Killer Bees Snap Three-Game Winless Streak Against Sundogs, Top Arizona, 5-3

Published on January 6, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Winless in the first three meetings of the season between the two Berry Conference opponents, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees picked up two points against the Arizona Sundogs Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center, topping the host club, 5-3, on the strength of a three-goal second period.

Luke Erickson and Cam Keith each picked up three points in the loss, extending their respective scoring streaks. Erickson has registered 12 points (6g/6a) in seven straight games while Keith has collected 10 points (3g/7a) in his last six contests.

Keith, Erickson and Kyle Hood connected 34 seconds into the Sundogs' first power play opportunity of the game for a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame. With possession along the blue line, Hood sent a shot-pass to Erickson below the left circle before the team's leading scorer found Keith at the far post with a pass through the slot at the 9:52 mark.

Brett Clouthier tied the game at one as the horn sounded signaling the end of the first period, backhanding a centering attempt past Levente Szuper. Ryan McLeod gained the offensive zone and threw a backhand effort into the slot and onto the stick of Clouthier between the circles.

Skating in his first game with Arizona since being acquired in a trade with the Rapid City Rush on Monday, Jamie VanderVeeken finished plus-1 on the night with one shot and two penalty minutes.

Doug Groenestege started the third period in relief of Szuper and made six saves on seven shots in just over 10 minutes of action before being tossed from the contest after skating the length of the ice and fighting with an unwilling Pagliero after the Killer Bees netminder shoved Hood after a whistle.

Rio Grande Valley gathered momentum after tying the game at one in the first period's final seconds and scored three goals in the second period for a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Jake Obermeyer lifted the Killer Bees to a 2-1 lead 4:16 into the middle frame, banging a rebound past the right leg of Szuper from the top of the goal crease.

Aaron Lee converted on his club's second man advantage of the contest midway through the second period to extend his club's lead to two after Szuper was whistled for tripping as he swung his stick in an effort to deny a wrap-around effort a minute earlier.

Aaron Lewicki's 13th of the year gave Rio Grande Valley a commanding 4-1 lead with 3:29 to play in the second. Named to the 2011 All-Star Game earlier in the day in place of teammate Darcy Campbell who is unable to participate due to injury, Lewicki circled through the slot before sending a low wrist shot inside the far post.

Erickson notched the first of two third-period markers just 17 seconds into the final frame, one-timing a Keith cross-ice feed from the near post to close Arizona within two but Rio Grande Valley reclaimed a three-goal cushion three minutes later with a shorthanded effort.

On an extended five-minute power play, the Sundogs turned the puck over deep in their own zone and Zak McClellan capitalized, lifting a puck over Groenestege from the low slot at the 3:20 mark.

Erickson netted his second of the period while on a lengthy two-man advantage with 13:13 to play in the contest to pull Arizona back to within two but Pagliero and the Killer Bees held on for the win.

Szuper suffered his fifth loss of the season, making 27 saves on 31 shots in nearly 49 minutes of action.

Arizona (13-15-4) finished 2-for-7 on the power play while the Killer Bees (14-17-3) converted once on four man advantage chances.

The two teams face off again in the second of three straight Friday night at 7:05pm (Arizona time) at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Tickets start at just $12 and are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.GetTix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2011


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