The Greatness of Robert Keith

Special thanks go out to friend of the blog Robert Keith who runs the Texas Brahmas Insider. He was on the ice for the big Bronze League Shootout, and took the awesome photos you see on this post. I am sure he wont mind me posting them on here (right Robert)? Check out the Texas Brahmas Insider, he has great player info, interviews, previews, recaps, and most importantly lots of awesome pics. He was cool enough to hang out on the ice with the bronze leaguers during the shootout instead of taking a break during the first intermission at the big Brahmas game this past weekend. You should stop down and check out his page. Good stuff.
http://www.texasbrahmasinsider.net/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertjkeith/sets/72157622814338774/

Stanley Keg Champion Ice Kings

What a way to end the season! The Kings and Stingers played for Lord Stanley’s Keg in front of a fantastic crowd at the Nytex Sports Centre in North Richland Hills this past Saturday. Before the two teams did battle a special shoot out was held during the first intermission of the Texas Brahmas and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees game. Taking part in the shoot out were
Yoon Kang
Roland Widmann
Brandon Rosser
Robin Burkart
Steve Meek
G-Dana Fenili
From the stingers and
Kent Gordon
Dave Opelecky
Chris Mosely
Bryan Daring
Rick Gregory
G-James Ayala
From the Kings. The shootout was a tie, and due to time constraints a coin (puck) was flipped where the Kings won. A closely fought battle ensued later that night with the Kings edging out the Stinger 4-2 to take their first ever Stanley Keg. The Kings were the Arc Angels before changing names this past season, and the Angels have won the keg before. So now in the modern era of the Stanley Keg at the Nytex Sports Centre the list of winners reads as follows:

Stingers
Arc Angels
Stingers
Indians
Stingers
Indians
Kings

Next season will begin with the first game December 5th, who will take the keg next season.

FINALS ARE SET

Finals are set,as form holds true and #1 will face #2. Bees and Kings will faceokff tonight at the Nytex Sports Centre at 10 p.m. for the right to hoise the Stanley Keg. This would be the Bees 4th Keg, and the Kings first.

Last night the Stingers beat the Sens six thousand to one, and the Kings squeeked past the Keller Tribe 2-0. The Senators were in their own zone most of the game as the Stingers offensive attack was unrelenting. Goalie Andrew Busboom faced 1,352 shots, but did manage to save close to a thousand of them. Dana Fenili Goaltender of the Bees remained unBEEten for the season with the win. This is win #12 in a row for the Stingers, and tonight they will face off against a mighty foe in the Kings.

The Kings find their way to the final game by beating the defending champ Keller Indians 2-0. Keller was hampered by a short bench, and inability to penitrate the Kings defense.

Tonight someone will skate the keg, will it be the Stingers or Kings?

Also during the first intermission of the Brahmas and Rio Grande Valley Game there will be a shootout between the stingers and kings for the rights to use the brahmas bench for the game.

The Frozen Four at Nytex

Each season Nytex will try to kick it up a notch when it comes to the Bronze League playoffs, now they have announced something special.

Between the 1st and 2nd period of Saturdays Brahmas game there will be a shootout on the ice between the two teams who are playing in the finals. The winner of the shootout will receive the right to use the Brahmas home bench for the big game later that night.

And to help bring some folks out to watch this event they are offering HALF PRICED BRAHMAS TICKETS. To take advantage contact Chad up with the Brahmas @:
817-520-3327
csiewert@brahmas.com

Terrace tickets for $6 Plazas for $9 Club seats @ $11, you cant beat it!

The Final Four

More details on the big final four weekend as the week goes by. But for now the final four has been established Sens vs Stingers and Kings vs Indians.

Semi Finals are Friday Night with the Stingers and Senators playing at 10:00, and then the Kings and Indians going on at 11:30. Finals will be Saturday immediately following the Brahmas game.

Two teams have punched their ticket to the Final Four

Two teams have punched their ticket to the big final four weekend (November 13-14). The Sens beat the Silver Bullets on Tuesday, and last night the Keller Indians advanced past the Jaguars. Indians beat the Jags 4-3 in overtime. Drew Hart had a hat trick for the Jags, but it was not enough. Indians scored a shorthanded goal in overtime to move on to the final four.

Two more quarterfinal games this Saturday, who will make it to the final four? Stingers and Bandits square off at 10. Word on the street is that the Stingers are light on the roster tonight.

The late game will feature the Kings and Monkeys. Monkeys have been looking strong as the season ended, but the Kings should have a full squad.

Prediction
Bandits beat the Stingers in the shocker of the season, Kings beat the Monkeys in overtime.

Stanley Keg Quarter Finals Game One

Last night the Stanley Keg Playoffs got up and running with the Senators and Silver Bullets taking the ice at the Nytex Sports Centre. The Bullets got the scoring started, Will Evans threw one right through the five hole of Sens goalie Andrew Busboom early in the first period. The Sens answered back with two goals of their own in the first period. Each team scored one in the second making the game 3-2 in favor of the Sens heading into the final frame. The Senators who had a full bench outlasted the Bullets who were working with 8 skaters, and got three goals in the third. 6-2 was the final score, and the Senators will now face the winner between the Stingers and Bandits who play Saturday November 7th at 10:00.

