RG Flath's Hat Trick edges out the Brahmas

In addiditon to a hat trick that helped the Thunder edge out the Texas Brahmas in a very exciting game at the NYTEX Sports Center last night for not only to hand the Brahmas their 4th straight loss but also the Thunder clinching the CHL Presidents Cup which will give them home ice advantage throughout the entire CHL Playoffs when they get underway next week.

In addition to Flath's Hat trick, several other Thunder Players which included 2 goals from Chris Chappell and 3 assists from Jarred Mohr assisting on goals by both Flath & Chappell in just 27 seconds to to reverse a 1-0 Brahmas Lead into a 2-1 lead midway through the 1st period.

This was despite a huge 2nd period for the Brahmas as 2 goals by Adam Hogg which puts him to 22 goals on the season as well Sy Nutkevitch which saw him scored his 2nd goal in his 4 games since he made his debut back on March 16 against the Allen Americans where he has averaged a point a game in his short time with the Brahmas so far where he has 4 points (2G 2A) so far.

The Brahmas will now have their final 3-in-3 stretch of the regular season which starts on Friday where they will play a desperate Tulsa Oilers at the BOK Center where that could be the Oilers' last chance of having any hope of keeping up with the Rio Grande Valley Bees to in the Turner Conference Playoff Race.

Saturday will be a Playoff Preview as the Brahmas & Americans play the final game of the regular season schedule before the CHL Turner Conference Semifinals Series gets going next week at the Allen Event Center. Then Sunday will finish the regular season with the Fan Appreacation Day against the Evansville Ice Men at 4:00 PM.

Wichita Thunder 6  Texas Brahmas 5  (3-1, 2-3, 1-1)

Texas Brahmas Post-Game Press Release

Here's the Central Hockey League Schedule for the Final Few Days of the Season.

3/21

Allen Americans VS. Arizona Sundogs  8:05 PM

3/23

Allen Americans VS. Wichita Thunder  7:05 PM

Texas Brahmas VS. Tulsa Oilers  7:35 PM

3/24

Tulsa Oilers VS. Missouri Mavericks  7:05 PM

Texas Brahmas VS. Allen Americans  7:05 PM

Laredo Bucks VS. RGV Killer Bees  7:30 PM

3/25

Evansville Ice Men VS. Texas Brahmas  4:00 PM

Missouri Mavericks VS. Tulsa Oilers  4:05 PM

Wichita Thunder VS. Allen Americans  5:05 PM

Laredo Bucks VS. RGV Killer Bees  6:00 PM

From North Richland Hills, Texas: The Brahmas lost their fourth Tuesday Night 6-5 at the hands of the Wichita Thunder.

The Brahmas capitalized on the first power play of the night and grabbed the early lead at the 1:47 mark of the first period when Brendon Hodge cleaned up a rebound in front of the Thunder for his 13th goal of the season. The rest of the first period however, belonged to Wichita. Chris Chappell scored two of the three goals in the opening frame for the Thunder, who forced Brahmas netminder Ken Carroll out of the game after just 17:31 in net. RG Flath added the other score.

As did the first period, the second period featured a lot of scoring. Brahmas captain Adam Hogg netted two goals and Sy Nutkevitch scored his second goal in only gour games with the team. Hogg's second goal of the period - coming at the 12:16 mark - evened the score at four goals apiece. But RG Flath also scored twice in the period, lifting the Thunder to a 5-4 lead heading into the third period.

At the 13:44, Alex Bourrett extended the Thunder Lead to 6-4 on his 19th goal of the season and his fifth in six games against the Brahmas. With 35 seconds remaining in regulation and the goaltender pulled, Dan Nichols added a goal to bring the score to 6-5, but that would be the final score.

Both teams converted on two power plays, the Brahmas on eight opportunities and the Thunder on three.

Mark Guggenberger made 17 saves on 20 shots in relief of Ken Carroll. Adam Russo picks up the victory for Wichita, making 21 saves on 26 shots in the process.

The Brahmas play twice on the road (Friday, March 23 in Tulsa and Saturday, March 24 in Allen) before returning to NYTEX Sports Center for the regular season home game of the season.

For ticket information, call 817-336-4423 or visit the Texas Brahmas Website. The NYTEX Sports Center offers speedy and reliable Wi-FI provided by Great Auk Wireless. Also, visit ZuRoma at the NYTEX Sports Center and Keller Locations. All Brahmas away games are ZuRoma through CHL TV. 



Allen losses again against Quad City, 3-2

The Americans blew another chance to take advantage of their games in hand as they continue to get away from the Texas Brahmas in the race for 2nd Place and Home Ice Advantage in a possible 1st Round Series, 3-2, against the Quad City Mallards lat night in the 1st night of a 2 game set against the Mallards who are battling with the Rapid City Rush & Missouri Mavericks for the final 2 playoff spots in Turner Conference with basically 10 games left in the season.

This was one of Allen's 3 games in hand over the final 3 weeks and it could have given them a chance to continue to separate themselves from the Texas Brahmas as they look to protect 2nd Place as the Wichita Thunder are close to clinching the top Seed in the Berry Conference and will be looking to hold off the Ft. Wayne Komets & Evansville IceMen for Home Ice Throughout the entire playoffs as well.

One of the big things that is hurting the Americans is the absence of the team's leading scorer Bruce Graham who was injured in the February 4th Game against the Tulsa Oilers. His injury has made him that much more valuable as he was named a Finalist for the CHL MVP this season. Since then, the team has struggled to score most nights as they have been held to 2 goals or less in 8 of the last 12 games as the Brahmas have gotten hot as well behind the great goaltending of Mark Guggenberger. Both the Brahmas & Americans still have 4 head-to-head games coming up (Including a 3-in-3 night stretch that could very well decide who will finish in 2nd Place).

Both Allen & Quad City will meet again tomorrow night at the Allen Event Center as the game will start at 7:05 PM. Next up for the Brahmas on the other hand will be on Friday Night, March 9 when the Brahmas face the Missouri Mavericks. A Brahmas win and an Americans loss on Thursday will put the Brahmas back in 2nd Place in the Berry Conference.

Press Release from the Allen Americans

Quad City Mallards 3  Allen Americans 2  (2-0, 1-0, 0-2)

From Allen, Texas: The Quad City Mallards scored two first period goals, on their way to a 3-2 victory Tuesday Night at the Allen Event Center. The Mallards opened the scoring in the first period when Mallards Forward Micky Lang fired one from just inside the blue line that hit the arm of Americans netminder Rejean Beauchemin and trickled behind him.

Beauchemin tried to knock the puck away with his stick but pushed it across the line and Mallards were on top by a score of 1-0. Fifteen seconds later it was Lang again, this time on a feed from CHL All Star Brendon Marino from the right face-off circle. Lang fired a quick shot that beat Beauchemin to the glove side and the Mallards were on top by a score of 2-0. Allen out shot Quad City 7-5 in the opening period.

The Mallards added to their lead in the second despite being out shot 17-13 through two periods and 10-8 in that second period, as Quad City forward Jason Kostadine followed up a rebound in front of the Allen net putting one top-shelf shot on the back-hand to give Quad city a 3-0 cushion. The Americans had several chances in that second period but former Americans netminder David McKee turned away shot after shot keeping the Americans off the scoreboard from 40 minutes.

In the third, the Americans finally solved McKee, as Colton Yellow Horn found Jim McKenzie in front of the Allen net to make it a 3-1 game. McKenzie's 19th of the season and his third goal in his last three games. The Americans cut the lead to one goal at the 10:52 mark on the power play when Dylan King let one rip from the right side beating McKee and the Americans were back in it. However, a late charge by Allen would fall just a little short, as McKee would not allow the tying goal despite Allen Pressure, and the Mallards would win the game 3-2 in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. The Americans host Quad City on Thursday Night at 7:05 PM at the Allen Event Center

Mark Guggenberger named CHL 3rd Star of the Month

After an impressive month where the Brahmas Goalie Mark Guggenberger has began to take over the Team's net after having a bit of a up-and-down season prior to February where the Brahmas were in the battle with Tulsa & RGV for the 3rd, 4th & 5th Spots in the Berry Conference Playoff Race. Now Guggenberger has begun to takeover the net and has been the biggest reason why the Brahmas have run away with the #3 Seed and are now just 1 Point back of Allen for 2nd Place which would get them first round Home Ice in the CHL Playoffs at the end of March/first of April.

