Friday, November 14th, 2008
CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HEADLINES
1) Mighty Marty Changes Zip Code
2) Northeast Division Showdown
3) Killer Bees – Killing Penalties
4) Raising Lappy to the Rafters
1- The Oklahoma City Blazers (8-0-2) and one of their most famous players in the team’s history have parted ways as forward Marty Standish was traded to the Laredo Bucks on Thursday in exchange for future considerations. Standish, 30, has played in 445 career games with the Blazers (fourth on the team’s all-time list) and ranks second on the all-time goals scored list with 188 (448 points). He earned the hearts of the Blazers fans with his fiery play on the ice totaling 1,031 PIM’s in his OKC career. Standish was a part of the Blazers last championship team in 2001. The need to move Standish came from the CHL’s veteran rule (four players at 281 games or more) as the Blazers have Tyler Fleck, Robin Gomez, Brian Passmore and now Chad Hinz (signed this week). Standish leaves the first place Blazers and heads to the first place Laredo Bucks (6-4-0).
2- This weekend features a two-game series between Northeast Division foes Mississippi (5-5-0) and Oklahoma City (8-0-2). The RiverKings are one of two teams to claim a victory over the Blazers this season (a shootout victory in OKC on October 24th). Both games will be at the DeSoto Civic Center where the ‘Kings are 3-2-0 on the season. Mississippi had their three-game win streak snapped on Tuesday night in Bossier-Shreveport, 4-3. OKC is 3-0 on the road this season outscoring their opponents 12-3 in those games claiming wins at Corpus Christi, Wichita and Tulsa.
3- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (5-1-1) host Corpus Christi (3-5-1) and Wichita (3-6-1) this weekend and are counting on their red-hot penalty kill to continue their hot play at home (4-0-1 at the Dodge Arena). The Bees are tops in the league killing 51 of 57 chances (89.5%) and have stopped 29 of their last 32 over their last four games (90.6%). Rio Grande Valley started the season 5-0 but has gone 0-1-1 in their last pair of games. They are one point behind Laredo (6-4-0) for first place in the Southeast Division and are tied with Texas (5-3-1).
4- The Arizona Sundogs (4-6-1) will retire the jersey of defenseman Dan Laperriere on Friday night when they host the Rapid City Rush (2-3-4). The Sundogs current Assistant Coach averaged nearly a point a game in his two-year career with the team scoring 108 points (29-79=108) in 121 games. He also registered 31 points (7-24=31) in 31 CHL playoff games and was a catalyst in the Sundogs run to the Ray Miron President’s Cup last season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
200 The number of consecutive sellouts the Colorado Eagles have had (counting playoff games) with tonight’s sellout versus the Tulsa Oilers…The Eagles have sold out 163 consecutive regular season home games (a minor pro hockey record) heading into tonight’s contest
706 The number of CHL games that Travis Clayton has played during his career sitting just two games behind Joe Burton (708) for the most in league history…The ‘Bugs play on the road Friday and Saturday (@ Texas, @ Laredo)
+6 The plus/minus rating of defenseman Aaron Schneekloth on Tuesday night in the Eagles 7-3 victory over Tulsa…The mark set a new franchise record and Schneekloth leads the CHL with a +12 on the season
6 The number of power play goals the Odessa Jackalopes scored on their three-game road trip last weekend that saw the Southwest Division leaders defeat Laredo, Rio Grande Valley and Texas. The Jacks connected at 27% on the trip and for the season rank fifth in the league at 19.6%
TIDBITS
-Bossier-Shreveport’s Joe Blaznek played in his 600th professional game on Tuesday in the ‘Bugs 4-3 win over Mississippi
-Andy Franck (OKC) is without a regulation loss in his last 20 regular season decisions (17-0-3) and currently leads the CHL with a 1.47 GAA and a .939 save percentage
-The Corpus Christi IceRays are 2-0-1 on their current four-game road trip that ends on Friday in Rio Grande Valley
-Forward John Snowden (three goals with Rocky Mountain this season) has signed with Amarillo after being claimed off waivers by the Gorillas earlier in the week
THIS DATE IN CHL HISTORY (November 14, 2006)
The Arizona Sundogs went 5 for 11 on the power play in a 7-2 home victory over the Colorado Eagles. Cory Stillman had two of the PP goals and Karl Sellan, Chris Bartolone and Dan Laperriere each scored once.
