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Sundogs Back On Top In Crazy Division Race

March 7, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The Arizona Sundogs are back in first place in the Southwest Division (at least for now) after last night's 6-1 victory at Odessa. The Sundogs have a one point lead over Odessa and a three point lead over New Mexico. All three teams have played 65 games and have nine games remaining. All three clubs are limping a bit coming down the stretch as the Sundogs are 5-4-1 in their last 10 compared to 5-5-0 for Odessa and 4-6-0 for New Mexico.

The Scorps were beat handily last night in Amarillo 7-3. New Mexico plays at Odessa tonight and then get a rare day off on Saturday. New Mexico would currently be the fourth seed in the Southern Conference and they would by the higher seed in the #4 versus #5 seed best-of-three series.

After hosting New Mexico tonight, the Jackalopes head south to Corpus Christi for a game on Saturday. Odessa is 11-12-5 on the road this season.

Arizona plays at Amarillo on Saturday and is idle tonight. After tomorrow's game versus the Gorillas, the Sundogs will have six of their remaining seven games at home.

CHL SCORING RACE - ADVANTAGE LEAVITT

The CHL scoring race looks as if it is going to go down to the wire with Arizona's Alex Leavitt (99 points) and Laredo's Jeff Bes (94 points) both vying for the CHL Joe Burton Scoring Championship. Leavitt had three points last night in Odessa and has 14 points in his last five games. He currently leads Bes by five points. Bes is also attempting to catch Rocky Mountain's Daymen Rycroft for the league lead in goals sitting with 42, just two behind Rycroft.

HOUNDS LOSE ANOTHER TO AHL

The SteelHounds watched their sixth different player get the call from the AHL as forward Kevin Jarman (19-16=35 in 45 games with YNG) has been re-called by the Syracuse Crunch. The Hounds have already seen defenseman Stephen Margeson (Lake Erie), Petr Pohl (Syracuse), Andy Franck (Providence), Milan Maslonka (Albany), Kirill Strakov (Syracuse) skate in the AHL. The SteelHounds are currently one point ahead of both Texas and Mississippi in the Northeast Division and are sitting in the fourth seed in the Northern Conference playoff picture. Youngstown plays their final three road games of the season this weekend at Rocky Mountain tonight, at Colorado on Saturday and at Wichita on Sunday.

MUDBUGS NEXT TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH?

The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs could be the next CHL team and the first in the Northern Conference to clinch a playoff spot tonight when they play at Corpus Christi. They can do it on their own or get a little help from Colorado who hosts Mississippi. The Bugs can earn the berth with a point versus the Rayz or they can make it in with a Mississippi loss. Bossier-Shreveport is eight points ahead of Laredo in the race for the Governors' Cup (CHL regular season champs).

BRAHMAS LOOK TO STAY HOT

The Texas Brahmas have the longest current CHL win streak with five straight victories. Texas is 19-5-0 in their last 24 games and are currently tied with Mississippi for the fifth and final Northern Conference playoff spot. The Brahmas host Wichita tonight and then play a home-and-home with Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday. Texas forward Jordan Cameron has two goals and six assists in his last four games and David Cacciola is coming off a 3-0 week that earned him Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week honors. Cameron is the reigning Oakley CHL Player of the Week.

BEST-OF-THE-BEST POLL OUT ON SATURDAY

The annual CHL Best-of-the-Best Poll will be released on Saturday and can be seen first in a story written by Roy Lang III of the Shreveport Times at www.shreveporttimes.com. This year's poll features 45 categories ranging from 'Best Overall Player' to 'Best Team Mascot'. Voting was done through all 17 member teams.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2008


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