Attack Ice Hockey Club

In early March, the Attack faithful met at BoomerJacks in Arlington to make and pack bagged lunches for Arlington's food insecure youth.  Each player worked with their families to purchase food and supplies to make at least 20 lunches.  They then set about making them.  Together the team worked to make 1,265 lunches for local kids.  Way to go Attack!

Excitement was in the air on Broad Street as the Arlington/Midlothian Attack prepared for a showdown with their cross town rivals from Keller.  Following an opening win against the Cowboys and a strong week of practice, some key lineup changes would be explored, tested and exploited early.  Donning their new home maroons, the Attack came out flying, punishing the Keller goaltender with a relentless barrage of shots.  Puck movement was plentiful and precise and made for some exciting moments and a high shot tally for the home team.  At the five minute mark of the first, Keller would have their best opportunity on a quick two on one break.  The first shot would get through and required a quick butterfly pad save by #38, Nathan Lang.  The rebound was pounced on by a trailing Keller forward who directed a low shot towards the left post.  Lang came flying across the crease and miraculously got his right pad on the puck averting disaster.  Fortunately for the home team, despite owning the offensive zone, the scoreboard reflected a 0-0 tie until deep in the first when Rowan Branch would find his mark with three minutes remaining in the period.  That quick strike was all that would escape either netminder through the first period.  Keller would battle back in the second striking twice a mere three minutes apart to take the lead.  Sensing the importance of the next goal, some personnel changes were made on the Attack bench shuffling some defense with forwards.  The move proved to ignite the team and open some real-estate in the O zone.  The Attack would score the next six goals with Branch depositing three strikes, two unassisted and the third set up by Landen Crall.  Jose Arevalo scored one unassisted and one set up by Branch and Mark Burress, skating in his first high school regular season game would ignite the crowd with an impressive wrister as he jumped up from his D-slot to cycle into the play, fed by Branch.  Keller would answer with two, but it was too little too late with Landen Crall adding the eighth tally for the Attack on a feed from Arevalo.  The Attack will be back on the Mansfield ice this Sunday to challenge perineal powerhouse Grapevine Colleyville.

Despite a cool temperature inside a packed Farmers Branch Arena, the action would prove to be hot as the Coppell Cowboys, an early favorite, faced off against the Arlington/Midlothian Attack.  With a deep bench, the Cowboys looked to set the tone early and did just that with a quick strike two minutes in.  Fifty five seconds later, the Attack would answer.  On a textbook breakout, Ethan Koppmann collected the puck along the boards and threaded the defenders to find a streaking Jose Arevalo.  With a nifty move at the far blueline, Arevalo would break in behind the Cowboy red with a clear path to the net.  Arevalo delivered a quick low strike that was steered back into traffic by Coppell’s netminder.  Undeterred, Arevalo would scoop up the rebound, controlling it wide side and delivering far back into the twine!  As the goal light shone proudly, the Attack had a tied game!  Later in the period, Rowan Branch set out on a solo voyage streaking down the right side darting in and out of the Cowboy lineup.  Crossing the blue with a quick stutter step and a deliberate wide move, he lasered a wrister to the crux of the cross bar and goal post as the crowd erupted, trying to digest what they had just witnessed!  As the period wound down, the short Attack bench was visible and Brenden Combs would net his second for the Cowboys.  Combs would complete his hat trick early in the second to put the Cowboys up by a score of 3-2.  Undeterred, the Attack shifted into overdrive with the forward line of Weil, Koppmann and Arevalo connecting for the next two.  Weil made his presence felt first with the even up goal and Koppmann gave the Attack their first lead on a solo effort down the right flank culminating in a back hand that found the five hole!  The second period would end with the Attack on top 4-3.  Combs would net his fourth of the game to even the score at 4 a piece with nine minutes to play.  The fatigue, now visible on the Attack bench as they tried to hold even with the swelling Cowboy bench was overshadowed by the grit and determination of the scrappy Attack lot!  With a little over 5 minutes remaining, Landen Crall would dangle his way through the Coppell secondary and deliver a diving strike on net that found its way to the twine!  The crowd went wild, spurring the visiting crew in white to dig deep to protect the lead.  By the time of the final buzzer, the Attack stood victorious with a 5-4 battle win.  Maximos Huffstuttler, would collect the W in net for the Attack in his first high school start!  Stars for the game went to Landen Crall of the Attack, Brendan Combs of the Cowboys and Jose Arevalo of the Attack.  Next up on the Arlington/Midlothian schedule is a showdown with Keller at 5:45pm on Sunday 9/29 in the Mansfield Arena.

Despite a rainy, humid Saturday morning, magic was in the air under a canopy of freshly minted, bright green girders as the Arlington/Midlothian Attack took to a new, crisp, clean sheet of ice.  Wearing maroon, the 2018/2019 Attack hit the ice hard and fast with their faithful fans hoping to see the tone set early against perennial powerhouse Propser.  Despite just two practices under their belts, it was obvious to all in attendance that the Attack has something special this year.  Solid off season work by the Attack brass has bolstered an already contending team!  Last minute trade deals saw A+ defensive additions of Austin Weis and Ethan Romney, while the Attack front office fought hard to sign Maddie Laue to share cage duties with veteran Billy Jackson.  As luck would have it, senior John Garcia was knee deep in talks with Birdville that stalled, allowing A/M to acquire rights and sign the hard working forward to a one year deal.  With a razor thin margin left under the salary cap, the next move was to set their sights on re-signing fan favorite Bryson Hooker to a three year deal.  Hooker comes out of training camp with another foot on his frame and speed to match.  This new crop of players join Captains Ely, Martinez and Ovalle and their high flying Attack skaters to round out the soon to be championship Arlington-Midlothian Hockey squad!

