Bulldogs Win Thanksgiving Championship!!!

 

Champions - 16U Midget Minor AA...

 

Alliance – 2, San Jose Jr. Sharks - 1:  The Bulldogs recovered from two opening losses to win 5 straight games to take home the Championship trophy in the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament in Littleton, Colorado Sunday afternoon.   Their final win avenged an earlier loss to the San Jose Sharks, and their run to the title also included a Semi-Final win over the very talented Alliance 16U Prep squad as well.

 

This afternoon’s game started out where the team had left off in this morning’s game.  The team moved the puck well and created a lot of open ice to get their scoring chances. Both teams having played early this morning were giving all they had left.  The first goal scored at 6:41 of the first period.  The Shark’s right defenseman tried to hold the puck in at the blue line, but the Bulldog center out worked the Shark clearing the puck to the right winger in the neutral zone. T he right wing took puck wide into the Shark defensive zone, and made a great pass to the left wing charging to the net. The left wing flipped the puck up and over the goalie for 1-0 lead. 

 

The Bulldog’s second goal would come when an Alliance defenseman gained control of the puck in the defensive zone, and skated out of the zone unhampered with a winger to his right.   Two Bulldogs cleared the Shark blue line on a 2 on 1, and as the winger cut to the net, the Bulldog defenseman looked the goalie off, freezing the goalie just long enough for the Bulldog to snap a wrist shot top far corner for a 2-0 lead.

 

The second period the Bulldogs and Sharks battled back and forth and each team had multiple scoring chances during the period. The Sharks were able to take advantage of the only breakdown the Bulldogs had during the period.  At 11:02, a Shark got loose in the middle of the slot area and sent a wrister, beating the Bulldog goalie top shelf off the cross bar.  This would be the only scoring in the second period.

 

The Bulldogs took their 2-1 lead into the third period. Their mission, finish off with a win. The third period was filled with a flurry of skating and battling for position, scoring opportunities at both ends, but neither team finding the magic to beat the respective goalies.  Each team dogged the other as they tried to gain advantages on odd man rushes, but neither team would give in. The Bulldogs clinched the championship by killing off the last minute and 20 seconds with 6 on 5 play.  An enormous effort and great end to a tournament that saw the team start out 0 and 2.  The Bulldogs capped the weekend going 5 and 0 in the last 5 games of the tournament.  Congratulations Bulldogs – Mile High Champs!

 

 

AA Boys Upset Preps, Advance to Littleton Final...

 

Alliance AA – 3,  Alliance Prep – 2:  In a great game and performance overall by both teams, the Alliance 16U AA upset their Alliance 16U Prep brethren in the Semi-Finals of the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament in Littleton, Colorado Sunday morning.  From the first drop of the puck the AA boys felt they had something to prove, and came out with a focus and intensity that would carry them to a well deserved win. The AA Bulldogs netted their first goal moving the puck between the forwards skating through the neutral zone.  Entering the Prep team zone, the wide winger found an open center in the slot area with a pass and the center deposited the puck top corner for a 1-0 lead.  During the rest of the first period, the AA team would kill off three penalties.

 

The second period was filled with scoring chances for both teams, with each team missing open net opportunities, but neither able to get the puck into the net.  As the third period began, the AA team still held a 1-0 lead.  The Prep team, on the power play to begin the period, came out as if they were going to control and roll the AA team.  Just a minute into the period, the Prep team sent a slap shot towards the net, and with the puck left uncovered in the crease, poked it in with their first score tying the game at 1-1.

 

Eighteen seconds later, a Prep forward danced around the left defenseman with speed and lifted the puck for a 2-1 lead.  Not to be denied, the AA team came back a minute later at 12:32, when from the corner the forward flicked the puck up towards the net and in the tussle for position in front of the net, the puck bounced off a AA player and into the net to tie it back up at 2-2.

 

With the pace of the game still high, each team competed for the final goal that would send one of the teams to the final.  At 8:16, the AA team broke out of their zone 3 on 2, carrying the puck wide to draw the Prep defenseman outward creating a 2 on 1 on the opposite side of the ice.  Giving up the puck to the speeding teammates, the 2 on 1 forwards were able to deliver as the goalie couldn’t catch up with a nice pass and deflection into the open net for a lead of 3-2 for the AA team. The Prep team continued to press the remainder of the game, but was unable to break the plane of the goal.  The AA team played their best game of season, and were rewarded with a trip to finals.

