Dan Nicholls arrives down under

Brahmas winger eager to begin second pro season

He was a wrecking ball on ice and a fan favorite for the Texas Brahmas and now Dan Nicholls is heading for his new team, the Adelaide Adrenaline, and the start of his second pro season in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

Nicholls arrived in Australia today but is not expected to play immediately as he continues to mend a shoulder injury sustained at the end of the regular season.

Nicholls played 43 games during his rookie season with the Brahmas this season and notched 14 points ((6 G, 8 A, -2) and 58 penalty minutes.Prior to joining Texas, he played six games with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and eight games with the Fayetteville FireAntz (SPHL).

A graduate of Cornell University (ECAC), Nicholls played four seasons with the Big Red and played three years of Junior Hockey with the Bowmanville Eagles (OPJHL.

The Adrenaline lost their season and home opener in a 3-2 shootout against the Canberra Knights. They won the first game of a two-game series at home today against the Melbourne Ice by a score of 6-5. The second game will be played tomorrow.

The team plays at The Ice ArenA in Thebarton, South Australia. Nicholls will join three other Canadian imports on the team including Brett Liscomb, Mike Werner and goaltender Aaron Barton.

You can visit the Adelaide Adenaline's website here and the AIHL website here.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

The Stars in Fort Worth?

Maybe the Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy should consider moving to, well, anywhere but here 

"If I were new Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, I'd be watching the basketball playoffs very closely. The success and spirit we're seeing in Oklahoma City would be the welcome that pro hockey would find here." - Bud Kennedy

My first reaction after reading Bud Kennedy's article in this morning's Star-Telegram was less than positive. You can read it yourself here. Be sure to leave a comment whether you agree with me or not.

To suggest that, and I quote, "the Stars would be better off in Fort Worth" than in Dallas on the basis of the Oklahoma City Thunder's success is nothing less than a foolhearty notion.

"Nobody ever thought Oklahoma City was big enough for major-league sports."

Sure, the Thunder are doing well in OKC. They were 13th in home attendance in the NBA this season. Awesome. But that's a natural Basketball Market. And there's not a lot else to do there. And they're in the playoffs. Wow, nice seat you've got on the bandwagon there, Bud. 

The Dallas Mavericks on the other hand, were number three in attendance - competing with the Stars at the American Airlines Center, the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington and the Dallas Cowboys at Jerryworld for the Metroplex's professional sports entertainment dollars. Probably not competing with TCU's Horned Frogs, the Fort Worth Cats, the Colonial, or the Texas Motor Speedway (in Fort Worth, but also in Denton County).

Now let's talk about professional hockey in Oklahoma City. The Central Hockey League's Blazers led the nation in minor-professional hockey attendance for years, only to be shut down and "replaced" by the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons (ranked 26th in attendance last season with an average of 3,684). And this is the top affiliate of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. Obviously, someone should have left well enough alone.

Of course, the modern Central Hockey League doesn't count in the closed minds of people like Bud Kennedy who only look fondly on the days of the "old CHL" when teams like the Fort Worth Wings (1967-1974) and the Fort Worth Texans (1974-1982) played at the Will Rogers Coliseum.

Kennedy refuses it seems, to ever positively acknowledge the Fort Worth Brahmas, who brought professional ice hockey back to Cowtown in 1997 and played for nine seasons before they were in effect, run out of the city by a worthless mayor, an equally worthless city council and an especially worthless group running the Fort Worth Convention Center.

At the time, the Brahmas had gone through several seasons of poor performance on the ice and diminished attendance figures. But the organization, which was not making any profits, was still dedicated to  keeping professional ice hockey in Fort Worth.

But instead of working with the team, the powers that be fell hopelessly in love with the idea that the Fort Worth Flyers, an expansion team in the NBA's development league, would bring fans out to the FWCC in huge numbers. Only the gamble didn't pay off - the Flyers attracted no one and the team didn't return to Fort Worth for the 2007-08 season, as they were unable to make a profit.

The success and spirit we're seeing in Oklahoma City would be the welcome that pro hockey would find here.

It's been six years and a day since that Wednesday afternoon when I heard that the Fort Worth Brahmas would suspend operations for the 2006-07 season. After those nine seasons in Cowtown, the team was effectively homeless. I've never purposely traveled to or spent a dollar in Fort Worth since, nor do I intend to after the way the Brahmas organization was treated.

The Brahmas of course, lived to see another day, finding a new home at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills and have been a continuous force in the Central Hockey League for five seasons and counting now. The Brahmas have been to the playoffs for five consecutive years and won the 2009 Ray Miron President's Cup Championship.

I've always been thankful for the coverage that the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provides for the Texas Brahmas, but the team, their fans, and the Central Hockey League can do without Bud Kennedy, who apparently doesn't see the new CHL as "real ice hockey."

