Who are the Bloomington Blaze and should we be concerned?

Expansion club is on their first road trip

If anyone should understand a slow start this season, it's the Texas Brahmas and their fans. With a full off-season of recruiting and a strong training camp, the Brahmas showed a tremendous amount of promise in their two pre-season contests against the Allen Americans.

Then came an unexpected start to the regular season - a 1-4-0 record, including two shut outs through the first five games. Certainly not what anyone expected. But the Brahmas followed up a 4-3 win at Laredo with a 5-3 win over the visiting Missouri Mavericks and are poised to break out of the sub-.500 club and show some consistency as we move towards the always difficult December-January stretch.

Now comes the Bloomington Blaze, a team that got a late start and had a mound of internal issues (understatement) to resolve before they even began building their inaugural roster.

Paul Gardner (who replaced Kevin Kaminski in Mississippi last season) was hired as Bloomington's head coach shortly after Jason Christie was hired away to coach the ECHL's Ontario Reign. Gardner had a little over three weeks to put a team together before training camp began. With that in mind, he did a pretty good job.

The question now is, after going 1-3-1 (worst in the league) at home to start the 2011-12 campaign, will the Blaze show improvement during their five-game road trip which begins with a two-game series against the Brahmas on Friday and Saturday nights?

“You hate to use an excuse, but there were so many distractions wondering if there was going to be a team or not,” Gardner told the Bloomington Pantagraph's Mike Egenes. “Things have settled down now, and I think a road trip will help us.”

Defenseman Aaron Dawson, who played his rookie year with the now defunct Bloomington PrairieThunder concurs.

“Being on the road is a good chance to grow together as a team,” Dawson said. “It’s good to get away from any distractions there may be off the ice.”

For Dawson and his fellow blue liners, improvement is imperative if they want to remain with the club. The Blaze are allowing a horrendous 4.8 goals per game - worst in the Central hockey League. Goalies Marco Emond (0-2-0, 3.99 GAA, .865 SV%) and Zane Kalemba (0-1-1, 5.85 GAA, .879 SV%) are among the bottom six of all CHL net minders.

If there's a bright spot for the Blaze, it's on the power play - they are currently ranked sixth in the league at 21.74%. Even so, the Brahmas' penalty killers are ranked third in the league at 84.62% so the advantage may not help them this weekend.

Players to watch include #16 Brodie Sheahan (3 G, 3 A, -5), who also played his rookie season with the PrairieThunder. All three of Sheahan’s goals have come on the power play. #17 Jason Dale led the PrairieThunder with 52 points last season (17 G, 35 A, 0) and has six points this season (1 G, 5 A, -4), including two power play assists and one game-winner. Defenseman Doug Krantz (#44) had two assists in 11 games with the Brahmas during the 2008 playoffs following his graduation from Cornell University. Krantz also has six points (1 G, 5 A, -3) this season, including four power play assists.

Conventional wisdom would say that the Brahmas have the next two games in the bag. But as we all know, conventional wisdom and ice hockey, let alone any sport doesn't always jive. So, will the Blaze get it together and pull out a win (or two) while in Texas? Can the Brahmas keep their win streak alive? To find out for yourself, don your purple and black and come out to the NYTEX Sports Centre this weekend. If you missed Tuesday night's game, you're probably kicking yourself - don't make the same mistake twice.

Remember also that Friday is $1 Hot Dog Night and Saturday is Rally Towel Night at the NYTEX Sports Centre!

Image Credit: Bloomington Blaze Hockey Club

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs to be honored on Saturday

2011 Ray Miron President's Cup on display

The Texas Brahmas will be honoring the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs' 2011 Central Hockey League Championship during this Saturday's game against the Bloomington Blaze.

Despite the intense rivalry between the two teams over the years, there's always been a close bond between the two organizations and their fans.

The N. Thomas Berry Trophy and the Ray Miron President's Cup will both be on display at the NYTEX Sports Centre for photo opportunities. In addition, there will be a special on-ice celebration for all Mudbugs supporters.

