Puck Podcast May 8 Episode

On this week's Puck Podcast Episode. The main discussions is on the 2nd Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the 4 series are beginning to reach their midway point. San Jose has also clinched the first of the Conference Finals spots. Theirs also some news on the Phoenix Coyotes ownership and it's failure to make a deal. Could a move of the team be just a matter of time now? What teams could be interested, Kansas City, Seattle, Portland maybe Quebec City or Hamilton as well.

Also a new Guinness World Record was broke at the IHWC Tournament Opener between the USA & Germany. And an unusual apology to a Vancouver Canucks player. All this and so much more as Dan Moriarty fills in for Doug as this week's co-host with Eddie Garcia.

5/8 Episode: www.puckpodcast.com/puck-podcast-may-8-2010/

Puck Podcast Website: www.puckpodcast.com

Rapid City Blows out the Mudbugs to win the Northern Conference, To Face Allen for the Championship

After a Northern Conference Final that was just as exciting as the Southern Conference Final. The Rapid City Rush took their home ice advantage to good use as a 4 goal 1st period was used to run away from the Mudbugs and ultimately end their season.

Like many times this season, the Rush used their scoring depth with the 7 goals coming from 6 different players with Rich Hansen leading the way with 2 Goals and an assist. Other notable performances came from Scott Wray with 3 assists and Brendon Cook and Brenden Hodge with a goal and an assist each.

For the Mudbugs, Tyrel Lucas had a goal and an assist in a night where the team was just bombarded early and had a hard time recovering from the early crushing that saw them down 6-1 at one point. The Mudbugs are hoping to use this as a springboard to better things in the future as the team is looking to return to the glory days of the early part of the last decade.

From The Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Rapid City, South Dakota: On Wednesday Night, the Rapid City Rush lit up the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs for a 7-3 win and the Northern Conference Championship. The Rush will now take on the expansion Allen Americans for the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship, set to begin this weekend at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Rush Offense exploded for four goals in the first period and seven total, both tying playoff highs for the young team.

Rapid City got started early, with Brendan Cook netting his fourth goal of the playoffs at 3:09. Defensemen Gio Flamminio fired a slapshot from the point and Cook was in the slot to deflect it home for a 1-0 lead. The Mudbugs were quick to answer when, off a faceoff circle, Simon Mangos rifled off a slapshot home less then two minutes later. The Rush would turn up the momentum with a pair of goals separated by just 20 seconds.

The first came at the 7:15 mark, Blaine Jarvis broke in on a partial and chipped in a backhand shot through Parker Van Buskirk to regain the lead. It was then Les Reaney who gave the Rush a 3-1 lead when he snapped a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that rang off the far post and in. With under 4 minutes left in the first period, Jon Pelle circled behind the Bugs net and centered the pass that was jammed home by Rich Hansen. The 4-1 lead after 20 minutes marked the first time this postseason that the Rush lead heading into the first intermission.

Rapid City would make it 5 unanswered goals with a pair to start off the middle frame. The first was Brandon Hodge at 8:11 when his wrist shot made its way through a screen and home for his 2nd in the last 3 games. The 2nd came on the power-play when Rich Hansen collected his 2nd, cutting to the goal mouth and burying it 5 hole, ending Van Buskirk's night. Travis Clayton would finally stop the bleeding for the Mudbugs with a power play goal with just 32 seconds left in the period. Heading into the 3rd period, the Rush led 6-2.

In the third, the teams were exchanging goals beginning with Tyrel Lucas third of the playoffs cutting the lead to just 3 5:52 in. But with less then 4 minutes left in regulation, Derek Campbell would bring the game to its final 7-3 lead when he circled to the high slot and fired a snap shot past goaltender Torrie Jung.

Rapid City Wins Series 4-3, It will be the Allen Americans VS. Rapid City Rush for the 2010 CHL Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship.

