CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Hit The Road With Another Win

November 6, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Wichita Thunder 5-2 on the strength of a second period offensive outburst and balanced scoring overall. Five different Eagles scored a goal and their penalty killing remained impeccable, stopping all six Wichita chances to improve to 26-27 on the season (96.3%).

Colorado out-shot Wichita 12-6 during the first period, with the Thunder not registering their first shot until 3:22 in. But unfortunately for the Eagles, Wichita made that shot matter as Mark Adamek's low shot from the point was deflected past Mike Mole by Troy Ofukany to give the Thunder the lead.

Colorado tied it up just over two minutes later with a power play goal from Jason Deleurme -- his second goal in as many games with the club. The play developed with Ryan McLeod sending the puck from the right corner to Aaron Schneekloth at the point. Schneekloth sent a slap-pass to Deleurme stationed at the right side of the net, and although his initial shot was stopped by Scott Campbell, he was able to poke home his own rebound.

The Eagles jumped out to a 4-1 lead with a trio of scores 163 seconds apart during the second period. The first came 1:09 in on a play that saw the puck travel from Schneekloth out of his own end, to Ryan Tobler skating through the neutral zone, to Riley Nelson streaking down the right wing. Nelson deposited the puck into the top left corner of the net to keep his streak of scoring in every game this season alive. On a historic note, the goal was Nelson's 207th as an Eagle, tying Greg Pankewicz for the all-time team record.

The second goal of the flurry came 110 seconds later when Adam Hogg picked up a loose puck in the low slot to the left of the crease and threw it past Campbell. And Felipe Larranaga made it 4-1 just 53 seconds later after McLeod stickhandled deftly off the right wing boards and found the defenseman in a similar spot for a similar shot past the Wichita goalkeeper.

Brad Thompson scored a shorthanded goal (the fourth against the Eagles this season) to cut Colorado's lead in half at 13:07. Thompson picked off Kevin Ulanski at the Eagles' offensive blue line and the lone Colorado defenseman fell down, leaving Thompson to a breakaway that he converted into a top-shelf shot past Mole.

The Eagles scored their fourth goal of the second period at 17:34 after Nelson stickhandled along the right wing boards before finding Kurtis Dulle pinching from the blue line for a shot from the left circle. Like Deleurme, the goal was Dulle's second in as many games with the team.

Neither team was able to score in the third period, pushing Colorado's record to 4-0-1 and dropping Wichita to 2-6-0. After playing in Amarillo Saturday night -- their first road game of the season -- Colorado will return home for a second game against the Gorillas on Nov. 11. The Wednesday night game will be the team's annual Military Appreciation Night.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central