Improving Brahmas ready for holiday weekend of hockey

Published on November 27, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release


THURSDAY, NOV. 28 AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT, 7:05 P.M. (CST), CENTURY TEL CENTER (listen to the game live on KTFW 92.1 FM beginning at 6:45 p.m.)

FRIDAY, NOV. 29 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, NOV. 30 AT MEMPHIS, 7:05 P.M. (CST), DESOTO CIVIC CENTER (listen to the game live on KTFW 92.1 FM beginning at 6:45 p.m.)

Nota-bulls:

Points a Plenty: Despite being in the middle of an eight game road trip, the Brahmas have recorded at least one standings point in each of their last three games. The streak started with a victory over Odessa last Tuesday (Nov. 19), and continued with an overtime loss (Nov. 22) and a shootout loss (Nov. 23) to Indianapolis last weekend. Thus, Ft. Worth has garnered four of the possible six points available during the span.

"It's usually difficult to pick up points on the road, so this says something about how the team is developing," head coach Todd Lalonde said. "We're improving, and getting better every game, and I'm very excited about our progress.

Lalonde attributes some of the recent success to a perpetually-improving defensive unit. The defensive corps, which consists of three rookies, had given up an average of 47.75 shots a game in the four contests before last weekend. Against Indianapolis, the Brahmas cut that average to 39.0 shots a game.

"We're still giving up too many chances, but you can definitely see strides being made," Lalonde said. "If you limit a team to less than 30 shots, and you have Matt Mullin in net, you have a chance to win.

The aforementioned Mullin continues to be show he is one of the Central Hockey League's elite netminders, lowering his goals-against average to 2.52 and making 72 saves while allowing only five goals in three games played last weekend.

Scary Scheduling: The Central Hockey League has not done the Brahmas any favors with their early-season schedule. Heading into this weekend's three games, Ft. Worth has faced teams with a combined record of 118-60-32. The degree of difficulty does not get any easier this weekend as the Brahmas continue an eight-game road trip with games against perennial power Bossier-Shreveport and division leaders Tulsa and Memphis.

Fresh Faces: Newcomers Sean Hughes and Craig Foddrill have not wasted anytime making an impact for the Brahmas. In only six games, Hughes has tallied three points, including a game-winning goal against Odessa last Tuesday. Foddrill, who played with defenseman Adam Davis on the Texas Tornado in 1999-2000, scored a goal in his debut for Ft. Worth last Friday against Indianapolis.

Woollard suspended: Chad Woollard, the Brahmas leading goal scorer with 10, will make the road trip with the Brahmas this weekend. Woollard has been suspended for three games by the Central Hockey League for his part in an altercation with Indianapolis Ice forward Greg Olsen in last Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss against the Ice. League rules mandate that the Brahmas cannot fill Woollard's roster spot over the duration of his suspension.

Injury report: Defenseman Craig Johnson and forward Chad Michalchuk remain on the 14-day injured reserve list for the Brahmas and will not play this weekend. Because of these injuries and the suspension of Woollard, Ft. Worth will dress just 14 skaters and 2 goaltenders this weekend.

Previous results:

Friday, 11/22 at Indianapolis; 4-3 OTL

Saturday, 11/23 at Indianapolis; 2-1 SOL

Brahmas standouts:

Joe Van Volsen: As always, Van Volsen was right in the middle of most of the Brahmas' goals last weekend. He scored one and assisted on two others to push his team lead in points up to 19 (5G/14A) for the season.

Matt Mullin: Despite being tagged with two losses, Mullin was exceptional again this past weekend in Indianapolis. He made 72 saves in two games while allowing only five goals. His goals-against average (2.52) is among the best in the Central Hockey League.

Sean Hughes: Moving his scoring streak to three games and counting, Hughes scored a goal and assisted on another last weekend. The week started with a game-winning goal against Odessa last Tuesday, and he kept the scoring touch over the weekend.

Adam Davis: Although he did record an assist, Davis' biggest contributions can be seen in the defensive zone. He led a defense that is cutting back on chances it allows to opposing offenses, and he was one of the few defenseman that ended the weekend with an even or better plus-minus statistic.

Know thy competition:

The Brahmas will face three tough opponents over the course of their three game holiday road trip this weekend.

Instead of a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey and dressing, the Brahmas will travel to the Century Tel Center in Bossier City, Louisiana on Thursday, Nov. 28 where they will hope to feast on the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Defeating the Mudbugs will not be an easy task, as Bossier-Shreveport has quality offensive players in center Dan Wildfong (a team high 5 goals and 13 assists) and forward Jason Campbell (8 goals and 7 assists) playing in front of a tested goaltender in Ken Carroll (.918 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA. Thursday night's game will be the third of the season between the Brahmas and the ‘Bugs, with the two teams splitting their two earlier games this year. Bossier-Shreveport, currently 6-8-4, will host the Brahmas on Thursday, travel to Oklahoma City on Friday, and then host Indianapolis on Saturday.

On Friday night, Nov. 29, Ft. Worth will roll into Tulsa to take on the Tulsa Oilers for the second time this season. The red hot Oilers, owners of the CHL's best record at 16-2-0, have jumped out to an amazing start this season behind the stellar play of goaltender Rod Branch (15-0-0, 6 shutouts, 1.85 GAA, .944 save percentage) and the scoring of Todd Marcellus (14G/15A) and Jamie Steer (10G/16A). The Oilers have won eleven of their last twelve games played and three in row. Tulsa defeated Wichita 6-5 on Wednesday afternoon, and they will host Ft. Worth on Friday and Wichita on Saturday. The Oilers also downed the Brahmas 3-0 in their only previous meeting this season on Friday, Nov. 1 in Tulsa.

The Brahmas busy weekend will end on Saturday, Nov. 30, when they travel to the DeSoto Civic Center to take on the Memphis RiverKings for the third time this season. The Brahmas and the RiverKings have split their first two meetings of the season, with the Brahmas winning a 4-3 game the last time these squads met on Sat., Nov. 16 in Ft. Worth. The defending CHL champion RiverKings are once again one of the top teams in the league, as they currently lead the Northeast Division with a 11-5-1 record. Winger Don Parsons, the 2002 CHL MVP, is again the key offensive player for Memphis, as he leads their team with 24 points (15G/9A). Parsons has received plenty of support from center Kahlil Thomas (5G/14A) and defenseman Derek Landmesser (3G/12A, +11). The RiverKings will be at Indianapolis on Thursday, host Indianapolis on Friday, and then play the Brahmas on Saturday night.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2002


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