* The NAHL Draft is May 20th at 1:00 p.m. Visit nahl.com for all upcoming NAHL events. *
General Information
Organization: Texas Tornado
Address: 2601 Avenue of the Stars
Suite 200
Frisco, Texas 75034
Phone: 972.335.9800
Fax: 972.335.9824
General Email: info@tornadohockey.com
Official Website: http://www.tornadohockey.com
Home Arena: Dr Pepper StarCenter - Frisco
2601 Avenue of the Stars
Club Colors: Black, Yellow and White
Team Uniforms: Home: White with Black and Yellow trim
Road: Black with White and Yellow trim
Division: South
 
 
Tornado FAQ
Who is the Texas Tornado?
What is Junior 'A' hockey?
What is the relationship between the Texas Tornado and the Dallas Stars?
How old are the players?
What league does the Texas Tornado play in?
Who are the other teams in the NAHL?
How did the Texas Tornado do last year during the 2006-07 season?
Where does the Texas Tornado play?
Where is the Dr Pepper StarCenter located?
Where do the players come from?
Who owns the Texas Tornado?
Who is the head coach?
What do tickets cost?
What do season tickets cost?
Are there any ticket plans besides full season tickets?
Is the team involved in the community?
Where do you park?
What are the office hours?
Can I see a map of the arena?
Where can I find the full season schedule?
Can I watch the games online?
Is there a Kid's Club?
 
 

Who is the Texas Tornado?
Founded in 1999, the Texas Tornado is a Junior 'A' level ice hockey team, which is a typical, transitional step in a hockey players development towards NCAA Division I college programs and the National Hockey League. In 2007-08, the Texas Tornado will begin their 5th season in Frisco, Texas, (9th season overall) after playing from 1999-2003 in North Richland Hills, Texas.

What is Junior 'A' hockey?
Junior 'A' hockey is the top level of amateur hockey played in North America. The level of play is consistent and similar with top college hockey programs and minor league professional teams. Nearly 80% of today's current NHL players have played Junior 'A' hockey as a stepping-stone into professional hockey. Texas Tornado players use Junior 'A' hockey as a transition to either NCAA Division I hockey or professional hockey. The playing rules are almost identical to those of the NHL.

What is the relationship between the Texas Tornado and the Dallas Stars?
Although the Texas Tornado and the Dallas Stars are partners, the Tornado is not a minor league affiliate of the Stars. Tornado players are amateurs who live with local area host families and go to school or work part-time, but do not receive a salary. All the player's equipment and travel expenses are paid for by the team.  However, the Iowa Stars, who are the AAA American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars are owned by Schlegel Sports, who is also the ownership group of the Texas Tornado.

How old are the players?
Players range in age from 16-20 years old.

What league does the Texas Tornado play in?
The North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Who are the other teams in the NAHL?

The North American Hockey League is comprised of 18 teams in 3 divisions. 

South Division: Alaska Avalanche, Fairbanks Ice Dogs, Kenai River Brown Bears, Texas Tornado, Topeka Roadrunners, Wichita Falls Wildcats.

Central Division: Alexandria Blizzard, Bismarck Bobcats, Fargo-Moorhead Jets, North Iowa Outlaws, Southern Minnesota Express, Springfield Jr. Blues.

North Division: Alepna IceDiggers, Mahoning Valley Phantoms, Marquette Rangers, St. Louis Bandits, Traverse City North Stars, USA National Team.

How did the Texas Tornado do last year during the 2006-07 season?
The 2006-07 season was another strong season for the Texas Tornado. The Tornado were the 2nd youngest team in the entire league and the youngest team in Tornado history.  The Tornado finished 3rd in the always tough South Division, and won 38 regular season games. It marked the first time in the team's history that the Tornado did not win a regular season division championship or 40 or more regular season games.  However, the Tornado turn it on in the 2007 Robertson Cup playoffs defeating the Santa Fe Roadrunners in 5 games in the South Division Semi-Finals, before falling to the eventual National Champion St. Louis Bandits in the 5th and deciding game in the South Division Finals.

Where does the Texas Tornado play?
The Texas Tornado plays out of the 3,733-seat Deja Blue Arena at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. There are seven StarCenters in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex including the one in Frisco. StarCenters offer general skating, hockey lessons and figure skating. There are also hockey leagues for all ages and skill levels. Facilities are also available for parties, celebrations and social gatherings. The Frisco StarCenter is also home to the Dallas Stars corporate offices and serves as the Dallas Stars official practice facility. The StarCenter also houses the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics facility.

Where is the Dr Pepper StarCenter located?
The Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco is located at the Gaylord Boulevard exit of the Dallas Tollway just north of State Highway 121. The Dr Pepper StarCenter is next door to the Dr Pepper Ballpark and adjacent to Stonebriar Centre Mall. The street address is:
2601 Avenue of the Stars
Frisco, Texas. 75034

Where do the players come from?
The coaching staff recruits players from across North America in an effort to provide the best possible team on the ice. Past players have come from states such as: Massachusetts, California, Alaska, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Canada, and even some local players from the state of Texas.  The Tornado have also had players from outside the United States including Canada, Russia, France and Italy.

Who owns the Texas Tornado?
Texas Tornado Hockey Limited Partnership and Schlegel Sports Group owns the team. Principals are Bob and Kirby Schlegel. The Schlegel Sports Group also own the Iowa Stars, who are the American Hockey League AAA affiliate of the Dallas Stars, and the Tacoma Rainiers AAA Baseball Team of the Pacific Coast League.  The Rainiers are the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Who is the head coach?

On June 14, 2007, the Texas Tornado announced Dwight Mullins as their Head Coach and General Manager.

What do tickets cost?

Visit out our ticket page for a listing of individual game prices and to view the seating chart.

What do season tickets cost?
Season tickets are available beginning at $300.00 per seat for all 30 games and $100 for ten game plans. Visit our season ticket page for more information.

Are there any ticket plans besides full season tickets?
The Texas Tornado has a wide variety of ticket packages available to meet just about any budget and schedule. Please visit the partial season ticket page for a listing of all plans.

Is the team involved in the community?
The team is involved in numerous school programs, which use game tickets and merchandise as incentives to stimulate good habits and achievement by school children. The Texas Tornado mission is to build a community supported Junior 'A' hockey franchise that is exciting, accessible and competitive. We are focused on building a sports entertainment value that creates excellence on the ice and in the community. We are committed to partnering with the community to provide support for various groups and organizations. Our programs address a variety of issues and help to encourage partnerships to further enhance the growth of the community. As part of our mission statement, the Tornado has developed and implemented numerous community outreach programs throughout Collin County, Denton County and Dallas County. The Tornado will continue to create new programs that will enhance the quality of life for residents through support for organizations and participation in programs and events.

Where do you park?
There is an attached parking garage located on the northwest corner of the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. On game days, parking is $5 cash.

What are the office hours?

The Tornado office is open Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm. The office is also open on Saturdays from 10am-3pm. The Tornado Box Office is open 8am-6pm Monday thru Friday for all ticket purchases. The box office is located on the north side of the Dr Pepper StarCenter next door to the StarStuff store facing Gaylord Pkwy.

Can I see a map of the arena?

Of course! Click here for a printable version of the map.

Where can I find the full season schedule?
Click here to view all the 2007-2008 season games.

Can I watch the games online?
Yes! Click here to see all available games. You can even watch the entire Blaine Showcase from Sept 19-22!

Is there a Kid's Club?

YES! We have a new kid's Club and a whole new Mascot! Ike the Polar Bear is head of the Tornado Kid's Club. If you would like to join click here for more information. Or print your own brochure here.