Despite dropping the first contest 4-2 to Prosper, encouraging trends were easily gleaned.  The action was back and forth with the Attack proving competitive.  Laue showed she is a contender at the highest high school levels turning away 37 shots in route to a 90.25 save percentage.  Aun picked up right where he left off last season… dominating puck control and proving too slippery to be covered.  Aun and Ovalle would net the two Attack goals, both set up by second year forward Tyler Koppmann.  Game two of the weekend saw the Attack triumph over John Paul II by a score of 5-3.  Hayden Ovalle would score the first four goals for the Attack before Aun decided to add one of his own.  Jackson would secure the W, calmly turning aside 15 shots despite being rattled in warmups with a puck to the throat.  Game three was perhaps even more encouraging as the Attack held off a late charging Eagles squad and saw production from all three lines and from the blue line.  Second year forward Coleton Clark would net his first high school goal by doing the hard work in the crease and hammering home a rebound.  A true grit goal!  Special teams was also a bright spot as the squad netted 4 shorthanded goals throughout the tournament.  The blueliners of Weis, Reed, Branch, Romney and Childress proved calm under pressure as they killed off 7 penalties posting a 78% penalty kill ratio. 

While coaching staff and player expectations for the season are high, the Attack took a firm step forward toward achieving those goals by pulling together as a team and supporting the ONE TEAM – ONE GOAL philosophy in their unselfish play.  If this is any indication of how the year will go, the Attack will be a force to be reckoned with this season!  Stay tuned!

Despite a long drive time to McKinney and a late game time, the Attack squad came out firing on all cylinders to take on division rival McKinney.  Arlington-Midlothian team captain Beau Rehonic would deliver the opening strike as veteran blueliner Jonathon Loggins fed rookie Tyler Koppmann in the crease.  Koppmann advanced the puck to Rehonic who one timed the biscuit top shelf on a startled McKinney netminder.  Rehonic would strike again unassisted to give the Attack a 2-1 lead after one. Hayden Ovalle found John Ruble on the back door in the second which deadlocked a heated match at three a piece after two.  McKinney continued to push hard doubling the number of shots and offensive opportunities of the Attack in the second period.  Senior goalie Austin Koppmann made some brilliant saves to give his club the chance to win.  Early in the third Sam Prather broke free on a lead pass from Rehonic and made no mistake burying the puck.  It would take until the four minute remaining mark of the third period for the Attack to go up for good with Tristan Aun getting his third of the season as he converted his own rebound into the go ahead goal.  Koppmann and the Attack blueliners worked hard to survive a barrage of last minute chances, with Koppmann making three desperation saves in the closing seconds to propel the Attack to their third win in a row.  Shots on goal heavily favored McKinney as they delivered 34 counted shots to the Attacks 25.  This big win sets up A-M to pressure the top slots in the rankings.  Next up is Denton County and a share of first place.

Attack fans were treated to an offensive firepower showcase Sunday night as Arlington-Midlothian handily defeated Birdville with an all-around effort.  Tristan Aun would open the scoring off a feed from Hayden Ovalle.  Ovalle registered a three point night scoring goals two and five drawing inspiration from a newly taped stick.  The Ovalle wristers were both set up by a hard charging and unselfish Lucas Sntesinger.  Snetsi logged four points of his own, finishing the playmaker award early this year off three assists.  He would a goal for good measure as well.  Aun scored his second of the night assisted by Branch.  At the other end, a red hot Billy Jackson turned away 32 of 34 shots to log the win.  Next up for the Attack is the always formidable McKinney.

Attack Faithful packed the Richardson Ice Arena with great expectations for their hungry hockey club.  Wearing their road white uniforms, the young club did not disappoint coming out skating hard and owning play in the Lovejoy end.  Despite some quality offensive opportunities, it was Attack blueliner John Ruble who would open the scoring for the season.  Captain Beau Rehonic, looking for some action in front would work the puck back to the blueline and then set the screen.  Ruble one timed a rising wrister that ricocheted off a Leopard defensive, changing direction to find the top shelf.  A tense first would end with the Attack leading by one.  The score would not be broken until late in the third when veteran Justin Ely found himself breaking into the Leopard zone while being heavily defended.  Ely smartly recognized a trailer in the clear as rookie Brandt Reed jumped into the rush from his defensive position.  Brandt received a rolling puck on his backhand and with the poise of P.K. Suban, he drew the Leopard netminder out of position and delivered a back hand strike to just under the crux of the crossbar on a still rolling puck!  The crowd roared in enthusiastic support has the celebration started!  Meanwhile at the other end of the rink, Billy Jackson turned away ten shots to keep Lovejoy blanked.  The third period brought good back and forth action with each team realizing the importance of the next goal.  That goal would come with just under two minutes remaining, when a streaking Tristan Aun would thread the needle with a laser like saucer pass to a net crashing Justin Green.  Green made no mistake in burying the biscuit deep in the back of the net to light the lamp one last time.  The game would wrap at 3-0 with Jackson recording the shutout on 19 shots.  The Attack will look to build a winning streak against Birdville in Euless.