Central Hockey League: Jackalopes fall to Americans

In a game that featured some give and take all over the ice, the visiting Allen Americans were more than happy to take when given the chance by the Odessa Jackalopes.

Converting two turnovers and a key power play into goals, Allen skated away with a 5-4 victory Friday night in front of 2,918 at Ector County Coliseum.

Bruce Graham had one goal and two assists to lead the Americans (11-4-1), with Mick Berge and Justin Bowers each finishing with one goal and one assist in the victory.

It was Bowers’ power-play goal with four seconds remaining in the second period that proved to be the game winner after the Jackalopes had twice battled back from two-goal deficits to tie the game.

“We gave them at least two goals that we had full possession of the puck,” Jackalopes coach Paul Gillis said. “That’s a real good team over there and I thought this was a well-fought hockey game tonight.

“I thought we had a lot of energy tonight and I thought we controlled a lot of the play, especially in the second period and the end of the first period. But we just had a couple of costly turnovers.”

Paul Kelly, Collin Circelli, Kory Karlander and Sebastien Thinel all scored for the Jackalopes, with Garrett Gruenke, Kenny Bernard, Dominic Leveille, Circelli, Jeff Pierce, Mike Ramsay and Jean Bourbeau all finishing with one assist.

Thinel’s goal, with 2:01 remaining in the second period, came with the man advantage, giving the Jackalopes (13-3-2) a power-play goal in 16 consecutive games.

The American started the scoring with a short-handed maker just 3:20 into the game and with Allen’s Fairbarn in the penalty box for tripping.

The scoring play started at the American’s blue line, where the Jackalopes were unable to keep the puck in the zone and Bowers took the puck up the right-wing boards, with teammate Tobias Whelan jumping into the play in the center of the ice to make it a 2-on-1 for the Allen.

Seconds later, the puck was in the back of the net as Bowers, cutting through the right circle, fed Whelan at the left post for the redirect and a 1-0 lead.

The Jackalopes then answered with a short-handed goal of their own to tie the game with 7:26 left in the first period.

Working down low in his own zone on the penalty kill, Odessa forward Jean Bourbeau was able to gain control of the puck and chip it up the right side of the ice and into the neutral zone, where it passed Karlander, who sped up as the puck slid into the Allen zone.

Just as Karlander began his charge to the puck, so did Americans goaltender Chris Whitley. Kalander got there first and as Whitley dove trying to make the save, Karlander flipped a backhand from the top of the right circle over the fallen goaltender that went spinning end over end before dropping into the net. 

>> Americans 5, Jackalopes 4 

Allen                                2     3       0     —    5

Odessa                           2     2       0     —    4

First Period—1, Allen, Tobias Whelen (Justin Bowers) 3:20 (sh). 2, Odessa, Kory Karlander (Jean Bourbeau) 12:24 (sh). 3, Allen, Bruce Graham (unassisted) 15:17. 4, Odessa, Collin Circelli (Jeff Pierce, Garret Gruenke) 16:57. Penalties—Ryan Fairbarn, Allen (tripping), 16:40; Mike Lesperance, Jackalopes (charging), 9:10; Michael Grenzy, Jackalopes (roughing), 12:03.

Second Period—5, Allen, Mick Berge (Bruce Graham, Nino Musitell) 3:57. 6, Allen, Nathan O’Nabigon (Christian Gaudet, Mick Berge) 5:30. 7, Odessa, Paul Kelly (Dominic Leveille, Kenny Bernard) 6:57. 8, Odessa, Sebastien Thinel (Collin Circelli, Mike Ramsay) 17:58 (pp). 9, Allen, Justin Bowers (Kurtis Dulle, Bruce Graham) 19:56 (pp). Penalties—Garrett Gruenke, Jackalopes (fighting), :03; Liam Huculak, Allen (fighting), :03; Jeff Pierce, Jackalopes (hooking), 10:02; Michael Grenzy, Jackalopes (fighting), 12:45; Britt Dougherty, Allen (fighting), 12:45; Erik Adams, Allen (roughing), 15:30; Kurtis Dulle, Allen (boarding), 17:51; Kory Karlander, Jackalopes (roughing), 19:48.

Third Period—None. Penalties—Erik Adams, Allen (holding), 1:09; Jeff Pierce, Jackalopes (interference), 7:56; Tyler Wooddisse, Allen (interference), 9:43; Bruce Graham, Allen (interference), 15:00; Alex Dunn, Jackalopes (roughing), 15:00.

Shots on Goal—Allen 15-6-7—28. Odessa 14-15-10—40.

Power-play opportunities—Allen 1 of 5. Odessa 1 of 5.

Goalies—Allen, Chris Whitley. Odessa, Juha Toivonen. A—2,918 (5,100).

Referee—Dan Dreger. Linesmen—Rich Walters, Bill McGoldrick.