NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Lone Star Brahmas have inked another forward for next year’s team. Ontario Junior Hockey League standout Ture Linden will make his way back to the states for his final year of junior hockey.
“One thing that really impressed me with the NAHL and especially the Lone Star Brahmas was the amount of players that have received NCAA scholarships over the past few seasons,” Linden said. “I really liked what coaches Dan Wildfong and Al Rooney, and the past and present players in the league had to say about the organization.”
“He’s got a lot of junior experience and he’s been very successful,” Wildfong added. “We think he’s going to come in and be a top line guy for us.”
If this past season playing in Canada is any indication, Linden could very well be a point-per-game player with the Brahmas. Both a goal-scorer and an elite playmaker, the Great Falls, Virginia native scored 30 goals and tacked on 35 assists for 65 points in 60 games this season.
The versatile forward can play center or wing for the Brahmas and he recorded 19 games with multiple points throughout the season. Additionally, Linden is disciplined on the ice as he was only assessed ten penalty minutes over the course of 60 games.
“I see him being a top six guy along the lines of a Drake Glover,” Rooney said. “That’s where we see him coming in and being a leader not only point production wise, but speaking to him quite a few times, he’s a mature kid who is hungry and level-headed so we are very pleased with his acquisition.”
Both coaches see Linden playing top line minutes in Texas and chimed in that he is an all-situations player.
“I think he’s an every kind of player. He can play well on the power play, penalty kill, five-on-five. We’re very excited to have him come in next year and lead next year’s troops.”
Linden spent time with both the Trenton Golden Hawks and the North York Rangers in the OJHL and performed well in the playoffs for the Rangers. Before that, the 6-foot, 180-pound forward attended Kent School in Connecticut, where he was an honor roll student for his entire high school career.
One of the things that particularly appealed to Linden about Brahmaland is the dedicated fanbase.
“I hear the fanbase is very energetic and supportive so I’m really looking forward to playing for them,” Linden smiled. “They can expect that I will work hard, contributing offensively as well as defensively.”
It comes as no surprise that the Brahmas seek out players who can compete in all three zones. Linden fits that bill.
“I think he’s a combination of good size and a sturdy build. He’s a big-framed kid who has skill and I think in the South Division that’s going to translate well,” Rooney said. “He’s going to have the skill to do things in open space and we feel it’s going to be a very good marriage between the two of us to get someplace. He’s going to be hungry.”
After the signing, the Lone Star Brahmas still have four tenders remaining to help build their roster for the 2017-18 season.
* A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders – plus or minus any trades. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft. *