A few minutes with...Dan Wildfong

The Brahmas head coach talks about the second consecutive playoff win against Odessa

After the nail biter that was Saturday night's contest with the Jackalopes, I spoke with Fonger as is customary this time of year. I have to say, I can't remember hearing Dan sound so pleased with his team as I have after the past couple of games. Here is our conversation.

Q: It was nice seeing the boys pile on behind Odessa's net when the final buzzer sounded. Can you describe the atmosphere in the locker room after the game?

A: The boys were excited definitely. That's a big win - anytime you win in overtime, it's big and exciting. We understand that the job's not over. We came to win two and we won two but now we've just got to focus on the next game.

Q: Let's talk about the penalty kill for a minute...Odessa had the man-advantage eight times and the Tony PK soured it for them all eight times. What can you say about the special teams play?

A: You know, I think the guys did a really great job. We made a couple of adjustments. When we did have a break down, Jaegs made a big save, so those guys blocked a lot of shots and I think we adjusted well.

Q: Odessa certainly had offensive momentum, out shooting the Brahmas in every frame. Jaeger
stopped 46 of 48 shots tonight - what more can you say about your net minder?

A: He's just in that zone right now...he's in playoff mode. He's really focused...he's really seeing the puck well and we're going to need that from him throughout the playoffs.

Q: During last year's playoff run, we saw Tyler Skworchinski really step up to the plate and put up scores when they were needed and doing it again this year. What can you say about having Skworch back in the line up?

A: Oh, it's huge and were sure did miss him last night too. He's a good penalty killer and a good face off guy. He does everything really well and he's a really key guy for us - he has been all year, so when he's out of the line up, it hurts us but we had a couple of guts step in. Young guys who did a good job while he was out but having him back gives us that extra firepower and he really rises to the occasion at this time of year.

Q: I doubt many people prior to the beginning of the series thought that the Brahmas would win twice in Odessa. Carrying this kind of momentum into NYTEX is huge. What are your thoughts on that?

A: We just have to play like we did on the road at home. We kept it very simple; we didn't panic. When we got penalties, we stayed focused. It's got to be that simplistic game against these guys. You can't run and gun with them, so we just have to continue doing the little things in order to make the series go the way we want.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Update on fundraiser for Ryan Christian

$1405 raised at NYTEX during the silent auction/photo sale

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table at the NYTEX Sports Centre last weekend. Through the silent auction and the sale of photos, and through cash donations, $1405.00 was raised.

The funds, which accounted for 100% of the proceeds from the event, are being forwarded to the Ryan Christian Love Fund this week along with the get well card signed by many. $1205.00 was converted to a cashier's check and $200.00 comes from a personal check from the individual who won the Dallas Stars team signed stick.

Part two of the fundraiser will be done as an eBay auction, to be announced soon.

I wanted to send out a few special thank you's to the following individuals who helped make this effort a success:

Gina and Vicki Buckingham, Dan Wildfong, Mike Barack, Scott Plourde, Chad Siewert, Phil Shipp and the rest of the Texas Brahmas organization, Brian Benway, Matt Brayfield and Terry Ruskowski of the Laredo Bucks, Tommy Scott, Ken Carroll, John DeCaro and Brett Smith and visiting fans of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Garrett Roper, Mary Bradford, Walter Maultsby, Jack Jones, Dee and Kevin Brant, Davis Nelson, Chris Moore and many others.

Ryan and her daddy Jeff Christian

What's this all about? If you’ve been a fan of Central Hockey League hockey for any amount of time, I’m sure you know of Jeff Christian. The 39-year-old right wing has played over 19 years of professional hockey in the six different leagues, including the NHL, AHL, IHL, EIHL (England) and the DEL ( Germany). He is now in his fifth season in the CHL, having played with the Youngstown Steelhounds, Tulsa Oilers and now the Missouri Mavericks.

Christian led the Mavericks in points (69), goals (28), assists (41), power play assists (19) and shots (204) and was the first player signed to the expansion franchise last year. And while the Mavericks are currently battling in the playoffs, Christian and his family are involved in a struggle of another kind – his eight-year-old daughter Ryan is fighting a rare form of cancer.