 

 

                                                                        Saturday, November 25, 2006                                                                          

 

Dogs take 3rd Straight, Gain Littleton Semis...

 

Alliance – 4, Utah – 2:  The Bulldogs continued their winning ways, taking their 3rd straight win, as they defeated the Rocky Mtn Renegades in the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament Saturday night.  The first period was marred with 7 penalties between the two teams, and each team took advantage of one power play.  Utah struck first at 9:41 of the first period, with their first of two goals of the game. It wasn’t until really late in the first period the Bulldogs were able to pull even with Utah.  On the power play, the Bulldogs made a D to D pass and let go a slap shot that caught the goalies pads, and lying in waiting was a juicy rebound jumped on by the Bulldogs and wristed past the Utah goalie.

 

Not much happened in the second period, until with each team tried to establish momentum. As the period passed the 5 minute mark, the play picked up.  At 4:36, a speedy Bulldog forward broke loose 1 on 1 with a Utah defenseman. The Bulldog forward slid the puck past the defenseman then broke for the puck, gained control, then hit the top right corner of the net giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.  Late in the period on a power play, a Bulldog defenseman skated coast to coast let go a wrist shot that was stopped by the goalie, but once again the Utah goalie gave up a rebound that was quickly cleaned up by a crashing Bulldog forward.

 

The third period, much like the first in terms of penalties, 9 in all, the teams would get their chances on the power play. However, both goals scored in the period would be 5 on 5. The Bulldogs knotted one first at 7:02 on another 1 on 1 break away, sliding the puck between the Utah defenseman’s skates and letting go a wrister beating the goalie top shelf. This goal gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead.  The last goal of the period came at 6:17, as Utah released a slap shot from the blue line that made it’s way to the back of the net through traffic in the front of the goalie.  The final score ended up Bulldogs 4 and Utah 2, giving the Bulldogs their second win of the tournament.

 

 

Alliance Gets Back to Even in Colorado...

 

Alliance – 5, California Wave - 2:  Alliance took their 2nd straight game of the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament, this time a win over the California Wave.   With 8 penalties between the two teams, the first period offered more that enough power play opportunities for both teams.  However, neither would score on the power play.  Instead, the Bulldogs notched the first goal short handed at 9:15. The two penalty killing forwards got the puck deep, and went to work on the fore check. The hard work paid off, as a Bulldog was left open in the slot area for a pass and wrister for a 1-0 lead.

 

The Bulldogs would take a 2-0 lead, as a Bulldog forward had a man hanging on him but managed to get a wrist shot off and past the left side of the Wave goalie. The two teams traded penalties late in the first period.  The Wave scored their first goal 4 on 4, as the two Bulldog forwards got caught deep in the zone, allowing a quick 2 on 2 rush out of the Wave zone.  As the Wave forward entered the zone, he caught an opening and let a wrist shot go catching the top corner of the net to make it 2-1.

 

The second period offered more 5 on 5 play.  At 10:18 in the second period, a breakdown in front of the Bulldog net allowed a Wave forward to stand alone in the slot. The Wave player caught a pass from behind the net and netted the second goal tying the game at 2.  The Bulldogs came back with two goals at 4:26 and 3:29.  The first goal came as the Bulldog forward skated past the defenseman on the left wing to the front of the net and slid the puck past the Wave goalie.  The next goal was scored short handed as the Bulldog forwards broke into the Wave zone, one let go a wrist shot that was blocked and then cleaned up with a nice backhand by a crashing Bulldog. The Bulldogs took a 4-2 lead to the third period.

 

The Bulldogs protected the lead in the third period.  With only three penalties called between both teams, the period was filled with 5 on 5 play. The penalties were all early in the period, with the last one being called on the Bulldogs at 11:17. The Bulldogs had being playing well on the penalty kill all game, and again the Bulldogs scored their second short handed goal of the game with a nice backhand over the goalie’s shoulder. The Bulldogs had kept themselves in the tournament with their second win.

