News - NTXHL Mites 2009

Mite Everest Schnieder Leads League with 31 Goals

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
JAN 24, 2010

With the final third of a highly successful season fast approaching, the young Thunder skaters are preparing to face one of the most powerful and successful Mite teams in the country in their final NTXYHL series. The Dallas Penguins Mite Major team is currently undefeated in league play with a 10-0 record and boast an overall record of 32-6-1. They are the defending Silver Stick Mite Division National Champions and are currently the Silver Stick Western Regional Champions playing at the Squirt B level. The team has scored 936 goals this season while allowing only 271. They are led by P.J. Fletcher who has tallied 78 goals and 64 assists in 43 games this season, Phillip Griebenow with 63 goals and 31 assists, as well as Michael Gildon who has totaled 47 goals and 54 assists for the season. Fletcher is also currently the leagues second leading scorer behind San Antonio's own Everest Schnieder.

Schnieder leads the highly talented Mite Division with 34 points and a league best of 31 goals. His teammate Matthew Anguiano is also amongst the leagues leading scorers with 12 goals and 9 assists. The San Antonians third leading scorer in league play is winger Payne Stewart who has earned 8 goals and 5 assists. Stewart has also shared time at goalie earning one win and 62 saves in league play. Goalie Rob Williams has the teams only shutout to go along with 2 wins in the NTXYHL. Brandon Shantz, while splitting time between skating out and net minding has earned a team best 3 wins, 148 saves, and a 0.736 save percentage against the high powered North Texas teams.

Head Coach Brian Shantz's team is poised to earn a coveted playoff spot as the leagues season enters its final phases. The team has earned 12 points in the standings due to a 4 game season sweep of the Oklahoma City Blazers and taking 2 of 3 games from the Fort Worth Brahmas. All 3 highly exciting games against the Brahmas were decided by 1 goal each. The team has made considerable progress in closing the gap between itself and the leagues elite teams. In non-league play the Thunder has fallen only once this season taking 2 of 3 games from the Brazos Valley Bucks Select Squirt team and skating to a 2-0-1 season record against the Houston Hitmen. Before meeting the powerful Penguins on the weekend of February 6th and 7th, the team will travel to Austin to resume a home and away series against an Austin Roadrunners select team. The Mites carry a 2-0 record this season against the Roadrunners. Following these two series the team is scheduled to compete in Dallas at the Presidents' Day Tournament in mid-February before the NTXYHL Mite division playoffs begin.

Shantz's Mites Skate Hard To 3-0 Weekend in NTXHL

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
DEC 1, 2009

For the past two weeks many of the Mite players could be heard quietly talking amongst themselves at practices and in the locker room about their desire for a rematch with the Fort Worth Brahmas. Despite falling short by a single goal in their previous meeting in a very close and intense game, the Thunder Mites only grew hungrier in their practices leading up to the much anticipated rematch. The team's desire is a continuation of the progress they have made since the season began in September. A growing level of confidence and intensity has been coerced out of the team by a coaching staff which has challenged each individual player to practice harder and then designed the workouts which have provided them with the opportunities to improve their hockey skills.

Before the team could face the Brahmas again they had to remain focused on the Oklahoma City Blazers whom they would play to begin the weekend. In dominating fashion the San Antonio forward skaters remained on the attack for virtually the entire game while the defensive lines completely disrupted the Blazer offensive effort. The overall Thunder endeavor produced a shots disparity of 25-7 helping goalie Rob Williams to his second league win and the teams first shutout of the season winning 9-0. The NTXYHL leading scorer Everest Schneider contributed 4 goals while line mates Payne Stewart had 2 goals and an assist and William Hosey contributed a goal and an assist.

In Sunday afternoon's much anticipated rematch with the host Fort Worth Brahmas the young San Antonians finally had their chance to even the season series. As with the previous meeting between the two evenly matched teams this game did not disappoint. Each side spent the first period skating fast and being physical. When the buzzer sounded the score was tied 2-2. The second period built further upon the intense clash which was beginning to unfold. The period witnessed the Brahmas breakthrough for a two goal lead only to have the Thunder fight back, and at the second intermission they were down only one as the final period loomed with the team behind 4-5.

