After 2 exciting home games, the Brahmas headed north to compete in the North American Hockey League’s biggest event of the season, the NAHL Showcase. This massive event saw all 24 teams in the NAHL converge upon the Schwan’s Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. The teams competed on 8 sheets of ice, each team playing 4 games in as many days. The Brahmas were slated to play teams from every division other than their traditional South Division. The Showcase games count as regular season games and do affect their overall season standings.
The Brahmas first faced the Kenai River Brown Bears. With goals scored by Alexey Solovyev and Liam Stirtzinger, the Brahmas fell 2-4. The Brahmas spent most of this game on the defensive. The goalie for the game Mattias Soderqvist saved 35 of the 39 shots fired at him. The Brown Bears are currently 2nd in the Midwest Division behind the currently undefeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
The second game of the week was played against the Austin Bruins. The Bruins, currently undefeated and #1 in the Central Division came on strong finishing the game 5-2. The Bruins scored their first 3 goals in the first 9 minutes of the game. The Brahmas, although playing strong were unable to recover. Brahmas goalie, Jacob Nehama stopped a staggering 56 shots of the 61 made against him for the game. The Brahmas goals were scored by Jan Hudecek and Leo Lumm. The Bruins racked up 35 penalty minutes during the game, 21 of them in the 3rd period.
Friday saw the Brahmas best game of the series as they faced the Port Huron Fighting Falcons from the North Division. Port Huron is also currently undefeated after 5 games. The Brahmas played fast and strong and held a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period before the Falcons came back for the 4-2 win. Brahmas goalie Sean Keating stopped 30 of the 34 Bruins attempts. The Brahmas goals were scored by Anthony Mousseau and Paul Fregeau.
The Brahmas final game of the Showcase was against the previously mentioned Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The Midwest Division’s Ice Dogs, remain undefeated after 6 games so far this season. The Brahmas played hard and aggressive, and had 59 penalty minutes as proof. The Brahmas 3 goals were scored by Matt Lison, AJ Duggan and Jan Hudecek. Goalie Mattias Soderqvist stopped 26 of the 32 shots made. The final score was Ice Dogs 6, Brahmas 3.
After a week of hard play, the Brahmas end their run at 0-4 in Blaine, bringing their current season record to 1-4-1. The Brahmas return home for a short recovery before they head back on the road to face the Corpus Christi Ice Rays this Friday and Saturday. Both the Ice Rays and the Brahmas will go into this weekend with the same record. With only a few days to clear their heads, the already aggressive Brahmas are likely to add to their league leading 166 penalty minutes. A reputed leader in penalties himself, Coach Dan Wildfong’s history of focusing his team’s aggressions into wins is excellent.
Facing such strong opponents at the Showcase, and taking back-to-back losses this early in the season is likely to be just the fuel the Brahmas need to bring this fledgling team together. Watch the team grow as they play both at home and away on www.fasthockey.com. You can also watch away games among friends while enjoying great food and drinks at a Brahmas viewing party in ZuRoma Bar & Grill. ZuRoma streams all Brahmas away games live for patrons completely FREE.