The Laredo Bucks have become the first Central Hockey League club to qualify for post-season play following a 6-3 win over visiting Fort Worth Wednesday in front of over 7,100 at the Laredo Entertainment Center earlier today. The victory moves Laredo to a CHL best mark of 39-6-4, and gives the Bucks the Southeast Division title, earning them home ice advantage for at least the first round of the 2003/2004 Ray Miron Presidents Cup playoffs.
Sniper Chris Grenville paced the Bucks with his CHL leading 36th and 37th goals of the season and two assist, while CHL leading scorer Jeff Bes chipped in with a goal and two assists to move his season point total to 96.
In the division clinching game Wednesday, Laredo built a 4-0 lead on goals by James Hiebert, Grenville, Serge Dube and Patrik Nilson. Grenville has now scored goals in seven straight games, and registered a point in 17 contests, while Bes improves his point streak to 24 straight games. Fort Worth registered goals by Scott McCallum, Chad Woollard and Jeremy Vanin,
Next up for the Bucks is a home and home series with a rapidly developing rival in the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. The teams square off in the Dodge Arena Friday night before a return engagement at the LEC on Saturday. The Killer Bees currently hold a four point advantage over Austin in the race to qualify for the post-season.
This evening, Bossier-Shreveport travels to Corpus Christi and Memphis visits Indianapolis in the back end of a home and home series.