Sundogs Hold Lead Midway Through Third, Lose 5-3

Published on January 4, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and the Colorado Eagles faced off Thursday evening in a game originally scheduled for December 22 but was postponed due to a blizzard that dumped more than two-feet of snow in Denver and the surrounding areas. Arizona would hold a one goal lead the entire game until Colorado would take their first lead of the game with less than ten minutes to play in regulation. Colorado would eventually win 5-3, their 12th straight victory, the longest in the CHL to date. Kelly and Stillman would both finish with two points apiece for Arizona in the loss.

In the first period Arizona would strike first as Colorado would take three penalties in 1:24 giving the Sundogs a two-man advantage. Brent Kelly would score his league-leading 21st goal of the season at the 7:27 mark on passes from Dan DaSilva and Cory Stillman. Arizona would finish 1-for-4 with the man advantage in the first period while the Eagles would go 0-for-1 on the power play to start the game.

At 3:23 of the second period, Colorado's Ed McGrane would match Arizona's first goal on a pass from Craig Strain. McGrane's marker would come on the penalty kill giving the Eagles their CHL best 21st shorthanded goal of the season. At 5:50 of the middle frame the Sundogs would regain the lead collecting their second power play goal of the game from defenseman and former University of Denver Pioneer Max Bull. Cory Stillman and Chris Bartolone would assist on the play. The Eagles would again climb even with Arizona at 12:36 of the period on a Chris Hartsburg goal from Seth Leonard. With less than two-minutes to play in the second, Colorado netminder Marco Emond mishandled the puck behind the net giving the puck to Kelly who found Jordan Mowbray out front for an open net goal at the 18:04 mark to give the Sundogs a one goal lead for the third time of the game.

More than half the third period would pass before the game would see its next goal. Colorado would even the score for the third time of the game at the 9:45 mark on a goal from Ed McGrane, assisted by Leonard and Aaron Schneekloth. At 12:10 of the third period, Martin Doyle would be tagged with a roughing call giving Colorado their eighth power play chance of the night. The Eagles would convert quickly as Seth Leonard would tally his first goal of the game and third point on a pass from McGrane and Scott Polaski to give the Eagles their first lead of the night. Arizona would see a two-man advantage for the final 1:27 in regulation as they would pull Mayotte while on a power play but would be unable to convert as McGrane would score an empty net goal, his third of the game to secure the 5-3 win.

Arizona netminder Kris Mayotte would see his first start in four games, stopping 33 of 37 shots faced in the loss while Colorado goalie Marco Emond stopped 28 of 31 for the win. Arizona finished 2-for-9 on the power play while the Eagles went 1-for-8. Next up for the Sundogs is the Rocky Mountain Rage on Friday in Broomfield, Colorado. It will be the third meeting between Arizona and Rocky Mountain and the first at the Broomfield Event Center. Arizona leads the series 2-0. Game time is set for 7:05pm and can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central