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CHL Southern Conference Finals
The Laredo Bucks take on the Amarillo Gorillas for a shot at the title.

04.02.04 (GAME 1) -- The Laredo Bucks scored two goals in each period and cruised to a 6-2 win over the Amarillo Gorillas in Game One of the Southern Conference Finals in front of 5,350 fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

The Bucks came out and dominated the first period in front of the home crowd. Forward James Hiebert pounced on a rebound during a four-on-four session and jammed it home for a 1-0 lead 2:41 into the game.

Just over halfway thru the period the Bucks were back at it. With the Gorillas on a power play it was the Bucks capitalizing. CHL MVP Jeff Bes stole the puck in the Amarillo zone and swooped in for a shorthanded tally at 10:29. It was the second goal of the post season for Bes. Laredo out shot Amarillo16-5 in the period.

Twice in the regular season the Bucks had a 2-0 lead over the Gorillas, but were unable to hold on, tonight the Bucks were not about to let it slip away.

Laredo went on a power play chance and capitalized when Nilson redirected a shot by Bes into the net at 8:33 for a 3-0 lead. Just 2:30 later it was Nilson scoring on a wrist shot thru a screen at11:03 for a 4-0 lead. The goals were the first of the post season for Nilson.

In the third period the Bucks continued their assault. Forward Serge Dube intercepted a clearing try and set up forward Adam Paiement for his third post-season goal at 3:13. At 6:40 the ‘Three Amigos’ got into the act as Bes worked the puck ahead for Chris Grenville, who slid the puck across for Brent Cullaton who tipped it by Amarillo goalie Shawn Degagne at 6:40.

The Gorillas added a couple of late goals as forward Derek Hahn at 7:47 and defenseman Tyler Butler at 16:46 completed the scoring.

Bucks goalie Marco Emond stopped 20 of 22 shots to improve to 2-0 in the post season. Degagne allowed six goals on 27 shots and fell to 3-3 as he lasted 46:40. Jamie Vandespyker finished up for Amarillo by stopping all four shots. The Bucks were 1-2 on the power play while Amarillo was 0-8.

04.03.04 (GAME 2) -- In Game two, the Amarillo Gorillas turned the tables, jumping to a big lead and grabbing a 4-2 win to even the best of seven series at one game a piece.

After struggling to score in game one, the Amarillo Gorillas got off to a quick start the next night. Defenseman Tyler Butler ripped a slap shot from the left point just 27 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead. Then at 3:37 forward Henry Kuster wristed home the puck for a quick 2-0 Amarillo advantage.

In the second period the Gorillas continued to press the attack. Forward Derek Hahn scored on a wrist shot at 4:55 to push the Gorillas margin to 3-0. Bucks goalie David Guerrera was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots and was replaced by Marco Emond. Hahn scored again this time on a two-on-none rush during a power play at 9:44 to make it 4-0 Amarillo.

Late in the period the Bucks finally cracked thru. Defenseman J.F. David backhanded a shot from the slot that was stopped by Degagne, but forward Steve Simoes slammed home the rebound with just 27.8 seconds left in the period to get the Bucks on the scoreboard trailing 4-1 going to the second period intermission.

The Bucks were unable to capitalize on a power play chance at the start of the third period as the Gorillas successfully killed it off. A little over halfway thru the third period the Bucks were finally able to crack thru as forward James Hiebert hopped on a rebound and fired it into the net at 12:54 to bring Laredo to within 4-2, but that was as close as the Bucks would get.

Degagne stopped 11 of 12 shots in the third period to seal the win and 36 of 38 shots overall to improve to 4-3. Guerrera got the loss to drop to 2-1 in the playoffs. Emond stopped 10 of 11 shots in 35:05 of work. The Bucks were 1-5 on the power play while Amarillo was 1-9.

 

04.08.04 (GAME 3) -- Amarillo goalie Shawn Degagne was brilliant as he stopped 40 of 42 shots and powered the Gorillas to a 4-2 victory and 2-1 series lead. The Gorillas went 8-8 on the penalty kill as they stymied the league’s number one ranked regular season power play.

