Rapid City Blows out the Mudbugs to win the Northern Conference, To Face Allen for the Championship

After a Northern Conference Final that was just as exciting as the Southern Conference Final. The Rapid City Rush took their home ice advantage to good use as a 4 goal 1st period was used to run away from the Mudbugs and ultimately end their season.

Like many times this season, the Rush used their scoring depth with the 7 goals coming from 6 different players with Rich Hansen leading the way with 2 Goals and an assist. Other notable performances came from Scott Wray with 3 assists and Brendon Cook and Brenden Hodge with a goal and an assist each.

For the Mudbugs, Tyrel Lucas had a goal and an assist in a night where the team was just bombarded early and had a hard time recovering from the early crushing that saw them down 6-1 at one point. The Mudbugs are hoping to use this as a springboard to better things in the future as the team is looking to return to the glory days of the early part of the last decade.

From The Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Rapid City, South Dakota: On Wednesday Night, the Rapid City Rush lit up the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs for a 7-3 win and the Northern Conference Championship. The Rush will now take on the expansion Allen Americans for the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship, set to begin this weekend at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Rush Offense exploded for four goals in the first period and seven total, both tying playoff highs for the young team.

Rapid City got started early, with Brendan Cook netting his fourth goal of the playoffs at 3:09. Defensemen Gio Flamminio fired a slapshot from the point and Cook was in the slot to deflect it home for a 1-0 lead. The Mudbugs were quick to answer when, off a faceoff circle, Simon Mangos rifled off a slapshot home less then two minutes later. The Rush would turn up the momentum with a pair of goals separated by just 20 seconds.

The first came at the 7:15 mark, Blaine Jarvis broke in on a partial and chipped in a backhand shot through Parker Van Buskirk to regain the lead. It was then Les Reaney who gave the Rush a 3-1 lead when he snapped a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that rang off the far post and in. With under 4 minutes left in the first period, Jon Pelle circled behind the Bugs net and centered the pass that was jammed home by Rich Hansen. The 4-1 lead after 20 minutes marked the first time this postseason that the Rush lead heading into the first intermission.

Rapid City would make it 5 unanswered goals with a pair to start off the middle frame. The first was Brandon Hodge at 8:11 when his wrist shot made its way through a screen and home for his 2nd in the last 3 games. The 2nd came on the power-play when Rich Hansen collected his 2nd, cutting to the goal mouth and burying it 5 hole, ending Van Buskirk's night. Travis Clayton would finally stop the bleeding for the Mudbugs with a power play goal with just 32 seconds left in the period. Heading into the 3rd period, the Rush led 6-2.

In the third, the teams were exchanging goals beginning with Tyrel Lucas third of the playoffs cutting the lead to just 3 5:52 in. But with less then 4 minutes left in regulation, Derek Campbell would bring the game to its final 7-3 lead when he circled to the high slot and fired a snap shot past goaltender Torrie Jung.

Rapid City Wins Series 4-3, It will be the Allen Americans VS. Rapid City Rush for the 2010 CHL Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship.

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 3 Rapid City Rush 7 (1-4, 1-2, 1-1)

0-1 RPC: Brendan Cook (Glamminio, Wray) 3:09 1st

1-1 BOS: Simon Mangos (Lucas) 4:41 1st

1-2 RPC: Blaine Jarvis (Hodge, King) 7:15 1st

1-3 RPC: Les Reaney (Grimison, Wray) 7:35 1st

1-4 RPC: Rich Hansen (Pelle, Fritshaw) 16:36 1st

1-5 RPC: Brendon Hodge (King, Wray) 8:11 2nd

1-6 RPC: Rich Hansen (PP) (Pelle, Leblanc) 10:22 2nd

2-6 BOS: Travis Clayton (PP) (Kyrzakos, Aikins) 19:28 2nd

3-6 BOS: Tyrel Lucas (Milam, Aikins) 5:52 3rd

3-7 RPC: Derek Campbell (Hasnen, Cook) 16:32 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: BOS 38 RPC 34

