Americans Pull Away Late On Friday Night

WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 5) – Wichita returned home on Friday night, losing to Allen by a 4-1 final at INTRUST Bank Arena. 

Peter Bates recorded his 18th of the season. Allen netminder Leevi Merilainen was the star of the night, stopping 40 shots to stymie the Thunder offense. 

After a scoreless first, Easton Brodzinski broke the deadlock at 6:02 of the second. He came into the Wichita zone on the right side and fired a wrist shot past Georgi Romaov for his 12th of the year. 

At 8:08, Eric Williams made it 2-0 with a wrist shot from the slot. 

Bates cut the lead to one at 12:13. Nick Fea took a shot from the left post that found its way near the blue paint. Bates was johnny on the spot and fired it in to make it 2-1. 

In the third, Allen pulled away with two goals in a four-minute span. Hank Crone scored on a breakaway at 5:34 to make it 3-1. 

At the nine-minute mark, Gavin Gould cut back down the slot and beat Romanov to the blocker-side and made it 4-1. 

Wichita went 0-for-2 on the power play and killed off all five opportunities for the Americans. 

Bates has goals in-back-to-back games. Fea collected his first point since joining the Thunder. 

The Thunder remains at home at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night to host Allen. Join us for T-Dog and Friends featuring Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. They will be on the concourse to take pictures with the fans. Get our special four-pack, which includes four tickets and two collectors tins with Mario-themed candy for just $90. Click HERE to purchase.

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