As the ECHL heads into it’s final week before the All Star break, which will not feature a game this season, there are plenty of headlines throughout the Western Conference’s three divisions.
- Fort Wayne continues to lead the Midwest Division, but it is a close race as the top four teams are separated by just three points. Quad City, Indy and Cincinnati are within one point of each other in second, third and fourth.
- Missouri continues to dominate the Central Division as they pushed their record in the last ten games to 9-0-1-0 to pull ahead of second-place Allen by 17 points. Third place Tulsa continues to sneak up on second place, finding themselves just five points behind Allen after winning seven of it’s last 10 games.
- Utah continues to hold the lead in the West Division, with Idaho, Rapid City and Colorado battling it out for position. The second, third and fourth place teams all have 16 wins on the season and are separated by three points.
Let’s take a look back at week 13 of the season for all 14 teams in the Western Conference:
FORT WAYNE KOMETS (18-11-2-0, 38 Points)
The Komets pulled off a split last weekend during a two game road set at Quad City to hold onto first place in the Midwest Division. Joe Perry netted a hat trick and added an assist, while Garrett Thompson contributed two goals in a 7-4 win over the Mallards on Friday night. With the game tied 3-3 mid-way through the second, Fort Wayne pulled away by scoring three times over an 18-minute span. Pat Nagle posted 26 saves on 30 shots. The Komets came up short of the sweep on Sunday, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Fort Wayne outshot Quad City 42-23, but could not find the back of the net in a 2-0 loss.
The week ahead: Wednesday at Cincinnati, Friday home vs. Orlando, Saturday & Sunday home vs. Rapid City.
QUAD CITY MALLARDS (17-15-1-2, 37 Points)
The Mallards pulled off a split during a two game home series with the Fort Wayne Komets. Austin Coldwell scored a goal and assist, while Sam Warning, Kevin Henderson and Matt Carey also contributed goals in a 7-4 home loss to Fort Wayne on Friday. The Mallards battled back from an early two goal deficit to knot the score at 3-3 mid-way through the second, before allowing three goals over the next 18 minutes as the game slipped out of reach. Quad City pulled back within one point of the division lead on Sunday, as Steve Michalek posted 42 saves in a 2-0 shootout win over the Komets. Carey (1 G, 1 A) and Olivier Archambault (1 G) provided all the offense the Mallards would need, despite being outshot by the Komets 42-23.
The week ahead: Friday home vs. Kalamazoo, Saturday at Evansville, Sunday home vs. Kalamazoo.
INDY FUEL (17-18-2-0, 36 Points)
The Fuel was perfect over the weekend, winning three times to pull within two points of the division lead. Deadlocked 2-2 entering the final frame in Friday’s home game against Evansville, Michael Colantone netted the game winner at 12:28 to give the Fuel a 3-2 win. Mac Carruth posted 28 saves. Derek Roehl scored twice and Shane Owen stopped 32 shots on Saturday in a 3-0 shutout win over Evansville. Garett Bembridge had a goal and assist, while Owen posted 39 saves as Peter Schneider pocketed the game winner late in Sunday’s 3-2 road win at Wheeling. The win came in a game that saw the Nailers out-shoot the Fuel 41-27.
The week ahead: Friday home vs. Rapid City, Saturday home vs. Orlando, Sunday home vs. Wheeling.
CINCINNATI CYCLONES (15-13-3-2, 35 points)
Cincinnati slipped this week, as they dropped three games during an Eastern Conference swing, while managing just one point out of a possible six. Joe Wilson and Cody Carlson each scored at Atlanta on Wednesday, but it was too little, too late as the goals came after the Gladiators had found the net five times in a 5-2 defeat. Andrew Yogan netted his seventh of the season early in Friday’s contest at Norfolk, but the Admirals responded with three unanswered goals to hand the Cyclones a 3-1 loss. Jack Downing scored midway through the opening period at Norfolk on Saturday, then added his Western Conference leading 16th of the season five minutes into the third period to give the Cyclones a one goal lead. The Admirals, however, would find the late equalizer and go on to net the game winner in the extra frame, saddling goaltender Brandon Whitney with a 3-2 loss.
The week ahead: Wednesday home vs. Fort Wayne, Saturday, Sunday & Monday at Allen.
EVANSVILLE ICEMEN (12-17-3-1, 28 Points)
As they announced they were at an impasse in lease negotiation with the city, things could not have been worse for the IceMen. Desperately needing a win, Evansville dropped a pair of road games at Indy to extend its losing streak to five games. Danny Hobbs scored twice on Friday night to keep the game tied through 40-minutes, but the IceMen would give away the game winner at 12:28 of the third and fall 3-2 to the Fuel. Evansville would not find the net the following night, despite outshooting the Fuel 32-26, in a 3-0 loss. The team and city could not strike a deal on a new lease for the Ford Center before the ECHL-imposed deadline of January 6, and with neither side seemingly willing to budge, the future of hockey in Evansville beyond this season is in serious limbo.
