by the Bees would knock that magic number down to one standing-point, and then the Bees would have to wait and see how Austin fares with Oklahoma City Tuesday night.

THE SERIES

This is the seventh meeting between the Saints and Bees this season and the fourth to be played at the Dodge Arena. Rio Grande Valley has the season series lead with a 4-1-1 record, winning the four of the last five meetings. San Angelo's Chris Minard leads the season series with 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points. The Bees are led in the season series by Bill Newson (5g) and Mike Rees (1g,4a), who each have 5 points in the series.

THE LAST MEETING

The San Angelo Saints blew a 3-0 lead but then blew out of the Dodge Arena with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, overshadowing Bill Newson's two-goal performance in front of 5,022 fans at the Dodge Arena on January 2nd.

The Saints opened up the offense in the contest with a pair of first period goals. Ryan Finnerty wrestled the puck past Bees goaltender Jeff Levy 10:38 into the match on a power play opportunity and then Scott Lega poked the puck past Levy while Levy was on his back making a snow-angel save off a Tyler Knight breakaway with 3:13 remaining in the period. Chris Minard's one-timer 8:48 into the second period gave the Saints a 3-0 lead before the Bees finally got on the board. Jason Hawes scored the Bees first goal of the calendar year with a power play wrist shot from the right slot over the blocker pad of Saints netminder Scott Reid. 2:20 later with 6:52 remaining in the period, Bill Newson picked off a pass in the neutral zone and beat Reid on the right side on a breakaway to cut the deficit to one. The Bees would tie the contest up 5:03 into the third period with Bill Newson's second goal of the game. The two teams would force the contest to be decided in overtime and in the shootout, Steve Roberts' goal was all the Saints needed, as Reid stopped all four Bees attempts to sneak out of the Dodge Arena with a 4-0 lead.

ROSTER CHANGES

Rio Grande Valley lists a healthy squad for tonight's game. San Angelo has handful of injuries, as they are without John Jarram (IR), Steve Roberts (IR), Dustin Hunter (Season Ending IR), Scott Mahar (IR), Dan Reja (Season Ending IR), and Scott Lega (Season Ending IR). It is also possible they will be without Jarrett Metz, who suffered an injury Saturday night and left the game early. Although there has not been any official statement released from the San Angelo Saints, the Saints are expected to be without head coach Ray Edwards, who is undergoing medical attention to a heart condition today back in San Angelo. Derek Booth served as an interim coach Saturday night, but could possibly play today instead due to the number of Saints injuries.

STANDINGS

Bees - 64 points, 2nd place, 31 points back, Southeast Division.

Saints â 73 points, 1st place, Southwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Bees â Bill Newson 53 points; Bill Newson 27 goals; Bill Newson 26 assists; Ryan Shmyr 233 penalty minutes.

Saints â Chris Minard 64 points; Chris Minard 32 goals; Several tied with 32 assists; Ryan Finnerty 133 penalty minutes.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bees â Power play: 15.3% 11th, Penalty killing: 84.6% 6th.

Saints â 15.3% 10th, Penalty killing: 80.6% 15th.

GOALTENDERS

Bees â Jeff Levy (23-15-5, 4 SO, 2.28), Jacque Vezina (5-5-3, 3 SO, 2.42).

Saints â Scott Reid (28-8-4, 3 SO, 2.36), Brant Nicklin (5-8-3, 0 SO, 2.81)

WHAT'S NEXT

Rio Grande Valley â Thursday, March 4th 7:00 PM @ Odessa Jackalopes Ector County Coliseum

San Angelo â Wednesday, March 3rd 7:05 PM @ Corpus Christi Rayz Memorial Coliseum

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