Things started out well enough with the Ice Bats winning their season opener against the Bossier-Shreveport Mug Bugs 3-2 in their new Bat Cave, the Chaparral Ice Center, but last weekend’s home-road-home series proved to be a disaster. With two losses and an overtime loss Austin was only able to secure one of a possible six points in the three games. Not to fear Ice Bats fans, two of last week’s opponents (the Laredo Bucks and the Corpus Christi Rayz) will be in town this weekend allowing for the last-place Bats to enact some much-needed revenge against two divisional foes. With six of their next nine games following this homestand being played on the road, these games are about as important as they get with it being only four games into the CHL season.
Right-winger John McNabb is the Bats current point leader with five (two goals and three assists) while center Aaron Davis leads the team with three goals. Miguel Beaudry has resided between the pipes for three of their four games this season. His record stands at 1-1-1 with a respectable 2.91 GAA and 0.901 SV% having surrendered nine goals on 91 shots. Friday’s game vs. the Bucks features my favorite promotion of the year, Trading Card Night.
Vs. Laredo: Fri., Nov. 3, 7:30pm. Vs. Corpus Christi: Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30pm. Chaparral Ice Arena, 14200 N. I-35, 252-8500. $15-35. For more, see their Web site.
This article appears in November 3 • 2006.