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Americans shutout Arizona on opening night
BY Todd Etshman Special to the Allen American
PRESCOTT VALLEY, ARIZ. -- The Americans may be new to the Central Hockey League, but they looked like they fit in just fine in their inaugural regular season debut against the Arizona Sundogs on Friday night.
Goalie Charlie Effinger stopped all 33 shots he faced and the Americans made a first period power play goal by Christian Gaudet stand up on the road for a season opening 1-0 victory over the 2008 CHL champions.
“I really feel like we had good energy and competed hard all night,” said Dwight Mullins, Americans head coach and general manager. “We got outstanding goaltending, which you need to have to win in situations like we were in late in the game.”
But Liam Huculak blocked one shot and the defense kept an older, more experienced Sundogs offense at bay.
“Sometimes you get yourself in those situations,” Mullins said. “Guys just want to do something a little extra. I give credit to the guys who got it done in the end.”
“The team did a real nice job of taking care of pucks in the slot after I’d made a save,” Effinger said. “When guys are working hard in front of you, it really makes things easy for me.”
Center Christian Gaudet scored the first-ever goal for the Americans, beating Sundogs goalie Kyle McNulty in close off a nice behind-the-net feed from Bruce Graham on the power play with just 1:40 left in the first period.
Gaudet and Graham have more chemistry than most linemates this time of year. They’re both from Moncton, NB, played on the same junior team (Moncton Hawks) and practiced together this summer before reporting to camp.
“Bruce laid it right on my stick and I just had to put it in,” Gaudet said of his game-winning goal. “He’s a good passer and if you get open, he’s going to get it to you.”
Officially, shots were almost even in the game, but territory and quality chances favored the Americans.
It was only fitting that Gaudet should get the first goal since he hit the post with a blast midway through the first period.
Nathan O’Nabigon took the Americans first-ever shot on goal less than 30 seconds after the opening face-off and Allen kept the majority of play in the Sundogs end in the opening minutes of the game.
The Americans could have widened the lead in the second period on partial breakaways by Tobias Whelan and Loupee, but couldn’t capitalize. They outshot their hosts, 16-8, in the middle frame.
Arizona goalie Kyle McNulty was also sharp in keeping his team in the game. McNulty made a left leg save on defenseman Tyler Wooddisse to keep the score 1-0 with just under seven minutes left in the game.
In a season of firsts, the initial fight occurred at 11:40 of the middle frame when defenseman Brandon Straub quickly dropped Arizona’s Kim Karsberg in front of the Americans’ net.
Mullins was proud of the team’s opening night performance.
“We’ve got a great group of guys here who are willing to work hard for each other,” he said. “They’re going to try to outwork the opposition and that’s what we’re going to have to do to win games.”
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