CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for January 17, 2014

January 17, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Three Things You Need to Know

1.) Streaking Clubs Battle in Arizona- The two hottest clubs in the CHL go head-to-head for a pair of games this weekend in Prescott Valley and a contest on Martin Luther King Day in Texas as the Arizona Sundogs (14-18-1) and Allen Americans (21-10-3) square off for three straight meetings. The Sundogs have won four straight games and have earned shutouts in each of their last three contests and the Americans are on an eight-game point streak going 7-0-1 over that span. The Americans are just one point behind the conference-leading Rapid City Rush (23-9-0) and have been fueled by strong play from Kale Kerbashian (2-5=7) and Jamie Schaafsma (2-5=7) over their last five games. Arizona goaltender Andrew Engelage has been in net for each of the Sundogs shutouts over their past three games and has gone 206:25 without allowing a goal. The CHL record is held by current Allen goalie Mark Guggenberger who went 238:31 w ithout allowing a goal in 2011-12 while with the Texas Brahmas.

2.) Rivals Battle in South Dakota- The Denver Cutthroats (18-10-6) head to Rapid City to face the conference-leading Rush (23-9-0) in a three-game series (Friday, Saturday and Monday). The Rush have won four of the five meetings this season but overall have gone just 4-6 in their last 10 games. Sean Erickson (1-7=8) and Konrad Reeder (3-4=7) have led the offense for the Rush versus the Fish and Garett Bembridge has two goals and three assists versus the Rush. Rapid City has struggled recently dropping four of their last five games and Denver has been hot with a 6-1-1 mark in their last eight games. Two of the league's top three scorers will be in action with Bembridge (56 points) ranking second and Rapid City's Jesse Schultz (50 points) ranking third (Tulsa's Todd Robinson leads league with 57 points). Denver has seen the most movement between themselves and their AHL club with seven pl ayers currently on re-call with the Lake Erie Monsters and A.J. Gale up with the Manchester Monarchs (top affiliate of the LA Kings).

3.) Expansion Showdown- The CHL's two expansion clubs this season go against each other in a three-game series (Friday, Saturday and Monday) when the St. Charles Chill (8-23-5) battle in Ontario against the Brampton Beast (18-16-2). The two clubs have met three times already this season, all in Missouri, with the Beast winning all three games thus far. Beast goalie Kristofer Westblom has won two of the games sporting a 1.92 goals against average and a .943 save percentage. Rob Collins has three goals and two assists in the games against the Chill. The Beast will be at home for the first time in 2014 after playing their last six games on the road (4-2 in those games). St. Charles has dropped four straight games going 0-3-1 in those games.

By the Numbers

31: The number of games the Quad City Mallards have played this season without having one single player go on the injured reserve before forward Vladimir Nikiforov went on the 7-day injured reserve this week with a lower body injury. Conversely, the Arizona Sundogs have placed a player on either the 7-day, 14-day or 30-day injured reserve 23 times so far during the 2013-14 campaign.

One-Timers

-Allen rookie Alex Lavoie has two goals and nine assists over his last eight games and had been an even or plus in each of those games. Lavoie leads all rookies in scoring with 46 points on the season (16-30F).

-The Quad City Mallards (16-8-7) will hit the road on Friday night looking for revenge in Wichita against the Thunder (12-17-4). The Thunder beat the Flock last Friday in Moline by a 3-2 count in a shootout.

-It is a rivalry weekend for the Missouri Mavericks (21-10-1) who play in Tulsa on Friday night and then face Wichita in a home-and-home on Saturday and Sunday. The Mavs are 4-0 versus Tulsa this season and 2-2-1 versus Wichita. Andrew Courtney has been hot for the Mavs with goals in three straight games.

-Allen defenseman Tyler Ludwig has the longest active point streak in the CHL with seven goals and four assists during his streak. Ludwig is fifth among defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 13 helpers (23 points).

-Rapid City forwards Konrad Reeder and Jesse Schultz are tied for the plus/minus lead in the CHL with +28 ratings. The Rush duo are +11 better than any other skater in the league.

-Tulsa's Ben Gordon has scored four goals (three on the power play) over his last four games ranking tied for fourth in the CHL with 21 goals overall and tied for third with seven power play goals.

-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 January 17, 2014


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