Hurley returns

Will start tonight against Bossier-Shreveport

Defenseman Sean Hurley has been activated from injured reserve today according to Pointstreak. He is expected to start in tonight's New Year's Eve contest against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Hurley, now in his third pro season, suffered a wicked injury during pre-game warm ups on December 18th. His third finger was pinched between his stick and a fast moving puck as he attempted to block a shot. I've seen a photo of the injury and it's too gnarly to describe in detail.

A graduate of Brown University, Hurley played two seasons in the ECHL with the Bakersfield Condors, Las Vegas Wranglers and Gwinnett Gladiators. He signed a contract with the Brahmas on November 6th and has contributed four assists and 12 PIM in 21 games played this season.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Wild returns to active roster

Will see action tonight against Allen

Calin Wild has been activated from injured reserve today according to Pointstreak. The rookie forward has been out since November 24th, following the Brahmas' 3-1 home loss to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

In 14 games with the Brahmas, Wild has tallied eight points (5 G, 3 A) and six penalty minutes. He joined the team after four seasons with the University of Manitoba Bison (CWUAA) where he contributed 44 points (25 G, 19 A) and 104 PIM in 111 games played.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Sunday, December 26th

Obviously last weekend was a rough weekend with a couple of losses. We got back to work on Monday and had a good practice and then left for Tulsa that night. We got a good night’s sleep and then had a chance to skate in the morning. We came out and played a really good game and won 4-0. It was a big game for us coming off those two losses and going into Tulsa’s building – they’re a team that’s been pretty hot as of late. Going into the Christmas break, we definitely didn’t want to have three losses in a row.

We had three days off for Christmas. Some guys flew home and some guys stayed around. We had an optional skate on Friday for the guys that were in town. Last night, everybody returned to town and we were back at it with practice. We got up bright and early this morning to head for Odessa and a four o’clock game. We left at seven thirty and got there about one forty-five or so; in time to get ready to play.

The game didn’t start off the way we wanted to – Odessa capitalized on a couple of mistakes and had a 2-0 lead after the first period. But we came out flying and scored five goals in the second period and we continued on and had a good third period. That was another big win for us coming in after the Christmas break and especially coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the first.

We have another big game coming up on Tuesday against Allen. They’re one of our big rivals and I don’t think we’ve played a full 60 minutes in the games against them this season. We’ve played four games in their building and they haven’t been to our building yet and that’s going to be a big help for us playing them at NYTEX. We’ve got to come out and play physical and play our game. If we put a 60 minute game together, I think we’ll be fine. When we don’t play a full 60 minutes, they’re too good of a team and they capitalize on our mistakes. They’re a hard team to beat and we’ve just got to come out and work hard and be physical and I think we’ll be alright.

After the game, we’ll have the second skate with the fans this season. It’s always good to get out and see the fans and spend time with the people that support us. It’s also tough after playing a game. You’ve worked hard and don’t have a lot of free time to relax a little bit, so it’s tough that way. But it’s definitely good to get out there and meet the fans and get to know some of the people, especially this season because there are a lot of new guys on the team.

We have a tough schedule coming up, starting with Allen on Tuesday, Bossier-Shreveport on New Year’s Eve, on the road against Tulsa on Saturday and then back home against Colorado on Sunday. It’s always a big challenge when you play the good teams. I think we have a very good team. If we come out and work hard and play physical – we play good when we play physical – I think we have a good chance to win every game. It’s definitely going to be a tough week for us and we’ve got to remain focused, one game at a time.

Maybe some cheese to go with that whine?

Brahmas force another Jackalopes meltdown, win 6-3

“I thought we had a great first period and did a good job in the first five or six minutes of the second period...but then when we didn’t get a call on a hit on Booter (Darryl Bootland) it seemed to throw us off our game and we had a meltdown out there."

- Odessa Jackalopes coach Paul Gillis (courtesy www.oaoa.com)

Wow. How many times have we seen a very good Odessa Jackalopes team completely melt down and lose a game to the Brahmas? Tonight was one of those games.

And how many time have we listened to super-homer "broadcaster" Brien Rea humiliate himself on the radio feed? Seriously, once again calling for Jackalopes players to intentionally start laying our players because he feels they are getting away with "dirty" hits? This is CHL hockey - maybe Rea should ask Dave Van Drunen what he thinks about calling for reckless retaliation.

Suffice it to say, the better team held their own at the Ector County Coliseum today. Your Texas Brahmas came back from a 2-0 deficit in the first frame and scored six unanswered goals (by five different players) in the space of 17:53 to earn a 6-3 road win. The Brahmas record goes to 13-9-3 (7-5-2 on the road) with

From the Odessa American online (Lee Scheide):

(Todd) Robinson started the scoring less than a minute into the contest. Taking a pass from Sebastien Thinel along the right wing, Robinson skated down toward the right post, with Brahmas goaltender Kevin Beech quickly moving to close off any opening.

But Robinson continued moving behind the net and when Beech was slow to react, the Jackalopes’ center curl around the net and stuffed the puck inside the left post at the 31-second mark of the opening period.

Then, as the period was winding down, Robinson struck again, this time coming down the left wing before skating into the left circle and across the slot, where he used Bootland as a screen before snapping a shot between the pads of Beech with 3:23 remaining in the first period.

That prompted Texas Brahmas coach Dan Wildfong to change goaltenders and Jeff Harvey came onto the ice for the Brahmas and promptly shut the Jackalopes down for the rest of the period and most of the game.

In the second period, it took Texas just 59 seconds to take the lead on goals by Tyler Allen, Chad Woollard and Jason Krischuk.

Allen’s marker came at the 3:19 mark of the period after an Odessa turnover in the neutral zone. The Brahmas quickly came down ice on the counterattack, with Allen finding the back of the net inside the right post from the right hash marks.

Woollard evened the contest 33 seconds later, after the Jackalopes had trouble gaining possession and clearing the puck from their own zone. Texas Jason Deitsch was able to gain control along the right wing and quickly fed Greg Hogeboom in the left circle.

Hogeboom found Woollard driving toward the right post and fed a perfect pass through the slot that Woollard was able to desposit behind Jackalopes goaltender Joel Martin at 3:52 of the second period.

Just 26 seconds later, Krishuck gave the Brahmas a lead they never would relinquish when he ripped a shot from the top of the slot that Martin never saw as Jackalopes defenseman Garrett Gruenke was trying to make a play on the puck and screened Martin.

More to come Monday night (just got back from vacation)...

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Brahmas shut down Oilers

Harvey's 33-save performance highlights 4-0 win

The Texas Brahmas pulled off an enormous win last night at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Coming off two straight losses, the boys shut down a red hot Oilers team which had won nine of the ten previous contests.

