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Tornado rips through Alaska

December 12, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release


Hampered by injuries for the better part of the season, the Texas Tornado got just what the doctor ordered with a fruitful five-game swing through Alaska, highlighted by three wins over the Avalanche last week.

"Going up there and winning four of five games is a successful road trip," said Tornado coach-GM Tony Curtale, whose club improved to 18-8-3. "There's a lot of travel involved and a lot of games in a short period of time, so I was pretty happy with our overall performance."

The Tornado began its week on Tuesday with a 4-1 win over the Avs. Mike Cifelli rang up two goals in the victory, with Sean Roadhouse scoring the game-winner. Between the pipes, Thomas Tragust turned aside 14 shots.

The next night, Texas doubled up Alaska, 4-2. John Bullis notched two goals in the win, and Jake Newton netted the game-winner. Tragust stopped 28 shots.

The Tornado wrapped up its Alaskan adventure with a 4-3 shootout win on Saturday. Bullis registered a goal in regulation and one in the shootout, with Cifelli and Colin Long scoring the other Texas goals. Tragust picked up his third win of the week with 34 saves.

"We competed hard and allowed ourselves to take care of business," said Curtale, whose club split two games in Fairbanks the week prior. "We've always preached that what we need to worry about is us, not what the other team is doing. If we take care of our own business, there should be no excuses."

Bullis, one of many to have missed time with an injury, and Cifelli, both first-year junior players, made key contributions last week and are emerging as top scoring threats. The two are legitimate Division-I caliber players, according to Curtale.

"They're both great young offensive players and have come a long way in their rookie seasons," said the coach. "I'm a strong believer that players need a chance to succeed, and I think they've both been given that chance and are making the most of the opportunity."

Curtale likes the direction his defensive corps is heading, as well as the play of veteran forward Ryan Fuller, who was on the shelf for three weeks in November because of injury.

"I think he's legitimized himself as one of the best players in the league," said Curtale. "He plays big, he scores big goals and he does it with a sincere devotion to becoming a better hockey player everyday."

Curtale believes a healthy lineup coupled with constant improvement will dictate his team's fortunes heading into the second half of the season.

"We're still very young and developing," said the coach. "This will be a maturation process all year, but as long as we're consistent, we'll be fine."

STANDINGS/LEADERS
North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Mahoning Valley 30 22-7-1 45 .750 131 86
Alpena 29 20-8-1 41 .707 108 86
Traverse City 29 11-13-5 27 .466 89 106
USNTDP 27 10-15-2 22 .407 95 104
Marquette 28 9-17-2 20 .357 79 105

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
St. Louis 27 21-5-1 43 .796 103 61
Santa Fe 27 20-4-3 43 .796 102 55
Texas 28 17-8-3 37 .661 96 82
Fairbanks 29 13-15-1 27 .466 101 104
Wichita Falls 28 11-14-3 25 .446 79 93
Alaska 31 10-17-4 24 .387 76 108

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Fargo-Moorhead 27 18-8-1 37 .685 94 72
Bismarck 30 12-12-6 30 .500 91 110
So. Minnesota 29 14-14-1 29 .500 88 81
Springfield 28 13-12-3 29 .518 87 91
North Iowa 28 13-15-0 26 .464 81 100
Alexandria 27 9-17-1 19 .352 65 98

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 29 17 32 49
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 29 25 16 41
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 27 19 21 40
Craner, Nolan ALP F 28 16 23 39
Maroon, Pat STL F 24 14 24 38
Pierson, Drew ALP F 29 14 22 36
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 26 20 14 34
Shean, Joe FBX F 29 12 22 34
Kretzer, Ryan SPR F 28 9 24 33
(two players tied with 30)

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Hopper, Nick SFE 23 1346:25 17-4-2 1.87 .914
Nagle, Pat STL 14 824:31 11-2-1 1.96 .931
Lee, Austin FMH 16 962:20 12-3-1 2.06 .938
Zapolski, Ryan MVY 27 1557:02 21-5-1 2.47 .925
Tragust, Thomas TXS 22 1276:41 13-5-3 2.54 .897

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 29 25
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 26 20
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 27 19

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 29 32
Maroon, Pat STL F 24 24
Kretzer, Ryan SPR F 28 24

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 28 126
Yovanic, Paul TXS F 23 124
Flink, Adam TXS F 22 119

