Sundogs Double-Up Killer Bees, 6-3

Published on January 8, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs improved to 5-1-0 against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees this season, topping the Berry Conference opponent for the second consecutive night, 6-3, Saturday at Tim's Toyota Center.

Luke Erickson continued his torrid scoring streak, tallying two goals for his third consecutive multi-point effort and fourth in five games. The Sundogs' leading scorer has 16 points (9g/7a) in a team-high nine straight games.

Erickson netted his first goal of the contest less than three minutes after rookie Patrick Schafer gave the Sundogs a 1-0 lead 37 seconds into the game, one-timing a Cam Keith centering feed past Juliano Pagliero to give the Sundogs an early two-goal cushion. Skating 4-on-4, Keith collected the first of three points on the night, circling behind the Killer Bees' net before slipping a pass to Erickson in the low slot.

Nick Sucharski had a chance to cut his club's deficit to one after being awarded a penalty shot with 2:27 to play in the opening frame but Levente Szuper denied the attempt, turning aside a five-hole effort by the Killer Bees forward.

Kyle Hood assisted on four of Arizona's six goals, finishing plus-1 on the night.

Jason Williams stretched Arizona's lead to three 1:14 into the middle frame with his second goal in as many games, redirecting a Hood turnaround shot from the point over Pagliero who was covering the bottom half of the net. Defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken also assisted on the play for his second point in three games since being acquired by the Sundogs.

Jake Obermeyer's first of two power-play markers on the night cut Arizona's lead to 3-1 6:37 into the middle frame.

Zak McClellan extended his goal scoring streak to six games with a power-play goal 18 seconds into a man advantage opportunity midway through the second period, closing the Killer Bees back to within one, but the Sundogs regained a two-goal advantage 1:06 later with their second power-play goal of the contest. Stationed at the side of the goal crease, Keith knocked a Hood setup feed past Pagliero at 12:30.

Obermeyer's second of game five seconds into an early third-period man advantage chance cut the Sundogs' lead to 4-3 but Erickson and Jason Visser each found the back of the net in the final frame, securing their team's second straight win.

Rio Grande Valley had a goal waived off with 3:39 to play as referee Tom Chmielewski ruled the puck was guided into the back of the net with a high stick.

Szuper finished with 41 saves to win his ninth of the season while Pagliero dropped his 14th decision of the year with 40 saves.

Arizona (15-15-4) moves into sixth place in the Berry Conference, one point back of fourth place and three points back of the conference's third spot heading into the All-Star break.

The Sundogs resume action on Friday, Jan. 14 against the Tulsa Oilers at 6:35pm (Arizona time). Listen to the game live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com and on KDDL ‘Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2011


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