Jason Deitsch puts one past Juha Toivonen during the Jackalopes' last visit to NYTEX

The Insider Preview - Texas Brahmas vs. Odessa Jackalopes

Brahmas lead in Conference race by seven points

The Southern Conference-leading Texas Brahmas (38-13-5, 81 points) host the Odessa Jackalopes (34-16-6, 74 points). The Brahmas are coming off last night's dominant 3-0 shutout victory over the Corpus Christi IceRays. It was their league-leading 15th consecutive home win and they are looking to make it sweet 16 tonight.

The two teams have met five times at NYTEX this season. The Brahmas won the first game, a pre-season exhibition, 3-2 in overtime. In the regular season, the Brahmas won by a score of 7-3 on October 25th but lost 5-2 on November 8th. The Brahmas then won two in a row on February 13th (3-2) and February 14th (4-3 shootout). Their last meeting was a 4-3 shootout loss at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa.

The Jackalopes, down seven points in the race for conference champion are coming off a 3-1 home win over the Laredo Bucks last night. They have a 17-8-3 road record this season.

The Jackalopes' active top three scorers are Sebastien Thinel (F) with 85 points (34 G, 51 A), Kory Karlander (F) with 67 points (30 G, 37 A) and Jeff Pierce (F) with 56 points (16 G, 40 A). On Special teams, the Jacks are ranked 1st in the league overall on the powerplay at 21.9% and 1st on the road at 21.0%. On the penalty kill, Odessa is ranked fourth in the league overall at 85% and third on the road at 86.7%.

Sebastien Thinel is the player to watch on the Jackalopes squad. In the last 10 games, Thinel has scored 19 points (5 G, 14 A) and is a +3. On the road, he leads the Jacks with 42 points (16 G, 26 A) this season and is a +10. He has scored 8 points (2 G, 6 A) against the Brahmas this season.

The top three scorers for the Brahmas are Scott Sheppard (F) with 63 points (31 G, 32 A), Jordan Cameron (F) with 55 points (21 G, 34 A) and Grant Jacobsen (F) with 53 points (20 G, 33 A). On special teams, the Brahmas are ranked third in the league overall on the powerplay at 19.9% and fifth at home at 20.4%. On the penalty kill, the Brahmas are ranked 11th in the league overall at 81% and third at home at 87.4%. The Brahmas remain the league-leaders with 18 short-handed goals.

Jason Deitsch is the man to watch on the Brahmas squad. In the last 10 games, Deitsch has scored 15 points (7 G, 8 A) and is a +5. He has scored 39 points (17 G, 22 A) in total and is a +17 this season. Another to watch is Scott Sheppard, who leads the home guard this season with 35 points (13 G, 22 A) and is a +15 at NYTEX. He has scored 7 points (3 G, 4 A) against the Jackalopes this season.

If overtime is necessary, it is notable that the Jackalopes are 0-3 in OT and the Brahmas are 5-1. The Jacks are 4-3 in shootouts and the Brahmas are 3-4.

Juha Toivonen (10-4-2-1) is likely to get the start in net for the Jackalopes with Alexandre Vincent out on goaltender IR since February 7th. Toivonen is 10th in the league with a 2.83 GAA and 13th with a .901 save percentage. He has one win against the Brahmas this season.

Brett Jaeger (25-7-4-2) is expected in the net for the Brahmas tonight. I'm betting it will be Juha Toivonen (11-6-2-1) in net for the Jackalopes.

The Jackalopes will be without forward Marc Rechlicz who was recalled by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) yesterday. They will also be without forwards Brian Swiniarski, Dominic Leveille and defenseman Mario Joly, all out on injured reserve. Goaltender Alexandre Vincent also remains listed on the IR.

The Brahmas will probably be without forward Matt Quinn and defenseman Eric Lundberg. Both are still listed on the injured reserve. Scott Sheppard did not play last night due to illness. I'm not sure he will play tonight.

This should be a good one. The game starts at 7:05pm and will be broadcast on Nifty-TV if you can't make the trip.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Kris Tebbs' diving attempt to stop Jordan Cameron's shot is unsuccessful as the Brahmas' 18th shorthanded goal is scored

15 Straight!

Brahmas perfect at NYTEX in 2009, shutout IceRays 3-0

The Texas Brahmas extended their league-leading home streak to 15 games last night with three special-teams goals for a 3-0 shutout of the Corpus Christi Ice Rays completing a five-game season sweep, the first in franchise history for Corpus at the hands of a divisional opponent (looks like the Laredo Bucks aren't the only team thankful for the Brahmas move to the South).

