After the game…A few minutes with Dan Wildfong

The Brahmas head coach talks about the defense, the enforcer and where the team is at right now

Shortly after the Brahmas 3-0 win over the Allen American, I sat down with Dan Wildfong to talk about the team’s performance at this point in the season. OK, I'm a little late in posting this, but I have family in town and I've been a little busy lately. Anyway, here is our conversation.

Q: With the injuries and changes in personnel, specifically on the defense, how do you feel the boys are playing?

A: Tonight was unbelievable. I think everyone played really good hockey. We all bought into the systems tonight and it’s real tough, especially with new guys coming in; they’re doing a heck of a job for us. We just have to continue to keep working and keep playing Brahmas hockey and that’s what we did tonight.

Q: There’s been some really good stories of guys coming in and making an impact. For example, you had Todd Paul who came in and didn’t even have his own equipment to play with due to a mix-up with the airline. So he plays with some borrowed stuff and does real well…

A: These guys are jumping in and playing, not just 10 or 15 minutes – they’re playing like 25 minutes. So it’s not like they’re playing here or there for 60 minutes. It’ll be nice for sure when we get healthy.

Q: How is it you’re getting some of these guys who are able to come right in and make a contribution?

A: We kind of got a break on Seibel. We made a trade at the beginning of the year when we let Merlini go to Tulsa, and we had futures from them. We’d been looking for D and we knew Seibel had just been let go in the East Coast League. You know, guys get lost out there sometimes. You just keep trying to hunt them and Seibs – I think he’s going to be a great player – hopefully we get him up another level but I think he’s going to be a great player for us for a long time.

Q: You brought T-bone (Tim Laurila) out of retirement to help out on defense. I know he’s been active coaching and this and that but he had a lot of playing time tonight and seemed to do pretty well for a guy who’s been out for a season and a half. Were you surprised?

A: I know T-bone – he just wants to do whatever he can to help the team. He just kept things real simple and that’s all you have to do. It was pretty good of him to come out and compete the way he did. It’s not an easy job to play at this level and against that team over there (the Americans) and step right in after not playing for a while. We’re going to bring him on the road and keep asking him to do the same thing.

Q: Nathan Perrott was an impact signing to say the least. It seems to me that other teams have been behaving themselves a little bit more now that we have Nathan on the roster.

A: Nathan’s been trying to ask guys to fight and really no one’s obliged him yet, I think. He just has that presence out there – you know, he polices things pretty nicely and that’s something we didn’t have up until the end of the year. You can see that people aren’t taking liberties on us right now. That’s what he’s here for and he can play too. He’s not just a fighter.

Q: You’ve moved Skworchinski to D – he and Burto have been backing up the blue line for a while now – and we’ve seen a great performance from him, a great performance tonight. How do you feel about how Skworch is doing?

A: He’s playing unbelievable for us right now and logging a ton of ice time. He’s playing on defense, on the power play, playing every situation; Five-on-three kills…he’s a real valuable player to us. You know, the puck wasn’t going in for him at the beginning of the year and now it’s starting to find the back of the net. He’s a value to us, to be able to put him back on the point, but he’s playing so well up front, it’s hard to put him back there (laughing). So we decided to keep him up front tonight and it paid off.

Q: Joe Palmer has really been doing an outstanding job. He was fantastic tonight, especially in the first period and then all the way through – another shut out. How do you feel about him?

A: He’s a kid that has a lot of drive right now and wants to get to that next level. He just competes hard and he’s a competitor – he gets in a zone and he wants to win every game and doesn’t want to let a goal in. I love that about him. He’s got that competitiveness in him like no other, so we just have to continue to keep both goalies in – we’ve got Jaeger who’s ready to go now and he’s feeling great and we’ve got to just keep them both pushing each other keep them both healthy.

Q: We’re more than halfway through the season now and it’s time to make a run for the playoffs. Do you think it’s all coming together now – I know there’s still a lot of work to do – but do you think you’re on the way?

A: Yeah, like tonight, obviously it was one of our better games. I’m just looking for a little more consistency out of every guy. I think we’re starting to get it from them – about 80% of the guys. There’s just a couple of guys that are not giving it every night but tonight they did and that’s what we talked about after the game…we’re in too tight a playoff race…so every shift, every battle means something. You’ve got to be prepared right off the bat.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Ross Rouleau called up to the American Hockey League

Second year defenseman to play for Houston Aeros

The Texas Brahmas announced today that defenseman Ross Rouleau had been called up by the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. Rouleau is expected in the Aeros lineup wearing #25 this afternoon as Houston hosts the Rockford Ice Hogs at 4:05 PM.

The second year blue liner has nine points (1 G, 8 A) in 31 games this season with the Brahmas, and registered his first goal last week to push the Brahmas into overtime against the Colorado Eagles.

The younger brother of former Brahmas forward Pete Rouleau, Ross earned a spot on the Brahmas roster through the "Making the Cut" prospect camp. He was waived after two games but was called back to action in February and contributed to the President's Cup Championship win.

