07/02/2010 11:22 AM -
BOSSIER CITY, LA – The second-leading scorer in Central Hockey League history will be back in a Mudbugs uniform next season, as center Travis Clayton has signed to play a third year with Bossier-Shreveport. Clayton becomes the first Mudbugs player signed for the coming 2010-11 season.
Clayton, 34, has finished second on the team in scoring in back-to-back seasons and has led Bossier-Shreveport in playoff scoring over the past two years. He returns for a 14th professional season to add to his 820 career CHL games, which are already a league record. Clayton ranks second in CHL history in goals and assists and stands just 50 points away from becoming the league’s all-time leading point producer.
“Travis Clayton brings the experience of a veteran and the passion of a rookie to our hockey team,” said Head Coach Scott Muscutt. “When you look at how players perform in the regular season and playoffs, you see that Travis is the kind of guy you can build a team around. He is a pillar and a leader for our hockey club because he finds ways to contribute every night, but also recognizes those times in a season when you have to up the ante.”
In 60 games last season, the Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan native scored 18 goals and assisted on 32 others to reach the 50-point mark for a 13th consecutive year. He then tied for the team lead in postseason scoring with ten points (5g, 5a) in 11 games, including two playoff game-winning goals.
During a 6-0 win over Arizona last December, Clayton tied the Mudbugs single-game franchise record with four assists and then tallied his 900th professional point with a goal in the third period. Other milestones he reached last season include 800 career games, 350 pro goals and 100 points as a Mudbug.
“I’m excited and looking forward to another year in Bossier-Shreveport,” Clayton said. “My family and I have enjoyed the past two years here and the team is in a great position right now. Last year we had a good nucleus and we were only one win away from the Finals. It looks like many of the guys will be back, and I really think we’re going to have a good shot at winning it all this season.”
Clayton joined the Mudbugs as a free agent in August of 2008 after spending his first 11 pro seasons with the Wichita Thunder. Since breaking into the CHL as a rookie in 1997, the 5-8, 180-pound centerman has played in a league record-tying seven All-Star Games and was appointed to both the 2005 All-CHL team and the CHL All-Decade team for the 2000's. He owns career totals of 365 goals, 573 assists, 938 points and 1,185 penalty minutes in 832 pro games.
“What stands out about Travis is that he contributes in so many different ways,” Muscutt remarked. “Whether it’s on the powerplay, the penalty kill, or scoring the big goal when you need him to, he knows how to excel in every situation. You can teach a lot of guys a lot of things, but you can’t teach that.”
Mudbugs 2010-2011 season tickets are on sale now, so call 752-BUGS or stop by the team office inside CenturyTel Center for information on how to get yours! For all the latest Mudbugs offseason news, log on to www.mudbugshockey.com. 
