Cutthroats Win Opener against Missouri, 4-3 in OT

Published on October 20, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Denver Cutthroats News Release


DENVER - The Denver Cutthroats opened its inaugural 2012-13 season with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Missouri Mavericks on Friday night with 5,182 in attendance at the Denver Coliseum.

Jamie MacQueen scored the game winner for Denver at 2:04 of the extra period.

Cutthroats goaltender Kent Patterson made 29 saves on 32 shots in his first win of his professional career. The Colorado Avalanche prospect was reassigned to Denver from the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) on Oct. 9.

After a scoreless first period, Denver broke the scoreless tie on a 4-on-3 power-play midway through the second stanza. A.J. Gale scored the first goal in Cutthroats history on a one-timer from the right circle, which was fed from Kyle Quincey. Gale beat Missouri goaltender Mike Clemente high over the left shoulder, short-side.

The Cutthroats improved their lead to 2-0 nearly six minutes later, and once again, Gale was involved. After firing the puck from the left side, the three-year CHL pro kept the pressure on Clemente, allowing Brad Smyth to crash the net from the right and whack the flying puck in mid-air and into the cage. Jeff Pierce scored late in the middle stanza for Missouri to make it a 2-1 game after 40 minutes.

The Cutthroats extended their lead back to two early in the third, as Markus Lauridsen, another Avalanche/Lake Erie prospect, scored on a one-timer from the left point. Smyth and Troy Schwab picked up assists on the goal.

In the third period, the Mavericks tied the game at three with Matt McCready and Brian Bicek scoring

The Cutthroats and the Mavericks will play the second game of their weekend series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum.

Three Stars:

1. Jamie MacQueen (DEN)

2. Jeff Pierce (MIZ)

3. A.J. Gale (DEN)

Post-Game Notes: Denver and Missouri will meet a total of eight times this season. All six Colorado Avalanche/Lake Erie Monsters prospects dressed in the game. Backup goaltender Kieran Millan was the only prospect not to see ice time. Millan will get the start in net on Saturday for Denver. Friday's game at the Denver Coliseum was the first professional hockey contest at the arena since the Denver Rangers in 1989



Central Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2012


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