Weitzel, Gorillas Spoil Homecoming for Ferras

November 7, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


Amarillo, TX 11/7/08 - Until Friday night, the Amarillo Gorillas offense had averaged just over two goals per game, putting them near the bottom of the CHL.

Against Joe Ferras' Rapid City Rush, Amarillo broke out of its shell, and its offensive slump.

The Gorillas potted six goals, including three from center Jason Weitzel, to defeat the Rush 6-3 Friday night at the Amarillo Civic Center. Mike Gorman, making his debut in net for Amarillo, held on to capture the victory for the Gorillas.

The Gorillas got on the board early, after a offensive-zone faceoff win by Gordon Bell. Bell won the draw cleanly against Rapid City's Les Reaney. The puck slid back to the point, where Ftorek snapped a quick shot off the pads of Rush netminder Miguel Beaudry and into the net to give the Gorillas a 1-0 lead.

Both teams held tight defensively to conclude the first period. Early in the second, Rapid City was able to tie up the contest when Chris Di Ubaldo slid a shot past the right pad of Gorillas' goaltender Mike Gorman. Under two minutes later, Weitzel got his first of the game on a shorthanded 2-on-1 break, roofing a wrist shot over Beaudry's shoulder to put Amarillo back on top by one.

Midway through the second, Austin Sutter netted his first, scooping up a rebound in front off a Jake Morissette shot to make the score 3-1. Moments later, Weitzel scored his second of the contest by tipping a Jon Ornelas shot by Beaudry. The goal put the Gorillas in front by three-the first time in 2008-09 Amarillo has led a game by that margin.

After another Di Ubaldo goal closed Rapid City to within two heading into the third period, the Gorillas seemed in danger of squandering the once-demanding advantage following a Rapid City power play tally. With the puck loose in front of Gorman, Les Reaney tipped the puck to Derek LeBlanc who shuffled the loose biscuit by Gorman to draw the Rush within a single goal.

Just over three minutes of playing time later, though, Amarillo netted a powerplay goal of their own to recapture the two-goal lead. Ornelas fed the puck to Weitzel at the goal line, who then skated into the slot and tossed a wrist shot by Beaudry. Luke Lynes set the final score at 6-3, scoring on a breakaway feed from Austin Sutter with just over five minutes to go in the game.

The win pushes Amarillo to 3-6-0 on the year, while Rapid City drops to 2-2-4. Rapid City will face Colorado Saturday, while Amarillo will travel to Tulsa for Saturday's action. The road game can be heard on 1010 AM ‘The Canyon' in the Amarillo area, with simulcast coverage online via the CHL Network. Opening puck drop is scheduled for 7:35 PM.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2008


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