By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
A month ago, even head coach Jason Campbell may have been surprised to learn the Shreveport Mudbugs are now closing in on a franchise mark for offensive prowess.
Friday, the Mudbugs begin the second half of the season with a month-long homestand on George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum and are one of the North American League Hockey’s hottest teams, riding an offense that had trouble finding the net for the first two months of the 2022-23 campaign.
Shreveport has scored at least three goals in 10 consecutive games – the franchise’s second-longest streak since it joined the NAHL in 2016.
In 2021, the Mudbugs tallied at least three goals in 12 straight games from March 12-April 17. Two months later, they won the Robertson Cup.
“There’s been some resilience — not giving up,” Campbell said. “We were getting some chances to score (early in the season), we just weren’t doing it. If you’re getting chances, at least you know you’re doing something right. They stayed the course and it’s paid off.”
There was some concern the Mudbugs could face a holiday hangover in the recent series at Corpus Christi. However, despite a week off that included trips home for the players, the offense gave the IceRays an immediate taste of what 120 minutes of hockey would entail.
Eric Vitale scored 22 seconds into Thursday’s series opener and the Mudbugs proceeded to claim a sweep by scores of 7-3 and 5-1.
“It was nice to see us jump out like that,” Campbell said. “They had a good crowd both nights, so to silence the crowd right away is a good start.”
Now, Shreveport will spend the entire month of January at home.
“It’s going to be interesting,” Campbell said of the team’s opportunity to spend a month in their own beds. “(Wife) Shanda’s probably not going to like it. But, serious, it’s going to be nice for all of us. The guys have been sick and it’s caused many to miss games and practice.”
They enter this weekend’s series (Friday and Saturday) in third place in the South Division. However, the top four teams make the playoffs and fifth-place Amarillo lurks just three points behind.
“It’s such a tight race for that last playoff spot,” Campbell said. “Whatever these guys are eating, how they’re sleeping and doing practice-wise – they have to keep doing it.”
Captain doing captain things
This season, forward Garrett Steele moved past Davis Goukler to move into the top spot in games played during the Mudbugs’ tenure in the NAHL. In four seasons, he’s laced up the skates in 176 regular-season games.
The Chelsea, Michigan, product has played in all 30 games this season and has already tied his single-season mark for goals scored (12).
Last week’s 3 Stars
- Eric Vitale, scored just 22 seconds into Thursday’s opener at Corpus Christi and later netted the game-winner that night. Added an assist Friday.
- Maksim Sushchynski, collected three assists Thursday and opened the Mudbugs’ scoring on Friday.
- Tommy Aitken, in his first action since Dec. 10, the netminder made 26 saves on 27 shots in Friday’s victory.
NAHL South Division standings
Lone Star (22-2-4), 48 points
Oklahoma (20-6-1), 41
Shreveport (16-10-4), 36
New Mexico (16-11-2), 34
Amarillo (15-10-3), 33
Odessa (12-14-1), 25
El Paso (10-15-2), 22
Corpus Christi (6-19-5), 17
*top four make the playoffs
Team leaders
Goals: Garrett Steele, 12
Assists: Drake Morse, 15
Points: Morse, 23
Penalty Minutes: Maksim Sushchynski, 66
Game-winning goals: Hayden Nichol, Logan Gotinsky 3
Goals-against average: Simon Bucheler, 2.04
Save percentage: Bucheler, .918
Up next
The Mudbugs begin a month-long homestand with a pair against El Paso (Friday, Saturday, 7:11 p.m.).
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com