PHN Photo Essay – Allen Americans Vs. Wichita Thunder 01/27/12

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans won the battle for first place in the Berry Conference on Friday night, with a 5-0 shutout of the Wichita Thunder.

The Americans opened the scoring in the first period, as Nick Layton drove to the net setting up Jeff Martens, who finished the job as the Americans grabbed a 1-0 lead just over 14 minutes into the opening period. Mark Nebus drew the second assist. Four minutes later, that line was at it again as Nick Layton followed up a Mark Nebus shot, poking the puck into the open net and the Americans were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. There were only eleven shots total in that period, with the Americans out shooting the Thunder 7-4.

The Americans add two more in the second, first Bruce Graham with his 22nd strike of the season from Colton Yellow Horn and Trevor Hendrikx. Mark Nebus netted his tenth of the season and his third in as many games, burying a wrister on a feed from Nick Layton to give Allen a 4-0 lead.

Bryan Hogan replaced Adam Russo in net for Wichita in the third, however the Thunder were unable to solve Americans netminder Rejean Beauchemin, who stopped everything thrown his way. The Americans added one more goal in the third, as Bruce Graham scored his second of the night and 23rd of the season, to make it 5-0 Allen. The Americans went on to win by that same score as Rejean Beauchemin nabbed his second shutout in a row, for the first time in his career.

“I think this was our best game in a long time,” Beauchemin said. “We haven’t seen these guys since early December, so it was a long time in coming and definitely a game we had circled on our calendar.” Pro Hockey News’ Chip Crail recorded all the action at the Allen Event Center and has submitted the following images from the contest.