Rage Cruise Past Scorpions, 6-2

December 26, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Rio Rancho, N.M. - The Rocky Mountain Rage began the post-Christmas portion of their schedule in impressive fashion, defeating the New Mexico Scorpions 6-2 behind two goals from Brent Cullaton and 40 saves from netminder Scott Reid at the Santa Ana Star Center.

The Rage jumped all over the Scorpions in the second half of the first period. Daymen Rycroft lit the lamp off the rush at 13:32, followed less than a minute later by Cullaton, who scored off his own rebound. Scott Wray then found the back of the net at 19:28, capping off a period during which Rocky Mountain generated a season-high 22 shots on goal.

In the second period, the Rage gave-up a season-high 19 shots on goal but still added to their lead despite having to kill off nearly six full short-handed situations. Down five-on-three in the period's first minute, Jarred Mohr's clearing effort sprung Cullaton on a clean break-away. Rocky Mountain's leading scorer went top shelf for the team's first-ever short-handed goal while two men down to give the club a 4-0 edge.

Colt King made it a 5-0 contest at 13:03 of the second when he jumped on a lucky bounce out of the left wing corner and scored into essentially an empty net. The goal completed a Gordie Howe hat trick for King, who earlier in the game set-up Rycroft's tally before decidedly winning a fight with New Mexico's Adam Blanchette.

Reid's shutout bid was finally spoiled on the Scorpions' 31st shot on goal 16 seconds into the final period. With New Mexico on its sixth consecutive power play, Neil Trimm potted a rebound to get his club on the board. Rocky Mountain's Domenic Maiani responded just 57 seconds later, though, scoring his first professional goal to re-establish the team's five-goal margin. The Scorpions struck again at 16:45 off the stick of Craig Macdonald for the 6-2 final.

Coupled with a loss by the Rapid City Rush to the Arizona Sundogs, the Rage find themselves in sole possession of second place in the Northwest Division with a record of 11-13-2 and 24 points.

Rocky Mountain now returns home to Broomfield Event Center to battle the Southeast Division-leading Laredo Bucks tomorrow and Sunday at 7:05 p.m. and 3:05 p.m., respectively.

Roster Note: Defenseman Chris Brannen requested his release from the team on Dec. 22. In 23 games with the club, Brannen recorded four assists and 20 penalty minutes.

Individual tickets for the games against the Bucks 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.

About Broomfield Event Center: Located on the south side of U.S. Highway 36 between 112th and 120th Avenues, the $45 million Broomfield Event Center is a state-of-the-art, 180,000-square-foot, multi-purpose event center that includes 25 suites, 900 club seats, up to 8,000 total seats, restaurants, bars, and a separate basketball practice facility. Broomfield Event Center hosts sporting events, concerts, trade shows, rodeos, and other special events. It is the home of the Central Hockey League's Rocky Mountain Rage Professional Hockey Club and the Colorado 14ers Professional Basketball Club of the NBA Development League (affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, and Toronto Raptors).



Central Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2008


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