Diagnosed with Pediatric Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma, a cancer of the adrenal gland that affects literally one or two people in a million, Ryan has recently been moved to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, a facility known world-wide as a premier cancer center for children.

Obviously, there are great costs involved with Ryan’s travel and care and there are numerous efforts, including my own, underway to assist the Christian family with those costs.

Read a great article on the effort to assist the Christian Family here

You can keep updated on Ryan's progress here

You can also join the Ryan Christian Love Fund Facebook page.

If you would like to make a donation directly to the fund, please make checks payable to “The Ryan Christian Love Fund” and mail to:

Ryan Christian Love Fund
c/o Missouri Mavericks
19100 E. Valley View Parkway
Independence, MO 64055

Thanks for getting involved!

Brahmas win thriller in sudden death overtime

Skworchinski scores game winner with seven seconds left

After leading the Central Hockey League in the regular season with 48 wins and earning the Governor's Cup, the Odessa Jackalopes are suffering through a new season that is the playoffs at the hands of the defending league champion Texas Brahmas.

With just seven seconds left in a hard fought overtime period, the Brahmas' Tyler Skworchinski fired the puck past a stunned Joel Martin to secure the 3-2 victory and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Southern Conference semi-final. It was Skworchinski's second tally in a game that saw the Brahmas' special teams kill eight Odessa power plays and Brett Jaeger stop 46 of 48 shots to earn his fourth consecutive post-season win.

In front of a home crowd of 3,622, the Jackalopes came out of the gates playing much more aggressively than in Game One. They had several rushes on Brett Jaeger in the opening minute of the first period but were held off time and again by the Brahmas net minder.

Texas was more conservative, but made their first shot of the game count when Lee Jubinville caught a deflection off a Matt Burto shot and scored on Joel Martin at the 1:54 mark.

The tally didn't faze Odessa, who kept up their attack, sending wave after wave of shots against Jaeger. Nearing the mid-point of the first frame, Odessa's Jeff Pierce began to work the puck in from the blue line but was tripped up by a Brahmas defender. Before hitting the ice, Pierce managed to feed Sebastien Thinel, who sent in a shot past Jaeger from between the circles, evening the score at 1-1.

The Brahmas had several chances, but there would be no further scoring in the period. Joel Martin made diving saves on at least two shots that could have easily given the visitors additional scores. Texas defenseman Justin Kinnunen also had a shot hit the post during a power play opportunity. Odessa out shot the Brahmas 15-7 in the first 20 minutes of play.

The middle frame was highlighted by a breakdown in discipline between both teams, resulting in three consecutive power plays for the Brahmas followed by three consecutive power plays for the Jackalopes. The Brahmas would tally the only score of the period on their second man-advantage when Tyler Skworchinski found the back of the net at the 8:27 mark.

The Jackalopes out shot the Brahmas 10-7 in the period but were down 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Odessa opened the third frame with 1:21 left on a power play but failed again to convert on their fifth man-advantage.

Kory Karlander managed to score the equalizer on even strength after working his way out of the right wing corner and sending in a bullet from between the circles at the 2:23 mark.

For the third consecutive period, the Jackalopes out shot the Brahmas; this time 11-8. Despite a 36-22 shot advantage in regulation, the game would be forced into overtime, thanks in no small part to a spectacular effort by Brett Jaeger.

A 12-7 shot advantage and two more power plays through the extra frame didn't help the Jackalopes who sent everything they had against the brick wall that was the Brahmas net minder.

Just when it appeared the game might go into double-overtime, the Brahmas' Kinnunen emerged from the neutral zone with the puck and fed it to Tyler Skworchinski, who beat Joel Martin with the game-winner at the 19:53 mark.

Brett Jaeger stopped 46 of 48 shots faced to earn the win. Joel Martin allowed three goals on 30 shots and took his second consecutive loss.

The next two games will be held at NYTEX starting on Wednesday night.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

A few minutes with...Dan Wildfong

The Brahmas head coach talks about winning Game One in Odessa

I spoke with Fonger about 15 minutes after the Brahmas defeated the Odessa Jackalopes in a 5-2 contest at the Ector County Coliseum. Here's our conversation.

