Andrew Harrison (#19) scored all three goals for the Texas Tornado, putting away the Santa Fe Roadrunners 3-1 Friday night at Deja Blue stadium in Frisco. The first goal came in the first period, off a pass from #5 Brett Blatchford. Harrison's second was assisted by the new Tornado defenseman, #6 Devrin Stonehouse, and the third goal was a solo effort. Both goals were in the third period, in between brawls.
It was a rowdy game, peppered with rising tempers, fights and flying equipment. Players squared off like boxers; at times, three pairs were brawling at once. Three Tornadoes and at least one Roadrunner were ejected from the game. Both teams combined for 150 minutes of penalties, most in the third period. Hockey ain't for the faint of heart, especially here in Texas.
Rowdy was the key word in this brawl-on-ice.
In the last minutes of the third period, the Roadrunners had a 5 on 4 opportunity, but could hardly get the puck into the Tornado zone and did not score. Even if they had got it in the Tornado zone, it was nearly impossible to beat Tornado goalie #33 Troy Redmann. Redmann was in top form, putting up the wall and stopping all but one of the Roadrunners shots. The Tornado now sit alone at the top of their division, four points ahead of the Wichita Falls Wildcats.
After the game, the Tornado commemorative Halloween jerseys were auctioned off for charity. The jerseys and socks came right off the players' backs; those downwind from the hanging jerseys were forced to breathe through their mouths. One hundred percent of the auction proceeds went to the Mike Modano Foundation and the Tornado Hockey Foundation to benefit children's hospitals.
Saturday night (October 29) the Tornado go up against the Texarkana Bandits in Frisco. The Tornado beat the Bandits twice and lost to them twice already this season. The night will feature a costume contest, and following the game will be a special concert by Petty Theft, which includes band member Mike Rhyner from The Hardline sports radio talk show on The Ticket, SportsRadio 1310am/104.1fm.
Fans look over Halloween jersies.
The Texas Tornado Canned Food Drive benefiting Frisco Family Services Center will continue Saturday. Anyone bringing a canned good to the Saturday, October 29 Tornado home game against the Texarkana Bandits will receive a 50% off regular admission coupon (Center Ice or Premium level) to a future Texas Tornado home game.
Starting face-off is at 7:30p.m. at the Deja Blue Arena in the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. Tickets are available by calling 972-335-9800 or you can purchase tickets online. Visit the Tornado web site at http://www.tornadohockey.com.