Denver Spoils McClelland's 500th Game Coaching
Published on February 16, 2013 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Denver, CO - Head Coach Kevin McClelland is not the type of person who likes to hear about his own accolades. On Friday night in his 500th game coaching in the CHL, Denver (25-19-6) ran out to a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back in a 6-2 victory over Wichita (27-15-6) at the Denver Coliseum. Wichita is 3-2-0 against Denver this season with a rematch taking place tomorrow night back in Wichita.
Denver jumped out early in the first period. Brad Smyth scored a power play goal at 3:52 on a nice redirection from along the goal line to make it 1-0. At 8:55, the Cutthroats scored a tick-tack-toe goal that resulted in a tally from Mikael Bedard to up the lead to 2-0. Less than three minutes later, Troy Schwab caught a loose puck at the left circle and took a wrist shot that banged off the right post past Torrie Jung to finish the scoring run for Denver at 3-0 after one.
The Cutthroats upped the lead to 4-0 early in the second period when AJ Gale, who looked like he was offside at the Thunder line, caught a pass from Schwab at the left post and snuck it past Jung. With that goal, Jung was lifted out of the game for rookie Grant Rollheiser who was signed earlier in the day.
Wichita grabbed some momentum with two goals over a four-minute span to cut the lead to two. Dave Inman tallied a power play goal from the right boards to get the Thunder on the board at 3:38. At 7:13, RG Flath scored on a one-timer from in front to make it a 4-2 affair. Denver re-gained a three-goal lead five minutes later when Bedard picked a rebound out of the air and scored his second of the game to make it 5-2.
AJ Gale added his second goal of the game four minutes into the third period and the Cutthroats skated away with a 6-2 win.
Wichita loses for the first time in regulation since January 18th. RG Flath recorded his 20th of the season and has scored in his last three games. Wichita ties its season-high of six goals against, which first happened back in October in Bloomington.
Wichita went 1-for-4 on the power play while Denver was 1-for-3.
Wichita returns home for three-straight after tomorrow night, beginning on Saturday, February 16th against Denver. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.
Wichita Thunder mini-plans are still available. Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625 or visit the fan relations table behind section 120 at any Wichita Thunder home game for more information. Join the Blue Revolution today!
Central Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2013
- Americans Escape with 5-3 Victory over Mavericks - Kansas City Mavericks
- Fox's Goal Lifts Brahmas over Oilers in Overtime - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Oilers Come up Short in OT Loss to Brahmas - Tulsa Oilers
- Trimm's Five-Point Outing Highlights Thunder Victory over Cutthroats - Wichita Thunder
- Blaze Edge Rush 6-4 in Offensive Display - Rapid City Rush
- Thunder Pull Away from Cutthroats in the Third, 6-3 - Denver Cutthroats
- Barczuk and Booras Help Blaze Slow Rush - Bloomington Blaze
- Mallards Edge Sundogs in 3-2 Loss - Arizona Sundogs
- Mallards Edge Arizona 3-2 - Quad City Mallards
- Central Hockey League Announces Suspension - CHL
- Schwab's Four-Point Night Leads Denver to 6-2 Win - Denver Cutthroats
- Denver Spoils McClelland's 500th Game Coaching - Wichita Thunder
- CHL Sebastien Thinel Becomes Member of 800-Point Club - CHL
- Goaltenders Stand Tall as Rush Clip Mallards in Shootout 3-2 - Rapid City Rush
- Brahmas Fall at Home, 4-2 to Americans - Fort Worth Brahmas
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