Q: How did it feel taking the first win there in Odessa?

A: It was good. You know, obviously, we come in here knowing that we want to get a good start against these guys and this is the start we need, so I thought we'd limit their chances and when they did get their chances, Jaeger came up pretty big. I'm proud of these guys. A lot of guys stepped up.

Q: Pretty even play in the first two periods and then five different Brahmas score in the third period. Were you surprised by the amount of offensive output in the final frame?

A: Yeah, you know, obviously it was tight in the first two periods. I thought we had some chances; they had some chances. Once we got that first goal, it kind of lifted us and then Jubie gets a quick one...then he takes a punch to the head (Jubes does) and we get on the power play and get a nice power play goal. Those are things that lift the team. I think maybe we looked a little tired in the first two periods but we said, boys, just keep it simple...just keep playing our game. They did and we got the win. It's not an easy building to win in and the guys stuck to the game plan.

Q: Tom Steinel seemed to keep the whistle in his pocket tonight. Do you think that's a big factor here in the playoffs, you know, refs letting the boys play?

A: I don't think their were many calls to be called. I think they prefer to let the guys play a little more in the playoffs...our guys understand how good this team is on the power play so we just have to continue to stay disciplined. I think we're focused on doing that.

Q: Do you think having the momentum of the two wins against Corpus behind you helped coming into this series with Odessa?

A: For sure. Guys feel confident. They know what playoff hockey is all about and to get that win in that series - it really gave the young guys a taste of what it's like. Especially the guys that haven't been here before and obviously, the young guys really responded tonight. So, I'm proud of these guys.

Q: You have Brett Jaeger in net and he's definitely in playoff form. What can you say about Jaeger's performance - not just tonight but in all three starts thus far in the playoffs?

A: He's playing like Jaeger - he's a clutch goalie. The big thing is - he comes up with the timely saves...it's one nothing and they come in on a breakaway and he makes a big save. It would've been 2-0 and that would have really demoralized us but he makes some big save. We get out of the period 1-0 against us and then (in the third period) we get a big goal right off the bat and get a couple more, so he's just been playing really good. He's focused and this is his time of year.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Brahmas crush the Jackalopes

Five goals in the third period deliver Game One win

Odessa Jackalopes broadcaster Brien Rea was seen holding up a sign that read "Take what's yours boys", but the wrong boys took the message to heart as the Texas Brahmas took Game One of the best-of-seven semi-final series with a 5-2 win at the Ector County Coliseum.

The win is the third consecutive playoff victory for Brett Jaeger and the Brahmas who hope to carry the momentum into tomorrow night, where another win will give them a 2-0 lead on the Jackalopes. The series then shifts to the NYTEX Sports Center on Wednesday.

Five different Brahmas players scored goals, demonstrating the depth of this team that has struggled all season on the road. Grant Jacobsen had three assists on the night.

The crowd at the Ector County Coliseum was sparse for a Friday evening but the after work crowd trickled in steadily, filling seats and adding to the noise level.

Referee Tom Steinel made it clear that he wouldn't be calling a lot of penalties in this game as is customary during the playoffs. Both sides took advantage, with the Brahmas' James Hiebert and the Jackalopes' Garrett Gruenke handling instigator duties. Both teams looked sharp as they felt each other out during the first half of the first period. Defensively, both sides did a good job crowding any offensive opportunities.

Midway through the first period, the Jackalopes led the shot count 6-2 with Brett Jaeger managing to stop a pair of dangerous slap shots and his teammates doing a good job clearing rebounds.

The Brahmas offense got to work in the second half of the frame, eventually matching shots in the period at 10 apiece.

There was only one penalty in the first 20 minutes, called on the Brahmas' Matt Pierce for Interference. The Jackalopes got right to work with the number one power play in the league during the regular season, wasting no time scoring on Jaeger at the 11:57 mark.

Alex Dunn took a feed from Dominic Leveille and sent a bullet past Jaeger from the top right corner of the left circle. Kory Karlander was also credited with the assist on the score which came 17 seconds into the man advantage.

