Ice Bats Stonewall the Blazers, 3-0

(Austin, TX) – With Amarillo winning on Thursday night, the Ice Bats entered Chaparral Ice Arena on Friday tied for the final playoff spot in the Central Hockey League’s Southern Conference.  The visiting Oklahoma City Blazers defeated Austin in their first meeting of the season, 7-3, way back on October 31st of 2007.  The Ice Bats earned sweet revenge though, as the Bats shutout Oklahoma City by a 3-0 tally.

The Ice Bats opened up the scoring in the first period with some tic-tac-toe passing on their first power play.  Mike Bartlett and Darryl McArthur setup Ted Vandermeer, who scored his 15th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the right circle.  The Bats led, 1-0.  Austin took advantage of another power play opportunity when Brendan Cook ripped a slap shot from the right wing to score his 30th goal of the season with less than a minute remaining in the period.  Ted Vandermeer and Jason Tessier had the assists.  At the end of the first it was 2-0, Ice Bats.

The offense for both teams went quiet in the second period.  Both teams traded blows, and had power play opportunities, but neither club could find the back of the net.  At the end of two, it was 2-0 Ice Bats.

In the third period, the Ice Bats tacked on another goal when John Neal went top shelf from the point to score his 7th goal this year.  Henry Kuster and Aaron Wilson had the assists on Neal’s goal, which made the score 3-0, Ice Bats.  There were some fireworks at the final horn as both teams exchanged pushing and shoving, but the final score was 3-0, Ice Bats.  Miguel Beaudry earned his second shutout of the season, stopping all 25 Oklahoma City shots.

The Amarillo Gorillas also won their Friday night game, which means the Ice Bats remain tied with Amarillo for the fifth and final playoff spot in the CHL’s Southern Conference with 49 points in the standings.