Shots From The Point For Friday, May 2
Published on May 2, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
SUNDOGS LOOK TO HOLD SERVE IN GAME TWO
The Arizona Sundogs, fresh off their 6-4 Game One victory on Thursday night, will look to take a 2-0 advantage in the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals on Saturday night in Game Two versus the Colorado Eagles. The game will face-off at 7:05 PM (PST) at Tim's Toyota Center. Following Saturday's game, the series will shift to Colorado for three games where the Eagles have a distinct home ice advantage.
Cory Urquhart (25 points in playoffs) scored three times on Thursday and Alex Leavitt (26 points in playoffs) had a goal and two assists keeping a one point lead over Urquhart for the league's playoff scoring lead. Mark Kolanos and Tyler Redenbach each had a pair of helpers in the win for Arizona.
Riley Nelson paced the Eagles with a goal and three assists and defenseman Brad Willamson scored twice. Jason Beatty scored his first playoff goal in his 18th playoff game.
Colorado vs. Arizona (best of seven, all times local)
Game 1 - Thursday, May 1 - Colorado 4 @ Arizona 6 (Sundogs lead series 1-0)
Game 2 - Saturday, May 3 - Colorado @ Arizona, 7:05 PM
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 7 - Arizona @ Colorado, 7:05 PM
Game 4 - Friday, May 9 - Arizona @ Colorado, 7:05 PM
*Game 5 - Sunday, May 11 - Arizona @ Colorado, 7:05 PM
*Game 6 - Tuesday, May 13 - Colorado @ Arizona, 7:05 PM
*Game 7 - Wednesday, May 14 - Colorado @ Arizona, 6:05 PM (GAME TIME CHANGED FROM 7:05 to 6:05)
* - if necessary
IMPORTANCE OF GAME ONE
The President's Cup cannot be hoisted up after a game one victory but it certainly has been an indicator if you follow the history of the cup. In the 15 year history of the CHL, only one team has been able to overcome a game one loss and that was the 1999 Huntsville Channel Cats led by none other than current Colorado Eagles Head Coach Chris Stewart. No team has ever erased a 2-0 finals deficit.
URQUHART MAKING HISTORY
Arizona forward Cory Urquhart is having an unbelievable run in the post-season leading the CHL with 16 goals and ranking second with 25 points (Arizona's Alex Leavitt has 26 points). The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has already tied the CHL record with eight power play goals in the playoffs and is now just one goal away from tying Greg Pankewicz (Colorado) and Mike Martens (Columbus) for the most goals in the post-season. Urquhart has also scored three game winning goals, the CHL record is five in a single post-season. During the regular season, Urquhart scored 20 goals in 13 games. The former second round selection of the Montreal Canadiens won the AHL's Calder Cup last season as a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs giving him the unique opportunity to be the only player to win the Calder Cup and the President's Cup in consecutive seasons.
SUSPENSIONS ALMOST OVER
The Colorado Eagles will be without Captain Greg Pankewicz and defenseman Jay Birnie for one more game as the duo's three game suspensions ends after Saturday's contest. Both were suspended by the CHL for their actions following Game Six of the Eagles series versus the Texas Brahmas in the Northern Conference Finals. The Eagles won Game Seven versus the Brahmas minus the pair but fell in Game One at Arizona in the finals. WICHITA REUNION
The Wichita Thunder struggled throughout most of the season posting a Northern Conference low 42 points but three of the players that started the season wearing the jersey of the Thunder are now in the finals playing for the President's Cup. Tyler Liebel came over from the Thunder in a mid-season trade for Chris Greene and scored 29 points in 35 games with Arizona. His former teammates, Kris Wiebe and Sebastien Laplante, each were dealt from the Thunder to Colorado during the season as well. Wiebe has three goals during the post-season and Laplante is 8-5 in between the pipes. Arizona goaltender (and former Colorado goaltender) Marco Emond was dealt in the Laplante deal from Colorado to Wichita but was later dealt by the Thunder to the Sundogs.
Central Hockey League Stories from May 2, 2008
- Shots From The Point For Friday, May 2 - CHL
- CHL Announces Time Change For Potential Game Seven - CHL
- Sundogs, CHL Announce Game 7 Time Change - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings Reinvest In Community At Record Level In 2007-08 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Hall Joins Oilers As General Manager - Tulsa Oilers
- Urquhart's Three Lead Sundogs to 1-0 Series Lead - Arizona Sundogs
- Urquhart's Hat Trick Leads Sundogs to Game One Win - Colorado Eagles
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