Of the 11 games left this season, the Brahmas have 4 games left against the Americans including a 3 game weekend from March 16-18 which is the 2nd to last weekend of the regular season and could make the difference in who could be the #2 Seed in the Berry Conference and a possible Berry Conference Semifinal Preview with both Wichita and the Rio Grande Valley/Tulsa Battle having big gaps in the Conference.

With the playoffs now just under a month away, he will have to raise his game even more as the Brahmas have continued to score the 2nd fewest goals this season with 142 goals scored in 55 games this season. Only the Dayton Gems have scored fewer goals with 139 this season with 11 games left in the regular season.

The main playoff battle for the 2nd Seed and a possible 1st Round Home Ice could come in the weekend of March 16th through 18th when the Brahmas & Americans have a 3 game series that weekend (3/16-17 in Allen, 3/18 in NRH). Their is also a game on March 24th (The night before the end of the regular season) in Allen to wrap up the regular season series.

His best showing in February came the week of February where he had 3 straight shutouts against Allen (on 2/14), Dayton (on 2/15) and Rio Grande Valley (on 2/17) where that was part of a streak where he gave up 1 goal or less that lasted 6 straight games. He's won 9 of his last 10 starts and was also named the Goalie of the Week for the week ending on February 19th.

Here's the CHL Press Release

From the CHL Staff: Wichita Thunder Forward Matt Robinson, Evansville IceMen forward Todd Robinson and Texas Brahmas Goalie Mark Guggenberger have been named the 'Oakley Three Stars for the month of February 2012.

For winning the 'Oakley Three Star Player of the Month, Matt Robinson will receive a special gift from Oakley. Learn more about Oakley Products at www.oakley.com

Players are awarded five points for first star recognition, three points for a second star nod and a single point for being named the third star of the game. Keep up with the season standings and quest to be the Oakley Three Stars Player of the Year at www.centralhockeyleague.com

1st Star: Matt Robinson, F, Wichita Thunder

Robinson finished the month with 12 goals with five of them serving as game winners and 18 points. He was named first star four times and the second star three times, good for 29 points. The Surrey, B.C. native has 29 goals and 21 assists on the season.

2nd Star: Todd Robinson, F, Evansville IceMen

Robinson recorded a point in every game during the month of February which serves as the longest point of the CHL this season (15 Games), During the month, the Trail, B.C. Native was named the first star four times, the second star twice and third star once accounting for 27 points. On the Season, Robinson leads the league with 80 points (21G 59A)

3rd Star, Mark Guggenberger, G, Texas Brahmas

Guggenberger was the top goaltender during the month posting a 9-1-1 record with three shutouts and a 1.21 GAA. The Richfield, Minnesota native was the first star four times and third star twice, good for 22 points. Guggenberger leads the league with a 1.82 GAA and a .930 SV%.

Central Hockey League Week Ahead for 2/22-26

Despite seeing both the Allen Americans going to the Shootout for the 4th time in the last 6 games. It was the Brahmas who the shootout and the game for the 2nd time in 11 days and the 3rd straight time as the Brahmas have owned the Americans as of late by pulling off their 3rd straight victory over the Rivals from Colin County in a 2-1 game where Mark Guggenberger had another outstanding performance by making 26 of 27 saves to earn his 7th straight win including giving up a goal or less in 6 of those games that earned him the CHL Goalie of the Week for the week of February 13-19.

Tulsa also had their game go to Overtime that saw them lost 2-1 to Ft. Wayne that saw their gap between them and 5th Place Rio Grande Valley grow to 5 points with 2 games in hand (Tulsa with 17 GR, RGV with 15 GR) this season.

As for the rest of the week, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees has a chance to climb back in the race as they sit 5 points back with 15 games left in the regular season as they will face South Texas Rival Laredo Bucks and then a pair of games against the Turner Conference Bottom Feeder Bloomington Blaze on Friday & Saturday and hope that Guggenberger and the Rock Hard Defense will be playing the Brahmas for a 3 game weekend starting in Tulsa on Friday.

Then coming back to Dallas to play on Saturday & Sunday as the Killer Bees have one of their better chances to close the gap with Tulsa for the fourth & final playoff spot in the Berry Conference.

With the entire league coming down to the final 15 games. We could have a battle possibly brewing for the 2nd spot as many thought the Americans & Thunder would comfortably have 1st Round Home Ice while battling for home ice advantage in the Southern Conference & taking on the Evansville Ice Men & Ft. Wayne Komets for home ice throughout the entire playoffs.

However, with the Brahmas winning 7 in a row and Mark Guggenberger starting to heat up in goal, it could have the Americans sweating (Not heavily yet) about a possible battle between the DFW Rivals for 1st Round Home Ice. One big advantage for the Americans is that Allen has 2 games in hand where they can easily extend & protect their lead.

Texas will be looking to bank on a 6 game homestand that will begin Saturday Night with a pair of games against the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday & Sunday. They will also play a pair of games against Rio Grande Valley as well as Missouri & Laredo to finish their final extended homestand of the regular season.

2/21

Ft. Wayne Komets 2  Tulsa Oilers 1  (OT) (1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 1-0)

Texas Brahmas 2  Allen Americans 1  (SO) (0-1, 1-0, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0)

2/22

RGV Killer Bees 8  Laredo Bucks 2  (1-0, 4-2, 3-0)

2/24

Laredo Bucks VS. Allen Americans  7:05 PM

Bloomington Blaze VS. RGV Killer Bees  7:30 PM

Texas Brahmas VS. Tulsa Oilers  7:35 PM

2/25

Allen Americans VS. Laredo Bucks  7:30 PM

Bloomington Blaze VS. RGV Killer Bees  7:30 PM

Tulsa Oilers VS. Texas Brahmas  7:45 PM

2/26

Bloomington Blaze VS. Laredo Bucks  4:00 PM

Tulsa Oilers VS. Texas Brahmas  5:30 PM



Laredo use strong Special Teams to blast the Brahmas

The Laredo Bucks maybe near the Bottom of the Central Hockey League's Berry Conference for most of the year, but they didn't play like it last night when they hosted the Texas Brahmas who are fighting for 3rd Place with the Tulsa Oilers.

A strong special teams game which included going  3-for-4 on the Power Play and the team also added a shorthanded goal near the start of the game which launched the Bucks Night. The likes of Neil Trimm & Ryan Sparling helped lead the way as 9 players were able to record at least a point in the victory while Bucks Goalie Torrie Jung stopped all 29 shots to get the easy win in the process.

For Laredo this was the great start they were looking for their current 4 game home stand as the Bucks & Brahmas will play again tomorrow night and the Wichita Thunder coming up on Saturday Night. For Texas after playing the Bucks tomorrow night, their South Texas Road Trip continues against the RGV Killer Bees on Saturday Night in another big battle for the 3rd & 4th Place Spots in the Berry Conference. After losing to Tulsa on Tuesday Night, the Killer Bees can't afford to lose even more ground on both the Brahmas & the Tulsa Oilers in the playoff race.

While the battle for the 3rd & 4th Place Spots is getting heated up, both the Allen Americans & Wichita Thunder who are gunning for the Top Spot will be on different parts of the region. The Americans will begin a weekend series against the Tulsa Oilers from the Allen Event Center, while the Thunder will make their way South to play the RGV Killer Bees on Friday, then up to DFW to play the Texas Brahmas on Saturday Night in what should be a great with both playoff races in focus.

Upcoming Schedule for this weekend

2/3

Tulsa Oilers VS. Allen Americans  7:05 PM

Texas Brahmas VS. Laredo Bucks  7:30 PM

Wichita Thunder VS. RGV Killer Bees  7:30 PM

2/4

Tulsa Oilers VS. Allen Americans  7:05 PM

Wichita Thunder VS. Laredo Bucks  7:30 PM

Texas Brahmas VS. RGV Killer Bees  7:30 PM

Game Report from the Central Hockey League Website

From Laredo, Texas: The Laredo Bucks are dealing with two very hot properties, goaltender Torre Jung, and the duo helped lead the way on Wednesday Night as the Bucks pounded the Texas Brahmas 6-0 at the Laredo Energy Arena.

