This Road to the Robertson Cup
May 17, 2024 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Lone Star Brahmas News Release
The message was sent to the players at the team orientation meeting back in August of 2023. The Brahmas goal was to win a championship. That message was delivered to the players by Head Coach Dan Wildfong and expanded upon by Owner/President Frank Trazzera. Former Green Beret Eric Neal was a special guest speaker at that meeting. His message was simple and strong, trust your coaches, trust your teammates, and out work the competition.
When the regular season came around the league was put on notice. This team was special. This team was deep. This team is focused. The Brahmas finished with the most points in the entire league. They won the south division by ten points over the rival Mudbugs. The had the best penalty kill in the league, the division's top scorer, and the #1 and #3 ranked goalie in the entire league.
Then the real season began. New Mexico was up first after a three week break from games. That break came by the luck of the draw getting a bye week last week of the season, and then another bye week for finishing in the top two in the division. By the time April 19th rolled around the boys were healthy, rested, and ready for war.
Game one of the South division semifinals against New Mexico was a 3-1 victory for the home team Brahmas. The next night New Mexico would not respond, and the Brahmas walked to a 2-0 victory.
Quick turnaround before game three of the series, which, was now in Albuquerque. New Mexico had finally shown up and had the Brahmas on the ropes most of that game. A sold-out Outpost Ice Arena had almost begun celebrating a victory when with 4 minutes left in the third Wildfong pulled Wieneke in favor of an extra attacker. The bold move worked resulting in a goal by Justin Kerr. Moments later Wieneke was again pulled in favor of an extra attacker and the Brahmas scored again tying the game up at 3 goals apiece.
In the final moments of the 2nd OT, New Mexico scored to grant their team a stay of execution and extend the season one more night. Game 4 Wildfong went with Rolovs in net. That strategy proved to be effective as New Mexico could not get anything past him. 4-0 Brahmas win, and earn a spot in the division finals against the winner of the Shreveport and El Paso series.
El Paso and Shreveport went the distance, five games with Shreveport coming out victorious. The battle everyone had been hoping for was set. Game 1 of the South Finals would see Shreveport get the win at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Defenseman Logan Heroux would score two goals late in the game to push the bugs past the Brahmas and earn the 1-0 series lead.
Game two would see the Brahmas fight back. Goals from 89, 27, and 20 gave the Brahmas the 3-2 victory and the series was tied back up.
Then the bus headed east to Shreveport where we would all see just what this team is capable of. 4-1 victory in front of a hostile crowd at George's Pond followed up a 4-0 victory in game 4. The Brahmas ticket to the Robertson Cup was officially punched.
Now all eyes are on Lone Star and the Anchorage Wolverines. It's a best of three series where the winner will play the winner of the Minot and Maryland series. The boys are 3 wins away from a championship. Its been 7 years since the franchise was in this position.
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North American Hockey League Stories from May 17, 2024
- Wolverines Fall in Game One of Best-Of-Three Series against Brahmas - Anchorage Wolverines
- This Road to the Robertson Cup - Lone Star Brahmas
- Playoff Game Day: Lone Star Brahamas (1) vs. Anchorage Wolverines (4) - Anchorage Wolverines
- Hat Tricks Tender Forward, Ty Izadi, for 2024-25 Season - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
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