Keserich Blanks Defending Champs
February 21, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder shutout the Texas Brahmas 1-0 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Sunday evening.
Ian Keserich earned the Thunder's first shutout victory since November 2007, and their first 1-0 regular season win since February 2006.
After both teams played air-tight defense in the first period, the Thunder broke the deadlock at 12:16 in the second. Brent Ottmann fired a long shot from behind the blue line that Texas goaltender Joe Palmer stopped with his stick. The puck bounced over Palmer's right shoulder and rolled over the goal line to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Just prior to Ottmann's goal, Ian Keserich helped keep the game scoreless by cutting down two Texas breakaways. Later in the period, Keserich denied Tyler Skworchinski on a point blank slapshot after a pass from behind the net. Wichita outshot the Brahmas 22 to 6 in the second period, giving the Thunder a new single period season-high.
Wichita made the lead stand up in the third, with Keserich stopping 11 more shots to finish off the 27-save shutout. Wichita killed off two penalties late in the frame and prevented the Brahmas from gaining any quality chances with an extra attacker in the final minute.
The win snapped the Thunder's seven-game losing streak and also halted an eight-game winning streak for Texas. Wichita went 4 for 4 on the penalty kill and is now 13 for its last 13 since allowing three power play goals on Wednesday night. Joe Palmer was 39 of 40 in the loss. The win was the first for Keserich as a member of the Thunder and his third career shutout.
The Thunder takes on the Tulsa Oilers on Wednesday night at home at 7:05 p.m. It is American Family Insurance Buy-In Night. For tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
Central Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2010
- Offense Sleeps Sunday, Brahmas Lose 1-0 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Keserich Blanks Defending Champs - Wichita Thunder
- Mudbugs Steamroll Oilers 6-0 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Colorado Claims Rough-and-Tumble Battle With RiverKings - Mississippi RiverKings
- Eagles De-Throne 'Kings at BEC, 6-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Rush Blanked for the First Time This Season in 5-0 Loss to IceRays - Rapid City Rush
- IceRays blank Rush - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Mudbugs Cruise Past Thunder 5-1 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas outscore conference leader to stay undefeated in Febuary - Fort Worth Brahmas
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.