Kennedy seems to want to use what influence he has to undermine and sabotage the organization, rather than show some sort of support for 14 years of ice hockey provided for fans of the sport in Tarrant County. Despite Kennedy's feelings, there are thousands of fans in Tarrant County who have appreciated having the Brahmas and the Central Hockey League in the area for affordable family entertainment and competitive professional ice hockey.

So now Kennedy thinks he knows how to solve the Dallas Stars' problems - by suggesting they move to Fort Worth? It's obvious that he knows little about the challenges facing NHL, and all minor professional hockey teams throughout the country. Location isn't everything.

Buddy boy, the Stars have a lot of issues to work out, but moving the team is no solution. Besides, we've seen what kind of support that the City of Fort Worth has given to struggling hockey franchises in the past.

The Brahmas organization and the new regime in Fort worth have been working on re-building relations, including a two-date hockey series against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees played at the Convention Center in March. There will likely be more dates played next season - a good start to bringing pro hockey back to Fort Worth. I might even consider heading out there next time and drop a few dollars into the Fort Worth economy.

Maybe Bud Kennedy should jump on the local bandwagon and help support the only pro hockey team to call Tarrant County home since 1997. And if not, I'm sure The Oklahoman can use another columnist.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Brahmas announce 2012-13 slogan contest

Win a "suite" prize

The Texas Brahmas, now in preparations for the 2012-13 season, have announced an exciting contest, offering fans the opportunity to submit suggestions for the team’s official slogan. 

The winner, which will be determined by the Brahmas’ staff, will receive a free suite to a Brahmas’ pre-season home game and $50 off at ZuRoma Sicilian Kitchen that night.

The slogan will be used on official Brahmas material such as the game program, pocket schedules and website, to name a few. The tagline for the 2011-12 season was “All In.”

To enter the contest, email your suggestions to jtannenbaum@brahmas.com, complete with your full name, address and contact information. 

Submissions will be accepted through this Friday, May 4th. The Brahmas’ staff will select a winner and announce the official slogan shortly thereafter.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Brahmas to host end-of-season party at Big Barn BBQ

Team caps off eventful season

The Brahmas’ playoff run came to an end Monday night, but the team will officially close out the season with a fan and player appreciation party at Big Barn BBQ (8021 Main Street, North Richland Hills, 76182) Wednesday, April 25 at 6:00pm.

All Brahmas’ fans will receive a special price of five dollars for a buffet. The party at Big Barn will also include a jersey auction, offering up the Brahmas’ game jerseys to the highest bidders.

The 2011-12 campaign was a season to remember for the Brahmas. The team earned a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season since relocating to North Richland Hills and advanced in the postseason for the first time since 2009 when it won the Ray Miron President’s Cup.

Texas faced its cross-town adversaries, the Allen Americans, in the opening round for the first time in the rivalry’s history and defeated them in six games to advance to the Berry Conference Finals.

Player Achievements: Chad Woollard climbed the CHL’s all-time goal-scoring list, moving into sole possession of eighth place with 281 scores. Woollard is just four goals shy of tying Riley Nelson for seventh.

It was also a record-breaking season for the Brahmas’ rookie netminder Mark Guggenberger, as well. The Richfield, Minnesota native won the CHL’s Rookie of the Year and Most Outstanding Goaltender Awards, while also earning All-CHL and All-Rookie honors. Guggenberger won Goalie of the Month for February, earning three consecutive shutouts and setting a CHL all-time mark with 238:31 consecutive scoreless minutes.

First-year Brahma T.J. Fox, who led the team with 37 assists in the regular season, scored a team-high six goals and recorded eight points in the postseason. Fox netted three game-winning goals in the playoffs, the most in the CHL.

Fort Worth Faceoff: After a seven-year hiatus, the Brahmas returned to Cowtown this season to play two games at the Fort Worth Convention Center in early March. In two nights, over 11,000 fans attended in support of the Fort Worth Faceoff, including the 501st Legion on Star Wars Night March 3rd. The Brahmas donned limited edition Fort Worth Brahmas jerseys one night and paid tribute to hockey history in North Texas by wearing Fort Worth Texans sweaters the second night.

Robinson's OT goal sends Wichita to CHL Final

 
Thunder closes out Brahmas with 3-2 win

For the first time since 1998, the Wichita Thunder are headed to the Central Hockey League Ray Miron President's Cup Final.

Matt Robinson’s unassisted goal off of his own rebound 4:44 into overtime gave Wichita a 3-2 win over the Texas Brahmas and a 4-2 series win, silencing the 2,003 fans at the NYTEX Sports Centre on Monday night.

Chris Chappell led the way for the Thunder with a goal and assist while Robinson and Chris Greene also added goals. Kevin Seibel, Kevin Young and Matt Summers all provided assists for Wichita.

Goaltender Adam Russo was solid in net, stopping 32 of 34 shots as the Brahmas out-paced the Thunder 34-28 in the shot department.

