Brahmas end skid with win at home over IceRays
Published on December 11, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Milestone Victory: The Brahmas' 2-1 win over Corpus Christi last Saturday meant more than just an end to their five-game losing streak. Left wing Chad Woollard reached a major professional milestone in the game.
Woollard, the team's leading goal scorer with 11, recorded his 50th career goal as a Brahma. Fittingly, Woollard's goal was the game-winner.
"In his three seasons in Fort Worth, Chad has moved up the charts among the all-time leaders in franchise history," Lalonde said. "He has meant a lot to this team, and he always seems to come up big when we need it most.
Woollard's goal came on the power play, his sixth man advantage tally this season. He leads the Brahmas in that category and is tied for third overall in the CHL.
Rookie Rolling: Rookie standout Jim Midgley must have adjusted to the professional level of hockey, recording at least one point in four of the last five games. Midgley is third on the Brahmas in scoring with 13 points (5G/8A). He picked up another goal and another assist last weekend to stay among the rookie scoring leaders of the Central Hockey League.
Schedule Change: The Thanksgiving night game between the Brahmas and Bossier-Shreveport has been rescheduled at 7:05 p.m. Jan. 21 in Bossier. The game was postponed because of ice problems at the CenturyTel Center. A pipe burst in the chilling unit at the 3-year-old facility, causing the ice to become a watery pond.
Newcomers Galore: The Brahmas used their 22nd different skater last weekend, when rookie forward T.J. Warkus suited up against Bossier-Shreveport and Corpus Christi. Warkus, who tallied 99 points with the Rayside-Balfour SabreCats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association last season, skated solid shifts throughout the weekend for the Brahmas. He joins the list of recent signings that have made an instant impact for Fort Worth. Forward Craig Foddrill and defenseman Jeff Cameron have combined for six points in their first 10 games with the Brahmas this season, including a goal and an assist last weekend.
Life on the Road: The Brahmas' home game last Saturday (Dec. 7) against Corpus marked their first on home ice since Nov. 16 and their last at the Fort Worth Convention Center until Dec. 21. The Brahmas have played a league-low seven games at home, including only two home games during the 14-game stretch between Nov. 16 and Dec. 21.
Injury report: Forward David Fry was placed on the season ending injured reserve list before the Brahmas' trip to Bossier last weekend. Because of a serious shoulder injury, Fry was limited to just one goal and eleven games this season. Defenseman Craig Johnson and forward Chad Michalchuk remain on the 14-day injured reserve list. Ft. Worth will have fifteen skaters and two goaltenders on their lineup card this weekend.
Previous results:
Friday, 12/06 at Bossier-Shreveport; 3-1 L
Saturday, 12/07 vs. Corpus Christi; 2-1 W
Brahmas standouts:
Jim Midgley: Seemingly getting better each week, Midgley made strides again last week, tallying a goal and an assist. Midgley is among the rookie scoring leaders in the Central Hockey League and is making noise for rookie of the year consideration.
Mike Tilson: Just one point shy of being listed with the CHL's top 15 scoring defensemen, Tilson added to his point total with a pair of assists last weekend. He had one assist in each game, including an assist on the game-winner against Corpus Christi.
Chad Woollard: Not showing his rust from a three-game suspension, Woollard stepped right back into his scoring role last weekend. He recorded nine shots on goal and scored the game-winner against Corpus Christi.
Jason Fricker and Matt Mullin: Getting his first action since Nov. 19 and his first decision since Nov. 15, Fricker returned to the net last Friday night (Dec. 7) with vengeance. Despite dropping a 3-1 decision to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Fricker turned in a solid performance, stopping 40 of the 42 Mudbugs shots that he faced. Mullin was his usual consistent self in Ft. Worth's 2-1 win over Corpus Christi, stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced and helping the Brahmas to preserve a one goal lead in the final period.
Know thy competition:
The opposition continues to be stiff for the Brahmas this weekend. On Friday, December 13, Ft. Worth will travel to Tulsa to play the Northwest Division leading Oilers. Then on Saturday, December 14, the Brahmas will move on to Oklahoma City to play the surging Blazers.
Behind the red-hot start of goaltender Rod Branch, the Tulsa Oilers have jumped out to a CHL best 18-5-0 start. Branch leads the league in wins with 16, and he has a miniscule goals against average of 2.175 and a sparkling .934 save percentage. The Oilers offense has been supplied primarily by the forward duo of Todd Marcellus and Jamie Steer. Marcellus is tied for fifth in the league in scoring with 32 points (15G/17A) while Steer is not far behind with 27 points (10G/17A). The Oilers struggled last week, losing to Memphis and then back-to-back games with Indianapolis. Look for Tulsa to be refocused and ready to play when the Brahmas come to town. After hosting Ft. Worth on Friday, the Oilers will turn around and play Memphis on Saturday night.
After running off a seven game winning streak, the Oklahoma City Blazers hit a bit of a speed bump last weekend, dropping consecutive games to the New Mexico Scorpions (3-2) and the Wichita Thunder (8-2). Despite the two losses, the Blazers are still 12-8-1 and in second place in the Northwest Division. Two familiar faces, defenseman Hardy Sauter and right wing Joe Burton, have paced the Blazers this season. Sauter leads the Blazers in scoring with (5G/25A). His 25 assists are also tops in the CHL. The ageless Burton leads the Blazers in goals with 14 and is right behind Sauter with 29 points. Solid two-way forward Peter Arvanitis is doing his part as well with 10 goals, 3 assists and a sparkling +9. Oklahoma City plays Memphis at home on Friday before taking on the Brahmas on Saturday.
What's next?:
FRIDAY, DEC. 13 AT TULSA, 7:35 P.M. (CST), TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (listen to the game live on KTFW 92.1 FM beginning at 7:15 p.m.)
SATURDAY, DEC. 14 AT OKLAHOMA CITY, 7:35 P.M. (CST), FORD CENTER (listen to the game live on KTFW 92.1 FM beginning at 7:15 p.m.)
Central Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2002
- Mudbugs thaw Ice, 3-1 - OSC Original by Mike Wallin
- Newest Team Announces Name, Logo - CHL
- Bucks Broadcasts Go Online with SportsJuice.com - Laredo Bucks
- Teddy Bear Toss a Resounding Success - Wichita Thunder
- Ice Welcomes Tone-Loc - Indianapolis Ice
- Goal-Parched Bats Search for Offense - Austin Ice Bats
- Brahmas end skid with win at home over IceRays - Fort Worth Brahmas
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