Texas Brahmas win CHL Presidents Cup Championship

After just dominating games 4 and 5 last week, the Texas Brahmas have won the 2009 CHL Preisdents Cup Championship with a 6-3 win back on Tuesday night and then a 6-3 win won Wedesnday night to clinch the Championship. In both games, the main part was 4 goal 2nd periods to help pull away from the Colorado Eagles with players like Justin Kinnen, Tyler Skworchinski and Brett Jeager who was just amazing during the playoffs where the Brahmas just lost 1 game at home during the playoffs, that game was game 1 against Odessa in the Southern Conference Final. On defense, of the big reasons for the championship was that they were able to control and isolate the top scores for the Eagles like Greg Pankewicz, Kevin Ulanski and Riley Nelson during the series. The only player for Colorado that was able to give the Brahmas any kind of trouble was Ed Mcgrane who scored 13 goals in the playoffs while no one else had more then 5 goals in the playoffs, remember this was a team that went 45-15-4 for 94 points and the best record overall during the Central Hockey League Regular season. What an amazing performance for the Brahmas during the playoffs which helped them win their first ever CHL Preisdents Cup Title.

A lot of celebration came over the weekend for the Brahmas, first on Friday, a Championship Party at the NYTEX Sports Center where the players, the coaching staff and owners were their with a bunch of fans and live music to celebrate and the Preisdents Cup was their for fans to see it and take pictures with it. Then on Saturday, the city of North Richland Hills held a parade in their honor and the celebrations are not over yet. Tonight at the North Richland Hills City Council Meeting, they will be officaly recognitionsed for their championship and will most likely have name a Texas Brahmas day comming up to honor them.

What makes this amazing that back in 2006, the future of the team was in limbo as the agreement with the city of Ft. Worth at the Ft. Worth Civic Center was out, and with very little success during their time there, including failing to make the playoffs 5 years in a row, not many cities were wanting to take them. However, give credit to the city of North Richland Hills for giving them a chance at the NYTEX Sports Center. Since then, it's nothing but good times and lots of success for the Brahmas. Last year, they went 40-22-2 which was good enough for 4th, they got back in the playoffs with a run that included knocking out the top seeded Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs which got them to the Conference Final. Then this year, the return was complete with the top seed in the Southern Conference and winning a championship and getting revenge against the Eagles.

As for the team leaders during the post season, Jason Deitsch lead the team in scoring with 26 points (11G 15A). Goal scoring wise, Tyler Skworchinski led the team with 13 goals. Goaltending wise, Brett Jeager was fantastic with a 12-4 record with 1 shutout with a strong 2.20 GAA and a .930 SV% and came up with some great saves throughout the playoffs.

One thing we know for sure is that the Brahmas have entered a new era of success and with talent they have, th should be able to be a regular Championship Contender for years to come and fan base for the Brahmas is back and will contuine to make the NYTEX Sports Center a worst nightmare for opposing teams in the Central Hockey League and will contuine to exict fans in the D/FW Area.

Great Work Brahmas this year and let's get some more titles in years to come!!

Here's the Brahmas road to the Championship!

Regular Season

64 GP, 42-16-6 90PTS Southeast Division Champions, 1st in Southern Conference

Top Scores:
Scott Sheppard 57 GP 66PTS (32G 34A), Jordan Cameron 55GP 60PTS (23G 37A), Grant Jacobsen 61GP 55 PTS (21G 34A)

Goaltending
Brett Jeager 44GP 28-9-5 2SO 2.36 GAA .924 SV%, David Cacciola 25GP 14-7-1 3SO 2.76 GAA .912 SV%

Playoffs:

Top Score
Jason Deitsch 16GP 26PTS (11G 15A)

Goaltending Brett Jeager Brett Jeager 12-4 1 SO 2.20 GAA .930 SV%

Playoff Results

Conference Semifinals VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

Brahmas win series 4-0

Game 1: 4-2 (W)
Game 2: 5-4 (W)
Game 3: 6-2 (W)
Game 4: 3-1 (W)

Conference Finals VS. Odessa Jackalopes

Brahmas Win Series 4-3

Game 1: 1-3 (L)
Game 2: 4-1 (W)
Game 3: 3-0 (W)
Game 4: 0-2 (L)
Game 5: 7-5 (W)
Game 6: 0-2 (L)
Game 7: 8-1 (W)

Presidents Cup Championship VS. Colorado Eagles

Brahmas Win Series 4-1

Game 1: 5-3 (W)
Game 2: 4-5 (OTL)
Game 3: 6-2 (W)
Game 4: 6-3 (W)
Game 5: 6-2 (W)

With the CHL Season now over, they will be a 2nd Dallas area team in the Central Hockey League starting up next season over in Allen. It will be called the Allen Americans. It was determined by the teams owners and it reflects the areas patriotisim and the Lone Star Pride the area has. The colors will be red, white and blue with a Star and a giant silver A inside the logo.

Here's a link with the logo: www.centralhockeyleague.com/teams/allen

As for the other new team entering the league next season is in Independence, Missouri. They will let area reisdents to vote on the list of the final 10 to find out what the new team will be called.

Here's the list of teams.

Independence Freedom
Independence Ice Hawks
Independence Outlaws
Independence Pioneers
Independence Presidents

Missouri Bullfrogs
Missouri Express
Missouri Maulers
Missouri Mavericks
Missouri Mules

Junior Update and the Memorial Cup.

