While the Blues continue to dogfight for a playoff spot at the top of the organization, the Triple A and Double A levels of the organization are rolling into the post-season.
The Peoria Rivermen won their sixth game in a row last night, beating the Quad City Abbotsford Flames 2-1 to clinch a playoff berth.
Here's the take on the game at Rivermen.net...
...and here's Dave Eminian's take at the Peoria Journal-Star.
Meanwhile, way up in the north country, the Alaska Aces clinched the ECHL West Division title weeks ago, and will host Utah in the first round of the ECHL playoffs despite losing to the Grizzlies in the season finale.
Tomas Kana, with a 6-14-20 scoring line in 30 games (plus-14, 65 PIM) is the highest-scoring Blues' prospect in Alaska. Defenseman Ryan Turek (33 GP, 3-3-6, plus-7, 26 PIM) has also contributed.
Rookie goalie Jean-Phillipe Lamoureux (51 GP, 3017 minutes, 117 GA, 33-16-0-2, 8 shutouts, 2.29 GAA, 92.3% save percentage) has made the ECHL's first All-Star team and all-rookie team, and is a good bet to be signed by the Blues to provide some additional competition for goaltending spots in peoria next year.
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"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."
-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851