Texas Brahmas VS. Colorado Eagles Game 3

A 3 goal outburst in the 3rd period for the Brahmas have helped out the Brahmas from what was a very close and tight game into one where the Eagles penalties hurt them and the Brahmas went from up 3-2 and sweating it out to a 6-2 convincing win and is now just 2 wins away from winning the Preisdents Cup Championship.

First I was at this game and let me tell you, I would highly recommend going to a Brahmas hockey game at NYTEX Sports Center. What it lacks in arena size and the number of fans, it well more than makes up for the noise levels it creates and strikes a fear in oppenents where they have lost just 8 games all season at home and it creates an amazing atompshere where the fans have enjoyed the games all year. If you do want to go to a game at NYTEX, get your tickets early because the NYTEX only holds about 2500 and they will sell out quick. More on the arena a little bit later.

Tyler Skworchinski contunied a fantasic playoff run with his 12th goal of the postseason and the 1st of 2 when he scored on unassisted PP Goal 11 minutes in to make it 1-0. This was just part of a dominting 1st period where they were outshooting the Eagles 12-5 which included Travis Banga just missing a backhanded shot early in the game. As for later on, a fight between Grant Jacobsen and Kevin Ulanski who's one of the teams main enforcers in a fight early in the game. Later on in the period, Brett Jeager stopped a huge save with about 5 minutes left in the period on a Colorado PP with a great chance where he was helped by Justin Kinnunen to clear the zone. The SOG were 12-5 at the end of the 1st and the Brahmas were looking to contuine the great start throughout the game.

Ed Mcgrane helped out with his 1st of his 2 goals of the night when he tied at 1-1 with helpers from Pankewicz and Schneekloth from the faceoff at 8:04 of the 2nd on the PP. However, just 2 minutes later, Matt Quinn who usually is one of the last guys you would think of to score made it 2-1 just 2 minutes later to take back the lead. After the 2-1 lead, things got physical when some big time some penalties including Mcconnell for Texas and Jay Birnie roughed each other up on what should have been fighting majors but were only matching minors for roughing, Texas was given a PP when Greg Pankewicz was the 3rd man in and was also given a roughing minor. With about 5 minutes left in the 2nd, it looked like the Brahmas were going up 3-1 but Penner made a great stop on Matt Quinn on a great breakaway chance, however, the Eagles Ed Mcgrane was given a great pass to slam a great slap shot from the faceoff circle to make it 2-2 on a SH Chance. The question for the Brahmas, was could they anwser after tieing it at 2-2 again, the anwser was yes when Travis Banga flicked a shot into the corner to make it 3-2 with 1:57 left in the 2nd period from Benedict. With just 30 seconds left, Benedict committed a huge slashing penalty in which it created a huge P.K. to end the 2nd and start the 3rd.

After a huge penatly kill, the Brahmas got a huge momentum shift when Grant Jacobsen scored to make it 4-2 5 minutes into the 3rd period. The Eagles created a huge hole for themselves with several huge penatlies with Konrad Reeder committed a Butt Ending penalty which was a 5 minute major and then became a misconduct where he was ejected and then Kevin Mcclelland committed an abuse of officals penalty which gave the Brahmas a huge PP to help put the game away. The Brahmas did just that with goals from Tyler Skworchinski and Pete Rouleau as they scored less then 2 minutes apart to put the game out of reach at 6-2 and to help put the Brahmas in which they were put up 2-1 in the series with game 4 comming up on Tuesday night. This was a night were disicpline problems hurt the Eagles in which they had 37 penalty minutes on 13 infractions including the 10 minute miscounduct in which put the nail in their coffin.

What a night for the Brahmas in which just the fans were terrific, the noise level was great and the Brahmas have a chance to win the championship on home ice if they can win both games 4 and 5 comming up tonight and tomorrow night. This is a great place to see a game and the energy on the ice was just awesome, unlike the NHL, they don't have the talent to try to razzle and dazzle you. So they get by with their speed and physicality where it brings it own exictment all throughout the energy.

I would highly reccomnd just anyone who works in hockey from setting up tournaments, working in leagues and if you are looking for a place to play some games, this is a great place. I also think that the Dallas Metroplex High School Hockey League should play some games here because it's a small enough place where you could be able to fill most of the venue (Espically for League and State Championships). This is not just a great hockey place, but it also has an area for indoor soccer and volleyball in which they could probally be easily be madeover to a basketball court, this is a great multi indoor sports arena that I don't know why hasn't been known about more because it's a great place for sports.

Dallas area player goes high in WHL Bantam Draft

A member by the name of Seth Jones of the Dallas Stars Bantam AAA team was drafted 11th overall by the WHL Everett Silvertips. He's a defensemen with great mobility with a great wrist shot and is working on a slap shot. The 15 year old will probally start out with his Bantam team or possibly with a Junior A team in Canada before he gets his chance with the Silvertips. Overall the Silvertips took 11 players overall and with a team that struggled this season where they finished 7th with a record 27-36-9 with 63 points before losing to the Tri-City Americans in the 1st round in 5 games.

In addidition to Seth Jones, another dallas player went in the WHL Bantam Draft was D Cole Martin who was selected in the 3rd round by the Kelowna Rockets which traded from the Prince Albert Raiders.

Congrats to both players who were selected and good luck to them as they contuine they travel and junior careers.