Allen’s Bruce Graham scores All-Star hat trick nomination

ALLEN, Texas – Another feather was added to the cap of the Allen Americans this season, when forward Bruce Graham was once again nominated as a Central Hockey League All-Star starter. This marks the third straight season Graham has earned the honor, representing the Americans in all three seasons since their inception in 2009.
 
Graham will not be alone in Prescott Valley Arizona Wednesday evening when the CHL All-Star Game takes place as the Allen Americans will be exceptionally well represented in literally all aspects of the event.
 
Americans defenseman Dylan King and goaltender Marco Cousineau have been nominated to the All-Star squad this year alongside Graham. King is currently on call up with Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, so Allen Defenseman Scott Langdon has been selected to replace King for the game.
 
Head Coach Dwight Mullins will be one of the All-Star co-coaches, Trainer Jason Wallace will be part of the training staff and play-by-play voice Tommy Daniels will be half of the broadcast duo for the game.
 
Allen has enjoyed two incredibly successful seasons in its first two years, compiling a winning record of 89-33-8 through both seasons including a Conference title and a trip to the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals their first year, followed by a Governor’s Cup regular season championship title last season.
 
This year, the Americans sit one point out of first place in the Berry Conference behind the Wichita Thunder with a record of 18-7-7 through the first 32 games of the campaign.
 
A lot of that success is due to this year’s All-Star selectee’s, Bruce Graham and goaltender Marco Cousineau. Graham is currently in 4th place in league scoring (first on the Americans), posting an impressive 42 points (17 G, 25 A, +13) and 53 penalty minutes. Cousineau is ranked ninth amongst all CHL goaltenders with an 11-2-3 record and a  .914 save percentage as we reach the season’s midway point.
 
This season, the Americans have made some changes to their system of play, but it hasn’t hampered Graham’s offensive production.
 

“It’s definitely been different; I don’t think we’re such a run-and-gun team this year,” Graham said. “We’re in a lot closer games; I think the system might be a little tighter and I think that might help out this year. The numbers have been pretty good and hopefully I can keep that going towards the second half.”
 
Even with some big roster changes this season, this has been another winning season to this point for the Americans. Graham attributes this to the core group of players being the nucleus of that success.
 
“After the first year when we made it to the finals, Mully tried to keep the same core players and I think it’s been a strong core,” Graham explained. “The players he’s brought in to help the core players have been really good players and have fed off what the core players have done.”
 
When asked if Graham preferred last years run-and-gun system as opposed to this years, the All-Star was quick to approve of this years system, feeling it will better prepare the team for the post season.
 
“I prefer this style, just because last year in the regular season, we kind of ran over the league and in the playoffs it came back to bite us,” Graham noted. ” I see a lot of similarities in our team this year compared to our first year and I think that’s a good thing. Come playoff time we’re going to be used to playing those one goal, tight checking games, so hopefully it helps us out in the end.”
 
Americans All-Star goaltender Marco Cousineau credits the play of the team in front of him as a key to his success this season.
 
“It’s not only my game; I’m just the last guy to make a play on the ice so I think there’s a lot of credit I have to give to my players’ Cousineau said. “Maybe if I were someplace else I wouldn’t have these stats.”
Cousineau has enjoyed playing with the club since joining the Americans in November.
 
“It’s great – as you can see we have a nice rink, a nice crowd and a nice town. I have family down here in Plano, so for me it’s pretty awesome. I love it, the guys are great and we have a lot of fun.”
Of his first ever All-Star appearance, Cousineau said, “I’m looking forward to having fun, to enjoy the game and enjoy the moment. It might be the only one I’ll have so I’ll just enjoy it and have fun with the boys.”
 
The 2012 CHL All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 in Prescott Valley, Arizona at Tim’s Toyota Center with the game’s format pitting the host Arizona Sundogs against a team of CHL All-Stars.
Editor’s Note: At press time, it was announced that Marco Cousineau has been called up to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League and will not participate in the CHL All-Star Game. A replacement has yet to be named.
 
Contact the writer at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com