Thunder Clipped by Grizzles, 4-2.

January 15, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL) - Wichita Thunder News Release

Wichita, KS (Jan. 12th) - Wichita returned home on Friday night to close out its schedule before the All-Star break. Utah took the front half of a back-to-back, knocking off the Thunder by the final of 4-2.

Evan Polei and Kevin Dufour continued to remain hot as both provided the Thunder offense. Polei got the Thunder on the board 13 minutes into the game. He found a loose puck at the right circle and beat Kevin Carr over the shoulder for his eighth of the year. Wichita appeared to take a 2-0 lead with five minutes to go in the period. Colin Martin fired a shot from along the goal line that popped off the back of Carr, went straight in the air and got behind him. The official originally called it a goal on the ice. After conferring with the goal judge, he changed his call and it was waived off. Utah tied the game two minutes later when Ryan Misiak stole it near the left circle, came across the front of the net and beat Shane Starrett to tie the game at one. In the second, Erik Higby scored to give Utah a 2-1 lead just two minutes in as he re-directed a pass off the rush and put it past Starrett.

Jon Puskar made it 3-1 with a power play goal during a two-man advantage at 4:14. He tipped in a long shot from the deep slot for his eighth of the year. Dufour cut the lead to 3-2 with a power play goal at 18:27 and gave the Thunder some momentum heading into the third. Wichita outshot the Grizzlies in the third period, but couldn't get any closer. Starrett was lifted with just over a minute to go. Ryan Walters won a foot race in the neutral zone and found an empty net to make it 4-2. Dufour recorded his 11th of the year and extended his point-streak to a season-high nine games. Polei has goals in back-to-back games and extended his point-streak to six games (3g, 4a). Wichita went 1-for-3 on the power play. Utah was 2-for-7 on the man advantage.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from January 15, 2018

• OIL DROPS: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report - Tulsa Oilers
• Monarchs Fall to Royals, 6-2 - Manchester Monarchs
• Five-Goal Explosion in 2nd Dominates Monarchs, 6-2 - Reading Royals
• Beast Score Plenty of Goals and Silence Thunder - Brampton Beast
• Mychan to Replace Joly at 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star - Colorado Eagles
• Game Recap: Wings End Lengthy Road Trip with Overtime Win in Idaho - Kalamazoo Wings
• Eagles Win Eighth Straight with 8-1 Victory over Rush - Colorado Eagles
• Eagles Sweep Rush - Rapid City Rush
• Second Period Surge Lifts Fuel over Mallards - Indy Fuel
• Early Deficit Too Much in Loss to Utah - Wichita Thunder
• Heeter Stops 41 as Solar Bears Defeat Stingrays 2-1 - Orlando Solar Bears
• Mallard Rally Falls Short - Quad City Mallards
• Impressive Third Period Leads 'Blades Past IceMen 5-3 - Florida Everblades
• Americans Thump Oilers 7-2 - Tulsa Oilers
• Komets Top Beast in Close Game - Brampton Beast
• Physical Effort Goes Thunder's Way, 4-1 - Reading Royals
• Brown's Late Goal Lifts Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
• Five-Game Road Trip Wraps up with 4-2 Loss to Nailers - Norfolk Admirals
• Railers Finish Six Game Roadie with 3-1 Loss in Manchester - Worcester Railers HC
• Monarchs Beat up Railers, 3-1 - Manchester Monarchs
• Thunder Lands Young Sniper Latta - Wichita Thunder
• Forward Michael Joly Earns Call-Up to AHL's Rampage - Colorado Eagles
• Walker Called up to Iowa - Rapid City Rush
• Winner Announced in ECHL's 30th Anniversary Memories Contest - ECHL
• Admirals Wrap up Road Trip in Wheeling - Norfolk Admirals
• Royals Sign Hummelstown Native Dillan Fox and Have Another Shot At - Reading Royals
• Thunder Clipped by Grizzles, 4-2. - Wichita Thunder
• Game Recap: Wings Led by Defensive Efforts in Win over Steelheads - Kalamazoo Wings
• Eagles Score Four Straight to Defeat Rapid City 4-2 - Colorado Eagles
• Sivak's Pair Not Enough in Loss - Rapid City Rush
• Win Streak Snapped for Solar Bears in 4-2 Loss at Greenville - Orlando Solar Bears
• Fuel Falter in Loss to Quad City - Indy Fuel
• Mallards Halt Winless Streak - Quad City Mallards

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.

Other Recent Wichita Thunder Stories

• Oilers Win High Scoring Affair, 6-5
• Wheelchair Game Rescheduled to April 1st
• Brooks Signed to SPC
• Thunder Weekly, March 20th
• Thunder Adds Young Defenseman Nilsen