Allen losses again against Quad City, 3-2

The Americans blew another chance to take advantage of their games in hand as they continue to get away from the Texas Brahmas in the race for 2nd Place and Home Ice Advantage in a possible 1st Round Series, 3-2, against the Quad City Mallards lat night in the 1st night of a 2 game set against the Mallards who are battling with the Rapid City Rush & Missouri Mavericks for the final 2 playoff spots in Turner Conference with basically 10 games left in the season.

This was one of Allen's 3 games in hand over the final 3 weeks and it could have given them a chance to continue to separate themselves from the Texas Brahmas as they look to protect 2nd Place as the Wichita Thunder are close to clinching the top Seed in the Berry Conference and will be looking to hold off the Ft. Wayne Komets & Evansville IceMen for Home Ice Throughout the entire playoffs as well.

One of the big things that is hurting the Americans is the absence of the team's leading scorer Bruce Graham who was injured in the February 4th Game against the Tulsa Oilers. His injury has made him that much more valuable as he was named a Finalist for the CHL MVP this season. Since then, the team has struggled to score most nights as they have been held to 2 goals or less in 8 of the last 12 games as the Brahmas have gotten hot as well behind the great goaltending of Mark Guggenberger. Both the Brahmas & Americans still have 4 head-to-head games coming up (Including a 3-in-3 night stretch that could very well decide who will finish in 2nd Place).

Both Allen & Quad City will meet again tomorrow night at the Allen Event Center as the game will start at 7:05 PM. Next up for the Brahmas on the other hand will be on Friday Night, March 9 when the Brahmas face the Missouri Mavericks. A Brahmas win and an Americans loss on Thursday will put the Brahmas back in 2nd Place in the Berry Conference.

Press Release from the Allen Americans

Quad City Mallards 3  Allen Americans 2  (2-0, 1-0, 0-2)

From Allen, Texas: The Quad City Mallards scored two first period goals, on their way to a 3-2 victory Tuesday Night at the Allen Event Center. The Mallards opened the scoring in the first period when Mallards Forward Micky Lang fired one from just inside the blue line that hit the arm of Americans netminder Rejean Beauchemin and trickled behind him.

Beauchemin tried to knock the puck away with his stick but pushed it across the line and Mallards were on top by a score of 1-0. Fifteen seconds later it was Lang again, this time on a feed from CHL All Star Brendon Marino from the right face-off circle. Lang fired a quick shot that beat Beauchemin to the glove side and the Mallards were on top by a score of 2-0. Allen out shot Quad City 7-5 in the opening period.

The Mallards added to their lead in the second despite being out shot 17-13 through two periods and 10-8 in that second period, as Quad City forward Jason Kostadine followed up a rebound in front of the Allen net putting one top-shelf shot on the back-hand to give Quad city a 3-0 cushion. The Americans had several chances in that second period but former Americans netminder David McKee turned away shot after shot keeping the Americans off the scoreboard from 40 minutes.

In the third, the Americans finally solved McKee, as Colton Yellow Horn found Jim McKenzie in front of the Allen net to make it a 3-1 game. McKenzie's 19th of the season and his third goal in his last three games. The Americans cut the lead to one goal at the 10:52 mark on the power play when Dylan King let one rip from the right side beating McKee and the Americans were back in it. However, a late charge by Allen would fall just a little short, as McKee would not allow the tying goal despite Allen Pressure, and the Mallards would win the game 3-2 in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. The Americans host Quad City on Thursday Night at 7:05 PM at the Allen Event Center

Central Hockey League: Conference Semifinals #1 VS. Play In Winners

As the Play In Rounds wrapped up last night with the Missouri Mavericks beating out the Mississippi Riverkings. In addidition to the Texas Brahmas beating sweeping the Corpus Christi Icerays. The Conference Semifinals get underway tonight as the Top Seeded Teams now know their fates for the Southern & Northern Conference Semifinals get underway this weekend.

