Sundogs Earn Point in 2-1 Overtime Loss

January 29, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Skating without their two top defensemen, the Arizona Sundogs earned a point Friday night, falling in overtime, 2-1, to the league-leading Odessa Jackalopes.

CHL All-Star defenseman Jon Landry left the team Thursday to skate in the DEL, Germany's top professional league, and veteran defenseman and player/assistant coach Chris Bartolone was placed on 14-day I.R. earlier Friday.

The host Jackalopes capitalized on an odd-man rush 1:26 into overtime after a no-call by referee Kris Schoech as Sundogs defenseman Evan Shaw was pulled to the ice deep in the offensive zone.

On the ensuing rush, Dave Van Drunken netted his second of the year from Mike Ramsay, his second point of the night, to cap off the 2-1 win.

Doug Groenestege turned aside 24 of 26 shots in the overtime loss while Joel Martin allowed one goal on 37 shots to earn his 17th win of the season.

Arizona remains winless in seven tries against Odessa this year, falling to 0-6-1.

Veteran forward Steve Potvin staked his club to 1-0 first-period lead with his fifth of the year, converting on Arizona's first power-play chance 6:41 into the contest.

Skating five forwards on the power play, Arizona's Chad Hinz collected a Kevin Gardner pass from the point but had a shot attempt interfered with in the slot.

Stationed at the far post, Potvin was able to gather the loose puck before beating Odessa netminder Joel Martin for the early one-goal lead.

After no penalties in the second period's first 15 minutes, referee Schoech whistled the Sundogs for three penalties in a three-minute span to give the Jackalopes consecutive 5-on-3 chances late in the frame.

The league's top power play connected on the latter opportunity as Ramsay shoved home a loose puck with just 27 seconds remaining in the period, tying the game at one on passes from Sebastien Thinel and Collin Circelli.

Each team converted once on the power play with the Sundogs receiving five man advantages and the Jackalopes four.

Earning a point, Arizona (13-24-4) sits 10 points back of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Amarillo Gorillas and the Southern Conference's fifth and final playoff spot.

The Sundogs skate in the final game of five consecutive contests against the CHL-best Jackalopes tomorrow at 6:05pm (Arizona time). Listen live on KDDL ‘Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey, and online at www.cattlecountryradio.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2010


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