Rush Continue Dominance Over Thunder With 4-3 Win
January 10, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Rapid City, SD) - The Wichita Thunder made their first visit to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena, on the first game of their doubleheader against the Rapid City Rush. The Rush were able to keep a perfect record against the Thunder as Rapid City came away with the win, with a score of 4-3.
In an entertaining first period, Rapid City tallied the game's first goal when Jon Pelle grabbed a powerplay goal at 6:20 in the initial period assisted by Rich Hansen and Derek LeBlanc. On Pelle's initial shot, Thunder goaltender Krister Toews made a kick save, but a second effort allowed Pelle to redirect a shot off of the goaltender for the opening tally. Rapid City dominated the shots in the period, peppering the Thunder goaltender with 19 shots. The end of the first also saw both teams dropping the gloves as Rush defenseman, Mark DeSantis received both a major penalty for fighting and a10-minute misconduct. Thunder left winger, Scott Rozendal also received a major penalty for fighting. The period ended with the Rapid City Rush in the lead, 1- 0.
The Rush didn't slow down any during the second period, tallying 21 shots in the middle frame. Joey Olson found the back of the net at the 15:17 mark. Kyle Sheen, who fed Olson for the breakaway, and Rush new addition, Paul Kelly assisted on the goal. Wichita put a point on the board near the end of the period when at 19:27 Rozendal grabbed the goal for the Thunder. The Rozendal powerplay goal was assisted by Chris Greene and Jason Tessier. The physical play seen in the first period continued into the second as Chris DiUbaldo and Stan Yanchishyn dropped the gloves and received majors for fighting. At the end of the second period, 72 minutes of penalties had been accumulated by both squads. The Rush maintained their lead at the end of the second period, 2-1.
Rozendal would find the back of the net again early in the third period, evening up the score. The Rozendal goal occurred at the 3:45 mark in the period, and was assisted again by Greene, and by Jordan Hack. The Rush would respond less than a minute later, when Kyle Sheen was able to grab a goal for the Rush at the 4:28 mark. Kelly picked up another assist on the goal which was assisted by Olson who also picked up his second point of the game. The last minute of the period proved to be the most exciting play of the game. At 19:01, Troy Ofukany tallied the Thunder equalizer as his goal was assisted by Bryan Nathe. It looked like the two teams were going to overtime, but the night's number one star of the game, Jon Pelle, grabbed the game winning goal for the Rush at the 19:52 mark of the period. Pelle was assisted by Chris Lipsett and Blaine Jarvis. Pelle's goal sealed the victory for the Rush, with a score of 4-3.Rapid City set a season-high for shots on net with 45 while Wichita fired off 29. The Thunder was able to put in 2 powerplay goals on 8 chances while the Rush scored one powerplay goal on 11 chances. The Rush have now won 4 out of their last 6 games.
The Rapid City Rush and Wichita Thunder will face off again tomorrow night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena at 7:05.
Other Rush News:
The Rapid City Rush would like to invite fans to "The Rush Hour with Coach Joe Ferras" live at Boston's every Tuesday at 7pm. Weekly giveaways include signed, game-used sticks, signed pucks and Miller Light gear.
For more information on Rapid City Rush Hockey, log onto www.RapidCityRush.com or contact the Rush office at 605.716.PUCK (7825).
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