 

 

                                                                        Friday, November 24, 2006                                                                             

 

Bulldogs Still Alive in Littleton…

 

Alliance – 3, Littleton Hawks – 2:  The Bulldogs had their back against the wall this afternoon, but a win over the host Littleton Hawks would leave open the opportunity to play in the playoffs on Sunday in the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament.  The play in the first period was intense by both teams, each matching the other’s intensity, with each team having power play opportunities.  The Bulldogs had the best scoring chance of the period, short handed, when two Bulldogs broke loose on a 2 on 1 from the Bulldog blue line. The forwards moved the puck back and forth a couple of times then the left wing let go a shot low hard. The goalie slid to his right and made a nice kick save. The first period ended 0-0.

 

The second period was much of the same, couple of power play chances and some physical play in front of the net.  It wasn’t until 2:25 left in the second period that a team broke the 0-0 tie.  The Bulldogs were on the penalty kill when a Hawk defenseman tried a dump in.  A Bulldog caught the puck just inside the blue line going the other way. The Hawks defensemen gave the Bulldog room in the neutral zone and he skated to the middle of the ice.  Crossing the blue line, the Bulldog beat one defenseman to his right, then toe dragged the second defenseman and roofed the shot past the Hawk goalie. This turned out to be the only scoring in the second period, 1-0 Bulldogs.

 

The Bulldogs went to work quickly in the third period.  At 13:40, the Bulldogs got the puck deep in the Hawks zone. They moved the puck around the horn, back out to the defense, made a D to D pass, and the point man finished it off with a nice slap shot past a screened goalie.  The Bulldogs were up 2-0. 

 

With a two goal lead the Bulldogs looked to be in the driver seat, until 6:24 left in the third period, when a Hawk forward skated down the left wing, made a right turn as he crossed the blue line in front of two Bulldog defensemen and let go a wrist shot that found the top corner of the net. The game would remain 2-1 in favor of the Bulldogs until 45 seconds left in the period.

 

The Hawks had pulled their goalie and in a clearing attempt, the Bulldogs found the net in the Hawks end. Looking like they would close this one out, the Hawks got pressure deep and with 16.8 seconds left, the Hawks snaked one past the Bulldog goalie for the final goal of the game.  The Bulldogs win a close one, 3-2.

 

 

Dogs Better, But Not Good Enough…

 

San Jose Sharks – 4, Alliance – 1:  The Bulldogs had trouble starting their engine against a physical San Jose Sharks team in their opener of the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament in Littleton, Colorado.  The Bulldogs had some real trouble controlling the play, as many of the loose pucks found their way to the Sharks’ players, enabling the Sharks to break out of their zone easily.  After killing off their first penalty, the Bulldogs found themselves down a man at 9:41 in the first period.

 

With thirty seconds left on the penalty, the Sharks penetrated the zone going wide down the right wing. The Bulldog defenseman was unable to angle the charging forward into the corner, and the Shark player walked around the defenseman. The Sharks forward made it to the front of the net and slid the puck five hole for a 1-0 lead.  

 

The Sharks carried the first goal momentum and in 25 seconds time miscommunication behind the net of the Bulldogs allowed a Shark player get position in front of the net. A quick pass and shot, the Sharks had the Bulldogs 2-0. The Bulldogs struggled to match the physical play of the Sharks the rest of the period.  At 3:21, the Bulldogs were called for their third penalty. The Bulldogs allowed a 2 on 1 to develop in front of the net and the Sharks capitalized with their third goal of the period.

 

The Bulldogs had dug themselves another 3 goal hole, and against a physical San Jose team the climb up was going to be tough.  The second period didn’t start out any better, as 13 seconds into the period, the Bulldog defenseman attempting a pass to a cutting forward turned the puck over in the offensive zone.  The defensemen’s gap separation was wide enough that the Shark player having intercepted the pass skated in untouched and roofed the puck. The Sharks lead now was 4.

