14U AA

7 More Alliance Players Added as TAC Alternates...

The Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA) has announced the alternates from the recent Texas Affiliate Camp (TAC) in Dallas, and Alliance congratulates the seven (7) Bulldog players listed below that were among those named. This brings the total number of current and/or former Bulldogs selected to 40 players.

Last weekend ended up good for Bulldogs in the 2007 NTXHL Playoffs, as 2 of 3 Alliance teams earned a spot in their respective Championship Series, with the 12U Prep and Squirt Prep teams competing this weekend for the league title.

Three more Alliance teams will compete in their respective Semi-Finals this weekend, with the 18U Midget Major AA, 16U Midget Minor AA, and 14U Bantam AA teams each in NTXHL playoff action. The 18UAA and 16UAA are each coming off a Regular Season Championship in their division.

Congratulations to the more than 30 Alliance players that were recently selected at the Texas Affiliate Camp (TAC) in Dallas to represent Texas and Oklahoma at the Rocky Mountain District (RMD) Development Camp, which is scheduled for May 2-6 at the Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Busy weekend, as 13 of 15 Bulldog teams are in action. The Chicago Chill 16UAAA is in town for 4 games against 3 Alliance teams, and there are 3 more critical State Playdown games as well, with the 16U Prep, 16UAA, and 14U AA competing for spots in the Tier II State Championships set for February 10-11.

Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, thanks, and reflection on the many blessings we have experienced, but sometimes it just comes down to believing Thanksgiving was created for hockey tournaments. Evidence of that is the 1,730,000 Google hits on "Thanksgiving Hockey." The biggest weekend of the season is heading our way, as this week 11 Alliance teams will play almost 50 games in 5 different tournaments, from the mountains of Colorado and the deserts of Arizona, to the shores of Lake Michigan and to the city lights of Bid D.

The big draw, as in tradition with years past, is the always competitive Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament in Littleton, Colorado, where five Bulldog squads will compete with some of the best teams in the west. Our two top Midget Major & Minor teams will compete here locally, starting play Wednesday in the nationally recognized US Hockey News Challenge Cup, and the Bantam AAA team will get a taste of Chicago in the Team Illinois Thanksgiving Tournament. The 12U PeeWee A team will get warm at the Thanksgiving Shootout in Phoenix, while our Squirt teams will stay at home in Valley Ranch with the Dallas Stars Select Fall Roundup.

Tulsa – 5, Alliance - 0: The Alliance Bantam AA suffered their first NTXHL loss today, at the hands of the Tulsa Flames at Polar Ice in Grapevine. The Bulldogs allowed a quick first period goal to fall behind 1-0 just 55 seconds into the game. The teams then traded scoring chances and several power-plays, with neither side able to put a puck in the net.

Eventually, Tulsa took control by scoring a power play goal for a 2-0 lead with 2:05 remaining in the second period, off a draw in the Bulldog zone. The Bulldogs continued to play hard, and tried to make one of their now patented comebacks, but the Flames goaltender was just a little better today and stopped all 19 Bulldog shots. The Bulldogs will look at rebounding next weekend, when they face the Houston Wild for a pair of games at Valley Ranch.

Alliance – 4, DJHA AA - 3: Once again, the Bulldogs had their opponent just where they wanted them by allowing the DJHA AA Penguins to score the first three goals of the game. In this penalty riddled NTXHL game, DJHA opened the scoring in the first, on a 5-3 Power-Play. DJHA then scored a shorthanded 3 on 4 break-away goal to end the 1st period leading 2-0.

The second period started with the Bulldogs still on the penalty kill, and DJHA took advantage with a good pass down low for a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs then gathered their composure, and came back strong by taking over the game in time of puck possession and stepping up the defensive pressure. The Bulldogs then scored their first goal of the game, a power play goal with a nice shot from the point at the 11:07 remaining in the second period to make it 3-1.