Jeff Harvey’s shutout was the first in his pro career and was the third Brahmas goalie to register a shutout this season (Wayne Savage and Kevin Beech).

From the Brahmas website:

The Brahmas set the defensive tone for the evening by killing off a 5-3 power play early in the first period which carried through for the entire game.

The Brahmas made their presence known when Chad Woollard found daylight past Oilers goalie Ian Keserich at the 12:12 minute mark in the first period. With an assist from Deitch and Hogeboom, Woollard scored his 12th goal of the season. While the Oilers led the first frame in shots on goal, Brahmas net minder Harvey put up a strong defense as they closed the first period with a 1-0 lead.

The Brahmas came out full force at the beginning of the second period, but couldn’t find the back of the net until the 11:25 mark when center Chris Moran slipped a surprise shot over the shoulder of the Oilers goaltender. With a strong defensive effort and solid goal tending, the Brahmas continued the shutout with a 2-0 lead going into the third period.

The Oilers came out in desperation, challenging Harvey with 15 shots on goal, but to no avail. Harvey continued his flawless performance en route to the whitewash. The Brahmas capped off the night by doubling their score with goals from Jason Deitsch and Todd Griffith. The Brahmas skate away victorious and evened the record against the Oilers at one win apiece.

The Brahmas were out shot 15-10 in the final 20, but Harvey could not be solved and the third Brahmas shut out of the season was upheld. In the end, the Brahmas were out shot 33-29 in the game. By the way, the Brahmas have yet to be shut out this season.

With the win, the Brahmas' record moved to 12-9-3 (.563, 27 points) and they take possession of slot five in the Berry Conference. Texas is now 6-5-2 on the road.

Jeff Harvey stopped 33 of 33 shots faced and earned the win. His record with the Brahmas goes to 1-1-0 (4-1-0 on the season).

Ian Kesserich turned away 25 of 29 shots faced and takes the loss. His record goes to 11-7-0.

The Brahmas went 0 for 3 on the power play. The Oilers went 0 for 7.

Texas was assessed 14 minutes on 7 infractions. Tulsa received 6 minutes on 3 infractions. Following this contest, the Brahmas' penalty kill returns to number one in the league this season with just 15 power play goals allowed and an 88.00 percentage.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Todd Griffith, who had a goal and an assist on the night. The 2nd Star was awarded to Jason Deitsch, who also had a goal and an assist and the 1st Star went to Jeff Harvey, for a stellar night in net for the purple and black.

Referee: Tudor Floru

Linesmen: Randy Sappo, Chuck Schanel

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view the Brahmas' press release here

You can view Les Stockton's photos from the game here

The Brahmas will travel to the Ector County Coliseum to take on the Odessa Jackalopes on Sunday, December 26th.

The next home game is set for Tuesday, December 28th when the Allen Americans return to NYTEX for the first time this season and the second game of the Fire and Ice Vintage Series with a 7:00 pm start. This is also Car Flag Night and will feature a post-game skate with the team.

Brahmas add Youngclaus

Fifth year defenseman adds grit to blue line

Phil Youngclaus was signed to the Texas Brahmas 2010-11 roster on Tuesday afternoon according to Pointstreak. Youngclaus' addition fills a couple of holes left by Sean Hurley (who was placed on the 10-day IR on Saturday) and Nathan Saunders, who hasn't played since Friday night's game in Allen.

Youngclaus, 27, played four seasons with the University of Vermont (ECAC) before going pro in 2006-07, signing with the Richmond Renegades (SPHL). He put up 22 points (6 G, 16 A) and 100 penalty minutes in 56 games played there.

Phil Youngclaus

The following season, Youngclaus moved to the ECHL, playing with the Pensacola Ice Pilots where he talled 14 points (1 G, 13 A) and 66 PIM in 70 games played.

In 2008-09, Youngclaus played 11 games with the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) before a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. After spending his free time working hard in the gym, Youngclaus managed to get himself healthy enough to return to the Gladiators line-up at the end of the regular season heading into the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs (where he posted an assist in five post-season games).

He signed with the Dayton Gems (IHL) coming into the 2009-10 season. After 36 games and 20 points tallied (4 G, 16 A), he returned to the Gladiators for 31 games, adding an additional seven assists.

The Methuen, Massachusetts native had re-signed with the Gladiators, but his return to pro hockey was delayed due to injuries received in an auto accident in August.

Photo Credit: Gwinnett Gladiators

Sunday, December 19th

Coming off a big win in Bossier-Shreveport last Saturday night, we had a long week leading into a rough weekend. We were off Sunday, and Monday was an optional practice. We got back to work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to get ready for the weekend’s games.

On Friday, we travelled to Allen and we had a really good first period – but not as good a start as we would have liked. Coming out in the second period, we gave up a couple of power play goals that let the Americans get back in the game and get the lead on us. For me personally, I feel like that was partly my fault. I’m one of the penalty killers and I was in the penalty box for both of those goals, so that hurt us. I try my best to stay out of the box but I do find a way to get sent there occasionally. We had a couple of guys on the penalty kill that haven’t played that role regularly and that could have be a contributor as well. Unfortunately, as a team, we didn’t play the way we needed to play for the rest of the game. If we played the way that we did during the first period, I’d say we probably would have won that game. Obviously, it was a disappointment.

Allen has a very good team and I think we have a very good team too. In the first period, we showed that we could all but dominate the period and thought we were off to a good start but they ended up scoring a goal late in the period which helped give them a little momentum which obviously, we didn’t want to do. For some reason we just didn’t come out and play the same way in the second and third periods. The Americans have a very talented offense and if you give them chances to score, they’re going to score.

Allen and Bossier-Shreveport are two of the best teams in the league along with Colorado. We beat Colorado pretty easily and we beat Bossier last weekend. When we play our game, we can compete with anybody, but for whatever reason, we haven’t played a full 60 minutes in any game we’ve played against Allen this season. We play them six more times this season and we’ve got to find a way to take some points from them.

We had a meeting on Saturday morning and then started getting ready for the game against Odessa on Saturday night. Once again, we didn’t have the start that we wanted to - we were down 4-0 after the first period and that’s a hard score to come back from. We battled hard and in the second and third period, we played really well. If it was possible to put a few more minutes on the clock, I’d say we might have tied that game and have a chance to win it.

It seemed like we were getting a lot of questionable penalty calls against us and that’s very frustrating for both the players and the coach. There’s nothing you can do about it – it stinks and it’s frustrating but you just have to find a way to overcome it. If we get a penalty, we have to try and kill it and go back to work and try to leave the refs alone and not complain to them. It seems to make things worse more often than better when you complain.