June remained one of the better goaltenders in the league in recent weeks making 29 saves and earning his second shutout in his last three decisions. Jung is 4-0-1 in his last five decisions allowing just 7 goals over that stretch (he is 14-11-1 on the season).

Trimm extended his league active best point streak to eight games accumulating 13 points (2-11=13) over that span.

Texas played Adam Avramenko in net, just signed this week after Steve Silverthon left to play in Europe, and he struggled in his debut with the Brahmas allowing six scores on 30 shots.

A shorthanded goal from Justin Styffe got the Bucks rolling just over two minutes into the game and it turned out to be all Laredo needed. It was the first winning goal of the season for Styffe and his sixth goal overall.

Later in the first, David Inman connected on the first of three power play scores for Laredo giving plenty of cushion for Jung to work his magic the rest of the night.

The second period was the busiest for Jung, 13 saves, but it was also the most productive for the home team who struck three times. Ryan Sparling and Trimm scored PP Goals and Rusty Masters added an even strength strike making the score 5-0 after 40 minutes.

Early in the third, Matt Boyd added to the total with his 10th goal of the season and Bucks would cost from there in a fast moving final frame.

Matt Pierce added a pair of assists helping set up the Bucks Cause.

Laredo finished the game 3/4 on the power play with the man advantage and stopped all five PP Chances for the visitors.

The Brahmas lost for the second time in their last three games and were shutout for the fourth time this season. Texas' offense has struggled recently scoring just five times in the last four games.

The defense has been good through as the six goals allowed tonight by Texas matches what they had allowed in their previous four games combined.

The two teams will battle again on Friday Night in Laredo.

Texas still leads the season series winning five of the eight games so far.

Greg Rajan In the Crease Podcasts

A recent addition to Greg Rajan's hockey coverage of the Corpus Christi Icerays is his Podcast called In the Crease where he talks to current & Former Players Junior & Minor League Players. As well as coaches, GMS, Owners and Media that cover these levels of hockey.

A couple of his recent interviews included former Corpus Christi Iceray from the CHL Days and current Texas Brahmas Forward Chad Wollard about the league's new playoff format, who he thinks the Brahmas biggest rival is and and a bizarre episodes that he has witnessed over the course of his career including when a rival folded in Mid-Season and became the teams new head coach.

Also in his recent episode is Brian Sandalow of The Monitor in McAllen where he covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees who has been one of the league's biggest surprises this season after many felt the team was going to fold last summer. Currently the Killer Bees sit in 5th Place just a point back of the Tulsa Oilers for the 4th & Final Playoff Spot in the Berry Conference with just under 30 games left in the regular season.

1/24 Episode

He was also able to get a fans perceptive from Ice Rays Fan Robert Hutchinson who has been a huge fan and season ticket holder of the Corpus Christi Icerays since the early days of the team playing in the Central Hockey League. Rajan got his thoughts on main issues like the team's lack of success on the ice, but it how continues to gain big crowds. The recent brawl between the Tornado & Ice Rays that resulted in 6 different players getting suspended, including Skyler Spiller for 10 games.

Also the biggest pros & cons of the Junior Game and losing South Texas Rivals with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Laredo Bucks as well as looking to see where they futures could be if the Central Hockey League can't survive with all the problems the league has had in recent years regarding teams either folding or moving to different leagues like the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and the North American Hockey League.

1/17 Episode

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





Central Hockey League Rosters

With the Central Hockey League season beginning Tomorrow night, here's a look at the Southwest Teams as the final rosters are getting ready to come out. In addition to the rosters, several major rivalries are going to dominate headlines on the opening weekend, like the Brahmas & Americans at the Allen Events Center where the Americans are going to raise the CHL Southern Conference Championship Banner on October 15 and the South Texas Rivalry between the Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

Other major rivalries include the Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs VS. Mississippi Riverkings which will be a home-and-home matchup with the Mudbugs hosting the first leg on Friday Night.

Some of the big news from over the off-season includes the return of Chad Woolard who has had the nickname "Mr. Brahma" for his great play in the past with the team when it was located at the Ft. Worth Civic Center in the team's early history. This past season he was with the Corpus Christi Icerays in their final year in the Central Hockey League before leaving for the North American Hockey League to become a Junior Team.

Other teams he's played with include the Mississippi Riverkings and Quad City Mallards in the CHL. As well as some time in the ECHL with the Greensboro Generals and Jackson Bandits. As well as a short Stint in the AHL with the Utah Grizzlies, St. John's Maple Leafs and San Antonio Rampage as well. He has never suited up in an NHL Game in his career.

As for players moving, Allen Americans Defensemen Brandon Struab has signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings AHL Affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins recently.

Other Americans players that were involved in the CHL Southern Conference Championship include the offensive trio of Nino Musitelli, Justin Bowers and Bruce Graham who all combined for 215 points last season during the regular season and then 78 points combined in the post-season where the Americans came up 2 wins shy of a CHL Presidents Cup Title in their very season of professional hockey in Allen.

Here's a look at the schedule for the opening weekend of the regular season involving the CHL Southwest Teams. A lot of rivalries will be going, including Texas VS. Allen, RG Valley VS. Laredo and Tulsa VS. Wichita on Friday Night. I will also show links to the rosters for all the teams. Keep in mind that final rosters for the most part won't come out until just before the team's first game of the season.


Friday 10/15

Mississippi Riverkings VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs   7:05 PM

Odessa Jackalopes VS. Missouri Mavericks    7:05 PM

Texas Brahmas VS. Allen Americans     7:30 PM

Laredo Bucks VS. RG Valley Killer Bees   7:30 PM

Wichita Thunder VS. Tulsa Oilers    7:35 PM


Saturday 10/16

Texas Brahmas VS. Allen Americans   7:00 PM

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs VS. Mississippi Riverkings    7:05 PM

Tulsa Oilers VS. Wichita Thunder     7:05 PM

Odessa Jackalopes VS. Quad City Mallards   7:05 PM

Laredo Bucks VS. RG Valley Killer Bees    7:30 PM


Here's the schedules and rosters for the Southwest Central Hockey League Teams.

Allen Americans Roster

Allen Americans Schedule


Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Roster

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Schedule


Laredo Bucks Roster

Laredo Bucks Schedule


Odessa Jackalopes Roster

Odessa Jackalopes Schedule


Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Roster

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Schedule


Texas Brahmas Schedule

Texas Brahmas Roster


Tulsa Oilers Schedule

Tulsa Oilers Roster

Central Hockey League to Name Conferences after League Legends

The Central Hockey League announced today the official names of the Northern & Southern Conferences as they will be named after legends from the CHL & IHL as the Northern Conference will be named the Turner Conference after Joseph Turner, while the Southern Conference will be named the Berry Conference after the N. Thomas Berry.

N. Thomas Berry has been involved in the sport of hockey for nearly half a century as Commissioner Emeritus for the CHL and has been involved. He spent 13 years with the IHL Serving as their commissioner from 1989-1994 as he added 7 teams under his term. He currently resides in Indianapolis has served in many capacities covering the on-ice officiating all the way to running ind. teams. He was also involved in the short lived World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Indianapolis Racers.

Joesph Turner who was a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario who played for the Red Wings before WW2 also served with the US Army. He was later killed in December of 1944 during a battle in Belgium. He was an amateur goalie in the old Michigan-Ontario Amateur league which was the predictor of the International Hockey League playing for teams both in Detroit and Windsor. The Turner Cup was later named after him shortly after WW2 ended when the IHL was officially formed.

The Joseph Turner Trophy will serve as the Northern Conference Champions, while the N. Thomas Berry Trophy will be crowned as Southern Conference Champions.

