Texas Tornado Weekly
December 30, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Tornado New Year ¬â¢s game a family affair for all ages
The Texas Tornado hockey team in cooperation and partnership with Park Place Dealerships, are ready for their first annual New Year ¬â¢s Eve game and family celebration taking place on Friday, December 31st at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco. For the time this season, the Wichita Falls Wildcats will make the trip to Frisco to face the Tornado. Face-off is at 7:30pm, warm-ups begin at 7:00pm. The Tornado won the only previous match-up between the two teams this season, a 5-4 win in Wichita Falls back on November 17th. For only $24 fans can get the New Year ¬â¢s Eve special ticket package which includes a Fan Zone ticket, an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet and special Tornado party favors for all the festivities. Or, join the Park Place Dealerships VIP event in the Gold Club with the Tornado coaches, Siren Dancers and former Tornado players which will include a dinner buffet, party favors, champagne toast, special gift and a countdown to midnight, which will take place at 11pm local time (Midnight eastern). During the game, there will be live music in the arena by Sylvanshine, as well as, an acoustic performance in the Gold Club. There will be kid-friendly inflatable games and other fun activities in the Ice Level Party Zone. Following the game, there will be a post-game skate with all the Tornado players. The post-game skate is free with a game ticket and skate rental is $3.00. Tickets for Friday ¬â¢s game are available by calling the Tornado office at 972-335-9800 or online at the Tornado website at www.tornadohockey.com.
New Year ¬â¢s jersey auction begins Thursday night on eBay
During the New Year ¬â¢s Eve game the Tornado will be wearing specially designed custom-made jerseys. The jerseys will be auctioned on eBay beginning at 7pm on Thursday, December 30th and concluding on Thursday, January 6th. Once the auction is live, a direct link will be available on the Tornado website. The jerseys were designed by Michelle Degard from Oak Point, Texas, whose design was selected over hundreds of fan contest design entries submitted to the Tornado. The black jersey features fireworks exploding over the Dallas skyline. Michelle won eight Premium Level tickets to the New Year ¬â¢s Eve game and will receive one of the custom jerseys with the opportunity to have it signed by the Tornado players.
Ralfs Freibergs named best defenseman at World Juniors
Texas Tornado defenseman Ralfs Freibergs was named as the Best Defenseman by the Directorate of the 2010 IIHF Division I World Junior Hockey Championships, as he led his native Latvia to the Championship and a berth in next year's Top Division of the World Junior Championships against the likes of the United States and Canada. Latvia defeated the host Belarus 3-1 to claim the title outright with a 5-0 record.
Michael Zagari traded to the Bay State Breakers
Texas Tornado Head Coach and General Manager Tony Curtale announced that forward Michael Zagari, has been traded to the Bay State Breakers of the Tier III Eastern Junior Hockey League. Zagari appeared in 28 games for the Tornado this season, scoring seven points and was second with 99 penalty minutes.
Upcoming Tornado promotions
Tuesday, January 11 vs. Fresno ¬" Frisco Chamber of Commerce Night, The Texas Tornado welcome the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and all its member businesses to a rare weeknight game.
Friday, January 14 vs. Wichita Falls ¬" Texas Star Tournament Night, The Texas Tornado welcome all the participants in the Texas Star tournament with a Skate with the Tornado after the game.
Saturday, January 15 vs. Fresno ¬" Buy One, Get One Night, The Texas Tornado offer fans a buy one, get one ticket free night (excluding Ike ¬â¢s Family Zone) for the home game on Saturday.
THE WEEK THAT WAS ¬Â¦
Last week: Tornado bye week for Christmas holiday
Saturday, December 18 ¬" Corpus Christi IceRays 3 @ Texas Tornado 4
Three points from forward Jackson Leef and a late shorthanded goal from David Rigatti snapped a four-game Tornado losing streak as they defeated the Corpus Christi IceRays in Frisco by a score of 4-3. It was a slow start for the Tornado, who got behind the 8-ball early as on just the third Corpus Christi shot, the IceRays took the lead as Mychal Monteith ¬â¢s slapshot from the point was deflected past Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford for a 1-0 ¬ËRays lead. Tornado penalties later in the period allowed the ¬ËRays some power play time, which they converted on right away as on their first man advantage a slapshot from the point by Colton Saucerman went wide, but the rebound came hot off the end boards right on the stick of Josh Obregon, who wrapped a shot past Stafford for a 2-0 ¬ËRays lead. To start the 2nd period, Texas Head Coach Tony Curtale made a change in goal inserting Jimmy Kruger in place of Jake Stafford. The Tornado responded outshooting the ¬ËRays 18-5 in the period. After being foiled for most of the period, the Tornado finally broke through on the power play as Jackson Leef found himself alone behind the net and threaded a pass in front to a wide open Marc Biggs who put a shot through the legs of Pheonix Copley to bring the score to 2-1. With less than a minute to go in the period as nice play by Nate Sliwinski kept the puck in the zone. Marc Biggs took over down the right hand wing, made the defense bite and slid a pass to Leef who beat Copley over the glove to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the 2nd intermission. Both teams treated the crowd to an exciting and memorable 3rd period. The ¬ËRays regained the lead at 3-2 as a floating shot from the point by Mychal Monteith eluded a screened Jimmy Kruger for Monteith ¬â¢s second goal of the game. However, it would not take the Tornado long to answer back as on the power play Jackson Leef scored his 2nd goal of the game as his centering pass from behind the net banked off of Copley and trickled behind the goalline to tie the game at 3-3. Two late Tornado penalties gave the IceRays a late power play and a chance to win the game, but the Tornado had other plans. Captain David Rigatti appeared to be headed on a shorthanded breakaway only to lose the puck off his stick. While on a 1 on 1, Rigatti stopped at the top of the left circle, wound up and fired a wrist shot that went off of Copley ¬â¢s catching glove and in behind the netminder for the first Tornado lead of the night at 4-3 with just over a minute remaining in the game. It was the first shorthanded goal of the year for the Tornado and the eventual game-winner as Corpus Christi could not find enough offense in the last minute to come back.
Friday, December 17 ¬" Texas Tornado 0 @ Amarillo Bulls 1
42 saves from Tornado goaltender Jimmy Kruger wasn ¬â¢t enough, as the Tornado offense was shutout by the Bulls in Amarillo Friday night by a 1-0 score. The 1st period went scoreless with both teams going 0 for 2 on the power play. Both goaltenders, Jimmy Kruger for Texas and Nikifor Szczerba for Amarillo, were solid between the pipes. The highlight of the opening period was a heavyweight bout between Michael Zagari for the Tornado and Colton Warner for the Bulls as the two fought to a draw. Jimmy Kruger kept the hot goaltending going in the 2nd period with 16 more saves as he bailed the Tornado out time and time again. The Tornado offense failed to generate many scoring chances firing only nine shots on goal, which Szczerba had to problem with. It was again another scoreless period as both teams were held off the scoreboard. The Tornado got in penalty trouble in the 3rd period, but Kruger again made some sparkling saves. However, the final Tornado penalty for too many men on the ice would be their undoing, as with just eight minutes remaining Amarillo leading scorer Cody Freeman scored a power play goal after Kruger made the initial save to put Amarillo on the board, 1-0. The lead held the remainder of the game, and although the Tornado had a late power play and an extra attacker on for Kruger, they could not put one past Szczerba. The loss pulls the Bulls to within one point of the Tornado for the South Division lead. The Tornado were outshot 43-30 and now have lost seven of their last eight games after winning 15 in a row.
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