July 21, 2010

ALLEN, Texas - Often times in sports an expansion franchise struggles in its inaugural campaign, but thanks to the efforts of former RedHawk hockey player Nino Musitelli, the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League found great success in their first year on the ice.

Musitelli, a three-year letterwinner at Miami from 2006-08, played in 62 of 64 regular-season games for the Americans, which became a franchise in April of 2009 and are an affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars. The Macomb, Mich., native played on Allen’s first line and totaled 63 points by tallying 23 goals and 40 assists. The 63 points and 40 assists both ranked third on the team while his 23 goals tied for second.

Behind Musitelli’s offensive prowess, the Americans finished second in the Southern Conference with a 42-17-5 record and earned a playoff berth in their first season. Just making the playoffs were not enough for the undersized (5-foot-8) forward and the rest of his Allen teammates however, as the Americans held off the Laredo Bucks in seven games in the conference semifinals and again won a seven-game series over top-seeded Odessa in the conference finals to claim the Southern Conference championship.

Allen ultimately fell to the Rapid City Rush, the top seed in the Northern Conference, in six games in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals, but the 25-year-old Musitelli finished the playoffs tied for second in the league with 26 points while playing in all 20 playoff games. The former ‘Hawk registered 13 postseason goals with three of his tallies serving as game winners.

“Nino was a huge part of our success last season. He is an exciting, dynamic player that can break open a game,” said Americans Head Coach and General Manager Dwight Mullins.

At one point during the 2009-10 campaign, Musitelli had a 17-game point streak, the longest of the season by an American, as he racked up 21 points during that stretch. He also was named Oakley CHL Player of the Week the final week of the regular season after scoring five goals and adding four assists in just three contests.

After his strong showing with Allen in the team’s initial campaign, Musitelli was re-signed by the Americans in June. He looks to continue to help build the franchise from the ground up and deliver Allen a Ray Miron President’s Cup Championship after coming two games short last year.

“Allen can only get better, and we as a team can only get stronger,” Musitelli said after committing to a second year with the Americans. “I can’t wait to get back on the ice.”

After finishing a four-year career at Miami where he played in 133 games and accumulated 58 points (21 goals and 37 assists), Musitelli started his professional career with the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League. During the 2008-09 season, he appeared in 62 games for the Bombers, scoring 19 goals and handing out 31 assists. Dayton failed to make the playoffs in its final campaign and after 18 seasons, the Bombers franchise disbanded, forcing Musitelli to look elsewhere for work.

After attending the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators’ training camp, Musitelli settled on helping the Allen Americans in their inaugural season. He was not the only former RedHawk to play for the Americans in their first season however, as goaltender Charlie Effinger (2004-08) and forward Bill Loupee (2005-09) were also on Allen’s opening-day roster.

Effinger played in 14 games with the Americans, compiling an 8-3-1 record and a 2.34 goals-against average. He was twice called up to the Texas Stars of the AHL, which is an affiliate of Allen, during the first half of the season, becoming the first player in Americans franchise history to be called up. The netminder was also named the season’s first CHL Goaltender of the Month in October but was traded to the Missouri Mavericks in early February.

Loupee suited up in 30 games for Allen, notching four goals and six assists during his time with the Americans before he was waived in late January.

Musitelli and the Americans open the 2010-11 season Oct. 15.

--MURedHawks.com--

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