The 2005-2006 Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals are set, following five game Conference Finals wins by the Laredo Bucks (Southern Conference Champions) and Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (Northern Conference Champions).

The Bucks advanced following a 4-3 double overtime win Saturday night to eliminate the Odessa Jackalopes 4 games to 1, while the Mudbugs dispatched defending champion Colorado by a 2-1 score Monday evening, winning four consecutive contests after losing the series opener 3-2 in double overtime.

Both clubs firmly controlled their Conference Finals series, with Laredo trailing Odessa for only 9:54 of 324+ minutes of play and Bossier-Shreveport behind Colorado for just 10:07 of 330+ minutes of action. Laredo enters the Finals outscoring their opposition 47-25 through 11 post-season contests, with Bossier-Shreveport outscoring their opposition 32-17 through 10 games.

The 2005-2006 championship matches the highest scoring club in the CHL playoffs (Laredo is averaging 4.27 goals for per game) against the top defensive unit (Bossier-Shreveport is allowing just 1.70 goals against per outing). Both clubs have successfully defended home ice in the playoffs, each recording unblemished 6-0 marks.

Laredo and Bossier-Shreveport meet in a rematch of the 2003-2004 Finals, won by the Bucks 8:43 into overtime of Game 7 on a disputed goal call in front of a sold out crowd of 8,002 at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The Finals schedule this season follows the same 2-3-2 format, beginning this Friday and Saturday in Laredo prior to shifting to Bossier-Shreveport’s CenturyTel Center next week for Games 3,4 and 5, if necessary.

Offense: Laredo’s attack, ranked second in the CHL with 3.70 goals per game during the regular season, has been even better in the playoffs, leading the circuit at 4.27 goals per outing. Four of the top five playoff pointgetters are Bucks, with C Jeff Bes (4 goals, 18 assists) and LW Chris Grenville (12 goals, 9 assists) atop the post-season scoring race. A well-balanced Mudbug offense has five players with double digit point totals through 10 playoff games, and eight players with three or more post-season goals. Seven different Mudbugs have recorded game winning goals in these playoffs, with club leader LW Chris Brassard potting a game winner in each of the first two rounds of action.

Defense: Ranking 1,2 in the regular season defensively (Laredo 1st at 2.44 goals against per game, Bossier-Shreveport 2nd at 2.66), these teams protect their own end very well. While the Bucks have improved to 2.27 during the playoffs, the Mudbugs have been even better, allowing 17 total goals in 10 post-season games. Both clubs have experienced veteran leadership, including CHL Defenseman of the Year Serge Dube from Laredo and stalwart rearguard Quade Lightbody from Bossier-Shreveport, and highly skilled rookies in Adam Rivet from the Bucks and Dale Lupul from the Mudbugs.

Special Teams: Special teams are key to playoff success, and the Laredo boasts both the top power play (27.6%) and penalty killing (93.4%) units entering the Finals. Five of playoff goal leader Chris Grenville’s 12 scores have come with the man advantage, while James Hiebert’s four goals in eight games have also come with an extra attacker. The Mudbugs specialty teams both rank second to Laredo, converting 19.44% percent of their opportunities with the man advantage while killing off 85.92% of their opponents chances. Bossier-Shreveport leads the post-season with three shorthanded goals (Laredo has a pair), and five of C Brett Smith’s six post-season scores have come on the power play.

Goaltending: With reigning CHL Goaltender of the Year Ken Carroll sidelined late in the season, rookie David Cacciola has filled in admirably, starting every playoff game for Bossier-Shreveport. With Carroll now recovered, he may not get a chance back between the pipes, as the rookie has fashioned a remarkable 8-2 record (including a shutout) along with a 1.55 GAA and a .957 save percentage. Laredo has their own rookie netminder as well, with Harvard graduate Dov Grumet-Morris earning the bulk of the playing time, entering the Finals with a 5-2 record (and a shutout) as well as a 1.95 GAA and a .932 save percentage. Veteran David Lemanowicz (3-1, 2.26, .929 for Laredo) waits in the wings along with Carroll should either of the first year pros struggle.

Info Provided by:
CENTRALHOCKEYLEAGUE.COM
HOCKEYFIGHTS.COM

CHL SERIES PREVIEW - "A" - COLORADO vs. OKLAHOMA CITY

Defending champion Colorado begins this year’s playoffs in the same spot as last year – number one with home ice throughout. Oklahoma City enters the post-season after a two year hiatus and attempts to move past the first round since winning the CHL title in 00-01.

