Posted: January 10, 2010 5:34AM; Updated: January 10, 2010 10:37AM

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- The Colorado Springs Thunder swept the Lakewood Fire at the Thunderdome in Colorado Springs on Friday night to clinch first place in PIHA's Rocky Mountain Division. The Thunder won the first game, 5-2, and edged the Fire, 3-2, in the second to garner the top seed in the 2010 PIHA RMD playoffs, set to kick off later this month.

 

"We did what we needed to do, and I am proud of our guys tonight," said head coach Dave Needham. "We are especially thankful to all the great fans for coming out tonight and cheering us on. We look forward to more packed stands during the playoffs!"

 

The first game saw the two teams tied 2-2 at halftime. Brian Yingling did the first-half scoring for the Thunder, including a short-handed tally with only 14 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. The second half was all Thunder, as CJ Yoder, Josh Serby, and Jesse Tuttle lit the lamp to make the final score 5-2. Dan Lamb turned aside 22 shots to earn his 15th victory of the season, while the Thunder peppered losing goaltender Kyle Mikel with 21 shots.

 

Despite being outshot 26-15 in the second game, the Thunder preserved a three-goal, first-half lead and allowed only two Fire goals in the second half to earn a 3-2 victory. Scoring for the Thunder were Sean Pearson, Jami Yoder, and Eric Bogenrief. Luke Lindsay-Brisbin, who turned 18 on Sunday, earned his first pro victory, making 24 saves, while Kyle Mikel made 12 saves and suffered his second loss of the night.

 

In minor-league action played earlier in the evening, the Black Forest Thunder split with the Littleton Fire, dropping the first game, 2-1, before rebounding to take a 5-1 victory in the second game. After the pro games, the minor-league Front Range Thunder then swept the Lakewood Fire, 4-3 and 6-1.