Belanger's Two Goals Not Enough In Loss
December 16, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
LOVELAND, CO- The Wichita Thunder lost 8-2 to the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center on Wednesday night.
Marc Belanger scored twice and the Thunder took a 2-1 lead into the second period, but the Eagles scored seven unanswered goals over the second and third to come away with the win.
Ryan McLeod snuck a backhand shot past Scott Campbell at 2:11 on the power play in the first period to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. At 14:43 and with the Thunder on their own man advantage, Marc Belanger skated in front of the crease and knocked in a pass from Joel Hanson to tie the game. Just over five minutes later, Belanger, who had just stepped onto the ice after a line change, walked into an open puck and ripped it past Mike Mole to give the Thunder their first lead of the night at 2-1.
Colorado powered back in front with four second period goals, beginning with two from Aaron Schneekloth just 10 seconds apart. The defenseman knocked one past Campbell from close range at 3:48 and then scored on a wrist shot at 3:58 to put the Eagles back in front at 3-2. At 5:11 on the power play, Ryan Tobler scored on a wrister from the slot to the long side of the net that beat Campbell to his right. Jon Horrell relieved Campbell after Tobler's goal.
At the 9:19 mark in the second, Brett Lutes had a half step on Thunder defenseman Jason Woll before getting hauled down right in front of the crease. Referee Pete Friesema ruled for a penalty shot that Lutes connected on with a backhander that snuck under the chest of a diving Horrell.
Colorado piled on in the third, scoring three times. Jim Jackson bounced a low slap shot past Horrell directly off of a faceoff at 5:36 to open up a 6-2 lead. Lutes scored his second of the game at 12:04 on a wrist shot from inside the right faceoff circle. Defenseman Brett Thurston lofted a pass from Steve Haddon into the left corner of the net at 17:16 to finish a run of seven straight Eagles' goals.
Campbell took the loss, saving eight of 12 shots. Horrell stopped 18 of 22 official shots on goal. Mike Mole saved 19 of 21 for the win. Wichita went 1 for 7 on the power play while Colorado was 2 for 6. The eight goals allowed were a season-high for the Thunder.
Wichita returns to the Coliseum on Friday when they host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
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