We’ve shown that we can compete and win against some of the better teams in the league but we’ve got to find a way to be more consistent as a team. Game in and game out, we’ve got to play the exact same way. If and when we do that, we’re going to get on a roll and start putting some wins together. We had a meeting after the game last night and we talked about things that we need to do and one of the things we talked about the most was consistency and guys being ready.

We’re playing in Tulsa on Tuesday and then we have a few days off for Christmas break. It’s a big game for us going in there after losing a couple and we need to find a way to get the two points. It’s also good to go into Christmas break after a win. Tulsa’s a hot team right now, so we need to go in and put our best effort together and we need to play a full 60 minutes. If we do play a full 60 minutes, I think we’ll come out with the points.

The reason for the season

Merry Christmas from the Texas Brahmas Insider

The Insider is taking a much needed rest this week. I might have some posts during the week (no promises) and the rest of the photos from Saturday night's game will be edited and uploaded as time allows. Merry Christmas to all.

Photo Credit: God

Linesman Jon Shaw scoops blood from the ice after Odessa's Kenny Bernard took a puck to the mouth

There will be blood...

Jackalopes win 4-3 smack down at NYTEX

If there was any indication of the blood to be spilled tonight at the NYTEX Sports Center, it came during pre-game warm-ups. Just a few minutes in, Jason Deitsch took a puck to the mouth and had to be taken to the locker room for stitches. Then defenseman Sean Hurley, in an attempt to block a shot, had his finger pinched against his stick which caused the soft tissue to burst, leaving the tip of the digit looking as if it had a run-in with a Ginsu knife.

Odessa forward Kenny Bernard took a puck to the mouth and left at least a couple of teeth on the ice later in the game. Even referee Geoff Miller had to have his mouth looked at after an errant poke...something disheartened Brahmas fans shed no tears about after a flurry of questionable calls favored the visiting Jackalopes who pulled out a 4-3 win, their third in a row and first against the Brahmas this season.

His first start with the Brahmas couldn't have gone worse as Jeff Harvey allowed four unanswered goals in the first 18:13 of play, leading to a trip to the bench as Dan Wildfong sent Wayne Savage in relief. Savage was perfect, stopping 22 of 22 shots faced. earning the 1st Star of the night, despite the loss.

There first frame started out nothing but ugly as Dave Van Drunen's shot hit Harvey in the chest and then Harvey, who had fallen backwards trying to locate the rolling puck was further victimized by Van Drunen, who gently tapped it in at the 3:05 mark. Sebastien Thinel and Alex Dunn were credited with the helpers.

Just 2:11 later, Jeff Pierce lit the lamp, sending the puck under Harvey's left skate to make it 2-0 with a little help from Kenny Bernard and Sebastien Thinel.

Dominic Leveille made it 3-0 after beating Harvey at the 10:12 mark, shooting from the bottom of the right circle. Darryl Bootland and Todd Robinson were credited with the assist.

Todd Griffith took a ride into the boards courtesy of Darryl Bootland, who seemed surprised that Griffith came after him afterwards. Bootland received a well-placed right to the jaw although he managed to bring Griffith down to the ice thereafter. The angry Brahma earned an early trip to the locker room and 17 PIM including a Fighting (Instigator), a Fighting (Instigator) Misconduct and a Fighting Major.

Bootland, by the way, took flight after a massive check from Mick Lawrence (see it here).

Finally, it was Bootland who put the fourth Odessa tally on the board after a two-on-one breakaway at the 18:13 mark, with a little help from Michael Schutte and Dave Van Drunen. With that, Dan Wildfong sent Wayne Savage in to mitigate the damage, which he did quite well, keeping the Jacks off the board for the remainder of the period.

Out shot 17-9 and out scored 4-0, the Brahmas went into the locker room with a formidable task ahead of them; one that they would rise to the occasion to meet.

Defenseman Jim Burichin got the Brahmas' fans on their feet with a quick strike on Joel Martin at the 1:26 mark of the middle frame. Chris Moran and Mick Lawrence were credited with the assist.

A slashing call on Mike Lesperance led to a power play goal by Greg Hogeboom at the 14:11 mark, assisted by Jason Deitsch and Dan Riedel.

Steven Later and Alex Curran mixed it up with Alex Dunn and Jeff Pierce at the end of the period resulting in a Roughing Double Minor and a No Category Misconduct for Later. Curran received two minutes for Roughing. Both Pierce and Dunn received two minutes for Roughing; Dunn also received a No Category Misconduct.

Odessa had the 16-11 shot advantage in the middle frame but Savage's effort coupled with the goals by Burichin and Hogeboom cut their lead in half and the Brahmas had a fighting chance as they went into the second intermission.

Did I say fighting chance? Yes, it was, but the calls by Geoff Miller were less than stellar and the Brahmas were continuously stymied on an already uphill path.

Jason Deitsch scored the lone goal of the final frame, beating Martin on a set up by Chad Woollard and Jason Krischuk. Alas, the boys were unable to tally the equalizer and force the game into overtime and had to settle instead for a disappointing outcome of no points out of a possible four on the weekends contests.

The Brahmas out shot the Jacks 14-6 in the final 20, but were out shot 39-34 in the game.

With the loss, the Brahmas' record goes to 11-9-3 (.543, 25 points) and they drop (like a rock) to sixth place in the Berry Conference. Texas is now 6-4-1 at home.

Jeff Harvey stopped 13 of 17 shots faced in 18:13 in net and takes the loss. His record with the Brahmas is 0-1-0. In relief, Wayne Savage stopped 22 of 22 shots faced in 41:47 of play.

Joel Martin turned away 31 of 34 shots faced and earned the win. His record goes to 8-8-0.

The Brahmas went 1 for 4 on the power play. The Jackalopes went 1 for 11.

Texas was assessed 49 minutes on 15 infractions. Odessa received 26 minutes on nine infractions. The Brahmas penalty kill remains in the second slot (behind Bossier-Shreveport) in the league this season with 15 power play goals allowed and an 87.29 percentage.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Odessa's Darryl Bootland, who had a goal and an assist on the night. The 2nd Star was awarded to Jason Deitsch, who also had a goal and an assist and the 1st Star went to Wayne Savage, for a terrific night (in relief)in net.