 

The Bulldogs started to pick up their intensity and physical play as they could feel a sense of urgency to get back in the game. At 10:25 of the period, the Bulldogs went on their second power play still down 4-0.  At 10:19, the Bulldogs won a face off from the right face off circle back to the defenseman, a D to D pass, and a slap shot later the Bulldogs had cut the lead to three, 4-1.  Play ended in the second period with the Bulldogs down 4-1.

 

In the third period, the Bulldogs continued their physical play and intensity, and were awarded 4 power play opportunities and in the mix a brief 5 on 3 advantage.  The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on these opportunities, as during the period the Bulldogs were also penalized 6 times, 4 times in the last three minutes of the game.  The final tally this morning, 4-1, and a second loss in the tournament. It doesn’t get any easier for the Bulldog,s as they face the host Littleton Hawks this afternoon.

 

 

                                                                        Thursday, November 23, 2006                                                                        

 

Alliance Falls in Thanksgiving Opener…

 

Arapahoe Warriors – 5, Alliance – 3:  Thanksgiving Day was not good for the Bulldogs in hockey terms, as the Arapahoe Navy Warriors ruined their day by taking Game 1 of the Mile High Thanksgiving Tournament in Littleton, Colorado.   The Bulldogs quickly went short handed in the first period of the game, as at 14:51 the Bulldogs were called for a roughing as a Warrior forward and Bulldog defenseman got tangled.  The Warriors were successful in converting on the power play, as the Bulldogs were unable to clear the puck, and at 13:02 the Warriors struck first.  At 8:20 the Bulldogs found themselves short handed again.  Thirty seconds later the Warriors speared the Bulldogs with another goal, and the first ended with the Bulldogs trailing by 2.

 

At 11:18 in the second period, the Bulldogs left a Warrior open in front of the net and with a quick wrister Warriors were up by 3.  The Bulldogs got a break on a turnover by a Warrior defenseman, and turned it into a scoring opportunity. The puck found its way onto the Bulldog's stick and he skated in from the left wing and fired a shot past the goalie, breaking some of the momentum for the Warriors.

 

The Warriors recaptured their 3 goal lead a minute and a half later, by finding an open forward in the slot. The Warriors now leading 4 to 1, would cash in one more time just twenty seconds later.  The Bulldogs had dug themselves a deep hole and not enough bones. At 2:41 in the second, the Bulldogs got the puck deep in the Warrior zone, and with a nice pass from behind the goal line hit the forward open in the slot who then found the top left corner of the net. The second period ended with the Bulldogs behind 5 to 2.

 

The zam between the second and third period allowed the Bulldogs to pull themselves together for a last shot at getting to even with the Warriors. The Bulldogs came out aggressively, putting pressure on the Warrior, but it wasn't until 6 minutes had past in the period were the Bulldogs able to get bouncing rubber past the Warrior goalie.

 

A two on one developed from the center line, as two Bulldogs widen the space between them pulling the defenseman towards the puck carrier.  As the defenseman tilted, the Bulldog forward found his partner cutting to the net and sent a pass his way. The cutter picked the puck, then picked the goalie for the Bulldogs third goal. The Bulldogs continued to have scoring opportunities but none would wrinkle the twine, losing there first outing of the tournament 3-5.

 

 

 

                                                                        Saturday, November 11, 2006                                                                         

 

Turnovers Lead to a Bulldog Loss…

 

Attack 14UAAA – 7, Alliance – 1:  A NTXHL game that looked promising after the first period, and even late in the second period, turned into what look like the Pamplona Bull Run in the third, as the Bulldogs got gored by the Texas Attack 14U AAA.  The first period was competitive for the Bulldogs, and the Attack.  An early turnover at 12:05 in the period led to a breakaway 4 on 4 goal for a quick 1-0 lead. Both goalies remained stingy for the remainder of the period, but the better scoring chances were tilted towards the Attack.

 

Quickly into the second period, the Attack scored on a shorthanded goal.  The shot, a quick snapper from the left wing, caught the Bulldog netminder leaning just enough to be beaten on the short side.  Goal number 2 came at 13:22 left in the second period to make it 2-0.  The Bulldogs would have chances in the second period, but none would come from the slot area of the ice.

