Mudbugs Hockey Blog

Here are some stats from CHL.com

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (10-7-3, 23 points)
The Mudbugs eight-game point streak (6-0-2) came to an end on Saturday with a 5-2 loss at Colorado…Bossier-Shreveport has won seven straight home games and host the Colorado Eagles on Friday…Elias Godoy has three goals and six assists in his last five games…Justin Aikins is on a five-game point streak scoring three goals with five assists over his streak…Ken Carroll is 2-0-1 in his last three starts, while John DeCaro’s seven-game win streak came to an end this past weekend with a SOL in Rocky Mountain and the loss in Colorado…Chris Brassard has four goals in his last five games…The Mudbugs power play ranks 14th in the CHL (13.8%) but their penalty kill is 4th at 85.8%.

More Stats and Streaks: Forward Kevin Cooper since joining the Bugs 8 games ago has at least one point in each of them. 3 G 5 A and a +4. The team is 2nd in the league for fewest goals allowed with 48 second only to Mississippi with 46. Elias Godoy, Brett Smith and Chris Brassard all have 10 points in the last 10 games.

Mudbugs begin 2nd stretch Friday night
Team looks to continue 6-2-2 record in the last 10 games.

The first 20 games of the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs ’07-08 campaign began with high hopes that turned to sour grapes in a hurry as the team began the season 0-5-1. The rotten start had its negatives and believe it or not there were some, for lack of a better word, positives that came out of the melee of madness of it all.

Click Here for the Full Story…

© 2007 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article

Well; I have had alot of time to think about things I have written in a couple of Blogs here lately. I think I may have picked the wrong time to start writing a couple. The people that are closest to me, know that hockey is my passion. It has been ever since the 1st time I attended a Monroe Moccasin game. After the Moccasins left; I had a very dear friend (Steve Bartlett) that introduced me to Mudbugs hockey.

The difference between the hockey clubs were like night & day. There were only a handful of us that deeply appreciated our team. Everyone knows the Moccasins never won a Cup. And to some of us it didn’t matter. We had a hockey team in Monroe, La & that was all that mattered. When I became a Mudbug fan; it was totally different. The fans were just rabid when it come to their Mudbugs. And they had every right to be. It was very easy to get caught up in all this. And I definitely became proud to call myself a Mudbug fan.

When the WPHL/CHL merged; things became very different. We have been so very close to winning another Cup it isn’t funny. Since the Moccasins never won a Cup; I never really cared about all the hoopla about it. But listening to the fans in Shreveport talking about how it feels when the guys win & how it’s just a special feeling to see the guys hoist that shiny Cup & skate it around the rink, really got me pumped up. And when we played the Bucks that season & it ended the way it did; I shed tears. I had never shed tears over a hockey game. But watching Soupy smash his stick against the boards & to see Muscy make the little hand motion across his neck toward Crook; really hit me hard. I know it hit every single Mudbug fan very hard. Not to mention the guys that had fought so hard for this. And also Scott Muscutt.

I can remember the end of season party we had at the CTC. I remember looking around at everyone there while they were showing the video on the jumbotron. There were a bunch of tears shed that day. I also remember Scott Muscutt coming out & going up to the mic & apologizing for some of the words he had said & some of his actions. This guy had nothing to apologize for in my book. He had just witnessed his players; which he has always considered his family lose a very controversial game in Laredo, TX. I can also remember the time Derek Laxdall sent one of his players from the bench to jump on Dan Wildfong. What did Muscy do??? He come off the bench; as did Laxdall. And he gave Laxdall exactly what he deserved. This would be another time he would apologize. But yet another time I felt no apology was needed. He was taking up for one of his players. One of his friends. This is something I have always admired about Scotty.

We haven’t missed the play-offs since Scotty has been the coach; except for one time if I’m right. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong) But I only remember missing them just the one time. Now I move on to the season before last. I think that was the season when several of our guys had Visa problems. And we started the season out with guys that had never played together. Never really practiced together. Even Jim Sprott would come & play a couple of games. I might add he did well; also. Things started very rough for the team. There would be a few rumblings about how the Bugs would probably not even make the play-offs. This was in Nov. when things were being said about how Scotty should have done a better job with recruiting & making sure these guys had their Visa’s taken care of before the start of the season. I always made the same statement . I didn’t know alot about hockey then; but I did know it wasn’t Scotty’s job to make sure their Visa’s were in order. I think I’m right on that. Well; what did this team do. This was the team that wouldn’t make the play-offs. Well; they did more than make the play-offs. They went to the Cup Finals once again. This time they would lose to the Bucks once again. But I wasn’t bitter this time. I was very upset for Scotty & the guys. Because I knew how much this one really meant to them. But at least we lost fair & square this time. (And whatever Bobkitty says; he knows the 1st one was tainted) Everyone knows it. But it’s in the past.