Referee: Geoff Miller
Linesmen: Jon Shaw, Kai Magnussen

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view the Brahmas' press release here

You can view my photos from the game here and here (still being edited)

The Brahmas will travel to Tulsa for a game against the red hot Oilers (who have won nine of their last 10) on Tuesday night.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Americans captain Jarret Lukin brings the puck up ice

Americans take game one of the North Texas Vintage Series

Brahmas lose 5-3 at the AEC

The Allen Americans moved to the top of the CHL leader board tonight after a 5-3 win over the visiting Texas Brahmas. Donning the sweaters of the Dallas Freeze and the Fort Worth Fire, the two teams battled to a 3-3 tie before the Americans pulled ahead in the final frame and held off their cross-town rivals for the win. That's four out of four victories for the Americans against the Brahmas this season.

Scott Campbell, who was signed by the Brahmas in early August but didn't make the final roster, finished the night with 23 saves on 26 shots and his second consecutive win after being signed by the Americans on December 9th.

With the victory, the Americans improve to 18-4-1 and move back into first place in the Berry Conference with 37 points.

The Brahmas opened up the scoring with a pair of goals late in the first period.

Greg Hogeboom notched his 10th goal of the season, finding the back of the net on the power play at the 15:14 mark. Dan Riedel and Jason Krischuk were in on the assist.

Newcomer Chris Moran tallied his first of two goals on the night on a feed from Jason Deitsch, beating Campbell 1:04 later.

The Americans would fire right back with an unassisted strike by Brian McMillin 1:01 later, firing the puck past Wayne Savage to cut the Brahmas lead to 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Allen had a narrow 11-10 shot advantage after 20 minutes of play.

The second period saw the Americans take the lead with a pair of power play goals. Judd Blackwater collected his own rebound and deposited the puck past Savage 3:43 into the period to tie the game up at two. Jarret Lukin, playing in his first game since November 27th, struck 3:10 later to give Allen their first lead of the night at 3-2.

Shots were even at nine apiece in the middle frame.

Chris Moran's second goal of the night 2:02 into the third period tied the game at three for the Brahmas but was answered quickly by the Americans. Justin DaCosta's shot found it's way through Savage and into the net to put Allen back on top 4-3 with 14:46 remaining in regulation.

David Nimmo would put the game away and end any chance of a Brahmas comeback with an empty-net goal with 43.1 seconds remaining to secure the final score at 5-3.

With the loss, the Brahmas' record goes to 11-5-3 (.568, 25 points). They remain in third place in the Berry Conference. Mississippi, Arizona, Rio and Tulsa have also moved into the 25 point club. Texas is now 5-5-2 on the road.

Wayne Savage stopped 26 of 30 shots faced and takes the loss. His record goes to 4-5-1-1 with a 2.73 GAA (9th in the league) and a .912 save percentage (8th in the league).

Scott Campbell turned away 24 of 27 shots faced and earned the win. His record goes to 2-0-0.

The Brahmas went 1 for 7 on the power play. The Americans, who have the number one power play unit in the league (22.66%), went 2 for 6.

Texas was assessed 19 minutes on eight infractions. Allen received 21 minutes on nine infractions. The Brahmas penalty kill moved down a notch after tonight's action. They now hold the second slot (Bossier-Shreveport moved to first) in the league this season with 14 power play goals allowed and an 86.92 percentage.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Chris Moran, who had two goals on the night. The 2nd Star was awarded to Judd Blackwater, who had a goal and an assist and the 1st Star went to Justin DaCosta, who tallied the game winner.

Referee: Tudor Floru
Linesmen: Nathaniel Farkas, Michael Johnstone

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view the Brahmas' press release here

On Saturday night, the Brahmas host the Odessa Jackalopes, who at one point were the Fort Wayne Komets of the Berry Conference. The Jacks earned their second straight win in a 7-4 final against the Laredo Bucks tonight.

Photo Credit: Chip Crail

Former Brahmas defenseman signs with Eagles

Matt Hanson takes a spot on the Colorado blue line

Matt Hanson. Hanson, 28, played for the Brahmas at the end of the 2007-08 season and through 41 games of the Brahmas championship season in 2008-09 before being traded to the Arizona The Colorado Eagles announce today that they have signed former Texas Brahmas defensemanSundogs for future considerations. During his time in purple and black, Hanson tallied six points (1 G, 5 A) and 35 penalty minutes in 48 regular season and 14 post-season contests.

Hanson began this season with HK Partizan Beograd in Serbia (a non-professional league by CHL standards), posting 16 points (4 G, 12 A) and 74 penalty minutes in 16 games played.

Hanson is in his sixth season of professional hockey, with all but two of his 228 professional games coming in the CHL (the other pair coming in the ECHL).

The 5' 11", 215-pound native of Midway, British Columbia has registered 68 points (24 G, 44 A) and 205 PIM's in his pro career, possessing a solid, edgy skill set. He has played for several Colorado rivals: the Wichita Thunder, Youngstown SteelHounds, Tulsa Oilers, Arizona Sundogs
as well as the Brahmas, meaning that Head Coach Chris Stewart is well aware of what he brings to the ice.

"We're very familiar with Matt and believe his addition will add something to our lineup that we could use a little more of. He's made a career of annoying opposing players, but does a great job knowing how to do it without neglecting his defensive responsibilities or crossing any lines," Stewart said.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Sunday, December 12th

This week was a pretty busy week for us as we traveled a lot with three consecutive road games.

We started off the week with practice on Monday and then got on the bus to head for Laredo. Like always, we stopped in San Antonio and had dinner at Texas Roadhouse – always a good meal. Then we got into Laredo and got some sleep and then got up to prepare for the game on Tuesday night.

This was another game where we played pretty well and had some chances. It was very big to get the goal with a minute left to tie the game and at least get one point down there. Obviously, it was disappointing not winning it in overtime, but at least to force the overtime and get that point is always big on the road. After the game we took the bus back home. We got in pretty late, so we had the next day off.

It was back to work on Thursday with practice and then back on the bus again with a four-and-a-half to five-hour ride to Tulsa. We stopped at the rink, dropped our stuff off, had dinner and then got some rest so we could get back to work on Friday.

Looking back on the game against the Oilers – the score doesn’t completely reflect how we played – I don’t think. We definitely made some mistakes where they capitalized and scored some goals that we didn’t score. But we definitely had our chances and had we scored on some of those chances, the outcome of the game could have been totally different. It was a disappointing loss, felt by everybody.

Obviously, when you lose a game, it’s a quiet ride back home. Coach is up front, watching video – occasionally calling guys up to watch mistakes they had made in the game. It was pretty quiet; the guys tried to get some sleep. We didn’t get into Bossier City until about 5:30 in the morning.

To finish off the week, we faced a very tough game against the Mudbugs, who have a very good team this year – a really hot team right now. For us to go in there and play probably one of our best games of the year, shutting them out 4-0, was a very good end to a busy week.