Turner Conference (North)
Bloomington Prairie Thunder
Colorado Eagles
Dayton Gems
Ft. Wayne Komets
Evansville Icemen
Missouri Mavericks
Quad City Mallards
Rapid City Rush
Wichita Thunder


Berry Conference (South)
Allen Americans
Arizona Sundogs
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Laredo Bucks
Mississippi Riverkings
Odessa Jackalopes
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Texas Brahmas
Tulsa Oilers

2010-2011 Central Hockey League Schedule Announced

The schedule for the 2010-2011 season was just released moments ago as the CHL Regular Season will get underway on October 15 to start the 66 game season. One of the major highlights of opening weekend will be the D/FW Rivalry as the Allen Americans & Texas Brahmas will kick off with a Weekend series in Allen.

Other interesting matchups involving the Southwest Teams during opening weekend will be the South Texas Rivalry as the Laredo Bucks & Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees will hook up from Rio Grande City.

As for teams other in Odessa, Bossier-Shreveport and Tulsa. The Jackalopes who were ousted for the 2nd straight year in the Southern Conference Final will open up against the Missouri Mavericks and Quad City Mallards. This is part of a busy road schedule early on where 8 of the first 10 games will be on the road, the only exception will be a pair of home games against the Laredo Bucks on October 28 & 30.

Bossier-Shreveport will open with a home-and-home against the Mississippi Riverkings while the Tulsa Oilers will do the same thing against the Wichita Thunder on opening weekend.

Just like in previous years, a majority of the games will be on the weekends early on in the season. Then later on the league adds more week night games as we close in on the playoffs which begin in late March.

Some other interesting matchups starting out will be the Rapid City Rush playing in Ft. Wayne, Indiana playing the Komets and league power house Colorado taking on the Arizona Sundogs who finished last in the South last season.

Overall, the 66 game season will kick off on October 15 and will finish up on March 27. The Playoffs will have everyone except the last place teams in both conferences make the post-season which will begin in early April (More on why I don't like this idea in a later commentary).

Here's the Links for the Master Schedule & the Southwest Team Schedules.

CHL Website:

League Master Schedule:

Allen Americans:

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs:

Laredo Bucks:

Odessa Jackalopes:

RG Valley Killer Bees:

Texas Brahmas:

Tulsa Oilers:

Odessa has huge 3rd period comeback to win in OT, knocks out defending champions

What started out as a great series and a chance to knockout the Jackalopes for the 2nd straight year turned into a nightmare as the Jackalopes turned up the jets to take control of the series to win in 6. It's said that successfully defending a championship is one of the toughest things to do in sports, and the Brahmas learned that the hard way.

Texas had another great season after winning 32 games during the regular season. Texas made quick work of Corpus Christi in the Play In Round. The Brahmas have proven once again that playing in the Play In Round is no hurdle for the Brahmas. Since the inclusion of the Play In Round in 2008, the Brahmas have pretty much been the only team to have any success after playing in the Play In Round. Here's a list of teams how they have done since Play In Round was introduced.

2008

Southern Conference: Play in Round: Odessa beats Austin 2-1, Conference Semifinals Laredo beats Odessa 4-0

Northern Conference: Play In Round, Texas Beats Mississippi 2-1, Conference Semifinals Texas beats Bossier-Shreveport 4-0, Conference Final, Colorado Beats Texas 4-3


2009

Southern Conference: Play In Round, RG Valley beats Corpus Christi 2-1, Conference Semifinals Texas beats RG Valley 4-0

Northern Conference: Play In Round, Bossier-Shreveport beats Rocky Mountain 2-1, Conference Semifinals Colorado Beats Bossier-Shreveport 4-0


2010

Southern Conference: Play In Round, Texas beats Corpus Christi 2-0, Conference Semifinals Odessa beats Texas 4-2

Northern Conference: Play In Round, Missouri Beats Mississippi 2-1, Conference Semifinals Rapid City Beats Missouri 4-0


If you look at the short history of the Play In Round. The Brahmas are the only team to even win a game, much less a series when they started in the Conference Play In Round. Everybody else has gotten Sweeped in the Conference Semifinals. This shows you how the Brahmas want to make sure they can be a force to be dealt with regardless of how they start in the playoffs either in the Conference Play In Round or in the Conference Semifinals when they won the Championship in 2009.

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From North Richland Hills, Texas: Collin Circelli's overtime winner sent the Odessa Jackalopes to the Southern Conference Finals as the team beat the Texas Brahmas, 5-4, on Monday Night at the NYTEX Sports Center. The finish gave the Odessa Jackalopes a 4-2 win in the best-of-seven series.

Jeff Pierce and Garrett Gruenke tallied the assists on Circelli's game-winner at 2:04 of the first overtime period. Circelli drove the net after Texas turned the puck at the blue line. It marks the second straight season that Odessa has lost the first two games of a Conference Semifinal series at home, only to win four straight and advance.

The Jackalopes forced overtime after scoring a pair of third period goals to eliminate a 4-2 deficit. Kory Karlander netted a power play goal from the front of the net at 5:04. Sebastien Thinel tied the game at 7:38 when he lifted a backhanded shot into the top corner.

Both teams traded goals in the first period as Kenny Benard and Jeff Pierce each scored for Odessa. Jason Deitsch and Lee Jubinville both scored for Texas.

The Brahmas picked up the play in the 2nd period two as Deitsch scored his second of the game at 3:01 to make it 3-2, Texas. Jordan Cameron made it 4-2 at 15:57 when he took the puck from the left-wing corner, around the boards, then through the right circle before depositing a backhanded shot past Juha Toivonen. Texas held the two goal lead entering the break to set up Odessa's late heroics.

Joel Martin replaced Toivonen in the third period and finished the game with just four saves, but recorded the win. Toivonen stopped 16 of 20 in net.

The series win for Odessa marks just the third time in CHL History that a team won the first two games of a series on the road only to lose the series. Odessa defeated Laredo in 2009. New Mexico topped Arizona in 2007. Texas won the first two games of the series in Odessa to take a 2-0 series lead before Odessa's comeback with four straight wins.

The Jackalopes will await the winner of the Laredo VS. Allen series for their next round opponent.


Odessa Jackalopes win Series 4-2. Odessa will play either the Allen Americans or the Laredo Bucks in the Conference Finals.


Game Boxscore

Odessa Jackalopes 5 Texas Brahmas 4 (OT) (2-2, 0-2, 2-0, 1-0)

1-0 ODE: Kenny Bernard (PP) (Ramsay, Karlander) 3:43 1st

1-1 TEX: Jason Deitsch (Hiebert, Jubinville) 6:22 1st

1-2 TEX: Lee Jubinville (PP) (Sellars, Kinnunen) 8:56 1st

2-2 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Circelli, Thinel) 13:40 1st

2-3 TEX: Jason Deitsch (Hiebert, Jubinville) 3:01 2nd

2-4 TEX: Jordan Cameron (Gale, Rouleau) 15:57 2nd

3-4 ODE: Kory Karlander (PP) (Dunn, Leveille) 5:04 3rd

4-4 ODE: Sebastien Thinel (Bourbeau, Pierce) 7:38 3rd

5-4 ODE: Collin Circelli (Pierce, Gruenke) 2:04 OT


Game Stats

SOG: ODE 44 TEX 24

PP: ODE 2/4 TEX 1/5

PIM: ODE 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties TEX 23 Minutes on 6 Penalties

Goalies: ODE Juha Toivonen 16 SVS on 20 Shots Joel Martin 4 SVS on 4 Shots TEX Brett Jeager 39 SVS on 44 Shots

ATT: 2200

3rd Star: Lee Jubinville (TEX)

2nd Star: Jason Deitsch (TEX)

1st Star: Collin Circelli (ODE)

Thinel and Plante make difference in a defensive showdown

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From Odessa, Texas: The Odessa Jackalopes moved within one game of pulling off another magic act as they now lead the best-of-seven conference semifinals series' with the Texas Brahmas three games to two. The Jacks won a defensive duel at the Ector County Coliseum 2-1.

Should the Jackalopes win one of the next two games, they would for the second consecutive season erase a 2-0 series deficit losing both games on home ice and then coming back to winning the series.

