Surma & Baker Lead the Way as Rush Win Season Opener 5-4
Published on October 19, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Rapid City, SD) - New faces led the way for the Rapid City Rush on Friday night in the 2012-13 regular season opener on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Damian Surma and Jordan Baker each had four-point nights and the Rush were able to stave off a late comeback for a 5-4 victory over the Bloomington Blaze. The teams are back at it tomorrow night at 6:05pm MST and the game can be heard live on Rush flagship station 100.3 the FOX
The opening period of the new season went about as perfect as possible for the Rush, earning a 4-1 lead through the initial twenty minutes. Scoring the first goal of the new season was a familiar face, team captain Scott Wray. The veteran stood below the goal line, but was able to bank a shot off of goaltender Pier Olivier-Pelletier pads and into the back of the net. Just over three minutes later, crisp passing by John Snowden and Damian Surma set up rookie Jordan Baker who sped in from the top of the slot and roofed a backhand shot to the top-right corner, doubling the lead. Less than two minutes after his first goal, Baker struck again, this time sending a wrist shot over the glove of Pelletier from the slot to extend the Rush lead to 3-0 less than ten minutes in. The Blaze finally got on the board when Jon Booras was able to follow up his own wraparound attempt by flicking a shot just over Tim Boron's right pad. At the 16:22 mark, Baker set up Surma at the top of the slot, and the veteran was able to send a backhand shot to the top-left corner, making it 4-1 after one.
The Blaze came charging out of the gate in the second period and were rewarded for their hard work when Jesse Dudas took advantage of a fortuitous bounce to cut the lead to two. However, the Rush powerplay converted again, this time Kyle Peto slammed home a back-door pass from Baker to regain the three-goal advantage for Rapid City.
Needing to do some work to get back into the game, the Blaze chipped away at the lead with a tally from Sebatien Trudeau just 6:56 into the third period. Then, with 1:43 remaining, Tysen Dowzak roofed a backhand shot from the left circle to pull the Blaze within one. But despite pulling Pelletier, the Blaze were unable to find the equalizer as the Rush held on for the 5-4 victory to start the season.
The difference in the contest was special teams as the Rush powerplay went 2-for-4 on the night, while the penalty kill stuffed all four chances by the Blaze.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2012
- Mavericks Fall in Overtime to Cutthroats in Season Opener, 4-3 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Oilers Clip Thunder in Season Opener, 4-3 - Wichita Thunder
- Surma & Baker Lead the Way as Rush Win Season Opener 5-4 - Rapid City Rush
- Blaze Battle Back But Fall Short to Rush - Bloomington Blaze
- CHL Announces Season-Opening Rosters - CHL
- Rush Drop the Puck on 2012-13 Season Tonight in Bloomington - Rapid City Rush
- Shots from the Point for October 19, 2012 - CHL
- Cutthroats Announce Opening Night Roster - Denver Cutthroats
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