This weekend's Junior Schedule 2/24-26

With the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament now behind the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The league is back to the regular season as the final month of the NAHL Regular season is getting into high gear as the fight for 1st Round Home Ice between the Topeka Roadrunners & Texas Tornado will be getting into high gear as both teams have tough road series' this weekend as the Tornado will travel to Amarillo to face the Bulls; while the Roadrunners head to the Northwest to play the Wenatchee Wild as they are looking to overtake the Alaska Avalanche for 2nd Place in the West Coast Division with both teams having 14 & 15 games left this season.

Texas is in a part of the schedule where they are playing the Bulls 3 out of 4 weekend series as the Bulls were able to win a pair of 1 goal games where the Bulls won 5-4 & 3-2 in OT last weekend going into the Top Prospects Tournament which allowed Topeka to get a series split against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs who are leading the West Coast Division with 13 games left in the regular season. And are looking to defend the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship this year in Frisco coming up in May.

The only break from the Bulls will be on March 2nd & 3rd when the team heads to Kansas to play the Roadrunners for the final time of the regular season and possible 1st Round Playoff Preview which could be the decider to determine home ice advantage in a possible playoff series in Early April.

After this long road trip wraps up, the Tornado will finish the regular season with 4 of their final 6 at home with home series against the New Mexico Mustangs (3/16-17) & the Corpus Christi Icerays (3/30-31) to bring an end to the regular season. The Final Road of the regular season trip after this will be back in Corpus Christi on March 23rd & 24th.

Other important series in the region this weekend includes another #4 VS. #5 Series with the Corpus Christi Icerays & Odessa Jackalopes in a home-and-home this weekend where the IceRays are looking to get out of a bit of a tail spin they have been in recently after having a bit of a let down weekend against the New Mexico Mustangs where despite getting 3 out of 4 points, it didn't look that convincing as the Mustangs were able to control huge portions of both games last weekend.

New Mexico was able to have a rare strong series, it's not only the points back but the number of teams they have to jump over both Wichita Falls & Odessa to have a shot of taking down Corpus Christi for the 4th & Final Playoff spot in the South Division.

Also working against them is how the Mustangs have the fewest games remaining of the chasing pack. While Odessa (14 GR) & Wichita Falls (12 GR) still have chances to get ahead. New Mexico only has 11 games left in the regular season

The IceRays can put themselves in a position where they could be as many as 13 points up on Odessa and looking to put a knockout punch on the chasing pack of Odessa, Wichita Falls & New Mexico to end their playoff hopes as all 3 teams are looking to find a way to stay in the chase.

The WSHL has the Mid-West Division Leading El Paso Rhinos entreating the Dallas Ice Jets this weekend. With El Paso already clinching the Mid-West Division top seed, the Ice Jets are looking to use this as an opportunity to create some distance between themselves and the Texas Jr. Brahmas who are sitting in 3rd Place, just 5 points back of the Ice Jets as the Jr. Brahmas will be playing a home-and-home against the lowly Dallas Snipers who are just going through the motions of wrapping up the season as they have been out of playoff contention for weeks now.

There is also a lot of motivation for the Ice Jets after they got swept by the Rhinos just after New Years, and it wasn't just a bad weekend for the Ice Jets but a series that turned the tide in the Mid-West Division Race where the Rhinos took the Division Lead and haven't looked back ever since. Since then, the Rhinos have won 13 of their last 15 in which most of it has taken down some weak competition like scoring 14 & 10 goals in back-to-back games against the Phoenix Knights for example.

The Ice Jets on the other hand have had some issues since New Years where they are currently on a 5 game losing streak where they got swept by the Idaho Jr. Steelheads.

With the Ice Jets & Rhinos currently #1 & #2 in the Mid-West Division, this could be a possible preview for the Mid-West Division Final & a Round Robin Game in the WSHL Throne Cup as El Paso will be hosting and having an automatic spot in this year's Championship Tournament.

This weeks Junior Schedule

North American Hockey League

2/24

Texas Tornado VS. Amarillo Bulls  7:00 PM

Corpus Christi Icerays VS. Odessa Jackalopes  7:05 PM

New Mexico Mustangs VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats  7:05 PM

2/25

Texas Tornado VS. Amarillo Bulls  7:00 PM

New Mexico Mustangs VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats  7:25 PM