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 3 Rapid City Rush 7 (1-4, 1-2, 1-1)

0-1 RPC: Brendan Cook (Glamminio, Wray) 3:09 1st

1-1 BOS: Simon Mangos (Lucas) 4:41 1st

1-2 RPC: Blaine Jarvis (Hodge, King) 7:15 1st

1-3 RPC: Les Reaney (Grimison, Wray) 7:35 1st

1-4 RPC: Rich Hansen (Pelle, Fritshaw) 16:36 1st

1-5 RPC: Brendon Hodge (King, Wray) 8:11 2nd

1-6 RPC: Rich Hansen (PP) (Pelle, Leblanc) 10:22 2nd

2-6 BOS: Travis Clayton (PP) (Kyrzakos, Aikins) 19:28 2nd

3-6 BOS: Tyrel Lucas (Milam, Aikins) 5:52 3rd

3-7 RPC: Derek Campbell (Hasnen, Cook) 16:32 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: BOS 38 RPC 34

PP: BOS 1/6 RPC 1/5

PIM: BOS 13 Minutes on 5 Penalties RPC 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties

Goalies: BOS Parker Van Buskirk 20 SVS on 26 Shots Torrie Jung 7 SVS on 8 Shots RPC Danny Battochio 35 SVS on 38 Shots

ATT: 4058

3rd Star: Danny Battochio (RPC)

2nd Star: Scott Wray (RPC)

1st Star: Rich Hansen (RPC)

Allen Americans win big Road Game to Advance to the CHL Championship

For the 2nd straight year in the CHL Southern Conference. It was D/FW VS. West Texas for a spot in the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Final.

Just like last year's Conference Final it's the D/FW Team that's going to advance as the Allen Americans took advantage of an Odessa Jackalopes Team that barely showed up to play as the Americans unknown stars such as Tobias Whelan and Erik Adams played key roles to knock out the Jackalopes at the Southern Conference Final for the 2nd straight year.

The Allen Americans will now face Northern Conference Champion Rapid City Rush as the Rush in only their 2nd season will be playing for the teams first League Championship. It's a battle of CHL New Comers for this year's Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship.

From the Central Hockey League: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Odessa, Texas: Capping off an incredible expansion season, the Allen Americans advanced to the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Finals with a Game 7 win over the Odessa Jackalopes by a 4-2 score. The win was the 2nd Game 7 win for the Americans in their brief history (won in deciding versus Laredo in the Conference Semifinals.)

The Americans will now face the Rapid City Rush in the league finals beginning on Friday Night in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Allen's Tobias Whelan gave his team an early lead with a late first period goal and it helped propel his team to the early lead. In the 2nd period, Colton Yellow Horn scored his first of his two goals on the night making it 2-0 Allen.

The Americans would see Collin Circelli cut the lead in half but would quickly respond with the fifth score of the series by Nino Musitelli which ultimately served as the game winner.

Justin Bowers finished his series with two assists in the game with 14 points in the series (5G 9A). Chris Whitley won his 8th game of the playoffs by stopping 26 shots in the game.

The loss for Odessa marked the 2nd straight year that the Jacks have fallen in Game 7 of the Southern Conference Final to a D/FW Team. Last year, the Jackalopes lost in brutal fashion as they lost 8-1 to the Texas Brahmas.


The Allen Americans Win the Series 4-3, Allen will face the Rapid City Rush for the 2010 CHL Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship Series.


Game Boxscore

Allen Americans 4 Odessa Jackalopes 2 (1-0, 2-1, 1-1)

1-0 ALN: Tobias Whelan (Lukin, Bowers) 17:02 1st

2-0 ALN: Colton Yellow Horn (Fairbarn, Wooddisse) 5:04 2nd

2-1 ODE: Collin Circelli (PP) (Thinel, Ramsay) 15:22 2nd

3-1 ALN: Nino Musitelli (Bowers, Adams) 19:16 2nd

4-1 ALN: Colton Yellow Horn (PP) (Graham, Onabigon) 6:35 3rd

4-2 ODE: Jeff Pierce (EA) (Karlander, Thinel) 19:35 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: ALN 38 ODE 28

PP: ALN 1/4 ODE 1/4

PIM: ALN 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties ODE 8 Minutes on 4 Penalties

Goalies: ALN Chris Whitley 26 SVS on 28 Shots ODE Joel Martin 34 SVS on 38 Shots

ATT: 3914

3rd Star: Sebastien Thinel (ODE)

2nd Star: Justin Bowers (ALN)

1st Star: Chris Whitley (ALN)

Parker Van Buskirk's Shutout forces Game 7 in Rapid City

A strong 27 save performance by Mudbugs starter Parker Van Buskirk has put a 2nd Game 7 on the schedule for tonight to determine who will be playing for the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship this season.

