Allen sprints out of the gate

ALLEN, Texas – The long hockey drought finally ended this weekend for Central Hockey League fans everywhere as the league opened its 19th season of action with a busy schedule. Fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex were treated to back-to-back battles between the Allen Americans and Texas Brahmas and all indicators dictate that the intense cross-town rivalry will be one to watch all season long.
 
Proudly raising the 2010 Southern Conference Champions banner over home ice in their opener on Friday night seemingly set the Americans on fire. The first victim to be burned was Brahmas goaltender Kevin Beech who uncharacteristically allowed three goals on the first four shots.
 

Allen rookie Alex Quesnel caught everyone by surprise when he ripped the first shot of the game into the net for Allen just 22 seconds into the contest. By the 4:19 mark, the Americans held a commanding 3-0 lead on further goals by rookie Dustin Donaghy and Judd Blackwater.
 
Brahmas Head Coach Dan Wildfong, in an effort to head off the deluge, swiftly replaced Beech with rookie netminder Wayne Savage, who was able to breath some life into his beleaguered team.

Texas registered the next two goals, but Allen winger Liam Huculak managed to beat Savage late in the third period and an open-netter by defenseman Erik Adams with under a minute remaining in regulation cemented the win.
 
On Saturday night, Savage was back in net for the Brahmas and he lived up to his name, defending the goal with savage abandon. Facing an onslaught of 57 shots during the contest, Savage was defiant between the pipes for Texas.
 
In a turn of events, Texas took the first lead in the game, netting two goals in the final six minutes of the opening frame. The Americans however, were undaunted, answering back with two tallies of their own within the first three minutes of the middle frame to bring the match even. The lead see-sawed back and forth from there with neither side gaining a lead they could protect through regulation.
 
Heading into overtime with the score tied at 4-4 and both teams earning at least one point in the standings, neither team could gain the edge to bring home the victory and the game would be decided by a shootout. In a dramatic finish that had the crowd at the Allen Events Center on their feet, Allen defenseman Justin Dacosta finally netted the game-winner in the 10th round.
 
One of the highlights of the night for the Americans was the third period power play goal by defenseman David Strathman, which was truly a thing of beauty. Strathman started from behind the Allen net, streaked down the ice and dodged defenders unmolested as if they were pylons, finishing up with a nifty deke on Savage for the score.
 
The Americans are moving the puck with confidence and generating good opportunities in the offensive zone, as evidenced by their combined weekend total of 93 shots in two games. Once the lines start to settle in and players begin to really gel, those created opportunities should provide fertile ground for a strong crop of goals generated by the talent this team has at its disposal.
The Americans will hit the road this week as they head to Bossier-Shreveport to take on the Mudbugs on Thursday and Friday nights before heading to Wichita to face the Thunder on Saturday.  
Contact the author at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com