Ice Bats In Playoff Contention After 3-1 Win
February 23, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(Austin, TX) - Coming off back to back wins, the Ice Bats entered Chaparral Ice Arena on Saturday for one of their most important games of the season on "Susan G. Komen Night". The Bats were tied with Amarillo for the fifth and final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference at 43 points, and dropping the puck against the Corpus Christi Rayz...their division rival who was just three points behind in sixth place. The season series between the Bats and Rayz has been competitive all year long with Austin holding a 4-3 advantage. Five of the games have been decided by a goal, three went to a shootout.
The first period reflected the season series between the two teams as it was tied 0-0 when both teams headed to the locker room for the intermission break.
The Ice Bats would open up the scoring 3:08 into the second period when Ted Vandermeer scored his 14th goal of the season from right in front of the net. Brendan Cook and Mike Barlett had the assists. With the Bats first goal, the forward line of Cook-Vandermeer-Bartlett has recorded 14 points in the past two games. The rivalry continued between Corpus and Austin when a pair of fighting penalties were handed out to the Bats' Jason Tessier and the Rayz' Nick Lindberg. At the end of the second period it was a 1-0 lead for the Ice Bats.
The third period was just as tight as the previous two, but Austin managed to gain some breathing room when John Ronan drove in from the left side, made a move around Rayz goalie Jason Tapp and scored on a backhand shot to make the score 2-0, Bats. It was Ronan's 14th of the year, RG Flath had the assist. With 3:39 remaining Corpus made it a one goal game when Justin Quenneville banged home a goal on helpers from Jay Latulippe and Geno Parrish. Corpus pulled their goalie for the extra attacker with 1:41 left, but Brendan Cook added an empty net goal to seal the 3-1 win for the Ice Bats. It was Cook's 26th of the year.
The Bats victory coupled with Amarillo's loss puts Austin in sole possession of the fifth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference with 12 games left in the regular season. The Ice Bats surpassed their goal of raising $6000 dollars for the Komen Foundation, which means forward Dan Veenema will shave his head. When and where has yet to be determined, but check icebats.com for an announcement. The Ice Bats will stay home this week and prepare to host the Amarillo Gorillas on Friday at Chaparral Ice Arena at 7:35 PM. Along with Corpus, the Gorillas are the other team vying for the final playoff spot in Southern Conference which makes Friday's game as crucial as tonight's contest. Tickets are still available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
The Ice Bats are the AA Affiliate for the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros (AAA). The team is currently playing its 12th season in Austin. Single game tickets and mini-plans are available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
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