mudbugshockey.com: Mudbugs Headlines

'Bugs Sign Lupul to Anchor Defense

08/14/2009 11:55 AM

08/14/2009 11:55 AM -

BOSSIER CITY, LA – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs today announced the re-signing of defenseman Dale Lupul for the 2009-10 Central Hockey League season. Lupul, who is entering his fourth year with the ‘Bugs, becomes the seventh player and first defenseman signed by the team this offseason.

“One of the keys to success is finding athletes who always find a way to contribute, and Dale is one of those guys,” said Head Coach Scott Muscutt. “He’s been among the league leaders in plus/minus, and last year he led our D-corps in points. Plus he’s physical and great on the powerplay. Regardless of what way he’s contributing, Dale plays every shift with a team first attitude.”

Lupul, 29, is coming off a career year in 2008-09 when he established himself as one of the top defensemen in the CHL. Last season, the Port Coquitlam, British Columbia native was named to the All-CHL team for the first time in his career and was also a finalist for the league’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award. He finished third on the team in scoring with 13 goals and 38 assists for a career-best 51 points, which also tied him for seventh among all CHL defensemen. Lupul was named Oakley/CHL Player of the Week on February 9 after recording six points (3g, 3a), a +4 rating and an overtime game-winning goal in three games that week.

“It seems like every year I’m more excited to play, and I just keep having a lot of fun out there,” Lupul said of coming back to Bossier-Shreveport. “I want us to win as much as we can; that’s the big thing. I love getting points, but I love winning more. Hearing about the guys we’re bringing in and the guys we’ve got coming back, I think we have a good chance to do big things this year.”

During the 2007-08 season, Lupul finished with the best plus/minus rating of any defenseman in the CHL at +35 as the Mudbugs won their second consecutive Governor’s Cup. The 6-2, 210-pound blueliner also chipped in 27 points and earned a call-up to the American Hockey League with the Quad City Flames.

“Before, I was one of the younger guys. I roomed and played with Quade (Lightbody) for three years. I learned so much from him about being a good person and a good leader, and hopefully I can be a guy that some of the younger players look up to now,” Lupul commented.

After playing four years of college hockey at Wisconsin-Superior, Lupul had a big rookie season for the Mudbugs in 2005-06, earning a spot in the CHL All-Star Game and being named to the league’s All-Rookie team. He attended training camp with the NHL’s New York Islanders the next fall prior to spending the 2006-07 season in the United Hockey League (now known as the International Hockey League). In 76 games with Elmira and Quad City, Lupul scored a career-high 22 goals and finished with 161 penalty minutes that year.

The Mudbugs will begin their 13^th season in Bossier-Shreveport on Friday, October 16 at the CenturyTel Center. Season ticket packages for 2009-2010 are available now, so call (318) 752-BUGS or stop by the team office inside CenturyTel Center for more information.

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