Latest from Louie

Bandits’ slump leaves concern about playoffs
Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:14 AM CST

Realistically, Texarkana Bandits fans should be elated. But many are likely disappointed.

Less than a month ago the Bandits were in first place in the South Division of the North American Hockey League, but after losing four of their last seven games the team has slipped three points behind the Texas Tornado with only two games remaining in the regular season.

Odds are Texas will now win another divisional crown since the Tornado’s final two games are at home, while the Bandits must play their last two contests at Wichita Falls.

Nobody should be surprised by the Bandits’ current predicament.

It took a team record 14-game winning streak just to put the Bandits on top, and that lead was always in jeopardy since Texarkana’s final nine games were on the road, and the team had no home ice on which to practice.

Still, some folks thought the Bandits were good enough to overcome this adversity. They were not, and now the concern is will Texarkana be good enough to win in the playoffs, where Texarkana faces more adversity.

Because of the home-ice situation the Bandits will have to play their first two games away from Texarkana in their best-of-five series. That’s truly unfortunate considering the local team is more than 20 points ahead of the third-place teams.

It’s still up in the air as to whom the Bandits will be playing in the first round this postseason. Wichita Falls is currently tied with Springfield, and the former would be the opponent if it sweeps the final three games at home against Santa Fe tonight, and the slumping Bandits this weekend. Springfield plays its final two games at home against Southern Minnesota.

Texarkana coach Jon Cooper contends he doesn’t care who his team faces in the first round. Springfield won its season series with the Bandits 4-2, while Wichita Falls is 1-7 against Texarkana right now. However, the Bandits’ last two wins over Wichita Falls came in shootouts at home, and the Wildcats have been hot the past few weeks while earning a share of third place.

It’s interesting that Texarkana is still the second highest scoring team in the NAHL despite it’s recent play. Offensive standouts Anthony Becker and Aaron Lewicki did not score a single point during the Bandits’ recent four-game road trip to Alaska, and that has to concern Cooper.

Texarkana’s 12-day visit to Alaska was hardly a vacation. Besides the fact some players missed a lot of time in the classroom, the Bandits’ return trip home was a nightmare.

Their four-hour flight was doubled because the plane couldn’t land in Dallas because of a storm. Cooper said their plane circled the DFW Airport, and when fuel became a concern the flight continued to San Antonio. Once they arrived safely in Dallas the Bandits had to endure the drive home in a torrential downpour.

Cooper worries that some of his players might be overconfident, perhaps believing they can just flip a switch and return to mid-season form once the playoffs begin. If they do feel that way Texarkana’s memorable season could become a forgettable one.

How sad it would be if Texarkana hockey fans couldn’t look back on the 2005-06 season with fond memories. That record winning streak, 40-plus wins in a season, and Texarkana’s farewell to players like Riley Gill, Becker and Casey Haines, who only recently committed to play college hockey next season at Serris State in Michigan.

Texarkana’s recent play is forgivable, but how disappointing it would be if the Bandits don’t battle their South Division rivals down to the wire, possibly advancing the NAHL Championship Tournament in Ohio.

It’s important that the Bandits get back on a winning track before the playoffs begin, and the only way that can happen is for Texarkana to beat up on Wichita Falls this week.

Cooper probably wishes the circumstances were different. If Wichita Falls played a team other than the Bandits this weekend and won, then the Wildcats would probably be Texarkana’s first-round opponent. The same scenario would be true if Wichita Falls wins one or both games against the Bandits, depending on the outcome of Springfield’s outings against Southern Minnesota.

The guess here is that Cooper, given his preference, would rather play Wichita Falls in the first round. That would be a logical choice considering Texarkana’s success against the Wildcats, and the fact that it’s only a five-hour drive to Wichita Falls, compared to at least a 10-hour trip to Springfield, Ill.

It’s not going to be a cakewalk no matter who the Bandits face.

Nice article...as I've previously stated, it's too bad the Bandits get screwed every year by the unavailability of their home rink in the latter part of the season. Hopefully that will change for them when the new rink opens.

Re: Latest from Louie

Moe Bandits wrote:

Still, some folks thought the Bandits were good enough to overcome this adversity. They were not, and now the concern is will Texarkana be good enough to win in the playoffs, where Texarkana faces more adversity.

Ignorant Ass Negative Bastard....

bp

Good read, the last few games for all will be fun ones to watch...

