Shots from the Point for January 18, 2013

Published on January 18, 2013 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release

Three Things You Need to Know

1.) Rush/Mavs Ready Themselves for Battle- The Missouri Mavericks (19-12-4) will travel to Rapid City this weekend for a pair of games against the Rush (17-15-5). The teams have met just once this season but over the years have built quite a rivalry. In November, the Rush beat the Mavs 4-3 in Missouri with Riley Weselowski and Jordan Baker each chalking up two points in the game. The Mavs have won five of their last six games and are in a tie with Denver for fourth place in the Berry Conference. The Rush have won two in a row marking the first time since early December they have won back-to-back games. Missouri have three former Rush players on the roster in Colt King, Blake Forsyth and David Simoes and the Rush roster features former Mavericks defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken. After stopping 77 of 79 shots in two wins over Wichita last weekend, Rapid City goalie Tim Boron is the reigning Oakley CHL G oalie of the Week and Missouri goalie Mike Clemente was the top goalie the week before going 3-0 with a 0.97 GAA during his winning week.

2.) Unlikely Rivals Clash in Arizona- One wouldn't think the Allen Americans (24-6-3) and the Arizona Sundogs (16-17-4) would have built that big of a rivalry but with seven previous games this season featuring 417 combined penalty minutes (nearly 60 combined minutes per game), they are clearly not fans of each other. Allen is 5-1-1 against the Sundogs but four of the previous seven games have been decided by just one goal. Despite losing each of their last two games, the Americans are in first place in the conference with 51 points (six more than second place Wichita). Arizona is hanging on to the eighth and final playoff spot leading ninth place Quad City two points but the Sundogs are just six points behind the teams sitting in fourth place (Missouri and Denver). The Sundogs feature the league's top goal scorer in Chad Nehring who has 23 strikes on the season. The forward is riding an 11-g ame point streak (third longest in the CHL this season).

3.) Thunder Look for Good Start to Second Half- The Wichita Thunder (21-13-3) begin their second half with three straight games against the Tulsa Oilers (10-24-3). Wichita enters the second half coming off back-to-back losses in Rapid City but they are still alone in second place trailing Allen by six points. Wichita is 3-1 against the Oilers this season outscoring them 22-10 (all four games have been played in Wichita). Other than a five-goal outburst on January 2, the Thunder's offense has struggled somewhat scoring just 10 goals in the other six games since December 29. Wichita will be at home on Friday night for the first time after their six-game road trip that saw them go 2-4. Tulsa enters the game with losses in six of their last seven games.

By the Numbers

5: The current goal streak by Fort Worth forward John Snowden who has scored nine times in his team's last handful of games. Snowden has been a great addition for the Brahmas scoring 19 points (11-8=19) in the 12 games he has played with the Brahmas.

One-Timers

-Tulsa's Ben Gordon has been steady for most of the season and since December 1, the forward has sniped 10 goals with 12 assists in 19 games. On the season, Gordon is fifth in the league with 41 points (20-21=41).

-Quad City defenseman Matt Duffy has been hot lately with a goal and six assists in his last five games. On the season, Duffy leads all Flock blue liners with three goals and 17 assists.

-Allen forward Kale Kerbashian made quite an impact in his first game with his new team last Saturday by scoring twice. Kerbashian began the season in Gwinnett (ECHL) where he scored one goal in two games meaning he is averaging a goal a game on the season.

-The Denver Cutthroats have been in the most shootouts in the CHL this season (9) going 5-4 in those games. The Fish also lead the league in shootout percentage connecting on half of their 40 shots (20). Luke Fulghum is tied for the league lead with four SO goals on the season.

-Bloomington forward Kyle Bochek has scored goals in back-to-back games, both wins for the Blaze. In the six games he has scored goals, the Blaze have gone 5-1.

-Be sure to catch all of the action on CHL-TV all season long.

Central Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2013

• Mallards, Genesis Partner to Raise $21,500 for Genesis Flu-Free QC Program - Quad City Mallards
• Surge Falls Short for Cutthroats in 6-4 Loss - Denver Cutthroats
• Thunder Skid Continues with 4-2 Loss vs. Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
• Brahmas Top Mallards, Move into Second Place - Fort Worth Brahmas
• Fort Worth Holds off Mallards 4-3 - Quad City Mallards
• Third Period Comeback Gives Oilers 4-2 Road Win over Thunder - Tulsa Oilers
• Blaze Second-Period Outburst Fells Cutthroats - Bloomington Blaze
• Oilers Legend Doug Lawrence Selected to CHL Hall of Fame - Tulsa Oilers
• CHL Hall of Fame 'Class of 2013' Announced - CHL
• Wilson Assigned from AHL, Fish Make Roster Moves - Denver Cutthroats
• Oilers Goalie Shuffle Continues with Signing of Clarke - Tulsa Oilers
• Shots from the Point for January 18, 2013 - CHL

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