Bullfrogs Wake Up, Smash Dallas
Dallas gave the Bullfrogs a scare in Wednesday’s Roller Hockey International game at the Arrowhead Pond . . . for a few seconds.
The Stallions’ Eric Naud scored nine seconds after the opening faceoff, but the Bullfrogs scored four goals in the next 5 1/2 minutes to take control before cruising to a 12-5 victory before an announced crowd of 2,241.
“That first goal was probably the best thing that could have happened to us,” Bullfrog Coach Brad McCaughey said. “It gave us a wake-up call right off the bat.”
Roman Hubalek scored three of his four goals in the first quarter and defenseman Chad Seibel added three goals and an assist to spark the Bullfrogs (3-1-1).
Hubalek, a 30-year-old RHI rookie forward from the Czech Republic, did not score a goal in his first three games with the Bullfrogs.
But he sparkled Wednesday, playing alongside Kevin St. Jacques (two assists) and Hugo Belanger (two goals, three assists), Anaheim’s top two scorers entering the game.
“[Dallas] was so worried about Hugo and Jacquo that it just opened up a lot of room,” McCaughey said. “We have a lot of guys who can score goals. Every night it can be someone different.”
Someone like Seibel, who scored only one goal in the first four games but scored twice in a 41-second span to give Anaheim a 10-3 lead with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter.
Wednesday’s victory wasn’t a huge surprise considering Dallas was winless in its first four games and Anaheim won their first meeting last week, 11-4.
But Dallas did have a chance to make the game more interesting.
With 1:28 remaining in the second quarter, Bullfrogs forward Ryan Shymr was whistled for a four-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for kneeing.
Dallas’ Ross Harris (three goals) scored on the penalty shot that accompanied the game-misconduct penalty, making it 6-3 with 1:28 remaining in the second quarter.
But Dallas’ four-minute power play--which also included a four-on-two for 1:21--produced no more goals, and the Stallions never drew closer.
The Bullfrogs’ next game is against Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Pond.