Tornado Fan Roadtrip to Texarkana Scheduled for Monday
April 19, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Time to put on your Tornado jerseys and bring your flags for the Tornado roadtrip to Texarkana for Game #4 of the South Division Finals on Monday, April 24th. The Texas Tornado is up 3-0 in the best of seven series, and will be looking for the series sweep Monday night and a berth in the 2006 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament held May 10-13 in Boardman, Ohio. For only $25.00, Tornado fans get a ticket to the game on Friday, transportation to and from on a chartered bus, food and beverage heading to the game, and a Tornado stat pack! Spots are limited, so to reserve your space today, call the Tornado office at 972-335-9800, or send a confirmation email to lacey.hammons@tornadohockey.com.
Please Note: The Tornado fan bus will depart on Monday from the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco at approximately 3:30pm, and return home following the game early Tuesday morning at 1:30am.
NAHL South Division Finals (Tornado leads series, 3-0)
#1 Texas Tornado vs. #2 Texarkana Bandits
Game #1: Texarkana 5 @ Texas 6 (OT)
Game #2: Texarkana 0 @ Texas 8
Game #3: Texas 3 @ Texarkana 2 (OT)
Game #4: @ Texarkana, Monday, April 24th, 7:30pm
Game #5: @ Texas, Friday, April 28th, 7:30pm*
Game #6: @ Texarkana, Saturday, April 29th, 7:30pm*
Game #7: @ Texas, Sunday, April 30th, 6:00pm*
*if necessary
Tornado Open Practice and Select-a-Seat this Saturday The Texas Tornado would like to invite all fans out to a FREE open Tornado practice and select-a-seat on Saturday, April 22nd from 5:00-7:00pm at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. This is a great chance to watch the Tornado practice and prepare for Game #4 of the South Finals two days later in Texarkana. The event is FREE and open to the public. This is also a great opportunity to check out some of the great available seats available for 2006-07 Tornado season tickets! During open practice on Saturday, the Deja Blue Arena will have selected seats tagged and available for sale. Season tickets for next season will start as low as $277.50 per seat for all 30 exciting home games. Season tickets insure that you and your family have the same, great seat for every Tornado home game throughout the 2006-07 season, and some price levels include great benefits such as: complimentary parking, meet and greet sessions with the Tornado players and coaches, payment plan, and much more!
Three Memorable Wins in Four Days Set Tornado Up for Sweep of Bandits
If you are a Tornado fan and you like playoff hockey, then you are loving the South Division Finals! With two wins at home on Friday and Saturday, and a big road win Monday night in Texarkana, the Texas Tornado has seized control of the best of seven series and will look for the sweep in Game #4 Monday night in Texarkana.
Game #1... The series kicked off with Game 1 on Friday, which was a game for the ages. The fans at the Deja Blue enjoyed one of the more memorable playoff games in Tornado history, as the Texas Tornado defeated the Texarkana Bandits in overtime, 6-5. The 1st period was dominated by physical play from both teams. The Tornado received a lift from forward #24 Billy Skwarczewski, who took it upon himself to hit as many Bandits players as possible. However, despite the aggressive Tornado play and wide shot margin, the Texarkana Bandits were the first to get on the board, as Justin Johnston walked in 1 on 2 and fired one past Tornado goaltender #33 Troy Redmann from 40 feet for a 1-0 lead after one period. The 2nd period was all Tornado. #11 Ryan Fuller started the scoring as he blazed one by Bandits goaltender Riley Gill. Less than two minutes later some hard work behind the net by #9 Justin King resulted in a goal in front by #13 Sean McCauley for a 2-1 lead. After more back and forth action, the Tornado took a 3-1 lead as #28 Karl Sellan one-timed a slapshot pass Gill on a great passing play by #5 Brett Blatchford and #26 Derek Danowski. McCauley's second goal of night gave the Tornado a 4-1 lead at the end of the 2nd period, and all looked rosy for the Tornado heading into the 3rd period. However, a determined Bandits team would not give up. First Nic Polaski made it 4-2 as he converted over Redmann's shoulder on a 2 on 1. Then, Pat Maroon with :01 second left in a Bandits power play, beat Redmann high again, this time blocker side to make it 4-3. As the Tornado was on a power play, Bandits captain Casey Haines stole the puck at the Tornado blueline and raced in on a shorthanded breakaway and beat Redmann to tie it a 4-4 with six minutes left. Another Bandits goal from Matt Zuke, completed the Bandits comeback to give them a 5-4 lead with a little more than two minutes remaining. However, the Tornado climbed back into the game. A nice hold in by Blatchford, gave Derek Danowski the puck at the point. His slapshot was redirected by Sellan in front and past Gill to tie the game at 5-5 with 1:32 remaining in regulation. McCauley almost had his hat-trick with seconds left, but a sprawling Gill denied him on the back post to send the game to overtime. The Bandits had their chance in the extra frame as Polaski ringed one off the post on a 2 on 1. The Tornado finished the game minutes later as Ryan Fuller blocked a shot and raced in alone on Gill, beating him to the blocker side and sending the crowd and the Tornado bench into a frenzy with the Game 1 win.