The teams skated to a scoreless game all the way until the third period when Sebastien Thinel struck for his 4th goal of the series at the 5:32 mark of the final period. Philippe Plante made it 2-0 when he scored a power play goal at the 14:14 mark of the period.

Texas would score a late goal with an extra skater as Tyler Skworchinski scored his fifth goal of the post-season but that is as close as the Brahmas could get.

Both goaltenders were sharp in the game as Joe Palmer made 35 saves for the Brahmas starting his first game of the playoffs after getting action in relief in each of the last two games.

Juha Toivonen started his third straight game and earned his third straight win making 34 saves. His all-time post-season record improves to 10-1.

Game six is scheduled for Monday Night in Texas and Game 7 would be on Wednesday in Odessa if needed.


Odessa Jackalopes Lead Series 3-2


Game Boxscore

Odessa Jackalopes 2 Texas Brahmas 1 (0-0, 0-0, 1-2)

0-1 ODE: Sebastien Thinel (Pierce, Circelli) 5:32 3rd

0-2 ODE: Philippe Plante (PP) (Thinel, Leveille) 14:14 3rd

1-2 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (EA) (Rouleau) 19:47 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 35 ODE 37

PP: TEX 0/3 ODE 1/8

PIM: TEX 23 Minutes on 10 Penalties ODE 13 Minutes on 5 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Joe Palmer 35 SVS on 37 Shots ODE Juha Toivonen 34 SVS on 35 Shots

ATT: 3278

3rd Star: Joe Palmer (TEX)

2nd Star: Sebastien Thinel (ODE)

1st Star: Juha Toivonen (ODE)

A 3 goal 1st Period helps Odessa tie the Series against the Brahmas

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

From North Richland Hills, Texas: The Odessa Jackalopes got 27 saves from Juha Toivonen and a pair of goals from Sebastien Thinel as they topped the Brahmas, 5-1, at the NYTEX Sports Center on Friday Night. The win evens up the Southern Conference Semifinals series at 2-2 as the road team has won every game in the series so far.

Thinel's first tally was part of a three-goal first period as the Jackalopes took the lead and early control in the game. Mike Ramsay opened the scoring at 7:09, followed by Collin Circelli at 12:53 on the power play, and then Thinel at 15:07 as he took a pass on the right side of the net, and buried his own rebound for Odessa.

The game's scoring was halted until the third period, when Odessa's Jeff Pierce scored on a rebound at 7:11 to extend the Jacks lead to four. Kevin Seibel scored the lone goal for the Brahmas as his wrist shot from the point slipped through traffic, and past Toivonen who never saw the puck.

Thinel capped off the game with his second of the night at 18:47, a bad-angle shot from the left-wing corner on a Brahmas turnover.

It was the second straight game that the Jackalopes ended the first period with a 3-0 lead and the second straight game that Brahmas goaltender, Joe Palmer, came in for relief for Brett Jeager.

The Win now extends the series to at least six games in order to decide a winner. Game five will be played on Saturday back in Odessa at Ector County Coliseum.


Series tied 2-2


Game Boxscore

Odessa Jackalopes 5 Texas Brahmas 1 (3-0, 0-0, 2-1)

1-0 ODE: Mike Ramsay (Lesperance, Bernard) 7:09 1st

2-0 ODE: Collin Circelli (PP) (Dunn, Bernard) 12:53 1st

3-0 ODE: Sebastien Thinel (Pierce, Circelli) 15:07 1st

4-0 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Mbaraga, Thinel) 7:11 3rd

4-1 TEX: Kevin Seibel (Chorneyko, Burto) 14:18 3rd

5-1 ODE: Sebastien Thinel (Unassisted) 18:47 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: ODE 38 TEX 28

PP: ODE 1/8 TEX 0/6

PIM: ODE 18 Minutes on 9 Penalties TEX 31 Minutes on 10 Penalties

Goalies: ODE Juha Toivonen 27 SVS on 28 Shots TEX Brett Jeager 7 SVS on 10 Shots Joe Palmer 26 SVS on 28 Shots


ATT: 2312

3rd Star: Collin Circelli (ODE)

2nd Star: Jeff Pierce (ODE)

1st Star: Juha Toivonen (ODE)

Odessa Uses Strong 1st Period to make it a 2-1 series

From the Central Hockey League Website. www.centralhockeyleague.com

Destined to show the skill and strength that led them to 101 points during the regular season, the Odessa Jackalopes came out flying on Wednesday Night handing the Texas Brahmas just their third loss on home ice in the past three playoff seasons (15-2 at NYTEX Sports Center before tonight). The final was 5-2 and the win for the Jacks got them back in the best-of-7 series now trailing two games to one and guaranteeing they'll head back home at least for a game five on Saturday Night.

Odessa scored twice in the first period when Jeff Pierce's power play goal at 4:50 setting the tone. A pair of D-Men would strike net with Garrett Gruenke and Alex Dunn each scoring goals before the end of the opening frame making the score 3-0 after 20 minutes.

The Brahmas battled back in the 2nd period with Jordan Cameron and Justin Kinnunen each scoring power play goals making the score 3-2 after two periods but that is as close as the defending champions would get.

The Jacks gained some distance and put the game away in a 47 second stretch of the final period when Pierce scored his second of the game and Mike Ramsay struck making the score 5-2.

Sebistan Thinel had 4 assists in the game and Collin Circelli helped out on three of Odessa's goals.

Odessa outshot Texas 44-31 as Juha Toivonen, seeing his first action of the post-season, made 27 saves earning the win.

Brett Jeager, unbeaten in his previous seven playoff games, was pulled after allowing his 5th Odessa Goal and he took the loss stopping 32 of 37 shots he faced.

Texas Brahmas Lead Series 2-1


Game Boxscore

Odessa Jackalopes 6 Texas Brahmas 3 (3-0, 0-2, 3-1)

1-0 ODE: Jeff Pierce (PP) (Circelli, Thinel) 4:50 1st

2-0 ODE: Garrett Gruenke (Thinel, Cricelli) 7:20 1st

3-0 ODE: Alex Dunn (Thinel, Pierce) 10:32 1st

3-1 TEX: Jordan Cameron (PP) (Deitsch, Rouleau) 3:51 2nd

3-2 TEX: Justin Kinnunen (PP) (Skworchinski, Cameron) 10:33 2nd

4-2 ODE: Jeff Pierce (Circelli, Thinel) 5:54 3rd

5-2 ODE: Mike Ramsay (Swiniarski) 6:41 3rd

5-3 TEX: Adam Chorneyko (Pierce, Gale) 14:43

6-3 ODE: Dominic Leveille (EN) (Plante, Karlander) 18:42 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: ODE 44 TEX 31

PP: ODE 1/3 TEX 2/5

PIM: ODE 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties TEX 6 Minutes on 3 Penalties

Goalies: ODE Juha Toivonen 28 SVS on 31 Shots TEX Brett Jeager 32 SVS on 37 Shots Joe Palmer 6 SVS on 6 Shots

ATT: 2178

3rd Star: Justin Kinnunen (TEX)

2nd Star: Juha Toivonen (ODE)

1st Star: Jeff Pierce (ODE)

Brahmas win Back & Fourth Affair in OT, Take 2-0 Series Lead

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

It may be another playoff season but some things never change as last year's championship hero's for the Texas Brahmas, Brett Jeager and Tyler Skworchinski, are at it again the Brahmas to a 3-2 OT Victory in Odessa on Saturday Night giving the defending champions a 2-0 lead in their best of 7 series. The Series' shifts back to Texas for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday & Friday Nights respectively.

Skworchinski had an unbelievable post-season a year ago scoring 13 times including 5 game winners and this season is taking the same shape if not one that is more impressive. On Saturday night, Skworchinski scored a pair of goals including the game winner in OT with less then 10 seconds remaining in the extra session. He now has four goals in his last three games this season.

Jeager made 46 saves in the game winning his fourth straight decision in this year's playoffs and seventh straight dating back to last year's Ray Miron President's Cup Championship Season. The Brahmas never trailed in Game Two as Lee Jubinville scored less then two minutes into the first period giving Texas a 1-0 lead. Odessa battled back with Sebastien Thinel scoring just under 10 minutes into the first making it 1-1.

