Midget Major AA

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 FINAL National Rankings Posted, 2 Alliance Teams in Nation's Top 20...

The FINAL National Rankings have been posted for the 2005-2006 Season, and two Alliance teams finished in the Top 20 of their respective age groups. The Bulldog Midget Minor Tier I AAA team ended up Ranked #10 Nationally, and the Alliance Bantam Tier I AAA team ended up with a National Ranking of 11th.

The Midget Minor Tier II AA and Midget Major Tier II AA teams just missed out on the Top 20, with the Minors ranked at #23, and the Majors ranked at #29. Congratulations to all the Bulldog Teams and Coaches for another outstanding season. For all the rankings, click HERE...

The Alliance Youth Hockey Association would like to congratulate our graduating high school seniors. They graduate in style, holding their NTXHL Championship trophies, to go along with a U18 Texas State Championship.

A special note of recognition goes to Casey Smith and Justin Cooley, two original Alliance players, each completing their 5th straight season wearing the Bulldog on their chest. Casey was a member of the Inaugural 2001-2002 Alliance Bantam A team, while Justin was on the Inaugural 2001-2002 Alliance PeeWee A team that won the Texoma Championship.

Alliance Midget Major AA Wins NTXHL Championship!!!

NTXHL Playoffs: Alliance Takes Championship with Goal in Overtime...

Midget Major AA: Alliance - 2, Texas Aces - 1 (OT): In a series where each game was decided with the game winning goal coming in the final minute of play, it was only fitting that the Championship game would go to overtime to decide the winner. In a battle that neither team deserved to lose, it was the Bulldogs that came away with the win, as they scored just 49 seconds into overtime to beat the Texas Aces and win the NTXHL Championship early this morning in Frisco.

After battling to a 1-1 tie through regulation, the Alliance center won a face-off in the Aces' right wing circle, drove hard to the net, and put his own rebound over the left shoulder of the Aces net-minder to give the Bulldogs the win and the Championship banner. This Bulldog team completed the season with an outstanding 29-15-2 season, which included a Regular Season NTXHL Championship, U18 Tier II State Championship, and the NTXHL Playoff Championship.

Both goals during regulation play came in the opening frame, with Alliance scoring first at the 9:12 mark on a rebound in close for an early 1-0 lead. The Aces evened the score at 1-1 on their first shot of the game, at the 7:30 point on a pass back into the slot and a wrist shot. In the first period, Alliance had 7 shots, Aces 2. There was no scoring in the second, although the Aces came close, hitting the post at the 8:00 minute mark. Shots in the second were even at 4 each. Once again, there was no scoring in the third period, with the shots 5-4 in favor of the Bulldogs.

These 2 teams played 8 times this season, with the Bulldogs winning 6, but all the games were close, and 5 were decided by 1 goal. This Alliance team was a team that almost wasn’t, as in late August, they lost several players to AAA teams, and did not have enough players to fill a roster. That was when the seed for an eventual merger with the Lone Star Wolves was planted, and the 2 organizations combined their U18 players into this one team, and it turned out great for all the players involved, culminating in State and League Championships.

Saturday, April 1, 2006 NTXHL Playoffs: Bulldogs Fall in Final Minute of Game 2 in Championship Series...

Texas Aces - 3, Alliance - 2: The Texas Aces turned it back around on the Bulldogs, completing a comeback of their own, with the game winning goal coming with just 43 seconds remaining in regulation, and won Game 2 to even their Best of 3 Championship Series at 1 game each in the NTXHL Playoffs today in Frisco. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first minute of play after some good puck movement found a Bulldog with an open shot. The Aces would tie the game at 1-1 with just :07 remaining in the 1st period.

This was a typical Alliance-Aces matchup, with physical play and low scoring. The Bulldogs scored 1st in the 2nd period at the 7:12 mark to take a 2-1 lead. The Aces fought back, and again scored with less than a minute left in the period to tie it back up at 2-2 headed into the 3^rd frame.

The Aces would continue to get their power play chances in the final period, and ended up with 7 power play opportunities to just 1 for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs had several chances to score, but the Aces goaltender was not giving in, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced on the day. The Aces scored the game winner with just 43 seconds left, knocking in a loose puck after a mad scramble in the Bulldog crease. The Bulldogs then pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but the Aces used everything they had to stop the puck from getting to the goal.

Of the 7 games these 2 teams have played this season, 5 have been decided by one goal. The 2 teams will meet again on Sunday morning at 7:30am for the NTXHL Championship.

Friday, March 31, 2006 Bulldogs Take Game 1 of Championship Series with Last Minute Tally...