Special group rates are available for this exciting evening. Contact the Brahmas' Rebecca Jacobsen at 817-520-3301 or by e-mail: rjacobsen@brahmas.com for more information.

Rough night for Gerry Festa - Mark Ehl celebrates Jordan Kary's second period power play strike

Brahmas humble the Mavericks in 5-3 win

Guggenberger earns second consecutive win

There was an unbelievable number of empty seats at the NYTEX Sports Centre on Tuesday night and all I can say is whatever you were doing, it wasn't as good as seeing your Texas Brahmas stand and deliver the first regulation loss to the number one team in the Central Hockey League.

It was a great showing for the boys who needed this win in many ways. The passing was sharp, the pressure on the Mavericks was relentless and the teamwork was evident as another 60 minute effort paid off.

Five different Brahmas (Wild, Fox, Hodge, Hogg and Kary) scored on a hapless Gerry Festa, who was sacrificed so that Charlie Effinger could rest up on the bench.

Mark Guggenberger stopped 29 of 32 shots faced and earned his second consecutive win, placing himself third amongst all CHL goalies with a 2.00 GAA and a .931 save percentage.

Prior to the start of the game, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs owner Tommy Scott made a presentation of a 2011 CHL Championship ring to Mavericks defenseman Dave Pszenyczny, who was a member of that final Mudbugs blue line.

I had a couple of minutes to speak with Tommy later on as he watched the game up in Section K. Scott shared some fond memories of the long-standing Brahmas-Mudbugs rivalry and talked about his trip up to Rapid City this weekend to present rings to five former players, now split among the Rush (Michael Couch, Jeff Kyrzakos and Shawn Limpright) and the Fort Wayne Komets (Brett Smith and Jamie Milam), who are in town for a weekend series.

As the game started, the Mavericks looked sharp as the two teams began to get to know one another. They opened up the scoring with their third shot of the contest when Andrew Courtney beat an out of position Guggenberger at the 2:40 mark, assisted by Zach Carriveau and Vern Cooper.

Carriveau was called for High Sticking a little over two minutes later, but the Brahmas were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage. Likewise for the Mavericks, who had an opportunity at the 12:56 mark when Alex Curran got tagged for Hooking.

The real fun began later in the period when the Brahmas tallied a pair of goals just 59 seconds apart and thereafter, never relinquished the lead.


Cal Wild sent in the equalizer at the 17:03 mark after skating in from his position in the left circle and then sent a feed from Andrew Lackner over Festa's left shoulder and into the back of the net. Chad Woollard was also credited on the play.


T.J. Fox was next up at the 18:02 mark. Stationed in front of the crease, Fox sent in a feed from Jordan Kary, who was also working from the left circle and Festa, who tried to roll into position was too late to make the save. Ross Rouleau was credited with the secondary assist.

I don't know if it's just my imagination (or the Nyquil I've been drinking over the past two days to get over a head cold), but Festa looked like he was operating about a half-step too slow all night long.

Shots were even at 10 apiece but it was the Brahmas who took the 2-1 lead into the first break.


The Brahmas were in control for most of the middle frame and Brendon Hodge provided the 3-1 lead when he sent a rebound top shelf at the 9:28 mark, assisted by Jacques Perreault and Chad Woollard.

The Mavericks answered less than three minutes later when rookie forward Kris Hogg stole the puck from a Brahmas’ defender and beat Guggenberger for an unassisted short-handed goal.

The one-goal deficit proved to be the closest the Mavericks’ would get as the Brahmas tallied two power play goals later in the period.

The Mavericks’ number one thug Carlyle Lewis (remember when he just about wet his pants when Roger Maxwell dropped the gloves on him last season? Take a walk down memory lane here) pulled a cowardly stunt, sending Jim Burichin dangerously into the end boards.


Fortunately, Jimbo chased off the birds that were circling his head for about a minute and skated back to the bench unassisted, but with a deep gash above his right eye that required a bunch of stitches and at least a couple of Advil.

Lewis was given a Charging Major and a Charging Game Misconduct for his sins. Personally, I think a suspension is in order here - we'll see if the league steps up on this one.

