The Lone Star Brahmas are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) based in North Richland Hills, Texas (a suburb of Fort Worth). The Brahmas play their home games at the NYTEX Sports Centre.
| Lone Star purple pigs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | North Richland Hills, Texas |
| League | North American Hockey League |
| Division | South |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Home arena | NYTEX Sports Centre |
| Colors | Black, purple, and white |
| Owner(s) | Texas Hockey Partners (Salvatore and Frank Trazzera) |
| Head coach | Dan Wildfong |
| Franchise history | |
| 1999–2013 | Texas Tornado |
| 2013–present | Lone Star Brahmas |
| Championships | |
| Robertson Cups | 7 (2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2017, 2024) |
The Brahmas nickname is a tribute to the Fort Worth Brahmas of the Central Hockey League, which played their final six seasons (most notably winning the 2009 Ray Miron President's Cup championship) at the NYTEX Sports Centre.
The Brahmas most recently won the 2024 Robertson Cup.
History
editThe franchise was previously known as the Texas Tornado when they started playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the 1999–2000 season. They originally played at the NYTEX Sports Centre (then called the Blue Line Ice Complex) until 2003 when the Tornado moved to Frisco, Texas, and the Dr Pepper Arena in 2003 (after which the Lone Star Cavalry took their place, playing in the NAHL for one season). The Tornado won five Robertson Cups; in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2012. The Tornado won the 2012 Robertson Cup after losing in the Division Semifinals to the Topeka RoadRunners but advanced to the round-robin stage as the host of the 2012 tournament.
However, the on-ice success could not cure the Tornado's off-ice financial woes nor the money they lost the last three years.[1] After seeking out all options to remain in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the Tornado sold the team to Texas Hockey Partners, who moved the team back to the NYTEX Sports Centre and gave them their current Brahmas name.
Longest Playoff game in NAHL history
editOn April 22, 2023, the Lone Star Brahmas hosted the Shreveport Mudbugs in Game 1 of the Robertson Cup Playoffs. The game was tied 1-1 and would take 4 overtimes to finish. The Brahmas won the game in Quadruple OT 2-1 at 1:38 am local time. With a start time at 7:30 CT, the game was approximately 6 Hours and 8 minutes long. [2]
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tornado | |||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 56 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 86 | 239 | 133 | 1,451 | 1st, West | Lost Semifinals | |
| 2000–01 | 56 | 40 | 12 | 4 | 84 | 265 | 158 | 1,541 | 1st, West | Robertson Cup Champions | |
| 2001–02 | 56 | 40 | 13 | 3 | 83 | 208 | 135 | 1,826 | 1st, West | ||
| 2002–03 | 56 | 41 | 13 | 2 | 84 | 214 | 142 | 1,928 | 1st, South | ||
| 2003–04 | 56 | 48 | 6 | 2 | 98 | 276 | 123 | 1,705 | 1st, South | Robertson Cup Champions | |
| 2004–05 | 56 | 42 | 13 | 1 | 85 | 226 | 120 | 1,786 | 1st of 7, South | Won 1st Round, 3–0 vs. Wichita Falls Wildcats Won 2nd Round, 4–1, vs. Texarkana Bandits 2–1 in Robertson Cup Round Robin (L, 1–4 vs. Jets; W, 4–1 vs. Bobcats; W, 4–1 vs. Indians) Won Championship game, 6–1 vs. Fargo-Moorhead Jets Robertson Cup Champions | |
| 2005–06 | 58 | 42 | 12 | 4 | 88 | 201 | 132 | 1,516 | 1st of 5, South | Won 1st Round, 3–2 vs. Wichita Falls Wildcats Won 2nd Round, 4–0 vs. Texarkana Bandits 1–1 in Robertson Cup Tournament (L, 3–7 vs. Express; W, 5–3 vs. Jr. Barons) Won Semifinal game, 4–3 vs. Southern Minnesota Express Won Championship game, 4–2 vs. Bozeman Icedogs Robertson Cup Champions | |
