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Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update

December 31, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 2-1-0

OVERALL RECORD: 20-4-2, 42 pts.

1st Place Northwest Division

Dec. 26 @ Colorado Eagles, 3-1 W - Tied at one entering the third, the Rage returned from the Christmas holiday and posted an impressive victory on the road behind a game-winning goal from David Morelli and 36 saves from goaltender Scott Reid. The club has now won three straight against the defending President's Cup Champions, including two in a row at the Budweiser Events Center.

Dec. 28 vs. Oklahoma City Blazers, 6-2 L - Rocky Mountain lost its second straight home game and remained winless on home ice against the Blazers in now four head-to-head meetings at Broomfield Event Center between this season and last. Simon Watson and Daymen Rycroft both scored in the losing effort.

Dec. 29 vs. Tulsa Oilers, 6-5 SOW - The Rage fell behind 5-0 through 40 minutes and looked well on their way to losing two straight games in regulation for the first time this season and a third consecutive game at home. The third period was a completely different story, though, as the club stormed back to send the game to overtime on Colt King's game-tying goal with just 1:33 to play. Following a scoreless extra session, Morelli and Trevor Weisgerber both tallied in the shootout and Reid stopped four of five Tulsa shooters to complete both the largest comeback in team history and the largest in the league this season.

THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES

Thursday, Jan. 3, vs. Amarillo Gorillas, Broomfield Event Center, 7:05 p.m.

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

Live Audio and Video Webcast: www.rockymountainrage.com

Saturday, Jan. 5, @ Wichita Thunder, Kansas Coliseum, 6:05 p.m. MST

Radio: The New ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 5:55 p.m.

Live Audio Webcast (no video): www.rockymountainrage.com

Sunday, Jan. 6, @ Oklahoma City Blazers, Ford Center, 5:05 p.m. MST

Radio: The New ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 4:55 p.m.

Live Audio and Video Webcast: www.rockymountainrage.com.

ANATOMY OF A COMEBACK

Rocky Mountain's remarkable third period accomplishment on Saturday began innocently enough when Colt King scored a power play goal just 19 seconds into the frame. But the team still trailed, 5-1, with just more than seven minutes remaining in regulation until David Morelli lit the lamp at 12:49. Brent Cullaton then scored before Jami Yoder tallied his first of the year to close the deficit to 5-4 with 4:23 left. That set the stage for King's game-tying heroics off a perfect feed from Cullaton. The Rage's previous comeback record was overcoming only a two-goal deficit, a feat they pulled off twice last season.

SAINTLY INTERVENTION

While he wasn't credited with the win and only saw about 24 minutes of game action, back-up goaltender Guy St. Vincent's role on Saturday cannot be overlooked. Once the Rage fell behind, 5-0, late in the second, starter Scott Reid was replaced by St. Vincent. The fourth-year pro proceeded to hold Tulsa at bay and stopped all 11 shots he faced until Reid came back into the game at the start of overtime.

MOST EXCITING PLAY IN HOCKEY

Any serious thoughts of a comeback didn't really begin on Saturday until Cullaton scored a short-handed goal with 5:51 remaining on a penalty shot, a situation some call the most exciting play in hockey. The Rage captain made no mistake on his break-away chance and pulled the team within 5-3. It was the team's first penalty shot of the year and the third over its short history. Nathan Rosychuk (miss) and Trevor Weisgerber (goal) both attempted penalty shots last season. Rocky Mountain has faced one penalty shot against this season when New Mexico's Konrad Reeder scored past Terry Dunbar on Dec. 1.

MORE RECORDS FROM SATURDAY

The five-goal third tied a team record for most goals in a period, matching a standard set twice last season...King's goal 19 seconds into the final frame marked the team's quickest goal at the start of a period this season...Morelli, Cullaton, and Yoder pulled Rocky Mountain within one by all scoring in a span of 2:48, the fastest three-goal outburst for the team this year...Pulling the W out of thin air moved the Rage to a record of 20-4-2, giving them an eight-point lead in the Northwest Division standings over the second-place Colorado Eagles. Their 42 points in the standings through just 26 games already eclipse the 41 points achieved last year with a record of 17-40-7.

LEAGUE LEADERS UPDATE

Scott Wray only played a total of 1:03 this past weekend after taking a sucker punch to the face early in Friday's tilt against the Blazers that also kept him out of Saturday's game. Despite essentially missing two games, he is still fifth in the league in scoring with 42 points (17g-25a)...Cullaton has moved just one point off Wray's team lead with now 41 points and is the top playmaker in the CHL with 36 assists...Daymen Rycroft overtook Wray for the team's goal-scoring lead with his 18th of the campaign on Friday, tying him for second league-wide. He is also tied for first in the CHL with nine power play goals this season...Tyler Butler had his team-record 16-game point-scoring streak halted on Wednesday against the Eagles. He concluded his run with 24 points (8g-16a) racked-up from Nov. 9 - Dec. 22 and is second in scoring among league defensemen with 30 points (9g-21a) overall...Reid still owns the most wins of any CHL netminder this year with a record of 16-2-1 and ran his mark to 3-0 in shootouts. Combined, Reid and Dunbar have stopped 19 of 21 shooters to backstop the Rage to a perfect 4-0 record in tie-breakers this season.

The Rage will host the 2008 CHL All-Star festivities on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 15 and 16, at Broomfield Event Center. The All-Star Banquet, which is open to the public, will be held on the 15th. The banquet features the introduction of the two All-Star Teams plus a performance by Denver resident and 2005 Last Comic Standing winner Josh Blue. The All-Star Game will be played on the 16th, when the Northern and Southern Conferences will square-off in a battle for supremacy between the most talented players in the league.

Single-game tickets for the 2007-08 regular season are on sale now with prices ranging from $18-$43 per seat (parking included). Season tickets, mini-packs, and group plans are also still available by calling 303-439-RAGE.

To purchase tickets to both All-Star events or single-game tickets for the remainder of the 2007-08 regular season, please visit www.rockymountainrage.com or www.Ticketmaster.com.

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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.

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