Gorillas stung by IceRays in 7-1 loss

Published on December 13, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


Amarillo, TX - One night following perhaps their best game of the season (a 5-3 win at Colorado), the Amarillo Gorillas dropped a disappointing contest to the Corpus Christi IceRays, 7-1, at the Amarillo Civic Center Saturday night.

The IceRays set the tone early, getting a powerplay goal from Bob Rapoza just 2:05 into the game, helping to silence the home crowd. Mid-way through the first, Corpus Christi's Nicholas Bachand skated into the Amarillo zone and fed a pass to Patrick Steinmayr. Steinmayr then tipped the puck past Amarillo starting goaltender Mike Gorman to give the IceRays a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The second period began much like the first for Amarillo, as Corpus Christi capitalized on a Gorillas penalty that carried over into the middle frame. Just 20 seconds in, John Adams threaded a shot past a screened Gorman to give his team a 3-0 advantage. That lead was exacerbated just seven minutes later, when Justin Quenneville banged home a Mark Tobin centering feed for the IceRays' third powerplay goal and fourth tally of the game.

After Gorman (5-7-0) was relieved by Gorillas backup netminder A.J. Bucchino to begin the third, Amarillo's John Snowden took the puck in his own end and danced down the ice, sniping a wrist shot past the shoulder of IceRays goaltender Dustin Traylen to draw his team within three. The power play goal was Snowden's sixth of the season, and his third since joining Amarillo in mid-November.

Corpus Christi would control the remainder of the third period, however, netting three goals in the final five minutes of play. Successive scores by Rapoza, Adam Powell, and Ryan Bennett finished off the scoring, extending the eventual final to 7-1 in favor of the IceRays.

Traylen stopped 39 of 40 Gorillas shots in the game to earn first star honors, while Amarillo (7-15-0) netminders combined to stop 39 of 46 Corpus Christi shots.

The above-average crowd at the Amarillo Civic Center did have the opportunity to witness the annual Teddy Bear Toss for Evelyn Rivers on Saturday. Hundreds of stuffed animals, ranging from bears to gorillas to Minnie Mouse, were tossed on the ice following the Gorillas' first and only goal of the game in the third period.

Amarillo will travel to New Mexico next, taking on the Scorpions in a Tuesday morning start. The annual Kid's Day Game at the Santa Ana Star Center will face-off at 11:30 Central Time, as the Gorillas battle their division rival for the fifth time in 2008-09. Coverage of the game can be heard on 1010 AM ‘The Canyon', with a free online television feed through the CHL Network (www.nifty-tv.com/chl).

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 December 13, 2008


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