Ftorek, Gorillas Capture First Win of 2008-09

Published on October 30, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


Amarillo, TX 10/30/08 - During the Gorillas' five-game losing streak to begin the season, many fans pondered exactly how long it would take Amarillo to get a win in 2008-09.

They need ponder no more.

On a night where Amarillo outshot the Texas Brahmas 42-24, the Gorillas emerged with a 2-1 overtime win against their visitors from North Richland Hills. Ryan Scott made 23 saves in net for Amarillo to earn his second win as a professional and his first in a Gorillas uniform.

The first period set a blistering pace to the game, with very few whistles sounding to halt the action. Amarillo would test Texas goalie Brett Jaeger 13 times in the first period, only to be turned aside on each occasion. Scott, meanwhile, turned aside all six Brahmas attempts.

Despite two early power plays in the second period, and a 38-second two-man advantage, the Gorillas could not solve Jaeger through 40 minutes of action. The Brahmas, too, struggled to jump-start their offense against the retooled Amarillo ‘D'-Sam Ftorek moved to take a position on the blueline Thursday night with the recent injury to Alex Greig.

The fans in attendance for "Chrome Dome Night" at the Amarillo Civic Center would have to wait until the 4:47 mark of the third period for the first goal of the contest. Amarillo's Jake Morissette set up Jason Weitzel for a pair of chances at the top of the crease to begin the play. After both were turned aside by Jaeger, new signee-and Morissette's former R.P.I. teammate-John Ornelas took the residual rebound and whipped a wrist shot past Jaeger from the left faceoff circle. The goal was Ornelas' first as a professional, and came after the forward was signed just hours before the game.

Texas would retaliate mid-way through the third. With Amarillo on a 5-on-4 powerplay following a Justin Kinnunen double-minor, Matt Quinn stole the puck at center and raced in on Scott, threading the puck underneath the Amarillo netminder's blocker arm to tie the game.

Scott was then forced to stave off several late Brahmas attempts during two consecutive Amarillo penalties. With under four minutes in the game, Texas found themselves on a two-man advantage, but were turned aside several times by the Gorilla keeper as the team held on to force overtime.

Three minutes into the extra period, Amarillo's Emery Olauson drew a Grant Jacobsen hooking minor in the neutral zone. With the residual power play nearly elapsed, Joe Guenther held the puck in at the Texas blueline and finessed a backhand pass to Gorillas captain Ftorek in the high slot. Slowly, Ftorek skated in and ripped a slapshot over Jaeger's shoulder and into the net to give the Gorillas' their first win in the Tom Coolen era.

The victory moves Amarillo to a 1-5-0 record and into a tie for third in the Southwest Division standings. Texas, meanwhile, drops to 3-1-1 heading into their name with New Mexico Friday.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2008


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