The week ahead: Wednesday home vs. Rapid City, Friday at Toledo, Saturday home vs. Quad City.
MISSOURI MAVERICKS (28-3-1-1, 58 Points)
It was just another week for the Mavs, as they pulled off two of three wins to pull ahead of second place Allen by 17 points. Kane Lafranchise and Sebastien Sylvestre’s first period goals at Tulsa on Tuesday game Missouri a 2-0 lead at the first intermission, before Tulsa tied to send the game to extra time. Josh Robinson stopped all three Tulsa shooters in a three round shootout and Andrew Courtney found the net to secure a 4-3 win over the Oilers. Down by one goal at Rapid City on Friday, Tyler Barnes netted his 14th of the season late in the third to force overtime, where the Rush found the game winner and handed Missouri a 2-1 loss. Rocco Carzo, Courtney and Scott Wamsganz put the Mavs up 3-0 in a four minute span early into Saturday’s game at Rapid City, and Robinson took over, making 27 saves to give Missouri a 3-1 win. The victory, Robinson’s 14th of the season, moves him within two wins of tying the ECHL’s single-season record for longest winning streak for a goaltender. Robinson is a perfect 14-0-0 on the season as he attempts to chase down the record of 16 straight wins set by South Carolina’s Jeff Jakaitis last season.
The week ahead: Tuesday at Wichita, Friday & Saturday at Colorado.
ALLEN AMERICANS (20-14-1-0, 41 Points)
The Americans remain in second place in the Central Division, following a weekend split with the visiting Colorado Eagles. Riley Gill was solid in net Friday, stopping 29 shots, but he would not receive any goal support from his teammates and the Americans would go on to fall 1-0. Finding themselves down 1-0 midway through the opening period on Sunday, the Americans fired back; scoring five-straight goals to break the game wide open. Chad Costello scored twice and added two assists, as Allen’s power play unit went 2-for-3 for a 5-2 win over the Eagles.
The week ahead: Saturday, Sunday & Monday home vs. Cincinnati.
TULSA OILERS (16-11-2-2, 36 Points)
The Oilers went 2-1 on the week, while claiming points in all three games. Tulsa is slowly creeping up on second place Allen, after picking up standings points in nine of its last 10 games. Netminder Matt Grogan was impressive for Tulsa, as he saw his first action of the year while filling in for the suspended Kevin Carr. Adam Pleskach scored twice in Tuesday’s home game with Missouri to send the two teams to overtime and a shootout. Unfortunately, the Oilers could not find the net in the shootout and fell 4-3. The Oilers then went on to claim a pair of wins during a home-and-home series with Wichita. Nathan Lutz provided the only regulation goal for Tulsa on Friday, and Brady Ramsay found the net in the shootout while Grogan stood strong to stop all three Wichita shooters for a 2-1 win. Dan DeSalvo (2 G, 1 A), Emerson Clark (1 G, 3 A), Phil Brewer (1 G, 3 A) and Christophe Lalancette (1 G, 1 A) were on fire Saturday during a high scoring home win over the Thunder. Grogan posted 30 saves as Tulsa outshot Wichita 45-34 for a 6-4 victory.
The week ahead: Wednesday at Utah, Friday & Saturday at Idaho.
WICHITA THUNDER (9-21-1-4, 23 Points)
The Thunder gained one point last week, following a pair of losses to their longtime rival Tulsa Oilers during a weekend home-and-home series. Down 1-0 at home on Friday, Landon Oslanski netted a power play goal midway through the middle frame to tie the game. David Shantz made 31 saves on the night, but allowed a goal in the shootout while his teammates failed to find the net and the Thunder went on to fall 2-1. Third period goals by Kale Kerbashian (1 G, 1 A) and Dalton Reum (1 G, 1 A) tied Saturday’s road game at Tulsa 4-4 before the Oilers scored twice to hand Wichita a 6-4 loss. Grant Rollheiser made 39 saves on the night in a game that saw the two sides combine for 79 shots on goal.
The week ahead: Tuesday home vs. Missouri, Friday, Saturday & Monday at Utah.
UTAH GRIZZLIES (19-13-2-0, 40 Points)
The grizzlies gave up some ground in the standings after dropping two-of-three games last week, but remain at the top of the West Division. T.J. Syner’s late third period goal would be the only marker for the Grizzlies during a 3-1 home loss to the Rush on Wednesday. Ryan Faragher posted 25 saves on the night, while Utah outshot Rapid City 42-28. Faragher posted 22 saves at home against Idaho on Friday, but the Grizzlies would not be able to find the net despite outshooting the Steelheads 37-23 and they would lose 1-0. Utah scored every way possible on Saturday, with an even strength goal coming from Syner in the first period, a shorthanded goal from Ryan Walters in the second, and a power play goal from Shayne Taker in the third period as the Grizzlies cruised to a 3-1 win over the Steelheads.
