Brahmas Weekly
November 7, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Picking a Winner: The Brahmas would have liked to kicked their five-game homestand off with two victories, but the one win they recorded could not have come at a better time.
Ft. Worth's 4-2 victory over Indianapolis in front of 5,681 fans at their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 2, kept the Brahmas undefeated in Northeast Division play. The win against Indy came on the heels of the Brahmas only other divisional game this season, a 6-5 win at Bossier-Shreveport on Oct. 19. The Brahmas will put their outstanding divisional record on the line twice this weekend, as they will play host to Memphis on Saturday night and Bossier-Shreveport on Sunday evening.
"It's always important to get points against your division rivals," coach Todd Lalonde said. "You can see the players' intensity rise when they are playing one of those proverbial four point games.
Finish with a Flurry: In two of the Brahmas' three victories this season, they have had to come from behind. Last Saturday, in the 4-2 win against Indianapolis, Ft. Worth twice rallied from one-goal deficits. In their win at Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday, Oct. 19, they rallied from a 4-1 second period deficit to win 6-5.
Getting Defensive: In response to a challenge voiced by head coach Todd Lalonde, the Brahmas defense played with a renewed sense of passion last weekend. The defensive leaders, Craig Johnson and Mike Tilson, reacted with a goal apiece against Indianapolis.
Tilson added two assists in the Brahmas' 4-2 loss to Wichita, raising his point total to 6 on the year (4G/2A). The rest of the Brahmas d-men followed Tilson's lead and had a strong weekend, helping to successfully kill of 20 of 23 power play opportunities in the team's two games played and hold Wichita to a season low 22 shots on goal.
Shooting to the Top: Defenseman Mike Tilson, who won the hardest-shot competition with a 98-mile-an-hour blast at last season's CHL all-star game, has been showing off that shot all season. He tallied 23 shots in three games last weekend, and his 52 shots on the year are the most by any CHL player. The next closest player to Tilson in the CHL shot total category is Indianapolis forward Jason Baird. Baird has 45 shots for the season.
Pointing Toward Recognition: After scoring only six goals in three games last weekend, three Brahmas players are still averaging at least one point a game. Joe Van Volsen and Chad Woollard are atop the team scoring standings as both have recorded nine points this season, and Jason Reesor is right behind the duo with seven points. Van Volsen scored three goals last weekend, Woollard had an assist and Reesor added a goal and an assist.
Roster Moves: Right wing Kyle Reeves was suspended indefinitely Thursday for a violation of team rules. Rookie defenseman Brant Somerville is scheduled to come off of the injured reserve list and play against Memphis on Saturday.
Last week's results:
Friday, 11/01 at Tulsa; 0-3 L
Saturday, 11/02 vs. Indianapolis; 4-2 W
Sunday, 11/03 vs. Wichita; 2-4 L
Last week's standouts:
Joe Van Volsen: The game-winning goal against Indianapolis may have been Van Volsen's most important goal last weekend, but he had plenty to choose from. In addition to the GW against the Ice, Van Volsen scored twice in the Brahmas loss to Wichita. The scoring outburst tied Van Volsen with winger Chad Woollard for the team lead in scoring with nine points this season.
Mike Tilson: One of only two players to get through the weekend with a positive plus-minus statistic, Tilson scored a goal and assisted on two others. He also pelted opposing goaltenders with 23 shots in the Brahmas three games played.
Jim Midgley: In a weekend where goals did not come easily for Ft. Worth, Midgley tried to make scoring simple for his teammates. He recorded two assists, and he could have had two more if not for those pesky goal posts.
Craig Johnson: The defensive leader, Johnson, did good things on both ends of the ice. He scored a goal, and he led a defense that allowed a team-low 22 shots against Wichita on Sunday.
Know thy competition:
The Brahmas trio of home games this weekend will be against three of the top teams in the CHLâthe Austin Ice Bats, Memphis RiverKings, and Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
The Austin Ice Bats (7-0-0) will come to the Ft. Worth Convention Center this Friday night riding a seven game winning streak to start the 2002-2003 season. The Ice Bats, last years CHL Southern Conference champion, are being led offensively by many of the same characters from the 2001-2002 season. Center Kelly Smart is the Bats leading scorer, with 6 goals and 5 assists. Forward Dan Price has a team high 7 goals, and do it all center Brett Seguin is tied with Smart for the team lead in assists with 5. Goaltender Matt Barnes has been a key addition for Austin this season. The diminutive netminder, a former WPHL Outstanding Goaltender of the Year in 1999-2000, is a sparkling 6-0-0 on the season with a miniscule 1.163 GAA and a impressive .960 save percentage.
On their way to winning the CHL President's Cup championship last season, the Memphis RiverKings (4-3-1) knocked the Brahmas out of the playoffs. Thus, there is no love lost between these two divisional opponents. Forward Don Parsons, last year's CHL MVP, is again the catalyst for the Memphis attack. Parsons has 5 goals and 5 assists in the RiverKings first 8 games this season. D-man Sergei Visegorodcevs has also chipped in with 5 goals and 2 assists. Goaltender Mark Richards is another returnee for Memphis who has played well, winning three of his first five starts with a 2.77 GAA.
The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs will be the Brahmas final opponent of the weekend. The Bugs (4-4-1) are aiming to capture their first CHL title to go along with their three WPHL titles, and will be using many of those familiar winning faces. Super pest Dan Wildfong is again stuffing the stat sheet, as indicated by his 3 goals, 5 assists, and 62 penalty minutes. Forward Jason Campbell has been the Bugs most consistent player, leading the team in scoring with 5 goals and 4 assists. In nets, former WPHL standout Ken Carroll has seen the majority of the action, going 3-1-1 in his first five starts of the season.
Central Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2002
- Brahmas Weekly - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Left wing Kyle Reeves suspended by Brahmas - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Van Tighem Passes the 'C' to Peet - New Mexico Scorpions
- Jas, Jas, Oh Jas - San Angelo Saints
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