The Mudbugs are a very good team. They’re missing a couple of guys. Mangos on defense, who is a very good player for them - he’s been around for a while and definitely makes a different on their D corps. And then Justin Aikins up front, who is having a very good year – he’s out as well. That hurts them a little bit but they still have a very good team. They played a good game, I thought. They had some chances to score but Wayne Savage played a very good game and he made some big saves, which is always key to winning a hockey game. It was 0-0 for over 23 minutes and Wayne made some big saves up to that point.

Once we got the first goal, then we started rolling and got a couple more. Wayne also made some big saves in the third period. They (the ‘Bugs) might not have had their best game, but I thought after a disappointing game on Friday night, we came out and played one of our better games and when we do that, like we did against Colorado last week, we’re a very good team. We’ve got to learn to do that game in and game out and be that team to beat.

It was a totally different bus ride home versus the night before. The guys were pretty happy and there was a lot of laughing and hanging out. A lot of guys were playing cards in the back of the bus and watching hockey in the front. It was definitely a more relaxed ride than the ride to Bossier on Friday night.

Three out of six points wasn’t exactly what we wanted – we would have liked to get all six points, but it was a busy week traveling and we played a couple of hot teams on the road, so the three points out of six was an OK week for us. I wouldn’t say it was good, it was OK.

On Sunday, we had the Fan Club Christmas Party, which was a good chance for the players, coaches and families and everybody to get together. Our fan club has been very good to us – one of the best that I’ve ever been a part of. We had a great time at the party. As players, we really appreciate the things that they do for us. It makes it good, especially for a lot of the players who don’t have families around – the members of the fan club make it feel like home, so I want to say thanks to them again. We thank them a lot, but they deserve all the thanks that they get because they do a lot for us.

We’ve got a long week ahead – it kind of stinks when you play on Saturday and then you don’t play again until the next Friday, but it does give us time to rest and heal some minor injuries and stuff like that, so it’s a good thing.

We’re going to head for Allen to play the Americans, who we haven’t played in a while. They’re a team, kind of like Bossier – a very good, very skilled team. We’ve played them a few times and struggled, so with the rivalry, I look at this as a very, very important game for us. We’ve got to start putting some wins on the board against those teams – especially the one’s that are ahead of us like Bossier and Allen. We’ve got to prepare and whatever we can to make sure we’re ready. It’s going to come down to us working hard. If we work hard and play our game and play physical, I think we’ll be alright. It’s when we get away from playing our systems, when we get into trouble.

We play Odessa on Saturday. They’ve struggled this year and we’ve put up a couple of wins against them which is good, but they’re definitely a team that you can’t overlook. They have a lot of firepower and they have very good goaltending. We can’t overlook them at all – we’ve got to be ready to play them just like a Bossier or an Allen team for sure. If we work hard and play physical, I think we’ll do well against them.

Not a happy camper

What a difference a day makes

Brahmas, Savage shut out 'Bugs 4-0

See the edited version at Pro Hockey News here

Op·po·site (adj) - Diametrically different (as in nature or character)
- From Merriam-Webster online

If last night was the low of lows, tonight was certainly the high of highs as Wayne Savage and the Texas Brahmas showed that they can recover from a terrible performance in Tulsa and then take a six-hour bus ride to Bossier City and stick it to the Mudbugs, who prior to tonight had won their last five games at CenturyTel.

The Brahmas won 4-0, and from what I understand, it could have been much worse for the home team as at least three shots on goal hit the post or crossbar tonight.

No excuses for the 'Bugs tonight...they plain got whooped. Fortunately for our crustacean brothers, the Americans were off tonight and won't play again until Friday night, when they host...guess who? The Brahmas!

Then there's Savage. Wayne Savage. 33 shots faced - 33 saves made for his first pro career shut out. Nice turnaround from a tough night at NYTEX against the Mavericks last Friday.

I wasn't there, but I understand it was Teddy Bear Toss night - but no bears hit the ice on account of a Mudbugs goal...despite out shooting the Brahmas 27-9 in the last 40 minutes, the ‘Bugs couldn't solve Savage and were blanked at home for the first time since November 2, 2007. Good form Savage, good form. According to the Shreveport Times' Roy Lang, when the Brahmas scored an empty-net goal with 30.44 seconds remaining in the game to take a 4-0 lead, fans finally unloaded the stuffed animals. Embarrasing? You betcha.

"(Savage) played well against Shreveport in our barn," Dan Wildfong told Lang. "He stepped up his game and we're going to continue to need good goaltending. We knew what their record was when the other team scores first; we're not stupid."

"We had to play smart hockey. We knew they are going to keep coming with pressure. We had to make big saves at big times. We did that." Wildfong said.

Both teams missed on two power play opportunities in the first period and the game remained scoreless after the first 20. Shane Hart and Todd Griffith were the under card tonight and came to blows at the 16:58 mark, earning matching Fighting Majors and an early trip to the locker room.

The Brahmas out shot the 'Bugs 11-7 but both 'tenders were solid in net.

The ‘Bugs held the Brahmas to just five shots in the second frame, but the boys made them count, scoring on three of them.

Greg Hogeboom tallied the first goal during a 2-on-1 break with Jason Deitsch at the 3:19 mark to put the Brahmas up 1-0. Chad Woollard was also credited with a helper on the play.

Matt Pierce buried a rebound to notch his fifth goal of the season at the 10:51 mark, with a little help from Tyler Allen and Sean Hurley.

Chad Woollard ripped a perfect shot into the top corner off a Mudbugs turnover at the 15:37 mark, putting the Brahmas ahead 3-0 heading into the third period. Jason Krischuk was credited with the assist.

Yes, three unanswered goals with Hogie's tally as the eventual game winner. Those of us watching on Pointstreak (boycotting CHL-TV's high prices) were thrilled, to say the least.

The ‘Bugs made a good effort in the final frame, pelting Savage with 16 shots (to the Brahmas four), but never beat the rookie goaltender as their season high five-game home winning streak came to an end.

Tyler Allen capped off the Brahmas win on an empty net with a short-handed goal, assisted by Steven Later with 30 seconds remaining. Speaking of Later, he threw down the gloves and battled Jeff Martens in the final second of the contest, providing a final bit of excitement for 'Bugs fans, who otherwise had a less than pleasurable evening at the CTC.

With the win, the Brahmas record goes to 11-7-3 (.595, 25 points) remaining in third place in the Berry Conference. They retain a two-point lead on both Mississippi and Arizona, who have played two more games than the Brahmas, and Tulsa, who have played three more games. Texas is now 5-4-2 on the road.

