ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Leave Stockton Angry After 5-3 Loss

Published on March 28, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Stockton Thunder defeated the Utah Grizzlies 5-3 Friday night at Stockton Arena in a game marred by controversy.

Stockton scored two goals in the first 5:55 of the game to build an early 2-0 lead.

The Grizzlies outshot Stockton 9-5 in the second period and added a shorthanded goal by James Sixsmith in his first game back from the AHL to make it 2-1 at the second intermission.

Stockton added an early five-on-five goal in the third period to make the game 3-1. The Grizzlies then began to feel things turn in a very strange direction. Grizzlies Head Coach Kevin Colley erupted during the first media timeout of the period when the Stockton video board replayed a hit on Utah's Evan Stoflet that delayed the game for several minutes as medical staff from both teams attended to the Utah defenseman, who left the game and never returned.

The Grizzlies would become even more enraged at 13:51 of the third when referee Jason Nissen allowed Stockton's eventual game-winning goal that he immediately waved off after the Thunder crashed into Utah goaltender Robert Gherson. The play, which also included a charging major to Stockton's Tyler Kindle, was ultimately counted after another delay as Nissen sorted out the situation and the penalty making the score was 4-1.

On the five-minute power-play, Utah was given a five-on-three power-play situation following a Stockton slashing minor that resulted in a goal from Andy Sertich. Still on the power-play, Utah made it 4-3 following a Dan McDonald goal 1:39 later. Utah still had 2:10 on the power-play but was unable to score in the final minutes to tie.

Stockton made it 5-3 on an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left as the puck rolled off of a Utah defenseman's stick and straight to Tyler Kindle who buried the puck.

Still enraged, Utah goaltender Robert Gherson was assessed a game misconduct at the conclusion of the game as he continued to vent his frustration towards the officials and the Stockton team.

Utah returns home to complete the regular season Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 against Alaska. Face-off both evenings is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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ECHL Stories from March 28, 2009


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