Curtis McKenzie Named Lone Star Grille/100 Degree Hockey Player of the Week

(Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

Each week, we name the Lone Star Grille/100 Degree Hockey Player of the Week. Lone Star Grille offers happy hour weekdays from 4-7 PM just minutes from the Cedar Park Center. The new Higher Ground Bar at the Grille is a smoke-free bar open 6 PM to 2 AM Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Redeem your game ticket for reverse happy hour from 10-12 PM with $2 off specialty cocktails, $4.00 house wine and $2.50 domestic longnecks.

For the second straight week, Curtis McKenzie stood above the pack and was selected for Player of the Week. His shorthanded tally last night to bring Texas to a tie with San Antonio late was a real standout play in a week that saw him score three goals and return from the NHL.

There were obviously a few other players who had excellent weeks, not the least of which was Justin Dowling. Dowling also had a game-tying goal on Saturday but his four point performance was hampered by two of those points being secondary assists. McKenzie's grit in a week that is almost meaningless to the final standings was a solid marker in his column.

McKenzie is old hat at the AHL playoffs at this point. Last night in postgame, he talked in like a veteran about the level of preparation and mentality of a playoff team. As he stated, only three more periods until the real season begins.