As a head coach, Dan Wildfong has never been beaten by the IceRays (9 attempts in two seasons). The game also marked the return of former Austin Ice Bats head coach and new IceRays coach Brent Hughes to the NYTEX Sports Centre. Hughes now has two seasons without a win in North Richland Hills. Not bad for a shoebox rink, eh Rajan?

The Brahmas and the Mississippi RiverKings are tied with 81 points and the Colorado Eagles maintain the lead for the Governor's Cup with 82 points. The Brahmas now have a 14-point lead over the Laredo Bucks for the Southeast Division crown and have maintained their seven point lead over the Odessa Jackalopes for the Southern Conference title.

David Cacciola was solid in the net, stopping all 23 shots against and notching his franchise-best fourth shutout.

The first period was mostly a yawner but with a lot of good defensive play on both sides. Only three shots had been taken overall in the first 10 minutes. The Brahmas took control late in the game with two goals in just over two minutes.

After a late high-sticking call on Brandon Benedict, Jordan Cameron scored the Brahmas' league-best 18th short-handed goal of the season. A center ice turnover and a pass from Grant Jacobsen gave him his 21st goal of the season and the Brahmas a 1-0 lead with 2:48 left in the period. The Brahmas led the shot count 6-1 after 17 minutes.

Kris Tebbs watches as Brandon Benedict's shot passes him by

Benedict was up next for the Brahmas after a hooking call on IceRays defenseman Chris Mei gave the Brahmas the man-advantage with 1:27 left to play. Defensemen Justin Kinnunen and Craig Minard set up the play and Benedict fired the puck past Kris Tebbs to make it 2-0 at the 19:23 mark.

The Brahmas outshot the Rays 8-2 in the first period and with a 13-0-0 record of wins when leading after the first at home, well, let's just say the game was already well in hand.

Tebbs' terrible night continues as Benedict sails another one over his shoulder to make it 3-0

It only took 45 seconds to seal the deal when Brandon Benedict, taking advantage of a slashing call against IceRays defenseman Ryan Crane, beat Tebbs again to make it a 3-0 game. Kinnunen and Minard were in on the assist again. The Brahmas led the shot count in the game 9-2 at this point.

The game really ended there. The IceRays outshot the Brahmas 12-7 in the middle period, 9-6 in the third and 23-21 in the game, but found a force field name David Cacciola in front of the Brahmas' net.

Cash's record goes to 13-6-1-2 with the win.

The Brahmas went 2 for 11 on the powerplay. The IceRays went 0 for 7.

The Brahmas were assessed 20 minutes on 10 infractions. Corpus Christi was assessed 28 minutes on 14 infractions.

The 3rd star went to Justin Kinnunen for his two assists in his first game back from his stint with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). The 2nd star went to Brandon Benedict for his two powerplay goals, giving the Brahmas the win and the 1st star went to goaltender David Cacciola for his shutout.

Here's a cool fact courtesy of uber-blogger Greg Rajan: That's 15 straight home wins for the Brahmas. To show you how far that franchise has come, they didn't have 15 total home wins in 2002-03, 2003-04 or 2005-06. They eeked out 16 in 2004-05.

You can view the box score here

You can view my photos from the game here

The Brahmas return to the ice tonight for a Southern Conference battle against the Odessa Jackalopes at 7:05 PM.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

The Insider Preview - Texas Brahmas vs. Corpus Christi IceRays

Brahmas looking for 15th straight home win

If you watched the Corpus Christi IceRays down the Laredo Bucks in a 4-3 shootout at the Laredo Entertainment Center Wednesday night, you saw them do something they haven't accomplished all season - win after trailing after two periods. This team knows every game is a must-win when you are fighting for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference and with Arizona’s 7-3 loss to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, the IceRays (24-27-5, 53 points) are now one point ahead of the Sundogs.

It was Corpus Christi's second win in a row after defeating the Killer Bees 4-3 in overtime last Saturday. Last Friday, they were defeated by the Sundogs in a scoreless game that had to be decided in a shootout.

Now they come to North Richland Hills to face the Conference-leading Texas Brahmas (37-13-5, 79 points) for the fifth and final time this season. Not only have the Brahmas won their last 14 games in a row at the NYTEX Sports Centre but they have beaten the IceRays eight times in a row (at home and on the road) since Dan Wildfong took over as head coach. So what are the odds of an IceRays victory tomorrow night? Yeah, I know, but stranger things have happened.