Once again, Wayne Savage stopped 33 of 33 to earn the shut out win. His record goes to 4-4-1-1 with a 2.59 GAA (8th in the league) and a .917 save percentage (7th in the league).

John DeCaro turned away 16 of 19 shots faced and takes the loss (ending a six-game win streak). His record goes to 7-2-0.

The Brahmas went 0 for 3 on the power play (no surprise). The Mudbugs, who entered the game with the number one power play unit in the league, went 0-5.

Texas was assessed 20 minutes on seven infractions. Bossier-Shreveport received 16 minutes on five infractions. The Brahmas still have the number one penalty kill in the league this season with just 12 power play goals allowed and a 88.12 percentage.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Jason Deitsch, who had an assist and was a +3 on the night. The 2nd Star was awarded to Chad Woollard, who had a goal and an assist and the 1st Star went to, of course, Wayne Savage.

Referee: Steve Cruikshank
Linesmen: Kevin Mighton, Brad Sotak

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view the Brahmas' press release here

The Brahmas will be off tomorrow but will be back on the ice at NYTEX on Monday to prepare for Friday night's game when they travel to Allen for Game One of the 2010 North Texas Vintage Series.

On Saturday night the Brahmas host the Odessa Jackalopes, who earned their first-ever win at the Budweiser Events Center tonight, taking out Stewart's Eagles 3-2 in OT.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

A helmetless Marty Standish battles Chad Woollard at the BOK

Anybody notice the Sundogs in the rear view mirror?

Brahmas lose another game on the road

I'm trying to be positive here, but I've spent about the last hour thinking negative thoughts.

OK, here's the good news...the Brahmas penalty killers are still best in the league! Three of three power plays shut down tonight. More good news...Mississippi, Rio, Laredo and Odessa all lost tonight! Just not the Sundogs or the Oilers, who by the way, picked apart the Brahmas like vultures on Carrion in a 5-1 win at the BOK Center.

The bulls still hold the third slot in the Berry Conference, but with 23 points, they are 12 points behind Allen and 13 points behind Bossier-Shreveport.

What a difference a couple of weeks can make - the Killer Bees now occupy the bottom rung at 18 points and the Jacks are barely a step ahead with 19 points. Then there are the emerging powers - a four-way tie at 21 points featuring the RiverKings, Sundogs (yes, the Sundogs), Bucks and the Oilers.

What's there to say about the game? Things started out well enough. The Brahmas out shot the Oilers 7-1 in the first 10 minutes of play and had two consecutive power play opportunities - literally a four minute man-advantage, but alas, Trevor Cann couldn't be solved. Cann stopped nine shots in the first frame while the Oilers sent 11 shots in the direction of Kevin Beech. Let's face it, Cann was red hot tonight and Beecher had a bad night.

Jack Combs struck first, fed by Harrison Reed and Chad Costello at the 12:27 mark. Oilers up, 1-0.

Not much to report on the middle frame - each team had a single power play, neither team capitalized. The Brahmas out shot the Oilers 11-6. Braden Walls, who played six games with the Brahmas last season, had the second strike at the 12:50 mark, assisted by Marty Standish and Trevor Cann (don't you love it when the goalie gets the assist?).

The third period was a real mess as Beech gave up three consecutive goals - at the 2:47 mark (Michel Beausoleil, assisted by Derek Hulak), the 5:49 mark (Jack Combs, unassisted) and the 13:47 mark (Braden Walls, with helpers going to Sean Erickson and Gary Steffes).

Combs' goal came after a Brahma (identity withheld) lost the puck at the red line. Fonger was livid and tore into the guy when he returned to the bench. Even threw his play board. Sheesh! Still not sure why Beecher wasn't pulled at some point.

Dan Riedel, who was making his first trip back to the BOK after being waived by the Oilers on October 18th, tallied the only Brahmas goal, preventing Cann's shut out at the 16:30 mark with a little help from Mick Lawrence and Steven Later.

Nathan Saunders mixed it up with opposing defenseman Derek Eastman at the 14:40 mark. Eastman was called for Roughing, to go along with his Fighting Major. Saunders received an Instigator (2 minutes) and a Fighting (Instigator) Game Misconduct (10 minutes) for his effort. Steven Later and Brennan Barker went at it briefly at the 18:39 mark and their matching roughing calls provided two minutes of four-on-four hockey for the remaining 1:21 of the game.

The Oilers out shot the Brahmas 14-11 in the final period. The shot count was even at 31 apiece at the end of the game.

With the loss, the Brahmas record goes to 10-7-3 (.575, 23 points) and as I said before, they remain in third place in the Berry Conference. They retain a two-point lead on both Mississippi, Arizona and Laredo, who have all played two more games than the bulls. They also have a two point lead on the Oilers, who have played three more games. Texas is now 4-4-2 on the road.

Kevin Beech stopped 26 of 31 shots faced and takes the loss. His record goes to 7-3-2-1 with a 3.02 GAA (20th in the league) and a .900 save percentage (17th in the league).

Trevor Cann turned away 30 of 31 shots faced to earn the win. His record goes to 3-1-0.

The Brahmas went 0 for 5 and the Oilers went 0 for 3 on the power play. Texas was assessed 20 minutes on six infractions. Tulsa received 17 minutes on seven infractions. The Brahmas, once again, still have the number one penalty kill in the league with just 12 power play goals allowed and a 87.50 percentage.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Trevor Cann for his night in defense of the net. The 2nd Star was awarded to Jack Combs, who tallied two goals and the 1st Star went to Braden Walls, who registered two goals including the game-winner.

Referee: Dan Dreger
Linesmen: Kai Magnussen, Justin Bell

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view the Brahmas' press release here

You can view Les Stockton's photos from the game here

The Brahmas travel overnight to Bossier City where they will take on the league-leading (18-6-0, 36 points) Mudbugs tomorrow night at the Centurytel Center.

Photo Credit: Les Stockton

North Texas Vintage Series Returns

Game one set for next Friday

In remembrance of the Metroplex's early hockey rivalries, the Texas Brahmas and Allen Americans introduced the "North Texas Vintage Game Series" last season following a 28-year hiatus, with the teams representing the Fort Worth Wings and Dallas Black Hawks respectively. Both teams donned commemorative throwback jerseys representing their historic predecessor which they later auctioned off to the fans.

In efforts to salvage the memories of the good old days, the city rivalry that has now morphed into a suburbia battle, will continue for the second consecutive season this month with the teams under the monikers Fort Worth Fire and Dallas Freeze.

