CHL Colorado Eagles

Ramsay's HT Turns Tide in Lopsided Loss

Published on February 6, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


ODESSA, Texas - The Colorado Eagles suffered one of the worst losses in their history at the hands of the CHL-leading Odessa Jackalopes. The Eagles fell 9-4 -- tying a team record for most goals against -- as three Jackalopes had multi-goal games, highlighted by Mike Ramsay's first period hat trick.

Things started out well for the Eagles as they built a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period. Aaron Schneekloth got the scoring started at 8:15 on a nice play in which he carried the puck from the right side of the net along the goal line, around the crease and delayed long enough to draw Juha Toivonen out of position before depositing the puck into the net.

Steve Haddon then set a new career high for goals in a season with his 17th just over three minutes later when Felipe Larranaga found him all alone in front for a power-play tally. But less than two minutes after that, the period -- and the game -- began to unravel for Colorado.

Ramsay scored three consecutive power-play goals (the first two coming with the teams skating 4-on-3) four minutes and 10 seconds apart to put the Jackalopes up 3-2; all three came on blasts from high in the left faceoff circle. Then, just 23 seconds after Ramsay's third score, Jean Bourbeau made it 4-2 by deflecting a James Sanford pass by Andrew Penner from the doorstep.

Odessa continued to pour it on in the second period, taking a 7-3 lead into the third stanza. Collin Circelli scored 1:41 into the middle frame off a rebound from the left slot to make it 5-2. With that goal, Mike Mole replaced Penner in the Eagles' net after he stopped just 12 of 17 shots in his first game back with the team after his AHL call-up.

Schneekloth made it a two-goal deficit again at 14:25 when he netted his second goal of the night, this time on the power play. But the Jacks struck right back just 23 seconds later when Dave Van Drunen threw the puck on net from the right point and Kenny Bernard deflected it in as he skated through the low slot. And just over three minutes after that, Bourbeau scored his second of the night when he got behind the Eagles' defense for a shorthanded tally.

Circelli got his second goal of the night as well, 12:10 into the final frame, when he stickhandled through the low slot and beat Mole to make it 8-3. Then, just 61 seconds later, Ryan McLeod banged in a Schneekloth rebound from the left post.

But at 16:48, the Jackalopes continued to show why they own the league's top power play when Philippe Plante made it 9-4, making Odessa 4-for-5 on the night with the man advantage. The play was a beauty as Mike Lesperance sent a backhand pass from the right midboards to Sebastien Thinel in the right circle. Thinel then sent the puck toward the crease where Plante stretched out to tap it in.

As time wound down, tempers flared between the teams; two of the league's elite will meet for the fourth and final time in the regular season, March 3, at the Budweiser Events Center.

Colorado finishes up its seven-game road trip with games Tuesday in Tulsa and Wednesday in Wichita. Their next home game will be Friday against the Arizona Sundogs.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2010


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