CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE SteelHounds set marks in 6-0 romp

Goalie David St. Germain's delivered his second shutout, and his first at home.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- In the rematch after Wednesday's ice hockey slugfest between the SteelHounds and Fort Worth Brahmas, brawls took second stage to a record-setting first-period scoring outburst.
Chris Richards, Jeff Christian, Joey Sewell, Matt Hanson and Ben Manny scored in the first 20 minutes as the SteelHounds set records for most goals in the opening period plus power-play goals (three) in any period in Friday's 6-0 victory over the Brahmas at the Chevrolet Centre.
Adding icing to the cake was goalie David St. Germain's second shutout of the year (his first at home) plus a sandwich giveaway.
"He earned that tonight," said Richards of St. Germain who stopped 41 shots. "He made some really nice saves in each period."
St. Germain, whose other shutout came in Fort Worth in December, said, "We came out really strong. There were only two games left, but the guys came out as if we were still in a playoff race -- that's good.
"The guys played really well in front of me, so it made my job easier," St. Germain (18-27-4) said.
Christian shows his stuff
With three points, Christian, the SteelHounds assistant coach and captain, demonstrated why he finished second in the Central Hockey League's Most Valuable Player voting.
Friday, the CHL announced that Christian (the league's second-leading scorer) finished runner-up to Amarillo's Derek Hahn (the top scorer) in balloting by CHL coaches and media.
"Honest, I didn't think I would [win,]" said Christian, who's completing his 16th professional season. "It is an honor to finish runner-up -- I'm very happy."
Christian has 103 points, second only to Hahn's 110 entering Friday's game with Rio Grande Valley.
"Derek Hahn is a great player and I think he deserves it," said Christian, who's enjoyed his best scoring season. "One hundred points is just unbelievable to me. I just say that a point-a-game at any level was good -- that used to be my goal.
"Back in my [International Hockey League] days, I had some great runs, but this has been great," said Christian, who's hoping to return to the SteelHounds next season.
Richards lauds Christian
Richards, who also earned three points for 90 overall, said Christian "is the best player I've ever had beside me in my career. It's my job to get him the puck. Scoring is a hard job, but he makes it look so easy."
After the Brahmas (17-38-8) took six of the game's first seven shots, the SteelHounds (23-35-5) took a 1-0 lead about four minutes into the game when Christian hit a gliding Richards (the CHL's fourth-leading scorer) with a pass into the slot. Richards' quick low shot beat goalie Andrew Martin for his 22th goal.
Two-and-a-half minutes later, Christian slapped a rebound off Martin's pads past the Fort Worth goalie for a 2-0 lead.
Christian's league-leading 54th goal came with three seconds remaining on a power play after Brahmas forward Matt Reynolds was penalized for roughing. Receiving assists were Hanson and J.F. Labarre.
With 51/2 minutes remaining, the SteelHounds led 3-0 when Sewell picked up the puck along the side boards, skated in on Martin and beat him with a 20-foot shot. Christian and Richards assisted on the power-play goal, Sewell's 20th of the season.
"Playing with a lead is so much easier," Richards said. "The crowd was great and we got them the Big Macs, so that's always good."
The SteelHounds give away Big Mac sandwiches to ticket-holders the day after the team scores at least six goals.
Fisticuffs launched
Right before the first buzzer, Reynolds and SteelHounds defender Sam Miller launched the fisticuffs that dominated Wednesday's game. Midway through the second period, Fort Worth's Sheldon Lee and the SteelHounds' Simo Pulkki battled.
Chris Shaffer's 10th goal of the season early in the third period extended the lead to 6-0.
Because of injuries and Kris Mallette's suspension, SteelHounds coach Jean Laforest juggled 11 skaters.
"We're shorthanded, but they are too," Laforest said. "We should be going with 16 so you're taxing your guys over and over and over. The guys have been awesome because they've not complained. "We're playing for the pride of the organization and the pride of our fans."
The SteelHounds' inaugural season ends tonight at 7 with another game against the Brahmas.
williams@vindy.com