Newcomers Shine in 4-1 Loss
January 2, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
RAPID CITY, SD- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-1 to the Rapid City Rush at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Saturday night. Ian Keserich saved 41 of 44 in this second Wichita start and Kevin Cooper scored his first Thunder goal, but the Thunder was unable to find anymore offense.
Neither team scored in a hard-hitting first period. Ian Keserich stopped all 14 of the Rush's shots, while the Thunder defense killed two Rapid City power plays.
At 13:47 in the second period, Brendan Cook took a wrist shot from the half-board that bounced end-over-end several times before sneaking under Keserich's five hole to give the Rush a 1-0 lead.
Luke Erickson scored from the slot on a three-on-one at 2:28 in the second to give Rapid City a 2-0 lead. After a Thunder turnover in the slot, Derek LeBlanc rifled a shot past Keserich at 13:40 to make it 3-0. Wichita finally got on the board with just over a minute left to cut into the lead. Steve Makway made a diagnol pass through the slot that Kevin Cooper nailed under the crossbar from the right circle at 18:44. With Keserich pulled in the final minute, Jon Pelle collected a loose puck on the empty net, skating into the offensive zone by himself. Pelle then skated beyond the halfway point of the zone before shooting directly to the middle of the vacated goal at 19:55 to ice the 4-1 win.
Keserich took the tough loss, while Danny Battochio saved 27 of 28 for the win. Wichita went 0 for 1 on the power play while going a perfect 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
The Thunder returns home this weekend for their final games at the Kansas Coliseum. Tulsa visits on Friday, while the arena's final game is scheduled for Saturday versus Odessa. Tickets are on sale for both games, as well as all games at the new INTRUST Bank Arena. For more information, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2010
- Rapid City Begins New Year With 4-1 Victory Over Thunder - Rapid City Rush
- Sundogs Tally Five Unanswered to Snap Five-Game Slide in 5-1 Victory - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings Power By Oilers in Tulsa - Mississippi RiverKings
- Mavericks Roar Back to Bury 'Bugs 5-3 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Americans win fifth straight in 4-3 OT victory over Laredo - Allen Americans
- Newcomers Shine in 4-1 Loss - Wichita Thunder
- Mavs Score Five Straight in 5-3 Comeback Win over Mudbugs - Kansas City Mavericks
- First Period Outburts Powers Odessa to 5-1 Win - Odessa Jackalopes
- Brahmas Score Late Goal on Way to OT Win - Colorado Eagles
- Bucks Fall In OT 4-3 - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings Return To Tulsa Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Open 2010 In Allen Tonight - Laredo Bucks
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