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CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado puts hurtin' on Wichita, wins 5-2

January 9, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Colorado defeated Wichita 5-2 to win their fourth game in as many contests against the Thunder this season. Scott Polaski had two goals on seven shots and added an assists as the game's First Star, while all-star defenseman Aaron Schneekloth also recorded a three-point night with a goal and two assists to go with his +4 plus/minus rating. The Eagles sold out their 143rd consecutive home game, setting them up to tie the record for most consecutive sellouts in minor pro hockey history on Friday night against the Odessa Jackalopes and break the record Saturday night against the Rocky Mountain Rage.

For the third time in as many home meetings with Wichita this season, the Eagles dominated the first period. This time they out-shot the Thunder 19-7 along with playing four minutes on the power play. But just like the three previous meetings, the score at the end of the first period was 1-0. Polaski got the period's lone goal just after the Eagles' first power play had expired.

Schneekloth cocked-and-fired from the point and the puck slipped through Thunder goaltender, Sebastien Laplante. Laplante fell backward in an attempt to cover the puck, but it remained un-frozen and Polaski poked it in.

Both teams scored twice in the second. Colorado made it 2-0 just 1:46 into the second when Seth Leonard skated the puck in from the left point, cut to the left of the net, and slid a pass back through the crease to Riley Nelson who put it past Laplante. Wichita countered just 23 seconds later when Mike Batovanja rushed into the Eagles' zone and crashed hard into Marco Emond while getting off a weak shot. As Batovanja carried Emond to the ice and out of the crease, Kyle Bruce swooped in and put the puck into the empty net.

Colorado regained the two-goal cushion at 6:22 when Mike Lukajic chipped the puck up the boards to Seth Leonard in the left circle. Laplante stopped Leonard's shot, but Schneekloth dug out the rebound and put his own rebound past the Thunder goaltender. Wichita scored their second goal at 15:22 when Kris Wiebe passed the puck to Alex Goupil alone in the low slot. Emond saved Goupil's uncontested chance, but Bruce Richardson was able to bang the rebound over the goal line from the left of the net.

The Eagles took control of the third from the outset, scoring just 1:18 in. Polaski skated down the right-wing boards, turned up to stall the play, and hit Dave Iannazzo who scored from the slot. Colorado scored again at 3:41 when Schneekloth battled his way through the left circle and passed from his knee to Polaski in the slot. Polaski put the puck past Laplante for his second goal of the game. About 30 seconds later, Kyle Bruce got in his second fight of the night. The first fight came in the first period against Brett Thurston, and lasted an incredible 55 seconds. That fight was fairly even, but the second one - against Jason Beatty - was about as lopsided as they come. Beatty landed several punches, pummeling Bruce to the ice. The Thunder would mount few other chances the rest of the way as they lost their fourth game to Colorado this year.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2008


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