The Bucks got on the scoreboard first when Degagne got caught out of the net. Bucks forward Steve Simoes grabbed the puck and moved it in front for forward Patrik Nilson who tipped it into the empty cage at 3:12 for a 1-0 Bucks lead. It was the third of the post-season for Nilson. Just 60 seconds later the Gorillas tied it when forward Scott Wray cut into the Bucks zone down the right side and slipped the puck into the net at 4:12.

The Bucks dominated the play at the start of the second period, but it was Amarillo who managed to light the lamp. Gorillas forward Shawn Roed cut into the Bucks zone down the right side and then fed the puck backdoor for forward John Dean who tipped it into the net at 6:45.

Then Amarillo struck again as forward Jason Reesor tipped home a pass at 8:59 to make it 3-1 Gorillas. The Bucks countered on the next shift as forward Chris Grenville ripped a rocket from the top of the left circle past Degagne at 9:37. The Bucks had a five-minute major power play chance at the end of second, but Amarillo was solid and killed it off.

In the third period the Bucks peppered Degagne with 15 shots, but couldn’t get the tying goal as he turned all the shots aside. Amarillo forward Derek Hahn wrapped up the scoring with an empty netter at 19:44.

Degagne was brilliant stopping 40 of 42 to improve to 5-3. Bucks goalie Marco Emond played well as he stopped 22 of 25 shots, but fell to 2-1. The Bucks went 0-8 on the power play, while Amarillo was 1-5.

 

04.09.04 (GAME 4) -- The Laredo Bucks needed a win and they got it Friday night by the score of 4-1 in front of 3,708 fans at the Bank One Jungle in Amarillo over the hometown Gorillas in Game Four of the CHL Southern Conference Finals.

The Bucks evened the series at two games apiece as rookie forward Aaron Starr picked up the game-winning goal in the third period on a rebound.

Both teams came out physical in period number one. Each team had two chances on the power play, but neither was able to capitalize. The Bucks out shot the Gorillas 10-9 in the frame.

The Gorillas struck first in the second as forward Jason Reesor got loose on a breakaway and roofed a shot high stick side on Bucks goalie David Guerrera for a 1-0 Amarillo lead at 2:57.

With time ticking down in the second period the Bucks were in need of a lift and they got it. Forward Chris Grenville, who led the Bucks with 45 regular season goals, teed up a rocket from the top of the right circle that ripped past Amarillo goalie Shawn Degagne at 13:24 to tie the game. It was the second goal in as many nights for Grenville.

Going to the third period the Bucks were desperate to tie the series and it showed. At the 8:00 minute mark, forward Mike Amodeo fired a shot from the point that was stopped, but rookie forward Aaron Starr was there to drive in the rebound for a 2-1 Bucks lead. It was the first professional goal for Starr.

A little less than four minutes later forward Max Birbraer swooped in and scored a spectacular highlight reel goal as he went thru a Gorillas defenseman and then around Degagne for a 3-1 Bucks lead at 11:53. Late in the third with Amarillo gambling the Bucks got loose in a two-on-one and Grenville fed the puck for forward Jeff Bes who backhanded it by Degagne to cap the scoring at 16:41. It was the third of the post season for Bes.

Guerrera was solid, stopping 17 of 18 shots to improve to 3-1. Degagne allowed four goals on 43 shots and took the loss to drop to 5-4. Both the Bucks and the Gorillas were 0-4 on the power play.

 

04.10.04 (GAME 5) -- The Laredo Bucks were unable to hold onto a one-goal third period lead, but forward Chris Grenville scored 4:01 into sudden death overtime to give the Bucks a 3-2 win in Game Five and a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series.

The Gorillas, playing in their final home game in the series, got on the scoreboard first. Forward Jason Reesor fired a shot from the bottom of the right circle that banked off the stick of Guerrera for a power play tally at 13:42.

Late in the period the Bucks answered as forward Max Birbraer cut down the right wing into the Amarillo zone and pulled off a spin move to the slot, then as he was falling down he managed to lift the puck up over the glove side shoulder of Gorillas net minder Shawn Degagne into the top corner of the cage at 18:29 to tie the game at one. It was the second highlight reel goal for Birbraer in as many nights. The Bucks out shot Amarillo 17-12 in the first period.

