Bats Top Corpus 4-1, Take Over Final Playoff Spot
March 12, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(Corpus Christi, TX) - The Ice Bats began their three game road trip one point out of the final playoff spot in the Central Hockey League's Southern Conference, behind Amarillo. Wednesday night at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, the Ice Bats were looking to rebound from back to back losses, against the division rival Rayz. Austin found their offense in the second and third periods, as they skated to a 4-1 win, and control of the fifth and final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference.
It was a scoreless first period between both teams, as the Rayz and Bats had a couple power play chances but could not find the back of the net.
The Bats opened things up in the second period when Kurtis Kisio caused a turnover in the left corner and cut in front of the net to beat Rayz goalie, Jason Tapp, between the legs. 1-0, Ice Bats. Next, Brendan Cook extended the lead to 2-0, Bats when Ted Vandermeer found him all alone in front of the net for his 32nd goal this season. Mike Bartlett also tallied an assist on Cook's goal. That's how things stood as both teams skated into the break, 2-0, Ice Bats.
In the third, Zech Klann, banged home a rebound goal to make it 3-0, Ice Bats, Dan Veenema and John Neal had the assists. With a power play towards the end of the game, the Rayz pulled the goalie for an extra attacker and the initial gamble paid off as Brent Howarth scored to make it a 3-1 Bats lead. Corpus elected to keep the goalie pulled, and RG Flath took advantage to score a shorthanded, empty net goal for his 16th of the year. That was final tally of the game, and the Bats were victorious, 4-1.
The road trip continues for the Ice Bats who travel to Hidalgo, TX to take on Rio Grande Valley in a pair of weekend games starting Friday at 7:35 PM. The game can be heard locally on 1530 ESPN Austin and espnaustin.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2008
- Rage drop 4-2 decision to Eagles - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Beatty's Game-Winner Improves Eagles' Lead to Three - Colorado Eagles
- Rays hit speedbump, fall to Bats 4-1 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bats Top Corpus 4-1, Take Over Final Playoff Spot - Austin Ice Bats
- Rio's O'Leary earns callup to AHL - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Two Mudbugs Nominated For CHL Awards - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Greg Pankewicz's Hat Trick Voted Performance Of The Week - CHL
- Arizona Sundogs Notes - Arizona Sundogs
- Pivotal Playoff Implications This Week for Bats - Austin Ice Bats
- Pivotal Playoff Implications This Week for Bats - Austin Ice Bats
- Sundogs Top Scorpions 5-4 in Overtime, Increase Lead in Division to Four Points - Arizona Sundogs
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