With both teams energized by the intense parity the third period began with the each team confident and ready. At 3:21 into the period, following a Brahma roughing penalty, center Matthew Anguiano found winger Payne Stewart in front of the net for a power play goal tying the score 5-5. Two minutes later the Brahmas went on the one man advantage following a San Antonio tripping infraction and scored their only goal of the period to take a 6-5 lead. Less than a minute and a half later Anguiano broke away down the right side of the ice towards the net and sent the puck over Brahma goalie Henry Bradford's glove tying the game yet again with one of the biggest goals thus far this season for the surging Mites. With the momentum now on their side, the game tied 6-6, and with five minutes left to play in the game the team dug in for the finish.

With it's defensemen providing one of their best overall efforts of the season by continually frustrating the quick Brahma attacks that tried to form in front of goalie Brandon Shantz they were able to continually get the puck deep in the Brahma zone. With 3:15 left in regulation play forwards William Hosey and Payne Stewart worked the puck down low and eventually onto the stick of center Everest Schneider who would not be denied and found the net again, this time for the eventual game winning goal. The confounded Brahmas quickly called a timeout and emerged onto the ice with its three leading scorers on the six man attack determined to tie the score. In front of the desperate attack the Thunder defense outplayed its opponent for the final three minutes of the game and when the buzzer sounded had emerged victorious with a 7-6 win. The win evened the season series 1-1 between the two teams and gave goalie Shantz his second league win of the season.

The following morning the team concluded its 3-0 weekend by defeating the Oklahoma City Blazers 6-1. Goalie Payne Stewart had seven saves as the Thunder out shot the Blazers 29-8 in yet another resounding defensive effort. Center Matthew Anguiano provided a Hat Trick and an assist while forward Brandon Shantz netted his first goal in league play. The successful weekend moved Head Coach Brian Shantz's team into third place in the tough Mite A division with 10 points while improving their overall season record to 11-6-1. The team will take the week of Thanksgiving off before returning to the practice ice in preparation for a four game series in San Antonio against the Fort Worth Brahmas, the Dallas Stars Selects, the Dallas Ice Jets,and the league leading Alliance Bulldogs.

Mites Gain Ground with Two Wins in NTXHL

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
NOV 16 , 2009

The San Antonio Thunder Mite A team arrived in Richardson Hills last weekend hungry for an opportunity to display their improving hockey skills against yet another series of powerful opponents. While dedicating themselves to twice a week practices run by Head Coach Brian Shantz and Assistant Coaches Wayne Morrison and David Stewart the team has rewarded the coaches and parents alike with steady improvement in their individual skills, their team play, and their intensity. Having clearly outplayed their non-league opponents thus far this season Shantz's skaters have began to respond to their leader's requests for more focus and intensity in both their practice regiment and in their league games. This past weekend the team started to even the playing field against their NTXHL opponents.

The weekend's action began Saturday morning against the Oklahoma City Blazers. The Thunder quickly skated out to a 4-0 lead after the first period on route to a resounding 9-1 victory. In perhaps their most dominating performance of the year the team appeared to be hitting on all cylinders scoring 9 times on 9 assists led by center Everest Schneider's 4 goals, Matthew Anguiano's 2 goals and 2 assists, and Justin Trevino's 2 goals and 2 assists. In dominating fashion the team out shot the Blazers 43-8 in front of an intense effort by the two maturing defensive lines of William Slanina-Wertz and Bradly Napoli and Jacob Eskew and Noah Barr. The defensive lines clearly outfought the Blazer offensive attack all game helping goalie Brandon Shantz to his first league win.

Saturday's afternoon game against the league leading Alliance Bulldogs did not witness the same result though the team's effort was no less intense. Despite falling 2-14 in the final score the team was only out shot 27-28 and had the puck deep in the Alliance zone in a consistent offensive effort. Defensively the Thunder lines fought hard against the Bulldog breakaways but when the puck stayed deep in the San Antonio zone the sharpshooting attackers patiently and skillfully found the net behind goalie Payne Stewart.

In Sunday's rematch with the Oklahoma City Blazers newcomer goalie Rob Williams gained his first win of the year as both the offensive and defensive effort produced another dominating shots disparity of 44-10. While the forwards moved freely deep in the Blazer zone producing 9 goals on 8 assists the defensemen again responded with another dominating effort keeping the action in the Blazer zone all morning.

