Rage Extends Division Lead on Eagles

January 19, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Broomfield, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Rage hockey team gained one more point on the Colorado Eagles in the Northwest Division tonight with a 5-4 overtime win at the Broomfield Event Center. Daymen Rycroft, who is the reigning Oalkley CHL Player of the Week, scored the game-winning goal against the Eagles in overtime.

The Rage improved to 26-5-3 (55 points), maintaining the top spot in the Northwest Division and the top winning percentage in the league (.809). The Eagles fell to 21-9-5 (47 points) for second place in the division.

The Rage and Eagles wasted no time getting started. Both teams scored on their first shots on goal in the game. Rage center David Morelli scored at 15 seconds for the fastest goal by a Rage player this season to open a game. The Eagles' Jay Birnie answered back just 16 seconds later to tie the game. It also marked a record for the fastest goal scored by a Rage opponent to start a game this season (31 seconds).

Left winger Scott Wray earned the lead again for the Rage at 2:21 when he shot the puck in net on the stick side of Eagles goaltender Bryan Bridges. Nathan Rosychuk and Clay Plume assisted on the play.

Colorado answered back when Northern conference All-Star Greg Pankewicz scored with a long wrister from the left circle at 9:54 to even the score for the Eagles.

With 5:28 remaining in the first period, Chip Dunleavy attempted to give the Rage the lead once again. He picked up the puck in the Eagles offensive zone and skated down the right wing firing it in net. Pankewicz was immediately called for instigating against Daymen Rycroft leading to a one-on-one. The goal was waived off when it was determined that the shot was fired after the whistle was blown for the call on Pankewicz.

The Eagles took their first lead of the night when Erik Adams fired a shot from the glove side of Rage goaltender Scott Reid. Reid made the save and Riley Nelson picked up the rebound, dove out from behind a screen set up in front of Reid and fired it in net at 14:54.

Defenseman Brad Williamson gave the Eagles a 4-2 lead at the end of the period, scoring an even-strength goal at 18:39. Williamson's goal of the first would eventually be the last goal scored by the Eagles in the game. In the last minute and a half of play, Bernie took on Rage's Pat Sutton followed by a fight by Seth Leonard and Scott Wray to close out the period.

Not until the third period did the Rage get back on the scoreboard. Rage Captain Brent Cullaton scored at 2:40 to bring the game within one goal. Left winger Trevor Weisgerber added Rocky Mountain's game-tying goal when he took the puck out from behind the right corner boards behind Bridges and scored just over his left pad. Cullaton and Rycroft assisted. Rycroft tallied the game winning goal at 43 seconds in overtime assisted by Cullaton and Butler. It pushed Cullaton to second place (tied) in the league in scoring with 61 points this season.

The Rage returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 22) when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the Broomfield Event Center. Single-game tickets for all home Rage games are on sale now and range in price from $18-$43 per seat (parking included), and may be purchased through Ticketmaster. Season tickets, mini-packs, and group plans are also available for the 2007-08 season by calling 303-439-RAGE. For more information, visit www.RockyMountainRage.com.

Fans not in attendance can listen in starting at 6:55 p.m. on The New ESPN Radio 1600 LIVE or tune in to CHL Network at www.RockyMountainRage.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2008


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