The Bee Line

Published on December 31, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


The Killer Bees (15-11-1, 31 pts) face off against the Fort Worth Brahmas (9-16-4, 22 pts) for the second of three meetings this season. The Bees have won seven of their last eight games including last night's 6-3 win at Fort Worth. Dwayne Hay and Matic Kralj each contributed a goal and three assists, while Matt Medley had a pair of goals. Terry Dunbar got the win with 23 saves. The Brahmas are in the midst of playing four games in five nights, beating Tulsa 4-2 Tuesday and losing 3-2 in overtime to Colorado Wednesday. The Brahmas are under the direction of new head coach Guy Larose, who took over for Al Sims on December 19. Fort Worth is 1-3-1 under Larose, and have won just two of their last 11 games.

RADIO/TV

Radio: ESPN 1240; Live audio at killerbeehockey.com; audio/video stream at chltv.com.

SEASON SERIES

Second of three meetings... Third and final meeting is January 20 at Dodge Arena.

ALL TIME SERIES

The Killer Bees are 4-2-0 vs. the Brahmas all time...The Bees are 2-1-0 at Fort Worth and 2-1-0 at home.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Saturday, December 31 vs. Fort Worth, 8:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240), presented by KGBT-4; post-game party with food, drinks, live music, and a midnight fireworks display!

Friday, January 6 vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Saturday, January 7 vs. Corpus Christi, 7:30 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240, TV: Televisa (XERV-9, cable 19)

Sunday, January 8 at Austin, 4:00 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

Thursday, January 12 vs. Corpus Christi, 7:30 p.m. (Radio ESPN 1240)

Friday, January 13 at Corpus Christi, 7:30 p.m. (Radio ESPN 1240)

Saturday, January 14 at Austin, 7:30 p.m. (Radio: ESPN 1240)

TEAM NOTES

NEW FRANCHISE ROAD-WINNING STREAK

The Killer Bees set a new franchise record with their fourth consecutive road win Dec. 30 at Fort Worth. The previous mark of three in a row last occurred 2/15/04-2/21/04.

BEES SET FRANCHISE WINNING STREAK

With a 5-4 win in overtime on Dec. 18, the Bees set a new franchise streak with five wins in a row. They extended the streak to six games overall with a 5-1 win at Corpus Christi on Dec. 23 The team had two previous win streaks of four wins in a row, most recently Feb. 15-21, 2004.

BEES AND RAYZ COMBINE FOR PIM HIGH

The Bees and Corpus Christi Rayz combined for 112 PIM on Dec. 23, the most this season between the Bees and an opponent. Ryan Shmyr set a team high with 26 PIM, while the Rayz' Shawn Legault racked up 29 PIM. That included three major penalties, the most in the CHL this season. Wichita holds the league-high for team PIM in a game this season with 134 (5-4 loss vs. Oklahoma City on Dec. 27), while the Thunder's Chris Bain (Wichita) had the distinction of having a league-high 40 PIM assessed during that game.

CONFERFENCE CALL

The Killer Bees are 13-8-0 vs. Southern Conference teams and 2-3-1 vs. Northern Conference clubs.

BEES SOLID IN ONE-GOAL GAMES

The 2-1 win on 12/17 at Laredo improved Rio Grande's record to 6-2-1 in one-goal games.

FIRST GOAL IS THE GOAL

The Killer Bees are 11-2-0 when scoring first and 5-10-1 when allowing the first goal.

ONE, TWO THREE.....WE WANT FOUR!

The Killer Bees are a perfect 13-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 4-0 when scoring six or more. When scoring three or fewer goals, the record is just 2-11-1.

COMEBACK NOW?

With a record of 0-9-0, the Bees have yet to come back from trailing after the second period. They are only marginally better (1-6-1) when trailing after the first, earning a point in an overtime loss to Colorado. Rio's 4-1 win over Corpus Christi on 12/16 marked the first time the team came back after being down entering the second period. Colorado is the CHL's best comeback team, going 3-5-0 when trailing after two periods. On the flipside, the Bees have been solid at holding leads with a 12-1-0 record when entering the third period ahead.

NEW POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITES HIGH SET

The Killer Bees went 3-for-14 on the power play 12/23 at Corpus Christi and tied a franchise high set 2/14/04 vs. Laredo when the Bees went 2-for-14 on the man advantage. It eclipses the season-high of 12 power play chances, set 12/17 at Laredo when the Bees went 2-for-12.

SHOTS, AND MORE SHOTS

A 22-shot second period 12/18 vs. Laredo tied a season high. The franchise record for shots in a period is 27, set 1/6/05 vs. Odessa in the second period of a 4-1 Bees win. The Bees also eclipsed 40 shots twice last weekend, peppering 45 at Corpus goalie Brent Zelenewich Friday 12/16 and 42 on Laredo's David Lemanowicz Sunday 12/18. The season-high for shots in a game is 47, set 11/15 in a 6-3 win at Corpus Christi while the franchise mark is 54. The Bees hit that mark twice, most recently 1/6/05 vs. Odessa.

FRANCHISE POWER PLAY GOALS RECORD SET

A four-goal night on the power play set a franchise record 12/10 at Austin. The Bees had scored three power play goals numerous times, including a three-goal performance on 12/3 at home vs. the Ice Bats.

PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS

An 18-4 shot advantage in the third period 12/6 at Youngstown failed to yield a goal for the Bees thanks in part to hitting the posts and crossbar a number of times, setting a season-high for outshooting an opponent and not scoring a goal in one period (14 shots). The Bees scored twice in the second period vs. Laredo on 12/18 while outshooting the Bucks 22-7. The 15-shot differential is a season high.

POWER PLAY (18.5%, 4th)

The Killer Bees set a franchise record with four power play goals 12/10 at Austin, and are 12-for-63 (19.05%) in their last seven games. The Bees have scored a PPG in all but six games this season and have the third most PPG in the CHL behind Wichita (46) and Colorado (42). Daymen Bencharski leads the team with eight PPG. The Bees have allowed just two shorthanded goals this season.

PENALTY KILLING (83.9%, 9th)

The Bees are 5-for-47 in the last seven games on the penalty kill (89.3%) and are third in the CHL with eight shorthanded goals. One more shorthanded goal will set a new franchise record.Trevor Weisgerber and Daymen Bencharski each have a pair of shorthanded goals.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

BENCHARSKI NAMED ALL STAR STARTER

Center Daymen Bencharski has been named a starter in the Obra Homes CHL 2006 All Star Game at Dodge Arena on Jan 18. Starters were selected by the media, team communications staffs, and CHL coaches.

BENCHARSKI, WEISGERBER AMONG TOP 20 SCORERS

Daymen Bencharski (16-16-32, 16th) and Trevor Weisgerber (10-23-33, 14th) are among the top 20 scorers in the CHL.

SHMYR OUT FOR FIVE GAMES

Ryan Shmyr received a five-game suspension for his actions in the 5-1 win at Corpus Christi on Dec. 23. He is eligible to play again on January 8 vs. Austin.

WEISGERBER SETS FRANCHISE ASSIST STREAK

Trevor Weisgerber's assist on Daymen Bencharski's goal 12/23 at Corpus Christi set a new franchise-high for consecutive games with an assist. The streak was broken Dec. 27 vs. Laredo in a 3-1 loss. Weisgerber's six-game streak eclipsed the five-game mark set by Joe Guenther in 2004.

DUNBAR GETS EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT

Terry Dunbar (DOB 12/31/79) earned his fourth win of the season with 23 saves just hours before turning 26 at Forth Worth on Dec. 30.

INDIVIDUAL SEASON HIGHS SET DEC. 30

Dwayne Hay set a personal high water mark with a four-point game (1-3-4) at Fort Worth on Dec. 30, while Matic Kralj matched Hay and his own personal season-high. Kralj had two goals and two assists back on Oct. 29 at Austin. Aaron Phillips chipped in with a three-point night (1-2-3), his second of the season. Matt Medley's two-goal night was the rookie defenseman's first multi-point game of the season.

LINDSAY AMONG GOALIE LEADERS

Evan Lindsay's 11 wins are tied for fourth in the CHL while his minutes played (1113:02) have him just out of the top five.

KRALJ RETURNS, PROVIDES OVERTIME SUPPORT

Matic Kralj scored the game-winner vs. Corpus Christi Friday 12/16 after missing the previous eight games with a hand injury. He then set up Aaron Phillip's overtime winner vs. Laredo 12/18 with a clean face off win to Phillips.

MUSHALUK AMONG ROOKIE LEADERS

Jeff Mushaluk is tied for ninth among CHL rookies with 15 points (2-13-15).

BENCHARSKI NAMED OAKLEY CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Daymen Bencharski has been selected as the Week Eight recipient of the Oakley Central Hockey League Player of the Week award. Bencharski registered eight points (4-4-8), including three multiple-point outings in four games, and his second natural hat-trick of the season. He has 18 points in his last 10 games (10-8-18, 6 PPG) and 13 points in his last five games (7-6-13, 4 PPG).

HAY AND PHILLIPS TIE FRANCHSIE RECORDS ON SAME NIGHT

On Saturday 12/10 in Austin, Dwayne Hay and Aaron Phillips tied franchise records for consecutive games posting assists (five) and goals (four), respectively. Hay had assists in five straight, tying the mark set by Joe Guenther (11/27/04-12/10/04). Phillips scored the game-winner in Austin to tie Guenther's record set 11/27-12/05/04 (four goals). The overall record for consecutive games scoring points in seven set by Bill Newson.

STREAKS

- Daymen Bencharski (5-6-11, plus-4) has points in six of his last eight games.

- Trevor Weisgerber has points in seven of his last eight games (2-9-11).

- Matic Kralj has points in four of his last six (3-4-7) since returning from a hand injury and also in two straight (2-3-5).

- Bobby Davis has points (1-3-4) in three of his last four games.

- Darcy Smith has assists in two straight (0-2-2) and points in three of his last four (0-3-3).

- Nathan Rosychuk has points (0-3-3) in three of his last four games.

TRANSACTIONS

DATE, TRANSACTION

12/16/05 , ADD Kralj, Matic (C) activated from IR

11/20/05 , DEL Kralj, Matic (C) placed on 14 day IR

11/16/05 , ADD Cherneski, Phil (LW) signed contract

11/15/05 , DEL Kuczmanski, Jason (F) placed on 45 day IR

11/11/05 , ADD Rosychuk, Nathan (F) activated from IR

11/05/05 , ADD Phillips, Aaron (F) activated from suspension

11/02/05 , DEL Phillips, Aaron (F) placed on league suspension for 1 games

10/28/05 , DEL Rosychuk, Nathan (F) placed on 14 day IR

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2005


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