Thunder Rolls Past Bees 3-1

Published on January 31, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were introduced to a little history of the Wichita Thunder franchise Friday night at the Kansas Coliseum, as the Thunder defeated the Killer Bees 3-1. The loss extends the Bees road winless streak to a franchise high five games.

The Thunder grabbed a 1-0 lead with 6:32 remaining in the opening period, but it was the Bees who accidentally scored the Thunder goal. Thunder forward Travis Clayton slung a shot from the right side that deflected off of Bees defenseman Sean Gillam's stick and snuck past goaltender Jeff Levy. The goal was Clayton's 18th of the season and his 205th as a member of the Thunder.

It was another longtime Thunder member taking advantage of an unusual Gillam mishap 8:24 into the second period, as Jason Duda and Travis Clayton's pressure on Gillam led to a 2-on-1 rush by the Thunder. The rush was capitalized by a goal from the left slot by Duda for his 207th career goal as a member of the Thunder. Andrew Taylor cut the Thunder lead in half for the Killer Bees with a power play goal low in the zone with 8:45 remaining in the second period for his seventh goal on the season.

Wichita regained their two-goal lead, extending the score to 3-1 with 9:09 remaining in regulation with a wrist shot from Adam Calder from the left circle for his team leading 26th goal of the season. The Bees were unable to get any offense going in the third period and were held to just 2 shots on goal in the period.

A very chippy game, the two teams combined for 92 minutes in penalties. 50 of which occurred during the Even Rio Grande Valley's Bill Newson and Kevin Mackie got in the mix, picking up their first fighting majors of the season.

Wichita goaltender Nathan Grobbins had his franchise high streak of consecutive starts with 14 come to an end and Mark Cairns received the start, showing no rust. He stopped 22 of 23 shots in net for the victory.

Austin defeated Corpus Christi 2-1 tonight in Austin, so the Bees and Bats have an identical record (18-19-6) and are tied for second place in the Southeast Division. The Bees do lead the season series over Austin, which does keep the Bees in second. The road show continues for the Bees and their third stop of their season long six game road trip comes Saturday night in Tulsa for their lone battle of the season with the Tulsa Oilers.

DATE Fri, Jan 30, 2004 Rio Grande Valley (1) Wichita (3)

SCORE BY PERIODS Rio Grande Valley 0 1 0 -- 1 Wichita 1 1 1 -- 3

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: WIC-Clayton (Calder, Duda) 13:28. Penalties: Leiter, WIC (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 4:39. Peach, RGV (High Sticking, Minor, 2 min) 6:57. Rees, RGV (Holding, Minor, 2 min) 11:53. Runkel, WIC (Interference, Minor, 2 min) 14:37. Kolesar, WIC (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min) 18:22. Newson, RGV (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min) 18:22.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: WIC-Duda (powerplay) (Clayton) 8:24. RGV-Taylor (powerplay) (Rees, Tessier) 11:15. Penalties: Leiter, WIC (High Sticking, Minor, 2 min) 1:59. Leiter, WIC (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min) 4:36. Mackie, RGV (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min) 4:36. Mackie, RGV (Fisticuffs (Instigator), Minor, 2 min) 4:36. Mackie, RGV (Fisticuffs (Instigator), Misconduct, 10 min) 4:36. Peach, RGV (High Sticking, Minor, 2 min) 8:16. Low, WIC (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 9:32. McLean, WIC (Delay of Game, Bench Minor, 2 min) 9:32. Taylor, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 9:32. Vrtik, WIC (High Sticking, Minor, 2 min) 9:39. Clayton, WIC (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 12:35. Tessier, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 12:35. Runkel, WIC (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 13:43. Rees, RGV (Charging, Minor, 2 min) 13:43. Rees, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 13:43. Hrapchak, WIC (Clipping, Minor, 2 min) 15:02. Calder, WIC (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 17:46. Tessier, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 17:46.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: WIC-Calder (Duda, Hrapchak) 10:52. Penalties: McLean, WIC (Holding Stick, Minor, 2 min) 2:22. Shmyr, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 2:22. Calder, WIC (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 3:35. Rees, RGV (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 3:35. Tessier, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 6:29. Calder, WIC (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 14:52. Rees, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 14:52. Shmyr, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 18:32. Clayton, WIC (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 19:15. Tessier, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 19:15. Tessier, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 19:15. Mackie, RGV (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 19:58.

SHOTS ON GOAL Rio Grande Valley 7 14 2 -- 23 Wichita 11 7 9 -- 27

POWER PLAY STATS PPG ADV SHG Rio Grande Valley 1 6 0 Wichita 1 9 0

GOALIES AWAY TEAM D MIN S SV Jeff Levy LOSS 59:39 27 24 HOME TEAM D MIN S SV Mark Cairns WIN 60:00 23 22

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2004


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