Urquhart Explodes for Four Goals in 7-2 Win, Leavitt Opens Nine-Point Cushion in CHL Scoring Race

March 14, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Central Hockey League's Arizona Sundogs and Amarillo Gorillas faced off for the second time in less than a week Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The late-season contest involved playoff implications for both teams with Arizona fighting for its first divisional title and Amarillo battling for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Southwest Division. Cory Urquhart unloaded for four goals Friday night becoming the first player in Sundogs' franchise history and the fourth player in the CHL this season to do so. CHL leading scorer Alex Leavitt added to four assists on the night to increase his points total to 111 (34g/77a), nine ahead of Laredo's Jeff Bes. With the 7-2 win, Arizona improves to 34-19-6 on the season and holds a five-point advantage over second place Odessa and six-point advantage over third place New Mexico.

Looking to increase their lead in the Southwest Division, the Sundogs came out and tallied the game's first goal as Cory Urquhart notched his tenth goal in 11 games with Arizona. Defenseman Matt Suderman put an innocent wrist shot from the point towards the net that Amarillo netminder Dan McWhinney was unable to corral. Alex Leavitt pushed the loose puck to Urquhart who found the back of the net to give his club an early 1-0 lead just 2:13 into the game. Amarillo's Jason Chafe answered back at the 8:57 mark with his ninth tally of the year as he found the back of the net as the Sundogs' Rob McVicar was recovering from a previous save. Chris Lipsett and Matt Miller collected assists on the equalizer. The Gorillas outshot the Sundogs by a 17-12 mark in the opening 20 minutes of play Friday night.

Urquhart struck again early in the second frame to regain a one-goal lead as the Sundogs' top line combined for a tic-tac-toe goal just 1:45 into the period. Leavitt gathered his second assist of the game bouncing a pass off the half boards to Jason Visser. The rookie forward then fed a pass to Urquhart who snuck behind the Amarillo defense and skated in alone on McWhinney, tallying his second of the game. At the 11:00 minute mark, the Sundogs opened a 3-1 lead as Urquhart gathered his third of the game from Leavitt and Visser for the Sundogs' second hat trick of the season. The former NHL second-round draft pick calmed a bouncing pass from linemate Leavitt before squeezing a wrist shot through the legs of McWhinney. With 1:13 to play in the middle period, Arizona opened a three-goal cushion as defenseman Jon Landry pinched from his defensive position to lift a puck over McWhinney's right shoulder for his eighth of the season from newly acquired forward Steve Rymsha and second-year pro Karl Sellan. Urquhart and Leavitt continued their offensive assault before the period's end as Leavitt gained the offensive zone and faked a shot, forcing McWhinney to commit before sending a cross-ice, through-the-legs pass to a wide open Urquhart for his fourth of the game and third of the second period with eight seconds remaining. Veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone also notched a helper on the play to close out second period scoring.

Amarillo opened the third period with backup netminder Dan Bauer between the pipes, replacing starter Dan McWhinney after surrendering five goals on 18 shots through 40 minutes of play. The Sundogs continued their dominance in the third period, grabbing their first goal of the game with the man advantage. Rymsha collected his second point and first goal as an Arizona Sundog at 8:44 of the period on passes from first-year forwards Dusty Collins and Mark Kolanos for a 6-1 lead. The Sundogs gathered their seventh of the game and second with the man advantage as Mark Kolanos pushed home a rebound for his second point of the game and 29th goal of the year. Rymsha registered his second assist and third point of the game, bouncing the initial shot off the goal post. Defenseman Adam Wood was also credited with an assist on the powerplay marker. With 4:01 to play in regulation and with the game out of reach, the Gorillas scored their second of the night as David Nimmo beat McVicar from Bill Vandermeer and Lipsett.

Rob McVicar appeared in net for Arizona and stopped 37 of 39 shots to improve to 7-4-2 since joining the Sundogs while Dan McWhinney suffered the loss for Amarillo, allowing five goals on 18 shots. Backup netminder Dan Bauer deflected six of eight shots in his relief effort. The league's top powerplay finished 2-for-6 with the man advantage while holding the Gorillas to 1-for-5 on the powerplay.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2008


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