Ross came back to camp this season having bulked up after a summer of weight training and has honed his skills on the ice as well, becoming a noticeably improved member of the Brahmas blue line.

In other roster news, defenseman Tim Laurila was waived today. He came out of retirement to play in two games for the Brahmas, filling in while several defensemen are out on injured reserve.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Brahmas lose to the Amarillo Gorillas 4-3

Three goals in the third period fuel Amarillo comeback

In a physical contest, the Texas Brahmas watched a 2-1 lead slip away in the third period as the Amarillo Gorillas opened with the tying score and then went on to win the game 4-3 in regulation on Saturday night. With the road loss, the Brahmas record goes to 17-13-5 with 39 points. They remain in third place in the Southern Conference, nine points behind Allen and two points ahead of Laredo.

It took over half of the first period for the first score to be registered thanks to a Goaltender Interference call on Amarillo defenseman Andy Brennan. On their third power play opportunity, James Hiebert sent a pass from behind the Gorillas net to Mark Kolanos who sent the puck in past Tuomas Lohtander for his sixth goal of the season at the 13:48 mark.

It would be the only tally of the first frame in which the Gorillas led the shot count 11-6.

The Gorillas fought back in the second frame, when Joe Guenther snapped his shot from the high slot past Brett Jaeger at the 6:24 mark for his team-leading 16th goal of the season. Jason Beeman and Neil Smith were in on the assist.

The Brahmas would answer 80 seconds later, as AJ Gale notched his twelve goal of the season with the assist from Nathan Perrott, giving the Brahmas the 2-1 lead at the 7:44 mark.

Amarillo had the narrow 13-12 shot lead in the middle frame and after 40 minutes, led with a 24-18 count but went into the locker room down 2-1.

Things would change for Amarillo in the third period. A Hooking penalty on Nathan Perrott 43 seconds in led to a power play goal by defenseman Andy Brennan eight seconds later. Erik Felde and Joe Guenther were credited with the assist.

Chris Cloud took a feed from Gordon Bell at the 3:15 mark to give the Gorillas a 3-2 lead.

AJ Gale would tie the contest with his second goal of the game midway through the period with a forehand shot in close quarters at the 10:52 mark. Ross Rouleau and Todd Paul assisted.

With less than 5 minutes in regulation and on the power play due to a High Sticking call on Mark Kolanos, Amarillo forward Stuart MacRae tipped a Jake Obermeyer shot past Brett Jaeger, giving Amarillo the 4-3 lead.

Dan Wildfong pulled Jaeger in favor of the extra attacker with a minute left in the game but the Brahmas were unable to score and the game would end with the home team getting the win and the two points.

Brett Jaeger made 34 saves on 38 shots and took the loss. His record goes to 7-9-1. Tuomas Lohtander made 25 saves on 28 shots earned the win. His record goes to 6-4-2.

The Brahmas went one for six on the power play. Amarillo went two for six. The Brahmas were assessed 14 minutes on seven infractions; the Gorillas received 16 minutes on eight infractions.

The 3rd Star of the game went to AJ Gale who had two goals on the night. The 2nd Star was awarded to Amarillos Joe Guenther who had a goal and an assist and the 1st Star went to Stuart MacRae who scored the game-winning goal.

You can view the box score here

The Brahmas returned home to get some rest today and will begin preparing for a four game home stand beginning on Friday night against the Tulsa Oilers.

Grant Jacobsen goes down after taking a stick to the groin in last night's game

Allen's Whitley receives one game suspension

Frustrated goalie spears Jacobsen, pays price

It's pretty simple. Spear a player. Get a suspension. 'Nuff said.

There's no double standard here. Jaeger did it early in the season because he couldn't get the on-ice officials to do anything about a player who was hitting him with his stick inside the crease. Jaegs finally took matters into his own hands. Does that make it right? Depends on your point of view, but it's against the rules nonetheless.

Whitley had no such excuse. Just another gutless move from a frustrated American player.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Chris Whitley suffers the first of three goals against in the Friday night contest

Brahmas, Palmer shut out the Americans

Win 3-0 at the NYTEX Sports Center

The North Texas Vintage Series ended in a draw last night as the Texas Brahmas defeated the Allen Americans in a 3-0 contest. The Brahmas dominated in all areas except shots, in which the Americans had a 27-22 advantage. But that was the only advantage they had as rookie net minder Joe Palmer earned his third professional shut out by stifling every Allen scoring opportunity.

The Americans wore Dallas Black Hawks jerseys, while the Brahmas donned Fort Worth Wings sweaters in a night commemorating old minor league hockey rivals in the DFW area. On hand for the festivities were Fort Worth Wings forward Herb Boxer and Dallas Black Hawk winger Duane “Whip” Wylie who dropped the ceremonial first puck.

Defenseman Tyler Skworchinski netted two goals, Jordan Cameron had two assists, James Hiebert pummelled Liam Hukulak and the 303 Rowdies took off their shirts to give the large visiting Allen crowd the full NYTEX Sports Centre experience.

