Team Captain Craig Minard displays the President's Cup at Saturday's parade in North Richland Hills
(Photo by Jenifer Coker Harrell)

Brahmas, fans celebrate championship win

Jersey auction, parade and fan club lunch among highlights

Still basking in the afterglow of their 1st Central Hockey League championship, the Brahmas players enjoyed celebrating with fans and supporters before going their separate ways to enjoy the off-season.

On Friday night, fans packed Zuroma's Sicilian Kitchen at NYTEX and got another look at the Ray Miron President's Cup and welcomed the Brahmas players who took part in a game-worn sweater auction.

Jordan Cameron and Tyler Skworchinski arrive at Zuroma's to celebrate with the fans
(Photo by John Blanding)

Scott Sheppard poses with the proud new owners of one of his playoff sweaters
(Photo by Marcie Lynn McCarthy)

On Saturday morning, the city of North Richland Hills hosted a parade in honor of the Brahmas accomplishment. An early morning rain ceased in time for the event. The parade route began at the NYTEX Sports Centre and headed north on Hawk before going westbound on Mid-Cities Boulevard toward the Hometown neighborhood. The final destination was back at ZuRoma's.

Fans lined up early to support their champions

(Photo by Russell Farris)

Cars lined up along the Birdville High School parking lot on Hawk Avenue and fans lined the streets with signs aloft and cowbells ringing as they cheered on their champions. Finals MVP Jason Deitsch wore a fireman’s hat as he rode in the back seat of fire truck No. 223, which led the way along with two police motorcycles. Brahmas players rode in the back of trucks as the procession made its way along the parade route. Team captain Craig Minard was the last player to pass, as he sat in the back of a blue Corvette with the Ray Miron President's Cup.

Beaming with pride, North Richland Hills mayor Oscar Trevino spoke to the crowd wearing a Brahmas jersey bearing his name and the No. 1.

"We can’t say how happy we are that the Texas Brahmas have done what they’ve done," he said. "What you all did with this facility is a testament to what your team can do. We wish you the best for the future, and you’ve started something. So next year guess what we’re expecting?"

The North Richland Hills Police and Fire Departments led the parade

(Photo by Marcie Lynn McCarthy)

Brahmas players heading towards the parade route
(Photo by Marcie Lynn McCarthy)

The players then traveled to Texas Land and Cattle in Bedford for a fan club luncheon. Awards were handed out by the fan club and a great time was had by all before the players departed for

their off-season destinations.

Texas Brahmas Fan Club President Mary Bradford gives an award to assistant coach Ron Vogel

(Photo by John Blanding)

Metro Sports on Time Warner Cable will keep the celebration going as they will honor the 2009 CHL Champs by showing Brahmas playoff games all day on Saturday, May 16.

The channel will showcase all the playoff games the station covered, including Game Five, the Championship game against the Colorado Eagles. The games will be televised from 8 AM until 11 PM. Metro Sports can be found on channel 185 on Time Warner Cable.

The Brahmas organization is also busy preparing a DVD of the Championship that will be available for sale soon.