The Bulldogs continued to press, as the Penguins began taking penalties of their own, and at the 2:45 mark of the second period the Bulldogs scored another powerplay goal on a nice wrap-around play to bring it within one at 3-2. In the third period, the Bulldogs continued their attack on the Penguin net, as they scored 2 goals in 15 seconds at 14:25 (5 on 3) and 14:10 (5 on 4) for a 4-3 lead and final score. The Bulldogs out-shot DJHA 18-15 for game, and remain undefeated in NTXHL play with a record of 4-0-1. The Bulldogs will be in action next weekend in Grapevine against a tough Tulsa Flames team.

Alliance - 4, Ice Jets ‘93AA – 1: The Alliance Bantam AA was victorious 4-1 over the Ice Jets '93AA in their NTXHL game Saturday in Valley Ranch, despite being shorthanded with only 6 Forwards and 4 Defensemen. The Bulldogs got off to a slow start, and the Ice Jets opened the scoring with a power play goal to make it 1-0 with only 46 seconds remaining in the first period. This seemed to get the Bulldogs engine running, as they came out strong in the second and scored 3 unanswered goals for a 3-1 lead, one being a power play goal due to a good breakout and crisp passes through the neutral zone. In the third, the Bulldogs scored quickly at the 14:22 mark for the final score. For the game, the Bulldogs only out-shot the Jets 24-23, but had a decisive edge in puck possession and offensive zone attack time. With the win, the Bulldogs keep the NTXHL mark clean at 3-0-1.

Alliance – 7, Stars Select - 5: The Alliance 14U Bantam AA Bulldogs were victorious in their NTXHL game against the Stars Selects Major today 7-5. In the first period, the Bulldogs were hit for 9 penalties, including several 5-3's against. The penalty kill and goaltending kept Alliance in the game, ending the first period only trailing 1-0 while being out-shot 10-5.

In the second period, the Stars power play struck again at 13:18 and 8:15 to take what looked like a commanding 3-0 lead. But the Bulldogs had other plans, as they scored an unassisted shorthanded goal to cut the lead to 3-1. Alliance scored a power play goal of their own just over a minute later to close within 3-2. The Bulldogs then tied the game with just under a minute remaining in the period to make it 3-3. The Stars rebounded and recaptured the lead 30 seconds later and ended the period ahead 4-3.

The power-play and penalty kill continued in the third period, as the Bulldogs came out strong with 3 quick goals to take a 6-4 edge in this see-saw game. The Stars mounted a comeback again, and scored an even strength goal to make it 6-5 and gain some momentum for the final minutes of the contest. Alliance, however, would not be denied this day and scored a final goal at 8:28 left in the game to make the final score 7-5.

The Bulldogs then held off the Stars with good defensive play to end the game. Alliance remains undefeated after three NTXHL contests at 2-0-1. The Bulldogs will be back on the ice next week facing another local foe in the form of the Ice Jets ‘93AA.

Alliance – 4, Texas Aces - 4: The Bantam AA played to a 4-4 tie in its first action of the NTXHL season against the Texas Aces at ITC in Richardson Saturday morning. Both teams played tentative from the start, as players were trying to adjust to the new rules enforcement. The power-play and penalty kill would be the determining factor in the game, as every goal was scored with a man advantage. The Bulldogs played a solid team game, with some nice passes, and out-shot the Aces 30-25 for the game. Alliance also had an outstanding goaltending performance from their net-minder in this good test to start the season. The Bulldogs will be in action next week against the Ice Jets '92AA.

Calgary Rangers - 6, Alliance – 2: The Bulldogs are having to adjust while in Calgary, Canada for a series of exhibition games, with the first adjustment being to accommodate the 3 degrees C temperature and snow flurries. The second is facing some very tough Canadian hockey clubs from the Calgary Buffalo Hockey Association. The Bulldogs came out strong against a skilled Rangers AAA team. Matching them shot for shot in the first period, the Bulldogs held the Rangers scoreless until only 38 seconds remained in the period, with the Rangers capitalized on a juicy rebound for a 1-0 lead.

