BOISE, ID – The Idaho Steelheads (5-1-0-0, 10pts) defeated the Wichita Thunder (3-4-0-0, 6pts) IN overtime by a final score of 5-4 Friday night thanks to a goal from Dawson Barteaux 83 seconds into overtime at the Idaho Central Arena in front of a sellout crowd of 5,026 fans. Idaho and Wichita will close out their season series against one another at 7:10 p.m. 
The Steelheads would get on the board first for the fourth straight game thanks to Colton Kehler (3rd) at 6:40 of the first period. Aaron Aragon went in hard on the forecheck and worked the puck to Kehler at the top of the crease. Kehler showcased some nifty stick word deking out goaltender Trevor Gorsuch. With 2:01 remaining in the frame A.J. White (3rd) extended his point streak to six games scoring a rebound goal in front of the net. Idaho led 2-0 after the first outshooting the Thunder 12-8.
Wichita scored three unanswered in the middle frame to take a 3-2 lead. Michal Stinil scored twice in a span of 5:24. His first came on the power-play at 5:36 and then for his second he pulled off the “Michigan” at 12:10. Roman Kinal scored on a rebound near the crease with 2:31 left in the period. Just 24 seconds later Zane Franklin (2nd) was sprung on a breakaway courtesy of Jack Becker. Franklin slid a backhander through the five-hole of Trevor Gorsuch to tie the score at 3-3. Idaho outshot Wichita 12-11 in the period.
Mark Rassell (6th) extended his goal streak to five games giving Idaho a 4-3 lead 5:02 into the second period on a score in front of the net after a point shot from Ty Pelton-Byce. 74 seconds later Peter Bates fired a shot up high from the left circle to tie the score at 4-4. After regulation the Steelheads outshot the Thunder 37-34.
83 seconds into overtime Dawson Barteaux (2nd) delivered a check behind his own blue line sending Michal Stinil to the ground. From there Wade Murphy gathered the puck and started up ice. Murphy flipped the puck for Pelton-Byce down the left wing and Pelton-Byce dropped it back for Barteaux down the center lane right across the blue line. Barteaux dragged to the top of the left circle and sent a shot in between the legs of Gorsuch to hand Idaho a 5-4 win.
Dylan Wells made 30 saves on 34 shots in the victory while Trevor Gorsuch turned aside 35 of 40 shots in the loss.
ICCU Three Stars
- Dawson Barteaux (1-1-2, 3 shots)
- Mark Rassell (1-1-2, 3 shots)
- Michal Stinil (2-0-2, 4 shots)
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