Bullfrogs’ Intensity Continues

The tone for Wednesday night’s 8-4 Bullfrog victory over the Oklahoma Coyotes in a Roller Hockey International game may well have been set last week.

During halftime of Saturday’s game, a frustrated Grant Sonier, the Bullfrogs’ coach, blasted his team for its lack of concentration. The Bullfrogs were trailing host Oklahoma by a goal at halftime. However, the Bullfrogs responded to Sonier’s words with a great second half and won, 9-7.

Sonier’s words echoed throughout the Pond again Wednesday.

The Bullfrogs scored three goals in a 68-second span midway through the fourth quarter to defeat Oklahoma before an announced crowd of 10,112.

The Bullfrogs took a season-high 51 shots and the eight goals were scored by eight players.

“When it was tied at 4-4, we had had the better of the scoring opportunities,” Sonier said. “I knew then we had the best chance to win.”

The Bullfrogs, who moved five points ahead of second-place Oklahoma in the Pacific Division, got fine defensive performances from rookies Sean O’Brien and Mark Desantis.

Desantis won’t be available tonight when the Bullfrogs play at San Diego, however, because he and Coyote defenseman Darren Stolk were tossed for fighting. Wednesday night, the Bullfrogs played without defenseman Darren Banks, who was thrown out Saturday for fighting.

The Bullfrogs had three goals on the power play, and Rick Judson, Savo Mitrovic and rookie Mark Stitt also scored during that three-goal burst in the final quarter.

“Anaheim is such a good team,” Oklahoma Coach Guy Gadowsky said. “You can’t look for them to give you anything, you have to create your own opportunities. We didn’t do that.”

Victor Gervais traded scores with Coyote Jason Knox, then Sean O’Brien made it 3-3, 26 seconds into the second quarter.

All-star goaltender Rob Laurie gave up three goals in the first eight shots, then settled down to make 33 saves.

Bullfrog Notes

Goaltender Rob Laurie, defenseman Darren Perkins and forward Victor Gervais have been selected to play in the third Roller Hockey International all-star game to be held July 8 at the Pond.

It will be the first all-star appearance for Perkins, who is one of the league’s top scoring defensemen this season. Laurie, who has an 85% save rate, has appeared in the two previous all-star games. Gervais, the third-leading scorer in league history, had a hat trick and was named the West’s most valuable player in the 1995 all-star game, which the East won, 14-12.