Gorillas knock off Colorado in shootout, 6-5

Published on January 28, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


Loveland, CO 1/28/09 - A roller-coaster game concluded with an Amarillo Gorillas 6-5 shootout victory Wednesday night over the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Gorillas received the first lead of the game courtesy of Stuart MacRae, when the second-year player tipped a Jake Morissette pass behind Andrew Penner at 4:29 of the first period. Colorado responded just over a minute later when Kevin Ulanski scored past Amarillo goaltender A.J. Bucchino to tie the contest at one. The Eagles captured their first lead of the game at the 9:42 mark of the first, as Erik Adams scored on a back-door play to earn a 2-1 advantage for the hosts.

Amarillo's MacRae would answer, though, just 1:09 of playing time later with a backhander past Penner on a partial breakaway. The game was tied 2-2 following 20 minutes of action.

Despite surrendering 13 shots in the second period, the Gorillas and Bucchino held Colorado scoreless. The visitors got a pair of goals-the first on a spectacular individual play from Jason Weitzel, and the second on a wrist shot from Travis Lisabeth-to take a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.

Colorado tallied just 42 seconds into the third, following an Eagles power play, to inch within one (4-3). Amarillo would get an insurance goal from John Snowden at the 10:00 mark of the third, pushing the lead to 5-3. Still, the Eagles fought to come back, getting a goal from Adam Hogg with 3:20 remaining in the third to draw Colorado back to within one.

With just 16.8 seconds remaining on the clock, veteran Greg Pankewicz scored over Bucchino's shoulder during a late power play, sending the game into overtime and the sellout crowd of 5,289 into a frenzy. Neither team, though, could score during the five-minute overtime period, despite a Colorado power play after a Neil Smith holding call. The scoreless overtime period sent the Gorillas to their first shootout of the year.

Riley Nelson and Morissette exchanged goals to begin the shootout, before the next four shooters for each team were held scoreless. After Ryan Tobler scored in the fourth round of the shootout, Jason Weitzel answered in the same round to tie the gunfight at two. Both team's fifth shooters were denied, as was Colorado's Scott Polaski in the sudden-death sixth round. Jon Ornelas, Amarillo's sixth shooter, emerged as the hero by dangling a backhand opportunity behind Penner to give the Gorillas a 6-5 shootout win.

Ornelas, with a goal and two assists, was named the first star of the game. Meanwhile, Bucchino (who captured his first win of the season in the effort) received third star honors en route to improving to 1-4-0.

Amarillo (11-26-1) will host the Tulsa Oilers on Friday night in "The Jungle". The first 1,000 children through the doors will receive a free Gorillas youth jersey courtesy of the Amarillo Civic Center. Tickets for the game are available by calling (806) 242-PUCK (7825), or by visiting any Panhandle Tickets location in the Amarillo metro area.

The AMARILLO GORILLAS are celebrating their seventh season in "The Jungle" by offering special ticket prices to groups and parties! Call the Gorillas ticketing office at (806) 242-PUCK (7825) for more information, or drop by the Gorillas' new office at 901 S. Buchanan in downtown Amarillo.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2009


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