Penalty Shot Stuns The Ice Bats, 3-2
March 9, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(Austin, TX) - Sunday was game two of the home-and-home series between the Central Hockey League's Austin Ice Bats and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Rio Grande won the first game on Saturday night 5-3 in Hidalgo, TX. The Ice Bats entered Chaparral Ice Arena on Sunday looking to pickup a win and move two points ahead of Amarillo for the final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference. The game went into sudden death overtime, where Rio's Josh Bonar won the game on a penalty shot goal for a 3-2 final.
In the first Rio Grande Valley picked up right where they left off in game one, when Josh Bonar put Rio Grande up 1-0 on an assist from Travis Banga. Rio Grande added another midway through to make it 2-0 when Jason Weitzel scored his seventh of the season from a Lance Herauf assist. The Bees nearly made it 3-0 when Bernie Chmiel hit the post, but instead the Bats skated into the first intermission, trailing 2-0 to Rio Grande.
In the second period neither team could find the back of the net so both teams skated into the third period with Rio Grande still leading, 2-0.
In the third the Bats finally found the scoresheet when Ted Vandermeer scored his 16th of the year on an assists from Mike Bartlett. Seconds later, RG Flath tied the game up at 2-2 with his 15th of the season. John Ronan and Henry Kuster had the assists. Neither team could bang home another, so both teams ventured into sudden death overtime at the end of regulation.
In overtime Rio Grande Valley's Josh Bonar was awarded a penalty shot and scored to win the game for Rio Grande Valley, 3-2.
The Ice Bats now embark on a three game road trip. Things begin on Wednesday night when Austin visits Corpus Christi at the American Bank Center for a 7:05 PM puck drop. The game can be heard locally on 1530 ESPN Austin and espnaustin.com. Corpus Christi is currently trailing the Ice Bats by only three points for the Southern Conference's final playoff spot, so Wednesday's game has playoff implications on the line between two bitter division rivals.
The Ice Bats are the AA Affiliate for the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros (AAA). The team is currently playing its 12th season in Austin. Single game tickets and mini-plans are available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2008
- Brahmas Set Blaze In Oklahoma City - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Beech Blanks Thunder 6-0 In Hounds Final Road Game - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Penalty Shot Stuns The Ice Bats, 3-2 - Austin Ice Bats
- Bugs Fall in Laredo But Clinch Playoff Berth - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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