Texas Brahmas VS. Odessa Jackalopes

For Texas VS. Odessa, it's more then a series', it's personal for Odessa as the Jackalopes came within 1 game of making the CHL Presidents Cup Championship last year after the Brahmas blasted the Jackalopes 8-1 last year in Game 7. This year, Odessa will play the role of the top seed and will be looking to put their playoff disappointment behind them and will be looking to win the CHL Presidents Cup after having one of the best records in the last 5 years.

The Brahmas may have a younger roster then last year, but some imporant pieces from last year's Championship teams are still in place. Jason Deitsch is back after finishing the playoffs last year as the league leading scorer with 26 points (11G 15A) in 16 games.

Also look for Matt Pierce who was brought in from the Mississippi Riverkings in Feb. and had a strong finish to the regular season by who had 17 points in 19 games in a Brahmas uniform including getting a hat trick against Laredo back on March 5. He also had a point in both games against Corpus Christi.

Goaltending is going to be a huge part of this series as both teams have strong duos. Odessa is going with Joel Martin and Juha Toivonen who won an impressieve 21 & 27 games each. While for Texas, Last year's Championship Winning Goalie in Brett Jeager and Joe Palmer who was a finalist for Rookie of the Year this year.

Rapid City Rush VS. Missouri Mavericks

After missing out on the playoff entirely last year, the Rapid City Rush had a huge transformition this season as the Rush were able to eack out Colorado in the final couple of weeks to win the Top Seed and will face the league's new boys in the Missouri Mavericks who finished 5th and knocked out Mississippi.

The Rush have a list a mile long of goal scorers as the Rush have 10 players in double digit goals this season while having the best defenseieve record by giving up the fewest goals of the Northern Conference Playoff Teams with 197.

Missouri is looking to it's momentum and some very experienced players like Simon Watson and Jeff Christian who has at least 25 goals the last 5 staright seasons.

As for the Series themselves, I think the Texas VS. Odessa is going to be a long one with it going at least 6 games. As for Mississouri VS. Rapid City, I would expect Rapid City's strong offense to take over and win this series in either 5 or possibly 6 games at the most.

When I show the Top Scores and Goaltending for the Teams. I will show the Regular Season for both teams, as Rapid City & Odessa haven't played a playoff game yet. While Texas & Missouri have played just 2 or 3 games in the post-season.


Northern Conference

#1 Rapid City Rush VS. #5 Missouri Mavericks

Rapid City Rush Regular Season Record: 43-14-7 93 PTS, 253 GF 197 GA

Rapid City Scoring Leaders
Les Reaney 64 GP 86 PTS (28G 58A)
Scott Wray 64 GP 78 PTS (31G 47A)
Brendan Cook 62 GP 67 PTS (29G 38A)

Rapid City Goaltending
Danny Battochio 42 GP 28-5-6 2.60 GAA .917 SV%
Miguel Beaudry 29 GP 15-9-3 3.28 GAA .896 SV%


Missouri Mavericks Regular Season Record: 31-27-6 68 PTS, 200 GF 220 GA

Play In Round against Mississippi

Game 1 4-2 W: Game 2 1-2 L: Game 3 3-1 W

Missouri Scoring Leaders
Jeff Christian 55 GP 78 PTS (29G 49A)
Nick Sirota 62 GP 45 PTS (19G 26A)
Jeff Macdermid 59 GP 44 PTS (23G 20A)

Missouri Goaltending
Charlie Effinger 13 GP 9-3-1 2.68 GAA .913 SV%
Gerry Festa 13 GP 5-4-3 2.88 GAA .906 SV%

All Rapid City Rush Home Games are @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

All Missouri Mavericks Home Games are @ Indendpendence Events Center

Game 1, 3/27: @ Missouri 7:05 PM

Game 2, 3/28: @ Missouri 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/31: @ Rapid City 7:35 PM

