WICHITA, KS – Trevor Gorsuch has waited patiently for over a year now, but he finally got his chance on Friday night, making a triumphant return in a 4-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies. Gorsuch stopped 22 shots in his first start since the closing of the 2023-24 season. Jay Dickman and Joe Carroll spurred the offense, each recording a goal and adding an assist.

This was a scoreless affair after one as Gorsuch stopped 11 shots and Utah netminder Vinny Duplessis made seven saves. However, in the second Michal Stinil put the Thunder on top, netting his ninth goal of the season 7:10 into the frame. Kobe Walker came down the left wing with a burst of speed. As he neared he faceoff circle, he left a drop pass for Stinil, who blasted home a shot to make it 1-0.

Utah tied the score a little over five minutes later when Aaron Aragon netted his second goal of the year. Derek Daschke passed the puck to Aragon who beat Gorsuch.

The game remained tied until Jeremie Bucheler put Wichita on top for good with 1:06 left in the second period when he scored on the power-play. Nolan Burke set up the play when he was able to tip a pass back to the point to Peter Bates. He fed the puck across the slot to Bucheler who blasted home a one-timer to make it 2-1. The goal was his third of the season.

The Thunder began to pull away in the third when Carroll scored his fourth goal of the season 1:13 into the frame. Once again, it was Burke setting up the play, as he was able to work himself around a Grizzlies defender before passing the puck to Carroll. The forward sped ahead of a Utah player, tipping in the back door pass to make it 3-1.

With 1:58 left in the contest, Dickman added an empty net tally for his ninth goal of the season. That made it 4-1, which would be the final.

Dickman and Carroll each finished with a goal and an assist. Burke added two assists. The victory was the 50th win for Gorsuch and his ECHL career.

These two teams will square off again on Friday evening. The puck drops at 7:05.

Gamesheet

by Robert Pannier