There was no further scoring in the period and the Jackalopes took the 1-0 lead into the locker room.

The Jackalopes got their second power play 57 seconds into the middle frame due to a Goalie Interference call on Jason Deitsch but the Brahmas, who had the number three penalty kill in the regular season, held them off. Likewise, the Brahmas had two power play opportunities but Odessa's number one penalty kill prevented any special teams scoring.

Momentum increased for both teams as the period developed, but neither side was successful in solving the other's net minder as Brett Jaeger and Joel Martin put in spectacular performances. Martin took a spear to the mid-section in the final minute of play but appeared to shake it off and continued in net.

Odessa led the shot count 12-8 in the period and 22-18 after 40 minutes, but the score remained at 1-0 heading into the second intermission.

The Brahmas came out firing in the final period, unleashing a flurry of shots that bore immediate fruit. 1:07 into the frame, Matt Pierce took a feed from James Hiebert and sent the puck past Martin from in front of the crease to tally the equalizer.

Less than a minute-and-a-half later, Jordan Cameron sent a pass to Lee Jubinville, whose slap shot surprised Martin, giving the Brahmas the 2-1 lead at the 2:27 mark.

Just 30 seconds later, the already physical play began to erupt into aggression as two skirmishes broke out in the Odessa zone. Justin Kinnunen and Kenny Bernard wrestled in the right wing corner as Dave Van Drunen and Jason Deitsch battled behind the net. Van Drunen and Deitsch were given matching Roughing Double Minors.

During the four-on-four action, Odessa defenseman Alex Dunn attacked Lee Jubinville in the Jackalopes' crease and after the ensuing tussle, both were sent to the penalty box for Roughing with Dunn drawing a double minor.

With the man-advantage, the Brahmas went right to work and 25 seconds later Kinnunen sent in a shot that deflected off the body of Garrett Gruenke and into the net. Five minutes into the period, the Brahmas had the 3-1 lead and were by no means done.

1:44 later, Brahmas defenseman Tyrell Mason had possession of the puck and patiently weaved his way around a crowded crease and then flipped the puck up and over the shoulder of Martin to make it a 4-1 game.

The Jackalopes weren't quite ready to fold despite the Brahmas scoring frenzy and Mike Lesperance cut the lead in half with a one-timer from the top of the left circle at the 8:24 mark.

Motivated by the tally, the Jackalopes stepped up their play but were held off time and time again by the Brahmas' net minder.

Texas rookie A.J. Gale struck the final blow against Odessa, roofing a wrist shot off the crossbar and into the net at the 17:36 mark, establishing the final score at 5-2.

The Brahmas had the 16-9 shot advantage in the final frame and 34-31 in the game.

Brett Jaeger stopped 29 of 31 shots and earned his third consecutive win of the post-season. Joel Martin had 29 saves on 34 shots and takes the loss.

Game Two of the series will take place on Saturday night in Odessa.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Matt Boyle signs amateur tryout

Expected to play tonight in Odessa

Defenseman Matt Boyle has been added to the Brahmas roster according to Pointstreak. The 6’0”, 190 pound native of Charlottetown, PEI has been seen around NYTEX during the past week and is listed on the roster for tonight’s game against the Odessa Jackalopes.
Boyle, 21, played the past four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. This season, he played for the Lewiston MAINEiacs where he served as an assistant captain and tallied 17 points (4 G, 13 A) with 55 penalty minutes in 62 games played.

“He’s a real character kid who’s got excellent hockey ability…a defensive-defenseman…,” MAINEiacs General Manager Roger Shannon said of the young blue liner.

Texas will be happy to have Boyle," Lewiston coach J.F. Houle said, noting his penchant for gritty, steady play in the defensive zone. "He's physical; he doesn't take any crap from anybody. That's what made him so valuable to us as a defenseman. He's steady on the back end and responsible in the zone."

He spent the previous two seasons with the Moncton Wildcats where he scored 12 points (1 G, 11 A) with 129 penalty minutes in 118 games played.

You can view his stats on the Internet Hockey Database here

Photo Credit: (top) Moncton Wildcats (bottom) Lewiston MAINEiacs