Game 4, 4/2: @ Rapid City 8:05 PM

Game 5, 4/3: @ Rapid City 8:05 PM*

Game 6, 4/5: @ Missouri 7:05 PM*

Game 7, 47: @ Rapid City 7:35 PM*

*If Necessary


Southern Conference

#1 Odesssa Jackalopes VS. #4 Texas Brahmas

Odessa Jackalopes Regular Season Record: 48-11-5 101 PTS, 269 GF 187 GA

Odessa Scoring Leaders
Sebastien Thinel 64 GP 97 PTS (22G 75A)
Dominic Leveille 61 GP 76 PTS (23G 53A)
Collin Circelli 63 GP 72 PTS (37G 35A)

Odessa Goaltending
Joel Martin 36 GP 27-6-4 2.50 GAA .918 SV%
Juha Toivonen 30 GP 21-5-4 2.99 GAA .905 SV%


Texas Brahmas Regular Season Record: 32-25-7 71 PTS, 187 GF 190 GA

Play In Round against Corpus Christi

Game 1 5-4 W (OT), Game 2 2-0 W

Texas Scoring Leaders
Jordan Cameron 57 GP 57 PTS (21G 36A)
Jason Deitsch 51 GP 45 PTS (12G 33A)
Tyler Skworchinski 64 GP 38 PTS (21G 17A)

Texas Goaltending
Brett Jeager 38 GP 19-15-5 2.72 GAA .912 SV%
Joe Palmer 32 GP 13-10-7 2.75 GAA .914 SV%


All Odessa Jackalopes Home Games are @ Ector County Coliseum

All Texas Brahmas Home Games are @ NYTEX Sports Center

Game 1, 3/26: @ Odessa 7:05 PM

Game 2, 3/27: @ Odessa 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/31: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 4, 4/2: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 5, 4/3: @ Odessa 7:05 PM*

Game 6, 4/5: @ Texas 7:05 PM*

Game 7, 4/7: @ Odessa 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary

Brahmas overcome strong Icerays PP in Game 1

Here's a look at how the Opening night of the Central Hockey League Playoffs.

In the South, The Texas Brahmas are beginning to kick off their Title Defense with a big road win as the Brahmas cameback from near loss as the Brahmas are starting to show that they can win in any situations as the Icerays 4 PP Goals were not enough to beat the Expereinced Brahmas.

This is not the first time the Brahmas have had success after playing in the Play In Round. Back in 2008, after losing the Northern Conference Play In Round Opener against the Mississippi Riverkings. The Brahmas used Games 2 & 3 to comeback to win the team's first playoff series in a long time.

Then after the Play In Round, the Brahmas shocked the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs by sweeping the Mudbugs who were the Northern Conference Top Seed that year. It all ended in the Conference Final where the team fell just a win short of making the CHL Presidents Cup Championship against the Colorado Eagles.


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

Texas Brahmas 5 Corpus Christi Icerays 4 (OT)

The visiting Texas Brahmas showed their championship pedigree on Monday Night coming from behind to stun the Corpus Christi Icerays 5-4 in OT last night. The win marks the first time a visiting team has won in 14 games in the CHL Opening Round Best-Of-3 series dating back to the inception of the three game round in 2008.

James Hiebert scored the game winner just over 5 minutes into OT off an Iceray Turnover at their own blue line. Grant Jacobsen and Matt Pierce set-up the clutch performer who now has 6 game winners and 34 career CHL Playoff Goals in his career.

The Icerays rebounded from a Jordan Cameron first period short handed goal to score 4 power play goals in the contest. Chad Woolard had a goal and two assists and Chris Richards and Steven Later each scored a PP Goal and had a helper.

The Icerays led 4-3 with less then a minute remaining when the Brahmas pull their goaltender and tied the game up with Tyler Skworchinski scoring the tying goal with just 17 seconds remaining in regulation.