Odessa Jackalopes VS. Corpus Christi Icerays  7:35 PM

Western States Hockey League

2/24

New Mexico Renegades VS. Boulder Bison  8:15 PM

Dallas Ice Jets VS. El Paso Rhinos  8:30 PM

Dallas Snipers VS. Texas Jr. Brahmas  9:00 PM

2/25

Texas Jr. Brahmas VS. Dallas Snipers  7:30 AM

New Mexico Renegades VS. Boulder Bison  8:15 PM

Dallas Ice Jets VS. El Paso Rhinos  8:30 PM

2/26

New Mexico Renegades VS. Boulder Bison  1:00 PM

Dallas Ice Jets VS. El Paso Rhinos  5:30 PM



Ice Jets take 2-of-3 against the San Diego Gulls

The Ice Jets had another strong series by taking 2 of the 3 games this weekend against the San Diego Gulls over the weekend at the Polar Ice House in Grapevine. One of the biggest themes of this series was that was decided with all 3 games having the winner get into a scoring burst with the winning team scoring twice in a minute or less. First on Friday Night it was Jefferson Wright & Austin Rehwinkel scoring on both ends of a 5-on-3 power play in just 17 seconds which was part of a 4 goal 1st period and lead to a 5-1 victory.

1/27: San Diego Gulls 1  Dallas Ice Jets 5  (1-4, 0-0, 0-1)

1/28: San Diego Gulls 2  Dallas Ice Jets 3 (OT) (1-0, 0-0, 1-2, 0-1)

1/29: San Diego Gulls 4 Dallas Ice Jets 2 (1-1, 2-1, 1-0)



Next on Saturday Night, it was a comeback victory after a slow start to where the Gulls were won 1-0 and after a bit of an uneventful 2nd period where Giovannetti scored late in the 1st period on the Power Play with just 1:15 left in the 1st period where Tyler Giovanetti was one of the big standouts for the Gulls this weekend where he scored goals number nine and ten of the regular season this weekend.

After Grant Williams got his 3rd straight multi point game (1G 5A) over that stretch of time where he assisted on Brandon Unser's game winner at the 3:37 mark of the extra frame and the Ice Jets were looking at not only get a rare series sweep, but also leap frog the El Paso Rhinos for the Mid-West Division Lead.

Sunday was San Diego day to advert the sweep and to keep the Ice Jets from getting the Mid-West Division Leading. But it got off to another great start for the Ice Jets thanks to Christian Elsborg who was able to continue a strong scoring run as he was able to get his 6th goal in the last 5 games, including a hat trick on January 22 against the Cheyenne Stampede.

That goal made it 1-0 just 1:14 into the game as they were able to play one of the better overall periods as they were able to smother the Gulls by out shooting San Diego 22-7 through the 1st period. It didn't prevent the Gulls Tyler Giovannetti from scoring his 2nd goal of the weekend with just under 5 minutes on a great feed from Kyle Clements.

This lead to a big time momentum shifter that goal as the Gulls were able to get off to a fast start which included 7 shots on goal and being able to hold the Ice Jets to just 4 shots on goal during the 2nd period.

The Gulls were able to gain the lead at 10:56 of the 2nd period where Justin Lazalde fired a shot from the high slot was deflected by Aaron Peterson just in front of the net to give them a 2-1 Gulls. Just 16 seconds later Tomas Busek got a laser beam sort of a pass from Stoyakn to give the Gulls a 3-1 lead.

After an Aaron Peterson Penalty for boarding at 14:07 to give the Ice Jets a Power Play opportunity when Austin Rehwinkel scored on a great slap shot sent from Dylan Campbell to trim the Gulls lead down to one at 3-2 with less then 5 minutes left in the 3rd period.

It wasn't enough through as the Gulls got the insurance goal from Arseny Stoyakn to put the game at 4-2 with just over 12 minutes left in the 3rd period. But not without some late chances from the Ice Jets to get back in this game and try to force OT like when Austin Rehwinkel almost took advantage of a bad clearing opportunity by Brian Walters.

It was quick strikes in all 3 games that decided this series. Despite the two wins, the Ice Jets still find themselves just 1 point behind the Mid-West Division Leading El Paso Rhinos who sweeped the Park City Moose by a combined score of 28-3 in the 3 games including a 14-1 win back on Friday Night.

Elsewhere in the DFW Area oer the weekend included the Texas Tornado getting a 6-2 win over the Fresno Monsters in their only game of the weekend. The Victory included Frederick Leisner 1st win as a Tornado Goalie since the trade that brought the Garland based Net Minder from the Aberdeen Wings. It also had Ondrej Kopta's 1st multi point game of his Junior Career for the 16 year old of the Czech Republic.

Also the Dallas Snipers continued their winless streak which now sits at 9 games and they haven't won since December 17 when they beat the Phoenix Knights at the WSHL Vegas Showcase. Also the Texas Jr. Brahmas were able to win of 2 of their 3 games against the New Mexico Renegades out in Rio Rancho, New Mexico over the weekend.