The first game will take place in Allen on Friday, December 17th at the Allen Event Center at 7:30 pm. The second game will take place at NYTEX on Tuesday, December 28 at 7:00 pm. Immediately following the game on the 28th, the Brahmas will host a live jersey auction for the game worn jerseys.

A rich history of hockey has been played between Fort Worth and Dallas since 1941 stemming with the epic rivalry of the Fort Worth Rangers and Dallas Texans. In 1967, the Fort Worth Wings, an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, played their inaugural season at the Will Rogers Coliseum in downtown Fort Worth. The same season, the Black Hawks relocated to Dallas to the State Fair Coliseum from St. Louis, birthing an intense rivalry in the heart of North Texas. With the addition of the Allen Americans to the CHL for the 2009-10 season, a classic cross-town rivalry returned to North Texas.

Last year the teams split the series, each earning a victory in their own barn. In game one, overtime was necessary for a decision, which was ultimately a 3-2 win for the Dallas Black Hawks (Allen). In net for the Fort Worth Wings (Brahmas) was rookie goaltender Joe Palmer who faced five shots in the extra period.

Two weeks later the series turned to the NYTEX Sports Centre where Palmer was able to redeem himself and the Wings with a 3-0 shutout. Fort Worth forward Tyler Skworchinski scorched the score card with a pair of goals handing the ‘Hawks the loss.

SLAPSHOTS:
Fort Worth Fire connections: Allen’s assistant coach, Bill McDonald was the behind the bench for the 1996-97 CHL Ray Miron Cup championship team with burly right winger Dwight Mullins in the mix of it all. Mullins retired following the victory over the Memphis RiverKings and is currently the head coach for the Americans.

Fort Worth Fire home arena: Fort Worth Convention Center/Will Rogers Coliseum
Dallas Freeze home arena: Fair Park Coliseum

Fort Worth Fire (1992-1999):
- 460 games 185-238-17-0-20
- 1996-97 won championship in game 7 victory over Memphis RiverKings; went 45-16-0-5 95 pts

Dallas Freeze (1992-1995):
- 190 games 86-86-18-0-0
- 1992-93 and 1993-94 lost in first round of playoffs

Here's a rare video of a Freeze/Fire game from YouTube:

Brahmas claim Harvey

Former Mudbugs 'tender joins purple and black

The Texas Brahmas have claimed former Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs goalie Jeff Harvey off of waivers according to Pointstreak.

Harvey won his first three starts as a Mudbug against Mississippi (10-1), at Mississippi (2-1) and against Tulsa 6-4. He was pulled from the game against the Allen Americans on October 21st after he allowed three goals on nine shots in a very busy first period.

More to come as I find out some more info...

Photo Credit: Mike McClure

Jaeger involved in bench-clearing brawl

Eight players and coaches suspended

It was a wild match between the Nottingham Panthers and the Coventry Blaze at the Skydome Arena on Saturday night, to say the least.

Former Brahmas goalie Brett Jaeger suffered a back spasm during the pre-game warm-ups and the opening face off was delayed while the Blaze trainer worked on Jaegs.

Once the game got under way, Nottingham’s tactic was to rush Jaegs as much as possible, thinking that getting in his face would unsettle his game.

Referee Tom Darnell had his hands full with what was already a physical game. 19 penalties had already been called (most of them for roughing or slashing) by the time the second period fracas began.

A tripping call on Coventry captain Brad Cruikshank was the straw what broke the camel's back – ultimately leading to a full-on bench clearing brawl. Cruikshank was ejected from the game for giving Darnell the finger after what he considered to be another soft call handed out.

The ball (or should I say puck) started rolling as Cruikshank was being led off the ice. He rushed Panthers goalie Craig Kowalski and then Nottingham players poured onto the ice, followed by the Blaze squad as various scuffles and fights broke out.

Jaeger battled Guilliame Lepine after the Panthers defenseman scrapped with Blaze D-man Jason Robinson. Both were given match penalties which were downgraded overnight, allowing them to play on Sunday.

Both teams accumulated 235 penalty minutes and the brawl added to the already lengthy penalty summary.

In what has been called the largest collective punishment dished out since the Elite League was formed in 2003, Cruikshank was given a nine-game suspension and will not be available until January 4th. Panthers Captain Danny Meyers was banned for seven games for a blind side hit on Jaeger.

Nottingham wing Alex Penner was banned for five games, Jade Galbraith and Marc Levers one game and bench coach David Graham got three.

Blaze coach Paul Thompson was handed a two-game ban while forward Aaron Nell was handed a one-match suspension.

By the way, the Blaze won the match 2-1. And you think we've had some fun at the shoebox!

You can read the Coventry Blaze match report here

You can view master photographer Mark Tredgold's shots of the action here

Here is one of the many videos currently circulating on YouTube:

The Blaze have a 14-6-1 record (28 points) and are in fifth place in the current standings. Jaegs has a 15-9 record with a 2.63 GAA and a .920 save percentage.

Photo Credit: Mark Tredgold

Brahmas lose in overtime, gain point in standings

Griffith forces overtime, Hazelwood gets game-winning goal

The Laredo Bucks won their third straight home game (for the first time this season) and their first overtime contest, defeating the visiting Texas Brahmas 3-2 in overtime tonight at the Laredo Energy Arena.

In the end, it was the players dealt in a trade between the two teams on November 3rd that determined the outcome of the game. Todd Griffith, formerly of the Bucks, scored the tying goal that forced the game into overtime and a wraparound goal by former Brahma Jeff Hazelwood won the game 1:50 into the extra frame.

It was a wild and aggressive start to the game with a combined 31 shots registered in the first frame.

The Brahmas went up 1-0 just 2:39 into the game when Matt Pierce jammed in his own rebound on the right side of the crease to beat Pier Pelletier and pick up his fourth goal of the season. Tyler Allen was in on the assist. It was the only score in the first 20 minutes, which saw no penalties.

The Bucks, who came into the game 4-5-1 at home, narrowly out shot the Brahmas 16-15 in the period.

Laredo tallied the equalizer 1:56 into the middle frame when Hans Benson took possession of a loose puck in the slot and sent a slap shot past Kevin Beech. Neil Trimm was credited with the assist.

Each team had two power play opportunities but were stymied by the others penalty killers. The Bucks killed off a 32 second five-on-three and the Brahmas killed off a four-minute double minor.

The Brahmas out shot the Bucks 11-8 in the second period.

Benson gave the Bucks a 2-1 lead with 6:53 left in the third period when he tipped in Jarred Mohr’s slap shot from the top of the left circle. Jeff Bes was also in on the assist.

