CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point

Published on November 24, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


1- On Friday, November 21st, Bossier-Shreveport's Travis Clayton made CHL history in Broomfield, Colorado by playing in his 709th CHL game becoming the league's all-time games played leader. Clayton had played each of his first 11 seasons in the CHL with the Wichita Thunder before signing with the Mudbugs during this past off-season. The Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan native is among the top three on the league's all-time points, goals and assists lists. Clayton passes long-time Oklahoma City Blazers forward Joe Burton on the games played list. The 'Bugs won the game versus Rocky Mountain 5-2.

2- The Oklahoma City Blazers (12-1-2, 26 points) have won three straight games and have earned points in 14 of their 15 games thus far losing just once in regulation (@ MIS on 11/15). The team's hot start has them in first place in the Northeast Division leading Bossier-Shreveport by seven points. OKC is 7-0-2 at home this season and 5-1-0 on the road. This week, the Blazers host Amarillo on Wednesday, travel to Texas on Friday and return to the Ford Center on Saturday to meet the New Mexico Scorpions. Bill Vandermeer is coming off a six point (4-2=6) week that saw him earn the Oakley CHL Player of the Week award. The league's top goaltender, Andy Franck, could miss action this week after missing Sunday's game versus Texas following leaving Saturday's game at Wichita with a leg injury.

3- The Laredo Bucks (10-4-0) have the longest current win streak in the CHL winning each of their last five games and going 9-2-0 in their last 11 games. Jeff Bes has fueled the fire lately leading the team with 24 points (3-21=24) and sitting with the league's longest point streak this season (12 games). A pair of rookies have been big contributors with Darryl Smith leading the team with 10 goals and Jason Dixon tied for the team lead with a +9 plus/minus rating. Laredo hosts Mississippi on Tuesday before heading to Prescott Valley for a pair of games at Arizona in a rematch of the Southern Conference Finals from a year ago (Sundogs won in seven games).

4- The Colorado Eagles are off to their best start in franchise history with a 13-2 record. The Eagles have won three straight games and have done so in dynamic fashion outscoring the opposition 16-4 in those three games. Greg Pankewicz is pacing the league with 14 goals and has had three hat tricks this season. He leads the team with three game winning goals. The Eagles defensive duo of Aaron Schneekloth and Scott Polaski lead the league with a +18 and +11 respectively. The reigning Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week, Andrew Penner, has won three straight starts and is 7-1-0 on the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

76 The number of saves made by OKC's Doug Groenestege, who had not played a minute through the Blazers first 12 games, during last week's three victories...The Stratford, Ontario native allowed just six goals in the three games played and now could be thrust into the spotlight as starter Andy Franck is out with a leg injury

3 The number of hat tricks that Colorado's Greg Pankewicz has scored this season...The veteran leads the league with 14 goals and is tied for the league lead with three game winning goals

7 The number of shorthanded goals scored during the six games played on Friday, November 21st...Mississippi's Louis Dumont potted one of them for his league-leading fourth SHG of the season

9 The number of points that Jason Deitsch recorded for Texas this past week after being re-assigned by the Houston Aeros of the AHL...Deitsch notched seven points (2-5=7) in 10 games with the Aeros

30 The number of shots the Rocky Mountain Rage outgunned the Rapid City Rush by in Saturday's game in Broomfield, Colorado...The 30 shot difference sets a new franchise record for the Rage

25% The percentage of games the Corpus Christi IceRays have scored the first goal in a game...The opponent has tallied first in nine of the team's 12 games...The Rays are 2-1-0 when scoring first

TIDBITS

-OKC's Chad Hinz had five assists (tying a franchise record) in Sunday's 7-3 win over Texas...The veteran has totaled nine points (1-8=9) in just five games played with the Blazers

-The Mississippi @ Laredo game on Tuesday night features a reunion of sorts...Both Sebastien Centomo and Rick Kozak (both with Laredo this season) played with the RiverKings a year ago and Matt Summers, Bobby Chaumont and Kevin Beech all played for Terry Ruskowski and the Bucks in the past

-The RGV Killer Bees allowed their first penalty shot goal in team history on Saturday night when Russ Moyer (ODE) beat Christian Boucher



Central Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2008


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