Thunder Rolls Past Sundogs, 6-3
January 15, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Wichita Thunder handed the Arizona Sundogs their fourth straight road loss and second setback in a row overall Saturday night at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, doubling-up the visiting club, 6-3.
Arizona hasn't won on the road since a 3-2 overtime victory over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on December 11.
CHL All-Stars Matt Robinson and Joey Sides each figured into the scoring with each player tallying a pair of goals.
Robinson collected the game's first goal at the first period's 9:07 mark, converting on a rebound chance at the side of the cage. Doug Groenestege made a stick save on the initial shot by AJ Gale but steered the shot wide to Robinson at the far circle.
Bobby Hughes stretched the Thunder's lead to two 1:40 later, converting on his team's first man advantage opportunity of the night midway through the frame, lifting a shot past Groenestege from between the circles.
Despite outshooting Wichita, 10-6, in the opening frame, the Sundogs found themselves trailing down a goal after 20 minutes of play.
Sides closed Arizona to within one before the end of the first period, beating Marc-Antoine Gelinas from the top of the goal crease with 5:02 to play in the opening frame. Jason Visser assisted on the play along with Tyler Butler, dumping the puck off the end boards and onto the stick of Sides in the slot.
Wichita reclaimed a two-goal lead 3:12 into the second on Lance Galbraith's seventh of the season. Entering the offensive zone along the far boards, Galbraith sent a slap shot from the top of the left circle past Groenestege who was screened by defenseman Corey Laurysen.
Jamie VanderVeeken cut Arizona's deficit back to one with his first goal in a Sundogs uniform with 6:36 remaining in the middle frame. Skating shorthanded, VanderVeeken cut across the blue line before blasting a slap shot low stick side past Gelinas who was caught off guard by the effort.
Cam Keith extended his scoring streak to a team season-high 10 games with a pair of assists in the loss and now has five goals and 13 assists in that span.
Robinson's second of the game 7:28 into the third period proved to be the eventual game-winner. Skating between the circles, Robinson tipped an innocent Aaron Davis centering attempt on net, trickling the puck through the legs of Groenestege and across the goal line for a 4-2 lead.
Sides pulled Arizona to within one with his second of the night with six and a half minutes to play, but Jesse Bennefield and Aaron Davis all but sealed the win with goals in the game's final five minutes.
The Sundogs were held scoreless on seven power play opportunities while the Thunder converted once on five man advantage chances. Each team recorded a shorthanded goal.
Arizona (15-17-4) closes out a three-game road trip Monday afternoon against the league's best team in the Allen Americans (26-7-1). Puck drop is set for 12:00pm (Arizona time). Listen to the game live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com and on KDDL Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey.
• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...
Central Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2011
- Jacks Fall to Eagles in a Shootout Thriller - Odessa Jackalopes
- Eagles Jump Up in Standings With Shootout Win Over Odessa - Colorado Eagles
- Brahmas Sting Killer Bees - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Shorthanded Bugs Suffer First Loss to Tulsa Since '08 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Third period surge, outstanding goaltending vault Mavs into second place - Kansas City Mavericks
- Summers, Flath Lead RiverKings Past IceMen - Mississippi RiverKings
- Americans dismantle Bucks 7-3 - Allen Americans
- Thunder Rolls Past Sundogs, 6-3 - Arizona Sundogs
- Brahmas Rally To Beat Bees 5-2 - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Gems fall to Quad City - Dayton Gems
- Mallards grab fourth straight win - Quad City Mallards
- Robinson Scores Pair in Win Over Arizona - Wichita Thunder
- PrairieThunder Drop Third Straight 5-3 to Fort Wayne / Back Home on Sunday Afternoon - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Bucks Blitzed in Allen 7-3 - Laredo Bucks
- Killer Bees Acquire D-Man Dominic D'Amour from Mavs - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Mavericks Trade Dominic D'Amour, Place Oivier Filion on Suspension - Kansas City Mavericks
- Brown Returns, Marino Activated - Quad City Mallards
- New Players in PrairieThunder Lineup on Saturday - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Bucks in Search of Third Straight Win - Laredo Bucks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
