Brahmas announce Carroll signing

Former Mudbugs great joins Guggenberger in goal

The Texas Brahmas have announced the addition of veteran goaltender Ken Carroll to the roster, ending weeks of speculation as to who would be the replacement for Steve Silverthorn.

Carroll, 35, retired after the 2009-10 season but has remained active in the local hockey scene as a coach for the Dallas Oilers youth hockey organization and has also skated with the Dallas Stars, taking a spot in net as a practice goalie when needed.

The addition of Carroll makes for a formidible goaltending duo, surely onr of the best in the league.

Carroll ended (he thought) his hockey career as the CHL's all-time shutout king, racking up a league record 31 shutouts in his time with the ‘Bugs. He is also tied for second in league history in victories with 187 and is the only CHL goaltender to be selected to six All-Star Games. When the league released its All-Decade teams for 2000-2009, Carroll was announced as the First Team goaltender.

Right from the onset of his career during the 2000-2001 season, #34 was an impact player for Bossier-Shreveport. The rookie netminder recorded an 11-2 playoff record to help the ‘Bugs earn their third consecutive President's Cup Championship on his way to WPHL Rookie of the Year honors. He also captured his first Goaltender of the Year award that season.

After spending one year away in the ECHL, the Oil City, Ontario native returned to Bossier-Shreveport to become a Mudbugs fixture both on and off the ice. He helped lead the Mudbugs back to the President's Cup Finals in 2004, where they lost the now-infamous Game 7 to Laredo in overtime.

"Of course winning a championship in 2001 will always be a great memory, but I think what I'll remember most is the Laredo series in ‘04," Carroll said after his first retirement. "The guys we had on that team, the ups and downs and the adversity we faced together is something I'll remember forever. I know we didn't win, but at the same time, we felt like we won. We just don't have the rings to prove it."

Carroll and the Mudbugs went back to the Finals again in 2006 after he took home his second Most Outstanding Goaltender honor and earned a spot on the All-CHL team. Carroll and John DeCaro then teamed up to break nearly all of the league's single-season defensive records in 2007-08, setting new marks in team goals-against average, shutout wins and shutout streak, among others. On December 14, 2007, Carroll became the league's career shutout leader with 34 saves in a 3-0 win over Colorado.

The 5-10, 175-pound netminder appeared in 303 games as a Mudbug, posting a 187-81-25 career record and finishing with a 2.15 GAA and a .928 Save Percentage. He also won 31 career playoff games in 54 appearances and had six more shutouts in the postseason.

Bringing Carroll back also provides a thrill for Mudbugs fans, who will surely make the trek to NRH to cheer on one of their own.

Suffice it to say, Brahmas fans should be nothing short of thrilled as well. But don't call KC a back up. Here's a man who has earned an even spot and will be played as needed as the Brahmas make the quest to bring the Cup back to NRH!

Photo Credit: Robert Keith