 

Bad angle shots were easily controlled by the Attack goalie and the defense. The Attack continued to use their speed to get most of their chances at the Bulldog goalie.  At 1:47 of the period, the Attack had strong pressure on the Bulldogs.  Unable to get a clear, the Bulldogs found themselves giving up a slow slider between the pads.  Three to zip, the period ended. Down just three goals there was time to re-group, but the Bulldogs needed a quick goal.

 

As the Bulldogs came out at the beginning of the third period, they found themselves flat footed and down 4 to 0 just 27 seconds into the third period.  Desperation was slowly settling in for the Bulldogs.  Thirty-three seconds later, the Bulldogs found themselves down 5 love and no service aces at hand, and still 14 minutes left in the period.

 

At 13:17, an Attack defensemen, taking advantage of traffic in front of the Bulldog netminder, let go a wrist shot which found its way to the net, 6-0 Attack.  The Bulldogs did not give up, much to their credit, and were finally rewarded with a goal on a nice slap shot from the right point.  However, that would be all the Bulldogs could get past the Attack this afternoon.  The Attack added an even strength goal towards the end of the period, making the score Attack 7, Bulldogs 1.  Not the Bulldogs best effort, but there is a lot of season left.

 

 

                                                                        Sunday, October 29, 2006                                                                                  

 

Bulldogs Do The Dirty Work to get NTXHL Split...

 

Alliance – 5, Austin – 2:  The Bulldogs came out determined to not let another game slip away, as they dominated the Austin Roadrunners throughout in the 2^nd game of their NTXHL 2-game series on Sunday in Valley Ranch.  The play during the first period was mainly in the Roadrunner end of the ice, and neither team was able to catch a break for the better part of the period.  

 

At 4:17, the Bulldogs were able slip past the Roadrunner defense only to be pulled down in the Roadrunner zone. The Bulldogs were awarded a penalty shot, but were unable to take advantage, as the Austin goalie made a feisty blocker save, which gave Austin some momentum. The Bulldogs committed a couple of penalties, and had killed just off the first when on the second, the Roadrunners were able to slip the puck past the Bulldog goalie in traffic for the first goal of the game and a 1-0 lead.  A minute and half later, Alliance committed their third penalty of the period, but the Bulldogs made a nice steal of the puck at their own blue line and with a deke and backhand, the Bulldogs had evened the game at 1-1.

 

The second period was again dominated by the Bulldogs, with each team getting opportunities on the power play.  Alliance would get a second chance at 4:16 of the second period, and a minute into the power play, the Bulldogs capitalized on the man advantage.   With a scrum in front of the net, the puck was poked past the goalie and the Bulldogs went ahead 2-1, and then never looked back.

 

At 9:41 of the third period, Alliance scored their second power play goal of the game for a 3-1 lead. The third goal for the Bulldogs again was the result of scrappy play in front of the Roadrunner net minder.  As a scrambled ensued in front of the net, a Bulldog was able to get control of the loose puck and chip it over the goalie, and the Bulldog lead was now 2 goals. 

 

With 8:12 left in the game, Alliance found themselves short handed for four minutes.  Not to be denied, the Bulldogs broke free 2 on 1 shorthanded from the Bulldog blue line.  As the Roadrunner goalie tried to get position in case of a cross ice pass, he left a small opening on the short side of the goal, which was found by a sliding puck on the ice.  The Bulldogs and the Roadrunners would add another goal each as the game came to an end, making the final score Bulldogs 5, The Roadrunner 2.

 

 

                                                                     Saturday, October 28, 2006                                                                                  

 

Austin Nips Alliance in First of 2 Weekend Tilts...

 

Austin – 3, Alliance – 2:   It was slow start and a slow finish for the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in the first of 2 NTXHL games against the Austin Roadrunners this weekend. A parade of penalties and turnovers by both teams led to close game, and some hair pulling by the coaches.  The Bulldogs started the scoring in the first period at 6:32, with a nice power play goal from the left circle between the goalie glove and leg pad.  The period ended with the Bulldogs up 1-0 as neither team was able wrinkle the twine for the remainder.