The Thunder’s three goals all came in different fashions, with one at even strength, one on the power play and one shorthanded. Wichita’s power play unit showed improvement, going 1-3 while scoring on the man advantage for the second-straight game. Prior to game five of the series the Thunder were 0-13 on the power play in the series. Texas struggled on the power play, coming up short on four attempts, including a man advantage situation that stretched from the final seconds of regulation and into the overtime period.

The first period saw neither team score as Texas jumped out to an 11-8 shot advantage over Wichita.

The Thunder jumped on the board first on Chappell’s power play goal 2:43 into the second period after Texas defenseman Erik Spady was assessed seven penalty minutes and a game misconduct for instigating a fight. With the penalty time carrying over into the middle frame, Chappell snapped a wrist shot from the slot, beating Brahmas goalie Brad Fogal to make it 1-0.

Texas wasted little time, though, as Adam Hogg put the puck past Russo just under two minutes later to tie.

Greene added a shorthanded goal late in the period to give Wichita a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission. With four minutes left in the period, Greene took a pass from Chappell near the redline then moved around a defender and placed a shot over Fogal for the goal.

Brendon Hodge evened things up 5:40 into the third period, taking a pass from Brett Findlay and scoring on Russo to make it 2-2. After killing off a hooking penalty assessed to Jarred Mohr with two-seconds remaining in regulation, Robinson became the hero with his second post-season goal. Robinson made a play at the blue line, keeping the puck in the attacking zone, then jumped on his own rebound in the slot and knocked home the game winner for the Thunder.

Brad Fogal stopped 25 of 28 shots faced and takes the loss.

The Brahmas were assessed 29 minutes on 5 infractions and went 0 for 4 on the power play.

Referee: Boone Bruggman
Linesman 1: John Grandt
Linesman 2: Cory Piche

1st Star: Matt Robinson (WIC)
2nd Star: Chris Chappell (WIC)
3rd Star: Brad Fogal 

You can view Pointstreak's Box Score here and their GameLive broadcast here.

Special thanks to Pro Hockey News' John Hall for the game write-up.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

Chappell's OT goal lifts Thunder to 2-1 win

Wichita pushes Texas to brink of elimination

Wichita’s Chris Chappell scored 1:59 into overtime to lift the Thunder over the Texas Brahmas 2-1 in front of a crowd of 4,010 at Intrust Bank Arena on Saturday night.

The win gives Wichita a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Central Hockey League Berry Conference Final as the Thunder moved the Brahmas closer towards the brink of elimination.

Thunder goaltender Adam Russo turned away 20 shots, including 11 of 12 he faced in the third period while Wichita out-shot Texas 26-21 on the night. Both squads were one-for-four on the power play as each team had a regulation marker while on the man advantage. Wichita’s power play goal marked the team’s first in the series and just their second this post-season.

One night after two Thunder players were ejected from Game Four, the two teams combined for just 16 penalty minutes on eight penalties.

The limited power play chances proved to be key in the battle. With T.J. Fox in the box serving a tripping penalty mid-way through the opening period, Wichita’s Daniel Tetrault scored on the man advantage, giving the Thunder a 1-0 lead.Thomas Beauregard, extending his point streak to 10 games, jumped on a loose puck at 12:11 and sent it to Tetrault who beat Texas goalie Brad Fogal for the score. The goal marked the first time in ten post-season games that Wichita opened the scoring.

The Brahmas held a 7-6 shot advantage in the first period, but could not convert on three power play chances as the Thunder took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at the first intermission.

The score remained the same going into the second intermission after neither team could put the puck in the net during the second period. Wichita out-shot Texas 9-2 in the middle frame, but could not solve Fogal despite two power play opportunities.

As the clock wound down in the third, Texas would finally answer when Brett Findlay found the net at 12:54 while on the power play. With Wichita’s Dustin Donaghy serving a two-minute minor for tripping, Andrew Lackner fired a shot from near the left circle that bounced off of a diving Russo and directly to the stick of Findlay. Findlay then tapped the puck into the open net, giving the Brahmas their first third-period goal in the series and tying the game 1-1.

Two-minutes into the extra-period, Chappell picked up a rebound just inside the left circle and lifted the game-winner over Fogal’s right shoulder, prompting a loud roar from the crowd and a wild celebration with his teammates.

Brad Fogal stopped 24 of 26 shots faced and takes the loss.

The Brahmas were assessed 8 minutes on 4 infractions and went 1 for 4 on the power play.

Referee: Peter Tarnaris

Linesman 1: Kyle DeMaggio
Linesman 2: Shawn Morgan

1st Star: Chris Chappell (WIC)
2nd Star: Adam Russo (WIC)
3rd Star: Daniel Tetrault (WIC)

You can view Pointstreak's Box Score here and their GameLive broadcast here.

The series shifts back to the NYTEX Sports Centre for Game Six on Monday with the opening face off set for 7:00 pm CST.

Special thanks to Pro Hockey News' John Hall for the game write-up.