With the win, the Brahmas record goes to 17-12-5 and with 39 points, they remain in third place in the Southern Conference, two points ahead of Laredo and seven points behind Allen.

The first period turned into a great defensive struggle as neither team was able to beat the opposing net minder. Allen nearly scored midway through the frame, but a shot hit the crossbar and went out of play. Each side had three power play opportunities, but failed to convert.

Things changed in the second period. The Brahmas opened up the scoring when Matt Burto fed a pass across Chris Whitley’s crease to Tyler Skworchinski, who beat Whitley with a shot though the five hole taken in a kneeling position to make it 1-0 at the 8:04 mark. Jordan Cameron was also credited with the assist.

Allen defenseman Sean Perkins was called for Holding 28 seconds later in what would be the only infraction of the middle frame but the Americans' special teams held off the Brahmas attack.

The period ended without any further scoring. The Brahmas had the narrow 7-6 shot advantage and it was the difference maker as they took the 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

The third period opened with a waived-off goal for the Americans. I didn't hear the explanation from referee Tudor Floru, but the Brahmas got lucky.

The Brahmas scored when Mark Kolanos overpowered Allen defenseman Jordie Benn and slipped the puck past Chris Whitley who had fallen backward in a crowded crease for his fifth goal of the season. James Hiebert was credited with the assist at the 13:04 mark. Whitley and Allen head coach Dwight Mullins argued that the puck should have been whistled dead before the Brahmas had the opportunity to score, but referee Floru disagreed and the home team had the 2-0 lead.

Skworchinski wrapped up the game with another goal on a one-timer at the 13:04 mark. Jordan Cameron assisted.

Frustrations came to a head a little over a minute later when James Hiebert made it clear to Liam Hukulak that his crap wouldn't be tolerated. Hukulak eventually pulled Hiebert's sweater over his head but not before Hiebs got in a couple of good shots. Hiebert would receive two minutes for Roughing and a two-minute Fighting (Instigator). Both would receive a five-minute Fighting Major and a 10-minute No Category Game Misconduct and an early trip to the locker room.

Allen out shot the Brahmas 11-6 in the final frame and 27-22 in the game but went home with their tails between their legs and their five-game win streak ended.

Joe Palmer made 27 saves on 27 shots, earning the shut out win. His record goes to 10-4-4-3. Chris Whitley made 19 saves on 22 shots and takes the loss. His record goes to 16-6-2-1.

The Brahmas went 0 for 4 on the power play. Allen went 0 for 9. The Brahmas were assessed 25 minutes on 10 infractions; the Americans received 31 minutes on seven infractions.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Mark Kolanos who had a goal. The 2nd Star was awarded to Tyler Skworchinski who had two goals and the 1st Star went to Joe Palmer for his outstanding performance in net.

You can view the box score here

You can view my photos from the game here

Observations:

• Easily the best overall performance by the Brahmas this season. I spoke with Dan Wildfong after the game and it was the most satisfied I've seen him after a win.
• Grant Jacobsen appeared to get speared by a frustrated Chris Whitley late in the game. Of course, Tudor didn't see that one, but all in all, I think Floru went easy on the Brahmas for once.
• Jordan Cameron has an overwhelming lead over his teammates with 39 points (10 G, 29 A, +6).
• Tyler Skworchinski leads all CHL defensemen with 14 goals and three short-handed goals. He is also tied for first place with three game-winning goals.
• Joe Palmer moves into second place among all CHL goalies with a .924 save percentage. He is in third place with a 2.34 GAA. He leads all rookies and is second amongst all CHL players with 32 Star Points.
• For a guy who hasn't played in a while, defenseman Tim Laurila looked pretty good out there. Fonger seemed pleased with his performance as well. Way to go T-bone!

The Brahmas held their sweater auction after the game and then boarded the bus for the trip up to Amarillo where they take on the Gorillas tonight at 7:05pm. The game will be broadcast on CHL-TV for the three people who won't be watching the Cowboys-Eagles game.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Tim Laurila signs with the Brahmas

Former Brahma defenseman comes out of retirement

The Texas Brahmas signed former Brahmas defenseman Tim Laurila today to help out a decimated blue line. Wearing the number 25, Laurila will play in tonight's game against the Allen Americans. Laurila, 31, retired after the 2007-08 season but has remained active in the NYTEX family, most recently as a coach of the Jr. Brahmas Squirt team.

The 6' 4", 230 pound native of Moorhead, Minnesota tallied three points (2 G, 1 A) and 41 penalty minutes in 37 games played with the Brahmas during the 2007-08 season.

After four seasons of NCAA hockey at Michigan Tech, Laurila went pro in 2001-02, joining the Columbus Cottonmouths (ECHL) for 10 games at the end of that season. He also played two seasons with the Oklahoma City Blazers and a season each with the Motor City Mechanics (UHL), the Memphis RiverKings and the Corpus Christi Rayz.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith