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| Fisheye View - NYTEX Sports Centre (capacity 2400) - photo by chlphotos.com |
Big weekend for the Americans starts tonight with the first of two games at NYTEX Sports Centre before returning to the AEC Sunday afternoon. Playing any team three days in a row makes for interesting strategy and we know what happened the last time this happened. I personally think these games will be calm by comparison as there is too much on the line in the standings. The games will be more like playoff hockey in my opinion. The blurb below is how the CHL is promoting the game.
Will The Rivalry Get a New Classic to Talk About?
One of the biggest rivalries in the CHL adds another chapter this weekend as the Fort Worth Brahmas host the Allen Americans on Friday and Saturday and the scene shifts to the Allen Event Center for Sunday’s final regular season showdown. This year has had its drama in the series and the first place Americans hold the on-ice advantage with an 8-3-3 record. The clubs have combined for 743 penalty minutes in their 14 previous games (53 combined PIMs per game). The Brahmas trail the Americans by six points and if they have any hopes of catching them in the standings, they need a ton of points this weekend.
Stats Versus Fort Worth:
- Some players to keep an eye on this weekend for the Americans are Tyler Ludwig who has 16 points in the 14 games played against the Brahmas including 13 power play assists. Darryl Bootland leads the team with six goals against the Brahmas and has only played in 10 of the 14 games. While the Americans power play has not been working well lately we have always done well against the Fort Worth penalty kill.
- Drew Daniels has five of his twelve points against the Brahmas and leads Allen in plus minus with a +6 in the 14 games played thus far. Combine that with the good luck he gets from his player profile being published this week on this blog and look for Drew to add to his point total this weekend.
- Early goals may also be something to keep an eye on during the series as in the 14 games played this year the Americans have scored 18 goals in the first period, 10 in the second and 16 in the third while Fort Worth has 5 in the first period, 17 in the second and 14 in the third.
- Since joining the CHL Allen has an overall record against Fort Worth of 28-10-7 but at NYTEX Sports Centre the record is 11-8-3. At the AEC the record is 17-2-4.
- Aaron Dell has started the last seven games in net for the Americans and is 6-1-0. In the 14 games against Fort Worth Aaron Dell is 4-2-2 and Steve Silverthorn is 4-1-1. Will Silverthorn get one of the starts at NYTEX this weekend? I predict yes.
- Keep an eye on #27 John Snowden as he leads the Brahmas is goals scored against the Americans with nine goals and has only played in 10 of the 14 games.
- If Allen wins two of the three games this weekend they will be guaranteed of finishing no worse than second in the final standings.
- Good luck to Allen Americans players and staff as today starts the announcements of year end awards. Today the equipment manager and trainer of the year are announced. My next profile story is about equipment manager Kacee Coberly.
The dates for the announcement of all CHL Awards are listed below:
Friday, March 15
Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year
Athletic Trainer of the Year
Monday, March 18
CHL All-Rookie Team
All-CHL Team
Tuesday, March 19
CHL’s Rookie of the Year
Wednesday, March 20
CHL’s Man of the Year
Thursday, March 21
CHL’s Coach of the Year
Friday, March 22
CHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman
CHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender (Scott Brower Award)
Monday, March 25
Joe Burton Scoring Champion
CHL’s Most Valuable Player
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