Bulls Game Day Preview
San Francisco Bulls (12-17-1-3, eighth place, Western Conference) vs.
Colorado Eagles (16-14-1-2, fifth place, Western Conference)

 

When: Wednesday, January 2 at 7:15 pm
Where: Cow Palace
Listen: KNBR.com
Watch: Americaonesports.com
Promotion: Get a Pair Wednesday

Tonight’s Matchup: The San Francisco Bulls (12-17-1-3) charge into the New Year to face the Colorado Eagles (16-14-1-2) tonight at the historic Cow Palace. The Bulls will be looking to end their 2012 struggles against the Eagles in 2013. This marks the fifth meeting of seven between the two teams on the season, with Colorado currently leading the set 4-0.

The 2012 calendar year ended on a high note for the Bulls. San Francisco closed out the year defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers, 4-1, in front of a packed house of 8,231 fans at the Cow Palace last Friday. Goals from Dean Ouellet, Rob Kwiet, Alex Tuckerman and Peter Sivak propelled the Bulls to their 12th win of the season. Thomas Heemskerk posted 23 saves on the night to earn his 11th win of the season.

Good fortune kept coming the Bulls way. On Monday, the Bulls announced the signing of former San Jose Sharks fan favorite Torrey Mitchell to a standard player contract. The 27-year-old right winger is in his sixth season of professional hockey, five of those with San Jose. While with the Sharks, Mitchell produced 73 points (30 goals, 43 assists) in 280 games. Mitchell practiced with the team Monday, and is slated to suit up and skate with the Bulls tonight against the Eagles.

Colorado skates into San Francisco in a bit of a road funk. The Eagles dropped their last three games to the league-leading Alaska Aces over the weekend. Looking to break out of their slump, Colorado will close out their longest road trip of the season with two games against San Francisco, Wednesday and Friday, and one against Stockton on Saturday. The Eagles currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, seven points ahead of the Bulls, who currently lie in eighth with 28 points.

The Eagles two point leaders Chad Costello (49 points, 14g, 35a) and Jack Combs (42 points, 19g, 23a) are currently on loan to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. In their absence, Trent Daavettila and Kevin Ulanski have picked up the slack, posting six goals and five assists collectively. Michael Forney now leads the Eagles active skaters with 35 points (17g, 18a). Forney currently has 4 goals and 3 assists in his previous matchups against the Bulls.

Peter Sivak (11g, 17a) and Dean Ouellet (16g, 12a) pace the Bulls with 28 points apiece. Sivak has a goal and an assist and Ouellet with two assists against the Eagles in previous matchups. San Francisco is without starting netminder Thomas Heemskerk, who has been placed on the 21-day IR list.

It’s get a pair Wednesdays at the Cow Palace. Fans can get two for one hot dogs. On Friday, the Bulls take on the Eagles once again for Country Western Night. The first 1,000 fans, 18 and over, receive a Bulls foam cowboy hat, courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner.

Bulls Leaders
Goals: Dean Ouellet – 16
Assists: Justin Bowers – 19
Points: Justin Bowers, Dean Ouellet – 28
Plus/Minus: Scott Langdon – +10
PIM: Kris Belan – 99
Wins: Thomas Heemskerk – 11
GAA: Thomas Heemskerk – 3.26
Save %: Thomas Heemskerk – .899
Shutouts: N/A

Who’s Hot
Peter Sivak – nine points (5g, 4a) in the past 10 games
Dean Ouellet – seven points (3g, 4a) in the past 10 games

Recent Transactions
01/02/2013  Bryan Hince (G)      San Francisco  ADD Traded from Greenville
12/31/2012  Torrey Mitchell (C)  San Francisco  ADD Signed to SPC

Colorado Leaders
Goals: Michael Forney – 17
Assists: Trent Daavettila – 19
Points: Michael Forney – 35
Plus/Minus: Jason Beatty – +11
PIM: Jason Beatty – 93
Wins: Kyle Jones – 9
GAA:  Adam Brown – 2.33
Save %: Adam Brown – 0.913
Shutouts: Joe Fallon – 1

Recent Colorado Transactions
12/28/12   Devin DiDiomete (F)       ADD       Signed to SPC
12/28/12   Ray Kaunisto (F)             ADD       Returned on loan from St. John’s (AHL)

Who’s Hot
Trent Daavettila – 11 points (3g, 9a) in the past 11 games
Kevin Ulanski – 9 points (5g, 4a) in the past 11 games

Tickets
SF Bulls Season Tickets start at less than $12 per seat and include the first four games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, savings on parking, and special invitations to “Meet The Team” and Chalk Talk Events. Individual tickets are now on sale. Click here to find out more or call 415-469-9843.

Follow the San Francisco Bulls
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sanfranciscobulls
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sfbulls

About the ECHL
The ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states.  Today, the league has 23 teams in 16 states. The ECHL celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2012-13 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. The ECHL has had 234 players reach the NHL over the last seven seasons. It’s the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. On opening day of the 2011-12, 83 former ECHL players were on NHL rosters. The ECHL teams are divided into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. All teams play a 72-game schedule. For more information please visit http://www.echl.com/