Outstanding performances by Tulsa’s Angelo Ruggiero, Bossier-Shreveport’s Dan Wildfong and Colorado’s Tyler Weiman highlighted a wild Friday evening of CHL action. Ruggiero, a former Olympic Gold Medal winner with Team USA, had an assist and was a plus 2 in the Oilers 7-2 home win over Rio Grande Valley, becoming the first non-goaltender to play professionally in North America. Wildfong led the Mudbugs to a dramatic 4-3 come from behind win over Laredo in front of a CHL season high crowd of 12,430, and Weiman tied a CHL single season record by recording his eighth shutout of the season in a 4-0 win at Topeka.
In Tulsa, defensewoman Ruggiero’s appearance with brother and goaltender Bill became the focus of intense national media attention. The siblings appeared on ESPN’s “Cold Pizza” Friday morning with hockey analyst Bill Clement, and spent much of the day with a crew from NBC’s “Today Show” for an airing next week. The pair had already interviewed with ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated and numerous North American newspaper and radio outlets. Friday, she impressed the crowd of over 5,700 in attendance, playing 13 shifts and logging over 13 minutes of play in the first and third periods. Although she didn’t register a shot on goal or a penalty minute, she finished the game +2 and received an assist on Doug Pirnak’s goal with 8 seconds left in the game. The Harvard Graduate was named the Top Female Hockey Player in the world last season by the Hockey News, and handled herself with tremendous poise, demeanor and class as a focus both on and off the ice.
In Bossier-Shreveport, the CHL’s most highly anticipated regular season contest of the year lived up to its pre-game hype in an intense atmosphere as the Mudbugs pulled out a dramatic come from behind victory in front of a throng of 12,430 jammed into the CenturyTel Center. Who else but inspirational leader Dan Wildfong led the comeback, both with his fists and his stick. Wildfong battled Laredo’s Hans Benson in an intense fight that brought the crowd to his knees, then scored shorthanded to cut a 3-1 deficit to 3-2. After a goal by Shane Palahickey with 2:21 tied the contest, Wildfong roofed a shot from a tough angle to score with just 20 seconds left to play. Wearing special commemorative jerseys on “Military Night”, his game worn jersey was auctioned off for 4,000.00 following the game. The win gives the Mudbugs wins in both head to head meetings with Laredo this season following last season’s outstanding and controversial seven-game President’s Cup Finals.
Not to be overshadowed on Friday, Colorado rookie goaltender Tyler Weiman earned a place in the CHL record book with his eighth shutout of the campaign, beating the Tarantulas 4-0 in Topeka. Weiman made 26 saves to join Odessa’s Grant Sjerven (00-01), Austin’s Matt Barnes (02-03) and Tulsa’s Rod Branch (02-03) with eight shutouts in a CHL season. The strong candidate for both CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender and CHL Rookie of the Year honors and his teammates have now won 11 straight games, leaving them a win from tying the CHL’s record win streak. A win in Saturday’s rematch in Topeka would give Colorado their 12th straight win, and tie Memphis (01-02), Bossier-Shreveport (98-99) and Huntsville (96-97) for the record.
Elsewhere Saturday, Michel Beasoleil scored twice for Oklahoma City as the Blazers pulled out a 4-2 win in Memphis, and Lubbock’s Jeremy Kyte potted the game winning goal in Lubbock’s 4-1 win in Odessa.
Also winning on the road were Wichita and Amarillo, with the Thunder blanking San Angelo 3-0 behind Jason Flick’s 28-save shutout, and the Gorillas getting four-point nights from both Derek Hahn and Brent Hughes in a 6-2 win in New Mexico.
Austin was successful at home, with All-Star John McNabb scoring twice and adding an assist in the Ice Bats 6-1 win over visiting Fort Worth.
