Rage steals the Thunder
January 11, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Broomfield, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Rage hockey team finished with a 5-1-1 record in the seven-game regular season series against the Wichita Thunder. The Rage defeated the Thunder 7-5 tonight at the Broomfield Event Center led by Daymen Rycroft with two goals and three assists and Captain Brent Cullaton and Trevor Weisgerber who had one goal and three assists each. Rage left winger Colt King served as a fan favorite tonight taking on Wichita's players in three separate battles.
The Rage improved to 24-4-3 (51 points) to extend their lead in the Northwest Division before taking on the second place contender Colorado Eagles tomorrow. The Rage continues to hold the best winning percentage in the league (.823). The Wichita Thunder fell to 10-20-0 (20 points) for fifth place in the Northwest Division.
The opening minutes of the game started with end-to-end action, but no shots on goal. Play picked up at 3:11 as the Rage killed off the first penalty of the game. Rage goaltender Scott Reid stopped three consecutive scoring chances around the four minute mark to help keep Wichita scoreless on the powerplay.
Rocky Mountain went on their own powerplay over four minutes later and scored 18 seconds into it. Defenseman Tyler Butler scored from just inside the blueline on the Rage's first shot in the powerplay. One minute and six second later, Defenseman Pat Sutton skated down the right wing and sent an across ice pass to Simon Watson who chipped it in net on the stick side of Wichita goaltender Jon Horrell.
David Morelli gave the Rage a 3-0 lead at 17:53 of the first period. He picked up the puck from Chip Dunleavy, skated in from the blueline all alone and beat Horrell on the glove side. Dunleavy led the period in points earning two assists.
Wichita started to close in the gap in the second period with two goals coming from center Chris Greene and left winger Jason Duda (powerplay) at 7:53 and 10:04, respectively. Duda and Wichita center Travis Clayton earned a point on both goals.
Rocky Mountain answered back at 16:28 when Rycroft made a pass around the legs of a Wichita defender from the corner boards behind the net. Cullaton was there and wristed it in net over the left shoulder of Horrell. It marked Cullaton's eighth goal of the season and team-leading 47th point in 31 games played.
With two seconds remaining in the second period, Rocky Mountain's Colt King took on Wichita's Mike Batovanja for King's second fight of the game. Immediately after it was broken up by officials, Batovanja fought a second round, but this time against Rocky Mountain's Morelli. The period ended with Wichita on the powerplay.
In the third period, Wichita quickly brought the game within one goal at 1:27. Thunder left winger Alex Goupil scored his seventh goal of the season on the powerplay. Rocky Mountain would not let Wichita tie the game. The Rage scored back-to-back goals within 24 seconds of each other from Weisgerber and Rycroft giving the Rage a 6-3 lead.
King entered his third fight of the night at 15:34, this time against Kyle Bruce of Wichita. Dunleavy and Daniel Tetrault were also called for fighting under one minute later.
Wichita came back a mimicked Rocky Mountain's back-to-back goals. Wichita's Todd Paul and Greene scored two goals within 15 seconds.
Despite the extra skater, Wichita could not tie the game. Rycroft added an empty net goal at 19:39 to close out the game.
The Rage returns to tomorrow (Jan. 12) when they travel to Northern Colorado to play the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center. 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.
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2008
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