Two Mudbugs Among CHL Award Finalists
Published on March 10, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Two players from the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs have been named finalists for Central Hockey League year-end awards, the league announced today. Defenseman Dale Lupul is in the running for Most Outstanding Defenseman for the first time in his career and goaltender Ken Carroll is bidding for his third Most Outstanding Goaltender honor, having already won the award twice. The results of this year's CHL "Best of the Best" poll were announced by the league today as well, with the Mudbugs receiving a handful of mentions.
The CHL has released the finalists for all of the four major year-end player awards, including Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Goaltender, Most Outstanding Defenseman and Rookie of the Year. Balloting will take place among CHL Head Coaches, team Communications Departments and selected media members to determine the recipients for 2008-09.
The nomination as the league's top defenseman is the first of Lupul's career and comes in his fourth professional season. The 6-2, 210-lb. blueliner ranks fifth in the CHL in scoring among defenseman with 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points in 53 games this season. That ranks him third on the team in scoring and puts him just two points away from matching the highest point total of his career. Lupul has shown his versatility this year with a +5 rating, 91 penalty minutes and 23 powerplay points while playing in all situations for Bossier-Shreveport. The Port Coquitlam, British Columbia native was named Oakley/CHL Player of the Week on February 9 after producing three goals and six points in three games the prior week.
The other finalists for CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman are: Amarillo's Sam Ftorek, Colorado's Aaron Schneekloth, Odessa's Russ Moyer and Texas' Kevin McLeod.
As an eight-year CHL veteran and five-time All-Star, Carroll is no stranger to the Most Outstanding Goaltender category. The Oil City, Ontario native won that award and also took home WPHL Rookie of the Year honors in the 2000-01 season, during which he helped the Mudbugs win their third consecutive President's Cup Championship. Carroll again was named the league's best goalie and made the All-CHL team in 2005-06. He holds an 18-6-2 record in 26 appearances this season, leads the league with a .928 saves percentage and ranks fourth with a 2.41 goals-against average. Carroll has also recorded two shutouts this season to extend his own league record to 28 career CHL shutouts. The 5-10, 175-lb. netminder was the Oakley/CHL goaltender of the week for February 2 after posting a 3-0 record, 2.00 GAA and .947 SPCT in three starts the previous week.
Also in consideration for Most Outstanding Goaltender are: Colorado's Andrew Penner, Mississippi's Kevin Beech, Oklahoma City's Doug Groenestege, and Texas' Brett Jaeger.
The Mudbugs were recognized in four categories of this year's CHL "Best of the Best" poll, in which CHL players, coaches and operational staff from all 16 CHL teams vote on 46 different categories around the league. Colorado Eagles beat writer Adam Dunivan of the Loveland Reporter Herald covered the results of this year's poll, and his story can be found online at www.reporterherald.com.
Among the player categories, Mudbugs tough guy Brett Angel came in third in the "Best Heavyweight Fighter" voting, trailing only Rocky Mountain's Colt King and Colorado's Ryan Tobler. Finishing third in the "Best Coach" category was Head Coach Scott Muscutt, who was the winner of last year's CHL Coach of the Year award. Only Mississippi's Kevin Kaminski and Rio Grande Valley's Chris Brooks received more votes than Muscutt. Bossier-Shreveport also garnered a third-place finish in the "Best Uniforms" voting, coming in behind Oklahoma City and Odessa.
The Mudbugs' lone first place finish in this year's poll came in the "Best Booster Club" category, where the Mudbug Boilers received nearly twice as many votes as any other booster club in the league to take first place once again.
The 'Bugs are in Texas tonight for their final regular season meeting with the Brahmas at 7:05 pm. The Mudbugs are looking to close out their season series with Texas on a three-game winning streak, but the Brahmas currently own the CHL's longest home winning streak at 16 straight games. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 pm with pregame covering starting at 6:45 on 1130 AM KWKH. The game will also be shown live online on the CHL Network.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2009
- 'Bugs Best Brahmas at NyTex - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas fall at home 2-1 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks Honored In CHL Best of the Best Poll - Laredo Bucks
- Two Mudbugs Among CHL Award Finalists - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Colt King Rules Over CHL's Annual Best of the Best - Rocky Mountain Rage
- RiverKings highlight Traumatic Brain Injury Services at The MED - Mississippi RiverKings
- John Adams Recalled By Houston Aeros - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Delforte Rookie Finalist, Scorpions Among the Best in CHL - New Mexico Scorpions
- Thunder Fans Most Annoying For Sixth Straight Year - Wichita Thunder
- Bucks Fall To Rio 2-1, Third Place Spot Slipping Away - Laredo Bucks
- Quick-Hit Gorillas Win Weekly Award - CHL
- Sundogs Recognized in Annual CHL Best of the Best - Arizona Sundogs
- Eagles Best of the "Best of the Best" - Colorado Eagles
- "Best of the Best" Results Announced - CHL
- Ftorek honored twice by CHL - Amarillo Gorillas
- Jacks Honored in "Best of the Best" Poll - Odessa Jackalopes
- Thinel, Moyer, Pierce Finalists for CHL Awards - Odessa Jackalopes
- Beech Among CHL Award Nominees - Mississippi RiverKings
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.