The Canadaien Hockey League Memorial Cup get's underway on Friday and 3 of the 4 teams have been determined. 3 of the 4 teams have been determined as the WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets, OHL Champion Windsor Spitfires and the Tournament Host Rimouski Oceanic have clinched spots. The only spot left is in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as the Drummondville Voltigers and the Shawinigan Catarctes as that series will head to a game 7 after Shawinigan have won the the last 2 games to comeback after Drummondville were up 3-1.

Out in the Western Hockey League (WHL), it's the Kelowna Rockets who are in the Memorial Cup for the 4th time this decade after taking out the Calgary Hitmen in 6 games. After Kelowna went up 3-0 and ended Calgary's 12 game playoff winning streak after sweeping the Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Hitmen cameback with wins in games 4 and 5. However, game 6 back on Saturday went to OT tied at 1-1 before Tyson Barrie was the OT hero winning the WHL 2-1 and winning the series in 6 games. Prior to Kelowna ousting Calgary, the Rockets knocked out the Kamloops Blazers, the Tri-City Americans, and the Vancouver Giants. Kelowna will open up against Tournament Host Rimouski Oceanic on Friday.

For the OHL Champion Windsor Spitfires, they were the best team from start to finish. After having a 57-10-1 record with an impressive 115 points during the Regular Season. They were a buzzsaw in the OHL Playoffs, they sweeped the Owen Sound Attack, then took out the Plymouth Whalers in 6 games in the Conference Semifinals, and then knocked the London Knights out the playoffs in 5 games where every game went to OT which includes this year's projected top NHL Draft Pick in John Tavares. Then in the Final, Brampton basically had no chance in the final as they were knocked out in 5 games. With players like Taylor Hall and Andrei Loktionov all having double digit goals in the playoffs, they could be very dangerous to take down the Memorial Cup.

This year's host is the Rimouski Oceanic who themselves had a good season where they went 44-23-1 for 89 PTS. In the postseason, making it to the league semifinals who got crushed Chicoutimi in the Divisional Round, then upset the #2 seed Moncton Wildcats before getting sweeped by the top seed Drummondville Voltigers in the league semifinals. Rimouski is looking to have a good showing in the Memorial Cup as the host after having solid seasons.

Only one spot left up for grabs as the Drummondville Voltigers and the Shawinigan Catarctes will play for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Championships after Shawinigan has won games 5 and 6 after comming back from a 3-1 series lead for Drummondville. Game 7 is tomorrow night and the winner will play the Windsor Spitfires in their opening game of the Memorial Cup on May 16.

Here's the schedule for the CHL Memorial Cup.

5/15, RR1, Rimouski Oceanic VS. Kelowna Rockets at 7:00
5/16, RR2, Windsor Spitfires VS. QMJHL Champions at 4:30
5/17, RR3, Rimouski Oceanic VS. Windsor Spitfires at 4:30
5/18, RR4, Kelowna Rockets VS. QMJHL Champions at 7:00
5/19, RR5, Kelowna Rockets VS. Windsor Spitfires at 7:00
5/20, RR6, QMJHL Champion VS. Rimouski Oceanic at 7:00
5/21, TIEB, If Needed at 7:00
5/22, SF, 3rd Seed VS. 2nd Seed at 7:00
5/24, Final, SF Winner VS. 1st Seed at 4:30

The Tie Breaker Game will only be played if their is a tie in the standings after the Round Robin.

USHL Clark Cup and RBC Cup

2 of the other top junior championships have been determined over the weekend as the Indiana Ice beat the expansion Fargo Force in 4 games.

For Indiana, they came out of a wide open East Division where the top 3 seeds Green Bay, Cedar Rapids and Indiana who finished just 2 points from each other at the end of the regular season. During the final, Fargo won the 1st game, but after that, the Ice just sent the Force a beat down outscoring them 16-3 while winning their 3 games to win the USHL Clark Cup.

The Force had a great showing in the regular season, despite finishing 3rd in the West Division Regular Season with a 32-23-5 record with 69 points, they were competivie in a huge majority of the games and were paired up against the Omaha Lancers in the 1st round where they just sweeped the Lancers. Then just had their way against the top seeded Lincoln Stars 3-0, for the Stars, they were hoping that this could be their year to win the Championship after finishing on top of the West by a secure 9 point margin and getting the West Final last year. For Fargo, they made history as only the 2nd expansion team ever to compete for the Clark Cup.

For the RBC Cup, the Vernon Vipers beat the Humboldt Broncos who were looking to defend their championship. For the Vipers, they were unbeaten 6-0 during the championships as they went 4-0 during the round robin, then in the semifinals, the Kingston Voyageurs were downed 6-3 then a goaltending duel was done as the Vipers beating the Broncos 2-0 last night to clinch the championship. For Vernon, this was a 5th national title for the Vipers and the first in a decade. They also have won the RBC Cup in 1990, 1991, 1996, and 1999.

The future of Mike Modano

Earlier today, Mike Modano made it offical that he will return for his 20th season for the Stars next season. Modano has the longest stay of any athelete in the Dallas area and told the team that he stays feels great and is exicted to have another shot at a Stanley Cup in the future. I had a feeling that he might have come back becuase with the talent we have right now and with his new role, to me, he has prehaps one more great shot at a championship in him and he is hungry to have a shot after the injury riddled season that had them out of the playoff race come season's end. This will be the final year of a 5 year contract and has played 1400 career games and has 1329 points in his 19 year career. I'm sure he wants the new season to get underway so bad when October gets year to have a year to have a shot at the playoffs.

Here's the story from the Dallas Stars Website: www.dallasstars.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=422343