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CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for March 16, 2012

March 16, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Top Three

1.) Lone Star Shootout- The Lone Star state will have a huge weekend in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex as the Allen Americans (33-17-9) and Texas Brahmas (32-19-8) will clash three times in what looks to be an Opening Round playoff series preview. The Americans are in second place with 75 points with the Brahmas in third place with 72 points. The fourth place team is Rio Grande Valley with 65 points. The Brahmas and Americans will take on each other in Allen on Friday and Saturday and in North Richland Hills on Sunday. The complexion of the playoffs could become much clearer after these three games. Texas is 4-1-2 in the season series against Allen winning each of the last three games. Brahmas goalie Mark Guggenberger is 4-0 with a 1.20 GAA and a .951 save percentage against the Americans.

2.) Post-Season Push- The Rapid City Rush (34-20-6) seem to be clicking at the right time winning each of their road games this week beating the two top teams in the Berry Conference (Allen and Wichita) and now they head home for their final four home games of the regular season. This weekend, the Rush take on the Turner Conference leading Evansville IceMen (38-18-4) and then they close out the home slate with a pair of games against the Bloomington Blaze (23-30-7) the first of next week. Rapid City has won four of their last five games and are 9-3-2 in their last 14 contests. Rapid City is 4-1 against the IceMen this season with goaltender Tim Boron owning a 2-0 mark with a 1.50 GAA. Scott Wray has 11 points (6-5=11) in five games versus Evansville. The Rush are two points ahead of Missouri (33-20-6) for third place in the Turner Conference. The IceMen are in first place, two points ahead of the Fort Wa yne Komets (36-18-6).

3.) Offense on Display- The CHL's two top offenses go at it on Friday night when the Wichita Thunder (40-16-3) visit the Quad City Mallards (34-24-2) in a game with big implications for both teams. The Thunder are inching closer to clinching the Berry Conference (currently lead second place Allen by eight points) and are three points clear of the Evansville IceMen for the league lead in points and the Bud Poile Governors' Cup. The Flock are two points behind Missouri for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Turner Conference. The Thunder are the top scoring team averaging 3.58 goals per game and the Mallards are second averaging 3.52 goals per game. Each team has scored 211 goals on the season with Quad City playing one more game than Wichita. The Mallards Brandon Marino leads the league with 38 goals on the season and is second to Evansville's Todd Robinson in points with 84 (four fewer than Robinson's 88 points). Marino's nine-game point streak is the longest active streak in the CHL.

Inside the Numbers

4 - The current losing streaks of the Fort Wayne Komets (36-18-6), Tulsa Oilers (25-27-7) and Arizona Sundogs (17-34-9) heading into play this weekend. The Komets are 0-1-3 in their last four and are currently sitting in second place in the Turner Conference two points behind the Evansville IceMen. Fort Wayne hosts Laredo on Friday and Saturday night. Tulsa is 0-3-1 in their last four and are in desperate need for a win as they are eight points behind Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot in the Turner Conference although the Oilers do have three games in hand. Tulsa hosts Arizona on Friday and then has a home-and-home with Missouri on Saturday and Sunday. Arizona has dropped four straight and has just one win in their last 12 games. After Friday's game in Tulsa, the Sundogs head to Wichita for a pair of games.

On the Fly

-RGV's Aaron Lee became the Killer Bees all-time leading goal scorer with 92 scores thanks to his two goals scored in Wednesday's victory in Bloomington. Lee passes Bill Newson as the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer. Lee is tied for third in the league with 33 goals this season and has been a big part to the Bees recent surge that has them winners of five straight games and nine of their last 11 contests.

-Dayton forward Damian Surma is one of the hottest players in the CHL with five goals and four assists in his last four games. Dayton is 2-1-1 over those four games and Surma has at least a goal in each of them tying him for the longest active goal scoring streak in the league. On the season, Surma has 27 goals and 30 assists in 58 games.

-The Fort Wayne Komets snagged forward Mike Vaskivuo off the waiver wire on Thursday as they try to replace the offense that departed when Artem Podshendyalov left the team to return to Russia. Vaskivuo had 37 points (13-24=37) in 52 games with the Rapid City Rush before being waived. Podshendyalov had 43 points (18-25=43) in 58 games with the Komets.

-Rapid City forward Konrad Reeder was named the Sher-Wood CHL Player of the Month for February and in March he has not slowed down a bit scoring five goals with four assists over his last seven games. Reeder is third in the CHL with 76 points (36-40=76) and second with his 36 goals. His +20 plus/minus rating is tied for ninth in the league. The veteran has five multiple-goal games since February 17.

-Over his last nine games, Quad City rookie Jared Brown has notched five goals with four assists and has solidified his place at the top of the rookie scoring list with 62 points (24-38=62). The first-year forward is third in goals with 24 and his 38 assists are tops among all rookies.

-Missouri goaltender Charlie Effinger has started 28 straight games and is serving as the workhorse in the attempt to get the Mavs into the post-season. Effinger is coming off a 32-save shutout performance over Tulsa on Sunday and now will head to Bloomington to take on the Blaze on Friday night. Effinger is 28-14-4 on the season with a 2.64 GAA. The candidate for the CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender award is 17-8-3 during his ironman streak.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2012


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