CHL Central Hockey League

Shots From The Point For February 15, 2010

Published on February 15, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Sunny Days in Arizona

The Arizona Sundogs (18-26-5) have been red-hot lately winning all three of their games last week in their three-games-in-three-nights road trip that saw them earn victories in Colorado, Wichita and Amarillo. The Sundogs have won five straight road games overall and are 5-0-1 in their last six away from home. Doug Groenestege has been in net for all six of those decisions allowing 17 goals over that stretch. Arizona begins a very trying week on Tuesday when they host the Southern Conference leading Odessa Jackalopes (36-9-4) and then host the second place Allen Americans (33-11-3) in a pair of games on Wednesday and Thursday. Home ice has not been kind to the 'Dogs lately going 0-5-1 in their last six on home ice. The Sundogs are just eight points behind the fifth place Corpus Christi IceRays and a potential playoff berth. Arizona has played in 10 straight one-goal games going 5-3-2 over that stretch.

Here Come the Champs

With just a month left in the regular season, the defending CHL Champion Texas Brahmas seem to be getting into playoff mode. The Brahmas are currently tied for third in the South with the Laredo Bucks but have been on the move in recent weeks winning six straight games and going 11-6-0 since January 1st. It is no coincidence that as Brett Jaeger has gotten hot, so have the Brahmas. The backstop during last year's Championship run has won six straight games and is 12-4-1 in his last 16 decisions allowing 36 goals over that stretch. Jaeger has allowed one goal or fewer in seven of those 12 wins. Jaeger was named the Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week on Monday, the same day he made 42 saves in a 2-1 shootout win at Allen.

Rush of a Weekend

The Rapid City Rush had quite a weekend going 2-0-1 in their three games beating the South leaders, Odessa, twice and falling in a shootout on the road in Colorado on Sunday. In all three games, the Rush came back from large deficits to get the points. In Friday's win versus Odessa, the Rush trailed 3-0 before winning 7-5 and then on Saturday they fell behind 3-1 before winning 6-4 and then finally on Sunday, Rapid City trailed 4-2 before losing in a SO 7-6. Rapid City's offense tallied up 19 goals in their three games using the second period as the jump start scoring nine times in the middle frame. The Rush are a +21 in the second period this season outscoring the opposition 72-51. Rich Hansen lead the charge for the Rush scoring three goals with five assists in the three games. The Rush and Eagles meet again on Tuesday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center with Rapid City leading by three points in the Northern Conference.

BY THE NUMBERS

4- The number of goals that Missouri's Karl Sellan has scored in his last two games. The rugged forward had five goals in his first 27 games with the Mavs and on Saturday night recorded the Mavs first franchise hat trick in a 6-1 win versus Mississippi and the first three-goal game in his pro career. Sellan scored 29 goals in 64 games with the Arizona Sundogs last season.

93.4%- The successful penalty kill percentage of the Wichita Thunder over their last 16 games. Wichita has successfully killed 85 of their last 91 shorthanded chances. Overall, the Thunder is sixth in the CHL at 83.7%.

1- The number of points that Bossier-Shreveport forward David Rutherford had in his first 10 games with the Mudbugs but since that time, the Ladner, British Columbia native has totaled 11 goals and 11 assists in his next 18 games. Rutherford is currently on a 13-game point streak that has him totaling 19 points. His streak is the fourth longest in the league this season.

7-0- The record of Arizona Sundogs goaltender Doug Groenestege in shootouts this season ranking first in the CHL with his seven wins. Each of the last two games for the 'Dogs have been decided in a shootout and for Groenestege, he is 3-0 with Arizona and 4-0 with his previous team (Missouri) in shootouts.

.970- The save percentage of Missouri goaltender Charlie Effinger in his first two starts with the Mavs. The rookie was acquired last Monday by Missouri from the Allen Americans where he was 8-3-1. In his two starts with Missouri, both wins, Effinger turned away 54 of 56 shots beating Mississippi and Wichita.

94- The combined number of shots in the Eagles/Rush game on Sunday, a 7-6 Colorado shootout win. Colorado had 49 of those shots and the combined total tied the second highest in Eagles franchise history.

SLAP SHOTS

-The Odessa Jackalopes (36-9-4) back-to-back regulation losses in Rapid City were the first consecutive defeats for the Jacks since last February 22/24 when they fell at home to New Mexico and Mississippi. Odessa maintains their hold on the top spot in the league with 76 points but Rapid City has pulled to within six points thanks to their two-game sweep over the Jacks and Allen is just seven points in back.

-After being dinged up and missing three weeks, Bossier-Shreveport goaltender Ken Carroll returned in between the pipes on Sunday and made 33 saves in a 4-1 win over Corpus Christi. The veteran's last win came on January 20th versus Rio Grande Valley. On the season, Carroll is 10-6-3 with a.924 save percentage. The win was his 200th professional win with 183 of those coming with the Mudbugs.

-Allen goaltender Chris Whitley was called-up by the Texas Stars (AHL) on February 13th becoming the third American player to earn a call-up to the AHL. Whitley joins Charlie Effinger (Texas) and Justin Bowers (Abbottsford) as Allen players going up.

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