On a positive note, the Brahmas scored two goals on the resulting power play (can you believe it?) just 50 seconds apart to drop the Texas hammer on the Mavericks' chances on staging a comeback.


Adam Hogg struck first, driving the puck out of the neutral zone and along the left boards with Mike Wakita in close pursuit. Hogg set up his shot as he entered the left circle with Wakita's outstretched blade inching toward his face and J.P. Testwuide coming cross-ice from his right. Unfazed, Hogg made his move, rocketing the puck into the back of the net as Festa, who never had a chance, flopped onto his belly in disbelief. Mark Ehl and Jacques Perreault were credited with the assists, and the Brahmas now had a 4-2 lead.


Next up was the ever-smiling Jordan Kary, who managed to beat Carriveau to a loose puck sitting a few inches from Festa's left skate and just inside the right side of the crease. While Festa, who was moving Sam Peckinpah-style (that's in slow-motion for you youngsters), attempted to swat the puck with his stick (he never had a chance, again) but Kary got there first and nudged the rubber across the goal line to make it a 5-2 contest.

The Brahmas sent one more shot on goal before retiring for the second intermission. Through 40 minutes, the teams were now tied in shots at 18 apiece, but the Brahmas held the three-goal lead.

There were no penalties called in the third period and the Mavericks gave it all they had but were stymied at every turn by the Brahmas. With about three minutes left to play, Festa was finally pulled - in favor of an extra attacker - and the pressure on Guggenberger continued to build until Sebastien Thinel managed to find the back of the net on a set up by Vern Cooper and Ed McGrane.

No matter though as the game was clearly over long before that score, which wasn't even celebrated by the forlorn visitors. With 2:45 left to play, the Mavericks sent in four additional shots to the chants of "warm up the bus" while the Brahmas fought for the chance to send the puck into the big empty. The final buzzer couldn't sound fast enough for Scott Hillman and his boys who were feeling the sting of back-to-back losses.

Missouri outshot the Brahmas 14-11 in the final 20 and 32-29 in the game, but still came up short, losing their first game in regulation play this season. The loss also marked the Mavericks’ first loss against the Brahmas in team history. Missouri was previously 2-0-0 against Texas with both wins at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

Referee: Brent Coulombe
Linesmen: Kyle DeMaggio, T.J. Nua

Mark Guggenberger stopped 29 of 32 shots faced and earned the win, moving to 2-0-0; Gerry Festa stopped 24 of 29 and takes the loss. His record goes to 2-1-0.

The Brahmas went 2 for 5 on the power play; the Mavericks went 0 for 2. Texas was assessed four minutes on two infractions. Missouri was assessed 19 minutes on four infractions.

1st Star: Adam Hogg - 2 Points (1 G, 1 A, -2) including the game-winner on 4 shots

2nd Star: Jordan Kary - 2 Points (1 G, 1 A, 0) on 4 shots

3rd Star: Brendon Hodge - 1 Point (1 G, 0 A, +1) on 2 shots

You can view Pointstreak's box score here and their Game Live broadcast here.

You can view my game photos here. As always, it takes time to edit the 1,200+ shots taken, so be patient and keep checking back.

The Brahmas will host the expansion Bloomington Blaze (1-3-1), who are down, but like a wounded animal, still dangerous. Think backdraft; that fire can go out of control at any time.

Plan on making the trip to NYTEX for two games, Friday and Saturday nights, with both contests starting at 7:30 pm. Don't be a fair weather fan - this is Texas Brahmas Hockey in your Hometown. Be there, be loud, believe!

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

...And then there's the Mavericks

Can the Brahmas defeat the league's top team?

The Texas Brahmas will host the Missouri Mavericks in a rare Tuesday night contest at the NYTEX Sports Centre - the question is, will the boys stand and deliver or will they fall by the wayside?