Now we move on to this season. Notice I skipped last season. This gets me to where I really want to be with this blog. There have been many fans that have criticized Scott Muscutt for signing such small players. He’s been criticized for not having an enforcer on the team that will take care of the smaller players. Among other things. I won’t lie. I have been a part of this. I have said things that I totally regret. No; I’m not the only one that has criticized him & some of his actions. But that’s got nothing to do with myself & the things I have said. When I look back; I see where Scotty has taken the Bugs every single season except for one. And that’s been VERY VERY close to winning the Cup. Do I think this team will do the same?? Yes. I definitely do. I truly believe this is coming together & when they get all the little kinks worked out; I think this team will have just as good a chance as any other team to hoist the Presidents Cup.

I think we have a very good coach in Scott Muscutt. I may not agree with some of the things he does. I’m almost positive I’m not the only one. But from this time forward I’ll not voice my criticisms on any message board. None of us agree on everything & that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We all have different opinions. But I can remember the times that I’d log on to the Swamp & things were always fun. Believe me. I’m not the only one that’s noticed it. I remember when it was the Mudbug fans talking smack to other teams fans. And it was fun. But now it seems that Mudbug fans are smack talking against each other. And I’m not going to lie. I have been a part of it; myself. But no more. I took exception to something Swill said on the Swamp & I went off on him. I have since e-mailed & apologized to him. From here on out; I want to go back to being that die-hard Mudbug fan that thought they did no wrong on the ice. I had more fun then. I’m going back to wearing my “Rose-colored glasses”. I had more fun wearing those. I’ll close by saying “Good Luck to Scotty & the guys this season”. Whether we win the Cup or not; I know this season will be a fine “Ride” just as the others have been.

Goodnight Mudbug Fans!!!

© 2007 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article

This has nothing to do with hockey, but I want to ask a favor from those who read this.
Please be aware of ambulances and all rescue vehicles. Please respect the fact that we are trying to save a life and getting to the scene or getting to a hospital is stressful enough without having to worry if a car is going to pull out in front of us, not pull over, or just plain try to race us.
When I am driving I have a minimum of three lives that I am responsible for: Me, my medic and the patient. Not to mention when we have family members riding with us, techs or other EMT’s.
I’m not sure what the law is in Louisiana, but in Arkansas it clearly states to pull over and STOP. Not pull over and drive the same speed limit, but STOP.
So, for Christmas I decided to make a wish list for all of us who drive ambulances.
I wish that when you see me coming, with my lights flashing, you would pull over and stop.
I wish that when you see me coming you pull over on a straight stretch, not a curve, hill or bridge. I will understand that you can’t get over safely and I will be patient until you can.
I wish that when you are a half mile in front of me, and continue driving because “I’m not right behind you yet” you will realize that the little bit of extra time it takes to pull over now, could be even more time to me because when “I finally get right behind you” you may be in that curve, on that hill, or crossing a bridge.
I wish those coming at me from the opposite direction would also pull over. Sometimes I have to straddle the center line and when you are being inconsiderate you are taking precious seconds from my patient who needs every second they can.
I wish when you see me coming, or hear my sirens, you yield the right of way to me. I’m not going to cut you off. I will wait if you don’t want to take the time to yield. I hope my patient has the time to wait for me as I’m waiting for you.
I wish that you will understand that a lot of the times the medic in the back is not strapped in. He or she is working on the patient which requires them to be standing up and moving around. When I have to stop suddenly or swerve, the medic is at risk of being hurt.
The next time an emergency vehicle approaches, please be considerate. It may be your loved ones we are trying to get help for, or your loved ones trying to give the help.

© 2007 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article

At what point does a simple enjoyment become a full-fledged addiction?
When do you realize that without a certain stimulant, your “craving” for that stimulant overrides most other things.
Of course I’m not talking about a real addiction (I sure as hell wouldn’t want to offend anyone. But for the sake of this little blog, roll with it.)
I got a message from a friend on myspace and he told me it was time for an intervention. Since I’m not a big drinker and I don’t even take Tylenol, I was confused. The message went on to say that I have a hockey addiction and it was disrupting our quality time together. I knew he was joking since he lives in Beaumont, Texas, and our quality time together consists of a couple of times a year when I make the trip to visit my old stomping grounds.
It did get me thinking, though.
The last game was Saturday. There is a game tonight, but I have my niece so I won’t be able to attend. The Bugs are playing off this weekend, so the next time I will have a chance to see them play will be Dec. 14. At this realization, I got a little shaky. I pulled out the schedule that I keep tucked in my desk to confirm the dates and it’s true.
No hockey for me for 10 more days! It can’t be true. Yes, I made it through the summer, but damn, I had no choice.
I’ve thought about bringing my niece with me tonight, but tomorrow she has to go to daycare and I can’t drag her home at midnight (remember I live in Arkansas) then get her to daycare in the morning. I can handle the late nights. I don’t sleep anyway, but I can’t do that to a 4-year-old.
Making the trip to Colorado this weekend was a thought (i have a sister who lives in Denver), but, once again, I have my niece to consider.
So, it looks like I have no choice. Those hockey withdrawls I talked about in my first blog are coming back to me hard. I guess I will log on to you tube and watch old hockey fights. Tonight, if I can talk my niece into it, we will listen to it online since highspeed doesn’t exist in the boonies where I live.
All I can say is this sucks! I need my hockey. And not just any hockey will do. It has to be the Mudbugs.
I need a fix.

© 2007 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article