PP: BOS 1/6 RPC 1/5

PIM: BOS 13 Minutes on 5 Penalties RPC 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties

Goalies: BOS Parker Van Buskirk 20 SVS on 26 Shots Torrie Jung 7 SVS on 8 Shots RPC Danny Battochio 35 SVS on 38 Shots

ATT: 4058

3rd Star: Danny Battochio (RPC)

2nd Star: Scott Wray (RPC)

1st Star: Rich Hansen (RPC)

Jeff Pierce Hat Trick Not Enough to Beat Americans, Allen is one win from the President Cup Final

Despite an unbelievable night from Jeff Pierce who had a hat trick with a goal in the first period and 2 in the 2nd period. It was not enough as the Americans had huge nights from a number of players from Jarret Lukin with 2 goals, Justin Bowers who had a 3 point (1G 2A) and Tyler Wooddisse with 3 assists and a +2 for the game.

Allen Goalie Chris Whitley who had another big night with 39 saves and a strong power play in the 2nd period have put the Jackalopes just one loss away from going out at the Southern Conference Final for the 2nd straight year by a D/FW Team.

If the Americans can advance to the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship Series. This would be the first time in league history that a first year team would make the championship series.

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Allen, Texas: The Allen Americans kept the offense rolling on Friday Night beating the Odessa Jackalopes 6-4 moving within 1 win of a trip to the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Finals in their expansion Season.

The Americans once again struck early with Nino Musitelli scoring his seventh goal of the post-season just over two minutes into the game. Allen would build a 3-0 lead with Jarrett Lukin and Cotton Yellow Horn scoring first period goals as well.

The Jacks 5-1 in the 2nd period after Lukin's scored his second of the game and Justin Bowers notched his sixth of the playoffs but Odessa would mount a comeback.

Jeff Pierce scored three goals for Odessa by the 14:20 mark of the 2nd period giving him a league leading 10 goals in the playoffs. The Cushion the Americans would need after Odessa cut the lead to 5-4 came late in the 2nd period was a power play goal by Ryan Fairbarn.

Chris Whitley earned the win, his seventh of the post-season, by making 39 saves.

Bowers finished with a goal and 2 assists in the game. Allen will have a chance to clinch the series on home ice on Saturday Night.


Allen Americans Lead Series 3-1

Game Boxscore

Odessa Jackalopes 4 Allen Americans 6 (1-3, 3-3, 0-0)

0-1 ALN: Nino Musitelli (Unassisted) 2:33 1st

0-2 ALN: Jarrett Lukin (Yellow Horn, Wooddisse) 15:32 1st

0-3 ALN: Colton Yellow Horn (Fairbarn, Wooddisse) 16:19 1st

1-3 ODE: Jeff Pierce (PP) (Karlander, Leveille) 18:30 1st

1-4 ALN: Justin Bowers (PP) (Graham, Wooddisse) 2:24 2nd

1-5 ALN: Jarrett Lukin (Benn, Bowers) 8:32 2nd

2-5 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Circelli, Plante) 8:54 2nd

3-5 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Lesperance, Plante) 14:20 2nd

4-5 ODE: Kory Karlander (SH) (Penalty Shot) 17:14 2nd

4-6 ALN: Ryan Fairbarn (PP) (Bowers, Wooddisse) 18:14 2nd


Game Stats

PP: ODE 1/3 ALN 2/4

SOG: ODE 43 ALN 30

PIM: ODE 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties ALN 8 Minutes on 4 Penalties

Goalies: ODE Juha Toivonen 24 SVS on 30 Shots ALN Chris Whitley 39 SVS on 43 Shots

ATT: 4785

3rd Star: Jarret Lukin (ALN)

2nd Star: Jeff Pierce (ODE)

1st Star: Justin Bowers (ALN)

Justin Bowers leads Offenseve Explosion as Americans take 2-1 Series Lead

Justin Bowers was a madman at the Allen Event Center last night as a goal and 3 assists helped the Americans just crush and shock the Odessa Jackalopes as the Americans take a 2-1 series lead and is just 2 wins away from advancing to the Championship's in the team's first season.

