CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for March 8, 2013

March 8, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Three Things You Need to Know

1.) MVP Finalists- The league announced its five finalists for the four major player awards this week with the five finalists for the CHL Most Valuable Player being Bloomington's Jon Booras, Allen's Aaron Dell, Denver's A.J. Gale, Quad City's Mickey Lang and Missouri's Sebastien Thinel. Dell is the lone goaltender in the race and he is also a finalist for the league's Most Outstanding Goaltender award and the CHL Rookie of the Year award. Thinel leads the league in scoring with 80 points (25-55=80) and Gale leads the league in goals with 35. Booras (71 points) and Lang (66 points) are among the league's leading scorers and clearly have been the most valuable players to their respective clubs. Check www.centralhockeyleague.com for a complete listing of all the finalists from all of the awards.

2.) Two of the Top Four Teams Battle- The Rapid City Rush (30-23-5, 65 points) host the Allen Americans (34-13-9) this weekend in a pair of games featuring the two finalists from the 2010 CHL Finals. The Rush won their only title in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Game 6 against the Americans. Scott Wray scored the game winner in double overtime that year and he has continued to be a thorn in the side of Allen scoring three goals, including a game winner, in three games against the Americans this season. It could be a big weekend for the veteran who is sitting with 599 career CHL points. Rapid City has won two of the three this season with all three games being decided by one goal and all three being played in Texas. Allen enters the game with a four point lead over Fort Worth for first place in the Berry Conference and they are on a four-game win streak. Rapid City is coming off a 2-1 loss in D enver on Tuesday night but they are still in fourth place with a two point lead over both the Cutthroats and the Missouri Mavericks.

3.) On the Verge- Both the Fort Worth Brahmas (33-18-7) and the Wichita Thunder (32-17-8) are on the brink of clinching a playoff berth. The Allen Americans are the only team to officially lock their spot but both the Brahmas and Thunder could be there by the end of this weekend. Fort Worth can do it with just one win or the next regulation loss by Bloomington. The Thunder could also do it on Friday night but would need a bit of help. A win for Wichita and a loss of any kind by Bloomington or a regulation loss by Arizona would seal the deal. The Thunder host Denver on Friday night and the Brahmas host the Sundogs.

By the Numbers

8: The number of points that forward Kevin Baker has scored in his two games with the Arizona Sundogs since being signed as a free agent. The former draft pick of the LA Kings has scored four goals with four assists helping the Sundogs beat the Tulsa Oilers on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Baker played 50 games in the ECHL scoring 22 goals with 17 assists in time split between Orlando and Evansville. Baker and the Sundogs are in Fort Worth for games on Friday and Saturday.

One-Timers

-Despite sitting last in the league on the PP this season (14.1%), the Arizona Sundogs have been on fire as of late with the man advantage connecting on seven of their last 17 chances (41%). In the previous seven games, the Sundogs were just 4 for 32 (12.5%).

-The Wichita Thunder are 9-0-1 in their last 10 home games and their 10-game home point streak is tied for the longest in the CHL this season. The Thunder host Denver on Friday night and will look to extend that streak to 11 games.

-The Tulsa Oilers are 0-2-1 in their last three home games, this after going 7-1-0 in their previous eight games at the BOK Center. The Oilers host Bloomington on Friday in a battle between the two teams currently on the outside looking in on the playoff picture.

-The Quad City Mallards are currently the club hanging on to the final playoff berth with a two point lead over Bloomington for the eighth seed. The Flock is in Missouri on Friday night, the same place they came out of with a 3-2 shootout win a week ago. The Mallards have won three of their last four games overall and are 12-14-3 away from home this season.

-The Denver Cutthroats have welcomed A.J. Gale back from the AHL watching him score four goals with an assists in the three games since his return. Gale leads the CHL with 35 goals on the season and his 10 power play goals are tied for third.

-The Bloomington Blaze have dropped five straight road games and six of their last seven overall. The Blaze will look to ptu an end to their slide in Tulsa on Friday and in Quad City on Sunday.

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



Central Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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