Stars Continental Teams Continue to Improve

2010-01-28


Rookie defenseman Tyler Clegg has real presence in the CHA

The Buffalo Stars Continental Hockey Association B and C teams have made tremendous strides in the past 6 weeks as the B team clinches a playoff spot and the C team rises from the basement and propels into 3rd place.

The Buffalo Stars CHA Junior B, like their Empire B counterpart has been on a significant undefeated streak with a record of 8-1-2 in their last 11 games. During that time, the team has outscored their opponents 68-25. Buffalo has not dropped a game since December 5.  Even more impressive is the fact that the Stars have lost only four games in their last 22.  With their recent success, the Stars have propelled themselves into second place in the American Conference with a record of 18-9-3 and have clinched a playoff spot.

 

The key to the Stars success has been the balance it has received from forwards, defense and goaltenders.  Andy Sturtz and Mike Schalberg lead the way offensively for Buffalo with 36 and 30 points respectively. Fourteen other players have contributed double digit offense.  Tyler Clegg leads the defense corps with 19 points.  An amazing note for the future is that Sturtz and Clegg are only 15, while Cody Tiejeira (26 points) is 16.  The team has been getting steady defensive play from the blue liners and solid, always improving goaltending from the duo of PJ Bluff and Ian Shorthouse.

 

The Stars CHA B team has 6 league games remaining, all against tough competition. The Stars travel to Philadelphia next weekend to take on the Blazers in a two game set. They travel to Jersey February 20-21 to take on the Jersey Wildcats and then return home February 27-28 to host the New Hampshire Monarchs. Six very tough games indeed ahead for the Stars.

 

The Stars have clinched a playoff spot and will travel to Warwick, PA March 12-14 to compete in the double elimination playoff format. The Stars hope to continue their winning ways and improved their seeding for the post season competition. 

 

The Buffalo Stars CHA Junior C team has made steady progress and find themselves in third place in the C division with a record of 8-12-3.  After a very slow start and most of the early season in the basement, the Stars started to show signs of life at Christmas time when they hosted the CHA Junior C Showcase at Holiday Twin Rinks.  Since the completion of that Showcase, Buffalo has put together a streak of 5-1-2 and is close to clinching a playoff position.  The Stars could do just that next weekend as they travel to Flint, Michigan to take on the Mountain Cats in a two game set.  The Stars will close the regular season at home February 14-15 as they host the Pittsburgh Junior Penguins. The Stars have swept both Michigan and Pittsburgh during their recent streak.

 

The Stars Junior C team is led by Ashton Laird and Travis Densmore with 25 and 21 points respectively.  The offense is starting to come together and each line is capable of scoring at any time. The defense is led by the return of veteran Robert Mund, and the goaltending duo of TJ Schenkel and Jonathan Bragg has made significant improvement.  A total team effort has led to the significant improvement in this young Buffalo squad.

 

Stars Notes:

The Buffalo Stars recently hosted the CHA All Star Weekend as the CHA B and C All Stars converged on Buffalo to compete against a B and C squad from the Great Lakes League. In total, 84 players from 17 States met in Buffalo for this 2 day event which included 4 games, 2 skills competitions, a breakfast and a pair of college presentations.  Buffalo is proud to have served as host of this event.

 

Buffalo Stars Andy Sturtz was recently featured on the local Buffalo CBS affiliate during the All Star weekend. The link to that story can be found at: http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/Is-a-teen-Buffalos-next-hockey-star

 

Buffalo All Stars:

The Stars were proud to have four CHA and two Empire All Stars selected to play in All Star Competition.  Andy Sturtz represented the Stars CHA B team. Ashton Laird, Travis Densmore and Robert Mund represented the Stars CHA C team. In New Hampshire at the Empire All Star weekend, the Buffalo Stars were represented by Hayden Fitzpatrick and Frankie Buttino.  The Buffalo Stars are proud of all of our athletes.