ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Blast Roadrunners, 7-0

December 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Garett Bembridge (2g, 2a) and D'Arcy McConvey (2g, 1a) led a balanced scoring attack, as the Steelheads blasted the Roadrunners, 7-0, at America West Arena in Phoenix on Wednesday night.

In addition to the seven-goal barrage, rookie goaltender Steve Silvethorn (8-3-0) stopped all 34 shots he faced for his first professional shutout and his eighth win of the year. It was also the first shutout of the season for the Steelheads (16-6-2), as they improved to an impressive 8-2-1 on the road.

McConvey opened the game's scoring, converting off a turnover by Roadrunners' (9-14-2) goaltender Mike Mole. With the Steelheads on the man advantage, Mole gave up the puck behind his own net to Bembridge, the ECHL's leading scorer. Bembridge found linemate Mike Stutzel, who shoveled a pass into the slot, where McConvey was waiting.

Just 2:33 later, with the Steelheads man advantage at work again, Brad Thompson tipped home a point shot from defenseman Jarad Bourassa, to make it 2-0. Veteran winger Scott Burt gathered the other helper.

McConvey's second power play goal of the stanza came at 16:07 of the frame, making the score 3-0 at period's end. McConvey's tally marked the second straight game in which a Steelheads player notched multiple power play goals in a period, and it was the first time the Steelheads as a squad have buried three power play goals in a 20-minute segment.

The Steelheads tacked on two more goals in the second period. Kevin Gardner picked up his third goal of the season at 6:46 of the period, as Bourassa and Burt assisted on the goal. Then at 18:25 of the stanza, winger Justin Cox found Bembridge, who had snuck behind the Roadrunners' defense after emerging from the penalty box. Bembridge beat Mole cleanly under his right pad to make it 5-0.

Two more markers in the third period rounded out the scoring, as the Steelheads got their fourth man advantage goal off a redirection by forward Greg Hornby at 6:47 of the period. Defenseman Jonathan Zion ripped a shot from the point, that Hornby got a piece of, giving the Steelheads a 6-0 lead. Thompson got the other assist. Zion now has points in five straight games, including five assists in his last three matches.

Bembridge added his second of the evening, and his ECHL-leading 20th of the season with 27 seconds left. McConvey and Stutzel were credited with the helpers.

The final shots were 36-34 in favor of the Steelheads. The seven-goal margin of victory is the team's most lopsided of the season, while the seven goals for ties a season-high. In three games against the Roadrunners this year, the Steelheads have netted 19 goals, all of which have been Steelheads victories.

Mole (5-10-2) took the loss for the Roadrunners, his 10th defeat of the season. The Roadrunners have now been blanked in four of their last nine outings.

The Steelheads will play their final game in Phoenix on Thursday night, December 22. Faceoff is at 7:11 p.m. MST.

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ECHL Stories from December 21, 2005


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