Blacktop Brahmas ready to roll this summer
Published on May 29, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Fort Worth- With no ice at the Fort Worth Convention Center during the summer months, the Ft. Worth Brahmas are lacing up their skates, grabbing their sticks, and taking their game to the streets and parking lots of Ft. Worth once again this summer. For the fourth year in a row, the Brahmas will be conducting their series of free inline hockey clinics known as Blacktop Brahmas.
Blacktop Brahmas features a traveling Border Patrol rink that will make 32 stops throughout the Fort Worth area in June, July and August. Players and coaches from the Brahmas will instruct participants on different hockey skills such as skating, passing, shooting, and offensive and defensive strategy. The teams of participants will then scrimmage to close out the two-hour session. The Blacktop Brahmas clinics are open to children between the ages of six and sixteen and are free of charge.
The Blacktop Brahmas clinics will be held at different retail and restaurant locations of the presenting sponsors of the program. In addition to the thirteen Blacktop Brahmas events that will be held in Ft. Worth, tour stops will also be made in North Richland Hills, Grapevine, Arlington, Watauga, Southlake, Willow Park, and Hurst.
The Blacktop Brahmas Summer 2002 tour will begin next week, on Tuesday, June 4th at the Whataburger on 5350 River Oaks Boulevard. The following week, there will be four Blacktop Brahmas events. On Tuesday, June 11th, the tour will stop at the Whataburger at I-20 and Ranch House Road. On Wednesday, June 12th, Blacktop Brahmas will be held at the Grapevine Town Center located at Highway 114 and Highway 26 in Grapevine. Thursday, June 13th will see the tour at the Northside Boys and Girls Club at 2000 Ellis Avenue in Ft. Worth. The busy week will conclude on Friday, June 14th at the Academy on I-20 and Bryant Irvin Road in Ft. Worth. All of these clinics will be held from 10:00 a.m- 12:00 noon.
The Blacktop Brahmas clinics are spread out over the summer months to give out of school students another recreational and sports alternative. Fourteen of the free clinics will be held in June, eleven will be conducted in July, and seven will be held in August.
Several of the more notable players from the Brahmas 2001-2002 season will join Brahmas head coach Todd Lalonde for the instructional portion of the clinic. The coaching staff will include player assistant coach Jason Clarke, defensemen Daniel Villeneuve, Adam Davis, and Craig Johnson, and goaltender Cameron MacDonald.
Mike Barack, the Brahmas general manager, is anticipating another prosperous summer of Blacktop Brahmas events.
"We are excited to be able to offer this program to our community for another summer," Brahmas General Manager Mike Barack said. "Kids really enjoy participating in the program and working with professional hockey players. This is a great opportunity for the Brahmas to expose parents and kids to the recreational and competitive opportunities that the sport of hockey has to offer. I'm expecting this summer tour to be our biggest and best Blacktop Brahmas yet."
Brahmas head coach Todd Lalonde shares Barack's enthusiasm.
"This allows us to remain ingrained in the community during the summer months. The players become more accessible during the tour, helping to develop interest in hockey as well as providing safe family entertainment. Hopefully parents and kids in and around the Tarrant County area will take advantage of these free clinics and come out and have some fun with us," stated Lalonde.
The Brahmas will provide sticks, street-hockey balls, helmets, shin guards and colored jerseys for kids to use while participating. Participants are encouraged to wear in-line skates, however skates are not required in order to participate.
All of the clinics will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon except for the events Thursday, July 4th and Wednesday, August 28th. The holiday Fourth of July clinic being held at the Stockyards Station in Ft. Worth will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The August 28th clinic being held at the Wal-Mart in North Richland Hills will run from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Central Hockey League Stories from May 29, 2002
- Veteran Clayton to return for a sixth season - Wichita Thunder
- Blue Line to be Enforced Again by Popp - Indianapolis Ice
- Blacktop Brahmas ready to roll this summer - Fort Worth Brahmas
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