Game #2... The next night was pure domination. In Game #2 in Frisco on Saturday, the Texas Tornado used a 4-goal 1st period, a 2-goal 2nd period, and 3-goal 3rd period to defeat the Texarkana Bandits, 8-0. The first goal of the game would end up being the game-winner as #22 Brian Reagan fired a rocket from the point that beat a screened Riley Gill. For Reagan it was his first junior hockey goal after going scoreless during the regular season. The scoring continued as #7 Nielsson Arcibal converted on a nice pass from #9 Justin King. The Tornado went up 3-0 as #24 Billy Skwarczewski was on the receiving end of a great pass from #18 Tom Train in front. The period ended with #3 Lyon Messier converting on a rebound drive from #17 Jordan Mowbray. The Bandits would fair no better in the 2nd period. Skwarczewski rammed home his second of the game to make it 5-0 with assists from #8 Dylan Cooper and #15 Sean Roadhouse. The Tornado made it 6-0, as #56 Tyler Ludwig smashed home a one-timer from the point with assists from McCauley and #14 Tom Brooks. The 3rd period then become the Lyon Messier show. The defenseman scored two power play goals in less than two minutes to give the Tornado an unfathomable 8-0 lead. Perhaps the unsung hero of the night however, was goaltender #33 Troy Redmann. After posting only one shutout the entire regular season, Redmann earned his 2nd shutout of the playoffs, stopping all 19 Bandits shots, and made several key saves in the 1st and 2nd periods when the game was still in doubt.
Game #3... With their backs against the wall and down 2-0 in the series, the Texarkana Bandits came out hard on their home ice in Game 3 against the Texas Tornado. An early #28 Karl Sellan penalty gave the Bandits a power play which they converted on the first shot of the game as Sam Zabkowicz fired a blast from the point that eluded Tornado goaltender #33 Troy Redmann. The Tornado had some good chances after the goal, but couldn't convert. Aaron Lewicki made it 2-0, again with another power play goal, this time beating the Tornado defense and putting one off the post past Redmann. Some hard work by the Tornado late in the period resulted in a power play goal from captain #18 Tom Train after a shot from #5 Brett Blatchford and hard work by Sellan in front. The Tornado got a charge in the period as #15 Sean Roadhouse engaged in a good fight with Jason Weeks of the Bandits that put a charge in the Four States Arena. After a scoreless 2nd period, which saw plenty of chances for the Tornado including a 5 on 3, the 3rd period started with the Tornado on a furious attack, piling up the shots against Bandits goaltender Riley Gill. Meanwhile the Bandits had plenty of chances in the 3rd period, but Redmann was equally as impressive. After the goaltenders dueled for almost the entire period, the Tornado pulled Redmann in favor of the extra attacker. The move paid off as Karl Sellan got a pass from #13 Sean McCauley and sent a wrist shot in on a screened Gill from the sideboards. The puck eluded Gill and into the back of the net with only :18 second left in regulation. The Bandits had a 2 on 1 with seconds left, but Redmann shut the door to send the game into overtime. In the overtime, the Tornado controlled most of the play, including great chances on a power play. However, a missed 2 on 1 by the Bandits would prove costly as the Tornado used some déjà vu to end the game. As the Tornado was breaking out, #11 Ryan Fuller sprung ahead of the defense to receive a breakaway pass from #12 Colin, Long and for the 2nd straight overtime, Fuller again delivered the game-winner, putting a shot over Gills blocker just like in Game #1 giving the Tornado a come-from-behind 3-2 overtime winner.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2006
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Takes On Czech Republic - U.S. National Team
- Tornado Fan Roadtrip to Texarkana Scheduled for Monday - Texas Tornado
- Dog Pound Weekly - Bozeman Icedogs
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Travels To Cleveland To Continue Playoffs - U.S. National Team
- West Fargo Packatahnas to Be Honored During FM Jets' Friday Playoff Game - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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