WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 11) – Wichita closed a busy week on Sunday afternoon, falling to Allen in a wild shootout, 7-6, at INTRUST Bank Arena. 

Kyle Jeffers, Michal Stinil and Nolan Kneen led the way with three points each while Peter Bates recorded two goals. Tyriq Outen suffered the loss in relief, stopping six shots in 24 minutes of work. 

The Thunder jumped out to a 3-0 lead for the second time this week, all coming in the first period. Bates connected at 2:42 to make it 1-0. Matt Crasa made a beautiful play behind the net and found Bates with a no-look backhand pass into the left circle. 

Just 12 seconds later, Kirby Proctor fired a shot from the top of the left circle that beat Marco Costantini just inside the left post to make it 2-0. 

Jeffers made it 3-0 at 8:41 on the power play. Ryan Finnegan drove into the zone. Jeffers found a rebound near the crease and put it past Costantini. 

Danny Katic answered just over a minute later, tipping in a shot from Colton Hargrove for his 15th of the season to make it 3-1.

At 11:40, Spencer Asuchak cut the lead to one with his eighth of the year. He was left all alone in front of Roddy Ross and lifted it over his right shoulder. 

In the second, Jeffers recorded his second of the game at 4:11. During a net-front scramble, he slid home a rebound past Costantini for his seventh of the year to make it 4-2.

The Americans recorded the next four, scoring just 11 seconds later with a marker from Brayden Watts at 4:22.

Kevin Gursoy tallied his first of the year at 9:15 to tie the game at four. Colby McAuley and Colton Hargrove closed the Americans barrage to take a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame. Ross was lifted after the sixth goal and Outen came into the game. 

Bates scored just 21 seconds into the third and made it a one-goal game. He redirected a shot from Kneen for his 11th of the year.

Crasa tied it once again at 3:38 with a rebound off a shot from Kneen at the left post. His fifth of the campaign leveled the contest at six. 

Brad Morrison connected at 7:32 for the eventual game-winner and his fourth of the season. Wichita had the chance to clear the puck out of the zone. Harrison Blaisdell created a turnover just inside the blue line. Watts fed a pass across to Morrison and he put it past Outen. 

Wichita pulled Outen with just over two minutes to go and had several chances to tie the game. Costantini made some key saves down the stretch and also got help from the crossbar after Stinil rang one off the post. 

Jay Dickman appeared in his 400th professional game. Bates reached 200 ECHL points and recorded at least 10 goals for the fourth year in a row. Jeffers tallied his first two-goal game of the season. Stinil finished with three assists and has nine points in his last six games. Proctor has three points in his last two outings. Crasa tallied his fourth goal in a Wichita uniform and has five points in eight games since being claimed off waivers from Norfolk. Kneen had three assists while Finnegan finished with two helpers. 

Wichita went 2-for-4 on the power play. Allen was 2-for-5 on the man advantage.

The Thunder continues their six-game homestand on Friday night against Tahoe.

Join us for our next QuikTrip Buy In Night on Friday, January 16. Go to any Wichita-area QT location to get your complimentary vouchers that can be redeemed for an upper-level ticket. Fans can also redeem them online HERE.

Season tickets are still on sale for the 2025-26 season. Lock in your seats and catch all the high paced, hard-hitting action at INTRUST Bank Arena. Click HERE now to learn how you can get your seats reserved and start paying now.