- Kale Kerbashian scored the winning goal last night as the Allen Americans opened the season with a 4-3 shootout win over the Wichita Thunder before a great crowd of 5586 at the Intrust Bank Arena. The Americans scored the first three goals of the game (Bootland with two and Lessard) and had a 3-0 lead with less than a minute left in the second period but Wichita came roaring back to tie the game. In the shootout John Snowden and Wichita's Matt Robinson traded goals in the third round before Kerbashian beat Thunder goalie Torrie Jung going five hole in the fifth round for the win. The teams got on their respective buses right after the game to head for Allen and a rematch this afternoon at 4:05 pm.
- It has been a rough start for the Thunder who are always in the championship hunt. Two home losses is not where Wichita expected to be. Here are a couple of quotes from the coach after the game. “It was a big improvement from last night,” coach Kevin McClelland said.
“But I still think some changes have to be made. Personnel changes. I
just can’t keep gassing five or six guys.”
“We just needed more depth,” McClelland said. “You don’t want
to do that all season. It’s going to be real tough (Sunday) with our
third game in two and a half days.”
- Jim McKenzie had two goals in a losing effort as Quad City lost to Rapid City 6-4.
- Fans got their moneys worth in Denver last night as it took a mind boggling 18 rounds of shootout to decide the game as former Allen Americans defenseman Steve Kuanisto (2011-2012) got the game winner as Denver beat Tulsa 3-2. Here is how the shootout was described in the CHL news release:
The score remained 2-2 at the end of the overtime period, sending the
game into a shootout. After a scoreless five rounds, the shootout
continued into sudden death. Thomas Beauregard snuck the puck past
Millan, but Denver’s T.J. Fox quickly responded to keep the shootout
alive. In the 14th round, Tulsa’s Ben Gordon gave them the chance to
come out with the victory, when Denver’s Garett Bembridge answered with a
goal to continue the electrifying shootout. In the 18th round, Steve
Kaunisto won it for the Cutthroats and completed the sweep of the Oilers
with a final 3-2.
- Attendance around the league was quite varied last night. In addition to the 5586 in Wichita there were 5325 in Quad City. The St. Charles Chill drew 3331 for the first game in their history. Denver has to be a concern as they only drew 1741.
- A couple reminders for anyone going to the game today at the Allen Event Center (AEC). First, make sure to arrive early (NLT 3:40 pm) so you don't miss any of the pregame ceremonies. Second, keep in mind the AEC has recently started enforcing a "no re-entry" rule so once you are inside the AEC you will not be allowed to leave and re-enter. There will be a smoking area set up outside the door next to the ticket office (across from the popcorn concession). You will be allowed to take drinks outside in the smoking area.
- Several of you have asked me about Peter Cintala. Peter is in Louisana skating with the Louisana Ice Gators. He has hopes of retuning to Allen in the near future as he really likes the area and all of the support he received from the fans and the team. I for one hope he gets a shot.
- If you look at the pregame notes for today's game on the CHL website you will notice that newly signed forward, Garrett Klotz, is already listed so there is a chance he will play today. If you watched or listened to the game last night there were a lot of penalties called and several 5 on 3 power plays on both sides. You might look for a repeat performance today as the same referee that worked last night's game, Trevor Harding, is scheduled to work the game this afternoon.
DID YOU KNOW: The Brampton Beast roster is made up entirely of Canadian players.
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