In the 2nd period, Skworchinski scored a power play goal making it 2-1 Texas which is where it stayed until the third period where Kory Karlander tied the game early in the final frame. In the OT, the Jacks had two power play chances taking the league's best man advantage during the regular season and having a chance to tie the series but Jeager made several key saves.

Joel Martin finished with 27 saves but takes the loss as he was also awesome throughout most of the game but with less then 10 seconds remaining in the first OT a puck got away from him and was directed in by a crashing Skworchinski.

The Jacks lose back-to-back home games for the first time since late November and for just the second time this season.

Texas Brahmas Lead This Series 2-0


Game Boxscore

Texas Brahmas 3 Odessa Jackalopes 2 (OT) (1-1, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0)

1-0 TEX: Lee Jubinville (Burto) 1:54 1st

1-1 ODE: Sebastien Thinel (Pierce, Van Drunen) 9:11 1st

2-1 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (PP) (Deitsch, Jubinville) 8:27 2nd

2-2 ODE: Kory Karlander (Van Drunen, Leveille) 2:23 3rd

3-2 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (Kinnunen, Cameron) 19:53 OT


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 30 ODE 48

PP: TEX 1/6 ODE 0/8

PIM: TEX 18 Minutes on 9 Penalties ODE 14 Minutes on 7 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Brett Jeager 46 SVS on 48 Shots ODE Joel Martin 27 SVS on 30 Shots

ATT: 3622

3rd Star: Dave Van Drunen (ODE)

2nd Star: Lee Jubinville (TEX)

1st Star: Tyler Skworchinski (TEX)

Brahmas explode for 5 in 3rd period, Take Series Opener

After going down 1-0 midway through the 1st period. It was a 3rd period explision where 4 goals in just under 5 minutes that shocked the Odessa Jackalopes and helped the defending CHL Presidents Cup Championships take the opening game over in Odessa in the best-of-7 series'.

From the Central Hockey League: www.centralhockeyleague.com

It was more then a just a game one semifinals game Friday Evening as memories continued to linger over last season's tough series between the teams in which the Brahmas took Game 7 with a decisive 8-1 victory to advance and ulitmately win the team's first league championship. Odessa, seeking a sense of redemption, put the first tally on the board with the lethal powerplay when Alex Dunn skated in and drilled a shot passed Brett Jeager in the 1st period. The tally would be the sole score in the 1st 2 periods.

In a matter of 1:17 into the 3rd period the Brahmas tied the game at 1-1 and then took the lead beginning when James Hiebert set the table for Matt Pierece who was planted in front of Joel Martin's goal crease for his 2nd of the post-season. Forward Lee Jubinville followed the goal when he took a feed from Jordan Cameron, beating Martin who apperared to not see the shot.

At the 5:00 mark a shot from Justin Kinnunen on the powerplay bounced off Jack Garrett Gruenke deflected in for a Texas two goal lead. The Brahmas continued to stay hot and this time rookie blueliner Tyrell Mason converted for his first goal of the playoffs as he skated in from the left point and rifled a shot to the back of the net.

Life cameback to Odessa near the midway marker in the final period when Mike Lesperance from the top of the left circle drilled a shot to put the Jacks within two. But just as the crowd began to get involved, Texas A.J. Gale came in all alone and with a wrister beat Martin for the Brahmas fifth goal in the 3rd period. Brett Jeager stopped 29 saves for the victory in the net and his third straight in the playoffs.

Game two of the Best of 7 series is tomorrow night in Odessa with a 7:05 PM Start Time.

Texas Brahmas Lead Series 1-0

Game Boxscore

Texas Brahmas 5 Odessa Jackalopes 2 (0-1, 0-0, 5-1)

0-1 ODE: Alex Dunn (PP) (Leveille, Karlander) 12:14 1st

1-1 TEX: Matt Pierce (Hiebert, Jacobsen) 1:07 3rd

2-1 TEX: Lee Jubinville (Cameron, Kinnunen) 2:27 3rd

3-1 TEX: Justin Kinnunen (PP) (Jacobsen, Cameron) 5:00 3rd

4-1 TEX: Tyrell Mason (Jacobsen, Hiebert) 6:44 3rd

4-2 ODE: Mike Lesperance (Leveille, Swiniarski) 8:24 3rd

5-2 TEX: AJ Gale (Thauwald, Mason) 17:36 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 34 ODE 31

PP: TEX 1/4 ODE 1/2

PIM: TEX 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties ODE 16 Minutes on 8 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Brett Jeager 29 SVS on 31 Shots ODE Joel Martin 29 SVS on 34 Shots

ATT: 2843

3rd Star: Dominic Leveille (ODE)

2nd Star: Grant Jacobsen (TEX)

1st Star: James Hienert (TEX)

Central Hockey League: Conference Semifinals #1 VS. Play In Winners

As the Play In Rounds wrapped up last night with the Missouri Mavericks beating out the Mississippi Riverkings. In addidition to the Texas Brahmas beating sweeping the Corpus Christi Icerays. The Conference Semifinals get underway tonight as the Top Seeded Teams now know their fates for the Southern & Northern Conference Semifinals get underway this weekend.

Texas Brahmas VS. Odessa Jackalopes

For Texas VS. Odessa, it's more then a series', it's personal for Odessa as the Jackalopes came within 1 game of making the CHL Presidents Cup Championship last year after the Brahmas blasted the Jackalopes 8-1 last year in Game 7. This year, Odessa will play the role of the top seed and will be looking to put their playoff disappointment behind them and will be looking to win the CHL Presidents Cup after having one of the best records in the last 5 years.

The Brahmas may have a younger roster then last year, but some imporant pieces from last year's Championship teams are still in place. Jason Deitsch is back after finishing the playoffs last year as the league leading scorer with 26 points (11G 15A) in 16 games.

Also look for Matt Pierce who was brought in from the Mississippi Riverkings in Feb. and had a strong finish to the regular season by who had 17 points in 19 games in a Brahmas uniform including getting a hat trick against Laredo back on March 5. He also had a point in both games against Corpus Christi.

Goaltending is going to be a huge part of this series as both teams have strong duos. Odessa is going with Joel Martin and Juha Toivonen who won an impressieve 21 & 27 games each. While for Texas, Last year's Championship Winning Goalie in Brett Jeager and Joe Palmer who was a finalist for Rookie of the Year this year.

Rapid City Rush VS. Missouri Mavericks

After missing out on the playoff entirely last year, the Rapid City Rush had a huge transformition this season as the Rush were able to eack out Colorado in the final couple of weeks to win the Top Seed and will face the league's new boys in the Missouri Mavericks who finished 5th and knocked out Mississippi.

The Rush have a list a mile long of goal scorers as the Rush have 10 players in double digit goals this season while having the best defenseieve record by giving up the fewest goals of the Northern Conference Playoff Teams with 197.

Missouri is looking to it's momentum and some very experienced players like Simon Watson and Jeff Christian who has at least 25 goals the last 5 staright seasons.

As for the Series themselves, I think the Texas VS. Odessa is going to be a long one with it going at least 6 games. As for Mississouri VS. Rapid City, I would expect Rapid City's strong offense to take over and win this series in either 5 or possibly 6 games at the most.

When I show the Top Scores and Goaltending for the Teams. I will show the Regular Season for both teams, as Rapid City & Odessa haven't played a playoff game yet. While Texas & Missouri have played just 2 or 3 games in the post-season.


