CHL Central Hockey League

Shots From The Point

Published on December 28, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Ringing in 2010

There will be a full slate of games on New Year's Eve with seven games scheduled including a Southern Conference Finals rematch from last season when the Texas Brahmas battle the Odessa Jackalopes (the teams have split two games this season with the visitor winning both contests). Another intriguing game includes the first ever visit of the Colorado Eagles to the new Independence Events Center to meet the Missouri Mavericks. The Mavs are at home, where they are 6-3-0, and the Eagles had their eight-game win streak snapped on Sunday versus Rapid City. Thursday's other games include Rapid City at Amarillo, Mississippi at Tulsa, RGV at Arizona, Corpus Christi at Laredo and Allen at Wichita.

Colorado Tops 2009

Heading into the final week of 2009, the Colorado Eagles have clinched their spot as the CHL's top team in 2009. The Eagles win percentage is currently.725 with a 42-15-3 record. The team currently with the second highest win percentage is the Odessa Jackalopes who are 40-15-7 for a.702 win percentage. Rounding out the top five is Texas (39-17-7,.675), Mississippi (40-18-5,.674) and Bossier-Shreveport (37-20-5,.637). With two wins and a Mudbugs loss before the New Year hits, the RGV Killer Bees have a chance to break the top five. The Bees are currently 36-21-6 with a win percentage of.619.

Nice Additions

Several teams have made acquisitions lately that have paid immediate dividends. Maybe no more so than the Texas Brahmas who acquired forward Mark Kolanos from Arizona on 12/2 and then signed him on 12/11. He has played in six games for the Brahmas scoring three goals with three assists and the team is 4-1-1 with Kolanos in uniform. Defenseman Shaun Arvai has four goals and six points in nine games with Amarillo (had just three points in 13 games with Missouri before joining Gorillas), while Laredo has gotten solid production from Curtis Billsten who has seven points (2-5=7) in 10 games. When injuries hit the RiverKings, Kevin Kaminski turned to forward Kevin Cooper and defenseman Nathan Schwartzbauer who both have had major contributions in their 11 games, Cooper has eight points (4-4=8) and Schwartzbauer has five points (1-4=5) and is a +6.

BY THE NUMBERS

0-5- The Tulsa Oilers (14-12-1) record versus the Laredo Bucks (13-8-6) entering Sunday's game in Laredo. In the third period, Rob Hisey helped lift his team to their first ever win over the Bucks by a score of 5-4. For Hisey it was his league-leading 19th goal of the season. On Monday, Hisey was called up to the AHL's Springfield Falcons.

+16- The goal differential in the first period of Rapid City Rush (18-8-1) games this season outscoring the opposition 34-18 in the opening frame. The 16 goal gap is the highest of any CHL team in the first period this season.

300- The point milestone that Odessa's Dominic Leveille reached on Dec. 26 vs. Arizona. The Jacks top scorer also scored his 100th goal and hit the 200 assist mark in that game. On the season, Leveille has eight goals and 34 assists ranking third in the CHL with 42 points.

4- The number of home games the Wichita Thunder has remaining in the Kansas Coliseum before moving into the INTRUST Bank Arena on January 23rd. The final game at the Kansas Coliseum will be Jan. 9 versus Odessa. This week, the Thunder hosts Rapid City on Tuesday and Allen on Thursday.

19 seconds- The amount of time between the Mavericks first two goals of the game on Saturday night when they handed the Wichita Thunder their 15th straight loss (0-13-2). Jared Lavender and Jeff Christian scored the game's first two goals at the 16:05 and 16:24 marks respectively en route to their 6-2 win. Missouri is 7-0 this season versus Wichita.

SLAP SHOTS

-The players who will dress in the 2010 CHL All-Star Game in Laredo, Texas will be announced this week. The format this season features a South Texas All-Star team, made up of players from Laredo, Corpus Christi and RGV, taking on a team of CHL All-Stars comprised of players from the remaining 12 teams. Colorado's Kevin McClelland will coach the CHL team and Laredo's Terry Ruskowski will coach the South Texas squad.

-The Odessa Jackalopes have played in a league-high 11 overtime/shootout games winning eight of them. The Jacks are 2-0 in overtime and 6-3 in shootouts with goaltender Joel Martin (the reigning Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week for the past two weeks) has won all six shootout victories.

-The Arizona Sundogs (9-16-3) have had some problems in the close-ones winning just three times in 13 one-goal decisions. The 'Dogs dropped back-to-back one-goal decisions over the weekend to the Southern Conference leading Odessa Jackalopes.

-The Mississippi RiverKings host the Missouri Mavericks on Tuesday night looking for their first three-game win streak of the season. The 'Kings are 2-0 this season versus Missouri.

-Colorado goaltender Andrew Penner will become the Eagles all-time wins leader with his next 'w'. Penner is currently tied with Paulo Colaiacovo at 43 wins. In his Eagles career, Penner is 43-8-4 with a 2.74 goals against average.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2009


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central