The Americans now stand at 10-3-1 (21 points), which puts the club at second place in the Southern Conference and third place in the CHL.GAME RECAPS
THURSDAY, NOV. 19 vs. ARZ (W 4-2): The Americans beat the Sundogs for the third time this season and the first time at home last night in the Allen Event Center 4-2. Newly acquired forward Mike Willemsen led the way with a hat trick and his first professional goal. The hat trick marked the first three-goal night for an Americans in franchise history. Nathan O'Nabigon also grabbed a goal, and Justin Bowers notched an assist to continue leading the team in points. Goaltender Chris Whitley made 43 saves.
FRIDAY, NOV. 20 @ CRP (W 2-1): Allen defeated Corpus Christi on the road in the first of the home-and-home series this weekend. The Americans gave up their first shorthanded goal of the season three minutes into the game, but forward Liam Huculak scored in the middle of the period to tie the game 1-1. The middle frame was scoreless, but forward Nino Musitelli would grab his first goal of the season to secure the win in the third period.
SATURDAY, NOV. 21 vs. CRP (W 4-0): Goaltender Chris Whitley recorded his first professional shutout in the third straight home win. The first period ended in a scoreless tie but featured a flurry of three fights in the span of five playing seconds. Forwards Britt Dougherty, Nathan O'Nabigon and Liam Huculak took on Adam Powell, Morgan McLean and Tyler Sheldrake, respectively. The second period ended with a 2-0 Americans' lead after Nathan O'Nabigon and Bruce Graham scored goals. Tobias Whelan would score the third goal, and Graham added another to round out the night.
UPCOMING GAMES
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 vs. MIS at 7:30 p.m.: Allen meets Mississippi for the first time this season in the Allen Event Center to continue their stretch of seven games in eleven days. Mississippi is 8-8-1 (17 points).
FRIDAY, NOV. 27 @ ODE at 7:05 P.M.: The Americans travel to Odessa to play the Jackalopes for the first time Friday. The Americans are second place in the Southern Conference, trailing only Odessa's 12-2-2 record (26 points).
SATURDAY, NOV. 28 vs. TEX at 7:30 p.m.: Allen hosts the Brahmas for their third meeting of the season. The Americans lost the first contest on the road in the eighth round of a shootout but defeated the defending champs 5-1 at the Allen Event Center Nov. 11. The Brahmas are currently 7-7-2 (16 points).
SUNDAY, NOV. 29 vs. RGV at 6:00 p.m.: The Americans face off against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for the first time Sunday and end the last of the stretch of seven games in eleven days. Rio Grande Valley currently sits at 8-5-2 (18 points).
Roster moves: The Americans traded defenseman Jason Seerey to Rio Grande Valley Nov. 18 for future considerations and signed defenseman Kurtis Dulle Nov. 18. Dulle, 30, should add more offense to the blue line and brings plenty of CHL experience. The club picked up forward Mike Willemsen Nov. 19 right before the game. Willemsen played four seasons at Clarkson University from 2005-2009 and played three games for the Brahmas this season. Captain Jarret Lukin went on 14-day IR retroactive to Nov. 15. Then, Willemsen was placed on 14-day IR Nov. 20, while Mick Berge was activated from it Nov. 21.
First Americans hat trick goes to the rookie: In his first game with the Americans on Nov. 19 against the Sundogs, Mike Willemsen scored his first professional goal. Two goals later, he became the first American to record a hat trick.
Fighting line: Forwards Christian Gaudet, Liam Huculak and Nathan O'Nabigon became the first line to get into fights in a single game when the Americans played the Corpus Christi IceRays Saturday, Nov. 21. Huculak and O'Nabigon fought back-to-back in the first period in a flurry of three fights, while Gaudet fought in the second period when R.J. Flath wanted to drop the gloves.
Whitley named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week: Goalie Chris Whitley comes off a hot week. In his last two appearances, he combined for 76 saves on 78 shots. He made 43 against Arizona in a 4-2 win and 33 in his first professional shutout against Corpus Nov. 21.
Live Coach's Show Dec. 1
Next Tuesday, Dec. 1, Tommy Daniels, the voice of the Americans, will be hosting the first Allen Americans' Coach's Show at Cheddar's, located at 190 E. Stacy Rd. Bldg #900, Allen, TX 75002. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show will last from 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Single Game Tickets on Sale Now
Individual tickets are available by calling 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), going to gettix.net or stopping by the Allen Event Center box office. For more information, go to allenamericans.com. Fans interested in 10 tickets or more to any one game or tickets to multiple games are encouraged to speak with an Allen Americans representative regarding group discounts and savings off walk-up prices at 972.912.1000.
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