ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans defeated the Rio Grande Killer Bees 7-3 Friday night at the Allen Event Center in front of a crowd of 4,333.
Both teams spent the first half of the first period keeping up a quick tempo and battling over the puck. Americans forward Nick Layton opened the scoring with his 8th goal of the season, beating Rio netminder John Murray at the 11:04 mark. Jim McKenzie and Mike Berube assisted. Killer Bees forward Aaron Lee got his 14th tally of the season when he put one past Rejean Beauchemin at the 16:38 mark, tying the game at 1-1 with the lone assist going to Nicolas Rioux. The Americans answered that goal 89 seconds later when forward Brian McMillin broke the tie on a pass from Jarret Lukin, giving the Americans a 2-1 lead, which held for the remainder of the period. The score remained 2-1 midway through the second frame until Americans forward Keith Johnson netted a tip-in goal from Tyler Ludwig and Bruce Graham. It only took four minutes for Rio to answer the goal with a tip-in on Beauchemin from David Marshall, assisted by AJ Mikkelsen and Scott Balan, making it a 3-2 contest in favor of the Americans. Lachlan MacIntosh got his 2nd goal of the season, adding to the Americans lead after a beautiful feed from Bruce Graham, giving the Americans a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Early in third period, the Americans took a three goal lead on Bruce Graham’s 14th of the season. Keith Johnson and Dominic D’Amour drew the assists. Rio responded, as former Americans forward Jason Dixon netted his 4th on a feed from Tomas Klempa but the Americans added two more goals to put it away. Colton Yellow Horn scored his 12th of the season on an empty Rio net at the 18:17 mark and the final goal was scored by Jim McKenzie, his 11th on a feed from Jason Deitsch making the final 7-3 Americans, giving the home team their 16th win of the season.
With the Americans victory, Head Coach Dwight Mullins had the best winning percentage heading into the Christmas break and will coach the CHL All Star Team for a second season in a row. Pro Hockey News’ Chip Crail recorded all the action at the Allen Event Center on Friday night and has submitted the following photos from the contest.
Americans goalie Rejean Beauchemin prepares to make a save.
Killer Bees swarm around goalie John Murray as Allen%27s Brian McMillin attacks.
Allen%27s Brian McMillin beats John Murray to score one for the Americans.
Allen defenseman Dominic D%27Amour gives the Killer Bees%27 Jason Dixon a bump as goalie Rejean Beauchemin watches the oncoming action.
Allen defenseman Joshua Hepditch is pursued by Rio%27s Tomas Klempa.
Allen%27s Lachlan MacIntosh moves around Beauchemin and prepares to score.
Rio goalie John Murray clears the puck from the left circle.
The Americans return to home ice with a two-game set against the Laredo Bucks on December 30th and 31st Contact the photographer at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com Contact the editor at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
