One Win Gets it Done this Weekend for the First-Place Texas Tornado
Published on March 22, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
This weekend, the Santa Fe Roadrunners will visit the Texas Tornado on Friday, March 24th and Saturday, March 25th at 7:30pm at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco for the final two games of the 2005-06 NAHL Regular Season. For the first-place Texas Tornado, the scenario to win the Division doesn't get much better... First, the Tornado need only one more win or a Texarkana loss in the final two regular season games with win their 7th straight NAHL Division Championship. However, standing in the way are the Santa Fe Roadrunners, a team that was eliminated from playoff contention last Saturday, but still are capable of beating the Tornado. The two teams have met one another 10 times this season and the Tornado boast a 7-3-0 record against Santa Fe. This weekend is also Texas Tornado Fan Appreciation Weekend, which includes the Star Community News/Texas Tornado Water Bottle Giveaway to the first 2,000 fans on Saturday night, as well as, a post-game concert with Guns and Roses cover Band, Child 'O' Mine. All of the Texas Tornado players will be on hand after the game for a prize toss and autograph session. Tickets can be purchased by stopping by or calling the Tornado office at 972-335-9800, or Purchase Tickets Online Now!
Pros vs. Prospects II DVD Now on Sale!
Now you can relive all the magic from the Pros vs. Prospects II Tornado Charity Classic on DVD! See former NHL Stars such as: Brett Hull, Neal Broten, Guy Carbonneau, Craig Ludwig, Bill Ranford, Bernie Nicholls, and more take on the Tornado in the ultimate game for charity. The Pros vs. Prospects II DVD uses the highest quality game footage from three different camera angles and includes play-by-play from the Voice of the Tornado, Alex "Cheeks" Kyrias and player interviews with Dallas Stars play-by-play voice Ralph Strangis. DVD's are just $25.00 and can be purchased online at www.tornadohockey.com or by calling the Tornado office at 972-335-9800.
Tony Curtale Show LIVE! Wednesday, March 29th, 7:30pm - Hooters in Frisco - The playoff edition of the Tony Curtale Show will be on Wednesday, March 29th. The show begins at 7:30pm at Hooters in Frisco. Texas Tornado Head Coach and General Manager Tony Curtale will sit down with Texas Tornado Play-by-Play Voice Alex "Cheeks" Kyrias for the half hour show to discuss all matters relating to hockey and the Tornado, including a 2006 NAHL playoff preview. The show can be heard live at www.tornadohockey.com, or fans can watch the show live at Hooters in Frisco. Questions for the coach can be emailed ahead of time to: info@tornadohockey.com
Tornado Secure Home Ice for 1st Round of 2006 NAHL Playoffs
The Texas Tornado has clinched home ice for the 1st round of the 2006 NAHL Playoffs! The Tornado will host either the Springfield Jr. Blues, Wichita Falls Wildcats, or Santa Fe Roadrunners in a Best of Five 1st round NAHL South Division Semi-Final series. Home Playoff Game #1 of the South Division Semi-finals will be on Saturday, April 1st at 7:30pm, and Home Playoff Game #2 will be on Sunday, April 2nd at 6:00pm, both at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. Tickets are on sale now for the first two home 2006 NAHL playoff games, and can be purchased by stopping by or calling the Texas Tornado office at 972-335-9800, or Purchase Tickets Online Now!
Tornado One Win Away from Division Title After Weekend Wins
With two wins over the Wichita Falls Wildcats this past weekend, the Texas Tornado are in good position to win their 7th consecutive NAHL Division title. The Tornado only need one win or one Texarkana loss in the final two regular season games to claim the NAHL South Division title.
Friday night in Frisco had a bit of magic in the air, followed by some thunder in a 6-2 Tornado win that secured their 7th straight 40-win season, which is on ongoing United States junior hockey record. After faltering the night before in Wichita Falls, the Tornado, wearing special St. Patrick's Day jerseys, struck first as #15 Sean Roadhouse picked off a Wildcats pass, feed the puck to #9 Justin King, who in turn spun and feed the puck back to Roadhouse through his legs and Roadhouse beat Wildcats goaltender Tom Billick to the blocker side. The Tornado opened the 2nd period with a couple of power plays, that ultimately ended in a #28 Karl Sellan power play goal with assists from #26 Derek Danowski and #5 Brett Blatchford. Just minutes later, #14 Tom Brooks found Justin King down low in front of Billick. King let Billick go down and make the first move and then deposited the puck upstairs for a 3-0 lead. The Tornado finished the period with another power play goal, this time from #56 Tyler Ludwig who wristed home a shot from point with a nice screen in front by #11 Ryan Fuller. #8 Dylan Cooper and Blatchford assisted on the play. The Tornado opened the 3rd period with more scoring, this time from Derek Danowski, who picked off the puck on a Wildcats turnover, raced in on a shorthanded breakaway, and beat Billick over the left glove. With about 11 minutes left in the game and the Wildcats on a 5 on 3, a powerful thunder storm raced through Frisco knocking out power in the arena for 15 minutes. Once play resumed the Wildcats spoiled the shutout of #33 Troy Redmann with two goals, but the Tornado answered late in the game with a shorthanded, empty-net goal from #13 Sean McCauley who drove the puck 120 feet from the face-off into the empty Wildcat net.
Saturday was a much closer game, but the Texas Tornado defeated the Wichita Falls Wildcats 4-3 in overtime. Tornado defenseman #12 Colin Long supplied the game-winner as he one-timed a blast from the top left circle past Wildcats goaltender Tom Billick. Both teams scored in the 1st period. The Tornado got on the board first as #13 Sean McCauley tipped home a shot from #21 Rob Blanchette and #9 Justin King to give the Tornado a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats answered back as Sean Nealon collected a loose puck in front and put in past a sprawled #33 Troy Redmann. The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead as Dan Medenwaldt pounced on a loose puck and beat Redmann to the glove side. McCauley answered back for the Tornado minutes later as he drove a slapshot past Billick off a nice face-off win by #16 Adam Flink. The Tornado took the lead 1:40 later as #15 Sean Roadhouse beat Billick to a loose puck with assists from #26 Derek Danowski and #28 Karl Sellan. An exciting 3rd period saw some great goaltending from Redmann and Billick. A #3 Lyon Messier penalty led to a Wildcats power play in which Medenwaldt capitalized for the 2nd time to tie the score at 3-3. A Wildcats penalty late in the game led to a Tornado power play that almost ended the game in regulation, but Billick kept the puck out and the game went into overtime. It took Long just :29 seconds to end the game, as he got a pass from #5 Brett Blatchford and fired home the game-winner.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2006
- Nor-Pac champion Cutthroats to be honored at Bighorns game Friday - Helena Bighorns
- NAHL Players of the Week - NAHL
- One Win Gets it Done this Weekend for the First-Place Texas Tornado - Texas Tornado
- Phantoms fall to U.S. - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- FM Jets Players Near Records - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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