Allen holds off Laredo and wins another at home 4-2
December 12, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
ALLEN, Texas - The Allen Americans beat the Laredo Bucks 4-2 in an exciting game at the Allen Event Center tonight. The victory advances the team's home record to 8-2-0 and overall record to 17-5-1 (35 points).
Forward Nino Musitelli scored the first goal 51 seconds in to the game, which extended his point streak to 17 games. At 7:14 on the penalty kill, forward Justin Bowers skated in and got another Americans' goal on a wrist shot over Bucks' netminder Jean-Philippe Levasseur's right shoulder. He became the first Allen player besides Tobias Whelan to score a shorthanded goal this season. The Americans headed into the locker room with a 2-0 lead.
Laredo came out firing in the second and got on the board when Lance Monych found the back of the net on the power play at 16:57. The middle frame ended with a 2-1 score in the Americans' favor.
The third period was full of excitement. Musitelli gave the Americans a two-goal cushion when he scored at 12:21 on the power play. His second goal of the night brought the score to 3-1. Bruce Graham and Justin Bowers got the helpers on the goal.
In the final minutes of the period, fans watched plenty of drama unfold. With 3:12 left in regulation, the Bucks had a goal waived off because the puck was kicked in. Both teams took their timeouts, and the Bucks pulled goalie Levasseur with 2:34 remaining and skated with the extra attacker in one last effort to win the game. Defenseman Ryan Fairbarn sealed the game's fate with an empty netter with 28 seconds left to make 4-1. Laredo's Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel scored with four seconds remaining in the game, but the goal wasn't enough for the win.
Chris Whitley made 34 saves tonight. He leads the CHL with 13 wins.
At tonight's game Steve Duchesne presented a $35, 515 check to Captain Michael Leeper and First Sergeant Carmine Esposito, who represent the Texas Army National Guard Family Support Foundation. The Americans raised $7,303 during the Veterans Day game, and Americans' owners Doug Miller and Steve Duchesne, oilman T. Boone Pickets and Boston's Gourmet Pizza CEO Jim Treliving matched the amount.
Friday, Dec. 18, the Americans host Odessa at 7:30 p.m. There is a post-game skate with Santa and the team in addition to the first Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are asked to bring new teddy bears or stuffed animals to throw on the ice after the first Americans' goal. The stuffed animals will then be donated to charity. The first 500 youth in attendance at Friday's game will receive a free Americans T-shirt provided by Medical City Children's Hospital.
The next home game after Friday's contest is the first game in the Vintage Series with the Texas Brahmas Dec. 26. The Americans will don Dallas Blackhawks jerseys, and the Brahmas will wear Fort Worth Wings sweaters in a night commemorating DFW's minor league hockey rivalries of the old days.
• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...
Central Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2009
- Colorado Edges Odessa, 2-1, in Shootout - Odessa Jackalopes
- Eagles Top 'Jacks in Shootout, 2-1 - Colorado Eagles
- Corpus Christi Suffers Second Shootout Loss Of Week - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Six Straight Wins, Brahmas Beat Oilers 4-1 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Mavericks Comeback for 3-2 Shootout Win over IceRays - Kansas City Mavericks
- Allen holds off Laredo and wins another at home 4-2 - Allen Americans
- Belanger's Hat Trick Not Enough Against Rush - Wichita Thunder
- Bucks Lose In Allen, Fall to Fourth - Laredo Bucks
- 'Dogs top Gorillas, 2-1, Earn Points in Third Straight - Arizona Sundogs
- 'Bugs Finish Weekend Sweep of Mississippi - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- RiverKings Avert Shutout, Fall to Bossier-Shreveport - Mississippi RiverKings
- Gorillas stone-walled - Amarillo Gorillas
- Gorillas sign Felde, waive Aldoff - Amarillo Gorillas
- RiverKings Host Bossier-Shreveport Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Try For 300th Wiin Again Tonight - Laredo Bucks
- Rush Beat Thunder 5-3 For Eighth Straight Win - Rapid City Rush
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
