Texas Brahmas steamrolled in 2008-09 season opener

Mudbugs special teams score four powerplay goals in 5-1 win dedicated to a special fan

"Flat out, we don't like them. We don't like that we lost out to them in the playoffs. I can't think of a better team to start out with because we don't like them and we want to beat them."

- Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Head Coach Scott Muscutt (to the Shreveport Times' Kelly Morris before the game)

With 5,201 fans in attendance at the CenturyTel Center, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs dominated the Texas Brahmas in a lop-sided 5-1 victory to open up the 2008-09 season. It was a big win for the Mudbugs who fell hard in a four game sweep by the Brahmas in last seasons Northern Conference semifinals.

But the win had another facet. An emotionally charged pregame tribute to 12-year old George Cloutier and other Mudbugs fans who passed in the off-season gave the night some perspective and the Mudbugs another motive for a win with some of Cloutier's family members in attendance. After the game, the Mudbugs awarded the game puck to his father, Chuck.

"I can't describe the feelings and the emotions," George's dad, Chuck Cloutier told the Shreveport Times. "I thank God for every minute my family has spent around the Mudbugs."

The Mudbugs looked shaky in the first period until defenseman Dale Lupul opened up the scoring with a powerplay goal at the 12:27 mark with the assist from Simon Mangos and Kevin Cooper. Three minutes later, Tyler Skworchinski tied it up with a feed from Kevin McLeod and Pete Rouleau.

The play in the first remained aggressive and several Mudbugs seemed to target Brahmas enforcer Lance Galbraith; especially team captain Chris Brassard who seemed to be looking for a new foe on the Brahmas squad with Chris Thompson gone.

Penalties had the Brahmas in trouble in the second period, in which Bossier was able to convert on two powerplays. The first was an unassisted wrap around by Kevin Cooper at the 6:51 mark followed by an impressive set up by Evgeny Saidachev in which he put the puck behind the net and then hassled Brahmas goaltender David Cacciola long enough to leave an open net for Chris Brassard to slap the puck in.

The Brahmas could not find a way to beat Ken Carroll in the second period despite out shooting the Mudbugs 26-16. Cacciola stopped 13 of 15 shots in the second before Head Coach Dan Wildfong made a change, bringing in Brett Jaeger. Despite the change, Texas gave up one more goal in the period and went back into the locker room for the second intermission down 4-1.

Frustration continued to build for Texas and it began to show as the physical play picked up in the final period. 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward Neil Clark, who was just signed and activated by the Mudbugs on Friday afternoon, dropped the gloves and mauled the Brahmas’ Greg McConnell.

One of the biggest hits came in the third period. Mudbugs defenseman Quade Lightbody hit Brahmas alternate captain Lance Galbraith along the boards. A penalty against Galbraith for interference set up the final powerplay that allowed Neil Poulsen to seal the win with his first career professional goal at the 18:22 mark with an assist from Brett Smith and Chris Brassard.

Although the penalty numbers were equal for both teams (19 minutes on 8 infractions each) the Mudbugs special teams were the sters of the night, scoring on 4 of 7 powerplay opportunities and killing off 6 of 7 Brahmas powerplay chances.

Mudbugs goaltender Ken Carroll was solid all night, stopping 37 of 38 shots to earn the win. It was a bittersweet win for Carroll who not only gave lessons to George Cloutier, the youngster also wore his number 34 as a goaltender for the Cajun Catahoulas. He even used Carroll's stick.

"I don't even know how to put it into words. To have his dad come down; he's an inspiration for us right now," Carroll told the Shreveport Times. "There is no sense holding (the tears) back. Tonight was his night. It wasn't our night."

"We kind of patted ourselves on the back after the first period," Brahmas coach Dan Wildfong told the Times. "We didn't play within our systems and got away from a lot of things. They have a great team. If you don't come to compete against them on every shift every night, that's what's going to happen to you."

The Brahmas boarded the bus for the ride back to the NYTEX Sports Centre and will begin preparing in the morning for their home opener against the Mississippi RiverKings who are coming off a 3-2 opening night win against the Wichita Thunder.

Photo credit: Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs