Monday, December 12, 2011

Frey comits to NAHL South, AMARILLO BULLS

Last years State Champions Toledo St. Francis had some great talent.   Many of those players competed on Team Toledo as well.  The Midget AA 18u National runner up Team ( a team that had  battled Team Cleveland, for 5, 15 min OT sessions. In that record setting semi final contest, which is available for viewing in the www.fasthockey.com archives and for any fan of hockey, is a must see).
Many of those players moved on.  Bryce Connor is playing ACHA D2 Club hockey for Bowling Green State University and having a good season.  Torchia, Oplinger and Frey are all are on the roster with midget major AAA Bell Tire this year.  Torchia is playing his same physical two way game, Oblinger a smart game, and Frey is playing a good defensive game from the blue line.  While maintaining his offensive threat  as points leader, true to the Frey form we have all loved watching.

Frey has signed a letter of Tender for the Amarillo Bulls NAHL South Division.  Committing him to play for them and no other NAHL club.  This tender is prior to the NAHL draft that will be held this spring. Many will remember that last season Nolan Culver, Sylvania Northview and Team Toledo teammate of Frey, was also tendered by Amarillo.  Culver later walked on to the Youngstown Phantom's  team last spring.  Culver was only recently traded back to Amarillo from the Phantoms.  Culver and Frey who first played together in Squirts and from then on more or less at every level are to be reunited in 2012.  Both are very excited about the opportunity to play together again, an opurtunity which grows more and more dificult as players matriculate.

The Amarillo Bulls are currently 23w 3L and 4 OTL and in first place in the NAHL South Division.   Amarillo is a heavy favorite for this years Robertson Cup (the NAHL Championship) and contended  for that title last year, in only their inaugural season.  The Bulls head coach Dennis Williams, is a well recognized figure in Ohio hockey.  Williams is a former BGSU Falcon Icer, who also served as an assistant and as the interim head coach.  It is no mistake Williams is drawing in top Ohio HS talent. Ohio is again developing some great talent and reemerging as a bit of a hotbed.   Coach Williams familiarity with the area is only further complemented by his assistant Rocky Russo who hails from Youngstown Ohio.  Russo served as a coach with the Phantoms in both their NAHL and USHL years as well with the storied St. Louis NAHL program where he was an integral part of winning NAHL championships with both St. Louis and Youngstown.  You may never have considered Ohio to be in the backyard of Amarillo TX, but it is solidly. 

Congratulations to Connor Frey as he works his path and dream to play NCAA D1 hockey.

When Culver and Frey were taking part in this past springs EJHL showcase. They were afforded the rare invitation to visit  Aggains Arena .  This rare opportunity to be shown and allowed to examine one of the best, most storied programs in all of college hockey. The Boston University Terrier's.
Nolan Culver left, Connor Frey right.  


 Nolan Culver left, Kathy Brown center, Connor Frey right
 Connor Frey 2010-2011 18u Midget Minor AA Nationals