Up next the Keller Indians will be taking on the Jaguars on Thursday night at the Nytex Sports Centre.

Sunday Afternoon Championship Ring Ceremony with the Brahmas

Folks Sunday afternoon the Brahmas take on their bitter rival the Shreveport Mudbugs at the Nytex Sports Centre starting at 4:05. Pre game the Brahmas (that are still with the team and/or here in town) will be getting their championship rings presented to them.

As usual tickets will be discounted for all bronze leaguers that want to come out. Contact Chad to get the details and/or order tickets. csiewert@brahmas.com
817-520-3327

Regular Season is Compete

Regular Season ended, the Stingers crushed the Sens, and finished undefeated for the regular season, and STRONG contenders to retake the keg.

New team TD Ameritrade Whalers played a scab group of silver bullets, bandits, indians, and moneys and lost. Greg Perry was in net for the Whalers making his I League record 0-2 as a goalie.

Playoffs begin tomorrow with the Sens and Silver Bullets taking the ice in the first match up. This game could go either way. Lots of folks are unhappy about the tuesday thursday quarterfinal slots, but there just simply isnt enough ice time on the weekends to accomondate. Best do the best you can, and not dwell on the negatives.

New Blog New Posters

http://silverleague.blogspot.com/

Check out the handy work over on the newly formed silver league blog from my boy Upton. Good stuff. The mustache piece is classic.

Playoffs are all set, Kings Beat Jags

1 Stingers
Saturday November 7th 10:00 pm

8 Bandits

4 Silver Bullets
Tuesday November 3rd 10:15 pm

5 Senators

3 Keller Indians
Thursday November 5th 10:15 pm

6 Jaguars

7 Spider Monkeys
Saturday November 7th 11:30 pm

2 Ice Kings

Last night the Kings beat the Jags 4-1.

Playoff Picture

The Playoff Picture is pretty much set. There are only two spots left to be determined, and that is the #5 and #6 seeds. The Jags will get the #5 seed if they win over the Kings. The Sens will get the #5 seed if either the Jags lose, or the Sens win. Tonight the Kings take on the Jags, so if the Kings win tonight the playoff seeds will be set. Kings are without the two Kincaid brothers due to suspension, so who knows what will happen. Plus the weekday games always tend to hurt teams attendance.

The two playoff games that we know of for sure right now will feature the Bees and Bandits and then the Kings and Monkeys. Both of those games will be on November 7th following the Brahmas and Tulsa. Obviously the Kings and Bees are heavy favorites to move on to the semis. Last year we saw the Bees fall to a benchless Gators squad in what was a game for the ages. We shall see what happens. One thing we know for sure is that without Ryan Kelly in net, the Indians look to be beatable. So without their star goalie, they are probably not the front runner to win the Keg.


1 Stingers
Saturday November 7th 10:00 pm

8 Bandits




4 Silver Bullets
Tuesday November 3rd 10:15 pm

5 TBA




3 Keller Indians
Thursday November 5th 10:15 pm

6 TBA




7 Spider Monkeys
Saturday November 7th 11:30 pm

2 Ice Kings

First Look at the Whalers

Saturday Night at 11:30 the Whalers and Silver Bullets will be squaring off in an exhibition. Bullets season is already over due to a forfeit from the Monkeys who are tied up with costume parties, candy, and grave robbing duties. So Nytex has extended an offer over to the Whalers to get them use to our rink.

Come check it out if you are not doing anything that late. Should be a good test for the Whalers, and great Uniform Battle.

Bronze League Records/Hall of Fame

I took a few minutes to comb over the record books today at lunch. League Lineup may not be the best website for a hockey league, and we all know that refs are famous for missing assists and what not. However, based on the past four seasons which are archived in league lineup I have compiled a list of all time records along with a little where are they now as to the record holders:

Most goals in a single season:
Mac Donovan (Senators)-25-Spring 09

Career goals:
Mac Donovan (Senators)-43

Career Assist:
Steve Meek (Stingers)-21

Most assists in a single season:
Kyle Saylor (Hurricanes)-13-Spring 09

Most points in a single season:
Mac Donovan (Senators)-37-Spring 09

Penalty Minutes in a single season:
Michael Hvidston (Arc Angels)-32-Spring 09


Goals Against Average:
Ryan Kelly (Hurricanes)-1.36-Spring 09



More Goalie records will be coming down the pipe shortly. Currently records for goalies are being shattered by Dana Felini of the Stingers who is on pace to set a single season save % record (.936 right now).

Mac Donovan is now playing with the Blazers in the Silver League. Hvidston is with the Kings in the Silver League and Bronze League, and next season will be only in the Silver League. Ryan Kelly is on the IR, Kyle Saylor is skating up with the Silver League Kings, and Steve Meek is with the Stingers and subbing in with the Blazers in the Silver League.

This is all just in case you ever wanted to know.

