Pankewicz' Come-From-Behind Hat Trick Thwarts Rage

January 10, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Loveland, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Rage were unable to hang on to a pair of two goal leads at the Budweiser Events Center tonight as the Colorado Eagles came from behind to eventually prevail in a shootout, 6-5. Rocky Mountain still remains unbeaten in regulation in 2009 with a record of 4-0-2 in the New Year.

Colorado's Greg Pankewicz was the star for his team, netting a hat trick to essentially single-handedly lead the Eagles from behind. The 18th-year pro pulled Colorado within 5-4 at 15:52 of the second period, and then tied the game at five with a power play goal 4:36 into the third. Pankewicz completed the three-goal performance in the shootout where he was given credit for the game-winner.

For the second straight evening, the Rage rode a hot power play. Last night in a 6-3 win over the New Mexico Scorpions, the club matched a team record by scoring five power play goals. Tonight against Colorado, Rocky Mountain converted on three of its first four opportunities to take a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes.

Early in the middle frame, the Eagles scored twice 16 seconds apart off the sticks of Ryan Tobler and Scott Polaski to all of a sudden square the game at three. On the power play moments later looking for more, Colorado yielded a short-handed goal to the Rage's Brent Cullaton, who instead put his team back into the lead, 4-3, off a clean break-away. Scott Wray added Rocky Mountain's fourth power play marker of the night at 15:07 of the second for the Rage's second two-goal advantage, 5-3.

Pankewicz' heroics began 45 seconds later with his first of the evening, and the comeback was underway.

The shootout loss drops Rocky Mountain to 17-14-4 on the season. The team is still positioned in second place in the Northwest Division with 38 points, seven ahead of the third-place Rapid City Rush.

The Rage now return to Broomfield Event Center for their final game before the CHL All-Star Break, hosting the Wichita Thunder tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. The team is honoring teachers and coaches tomorrow at the BEC. Bring your teacher or coach to the game, and they gain admission for just $5.

Individual tickets for the tilt against the Thunder are available for as low as $5 for kids 12 and under (with the purchase of at least one adult ticket) and cost just $10 for students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the BEC Box Office, www.Ticketmaster.com, (303) 830-TIXS, and all Ticketmaster retail outlets.

For more ticket information, visit www.rockymountainrage.com, or contact the Rage Ticket Sales Staff at (303) 439-RAGE or tickets@broomfieldsports.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2009


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