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Rage Qualify for Post-Season Despite Loss in OKC

February 28, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Oklahoma City - The Rocky Mountain Rage nearly overcame a 3-0 second period deficit but ended up falling to the Oklahoma City Blazers, 3-2. Despite the setback, the Rage still clinched their first-ever playoff berth when the Rapid City Rush lost to the Wichita Thunder later in the evening, 3-2.

Oklahoma City controlled the first half of the game, at one point out-shooting the Rage, 31-11. The Northern Conference's fourth-place team built its 3-0 lead on the strength of three power play goals. Bill Vandermeer scored off a re-direct at 18:51 late in the opening period before D.J. Jelitto fired home a one-timer at 6:59 of the second on a five-on-three. Ted Vandermeer added another power play marker at 11:19, and it looked as if the Blazers would be able to cruise the rest of the way.

But Rocky Mountain head coach Tracy Egeland decided to employ the time-honored tradition of getting thrown out of the game to fire up the team, and the plan almost worked to perfection. Egeland took a bench minor before getting tossed 27 seconds after Ted Vandermeer's tally. Egeland's club killed off the ensuing short-handed situation and then proceeded to get back in the game.

Domenic Maiani scored off a rebound at 16:16 - his fifth goal in three games - before Tyler Butler converted a one-time blast at 17:54 on the power play, and the Rage were within 3-2 heading to the third.

Oklahoma City came into the game tied with the Mississippi RiverKings as the league's top defensive team and effectively locked down Rocky Mountain over the final 20 minutes. The Rage did generate good pressure with goaltender Scott Reid pulled in favor of the extra attacker, but they never found the equalizer.

Reid played extremely well, stopping 38 of the 41 shots he faced.

With the loss, Rocky Mountain drops to 29-23-4 with 62 points. The point total is more than any team behind them in the standings will be able to achieve the rest of the way, securing at least the fifth playoff seed out of the Northern Conference. The Rage currently reside in fifth, nine points behind the fourth-place Blazers.

Tonight's tilt finally concluded a stretch of 12 of 13 on the road for Rocky Mountain, which returns home to Broomfield Event Center for the first time since Feb. 15 to host the Colorado Eagles on Thursday, March 5, at 7:05 p.m.

Individual tickets for all of Rocky Mountain's remaining games at the BEC during the month of March 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.

1st Period Summary: 1, OKC, B. Vandermeer 24 (Fleck, Hinz), 18:51 (pp).



Central Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2009


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