Sundogs Send Pietroniro to All-Star Game with 8-1 Win

December 23, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees faced off in the lone game in the Central Hockey League Sunday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Olivier Latendresse gathered three goals and an assist, helping his club to a convincing 8-1 victory. With the win, Arizona improves to 19-6-1 on the season and has won 11 of their last 13 contests. Having the Southern Conference's best winning percentage through Sunday night's game, Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro will serve as coach for the Southern Conference in the CHL All-Star Game on Jan. 16 in Broomfield, Colo.

Arizona jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on their first powerplay chance of the night as Alex Leavitt fired a slapshot from the near point past the glove of Rio Grande Valley netminder Jeff Van Nynatten at 7:16 of the opening frame for his eighth point in three games. CHL rookie-leading scorer Mark Kolanos assisted on the play along with Jason Visser. Just shy of the midway point, Visser and Kolanos teamed up again to give their club a 2-0 advantage. Visser fed a centering pass to Kolanos who wristed a shot over the left leg pad of Van Nynatten for his 18th goal of the season. Defenseman Dan Laperriere also notched an assist. Arizona controlled the opening period, outshooting the Killer Bees by a 16-9 mark.

The Sundogs came out in the second and doubled their first period offense with a four goal middle period. While four-on-four, Arizona opened a 3-0 lead at 7:59 of the frame as Olivier Latendresse threw what was supposed to be a centering pass to Leavitt but was deflected by a Killer Bees defenseman into the back of the net as Van Nynatten anticipated and slid across the crease. Less than two minutes later, the Sundogs went up 4-0 as Kevin Cormier took a pass from Leavitt and squeezed a wrist shot through for his second point in as many games with Arizona. Matt Suderman also helped on the play for his second assist of the season. Continuing to dominate play in the game, Arizona tallied its second powerplay goal of the game at the 12:27 mark as Karl Sellan pushed an easy rebound into the net off a Chris Bartolone shot from the point. Latendresse collected his second point of the period with an assist on the play. Tempers flared in the closing minutes with three separate fights breaking out between both clubs in a 13 second span. Before the period ended, the Sundogs added a sixth goal as Latendresse gathered a rebound and slid the puck through Van Nynatten's legs for his second tally and third point of the night. Jon Landry took the initial shot and was credited with an assist along with Chris Greene. Through the first 40 minutes of play, Arizona held 30-17 advantage in shots.

Olivier Latendresse tallied his third of the game 1:34 into the third period for Arizona's first hat trick of the 2007-08 season. Forwards and former college teammates Dusty Collins and Rob Lehtinen assisted on the goal for a 7-0 advantage. At 12:32 of the period, former Sundog Ladislav Kouba got his club on the board with a low shot from the blue line that found its way through Zaniboni. Tyler Fuller and Josh Bonar assisted on the Killer Bees' lone goal. Jon Landry capped out scoring in the game for the 8-1 final on passes from Greene and Sellan at 17:55 of the final period.

Arizona improves to 19-6-1 on the season with the win, extending its current winning streak to five games. The Sundogs have won six-straight at home and 11 of their last 13. The Sundogs converted on two of four powerplay chances in the game while holding Rio Grande Valley scoreless on five chances with the man advantage. Arizona dominated throughout the game, holding the Killer Bees to 24 shots while tallying 43 in 60 minutes. Bill Zaniboni appeared in net for Arizona and improved to 7-3-1 on the year. The Massachusetts native had a near-perfect game stopping 23 of 24 shots. Jeff Van Nynatten blocked 35 of 43 shots in the loss.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 23, 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