The Southern Conference title is the Brahmas' to lose but all indications are that won't happen. They have a lock on the Southeast Division. The team’s magic number is seven; any combination of Brahmas wins/Laredo losses totaling seven will give the Brahmas the division championship. They are tied with the Mississippi RiverKings and trail the Colorado Eagles by three points in the Governor's Cup race.

The Brahmas have been off since last Saturday's 4-2 road loss against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

This will be Corpus Christi Head Coach Brent Hughes' first trip to NYTEX since March 2nd, 2008 when the Brahmas beat his Austin Ice Bats 6-5 (The Ice Bats lost all three trips to NYTEX last season).

The IceRays' top three scorers are Chris Richards (C) with 68 points (26 G, 42 A), Justin Quenneville (C) with 58 points (17 G, 41 A) and Ryan Bennett (RW) with 54 points (22 G, 32 A). On Special teams, the IceRays are ranked 11th in the league overall on the powerplay at 15.87% and 12th on the road at 14.5%. On the penalty kill, Corpus Christi is ranked 11th in the league overall at 80.89% and 11th on the road at 79.7%.

Left wing Adam Powell has had the most success against the Brahmas this season with five goals scored. Forward Jereme Tendler has been hot recently, scoring five goals in the last five games. Center Chris Richards is the man to watch. Richards not only leads the team in scoring but he has scored nine points (1 G, 8 A) in the last 10 games and has five points (1 G, 4 A) assists against the Brahmas this season.

The top three scorers for the Brahmas are Scott Sheppard (F) with 63 points (31 G, 32 A), Jordan Cameron (F) with 54 points (20 G, 34 A) and Grant Jacobsen (F) with 52 points (20 G, 32 A). On special teams, the Brahmas are ranked third in the league overall on the powerplay at 19.95% and fifth at home at 20.5%. On the penalty kill, they are ranked 12th in the league overall at 80.58% and 4th at home at 86.9%.

Jordan Cameron has had the most success against the IceRays this season, scoring 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in four games. Cameron has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in his last five games overall. Keep an eye on Scott Sheppard who has led the home guard this season at NYTEX with 35 points (13 G, 22 A) with a +15 rating in 26 games.

Brett Jaeger (25-7-4-2) and David Cacciola (12-6-1-1) each have two wins against the IceRays this season. I'm betting that Cash will get the nod for this game. Kris Tebbs (20-18-4-1) is expected in net for the IceRays.

The IceRays are without forwards Patrick Steinmayr (30-day IR) and Brett Connolly (out for season) and left wing Jonathan Trottier (30-day IR).

The Brahmas are without defensemen Nathan Saunders (league suspension) and Eric Lundberg (14-day IR). Forwards Matt Quinn and Travis Banga may be back (but I don't know that for sure - I think Banga may rest until Saturday).

The game begins at 7:05pm. It's $1 Coke night, so bring your singles! If you don't have tickets already, you may be out of luck (call before you come) but you can always watch it on Nifty-TV.

Following the game an evening of "Casino Night" will be taking place at the Tejas courts. Those who wish to test their luck can purchase a ticket for $40 or $25 if they only want to be registered for the Poker Tournament. You can register online at www.tejasvolleyball.com.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Insider Update - Allen Events Center

Central Hockey League to announce new team, ownership this month

This month will be an exciting time for hockey fans in Allen, Texas as the Central Hockey League prepares to announce it's 17th franchise and seventh active team in the Lone Star State.

The original ownership group, led by two local business leaders, Mark C. Layton and Ian Dockrill had pulled out but the league soon found another group (as yet unnamed) to take their place. According to the league's Director of Communications, Bob Hoffman, the new ownership group has been very busy putting their organization together and preparing for this month's roll out. Hoffman confirmed that they are in the process of interviewing candidates for the general manager position and are preparing a new website to be introduced soon.

As seen with the addition of the expansion Rapid City Rush this season, things move very quickly once the new ownership is officially announced. Like Rapid City, the new club will have a "name the team" contest and will look to put together a coaching staff as its first order of business.

The new team, along with its counterpart in Independence, Missouri, will be integrated into the conference structure and another divisional realignment will be announced at the league's summer meeting in June.

Both teams will benefit from an expansion draft to be held this summer, in which the new head coaches will each be able to choose five players off a list compiled by the 16 other CHL franchises. Each team is required to expose four players but no team can lose more than one player.