Brett Jeager earned the win by making 20 saves and Kevin Beech stopped 32 saves but took the loss.

The Teams meet again on Wednesday with the Brahmas having a chance to close the series out on home ice at the NYTEX Sports Center. If the Icerays win Game 2 on Wednesday Night, then the 3rd and deciding game would be on Thursday Night in North Richland Hills.

@American Bank Center

Texas Brahmas 5 Corpus Christi Icerays 4 (OT) (1-1, 0-1, 3-2, 1-0)

1-0 TEX: Jordan Cameron (SH) (Unassisted) 12:12 1st

1-1 CRC: Jason Tessier (PP) (Tendler, Quenneville) 17:20 1st

1-2 CRC: Chad Woollard (PP) (Dudas, Later) 2:17 2nd

2-2 TEX: Justin Kinnunen (PP) (Rouleau, Skworchinski) 0:26 3rd

2-3 CRC: Chris Richards (PP) (Bennett, Woollard) 6:57 3rd

3-3 TEX: Jason Deitsch (Cameron, Seibel) 7:34 3rd

3-4 CRC: Steven Later (PP) (Woollard, Richards) 8:21 3rd

4-4 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (EA) (Hiebert, Cameron) 19:43 3rd

5-4 TEX: James Hiebert (Jacobsen, Pierce) 5:34 OT


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 37 CRC 24

PP: TEX 1/8 CRC 4/6

PIM: TEX 14 Minutes on 7 Penalties CRC 18 Minutes on 9 Penatlies

Goalies: TEX Brett Jeager 20 SVS on 24 Shots CRC Kevin Beech 32 SVS on 37 Shots

ATT: 2224

3 Stars: 3rd Star Chris Ricards (CRC), Jordan Cameron (TEX), James Hiebert (TEX)

Texas Brahmas Lead Series 1-0

Game 2, 3/24: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/25: @ Texas 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary


Mississippi Riverkings 2 Missouri Mavericks 4

After stopping an early onslot of the Riverkings offense, the Mavericks were able to stay in the game. Then midway through the 1st period was Bill Vandermeer scoring the first playoff goal in Mavericks history. A majority of the scoring came late in the 1st as Mississippi's Elias Godoy scored just 2 minutes later.

Missouri then scored twice in 1:15 as Jordan Foremann and Brett Hammond scored to make it 3-1 Mavericks going into the 1st intermission.

Despite a scoreless 2nd period, both teams contuined to use the high octane offense as Riverkings outshot the Mavericks 13-11. Missouri Goalie Charlie Effinger help kep the Mavericks on top despite two high penalties that could have helped the Riverkings get back into the game that started with 7 minutes left when Mike Burgoyne committed a double minor for high sticking. After being able to successfully kill it off.

The Mavericks got in even more penalty trouble by Carlyle Lewis who was tossed from the game at the end of the 2nd period with a Spearing Major which turned into a game misconduct.

That Major Penalty made it challenging for the Mavericks early in the 3rd period, but despite the 5 MIN PP, the Riverkings only got 5 shots off in the 3rd period and kept off the scoresheet again. This wasn't a surprise as the Mavericks had a strong PK Game late in the Regular Season.

After Mississippi finally made it a 3-2 game with 4:25 left, Missouri put the game away with a goal by Jordan Foreman in the final minute to win the team's first ever playoff game.

@Independence Events Center

0-1 MIZ: Bill Vandermeer (Christian) 11:37 1st

1-1 MIS: Elias Godoy (Chaumont) 13:54 1st

1-2 MIZ: Jordan Foreman (Christian) 15:44 1st

1-3 MIZ: Brett Hammond (PP) (Burgoyne, Christian) 17:00 1st

2-3 MIS: Darrell Stoddard (Dumont) 15:35 3rd

2-4 MIZ: Jordan Foreman (EN) (Walls) 19:06 3rd

Game Stats

SOG: MIS 29 MIZ 33

PP: MIS 0/5 MIZ 1/4

PIM: MIS 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties MIZ 27 Minutes on 8 Penalties

