Texas losses heart breaker in OT against Motor City

Despite a questionable penalty and some bad luck where players like Rock Einersen hit the posts not once but twice. The Texas Tornado showed a lot of great things in their season opener up in Blaine as the Tornado have shown that they can shoot, after a combined 95 shots in the 2 preseason games against the Club Team from Oklahoma University, the Texas Tornado were able to pepper an impressive 52 shots on goal during the game.

Also this could be the beginning of a huge year for Rock Einersen who had 4 points (1G 3A) and could have at least another goal if it weren't for a post shot. Also Jack Prince had an assist while JD Howard had 2 goals as well in the 2nd period as a part of a 3 goal explosion where they scored 3 times in 2 minutes late in the 2nd to go from a 2-1 deficit for a 4-2 lead going into the 2nd intermission.

Despite a 5-4 loss against the Motor City Metal Jackets, the team shown that they can return to being a force in the South Division and are looking to challenge the South Division Favorite Topeka Roadrunners who's going to host the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament this year.

Also the PP showed some strong signs of being able to be a huge factor as the team went 3/9 on the extra man as well.

Next up for the Texas Tornado will be the Kenai River Brown Bears who since entering the league, have been in the West Division Cellar. Yesterday, the Brown Bears beat the Springfield Jr. Blues 4-1.


Press Release from the Texas Tornado

Game Boxscore

Texas Tornado VS. Motor City Metal Jackets Photos

From Blaine, Minnesota: It's a point that got away. The Texas Tornado opened up their 2010-2011 season with a 5-4 Overtime loss to the Motor City Metal Jackets on Wednesday Night at the NAHL Showcase. The Tornado lead 4-2 going into the 3rd period, but two Metal Jackets goals in the first six minutes squandered the lead. The Metal Jackets would win in overtime as a Tornado Penalty in the extra frame lead to a 4-on-3 power play for Motor City, who converted for the win.

The game did not start well for the Tornado, as they were down 2-0 after the first five minutes. Momentum would pick back up however later in the 1st period as Rock Einersen collected a loose puck in front of Metal Jackets Goalie Max Milosek and slip one home for the first goal of the year to make it 2-1 going into the 2nd period.

The 2nd period was all Tornado, as they took a 4-2 lead into the lockeroom by scoring three power play goals in the frame. J.D. Howard tied the game at 2-2 as he crashed the net and pooked home a loose puck after the original shot from Einersen. Less then two minutes later, Howard would score his second of the night on a 5-on-3 power play, as he smashed home a backdoor pass from Jack Prince to give the Tornado their first lead of the net at 3-2. The Tornado were in command, when Ralfs Freibergs shot from the point went past a screened Milosek with a helper from Einersen to increase the Tornado lead to 4-2.

However, Motor City was the more fired up team to start up the third period as the crept back within a 4-3 on a Tornado defensive turnover that lead an uncontested breakaway goal by Andrew Graves, who beat the Tornado Goalie Jake Stafford on a backhand. The Metal Jackets only needed a few more minutes to tie the game at 4-4, Steve Brancheau scored his second goal of the night on a point-blank pass. The Metal Jackets had several chances to take the lead in regulariton, including two shorthanded breakaways, but Stafford would deny all the chances as the game headed into OT.

In the OT a Tornado penalty spelled doom as Motor City worked the 4-on-3 power play to perfection as Cody Wydo slipped a shot from the low crease between Stafford's legs for the game-winner. The Tornado ended up with a 54-26 shot advantage and do get a point for the OT Loss. The Tornado are back in action, Thursday, September 16 at 5:00 PM vs. the Kenai River Brown Bears. The game can be seen live on Fast Hockey