18U AAA

Alliance - 3, Colorado Thunderbirds - 1: After 3 straight easy wins to open the EHK USHN Challenge Cup tournament, the Bulldog 18UAAA team found themselves in some really tight playoff games. Coming away with back to back 3-2 wins in the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals, including a thrilling 3 OT Quarter-Final game against Southern Calif. Titans, Alliance was ready for another tough one in the Championship.

This time, the Colorado Thunderbirds did not disappoint, and it took all of three periods of solid hockey before the Bulldogs would pull away with a 3-1 win and the Championship of the 2007 EHK USHN Challenge Cup in Frisco on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs eventually broke a scoreless tie with a tally in the 2nd period, and after a break to flood the ice between the second and third frames, Alliance opened it up to 3-0 with 2 more in the 3rd before the T'Birds could ruin the shutout bid. It was the Bulldogs' 7th straight win, and gives them a 21-9-1 record for the season thus far.

Alliance - 4, Lansing Capitals - 2: The Bulldog 18UAAA team got back on the winning track with a nice win over the Lansing Capitals in their final game of the NAHL Midget Showcase Series Saturday night in Blaine, Minnesota. The Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 less than 2 minutes in, but responded with 3 unanswered goals, including 2 before the end of the first half for a 2-1 lead at the intermission.

After increasing the lead to 3-1 at the 19:05 mark, the teams traded goals for the final 4-2 score. Alliance out-shot the Capitals by a significant margin of 37 to 18, and finished the tournament with a 3-1 record, and increased their season record to 7-1-1. Alliance will next see action when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa on the Columbus Day weekend for the Midget Buc Bowl.

Russell Stover - 3, Alliance - 2: Both teams came into the NAHL Midget Showcase Series contest undefeated for the weekend, with Russell Stover at 3-0 and the Alliance Bulldog 18UAAA team at 2-0. In a back and forth battle, the Stover boys got the final tally with less than 3 minutes remaining to take a 3-2 win to hand Alliance their first loss of the young season.

Stover opened the scoring in the first half, when they took a 1-0 lead with a powerplay goal just about halfway into the period. The first half ended at 1-0 Stover, but the Bulldogs took only 3 seconds to tie it at the beginning of the second half on an unassisted tally to knot it up at 1-1. Stover re-took the lead with an even strength goal at the 7:54 mark to make it 2-1, and it stayed that way until late in the contest.

With just over 4 minutes remaining, Alliance tied it up again at 2-2 with a man advantage tally of their own. It was not to be for the 'Dogs this time, as the boys from Kansa City won it with their 2nd powerplay goal 2 minutes later for the game winner.

Alliance - 3, Buffalo Regals - 0: After a late game last night, the Alliance Bulldog 18UAAA team got some rest during the day, and came out strong against the Buffalo Regals in Game 2 of the NAHL Midget Showcase Series in Blaine, Minnesota. Playing the tournament format of two (2) 28 minute halves, the Bulldogs struck for their first goal just over 17 minutes into the game on a power play tally for a 1-0 lead.

It looked like the lead would stay at a one goal margin heading into the intermission, but with just under 2 minutes remaining in the opening half, the Bulldogs made it 2-0 with another man advantage goal. Alliance would hold that 2-0 lead until very late, when with just over a minute left in the contest, the Bulldogs would get an even strength goal for the final 3-0 score.

After 2 straight days with only one game per day, the heat will be turned up a notch on Saturday, as the Bulldogs have 2 games tomorrow. They will open up with Russell Stover in the morning, and then come back for the nightcap against the Lansing Capitals. Stover has won all 3 of their games thus far, with 2 shutouts. The Capitals are 0-3 for the tournament and have had a hard time scoring (no goals yet).

Alliance - 3, Madison Capitals - 2: After a 2 week layoff, the Alliance Bulldog 18UAAA team got back into action on Thursday, opening with a win over the Madison Capitals in Game 1 of the NAHL Midget Showcase Series in Blaine, Minnesota.

After the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead on a power play goal halfway through the first half, Madison responded with an even strength goal a few minutes later, followed by a power play tally to end the first half at 2-1 Capitals. The Bulldogs scored on another man advantage to tie it at 2-2 early in the 2nd half, and scored the game winner later in the period at even strength. More on this game will be provided as it is received...

It was a good day for Alliance, as the 18UAAA and 16UAAA teams remained unbeaten in their 8 games of the Jr. Sharks Labor Day Shootout in San Jose, and 4 other teams have earned spots in the Semi-Finals of the Texas Shootout on Labor Day Monday.

In Alliance's inaugural season competing at the Tier I 18U level, the Bulldogs have started off nicely, with 3 wins and 1 tie thus far. The Bulldogs will complete their trip to San Jose with a final tilt on Labor Day Monday against the LA Selects. The Jr. Sharks Shootout is not a tournament, and does not have any playoffs, or determine a champion.