Northern Conference Semi-Finals
Playoff Series A - Colorado (1) vs Oklahoma City (4)
GM 1, Sat, 4-1 @ Colorado  FINAL SCORE: OKC 4-3 (OT)
GM 2, Sun, 4-2 @ Colorado  FINAL SCORE: COL 5-3 (OT)
GM 3, Tue, 4-4 @ Oklahoma City  FINAL SCORE: COL 4-1
GM 4, Thu, 4-6 @ Oklahoma City   FINAL SCORE: OKC 6-3
GM 5*, Fri, 4-7 @ Colorado   FINAL SCORE: COL 3-2
GM 6*, Tue, 4-11 @ Oklahoma City   FINAL SCORE: OKC 5-4
GM 7*, Wed, 4-12 @ Colorado   FINAL SCORE: COL 6-2  Colorado Wins Series 4 Games To 3
*If Necessary

CHL SERIES PREVIEW - "B" - BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT vs. WICHITA

Meeting for the third time in three post-seasons, the Mudbugs and the Thunder square off in what should be an evenly contested, drawn out series. The two teams finished 3rd and 4th in the overall CHL standings and four out of their five regular season contests were decided by one goal, two in shootouts.

Northern Conference Semi-Finals
Playoff Series B - Bossier-Shreveport (2) vs Wichita (3)
GM 1, Fri, 3-31 @ Wichita  FINAL SCORE: BOS 3-2 (OT)
GM 2, Sat, 4-1 @ Wichita  FINAL SCORE: WIC 2-1 (2OT)
GM 3, Thu, 4-6 @ Bossier-Shreveport   FINAL SCORE: BOS 4-0
GM 4, Fri, 4-7 @ Bossier-Shreveport   FINAL SCORE: BOS 4-1
GM 5*, Sun, 4-9 @ Bossier-Shreveport   FINAL SCORE: BOS 7-4   MUDBUGS WIN SERIES 4 GAMES TO 1
GM 6*, Tue, 4-11 @ Wichita (7:05 PM)
GM 7*, Wed, 4-12 @ Bossier-Shreveport (7:05 PM)
*If Necessary

CHL SERIES PREVIEW - "C" - LAREDO vs. RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Fierce south Texas rivals Laredo and Rio Grande Valley extend their grudge into the opening round of the post-season, clashing in what will surely be an emotional and intense series between clubs separated by just 149 miles of highway. Laredo secured their playoff invitation early, while Rio Grande Valley clinched their berth on the last day of the regular season with a 4-0 win in Odessa.

Southern Conference Semi-Finals
Playoff Series C - Laredo (1) vs Rio Grande Valley (4)
GM 1, Fri, 3-31 @ LAR  FINAL SCORE: LAR 3-0
GM 2, Sat, 4-1 @ LAR  FINAL SCORE: LAR 4-1
GM 3, Tue, 4-4 @ RGV  FINAL SCORE: RGV 4-1
GM 4, Fri, 4-7 @ RGV   FINAL SCORE: RGV 5-4
GM 5*, Sun, 4-9 @ LAR   FINAL SCORE: LAR 9-1
GM 6*, Tue, 4-11 @ RGV   FINAL SCORE: LAR 3-2 OT    Laredo Wins Series 4 Games To 2
GM 7*, Wed, 4-12 @ LAR (7:00 PM)
*If Necessary

CHL SERIES PREVIEW - "D" - ODESSA vs. AMARILLO

Southwest Division rivals Odessa and Amarillo meet for the first time ever in post-season play to continue a remarkably balanced regular season which saw each club win five of seven home games against the other. Amarillo is 10-14 all time in the playoffs, winning two of five total series, while Odessa’s post-season mark is 9-17, winning just one of six different playoff series.

Southern Conference Semi-Finals
Playoff Series D - Odessa (2) vs Amarillo (3)
GM 1, Fri, 3-31 @ AMA  FINAL SCORE: AMA 4-1
GM 2, Sat, 4-1 @ AMA  FINAL SCORE: AMA 4-3 (OT)
GM 3, Wed, 4-5 @ ODE   FINAL SCORE: ODE 4-3
GM 4, Fri, 4-7 @ ODE   FINAL SCORE: ODE 2-1 (OT)
GM 5*, Sat, 4-8 @ ODE   FINAL SCORE: ODE 5-4
GM 6*, Tue, 4-11 @ AMA   FINAL SCORE: ODE 4-1   Odessa Wins Series 4 Games To 2
GM 7*, Wed, 4-12 @ ODE (7:00 PM)
*If Necessary

Links
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Audio Department "Listen In"
Bugs goalie Ken Carroll talks about his status for the postseason
Bugs coach Scott Muscutt previews the series against Wichita and discusses Ken Carroll's injury