Lost in a Forest
Published on January 8, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
Corpus Christi, TX - The Corpus Christi Rayz peppered the Austin Ice Bats net with 39 shots on Thursday night, however could not get more than one past Austin netminder Jonathan Forest as he closed the door on the Rayz and led the Ice Bats to a 3-1 victory.
The Rayz came out and thoroughly dominated the first period, doubling up the Bats on shots and controlling most of the play in the Austin end. However, Forest made 12 saves to keep the game scoreless and got some help from the right post when Brad Wingfield took a shot from the slot that beat Forest, but rung off the right bar.
In the second period, the Ice Bats came out firing. Just 45 seconds into the second period, Shawn Legault picked up a loose puck in front of the Rayz net and had time to backhand it over Brent Belecki. The Rayz countered on a 4 on 3 power play when Mike Tilson found some space at the left point, took a pass from Dan Shermerhorn and blasted a shot past Forest and into the top right corner for his 8th power play goal of the year to tie the game at one. The tie game would be short lived, however as less than two minutes later, the Ice Bats scored on a four on four skating situation, when Daniel Tetrault had room from the left circle to set up and beat Belecki with a shot to give Austin the lead once again. Later in the second, Brett Seguin scored to make the score 3-1 Ice Bats, and Austin never looked back.
The Rayz had their chances in the third period, however were stifled by Forest as he continued to be brilliant throughout the game. He stopped Wingfield, Ken Richardson, Jonathan St. Louis and Cosmo Dupaul on the door step in the final period and held on to give Austin the win. The Rayz fell to 12-18-3 as they began the second half of their season and returned to the Memorial Coliseum for the first time in 2004 after a nine-game road trip. The Rayz will now travel to Austin Friday night in the second game of a home and home series.
The Bats moved to 16-13-5 on the year and are now ten points ahead of Corpus Christi for the final playoff spot in the Southern Conference.
Notes: The Rayz lead the season series over Austin 3-2...Thursday night was the first of five straight games against Southeastern Division opponents...Dan Shermerhorn now has points in three straight games...Tilson and Tetrault will be teammates on the Southern Conference All-Star team two weeks from now in Albuquerque...Tilson leads the Rayz in points with 26, and all CHL defensemen in power play goals with 8...Rayz defenseman Chad Starling sat out the game due to a finger injury. It's was his first missed game of the season...Jim Leger made his Rayz debut after being signed earlier in the day. In order to make room on the roster, the Rayz waived forward Jaroslav Jabrocky.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2004
- Lost in a Forest - Austin Ice Bats
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- Laredo's Cullaton, Bossier-Shreveport's Blair Earn December Honors - CHL
- Pankewicz and Bondarevs Return to Line Up Tomorrow Night - Colorado Eagles
- John Named All-Star Captain - Indianapolis Ice
- Laredo Bucks Weekly Update - Laredo Bucks
- Defenseman Turon Recalled to St. John's - Mississippi RiverKings
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