Allen streaks to second place in Berry Conference

ALLEN, Texas – After a sluggish start in the first few games of the 2011-12 season, a tough but productive road trip has the Allen Americans seated firmly in second place in the Central Hockey League’s Berry Conference, just one point behind the first place Wichita Thunder.
With a grueling five game schedule squeezed in over the course of eight nights across far south Texas, the excursion proved the Americans to be capable road warriors, capturing nine of a possible ten points.
The momentum began with a dramatic overtime victory over the Arizona Sundogs on November 5th, the last home game for the Americans before beginning their trek across the southern reaches of the Lone Star state in series against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and Laredo Bucks.
The Americans rode the emotional high of the overtime win against Arizona to greater heights – starting with a 3-1 win against the Killer Bees, Allen went on to defeat the Laredo Bucks in back-to-back games before returning to Rio Grande Valley for two more games. They won the first and lost the second in overtime.

During the road trip, the Americans outscored their opponents 19-9 and show signs their lines are beginning to gel. Not only was the offense beginning to produce but the last line of defense was spotlighted as well. The Central Hockey League named Americans goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson its Oakley Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 13.
The 5’11”, 190 pound native of West Roxbury, Massachusetts was nearly flawless, stopping 60 of 62 shots faced and blanking a combined eight power plays, leading his team to victories in two games over Laredo and Rio Grande Valley. Mahoney-Wilson compiled a .968 save percentage for the week and improved his season record to 3-1 with a .917 Save Percentage, 7th overall amongst CHL goaltenders.
While on the road, the Americans welcomed another goaltender to the ranks – Marco Cousineau, recently re-assigned by the Anaheim Ducks by way of the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.
Head Coach Dwight Mullins didn’t hesitate to put Cousineau to use. He played the remaining three road games starting the day after he joined the team in Laredo, posting a strong 2-0-1 record and .933 save percentage over the course of his first week with the club.
Another highlight for the Americans has been the play of veteran center Jason Deitsch. The former captain of the Texas Brahmas who was acquired by the Americans over the summer has proven himself to be captain consistency for his new team.
Deitsch has notched an impressive 11-game point streak, scoring at least one point in every single outing for the Americans this season. Deitsch currently leads the team in scoring with 15 points (2 G, 13 A, +9) and is ranked 4th in the league in scoring.
The Americans are home this weekend to take on the Rapid City Rush in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday night at the Allen Event Center. The puck drops at 7:05 pm CST for both games.
Contact the writer at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com  
Contact the photographer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com