As for the current standings in both the WSHL Mid-West Division & NAHL South Division. The Mid-West Division Title will probably be the most exciting race as the Regular Season enters the final month as El Paso leads the Division by a single point. Currently the Jr. Brahmas are 18-11-1 (37 PTS) in 3rd Place, while the New Mexico Renegades are 4th with 30 Points (14-18-2). While the Snipers sit in last with a league worst 6 points (3-33-0) who is already officially eliminated in the WSHL Playoffs.

Texas is still battling with the Topeka Roadrunners for 2nd and that all important 1st Round Home Ice as the two teams are tied with 58 points with Topeka having the current tie breaker with 2 more wins in 1 fewer game (Texas is 43 GP, 26-11-6; Topeka is 42 GP, 28-12-2).

This upcoming weekend will be busy with a 3 game series against the Wichita Falls Wildcats (Thursday & Friday at Home, Saturday at Home). While Topeka is at home for a rare mid-week series on Wednesday and Thursday against the Corpus Christi Icerays.

While the WSHL Teams will be in action, especially the Jr. Brahmas with 4 games in 5 nights this week starting with a late night matchup on Wednesday against the Dallas Ice Jets at NYTEX Sports on Wednesday Night.

Later in the week the Long Beach Bombers come into town for a weekend series with this being the start of a 7 game home stand which will also include against El Paso next weekend.

Also the Dallas Snipers will play in a series that will mean very little where they will play the Park City Moose in a series that will mean next to nothing with both teams having the worst records in the WSHL This season.

New Mexico comes back to win 3-2 in SO

On a night where the Rhinos could have officially tied the Ice Jets for the Mid-West Division Lead following the 3 game sweep, a plucky and aggressive New Mexico Team came back from a 2-0 deficit in the 3rd period to get the game tied and then win in a SO.

Despite the Rhinos SO Loss, this takes the Ice Jets within a single point of the Mid-West Division Leading Ice Jets, and they will have a prime opportunity to take the Division Lead both Tonight & Tomorrow Night with 2 more games against the Renegades this weekend. Both Games Friday & Saturday Night will be taking place at 7:30 PM MST (8:30 PM CST).

They are taking advantage of both the series sweep again the Ice Jets and the fact that the Ice Jets have this weekend off by using their 2 games in hand to great use right now.

Current WSHL Mid-West Division Standings.

1. Dallas Ice Jets  30 GP  20-6-4  44 PTS  125-79

2. El Paso Rhinos 29 GP  21-7-1  43 PTS  162-95

3. Texas Jr. Brahmas  26 GP  15-10-1  31 PTS  111-93

4. New Mexico Renegades  26 GP  13-11-2  28 PTS  93-96

5. Dallas Snipers  32 GP  3-29-0  6 PTS  95-213

New Mexico Renegades 3 El Paso Rhinos 2  (SO) (0-1, 0-1, 2-0, 0-0, 1-0)

El Paso Rhinos Press Release by Duke Keith

Here's the New Mexico Renegades Press Release

From El Paso, Texas: Thirty one seconds.

Leading 2-0 over a scrappy New Mexico Renegades Team in the third period, the El Paso Rhinos went to sleep at the switch for just 31 seconds. That's all it took for the Renegades to tie the game, then beat their hosts in a shootout, 3-2.

New Mexico's Adam Moon deflected a fluke goal in off a draw at 3:41. Out of a fracas right after the goal, El Paso team captain Mike Rivera was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After going 0-8 with the man advantage through the prior two periods. Renegades forward Matt Uvodich broke into the Rhinos Zone between two defenders and lifted a low wrister just over the pad of El Paso Goalie Trent Casper for the power play goal at 4:12.

Embolden by the tie, New Mexico circled the wagon behind goaltender Eric Messer, not letting in another Rhinos goal through the rest of regulation, all of the five minute overtime, and even the shootout.

Though it won't show up in the stats, Messer also stopped all four Rhinos shooters in the SO, when Michael Pisarevsky rendered the fifth shooter unnecessary by the scoring New Mexico's second shootout goal.

Messer stopped 42 of 44 shots for his 10th win in net and New Mexico improves to 13-11-2. The Renegades 28 points put them just 3 points behind the Texas Brahmas for third place in the Mid-West Conference of the Western States Hockey League.

The loss is El Paso's (21-7-1, 43 Points) first in overtime or shootout this season, thus the Rhinos miss an opportunity to the Ice Jets (20-6-4  44 PTS) atop the Mid-West Conference for the first time this season.

They'll have another opportunity Friday & Saturday Night, as El Paso & New Mexico play twice more, at 7:30 PM MST both nights.

For tickets & Info, contact the Rhinos front office at 915-479-PUCK (7825) or go to www.elpasorhinos.com