Thursday, September 29, 2011 amarillo.com
Amarillo Globe-News B6
Amarillo Bulls
ONLINE: Watch player introductions
online at amarillo.com. Scan the QR
code for a direct link to the video.
Raging Bulls
Dennis Williams
Head coach
Second season
Rocky Russo
Assistant coach
Second season
Taylor Ward
5 feet, 10 inches
175 pounds
Forward
Matt Johnson
6 feet, 2 inches
200 pounds
Forward
Mike Mazzotta
5 feet, 10 inches
170 pounds
Defenseman
Gregg Gruehl
5 feet, 10 inches
180 pounds
Goaltender
Omar Mullan
5 feet, 9 inches
180 pounds
Forward
Darren McCormick
5 feet, 11 inches
165 pounds
Forward
John Gustafsson
6 feet, 1 inch
185 pounds
Forward
Mike Davis
5 feet, 9 inches
175 pounds
Forward
Luke Jenkins
5 feet, 10 inches
180 pounds
Defenseman
Clint Carlisle
5 feet, 11 inches
175 pounds
Forward
Bryan Drazner
5 feet, 10 inches
170 pounds
Defenseman
Ryan Taylor
5 feet, 10 inches
180 pounds
Forward
Zane Popilock
5 feet, 10 inches
178 pounds
Defenseman
Alex Carey
5 feet, 9 inches
170 pounds
Forward
Eric Lipon
5 feet, 10 inches
175 pounds
Goaltender
Mike Taffe
6 feet, 1 inch
195 pounds
Goaltender
Michael Norris / Amarillo Globe-News
Amarillo Bulls head coach Dennis Williams, from left, and captains Joe Kozlak and Matt Johnson have promoted
unorthodox training for the hockey team this season, including a variety of classes at Elite MMA & Fitness.
John Rey
6 feet
190 pounds
Defenseman
Amarillo fights to build on
first season’s success
Geoff Fortman
6 feet, 2 inches
210 pounds
Defenseman
BY DAVE HENRY
[email protected]
Brandon Lubin
6 feet, 1 inch
191 pounds
Defenseman
Mitch Rogge
6 feet, 1 inch
180 pounds
Forward
Karl Beckman
6 feet, 2 inches
188 pounds
Defenseman
Brooks Behling
6 feet, 1 inch
180 pounds
Forward
F
ighting is a part of hockey like
water is to the ice upon which
the sport is played — a vital
ingredient.
For the Amarillo Bulls, fighting — or
more specifically mixed martial arts
— has become part of their training.
Since August, Bulls head coach
Dennis Williams and his team have
been working out at Elite MMA &
Fitness in Amarillo.
Williams isn’t as much interested
in his players learning the rear
naked choke hold as he is the overall training aspects of mixed martial
arts, a unique program he hopes
will pay off in points in the standings rather than penalty minutes.
“It has been fantastic. Our guys
love it,” said Williams, who is training right along with his players three
days a week, as is assistant coach
Rocky Russo. “It is tough and
intense, but what is good is that
they provide so many more classes
other than what we do.”
It might be difficult to picture
tough-guy hockey players sweating
it out in a yoga or Pilates class, but
the Bulls are sold on the training.
Fitting in more with the stereotypical
hockey player, the “Caveman” workout
has been a beast for the Bulls.
“That Caveman workout is a tough
one,” Williams said. “You are outside with big tractor tires, sledgehammers ... it is just a different way
of training and our guys enjoy it.”
Fighting back
Amarillo’s first season in the
North American Hockey League was
a success. Williams guided the
Bulls to a 36-16-6 record in the regular season, a South Division title
and a third-place national finish.
Depending on the final 23-man
roster, which is due Monday, as
many as 12 players will be back
from last season’s squad.
“Our staff did a great job. They
pounded the pavement. The success we had, not only the winning,
but putting players in college hockey in our first year was just as
important,” Williams said. “Our
players know they have a chance to
move on.”
Among the Bulls key returnees is
forward Joe Kozlak (37 points in 57
regular season games last season).
Kozlak recently committed to Army,
becoming the seventh Bull to commit to an NCAA program.
Forward Matt Johnson is the
points leader among returning players with 49 points in 58 games in
2010-11, third best on the team.
“I think we’re a little more skilled
up front than last season,” Williams
said. “What is really good is that
we have 12 vets that are mature
and know what to expect. Last year
everybody was new.
“Our speed is very good and
we’re tenacious on pucks. We’re
not the biggest guys out there, but
we’ll dog pucks up and down the
ice.”
The Bulls are off to a good start
to the 2011-12 season, going 3-0-1
at the NAHL Showcase Tournament
in Blaine, Minn. — a tournament
for players to show their stuff for
scouts in games that count in the
standings.
“As long as the players keep buying into what we’re selling, our hard
work pays off,” Williams said.
