McClelland Reaches Milestone as Thunder Come Back for Second-Straight Night
March 10, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Independence, MO (March 10th) - For the second-straight night, Wichita (35-17-8) came back from a two-goal deficit to win in a shootout over Missouri (29-23-6) 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Independence Events Center and earned Head Coach Kevin McClelland his 300th career win. Ian Lowe and Todd Griffith scored a pair of goals 36 seconds apart to tie the game in the third period and Lowe scored in round seven of the shootout to help the Thunder stop its road losing skid. Wichita improves to 7-1-1 against the Mavericks and will host Missouri on the final day of the regular season.
The two teams tried to set the tone early as each had some big-time hits thrown. After a boarding penalty was assessed to Todd Griffith, Missouri scored eight seconds later when Trevor Kell tipped a centering pass over the shoulder of Torrie Jung to give Missouri a 1-0 lead.
Griffith netted Wichita's first of the game at the beginning of the second period. Missouri won a face-off in the Thunder zone, but the puck cleared past both defenders through the neutral zone. Griffith outraced a defender at the Missouri line, skated in alone and beat Mathieu Corbeil with a backhand to tie the game at one. With two minutes to go in the period, Andrew Courtney found a loose puck at the right circle and gave the Mavericks a 2-1 advantage.
Missouri added to its lead less than three minutes into the third when Evan Vossen was able to beat Jung from in close to make it 3-1. At 6:22, Lowe made a beautiful move coming down the wall, beat a defenseman at the left circle and put it past Corbeil to cut the lead to one. 36 seconds later, the Mavericks tried to rim the puck out of the zone up the left boards and it cost them. Dave Inman, who had just stepped on the ice, came into the zone along the wall and fired a shot from the right circle that tipped off a stick in front of the Maverick net and tied it at three. The two teams kept pushing down the stretch, but needed a shootout for the second-straight game at the IEC.
The Thunder began the overtime on fire and had some great chances to end the game. The Mavericks were able to weather the storm and then were awarded a one-minute power play as Les Reaney was sent off for interference. Wichita killed off the power play and the two teams needed a shootout despite the Thunder out-shooting the Mavericks 5-1 in the extra session. Wichita got goals from Matt Summers, Matt Robinson, Neil Trimm and needed a Kevin Young tally to extend the shootout in the fifth round. The final two Mavericks shooters were stopped by Jung and that gave Lowe a shot in round seven. He was able to put a wrist shot past Corbeil and gave the Thunder a 4-3 win.
McClelland becomes just the seventh coach in CHL history to reach 300-career wins. Lowe finishes with two goals while Jung earns his 21st win of the year, stopping 33 of 36 shots. Trimm's five-game point and goal scoring streak was stopped at five games. Wichita stops its road losing streak, going 1-3-4 in its last eight road games.
Wichita went 0-for-2 on the power play while Missouri was 1-for-4.
Wichita will travel to Arizona next weekend to take on the Sundogs on Friday and Saturday before finishing off its four-game road trip in Allen, TX the following Tuesday. The Thunder will not return to home-ice until March 22nd against the Allen Americans. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.
Wichita Thunder playoff packages are on sale now. There are many ways to get involved, so be a part of the Blue Revolution and the Thunder's quest for a CHL Title. Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625 or visit the fan relations table behind section 120 at any Wichita Thunder home game for more information. Join the Blue Revolution today!
Central Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2013
- Wichita's McClelland and Rapid City's Wray Both Reach Historic Milestones on Sunday - CHL
- Wichita Comes Back for Shootout Victory over Mavericks - Kansas City Mavericks
- McClelland Reaches Milestone as Thunder Come Back for Second-Straight Night - Wichita Thunder
- Mallards Edge Bloomington 3-2 for Fifth Straight Win - Quad City Mallards
- Blaze Drop Hard-Fought Decision at Quad City - Bloomington Blaze
- Arizona Sundogs Partners with TEAM Arizona - Arizona Sundogs
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