| 2006–07 | 62 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 82 | 211 | 174 | 1,484 | 3rd of 6, South | Won 1st Round, 3–2 vs. Topeka RoadRunners Lost 2nd Round, 2–3 vs. St. Louis Bandits | |
| 2007–08 | 58 | 20 | 33 | 5 | 45 | 165 | 201 | 1,588 | 4th of 6, South | Lost 1st Round, 0–3 vs. Topeka RoadRunners | |
| 2008–09 | Dormant | ||||||||||
| 2009–10 | 58 | 25 | 28 | 5 | 55 | 170 | 204 | 1,693 | 3rd of 5, South | Lost 1st Round, 2–3 vs. St. Louis Bandits | |
| 2010–11 | 58 | 35 | 15 | 8 | 78 | 213 | 164 | 1,321 | 3rd of 6, South | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Amarillo Bulls | |
| 2011–12 | 60 | 36 | 16 | 8 | 80 | 215 | 159 | 1,190 | 2nd of 7, South | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Topeka RoadRunners 1–0–2 in Robertson Cup Round Robin (Host) (OTL, 2–3 vs. Bulls; W, 5–4 vs. Fighting Falcons; OTL, 2–3 vs. Bandits) Won Semifinal game, 4–3 vs. Fairbanks Ice Dogs Won Championship game, 4–3 vs. St. Louis Bandits Robertson Cup Champions | |
| 2012–13 | 60 | 36 | 22 | 2 | 74 | 219 | 168 | 1,123 | 3rd of 6, South | Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Topeka RoadRunners Lost Div. Finals, 0–3 vs. Amarillo Bulls | |
| Lone Star Brahmas | |||||||||||
| 2013–14 | 60 | 23 | 33 | 4 | 50 | 136 | 204 | 1469 | 5th of 7, South | did not qualify | |
| 2014–15 | 60 | 40 | 12 | 8 | 88 | 208 | 130 | 1182 | 1st of 8, South | Won First Round, 3–0 vs. Wenatchee Wild Won Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Topeka RoadRunners Lost Semifinals, 1–2 Austin Bruins | |
| 2015–16 | 60 | 39 | 12 | 9 | 87 | 186 | 136 | 1217 | 2nd of 6, South | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Topeka RoadRunners | |
| 2016–17 | 60 | 44 | 14 | 2 | 90 | 190 | 135 | 1171 | 1st of 7, South | Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Wichita Falls Wildcats Won Div. Finals, 3–2 vs. Corpus Christi IceRays Won Robertson Cup Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Janesville Jets Won Championship game, 3–0 vs. Aston Rebels Robertson Cup Champions | |
| 2017–18 | 60 | 38 | 12 | 8 | 86 | 164 | 111 | 929 | 2nd of 6, South | Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Odessa Jackalopes Lost Div. Finals, 2–3 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs | |
| 2018–19 | 60 | 31 | 21 | 8 | 70 | 143 | 150 | 1095 | 2nd of 6, South | Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs | |
| 2019–20 | 53 | 42 | 9 | 2 | 86 | 190 | 81 | 1036 | 1st of 7, South | Season cancelled | |
| 2021–21 | 56 | 38 | 16 | 2 | 78 | 173 | 132 | 1192 | 2nd of 6, South | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Wichita Falls Warriors | |
| 2021–22 | 60 | 38 | 12 | 10 | 86 | 197 | 144 | 1174 | 1st of 8, South 1st of 29, NAHL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs Lost Div. Finals, 2–3 vs. New Mexico Ice Wolves | |
| 2022–23 | 60 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 82 | 155 | 126 | 1027 | 2nd of 8, South 3rd of 29, NAHL |
Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs | |
| 2023-24 | 60 | 44 | 10 | 6 | 94 | 206 | 109 | 935 | 1st of 8 South, 1st of 32 NAHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 3-1 vs. New Mexico Ice Wolves , Won Div. Finals, 3-1 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs Won Robertson Cup Semis, 2-0 vs. Anchorage Wolverines WON Robertson Cup Championship, 4-2 vs. Maryland Black Bears ROBERTSON CUP CHAMPIONS | |
References
edit- ^ "Tornado Sell Franchise And Relocate To North Richland". Texas Tornado. July 27, 2013. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ https://nahl.com/game-center/?game_id=4154