 

With a little over 5 minutes gone in the second period, the Roadrunners notched a goal with a backhander off the cross bar to tie it up at 1-1.  The ice started to get choppy and chewed up, and the result was a second period of play that was a circus of cough ups and ridiculous bounces.  The Roadrunners were able to take advantage of a turnover with a good forecheck, and turned it into a shorthanded goal with 5:20 left in the second period.  At the buzzer, the Roadrunners led 2-1.

 

The Bulldogs started off on the power play beginning the third period, and they quickly took advantage of the opportunity at 14:02.  Alliance hammered a shot at the Roadrunner goalie who gave up a juicy rebound.  A Bulldog crashing the net was able to send the rebound past a stretched out goalie, tying the score at 2-2.

 

Neither team mounted much offense the rest of the period.  With only 2:02 left in the third period, and a face off in the Roadrunners end, the Bulldogs were caught flat footed. The Bulldogs won the face off back, but were beaten to the puck by the right wing.  Unable to stop the winger flying out of the zone, the Bulldogs gave up their third goal of the game, which turned out to be the game winner as the contest ended 3-2 in the Roadrunners favor.

 

 

                                                                      Sunday, October 15, 2006                                                                                  

 

Yeoman Bulldogs Win Their 3rd NTXHL Tilt...

 

Alliance – 4, Houston Wild ‘91AAA – 2:  Alliance earned their third victory of the young NTXHL season Sunday afternoon, as the Bulldogs out worked the Houston Wild '91 AAA in both zones of the ice controlling play most of the game.   The first period started with penalty at 14:30, an interference call on the Houston Wild.   Playing 5 on 4 for two minutes, Alliance was unable to crack the Wild goalie.  Then at 10:49 of the first period, the Bulldogs received the benefit of an over-played puck by the Houston Wild goalie and scored their first and only goal of the period.  

 

There was a face off just outside the Wild blue line, won by a Bulldog who pushed the puck forward and towards the Wild goalie.  The Wild goalie ended up over-playing the puck and was unable to recover, as the puck slid by him and into the net for a 1-0 Alliance lead.  The Bulldogs led up until the 4:05 mark in the first period, when the Wild were able to send one into the Bulldog net, and the first period ended 1 to 1. 

 

The fans saw more 5 on 5 play in the second period, with only one penalty called in the opening seven minutes.  The Bulldogs committed a hooking penalty at 8:36, and Alliance went on the penalty kill with a committed effort.  It would soon pay off, as with pressure in the Wild zone, a quick turnover was forced as the penalty kill was winding down, and the Bulldogs found the net for the second time in the game to re-take the lead at 2-1.

 

Both teams played aggressively, but were unable to establish enough control to get shots to the net.  As the 2^nd period would wind down inside three minutes, the teams would combine for three goals. The first of the three came by the Bulldogs, managing to get the puck past a Wild defenseman at the Alliance blue line, then gathered by a supporting forward and into the zone 2 on 1; a nice pass and chip up over the Wild goalie and the Bulldogs were up 3 to 1.

 

Thirty seconds later, the Bulldogs went to work on the power play.  Fifteen seconds after that, the Bulldogs had their fourth goal and seemingly control of the game with a 4-1 lead.  However, one minute later, the Wild would get their second tally, but it would be their final goal of the game.  The period ended with the Alliance Bulldogs leading the Houston Wild 4 to 2.

 

The third period play was back and forth, with neither team able to break through with a goal.  Each team would get four power play opportunities in the period, but neither was able to solve the penalty the kill of the other.  The third period would end with the same score as it had begun, 4 to 2 in favor of the Bulldogs.

 

 

                                                                       Sunday, October 1, 2006                                                                                   

 

No Comeback Allowed this Time by the Bulldogs...

 

Alliance Bulldogs - 5, Texas Aces - 2:  The Alliance Bulldogs Midget AA team went back to work on Sunday afternoon against the Texas Aces AA, this time in a NTXHL league tilt.   After allowing the Texas Aces to come back and tie a game Wednesday night, the Bulldogs came prepared to shut down the Aces.