The Alliance Youth Hockey Association is pleased and proud to announce today that Chris Kostopoulos, Alliance Co-Founder and 18UAAA Head Coach, has accepted an offer to be an Assistant Coach for the Robert Morris University Colonials. No one has had more influence on the development and growth of the Alliance organization since its inception in 2001 than Chris. For more information about Chris' move to the NCAA, click HERE...

With Kostopoulos moving on to the collegiate level, many are now wondering the direction of the 18UAAA team and program at Alliance. Alliance is pleased to announce that Jaz Hayden, who was scheduled to be an assistant to Kostopoulos this upcoming season, will take over as the Head Coach of the Tier I 18UAAA team for the 2007-2008 season. Scott Tinkham will remain as one of the assistant coaches, and the Alliance Directors of Hockey are in the process of interviewing candidates for an additional assistant coach position.

Jaz most recently led his Alliance 16U Prep team to the Finals of the Rocky Mountain District Championships, and has been with the Alliance program since 2004. Jaz has also led 2 Plano West HS teams to Championships, with his 2005-2006 Varsity Silver team taking the SBC Championship, and his 2004-2005 JV Blue team also took the SBC Championship as well. For more information about Jaz and his experience, click HERE...

Scott Tinkham is no stranger to the Alliance bench, as he has been an assistant to Kostopoulos for the past 3 seasons, helping lead those teams to 2 National Championship appearances and a Bronze Medal. In addition to being an outstanding Assistant Coach, Scott is also a hockey Dad for former Alliance and Valley Jr. Warrior (ECHL) goaltender Garrett Tinkham (1988), and publishes Ice Times Magazine with his wife Kim Tinkham. Alliance looks forward to another season with Scott's experience and calming influence behind the Bulldog bench.

Alliance Expands to Include an 18U Tier I AAA Team…

Chris Kostopoulos Named Head Coach

The Board of Directors of the Alliance Youth Hockey Association (AYHA) announced today that it was expanding the number of teams within the organization to include an 18U Tier I AAA team. This decision was driven for a variety of factors which include the success the organization has enjoyed during its six year history, the growth of youth hockey in Dallas and the surrounding region, and the opportunity for the organization to field Tier I teams at all levels within the U.S. Hockey structure.

Since its creation in 2001, the Alliance organization has become a fixture in the Dallas, Rocky Mountain District, and National hockey community. During this period, Alliance has produced thirteen championship teams at the State level, seven championship teams at the Rocky Mountain District level, and 3 bronze medalists at the USA Hockey National Championships.

“The Alliance Youth Hockey Association is excited about expanding our program to include an 18U Tier I AAA team. We are pleased to be in a position to offer Tier I programs at all recognized levels,” stated Christine Burns, President of the Alliance Youth Hockey Association.

“Through this program we will provide our players an opportunity to develop, grow and pursue their hockey goals within one organization, while at the same time staying close to home, family, friends, and school”.

The Alliance Bulldogs 18U Tier I AAA team will be based in Valley Ranch, TX. For 2007-2008, the team will play a rigorous but well balanced schedule of games, providing the utmost in exposure and competition, in Dallas and throughout the country against other nationally recognized Tier I programs.

Nationally recognized and highly respected Chris Kostopoulos, formerly Director of Hockey and Head Coach for the Alliance 16U Tier I AAA team over the past three seasons has been named Head Coach. Chris brings over 12 years coaching and 25 years of playing experience at all levels of hockey, including Junior A, College and Professional to his new role, and holds a Masters Level coaching certificate.

Chris is one of the original founders of the Alliance organization. Over the 6 years to date, he has lead his teams to 2 league championships, 4 State Titles, 2 Rocky Mountain District Championships, 2 USA Hockey National Championship births and 1 National Bronze Medal.

In addition to winning a Bronze Medal at the 2007 USA Hockey National Championships last season, the past 3 Bulldog 16U AAA teams coached by Kostopoulos have finished the season ranked #6 (2007), #10 (2006), and #5 (2005) in the USHSHO National Rankings.

In addition to the team success Chris has enjoyed, he has also been instrumental in the development of a number of players who are currently committed to begin playing Division I College Hockey – Austin Smith and Locke Jillson for example.

Joining Kostopoulos will be Jaz Hayden and Scott Tinkham, who have been named assistant coaches for the team. Combined, Jaz and Scott have accumulated over 45 years of experience playing and coaching hockey at the junior, collegiate & professional levels.

“I am excited about the opportunity to continue building the organization and to further the development of players within Alliance”, stated Chris Kostopoulos. “I am confident that with the support of the association and the coaching staff, we will quickly build an Under 18 team that will be recognized nationally.”

The current plans are for try-outs to be held in Dallas from June 16^th through the 18^th. Further information on tryouts will be posted on the Alliance website once the details have been determined.