Archives > Sports Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Down to the wire: Americans clinging to CHL lead with three games remaining
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
After five months and 63 games, the Allen Americans won't know their playoff seeding until the final weekend of the CHL regular season.
A surging Wichita Thunder squad moved to within one point of the Americans (37-17-9, 83 points) after defeating Allen at the AEC, 4-3, on Tuesday night. Allen fell behind, 3-0, but rattled off three consecutive goals in the second period (two from Chris Doyle and one from Tyler Ludwig) only to see Matt Robinson score the lone goal of the third with 1:12 left in regulation for the 4-3 Wichita victory.
The Americans and Thunder play again at 7:05 p.m. Friday in Wichita.
 |
Allen is one point ahead of Wichita and only three up on the Fort Worth Brahmas.
The Americans are in a position to sweat after last weekend, where they went 1-2 in back-to-back-to-back games versus the Brahmas.
"It's frustrating because we came into that series playing so well," Martinson said. "I don't think we necessarily played poorly, but we came in with the best defense and record in the league and then sort of blew ourselves up."
Allen gave up a short-handed goal in all three games against Fort Worth.
"It turned into a special teams game, which should have favored us but it didn't," Martinson said. "We ended up serving up some good scoring chances."
The teams alternated wins with Allen dropping a 5-2 road decision Friday and returning to the NYTEX Sports Centre Saturday for a 4-3 overtime victory.
As the scores would suggest, Saturday night was the more competitive game.
The bulk of that game was tied. Fort Worth held a lead for just 20 seconds in the third period as Trevor Hendrikx evened the count at 3-3 with a blast from the point off an assist from Darryl Bootland. Things happened just as quickly in the extra frame as Bootland lit the lamp 21 seconds in off an assist by Kale Kerbashian to set the 4-3 final.
The score was 4-3 again Sunday afternoon, only this time the final favored the Brahmas despite a move to the AEC.
"That was a disappointment," Martinson said. "Especially at home."
One bright spot in that disappointment was Todd Robinson.
One of the most prolific scorers in minor pro hockey history (notching 191 points over the past two seasons with the Evansville Icemen and Odessa Jackalopes), the center was granted release from Evansville to join Allen and scored a goal in his first game. Robinson's goal, which came off assists from Jamie Schaafsma and Hendrikx, broke a string of three straight scores by the Brahmas. Robinson also had two assists Tuesday versus Wichita. The Americans wouldn't score again Sunday though and suffered a 4-3 defeat.
This despite the fact Allen outshot Fort Worth, 41-21.
"Their goalie (Brad Fogal) was amazing," Martinson said.
The Americans have three games remaining with Friday's clash at Wichita followed by a 7:05 p.m. home game Saturday versus the Missouri Mavericks and a 4:05 p.m. road game Sunday against the Tulsa Oilers.
"We're in a dogfight for that first spot," Martinson said, "but we're still in control."
Pair of Americans named to All-CHL Team
After a season of leading the CHL standings, it makes sense Allen would have a player noted among the best in the league.
The Americans, in fact, have two.
That would be Ludwig and Aaron Dell, both of whom were named to the All-CHL Team.
In his second season with the Americans, Ludwig is second in the league in points from a defenseman with 51 (11 goals, 40 assists). Joining Ludwig on the All-CHL Team is Dell, who leads Allen with 20 wins and is tops in the league in both save percentage (.919) and goals against average (2.26). Dell was also named to the CHL All-Rookie Team.
Best of the Best
Those weren't the only recent honors bestowed on Allen as the team also cleaned up during the CHL's Best of the Best Awards.
The franchise was nominated in 22 categories, trailing only Missouri.
Among the winners from the Americans were Jarret Lukin (Best Defensive Forward and Best Penalty Killer), Bootland (Best Power Forward,) Dell (Best Goalie) and the Ice Angels (Best Dance Team/Cheerleaders).
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @OThankKevin on Twitter.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sports Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