There's grumbling in the ranks of Brahmas fans - and for good reason:

• The Brahmas are off to their worst start of the Wildfong era - currently 2-4-0 on the season (1-2-0 at home and 1-2-0 on the road) and tied for sixth place in the Berry Conference with the Laredo Bucks.
• Offensively, the boys are averaging just 1.67 goals per game (last in the league) and are tied with the Fort Wayne Komets for the lowest number of goals scored thus far (10). Just eight players have scored goals (Both T.J. and Phil Fox, Mark Ehl, Jordan Kary, Brendon Hodge, Al Wild, Adam Hogg and Jim Burichin).
• The Brahmas have the lowest number of penalty minutes in the league (72).
• As usual, the Brahmas are hopeless on the man advantage - after missing on their first 18 power play chances of the season, the Brahmas finally broke through with a second period power play goal by Adam Hogg during Saturday’s 4-3 win at Laredo. They are currently last in the league with a 5.26 power play percentage.
• There's no "wow factor". The Brahmas have one star player to speak of in Chad Woollard, but after six games, Woolly has just two assists - hardly exciting.
• The Brahmas' ability to fight (and I don't mean dancing or grabbing at sweaters) has shown a lack of proficiency - with the reluctant exception of Erik Spady. Now, I assure you that I wouldn't take on any of them on solid ground, but I like my chances on the ice. I don't know if that statement's sadder for me or for them. I'll still get my butt kicked, but at least when I drop the gloves, I throw punches. Lack of an established enforcer has the fans cringing when the gloves are dropped.

Granted, it's been a weird start this season. Just three home games in October with two of those competing with the Texas Rangers' failed World Series bid. And, it's pretty much a whole new team - we really don't know these guys yet. They seem to have the right work ethic, they play hard for the full 60 minutes, they all have ability - it just hasn't translated to what the fans are used to seeing.

God love them all, but the die hard Brahmas fans are much like Philadelphia Eagles fans - if they aren't seeing wins, they're seeing the Fort Worth Brahmas. You know what I mean.

I'll always be a Brahmas optimist, but in the words of those beloved minstrels from the 1970's...the Brady kids:

When it's time to change, then it's time to change

Don't fight the tide, come along for the ride, don't you see
When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange
who you are into what you're gonna be

You're welcome to slap me for that reference when you see me.

And then there's the Maverick's - darlings of the Show Me State and the seemingly unstoppable league-leading crew of ugly orange or pastel blue and ugly orange sweater wearing mules:

• The Mavericks have a 6-0-1 record and 13 points. The Mavs went 6-0 on their season-opening road trip and then fell in a shootout in their home opener on Saturday night against Wichita (5-1-0).
• The Mavs and Brahmas have met just twice previously with Missouri winning both games. Missouri has outscored Texas 8-3 in the two games. This season the two teams will play three times including the first time at Independence Events Center on New Year’s Eve.
• The Mavericks are one of two teams in the CHL to not have a loss in regulation.
• Mavericks forward Sebastien Thinel leads the CHL in scoring with 14 points on four goals and 10 assists. Thinel has nine points in his last three games where he scored three points in each of those games. He is no stranger to leading the CHL in scoring as he was awarded the Joe Burton Award (scoring champion) last season when he recorded 110 points (35 G, 75 A) in 66 games with Odessa.
• Mavericks’ goaltender Charlie (just don't run into me) Effinger was named the CHL Goalie of the Month for October. Effinger went 4-0-0 in October and allowed just six goals. He had a 1.50 goals-against average (GAA) and .961 save percentage in October. Mavericks’ forward Kris Hogg was named the CHL’s Rookie of the Month after he posted five points in five games on two goals and three assists. Hogg also had a +6 rating which was tied for the best rating in the CHL.

Eww.

So the average person will believe that the boys don't have a chance tonight and have already placed a mark in the loss column for the purple and black. Let's just be happy the Blaze are coming in for two games!

Bull.

Now's the time for this group to come around and show what it's made of. And if Fonger hasn't said it (I'm sure he has), I will: there's a one-way bus ticket back to Palookaville sitting on my desk and I swear I'll use it!

