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Sundogs Clinch First-Ever Division Title in 8-6 Win

March 18, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs faced off against the New Mexico Scorpions Tuesday night at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico looking to clinch their first-ever division title in their last road game of the 2007-08 regular season. The Southwest Division-leading Sundogs carried a season-high five-game win streak into the game and needed just one standing point to secure the division title and second seed in the Southern Conference playoff race. Arizona used eight goals and a Tyler Liebel hat trick in 60 minutes of play to top the Scorpions and clinch their first division title in just their second season of play in the Central Hockey League. Alex Leavitt notched one goal and one assist in the game for 117 points on the season, all but locking up the league's scoring title with three games to play in the regular season. With the 8-6 victory, the Sundogs extended their season-high win streak to six games.

The two divisional foes skated to a 2-2 tie after the first 20 minutes of play Tuesday night as the Sundogs would tally the game's first two goals. New Mexico fought back however to pull even heading into the second period. CHL leading scorer Alex Leavitt gave his club an early 1-0 lead with his 36th goal of the season on a pass from Tyler Liebel just 3:23 into the contest. The visiting Sundogs opened a two-goal lead 1:37 later as first-year player Mark Kolanos netted his 30th goal of the year from fellow rookie Dusty Collins and newly acquired forward Steve Rymsha. More than ten minutes passed before the Scorpions found their way on to the scoreboard. Ross McCain cut into the Sundogs' lead with his sixth tally of the season at the 15:37 mark to make the score 2-1 in favor of Arizona. Kevin Harvey and Shawn Skiehar were credited with assists on the play. Less than a minute later New Mexico pulled even at 2-2 with a Craig Macdonald marker from Christopher Robertson and Vladimir Hartinger to close out first period scoring. Neither team was able to establish themselves on the powerplay in the opening period of play as Arizona went 0-for-1 with the man advantage while New Mexico was unable to convert on five powerplay chances.

Arizona regained a one-goal lead 1:20 into the second frame as Liebel gathered his second point and first goal of the game on passes from veteran defenseman Dan Laperriere and second-year forward Karl Sellan. New Mexico pulled even for the second time to make the score 3-3 with their first powerplay goal of the game with 6:15 to play in the middle period. Dominic Osman found the back of the net past Sundogs netminder Rob McVicar for his 24th of the season from McCain and Bill McCreary. The Sundogs answered back 1:07 later as Liebel notched his second goal and third point of the night with an unassisted effort, lifting a shot over Scorpions goaltender Andrew Martin for a 4-3 advantage. Arizona grabbed its second two-goal lead of the game on their first goal with the man advantage with 1:06 remaining in the period. Rookie forward Jason Visser knocked a rebound across the goal line for his 19th of the season from linemates Leavitt, his second point of the night, and Cory Urquhart. New Mexico held a slight 29-27 advantage in shots over Arizona through 40 minutes of play Tuesday evening.

The Sundogs pushed their lead to 6-3 just 48 seconds into the third period with their second powerplay goal of the game following a Kevin Harvey roughing call late in the second period. Jason Visser collected his second point and first assist of the game, sending a cross-ice pass to Urquhart who lifted a one-timer from a tough angle over Martin for his 15th goal since joining the Sundogs. With a three-goal cushion, Arizona continued to pressure, opening a four-goal lead at 5:09 of the period as Rymsha tallied an unassisted marker for his second goal and sixth point in three games with the Sundogs. New Mexico pulled back to within three 1:04 later as Harvey registered his first goal and second point of the game for his eighth of the season from Ray Ortiz and McCain. While skating four on four, Hartinger cut into the Sundogs' lead with his club's fifth goal of the night at the 11:54 mark from Robertson. Aaron MacInnis tallied his club's third goal in six minutes of play in the third period to pull the Scorpions back to within one after trailing by as many as four earlier in the game. Hartinger collected his second assist and third point on the night along with Konrad Reeder at the 15:34 mark. With four seconds to play in the game and an empty net at the opposite end, Liebel collected his third of the game for the Sundogs' third hat trick of the season. Rymsha helped on the play for his second assist and third point of the night along with Chris Bartolone to close out scoring in the game.

Rob McVicar appeared in net for Arizona and stopped 41 of 47 shots to improve to 8-4-2 on the season. Andrew Martin was between the pipes for New Mexico and allowed seven goals 36 shots in the loss. The league's top powerplay finished 2-for-6 with the man advantage while the Scorpions converted on two of nine chances with the man advantage. With the win, the Sundogs close out their 2007-08 regular season road schedule with a 16-11-5 record and clinch their first-ever division title, securing the Southern Conference's second seed in the 2008 Central Hockey League playoffs. New Mexico outshot Arizona 47-37 in the contest.

The Sundogs now return home for a Wednesday night matchup against the Northwest Division Rocky Mountain Rage at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Game time is set for 7:05pm. Tickets are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), on the internet at www.gettix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

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