By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
The Shreveport Mudbugs open their home portion of the 2022-23 season tonight.
Although Shreveport is just four games into a 60-game slate, there is already plenty of reason for the Mudbugs to get off on the right foot.
The team won its first game of the season at the North American Hockey League Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, last week, but then dropped its next three games. Meanwhile, this weekend’s opponent, Amarillo, torched four different opponents at the showcase. The Wranglers (4-0) are tied atop the South Division after outscoring their opponents, 15-5, in Blaine.
“They’re really good,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell said. “They have a really good power play. They have a good mix of speed and heaviness.”
Shreveport is already tied for last, six points off the pace set by Amarillo and Oklahoma.
“You want to win as many games as you can early, because they can help you in the end,” Campbell said. “We learned that last year. We gave up some points already early this season, we have to be cognizant of that and not let these teams in the division win while we don’t. We have to stay within range.”
There is a chance Shreveport could get goaltender Simon Bucheler back. The second-year Mudbug is questionable after he missed all four Showcase games, but he did practice this week.
“He’s only had a couple of days to prepare since returning to practice,” Campbell said. “We’re going to play it day by day and see how it goes.”
Defenseman Matthew Danzinger is a first-year Mudbug. Although he played in the NAHL last season (Danbury), his eyes lit up this week when asked if he was ready to make his debut at The George.
“I’m so hyped,” said Danzinger, a Potomac, Maryland, product whose parents will make the trip to town for opening weekend. “It will be my first time playing in front of a crowd like this. I’m excited to get out there and muck things up.
“It’s night and day difference here than Danbury. Here things are very professionally done.”
The Mudbugs are perennial leaders in NAHL attendance and this weekend will certainly be unlike anything he’s experienced in this league.
The Wranglers and Mudbugs close the series Saturday at 7:11 pm.
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com