Most championships belongs to the Stingers with 3 or is it 4 someone correct me on that.

Week 9 Winners, Week 10 Winner (already), and Graduation Talk

The Indians fell to the Stingers who continue to remain undefeated this season. The Stingers in fact, dominated the Indians. Bronze League all star goalie Ryan Kelly is out the rest of the season due to a recent shoulder surgery (Get well Ryan!), and the Birdman, Kacy Bird, is stepping in for the time being. Looks like the bees were too much for the birdman to handle.

The Senators took the Bandits, however the Bandits did manage to beat their goal total for the entire season in this one game. Close battle 6-5 Sens.

The Jags handled business against the Silver Bullets, 6-2.

The Kings dismantled the Monkeys 7-1. And in other Monkeys news, the Monkeys have already declared their final regular season tilt a forfeit due to Halloween related activities. So the Monkeys and Bullets regular seasons are all wrapped up.

The Monkeys secured the #7 seed in the playoffs, and will be awaiting either the Kings or Indians in the first round. The Indians beat the Kings 1-0 in their only head to head match up, so in the event both teams win or both teams lose this weekend, the Indians will get the tie breaker.

The #3,4,5, and 6 seeds are still up in the air. The #3 seed with either be the Indians or Kings no matter how it shakes up. The Bullets are finished with a 5-5 record and ten points. The Sens play the bees, so if form holds true, the Sens will finish 4-6 with 8 points. The Jags face the Kings, and its anyones game. Kings will want to win, and the Jags are looking strong.

Who knows how things will end.

Now on to graduation talk. Several Bronze Leaguers have made the jump up to the Silver League which is a great sign that the Bronze League is actually developing players. Who else will make the jump up once the season is over?

New Teams in Bronze League Make the Uniform Czar so Happy

This pic just came from teh desk of the uniform czar. Holy Geez those TD Ameritrade Whalers look good. The Green uniforms will look nice out on the ice. So now most teams have uniforms in the league. The Sens are currently shopping for new jerseys. And those Jags have some fancy new yellow sweaters as well.


All in all the league is looking better.

Week 8 Winners.......Playoff Picture

Stingers handled the Bandits over the weekend. Bandits did manage to score though, so that is good.

The tribe took down their big rival the Sens handily 5-1.

Jags beat the Spider Monkeys, but are having to forfeit over some untidy roster business.

And the Ice Kings rolled up the Silver Bullets in a game that was loaded with penalty minutes. Two Kings players with over a dozen PIMs each! What the hell happened there?

As we push on to the playoffs looks like the Stingers will have the number one seed, and the bandits will take the bottom seed. So if everything stays just like it is we will have the Bandits vs the Stingers facing off in the quarter finals.

The Indians are holding strong on that #2 seed. They have won 6 in a row, and are rolling right now. They look to be a lock for the #2 seed.

There's a small battle for the #3 spot between the Kings and Bullets. Kings will more than likely have some players suspended from last weeks action, so these two teams will be very interesting to watch as the season closes out.

Then there are the Jags, Spider Monkeys, and Sens. Sens have been up and down all season, more down than up. The Spider Monkeys have really turned things around, and have more wins this season than the last couple combined. Jags are sneaky, they have a good solid team, but have been plagued (again) by some roster issues that have forced them to forfeit a few games. Their record right now is 3-5, but if they had their roster all under control it would be more like 5-3 and they would be battling for the 3rd seed with the Bullets and Kings.

New Blog for Silver League

http://silverleague.blogspot.com/

Check it out, its new, but hopefully the same ammount of trash talking, name calling, and general bafoonery will go down on there as it does here. We have three capable posters.

Also there is another new team in the I League.......The Spiders.

Not necessarily the San Fransisco Spiders as the logo would indicate. But there is a new team coming called the Spiders. More details to follow, not sure where they are from.

New Team for Next Season

Next season we will be joined by the TD Ameritrade Whalers who are coming our way from Euless. The Whalers will make team #8 in the league as the Bandits dont look to be back. The Bandits may be back as Mid Air Collision or as the Bandits. A few of the guys from that team are either taking time off or going to Grapevine. Stay tuned for updates.

Week 7 Results

This week we had two games on Friday and two on Saturday. In the Friday games, the Indians blanked the Bandits 3-0. The Bandits have now been shutout 5 times in 7 games. Word on the street is that help is on the way for the Bandits. The bees beat the Kings 3-2. Was that a potential finals preview?

Saturday the Jags rolled the Bullets 3-1. And we had the debut of the I League's newest goalie, Greg Perry. He filled in for the Senators Andrew Busboom who was at home a victim of the swine flu. Perry stopped 20 of 27 shots that the Monkeys through at him in a losing effort. The Monkeys topped the Sens 7-5 for the Monkeys 2nd win of the season.

3 games left in the regular season, looks like the Stingers are the favorite for the 1st seed heading into the playoffs. Dragging up the rear it looks like the Bandits, but the Sens have been anything but consistant this year, and the Spider Monkeys have only two wins, one against the sens, and one against the Bandits.

Thoughts.