After Chants of "Lets Go Allen" fired the crowd of just over 2700 put the Jackalopes on the defense as the Americans have gained a huge confidence booster going into Games 4 & 5 that will be taking place on Friday & Saturday Night.

This will give the Americans a chance to sweep the 3 games that would oust the Top Seeded Jackalopes from the Southern Conference Final for the 2nd straight year as the Texas Brahmas did it last year on the road to the Ray Morin's Presidents Cup Championship.

Can Allen keep the momentum going into the weekend and put them through to the Championship Series?

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Allen, Texas: Fans chanted "Let's Go Allen", as the clock wound down on the 5-2 Allen Americans victory over the Odessa Jackalopes tonight at the Allen Event Center. Allen took a 2-1 series lead in the Southern Conference Finals after handing Odessa its first road loss of the 2010 playoffs. The Americans also held the Jackalopes power play unit off the board tonight for the first time in the series.

Allen quickly grabbed a two-goal lead in Game 3. Bruce Graham netted a wrist shot from the right circle at 3:39 for Allen's first goal. Not one minute later, Graham skated into the Jackalopes zone with Nino Musitelli on a two-on-one rush. Graham passed it to the winger, and Musitelli had no trouble putting the puck in the wide open net. The Jackalopes came within one at 9:03 of the first when Jeff Pierce beat Chris Whitley with a one timer on an odd-man push from Odessa. The period was fast-paced with few penalties, and Allen headed into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

The Americans continued to rack up the goals in the middle frame, grabbing two in the final five minutes of the period. Christian Gaudet scored his first post-season goal at 16:48 when he slapped a rebound past Odessa Net Minder Joel Martin. Then, Justin Bowers launched a wrist shot past Martin to increase Allen's lead 4-1.

Odessa backstop Juha Toivonen replaced Martin in net at the start of the final period. Pierce got his 2nd of the night on a goal at 9:39 of the third. The tally brought Odessa within two, but the Americans struck back to make it 5-2. 37 seconds after Jeff Pierce's goal, defensemen Jordie Benn scored on a slap shot from the blue line. The contest, which already featured three fights, continued to heat up as everyone grabbed a dance partner with 3.1 seconds remaining in the game. Allen Liam Huculak and Odessa's Mike Lesperance were the last to square off. After the final penalties were accessed, Allen's total was 34 minutes, and Odessa had 28.

The Bowers-Graham-Musitelli line had a combined 11 points this evening. Whitley stopped 35 shots to earn his sixth post-season win. Martin saved 17 for Odessa, while Toivonen stopped 13 of 14 shots.


Allen Americans Leads Series 2-1


Game Boxscore

Odessa Jackalopes 2 Allen Americans 5 (1-2, 0-2, 1-1)

0-1 ALN: Bruce Graham (Musitelli, Bowers) 3:39 1st

0-2 ALN: Nino Musitelli (Graham, Bowers) 4:31 1st

1-2 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Circelli, Thinel) 9:03 1st

1-3 ALN: Christian Gaudet (Salekin, Bowers) 16:48 2nd

1-4 ALN: Justin Bowers (Musitelli) 18:38 2nd

2-4 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Plante, Thinel) 9:39 3rd

2-5 ALN: Jordie Benn (Graham, Musitelli) 10:16 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: ODE 37 ALN 35

PP: ODE 0/5 ALN 0/2

PIM: ODE 28 Minutes on 8 Penalties ALN 34 Minutes on 11 Penalties

Goalies: ODE Joel Martin 17 SVS on 21 Shots Juha Toivonen ALN Chris Whitley 35 SVS on 37 Shots

ATT: 2715

3rd Star: Justin Bowers (ALN)

2nd Star: Chris Whitley (ALN)

1st Star: Nino Musitelli (ALN)