Tornado Weekly: Texas Finally Back Home Beginning Thursday
February 1, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Tornado back home to host New Mexico Thursday, Wildcats Friday After a tough five-game roadtrip through Alaska and Washington, the Tornado finally return home this week for their first home games since January 15th. On Thursday, February 3rd, the Tornado will host the New Mexico Mustangs, and on Friday, February 4th, the Tornado will host the Wichita Falls Wildcats, both at 7:30pm at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco. The Tornado finish the weekend with a road game on Saturday, February 5th in Wichita Falls. The games against New Mexico and Wichita Falls may be just what the doctor ordered for the Tornado, who are just 1-4-0 in their last five games. So far this season, the Tornado are a combined perfect 7-0-0 against the Mustangs (4-0-0) and the Wildcats (3-0-0).
Tony Curtale Show on Tuesday, February 1st cancelled
The Texas Tornado has announced that the 'Tony Curtale Show' scheduled for Tuesday, February 1st at Gazeebo Burgers in Frisco has been cancelled due to inclement weather. No make-up date has been announced. The next show is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8th at 6:00pm. The Tony Curtale Show stars the Head Coach and General Manager of the Texas Tornado, Tony Curtale as he sits down and discusses the current state of the Texas Tornado and all things hockey. The weekly show will last one hour and will also feature two Texas Tornado players during each show. Fans can watch the show live at Gazeebo Burgers in Frisco, located at 6801 Warren Parkway (right off the Dallas North Tollway, next to Hall Office Park), or can listen to the show live on the internet at www.tornadohockey.com courtesy of Radio Free Frisco. Fans can also submit questions for the coach or players live in person, or via an email at: media@tornadohockey.com.
Tornado split with Wenatchee this past weekend
The Texas Tornado earned a split on the road against the Wenatchee Wild last weekend. On Friday, the Tornado defeated the Wild for the third time this season with a thrilling 4-3 shootout win. Goaltender Jimmy Kruger made 37 saves, which included stopping five of six Wild shooters in the shootout. Nate Sliwinski, JD Howard and Jackson Leef all scored for the Tornado and defenseman Ralfs Freibergs netted the shootout winner. Saturday night was a different story however, as the Tornado failed to find the back of the net in a 3-0 shutout loss. Kruger made 31 saves, but it wasn't enough for the Tornado who had 35 penalty minutes to Wenatchee's eight. The Tornado claimed the season series from the Wild, 3-1.
NAHL trading deadline set for February 8th
Action among Head Coaches and General Managers is expected to heat up this as the final countdown towards the NAHL trading deadline continues. The NAHL trading deadline is set for February 8th.
Upcoming Tornado promotions February is FAM-tastic month with the Tornado. For every home game during the month of February, get 4 End Zone tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 chips and 4 Dr Peppers for just $40! Call 972-335-9800 for details. Saturday, February 12 vs. Amarillo - Pink in the Rink Night. It's time once again for the annual Tornado Pink in the Rink Night. This year's Pink in the Rink with Benefit Relay for Life and also have the Flowers Cup. The Tornado will wear special pink jerseys which will be auctioned off following the game. Saturday, February 26 vs. Topeka - Park Place Dealerships Tornado Youth Jersey Night. The Texas Tornado in cooperation with their proud partner, Park Place Dealerships have teamed up for the annual youth jersey night. The first 1,500 kids 12 and under through the door at the Dr Pepper Arena will receive a FREE Texas Tornado youth-sized jersey courtesy of Park Place Dealerships.
THE WEEK THAT WAS...
Saturday, January 29 - Texas Tornado 0 @ Wenatchee Wild 3
The Tornado came into Saturday's game looking to build off the shootout win from the night before. The first period was full of physical play along the boards from both teams but no scoring. Both teams had point blank chances as the period was winding down but big saves from the net minders kept the score knotted at zero. Wenatchee took over the game in the second period as they would score three. The first came at 5:08 as Wenatchee cycled the puck from the far side behind Jimmy Kruger's cage to the near point where Patrick Kinkopf sent a shot toward goal that was redirected in front by Evan Schmidbauer and over Kruger. Following an unsportsmanlike penalty to Mike Fleming the Wild would strike on the power play as Chris Rumble threw a wrister at net. Kruger made the initial save but left the rebound in the crease and Tyler Hope was there to poke it home, time of the goal was 15:40. Texas was hit with another penalty at 18:51 this time a slashing major to Donald Olivieri putting Wenatchee on a five minute power play. It took Rumble just over one minute to capitalize on the man advantage sending a wrister from the blue line past a screened Kruger with the assist going to Zachary Wallace. After the period ended and the teams were headed to the locker rooms, Coach Tony Curtale was hit with an abuse of officials penalty leading to the Tornado facing a 5 on 3 penalty kill to start the third period followed by nearly a full minute of 5 on 4 carry over of the Olivieri major. The Tornado penalty kill stood tall and killed off the 5 on 3 to start the third. Just after the bench minor ended Zach Frye was called for roughing wiping out the balance of the Olivieri major. That was the high point of the period for the Tornado as Wenatchee sat on the lead and denied Texas many opportunities the rest of the night. With the extended time the Tornado spent on the penalty kill, the Wild outshot Texas 34 - 21 and took advantage of two power plays on six opportunities. The Tornado power play was held off the board going 0 for 3.
Friday, January 28 - Texas Tornado 4 @ Wenatchee Wild 3 (shootout)
Nathan Sliwinski opened the scoring against his ex-mates at 4:34 into the first period to stake the Tornado to an early lead. Jack Prince threw the puck to the point off the end boards to Donald Olivieri for a onetimer that Sliwinski tipped in front. The middle of the period saw a lot of back and forth play before Olivieri was hit with a tripping penalty at 9:46. With just four seconds left in the man advantage Carl-Johan Sjogren put the puck past Jimmy Kruger to knot the score at one. The only assist on the play went to Kyle Huson. Wenatchee took the lead late in the period at 18:32 with a goal off the stick of DJ Vandercook with Matt Cope notching the assist. The Tornado pulled even at 6:15 of the second when David Riggatti flipped the puck out of the near corner to Rock Einersen behind the Wild cage. Einersen found JD Howard cruising down the slot with a backhand centering pass for Howard's 21st goal of the season. At 18:08 Jackson Leef took a pass from Sliwinski in the far corner and walked it off the wall as Prince dropped anchor in front of Brandon Jaeger, Leef used the screen to blister a shot over the Wild net minder. Wenatchee had the only goal of the third period coming at the 10:36 mark on the power play this time just 12 seconds before the man advantage was to expire. Hunter Brown worked the puck from the far point to Zach Frye for a one timer at the top of the near faceoff circle. Tyler Hope cut across the mouth of the goal crease to redirect the puck past Kruger. At 19:43 Olivieri took a checking from behind penalty to prevent a Wenatchee rush on Kruger so the Tornado had to scramble to close out the period with the score tied. In the overtime period the Tornado killed off 1:43 of the 4 on 3 Wenatchee power play then just missed scoring late in the extra frame to go to a shootout. In the shootout Michael DiPuma was able to put the puck past Kruger as the first shooter for Wenatchee. Howard would tie it up as the third shooter for Texas, then Ralfs Freibergs took the lead as the Tornado's sixth shooter while Kruger was able to shake off the early score by Wenatchee to stop the next five Wild shooters to ensure the victory.
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