Comeback Bid Falls Short in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Allen
Published on October 20, 2013 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (October 19th) - In their first meeting since last year's CHL Finals, Wichita climbed back from a three-goal deficit only to fall short on Saturday night in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Allen Americans at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 5,586 fans. RG Flath scored his second of the weekend while Nik Yaremchuk tallied his first professional goal. Wichita earns a point, but drops to 0-1-1 on the young season and will head to Allen tomorrow afternoon to close out three games in three days.
Darryl Bootland scored the only goal of the first period, catching a pass in the deep slot on his backhand and putting a wrist shot past the glove of Torrie Jung for his first of the season. Wichita out-shot Allen 14-8 in the opening frame, but couldn't get one past Bryan Pitton.
Midway through the second, the Americans were awarded a five-on-three power play and took the opportunity to increase their lead. Bootland added his second of the night at 8:13 on the power play after Tyler Ludwig fired a slap shot off his shin pad and found its way into the back of the net. Less than two minutes later, Jonathan Lessard scored on the second half of the two man advantage from the left circle to give the Americans a 3-0 lead. The Thunder found some life late in the period when Jon Booras side-stepped a defender at the Allen line, fed it over to Yaremchuk who ripped one past Pitton with less than a minute left in the period.
Wichita scored twice in the third to pull even after trailing much of the night. Flath cut down the slot and caught a terrific pass from Matt Summers and put it past Pitton's glove at 6:28 to cut the lead to one. The Thunder then took advantage of a five-on-three, getting a goal from Tyler Hostetter at 9:29 after Ian Lowe was dragged down in front of the net. The two teams played even down the stretch and headed into overtime.
After a scoreless five minute extra session, the two teams needed a shootout to decide the contest. Matt Robinson and John Snowden were able to score in round three after both teams were unsuccessful in the first two rounds. In the fifth round, Kale Kerbashian put one low on the ice under the leg pad of Jung while Jesse Dudas missed the net in the back half of the round and Allen claimed the shootout win.
Summers had two assists while Andrew Martens added his 93rd career assist in a Thunder jersey. Booras and Dudas each recorded their first points on the season. Jung took the shootout loss, stopping 35 of 38 shots. Pitton got the win, stopping 40 of 43 shots.
Wichita was 1-for-10 on the power play and Allen went 2-for-6.
Wichita finishes its opening weekend with a rematch against Allen tomorrow afternoon at the Allen Events Center at 4:05 p.m. After tomorrow, the two teams will not see each other until New Year's Eve.
Individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets and mini plans are still available. Don't delay, contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2013
- Americans Fall in a Shootout - Allen Americans
- Rivalry Lives up to Billing in 4-3 Shootout Win over Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Third Period Goals Solidfy Sundogs 3-1 Victory - Arizona Sundogs
- Comeback Bid Falls Short in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Allen - Wichita Thunder
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- Chill Loses Opener in Shootout - St. Charles Chill
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