The Americans regained first place in the Central Hockey League (CHL) with a 4-1 victory over the Fort Worth Brahmas before a crowd of 4799 at the Allen Event Center. Special teams are always important and this game sure proved it as the Americans scored all four goals on the power play going 4 for 8 while the penalty kill unit held Ft. Worth scoreless as they were 0 for 8. The three stars of the game were Bootland with his hat trick, Tyler Ludwig with four assists and Trevor Ludwig with a goal and two assists.
Our streak continues! You do an interview with this blog and you will immediately increase your production. Booter Bootland has four goals and two assists in the two games since his interview. With all of his superstitions we may be doing an interview every week. We will settle for his hat trick last night but Booter will tell you he could have easily had five goals as he had two other great opportunities that the goalie stopped. I talked to him after the game and his injury is not serious. He should be fine. And as coach Martinson said, "I think he is going to be okay, he is pretty tough, and if it slows him down it can't slow him down too much."
The press conference after the game was attended by the Comissioner of the Central Hockey League, Duane Lewis, as well as Coach Martinson and Scotty Howes. The following is a short recap of their comments:
Duane Lewis:
- The CHL is looking at expansion teams for next year in addition to the St. Charles, Missouri franchise (St. Charles Chill) that has already been announced. In the next couple of months they hope to announce two additional teams for next year. We know one of the new locations under consideration is in Casper, Wyoming. The league is also working on two new franchises for the 2014-2015 season.
- They are not worried about teams defecting to the ECHL despite the rumors to the contrary.
- Revenue sharing, which has been talked about in the past, is not on the table for discussion at this point.
- The new Denver franchise is doing better than expected after overcoming some start up issues because of the lack of lead time from when the team was created and the season began.
Coach Martinson:
- Marty introduced his family (wife Michelle, daughter Millie & son Logan) who have been visiting from Chicago over the holidays. I saw the kids skating with coach after practice and you could see their passion for hockey.
- The coach is concerned about the lack of productivity from the second and third lines and it is something he addresses with the players. In a perfect world he would like to get others out on the power play but the Maiani, Howes, Bootland line is doing so well and he needs that line to score so he is going to keep going with it.
- As long as the team keeps winning Coach will be patient and juggle the 2nd & 3rd lines to see if he can get some guys going. He may need to look for another play making center like Maiani but he doesn't want to get rid of anyone so he is going to see if the lack of scoring works itself out.
- The team needs to play a little smarter with more puck possession than they have been recently. We have to support the puck. We are not going to always score on the rush, we have to get pucks in deep, get pucks behind people and work the corners.
- There is a possibility, depending on what happens in the next few days with the NHL lockout, to see Alec Martinez in the lineup on Friday. Alec is a member of the NHL Los Angeles Kings and was on their Stanley Cup team last year. Alec plays defense and his NHL contract last year was $737,500. Alec lives in Dallas in the off season. He can be signed without cutting anyone.
- Coach Martinson talked briefly about players he has talked to so he is ready when our players (such as Howes) get called up to the AHL. He has potential players in the wings from the ECHL, Europe and a center in the SPHL. He also hinted about a former Americans player he has talked to who plays for an ECHL team that is already out of the playoff picture.
- Brett Skinner should be ready to go by the January 4th game with Tulsa
Scotty Howes:
- Scotty was asked about his scoring streak and as usual gave all of the credit to his line mates Maiani & Bootland). As always, a modest, class act!
- Coach Martinson mentioned Scotty had a contract in the works with Springfield Falcons (AHL) earlier this year and then he got hurt. His great start has enabled him to be in position for a good AHL contract if the NHL lockout is lifted.
- Coach also asked Scotty to explain why he uses a different stick in practice than in the game. He actually uses Colton Yellow Horn's stick in practice. It has a big hook and big uplift. Scotty's explanation was very straightforward, "We count practice goals so I feel more comfortable shooting with a bigger hook, that is pretty much it."
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