NAHL Amarillo Bulls

Bulls Enjoy Practice & Tour of University of Minnesota

Published on September 11, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Amarillo Bulls News Release


MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- The Amarillo Bulls held their final practice prior to their first game at the NAHL Showcase in a special venue on Tuesday morning.

The Bulls Coaching Staff put the players through workouts at Ridder Arena located at the University of Minnesota. Ridder Arena is the home of the of the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey Team that has developed several who have gone on the US Women's National and Olympic Programs.

The walls on the main concourse feature names of players from the past, while a variety of championship banners hang from the rafters.

"It was great being on that ice surface," said Bulls rookie defenseman Connor Frey. "It was also very different atmosphere than being at home on our rink or in Amarillo."

Once practice had concluded the players and staff headed over to Mariucci Arena and toured the home of the University of Minnesota Men's Hockey Team as well as their locker room and training facilities.

"I have been on several school visits and this was probably one of the nicer ones that I have been through as far as from a hockey standpoint," said Bulls Team Captain John Rey. "Just to see the weight room, the locker room, and the 10,000 seat arena was truly a beautiful place, and every guy who plays there feels lucky when the put on that jersey."

For many of the rookies on the Amarillo Bulls roster, it was their first glimpse of a major NCAA hockey program.

"It's a little more than hope but desire to get to the next level," Rey said. "The veteran players have seen the NCAA College Commitments that have come out of this team. The rookies don't really know what Coach (Dennis) Williams and Coach (Rocky) Russo are capable of for sending guys on to the next level. So for the coaches to schedule a visit like this just on a friendship was truly remarkable. I think it showed the new guys that they just have to work hard, pay their dues and do all of the little things that are asked of them, and they can get to a place like that."

Rookie defenseman Connor Frey said the visit was a taste for the young guys of what's ahead for them.

"It was mind blowing to see they had such a nice facility and everything given to them," Frey said. "It's a motivator of how hard we have to work just to get there. It was also cool to see what goes into the rink for the 20 guys that are out on the ice and 10,000 fans that come in there."

The Amarillo Bulls third season in the North American Hockey League faces off tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon when they take on the Austin Bruins in game 1 at The Showcase at the Schwann Super Rink in Blaine, Minnnesota. The puck drop is set for 1:45 pm central, and fans can tune in live on ESPN1440 and www.amarillobulls.com, beginning with the Bulls Warm Up Show at 1:30 pm. Denis J. Puska has the exciting action to follow. The game is also available on Pay-Per-View courtesy of Fast Hockey and a high speed internet connection is required in order to view the game.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 11, 2012


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