Anders Strome (rear, third from left) and team pose with the AL-Bank Cup

Odense Bulldogs win AL-Bank Cup in Holland

Former Brahma Anders Strome and team win big over the Herning Blue Fox

The Odense Bulldogs captured the AL-Bank Cup yesterday in a 4-1 match against the reigning champion Herning Blue Fox team at the Kvik Hockey Arena in Herning, Denmark. Former Texas Brahma Anders Strome had two assists in the match. It was a huge victory for the Bulldogs who defeated the Blue Fox on their home ice. The Bulldogs last AL-Bank Cup win was also against Herning, in 2006.

The AL-Bank Ligaen is the premier league in Danish Ice Hockey. Strome, 27, signed with the Bulldogs in the off-season after a tremendous season with the Brahmas, playing in all 64 regular season games and scoring 60 points (34 G, 26 A). Strome also played in all 14 playoff games, adding 14 points (9 G, 5 A) to his total for the season.

This season, in 34 games played with the Bulldogs, Strome notched 37 points (24 G, 13 A) as one of the teams' top three scorers along with former Arizona Sundog Tyler Redenbach and Englands' John Laliberte.

The Bulldogs dominated the first period and managed to score the first goal on the powerplay when Strome sent a pass to Redenbach who fired the puck into an empty net. Brad Rooney was in on the assist.

After a solid performance in the first 20 minutes, the Bulldogs were able to gain momentum in the middle period. Although the Blue Fox improved their play in the second period, they could not solve goaltender Kimmo Vesa, who was perfect through two periods.

The Bulldogs added two scores in the second period. the first, from Thomas Lilholt who sent a shot in from the blue line which sailed past Leinonens to make it 2-0 at the 33:24 mark. Dwayne Zinger was credited with the assist. In the final minute of the period, John Laliberte had a breakaway up the right side and managed to beat Leinonens to make it 3-0.

After a hard-fought 40 minutes, fatigue was evident on the Bulldogs lines. Blue Fox Defenseman Sylvain Dufresne finally added a goal for Herning at the 44:03 mark during a five-on-three opportunity with the assist from left wing Alex Nikiforuk, but that would be their only score of the game despite a strong third period in which they outshot the Bulldogs 17-8.

Bulldogs center Mads True accepted a pass from Strome and sealed the lid on the game with a final goal at the 54:47 mark for the final score of 4-1.

Bulldogs goaltender Kimmo Vesa was named the MVP of the match with 30 saves.

The Bulldogs have two more game this season which ends on January 11th with a match at home against the Aab Red Knights.

Texas Brahmas fans are hopeful that Strome will return to North Texas to join the bulls for the remainder of the season. Strome told me during the off-season that he had spoken about the possibility with Dan Wildfong when he signed with Odense in the Summer. I asked Dan about it about a month ago and he would not commit to the possibility but he would not deny it either. In true Wildfong form, we won't know if it will happen until it happens. If not, Strome, who was married shortly after his season started has certainly earned some time off with his new bride.

Photo Credit: Tommy Verting