Wichita Thunder wins season opener in shootout

Just the other day, new owner Rodney Steven spoke passionately about the Wichita Thunder, saying that if people would simply come watch one game, they would "fall in love" with the team.

After the home opener on Friday night, "love" is probably too strong of a word, but there definitely should be a little crush working between the city and the hockey franchise.

In a matchup that had plenty of emotion, drama and momentum changes, the Thunder outlasted the Rapid City Rush 3-2 on a game that wasn't decided until newcomer Brett Hemingway scored on the sixth shootout attempt.

The attendance was a disappointment, based on the goal of Steven and his two brothers, who bought the Central Hockey League franchise in the offseason. Their hope was to start the season with a sellout; 8,734 fans came out to Intrust Bank Arena, which holds 13,400.

The crowd, however, definitely didn't leave disappointed.

Nearly all the fans were on their feet throughout the shootout, which went to sudden death when it was tied 1-1 after five attempts. Matt Robinson, who had scored an off-balance goal earlier, accounted for Wichita's first shootout goal.

Thunder goalie Adam Russo, who came up with big saves throughout the game, turned away Joe Grimaldi on Rapid City's sixth shot, setting the stage for Hemingway.

Hemingway had watched as his brother, Colin, tried to shoot high on Rapid City goalie Danny Battochio, one of the CHL's best.

"I was planning on going upstairs, but my brother tried that a couple rounds earlier," Brett Hemingway said. "The guys said he was showing glove; he wanted you to shoot it there. As I came in, I was looking for an opening."

He found it, ripping the puck through Battochio's legs, sending the Thunder players off the bench in celebration.

Interestingly, Robinson also succeeded in his shootout attempt because of some help from his family. Robinson, the Thunder's MVP last season, recently talked to his father, who told him to change strategies in the shootout. The result was a fake that completely fooled Battochio.

"I talked to my dad, and he said maybe I should try to deke once in a while," Robinson said. "So I have to give him credit on that one. I watched a shootout where an NHL guy did the exact same thing, so it worked out for me."

While the shootout goals were exciting, a key to the game was a big penalty kill by the Thunder in the second period. With the game tied at 2, newcomer Alex Bourret was called for a match penalty on what the officials deemed an illegal check to the head.

Bourret, expected to be one of the Thunder's top offensive threats, was ejected, and Rapid City got a 5-minute power play. The Thunder, though, played outstanding defense and killed the penalty, allowing Rapid City only one decent shot.

"They honestly didn't get many good opportunities," Russo said. "All of the shots were from the outside. I got to see everything. My team played great in front of me."

Bourret, who was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on an earlier play, said it was a "clean hit," that he was just finishing his check. He said he appreciated his teammates killing the penalty for him.

Jim Wiley, director of hockey operations for the CHL, was in the press box. He said Bourret could face a one-game suspension for the hit. Wiley expected to review the hit today.

"Maybe I deserved a 2-minute, but when I got kicked out I was surprised," Bourret said. "I need to see the tape but I'm pretty sure I didn't elbow or nothing. It was a shoulder right in his chest. I'm not gonna say bad call from the ref. I think we should take a look at the tape first."

Notes — Bobby Desjardins, Tom Roulston, Rob Weingartner and Bryan Wells, members of Wichita's 1994-95 CHL championship team, were on hand for a ceremonial dropping of the puck.... The Thunder is 11-8-1 in home openers.

Rapid City 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 Wichita 2 0 0 0 1 — 3

First period

Scoring—1. Wichita, Summers 1 (B Hemingway, Chappell) 2:18; 2. Wichita, Robinson 1 (Davis) 9:53 sh. Penalties— Wichita, Wight (hooking) 8:50; Wichita, Bourret (unsportsmanlike conduct) 12:06; Rapid City, Couch (roughing) 12:06; Rapid City, Grimaldi (unsportsmanlike conduct) 20:00.

Second period

Scoring—3. Rapid City, Limpright 1 (unassisted) 2:52; 4. Rapid City, Reaney 1 (Schultz) 5:19. Penalties— Wichita, Hofstetter (interference) 4:07; Rapid City, Knowles (fighting) 5:19; Wichita, Lizon (fighting) 5:19; Wichita, Bourret (match penalty, illegal check to the head) 6:49.

Third period

Scoring—none. Penalties— Wichita, Hemingway (interference) 6:13; Wichita, Martens (holding) 8:54; Rapid City, Kyrzakos (interference) 9:15.

Overtime

Scoring—none. Penalties— Rapid City, Forsyth (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:58; Wichita, Davis (roughing) 3:58; Rapid City, Schultz (roughing) 3:58.

Shootout

Rapid City—Schultz no, Hudson no, Reaney no, Reeder no, Circelli yes, Grimaldi no. Wichita— Beauregard no, Summers no, Robinson yes, C Hemingway no, Davis no, B Hemingway yes.

Power play—Rapid City 1-6, Wichita 0-3.

Shots on goal —Rapid City 6-9-6-3-0—24, Wichita 5-5-6-7-1—24.

Goaltenders—Rapid City, Battochio 21 saves on 23 shots. Wichita, Russo 22 saves on 24 shots.

Att.— 8,734.

This story was originally published October 22, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Wichita Thunder wins season opener in shootout."