BIG GAME, BIG CROWD, BIG WIN

While I am on vacation (will return February 18) posting some of what I call "Best Of Allen Americans Blog" that maybe you missed when first posted or might enjoy rereading. Here is the post after Allen won the first round series against Denver originally posted April 7, 2013. It was the one game Alex Lavoie played in the playoffs before it was determined amateurs could not be replaced after injury. The one game was a sign of things to come this year from Lavoie.

Allen defeats Denver by winning the game 6-2 and the series 4-1 - photo by chlphotos.com

Allen made little doubt of the outcome of the game and the series last night as they scored five unanswered goals before Denver got on the scoreboard. It has been a while since we have seen the traditional end of series handshake at the Allen Event Center (AEC). What fun!! Here is some info and thoughts on the game, the series & the playoffs:

- It was great to see the AEC close to capacity with what I think was the biggest crowd of the season of 5283. The average attendance for the three home games in the first round of the playoffs was 4135 (the official stats on chl.com are off by 1000) which ranks second in the league and is the highest average attendance the Americans have ever had in the playoffs and the numbers should increase for the second round.

- Jim McKenzie was named the #1 star with his usual solid intense effort along with a goal and two assists.

- Brian McMillin was undoubtedly the series MVP. He added two goals last night and sits on top of the CHL all by himself in goals scored with five. In addition he leads the league in points with seven (tied with Todd Robinson), shooting percentage at 38% as his five goals have come on only 13 shots. Add to all of the offense his second in the league +/- of +5 and his work on the penalty kill unit that has only given up two goals in 27 chances. He is also the CHL 3 Star leader having been named the #1 star twice and #3 star once in the series. And did I mention he took a stick to the mouth for a bunch of stitches and some lost teeth and has been wearing a full cage the last three games. Hands down the MVP of the series.

- Aaron Dell with another stellar performance last night (#2 star). If McMillin is the series MVP then Aaron Dell is a close second. He has the best GAA in the league at 1.61, the best save percentage at 93.9% and is second in the CHL (right behind McMillin) in the 3 Star points total.

- Another effort worthy of mention is the play of Tyler Ludwig in the playoffs. Even though he had a great regular season offensively there were comments about his -7 which was the lowest on the team of the players that played all year. Well guess who leads not only his team but the entire CHL in +/- in the playoffs. Yes, it would be Tyler who stands alone at the top of the CHL with a +6. He is also second in the league in scoring among defensemen with five points.

- Special teams continue to shine as the power play is number one at 18.52% and the penalty kill is number two at 92.59%. If the team can keep this special teams play going through out the playoffs we will do well.

- Two patterns have emerged in the play of our amateurs the good news being their scoring and the bad news being injury. There was a new amateur in the lineup last night as Justin Kirsch is injured. The new player, wearing Scott Howes #13 is Alexandre Lavoie who just finished his junior career with the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Alex continued the streak of the amateurs scoring in their first game with an assist on the goal scored by Jamie Schaafsma.

Welcome To Allen Alexandre Lavoie

Here is Alex's background and information from hockeydb:

Alexandre Lavoie

Center
Born Nov 17 1992 -- Anjou, PQ
[20 yrs. ago]
Height 5.10 -- Weight 170 -- Shoots R

 

			Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008-09	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	QMJHL	22	2	4	6	6	0	--	--	--	--	--
2009-10	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	QMJHL	65	13	27	40	24	-13	7	2	1	3	2
2010-11	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	QMJHL	62	24	31	55	27	17	4	1	2	3	0
2011-12	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	QMJHL	35	8	6	14	14	-5	--	--	--	--	--
2011-12	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles	QMJHL	30	15	18	33	12	-5	4	0	2	2	0
2012-13	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles	QMJHL	37	19	30	49	38	-18
2012-13	Rimouski Oceanic	QMJHL	26	17	30	47	12	16
2012-13	Rimouski Oceanic	QMJHL							6	5	3	8	4

- Amateur Bryce Aneloski was injured during the third period. He posted on Twitter,  "My hockey season is officially over with a dislocated elbow. Thank you to the Allen Americans and their fans as I'm truly blessed." Bryce made quite an impression in the five games he played for Allen. It would be great to have him back next year.

- It is official the Americans will play the winner of the Rapid City vs Missouri series which heads back to Rapid City after the Mavericks won the last three game in Missouri to take a 3-2 lead.  They play Tuesday and Wednesday (if necessary). While all of the second round playoff dates have not been announced the first two games of the series will be at the AEC on Sunday, April 14 and Monday April 15.

- Fort Worth defeated the Quad City Mallards last night 1-0 to take the series 4-1 and move on to a second round match up with the Wichita Thunder. This will be a rematch from last year as they met in the semifinals last year with Wichita winning 4-2.