Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update
January 12, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Jan. 7 vs. New Mexico Scorpions, 5-3 Win - Behind five different goal scorers and a team season-high 41 saves from goaltender Scott Reid, the Rage won their fourth straight game against New Mexico despite a hat trick from Chris Robertson.
Jan. 9 vs. New Mexico Scorpions, 6-3 Win - Both Daymen Rycroft and Scott Wray scored two power play goals as Rocky Mountain won its fifth in a row over the Scorps to take the season series five games to one.
Jan. 10 @ Colorado Eagles, 6-5 Shootout Loss - Four power play goals and a short-handed marker from Brent Cullaton helped stake the team to a 5-3 lead with five minutes left in the second period, but Colorado's Greg Pankewicz scored late in the second and again early in the third to eventually force overtime. In the shootout, David Morelli tallied for the Rage, but two Eagles scored to deliver the victory. Scott Reid played well in goal, making 40 saves on the evening.
Jan. 11 vs. Wichita Thunder, 3-1 Win - In their final game before the All-Star Break, Morelli and Cullaton both scored to give the Rage a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes. After Wichita's Jason Duda made it a 2-1 game after two, Rycroft tallied an empty-netter in the final minute to seal the win.
THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, Jan. 16, vs. Wichita Thunder, Broomfield Event Center, 7:05 p.m.
Post-Game Party: Join all the Rage players at the Old Chicago in Broomfield at 120th and Sheridan following the game.
Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 6:55 p.m.
Live Audio & Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com
Saturday, Jan. 17, vs. Odessa Jackalopes, Broomfield Event Center, 7:05 p.m.
Giveaways: The first 2,500 fans will receive a free Rage Cow Bell courtesy of Insight Lasik.
Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 6:55 p.m.
Live Audio and Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com
Sunday, Jan. 18, vs. Wichita Thunder, Broomfield Event Center, 3:05 p.m.
Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 2:55 p.m.
Live Audio and Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com
LANDSCAPE AT THE BREAK
The Rage enter the All-Star Break riding a season high seven game point streak (5-0-2) dating back to their first game of 2009. The team has earned points in 10 of 11 contests (8-1-2) since Christmas and is 17-7-3 since beginning the season with a record of 1-7-1. Rocky Mountain will resume play on Friday firmly ensconced in second place in the Northwest Division with 40 points, 15 behind the first-place Colorado Eagles and nine ahead of the third-place Rapid City Rush. Now turning their attention to climbing the ranks in their on-going battle to secure one of five Northern Conference berths in the post-season, the Rage are currently four points behind the Conference's fourth-place Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
FEEL THE POWER
Entering last Friday's game, Rocky Mountain was ranked 15th (13.7%) in the league on the power play having gone 0 for its last 17. What followed was a combined outburst of nine power play goals in 16 chances against New Mexico and Colorado, including a team record tying five power play markers at the expense of the Scorpions. The Rage are now ranked 10th (16.9%) on the power play after their three games over the weekend.
SHORT-HANDED SNIPER
Brent Cullaton has all four of his short-handed goals in the team's 11 games since Christmas. At one point he scored three consecutive short-handed goals over five games to vault into a share of the league lead with Mississippi's Louis Dumont and Rio Grande Valley's Brian Bicek. Cullaton's 18 points (8g-10a) over the same time span have moved him into a tie for 8th in the league with 44 points overall (12g-32a).
BUTLER REACHES 100 GAMES PLAYED
Of the current core of 11 returning players from last year that has kept the Rage among the most relevant clubs in the CHL the past two seasons (for either their red-hot or stone-cold play), on Sunday Tyler Butler became the first to appear in 100 games for the team. The sixth-year pro has recorded seven points (3g-4a) in his last five games and currently stands tied for 13th in the league among defensemen with 22 points overall (7g-15a). Three others have donned a Rocky Mountain sweater at least 100 times: former Rage players Clay Plume (128 GP), Nathan Rosychuk (113 GP), and Trevor Weisgerber (101 GP).
HOME COOKING
The Rage began a franchise long eight game home stand yesterday that is the second half of a stretch where they will play 12 of 13 at Broomfield Event Center. It will be important for Rocky Mountain to continue to perform well at home where it has earned points in seven straight games (6-0-1), because the team then plays 12 of 13 on the road, including just one home game during the month of February.
RAGE SNAPSHOTS
David Morelli's goal yesterday marked the sixth time he has scored a game's first goal this season, one off the league lead of seven first goals held jointly by Odessa's Dominic Leveille and Rio Grande Valley's Jesse Bennefield...Thanks mostly to the efforts of Cullaton, the Rage are now tied for second in the CHL with eight short-handed goals this year. Nick Harloff is tied with Laredo's Jeff Bes for the league lead with four short-handed assists...Goaltenders Marty Magers and Scott Reid have identical 9-7-2 records at the Break...Rob Chappell is fourth in the CHL with 139 penalty minutes.
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2009
- Become a Mudbugs First-Timer - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Gorillas Announce Pellerin as New Head Coach - Amarillo Gorillas
- Goaltender Gistedt Recalled to San Antonio - Arizona Sundogs
- Sundogs Radio Broadcaster Jordan Duvall Added to CHL All-Star Game Broadcast - Arizona Sundogs
- Rush To Host Hockey 101/Season Ticket Sale Tonight - Rapid City Rush
- Rapid City Rush To Make Local Visits For Youth - Rapid City Rush
- Thunder Loses Three of Four - Wichita Thunder
- Oilers Weekly - Tulsa Oilers
- Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Sundogs Raise Almost $19,000 for Charity in First of Four Jersey Auctions - Arizona Sundogs
- Jacks Assist Local Resident in Cancer Fight - Odessa Jackalopes
- Shots from the Point - CHL
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