Goalies: MIS Kyle Mcnulty 29 SVS on 32 Shots MIZ Charlie Effinger 27 SVS on 29 Shots

ATT: 4417

3 Stars: Charlie Effinger (MIZ), Bill Vandermeer (MIZ), Jeff Christian (MIZ)


Missouri Leads Series 1-0

Game 2, 3/24: @ Mississippi 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/25: @ Mississippi 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary

Central Hockey League opening week schedule

The last of the big professional hockey leagues in North America gets underway on Friday as the Central Hockey League will get ready with some great matchups and 2 new teams set to make their league debut on the road. Let's start with a rematch of the Championship series between the Texas Brahmas and the Colorado Eagles.

On Friday in Colorado is the Eagles first chance to get back at the Brahmas since beating them in 5 games to win the C.H.L. President's Cup Championship which included winning 3 in a row at the NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hill, Texas to win championship.

Nearly all the big guns for the Brahmas are back looking to repeat as champions with players like Justin Kinnunen, Jason Deitsch and goalie Brett Jeager who had an amazing 2.20 G.A.A. and a .930 SV% during last years playoffs that just shut down the Eagles offense who scored a league leading 275 goals during the regular season last year.

Colorado has been among the elite in the Central Hockey League, despite losing the Championship Series the last 2 years. In 2008, it was the Arizona Sundogs which won the 2008 Presidents Cup Championship, but they failed to make the playoffs last season.

Then losing to the Brahmas last year, part of the problem was that lack of scoring depth with Ed Mcgrane scoring 13 goals during last year's playoffs while no one else had more then 5, despite having 4 players having 8 or more assists during the post season.

Among the teams that are looking to have a break out year are the South Texas trio of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Laredo Bucks and the Corpus Christi Icerayz. For Corpus Christi, they were in a battle with New Mexico and Arizona for the 5th and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference for basically the entire season until they were able to clinch the playoff spot on the 2nd to final night of the regular season.

With players like Justin Quenneville who had a break out year last season and some new players like Jereme Tendler to help out on the defense.

Laredo and Rio Grande Valley who both had early playoff exits are hungry for big time success. After a great play in round against the Icerayz, the Killer Bees fell down back to earth when they got sweeped by the defending champion Brahmas in the Southern Conference Semifinals. However, it was a coming out party for the Killer Bees who are looking for a very big year to battle with the likes of Odessa, Laredo and Texas for the top of the Southern Conference.

Some of the top players that the Killer Bees will be looking for is Grant Goeckner-Zoeller who had a great year by scoring 21 goals last season.

For the Laredo Bucks, it was the first time in a long time that they haven't reached at least the Southern Conference Final in the C.H.L. After finishing 3rd and losing to Odessa in the Conference Semifinals, the Bucks are looking to get back in the Championship Chase with players like Darryl Smith who had a fantastic year by scoring 70 points (34 G, 36 A), and finishing just outside the top 10 in league scoring.

For these 3 teams, Laredo will travel to Bossier-Shreveport and Rio Grande Valley. For the Killer Bees, will only have 1 game by hosting the Laredo Bucks.

Finally, for the Corpus Christi Icerayz will travel to Odessa to play the Jackalopes on Friday, and then hosting the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Saturday night.

Finally, the 2 new teams in the Allen Americans and the Missouri Mavericks are ready to hit the road on long road trips as both teams won't play their first home game until early November as both teams perform last minute work to their new arenas.

For Allen, the Americans will start with a pair of games as they will head west to play the Arizona Sundogs. The teams first home game will take place on November 7 against the Corpus Christi Icerayz.

The Missouri Mavericks, it will be a trip to South Dakota as a weekend with the Rapid City Rush awaits them. For the Mavericks, the teams first home game will be on November 13 against the Wichita Thunder.