The defending CHL champion Laredo Bucks may have had a little extra incentive Wednesday night visiting Colorado in the CHL’s only scheduled contest. The Eagles had won 19 straight at the Budweiser Events Center, and were just two home victories away from tying Laredo’s CHL record of 21 consecutive wins, set in the 2003-2004 season at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The Bucks passed the midseason test with a gritty 3-1 win, preserving their record and perhaps sending a message that they are once against strong contenders to hoist the Ray Miron President’s Cup trophy.

Igor Agarunov got Laredo started with a wrap around power play just 2:16 into the first, matched a little over 10 minutes later by Eagle All-Star Chris Hartsburg’s 19th of the year on a nifty backhand shot. Just over a minute later, former CHL regular season and playoff Most Valuable Player Jeff Bes scored the eventual winner, getting behind Colorado’s defense and snapping a wrist shot past Marco Emond. The Bucks would add an empty netter by Bobby Chaumont with just 12 seconds left for his 21st of the season. Laredo finished the game 2 for 6 with the man advantage (including Chaumont’s empty netter) while holding Colorado scoreless in five attempts. Emond finished with 21 saves on the night while Laredo starter Eric Marvin made 31 stops to earn his 14th win of the year.


The Eagles did keep one important streak going Wednesday, selling out the BEC for the 130th consecutive game. The potential championship final gets another preview on Friday, March 9th, when Colorado visits Laredo in another late season statement game.