The Utah Grizzlies hoped Jamie Thompson could step right in and help their offense.
"But I'm not sure we figured he'd help as much as he did as fast as he did," admitted Grizz coach Butch Goring.Thompson, a 24-year-old playing his first-ever IHL game, scored a pair of goals to lead Utah to a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Blades Wednesday night in front of 7,024 fans in the E Center.
Thompson, who was an El Paso Buzzard in the WPHL just 24 hours previously, scored on his first-ever shift in the IHL to give the Grizz a 1-0 lead at the 4:07 mark of the first period. He added a game-tying goal at 10:35 in the third period. Fred Knipscheer scored the game-winning goal, his 10th goal of the year, at the 14:21 mark. Jeff Sharples scored an empty-net goal with 11 seconds left to complete the scoring.
It was Utah's fourth win in a row, tying its season-best streak. The Grizz are now 12-6-2 on the year, alone in second place in the Southwest Division. The Blades fell to 7-7-3.
"It was incredible," said Thompson, who found out about his call up Tuesday night. "I just thank the Lord I was able to put a goal in the net during my first shift in the IHL."
The Grizz needed another offensive threat when winger Vladimir Orszagh, who had 11 points on the year, was called up to the NHL's New York Islanders Wednesday. Thompson, the WPHL's current leading scorer with 29 points in 14 games when he got the call up, looks like he may be just what the Grizz needed.
"Sean O'Brien and I were talking before the game," said Grizz forward Dan Plante. "We told Jamie that if he plays with us long enough we'll get him in the NHL too, just like Vladdie."
Plante had assists on both of Thompson's goals. Thompson wasn't the only newcomer to produce for Utah. Greg Spenrath, who was playing in his first game since being called up from Fresno in the WCHL, assisted Knipscheer's game-winner.
Goalie Mark McArthur, who has been struggling of late, earned the victory for Utah with 33 saves in 36 attempts. Goring called the game "a stepping stone" for his third-year goalie who just turned 22 on Sunday.
"This was our first comeback all year," said Goring. "It was a big win for us."
After Thompson's first goal, Kansas City's Brett Cullaton knotted the game in the first period.
The Blades dominated the second period - taking 18 shots to Utah's 3 - but came away with just a one-goal lead. Kansas City scored a pair of goals in a 45-second span midway through the second period to go up 3-1. A short-handed goal by Utah's Jan Vopat, his fourth goal of the season, closed the gap to one at the 14:53 of the second period, however.