The week ahead: Wednesday home vs. Tulsa, Friday, Saturday & Monday home vs. Wichita.
IDAHO STEELHEADS (16-16-4-1, 37 Points)
Idaho remains three points out of first place, following a weekend split at division leading Utah over the weekend. Jefferson Dahl’s first period power play marker, his 15th of the season, would prove to be the game winner on Friday as Jack Campbell stopped 37-of-37 shots in a 1-0 shutout win. Campbell’s shutout would be his second straight, and his shutout minute’s streak would reach nearly 130 minutes before he gave up a first period goal on Saturday. Down 3-0 on Saturday, Andrew Carroll would score late in the third period to break up Utah’s shutout bid, but the Steelheads would fall 3-1.
The week ahead: Friday & Saturday home vs. Tulsa.
RAPID CITY RUSH (16-13-2-1, 35 Points)
Rapid City picked up a pair of wins in three games last week, moving them within two points of the second place position in the division. Spencer Pommells scored twice, while Winston Day Chief added a goal and assist as the Rush held on to claim a 3-1 road win at Utah on Wednesday. Danny Battochio posted 41 saves in the win, as the Rush was outshot 42-28 by the Grizzlies. Pommells put the Rush on top midway through the first period of Friday’s home contest with league-leading Missouri, before Mikhail Stefanovich found the net 2:46 into overtime to give Rapid City a 2-1 win. Danny Battochio stopped 26 shots in the win. The Rush found themselves in an early 3-0 hole on Saturday, and was unable to dig themselves out as they fell 3-1 to the Mavericks. Zach Cohen had the lone goal while Sam Marotta was a perfect 22-for-22 in relief of Battochio.
The week ahead: Wednesday at Evansville, Friday at Indy, Saturday & Sunday at Fort Wayne.
COLORADO EAGLES (16-17-2-0, 34 Points)
The Eagles pulled within one point of third place Rapid City, following a weekend split at Allen. Johnny Lazo’s first period goal would be the game winner at Allen on Friday, as Eric Levine made a perfect 32 saves in a 1-0 shutout win for the Eagles against the Americans. Darryl Bootland put Colorado up on his former team midway through the first period, but the Americans went on to put five goals past Levine before Everett Sheen broke the Colorado scoring drought midway through the third. From there, the Eagles would not be able to cut into the deficit any farther and fell 5-2.
The week ahead: Friday & Saturday home vs. Missouri.
ALASKA ACES (12-18-1-3, 28 Points)
The Aces picked up three points last week, following a split during the first part of a three game set at Atlanta. A pair of second period goals from Tim Coffman sent Friday’s game at Atlanta to a shootout .Unfortunately for Alaska, both Gladiators shooters would score and no Aces would find the net and the Aces fell 3-2. The Aces would then pick up a 2-1 win on Sunday. Justin Breton opened the scoring for Alaska, finding the net for his 12th of the season on a penalty shot at 3:19 of the first. Mitch Jones would then add a power play goal 1:10 into the third and Troy Redmann held on to post 32 saves to secure the win.
The week ahead: Tuesday at Atlanta, Thursday at Greenville, Saturday & Sunday at South Carolina.
GOALS: Jack Downing (CIN), Tyson Fawcett (EVN) 16; Daultan Leveille (EVN), Jefferson Dahl (IDH) 15; Jesse Root (MO), Matt Berry (UTH), Alex Krushelnyski (UTH), Tyler Barnes (MO), Chad Costello (ALN), Trent Daavettila (COL) 14.
ASSISTS: Chad Costello (ALN) 35; Rob Linsmayer (IDH) 24; Trent Daavettila (COL) 22; Charles Sarault (UTH) 21; Tyler Barnes (MO), Rocco Carzo (MO), Mike Monfredo (QC), Alex Lavoie (Indy) 20.
POINTS: Chad Costello (ALN) 49; Trent Daavettila (COL) 36; Tyler Barnes (MO) 34; Rob Linsmayer (IDH) 33; Jesse Root (MO) 32.
*From players on active ECHL rosters as of January 11, 2016
WINS: Josh Robinson (MO) 18; Ryan Faragher (UTH) 14; Kevin Carr (TUL), Pat Nagle (FTW) 12; Joel Rumple (ALN), Danny Battochio (RC) 11.
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Josh Robinson (MO) 1.61; Parker Milner (MO) 1.67; Brad Thiessen (CIN) 1.86; Kevin Carr (TUL) 1.95; Ryan Faragher (UTH) 2.14.
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Parker Milner (MO) 0.938; Josh Robinson (MO) 0.937; Brad Thiessen (CIN) 0.935; Ryan Faragher (UTH) 0.926; Steve Michalek (QC) 0.925.
*From players on active ECHL rosters as of January 11, 2016