CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for November 8, 2013

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


Three Things You Need to Know

1.) Closing in on History- Although it cannot happen this weekend, both the Rapid City Rush (7-0-0) and Missouri Mavericks (6-0-0) have to be spoken of in the conversation of best start in CHL history. The record for top start to a season is 10 straight wins held by the 2007-08 Laredo Bucks and the 2002-03 Austin Ice Bats (New Mexico did it in the WPHL). Rapid City hosts Arizona (1-6-1) this weekend in games on Friday and Saturday and the Mavs host Wichita (1-5-3) on Friday before heading to Wichita on Saturday. Both the Rush (1.86 goals/game) and Mavs (1.83 goals/game) are getting it done with defense as they both are allowing fewer than two goals per game (more than a goal less than any other CHL club).

2.) Beast and Americans Introduction- The first place Allen Americans (7-2-1) and the Brampton Beast (5-3-1) met for the first time on Thursday night in Brampton with the Beast winning 4-3 thanks to Jason Pitton's goal and two assists and Brett Vandehogen's goal and assist. Kristofer Westblom helped Brampton to their third straight win making 37 saves. There are two more games left in the series (Friday and Sunday).

3.) Oilers Turn Things Around- After being close in each of their first seven games but failing to earn a win, the Tulsa Oilers (2-5-2) have now rattled off back-to-back wins. On Wednesday, the Oilers shutout the Wichita Thunder (1-5-3) behind a huge night from the line of Brandon Coccimiglio, Adam Pleskach and Kyle Bochek. The trio combined to score three goals, with five assists and a collective +9 plus/minus rating. The Oilers host the St. Charles Chill (2-4-1) this weekend in games on Friday and Saturday. Goaltender Shane Madolora has stopped 44 of the last 45 shots he has faced (.978 save percentage) winning each of his last two starts.

By the Numbers

71: The number of games Rapid City defenseman Justin Sawyer had gone without scoring a goal before striking in back-to-back games last weekend in Arizona. The veteran is off to a great start this year for the Rush with three points (2-1=3) and a +3 plus/minus rating in seven games. Prior to last Friday's game, Sawyer's last CHL goal came on March 14, 2012 as a member of the Wichita Thunder, ironically versus the Rush, his current club.

One-Timers

-Wichita has re-tooled some of the line-up signing a pair of former Thunder players that were both just released by Tulsa. Thomas Beauregard scored 22 goals with Wichita during the 2011-12 season and Tomas Klempa had 22 points in 26 games with the Thunder in 2009-10. Wichita has lost six straight games (0-4-2) heading into Friday's game at Missouri.

-Offensive powerhouses, the Quad City Mallards (2-2-1) and the Denver Cutthroats (6-1-1), meet in a pair of games this weekend in Moline, Illinois. The Flock lead the league averaging five goals per game, while the Fish are third averaging 4.13 goals per contest.

-The St. Charles Chill are tops in the league averaging more than 26 penalty minutes per game with Anthony Pisano (37 PIM's) and Greg Brown (33 PIM's) sitting one, two in the CHL.

-The Rapid City Rush added to their already deep roster by signing defenseman Sean Erickson on Thursday. Erickson has played 245 career games in the CHL, all with Tulsa, scoring 39 goals with 88 assists.

-Allen has scored the most power play goals of any team in the CHL this season (13). The Americans were 1 for 4 on Thursday in Brampton with Jonathan Lessard scoring his third man advantage strike (tied for most in the CHL).

-Arizona will get back Justin Pender and Sebastian Geoffrion and Missouri will get back Colt King and Dave Pszenyczny after the four players have all just completed serving three game suspensions.

-Missouri forward Andrew Courtney has four goals and four assists and is a +3 in his last three games.

-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 November 8, 2013


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