Wranglers Win Three, Knock Off Miners

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Scott Ludwig — Leave a comment

With just three weeks remaining in the regular season Streamboat Wranglers have picked a great time to get hot. The first-year club is just three points back of second place Aspen Leafs with one game in-hand. With six points this weekend the Wranglers poised themselves to have an opportunity to climb the standings before playoff time.

Winners of ten of their past eleven games, Steamboat (20-10-1-4) hit the road for a pair against the Colorado Rampage in Monument. An 8-2 victory was followed up with a 5-2 win Saturday before traveling to Pikes Peak.

Kameron Fink scored twice and assisted on another pair in the opener to lead all scorers Easton Jones added three points. Steamboat dominated the Rampage outshooting the host 66-23, and led the game 8-0 after 40 minutes of play.

The next night was much different as the Rampage showed grit despite being badly outshot (58-21) once again. Aleksey Sukhomlin and Brevin Bennett goals and the strong play of goaltender Mickell Mannel had Colorado even after two periods 2-2.

Steamboat would score three times in the final frame, including the hat trick game-winner by Jarrett Sturtz to earn the win. With momentum, the Wranglers moved on to their showdown at Pikes Peak.

Steamboat came out of the gates flying scoring three times in the first to stun the Miners, who wouldn’t score until 17:27 of the second period. Sturtz scored first followed by goals from Noah Ingwers and Fink to put the visitors in front.

Just :39 into the final frame Patrick Alldredge scored his second to get Pikes Peak within a goal 3-2. It would not be enough though as Cameron Knowlton found the empty net followed by another from Fink in the final two minutes to make the final 5-2.