Sunday afternoon witnessed perhaps the team's most inspired and exciting effort of the season as San Antonio skated stride for stride against the Fort Worth Brahmas. Playing confidently in the footsteps of their first two league wins the team found a new level of intensity and effort in their hardest fought game thus far this season. With the score tied 1-1 after the first period Shantz's team had left little doubt that they were going to fight hard. In the second period both teams clearly were not going to give in but the Brahma's emerged from the period with a 3-1 advantage. Rising to the challenge center Everest Schneider found the net 51 seconds into the final period allowing his team to seize the momentum. Now resolved to not simply thwart the Fort Worth attack but to outplay it the defensive lines used a combination of determination and confidence in their goalie Brandon Shantz to keep the team in the game and to frustrate any coordinated Brahma attack from forming in their zone. Shantz stood strong all game making multiple spectacular saves to the appreciation of his coaches, his team, and the fans.

As the back and forth attacks continued Fort Worth finally found a seam down the middle of the ice on a breakaway and went up 4-2 with just under six minutes to play in the game. Now with a two goal lead the Brahmas fell back into a defensive mode intent on keeping the Thunder skaters in front of them at all costs. As the San Antonio forwards attacked the net the defensemen kept the puck in the zone and the team began to apply intense pressure. With just over a minute and a half left in the game Schneider again broke free in front of the net and scored to complete the true hat trick and bring the score to within one goal. During the timeout that followed Coach Shantz determined to send out a six skater attack. With thirty seconds left in the game defensemen William Slanina-Wertz gained control of the puck deep in his own zone then turned and centered a long pass out across neutral ice just beyond the quick striking forward combination of Matthew Anguiano and Everest Schneider. The puck stayed in the Brahma zone but was forced out along the boards until a Fort Worth defensmen gained control of it and in an impressive display of stick handling avoided the desperate Thunder advance on him and killed the clock and ended the game for his team in a 4-3 victory.

The weekends two victories moved the team into a 4Th place tie with the Brahmas in NTXHL play and improved their overall season record to 8-6-1. Shantz's Mites will hit the practice ice for two weeks before traveling to DFW once again for a much anticipated rematch with the Fort Worth Brahmas and the Oklahoma City Blazers.

Mites Win Twice Against Roadrunners

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
OCT 18, 2009

The Mites improved their overall season record to 4-3-1 with a pair of productive victories last Su Austin Roadrunners logo

nday against the visiting Austin Roadrunners. The Thunder skaters began by taking the morning opener 9-8 then followed that up with a resounding 11-3 victory in the afternoon. The coaching staff continues to be pleased with the teams steady increase in level of play emphasizing that all players are beginning to make consistent contributions to the the overall effort.

The steady improvement that Head Coach Brian Shantz's squad now enjoys has been attributed to a challenging practice environment and a growing commitment by the team to an overall game plan that encourages each individual player to take pride in their defensive effort. This focus has led to a growth in scoring opportunities and to a positive evolution in offensive play development. The team will return to the practice ice this week as they begin preparations for a tournament in College Station in 2 weeks.

Mites North Texas Journey Begins 0-2

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
OCT 9, 2009

The Mites began their North Texas hockey journey this past weekend with hard play and a never quit attitude which was appreciated by both parents and coaches alike. Though falling in both games to an experienced and talented Alliance Bulldog team, Coach Shantz's skaters gained valuable experience of their own and showed real progress in their ongoing development. By Sunday afternoon the team had opportunities to compete against some eye opening talent which included not only a strong Alliance squad but also against the defending Silver Stick National Champion Dallas Penguins who generously hosted the San Antonians in an exhibition game Sunday afternoon.

In Saturday's opening day action the Bulldogs skated out three powerful and determined lines to face Thunder goaltender Brandon Shantz who was proudly making his season debut. Two Thunder lines, with players shifting positions often, fought hard against a coordinated and intense attack but fell 2-16. Forwards Everest Schneider and Matthew Anguiano provided a goal each while winger Bradley Napoli added an assist. Forwards Noah Barr, William Hosey, Brandon Harden, Payne Stewart, and Justin Trevino provided strong efforts as well.

