CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for December 10, 2010

December 10, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


CHL Headlines for Friday, December 10

Power at Top of Turner on the Line

In what could be the top match-up on the schedule for Friday night, the Dayton Gems (11-7-1, 23 points) head to Bloomington to face the PrairieThunder (10-6-1, 21 points). In the previous two meetings between the two clubs, the Gems have won both including the only visit to Bloomington on Oct. 30 (4-2). The Gems are currently two points out of first place and one point out of second and are coming off a 5-2 loss last night to Rapid City. The PThunder have lost five straight at home (0-4-1) and have scored just one goal in their last two home games (shutout by RGV in last home game, Nov. 28). Overall, Bloomington is 3-4-1 on home ice and the Gems are 3-3-0 on the road. Bloomington's home power play has been a big reason for their struggles going 5 for 44 (11.4% - 17th in the league) but they have been outstanding on the PK at home allowing just six scores and carrying an 85.4% success rate (4th in the CHL).

Tough Obstacles for Brahmas

The Brahmas have arguably the toughest path this weekend playing in Tulsa on Friday night and in Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday night. Texas is 7-3-2 in their last 12 games and are sitting alone in third place in the Berry Conference but their conference-foes this weekend are two of the hottest teams in the CHL. Tulsa owns the league's longest current win streak at four consecutive games and are 6-1-0 in their last seven games. Bossier-Shreveport is on top of the CHL with 34 points (17-6-0) and are 10-2-0 in their last 12 games. One of the Mudbugs two losses was at the hands of the Brahmas (5-3 on Nov. 27).

Sniping From the Blue Line

Darcy Campbell (RGV) is pacing the way for scoring among defensemen (has four goals in his last five games) with 21 points (8-13=21) but he has some company from some hot-scoring d-men including Mississippi's Nathan Lutz (6-13=19). Tulsa's Derek Eastman has three goals in his last five games, all on the power play, and is tied for the league-lead with six scores with the man advantage. Maybe no defensive scorer has been more potent lately than Wichita's Kory Scoran who has struck five times in the team's last seven games (four on the power play). Scoran joins Eastman in a three-way tie with Mississippi's Chris Richards for tops in the league with six PP goals. Other hot d-men include Missouri's Dominic D'Amour who has two goals in his last three games and Arizona's Billy Bezeau who has two goals, five assists and is a +5 in his last five games.

Laredo Bucking the Competition

The Bucks are one of the toughest foes in the CHL in recent weeks posting a 5-1-2 record in their last eight games including winning their last two games. At home, they have won three straight games and are 5-5-1 on home ice this season. The Bucks continue their three-game home stand hosting Arizona on Friday night and then Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday. Goaltender Pier Pelletier has been carrying the team in between the pipes lately going 3-1-1 in his last five decisions allowing 12 goals. The Bucks opponent on Friday, the Sundogs, who are 5-1-3 in their last nine road games having their eight-game road point streak come to an end on Tuesday in Odessa.

Numbers Game

5- The number of road points that the Fort Wayne Komets have this season with their 2-5-1 mark away from home. The Komets hit the road for a tough road trip this weekend playing three-games-in-three nights facing off in Wichita on Friday, in Missouri on Saturday and in Quad City on Sunday. Only Wichita (four points on the road, 2-6-0 record) has fewer road points than FTW.

1-3- The record of the Colorado Eagles on their recently completed four-game road trip that saw them lose in Texas and Wichita twice, the lone win came at Odessa (their opponent this weekend in a pair of games). Colorado returns home for a five-game home stand and are winners in three straight on home ice.

359- The career CHL assist total of Odessa's Sebastien Thinel who is tied for 13th with Blair Manning on the league's all-time assist list. Thinel currently leads the league with 39 points (15-24=39) and is coming off a three assist game versus Arizona on Tuesday. The next helper for Thinel will move him into 12th place on the all-time list with active forwards Jeff Bes (LAR) and Riley Nelson (COL) sitting in front of him next with 401 assists apiece.

122- The number of career CHL wins for Bloomington goaltender Marco Emond who is 9-4-0 this season leading the PrairieThunder to contention in the Turner Conference. Emond passed Miguel Beaudry for eighth on the league's all-time wins list with his victory over Evansville on Dec. 4 and with four more wins will tie Jean-Ian Filiatrault with 126 wins (seventh on the all-time list). Emond has the most CHL wins among all active CHL goalies.

Slap Shots

-The Odessa Jackalopes enter play this weekend on a three-game road winning streak with impressive triumphs in Allen and a pair of wins in Rapid City on their resume. The Jacks will tackle the Colorado Eagles this weekend in the Budweiser Events Center, a place they are winless in nine tries being outscored 37-18.

-Tulsa rookie Gary Steffes has risen to the top of the rookie scoring list with three goals in his last five games giving him eight on the season, tied with Arizona's Jason Williams for most among first-year players.

-The Rapid City Rush continue their seven-game road trip tonight with the first of back-to-back games in Evansville. The Rush earned a much needed win last night in Dayton, 5-2. Ryan Menei scored two goals with an assist and Colt King had three helpers.

-The Killer Bees host Allen and Arizona this weekend ending a four-game home stand that has them 0-2-0 thus far. RGV has won just twice in their last 10 games and after this weekend will get accustomed to hotel life playing 13 of their next 16 games away from home.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2010


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