Sundogs Notes

January 10, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


The Arizona Sundogs (15-15-4) closed out a three-game set against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at Tim's Toyota Center, winning two of three contests last week. The Sundogs earned four of six wins and eight of a possible 10 points during their six-game homestand.

On Wednesday, Luke Erickson and Cam Keith each tallied three points and the Arizona Sundogs held an early 1-0 lead but the visiting Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees used a three-goal second period to snap their three-game winless streak against the Sundogs this season, 5-3.

On Friday, the Sundogs found themselves trailing 3-2 with less than five minutes to play but exploded for three goals in a four-minute span to earn their fourth win in five games against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, snapping a two-game losing streak. Luke Erickson extended his points streak to a team season-high eight games with a goal and an assist.

The Arizona Sundogs improved to 5-1-0 against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees this season on Saturday night, topping the Berry Conference opponent for the second consecutive night, 6-3. Luke Erickson continued his torrid scoring streak, tallying two goals for his third consecutive multi-point effort and fourth in five games. Kyle Hood assisted on four of his team's six goals in the win.

The Sundogs next take on the Tulsa Oilers (17-18-1) Friday at 6:35pm (Arizona time) and Wichita Thunder (16-14-2) Saturday at 6:05pm (Arizona time). Listen to the games live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com and on KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey.

Sundogs Storylines:

- The Sundogs acquired defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken from the Rapid City Rush in exchange for the rights to Konrad Reeder on January 3. VanderVeeken is plus-4 with two assists and two penalty minutes in three games with Arizona. The defenseman tallied two goals, four assists, 24 PIM and a plus-6 rating in 17 games with the Rush this season.

- Veteran Joel Irving played in his 800th career professional game, a 6-3 win against former team the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Saturday, Jan. 8.

- Joey Sides will skate for the 2011 CHL All-Star Team set to compete against the host Rapid City Rush in the 2011 CHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, Jan. 12 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Sides has recorded 23 points (11g/12a) in his last 16 games. Sides currently ranks third on the team in scoring with 30 points (13g/17a) in 32 games. Sides finished the month of December with 20 points (10g/10a) and a plus-7 rating in 13 contests, being held without a point just three times. He also collected two shorthanded goals and two shorthanded assists in the month. Sides is tied for the league lead in shorthanded points (6) and shorthanded assists (3) and ranks second in shorthanded goals (3). Sides was named the Oakley Three Stars Award Winner for the month of December, collecting 22 points (three 1st stars, 1 2nd star and four 3rd stars).

- Kyle Hood has went on scoring streaks of three games, four games, five games, two games, four games and three games and has picked up eight points (1g/7a) in his last three games. Hood ranks second on the team in scoring with 35 points (7g/28a) in 30 games. Hood's 18 power-play assists lead all CHL players. Hood finished as the team's top scorer in 2009-10 with 56 points (14g/42a) in 63 games.

- Forward Luke Erickson has tallied 35 points (19g/16a) and two game-winners in 23 games with the Sundogs. Erickson is averaging more than a point per game this season and leads the Sundogs in scoring with 39 points (21g/18a) in 29 games.

- Defenseman Tyler Butler ranks fifth on the team in scoring and tied for third among CHL defensemen with 28 points (7g/21a). His 16 power-play assists are tied for third-most among all CHL players.

- Arizona is 13-for-42 (30.9%) on the power play through its last seven games, including exploding for a season-high four power-play goals on seven tries in a 7-6 loss to the Colorado Eagles on 12/22.

- The Sundogs are 9-3-3 when scoring the game's first goal, 7-1-3 when leading after one period of play and 9-1-2 when leading after two periods of play.

- Arizona has earned 20 of its 34 points on the road this season. The Sundogs are just 7-9-0 at home but own an 8-6-4 record away from Tim's Toyota Center and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 road games. Arizona is one of 10 teams in the CHL with an above .500 record away from home.

- The Sundogs own an 8-3-1 record on Friday night but are just 3-7-1 on Saturday.

- When outshooting an opponent, Arizona is just 6-10-1, but when being outshot in a game, the Sundogs are 9-4-3.

- Arizona just completed their best month of the season so far, finishing the month of December with an overall record of 7-4-2. The 'Dogs were 3-2-0 at Tim's Toyota Center and 4-2-2 away from home in the last month of 2010.

- Arizona (15-15-4, 34 points), currently in sixth place in the Berry Conference, sits just three points back of third place but just five points in front of ninth place. Only eight points separate seven teams from third to ninth place.

Scoring Streaks:

POINTS

GOALS

ASSISTS

Erickson - 16 points (9g/7a) in 9 games

Erickson - 5 goals in 3 games

Hood - 7 assists in 3 games

Keith - 14 points (4g/10a) in 8 games

Williams - 2 goals in 2 games

Keith - 5 assists in 3 games

Hood - 8 points (1g/7a) in 3 games

Sides - 2 assists in 2 games

Visser - 4 points (1g/3a) in 2 games

Sides - 3 points (1g/2a) in 2 games

Butler - 3 points (1g/2a) in 2 games

Williams - 3 points (2g/1a) in 2 games

Upcoming Games:

- Friday, Jan. 14 (6:35pm) at Tulsa Oilers

- Radio: KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM

- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com

- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com

- Saturday, Jan. 15 (6:05pm) at Wichita Thunder

- Radio: KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM

- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com

- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com



Central Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2011


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