Alliance - 4, Texas Aces - 3: The Alliance Midget Major AA waited until the last minute, but completed their comeback with the game winner with only 27 seconds remaining in regulation to nip the Texas Aces in Game 1 to take a 1-0 lead in their Best of 3 Championship Series of the NTXHL Playoffs tonight in Frisco.

The Bulldogs and the Aces have played several times this season and every game has been close, and this was no exception. The Aces jumped to a 1-0 lead just under 2 minutes into the game, scoring on a breakaway. The Bulldogs capitalized on a power play opportunity 5 minutes later to tie the score at 1-1. The Aces closed out the 1st period by scoring on a deflection to take a 2-1 lead at the 1st intermission.

The Aces made it 3-1 midway through the second, after a defensive lapse by the Bulldogs allowed the Aces to skate right to the goaltender and score point blank. The Bulldogs called a time out to regroup, and made the score 3-2 shortly thereafter, scoring on another power play. The 2nd period ended 3-2 in favor of the Aces, and the total shots on goal through 2 periods were 17-16 in favor of the Bulldogs.

The 3rd period saw end to end action and each goalie made a couple of big saves. The Bulldogs scored their first even strength goal, and tied the score at 3 all with just under 3 minutes remaining. With just 27 seconds left in the game, the Bulldogs scored the game winner on a rebound shot for a 4-3 comeback victory. The Bulldogs and Aces play game 2 in the best of 3 series Saturday morning at 9:45am at the DPSC-Frisco. Alliance can capture the Championship with a win in Game 2, but if the Aces win, the deciding Game 3 will be played 7:30am Sunday morning, again in Frisco.

Sunday, March 26, 2006 Midget Major AA Cruises into Championship Series at 4 and 0...

Alliance - 3, OKC - 2: Alliance and OK City battled close all day, but it was an unusual empty netter by the Bulldogs with the game tied that won Game 4 of the NTXHL Playoffs Sunday Afternoon in Euless. OKC figured the only way they could possibly advance was with a regulation and 3rd period win, so they pulled the goalie late in the game to go for the win. The Bulldogs take the gift and their 4-0 playoff record into next weekend's Best of 3 NTXHL Championship Series against the Texas Aces.

Saturday, March 25, 2006 Bulldogs Sweep 2 more NTXHL Tilts...

Alliance – 10, DJHA – 1: Alliance took advantage from the start, out-numbering DJHA in skaters by a 15-10 margin, controlled the game from the opening face-off, and raced away with a win in Game 3 of the NTXHL Playoffs Saturday night in Euless.

Alliance went on a shorthanded goal scoring binge from 11:20 to 8:50 in the opening period, killing 2 penalties and scoring 4 shorties. They scored the fifth goal during 4 on 4 action at the 8:20 mark to make it 5-0, and added their first powerplay goal 30 seconds later for a 6-0 lead. The first period scoring was capped off with a 2nd Bulldogs power play goal with 26 seconds left to make it 7-0 headed into the 2nd period. Shots in the first period were 20-4 Alliance.

The only score in an otherwise lackluster second period was the first even strength goal of the game at the 13:47 mark, after a long pass connected for a breakaway goal to make it 8-0 Bulldogs. Shots in the period were 11-5 Alliance.

With the clock running in the 3rd, Alliance made it 9-0 on an even strength goal, before DJHA connected for their only goal of the game at 5:50 to make it 9-1. Alliance made it to double digit scoring with just 2:30 remaining for the 10-1 final. Shots were 11-3 for the period in favor of the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs Take Aces in NTXHL Action...

Alliance – 4, Texas Aces – 2: The Bulldogs took an early lead, nursed it into the second period, then built a 4-1 margin in the 2nd period on their way to a win over the Texas Aces in Game 2 of the NTXHL Playoffs Saturday night in Euless.

Alliance started the scoring at the 12:16 on a long pass breakaway at even strength to take an early 1-0 lead. Play was fairly even in the opening period, with both teams getting 8 shots each. Alliance had to kill 3 penalties and had no PP opportunities, but took the 1-0 lead into the second period.

The Bulldogs capitalized on their first powerplay opportunity, scoring on rebound at the 12:34 mark to make it 2-0. The Aces scored their first goal at 8:04 on a breakaway, after a face-off at even strength to reduce it to 2-1. Alliance then scored back-to-back even strength goals at 3:23 and 2:27, with a scramble in front of the net, and then a slapshot from the point after a pass from the side of net to take a 4-1 lead into the final frame. In the 2nd period, Alliance had 15 shots, Aces 5.

The Aces scored a powerplay goal at the 10:14 mark of the 3rd period to draw within 2 at 4-2, but could not muster any more scoring the rest of the game. Shots were 9-4 Alliance in the final period.

