November 20, 2009

Willemsen Sets Standard in Debut with Allen

ALLEN, Texas - The Allen Americans earned two more points tonight as they defeated the Arizona Sundogs 4-2 at the Allen Event Center. Last-minute roster addition Mike Willemsen, a former Clarkson standout, scored his first professional goal and recorded a hat trick to go down in history as the first American to net three goals in a single night. Allen's record now stands at 8-3-1 (17 points).

Willemsen, who joined the team today, notched the first two goals of the game. Just over a minute into the first, the forward got off a quick shot from the right circle that surprised Arizona goalie Kyle McNulty for his first pro goal. To grab his second, the 23-year-old skated in unopposed and went top shelf, glove side at the 13:42 mark. The breakaway goal gave the Americans a 2-0 lead, but Linus Fagemo would score on the power play for Arizona to cut the difference to one at 15:33.

The Americans would find the back of the net twice in the second. Not four minutes into the period, Americans' forward Nathan O'Nabigon dove at a rebound and poked the puck into the net to give Allen a two-goal lead again. At 9:02 of the second, Willemsen knocked the puck out of the air and into the net to grab his third and final goal of the night. His goal put the score at 4-1. Fans threw hats on the ice in celebration of the rookie's accomplishment.

The third was relatively quiet except for a goal from Fagemo, who scored at 12:05 of the period. He was the lone goal scorer for the Sundogs tonight.

Goaltender Chris Whitley made 43 saves and earned second star of the game honors, while Willemsen was named first star of the game for his first pro goal and hat trick.