Tornado get Their Bell rung in 5-2 loss to Coulee Region

After a pair of solid games to start out the NAHL Blaine Showcase, Coulee Region who are from Wisconsin had their way in the 3rd of 4 Showcase Games as the Coulee Region Chill beat the Tornado 5-2 and it was the only game of this Showcase as the Tornado were held to under 40 shots on goal and failed to score on the power play.

After a scoreless first period, the Tornado had a strong start to the 2nd period as Dallas Natives Axel Boyer and Marc Biggs each teamed up for their first points of the year to make it 1-0. Not even a minute later, Robert Morris University Commitment David Rigatti scored his 2nd goal of the Showcase from Rock Einersen to make it 2-0.

However, Coulee Region came-back with 2 quick goals of their own by Lucas Dillion and Berkely Scott each scored within 2 minutes apart to tie the game at 2-2.

Then late in the 2nd & early in the 3rd it was 3 goals in 7 minutes which was divided by the 2nd intermission as the Chill ran away from the Tornado to get the 5-2 win as the Chill looked very impressive last week with a 3-0-1 record with wins over Pt. Huron & Kenai River as well. The only loss for the Chill last week was a 2-1 OT Loss against league powerhouse St. Louis and find themselves leading the North-Central Division.

A huge factor for the Tornado loss was a kneeing major by Jack Prince just 20 seconds into the 3rd period which allowed the Chill to score on the 5 MIN PP twice which turned what was going to be a close game into a run-away which got away from them.

This was the first regulation loss for the Tornado and if it weren't for the Kneeing Major by Prince, the Tornado could have gone as well as 3-1 if it weren't for some bad luck the Tornado had in OT against the Motor City Metal Jackets on the opening night of the Showcase. At this point in the Showcase, the Tornado are 1-1-1 for 3 points.


Press Release from the Texas Tornado

Texas Tornado 2 Coulee Region Chill 5 (0-0, 2-3, 0-2)

Texas Tornado VS. Coluee Region Photos

Texas ran into a hot goalie in the person of of Paul Moberg of the Coulee Region Chill. The first period was back-and-fourth with both teams unable to generate many real scoring chances until Joe Adams was hit with a high sticking minor with 1:08 left in the period. The Chill set up their power play and were rotating the puck well. A shot from the far point was turned aside by Jake Stafford and right onto the tape of a Chill player just off the near post. Stafford made a strong move across the goal and threw out the blocker to keep the game scoreless at the end of the first.

Shots on goal were 12-7 in favor of the Chill and it appeared that Coluee Region had a bit of momentum starting the 2nd period with clean ice and 50 seconds of power play remaining.

The second period started with the Tornado killing off the power play and then they grabbed the lead with two quick goals. The first coming at 2:54 into the period as the Tornado came into the zone with speed. Tyler Mort fired a shot from the right circle when Moberg turned aside. Marc Biggs grabbed the rebound and threw it off the Collie Goalie from the high slot. The rebound found its way Axel Boyer stationed just off the stick side and went high over a sprawled Moberg.

Adams picked up a Cross Checking minor at the 9:35 mark putting the Tornado back on the Penalty Kill. It took Lucas Dillion less then 30 seconds to capitalize on the opportunity pulling the Chill to within one. Scott Berkley would tie the score at the 12:28 mark and Erick Drapluk would put the Chill ahead for good with a minute, fifty five left in the period.

Shots on goal were 18-10 in favor for the Tornado in the period.

Any shot the Tornado had to crawl back into the game were eliminated by a Kneeing Major called on Jack Prince just 20 seconds into the third period. Prince came across the ice to challenge a Chill clearing attempt and collided with the Chill player behind the play.

Coluee Region made the most of the five minute power play notching goals by Matt Bloomquist and Zac Frischmon.

Shots on goal were 20-11 in favor of the Chill. The Tornado Power Play was kept off the board for the first game going 0-4 while the Chill were 3/6.