Monday, November 12th, 2007
HOUNDS “ROAD TRIP” THEIR WAY TO THE TOP
When looking at the schedule prior to the season, the Youngstown SteelHounds appeared to have a tough start in front of them but the Northeast Division leaders now appear to be in a terrific spot at 10-0-1 through the first 11 games of their 14-game road trip. In all, the trip consists of 14 games in 34 days that covers over 7,000 miles and on top of that features two three-in-three weekend series’.
On Friday night, the Hounds made their biggest statement knocking the Southern Conference power Laredo Bucks from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 3-2 triumph at the Laredo Entertainment Center. Sunday could have consisted of a let-down after the showcase game for Youngstown and through two period that appeared to be the case but whatever Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said to the team during the second intermission, it worked. Youngstown came out firing on all cylinders in the third period outshooting the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 16-6 and scoring three goals to take the 4-2 victory.
This week for the SteelHounds features the final three games on the road trip starting with Tuesday’s showdown versus the Tulsa Oilers (the first chance for the Hounds to see former teammate Jeff Christian, the 2006-07 CHL MVP while with Youngstown. On Friday, the Hounds face Mississippi and on Saturday the trip concludes with the second meeting of the season versus the Texas Brahmas.
Laredo Falls One Short of Setting Record
The Laredo Bucks will have to settle for a tie in looking at the CHL record for most consecutive wins to start a season as they fell to Youngstown on Saturday night ending their win streak at 10 games. The streak will go down as a tie with the 2002-03 Austin Ice Bats and the 1996-96 WPHL New Mexico Scorpions.
Ken Carroll Ties Rod Branch
Bossier-Shreveport goaltender Ken Carroll shutout the Austin Ice Bats 3-0 on Saturday night earning his 22nd CHL shutout tying rod Branch for the most shutouts in CHL league history. Branch earned his shutouts while playing with Tulsa, Topeka and Oklahoma City. The win was Carroll’s first of the season and it continued the ‘Bugs hot recent play (three straight wins). The Mudbugs duo of Carroll and John DeCaro has not allowed a goal in the last 132:29.
1000 Point Club Adds New Member
Tulsa forward Jeff Christian notched a pair of assists in Friday’s victory over Wichita and by doing so notched his 999th and 1000th career points. The former New Jersey Devil’s draft pick has had two of his most prolific offensive seasons over the past two years with the Youngstown SteelHounds where he scored 93 goals with 130 assists. Both seasons saw the Burlington, Ontario native earn First Team All-CHL honors and last season saw him win the CHL MVP (he finished runner-up during the 2005-06 season). This season, Christian has a goal and five assists in nine games.
Alexandre the Great Leading Jackalopes’ Charge
The Odessa Jackalopes have been one of the strongest teams this season at 7-3-0, just one point behind the Arizona Sundogs for first place in the Southwest Division. One of the keys to the team’s success has been the strong play of rookie goaltender Alexandre Vincent who has won all three starts he has made this season allowing just four goals (a .958 save percentage). He, coupled with veteran Mike Gorman (4-3-0, 2.88 GAA) gives the Jacks one of the best goaltending combo in the CHL.
CHL Fantasy Game Launched
The CHL launched the 2007-08 CHL Fantasy Hockey Game last week and the deadline to enter your squad has been extended to Thursday, November 15th at 5:00 PM (CST). Visit www.centralhockeyleague.com to register and select your team.
One-Timers
The Killer Bees are 45-10-4 when scoring the first goal over past two season, they have only done it once this season in nine games and are 0-1…Tulsa’s Warren McCutcheon scored a goal on Saturday in Wichita in his first game with the Oilers making him one of five players to do so for the Oilers this season…Bossier-Shreveport’s Joe Ori has game winning goals in back-to-back games and has five goals in his last five games…The Mudbugs win on Saturday night gave Head Coach Scott Muscutt his 600th point as the bench boss for the ‘Bugs (277-136-46)…The Texas Brahmas begin a nine-game home stand on Saturday versus Youngstown that will have them home from November 17th through December 8th.…Mississippi’s Rick Kozak has four goals in his last three games…Three CHL teams are without a regulation loss on the road this season; Youngstown (10-0-1), Mississippi (3-0-0) and Laredo (6-0-0)…Rocky Mountain ended an 0 for 15 slide on the PP with an 8 for 10 weekend. Their strong plat with the man advantage vaulted them up to first in the CHL (25%)…Colorado is 4-1-1 when outshooting their opponents.
