Central Hockey League: Thinel keeps Jacks' power play running smoothly

At some point tonight, the Odessa Jackalopes are going to force the Rapid City Rush to take a penalty and Sebastien Thinel, the quarterback of the Jackalopes’ power play, will step on the ice.

Then, as the man-advantage situation gets under way, Thinel will drift to his normal spot on the ice in the right corner, giving himself the leeway of moving behind the net or up the wall to better survey the tableau in front of him.

Then, in an instant, the puck either is headed on net for a shot or feathered over, under and through several sticks and pairs of skates to a waiting teammate’s stick for a shot — a shot that more often than not finds the back of the net.

In 57 games this season, Thinel has contributed a Central Hockey League-leading 36 assists.

Three of his teammates — Mike Ramsay (16 goals), Collin Circelli (15) and Jeff Pierce (15) — are the top three goal scorers on the power play from the forward spot, with defenseman Alex Dunn second among blueliners with 11 power-play goals.

Since the Jackalopes are converting 28.5 percent of their man-advantage chances, it’s easy to see why Thinel was selected as the best on the power play and best playmaker in the 2009-2010 CHL Best of the Best poll.

“Sebby’s pretty amazing with the puck,” Ramsay said. “He’s patient and he’s able to work to get free on the wall and keep the play alive.

“He’s got great vision and knows where everyone is going to be, so if someone is cheating one way or the other, he’s going to find the open guy. And if the pass isn’t there, he’ll put the puck on net looking to score or for one of us to get a rebound chance in front.”

Thinel knows that it’s his job to get his teammates involved and there is nothing he likes better than skating over to congratulate someone after the puck hits the twine behind an opposing goaltender.

He’s been a tear, scoring 28 points in February with eight goals and 20 assists in 10 games. That earned him CHL Player of the Month honors, the second consecutive year that the St. Jerome, Quebec, native has taken the award in February.

“That was a very good month,” Jackalopes coach Paul Gillis said. “Sebby is one of our leaders and he’s coming on when we need him and doing what we expect from him.

“He’s smart, he’s been working hard on both ends of the ice and has really been strong on the power play. It’s nice to see him get recognized for the month and by the rest of the league.”

Last year, the player of the month award catapulted Thinel to the CHL’s Most Valuable Player award and he’s a candidate again this season.

Thinel is more focused, however, on the Ray Miron’s Presidents Trophy handed to the championship team at the end of the playoffs.

“We’ve been working hard all year to get to this point and we can’t let up now,” said Thinel, who has helped the Jackalopes to the best record in the CHL with seven games left in the regular season.

“It’s nice to show the consistency all year to get the best record, but we need to build for the playoffs and be ready because every team is going to come in here and play us hard and hope to knock us out.”

>> ICE CHIPS: Thinel wasn’t the only Jackalopes player to earn recognition in the Best of the Best rankings, which are compiled through votes by players, coaches and broadcasters around the CHL.

Goaltender Joel Martin was tabbed the top netminder in the league, Collin Circelli was selected as the most underrated player, Dave Van Drunen was honored as the top defensive defenseman and Kory Karlander was rated the best player on faceoffs.

Also finishing in the top three in one of the 46 categories were Mike Ramsay (power play), Brian Swiniarski (defensive forward), Alex Dunn (offensive defenseman), Jean Bourbeau (best bodychecker), Gillis (coach) and Brien Rea (broadcaster).

Off the ice, Ector County Coliseum was selected as having the best concessions in the league.

THE BASICS

>> Who: Rapid City Rush (40-12-5) vs. Odessa Jackalopes (42-11-4)

>> When, where: 7:05 p.m. tonight, Ector County Coliseum

>> Radio: FM-102.1.

>> On the net: www.CHLTV.insinc.net