Northern Conference

#1 Rapid City Rush VS. #5 Missouri Mavericks

Rapid City Rush Regular Season Record: 43-14-7 93 PTS, 253 GF 197 GA

Rapid City Scoring Leaders
Les Reaney 64 GP 86 PTS (28G 58A)
Scott Wray 64 GP 78 PTS (31G 47A)
Brendan Cook 62 GP 67 PTS (29G 38A)

Rapid City Goaltending
Danny Battochio 42 GP 28-5-6 2.60 GAA .917 SV%
Miguel Beaudry 29 GP 15-9-3 3.28 GAA .896 SV%


Missouri Mavericks Regular Season Record: 31-27-6 68 PTS, 200 GF 220 GA

Play In Round against Mississippi

Game 1 4-2 W: Game 2 1-2 L: Game 3 3-1 W

Missouri Scoring Leaders
Jeff Christian 55 GP 78 PTS (29G 49A)
Nick Sirota 62 GP 45 PTS (19G 26A)
Jeff Macdermid 59 GP 44 PTS (23G 20A)

Missouri Goaltending
Charlie Effinger 13 GP 9-3-1 2.68 GAA .913 SV%
Gerry Festa 13 GP 5-4-3 2.88 GAA .906 SV%

All Rapid City Rush Home Games are @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

All Missouri Mavericks Home Games are @ Indendpendence Events Center

Game 1, 3/27: @ Missouri 7:05 PM

Game 2, 3/28: @ Missouri 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/31: @ Rapid City 7:35 PM

Game 4, 4/2: @ Rapid City 8:05 PM

Game 5, 4/3: @ Rapid City 8:05 PM*

Game 6, 4/5: @ Missouri 7:05 PM*

Game 7, 47: @ Rapid City 7:35 PM*

*If Necessary


Southern Conference

#1 Odesssa Jackalopes VS. #4 Texas Brahmas

Odessa Jackalopes Regular Season Record: 48-11-5 101 PTS, 269 GF 187 GA

Odessa Scoring Leaders
Sebastien Thinel 64 GP 97 PTS (22G 75A)
Dominic Leveille 61 GP 76 PTS (23G 53A)
Collin Circelli 63 GP 72 PTS (37G 35A)

Odessa Goaltending
Joel Martin 36 GP 27-6-4 2.50 GAA .918 SV%
Juha Toivonen 30 GP 21-5-4 2.99 GAA .905 SV%


Texas Brahmas Regular Season Record: 32-25-7 71 PTS, 187 GF 190 GA

Play In Round against Corpus Christi

Game 1 5-4 W (OT), Game 2 2-0 W

Texas Scoring Leaders
Jordan Cameron 57 GP 57 PTS (21G 36A)
Jason Deitsch 51 GP 45 PTS (12G 33A)
Tyler Skworchinski 64 GP 38 PTS (21G 17A)

Texas Goaltending
Brett Jeager 38 GP 19-15-5 2.72 GAA .912 SV%
Joe Palmer 32 GP 13-10-7 2.75 GAA .914 SV%


All Odessa Jackalopes Home Games are @ Ector County Coliseum

All Texas Brahmas Home Games are @ NYTEX Sports Center

Game 1, 3/26: @ Odessa 7:05 PM

Game 2, 3/27: @ Odessa 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/31: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 4, 4/2: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 5, 4/3: @ Odessa 7:05 PM*

Game 6, 4/5: @ Texas 7:05 PM*

Game 7, 4/7: @ Odessa 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary

Texas Brahmas Finish 2 Game Sweep of Corpus Christi

Press Release from the Texas Brahmas Website: www.brahmas.com

The Brahmas sealed up the opening round series Wednesday evening in a sweep over the Corpus Christi Icerays in a 2-0 victory.

The Brahmas held their advantage, "The NYTEX Factor" in Game Two onto a remarkable 14-2 home record in the postseason in their barn. To Improve their record needed to play their top game against a tough Corpus Christi Team, and a R.G. Flath hooking call kick started the Brahmas offense when Matt Pierce shelved his second postseason goal with :22 remaining on the powerplay. Tyler Skworchinski gave the Brahmas a 2 goal edge when he took a feed from Jordan Cameron and Kevin Seibel at the 13:19 mark of the opening period.

It was a scoreless 2nd period thanks to a remarkable 4 minute powerplay killing effort by the purple and black who outshot the Rays on their own man advantage. In the end, it was about the man in the mask for the Brahmas as Brett Jeager was in playoff mode stopping all 28 shots faced earning his third postseason shutout of his career and Texas' bid to face Odessa in the Conference Semifinals.

The Southern Conference Semifinals begins in Odessa on Friday & Saturday night in the 2-2-1-1-1 series format. The Brahmas host game 3 on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:05 PM @ NYTEX Sports Center. For tickets please contact the Brahmas Box Office at 817-336-4423.

Here's a look at the Southern Conference Semifinals Schedule between the Texas Brahmas and the Odessa Jackalopes.

Game 1, 3/26: @ Odessa 7:05 PM

Game 2, 3/27: @ Odessa 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/31: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 4, 4/2: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 5, 4/3: @ Odessa 7:05 PM*

Game 6, 4/5: @ Texas 7:05 PM*

Game 7, 4/7: @ Odessa 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary


Game Boxscore

@NYTEX Sports Center

Corpus Christi Icerays 0 Texas Brahmas 2 (0-2, 0-0, 0-0)

0-1 TEX: Matt Pierce (PP) (Jacobsen, Hiebert) 9:01 1st

0-2 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (Cameron, Seibel) 13:19 1st

Game Stats

SOG: CRC 28 TEX 30

PP: CRC 0/3 TEX 1/4

PIM: CRC 12 Minutes on 6 Pen. TEX 10 Minutes on 5 PEN.

Goalies: CRC Kevin Beech 28 SVS on 30 Shots TEX Brett Jeager 28 SVS on 28 Shots

Att: 2231

3 Stars:
3rd Star: Matt Pierce (TEX)

2nd Star: Tyler Skworchinski (TEX)

1st Star: Brett Jeager (TEX)


Missouri Mavericks VS. Mississippi Riverkings

A mostly defensive showdown dominated play in Mississippi last night. Kevin Truelson and Bobby Chaumont scored goals about 6 minutes into the 1st & 2nd periods to overcome the Missouri Mavericks and force a 3rd Game tonight. Winner of Game 3 will play Rapid City in the Northern Conference Semifinals.

Game Boxscore

@Desoto Civic Center

Missouri Mavericks 1 Mississippi Riverkings 2 (0-1, 1-1, 0-0)

0-1 MIS: Kevin Truelson (PP) (Landmesser, Desment) 6:57 1st

0-2 MIS: Bobby Chaumont (Godoy) 6:47 2nd

1-2 MIZ: Jeff Macdermid (Christian) 7:23 2nd

Game Stats

SOG: MIZ 23 MIS 32

PP: MIZ 0/1 MIS 1/4

PIM: MIZ 8 Minutes on 4 Penalties MIS 2 Minutes on 1 Penalty

Goalies: MIZ Charlie Effinger 30 SVS on 32 Shots MIS Kyle Mcnulty 22 SVS on 23 Shots

ATT: 1963

3rd Star: Jeff Macdermid (MIZ)

2nd Star: Kevin Truelson (MIS)

1st Star: Bobby Chaumont (MIS)

Brahmas overcome strong Icerays PP in Game 1

Here's a look at how the Opening night of the Central Hockey League Playoffs.

In the South, The Texas Brahmas are beginning to kick off their Title Defense with a big road win as the Brahmas cameback from near loss as the Brahmas are starting to show that they can win in any situations as the Icerays 4 PP Goals were not enough to beat the Expereinced Brahmas.

This is not the first time the Brahmas have had success after playing in the Play In Round. Back in 2008, after losing the Northern Conference Play In Round Opener against the Mississippi Riverkings. The Brahmas used Games 2 & 3 to comeback to win the team's first playoff series in a long time.

Then after the Play In Round, the Brahmas shocked the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs by sweeping the Mudbugs who were the Northern Conference Top Seed that year. It all ended in the Conference Final where the team fell just a win short of making the CHL Presidents Cup Championship against the Colorado Eagles.


From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

Texas Brahmas 5 Corpus Christi Icerays 4 (OT)

The visiting Texas Brahmas showed their championship pedigree on Monday Night coming from behind to stun the Corpus Christi Icerays 5-4 in OT last night. The win marks the first time a visiting team has won in 14 games in the CHL Opening Round Best-Of-3 series dating back to the inception of the three game round in 2008.

James Hiebert scored the game winner just over 5 minutes into OT off an Iceray Turnover at their own blue line. Grant Jacobsen and Matt Pierce set-up the clutch performer who now has 6 game winners and 34 career CHL Playoff Goals in his career.

