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CHL Allen Americans

Allen Americans Weekly Notes

March 9, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release


TUESDAY, MAR. 2 @ BOS (W 3-2): The Americans began their second straight stretch of four games in five days on the road with a win. After losing a tough game last Friday to Bossier-Shreveport, the Americans took the clubs' second meeting to advance the season series record against the Mudbugs to 4-1-0. Matt Radoslovich scored the fastest goal in Americans history, scoring 10 seconds into the game. Bossier-Shreveport notched a goal before the period ended, but 2010 starting CHL All-Star Justin Bowers responded with his own lamplighter to give the Americans a 2-1 lead heading into the second. Bruce Graham increased Allen's lead to two when he scored with two minutes left in the middle frame. The Mudbugs closed the gap to one goal but failed to tie the game. Netminder David McKee played in his first CHL game and made 29 saves to earn the win.

THURSDAY, MAR. 4 @ LAR (L 6-1): Allen suffered its first loss to Laredo in a 6-1 game. The Bucks jumped out to an early lead, netting a goal just 12 seconds into the game. They followed that with two power play goals before the end of the first. The Americans' lone goal came from Bruce Graham with 1:11 left in the second period. Laredo scored three more goals in the final frame. David McKee made 40 saves.

FRIDAY, MAR. 5 vs. MIS (W 5-2): The Americans rebounded from Thursday's loss with a 5-2 win. Allen took an early lead, scoring only 44 seconds into the game off a goal from Justin Bowers. The club had a 1-0 lead heading into the third period, which turned into a scoring frenzy. Bruce Graham and Bowers notched back-to-back goals to give Allen a 3-0 lead before Mississippi scored. Then, Brandon Straub recorded his second goal of the year before the RiverKings struck again. Captain Jarret Lukin closed scoring in the game and made the final score 5-2. Chris Whitley made 20 saves in his first game back from his AHL trip, where he earned his first win.

SATURDAY, MAR. 6 vs. MIS (L 2-1 SO): Allen wrapped up their second straight stretch of four games in five days in a shootout loss to the RiverKings. Similar to Friday's game, the Americans scored first. Bruce Graham lit the lamp at 11:55 of the first, but Mississippi responded with its own goal four minutes later. Neither of the teams could get anything generated on special teams in the middle frame, which had a combined nine penalties. Mike Salekin scored at the beginning of the third, but the goal was waived off because of goaltender interference. Allen's Colton Yellow Horn and Tobias Whelan scored in the fourth and fifth rounds of the shootout, but Mississippi's Matt Summers, Louis Dumont and Ryan Held got tallies to give the RiverKings the extra point. Chris Whitley made 21 saves. Despite the loss, the Americans still clinched home ice for the Conference Semi-Finals with the point.

UPCOMING GAMES

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 10 @ TEX at 7:05 p.m.: Allen travels across the Metroplex for the last regular season meeting between the Americans and Brahmas. The game will be the last of nine meetings between the clubs. The Americans are 3-3-2. Allen has yet to win a regular season game at NYTEX Sports Centre. In the previous meeting, the Brahmas won in the eighth round of a shootout at the Allen Event Center. The contest marked the first time that the visiting team defeated the home team in the regular season series. The Brahmas are 31-22-5 (67 points) and sit in third place in the Southern Conference.

FRIDAY, MAR. 12 & SATURDAY, MAR. 13 @ RPD at 8:05 p.m.: The Americans travel to Rapid City for the first time this season. The last time the clubs met, the Americans lost 6-1 at home. Rapid City is 40-12-5 (85 points), which is good enough for first place in the Northern Conference. Rapid City is 22-6-0 at home, while Allen is 19-7-2 on the road.

Americans Clinch Home Ice For Conference Semi-Finals: Allen clinched home ice for its first playoff series in the 2010 Ray Miron's President's Cup when it earned one point in the 2-1 shootout loss to Mississippi March 6. The Americans can finish no lower than second place in the Southern Conference and will begin their playoff march in the Conference Semi-Finals. They clinched their first-ever playoff berth Feb. 23 when they defeated Rio Grande Valley in overtime. Defenseman Jordie Benn scored the playoff-clinching goal.

Americans With Three CHL Award Finalists: The CHL announced its finalists for the four significant CHL awards, and Americans made the cut in three categories. Bruce Graham is up for CHL Most Valuable Player, while Chris Whitley is a finalist for Most Outstanding Goaltenders and Rookie of the Year.

Musitelli Earns 100th Point: Forward Nino Musitelli scored his 100th professional career point Friday night against Mississippi with an assist on Bruce Graham's goal. He finished the night out with two assists and was +3.

Welcome Back: Since his return, the presence of Justin Bowers has been noticed. In eight games, Bowers has had 16 points in the contests, including two goals and two assists March 5 against the RiverKings.

Straub Scoring: Defenseman Brandon Straub scored his second goal of the season March 5 against the RiverKings. The tally was his second in four games.

Graham's Going Strong: Forward Bruce Graham leads the Americans in scoring with 71 points this season and has the most game-winning goals on the team with eight. He is on an eight-game point streak, which is the longest current point streak in the league, and a five-game goal streak, which is also currently the longest in the CHL. Teammate Nino Musitelli has recorded the longest point-streak this year to date, grabbing points in 17 straight contests.

Shelast Assigned by Texas: Wing Tyler Shelast was assigned by the AHL's Texas Stars March 5. The new forward is in his third full professional season, with experience playing for the AHL's Iowa Stars, Hamilton Bulldogs and Texas Stars. The 25-year-old played four seasons for Michigan Tech prior to his professional career. In 2007-08, his last season there, Shelast scored 16 goals and had 10 assists for 26 points in 39 games. He ranked first on the team in goals, power-play goals (8), shots on goal (114) and was second in points. In his first game with the Americans March 5 against Mississippi, he had a goal waived off by a high stick but then was awarded a penalty shot. He did not convert the penalty shot but did end the game with an assist.

Whitley Earns First AHL Win: Netminder Chris Whitley received his second call-up to the American Hockey League when the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche affiliate) recalled him Feb. 25. In his first AHL game Feb. 28, Whitley recorded 37 saves in a 6-5 shootout win over Grand Rapids. He joins former American Charlie Effinger and forward Justin Bowers as Americans that have been with AHL teams this season. Earlier in the season, Texas recalled him Feb. 13 before assigning him back to Allen Feb. 15. He returned to the team Thursday, March 4 from Lake Erie.

McKee Makes CHL Debut: Netminder David McKee made his CHL debut March 2 in a 3-2 win over the Mudbugs on the road. He stopped 29 of 31 shots and looked excellent in net. He signed with the Americans Feb. 9 before being placed on goaltender IR Feb. 13.

Allen with Lowest Goals Against: The Americans continue to have the lowest goals against average in the league with 2.78. In 58 games, the club has allowed 161 goals and scored 185.

Love the Lead: The Americans continue to dominate when leading after 40 minutes of play. Allen is 26-1-0 when it leads after two periods.

Roster Moves: The Texas Stars assigned forward Tyler Shelast March 5. The club signed forward Maxim Chamberland March 2. The 23-year-old Canadian played with Justin Bowers at St. Thomas University.

Netminder Trey Boylan was waived March 1, and goalie David McKee was activated from IR.

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