BULLFROGS THIS WEEKEND

Opponents: Tonight: Sacramento River Rats at the Pond, 7:30; Saturday: Blades at the Forum, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: Sacramento River Rats at the Pond, 6 p.m.

Records--Bullfrogs 1-0; Sacramento 0-0; Blades 0-1

Bullfrog update--They play three games in three days. The Bullfrogs defeated St. Louis, 9-6, last week, getting three goals from veteran Rick Judson. The Bullfrogs took five of six games with the Blades last season and both games against Sacramento. Third-year forward Todd Wetzel might be back in uniform and all-star goaltender Rob Laurie is expected to see action in at least one of the games this weekend. All-time leading scorer Victor Gervais is expected back from knee surgery in another week.

River Rat update--This will serve as a season opener because last week’s scheduled home opener at the state fairgrounds in Sacramento against San Jose was postponed when operators failed to complete work on Rat Park, the team’s $250,000 outdoor rink. Former Oakland Skates Coach Sean Clauston is the new coach. He replaces Orange resident John Black, who was fired at the end of last season after the Rats lost seven of their last nine games. Gerry St. Cyr, who led the team with 48 goals and 41 assists in 1996, returns.

Blades update--This is essentially the same team that won its last nine regular-season games last year, only to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Bullfrogs. Coach Mark Hardy, an assistant with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League, will more than likely miss this weekend’s game if the Ice Dogs defeat visiting Detroit in Game 5 of their best-of-seven Turner Cup final tonight. Former broadcaster Jimmy Fox, the new Blades assistant coach, is expected to fill in. Former Bullfrog Bobby McKillup led the Blades in total points (55) in 1996.