The Allen Events Center is targeted for opening on November 9th inside one of the largest regional mixed-use life-style developments in the country, the 400-acre Village at Allen/Village at Fairview complex. It will be surrounded by two million square feet of retail, restaurant and office space. The development will include a full-service Marriott hotel and two parking garages.

The events center itself features 6,200 fixed seats for hockey and can accommodate up to 7,500 people in various seating configurations. Also featured are twenty six luxury suites, loge seating, and a VIP lounge. The center will also have a second-sheet community ice rink for adult and youth leagues and clinics.

Numerous events will be held annually including nationally touring concerts, family shows and of course, the facility will be the home for the CHL's Allen team. The events Center will also serve as a community resource for large gatherings or ceremonies such as graduations and similar events. Construction of the $52.6 million event center is a cooperative effort between the City of Allen, Global Entertainment Corporation and The MGHerring Group.

Since the Events Center will not be open in time for the opening of the 2009-10 season in October, the new team will play their first games on the road.

Here are some photos of the construction site taken on February 27th. As you can see, most of the structural steel and concrete for the shell of the building are in place.

The Allen Events Center has already opened a business office just off of the construction site where season tickets, premium seats and luxury suites are already being marketed. Just a few employees are in place there now, including General Manager Doug Waugh and Director of Sales, Mike Konderla.

Waugh most recently was employed by Center Operating Company, which manages the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Prior to joining the staff at the American Airlines Center, he was Director of Operations for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, which operates the SBC Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Located in Collin County, the richest county in Texas and the 23rd wealthiest county in the country, Allen is the home of the 2007 Texas Cup State Champion Allen (High School) Eagles Ice Hockey Club. The growing North Texas community is excited to have a professional hockey franchise in its midst. Other minor pro franchises in the county include the Frisco RoughRiders of AA Baseball and the Dallas Aviators of the Continental Baseball League. The 2008 Texas Collegiate League Champion McKinney Marshalls and the Texas Tornado Junior Hockey Club also make their home in Collin County.

For Texas Brahmas fans, not only will another rivalry be born but fans will have a short drive to make to see Brahmas road games just two counties away. Brahmas General Manager Mike Barack echoed that sentiment in an interview with the Insider last year.

"It’s going to be great," Barack said. "It’s going to give us a rival. It’s far enough away where we won’t be affected by sponsors and we won’t be affected by any overlap of fans. From an expense standpoint, from travel, that’s going to greatly reduce those costs and it’s going to be very exciting for the fans, our die-hard fans, to be able to cross the Metroplex and see the Brahmas. It’s only going to be a good thing."

You can visit the Allen Events Center website here

You can see a video about the Allen Events Center on the City of Allen website (look for it at the bottom of the home page). Click here

Photo Credits: Robert Keith/Artistic Rendering: MGHerring Group

Kinnunen released from PTO with San Antonio Rampage

All-Star defenseman expected back with the Brahmas this weekend

The San Antonio Rampage announced that defenseman Justin Kinnunen has been released from his Professional Try-Out (PTO) signed on February 3. He is expected to re-join the Brahmas for this weekend's games.

Kinnunen dressed for 10 games with the Rampage during his most recent stint through February. He previously signed a PTO with the Rampage January 17 playing in one game and was released on January 20.

While Brahmas fans supported his call-up to the AHL, Kinnunen will be welcomed back to a defensive squad that has been without Eric Lundberg due to injury and Nathan Saunders who has one game left on his two-game league suspension.

Kinnunen played 38 games with the Brahmas this season and has notched 28 points (12 G, 16 A) and has a +15 rating. He also was the Brahmas' representative at the CHL All-Star Game for the second year in a row.

Last season, The 6-foot, 168-pound native of Negaunee, Michigan scored two goals with seven assists through 14 games in the playoffs. During the regular season he tallied 43 points (11 G, 32 A), starting in all 64 games. With the 2009 playoffs coming soon, the Brahmas will be happy to have "Juice" back on the blue line.

Photo Credit: Darren Abate

Insider Behind the Scenes with...Cliff Shaw

Team Chaplain

Cliff Shaw is a familiar face around the NYTEX Sports Centre. Known affectionately as "Rev", Shaw is a member of Hockey Ministries International, a non-denominational Christian organization organized in 1977. Shaw, 60, serves as Team Chaplain for the Texas Brahmas, serving the spiritual needs of the players, coaches, and other members of the organization.

"I pray that they will use the abilities God has given them to help the team," Shaw recently told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I also try to be very basic. God loves ’em, Jesus died for them, and the way to heaven is through Christ."

