Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update

March 16, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


March 13 vs. Colorado Eagles, 7-3 Loss - Despite missing five regulars from the line-up including three of their top four scorers (Colt King, Daymen Rycroft, and Scott Wray) in the opener of a four-game homestand, the Rage controlled the opening 30 minutes of the game. Andrew Penner stood tall for the visitors in goal, though, keeping his club tied at two despite getting out-shot at one point 24-12. Colorado's power play then caught fire, striking three times in a 4½ minute span of the second period to break the game open.

March 14 vs. Tulsa Oilers, 6-5 Overtime Loss - The Rage appeared to be well on their way to snapping a two-game losing skid after taking a 5-1 lead through 40 minutes behind five different goal scorers. But the Oilers launched an impressive comeback, out-shooting Rocky Mountain 19-2 in the third period to eventually deadlock the game at 5-5 following an extra attacker goal with just more than 15 seconds remaining. Tulsa's Brendon Hodge then quickly ended the proceedings by stealing an outlet pass and scoring the game-winner at :58 of overtime.

THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES

Thursday, March 19, vs. Colorado Eagles, Broomfield Event Center, 7:05 p.m.

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

Friday, March 20, vs. Amarillo Gorillas, Broomfield Event Center, 7:05 p.m.

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

Saturday, March 21, @ Amarillo Gorillas, Amarillo Civic Center, 6:05 p.m. MDT

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

PLAYING THE WAITING GAME

Locked into the Northern Conference's fifth playoff slot for more than a week now, the Rage still don't know who they will face in a best-of-three first round series once the post-season begins the week of March 23. Mississippi did clinch the Northeast Division title over the weekend, meaning Rocky Mountain will battle either the Oklahoma City Blazers or Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. For the latest playoff information, visit the Rage homepage at www.rockymountainrage.com.

THREE-GAME SKID

Saturday's tough overtime loss to Tulsa marked Rocky Mountain's first three-game winless slide since the club dropped four games in a row from Oct. 31 - Nov. 8 to begin the season with a record of 1-7-1. The Rage promptly began to turn their season around the next weekend on Nov. 14-15 by winning a pair of games on the road at New Mexico and Odessa. Since those first nine games of the season, Rocky Mountain is 30-18-4 with a winning percentage of .615.

PENALTY MINUTE MARK FALLS

Rob Chappell racked up another 17 penalty minutes last Friday against the Eagles to set a new team record for most PIM in a season with now 231, fifth most in the league. The old mark was established by former Rage forward Adam Stefishen, who spent 228 minutes in the penalty box during the 2006-07 campaign. Chappell is third in the CHL having dropped the gloves 25 times this year, smashing the old team record of 16 majors also set by Stefishen in 06-07.

POINT PRODUCTION

He hasn't been with the team long, but Ryan McLeod's goal and two assists on Saturday give him eight points in seven games, making him the fourth player to average more than a point per game in a Rage sweater this season. The others are Colt King (66 pts. - 58 GP), Daymen Rycroft (58 pts. - 50 GP), and Aaron Davis (28 pts. - 26 GP).

IRONMAN

David Morelli is the only player to have played in all 61 of the Rage's games this year. Last season five players made it through the entire 64-game schedule unscathed: Tyler Butler, Clay Plume, Rycroft, Simon Watson, and former Rocky Mountain forward Trevor Weisgerber.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2009


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