Texas Rebounds in a big way against Oklahoma 10-2

After getting stunned 5-3 back on Friday Night, the Tornado looked like a team that is looking to get back to the NAHL South Division Championship and to the Robertson Cup where after getting off 55 shots on Friday, the team got off 40, but the difference was that the Tornado were able to figure out an OU Goalie that was part of a big upset the night before.

The other big difference were that some of the big name players including Jack Prince, Rock Einersen and David Rigatti all had big nights as well as the Tornado were able to get off 10 goals, a feat that the Tornado weren't able to do at all in the 2009-2010 season last year.

Press Release from the Texas Tornado

Saturday's Action was much more active from the get go. With their top players in the line up, the Tornado struck first on the power play just 3:33 into the game as Jack Prince blasted home a shot from the high slot with assists to Rock Einersen and David Rigatti. The Tornado would quickly make it 2-0 just a minute later as Mike Fleming picked up a rebound of Sooner Goaltender Wil Landa and put it home with assists to Alec Thieda and Marc Biggs. Three minutes later the Tornado made it 3-0, as the Sooners turned the puck over to Jack Prince who slid a shot between the legs of Landa for a commanding three goal lead. However, it would only take the Sooners 23 seconds to net their first goal of the night on a 2-on-1 goal by Taylor Paziuk over the shoulder of Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford made it 3-1 Tornado. The Tornado would strike again for a 4-1 lead as David Rigatti would tip home a low slot pass from Jack Prince with another helper to Rock Einersen. With 1:27 left in the period, the Sooners would draw within two as a Tornado defensive breakdown led to an OU two-on-none. It would be Paziuk who converted for his 2nd of the night after some nifty passing with Chris Nicolaou to make it 4-2 Tornado. Shots in the first period were 17-7 in favor of the Tornado.

The 2nd period was all Tornado. Not only did they out-shoot the Sooners 13-4 in the period, but they scored four more goals to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Tyler Mort began the period in style as he fired home a wrist shot from the left circle after a nice pass from Taylor Hendon to make it 5-2 Tornado. The Tornado made it 6-2 as Michael Zagari received a perfect pass from the corner from Tyler Rostenkowski to slip a shot past a helpless Wil Landa to increase the lead to four. The lead stretched to five as Rock Einersen scored perhaps the prettiest goal of the night as he picked up a loose puck in his own end, raced down the right wing and fired a wrist shot over the glove of Landa for a 7-2 lead. Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford picked up an assist on the play after making a save to start an end-to-end rush. With just 1:35 left in the 2nd frame, Tyler Rostenkowski bombed a slapshot from 45 feet that scorched the back of the net for an 8-2 Tornado lead heading into the 2nd intermission.

The first half of the 3rd period failed to generate much offense, as both only managed two shots each through the first 11 minutes. The Tornado would add to their lead as after a Sooner penalty a faceoff would be won back to the defensemen Donald Olivieri, who slapped home a bomb from the blueline to make it 9-2 Tornado. The Tornado would finish the game the way it started, with another goal, this time from Axel Boyer, who converted on a pretty wrap around attempt after some hard work to keep the puck in the zone by linemate Taylor Herndon. Jake Stafford made the safe lead stand the rest of the night making a total of 18 saves on 20 Sooner Shots. His counterpart Wil Landa made 30 saves on 40 Tornado shots.

Head Coach Tony Curtale summed up with the exhibition weekend with OU in the following words. "I thought we did a lot of good things offensively. With 95 shots in two games, we showed we could generate offense. I thought our power play was good on Friday, but just didn't convert. Saturday was much better on both accounts and the guys are still learning, but I think the confidence is there. We also did a good job of puck support with all five guys on the ice knowing their positions, which is good to see this early in the season."

Sooners Stun the Tornado 5-3 in Friday's Night's Preseason Game

It looked like it would be great start and a relativity easy win on Friday Night, but some amazing special teams & great goaltending gave the Sooners life in the 2nd half of the preseason game at the Dr. Pepper Arena on Friday Night as the Sooners came back as Matt Pombo was a big time hero as the Sooners won 5-3 over the Tornado despite a getting out-shot 55-25 in the game.

There's should prove very well for Hockey Players who don't get a scholarship as a strong alternative and a should set themselves up well for when the ACHA Hockey Season gets started later this month. For the Tornado, this is just a minor setback as the Tornado will look to rebound on Saturday.


Press Release from the Texas Tornado

In the first of two matchups this weekend between the Texas Tornado and the Sooners on Friday Night, both teams started out lethargic in Game One. However, the Tornado picked up the pace with several chances and thought that they had taken a 1-0 lead after Evan Wilson smashed home a rebound. However, it was ruled the net had been knocked off its moorings and the goal was disallowed. The Sooners would take advantage on the power play with the Tornado in the Box, as Coppell Native Broderick Browne poked home a loose puck past an outstretched Tornado Goaltender Josh Hillegas to give OU a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the period was all Tornado, but Sooners goalie and former Tornado Matt Pombo, stood tall with 20 saves in the first period. The Sooners would make it 2-0, as a breakdown on a Tornado power play led to a shorthanded goal by another Coppell Native, Chad Hudson. Despite the 2-0 deficit, the Tornado outshot the Sooners 20-10 in the first period, but couldn't solve Pombo.

Pombo's hot goaltending continued in the 2nd period, as the Tornado kept firing shots on goal. The lead for the Sooners would increase to 3-0 seven minutes into the period as a shot from the point defensemen Joel Schanke deflected off a Tornado player and found the back of the net past a flabbergasted Hillegas. Rookie goaltender Drew Case would come in for Hillegas halfway through the period, as the Tornado dominated time of possession for the rest of the period. The possession paid off as Evan Wilson sent a shot from sharp angle that deflected off the inside the pad of Pombo, barley crossing the goal line for the first Tornado goal of the night. Assists went to Joseph Mottiqua and Erick Ware. The Tornado out-shot the Sooners 25-3, but it would be OU leading after two periods, 3-1.

The Sooners would increase the lead to 4-1 with another power play goal as Broderick Browne netted his second of the night as he slid his shot past Case after a nice pass from Tornado Troy Puente. The Tornado fought back with two goals in two minutes. The first to make it a 4-2 came off the tape of Tyler Mort, who converted off a rebound with nine minutes to go. A minute later, JD Howard converted from the high slot off the high pass from the corner from forward Jackson Leef. Alec Thieda also assisted on the goal as the Tornado drew within a goal. A late Tornado Penalty spelled doom as Oklahoma would net their fourth special teams goal of the net with just 40 seconds remaining as Chad Hudson scored his second of the night as he fired home a snap shot that beat Drew Case over the glove on the short side. The Tornado out-shot the Sooners 55-25 in the 5-3 loss, but it was with the Sooners Special Teams and goaltending that net them the preseason win on this night.

The Tornado host the Sooners on Saturday, September 11 at 7:30 PM at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. Tickets for the game are on sale now by calling 972-335-9800 or fans can purchase tickets online.