Providing pre-game prayer, chapel sessions, baptisms and spiritual direction are just a few of the services Shaw offers to the team. He also remains available 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk.

I spoke to Cliff recently after sitting in on a chapel session after practice. Here is our conversation.

Q: Tell me a little about your background; how did you get involved with the clergy?

A: Well, in 1989 I had a good job. I was making six figures, had a company car and an expense account. I was very involved with my church. I was a volunteer with Athletes in Action. I lost my job. I prayed about it and decided this is what I need to do – God sent me in this direction, so that’s how I actually got started. It’s not a job. It’s a calling. A lot of people say, what do you mean it’s a calling? Well, if you’ve been called, you know what it means. God equips the people he calls. He doesn’t call the equipped, necessarily. That’s how I got involved.

Q: Why hockey?

A: I’ve been around hockey since I was born. My grandfather was involved with the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings organizations. I learned to skate at Maple Leaf Gardens. I’ve been around the game all of my life. I love the game. But hockey’s a culture, it’s not a game. It’s a culture.

Q: You are with Hockey Ministries International. Tell me a little about the organization and how you came to be a part of it.

A: They’ve been around since 1977. The main thing that they do is Christian hockey camps. Last year, we reached over 2,000 kids through a camp. We offer chapel in almost every hockey league that is around, from the juniors all the way up to the NHL. When I started in 1991, I was a maverick in the Central Hockey League. I was the only guy around. I traveled with the team for awhile and then when I would get to other cities, I would tear out yellow page ads for churches and I would call pastors to try and find people to work with the other teams. My goal was to get chaplains in with every team.

Q: What has been the reception of the teams to the idea?

A: It’s new, even though it’s been around since 1977. Chapel programs in hockey are relatively new. It’s something that the guys, when you do a chapel presentation for a team, sometimes you get a lot of blank stares. Like, what are you talking about? Whereas with football and basketball and baseball, it’s a given. They’ll have their chapel programs on game days or the day before. But in hockey, it’s relatively new. Most of the time, guys are receptive to it because it’s new. Sometimes, they’ll check it out. And some guys are actual believers. I always tell people, you can’t have a ministry until you have a relationship. They don’t really care how much you know until they know how much you care.

When I first started, I just started going to practice and kept going and going and going. Finally one day, one guy says “what do you do?” and that gave me an opportunity to tell him. I think most guys are open to the idea; however the majority of guys don’t come. That doesn’t mean they’re not interested. Sometimes I actually think they’re afraid. Because it’s new; it’s something different they’ve never had. And when I say afraid, I don’t mean fearful, it’s just because it’s new. I’ve been very fortunate here with Dan and Forbes when they came here. They were every involved with chapel programs in Shreveport. So they were very open and very receptive to it.

Q: Do you get the opportunity from time to time to witness with players and spend some time with guys who just need someone to talk to?

A: Yes, I do and the thing is, guys have to trust you before they’ll open up to you. This year, I’ve had several opportunities to sit and just listen to guys and visit with guys and share the good news of Christ with them. That’s what I’m all about.

Q: You have players who come from different backgrounds and different denominations, some with religious upbringings and some with none at all. Do you find that to be any sort of a challenge?

A: Well, there are several different religions. I’m a Christian and that’s the gospel that I proclaim, of Jesus Christ. Denominations, guys come from different denominations, Catholicism, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian…tell them, look, I was raised a Presbyterian, went to a Catholic School, married a Southern Baptist and work for a non-denominational ministry. So, unless you’re one of the others, I’ve got you covered (laughing). It’s the same Jesus Christ, if you’re a Christian, no matter what the denomination.

Q: I think the one thing that ties them all together is faith. It doesn’t matter what you call yourself. The bottom line in every denomination, it all comes down to faith.

A: Exactly, and the ministry that I’m involved in is a faith support ministry. That is, that I raise my own funds through individuals and churches. If people don’t give, I don’t get paid. But I don’t look at it that way because I know that this is where God wants me. I’m very sure of that or I wouldn’t be doing it. I don’t look at this as a job. A job is something you dread going to every day, just to get a paycheck. I enjoy what I’m doing. I have a passion for it. I have a passion to see every one of these guys know Jesus Christ. Will that happen? That’s not up to me. My job is to share the good news and then let the Holy Spirit do his work.

For more information on Hockey Ministries International, click here

To read the recent article about Cliff Shaw in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, click here

Photo Credits: Robert Keith