Cook's Hat Trick Power Bats to 5-3 Win
February 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(Hidalgo, TX) - Friday night was game two of the Bats/Bees home-and-home series. Austin won the first game. 5-1, Thursday night at Chaparral Ice Arena and was looking for the sweep in Hidalgo, TX at Dodge Arena. Playoff contention was also on the mind of the Ice Bats as they trailed Amarillo by a point for the final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference entering Friday's game.
In the first period each team had early 5-on-3 power plays, but the Ice Bats were the ones who capitalized. Brendan Cook banged home a rebound after Darryl McArthur's shot from the point to give the Bats a 1-0 lead. It was Cook's 23rd goal of the season. McArthur and RG Flath had the assists. Rio Grande had a chance in the final minute to tie the game, but Bats goalie, Doug Groenestege, stopped a breakaway attempt by Mark O'Leary to keep the Bats lead, 1-0, heading into the break.
Each team's defense went to sleep in the second period as seven goals were scored between the Bees and Bats. Rob Voltera tied the game up at 1-1 with a shorthanded goal just 19 seconds after the puck was dropped. Danny Lapointe made it a 2-1, Rio Grande lead when he scored on assists from Jason Slusher and Robin Big Snake. Austin would answer back with three quick goals. First, Cook scored his second of the game on assists from Ted Vandermeer and Mike Bartlett. Next, Bartlett would add a goal of his own with helpers from Cook and Vandermeer. Then, Stuart Kerr, made it a 4-2 lead with his first goal of the season. McArthur and Flath added the helpers. Josh Garbutt pulled the Bees within one on a power play goal.
22 seconds after Garbutt's goal, Brendan Cook put an exclamation point on the night scoring his third goal of the game to complete the hat trick, the first hat trick this year by an Ice Bats player. Vandermeer and Bartlett added the assists, and the second period would end with the Bats leading, 5-3.
It was scoreless third period between the two teams, making the final score, 5-3, Ice Bats.
Next up for the Bats is a Saturday night home game vs. division rival Corpus Christi. Its Susan G. Komen night on Saturday as the Ice Bats will wear pink jerseys in support of the Komen Foundation. The puck drops at 7:35 PM and tickets are available by calling 512-927-7825.
The Ice Bats are the AA Affiliate for the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros (AAA). The team is currently playing its 12th season in Austin. Single game tickets and mini-plans are available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2008
- Sundogs Maintain Hold on Division Lead with 6-5 Comeback Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Rayz Pack The House In 6-3 Loss To Laredo - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Eagles Soar Past SteelHounds, 7-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Rage Burn Blazers, 4-0 - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Sundogs Slip Past Scorpions - New Mexico Scorpions
- Third Period Comeback Wins Fifth Straight Division Title For Bucks - Laredo Bucks
- Brahmas busted by 'Bugs - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Hounds Fall To Eagles 7-3 - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Mudbugs Win Hard Fought Battle With Brahmas in Texas - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Cook's Hat Trick Power Bats to 5-3 Win - Austin Ice Bats
- Oilers Top Gorillas 6-5 in Shootout - Amarillo Gorillas
- NYTEX Sports Introduces New Texas Brahmas Youth Hockey Association - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Join the Mudbugs in Helping Abused Kids - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- RiverKings Support the Troops - Mississippi RiverKings
- Riverkings Attendance Continues Climbing - Mississippi RiverKings
- Tonight is Gorillas Trading Card Night - Amarillo Gorillas
- Bucks Go For Division Tonight In Corpus - Laredo Bucks
- Bucks Can Clinch Division Tonight Vs. Rayz - CHL
- Ice Bats Go Back To School In February - Austin Ice Bats
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