Texas Tech VS. Oklahoma Game at AAC

Back on Sunday night, the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sonners Hockey teams played each other for the Big XII Challenge Cup at the AAC after the Dallas Stars game against Montreal. This is something that I only found about basically when I got to the game on Sunday afternoon. This is an amazing thing for the growth and development of college hockey in the southwest. In case your wondering what levels these teams are, Texas Tech is ACHA Division 2 while Oklahoma is ACHA Division 1. The ACHA is the American Collegiate Hockey Association which is the organzation that all College Hockey Club Teams play under, the game is an excellent example of the growth of the game across the state and the southwest region. It was a pleasent surprise of the talent of the players and that most of them come from the Lone Star State. This is something that I wished I could have stayed for the entire game because this one of the few levels of hockey that I haven't seen much of before and seeing the 1st period makes it hopeful that the schools from Texas and the rest of the Southwest can contuine to grow and help succed.

Here's a more indepth story from the AAC BIG XII Challenge Cup.

www.ouhockey.com/news/1-latest/99-sooners-win-aac-challenge-cup.html

Here's links for the rosters of both teams and as you can see, most of the players are from Texas..


Texas Tech Red Raiders: www.texastechhockey.com/content/view/2/5

Oklahoma Sonners: www.ouhockey.com/roster/2008-2009.html

Team Websites:

Texas Tech: www.texastechhockey.com
Oklahoma: www.ouhockey.com

As for the game itself, it close early with teams exchanging goals as the Sooners F Kyle Allen scored to make it 1-1 just 6 minutes into the game after the Raiders made it 1-0 just 3 minutes in. After the 1st period, the Sonners started to run away with it as they scored 3 goals in 5 minutes with goals from King, Borchgrevink and Dee in the later part of the 2nd period to make it 6-2. In the 3rd, the Sooners iced the game with 4 more goals in the 3rd period.

As for Texas Tech, this was their season finalle. The scoreline they were hoping would be better, but this is somthing that will be unforgetable while the Sooners also ended their regular season while looking forward to the ACHA Division 1 Nationals which will take place from March 14 thru 18 in Celevand, Ohio. The Sooners will play the Kent State in the 1st round of the 16 team single elinmation championship which will crown the champion on March 18.

Here's a list of seedings for the ACHA Division 1 nationals.

1. Lindenwood
2. Penn State
3. Delaware
4. Illinois
5. Oklahoma
6. Iowa State
7. Rhode Island
8. Liberty
9. Robert Morris (PA)
10. Ohio University
11. West Chester
12. Kent State
13. Central Oklahoma
14. Stony Brook
15. Duquesne
16. Penn State Brooks

For more info on both the American Collegiate Hockey Assocation and the upcomming D1 National Tournament.

American Collegiate Hockey Assocation: www.achahockey.org


2009 ACHA Division 1 Nationals: www.achacleveland.com


The game times and rinks assignments have been announced, mtachups should be announced shortly.

Good Luck to the Oklahoma Sonners and the Central Oklahoma Broncos at the Nationals. Nearly all the games will be webcast on www.livesportsvideo.com

March 14

1st Round Games

Game 1: 10:30 AM on Rink 1
Game 2: 11:30 AM on Rink 2
Game 3: 1:30 PM on Rink 1
Game 4: 2:30 PM on Rink 2
Game 5: 4:30 PM on Rink 1
Game 6: 5:30 PM on Rink 2
Game 7: 7:30 PM on Rink 1
Game 8 8:30 PM on Rink 2

March 15

Quarterfinals

QF1: 11:30 AM on Rink 2
QF2: 2:30 PM on Rink 2
QF3: 5:30 PM on Rink 2
QF4: 8:30 PM on Rink 2


Consolation Round
Game 1: 10:30 AM on Rink 1
Game 2: 1:30 PM on Rink 1
Game 3: 4:30 PM on Rink 1
Game 4: 7:30 PM on Rink 1

March 16

Off Day

March 17

Semifinals

SF 1: 5:30 PM on Rink 2
SF 2: 8:30 PM on Rink 2

March 18

Championship Game

7:00 PM on Rink 2

News and Notes

This year's #1 projected pick John Tavres just set a new record for goals in the Ontario Hockey League. He now has 215 goals in his OHL Career who went past Peter Lee who played for the Ottawa 67s from 1971-1976. As for his team the London Knights, they are currently in the 2nd spot in the Western Conference with 2 games left.

The Central Playoff Race is starting to determine what the playoff seeds will be. The Texas Bramhas, the Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Odessa Jackalopes have clinched playoff spots. The Jackalopes have clinched the Southwest Division while the Bramhas have clinched the Southeast Division. The Corpus Christi Icerayz are 2 points up on the Arizona Sundogs for the final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. The Oklahoma City Blazers are currently in 3rd in the North and are hoping to fend off the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs for the 3rd spot and to stay out of the Play In Round.

Wichita Falls Wildcats are currently in the 3rd spot in the NAHL South division with 6 games left in the season, it's going to be a very tough Division Semifinal matchup as they will play either the St. Louis Bandits or the Topeka Roadrunners who both made the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament last year and are considered to be prehaps the top contenders for the championship this year.

The Metroplex High School Hockey League has revelled the playoff schedule and the playoffs get started on March 31 between the 2 lowest seeds at the Farmer's Branch Starscenter. The full schedules including dates and locations should be out shortly.