In addition to the shutout, 2nd period goals by Tyrel Lucas and Brett Smith were more then enough as the Mudbugs defense was able to keep the Rush's explosive offense off the board and keeping them 27 shots in the Game as the Rush slightly out-shot the Mudbugs 27-24 in the game.

Now it comes down to the Game 7's tonight with the winners playing for the League Championship which should be starting up sometime this weekend.

Here's a look at where the Championship Matchups would start pending on the outcomes tonight.

Odessa VS. Rapid City: Series Starts in Odessa

Odessa VS. Bossier-Shreveport: Series Starts in Odessa

Allen VS. Rapid City: Series Starts in Rapid City

Allen VS. Bossier-Shreveport: Series Starts in Allen


From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Rapid City, South Dakota: Parker Van Buskirk's first pro shutout helped the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs to a 2-0 victory over the Rapid City Rush in Game 6 of the Northern Conference Finals Tuesday Night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The wins ties the best-of-7 series at three for Bossier-Shreveport, forcing a deciding a Game 7 tomorrow night here in Rapid City.

Van Buskirk stopped all 27 shots he saw to improve to 3-2 and earned his first pro shutout, regular season or playoffs. Tyrel Lucas and Brett Smith both scored on odd-man rushes in the 2nd period and the Bugs killed off all six Rapid City Power-Play on their way to the win.

Both teams looked sharp during a spirited first period in which the Mudbugs out-shot the Rush 10-7. Neither team found the back of the net though as both goaltenders came up with big saves. The Bugs opened the the scoring on a 2-on-1 break at 5:07 of the 2nd period when Tyrel Lucas sent a pass across Adam Basford, who gave the puck right back to Lucas for a tap in goal and a 1-0 lead.

Bossier-Shreveport added to the advantage midway through the 2nd period on another 2-on-1 break. Brett Smith and David Rutherford executed a nice give and go play that ended with Smith beating Danny Battochio high to the glove side at 9:45 of the 2nd period to make it 2-0 after 40 minutes.

The Rush out-shot the Bugs 9-3 in the third period and had three power play chances, but couldn't solve the Mudbugs Defense on their young goaltender to get on the scoreboard. Van Buskirk stopped numerous screened shots and rebounds in front to preserve the goose-egg as Rapid City failed to mount a late comeback.

With the 27 save effort, Van Buskirk earned the tenth shutout in Mudbugs playoff history and first since David Cacciola had one in the 2006 Conference Semifinals. Danny Battochio stopped 22 shots in goal for the Rush, who out-shot the Bugs 27-24. Neither team converted on the power play with Bossier-Shreveport finishing 0/3 and Rapid City finishing 0/6.

The Mudbugs will now play a Game 7 for the 4th time in team history tomorrow night in Rapid City as they try to advance to the Presidents Cup Finals for the 6th Time. The winner of tomorrow night's game will face the winner of Game 7 in the Southern Conference Final between Allen & Odessa, which is also being played Wednesday Night.


Series Tied 3-3


Game Boxscore

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 2 Rapid City Rush 0 (0-0, 2-0, 0-0)

1-0 BOS: Tyrel Lucas (Basford) 5:07 1st

2-0 BOS: Brett Smith (Rutherford, Ori) 9:54 2nd


Game Stats

SOG: BOS 24 RPC 27

PP: BOS 0/3 RPC 0/6

PIM: BOS 14 Minutes on 7 Penalties RPC Danny Battochio 22 SVS on 24 Shots

Goalies: BOS Parker Van Buskirk 27 SVS on 27 Shots RPC Danny Battochio 22 SVS on 24 Shots

ATT: 4520

3rd Star: Brett Smith (BOS)

2nd Star: Tyrel Lucas (BOS)

1st Star: Parker Van Buskirk (BOS)