Arizona Rookies Carry Team to Fifth Straight Win, Top Rayz 5-1

Published on December 5, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs opened up play in the month of December against the Corpus Christi Rayz Wednesday morning at the American Bank Center in the first match up since the two clubs met in the opening round of the 2007 CHL Playoffs. Arizona came into Wednesday's contest riding a four-game win streak while Corpus Christi had collected points in each of their last four games. Sundogs rookies tallied five goals, including three powerplay goals en route to a 5-1 win, extending their current win streak to five games, including two-straight away from Tim's Toyota Center. With the win, Arizona improves to 13-4-1 on the season and climbs back atop the Southwest Division standings.

Defenseman Sean Sullivan, in his first game back with Arizona since being recalled to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage on Nov. 18, gave Arizona an early 1-0 lead, converting on his club's second powerplay opportunity of the afternoon at 9:03 of the opening frame. Jon Landry and Chris Bartolone teamed up to collect helpers on the man-advantage marker for their fourth and ninth assists on the year. With the powerplay conversion, Arizona has gathered powerplay goals in 11-straight games. Penalties on Jason Tapp and Geno Parrish separated by just 1:32 resulted in a 5-on-3 advantage for Arizona and the league's top-rated powerplay unit converted, tallying its second goal of the game. David Schlemko took passes from Tyler Redenbach and Dusty Collins and fired the puck past Rayz netminder Jason Tapp at the 12:14 mark for a 2-0 lead. With the assist, Redenbach extends his league-high point streak to 16 games.

The Sundogs opened a three-goal lead just 26 seconds into the middle period with their first even-strength tally of the game as defenseman Schlemko notched his second of the afternoon on passes from Collins, his second of the game, and forward Mike Bartlett. At 7:48 of the period, Arizona collected its third goal on the man advantage with CHL rookie-leading scorer Mark Kolanos tallying his 11th of the year. Schlemko garnered his third point of the game assisting on the play with Dan Laperriere. Through the first two periods, Arizona held a 21-18 advantage in shots.

Corpus Christi used a powerplay early in the third period to break Sundogs netminder Andrew Gallant's shutout effort for their first marker of the game. Kevin Watters pushed home a rebound with assists going to Brent Howarth and Justin Quenneville 1:20 into the period. Arizona answered back 23 seconds later as forward Jason Visser collected his second goal on the year to regain a four-goal lead. Redenbach notched his second point of the game, being credited with an assist along with defenseman Jeff Winchester to close out scoring in the game.

Sundogs rookie netminder Andrew Gallant blocked 31 of 32 shots in the win to improve to 9-2-0 on the year while Rayz netminder Jason Tapp deflected 24 of 29 shots in the loss. The Sundogs powerplay continues to click, finishing 3-for-7 on the day while the Rayz converted on just 1 of 7 chances with the man advantage. The Sundogs are now 9-0-0 this season when scoring the game's first goal.

Arizona now travels to Hidalgo, Texas to take on the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Friday night, returning to the arena where the team grabbed its first win in franchise history on Oct. 20, 2006. The game can be heard via tape-delay beginning at 7:00pm on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2007


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