CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for December 20, 2013

December 20, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Three Things You Need to Know

1.) Record Start- The Rapid City Rush (18-3-0) tied the CHL record with 10 straight wins to start the season and they have not slowed down since. The club went 7-3-0 in their second 10 games tying them with the Colorado Eagles for the most wins (17) through the first 20 games of the season (since the CHL/WPHL merger in 2001-02 season). No team over the past dozen seasons has won 18 of their first 21 games and only the Rocky Mountain Rage (2007-08) earned as many points in their first 21 games going 17-2-2 (36 points). The Rush are on the cusp of another CHL record having won nine consecutive road games. The CHL record for consecutive road wins is 10 set four times, most recently in 2001-02 when Odessa accomplished this feat. Rapid City can tie and potentially break the record this weekend when they play in Denver on Friday and Saturday taking on the Cutthroats (12-8-4).

2.) Home Cooking- The Tulsa Oilers (14-11-2) are in a position to make a jump over the next week as they begin a four-game home stand on Friday night against the Quad City Mallards (10-5-5). The Oilers are 7-5-0 at home this season but lately have been unbeatable winning four straight and seven of their last eight at the BOK Center. The Oilers home stand will see Missouri, Allen and Wichita visit after the Mallards. Ben Gordon has been on fire for the Oilers scoring four goals with three assists over his last three games and defenseman Craig Cescon has been leading the backend with an even or plus over each of his last eight games (+8). In Tulsa's last game, his 27th of the season, Cescon scored his first goal of the season.

3.) Frequent Flyers- The Quad City Mallards (10-5-5) and St. Charles Chill (7-13-4) went head-to-head on Wednesday night in St. Charles with the Chill taking a close one, 3-2. Kyle O'Kane scored the game winning goal and Robby Moss made 36 saves. The two teams will play again on Saturday and Sunday, one in each barn, bringing the season series to seven games with the Mallards owning a 3-1-1 record so far against the Chill. In the season series, Jordan Fox leads the Chill with six assists against the Flock and for Quad City, both Mike Stinziani and Mike Hellyer have four goals and four assists against St. Charles.

By the Numbers

4: The number of match-ups the Allen Americans (13-8-2) and the Brampton Beast (13-11-1) have had this season with the final two showdowns set to take place this weekend (Friday, Saturday). Each team has won twice with the Americans winning the last and only meeting so far in Texas, Nov. 15. Jonathan Lessard has scored four goals in the four games in the head-to-head series. The Beast made quite an addition this week adding former Allen forward Scott Howes to the roster. Howes scored 21 goals in 22 games with Allen last season.

One-Timers

-Brampton's Calin Wild has been on fire lately scoring five goals with three assists over his last eight games. The Winnipeg native has scored goals in three straight games and has strikes in four of his last five contests.

-The shorthanded Missouri Mavericks (15-6-3) will be without Colt King (suspension), Eric Castonguay (injured) and Henrik Odegaard (Olympic tryout) when they take the ice against St. Charles tonight. The Mavs are 7-3-1 at home but they have split their last four home contests.

-St. Charles goalie Robby Moss has won three of his last four starts and has stopped 131 of the 140 shots he has faced (.936 save%).

-The Arizona Sundogs (8-15-1) begin a five-game home stand on Friday night against the Wichita Thunder (7-13-4). It will be the first meeting between the two teams since last year's Opening Round playoff series that the Thunder won via a sweep.

-Special teams have been very one-sided in the season series with the Missouri Mavericks (15-6-3) and the St. Charles Chill (7-13-4) with the Mavs converting just one of 19 PP chances against the Chill, who have conversely scored five times in 29 man advantages. The Mavs lead the season series three wins to one as the two rivals meet on Friday night in Independence.

-Brampton has allowed just two PP goals over its last 23 SH chances and are tops in the league with an 87.6 kill rate.

-Tulsa forward Kyle Bochek is having a career season with 25 points (6-19=25) in 26 games. The veteran has two goals and seven assists over his last six games and is a gaudy +11 over that span. His career high in points was 37 done in 55 games last season in Bloomington. Bochek also leads the league in penalty minutes with 98 (career high is 139).

-The Rapid City Rush (18-3-0) have won both of their shootouts this season scoring five times on six shots (.833). In net, they allowed just one goal on eight shootout attempts (.125).

-CHL-TV, powered by America ONE Sports, is back for a second season with monthly and season packages available as well as all games on a given night available for $8.00. Visit www.americaonesports.com for ordering information.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2013


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