Rage stays on top of the CHL
January 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Broomfield, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Rage hockey team used two short-handed goals from Daymen Rycroft and Brent Cullaton to help the Rage to a 6-3 win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees tonight at the Broomfield Event Center. It marked the second all-time meeting between the two franchises and the Bees' first-ever appearance at the Broomfield Event Center.
Rage goaltender Terry Dunbar earned the win with 34 saves. It was his first time as starting goaltender at the Broomfield Event Center since Nov. 17 following a 15-game suspension.
The Rage advanced to 27-5-3 (57 points) and sits in first place in the Central Hockey League in winning percentage (.814) and points, one point over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. The Killer Bees fell to 9-22-6 (24 points) for fourth place in the Southeast Division.
For the second consecutive Rage game, both teams scored within the first two minutes of the game. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees struck first just 32 seconds into the period with a goal by Rob Voltera. Rage captain Brent Cullaton answered back 40 seconds later with a top-shelf goal over the left shoulder of Bees' goaltender David Lenanowicz. It marked his 11th goal and team-leading 62nd point of the season. Rocky Mountain's Tyler Butler added a goal from David Morelli just over one minute later at 2:18 to give the Rage a 2-1 lead. It would eventually be the last goal scored in the period.
The Rage closed out the first outshooting the Killer Bees 17-5. Neither team registered a penalty in the period.
In the second period, Rycroft added to his recent glory scoring his first goal of the game at 2:54, assisted by defenseman Matt Frick and goaltender Dunbar. Rycroft skated down the left wing from center ice and fired a long shot on goal within the blueline. The puck hit the right pad of Bees goaltender David Lemanowicz and trickled over the pad and in net. It gave the Rage their third unanswered goal.
Rio Grande Valley's Danny Lapointe answered back at 5:01 of the second, but Rycroft would strike again. With the Rage serving a too-many men penalty at 6:24, the Rage cleared the puck into the Bees' defenseive zone. Lemanowicz assumed that his defenseman was going to pick up the puck on a Rage clearing, but left it on the doorstep. Rycroft was there and wristed it in for a short-handed goal. Rycroft continues to lead the league in goals (31), power-play goals (14) and game-winning goals (8).
All-Star Game forward Scott Wray put the Rage up 5-2 at 13:39 of the third period on the powerplay. Simon Watson and Clay Plume assisted. Rio Grande Valley's Lapointe added a goal at 16:37 for his second of the night and second of the season.
Cullaton also added an unassisted, short-handed goal for his second goal of the night to close out scoring on the game.
Tonight's Coaching Tidbits: Rage head coach Tracy Egeland was Rio Grande Valley's first head coach for three seasons from 2003-06. Five of his current players played for him in a Bees sweater: Terry Dunbar, Clay Plume, Nathan Rosychuk, Daymen Rycroft and Trevor Weisgerber. Bees coach Paul Fixter spent 11 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche organization in roles ranging from video coach to head coach of the Avs' then-AHL affiliate Hershey Bears.
Beginning with a three-game series against the Youngstown SteelHounds on Jan. 25-27, the Rage will embark on their longest road trip of the season. The seven-game, five-city trek takes the team to Youngstown, Laredo, Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley, and Tulsa. Rocky Mountain finally returns to Broomfield Event Center on Feb. 8 and 9 against the top two teams in the Southwest Division, the Arizona Sundogs and Odessa Jackalopes, respectively. Fans can listen in to all road games on The New ESPN Radio 1600 or tune in to CHL Network at www.RockyMountainRage.com for LIVE video.
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.
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2008
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- Eagles Trade for Wichita's Kris Wiebe - Colorado Eagles
- Thunder Trades Wiebe - Wichita Thunder
- Tonight's match up - Tulsa Oilers
- Nelson's Hat Trick Voted Performance of The Week - Colorado Eagles
- Carroll Shuts Down 'Kings in 4-0 Win - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Mudbugs shut out RiverKings, 4-0 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Colorado's Riley Nelson Voted Performance Of The Week - CHL
- Shots from the Point - CHL
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