Davis Hat Trick Leads Rage to Victory

November 28, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Amarillo - The last time the Rocky Mountain Rage were out of the state on a road trip they had to overcome a nine-hour delay on a two-lane highway in rural New Mexico due to a broken down bus. Tonight at the Amarillo Civic Center, the team had to overcome a nearly two-hour delay between the second and third periods due to a hole in the ice left by a broken down zamboni. In the end, though, the club prevailed, 5-4, against the Amarillo Gorillas behind a hat trick from Aaron Davis.

The Rage took a 1-0 lead on the game's first shift, scoring their quickest goal of the season just 21 seconds after the puck dropped. Colt King potted his fourth of the year off a rebound set up by a shot from the point by Rob Chappell. Amarillo then squared the game at one when Sam Ftorek, the league's second-leading scorer among defensemen coming into tonight, blasted in a slapshot from the point at 7:43.

The teams combined for five goals in a wide open second period. The Gorillas took their only lead of the night exactly one minute into the frame on the power play off a goal from Joe Guenther. But Davis netted his first two of the evening at 3:30 and 10:15 to lead the Rage back in front, 3-2. Rocky Mountain then ran into penalty trouble, and Amarillo converted on a five-on-three at 13:06 when Ftorek rifled home another slapshot to square the game at three. Nathan O'Nabigon responded quickly for the Rage once the clubs were back to five-on-five, scoring off the backhand at 15:06 to give Rocky Mountain a 4-3 edge into the third.

The game then ground to a screeching halt when the Civic Center's zamboni broke down as it was resurfacing the ice during the second intermission. The teams agreed to resume play on the ragged playing surface but were prevented from doing so because the zamboni melted a hole approximately 18" x 4" into the ice just outside one of the blue lines. Following a lengthy delay that lasted one hour and 56 minutes, the arena's operations staff finally determined the patched hole was sufficiently frozen enough for the third period to get underway.

The Rage promptly relinquished their third one-goal lead of the game when Amarillo's Jamie McKinven scored off a rebound at 3:52. Still tied at four for the next 13 minutes plus, Davis took matters into his own hands to score the game-winner and complete the hat trick. As a Rocky Mountain power play was winding down, the seventh-year pro walked three Gorillas defenders, nearly lost the handle through the left circle, but then reeled the puck back in before banking it off the leg of Amarillo goaltender Mike Gorman from just below the goal line at 17:35. This time the Rage held onto the one-goal lead to secure their third victory in their last four road games.

Davis registered the team's second hat trick in three games and now has goals in six straight contests, which is the league's longest goal streak of the season.

The win moves Rocky Mountain into a third place tie in the Northwest Division with the Rapid City Rush with a record of 5-9-1 and 11 points.

The Rage conclude a home-and-home with the Gorillas tomorrow at Broomfield Event Center at 7:05 p.m. The team will be wearing military-themed jerseys during the game in recognition of Hometown Heroes Night, honoring those individuals that keep our communities safe. The jerseys will be auctioned off following the game with the proceeds to benefit the USO and the Broomfield Event Center Foundation.

All Military, Police, Fire, and First Responder personnel gain admission for just $5 tomorrow. As always, tickets for kids 12 & under cost $5 and are $10 for students with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased at the BEC Box Office, www.Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone at (303) 830-TIXS, and all Ticketmaster retail outlets.

Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2008-09 campaign are still available, as well, with packages beginning as low as $17 per seat. For more information, visit www.rockymountainrage.com, or contact the Rage Ticket Sales Staff at (303) 439-RAGE or tickets@broomfieldsports.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2008


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