Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update

December 17, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 2-0-0 OVERALL RECORD: 17-2-2, 36 pts., 1st Place Northwest Division

Dec. 14 @ Oklahoma City Blazers, 3-2 SOW - In the Rage's first game of the year against Oklahoma City, Tyler Butler scored to force overtime with just 4:29 to play in regulation. After neither team then scored in the extra session, Simon Watson and Scott Wray both tallied in the shootout and goaltender Scott Reid stopped four of five Blazers shooters to secure the team's third shootout win this season in as many tries.

Dec. 15 @ Wichita Thunder, 4-3 W - The Rage won their fifth straight game with another come-from-behind effort. After Wichita scored twice less than a minute apart to take a 3-2 edge early in the third, Daymen Rycroft and Trevor Weisgerber each responded with a pair of goals on the same five-minute power play to move Rocky Mountain back in front to stay. The club is now 4-0-0 against the Thunder this season.

THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, Dec. 21, vs. New Mexico Scorpions, Broomfield Event Center at 7:05 p.m.

Radio: The New ESPN Radio 1600, TAPE DELAYED at approximately 10 p.m.

Live Audio and Video Webcast: www.rockymountainrage.com

Saturday, Dec. 22, vs. Wichita Thunder, Broomfield Event Center at 7:05 p.m.

Radio: The New ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 6:55 p.m.

Live Audio and Video Webcast: www.rockymountainrage.com

17 WINS BOTH THIS YEAR AND LAST...THE SIMILARITIES END THERE

The Rage's turn-around this season from its inaugural year is nothing short of remarkable. Perhaps nothing illustrates the difference between the two campaigns more than the following. Last season, Rocky Mountain won its 17th game on the final day of the 64-game regular season. Unbelievably, the Rage captured their 17th win on Saturday in just 21 contests! They now have 43 games to try to set a new team record for most wins in a season.

HANSEN'S RETURN PUNCHES OUT THE THUNDER

Sure Daymen Rycroft and Trevor Weisgerber scored the two power play goals on Saturday that leap-frogged the Rage back into the lead for good against Wichita, but it was right-winger Jeff Hansen's willingness to drop the gloves that cleared the way for his teammates' heroics. Only activated earlier in the day after missing 13 games on injured reserve, Hansen stood toe-to-toe with the Thunder's Tyler Hanchuck just after Wichita scored two quick goals to take its first lead of the game. Not only did Hansen bloody his opponent with a memorable right hand to re-ignite a suddenly quieted Rocky Mountain bench, but he also drew an extra five minute major against Hanchuck for slew-footing that gave his team a five-minute power play. The offense went to work on the extended man advantage, and the Rage remained perfect against the Thunder this year.

RYCROFT POWERS HIS WAY UP LEAGUE SCORING ROLLS

Daymen Rycroft notched two more power play goals on Saturday, tying him for the league lead with eight on the season. The fourth-year pro has moved his way into a tie for third in the CHL with 16 goals, 11 of which he has scored in the last 10 games. He is also 17th in the league in overall scoring with 27 points.

MORE RAGE PLAYERS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS

Scott Wray begins the week tied for the CHL lead with 17 goals and sits second with 41 total points. His last two tallies have both been shootout game-winners. Brent Cullaton is second in the league with 29 assists and tied for seventh with 33 total points. And Tyler Butler is tied for second among CHL blue-liners with 25 points (8g-17a) this year.

SPEAKING OF BUTLER

The Rage assistant captain kept alive his team-record point-scoring streak by scoring a goal on Friday in Oklahoma City and picking up a single assist on Saturday in Wichita. He now has at least one point in 14 straight games dating back to Nov. 9, racking up 19 points (7g-12a) in the process.

LUCKY NUMBER 13

Scott Reid still has yet to lose in regulation and leads all CHL netminders with 13 victories this season (13-0-1). His effort on Friday was his second shootout win of the year. Reid and fellow goaltender Terry Dunbar are now 3-0 in tie-breakers this season, having stopped a combined 15 of 16 (.938 save percentage) opposing shooters.

Single-game tickets for the 2007-08 regular season are on sale now with prices ranging from $18-$43 per seat (parking included). Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster by logging-on to www.Ticketmaster.com, calling (303) 830-TIXS, or visiting any Ticketmaster retail outlet.

Season tickets, mini-packs, and group plans are also still available by calling 303-439-RAGE. For more information, visit www.RockyMountainRage.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central