OK, last pop reference, I swear. But maybe a visit from Bluto Blutarsky (Animal House) to the locker room pre-game is in order:

Bluto: What the *!%$ happened to the Brahmas I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my #!@ from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Effinger, he's a dead man! Thinel, dead! McGrane...

Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic... but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!

OK, maybe not futile and stupid...but a gesture nonetheless. Let's take these donkeys and show them what happens in our house! Let's send 'em to the glue factory! Show me? We'll show you! C'mon everybody, are you with me?!!

Silence. A cricket chirping is all I hear...sigh...

Photo Credits: Top/Robert Keith, Bottom/Universal Pictures

Hogeboom thrives in Italy

Former Brahma has 20 points in 14 games

Former Texas Brahmas star forward Greg Hogeboom has had an excellent start to the 2011-12 season with Alleghe HC in Italy, leading the team with 20 points (11 G, 9 A), including seven power play goals and three game-winning goals through 14 games.

Hogeboom notched a hat trick in an 8-3 win over Valpellice on October 27th. All three Hogeboom goals were on the power play as Alleghe went 5-for-8 on the man-advantage.

Hogeboom, 28, was the second leading scorer for the Brahmas last season (tied with Chad Woollard with 92 points) and was first in power play goals (15), assists (55) and +/- (tied with Jason Krischuk at +16). He was also one of two players (Krischuk) to play all 66 regular season games.

Hogeboom's 92 points (37 G, 55 A, +16) and 22 penalty minutes constituted his best output in seven pro seasons and placed him sixth among all Central Hockey League players in points (92), fifth in goals (37), sixth in assists (55) and second in power play goals (15).

Alleghe HC is currently ranked fourth in the Lega Italiana Hockey su Ghiaccio (the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy) with 24 points.

Hogeboom plays alongside forward Vince Rocco, a teammate of Brahmas defenseman Jim Burichin at Niagra University.

Image Credit: Enrico Bardin

McLeod injured in game against Copenhagen

Former Brahmas defenseman underwent surgery today

Former Brahmas defenseman Kevin Mcleod underwent surgery today to repair what has been described as severe damage to his teeth and jaw, sustained during Yesterday's AL Bank Cup match between EfB Hockey and Hockey Copenhagen.

Midway through a hard fought match, McLeod was reportedly hit in the face by a fast traveling puck. He suffered a broken jaw and lost three teeth, with several others pushed in or otherwise damaged. Bleeding heavily, McLeod was assisted off the ice and had to leave the game.

"I know they say that the damage comes and goes for all teams, but this was really ugly," EfB's head coach Tomas Jonsson said.

The accident occurred 34 minutes into the contest and the remainder of the middle period had to be interrupted because of the time needed to clean up blood on the ice. As a result, the third period was extended for six minutes.

McLeod was taken to Hvidovre Hospital, where he received about 40 stitches and was then transferred to University Hospital where specialists could assess the damage to his jaw. McLeod underwent surgery this afternoon.

"It was a sad and ugly incident," EfB Ice Hockey sports chief, Peter Gommesen said. "He is probably going to be out until the New Year."

McLeod's former teammate and former Brahmas goalie Brett Jaeger was in net for Copenhagen and earned the win in the 3-2 victory, which keeps his team's playoff hopes alive.

"We must thank Brett Jaeger for the victory," Copenhagen head coach Morten Hagen said. "He made some incredible saves under intense pressure from Esbjerg."

McLeod, 27, spent the 2010-11 campaign with Hvidovre Ligahockey (Denmark), scoring 23 points (7 G, 16 A) and 123 penalty minutes. He added two assists in four playoff games.

He began the 2011-12 season on a six-game tryout with the Vienna Capitals, member of the Erste Bank Hockey League in Austria. He signed a contract with Esbjerg on September 26th and has tallied four assists and 12 penalty minutes thus far.

Prior to traveling overseas, McLeod spent three seasons with the Brahmas, registering 114 points (46 G, 68 A) and 201 PIM in 168 regular season contests and 20 points (5 G, 15 A) and 40 PIM in 31 post-season games.

Photo Credit: EfB Hockey