The Icerays rebounded from a Jordan Cameron first period short handed goal to score 4 power play goals in the contest. Chad Woolard had a goal and two assists and Chris Richards and Steven Later each scored a PP Goal and had a helper.

The Icerays led 4-3 with less then a minute remaining when the Brahmas pull their goaltender and tied the game up with Tyler Skworchinski scoring the tying goal with just 17 seconds remaining in regulation.

Brett Jeager earned the win by making 20 saves and Kevin Beech stopped 32 saves but took the loss.

The Teams meet again on Wednesday with the Brahmas having a chance to close the series out on home ice at the NYTEX Sports Center. If the Icerays win Game 2 on Wednesday Night, then the 3rd and deciding game would be on Thursday Night in North Richland Hills.

@American Bank Center

Texas Brahmas 5 Corpus Christi Icerays 4 (OT) (1-1, 0-1, 3-2, 1-0)

1-0 TEX: Jordan Cameron (SH) (Unassisted) 12:12 1st

1-1 CRC: Jason Tessier (PP) (Tendler, Quenneville) 17:20 1st

1-2 CRC: Chad Woollard (PP) (Dudas, Later) 2:17 2nd

2-2 TEX: Justin Kinnunen (PP) (Rouleau, Skworchinski) 0:26 3rd

2-3 CRC: Chris Richards (PP) (Bennett, Woollard) 6:57 3rd

3-3 TEX: Jason Deitsch (Cameron, Seibel) 7:34 3rd

3-4 CRC: Steven Later (PP) (Woollard, Richards) 8:21 3rd

4-4 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (EA) (Hiebert, Cameron) 19:43 3rd

5-4 TEX: James Hiebert (Jacobsen, Pierce) 5:34 OT


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 37 CRC 24

PP: TEX 1/8 CRC 4/6

PIM: TEX 14 Minutes on 7 Penalties CRC 18 Minutes on 9 Penatlies

Goalies: TEX Brett Jeager 20 SVS on 24 Shots CRC Kevin Beech 32 SVS on 37 Shots

ATT: 2224

3 Stars: 3rd Star Chris Ricards (CRC), Jordan Cameron (TEX), James Hiebert (TEX)

Texas Brahmas Lead Series 1-0

Game 2, 3/24: @ Texas 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/25: @ Texas 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary


Mississippi Riverkings 2 Missouri Mavericks 4

After stopping an early onslot of the Riverkings offense, the Mavericks were able to stay in the game. Then midway through the 1st period was Bill Vandermeer scoring the first playoff goal in Mavericks history. A majority of the scoring came late in the 1st as Mississippi's Elias Godoy scored just 2 minutes later.

Missouri then scored twice in 1:15 as Jordan Foremann and Brett Hammond scored to make it 3-1 Mavericks going into the 1st intermission.

Despite a scoreless 2nd period, both teams contuined to use the high octane offense as Riverkings outshot the Mavericks 13-11. Missouri Goalie Charlie Effinger help kep the Mavericks on top despite two high penalties that could have helped the Riverkings get back into the game that started with 7 minutes left when Mike Burgoyne committed a double minor for high sticking. After being able to successfully kill it off.

The Mavericks got in even more penalty trouble by Carlyle Lewis who was tossed from the game at the end of the 2nd period with a Spearing Major which turned into a game misconduct.

That Major Penalty made it challenging for the Mavericks early in the 3rd period, but despite the 5 MIN PP, the Riverkings only got 5 shots off in the 3rd period and kept off the scoresheet again. This wasn't a surprise as the Mavericks had a strong PK Game late in the Regular Season.

After Mississippi finally made it a 3-2 game with 4:25 left, Missouri put the game away with a goal by Jordan Foreman in the final minute to win the team's first ever playoff game.

@Independence Events Center

0-1 MIZ: Bill Vandermeer (Christian) 11:37 1st

1-1 MIS: Elias Godoy (Chaumont) 13:54 1st

1-2 MIZ: Jordan Foreman (Christian) 15:44 1st

1-3 MIZ: Brett Hammond (PP) (Burgoyne, Christian) 17:00 1st

2-3 MIS: Darrell Stoddard (Dumont) 15:35 3rd

2-4 MIZ: Jordan Foreman (EN) (Walls) 19:06 3rd

Game Stats

SOG: MIS 29 MIZ 33

PP: MIS 0/5 MIZ 1/4

PIM: MIS 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties MIZ 27 Minutes on 8 Penalties

Goalies: MIS Kyle Mcnulty 29 SVS on 32 Shots MIZ Charlie Effinger 27 SVS on 29 Shots

ATT: 4417

3 Stars: Charlie Effinger (MIZ), Bill Vandermeer (MIZ), Jeff Christian (MIZ)


Missouri Leads Series 1-0

Game 2, 3/24: @ Mississippi 7:05 PM

Game 3, 3/25: @ Mississippi 7:05 PM*

*If Necessary

Texas Brahmas VS. Allen Americans: Rivalry in the Making

Back on Saturday night, the Texas Brahmas and the Allen Americans played their first ever game at the NYTEX Sports Center. From What I have seen, this game was one of the best so far in the early season in the Central Hockey League and was up for the Performance of the Week for the Brahmas tied the game with 36 seconds left, then in the 8th round of the shootout, James Hiebert who made his debut with the Brahmas just a day after being traded from the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, scored the SO Winner.

Now, Usually I would have game summary on how this game turned out as the Brahmas won 3-2 against Allen. But, this post is about how great this rivalry is going to get this season and in the near future between the D/FW Area teams.

What I saw on Saturday night was a preview of things to come between these 2 teams. Even though, it wasn't a full house. The crowds were very passionate as the Brahmas fans made it very loud inside in the NYTEX. However, a small but very vocal fan base from the Allen Americans made things who made the short trip from Collin County to support their team as this was their first chance to see the team as they have been on a long early season road trip as the Allen Event Center was getting some last minute to the rink to get them ready for their home debut this Saturday against the Corpus Christi Icerayz.

So far this season, Allen has traveled to Arizona, Laredo, and will have a game in Tulsa, Oklahoma tonight.

It's one thing to have an inter state or cross state rivarly that meet up in a neutral location like the Texas VS. OU game every year at the Cotton Bowl. However, what makes this rivalry so fun is that when you 2 teams in the same area, you will allow fans from both teams to travel to their opponents arenas for every game this season.

Saturday's game was the first of 9 games against each other and fans will have a chance to take sides and to see the games at the NYTEX Sports Center and the Allen Event Center to see how good this matchup can be.

BTW: Here's the schedule for the Texas Brahmas VS. Allen Americans Rivalry throughout the season.

11/11: @ Allen Event Center 7:30 PM

11/28: @ Allen Event Center 7:30 PM

12/9: @ NYTEX Sports Center 7:05 PM

12/26: @ Allen Event Center 7:30 PM

1/8: @ NYTEX Sports Center 7:05 PM

2/13: @ NYTEX Sports Center 7:05 PM

2/15: @ Allen Event Center 1:00 PM

3/10: @ NYTEX Sports Center 7:05 PM

All hockey fans need to take a look at the schedule and find one of the games to attend this season because the games are only going to get better and with both teams in the Southern Conference. As we get later in the season, playoff seedings could be on the line which could make the difference between home ice and having to travel especially early in the playoffs.

Another part that's still to be found out is what the name of the rivalry. Most rivalries like this have a cool nick name. For instance, you have the Silver Boot Series between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma in Football. In the AHL, The Texas Stars, Houston Aeros and the San Antonio Rampage recently called their rivalry the Lone Star Faceoff.

Once when this rivalry gets an official name, hockey fans in the D/FW area will know this rivalry for years to come and will want to get out the see the teams play each other. The only thing better would be if they get matched up in the CHL Playoffs, it would clearly be the most exciting matchup in the league for sure because of both teams playing in D/FW.

This is the latest in the growth and development of hockey in the Southwest and fans should get behind this rivalry in the making. As we get later in the season, I want to see sold out crowds in both arenas during the season and see the passion what I saw back on Saturday night.