Saturday, March 11, 2006 RMD Tier II Championships - Day 3 Update...

Highland Hills - 5, Alliance - 4 (OT): The Bulldogs once again found themselves in another wild back and forth game, and the result was another heart-breaking overtime loss, this time to the Highland Hills Jaguars in Game 3 of the U18 Tier II Rocky Mountain District Championships in Denver on Saturday. Alliance fell behind in the first period for the 3rd time in a row, trailing 2-0 before getting the sparks flying. Just like in Game 2, the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game at 2-2, and then it was back and forth from that point on.

Each time the Jaguars would take a 1-goal lead, Alliance would come right back and tie it back up again, with the score escalating from 2-2 to 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, and finally 4-4 by the end of the 3rd period and regulation play. In the overtime period, it looked like no one would win it, but with only 35 seconds left in OT, Highland Hills got the game winner and eliminated the Bulldogs from contention.

The Alliance season does not end, though, as they return home as the NTXHL Regular Season Champs looking to complete their season with a Playoff Championship in late March.

Friday, March 10, 2006 RMD Tier II Championships - Day 2 Update...

Arvada - 4, Alliance - 2: The Bulldogs came from behind again to tie the game, but were unable to grab the lead and fell in Game 2 of the U18 Tier II Rocky Mountain District Championships in Denver late Friday night. Alliance fell behind in the first period, as Arvada took advantage of their opportunities, mixed with some good fortune.

The first goal was an empty netter, as the Bulldog net-minder was taken out of the play and Arvada capitalized for a 1-0 lead. They increased their lead with another tally later in the period to take a 2-0 lead into the 2nd frame.

The Bulldogs fought back in the second, scoring on a nice shot from the slot to reduce the lead to one goal at 2-1. Alliance would bring things even before the period would end, with an excellent slap-shot from the point and through traffic in front for a power play goal to tie the score at 2-2. The 2nd period would end with the score still tied, and both teams looking to win it in the 3rd period.

Unfortunately for Alliance, it was Arvada doing the scoring in the final period, as they score 2 more goals for the 4-2 win, both coming on the man advantage. Alliance had its chances but the puck would not bounce their way, as the shots for the game were even, but Alliance spent more time in the penalty box. The Bulldogs come back for the final preliminary game on Saturday, when they play the Highland Hills Jaguars, who beat Arvada in the Colorado State Championship game in 3 overtimes.

Thursday, March 9, 2006 RMD Tier II Championships Update...

Utah - 6, Alliance - 5: In a high scoring and exciting game, the Bulldogs fell in Overtime to the Utah Jr. Wildcats in Game 1 of the U18 Tier II Rocky Mountain District Championships in Denver. Utah took an early 3-1 lead in the 1st period, but Alliance narrowed the gap to 3-2 at the end of the opening frame.

The Wildcats came back to open up a big lead, this time with 2 early tallies in the first 5 minutes of the 2nd period to increase their margin to 5-2. The Bulldogs rallied once again, this time matching the Utah output with 2 more goals of their own to bring it back to within one goal at 5-4 after 2 periods of play. After killing off a 5 minute major in the early part of the 3rd period, Alliance would eventually catch the Wildcats, tying the game at 5-5 with their 3rd straight unanswered goal of the game. The 3rd period ended with the score still tied at 5-5, and it was off to the extra frame.

Alliance would get a quick scoring chance on the first shift of the overtime, but would be denied the game winner. Utah then turned that Alliance opportunity into one of their own, with a nice pass up the middle creating a 3 on 1 rush, which eventually resulted in a drop pass that was converted into a nice shot from between the face-off circles for a 6-5 OT Utah victory. The Bulldogs will have to shake this one off, as they come back on Friday night with another tough game against the Host team from Arvada, Colorado.

Friday, February 24, 2006 Midget Majors Secure Regular Season NTXHL Championship!!!

Alliance - 11, Ice Hawks - 0: The Bulldogs added a Regular Season League Championship to their accomplishments with a shutout win over the Dallas Ice Hawks at Valley Ranch Friday night. With one game still to play on Saturday, the win gives Alliance a one-point lead over Austin and Tulsa, who are both finished with all their regular season games. The Bulldogs did not allow the Hawks a shot until the 2nd period, and held them to just 7 shots for the game. Alliance wraps up the regular season on Saturday, when they face McKinney at Valley Ranch.

Sunday, February 19, 2006 Midget Majors Rebound from Rough Start to Take Bronze Medal...

