Watson wins it with a hat trick
November 9, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Broomfield, Colo. - In the first ever meeting between the two teams, the Rocky Mountain Rage defeated the Texas Brahmas 7-4 tonight at the Broomfield Event Center backed by a hat trick from Simon Watson. Five different Rage players scored in tonight's victory and three goals were scored on the powerplay, the most in one game this season by the Rage.
The Rocky Mountain Rage improved to 6-1-1 (13 points) for first place in the Northwest Division. The Texas Brahmas fell to 6-3-0 (12 points) for third place in the Northeast Division. The Rage is tied for third in the Central Hockey League with the Arizona Sundogs and behind the Laredo Bucks (20 points) and Youngstown SteelHounds (15 points).
The Rocky Mountain Rage finished the first period breaking another franchise record with a high 23 shots on goal in just one period. It beat out a 22 shot one-period record set last March in a game against the Wichita Thunder. The team may have outshot the Brahmas by 14 shots, but Texas goalie David Cacciola kept the Brahmas in the game ending the period with just a one goal difference.
Rage right winger Nathan Rosychuk, who leads the team in goals, added to his record (7 goals) at 9:35 of the first period. He scored on the power-play off of a quick pass from Trevor Weisgerber sent across the crease from left to right.
Texas tied up the game scoring on a delayed penalty at 12:38. Brahma Chris Thompson tapped it in net off of a close rebound with both teams crowding the net. He earned his first goal of the season on the play.
Rage captain Brent Cullaton fired a shot from just inside the blue line. Daymen Rycroft was camped out front of the net and tipped it in to give the Rage a 2-1 lead to close out the first period.
Fans saw a high-scoring, six-goal second period. Half of the goals were scored by Rocky Mountain's own Simon Watson. It marked the second Rage hat trick of the season, joining Nathan Rosychuk's natural hat trick on Oct. 30th against the Colorado Eagles.
Watson started the period with back-to-back goals. He first scored on a pass from Rage captain Brent Cullaton at 3:56. It marked Cullaton's second assist of the night and 400th of his 12-year professional career.
Under three minutes later, Rocky Mountain's Scott Wray skated to the right circle and connected a quick pass to Watson who was streaking down center ice all alone and tipped it in net.
Texas answered back at 7:26 on a goal by Blair Manning on the powerplay to cut Rocky Mountain's lead to 4-2. But the Rage's leading scorer Scott Wray added his sixth goal and 15th point by adding a powerplay goal of his own at 11:12. He tipped a shot by Tyler Butler causing the puck to bounce over the stick of Cacciola. Blueliner Craig Minard fought back for the Brahmas scoring under one minute later. Rocky Mountain's Watson had the last say of the period though. He earned his third goal of the period with 44 seconds remaining. Wray assisted on the play.
Rocky Mountain's Nick Harloff added a goal at 4:40 of the third period. Texas defenseman Tim Laurila scored on the powerplay at 13:49, but was not enough to catch the Rage.
The Rage returns to action tomorrow night when they host the Amarillo Gorillas. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Single-game tickets are still on sale and range in price from $18-$43 per seat (parking included), and may be purchased through Ticketmaster. Log-on to www.Ticketmaster.com, call (303) 830-TIXS, or visit any Ticketmaster retail outlet.
Season tickets, mini-packs, and group plans are also available for the 2007-08 season by calling 303-439-RAGE. For more information, visit www.RockyMountainRage.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2007
- Scorpions Win Their Third In A Row - New Mexico Scorpions
- Watson wins it with a hat trick - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Grizzlies take out Victoria 7-1 - CHL
- Sundogs win first road game in series, drop Eagles 3-2 - Arizona Sundogs
- Hounds win wild game against Bats - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Gorillas lose in New Mexico - Amarillo Gorillas
- Sundogs grab first-ever franchise win at Colorado - Arizona Sundogs
- Rage wrangle Brahmas - Fort Worth Brahmas
- SteelHounds tops Ice Bats, 7-2 - Youngstown SteelHounds
- A perfect 10: Bucks tie CHL record with win over Rayz - Laredo Bucks
- Bucks squeak past Rayz 5-4 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- RiverKings trump Blazers 4-2 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Scorpions Reeder Welcomes New Addition - New Mexico Scorpions
- Sundogs Release Moreland, Add Levesque - Arizona Sundogs
- Mudbugs Look for a Win on Military Appreciation Night - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Rivalry weekend in the CHL - CHL
- Scorpions Playhouse On Display - New Mexico Scorpions
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