2017-18 FUEL PERFORMANCE REVIEW: ALEX WIDEMAN
#10 | FORWARD | ST. LOUIS, MO.
2017-18 STATS: 53 GP, 16 G, 32 A, 48 PTS, 43 PIMS, 7 PPG
The Fuel's 2016-17 Most Valuable Player returned for his second season in Indianapolis in 2017-18, and once again was a key part of Head Coach Bernie John's forward corps. After setting a franchise record with 55 points in his first go-round with the Fuel, forward Alex Wideman tallied 48 points in 53 games in 2017-18, becoming the franchise's all-time leading point scorer with 103 points (38g, 65a).
Entering the season under contract with the Rockford IceHogs, Wideman also saw action in 13 AHL games, recording 13 shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Beginning the year on assignment to the Fuel, the St. Louis native's first call-up in early January helped kick start an explosive second half performance. After recording only 20 points in 32 games leading up to Wideman's recall, the third-year professional marked his return to Indy in mid-February by stringing together an eight-game point streak - which would have been a new franchise record if defenseman Robin Press wasn't already in the process of a 12-game streak of his own.
Wideman helped lead the Fuel's charge up the Central Division standings down the stretch by tallying a point in 18 of his last 21 games - earning another short recall to Rockford in mid-March. The forward marked nine points (1g, 8a) over the last two weeks of the regular season, including a goal in Indy's playoff-clinching win over Kalamazoo on April 8. Wideman added a goal and an assist during the Fuel's first-round series against Toledo.
"Wides played well [for us], and he played a different role with us compared to last season - when he came back down from the American League he was full of confidence. He had a little more grit to his game, and he's got more in the tank." - Head Coach Bernie John
Alex Wideman with the most nonchalant game-winning shootout goal we've ever seen. #INDvsKC pic.twitter.com/SMtOi1V2Yk
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) February 18, 2018
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