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CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Clinches Gov. Cup in Loss

March 20, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Colorado Eagles were defeated by the Rapid City Rush 6-4 in the penultimate game of the regular season, but clinched their third Governor's Cup (as regular season champions) with Mississippi's loss to Bossier-Shreveport. The Eagles also accumulated the league's best record in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Rapid City played a strong first period in front of their sellout crowd, but it was Colorado who got on the scoreboard first when Greg Pankewicz deflected a shot from the newly-named Most Outstanding Defenseman in the league, Aaron Schneekloth. After having an early 5-on-3 advantage defused by the Rush penalty killers, the Eagles' captain made it 1-0 at 8:02 by tipping the All-CHL defenseman's rocket shot from high in the left circle.

The Rush stormed back, however, scoring three goals in a matter of minutes. Jon Pelle answered Schneekloth's goal at 9:41 by going hard to the net and knocking home a rebound. Then at 11:24, Chris Lipsett made it 2-1 when he beat Morgan Cey's glove with a shot from the high slot after a turnover in the Eagles' zone. And R.G. Flath made it three Rapid City goals in a row just 58 seconds later with a wraparound score.

Ryan Tobler cut the Rush's lead to one at 3:28 of the second period with his league-leading 23rd power-play goal when he got off a shot -- despite a defenseman all over him -- from the right hash marks that snuck over Lanny Ramage's shoulder and under the crossbar.

Rapid City countered again, however, just under two minutes later when they got their own man-advantage tally. Mitch Stephens fed a pass from the goal line to the right of the net to Derek Legault in the low slot for a 4-2 lead. But at 9:47, Pankewicz got his second goal of the game -- and league lead-tying 38th score -- with a slapshot that beat Ramage 5-hole from the right wing.

The Eagles tied the game at 4, 4:43 into the final frame, with their second power-play goal of the night when Ed McGrane knocked home a Schneekloth rebound. The score extended McGrane's point streak to a CHL season-high 19 games and matches the longest streak in franchise history as well.

The Rush, though, answered quickly again when Derek LeBlanc scored just 27 seconds later with a shot from the high slot that beat Cey's glove hand. Stephens added the game's final tally with Rapid City's second power-play goal midway through the third after receiving a pass from Pelle from the left wing boards. Wide open in front of the Colorado netminder, Stephens got Cey moving right to left and shot the puck under his left leg and off his right pad into the net.

The two teams will meet again Saturday night on the final day of the CHL's regular season.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2009


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