Alliance - 4, Potsdam - 1: After a rough start against tough competition, the Bulldogs came back with 2 straight wins, including the 3rd Place game, and come home with the Bronze Medal from Montreal, Quebec and the Can/Am Tournament. The last game was a re-match of an earlier 4-2 loss against the Potsdam Sandstoners (NY), but this time Alliance was ready. The Bulldogs took control early and never trailed en route to the win.

The game was highlighted (or low-lighted, depending on which team you were on), when the Bulldogs scored a very unusual and rare empty net goal in the first period. The Potsdam goalie was making an equipment repair, when the referee lost patience and allowed play to continue without him. The Sandstoners were without a backup net-minder, thus some Bulldog got a gift tally in the scorebook.

Saturday, February 18, 2006 Midget Majors Gain Bronze Medal Game with Win...

Alliance - 4, Halifax - 2: After falling to tough competition in their first 3 games in Montreal, Quebec at the Can/Am Tournament, the Bulldogs broke through with a hard-earned win over the Halifax Hawks of Nova Scotia in Game 4 to earn a spot in the Bronze Medal game on Sunday. Alliance fell behind 2-0 in the 2nd period before coming back to score 4 consecutive goals for the come-from-behind victory. Alliance fell 4-0 earlier in the day to the Semiahmoo Ravens of British Columbia.

Friday, February 17, 2006 Midget Majors Find Going Tough North of the Border...

Ottawa - 6, Alliance - 2: In the aftermath of their State Championship, the Bulldogs found the going tough north of the border, as they drop their first 2 games in Montreal, Quebec at the Can/Am Tournament. Game 1 saw them fall 6-2 to the Capital Crusaders of Ottawa.

Potsdam - 2, Alliance - 1: The Bulldogs then came back tough against the Potsdam Sandstoners (NY), only to lose a close one at 2-1. Alliance will try to get back on track Saturday, when they face the Semiahmoo, BC Ravens, followed by a game against the Halifax Hawks of Nova Scotia.

Alliance - 4, Aeros - 2: Alliance beat the Aeros in back-to-back games on Sunday, and take home the Tier II U18 State Championship for the 3rd consecutive year. After a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 early in the 2nd, but tied it up shortly thereafter for a 1-1 score at the 7:08 mark. The teams would trade goals again within 10 seconds of one another at the 5:57 and 5:47 marks to make the score 2-2.

Alliance would get the eventual game winner with only 1:49 left in the 2nd, on a nice play into the slot and a wrist shot high to the glove side to make it 3-2 going into the final frame. The Bulldogs would add an insurance tally with just 3:32 remaining, and hold that lead to the end. The Bulldogs will now advance as the Texas Representative to the 2006 Rocky Mountain District Championships in Denver March 9-12.

Alliance - 3, Aces - 2: In another really tight game, Alliance finally decided there were already enough ties for the day, and scored with only 28 seconds remaining in the final period to take home a win in the Tier II U18 Division of the 2006 Texas State Championships on Saturday night. Alliance can advance to the Final with a tie or a win over the Aeros on Sunday morning.

Alliance - 2, Austin - 2: No one could help but think of the U12 Chaos from last weekend caused by a bunch of ties, but someone forgot to tell the Midget Majors, as Alliance and Austin battled to a tie in the Tier II U18 Division opener for both teams at the 2006 Texas State Championships being held at Polar Ice in the Grapevine Mills Mall.

Alliance - 3, Tulsa - 1: In a NTXHL game Saturday in Oklahoma City, the Bulldogs dealt the 1st place Tulsa Flames their 2nd defeat of the season, and Alliance is now only 2 points back of the Flames for the top of the division. Alliance scored first on a power play midway through the first period to take a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period.

The Bulldogs then scored again to go up 2-0 in the 2nd period, and carried that lead into the final frame. Tulsa scored early in the 3rd period to make a 1-goal game at 2-1, as the intensity and physical play increased. Alliance scored an insurance goal halfway through the final period for a 3-1 margin, and then hung on for a well earned victory. The win brings the Alliance league mark to 12-3-1 headed into 2 games on Sunday, first against Oklahoma City, followed by a tilt against the Texas Aces.

Alliance – 8, Wyoming - 2; LA Jr. Kings - 7, Alliance - 5: The Bulldogs split their 2 games at the 34th Annual Mile High Thanksgiving Holiday Tournament today, winning game 1 against Wyoming, but dropping the night-cap to the LA Jr. Kings. The Bulldogs will attempt to come back to the win column on Friday, with a game against Calgary.