Zapolski, Tragust, Echternach named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mahoning Valley goaltender Ryan Zapolski stopped 72 of 75 shots in two wins over Alpena last weekend as the Phantoms extended their winning streak to 16 games. On Friday, the 20-year-old turned aside 32 shots in a 7-1 victory over the IceDiggers. The next night, the Mercyhurst College recruit from Erie, Pa., made 40 saves as the Phantoms skated to a 3-2 win.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Texas goaltender Thomas Tragust turned aside 76 of 82 shots last week backstopping the Tornado to three wins in Alaska. On Tuesday, the 20-year-old made 14 saves in a 4-1 triumph over the Avalanche. The next night, the Silandro, Italy, native stopped 28 shots as the Tornado skated to a 4-2 victory. On Saturday, Tragust made 34 saves in a 4-3 shootout win.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fargo-Moorhead forward Jesse Echternach struck for five goals and two assists in three games last weekend as the Jets went 1-2. After being held scoreless in a 3-0 loss to Southern Minnesota on Friday, the 20-year-old scored two goals in a 4-3 loss to Alexandria on Saturday. The next day, the Bemidji, Minn., native put forth a three-goal, two-assist effort in Fargo-Moorhead's 6-3 triumph over the Express.
OTHER NOMINEES: Alexandria forward Rylan Galiardi and goaltender Ryan Leets; Alpena forwards Todd Rudasill and Drew Pierson; Southern Minnesota forward Jamie Ruff; Santa Fe goaltender Nick Hopper; Texas forward Ryan Fuller

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, December 5
Texas 4 @ Alaska 1 (TEX: Cifelli, 2G)

Wednesday, December 6
Texas 4 @ Alaska 2 (TEX: Bullis, 2G)

Thursday, December 7
Santa Fe 4 @ Wichita Falls 3 (SO) (SF: Kappers, G, SOG)
Alpena 5 @ USNTDP 2 (ALP: Pierson, 2G, 2A)

Friday, December 8
So. Minn. 3 @ Fargo-Moorhead 0 (SM: Paulgaard, 26 saves)
Bismarck 3 @ Alexandria 2 (SO) (BIS: Maggard, G, SOG)
Santa Fe 3 @ Wichita Falls 2 (SF: Kinne, G, A)
Alpena 1 @ Mahoning Valley 7 (MV: Purins, 3G, GWG)

Saturday, December 9
Texas 4 @ Alaska 3 (SO) (TEX: Roadhouse-Bullis, G, SOG)
North Iowa 5 @ Southern Minnesota 2 (NI: McLeod, GWG, A)
Santa Fe 2 @ Wichita Falls 0 (SF: Hopper, 24 saves)
Fargo-Moorhead 3 @ Alexandria 4 (ALX: Galiardi, 2G, GWG)
Alpena 2 @ Mahoning Valley 3 (MV: Winter, GWG)
St. Louis 3 @ Springfield 5 (SPR: Waterstradt, GWG, 2 A)
Traverse City 3 @ USNTDP 2 (SO) (TC: Niemann, G, SOG, A)

Sunday, December 10
Fargo-Moorhead 6 @ So. Minn. 3 (FM: Echternach, 3G, 2A)
Traverse City 3 @ USNTDP 4 (SO) (USA: Kristo, G, SOG, A)

AROUND THE NAHL

SCHMIDT COMMITS TO DULUTH: Second-year Fairbanks forward Kyle Schmidt, 19, has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) for the 2007-08 season. This year, Schmidt, from Hermantown, Minn., ranks second in NAHL scoring with a league-leading 25 goals and 16 assists (41 points) after 29 games.

GIEBE A WORLD JUNIOR SELECTION: North Iowa defenseman Chris Giebe, 19, has been selected to play for the German Junior National Team at the upcoming World Junior Championships to be held Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Sweden. Giebe, who played nine games with Southern Minnesota last season, has registered four assists after 15 games this year.

ALUM MAKES NHL DEBUT: Forward Chris Conner (Compuware/Chicago, 2001-02) made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars on Friday (he was held scoreless in a 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers). The 22-year-old from Livonia, Mich., native played four years at Michigan Tech University (WCHA) before signing as a free agent with the Stars last summer.

SWEET 16: Mahoning Valley extended its winning streak to 16 games with two wins over Alpena last weekend. Latvian Janis Purins, 19, scored four goals, including the game-winner, in the Phantoms' 7-1 victory on Friday.

SAINT NICK: Santa Fe goaltender Nick Hopper, 18, picked up his league-leading sixth shutout of the season with a 24-save performance in the RoadRunners' 2-0 win over Wichita Falls on Saturday. Santa Fe is on a six-game winning streak, the longest in franchise history.

GALIARDI SHINES: Alexandria's leading scorer Rylan Galiardi, 20, scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the Blizzard's 4-3 win over Fargo-Moorhead on Saturday.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, December 13
Traverse City @ Alpena, 7:00 pm

Thursday, December 14
Springfield @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm

Friday, December 15
Alexandria @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
Santa Fe @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Wichita Falls @ Texas, 7:30 pm
North Iowa @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 16
Fargo-Moorhead @ Bismarck, 8:00 pm
Santa Fe @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Southern @ Minnesota North Iowa, 7:05 pm
Texas @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
Springfield @ Alexandria, 7:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Sunday, December 17
Springfield @ Alexandria, 5:00 pm
Santa Fe @ Fairbanks, 5:00 pm
Traverse City @ Alpena, 3:00 pm

(all times local)

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