2011-12 season SCHEDULE
Mike Erickson
5 feet, 10 inches
175 pounds
Forward
Jude Warner
5 feet, 9 inches
165 pounds
Forward
Joe Kozlak
6 feet, 2 inches
191 pounds
Forward
T.J. Sarcona
5 feet, 11 inches
185 pounds
Forward
Date
TimeOpponent / ResultLocation
Sept. 14
Amarillo 4, Alaska 2
NAHL Showcase Tournament
Sept. 15
Amarillo 5, Jamestown 1
NAHL Showcase Tournament
Sept. 16
Amarillo 5, Bismarck 1
NAHL Showcase Tournament
Sept. 17
Coulee Region 5, Amarillo 4 NAHL Showcase Tournament
Sept. 30 8:30 p.m. at New Mexico
Santa Ana Star Center
Oct. 1
7 p.m.
New Mexico
Amarillo Civic Center
Oct. 2
2 p.m.
at New Mexico
Santa Ana Star Center
Oct. 7
7:05 p.m. at Corpus Christi
Am. Bank Center
Oct. 8
7:05 p.m. at Corpus Christi
Am. Bank Center
Oct. 14
7 p.m.
Topeka
Amarillo Civic Center
Oct. 15
7 p.m.
Wichita Falls
Amarillo Civic Center
Oct. 21
7:05 p.m. at Wichita Falls
Kay Yeager Coliseum
Oct. 22
7:05 p.m. at Odessa
Ector County Coliseum
Oct. 29
7 p.m.
Wichita Falls
Amarillo Civic Center
Oct. 30
6 p.m.
Topeka
Amarillo Civic Center
Nov. 4
7 p.m.
Odessa
Amarillo Civic Center
Nov. 5
7 p.m.
Odessa
Amarillo Civic Center
Nov. 11 7:05 p.m. at Topeka
Kansas Expo
Nov. 12 7:05 p.m. at Topeka
Kansas Expo
Nov. 17 7:05 p.m. at Odessa
Ector County Coliseum
Nov. 18 7:30 p.m. at Texas
DPA-Arena
Nov. 19 7:30 p.m. at Texas
DPA-Arena
Nov. 20 3:05 p.m. at Corpus Christi
Am. Bank Center
Nov. 23 7 p.m.
Wichita Falls
Amarillo Civic Center
Nov. 25 7:05 p.m. at Topeka
Kansas Expo
Nov. 26 7:05 p.m. at Topeka
Kansas Expo
Dec. 2
7:35 p.m. at Fresno
Selland Arena
Dec. 3
7:35 p.m. at Fresno
Selland Arena
Dec. 9
7:30 p.m. at New Mexico
Santa Ana Star Center
Dec. 10 7:30 p.m. at New Mexico
Santa Ana Star Center
League information
The North American Hockey League is celebrating its 36th season. It is the largest USA
Hockey-sanctioned Junior A circuit with 28 teams across the nation. The mission of the NAHL
is to develop Midget and high school players for collegiate and professional hockey. Notable
alumni include 2010 U.S. Olympic team members Ryan Miller and Ryan Kesler.
Date
Dec. 16
Dec. 17
Dec. 19
Dec. 28
Dec. 30
Dec. 31
Jan. 6
Jan. 7
Jan. 13
Jan. 14
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
Jan. 29
Feb. 3
Feb. 4
Feb. 7
Feb. 10
Feb. 11
Feb. 24
Feb. 25
March 1
March 9
March 10
March 14
March 16
March 17
March 23
March 24
March 29
March 31
TimeOpponent / ResultLocation
7 p.m.
Odessa
Amarillo Civic Center
7:05 p.m. at Odessa
Ector County Coliseum
7:05 p.m. at Wichita Falls
Kay Yeager Coliseum
7 p.m.
Wichita Falls
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
New Mexico
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
New Mexico
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Corpus Christi
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Corpus Christi
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Topeka
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Topeka
Amarillo Civic Center
7:05 p.m. at Odessa
Ector County Coliseum
7 p.m.
Fresno
Amarillo Civic Center
6 p.m.
Odessa
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
New Mexico
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
New Mexico
Amarillo Civic Center
7:05 p.m. at Wichita Falls
Kay Yeager Coliseum
7:30 p.m. at Texas
DPA-Arena
7:30 p.m. at Texas
DPA-Arena
7 p.m.
Texas
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Texas
Amarillo Civic Center
7:05 p.m. at Corpus Christi
Am. Bank Center
7 p.m.
Texas
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Texas
Amarillo Civic Center
7:05 p.m. at Wichita Falls
Kay Yeager Coliseum
7 p.m.
Corpus Christi
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Corpus Christi
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
New Mexico
Amarillo Civic Center
7 p.m.
Odessa
Amarillo Civic Center
8:30 p.m. at New Mexico
Santa Ana Star Center
8:30 p.m. at New Mexico
Santa Ana Star Center
TICKET information
Tickets can be purchased by calling 806242-1122, online at www.amarillobulls.com
or www.panhadletickets.com, and by visiting
Bulls headquarters, 301 Polk St., Suite 101.
n Season tickets: $160 to $395
n Half-season tickets: $95 to $195
n Seven-game flex packs: $65 to $90
n Single-game tickets: $8 to $20