CHL Kansas City Mavericks

Mavericks Win Season Opener, 5-3 over Odessa

October 15, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Kansas City Mavericks News Release


INDEPENDENCE, Missouri - The Missouri Mavericks opened up the 2010-11 Central Hockey League (CHL) season with a bang, literally, on Friday night at Independence Events Center. Mavericks' forward Ryan Jardine led all scorers with a goal and two assists and goaltender Gerry Festa stopped 29 of 32 shots in the win. Kyle Corupe led the Jackalopes with a pair of goals. The Mavericks will host the Bloomington PrairieThunder Saturday night at Independence Events Center at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are still available.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a rebound goal from second year Maverick, Nick Sirota. Odessa quickly tied it up though on a goal from Brady Leisenbring. After that, Mavericks' goaltender Gerry Festa answered every chance from Odessa, stopping 12 of 13 shots in the first period.

The Mavericks started the second period quickly, with a goal from first year Mavericks' forward, Nathan O'Nabigon. Rookie defenseman Mike Wakita recorded his first professional point on O'Nabigon's goal with an assist. O'Nabigon got involved in the game later in the period when Odessa forward and resident enforcer Darryl Bootland challenged the Mavericks' forward. O'Nabigon accepted and made quick work of Bootland, a former NHL player with the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings. The play of the period came from former NHL player, Ryan Jardine. While Odessa was on the power play, Jardine blocked an Odessa shot and tore off down the ice on a breakaway; he rifled a shot over the shoulder of Jackalopes' goaltender Marc-Antonie Gelinas for his first goal as a Maverick. Gerry Festa once again stood tall in net, stopping all nine of the Jackalopes shots in the second frame.

A near sellout crowd of 5,048 stood by and watched the third period get underway. Festa and Odessa Gelinas both stood their ground in the early goings of the period, until Odessa's Kyle Corupe brought the Jacks within one goal. With the score standing at 3-2 in the Mavericks favor, defenseman Ray DiLauro ripped a shot from the point that found the back of the net, extending the Mavericks' lead to 4-2. Six minutes later, Tab Lardner gave the Mavericks even more breathing room with his first goal as a Maverick, tallying his second point of the game. Odessa managed to bring the score within two goals with just over a minute left in the game on yet another Corupe goal. After pulling their goaltender, the Mavericks stopped the Jackalopes final charge in the last minute and held on for their first victory of the 2010-11 campaign.

Missouri finished 0-for-2 on the power play and killed all four of Odessa's man advantages. Odessa held the edge in shots with 32 compared to 25 for the Mavericks.

Missouri will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, October 16 when they face the Bloomington PrairieThunder at 7:05 p.m. at Independence Events Center. Tickets for all remaining 32 regular season home games are on sale now starting at just $14 per game. Mini-plans, season tickets and group tickets are also available by calling (816) 252-7825 or visit www.MissouriMavericks.com for more information.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2010


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