The Brahmas tied the game with just 1:04 left in regulation after Beech was pulled in favor of the extra attacker. Todd Griffith jammed in a rebound (with a little help from Jason Deitsch and Alex Curran), ultimately forcing the game into overtime with his fourth goal of the season.

Hazelwood's tally on the Bucks' second shot in overtime sealed the win for the home team, whose record improves to 9-9-3 (.500, 21 points) on the season. Hans Benson and Jarred Mohr earned their third and second points, respectively, with the assists.

The Brahmas out shot the Bucks 37-32 in the game but the 2-1 shot advantage in overtime favored Laredo; you know, because they won the game.

With the loss, the Brahmas record goes to 10-6-3 (.605, 23 points) and they remain in third place in the Berry Conference. They now have a two point lead on both Mississippi and Laredo, who have both played two more games than the bulls. Texas is now 4-3-2 on the road.

Kevin Beech stopped 29 of 32 shots faced and takes the loss. His record goes to 7-2-2-1 with a 2.84 GAA (16th in the league) and a .906 save percentage (13th in the league).

Pier Pelletier turned away 35 of 37 shots faced to earn the win. His record goes to 4-5-2.

The Brahmas and the Bucks both went 0 for 3 on the power play. Both teams were assessed six minutes on three infractions. The Brahmas still have the number one penalty kill in the league with just 12 power play goals allowed and a 87.10 percentage.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Pier Pelletier for his night in defense of the net. The 2nd Star was awarded to Jeff Hazelwood, who tallied the game-winner in OT and the 1st Star went to Hans Benson, who registered two goals and an assist.

Referee: Ryan Hersey
Linesmen: John Grandt, Jon Shaw

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view the Brahmas' press release here

The Brahmas continue their December road trip this weekend with a game in Tulsa Friday and a visit to their I-20 rivals, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Saturday evening. The Brahmas next home game is set for Saturday, December 18 when they host the Odessa Jackalopes.

Photo Credit: Laredo Bucks

Lawrence activated from injured reserve

Brahmas forward Mick Lawrence has been activated from the 10-day Injured Reserve according to Pointstreak.

Lawrence has played in 17 of 19 games thus far and is fourth on the team in points (15) and penalty minutes (35) and third in goals (6) and assists (9, tied with Steven Later). He leads in game-winning goals with two.

Lawrence travelled with the team to Laredo and will start in tonight's contest against the Bucks.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Sunday, December 5th

Well, it was good to come out of the previous weekend with a couple of really big wins. We came from behind to beat Laredo in overtime in the last seconds of the game. That was a really huge and then obviously to beat Bossier- Shreveport on Saturday was also a really big win. They’re doing really well this season and they’ve beat us a couple of times in this building already – so that was a really big win.

After that, we had a couple of days off. We had Sunday off and Monday was an optional day - a few guys skated but a lot of guys took the day off after a long week the week before with four games in five nights. But as of Tuesday, we all got back to work to get ready for the games against Missouri and Colorado.
It was a normal week of practice for the most part. After the big weekend with a couple of wins, the mood was pretty good in the locker room – a lot of the guys were having fun.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go well on Friday night and the outcome wasn’t what it needed to be. We definitely don’t want to lose games in our building and to lose 4-1 was hard. We didn’t think that we put in the effort that was necessary to win that game – we had a few opportunities but our effort just wasn’t what it needed to be.

I’m the team captain, but we have enough leaders on this team –everybody knows their role and everybody knew that Friday night wasn’t what it needed to be and we definitely didn’t want to lose back-to-back games on home ice.

On Saturday night against the Eagles, we battled. We battled hard and the effort was where it needed to be. I think we really dominated the game from start to finish.

Everybody gets the system that we play here and everybody has bought in. All of us knew we had to come back with a better effort, and from top to bottom, we did it. We had good goaltending, good results from our lines and everybody down the row put in the right kind of effort and it showed on the scoreboard.

We’ve got the holidays coming up, but we’re trying to remain focused on winning. This is still our job and we’re here to win games. We know we’ve got to come into the rink ready to play each and every night and then when it comes time to get those few days off, we’ll enjoy the time off but also take care of our bodies and be ready for those games after Christmas too because we don’t want to take a step back coming off of a break like that.

Maxwell placed on IR

Brahmas forward Roger Maxwell has been placed on the 10-day injured reserve according to Pointstreak. Maxwell left the ice favoring his shoulder and arm following a scrape with Mavericks captain Carlyle Lewis on Friday night. He joins Jesse Dudas, Calin Wild and Mick Lawrence who are also out on IR.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

1-8-1

Brahmas defeat Stewart's Eagles 4-1

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (December 4)- Four goals, physical play and strong defense sent the Brahmas soaring over the Eagles Saturday night as they beat Colorado 4-1 at the NYTEX Sports Centre. The Eagles now have an all-time record (including playoffs) of 1-8-1 at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

Assistant Coach Greg Pankewicz acted as the Eagles' bench boss as Head Coach Chris Stewart served a one-game suspension for his disagreement with referee Tudor Floru Friday night. Floru, who was scheduled to ref the game in Texas, was replaced by Geoff Miller.

Texas came out of the gates with guns a blazing, out shooting Colorado 14-4 in the first period. Tempers matched the heat of the Brahmas sticks at the end of the period as Tyler Allen and Riley Nelson took exception of one another earning matching fighting calls at the buzzer, with an additional roughing minor tacked on to Allen.

The Brahmas began the period with a 5-on-3 disadvantage, but the league’s top ranked PK unit was able to defer any Eagles scoring chances. With teddy bears in tow and geared to be tossed to the ice following Texas’ first goal for the Brahmas annual “Teddy Bear Toss”, Alex Curran set the toys loose when he netted his second goal of the season with a shot from the point at the 16:48 mark. Exactly one minute later Greg Hogeboom’s quick shot directly from the face off beat Kyle Jones for the Texas 2-0 lead.

A pair of goals in the third took the wind out of the Eagles sails beginning with a Dan Riedel tally five minutes into the final period. Todd Griffith took a rebound off the pipe to register his third goal with Texas; assists from Riedel and Matt Pierce. Kevin Beech’s flawless night was interrupted with 1:39 remaining in the game with a goal by Daymen Rycroft, but the Brahmas held on to their 4-1 victory to close their home stand.

With the victory, the Brahmas handed Eagles’ net minder Jones’ his first regulation loss of the season. Texas out shot Colorado 36-19.

The Brahmas now begin their December road trip starting Tuesday when they head south to take on the Laredo Bucks for a 7:oo pm face off. The Brahmas next home game is set for Saturday, December 18 when they host the Odessa Jackalopes.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith