Texas Brahmas Insider video

Mike Sgroi vs. Garrett Klotz

I'm thinking I really need to bring the video camera more often. Yeah, I'll do that.

1:45 into the first frame of tonight's game, the Brahmas had just tied the game up at 1-1 on a strike from the first line. As the game was about to resume, Mike Sgroi (6' 4", 230 pounds, 32) and Garrett Klotz (6' 5", 235 pounds, 22) dropped the gloves and provided a little heavyweight entertainment.

Klotz held his own but Sgroi definitely put the NYTEX beat down on him and headed for the sin bin with his signature thumbs up for the crowd.

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Walt Tenery

Brahmas battle back, clinch playoff berth with 5-4 win

Ihnacak nets game-winner in shootout

The Texas Brahmas, down 3-1 in the first period, battled their way back to a 5-4 shootout win over the visiting Laredo Bucks tonight in front of a sold out crowd at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Brian Ihnacak netted the game-winning goal and Scott Reid stopped 20 of 21 shots faced and set aside four of five of the Bucks' shootout attempts in relief of Wayne Savage to earn his first win for the home team.

With their 17th home victory of the 2010-11 campaign, the Brahmas have clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season.

Chad Woollard opened the scoring on a two-on-one break at the 5:15 mark and hit a milestone in the process with his 700th career point. Dylan Stanley and Nathan Saunders were in on the assist.

Undaunted, Laredo answered with three back-to-back goals, including two in less than a minute beginning at the 8:31 mark. Jeff Hazelwood stole a pass in the Brahmas end and found a wide open Brian Matte, who scored on Wayne Savage with a backhander from right in front of the net.

Neil Trimm picked off a Brahmas pass in the slot and sent the puck past Savage to make it a 2-1 contest at the 15:04 mark.

57 seconds later, the Bucks would go up 3-1 when defenseman B.J Crum scored his first goal of the season on a feed from Keegan Dansereau. Jarred Mohr was also credited with an assist.

The Bucks out shot the Brahmas 14-8 in the first 20 and had the crowd at NYTEX in a sullen mood heading into the first intermission.

A goal tending change to open the middle frame took place for the Brahmas as Scott Reid relieved Savage, who gave up three goals on 14 shots in the first 20 minutes.

An otherwise uneventful period changed when Nathan Saunders and Bucks forward Justin Styffe dropped the gloves behind Reid’s net at the 14:27 mark.

A last second (literally, at the 19:59 mark) shot by Jason Deitsch was redirected by Mick Lawrence past Pier Pelletier to make it a 3-2 contest going into the second intermission. Greg Hogeboom was also credited with an assist.

Laredo out shot Texas 13-10 in the second period.

Mick Lawrence tallied the equalizer, his second of the night, on an odd-man rush at the 1:45 mark of the third period with a little help from Dylan Stanley and Brian Ihnacak.

Just 12 seconds later, Brian Matte put the Bucks up 4-3 when he knocked in his second of the night right off the face-off, assisted by Darryl Smith and Davis Inman.

With the game on the line, Chad Woollard, aided by an extra attacker, sent the game into overtime with six seconds remaining in regulation with a rebound off a shot by Dylan Stanley.

The Brahmas out shot the Bucks 12-7 in the third period but were out shot in regulation, 34-30.

After the overtime period failed to produce a winner, the game went into a shootout. Keegan Dansereau scored first for the Bucks, but Reid was able to stop the next four Laredo Shooters. Dylan Stanley scored first for the Brahmas and Brian Ihnacak sent the game winner past Pelletier to secure the victory.

The Brahmas went 0 for 4 on the power play; the Bucks went 0 for 3. The Brahmas were assessed 18 minutes on six infractions; the Bucks received 17 minutes on seven infractions.

Referee: Tudor Floru
Linesmen: Kai Magnussen, T.J. Nua

Brian Ihnacak earned the 3rd Star of the game with a goal and an assist on the night. Mick Lawrence was awarded the 2nd Star with two consecutive goals and Chad Woollard took the 1st Star, also with two goals.

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

The Brahmas will visit the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs tomorrow afternoon for a 4:05 pm face off at the CenturyTel Center.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Transactions, transactions...

Brahmas begin adjusting roster as regular season winds down

The Texas Brahmas made several roster moves on Friday afternoon according to Pointstreak.

Forward Mike Sgroi was activated from leave by the league and defenseman Nathan Saunders was activated from injured reserve, bringing the enforcers back on the active roster for the home stretch heading towards the playoffs.

Saunders, who had been out since December 17th, played just 12 games since signing with the team on November 22nd. He tallied two points (1 G, 1 A, +2), both on the power play, and his goal was the game winner at Odessa in his first action on November 23rd. He also tallied 57 penalty minutes during that time.

Fan favorite Roger Maxwell was moved from the 30-day injured reserve to season-ending injured reserve. Maxwell played in 11 contests and scored a goal during the Brahmas' 5-3 home win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on November 27th. He had 27 penalty minutes and several memorable fights during his tenure.

Forward Chris Moran and defenseman Jim Burichin have both been move to the 10-day to the 30-day injured reserve, which I believe will keep them available for the playoffs.

Defenseman Jesse Dudas, who has been out of action since November 13th, no longer appears on the Brahmas' Pointstreak roster. Dudas, will turn 23 on March 31st, played in 11 games and registered five points (2 G, 3 A, +5) and 10 penalty minutes. The transaction list does not provide a status for Dudas, but he has in effect been placed on season-ending injured reserve. The nature of Dudas' injury has not been made public to my knowledge, but I can confirm that he had surgery late last year and is doing well in recovery.

Finally, defenseman Brett Blatchford, who played four games while the bench was short-handed, was placed on waivers.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Hogeboom named Sherwood/CHL Player of the Month

Brahmas forward registered 27 points in 12 games

The Central Hockey League announced today that Brahmas forward Greg Hogeboom has been named the Sherwood/CHL Player of the Month for his outstanding performance during the month of February.

Hogeboom registered 27 points (14 G, 13 A) in 12 games, including a pair of game winning goals (2/19 vs. Allen and 2/23 vs. Wichita). On February 23rd, he scored his first hat trick of the season against the Wichita Thunder. He tallied points in all but one game, had seven straight games with goals scored (2/11 thru 2/27) and scored goals in nine of the 12 games played.


The productive winger leads all Brahmas scorers with 74 points (32 G, 42 A) for the season and is sixth in the league in the same category. He is also the leading points producer during the Dan Wildfong era, surpassing the regular season totals of Jordan Cameron (64 in 2007-08 and 57 in 2009-10) and Scott Sheppard (66 in 2008-09).

The seventh year pro is easily having his best career season and has proven to be one of the best players, on and off the ice, that Fonger has ever recruited.

Photo Credits: Robert Keith

1st Annual Hockey-N-Heels ladies night this Saturday

Discounted tickets include dinner with the Brahmas' coaches

The Brahmas introduce their first annual “Hockey-N-Heels” ladies night this Saturday when Texas hosts the Laredo Bucks for a 7:30 pm face off.

All women are invited to take advantage of a special discounted ticket price of $16 that includes a pre-game X&O’s chat with our coaches (6 pm), a complimentary drink ticket, raffles, prizes and the chance to win dinner with a Brahma player.

The event is sponsored by High Heel Junkie and Starlight Children’s Foundation will receive $1 of every ticket sold.

To reserve your seat, contact Bethany Burkett at 817-520-3315.