The Bucks controlled the play for most of the second period, but had trouble beating Degagne. Finally late in the period the Bucks went on a two-man advantage and were able to crack thru. Forward Jeff Bes slid the puck across for forward Patrik Nilson who smacked home the rebound at 16:57 for a 2-1 Bucks lead. Laredo out shot the Gorillas 16-7 in the frame.

In the third period the Gorillas capitalized late as defenseman Tyler Butler blasted a slap shot thru a screen on a power play to tie the game at two at the 16:14 mark of the third period. It was the third of the post season for Butler and it sent the game to overtime.

In overtime the Bucks got an early power play chance in sudden death when Amarillo defensemen Eric Anderson was whistled for an obstruction tripping call. On the power play the Bucks were able to capitalize and end the game.

Degagne made a terrific stop to rob Grenville on a point blank chance, but the Bucks worked the puck to the point where forward Brent Cullaton teed it up and Grenville tipped it into the back of the net to win the game. It was the third straight game with a goal for Grenville.

Guerrera stopped 29 of 31 shots to improve to 4-1. Degagne stopped 40 of 43, but fell to 5-5. The Bucks were 3-9 on the power play, while Amarillo was 2-9.

 

04.13.04 (GAME 6) – The Laredo Bucks used a balanced attack as they destroyed the Amarillo Gorillas 9-1 in front of 7,226 fans to earn the franchise’s first trip to the CHL Finals.

Seven different players scored as the Bucks rode the emotion of the big crowd to a huge win and a date with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in the President’s Cup Finals.

Laredo capitalized on an early power play chance when forward Brent Cullaton found forward Chris Grenville with a sweet backdoor pass for a tip in goal at 9:20. It was the fourth straight game with a goal for Grenville.

Just over two minutes later it was Amarillo forward Henry Kuster connecting on a power play chance to tie the game at 11:26. Three seconds after the Gorillas tied the game; Bucks forward Max Birbraer was hit with a five minute major for high sticking and given a game misconduct.

Amarillo went on the major power play chance looking to break the game open, but instead it was the Bucks who responded.

At 11:46 Bucks forward Jeff Bes stole the puck and then swooped in for a shorthanded goal to give the Bucks a 2-1 lead. A little over two minutes later the Bucks were back at it shorthanded. Forward James Hiebert muscled the puck down the right wall into the Amarillo zone and then refused to let the Gorillas clear it. Hiebert eventually found Cullaton cutting down the slot and passed the puck to the Bucks’ captain who went top shelf with a wrist shot at 14:13 for a 3-1 Bucks lead.

Late in the period the Bucks picked up a break when Forward Steve Simoes flipped the puck high into the air and it came down near the Amarillo goal crease. Gorillas’ defenseman Bill Cass tried to clear the puck, but it banked off Hiebert and into the net at 18:58 to make it 4-1 Laredo.

The Bucks showed no mercy in the second period as they continued their assault. On an early power play chance forward Patrik Nilson tipped home a shot from the point by Cullaton at 4:14. A little over five minutes later Simoes teed up a slap shot from the top of the right circle that ripped into the top corner of the net at 9:37. Late in the second the ‘Three Amigos’ hooked up as Bes fed Cullaton, who dropped for Grenville who fired the puck top shelf for his second of the game at 16:52 to make it 7-1.

The Bucks continued to hammer away in the third period. Just 28 seconds in defenseman J.F. David hammered a slap shot from the point for his first of the playoffs and an 8-1 Bucks lead. Later in the third period the Bucks tallied again. Nilson took a pass from Simoes and dangled in before sliding the puck into the net for his second of the game at 13:01 to complete the scoring.

Bucks goalie David Guerrera stopped 15 of 16 shots to get the win and improve to 5-1. Degagne allowed six goals in 35:06 of work and took the loss to fall to 5-6. Amarillo goalie Jamie Vandespyker also played, giving up three goals on 16 shots in 24:54. The Bucks were 3-7 on the power play, while Amarillo was 1-5.