Gorillas struggle in 9-0 loss to Colorado
March 14, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
Loveland, CO - The Amarillo Gorillas, just a night after a 6-1 loss to the Laredo Bucks, lost to the Colorado Eagles 9-0 Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center.
Colorado's line of Riley Nelson, Kevin Ulanski, and Ryan Tobler controlled the first period of play, as the trio tallied twice to put the Eagles on top 2-0 by the first intermission. The first goal, at 8:19 of the first period, came when Nelson set up Ulanski with a backhand pass across the low slot during a 2-on-1 break. Ulanski wristed the puck past Amarillo starting goaltender Mike Gorman for his 23rd goal of the season. Returning the favor, Ulanski fed the puck to a cutting Nelson with 4:02 left in the first-Nelson tipped the puck by Gorman for his 28th goal on the campaign. Meanwhile, Colorado netminder Morgan Cey stopped all 13 shots he faced in the first period, including a breakaway attempt by Gorillas rookie Jake Morissette mid-way through the initial frame.
The leading line for Colorado would strike again early in the second period, as Nelson took a pass from Ulanski and ripped a wrist shot past Gorman from the left circle to put the Eagles on top 3-0 with 14:36 remaining. Under two minutes later, Eagles veteran Greg Pankewicz skated down the right wing and blistered a slap shot through the legs of Gorman to extend the lead for the hosts, 4-0. Pankewicz would make it 5-0 with 7:07 remaining in the period as he deflected a Konrad Reeder shot into the net for his second goal in six minutes of playing time. Cey stopped 14 more Gorillas shots in the frame, keeping the visitors scoreless through two periods of play.
Just 1:37 into the third period, Pankewicz scored his third consecutive goal, beating Gorman with a breakaway opportunity for the natural hat trick-the hat trick was his league-leading fifth of the season, and the 11th of his CHL career. Ed McGrane followed up with a goal at the 3:48 mark of the period, taking a feed from Reeder on an odd-man rush and beating Gorman to make the score 7-0. The eighth goal of the game was a controversial one-Clay Thoring took a shot from the point that was stopped by Mike Gorman originally. Gorman was run into at the top of the crease by Reeder, sending the puck skidding into the back of the net. After the collision, Gorman laid on the ice for nearly five minutes as Gorillas athletic trainer Kyla McDaniels attended to him; he was then helped off the ice to the locker room and would not return.
The goal stood, and A.J. Bucchino entered the game in relief of Gorman. Moments later, Ulanski scored his second of the game while the Eagles were shorthanded, increasing the Gorillas' deficit to 9-0. Bucchino made two stellar saves late on Reeder, holding Colorado off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game and preventing the Eagles from scoring ten goals at home for the first time in franchise history. Meanwhile, at the opposite end, Cey stopped all 12 Amarillo shots in the third period to preserve his first shutout of the season, making 39 total saves in the effort.
The Gorillas (17-40-3) will return home Sunday to take on the Odessa Jackalopes-their third game played in as many nights. Face-off is scheduled for 4:05 PM Central Time-the team will not be having their second youth jersey giveaway as previously planned. For tickets to the matinee game, please call the Gorillas' box office at (806) 242-PUCK (7825).
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.
• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...
Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2009
- Rush drop another shootout loss - Rapid City Rush
- Eagles Beat Gorillas in Historic Win - Colorado Eagles
- Sundogs Fall Two Points Back of Playoff Spot in 3-1 Loss to New Mexico - Arizona Sundogs
- Scorpions Win In Another Instant Classic Against Arizona - New Mexico Scorpions
- IceRays win 4-1 over Bees - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Gorillas struggle in 9-0 loss to Colorado - Amarillo Gorillas
- Circelli's Hat Trick Highlights Jacks' 7-3 Win - Odessa Jackalopes
- RiverKings Closer To Division Title - Mississippi RiverKings
- Thunder Fall to Odessa - Wichita Thunder
- Brahmas blanked by Bucks - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks, Martin Shutout Brahmas 2-0 - Laredo Bucks
- 'Bugs vs. Bees Tomorrow in Bossier - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Another Round of Mudbugs Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Look For Two Straight Tonight In Texas - Laredo Bucks
- Late Goal Helps Arizona Keep Pace for Final Playoff Spot - Arizona Sundogs
- Zultek's Late Game Heroics Lift Rush Past Oilers - Rapid City Rush
- Late Goal Pushes Arizona To Victory Over Scorpions - New Mexico Scorpions
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.
