Roster Changes, Awards Announced, The Story of Rush Captain Wray Retiring, 20 Goal Scorers Record Possible

- The quest for second place continues tomorrow night (Wednesday) against the Quad City Mallards. In addition to the importance of winning the game to set up the showdown with the second place Denver Cutthroats on Friday and Saturday it is also the last game where new players can qualify for the playoff roster. In order to be on the playoff roster a player must play in at least three regular season games so there will definitely be new players in the lineup tomorrow night.

- Allen made several roster moves yesterday by waiving Daniel Barnes and rookie goaltender Eric Levine, placing Phil Fox on season ending injured reserve, and Kale Kerbashian on fourteen day injured reserve. Trevor Hendrikx is also on 30 day injured reserve. At a minimum there will be a new goalie and defensman in the game tomorrow night. Would expect the signing announcements will be made today.

- Quad City comes to Allen shorthanded for a few different reasons. The following was published in the Quad City Times yesterday:
The Quad-City Mallards are limping into the playoffs, and after a barrage of bad news this weekend, might be on their last legs.
First, the Mallards lost leading scorer Jeff Lee to a lower body injury on the first shift of the team's 3-1 loss to the Missouri Mavericks on Sunday. Coach Terry Ruskowski said Monday that he still had no indication as to the severity of the injury or how long Lee would be out.
Second, the Mallards found out that the player they'd been counting on to give them a late-season boost, Aaron Lee, Jeff's brother, would not be able to join the team after his European team, the Tilburg Trappers, lost in overtime of game five of the Dutch Eredivisie finals.
Third, the Mallards lost two players to the American Hockey League. Defenseman Nicholas Rioux was called up to the Mallards' affiliate, the Iowa Wild, and goalie Ty Rimmer — who was a unanimous selection to the CHL's all-rookie team Monday — was called up to the Oklahoma City Barons.

- In  a strange coincidence Quad City goalie Ty Rimmer and Allen center Alex Lavoie will be teammates tonight in Oklahoma City (AHL) and could play against each other tomorrow night in Allen. Probably won't happen but it is possible if both players are released back to their respective CHL clubs after Oklahoma City plays San Antonio tonight.

- The CHL All-Rookie team was announced yesterday and I have already had my say on the omission of Spencer Asuchak from this team. It is difficult for me to see how he could be overlooked as he has played in every game (63) for his team this year, is second on the Americans in scoring, third in scoring among CHL rookies, first in the CHL in shorthanded goals, he kills penalties, often plays against the opponents top line and is a tireless worker who never takes a shift off. Maybe the CHL should consider having more than five players on the team in situations like this. With that said, congrats to Alex Lavoie  and all of the players named yesterday:
2013-2014 All-Rookie Team
F: Vincent Arseneau, Denver Cutthroats
F: Alex Lavoie, Allen Americans
F: Adam Pleskach, Tulsa Oilers
D: Lee Moffie, Denver Cutthroats
D: Henrik Odegaard, Missouri Mavericks
G: Ty Rimmer, Quad City Mallards 

- The All-CHL team was also announced yesterday and congratulations to Tyler Ludwig for being named to the team for the second consecutive year. There are a lot of deserving players left off of this list but it is a great group. Here is the list:
2013-2014 All-CHL Team
F: Garett Bembridge, Denver Cutthroats
F: Ben Gordon, Tulsa Oilers
F: Troy Schwab, Denver Cutthroats
D: Tyler Ludwig, Allen Americans
D: Matt Stephenson, Missouri Mavericks
G: Shane Owen, Missouri Mavericks

- Rapid City Rush long time captain Scott Wray will be retiring after this season and move his skills to the coaches bench. His wife, Shanna, has written a blog for several years and has done some very humorous stories over the years and I am a big fan. Yesterday she posted a story about this time in their life and all of the emotions involved. Her willingness to share her story, on her terms and with such openness is to be admired. No, it is not humorous like many of her posts, but it is a very personal story of her journey and she should be commended for sharing it with all of us. Go to her web site at wraysingboys.com and read her story, "On the Other Side of the Bench."

Courtesy CHL Memes

Courtesy CHL Memes

DID YOU KNOW: The Americans now have five players with 20 goals and with Jamie Schaafsma at 19 and Darryl Bootland at 18, Allen could set the record for most 20 goal scorers in a season which is six set in 2010-2011. Here are 20 goal scorers by season:

2013-2014 - Lessard (26), Lavoie (25), Asuchak (20), Ludwig (20), Hanson (20)
2012-2013 - Schaafsma (24), Bootland (22), Howes (21)
2011-2012 - Graham (26), Yellow Horn (24), McKenzie (20)
2010-2011 - Graham (34), Musitelli (34), Yellow Horn (33), Lukin (21), Bonk (20), Blackwater (20)
2009-2010 - Graham (31), Bowers (23), Musitelli (23)