Not enough shots and not enough effort spelled defeat for the Rush in their first ever meeting with the defending CHL champion Arizona Sundogs on Friday night in Prescott Valley, Ariz.

The Sundogs scored the game's first six goals, Peter Cartwright scored a hat trick and Arizona blasted the Rush, 7-1.

"They came at us like gangbusters," said player coach Mark DeSantis. "We knew that was going to happen but we just let it happen and we can't do that. We shied away and played like we were timid and scared."

Head coach Joe Ferras was unavailable for comment as he left immediately after the game.

The Rush were outshot 25-9 midway through the contest and finished 0 for five on the power play.

Lanny Ramage (1-2-1) made his fourth start in goal and was sensational in keeping Arizona off the scoreboard during a two man Arizona power play for 1:41 halfway through the first period but Arizona broke on top shortly thereafter.

With defenseman Stephen Cooke off for hooking just 40 seconds after finishing an elbowing penalty, forward Mark Kolanos scored from close range on Ramage at 13:23.

It appeared the Rush would make it to the end of the period without further damage but veteran winger Joel Irving took a cross ice pass from defenseman Matt Suderman, got behind the Rush defense and made it 2-0 Arizona with just 39 seconds left.

The deficit grew much larger in the second period as Irving and Kolanos scored again and Cartwright got two goals before Rich Hansen got the Rush on the board with a shorthanded goal with 39 seconds left in the second period.

It was Hansen's eighth goal of the season. Going into last night's game, Hansen was tied for fourth in league scoring.

Ramage's night ended early as he was pulled for Miguel Beaudry with 2:13 left in the second period.

"He played great. You can't fault him for anything," DeSantis said of Ramage.

Beaudry stopped four of the five shots he faced but had far less pressure to deal with.

Cartwright finished his hat trick with a blast from between the faceoff circles to make it 7-1 midway through the third period.

After that it was Friday night at the fights as several bouts took place. DeSantis pounded CHL penalty minute leader, Karl Sellan, who is 14 years younger than the Rush player coach.

"It's been a long run here on the road but we can't use that as an excuse. We've got to look at ourselves in the mirror and step up to the plate tomorrow," DeSantis said of the effort. The two teams square off again in Arizona tonight at 7:05.