Thunder storms by Hounds

January 29, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


Wichita, KS. - The Youngstown SteelHounds (15-22-2) used a pair of second period Jeff Christian goals to mount a 2-0 lead but couldn't maintain it as the Wichita Thunder (23-12-5) scored three unanswered to capture a 3-2 victory at the Kansas Coliseum. With the victory, Wichita improves to 16-1-3 at home and wins four of the five games in the season series versus the Hounds.

Simon St. Pierre made his first start since December 22nd but showed no rust in the first period stopping all 13 shots he faced, many in acrobatic fashion. Wichita led in the scoring chances department getting a majority of the chances as Sebastien Laplante made seven saves. Jeff Christian set the tempo early with a big hit on Wichita defenseman Daniel Tetrault that led to a fighting major penalty just 28 seconds into the game. The Hounds gave Wichita four power play chances in the period but between strong penalty killing and great goaltending, Youngstown kept Wichita off the scoreboard.

The second period finally saw Youngstown get some scoring chances due in large part to some strong play from J.F. Labarre. In the first period, he hit a post on a one-timer and in the second period he found a crossbar. The Hounds notched the game's first goal when Jeff Christian banged home a Darryl Lloyd miss that bounced hard off the glass behind the net and right to the side of the cage where Christian was standing. It was the Captain's league-leading 35th goal of the season assisted by Lloyd and Chris Richards at the 13:34 mark of the period. Labarre created the Hounds second goal picking off a pass and finding Christian in the left circle who in turn buried a slap shot by Laplante for his second goal of the period and 36th of the season assisted by Labarre at the 16:30 mark. Wichita finally took advantage of the numerous power play chances they were given connecting on their eighth chance when the Hounds were unable to clear a loose puck setting up a target shot from Jason Duda who scored his 17th goal of the season assisted by Joe Blaznek and David Lizotte. The Thunder outshot the Hounds 13-9 in the period and led 26-16 through two periods but St. Pierre had made 25 saves through 40 minutes.

The Thunder tied the game early in the third with a blast by Blaznek scoring his 31st goal of the season assisted by Duda at the 5:13 mark. Wichita would take their first lead at the 8:38 mark with Darren McMillan scoring his first goal since opening night. Ryan McLean and Duda were credited with the assists. The Thunder outshot the Hounds who couldn't get anything going late in the game and had to finish the contest shorthanded due to a double-minor penalty against Ben Manny.

The Thunder outshot the Hounds 34-23 in the game as Laplante improves to 17-9-4 making 21 saves and St. Pierre falls to 4-6-0 stopping 31 shots.

The Hounds stopped all but one of the Thunder's 10 power play chances but went 0 for 6 making it four straight game for Youngstown without a power play goal and putting them 1 for their last 34.

The Hounds begin a three-game home stand versus Memphis on Wednesday with a special face-off time of 10:00 AM.

Game Notes: David St. Germain had started 13 straight games prior to tonight's game. Jeff Christian's two goals gives him 10 multiple-goal games this season. Chris Richards has a goal, four assists and is a plus- 5 in his last five games. The Thunder (19.6% success rate on the PP entering the game, first in the CHL) finished the five-game season series with Youngstown going just 6 for 45. Kris Mallette left the game in the first period with an unspecified injury and did not return. Chris Shaffer and C.J. McConnell were injury scratches.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2006


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