Memphis Maintains CHL Crown
RiverKings reclaim throne, beat Bats in five.

06.09.03 -- Kahlil Thomas' game-winning goal in double overtime was a spectacular finish to the Central Hockey League's 11th season. His shot past the regular season's best goaltender Matt Barnes sealed a 4-1 series victory over the Austin IceBats, and a second consecutive Ray Miron President's Cup championship for the Memphis Riverkings.

The game began as the Austin IceBats came out full throttle in an effort to prevent their elimination from the series. Tab Lardner scored on a wrist shot upstairs from the right circle early in the game to give Austin first blood.

The 'Kings answered back just 23 seconds later, as A.J. Aitken chased down the puck in the Austin zone and centered to Greg Lakovic who chipped it home to tie the game at one-a-piece. It was the fourth goal in three straight playoff games for Lakovic.

In the second period the IceBats rallied to take their lead back. Mike Olynyk crashed the net and smashed the puck into the cage with just under 5 minutes remaining.

With the clock ticking down in the second period, the 'Kings stripped the puck at center ice, as Robb Palahnuk broke into the zone and shoveled the puck to Lakovic. He wristed it into the net, low stick side, with just two tenths of a second to go in the period to tie the game at 2-2.

The third period was redundant as far as scoring went. Austin's Darryl McArthur's point shot floated through traffic for his second of the playoffs in the first 43 seconds. The IceBats once again went up, now 3-2, but Michal Stastny of the 'Kings answered in a 2-on-1 with Palahnuk at 5:23 to tie yet again and send the teams into overtime for the second time in the series.

The first OT went by scoreless as the two goaltenders stopped everything that came within their reach.

In the second OT, Barnes fended off countless attempts to end it all, but a feed from Landmesser to Thomas at 5:06 was all that was needed to hammer the final nail down and give the 'Kings yet another CHL championship.

Thomas' five goals and 18 assists earned the postseason MVP trophy in front of a season high 6,158 fans at the DeSoto Civic Center in Memphis. single season shutout record by recording eight blankings this year. Don Parsons of the 'Kings enjoyed a 57-goal, 49-assist campaign en route to his second straight selection as Most Valuable Player overall.