Friday, November 6, 2009

CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HEADLINES

Allen Heads Home
The Allen Americans (4-1-1) will finally get to play a home game this weekend when they host the Corpus Christi IceRays (2-3-2) on Saturday night in the first ever game at the Allen Event Center.  The Americans have one more road game, in Corpus Christi, on Friday night ending their season-opening seven-game road trip.  So far the Americans have to be pleased losing only once in regulation (Tuesday in Tulsa).  Allen finished #2 in the first Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll of the season released on Thursday.
 
Interesting Weekend in Prescott Valley
The first game of the three-game series between the Laredo Bucks and the Arizona Sundogs at the Tim’s Toyota Center has set the stage for what should be a very interesting two games this weekend.  The Sundogs defeated the Bucks 9-0 on Wednesday night marking the largest margin of victory in Arizona’s history.  The five goals they scored in the second period also set a team record.  The Bucks also re-wrote their record books, just not in the right way, as the nine goal deficit was the largest in team history and the team had never given up nine goals in a game.  Scott Thauwald scored his first professional hat trick in the game for the Sundogs.
 
Odessa’s Offensive Show Continues
The Odessa Jackalopes have won three straight games and yesterday were named the #1 team in the Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll.  The Jacks won last night in Corpus Christi by a score of 4-3.  The Odessa offense is averaging over five goals per game and the team boasts the top power play in the league at 29.69%.  Dominic Leveille is tied for the league lead with 14 points (2-12=14) and goaltender Juha Toivonen is 4-0 with a league best 2.00 GAA.

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BY THE NUMBERS

12/21/02- The date of the last game the Odessa Jackalopes (6-1-1) defeated the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (3-3-0).  The two former WPHL teams meet both Friday and Saturday in the CenturyTel Center.  Odessa has won three straight games and the Mudbugs are 0-3 at home this season. 

3-0-1-  Colorado’s record on their season-opening five-game home stand that concludes tonight when the Wichita Thunder (2-5-0) visit the Budweiser Events Center.  The Eagles have won three straight games tying them for the longest current win streak in the league (Odessa has also won three straight games).  Colorado’s Riley Nelson (the Oakley Three Star Winner for the month of October) has six goals in four games this season.    

77 of 75- The number of shots that Arizona goaltender J.F. Perras has stopped over his last two starts.  On the season, Perras has a .922 save percentage ranking fourth in the league.  His record is 3-1-0 on the season.

32- The number of consecutive power plays the Wichita Thunder has killed off including not allowing a PP goal in five straight games.  The last team to connect with the man advantage versus the Thunder was Mississippi in the second game of the season.  Wichita ranks second in the league with a 93.9% kill rate.

SLAP SHOTS

-Earlier this week, Tulsa’s Rob Hisey and Allen’s Charlie Effinger were named the Sher-Wood/TPS CHL Player and Goaltender of the Week, respectively.  Hisey has seven goals and five assists in five games and Effinger went 3-0 with a 1.67 GAA and a shutout.

-Former Arizona Sundog defenseman David Schlemko was re-called by the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday marking the second time this season that a former Arizona player has been summoned by the Coyotes (Sean Sullivan was called-up earlier in the season).  Schlemko had an assist and was a +2 in the Coyotes victory on Thursday over Chicago.

-Rapid City’s Colt King is the latest CHL star to step into the CHL Chat Room.  Send Colt your questions at www.centralhockeyleague.com and then check back for his answers.  Amarillo’s Austin Sutter and Tulsa’s Kevin Armstrong have already fielded your questions as many players and coaches will do throughout the regular season. 

-Be sure to check out CHL-TV offering fans an interactive approach to watching their favorite CHL teams.  Monthly passes are available to catch all the action in the CHL.  Watch CHL-TV at http://chltv.insinc.com.