 

The first period proved to be a challenge for the Bulldogs, as they began with taking two penalties in the first minute of the game.  The Bulldogs successfully killed these two penalties.  However, at 3:16 of the first period, the Bulldogs would face another 5 on 3 power play for the Aces.  While the Bulldogs would again kill the 5 on 3 penalty, they were unable to keep the Aces out of the net on 5 on 4 power play.  Down 1-0 inside the 2 minute mark of the first period, the Bulldogs would find themselves the beneficiaries of a 5 on 3 power play themselves.   With 5.4 seconds left in the first period, the Bulldogs were able to connect on a nice pass from behind the net and pop one past the Aces’ goalie. The first period ended with the score tied 1-1.

 

Shortly after the second period started, the Bulldogs went shorthanded again.  The Bulldogs were able to kill this penalty.  Each team took a penalty part way through the second period, but neither team would be able to take advantage on their power plays.  Play moved forward 5 on 5 until the Aces committed an interference penalty with 4:46 left in the second period.  Taking advantage of being one man up, the Bulldogs tallied their second power play goal at 4:17.  The second period ended with some shenanigans on the ice, and with 14 seconds left in the second period, the Bulldogs gained the advantage of another power play.  The second period ended with the Bulldogs leading 2-1 and still on the power play.

 

At the 14:25 mark of the final frame, the Bulldogs’ tenacious effort earned them a 5 on 3 power play when the Aces committed a holding penalty.  However, the Bulldogs couldn’t cash in on this advantage, as the Aces successfully kill off the 5 on 3, and then the 5 on 4 power play of the Bulldogs.  Soon enough, the Bulldogs would draw an interference penalty from the Aces at 12:15, and with 11:47 left in the third period, the Bulldogs chipped another one past the Aces goalie, and went up 3-1.   Fifteen seconds later, the Aces drew an interference penalty on the Bulldogs.  Not to be deterred, the Bulldogs maintained a heavy fore-check on the Aces, causing an Aces turnover in the left corner of the Aces zone.  A quick pass to an uncovered Bulldog in the slot area and quick release found the back of the net to send the Bulldogs up 4-1 with 10:55 left in the third period.

 

Play continued with neither team adding to their scoring total, until with 4:17 left in the third period, when the Aces were able to crack the Bulldogs’ defense to score their second goal of the afternoon.   However, this would be the last puck the Aces would be able to get past the Bulldogs.  Alliance finished off the Aces 5-2 with another period ending goal at 37 seconds left in the third period. Overall, it was a solid effort for the Alliance Bulldogs, and a well deserved win.

 

 

                                                                  Wednesday, September 27, 2006                                                                           

 

16U AA Tied Late by Aces...

 

With 3:12 left in the final period, the Aces got another one past the Bulldogs and the score was 4-4. The Bulldogs still had a chance to pull out a victory, as they had a 5 on 3 power play for the last 1:41 of the third period.  No goal was to be had though, as the game end in a tie 4-4.  The same two teams will face off again in NTXHL league Sunday October 1st at Valley Ranch at 3:15.

 

 

                                                                     Saturday, September 16, 2006                                                                               

 

Alliance Falls Late to Polar Bears...

 

 

                                                                     Saturday, September 16, 2006                                                                               

 

Bulldogs Cruise 7-1 in Phoenix MROC Game 2...

 

 

16U AA Takes MROC Opener in Phoenix...

 

    

 

                                                                     Saturday, September 1, 2006                                                                                 

 

Bulldogs Drop Stars in Game 1 of Texas Shootout...

 

 

                                                                       Thursday, August 10, 2006                                                                                      

 

U16 AA Roster & Preliminary Schedule Released...

 

The Alliance U16 Minor Midget AA Roster and Preliminary Schedule for the 2006-2007 season was released today, and there are a lot of newcomers to the Bulldogs on this team.  The schedule indicates they will have at least three tournaments in the fall, starting with the Dallas Jr. Stars Select  Texas Shootout Tournament for the upcoming Labor Day Holiday.  

 

Two weekends later, they will hit the road for the annual MROC Festival in Phoenix, facing some tough competition from the west coast areas.  These Bulldogs will once again spend their Thanksgiving in the Rocky Mountains for the 35th Annual Mile High Tournament in Littleton, Colorado, an annual tradition for many Bulldog teams.  Alliance teams have been participating in this tough AA tournament every season since 2001-2002, and will be facing some of the toughest teams they will see this season.

 

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