At the 14:26 mark of the second period, the Rangers scored again on a puck that was initially deflected and barely trickled into the net. Down 2-0, the Bulldogs failed to capitalize on several one and two man advantage situations, and allowed a shorthanded goal at the 7:35 mark to fall behind 3-0. Twenty eight seconds later, though, the Bulldogs found the net for their first tally - a power play goal. The second period ended with the Bulldogs down 3 – 1.

Coming out strong in the third, the Bulldogs scored five minutes into the period to cut the Rangers lead 3-2. Thirty three seconds later, the Rangers recovered and scored. The Rangers ended the period with two additional goals as the Bulldogs fell 6 – 2.

The Alliance 14U AA team will be traveling to Calgary, Canada September 15-17 for a series of exhibition games against teams from the Calgary Buffalo Hockey Association. The "Buffs" are one of the oldest youth hockey associations in Western Canada, dating back to the 1930's, and have produced a wealth of NHL players such as Dany Heatley, Krys Kolanos, Dale Purinton, Mike Stewart, and Mike Vernon.

In addition to facing top notch competition, our '92 skaters will have the chance to impress scouts from the Western Hockey League and hopefully follow the precedent set by Texas players in the WHL Bantam Draft this past June, when Alliance 2005-2006 Bantam AAA defenseman Tyler Amburgey, was selected in the 11th Round (230th Overall) by the Calgary Hitmen.

Houston Wild - 6, Alliance – 0: The Alliance Bulldogs came out flat Monday morning in the third place game of the Stars Select Texas Shootout Labor Day Tournament against the Houston Wild Bantam AA, as the Bulldogs were out-shot by a margin of 32-17. The Bulldogs had a few chances to get into the game with some odd-man rushes, but were unable to convert due some solid goaltending by the Wild netminder. The Bantam AA will now get ready for the upcoming NTXHL season and travel to Calgary for a series of exhibition games later this month

DJHA AA - 5, Alliance – 1: The Bulldogs came out for their second game of the Stars Select Texas Shootout Labor Day Tournament looking to get a win against the DJHA Penguins Bantam AA. DJHA opened the scoring on an odd bounce from a dump-in play in the Alliance end just 19 seconds into the game. The Bulldogs rebounded and scored a shorthanded goal with 3:14 remaining in the 1st period to knot the score and grab the momentum. The score remained tied 1-1 after the 1st period, with Bulldogs holding a edge in shots on goal at 9-4.

It was at this point the penalty bug hit the Bulldogs, as they took 12 consecutive penalties in the 2nd and 3rd periods. This lead to the Bulldogs being on the penalty kill for most of the remainder of game, including two 5-3 against. DJHA capitalized for four unanswered goals and handed the Bulldogs a 5-1 loss.

Bantams Fall Late in Game 1 of Texas Shootout...

Stars Select Major - 2, Alliance – 1: The Bulldogs skated to a close loss to the Stars Selects Major team early Saturday morning in their 1st game of the Stars Select Texas Shootout Labor Day Tournament. It was a tight defensive struggle throughout, and at the end of two periods the score was 0-0, and shots were also even at 11 apiece. Finally, with 13:16 remaining in the 3rd period, the Bulldogs scored on the power-play, with a nice pass in front of the net to an open forward who finished the play for a 1-0 lead. The Stars then scored two late period goals at 6:56 and 2:11 to take the lead at 2-1. The Bulldogs tried to rally, but fell just short. The score did not indicate the game, as the Bulldogs lead in time of possession by a substantial margin.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

U14 AA Roster & Preliminary Schedule Released...

The Alliance U14 Bantam AA Roster and Preliminary Schedule for the 2006-2007 season was released today, and the Bulldogs will see their first competition during the upcoming Labor Day Holiday, with the Dallas Jr. Stars Select Texas Shootout Tournament.

The remainder of the schedule up until December will be released following the NTXHL scheduling meeting, scheduled for later this month.