Gorillas dropped by Colorado in tough home loss

October 25, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


Amarillo, TX - For the second time in as many nights, the Amarillo Gorillas scored the first goal of the game.

For the second time in as many nights, their opposition came back to emerge victorious.

The Gorillas dropped to 0-4-0 on the season Saturday night, as the visiting Colorado Eagles emerged victorious 6-2. Eagle goaltender Andrew Penner stopped 34 of 36 Gorillas shots and Kevin Ulanski scored twice for the Eagles to lift them to victory.

Amarillo started the scoring with an early powerplay tally. Sam Ftorek slammed a one-timer from the right point, which was stopped by Penner. The rebound glanced to the side of the crease, where Joe Guenther potted it for his second powerplay goal in as many nights, giving the Gorillas an early 1-0 lead.

The Eagles struck back six minutes later with a power play goal of their own. Kevin Ulanski scored at 13:02 of the first period, poking a loose puck by Amarillo netminder Ryan Scott to tie the game up. Moments later, just after the expiration of another Colorado power play, Ed McGrane took a cross-crease feed from Ryan Tobler and netted his fourth goal of the season to put the Eagles up by one.

Jake Morissette, a healthy scratch from Friday night's game, scored with under three minutes to play in the first period to tie the game at two. Taking a cross-ice feed from Austin Sutter, Morissette skated into the Colorado zone and ripped a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past Penner for his first career professional goal. Any momentum Amarillo had from the goal was evaporated just over a minute later, when Ryan Tobler scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season, spotting the Eagles a 3-2 lead at the first intermission.

Colorado would score the next three goals on the powerplay, getting a second-period goal from Erik Adams after his wrist shot drifted under the glove of Penner and into the mesh. Ulanski and Adam Knight added goals late in the third period to ensure the Eagles victory, 6-2.

Noteable stories of the night included the ejection of Eagles veteran Greg Pankewicz. Pankewicz was thrown out of the faceoff circle at 6:14 of the second period, igniting a series of verbal encounters with officials that lasted nearly three minutes.

Penner claimed the win in net for the Eagles, who improve to 5-0-0 on the year following the victory. Amarillo's Scott took the loss in net, stopping 26 of 32 Colorado shots. The Gorillas will take a 0-4-0 record into their annual "Kid's Day Game" Tuesday at home against Odessa. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 11:05 AM. Season ticket holders can attend by showing their season ticket holder ID cards at the door.

Enjoy all the benefits of being an Amarillo Gorillas season ticket holder, including pregame meetings with Coach Coolen and one-of-a-kind access to special events! Gorillas season tickets for 2008-09 are available by calling (806) 242-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the Gorillas office at 901 Buchanan in Amarillo.



Central Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2008


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