Practice Notes, Macker, & Other Thoughts

Bill McDonald Addressing the Heritage Ranch Fan Club - photo by Joe Sullivan

Congrats to Macker on his selection as the new head coach at Lakehead University in his home town of Thunder Bay, Ontario. I know in talking to him many times this year he loved and appreciated the fact that the Americans wanted him in the organization as a Special Advisor but his heart is still in coaching. We had the honor of having Macker attend our fan club meeting Tuesday evening and he was great. We wish Macker and Trudy well as they spend their first hockey season back home in Thunder Bay in many years.

 - I attended practice yesterday and was able to watch the Americans and Cutthroats go through their paces. Denver who is a smaller team than the Americans was full of pace and speed. The Americans continued to work on power play and deflections.

- Justin Kirsch and Bryce Aneloski looked good in practice but practice doesn't really tell you much. Kirsch was assigned #11 while Aneloski was assigned #5.

- Mike Berube looks like he is ready to go for tonight's playoff opener as he was in full practice mode while Anthony Maiani is still not practicing.

- With the way the playoff roster sets up and Maiani not practicing look for Justin Kirsch to be in the line up and see some ice time.

- Keep an eye on Denver players #22 AJ Gale who led the CHL with 46 goals and #2 Adam Smyth who was signed by Denver in mid February after playing for Arizona early in the year. Smyth is 6' 1" 240 pounds and had 222 minutes in penalties this year.

- This series might come down to the defense/goal tending of Allen versus the scoring of Denver. The Americans do not have a single point a game scorer (not counting recently acquired Todd Robinson) and with Maiani out of the line up they do not have anyone in the top 20 in points in the league. On the flip side Denver has three guys in the top seven in scoring in the league. Another key will be depth as Allen has in my opinion a stronger third line than Denver.

- Tom Manning, Director of Game Operations for the Americans promises some special team introductions for the playoffs. Will be looking forward to see what he has come up with.

- The Adam & Monique fundraiser for Martine Durelle, who will soon under go a bone marrow transplant, is planned for Saturday April 6. I had a chance to talk to Adam and Monique yesterday and they are gathering some great items for their auction and raffle. I should also have an address today or tomorrow if you want to make cash donations to Martine.

- My understanding is America One Sports will be providing free live streaming (audio) for all the playoff  games. The games will be broadcast exclusively on American One Sports. This will not impact how you listen to the games inside the AEC if you bring a radio to the game.