CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Newcomer Wanchulak leads RiverKings to comeback win

Published on March 4, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN --- Rookie Brad Wanchulak collected a hat trick helping his new team to an 8-6 win over the Youngstown Steelhounds Saturday night at the DeSoto Civic Center. It was Wanchulak's first career hat trick in his third game with the RiverKings since signing with the team earlier in the week. He had just one professional goal entering the game. Travis Banga scored the game winning goal in a strong third period for the club and added three assists. Memphis (20-30-3) picked up its second straight win while the Steelhounds (20-32-5) had their winless streak extended to seven games.

Memphis spent most of the rest of the game battling back after Youngstown's Joey Sewell scored on a strange bounce of the puck 49 seconds into the game. The RiverKings tied the game at one at 2:27 on Dorian Anneck's wicked wrist shot. And then, after falling behind 2-1, Wanchulak drove into the Steelhound's zone and around defenseman Kris Mallettefor his first of the night and first in a RiverKings jersey. Jeff Christian capped off the first period scoring with his league leading 48th goal at 18:01 and the Steelhounds went to the locker room up 3-2.

After Daryl Loyd gave the Steelhounds a 4-2 lead at 4:19 of the second, Darrell Stoddard tallied his 15th of the season to get the RiverKings back to within one. That lead, though, went back to two after Sewell scored his second of the game at 9:58. Again, the RiverKings came back, scoring two goals to tie the game; Peter Robertson at 13:23 and Wanchulak at 17:06. Christian would answer exactly a minute later to give his team a 6-5 lead after two.

The third period belonged to Memphis; scoring three times while goalie Guy St. Vincent kept Youngstown off the board for the second consecutive third period. Wanchulak capped off his hat trick with the equalizer at 4:09 and Travis Banga completed the come back at 10:36 on a back door conversion. Chad McIver iced the win with a short handed empty net flip from his zone with 1:24 left. Derek Landmesser assisted on three RiverKings goals and in the process eclipsed last season's career high 66 points. Landmesser now has 68 points and 54 assists.

St Vincent made it back to back wins on 24 saves. The shots for the game were even at 30 apiece. The RiverKings closed to within two points of the Steelhounds for second place in the Northeast Division and improved their record in the season series to 7-1-0. The team plays a quick turnaround road game tomorrow at Oklahoma City at 6pm.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2006


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