Sunday morning witnessed a more intense Thunder team ready to face down their hosts. While the Alliance attack remained steady the two San Antonio defensive lines refused to allow a continuous and coordinated offensive effort to develop in front of goalie Payne Stewart. Fans watched the visiting defensemen Jacob Eskew, William Slanina-Wertz and Matthew Anguiano consistently out hustle Bulldog forwards down the ice holding them to a single goal in both the second and third periods. Though eventually succumbing 0-7 in the contest the underdogs refused to give in to a deep and experienced opponent.

Following Sunday's league contest the Dallas Penguins hosted an exhibition game and shootout which allowed an opportunity for the Mite team to skate with one of the most skilled and powerful teams in the country. The Penguins were big, fast, and skilled in allowing only two goals in regulation, one to center Everest Schneider. In the shootout which followed, the Penguin net minder allowed only two shots to enter the net, and only one went untouched, sent in by defenseman William Slanina-Wertz.

By the end of the weekend the team had enjoyed competing against some of the best Mite teams in the country, had successfully faced down their first weekend in North Texas league play, had gained much needed experience, and began developing a never quit attitude which has just began to help define the team. The Mite parents wish the thank the Alliance Bulldog parents,coaches, and players for a great weekend series which provided some great youth hockey and a very generous Sunday breakfast and also the Dallas Penguins for the great experience of Sunday's exhibition

Mites Face Alliance in Irving for NTXHL Opener

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
SEP 30, 2009

While the Alliance Bulldogs have already earned a 1-1 record in league play the Thunder Mites look to open their regular season this weekend on the road against a strong opponent. The Bulldogs won their season opener 5-1 against the Dallas Ice Jets then fell 4-5 in an overtime loss to the Dallas Stars Selects last weekend.

Coach Shantz's squad will travel to Irving to play at the Valley Ranch Dr. Pepper Star Center and have been working hard in twice a week practices while carrying a 2-0-1 non-league record into this weekends 2 game series.

The mites look forward to playing hard all weekend relying on a combination of experienced veterans, young but talented first year players, and strong coaching to gain valuable playing experience and begin to make steady improvements as their season progresses.

Thunder Mites Go 2-0-1 in Houston Against Hitmen

By Sean Slanina-Wertz
SEP 22, 2009

The Mites traveled to Houston this past weekend and faced a deep and physical Hitmen squad. In the three game exhibition series the Thunder outscored the hosts 13-7. The Mites benefited from outstanding net minding from second year player, Payne Stewart, who fought behind a set of very strong Thunder defensive lines all weekend. Houston Hitmen

The hosts fell 6-2 in the opener and were unable to mount a sustained and coordinated attack against a disruptive defensive effort. Matthew Anguiano scored the Thunder's first goal of the season and ended the night with the Hat Trick and an assist. Center Everest Schneider consistently drove the puck into the offensive zone scoring twice while Defensemen William Slanina-Wertz was also credited with a goal. Forwards Jacob Eskew and Noah Barr added assists.

Game number 2 saw the Hitmen make solid adjustments to their effort using an inspired and physical effort to thwart the Thunder forwards. The Hitmen used discipline and patience defensively to keep the Thunder forwards in front of them as the series became more physical. Again Goalie Payne Stewart and two rotating defensive lines matched the Hitmen offensive effort the whole game which ended in a 2-2 tie. First year Thunder player William Hosey scored his first goal of the season and Everest Schneider added his 3rd of the series. Defensemen Justin Trevino added an assist to the effort.

In the final game of the series the Mites moved their line up around and prevailed 5-3 in a very close and exciting game. Forwards Jacob Eskew and William Hosey combined for 3 goals and an assist. Center William Slanina-Wertz added a goal and 2 assists while Defensmen Matthew Anguiano found the empty net with under a minute to play to end the scoring.

While the Hitmen skated out with four lines all weekend the two Thunder lines played inspired Hockey to start the season using a combination of veteran players and young but skilled first year players to outlast the very generous hosts. The Thunder Mite parents and coaches would like to send out a very special thanks to the Hitmen parents and coaches who put together a fun and exciting weekend of competitive hockey which included three very exciting games, an extremely generous Sunday morning breakfast buffet and a player skills competition prior to game three conducted by the Hitmen coaching staff.

DISCLAIMER: This article is just for fun and does not necessarily reflect the views of RCHTA