Bucks Acquire Stephens For Gibb
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League announced Wednesday that they have acquired Center Mitch Stephens from the New Mexico Scorpions, in exchange for rookie goaltender Ryan Gibb. Stephens is expected to join the Bucks this weekend.
Stephens (pronounced Stevens), a native of Forrest, Manitoba, is in his second professional season, having played his first 93 pro games for the Scorpions. Stephens has put up 87 points in his first 93 pro games, scoring 30 goals with 57 assists, to go along with a minus four rating.
“Mitch Stephens can be an impact player for us”, said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. “We need guys who can score goals, and he can be one of those guys”.
This season the 6’2’’, 175 pound Stephens has already surpassed his numbers from his rookie year, scoring 46 points (13-33=46) in just 41 games for New Mexico in 08-09. 17 of Stephens 33 assists this season are via the power-play.
In 52 games last season, Stephens put up 41 points (17-24=41) in 51 games for the Scorpions.
In the 2008 Postseason, Stephens scored eight points (3-5=8) in six games for New Mexico.
Prior to his pro career, Stephens spent four years at Division III Geneseo State University (NCAA), where he scored 40 or more points in three of his four seasons.
The Bucks send Gibb to New Mexico, after he went 9-3-2 in 15 games this season. Gibb had a 2.96 G.A.A, with a .908 sv %.