Alliance - 4, Ice Hawks - 2: In a NTXHL game Saturday in Valley Ranch, the Bulldogs defeated the Dallas Ice Hawks by a score of 4-2. The win puts Alliance at 4-1-0 for the league, and their next action will be next weekend when they travel to Houston (Sugarland) for a NTXHL weekend series. On Saturday, they will be facing the Houston Wild and the Austin Roadrunners, followed on Sunday by a game against DJHA.

Alliance - 5, Houston Wild - 3: In a NTXHL game Sunday in Valley Ranch, the Bulldogs came out on top over the Houston Wild by a score of 5-3. The win puts Alliance at 3-1-0 for the league, and they remain in 3rd Place, behind the league leading Oklahoma Blazers, who have 2 games in hand. The Tulsa Flames hold on to 2nd Place, just one point ahead of the Bulldogs with a 3-0-1 record. It will be 2 weeks until the Bulldogs see action again, when they take on the Dallas Ice Hawks on Saturday November 5th in a NTXHL game at Valley Ranch.

OK City - 4, Alliance - 2: In a very tight NTXHL game, the Bulldogs came out on the short end of the scoreboard against Oklahoma City Saturday afternoon at Valley Ranch. It was still close at 3-2 late in the final frame until OK City would add the clincher with only 7 seconds remaining in the game. More on this game to follow...

Alliance - 4 - Texas Aces - 1: Playing in their 2nd NTXHL game of the season, the Bulldogs came out strong again Sunday morning at Valley Ranch against the Texas Aces, but the Aces did too. The Bulldogs opened the scoring late in the 1st period on a 2 on 1 rush, a nice centering pass, and a goal. The 1st period ended with the score 1-0 Alliance.

The 2nd period was a defensive battle, as the Bulldogs managed just 5 shots in the period, while the Alliance goaltender stopped all 3 Aces shots he faced. The Bulldogs did connect late in the period, though, to increase the lead to 2-0 at the 2nd intermission.

The Aces came out firing in the 3rd period and scored just 25 seconds into the frame to make it a one-goal game at 2-1 Alliance. The Bulldogs kept the Aces at bay until getting two insurance goals 24 seconds apart late in the period to make the final score 4-1. The Bulldogs finished the game with 4 goals on 20 shots and allowed the Aces 1 goal on 12 shots. The Bulldogs will be back in action on October 1st against the Oklahoma Blazers at Valley Ranch.

Saturday, September 17, 2005 Bulldogs Open NTXHL Play with a Win...

Alliance - 5, DJHA - 4: In their first NTXHL action and first game of the season, the Bulldogs came out strong and took home the win over the Penguins of DJHA at Valley Ranch on Saturday afternoon. Alliance had several chances in the first period, but could not capitalize and the score was 0-0 after the first period of the season.

The Bulldogs continued to dominate the action in the 2nd period, and opened the scoring 2 1/2 minutes into the period on a rebound to take a 1-0 lead. The game was becoming a physical contest, and the penalties mounted. The Bulldogs capitalized on 5 on 3 opportunity at 5 minutes into the period to extend the margin to 2-0. Alliance would add 2 more tallies 22 seconds apart late in the period to extend the lead to 4-0, and appeared to be running away with the game. The first came on tipped slapshot, and the second on hard working rebound. The Bulldogs missed on a rare penalty shot opportunity before the Penguins would score during 4 on 4 action on a breakaway shot to make it 4-1 Alliance at the end of the 2nd period.

The 3rd period continued with more penalties and physical play. The Penguins scored 2 quick goals just 20 seconds apart with 10 minutes remaining to very quickly make a game of it again at 4-3 Bulldogs. Alliance would add the eventual game winner after some great passing for a 5-3 lead with 6 minutes left. The Penguins were not through though, as they made it a 1 goal game again at 5-4 with 2 1/2 minutes left, scoring on a breakaway. The Bulldogs had goal waived off by the officials, but held the Penquins scoreless to take the season opener 5-4.

The Bulldogs are back in NTXHL action again on Sunday morning, as they square off against the Texas Aces.

Monday, August 8, 2005 Midget Major AA Meeting and Tryout...

ANY prospective Midget aged player (Birthyears 87-90) and all currently signed Alliance Midget Major AA players are asked to attend a meeting and practice this Wednesday August 10th in Valley Ranch. The meeting will be at 7:00pm in the overlook, with a practice at 9:00pm for ALL players. There is no charge to participate in this skate, parents are also invited, and the plans for our Midget Major AA team will be discussed at this time.

Rosters and Schedules have been posted for all teams, please click on the team link along the side of the web site for the team you want to see. Player profile pictures and additional information is in the process of being collected, and the pages will be updated as this information is received. If you see a need for a correction or have additional information (and you probably will), please notify your team manager.

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