Bullfrogs Bury Denver in Flurry

Rick Judson has always contended that goals come in bunches, and Saturday night he and rookie Glenn Stewart proved it.

With Judson hammering home four goals and Stewart scoring a hat trick, the Bullfrogs disposed of the Denver DareDevils, 12-5, before an announced crowd of 10,199 at the Pond.

Defender Joe Cook added two goals and second-year player Todd Wetzel had a goal and four assists, as the Bullfrogs overcame a 5-2 second-quarter deficit by outscoring Denver, 10-0. After a rocky start, rookie goaltender Eric Raymond shut out the DareDevils in the final 38 minutes 18 seconds. He stopped 21 shots, 15 of those over the final 38 minutes.

“I finally broke out of it for the first time this year,” said Judson, who contemplated not playing this season because he is scheduled to get married next month. Judson had 27 goals in 1995, but had only five before Saturday’s game.

The ease of victory was in stark contrast to the two previous games against Denver (4-5-3), which remained in fourth place in the Pacific Division of Roller Hockey International, 10 points behind the Bullfrogs. The Bullfrogs won the first game, 7-6, at the Pond last month, then survived a shootout Wednesday in Denver, 8-7.

Another chewing out at halftime by Coach Grant Sonier helped turn this one around for the Bullfrogs. Such talks are becoming a regular feature.

“Grant came in here and told us, he tore into us, he said he wasn’t happy with the way we were playing,” Cook said.

Said Sonier: “I’m here to win a championship and I won’t accept anything less. We were leading the hockey game, 6-5, at the half and it felt like we were losing. I let the team know that our first half was not acceptable.”

The Bullfrogs (10-2-1) can’t afford to give away too many games this season. A year ago they were cake-walking through the Pacific Division at the All-Star break, but this year, hard-charging Oklahoma was a point back before Saturday’s game.

Only the top two teams in the standings advance to the playoffs next month, and revitalized San Diego is only eight points back. The Bullfrogs are tied with Minnesota, both with 10 victories. Minnesota won its ninth consecutive game Saturday, 9-6, over St. Louis.

Judson was credited with the winner on a power play with nine seconds left before halftime, his second goal of the game. “I’m not a skilled, talented or gifted player like some of the others here,” Judson said. “I have to work hard and when the goals come, they come as a result of that hard work.”

Notes

General Manager Bob Elder confirmed Saturday night that he is leaving the Bullfrogs. Elder, who has worked in radio and television at Orange County stations KIK-FM, KEZY-FM and KDOC (Channel 56), declined to comment further. His resignation comes at a time when Bullfrog owners have been quietly cutting costs in the front office. Announcer Lew Stowers says he has been asked to take a one-third cut in pay by the Silver family, which owns the team. Bullfrog games are broadcast on KPLS (830).