Cooper's 10 points earns NAHL Offensive Player of the Week
October 8, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Brad Cooper of the Texas Tornado tallied three goals and added seven assists in three games this week to earn selection as the Sher-wood NAHL Offensive Player of the Week. The Dallas, Texas native's first goal with one second left in the first period on Friday in Wichita Falls tied the game and he later set up three straight goals as the Tornado downed the Wildcats 6-1. On Saturday, he helped spark a Tornado comeback from a 3-0 deficit to Texarkana, when he set up a pair of goals three minutes apart in the first period and added a tying goal in the second in what was ultimately a 7-6 shootout win over the Bandits. Then on Sunday, Cooper set up and then scored goals in the second and third periods that gave Texas two goal leads over Texarkana, in a contest the Tornado eventually won 5-2. With his 10 point week, Cooper currently leads the NAHL in scoring and assists.
THREE WIN WEEKEND KEEPS TORNADO UNDEFEATED
The Texas Tornado continued their winning streak through last weekend that began back on March 12th last season.
On Sunday in Frisco, Texas, the Tornado proved too much for Texarkana as they cruised to a 5-2 victory.
Karl Sellan scored his league-leading sixth goal just 54 seconds into the game, and the Tornado never lost the lead. Justin King tipped-in a Justin Liut shot from the point to make it 2-0. Texarkana would close within one with 6.8 second left in the first period.
But the second period was all Tornado, as Tom Train and Brad Cooper scored back-to-back goals to give the National Champs a 4-1 lead.
After a Texarkana goal late in the third, the Tornado again slammed the door on the Bandits with goaltender Ben Bishop leading the way with 22 saves. Nick Mazzolini added a late empty-net goal to give the Tornado the 5-2 win.
Ever heard of an old-fashioned Texas showdown? That's what happened on Saturday night at the Deja Blue Arena. After trailing 3-0 early in the first period, the Texas Tornado began a comeback that would linger in the minds of fans long after the night was over. Sellan scored back-to-back goals to bring to Tornado back to within one goal at 3-2 at the end of the opening frame.
After a Bandits goal, Mazzolini scored shorthanded to make it 4-3 and that was quickly followed by a goal by Train to make it 4-4. Texarkana would make it 5-4 late in the second period, but Cooper and Liut scored 28 seconds apart to give the Tornado their first lead of the night at 6-5.
Texarkana would tie the game in the third on a shorthanded goal. The game would go to a shootout after an exciting overtime, with Mazzolini scoring the only goal in the shootout to give the Tornado their 22nd straight win.
The Tornado began the weekend using two power play goals and two shorthanded goals to dominate Wichita Falls 6-1 on Friday. In three road games thus far, Texas has scored 16 goals.
The Wildcats held a 1-0 edge until the final moments of the first period when Cooper scored with no time left on the clock to tie the score at 1-1.
The second period was all Tornado as Matt Krug, Mike Salens and Train all scored.
The third period was more of the same. After Krug won a fight right off the opening face-off, Sellan made it 5-1 when he converted on a one-time pass from Cooper. Mazzolini scored the sixth and final goal on a shorthanded breakaway.
Next up is the Springfield Spirit at home on Saturday, October 9th at 7:30 p.m.
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North American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2004
- The Biggest Rivalry Continues - Bozeman Icedogs
- Phantoms can reach .500 mark at Toledo - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- NAHL Showcase just around the corner - NAHL
- Cooper's 10 points earns NAHL Offensive Player of the Week - Texas Tornado
- Bandits snag crucial road point from Tornado - St. Louis Bandits
- Spirit defeat Marshals after losing in OT - Alaska Avalanche
- Wildcats visit Jr. Blues on SCI Night - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Shutout earns goalie Redmann NAHL Defensive Player of the Week - Soo Indians
- Coach Agrusa says Fairbanks trip was 'Some good, some work needed.' - Helena Bighorns
- Jets finally come home after downing Bobcats - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Marshals bringing it home - Central Texas Marshals
- Phantoms earn split of weekend series with Soo - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Toledo hosts beer night - Alpena IceDiggers
- Blizzard plows way to second straight win - Alexandria Blizzard
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