CHL Wichita Thunder

Southern discomfort

Published on January 23, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


RAYZ STING THUNDER- Corpus Christi broke open a 1-1 game with three third period goals and hung on for a 6-4 win on Friday over the Thunder. Joe Blaznek scored the first goal of the game, before the Rayz rattled off three straight. Travis Clayton and Daniel Tetrault tied the game at 3-3, before the Rayz pulled away for good. Blaznek led the Thunder with two goals and an assist. The win was Corpus Christi's first ever in six meetings with the Thunder.

BATS FLY PAST THUNDER- The Ice Bats scored three power play goals and one shorthanded, rolling to a 4-2 win over the Thunder on Saturday night in Austin. Travis Clayton and Daniel Tetrault scored goals for the Thunder who remained winless all-time in Austin (0-5). Austin will make one trip to Wichita this season on Saturday, March 11th.

END OF THE ROAD- The Thunder will wrap up their franchise-long, seven-game, 21-day road trip this Friday in Amarillo. Despite losing their last two games, the Thunder can finish a successful 4-3 with a win over the Gorillas. Still, the Thunder are just 6-11-2 on the road this season and the Colorado Eagles are the only team in the CHL with an above .500 record on the road. Wichita, who owns the league's best home record (14-1-3), will play five of six games at home beginning on Saturday.

ALL-STAR EFFORT- Thunder veterans Joe Blaznek, Travis Clayton and Jason Duda had impressive nights last Wednesday at the 2006 CHL All-Star Game in Hidalgo, Texas. After winning the CHL's Fastest Skater competition, Blaznek followed it up with a two-goal, three-point game, earning the Northern Conference MVP Award. Clayton chipped in a goal and an assist, while Duda had two assists and scored a shootout goal, as the North knocked off the South 10-9, for their third straight victory.

NORTHWEST BATTLE- With two-thirds of the season gone, the Northwest Division has easily been the CHL's best and toughest. Colorado owns the CHL's best mark, while Wichita and Oklahoma City are tied for third best, with 45 points each. The Tulsa Oilers are also above .500 and eight points behind the Thunder and Blazers for the Northern Conference's fourth and final playoff spot. The Thunder have the advantage of two games in hand on the Blazers, while the Oilers have three games in hand. Amazingly, the four Northwest Division teams are also the CHL's four most penalized teams and all four teams also rank among the top five in majors and game misconducts. Needless to say, Colorado, Oklahoma City, Wichita and Tulsa rank among the top seven in the CHL in attendance, combining for an average of 5,714 per game.

THUNDERBOLTS- Wichita leads the CHL with 60 power play goals and is second with 10 shorthanded goals...Joe Blaznek leads the CHL with 16 power play goals and ranks second in the CHL with 29 goals...Blaznek and Jason Duda rank third and fourth in the CHL with 54 and 53 points respectively...Daniel Tetrault ranks second among CHL defensemen with 11 goals and third with 38 points...Tetrault leads all CHL defensemen with nine power play goals...Kris Wiebe is sixth among CHL rookies with 10 goals, despite missing 12 games...Rookie Chris Bain ranks fourth in the CHL with 17 majors...Wichita is second in the CHL, averaging 32.7 penalty minutes per game...The Thunder are second in the CHL on the power play, at 19.2%.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Friday, January 20- Wichita 4 at Corpus Christi 6 Loss

Saturday, January 21- Wichita 2 at Austin 4 Loss

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: Friday, January 27- Wichita at Amarillo 7:00 PM 98.7 FM/1240 AM

Saturday, January 28- Memphis at Wichita 7:05 PM

Sunday, January 29- Youngstown at Wichita 5:05 PM

PRACTICE SCEHDULE: Tuesday-Thursday Wichita Ice Center 10:00 AM

Check out the Wichita Thunder Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2006


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