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| Booter Bootland Led They Way As Allen Upended Missouri - photo by Scott Thomas |
The Allen Americans pushed the Missouri Mavericks to the brink of elimination last night with a 8-4 victory before a crowd of 4824 at the Independence Events Center. Allen now leads 3-1 and has a chance to close out the series tonight in Independence. Lots of highlights so here we go:
- Bootland was the number one star of the game with two goals and an assist and his leadership was in evidence the entire game.
- After being down 3-1 early in the second period Allen scored five unanswered. They also scored seven of the last eight goals in the game.
- The eight goals were scored on 36 shots as Allen out shot the Mavericks 36-26. The goals were scored by seven different players which shows the balance on this team. The goals were scored against both Missouri goalies as Corbeil gave up three goals on thirteen shots and was replaced in the second period by Clemente who gave up four goals on twenty two shots. There was also one empty net goal.
- The Allen power play unit had its best game of the playoffs going 3-6 with Bootland, Deitsch & Tyler Ludwig getting power play goals. The power play percentage is now over nineteen (19.15%) which is where coach Martinson expects it to be.
- Tyler Ludwig (third star of the game) continues to impress in the playoffs both offensively and defensively. His ten points rank him fourth in the CHL (tied with Brian McMillin) in scoring and he leads the entire CHL in +/-.
- Allen has the top three +/- players in the CHL with Tyler leading at +12, McMillin second at +8 and Jamie Schaafsma third at +7.
- I found this nugget on twitter as a follow up to the penalties called on Missouri in overtime Wednesday. Since 1923 no team in professional hockey has been awarded 2 5-on-3's in an overtime period. Since 1970, only 6 teams have had one 5 on 3 in overtime.
- I found the following information about the Houston Aeros moving in an article posted by Brian Hall at Fox Sports North. I have already been asked if this move will change our affiliation which has been great this season. I think this is a wait and see issue. Here is the article:
Starting next season, the Minnesota Wild's minor league call-ups will be getting fewer frequent flier miles.
Minnesota received permission from the American Hockey League's Board of Governors on Thursday to move its AHL affiliate from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa, beginning in 2013-14. The team, formerly the Houston Aeros, will be renamed the Iowa Wild.
"Our organization has enjoyed tremendous support from the loyal, passionate hockey fans in Houston since 2001," Wild assistant to the general manager/Aeros GM Jim Mill said in a statement released by the team. "There is a great hockey history in Houston, beginning with the Apollos in 1965 and continuing with the Aeros in the WHA, IHL and AHL. We are honored to have been a part of this hockey tradition."
The Aeros' lease with the Toyota Center in Houston had ended, and the two sides were unable to come to an agreement. According to reports, the Toyota Center had tried to raise the rent for Aeros games, believing it was turning away more profitable concerts because of tie-ups with the Aeros' schedule.
"We have enjoyed a very strong relationship with the Aeros dating back to Toyota Center's inaugural 2003 season," Houston Rockets/Clutch City Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown said in the release. "Both parties worked diligently and in good faith during this process, but unfortunately we were unable to reach an agreement. We wish the Aeros continued success."
The Aeros had played in Houston for 19 years. This season, based largely on the strength of the Wild's strong and emerging prospect core, the Aeros are 38-25-5-5 and fifth in the AHL Western Conference standings.
"We were not able to find agreement on terms of a new arena lease which would allow us to continue to successfully operate our franchise," Wild Chief Operating Officer Matt Majka said in the release. "We thank Toyota Center for the partnership we've had since moving there in 2003."
- I found the following information on another site and if these figures are accurate it is obvious the Toyota Center didn't want the Aeros to be in their building. With the change coming, the Wild had reportedly sought to bring their farm team closer to Minnesota for the frequent trips between the two cities by players and staff. The Iowa Wild reportedly will play at Wells Fargo Arena, which seats 17,000 for basketball games with a slight change likely for hockey.
The new arena in Des Moines will charge the Wild $10,000 per game rent. It’s a major reduction from the $24,000 per game the Aeros were paying in Houston. To stay in Houston, the Toyota Center was asking the Aeros to increase it’s per game rent to $42,000.
- Finally, here is the headline on the game in the Kansas City Star online site. The article itself referred to Allen but the headline reads:
Oh what a game last night. Although I want them to wrap it up tonight, the fans deserve to be in person. Great article, and thanks, again. Here's to Austin winning tonight.
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