Re: Latest from Louie

BorderPatrol wrote:

Moe Bandits wrote: Still, some folks thought the Bandits were good enough to overcome this adversity. They were not, and now the concern is will Texarkana be good enough to win in the playoffs, where Texarkana faces more adversity. Ignorant Ass Negative Bastard.... bp

I kinda felt like that after reading the article, but you really cannot argue his point.

Dayum...way to get behind the team there, Louie. Why not expound on what an awesome season they've had, rather than prematurely lament the demise of the season.
The Bandits kicked ass this season. The games played against the Tornado were really the only ones worth watching for us TT faithful. Skill on skill, and riveting. I've no doubt the TxBs will be in the finals. And it will be well deserved.

Only Texarkana would name their hockey team after a Skoal product.

JohnnyBravo wrote:

Only Texarkana would name their hockey team after a Skoal product.

Wrong. The name was from the movie Smokey and the Bandit.

JohnnyBravo wrote:

Only Texarkana would name their hockey team after a Skoal product.

Why don't you be a man and dip real tobacco, not some wrapped in toilet paper?

bp

BorderPatrol wrote:

JohnnyBravo wrote: Only Texarkana would name their hockey team after a Skoal product. Why don't you be a man and dip real tobacco, not some wrapped in toilet paper? bp

So in order to be a real man, you have dip? That's disgusting. Can't you kick a dog or go to the firing range every now and then? At least talking NASCAR with your fishing buddies doesn't cause cancer, as far as I know.

Quote:

At least talking NASCAR with your fishing buddies doesn't cause cancer, as far as I know.

It might, if you're fishing in the Trinity.

Wow - that is some objective writing from a hometown guy. nice read - thanks. be nice when you get a new facility in Texarkana - it would be great here if we got a second sheet of ice here as well

Moe Bandits wrote:

JohnnyBravo wrote: Only Texarkana would name their hockey team after a Skoal product. Wrong. The name was from the movie Smokey and the Bandit.

Mo, some people just don't get it!!

Thing I never understood about Smokey and the Bandit is why would Big Enos and Little Enos pay all that money for a shitty beer like Coors?

Sam Hain wrote:

Thing I never understood about Smokey and the Bandit is why would Big Enos and Little Enos pay all that money for a shitty beer like Coors?

I realize that, Cat. But, back in the 70's you couldn't get Coors east of the Mississippi. It was one of those deals of wanting what someone tells you you can't have. The funny thing is, the movie says they're coming to Texarkana, Texas to get the beer. Texarkana is in Bowie County, which is a dry county. Nice research there moviemakers.

I know all about the availability of Coors back in the day Moe. To me it would have made more sense to have the Bandit kill a couple mexican border guards and brought a hole semi full of Corona. I mean think about it if you're going to get pulled over for beer running you want to be caught with something to be proud of.

A dry county? Guess I'll have to cross off Texarkana, Texas as a place I would want to move to.

What I didn't finish my post with was, Texarkana, Arkansas is in a wet county. C'mon down. Live in Texas, drink in Arkansas. At least in Arkansas, they aren't arresting bar patrons for public intox like they are in Texas nowadays.

Moe Bandits wrote:

What I didn't finish my post with was, Texarkana, Arkansas is in a wet county. C'mon down. Live in Texas, drink in Arkansas. At least in Arkansas, they aren't arresting bar patrons for public intox like they are in Texas nowadays.

I think that public intoxication laws are BS. I would much rather have some drunk stumblin around than behind the wheel of a car killing people.

Great article. I make it a point to read all the articles that you so kindly post here, Moe, and I really like the way that Louie writes. This time it looks kinda like he put into print something that a lot of folks didn't really want to see, but cannot deny.

BTW-- hope to see a few of ya'll Banfans here at the KYC this weekend. Look to the roof in 47 to find us.

Old Hippy wrote:

Great article. I make it a point to read all the articles that you so kindly post here, Moe, and I really like the way that Louie writes. This time it looks kinda like he put into print something that a lot of folks didn't really want to see, but cannot deny. BTW-- hope to see a few of ya'll Banfans here at the KYC this weekend. Look to the roof in 47 to find us.

Thanx, Hippy. I know that everyone can get the Gazette online just like me, but I like providing this service to our fans out of town, as well as fans of other teams. And I agree with you about Louie. He does a great job. I'm hoping the team read his article and are going to be motivated by it.

You and Wrench take care of my guys this weekend.