Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update

December 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Dec. 16 @ Rapid City Rush, 3-2 Loss - In the first of two with the Rush with second place in the Northwest Division on the line, the Rage built a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes behind goals from Daymen Rycroft and Tyler Butler. Rapid City rallied to tie in the third before notching the game-winner with only 28.1 seconds remaining in regulation.

Dec. 18 vs. Rapid City Rush, 3-2 Overtime Win - Rocky Mountain avenged the previous game's setback in the conclusion of a home-and-home with the Rush. Aaron Davis tallied the game-winner 1:16 into overtime to cap a two-goal night, but Rapid City retained sole possession of second place by earning the single point for an overtime loss.

Dec. 20 vs. Oklahoma City Blazers, 3-2 Overtime Win - Perhaps the Rage's most impressive victory of the season, Rocky Mountain came from two goals down against the CHL's top defensive club. The Blazers took a 2-0 lead mid-way through the first and still held that advantage after 40 minutes despite a 20-11 edge in shots for the Rage. Rocky Mountain rallied behind goals from Rycroft and Brent Cullaton in the final frame before winning the game at 4:22 of overtime when a centering pass from Nick Harloff deflected off an Oklahoma City skate into the net.

Dec. 21 vs. Oklahoma City Blazers, 4-1 Loss - The visitors built a 3-0 lead in under a three minute span of the first period to effectively rob the outcome of any doubt. Simon Watson scored and Marty Magers made 37 saves in the defeat.

THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, Dec 26, @ New Mexico Scorpions, Santa Ana Star Center, 7:15 p.m.

Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 7 p.m.

Live Audio & Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com

Saturday, Dec. 27, vs. Laredo Bucks, Broomfield Event Center, 7:05 p.m.

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

Live Audio and Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com

Sunday, Dec. 28, vs. Laredo Bucks, Broomfield Event Center, 3:05 p.m.

Post-game Party: Join all the Rage players at Old Chicago in Westminster (87th and Wadsworth) following the game!

Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 2:55 p.m.

Live Audio and Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com

MAGERS BREAKS RAGE SHUTOUT STREAK

After recording the team's first shutout during a 1-0 shootout victory against the Wichita Thunder on Dec. 13, goaltender Marty Magers carried his outstanding play well into the next game on Dec. 16 in Rapid City. When the Rush finally solved Magers, the third-year pro had played a team record 135:42 over the course of three games from Dec. 10 - 16 without giving up a goal. The old mark for longest shutout streak, 119:25, was set by former Rage netminder David Guerrera during the 2006-07 season.

RYCROFT ECLIPSES CENTURY MARK

With an assist on Aaron Davis' overtime winner against the Rush last week, Daymen Rycroft became the second player to reach 100 points in a Rocky Mountain sweater. In 78 career games with the team through that game on the 18th, last year's leading goal scorer in the CHL (with 48) had 57 goals and 43 assists. Brent Cullaton was the first player to cross the 100-point threshold, reaching the milestone on Nov. 14 after playing 66 games for the Rage.

EXTRA TIME FACTS

Saturday's overtime contest marked the fourth time in six games that the Rage needed at least overtime to decide the outcome. The club's first four extra time tilts all proceeded to shootouts, where Rocky Mountain is 2-2 this year. Magers has been in goal for all four tie-breakers, and Davis has both of the shootout game-winners. The Rage and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees are the only teams in the league with two overtime wins to their credit this season.

STANDINGS UPDATE

Sunday's game notwithstanding, the Rage have played pretty good hockey as of late, going 9-6-2 since opening the campaign with a mark of 1-7-0. The team begins the week one point behind the Rush for second place in the Northwest Division.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2008


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