CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder, Tulsa going to the Wire

Published on March 19, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


THUNDER STOPS RAGE IN SHOOTOUT- The Thunder went a perfect 4-4 in the shootout - for the first time in franchise history - knocking off the Rage, 3-2, in Rocky Mountain on Friday. Travis Clayton and Scott Rozendal scored goals in both regulation and the shootout, making a winner out of goaltender Jon Horrell. Kris Wiebe and Ryan Lauzon also added shootout goals. Wichita is 7-7 this season in overtime/shootouts and has won four of their last five overtime/shootouts overall.

MUDBUGS BLOW PAST THUNDER IN THIRD- Bossier-Shreveport broke open a 2-2 game with three third period goals - in a span of just 3:42 - rolling to a 6-3 win Saturday in front of over 9,000 fans at the Kansas Coliseum. Travis Clayton and Jason Duda led the Thunder with three points each, while Joe Blaznek and Daniel Tetrault each had a goal.

THUNDER EXPLODES ON RAGE- The Thunder jumped out to a 5-0 lead and rolled to a 5-2 victory over Rocky Mountain on Sunday at the Kansas Coliseum. Travis Clayton led the Thunder with three assists, while Jason Duda, Troy Barnes and Ryan Lauzon each had a goal and an assist. Steve Dix and Daniel Tetrault also notched goals, as the Thunder held their opponent under 30 shots on goal (29) for just the fourth time this season. Every player registered at least one shot on goal in the game, as the Thunder moved their Sunday home record to a perfect 4-0-0.

PLAYOFF UPDATE- With just seven days to go, the Thunder clings to a slim one-point lead over Tulsa for the final playoff spot in the Northern Conference, though Tulsa still has two games in hand. The Oilers will play at Bossier-Shreveport tonight and then at Memphis on Tuesday. Both teams will play three games in three nights this weekend, culminating on Sunday in Wichita "" the final day of the regular season. If the playoffs started today, Wichita would face Colorado - the number one seed - in the first round.

ROOKIE SHINES- Goaltender Jon Horrell, who had not played competitive hockey since last March at Bowling Green University, made an impressive pro debut this weekend. Horrell stopped 51 shots and two of four shootout attempts in a 3-2 win at Rocky Mountain on Friday. After a perfect relief stint on Saturday, Horrell started and won his second game on Sunday, making 29 saves in a 5-2 win over the Rage. In three games, Horrell is off to an impressive start, registering a 1.72 goals against average and a .953 save percentage.

THUNDER SUSPENDS BLAZNEK- The Thunder placed veteran forward Joe Blaznek on team suspension Sunday for conduct detrimental to the team. Blaznek, who leads the team with eight game-winning goals, missed his first game of the season last night. Only Travis Clayton, Scott Rozendal and Kris Wiebe have played in all 61 games this season.

MILESTONES- With 309, 10-year veteran Travis Clayton needs three goals to tie former Thunder star Paul Jackson for second place in CHL history for goals scored. 11-year veteran Jason Duda, who scored his 300th career Thunder goal on Sunday, sits behind Clayton at 302. Duda scored his first two pro goals in 1996 as a member of the Oklahoma City Blazers. Clayton is also just two penalty minutes shy of 1000 for his CHL career and six minutes shy of passing Jeff Leiter for second in Thunder history.

INJURY REPORT- Goaltender Sebastien Laplante, who has been on injured reserve since February 18th, will resume skating tonight. Laplante, who has missed the last 14 games, is questionable for this weekend. Despite the injury, he still ranks second in the CHL with a .928 save percentage. Laplante is one of six finalists for the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award.

THUNDERBOLTS- Steve Dix ranks third in the CHL with 279 penalty minutes...Dix has recorded a penalty in 12 straight games...The Thunder ranks second in the CHL, averaging 6,081 fans per game...Wichita is fourth in the CHL in penalty killing, at 85.9%...The Thunder ranks last in the CHL, allowing 38.4 shots per game and is averaging a CHL-low 29.2 shots per game...Wichita, Tulsa and New Mexico have yet to record a shutout this season.

O'REILLY TAKES HOT DOG CROWN- Former Thunder defenseman Sean O'Reilly devoured 14 ½ hot dogs (with buns) in 12 minutes, taking the first ever Thunder celebrity hot dog eating contest on Saturday. Jeremy Javers of the Wichita Wild football team, finished second. Other contestants featured Jessica Hughbanks and Stacia Barrera from the Lampton Welding Supply Lightning Thunder Dance Team, KFDI's Mike McQuilliam, T-95's Kurt "The Other White Meat", former K-State quarterback Jonathan Beasley, Six Stigma lead guitarist Ian "Token" Demory, Thunder assistant coach Rob Weingartner, season ticketholder Phil Miller and former Thunder radio guy Bob Rennison.

THUNDER AT WICHITA ICE CENTER TUESDAY- The Wichita Ice Center and Fidelity Bank would like to invite you to the 1st annual Fidelity Fun Skate. Bring a ticket stub from any Wichita Thunder game and skate for free Tuesday March 20th from 10:00 AM - 1:45 PM. The 1st annual Pond Hockey Classic will also take place on Tuesday from 12:30-5:30 PM. Former Thunder players will be instructing members of the Wichita Youth Hockey Association, then joining them for an old school pond hockey game. Admission is free to spectators. Call 337-9199 for more information.

WHEELCHAIR HOCKEY TUESDAY- The eighth annual Thunder wheelchair hockey game will take place this Tuesday at the Heskett Center on the Wichita State University Campus, beginning at 7:00 PM. The Thunder will again face-off - in wheelchairs - against Nick "Zippy" Taylor and the athletes from Wheelchair Sports. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for kids and will be available at the door. The Thunder jerseys will be auctioned off after the game, with all proceeds benefiting Wheelchair Sports, Inc.

THUNDER WELCOMES LOCAL PLAYBOY CELEBRITY- Marty Spence, featured in Playboy magazine's annual College Girls issue, which hit newsstands January 29th, will drop the ceremonial first puck and sign autographs on Sunday. A 24-year-old senior at Wichita State University, Spence is majoring in marketing. She currently works for Gold Media Group.

PROMOTIONS- The annual end of season Thunder player awards, as well as the "Fan of the Year Award" will be presented this season prior to Friday's game. Sunday is Fan Appreciation Night and hundreds of prizes will be given out throughout the game. There will not be an AT&T postgame skate on Sunday.

LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

Friday, March 16- Wichita 3 at Rocky Mountain 2 Win (SO)

Saturday, March 17- Bossier-Shreveport 6 at Wichita 3 Loss

Sunday, March 18- Rocky Mountain 2 at Wichita 5 Win

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:

Friday, March 23- Oklahoma City at Wichita 7:05 PM

Saturday, March 24- Wichita at Oklahoma City 7:35 PM

Sunday, March 25- Tulsa at Wichita 5:05 PM 1410 AM

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Tuesday Wichita Ice Center 10:00 AM

Wednesday-Friday Kansas Coliseum 10:00 AM

METAL BLADE RECORDS PLAYER OF THE WEEK-

Travis Clayton (3G, 5A, 8PTS, +2, 1 GWG, 1-1 SO)

Check out the Wichita Thunder Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2007


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